Check out the preview of the 2nd issue of Hey! Quarterly... All proceeds for issues published in 2007 will be donated to Chicago Coalition for the Homeless.
You can also purchase the premier issue, "Cities," right here for $8.95.
Also (esp. for Jane!), check out some pics of Paper + Cup's NSS 2007 booth... it was really great in person: the walls painted up like chalkboards, complete w/ chalk shelves & erasers!!!... check it out here!.
I'm getting ready to ship out these AWESOME shower invites to the non-SCOOP Laura... who, after needing invites for her birthday party last weekend, immediately turned her attention to celebrating her nephew (due to arrive in July!) -
This was a great (albeit quick) project, since
1) I really love working on baby-related projects...
2) these were printed on the ever-popular GOCCO printer, and
3) my instructions in designing these were to make them "cutesy, but not too cutesy... like "Brooklyn cutesy" -
I love that!... being familiar with Brooklyn and the great designers who live & work there (not to mention the slew of fabulous shops), this made it incredibly easy to get the right look.
The best part of the whole deal was the great compliment I got from Laura:
I am so glad we found you! I want to have more parties just so I can order more invitations…
That's the best!... Thanks, Laura!
pics by me!
My favorite pair of shoes is my Puma Feline Street Rs (in red!) - so, when I discovered that when it comes time to replace these, I can actually CUSTOMIZE a new pair, I was one happy camper!...
Using the RS100 shoe as the base, Puma has created (both in-store & online) the Mongolian Shoe BBQ...
For $130.00/pair, you can choose, literally down to the very PUMA logo that's printed on the sole of the shoe, the colors, materials & patterns that your pair is made up of...
These last two images are two shoes that I put together in their online 'restaurant'... I'm seriously contemplating buying those red & orange ones - but then I think of all the other possible color combinations that I could come up with!...
images c/o Puma.
The Sartorialist posted this lovely lady over a week ago but I just got caught up today. The image was billed as "On the Street...Just Before an Evening Cocktail Event at Louis Vuitton, New York". This is my dream summer dress--imagine how much mileage you could get out of a dress like that--plus I love the classic hair, earrings, everything.
Image from The Sartorialist.
various pieces from the Peter line.
YEAH! Laura's back!... I can't wait to hear all about her trip to Ireland - and the awesome things she saw there!
And, in just a few weeks, I'll be off on my very own international expedition...... to BARCELONA!
images c/o Waterford Crystal.
Greetings! I am officially back from a trip to Ireland and have much to share. The past days have been spent getting back into “real” life and so until I have pictures available, I will be posting on other things I learned about while on my trip.
I picked up the Irish shelter magazine Image Interiors (May-June 2007) and read about Clare Corrigan, the designer who worked with Marc Jacobs on his home collection for Waterford Crystal. She met Marc casually, through college friends (lucky girl!) and never imagined she would work for him, until he tracked her down while she was working at World of Interiors magazine. Both designers are drawn to vintage shapes for modern living, as evidenced by the old-fashioned Elizabeth Champagne saucer (below, second from right), and to making something as simple as the act of eating or drinking more special by using beautiful, quality plates and vessels. In designing the collection, special attention was paid to the silhouette and detail work of each piece.
The subtle, pretty detail is exactly what drew me to the pieces shown at the top of this post, clockwise from top left: Elizabeth fine china, Jean footed jug, and Jean fine china. The tiny flowers on the Elizabeth collection pieces remind me of Japanese silkscreen paper, deconstructed. On those pieces I also love the barely-there, almost irregular wavy edge. The dotted patterns on the Jean pieces are elegant but would also work in a casual setting, and the pretty gold offsetting the white china has a hint of royalty about it.
Images from www.waterford.com.
Modern Green Chair with Circles, 8 x 8" acrylic w/ chyogami paper, $75.00, available at How About Orange's etsy shop.
Jess has gotten herself into a heap of trouble by opening up her own etsy shop... everything she makes just flies out the door!
The coasters are gone (thanks to me!)... 6 paintings have already been sold and there's only one set of tacks left!
from top to bottom: Stylized Vines on Charcoal Background, ... on Chocolate Background, and ...on Rosy Background, 6 x 6" acrylic paintings, $45.00/each, available at How About Orange's etsy shop.
I love the vine motif on these... I think they'd be best in a series: maybe one chocolate, one charcoal & one rose - all lined up, side by side!
images c/o How About Orange...
Walking into Spruce Avenue's booth at NSS this year made me realize how much I really didn't see at the 2006 show... I can't believe I've only just discovered them!!!
Spruce Avenue, like me, was a first-time exhibitor in 2006, and - in my opinion - they definitely hit the nail on the head this year, with their well-organized, beautifully-lit and almost serene booth. Their silk-screen work is truly gorgeous and their display did an excellent job of showing it off.
the interview:
E: What's new?
Melissa: Spruce Avenue released 25 new note card designs this year and also 4 limited edition prints of our landscape collection.
E: What is the best part about exhibiting at the National Stationery Show?
Melissa: The best part of the show is writing orders and hearing what the retailers have to say, there's no better compliment to our work. I think one of the biggest thrills, for us, has been meeting the designers behind some of the studios we admire. To hear them tell us how much they love what we're doing, is awesome.
E: Of all the places that currently sell your goods, what's your favorite shop/boutique/online store?
