Posts from August 2007

Most of you are likely familiar with Kelly Wearstler's hotel project in Palm Springs, the Viceroy. While browsing through the (new-to-me) wedding blog Faye and Greer, I spotted the wedding of Amber and Brian, which took visual cues from its glamorous setting at the Viceroy.

Instantly, I was in love with the design of this wedding, so I contacted the bride to see if she would be willing to share her photos here and she graciously agreed! An interior design student, Amber saw to the planning and details herself. The wedding invitations, which she made, were inspired by the wallpaper at the Viceroy as well as a similar design by kate spade paper. Even the bridesmaid dresses worked perfectly with the over-the-top black and white pattern. When you have so much pattern going on, sometimes the best thing to do is keep going with it!

The grounds and furnishings of the hotel provided beautiful background for portraits. The bridal portrait above is unusual in its location, but so elegant with the chandelier, table and chairs all in white; particularly so for a bride studying interior design.

The yellow flowers provided continuity and contrast to the black and white bridal party attire. Yellow petals covered the "aisle" on the lawn that was the ceremony site, and floated in the pool during the cocktail hour. The portrait in the mosaic-wall lobby, that mimics the cover of Kelly Wearstler's Modern Glamour, is completely stunning. Even the bridesmaids' gifts (Jacobs by Marc Jacobs totes--I have one of these and I adore it) are a nod to the typography on the book's cover.

Many thanks again to Amber and Brian for sharing their day with us! You can view additional wedding photos and see/read about her planning process here.

Photos courtesy of Amber and Brian via The Knot. Modern Glamour photo from Amazon.

There's no way that I'd be able to not write up a "Carry-On!" in response to L's post on the recent issue of Blueprint -

Laura is definitely a lovely hybrid of the "Post-Modern Pinup" & the "Bold Minimalist"... although, she's definitely got a signature "Laura" style all her own that's a bit hard to define. When I'm out, I often see things that I say are "so Laura" - and if you know her, you know exactly what I'm talking about ;)

I would say that none of the categories in the Typecasting article really capture my style (since there's not a "Hipster" layout or a "I-Sometimes-Dress-Like-A-14-Year-Old" section ;) - but seriously, I would have to say my fashion sense is probably best represented by the "Laid Back Trailblazer" (shown above)... the mix & match quality, as well as the loose structure of the clothes is definitely right up my alley - however, the big change to the collection would have to be the color scheme: add some vivid orange, bright turquoise, green, red & mustard yellow and you've got yourself a deal!

images c/o Blueprint.

left to right: Cotton Cashmere Wide-Striped Dress, $78; Pleated-Neck Mini Dress, $98; Sweater Dress, $78 - all from the Gap :: European Collection.

I'll admit that I don't normally shop at the Gap... the clothes I wear are usually pretty bright and full of patterns - and their style tends to lean more toward basics. And despite the fact that I would prefer red, orange & turquoise color options for all of these pieces, the newly launched European Collection has some excellent finds, including these three great dress styles, shown above. I'm completely in love with that cotton/cashmere striped dress... (I'd wear it with these tights though!)

left: Military Coat, $128; right: Cropped Wide Leg Pants, $88 - both from the Gap :: European Collection.

I'm a big sucker for a good jacket - so, it's not wonder I'm drawn to this stunning Military Coat - and no matter what your style, you really can't go wrong with a great black peacoat. It looks hot with anything! And those wide leg pants are just short enough to show off a sharp pair of boots... perfect for fall (which is less than a month away!!!) -

images c/o the Gap.

J.Crew has posted a lookbook with beautiful images and layouts of their fall shoes & accessories collections. There's something vaguely kate spade-y about the imagery and typography used, not to mention the items themselves, and I like it!

The entire site currently has a crisp, classic, polished and "now" look that I am loving...but this little e-book is just too great. Be sure to check out the other pages from the lookbook...I just posted my favorites.

I am into grey for fall...and this "elephant-gray" bag is simply beautiful. You might have noticed that earlier this week Style Court posted her love of the elephant-link bracelet!

