Gnome Series: The Beginning

Gnomes are pretty funny creatures, so after a special request from a crazed gnome fan, I thought they deserved a mini-series. And with it being Halloween, it kind of made sense to share with you a preview of "The Gnome Series." This particular gnome is known as the "Forest Gnome." And yes, there are a variety of different types, species, and races of gnomes. Don't laugh. I'm being serious! Apparently, the gnome is more than just a children's story, they have books that detail them, even down to the reasons why they have tall hats and the types of climates they live in. Oh, the world of a gnome...!

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Joe Buys New Mixtape!

The homie, Joe Buys just dropped a new mixtape outta nowhere! It's titled, "Rebel With a Cause" and offers up some energy with the mission of chasing a dream with a
cause.

The best part: it's available as a free download. Just click your mouse HERE, then download and save the zip file on your computer, transfer it to your iPhone, iPod, and iPad, then do the same with your friends.

Follow him on Twitter: @JoeBuys #DreamImpossible

Common: "Blue Sky" Music Video

Common just released the video for his new single, "Blue Sky." I don't usually post "random" music videos, but I continue to become a Common fan every time he comes out with new material. This video has a good message, which is what prompted this impromptu post.

Mike Posner at GVSU

Last night, Mike Posner made another trip back to Grand Rapids for a show. This time, it was at Grand Valley State University as part of their Homecoming festivities. He put on a great show, not just concert. This was by far his best, and most elaborate performance I've ever seen. He brought with him an entire crew, including a couple DJ's that helped create a full stage presence. It's been fun to watch his continual improvement as an artist and as a professional since 2008.
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How Great Leaders Inspire Action (TED Video)

You need to watch this video. WHY?
Simon Sinek: How great leaders inspire action | Video on TED.com

Jordan Brand Video - Love the Game

This is funny. With the NBA lock-out still in effect, NBA players need to find games to play in, whether those are pick-up games, charity games, or local city league games. Love the game, no matter what.

Preview: Mascot #2

Can you guess the mascot in this next installment of the Mascot Series?

The Big Reveal: Sparty's New Home

With all the different blog and Facebook posts from the Denver road trip, it's finally time to actually reveal the reason behind the road trip. We were driving the "Sparty: The Mascot" painting that I created for ArtPrize 2010 to its new home and owner in Denver, Colorado. It just so happens to be that the new owner is a Michigan State alum who helped make their basketball program into one of the top in the nation. He won the 2000 National Championship and numerous other awards, accomplishments, etc., too long to list.

[View the step-by-step images of the Sparty painting]

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Road Trip, Part 3: Mountains That Rocked

We'd be idiots if we didn't visit the Rocky Mountains while in Colorado. And, despite some intense debates, we are not considered (to most) as idiots. So therefore, we did visit the Rocky Mountains and brought back pictures and a video to prove it!
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Road Trip Denver, Part 2: Oh My, Omaha!

The first stop was Omaha. Little did I know that Omaha is actually a pretty cool city with an awesome historic restaurant and shopping district. We only stayed for a few hours but still managed to explore Mom and Pop stores, odd antique and collectables shops, and a fine art gallery. 
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Road Trip Denver, Part 1: Majestic Alien Creatures

Part 1 of the road trip took us to Omaha, Nebraska, the half-way point to Denver. From Grand Rapids, it's a 10 hour drive, then another 9 hours to Denver. Let the fun begin...
Nothing like the open road...
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Road Trip to Denver

Why would I post this hilarious clip from my all-time favorite movie?

Because we are road-trippin' it to Denver, Colorado, to deliver the Sparty painting to its new owner. That's why! Instead of shipping it, we're taking the road less traveled, literally, and driving it out ourselves. Buckle up, we leave first thing tomorrow BEFORE the sun wakes up. ROAD TRIP!

"Shoelace" Poster Samples

To honor a 6-0 start and a second straight year of Heisman Trophy hopes, I'm experimenting with a few different poster designs. Although you can't see the details in the designs, which one(s) do you like best at first glace?