Melissa: They are all favorites. I know, lame answer right? But they have all been great supporters and fans of our line, I couldn't possibly pick one favorite.
(click here to see where Spruce Avenue's cards are sold.)
E: Which part of your business do you enjoy the most?
Melissa: Designing and proofing a new collection has to be our favorite. Dana and I design and hand silk screen all of our products ourselves, so we spend a lot of time, photographing and drawing in our favorite spots. When we go to proof the designs, we have all four of our dogs running around, we're mixing new colors, and we crack each other up, so we have the best time. There is a huge feeling of accomplishment when the designs we've been working on for so long, are silk screened on the right paper, with the color and balance all working together.
E: Anything else?
Melissa: Look for new products in the next year, Spruce Avenue is working on expanding the line beyond note cards, so watch out!
pics by emily.
...so many colors!
When we returned from NYC, Josh eagerly posted on MoCo Loco about 'felt-aficionados,' Parkhaus Berlin:
I wanted every single thing in this booth... there's something so lucious and beautiful about felt. It takes color so well and it's such a durable, yet flexible material. I really need to experiment with making some journals & albums w/ felt covers...
Jacket & Paris Case w/ Felt Belt from Parkhaus.
I hope that Parkhaus had a successful show... I'd love to see them exhibiting next year, too!!!
first image & last two images c/o Parkhaus Berlin; NSS booth shots by Jw.
top shelf: left 2 designs by Pancake & Franks, far right design by John McDonald Design; middle shelf, designs by Sukie; bottom shelf, designs by Foxy & Winston.
If you're anything like me, you hoard paper products... when someone gives you a gift, you carefully unwrap it, so as to not damage the wrapping paper. And when you receive a present in a gift bag, you're definitely setting that aside to use later (either to wrap your own gift with... or maybe to carry your lunch?) -
Well, The Gift Bag Factory has actually taken that notion to new heights with their line of too-beautiful-to-throw-away gift bags. Not only are the bags unique in their construction & durability, they are designed by a wide array of artists and designers, rather than by one source. The end result is a high-quality and overwhelmingly appealing product...
gift bags w/ designs by Dewey Howard.
I was so excited to visit the booth of The Gift Bag Factory at NSS this year... to see the designs all together, displayed in the same place was really impressive. And the bags themselves are so great! I ended up carrying around the sample bag that Teresa gave me for the rest of the day. Several people (in and outside of the show) wanted to know where I got it... and were shocked to find out that it was a paper gift bag!
gift bags w/ designs by Foxy & Winston.
the interview:
Teresa Owens, the president of The Gift Bag Factory - whom I was fortunate enough to meet in person at the show - took part in the 2nd interview of my in-depth NSS coverage... enjoy!:
E: What's new?
Teresa: We are very excited to debut 19 new designs by some of our favorite (and fabulously talented!) designers. We are also showing an important addition to our range with an extra small size gift bag (shown below: bottom right!)...
Diver design, by Looky-Loo Letterpress, bags available at The Gift Bag Factory.
E: What is the best & worst part about participating in trade shows?... and NSS, in particular?
Teresa: The best part of participating in the NSS is having the opportunity to meet our amazing customers and favorite designers in person - most of whom we have only ever corresponded with by phone or email. We also find that the show presents a wonderful opportunity for customers to see our line collectively where reps may only carry a limited assortment of products on the road. We believe that our gift bags truly need to be touched and held to appreciate what we are offering that is different from others on the market - a catalog just doesn't do them justice.
The worst part of participating in the NSS, as I'm sure most would agree, is the expense of exhibiting... It's also tiring on your feet under those lights all day!
E: Of all the places that currently sell your goods, what's your favorite shop/boutique/online store?
Teresa: Our favorite shop is Pulp with a flagship store in DC and a new location, P-Town Pulp, opening this weekend in Provincetown, MA. (The owners,) Ron and Beverly, were one of our first customers and believed in our product when we were new to the industry. They have always been enthusiastic about our product and appreciative of the fine details that are so important to us - including our gift bag construction, handcrafted stitching, and fashion forward designs.
E: Which part of your business do you enjoy the most?
Teresa: My favorite hat to wear is working with designers to create and produce our new line additions. It's always so much fun putting our heads together to think of new directions to take our product. I always learn so much from the creative dialogue with our artist friends and I hope they come away from the experience with an excitement to see their gorgeous graphics toted around town!
* * *
Thanks again to Teresa for meeting with me at the show, and for answering my questions! I definitely admire the ingenuity behind these products... and, of course, The Gift Bag Factory's support & promotion of independent artists and designers like me!
NSS pics by emily; additional product pics c/o of The Gift Bag Factory.
Somewhat in keeping with my recent posts on paper artists Jen Stark and Matthew Sporzynski, I was excited to learn about sculptor, Jennifer Maestre, who has a series of pieces made entirely out of pencils (via Happy Cavalier):
Maestre states that the original inspiration for her 3-dimensional work was the form & function of the sea urchin... As a scuba diver, the pencil sculptures did make me immediately think of sea creatures & coral structures...
Not only are these pieces interesting & beautiful, there's something intriguing about the mixture of a seemingly round and "soft" shape actually being extremely sharp and untouchable...
image c/o Jennifer Maestre.
I have a bunch of these Chiyogami paper-covered pencils from Paper Mojo, and I absolutely love them. They are just so pretty and the mix of patterns and colors make me happy--always a good thing for a workspace. They deserve to be displayed as a group in their own pencil cup. $3.82 for 3 pencils.