Images from J.Crew.

This set of vintage Bascal cups from Blue Bell Bazaar is so pretty. Not only are the tumblers themselves beautiful, but the gold holder for the set is adorably chic. The color palette of gold, aqua, silver, and copper would make a beautiful palette for a room...

...as shown on the March 06 cover of domino! I think she needed this accessory somewhere in her room.

Top image from Blue Bell Bazaar. Bottom image from domino via Girl Meets Glamour.

As Jonathan Adler shows in this beautiful apartment foyer, the perfect accent to a console table is a pair of x-benches. This can be especially true in an apartment, where limited space can dictate the amount of seating available; tucking the benches underneath the console makes both aesthetic and spatial sense.

Adler's version of the X-bench is shown above, and the prices begin at $700 depending on the grade of fabric chosen. It's beautifully proportioned and the fabric choices are indeed luxe. However...

I spotted Ballard Designs' version of the x-bench, and what a comparative bargain! Prices start at $169 depending on fabric grade. The image above shows the bench in White Basketweave for $207.97.

Top two images from Jonathan Adler. Bottom image from Ballard Designs.

I picked up the latest Blueprint this weekend and I keep going back through it because of all the visual inspiration! The cover itself is indicative of the loveliness to come...I am obsessed with that background pink/lilac/taupe wall color.

I really enjoyed the fashion feature Typecasting that identified four major personalities from the fall runways. I decided I'm a hybrid of the "Bold Minimalist" (shown above) and the "Postmodern Pinup" (below). These layouts, with an overall look accompanied by individual pieces that contribute to the look, inspired me to plan out my own fall wardrobe additions the same way...I'll share what I've come up with soon! I'm finding that not all stores have posted their fall collections just yet. Over the next couple weeks most should be rolled out, so stay tuned...

Images from Blueprint.

silkscreen kitchen towels from PataPri, $14.00/ea. (from left to right: Shizuku Blue Grey, Pink Doors and Cool Spring Tree).

So, it's going to be a busy week here at the OB studio... I've got 2 rush jobs on deck +plus a sweet limited edition binding project. Lots of fun, but loads of work...

I'm going to try my best to keep up with the posting over the next few days... hopefully, some of the posts will document these projects I'll be working on - and give you a glimpse into some of the chaos that goes on around here on a regular basis ;)

Magic Truth Drops letterpress-printed card, $3.50/ea. by typeHigh.

To keep you satisfied today, I bring you just a handful of my etsy favorites... I'm loving the patterns on those PataPri kitchen towels. I think I'll pick up a couple for the studio!

And, of course, you know I'm a sucker for a good letterpress card... typeHigh's Magic Truth Drops card is one of my favorites, as well as this well, hello card.

Leafy Leather Cuff, $24.00 (top) and Shatter Leather Earrings, $12.00 (bottom); both from hollyhawk.

The leather pieces from hollyhawk are some of my favorite things on etsy... I'm just a big fan of cuffs, in general, and these are exceptionally cool-looking... and if cuffs aren't your thing, there are earrings, clutches & belts, too!

Pursonal hygeine case, $29.00 by Three Green Apples.

This "pursonal" hygiene case from Three Green Apples is probably my favorite thing ever... even though the whole stigma surrounding periods is totally ridiculous, no one really wants to have their handbag spill out a bunch of tampons onto the floor infront of someone. Get one of these and you'll be prepared, organized, cute and appropriate ;)

images c/o PataPri, typeHigh, hollyhawk, and Three Green Apples.

Lavendar Daydream box art, $315.00, by Dolan Geiman. Available on Etsy.

Yesterday was a bit freaky around here... there was some strange weather around 2pm that, out the studio window, looked like those images you seen on the news of a hurricane hitting the coast down south. The rain was horizontal for a good hour.

Tye River Road LE archival print, $85.00, by Dolan Geiman. Available on Etsy.

