tamarindo beach marathon

One of the things I've learned in the design business, is definitely learning to breathe! I got commissioned to do the logo for a very popular national race here in Costa Rica, called the Tamarindo Beach Marathon. At first, the owner wanted to do something very similar to it's previous logo, and it was extremely hard to get him to like anything. He wanted to keep the runner vector and some very ugly waves and typography, but at the same time wanted a more modern logo...yet not contemporary (I'm sure by now you're asking yourself WTF?...well, so did I for weeks)! By my fourth round of logo sketching, I came up with this beautiful logo...keeping the runner but changing the waves and typography. A very nice modern look to a race that I like to classify as 'popular' since many young adults love to do it because of its location: the beach! At the end of the day, he got another designer to do his logo. So here I show you the one chosen (above) and one of the many I did (below), so you can ask yourself the second WTF?! BUT, such is life in the tropics, as we like to say,...win some, lose some.

llove aalways

I just wanted to quickly share this beautiful photos I found in So Happi Together blog taken by Up Imagery.

turqouise extravaganza

Spanish & Sisters. Mixt long turquoise necklace. Around $157 USD.

eco run

Lately my blog has become like my baby treasure. I must admit in the beginning I had a hard time remembering to update it, or just getting in the habit of blogging. But now I feel like if I let it sit alone for a long period of time, I start missing it and feeling the need to take care of it. Anyways, I haven't much time since I've been working like crazy for the past three weeks in a restaurant that's coming up...however, in the meantime, I've had to do some logos and small projects here and there....and I though it would be nice to post a sample. This is the most recent, a logo for a 10km run in the beach (I should note here that the beach in Costa Rica, although paradisaical, it's very natural in the whole sense of the word: very untouched, jungle-ish, humid, etc.). The concept of the race is an 'eco run'...running in nature...but at the same time, there's a donation for every inscription to a refuge that strives to save turtles in danger of extinction.

drooling Thursday

Pushmataaha Shahaka Ring On sale for $149.50 (AUD)

Yves Saint Laurent Arty Ovale Ring $250 (USD)

Alexander McQueen Cherry Blossom & Dragon Ring $290 (USD)

La Mer Red-Gold Peace Chain/Charm Wrap $110 (USD)

Rings are the one accessory I never leave my house without. You can find me without earrings, no necklace, bracelets or sometimes even watch...but you'll see a ring (or more) in my hand most of the time. I received probably the most beautiful ring I own to this time as a gift last week from a very dear friend of my mum, by a Colombian jewelry store called LA CANO (site is under maintenance but you can also find them on Facebook). I think I've posted some of these before, and they've been on the market for a while, but unfortunately I haven't had the resources to buy any yet (my next purchase will definitely be the YSL Arty Ovale Ring). Also, in my shopping list, is this beautiful La Mer watch!

hamburg style

Although the 4th of July is the US's independence, it has widely become an international celebration. I was away in the beach this weekend, where many Americans live near the coast, and the fireworks celebration was greatly anticipated by many. My family is purely Costa Rican (if any, we have some Spanish ancestors from my dad's side of the family), so the 4th of July is just like any other day in the calendar. However, as I have a profound esteem to the US and having lived there for nearly 4 years, I decided to have an unusual dedication to today in my blog.
Hamburgers are known to be a popular food for 'Americans', so I rushed into some quick research. It turns out that the word hamburger comes from the German port of Hamburg. It began in the 17th century, when Russian ships arrived at Hamburg and introduced the steak tartare, which later became known as 'hamburg steak'...and was quickly introduced to the European and New York scenery. In an attempt to attract German (and European) sailors, New Yorkers offered steaks cooked in Hamburg style along the city harbor. The first documented hamburger appeared in the menu of Delmonico's Restaurant in New York in 1826.
All in all...there's always room to learn something new! I wanted to give this brief introduction because I recently discovered the packaging for LT Burger (coincidentally located in New York) done by catchtwentyfour and there's something about that box that makes me want to rush out for a thick Angus burger! Wood type was used for the designs...all in all, an attempt (and to my opinion a glorious success) to bring out the chic of the not-so flattering art of eating a hamburger!