Photo from Paper Mojo.
The first time I saw an OPLUSD card was at the MCA store here in Chicago...
That's F*cking Great card, $3.75/ea. at OPLUSD.
The precisely laid out squares and their undulating colors drew me in... and then I was sold on the card's naughty message. There's nothing better than a saucy card that's also really well-designed.
My One and Only card, $3.75/ea. at OPLUSD.
the interview:
Since I'm always interested in the designer-behind-the-cards, I've put together a series of relatively basic questions to ask several of the exhbitors at this years NSS... Olga Krigman of OPLUSD is first up:
E: What's new?
Olga: SOOO MUCH! We came out with 50 new styles of cards and notebooks and notepads. Still too tired to even go into any details.... yawn... need a nap.
E: What is the best & worst part about participating in trade shows?... and NSS, in particular?
Olga: Trade shows have their ups and downs, as everything else in the world. When people are in the booth telling you how fantastic you are and writing big fat orders, you're as happy as a bug in a rug... When you are sitting by yourself at the table and tumbleweeds are rolling in the aisles, you just want to strangle (everyone). I did the whole show by myself, and it was incredibly tough...
One in a Million card, $3.75/ea. at OPLUSD.
E: Which part of your business do you enjoy the most?
Olga: I sure do enjoy writing those orders almost more than designing... but the designing is of course the cherry on the big cake... I love the idea of growing this business into something (bigger)... it's all pretty exciting still.
E: Anything else?
Olga: I am so happy with the response this year, I keep thinking that i'm about to wake up any moment.... the cards are selling, and people love them, and it seems that they make people happy, it's as much as i could ever hope for (still want that house in italy though.... and a little boat wouldn't hurt!)
Pooping Machine card and Thank You Very Much card, both $3.75/ea., available at OPLUSD.
Thanks so much to Olga for her great answers to my questions... I'm looking forward to seeing all sorts of new things from OPLUSD in the future!
pics c/o of OPLUSD.
So, I know that I said I was going to take a couple of days to concentrate on custom work before posting my more in-depth NSS coverage, but I just couldn't do it, so here's some really great organizational stuff from Minnesota-based M.O. Inc.:
Project Folders in Aqua or Coral, $9.95/set of 3 at M.O. Inc.
I picked up a pack of the Project Folders (in Aqua) to use for organizing each of my custom clients' jobs. I can't wait to test them out!!!
Expanding Desktop File, $19.95 at M.O. Inc.
I definitely love M.O.'s products for a lot of the same reasons that I love Russell+Hazel: they're designing products that are both functional and beautiful. The usefulness of the products is complimented by their clean, attractive design (and vice versa).
The Expanding Desktop File is a perfect example of M.O.'s M.O.: having both a sense of style & a sense of purpose... I think the task bar on the outside (for setting the date & clipping on key pieces like business cards, photos or job notes) is absolute genius.
images c/o M.O. Inc.
There's just so much NSS stuff to post about that, well... I'm going to need a day to organize it all. I returned from NYC last night (without too much chaos or waiting with traffic, flights, etc.) and I'm exhausted.
Having exhibited at the show last year, my heart (and feet) go out to those who were showing this year: GET SOME REST and TAKE A FEW DAYS OFF!... if you know anyone who worked the show, or are currently working with any of the exhibitors, please give them a couple of days to recuperate.
Although, I've been in the world of wholesale products - and thinking a lot of my own line... and about the introduction of some new lines this fall (!)... I do have a long list of custom clients that need my attention. If you didn't know already, "wedding season" is in full swing (for wedding vendors, this is usually from January 'til July every year) and I'm going to take most of today and tomorrow to touch base with my brides & grooms (as well as a few shower, stationery & business clients) and I'll be posting some more detailed NSS accounts (and interviews!) very soon...
If you are ever looking for a wedding gift, try browsing through Clio Home. The site is just so fun to look through, and the products are gorgeous, different and seem well-made.
"Gran's Candlesticks" ($40 each), shown above, are just great--a traditional form updated in bold, unexpected colors. I particularly like the three colors shown in the photo together, but I could also see a pair of matching candlesticks on a mantle or hallway table.
Image from Clio Home.
I first mentioned Hammerpress about a month ago in my "I have a letterpress addiction." post. After emailing back and forth with Lindsay, I asked about coming by their booth at NSS to take some pics and see more of their product in person...
Coffee Postcards, $5.00/each, available in Hammerpress's online store.
I love the line of Coffee Postcards (given my own addiction to drinking coffee) - and their messages are great: "Picky Eaters Need Coffee" and "Robots Need Coffee" are just two of them...
I loved everything Hammerpress had displayed in their booth. Founder, Brady Vest, and his team definitely have an aesthetic that I'm extremely fond of... I can't wait until I have my own shop in Chicago, so that I can carry their cards, postcards, calendars & prints!
pics by emily.
I met the lovely Jane Buck of Foxy & Winston at last year's National Stationery Show, when our booths were just across the aisle from each other.
This year, F&W's booth was my first stop - and although I've been keeping tabs on Jane and her beautiful silk-screen work throughout the year, I was excited to see all of her goods looking so lovely up & displayed in the booth...