After appeasing my worries about the studio's ceiling leaking (which it's done before) by covering a huge run of drying screen-prints with garbage bags... and dealing with the power going out & not being able to call anyone on either the studio phone or my cell phone - I finally met up with Jw and was finally able to enjoy some normal behavior: having a meal with friends.

Song Sisters box art, $315.00, by Dolan Geiman. Available on Etsy.

We met up with Ali Walsh & Dolan Geiman for a bite and some good conversation... they'll be at the Bucktown Arts Fest this weekend (which will hopefully be bright & sunny!) if you're interested in checking out more of Dolan's work. (Booth #182, on Lyndale just east of Oakley)...

images c/o Dolan Geiman.

Does anyone else loooooove this kate spade image as much as I do? It's going on my inspiration board.

Scanned advertisement from Vogue September 2007.

I received an email from Mindy Gayer, owner of Cotton Idea Studio about the launch of their new (beautiful) website...

After browsing through the site, I'm super-excited for the launch of the online Shoppe and I really just want to take a trip to Laguna Beach, CA, so that I can stop by the brick & mortar shop in person...

Snow & Graham wrapping paper.

The store carries products from some of my favorite companies: Snow & Graham, delphine, elum and Hable Construction... just to name a few.

Quarterly Baby Update cards by elum.

Cotton Idea Studio also caters to custom orders, making baby announcements, wedding invitations, invitations, etc... all from various designers & covering a wide range of styles. For more, check out the gallery, right here.

Sweet Pea Storage Box by Hable Construction.

Besides the great lines that are carried and the wide array of design & printing services, I must say Cotton Idea Studio's website (by nien studios) in and of itself - is remarkable. The layout and graphics are soft & clean, and present the studio's colorful product shots very nicely. Speaking of which, the photography (by Trever Hoehne) is just to die for... I love the soft focus, the macro shots, the saturation of the colors:

Perfect.

images c/o Cotton Idea Studio.

Quick! You must visit sfgirlbybay's tour of the Emma Rose Papery studio in San Francisco. It is an incredibly beautiful space, spare but inviting, with lots of natural light and eclectic, well-chosen furnishings that highlight Emma Rose's lovely collection of paper goods and invitations.

Emma Rose Papery founder Eszter Rabin.

The photo tour includes many more images, so click over here and prepare to be inspired!

Images via sfgirlbybay.

I love these new Oasis Prints at Paper Mojo... their patterns are very reminiscent of henna tattoo art - and I especially like the simplicity of 1-color printing on natural tone papers.

I can also attest to the fact that these handmade stocks are great for binding & box-making projects because the paper is soft & maleable, yet still stands up well against gluing, folding and general wear-and-tear...

images c/o Paper Mojo.

Gold and white together look so chic, and these handpainted porcelain bath accessories from Anthropologie are lovely examples of that combination. They don't look like they necessarily belong in a bathroom and therefore would work as decorative or utilitarian pieces anywhere; even the soap dish can be used to hold jewelry on a bedside table, or paperclips in an office. So pretty.

Image from Anthropologie.

Jennifer over at JHillDesign has posted a series of posts about Chicago on her blog... 1) because she's smart & knows Chicago would be a great place to visit (for multiple reasons)... and 2) to promote her new Chicago print (shown above).

There's some great mentions, including serious favorites of mine & Laura's: screen-printers & card-makers-extraordinaire, Binth; the fabulous GREER Chicago and Vosges Haut-Chocolat. Click here, here & here for some recent posts on these great Chicago-based companies.

(If you read closely, you'll even find a little shout-out to OrangeBeautiful in there, too!)

Love the posts, Jennifer!...

images c/o JHill Design and Binth, GREER & Vosges.

I am still finding examples of chunky stones everywhere…(see my first post on this trend here).

I like how the heavy, ivory-colored stones bring a bit of heft to the otherwise feminine form of this flutter sleeve blouse by Karta. (Thanks Joy for introducing me to this line!)

The faux-ivory cabochons set in this enamel and brass bangle look elegant and graphic contrasted with the rich green hue.

