read more: 10 reasons millennials might abandon big cities

The growing urban constituency of hipster parents is not timid about making itself heard. Educated and in professional jobs, they are equipped to organize and galvanize. "They make clear the kinds of things they want to see," says Cincinnati Mayor Mark Mallory, who created a Young Professionals Kitchen Cabinet when he took office in 2006. "We've got to work fast. Think how accustomed they are to speed. ... They expect it. They also expect things within their community to transform at a much faster rate."

- 10 Reasons Millennials Might Abandon Big Cities, Business Insider

a holiday lull

[From Rue]

My apologies for what has been, and what will be, a very slow December here on percentblog. Between work, craft fairs, personal commitments, and celebrations posts will be few and far between.

On a more productive note, the latest issue of Rue Magazine is out and features many holiday celebrations and gifts. I will be headed back to the East Coast for a week with my family and couldn't be more thrilled. There may be a post or two before I go, but if not, happy holidays.

read more: crowdsourcing local development

"The history of modern financial investment has been the story of people and their money moving farther apart into abstraction, to the point where most of us don't know where our investments (if we have any) have gone. But shorten the distance between those two points, and things start to change. Put your money into a building you can see in your neighborhood, and suddenly you might care more about the quality of the tenant, or the energy efficiency of the design, or the aesthetics of the architecture."
- The Real Estate Deal that Could Change the Future of Everything, Atlantic Cities

tumblights 11/26

I had a lot of projects due to day (all of which will be shared soon) and thought tumblights weren't going to happen today. But here it is, just in time, a celebration of the power of citrus.

Clockwise from top left:

1. Citrus Clock powered by lemons via Inhabitat

2.  Orange-Powered Battery via Inhabitat

3. Madness Is Part Of Life via Honestly WTF

Enjoy these? Find more daily at percentblog.tumblr.com. And even more stunning images on my pintrest. 

design like you give a damn

[Tshirt. From Selfless Tee]

 Last week was packed. There was exciting news (Partner-in-Crime passed his grad school 'qual' and is now an official doctoral candidate.) There were parties (pre-launch party for the wonderful brika.com curated shop.) But mostly there were conferences. I attended both Greenbuild and Architecture for Humanity's Design Like You Give a Damn conference.

I struggled to think of how to share all the amazing stories and projects I learned about at DLYGAD and was thrilled to find out the presentations are all online. Check them out here. The conference was quite packed so I only saw two of the four panels- on EcoDesign and Security, along with the keynotes. Sadly, the amazing open mic talks are not included. For six hours, participants gave a 7 minute talk on a project they had completed. I spent the first two hours of the conference mesmerized and could have listened all day if not for the panels that occurred at the same time.

When I arrived, I was surprised at how far many participants had traveled. By the end, I understood why. Though just a one day conference, it was worth traveling to be there. Every participant and speaker deeply cared about design for good. Hope to see you all there next year. Until then, I'll be watching these videos when I need some inspiration.

tumblights 11/19

This week's tumblights visually are very connected in color palette but with very different materials- photography, plastic and wood. Something about them is very spring like, which counters the dreary weather that has me making chicken soup and lounging in bed. I'm hoping to be 100% for Thanksgiving, which will be split between friends and Partner-in-Crime's family. What are your plans?

Clockwise: 

1. Cave paintings via Design For Mankind 

2.  Recycled Scrap Chairs via Inhabitat

3. Marbelous Marble Wood Flooring via Design Milk

4.  Bichos Oak Branch Lamps via Design Milk

5.  Discarded Plastic into Art via Inhabitat

Enjoy these? Find more daily at percentblog.tumblr.com. And even more stunning images on my pintrest. 

Plaid Friday

I love the supportive craft community here in the Bay Area. I've learned so much about starting a business, finding shops, and following your passion from the amazing artisans and artists in the East Bay Arts Collective (as well as SF Etsy.)

Here's your chance to get in on that awesome-ness. I'll be offering 20% discount on Friday with the code PLAIDFRIDAY and that same code will get you fabulous discounts at the following EBAC shops. Thank you all for your support.

Participating Shops:

*30% OFF*
Girl on Bike - Nature inspired jewelry made from bicycle innertubes
http://www.etsy.com/shop/girlonbike

*25% OFF*
Tangleweeds - rustic, elegant hand-crafted brass and steel jewelry
http://www.tangleweeds.etsy.com/

*20% OFF*
Mangosteen - Handcrafted silver jewelry
http://www.etsy.com/shop/mangosteenjewelry

Impressedbynature - handmade pressed flower jewelry
www.IMPRESSEDbynature.etsy.com

Percent - handcrafted jewelry from vintage, natural and re-purposed materials.
www.percent.etsy.com  <<<<<--- hello="hello" i="i" nbsp="nbsp" oh="oh" there="there">

*10% OFF*
Fresh Edamami - Origami art pieces & accessories
www.etsy.com/shop/freshedamami

Andrea I Jewelry - www.andreaijewelry.etsy.com

*FREE SHIPPING*
The Mice Art - Art, prints, & photogragraphy inspired by nature

 

http://www.etsy.com/shop/TheMiceArt