I'm also excited to see her larger prints available for wholesale (and for direct sale in the Foxy & Winston Etsy Shop... and the 2-color prints (like the Black-Eyed Susan print above) are even more impressive in person that in the photographs I've seen previous to the show.
I left the show with 2 prints of my very own... the Hedgehog wall print for our guest room (remember the post about the Hedgehog card?) and the Giraffes wall print for my nephew, Toby... I think it'll look great in his nursery!
F&W logo c/o Foxy & Winston; all other pics by emily.
I really enjoy these pieces by artist Leif Palmquist. When I was younger I used to draw ribbons as an exercise in shading and I think that may partially explain it. Anyway I think these are beautiful...so graphically pleasing.
Top: Del av dagen, del av natten, 1 2006, oil and pencil on canvas. Bottom: Del av dagen, del av natten, 2 2006, oil and pencil on canvas. Both works by Leif Palmquist. Images from Galleri Charlotte Lund, Stockholm.
letterpress card by Delphine.
With all that's going on right now, I really don't think I'll be able to post as frequently as I would've liked... but I certainly couldn't go for very long without at least giving a sneak peek of some of the amazing stuff I've seen here at NSS 2007 up to this point...
silk screened cards by Spruce Avenue.
plate, cards & pen cup by Superdeluxe.
box & wrap by Joy by Mel Lim.
I'm SO excited to post (in much greater detail) about the above finds and so much more... stay tuned!
images (top to bottom) c/o Delphine Press, Spruce Avenue, Superdeluxe, and Joy by Mel Lim.
Niobe Necklace, $148.00 by I. Ronni Kappos for Anthropologie.
I was checking out some posts on Cool Hunting this morning and came across a post by Wendy Dembo about I. Ronni Kappos:
Cipher Necklace, $248.00 by I. Ronni Kappos for Anthropologie.
Not only is Kappos' existing work truely lovely - it's incredibly cool that I can get my very own IRK piece at Anthropologie... I think AP is a great store to really hit the mainstream market, while still retaining a designer's individual, custom appeal. There's something about that store that's really hitting the mark for me on so many levels...
Water Lily Necklace, $198.00 by I. Ronni Kappos for Anthropologie.
I love how colorful, yet elegant the IRK for Anthropologie pieces are... it's really tricky to get rainbow right without the end result feeling unsophisticated - and these necklaces are an excellent example of a designer who has hit it right on the nose. I love the idea that I could wear one of these necklaces every single day w/ absolutely any outfit!
images c/o Anthropologie.
The Golden Road by Caille Millner. Image from Amazon.com.
Admittedly, I picked up this book because of its cover. Then I read the summary of The Golden Road: Notes on My Gentrification and decided it would also be a great read. We'll see! Because I have not yet started the book, I will for now just tell you that the inside book cover is every bit as lovely as the jacket...
Image copyright by Jason Munn for The Small Stakes.
More from The Small Stakes...always fun to see what Jason Munn is creating. Another cool silhouette example.
The oh-so-gracious Allison from Jonathan Wright & Co. was nice enough to suggest that I put up a post about my recent promo mailer and the fact that
there's not enough postage on the reply cards!!!
If you received one of these lovely cards and you'd like to send in your reply card (and you should!), if you could be so sweet as to add one piddly little 2¢ stamp before mailing it... well, I'd be ever so thankful!
...the post office gets me every time!
Thanks for the tip, Allison!
Crystal Ice notes (set of 6) by Cielo Blu, $14.00 at Greer Chicago.
I've got a pretty solid list of booths that I must check out at the National Stationery Show this year - including Cielo Blu, Pancake & Franks and Elum Designs, just to name a few... The pics here are just a sampling, so if you love good design, I suggest checking out their websites. Oh, and Greer Chicago's online shop is a great place to purchase cards from these companies!
Vegetable Notes (set of 4) by Pancake & Franks, $15.25 at Greer Chicago.
Damask flat cards w/ printed envelopes! (box of 10) by Elum designs, and available at Greer Chicago.
pics c/o Greer Chicago!
Caught this feature in Cottage Living May/June 2007, on a stationery line I admire, Cheree Berry Paper. Cheree Berry was a graphic designer for Kate Spade before starting her company, which includes cheerful and sophisticated lines of wedding invitations, baby announcements and stationery.
I love seeing artists' workspaces and it's fun to catch a glimpse of Cheree's creative process. I especially enjoy inspiration boards--as pictured in the photo above--because they give such insight as to what fuels the designer's creativity and how he or she organizes thoughts. Additionally, I enjoy seeing how the studio is organized; I always get ideas for my workspace (which is currently a total disaster--will be a late spring project).
Of particular note is Cheree Berry Paper's line of stationery for men. I am drawn to the designs above--"classic correspondence" (left) and "flock of birds" (right). Talk about filling a hole in the marketplace--the selections of stationery for men I have seen recently have been scarce and on the whole, pretty unimaginative. Maybe Emily will discover some great new products for guys at the Stationery Show!
Top image photographed by Matthew Gilson for Cottage Living, May/June 2007. Bottom images from Cheree Berry Paper.
Somewhat in keeping with the upcoming Stationery Show, as well as my recent post on Jen Stark, here's some more amazing work being done with paper:
You've probably seen several of Matthew Sporzynski's phenomenal paper still lifes in the pages of Real Simple -
Much like with Jen Stark's work, I feel completely drawn to Sporzynski's meticulous detail and remarkable accuracy...