Finally, I would buy Estee Lauder’s new Private Collection Tuberose Gardenia Parfum for the bottle alone (the scent is very nice though, definitely worth checking out if you're looking for something new). The bottle cap, encrusted with semi-precious gemstones, was inspired by a brooch designed by Josef Hoffman. Wouldn’t it look beautiful on top of a dresser?

Blouse image from Shop Bop; bangle image from J.Crew; parfum image from Bergdorf Goodman.

Prima slip-ons in Fuschia (by Crocs), on sale for $19.99 at Journeys.

You may or may not believe it, but this weekend, I attended a certain gaming convention in Indianapolis with Jw (more on that later)... while we were in town, we took a short run out to the Fashion Mall @ Keystone Crossing.

This is by far the most beautiful mall I've ever been to... I'm not sure how old the mall is, but it's cleanliness & sharp, shiny interiors made it look as if it opened the day before we got there.

I bought a great pair of fuschia Crocs (shown above) at Journeys and an adorable sweater from dELia*s (shown below)... the one in the picture is burgundy, but the one I bought is a lovely harvest gold color (yes, like the appliances from the 70's) - but for whatever reason, that particular color isn't offered on their site...

Jade Multi-Button Henley in Burgundy, $36.50 at dELiA*s.

from top to bottom: keyboard, wireless Mighty Mouse & Mac mini (1.83GHz: Combo Drive), all from Apple.

The "real" reason for our visit to the mall was to hit up the Apple store and purchase a new computer for the studio... among a few other items, I picked up a keyboard, a wireless Mighty Mouse & a Mac mini.

All money well-spent, I think ;)

images c/o Crocs, Journeys, dELiA*s & Apple.

Ever since I spotted the Gracie chandelier at Crate & Barrel, I have admired its simple elegance. In person, it is substantial in diameter at just over 29 inches and in my opinion, looks best with black shades (that contrast beautifully with the high-gloss white finish). Best of all, it's on sale for $199 (shades separate). And doesn't it look fun against this bright yellow wall?

Image from Crate & Barrel.

Color Urchin gift paper, by Funnel Paper Goods.

I'm a sucker for a good pattern... especially when it's printed in beautiful colors on giant sheets of paper. Recently, I've fallen head over heels for the gift paper at Funnel Paper Goods. For just $12.00, you can get 3 giant 28 x 40" sheets in 7 delicious patterns...

Knot Tied (top) and Neo-Modern Jubilee (bottom), by Funnel Paper Goods.

The other great thing about these wraps is their lovely packaging... the OrangeBeautiful shop of my dreams definitely has these papers in its inventory...

images c/o Funnel Paper Goods.

Savoy Stripe Chair, $200.00; available at Urban Outfitters.

I haven't ever bought an entire piece of furniture from Urban Outfitters, but these retro-style chairs sure make me feel tempted... the shape is very mod, which I love - and the bold patterns and out-of-this-world color combinations are just amazing.

My favorites are definitely the Savoy Stripe (above) and the Paisley Gardens (below), but my pick for Laura would definitely be this elegant green one...

Paisley Gardens Chair, $200.00; available at Urban Outfitters.

images c/o of UO.

Maybe you all can help me out...

I'm looking for a round, tufted ottoman for a project I'm working on (more on that later). I found this Custom Jessica ottoman from JCPenney for $400 which is not bad, but in truth, the ottoman is not crucial to the project and I would prefer to find something for even less. As far as color, I really was looking for something in the raspberry-coral-orange-gold palette. (The orange fabric shown on the Jessica looks better online than it does in person.) This piece measures 38 inches which is actually slightly bigger than I'm hoping to find.

PS--I'm considering doing one of these leather poufs from John Derian, but at 20 inches they are slightly smaller than what I need. I know, I'm picky.

Any ideas/suggestions appreciated! (And thanks!)

Top image from JCPenney. Bottom image from John Derian.

I realize I frequently bring up Vosges chocolates and if you think I'm obsessed—well, you're exactly right.