Wolverine Company Store

During the hustle and bustle of ArtPrize, a Wolverine Company Store quietly opened in downtown Grand Rapids. I stumbled upon it just by walking around town, which is always the best way to discover the hidden gems in the cities you live in or visit, by the way.

The authentic, old-world charm of the shop is what impressed me the most. The gold leaf lettering in the store front window, vintage Steelcase desk and chairs, and reclaimed wood furniture pieces from the early leather and shoe factories blend perfectly with the exposed brick of the building interior.

They had all the best brands WWW has to offer, including Sebago, Wolverine, CAT, Cushe, Merrell, and Hush Puppies. Their Hush Puppies shoes is what impressed me the most. Previously when I thought of Hush Puppies, I immediately thought of Payless. Not anymore. They were very well designed and made from incredible materials. Merrell has stepped up their game, as well.

The 1000 Mile Boot is made from an extremely rare type of leather that is softer and more comfortable than any other leather available. We learned from the store proprietor that the leather comes from the backside of a horse. The reason why it is so limited and costly is because it is illegal to slaughter a horse, so the leather tannery has to wait for the horse to die naturally before they can utilize its hide. (This particular boot is the 721 LTD model)

The beauty of the Wolverine boots is that they can last as long as you can last in them. I've heard over and over again that it is very common for people to have the same pair of boots for 20 or 30+ years. They've been best described as investments rather than purchases. I can now see why.

Speaking of lasting a long time, this vintage Steelcase desk and chair were both taken from the Wolverine factory in Rockford, Mi. There is nothing better than mid-century Steelcase -- it lasts forever!

Old advertisements of the different Wolverine Worldwide brands and photos of the early factory workers and salesmen do very well in sharing the history of the company.

The experience in this boutique-sized shop is worth it in itself to visit. To be greeted by the shop proprietor and feel the history of the shoes is so much different than we've grown accustomed to in the shopping mall and online stores. This is how shopping should be: quality over quantity.
Make it a point to visit the Wolverine Company Store (40 Monroe Center Ave, Grand Rapids, MI 49503) and "Like" them on Facebook for updates and more info.

Today is JustInTymeSports day on IWearYourShirt.com. Why does that matter? Because I created the logo for JustInTymeSports and I made these custom wooden clogs for IWearYourShirt.com. Kind of a funny coincidence, huh?

Good News

To whom, you ask? That's still private information. Come back next week to find out...

Steve Jobs: How to Live Before You Die

It's amazing how one man's vision can have such an impact. I absolutely love all my Mac products thanks to this man, not to mention my favorite movie series: Toy Story. I remember getting our first Mac product as a kid growing up - the desktop with the globe computer as the base of the monitor. It was an alien looking computer that hooked my entire family onto the Apple products. Now, it's nothing but Mac computers, iPhones, iPods, and iPads. There are some great messages Steve Jobs left behind, and some of his most famous are from this speech he gave to the graduating class of Stanford in 2005, "How to Live Before You Die."

ArtPrize Transforming the Community

Last year at TEDxDetroit, Rick DeVos spoke on how ArtPrize has created a sense of transformation within the city of Grand Rapids, and even parts of West Michigan as a whole. From the experience from ArtPrize, which at the time of the speech was just in its second year, Rick pulls out 5 general principles in how to transform cities...  Now, with ArtPrize over half-done in its third year, what have you seen as the major impacts of ArtPrize in Grand Rapids?

The Story of Joe

While researching/working on a project, I came across this; It might be a couple years old, but the story is timeless. The video, produced by Creo Productions for Degage Ministries, shares the story of a man named Joe who has survived the ghetto of Detroit, Vietnam, the loss of his wife after 28 years, cancer, and homelessness.

Screenshot of the Day

Here's a sneak peak at a design I'm working on right now. I haven't decided if it will be printed on a poster or some sort of apparel. Which would you prefer: something to hang on your wall or wear on your back?

Video - Red Wing Shoes Factory

Red Wing Shoes always has the best video segments of the hand-made quality of their shoes that are made in Minnesota, ah. Incredibly-nice shoes that I probably need to get for the up-coming Winter months.