Sporzynski's Manhattan-based design company, Couturier de Cardboard does much more than just scenes for Real Simple - The above pic is from O at Home Magazine where some Beverly Hills gals are depicted with hats & bags made out of wallpaper!...
There's also a great article about Sporzynski in the June 2007 issue of HOW Magazine... check it out if you can!
images (top to bottom) c/o Real Simple and O at Home.
When it comes to custom work, I'm a huge fan of party invitations...
A client of mine - named Laura (not to be confused with our Laura, here at the SCOOP!) - has hired me to make her birthday party invitations two years in a row. This year, I printed them on my Print GOCCO machine - and I think they turned out great!
I've blurred out the street address for the privacy of the birthday girl!... no party crashers allowed!
For you typography-lovers out there, the font I used is called Rosewood™ Fill by Linotype, $24.00 for the whole family...
Laura's cards from last year were just as cool... digitally printed and sent in clean, white monarch envelopes, by Crane's:
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LAURA!... I hope you have a GREAT party!!!
pics by emily.
So, we're now in the home stretch: it's the week before the National Stationery Show and, if you're not a big fan of cute cards, awesome letterpress & cleverly adorable stationery, then you should probably tune in to another blog for the next few weeks...
Blue Flower in Hair Note, 8 for $15.00 by Amy Smyth Made It.
I won't be exhibiting at NSS this year, as I did last year... but I will be there checking out newly launched card lines & saying hello to some of the fabulous people I met there last time around. I've got a solid list of 40+ booths that I need to visit, including Foxy & Winston, Louella Press, Snow & Graham and one of my all-time favorites: KNOCK KNOCK!... but I'm also hoping to add several new finds to my list of card companies that I adore!
Blender Invitation, 10 for $10.50 by Amy Smyth Made It.
I first saw the goods at Amy Smyth Made It LLC at NSS 2006... I love her quirky illustrations, excellent color palette & unique taglines. I'm certainly a big fan of the slightly off-kilter messages of companies like ASMI and OplusD... especially, since they're backed up with solidly good design.
ASMI will customize their fill-in designs for you... for just $5.00 extra per box!
Amy Smyth Made It will be in Booth #2070 at this year's NSS... if you'll be there, I suggest you stop by and check their line out in person - especially if you have a shop in need of some fresh, new cards!
images c/o Amy Smyth Made It LLC.
Good morning to all...my schedule is taking me away from the computer until the end of next week, but in anticipation of this I have uploaded posts that will appear throughout the duration. I apologize in advance for being unable to read and respond to comments, but when I return I will have all kinds of exciting things to report on and I will read each of your comments as well.
To kick off our Monday morning: some fabulous shots of interior designer Jay Jeffers' work. This home in Presidio Heights, CA took a year and a half to complete and I encourage you to check out all the photos here. So many rooms...the approach varies somewhat among the spaces, but Jeffers' unique aesthetic--whimsical but also very refined--is communicated throughout. Each room has so much personality and I imagine reflects a lot about the client. I have long been a Jeffers fan and I especially love this home.
You can also check out design*sponge's podcast of her interview with the designer here.
Images from Jeffers Design Group.
My coasters from How About Orange's esty shop have arrived!!!...
I'm taking them home tonight and putting drinks on them!!!
Thanks, Jess!!!
(MAKE MORE!)
pic by emily.
Cute Cloud Deco Tape, $6.00 at Strawberry Pop!
Laura's post about the lace tape from stellabugbee.com immediately made me think of all the fabulous decotapes out there that I need to own...
Just search "decotape" on flickr and you'll get 100+ great pics of people's tape collections! The above image of three really great Cram Cream tapes is from Rachael H's flickr photostream...
I am definitely a big fan of anything & everything Cram Cream... and their decotapes are no exception:
If you need to get your hands on some of this awesomely cute tape, I suggest hitting up Repro Depot Fabrics (also great for fabrics and ribbon), or try Strawberry Pop!.
pics (from top to bottom) c/o Strawberry Pop!. Rachael Herbert and Repro Depot Fabrics.
I shipped my grandmother's Mother's Day gift yesterday and I wish I'd had some of this lace packaging tape on hand to pretty up the box. She would get a kick out of this!
The practical, pretty item was designed by Stella Bugbee, who is also the design director of one of my favorite reads, bene magazine. The tape is available at Matter, 55 yards for $10 (also available in white "lace").
You can view shots of Stella's NY studio here, and you can also read more about her design inspirations in this feature from domino, June 2006. (Turns out, she and I share a love of Loeffler Randall shoes, Marimekko patterns and Santa Maria Novella beauty products!)
Image from www.stellabugbee.com.
I like re-purposing things. I also like (and collect) vases--I have way too many--and as much as I'd like to fill every room with fresh flowers all the time that just won't happen!
Martha Stewart's idea for empty vases is to weigh them down with sand and use them as bookends on a shelf. Pretty and practical. I like it.
Image from www.marthastewart.com.
Paper artist extraordinaire, Jen Stark, will be having her first NY solo show - opening next Friday, May 18th @ LMAKprojects in Brooklyn.
detail: Degrees of Lightness installation, 40 ft. wall, construction paper, Jen Stark © 2006.
