Idea Seeds are like creative word association. Pick a word then create. See where your mind takes you. This entry's Idea Seed is firefly. Do you remember chasing fireflies as a child? Do their twinkling lights against the sunset take you back to that summer when you learned to ride your bike without training wheels? What do you think of when you hear the word 'firefly'?
"Come Fly With Me"
First up is Java Brewing Company in Louisville, Kentucky. This logo is energetic and clean, but also has a nice bit of whimsy. The color choices are earthy without being too bland. The coffee here is rich and tasty, though some roasts have a slight bitterness.
Semolino is a small shop in the college town of Hays, Kansas. Housed in a revamped downtown building, the cafe's name alludes to the area's wheat farming industry. The logo is somewhat 'antique' and uses an aged red and burnished gold. You can almost see this logo on the side of an antique coffee tin. The java at Semolino is great, the atmosphere relaxing, and the baked goods tantalizing.
I have two offerings from the Gateway city of St. Louis. First, we'll take a look at Kaldi's. This shop takes its name from the legendary goatherd Kaldi. The story states that Kaldi's goats nibbled on coffee cherries one day and became filled with energy, leading him to 'discover' the fruit. The logo is a throwback to that story, exuding an African/Middle Eastern flair with the swirling roundel and dancing goats. Kaldi's is a must-see for anyone visiting St. Louis.
Northwest Coffee Roasters is a small operation with only two shops, but the coffee is superb. Sporting an elegant logo, Northwest sells coffee beans in slick black bags that set off the beauty of the logo. They roast all their own coffee, much like most of the others I've listed. I purchased a pound of their Italian Roast once and enjoyed it thoroughly.
The logo and corresponding graphics for The Roasterie in Kansas City, Missouri are simply the bees knees! The logo, with the tagline 'Air Roasted Coffee' has a distinctive early 20th century flair. The font choice and bold black and white graphics lend a retro industrial feel. Though the shop was terribly busy when I visited and it took a while to place my order, the coffee was fresh and crisp.
Lastly, I give you the Frothy Monkey. The name alone is enough to peak interest. I visited the one in Nashville, Tennessee. A very earth-friendly shop, the Frothy Monkey has an eclectic atmosphere and really tasty coffee. The logo is simply delightful with its friendly lower-case font and ambling monkey.
Native American art, to me, is in a realm by itself. Distinctive and storied, native work paints a breathtaking portrait of these proud and spiritual people. An episode of Antiques Roadshow from years past introduced me to the art of Narciso Abeyta or Ha So De. Abeyta's style was a perfect mix of traditional and contemporary. 
When creating, we should always be open to all sorts of influence. 'Art history' can mean a number of things. The paintings of Narciso Abeyta are at once historical, contemporary, and classic, a combination that moves the spirit and the creative juices.
Yard sales, estate sales, and flea markets are like modern-day treasure hunts. No matter what you fancy or collect, you can find almost anything, many times for a bargain. These photos were taken on a recent trip to only a small portion of the “World's Longest Yard Sale” along highway 127. Though individual houses or neighborhoods may hold sales, the most interesting stops are the flea-market-type lots along the route. Here, vendors pay a small fee to set up shop throughout the yard sale's four days.
My childhood was full of life-shaping things. I believe my exposure to antiques has given me a unique perspective among my peers. When I was very young, my mother introduced me to a book that I still treasure today. It was called Jackieboy in Rainbowland by William Hill, published in 1911. The illustrations for the charming story were done by the fantastic Fanny Y. Cory. She was quite a prolific illustrator in her time. Her work, prized today for its whimsy and beauty, is often sought as decor for nurseries.
Jackieboy is the story of the title fellow on his trip through the Rainbow Country, a trip afforded him by a strange but amiable witch. He starts his journey in a land filled with all sorts of red things, from fruit and flowers to Red Riding Hood herself. He then journeys to Orange Country and Yellow Country, where he encounters Goldilocks. On he goes to Greenland to travel with the Green Huntsman. His trip ends on the other side of Blue Country when he meets the witch again in a land of violet.
s book is a wonderful study in colors, mentioning many things associated with each color the way a color-learning book today would, but the story and illustrations are like none other. A creative mind is always stimulated, but I believe it's important to take in all manner of things from all manner of time periods. Though the story and illustrations were published nearly 100 years ago, the technique and creativity are still alive and well. The next time you have an opportunity, take a look at some old books, you may just be surprised at what you find.