When Emily returned from her trip to Barcelona, I wanted to post these truffles inspired by architect Antoni Gaudí. At the time, they weren't online so I assumed the company has discontinued them...but they seem to be back!

Vosges' Colección Gaudí is rendered in saffron-infused dark and white chocolate, rolled in colored sugar crystals that mimic the mosaic work prevalent in Gaudí's architecture. It's so interesting to see how Vosges translates a muse or concept into chocolate form. Check out some of their other "inspired" truffles here.

Image from Vosges.

limited edition TV Silkscreen Print, $30.00 by small screen designs.

After being reminded of how excellent that For Like Ever poster (by Village) is, I wanted to post about some other really great limited edition, large-scale pieces that I think would look amazing above any mantle...

I love the pink TV print (shown above) from small screen designs... I think it would be delightfully ironic in a reading room or any space sans television.

limited edition Click Me print, by Marian Bantjes; $90.00 at Coudal Partners Swap Meat.

Given how much I love typography - and pretty much any creative use of text - this Click Me print by Canadian artist & designer, Marian Bantjes is just too perfect. I love the way the words swirl together and how the delicate red lines frame the text and then fall towards the bottom left edge of the page...

limited edition Tree/Deer Screen Printed Poster, $23.00 by limescreen.

This Tree/Deer Screen Printed Poster by limescreen (aka Abnormal Urban Clothing) reminds me a little of one of my favorite artists ever: Ryan McGinness. I'm always drawn to somewhat "collage-y" graphics, where things don't necessarily go together logically, but within the piece they look perfectly placed.

images c/o small screen designs, Coudal Partners Swap Meat & limescreen.

Many of you may be familiar with this image of Loeffler Randall designer Jessie Randall's living room, which was featured in the September 2006 issue of domino. The foundations of this room work so harmoniously together, beginning with the light-filled, high ceilinged space and its clean-lined yet inviting furnishings upholstered in neutral fabrics. The room's softness is balanced by some remarkable defining details, including:

1) The "For Like Ever" poster that was made hugely popular as a result of this story

2) The minimalist Nelson hanging pendant light and Jonathan Adler pottery that are positioned in contrast with the antique-looking columns, moldings and mantle

3) The single strip of vintage mylar wallpaper (from Secondhand Rose) framed between the two windows that brings texture and depth to the room

If you had to choose, what one detail could this room not live without? My vote would be the wallpaper, but each detail makes such a strong statement that I'm sure opinions would differ.

Photographed by Max Kim-Bee for domino, September 2006.

So, not only is B an awesome help in the areas of organization, marketing & admin tasks - she's also got excellent taste...

This morning, over bagels & coffee, she mentioned the French design agency of Robert le héros... B owns one of their Mayako bags (pictured at the top of this post). She absolutely loves the unique patterns, color combinations & the durable oilcloth construction.

The company has only recently started to sell more of their products in the U.S. - but Flight 001 does currently carry a few of their bags, including both the Mayako and the Audrey bag, shown above.

images c/o Robert le héros and Flight 001.

Recently I was given a fantastic set of Binth "international thank-you" notecards. Of the three (thank you, gracias, and merci) very pretty designs, the "merci" card's sophisticated burgundy-brown/coral color palette and botanical silhouette immediately won me over. Most of all I adore the subtle dotted pattern varnish that gives this card a bit of overall sheen--it creates texture and a beautiful layered effect.

Images from/available at Binth.

Two years ago, B and I went to IKEA to outfit my newly-leased studio... I had very little money & 800 square feet of empty space to fill.

After a lot of list-making & trekking around, a mere $1100 later, we had bought a desk, a worktable, shelves, a couch, 2 client chairs, storage & a whole slew of other necessities...

We're hoping today will be just as productive... we'll need a new desk & chair for B's workstation, as well as a ton of new storage to complete our plans for the ultimate re-organization.

Wish us luck!!!

image c/o IKEA.