Just a few weeks ago, Josh sent me a link to a post on The Brilliance about Jen's work, with the simple subject line, "I thought you'd like this"... um, I friggin' LOVE it. Not only does Jen's work appeal to me as a person who works with paper as their primary medium - the crazy-meticulous nature of her paper sculptures is right up my alley.
detail: Untitled, 11 x 14", hand-cut stack of construction paper, Jen Stark © 2005.
Square, 12 x 12", card stock, Jen Stark © 2007.
Jen's site includes a great sampling of her paper sculptures, but also has a beautiful gallery of drawings and pages from her sketchbook!... I love seeing the visual thought processes behind an artist's work: the "unfinished" stuff that you don't really think will see the light of day is always so telling of where the finished work comes from.
top: page from Jen's sketchbook; bottom: Linear Masses Series, 14 x 17", felt-tip pen on paper, Jen Stark © 2006.
Primaries: New Works by Jen Stark will run from May 18th - July 1st, 2007 (with an opening reception on the 18th from 7-9pm)... I'm pretty bummed that I won't be arriving in NYC until the next morning! but I'm definitely planning to check out the show while I'm in town!
(For those of you who will be in town, LMAKprojects is located at 60 N 6th St, Brooklyn.) -
Oh, and don't miss the awesome Animation with Paper on the home page!
pics c/o jenstark.com.
I was introduced to Meg Braff Interiors yesterday in the June 2007 ‘’House Beautiful’’. The designer’s overall style is a contemporary take on traditional, but she did this Palm Beach home using vibrant colors, patterns, and vintage accessories that to me, truly capture the “vacation” spirit. I particularly love the yellow wallpaper, chandeliers and sunburst mirror…the other images of the home are just as fun, I had a hard time narrowing it down to three!
‘’Images from Meg Braff Interiors.’’
Florodora 1/8 vertical ad for the 05.17 issue of TimeOut Chicago Magazine.
I design stuff...
pretty stuff...
stuff for people with awesome stores that you should shop at.
I received the latest Ballard Designs catalog last week and was immediately taken with two items that happen to be pictured together, as shown in the image above.
(In full disclosure, a family member of mine works for Ballard Designs, but I received the catalog and identified these things I liked on my own--there was no soliciation on behalf of the company!)
The good-sized (42 square inches) Lavello mirror ($199) is impactful and elegant, but its curves within the square make it playful at the same time. It comes both in rubbed black and rubbed white--I definitely prefer the white, especially because I can picture it hanging in an entryway against a vibrantly colored wall, contrasted with a black console table below it and minimal accessories (to let the mirror take center stage).
In front of it, the Marianna umbrella stand ($99), used in the photo as a vase, was my next favorite piece. I just love the ring chain pattern--it looks so modern, but its design was actually inspired by an Italian antique. I can definitely see it in a foyer, positioned right next to the front door, with a colorful rug or runner to provide contrast to its white form.
Image from Ballard Designs.
Doll in Off-White, £85.00 from Terra Plana.
If you're like me, you've noticed lately, an abundance of companies "trying to save the world"... I feel like there are two kinds of companies/people/ organizations in play here:
1) some people in suits in a board room realizing that their numbers are dropping and maybe "being ethical & eco-friendly" could increase their sales...
2) other people (possibly also in suits) who genuinely care about the effects that the production of their products, the way their factories are run, the amount of materials they could be re-using, etc... have on the planet.
Of course, there's a lot of gray area in the middle of those two... but it does seem that you can feel when a company is being smart & sincere about their environmental policies...
Dopie Ladies in Orange, £30.00 from Terra Plana.
Terra Plana, a shoe company based out of London, is an excellent example of company using production methods & already-used materials to fashion a really stylish product line.
(top:) Aqua in Navy, for men, £85.00 from Terra Plana; (bottom two:) Aston in Ice and Dark Brown, £95.00 each.
The majority of Terra Plana's shoe constructions are stitched, so as to use minimal amounts of glue. They are also currently working towards the exclusive use of water-based adhesives, for use where glues are ultimately necessary.
The company also makes a point to use materials local to the factories where their shoes are produced in order to cut down on transportation & resulting fuel emissions.
Mumbai in Sky, £80.00 from Terra Plana.
(Laura totally needs these Mumbai shoes... they're practically screaming her name!)
pics c/o Terra Plana... and for more detailed information about Terra Plana's Eco & Ethical Policies, go here or, for an article about eco-awareness in the fashion world, read this via treehugger.
I have long been a fan of Wenlan Chia’s clothing line, Twinkle by Wenlan, and her newer home accessories line, Twinkle Living. Emily really captured Twinkle’s creative essence in her post below, so I won’t expand but will offer my favorite items (available at Nordstrom: (left) Confetti sweater, (center) Spin the Bottle dress, (right) “Featherlash” print kimono top. I love each of these for their feminine, whimsical-but-modern-and-not-cutesy pattern and color. Images from Nordstrom.
Emily also mentioned Twinkle’s collection of specialty yarns. I wish I was a knitter—if so, I would get a bundle of those plus this book, Twinkle’s Big City Knits. I actually checked it out at the bookstore over the weekend and it’s a gorgeous book. I can’t give any reviews about the practicality of the patterns, but the fashion photography was really lovely. Image from Amazon.
The OrangeBeautiful promos are getting there... slowly but surely. The plan is still to get them in the mail by the weekend (so as to miss the stamp rate increase - that's right, folks: first class postage is 41¢, starting this Monday, May 14th!) -
If you'd like to be added to the mailing list, go ahead and email your name & mailing address to
info ( at ) orangebeautiful dot com.
