Kaitlyn Trigger

Make-a-day haiku

Thu, 21 Jul 2011 00:46:08 -0700

Making a haiku
is, admittedly, easy.
But tough to master.

On my bike ride home,
hills rise surreptitiously,
breathing through the mist.

My make-of-the-day: a mask constructed from a Fillmore Yeasayer...

Wed, 20 Jul 2011 00:29:42 -0700

My make-of-the-day: a mask constructed from a Fillmore Yeasayer poster and a wooden spoon.

Make-a-day

Tue, 19 Jul 2011 00:50:00 -0700

I’m not a DIY-er. I’ve never been to Maker Faire. I get takeout too often, and I buy things on Etsy I could make for 1/10th of the price.

But on the rare occasions (outside of work) when I do create something myself – be it a pie, an origami crane, or an HTML birthday card for my boyfriend – my brain shifts gears. I feel more satisfied, more curious, and more energetic when I’m making than when I’m consuming.

And so…I’m embarking on an effort to make stuff more often. “Make stuff” is a pretty nebulous mandate, and I aim to keep it that way. I don’t want to define any particular kind of product. It’s much more about relishing logistics, finding purpose in details, and being intentional about your actions.

My goal: make at least one thing a day. I’m not too worried that it be something new or challenging. I just want to do it.

In that spirit, I started with chocolate chip cookies tonight. I’ve made them dozens of times in my life, but I still found it gratifying. I loved the poof of flour when mixing it into the butter, the mini crisis of baking soda vs. baking powder, the uneducated guess about when to take the cookies out of the oven. I loved those moments even more than eating the results.

Here’s to making. To making consistently yet unobsessively. To making joyfully.

Last week at SXSW Interactive, I led a panel called “Why...

Mon, 21 Mar 2011 16:18:50 -0700

Last week at SXSW Interactive, I led a panel called “Why Can’t Startups and Advertisers Play Nice?” We had a great conversation and a great turnout.

Above is the graphic recording of the panel, courtesy of Ogilvy Notes. If you want to hear the full podcast of the event and read more about the panelists, check out http://schedule.sxsw.com/events/event_IAP6015.

ogilvynotes:

Why Can’t Startups and Advertisers Play Nice?

Speakers: Charlie Taylor, Gloria Lin, Jay Adelson, Kaitlyn Trigger

Captured by: Stephanie von Dressler

Taken with Instagram at Shelf Road in Ojai

Fri, 18 Mar 2011 16:08:37 -0700

Taken with Instagram at Shelf Road in Ojai

My craft for the night @Etsy party. Pick one. (Taken with...

Sun, 13 Mar 2011 00:21:56 -0800

My craft for the night @Etsy party. Pick one. (Taken with Instagram at Etsy Austin)

Best idea of the day, so far...

Fri, 18 Feb 2011 09:27:19 -0800

lisagoodfriend:

MUNI should be like Domino’s Pizza—if it’s more than 1/2 hour late it should be free.

Foursquare hack tells you when to visit the Tate Modern

Thu, 17 Feb 2011 21:16:35 -0800

Foursquare hack tells you when to visit the Tate Modern:

I need this for Tartine Bakery. Any willing engineers?

A new two-for-one book deal in India makes Count Vronsky’s...

Sun, 13 Feb 2011 07:18:53 -0800

A new two-for-one book deal in India makes Count Vronsky’s behavior a little more understandable. I also wonder what Roger Moore would look like in drag.

Too close to home?

Sat, 12 Feb 2011 09:35:16 -0800

Too close to home?

At last! A documentary about Bill Cunningham. I’ve been...

Thu, 10 Feb 2011 19:58:05 -0800

At last! A documentary about Bill Cunningham. I’ve been following his street style video slideshows over the last few years and have always been curious to know more about the zesty voice behind the camera. Somehow he convinces us all that fashion is simultaneously the purest embodiment of civilization and the most foolish fun you’ll have in life. Isn’t it?

I love TCHO. I love their chocolate, their brand, their...

Wed, 09 Feb 2011 00:38:00 -0800

I love TCHO. I love their chocolate, their brand, their philosophy, their history. But the tour was a disappointment. People go on factory tours to feel like they’re a part of product creation — not to see a lot of big machines and fancy Keynote slides. I’d love to see TCHO offer more hands-on discovery of the chocolate making process, and turn tourists into brand storytellers.

I just finished Nicole Krauss’ latest novel, Great House....

Mon, 13 Dec 2010 22:42:00 -0800

I just finished Nicole Krauss’ latest novel, Great House. Her prose is lush. Her metaphors are deep. But boy, she makes her readers work to discover a narrative arc. I almost felt like I deserved a paycheck for hunting down the connections between her characters. They never really come together, and their fate is never quite resolved. Perhaps that’s her point?

Anyway, I went in hunt of some clarity, and came across an interview with the lovely and articulate Nicole Krauss. Even if you haven’t read her books, this video is a calm, cool dose of creative inspiration.

On "my" planet?

Sun, 12 Dec 2010 22:54:00 -0800

I just recieved a tumblr-submitted question from user 627182318273681724:

WHERE WOULD YOU MOST LIKE TO VISIT ON YOUR PLANET?

Is user 627182318273681724 a Klingon? I’m all for open dialogue with strangers on the interwebs, but I draw the line at humans (and maybe cats). On second thought, maybe I could have a career as a tour guide for extraterrestrials.

How would you answer E.T.’s question?

Love my grandpa! Next year I get to record his life story.

Sun, 12 Dec 2010 22:31:40 -0800

Love my grandpa! Next year I get to record his life story.

Someone should tell AT&T about the Navy's latest invention

Sat, 11 Dec 2010 23:09:00 -0800

Someone should tell AT&T about the Navy's latest invention

Acorn squash is perfect for a foggy San Francisco day.

Sat, 11 Dec 2010 19:24:32 -0800

Acorn squash is perfect for a foggy San Francisco day.