If you're like me and tend to perceive time "approximately", you might appreciate this old-fashioned timer. Rather than digitally counting down minutes, seconds, and hundredths-of-a-second, this beautifully and meditatively sifts through 45 minutes (thus the "under-an-hour" description).

While the design is inspired by the hourglass timers of old, I think the shape is so modern and sculptural. I would certainly prefer one over any stopwatch or other nasty beeping timer!

Available at Violet for $22. (I will warn you, if you decide to click around the lovely Violet website, you will have trouble leaving!)

Image from Violet.

On Wednesday, B and I ran some errands on Armitage and we, of course, had to stop in to Art Effect and browse through their cards...

Wheat Folksy Floral folded note, $16.00/6pk, available from Art Effect.

Despite the fact that OrangeBeautiful cards are now available at AE, we were more interested in checking out their selection of adorable letterpress cards from Birmingham, AL-based Night Owl Paper Goods.

Stitched Melon folded note, $14.00/6pk, available from Night Owl Paper Goods.

My favorites were definitely these Stitched Melon cards... something about the quirky, off-center design and the excellent red-orange ink & matching envelope.

images c/o Art Effect and Night Owl Paper Goods.

These deco-inspired letterpress notecards by Elum are just so lovely and grown-up. The only problem is I can't decide whether I like the pink or the blue/taupe version better...

Images from/available at Broadway Paper.

Starting in 1997, I began collecting issues of Martha Stewart Weddings and thus began my obsession with all things wedding-related, including stationery and invitations. The staff of Weddings had the most innovative and beautiful ideas, so I always checked my favorite features' credits to see the names of the geniuses responsible for the stories. The name Rebecca Thuss appeared repeatedly among the most creative, and gorgeously styled, features. Thuss eventually became Style Director of Weddings and later filled the role of Editor of the premier issue of Blueprint before leaving Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia.

Thuss has since partnered with her husband, Patrick Farrell, in ThussFarrell, a photography and graphic design studio. In addition to this venture, she has posted an online portfolio of her contributions and capabilities related to creative direction, prop and set styling, wedding design, event design, and crafting. Can you even imagine hiring the creative force behind Martha Stewart Weddings to plan your own wedding?

These images from Thuss' portfolio represent some of my favorite features from Weddings, as well as additional favorite images including the ads below for the bridesmaid dress company Simple Silhouettes. In my opinion, the mark of Thuss' style is modern presentation of traditional elements that utilize perfect color and pattern palettes. (I am so in love with all the fabrics used to create the pillows in the image below, left.)

The marks below are all present on Thuss' website and accompany the different sections of her portfolio. It's fun to see how these different illustrative interpretations of her personal monogram all employ her characteristic style.

Images from rebeccathuss.com and thussfarrel.com. Images from Weddings are copyright © MSLO.

Milwaukee Art Museum, designed by Spanish architect, Santiago Calatrava, 2001.

I, personally, have never been to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, but two weekends ago, Jw & P.Akins (the masterminds behind the construction of this blog) took off to the "Cream City" to brainstorm ideas for the growth and continuation of Sidedown and its 'subsidiaries' ;)

Check out these HIATUS pics for more of Milwaukee's sights, sounds & empty streets (?)...

(Maybe Eric can shed some light on why the city was so quiet?)...

image c/o Jw.

The actress Katie Holmes' evolving style has been the subject of celebrity tabloids lately. If you've seen or followed any of these stories, you may have noticed her very simple (though surely bank-breaking) sapphire and diamond stud earrings that get repeated wear with both casual and dressy ensembles. Because I know too much about celebrities, I think she may have also worn them on her wedding day. (I couldn't find a good picture of Katie wearing the earrings online, so you'll either have to recall or just imagine them!)

I found these caviar cluster earrings and thought they were stunning...and small (1/2") and simple enough to work everyday, with any kind of outfit. I enjoy wearing a variety of jewelry, but it's good to have a key piece that just works with everything.