(don't worry - I'm nowhere greedy enough to be selling names or addresses... you'll just get some really nice mail every once in a while!)
pics by emily.
Yesterday, I delivered a wholesale order to a new shop downtown, called Florodora. I first met owner, Mike Blossom, last winter at the One of a Kind Show & Sale at the Mart when he was looking for goods to sell in his shop...
The space is beautiful & ecclectic - and having seen it when it was completely empty just five months back - it was even more impressive... and don't even get me started on the stuff that's for sale there. I wanted to buy one of everything: dresses by Twinkle (which I'll get to in a moment!); cards by Hello, Lucky!; colorful & well-packaged Translucent Chocolates; and so much more...
I am now specifically obsessed with the clothing line Twinkle by Wenlan... it's one of those things where you see something that you feel was made for you - the crazy mix-match of patterns, the slightly 'off' color palette, the chic-yet-wearable styling. It seemed like every piece I was drawn to at Florodora had a 'twinkle' tag in it... ah, better start saving now!
note: for you fabulous knitters out there - you definitely need to check out the Twinkle line of handknit yarns... even a run-of-the-mill, by-the-pattern project would turn fabulous using Wenlan's yarns!
store pic by Donna Rickles c/o Time Out Chicago Magazine; other pics c/o nordstrom.com.
Dinner parties were the topic of last week at A Cup of Jo. So I was inspired to post this story from Jane, February 2007, about how to entertain with lively champagne and humble frozen pizza.
As I’ve mentioned, cooking is not my thing at the moment, so I adore the idea of taking something easy and making it look fancy and fun. Jessica Murnane, who used to run my favorite (now closed) stationery shop in Chicago, is the stylish lady behind this party. She likes to take frozen pizzas and provide fresh toppings like basil, goat cheese, prosciutto, and artichokes so guests can customize their own. As the photos attest, the trick to making it look fabulous is in the setup. Flowers, a punch bowl and champagne glasses, cake pedestals for serving pizzas and pretty tablecloths make it look special. And the tone is set with a mailed invitation, which Murnane also designed for this event (download it here) because as she says, “ People get more excited when there’s something to put on the fridge”.
Other things in these photos I love: the pink accent wall, the black-painted trim on the walls, the antique chair painted white, the champagne bottle chiller and the vintage brass pineapple anchoring the table.
Photos by Isabel Asha Penzlien for Jane, February 2007. Invitation image from www.janemag.com.
I came across this summery sweater dress from J.Crew this weekend and it immediately reminded me of these home décor items: (top, right) Kelly Wearstler’s Imperial Trellis fabric in Citrine/Ivory; and (below, right) Anthropologie’s Isola Bella bath linens.
Photos from J.Crew, KWID, and Anthropologie.
So, I was delighted this morning when I checked up on How About Orange... only to find that Jess has opened her etsy shop!
Felt Coasters, set of 4, $14.00... (if she makes some more:) available at howaboutorange.etsy.com!
She's gonna have to make some more stuff, cuz I just bought her last set of felt coasters!!!... aren't they GREAT! They'll fit perfectly in with the colorful craziness of the work table that I share with Josh at home...
There's mention in the HAO etsy post this morning, that paintings may be added to the etsy shop... The one above is a little 6" guy that Jess posted about a few weeks ago. I love the smaller scale - and something like this would fit in so well on a pre-existing art wall.
images c/o Jess at How About Orange....
Personally, I love working on self-promotion pieces for OrangeBeautiful. It's not only a way for me to test out new designs, methods of production & fun materials - it's also the absolute best form of advertising for me (well... that and the website).
I'm currently working on a mailing that is mostly geared toward shop owners that I'm hoping will be interested in my wholesale products (and possibly custom services, as well) - I'll post up some pics when the whole set is finished... for now, these will have to dry & be re-visited on Monday.
pics by emily.
These fabrics from Lewis & Sheron in Atlanta are my favorites: they're pretty, fun, and to me, epitomize SPRING! They are also significantly less expensive than many designer fabrics—an added bonus. Lewis & Sheron provides swatches of their fabrics for $2.50 each, a nice option when you need to check a color or texture, or visualize the size of the pattern--and they also ship online orders free, within the US.
I already own a couple yards of the geometric aqua-and-white fabric (top left) and I’m trying to decide what to do with it. I guess I have too many ideas. Roman shade? Bolster pillow? Seat cushion? I haven’t figured it out yet, but I love how the color and bold pattern look in my house.
Clockwise from top left: Style 20786 in Pool, $14.98/yard; Florian/Faille in Sand, $12.98/yard; Everett in Chambray, $25/yard; and Lattice, $13.98/yard.
Images from Lewis & Sheron.
I'd like to thank mama22boys at Goodnight Sweet Pea for her post on these:
Happy Suction Toothbrush Holder Set, $4.95; pack of 2 (assorted colors, randomly selected) available at tiny living.
Not only are these suction cup toothbrush holders adorable & functional, they're just one of a zillion things at tiny living that I want for my own apartment. The store was created by a NYC couple interested in selling affordable, functional products for small-space living.
(clockwise from top left:) Fabric Magazine Holder in Lime/Tan, $14.95; Miss Army Kit pocket knife, $17.95; Pocket Incense, $5.50... all available at tiny living.
images c/o tiny living.
