Source: Kitchen Kitch by Taschen

Hey if you’re tired of pulling out your collection of shopping bags with bank and real estate agent logos on them that you’ve gotten as gifts from every business in town, or if you need something more portable (these fit in your purse!), get in touch and I’ll happily print up some bags for you.

Old-Fashioned Dis Cards help you say what’s on your mind with a touch of formality and class. The set of five cards comes with “You’re a Jerk!”, “You’re out of the band”, “Please don’t call me anymore”, “You might need therapy”, and “Dude, what is wrong with you?”. Honesty is the best policy!

If you have something special to say, say it with Robots with Roboccasion Cards! Messages include “Happy Birthday”, “Hey, Congratulations”, and “I’m sorry!”. All of the cards were screen printed using my Gocco screen printer on re-purposed leftover sample paper, and the envelopes are made of recycled paper. But hold on, the environmental train of awesome doesn’t stop there! The sets of cards come in a mailable, reusable fabric bag!

Since my shop was inactive while I spent the past two years in Africa taking bucket baths and teaching kids about the magic of computers, I have a backlog of approximately 463 ideas for new things to design and make. And while I was writing this blog post, I thought of 6 more. So I’m off to get started!

There is nothing like the satisfaction of making something with my own two hands. From choosing the perfect paper for someone’s wedding guestbook and stitching it all together to designing a custom pattern for a set of invitations and screen printing them, I love the process and the tools and of course the beautifully hand-crafted finished product.

Don’t get me wrong, I love making websites too. Each design medium is like a child of mine–I love each one for different reasons (and each have their own special frustrations) and I can’t possibly choose a favorite. Or if I do, I just can’t tell the others. (I’m your favorite, right mom?)

I added a new page to my website right up there between Portfolio and Blog: Handmade. This photo gallery shares some of my favorite things I’ve made by hand. It’s been two long years since I put my screen printer, my bookmaking tools and my other art supplies in storage before leaving for Cameroon. Now they are all unpacked and ready to be used again. If you have an upcoming special event and want some kick-ass invitations, send me an email at thryn@zzilch.com.

Motion Math is a new movement-based learning game for the iPhone/iPod Touch.

Motion Math is the first learning game to fully leverage the unique sensors of mobile devices – the game makes estimating fractions an engaging, physical experience.

For Motion Math, I designed their logo and their website. The logo needed to say “dynamic, movement, fun, math!” To convey all of those things, I created the word “motion” out of the bouncing line which follows the plus sign as it falls into its place representing the ‘T’ in “Math.”

You can read more about Motion Math on their website, follow them on Twitter, and join their group on Facebook. Download the game and see how well you know your fractions. It’s pretty fun, even if you don’t have a math test this friday.

Fresh vegetables from the market in Mbouda, Cameroon

My name is Thryn. Once upon a time I was a graphic designer living and working in Baltimore, Maryland for a superb design firm called Ashton design. Life was grand.

I wrote two blogs: zzilch about design and inspiration, focusing on eco-friendly, ethical and sustainable design; and wedlog, a magical blog of fun, funky and green wedding planning. I taught art to kids, I indulged in presidential documentaries on the history channel, I watched Wes Anderson movies with my best friends. Then I quit my job and joined the Peace Corps.

For two years, I taught computer literacy to eager-minded Cameroonian school children in the hinge of Africa. I wore pagne, I rode in bush taxis with goats tied to the top, I ate Koki and drank Fanta in giant glass bottles with my village friends, I read all seven Harry Potter books in French. I loved it.

Now I’m back in a place where I can push some buttons on the computer and 20 minutes later a pizza comes to the door. It’s time for a fresh start. I’m living in San Diego, and doing freelance design full time. I’m making websites, invitations, binding books and screen printing funny little cards again. Oh and I got a small letterpress machine. Fancy!

Instead of continuing writing for zzilch and wedlog separately, I’m putting all design and special event content together in one blog, found here. Since Wedlog has continued to be a great reference for those planning a special event who want to make it unique, handmade and green, I’ll leave it up though over time I’ll import some of the most popular tutorials and references here.

It’s been a great journey so far, and the road ahead looks to be filled with rainbows, sunshine, and signposts set in perfectly kerned Helvetica Neue.