This blog has moved, sorry for the lack of posts but you’ll find a few fresh posts and new home for the Faye & Co blog here: http://www.fayeandco.com/news/ – hope you continue to follow!

Artwork above Copyright 2011. Faye & Co. Illustrated by Diane Faye Zerr.

See more amazing images like these here.

View all of the photos from my book on my Flickr page. All photos were taken with my iPhone, I didn’t want to focus on taking professional photos, so apologies for the quality.

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My first of many reasons to support small business. You’ve heard the saying never put all your eggs in one basket, right? Well that’s the case with employment. In every community, there’s always some giant that employs half the town. What happens when that giant moves or closes? Half the town is unemployed and the spirit of a community is broken. It’s the same in the design world, never have the majority of your work with a single client. Why? Because if that client goes to another designer or closes up shop, you’re out of work.

Small businesses can employ anywhere from 2-200 workers. When they move or (god forbid) close up shop, then there’s only 2-200 workers on unemployment. More small businesses = community security in my opinion. So what I want to know is why the local government doesn’t realize this and provide incentives to small business? Seek those small business dreams out, be aggressive, and make your community a thriving town where people want to work, live, and visit. This is something that’s been bottling up inside and I know it strays from what I usually post, but I need to get it out.

I’ve been talking with some talented people in Berks County, and I hope we’re the next generation of movers & shakers, but in a new way – a smart way. We’re going to care about this place and make it what we want it to be. Not what it once was, not what it should be, but what it’s capable of.

Not a small business owner? More concerned as a consumer? Visit the 3/50 project to learn how to make a difference.

and how about some old railroad tin signs. Very small only a few inches wide.

Unused postage stamps anyone? Yes, please! Great designs, some are from the US and some are international.

I especially love these Special Delivery stamps!

And I’m not sure why I bought these yet, but for 50 cents I had to have them. An entire envelope filled with canceled german stamps featuring Hitler. I might use it in some artwork, who knows?!

And one item I could not afford to purchase, but thought was eye-catching:

Last night I got to see Gaslight Anthem, and then Weezer at the Allentown Fair. What a show! Rivers, the lead singer, was a gigantic ball of energy engaging the crowd at every moment. From jumping from the drums which were up on a platform down on to a trampoline, crawling in a box, to running through the crowd, it was just an amazing concert.

p.s. Thanks Jan!!!

I like the recent commercial for JEEP, whether it’s playing to folks like me who wishes of this dream or not – it’s effective.

It frustrates me that a clothing company with the word “American” in it’s name has it’s pieces created in Malaysia or Thailand. The company resides in Pittsburgh, PA but outsources all of it’s production. And while I understand they are trying to create a viable company, I feel that they are only trying to create more profits for themselves. Yes, if you bring production into the US, the costs of the clothing will go up. But will quality go up as well? I don’t know.

American Apparel has found a way to do this. Why can’t others? Aside from many expressing their disliking of the owner, he has kept the production in Downtown LA.

I’m turning thirty-one in a few short months, and I want to be a little saucy – red that is. I found this amazing dress on ModCloth called Miss Issippi, and these shoes on Zappos. I’m thinking this would be the perfect outfit for the one night where I get to celebrate being me.

Confession: I wish I could play piano and I love music that is all or contains piano. It makes my heart flutter! I tried to teach myself how to play when I was around 10 or 11, but I only played by ear…no sheet music. I don’t understand a single thing on sheet music. But I loved playing and still love listening.

Here are a few favorites of mine for you to listen:

Fiona Apple, Sullen Girl

Nico Muhly, Quiet Music

Bella’s Lullaby from the Twilight Soundtrack