The stud earrings are made of sterling, but the cluster effect makes them appear to sparkle. For being so simple, their unique construction really differentiates them from traditional studs. Designed by Andrea Corson, the "caviar" style is also available in different styles of rings and barrettes.

Sterling silver caviar cluster earrings ($100) available at auto. Image from auto.

So, starting at 9am this morning, my little one-woman-show will officially be a two-woman-show!... B is starting today and I can't tell you how excited I am to, not only have some help, but to have been able to hire someone that I know will bring some serious efficiency, organization & exuberance to the studio.

left: Classic Desktop File in charcoal, $30.00 and right: Collator, $29.00.

One of the things that I would love to really light a fire under - now that I have some help - is overall organization... When you're just one person trying to wear every hat in a company (accounts receivable, ordering, promotions, production, design, etc. etc.), "unimportant" things - like reorganizing your supplies or regularly counting inventory - can get swept under the rug...

Maybe some new goods from russell+hazel will help us along...

Signature Three-Ring Binders in (left to right) light blue, lime, charcoal & red-orange, $20.00/each.

My desk is somewhat organized at the moment (at least in my mind), but when you bring in a 2nd person, who also needs to know where things are, then it's important to streamline things as effectively as possible. Labels & color-coding have always worked for me... maybe that's why I like r+h's stuff so much!

left: Label Set, $10.00 and right: r+h Original Gift Set, $30.00.

images c/o r+h.

Limited Edition Woody Track Jacket, $165.00, by Kidrobot.

Have you noticed there's a lot of awesome stuff featuring woodgrain lately?... This jacket from Kidrobot was the first thing to really rope me in to the new trend. I'm seriously debating buying one of these - but I'd better hop to it: they've been produced in a numbered, limited edition of only 112!

Blank Newsprint Notebook in Purple Grain, $8.50, from SusyJack.etsy.com.

Woodgrain Merci & Thanks Cards, $3.25/ea. from bluesnailpapers.etsy.com.

The purple woodgrain notebook from SusyJack's etsy shop and these two "knotty"-type greeting cards (from bluesnailpapers etsy shop) are both great ways of using the pattern in a way that is a bit unexpected...

Inlaid Wood Necklace by Amy Shutt, $24.00, available at day-lab.

Silver Woodgrain Cuff by Amy Moore, $245.00, availablet at honeybee.etsy.com.

Faith On Juniper Wallet by DB Clay, $55.00 , available at Elsewares.

There's a lot of woodgrain accessories around lately, too... some actually using wood as their main material (like Amy Shutt's inlaid necklace - 3 pics up)... and others implementing the wood "pattern" into different materials, such as the silver cuff (2 pics up) by Amy Moore (honeybee) and the eco-friendly Faith on Juniper wallet (directly above) from DB Clay.

Stand Tall Little Stump paperweight, $19.00, available at smallstump's etsy shop.

And then last, but certainly not least, this adorable soft-good paperweight that looks like little tree stump. Standing (tall) at about 4 inches, these one-of-a-kind pieces are cute, functional and fill out my round-up of woodgrain items quite nicely.

images c/o Kidrobot, Etsy, Elsewares and day-lab.

Yes, I'm also feeling the urge to shop for fall--and you know I always check out a designer collection for a mass-market chain. Abaete's Fall collection for Payless is in stores now. While I haven't made it out to the one store near me that carries these items to see them in person, I have pre-selected the following for consideration (and put them on hold!):

Above left, the Flavin platform in bronze--the cone heel is excellent. Next to it, the patent-look Linda boot with its mini "Lucite" wedge heel could look either really great or not-so in person, so we'll see. If they pulled it off, this would be a great boot for fall.

Finally, the Andie tote is already sold out online, but may still be available in some stores. (Use the "Store Locator") option in the Abaete section to find which stores carry the collection--it's limited to only a few.) The "belt" that cinches the middle of this tote is my favorite feature.

Images from Payless.

There's a new set of cards available over at Veer... the designs are from their Type City design series. The images great amalgamations of different typefaces and the cards are letterpressed!... What more can you ask for?

