House Blend

You dream about quitting your job to sell your oil paintings, knitted iPod covers or other handmade obsession ... but how to make those skills pay the bills? Etsy's Quit Your Day Job series gives you an inside look at the transition from sideline gig to full-time business. These articles feature candid interviews with some of the site's thriving crafters, who dish on the good (no boss!), the bad (cash flow!) and everything in-between. Consider it required reading before putting in that two-week notice.

by Michelle Taute

As 2008 disappears before our eyes, the most important thing on the to-do list isn't figuring out next year's resolutions—it's finding a wall calendar worth staring at for 12 months in a row. Nikki McClure's 2009 calendar takes all the fear out of the commitment with her artful paper-cut designs. From an intricate bird's nest to enchanting mushrooms, she uses an X-Acto knife to depict poetic visions of everyday life. She's paired each image with a simple reminder about living well, with lessons such as such as "know," "evolve" and "ditch the car."

by Michelle Taute

Everyone loves FSC certification … well, everyone who knows what it means. The folks over at Design 21 believe more people would buy FSC products if they understood the materials come from sustainable forestry practices. How can you help spread the green word? Enter the Wood, Paper, Checkmark competition. It challenges designers to create a comprehensive campaign (read: play creative director) to raise FSC awareness. And with a Jan. 13 deadline, you'd better get cracking right now.

by Michelle Taute

Jeremy Bert's signage alphabet is a lovable cast of strays. His hodge-podge letters—one each from A to Z—come from cast-off advertising signs, and they vary in shape, color and personality every bit as much as the puppets on Sesame Street. It's fascinating and maddening to ponder each letter's original context, a feat you can attempt in person through November 23 at Gather gallery in Seattle. Or just click through to the installation video for a behind-the-scenes look at how it all came together.

by Michelle Taute

Potential Nightmare Warning: If horror movies make you squeamish, these posters may keep you awake tonight. The link below leads to 100 creepy, sleep-with-the-lights-on posters for scary films. And each one effectively leverages illustration to make the image most memorable right before bedtime: Think disembodied hands, giant spiders, black cats and unidentifiable monsters. Some of these posters have a comic-book style that makes them almost funny, but most tap directly into the brain's fear cortex.

by Michelle Taute

Potential Nightmare Warning: If horror movies make you squeamish, these posters may keep you awake tonight. The link below leads to 100 creepy, sleep-with-the-lights-on posters for scary films. And each one effectively leverages illustration to make the image most memorable right before bedtime: Think disembodied hands, giant spiders, black cats and unidentifiable monsters. Some of these posters have a comic-book style that makes them almost funny, but most tap directly into the brain's fear cortex.

by Michelle Taute