I'm a big fan of smallthings, the Portland, Oregon-based company of jewelry designer Teresa Robinson:
Two Birdies & Bell Necklaces, Originals collection, $88/each at smallthings.
Flora vs. Fauna Circle Necklaces, $80/each at smallthings.
Bits and Pieces Rings, $45/each at smallthings.
I was already familiar with her silver pieces, inset w/ colored glass (you can choose your color!) - but I love the new (to me) Bits and Pieces line... especially the rings... they're so tiny and simple. I wish there was a 'book' design (cuz I make books ;) - but I do love the Scissors and the Cupcake!...
pics c/o smallthings.
Photographed by Grey Crawford for Cottage Living, December 2006.
Reader Nitika asked where to locate the coral sconces shown in Ruthie Sommers’ living room, pictured in December 2006 Cottage Living, above. (Read the full post here).
The resource information from the magazine listed Weego Home as the source of the sconces, but I was unable to locate an image of them on their website. The magazine also listed an alternative—this Iron Coral Candle Sconce, shown below, from The Well Appointed House. The site actually has two versions of the sconce—the candle version below, and a wired version ($216 each). I think they’re both a pretty good match.
Coral sconce from The Well Appointed House, $158 each.
And just for fun, here is another shot of the sconces used in Ruthie Sommers’ former home. Since her spaces are published frequently, I enjoy seeing how she moves pieces around and integrates them into different rooms and vignettes. It gives me inspiration for my own home—rather than thinking I need new stuff, rearranging things sometimes makes pieces look a thousand times better.
Photographed by Melanie Acevedo for domino, Spring/Summer 2005.
I don’t really cook, but I do sometimes watch Everyday Italian with Giada De Laurentiis. And you know on that show, she uses olive oil on everything and keeps it in a cruet that allows for graceful application of the oil rather than dumping it onto food straight from the bottle. Even for a non-cook like me, I think an olive oil cruet is a kitchen essential, but it has to be pretty enough that you can leave it out, at the ready, for when the recipe calls.
I think these glass oil cruets from Realm are beautiful. And would you believe they are only $10 each? I didn’t believe it. But then I clicked through the rest of the site and found all kinds of unusual, and very reasonably priced housewares, including the cuter than cute animal-shaped creamers below—only $5.50 each. (I love the elephant.)
Images from Realm.
I've been filling wholesale orders for the last few days... and it's got me itching to finish up my new line sooner rather than later!
I have a few new stores carrying my goods - so, I'll post an update on those in the next few days! To see where you can find OrangeBeautiful products right now, check out the 411 on my site!
photo c/o OrangeBeautiful.
There are some days (and weeks) when I arrive at the studio and I need a jolt of inspiration... which is largely why Laura and I started this blog in the first place: for our own selfish reasons. This morning, I thought I'd share with you just 3 of things that have given me that littls jolt I need:
1) I love these hand-printed wallets from db clay, a wallet/gift company based out of Portland, OR... the wallets are produced in limited editions w/ some really rich & beautiful design motifs. And their color palettes are definitely right up my alley...
Hawthorne Wallet by db clay, $44, available here... via k10k.
2) Now we all now that I'm a huge fan of anything made by Loyal Army... I think I now have five of their t-shirts (not to mention that awesome Happy Cloud Hoodie!)... This Pink Lemonade Tee, new at fred flare, is taunting me with its cuteness:
Pink Lemonade Tee by Loyal Army, $24, available at fred flare.
3) I just received my first issue of Blueprint Magazine this past weekend (I blame you, Laura!) - and I'm loving the fonts they use in their design spreads... I was especially excited at seeing one of my all-time favorites, Missionary used several times throughout the issue... it's also used in the banner on Blueprint's new blog:
Missionary is the creation of Miles Newlyn a typographic designer from the UK. Miles also designed another of my favorite fonts, Democratica. Oh, and you're probably wondering, as I was, what their main titling font is... it's called Fling and it's by German font foundry, Linotype.
images from (top to bottom): db clay; fred flare and Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc.
p.s. does anyone else find this hilarious?
UK designer Susan Bradley created these shelves and tables with cutouts of flowers and leaves that look like they're "creeping" onto the wall/floor. I like the juxtaposition of something that is made to look like it's growing or moving, rendered in a solid, stationary material like steel (powder-coated at that--in pretty, luxe colors).
Shelf in gold (so lovely)--you almost don't want to cover it up!
But just so you can see the shelf in context...it can serve a functional as well as sculptural purpose.
Photos from Susan Bradley.
After Karen commented on my 'sneak peek' post, I went to check out her blog, Happy Cavalier - and I'm super-excited to have another lovely design blog to check in on regularly.
Amongst a lot of great posts at HC, I came across a post about etsy shop, Birdie, London and these adorable wooden books:
Together... a little wooden book, $85.00 at Birdie, London.
Something... a little wooden book, $70.00 at Birdie, London.
I love book finds, especially when they're really beautifull done & use creative materials & binding methods (the little door hinges are a great touch!) I'm also a big fan of smaller scales pieces, and both of the above pieces fit the bill, both coming in under 5" in height...
Birdie, London also makes limited edition prints, t-shirts, pillows, etc... so be sure to check out the entire shop!
images c/o Birdie, London.