Type City Prints, set of 10 cards & envelopes, $55.00 - available at Veer.

I think the Ferris Wheel is probably my favorite... but the Burgues fountain is pretty nice, too.

oh, and be sure to pick up a couple of these activity books while you're at it... you won't be sorry.

images c/o Veer.

Hobbit Sneaker by Blowfish, in brown, $48 at dELiA*s.

Maybe it's something in the water, but I definitely related to this post from Margo at M A R B A R G A R B O where she's questioning whether or not it's okay to be thinking about coats and warm clothes yet... I mean, it is going to be 95ºF today, but somehow, I'm still dreaming of buying these adorable flannel (!) sneakers, wearing them with some wool tights and sporting a cowel neck sweater.

Hobbit Sneaker by Blowfish, in red multi (plaid) and grey, $48 at dELiA*s.

Anyone else coming down with this sickness?...

images c/o dELiA*s.

As you know, my favorite resource for info on Italian food and lifestyle is bene magazine (read my post on bene here). Since it's published quarterly, I was happy to hear about the new bene blog; in between issues, I can still study how to dress, live, eat, and approach life like an Italian.

Case in point: the post "Hat Trick" discusses a New York Times feature on the Italian fedora, worn by both men and women. (I want one.) I also found personally beneficial the post on artisinal gelato—I can actually get it at Whole Foods, good to know because great gelato is hard to come by where I live. And Emily, I think you should visit the new Italian cafe Piccolo, featured in yesterday's post, located on Damen Ave. in Chicago.

Image from The New York Times via bene blog.

YEAH!... Jennifer over at JHill Design has added a Chicago-themed print to her Places I Have Never Been™ series. I love it... and as a person who has lived in the Windy City for nearly 7 years, I think she's captured the feel of a blustery, lake-effect (& politically loud-mouthed) city quite well ;)

Be sure to check out Jennifer's blog, Places I Have Never Been for more about... well, the places she's never been!

(Oh, and the caption reads: "Speak English - fly 856 miles - eat a Chicago-style hot dog - visit Old Wrigley Field... bundle up, they say it's blustery, gusty and windy outside!")

image c/o JHill Design.

The only people more excited than me about the completion of these silhouette invitations are the happy couple themselves... We're still awaiting the calligraphed envelopes (done by the lovely Betsy Dunlap), due to arrive tomorrow... I've loved the silhouette idea from the beginning: I'm always a big fan of couples really integrating something personal into their invitations.

Another invite that I've been working on are these sleek folder invitations... I absolutely love the pairing of a bold, modern monogram & typestting with elegant, irridescent red paper...

Once these 2 sets are out in the mail - and all the guests have gotten their first glance, I'll be sure to post more detailed images for all to see!

I can't wait for these couples to see their finished invitations!

images by me... and the silhouette designs are by Laura!]

In its latest catalog, Design Within Reach featured special profiles on the contributions and accomplishments of three women designers, Eva Zeisel, Edith Heath and Gunta Stölzl. Products designed by the women are also featured prominently, and immediately I was drawn to this Eva Zeisel coffee table.

I've long been intrigued by Zeisel and loved many of her creations. She was born in 1906 and continues her work today. The forms she creates, whether in ceramics, furniture or print, combine grace with a substantial weight that is her signature; I think I would call it a "solid femininity" that seems to characterize much of her life experience.

Above left, Zeisel's stacking pillow vases are a favorite. Each vase is available separately, but I think they make such a beautiful sculpture displayed as a single form as shown. To the right, Zeisel's Magic Language #2 print for Klein/Reid has a curviness similar to the coffee table.

Fortunately for those of us just becoming collectors (and with limited budgets), Crate and Barrel re-introduced Zeisel's beautiful Classic Century dinnerware awhile back. I received some of the serving pieces last Christmas (I remember hearing a confused "You want a sauce boat for Christmas?") but I use them for purely sculptural purposes!

From top, images from Design Within Reach, Koo de Kir, and Unica Home. Last image by me.