Posts from April 2008

I'm not the type to pay almost $200 for a swimsuit...but I have to admit I've fallen for Anthropologie's Hot Springs Maillot with its built-in sash and elegant print. Usually I go for something preppier, but this is so glamorous and unusual, and frankly, I think the sash would do wonders to hide and contain any post-baby excess.

I'm now on the hunt for something similar at a lower price point...if I find anything I will share!

Image from Anthropologie.

We're running around like chickens with our heads cut off over here at the OrangeBeautiful studio... all in preparation for the upcoming National Stationery Show. We're launching three new lines, as well as additions to our existing DEBUT Line & a brand new catalog!!!

The studio is filled with mockups, finished product, slews of newly printed cards & custom-converted envelopes... we still have 2 more lines that are in the works and we're keeping our fingers crossed that everything magically comes together in time for the show!

For now, you can find some of our existing line for sale on our Etsy shop and only ONE of the designs from the new LATTICE line (the Wicker pattern, right here)... for the rest of that line, our other new lines & the new envelope colors - you'll just have to wait a little while longer!...

*If any of you (exhibitors, shop owners and/or visitors) will be attending NSS this year, be sure to let us know and we'll make sure we see you there!!!... Booth #1944!

images c/o OB.

I am so excited to share this home "tour" of my sister Kristen's new apartment! It came together so beautifully and she really played up the details of the unique space. And, she accomplished this using mostly bargain items from stores like Ikea and West Elm; it's her stylist eye that instinctively knows how to arrange and make the most of each piece.

I love how she displayed the objects on and around the console table, above and below.

Shown below is the living room from another angle, into the cute little breakfast nook. I love the apartment's arched doorways; the mirror on the living room wall (in the photo at the top of the post) was chosen to mimic that architectural element.

The kitchen wall color was inspired by the OPI nail polish Lincoln Park After Dark!

A few details of her bedroom, below. I am obsessed with the metallic wall color - I'm going to steal it for my home. That's what sisters are for, right?

Every time I go into Architectural Artifacts, I'm stopped in the front hallway by an amazing set of drawers (see them here)... I imagine moving them into my studio and filling the drawers with spools of linen thread, bone folders, buttons, basically, anything & everything.

So, needless to say, these drawer sets - with numbered drawer pulls (!) - by Italian furniture designers, EmmeBi, immediately caught my eye on Design Milk. The varying units are part of a collection aptly-named, Toolbox (which is exactly what I would use them as!) -

My OCD is definitely satiated by the numbered drawers... they could ID certain items (i.e. socks are in #2, tights in #4 and belts in #7) or maybe they could be used to prioritize projects in an office or studio...

found via Design Milk (and black.white.bliss); images c/o EmmeBi.

Right around this time last year, Jw and I were strolling around NYC (on our trip out for NSS 2007) and we stumbled upon the Lafayette Street location of In God We Trust - a lovely clothing boutique with an elegant antique feel. Luckily, I was smart enough to put myself on their mailing list - and, just a few days ago, I received something from the online shop Refinery29, which includes In God We Trust amongst their collection of independent boutiques & designers.

Above are photos of In God We Trust's brick & mortar store (beautiful, right?) - along with my pick from their Refinery29 shop: the IGWT Tennis Dress. I love the details on this frock, which would look great with a pair of leggings - or alone, with some knee-high boots. And I'm especially fond of that high, rounded collar...

Another boutique included in Refinery29's list of indy shops is Chicago's own Eskell, located on Milwaukee Ave. in Wicker Park... I've only been to the shop once, but I would love to visit again - if only to see the amazing decor (and to drool over the clothes & accessories). My pick off of Eskell's Refinery29 shop has got to be this amazing Marlowe Mirror bag from Hayden-Harnett. But, not to be missed, are the amazing clothing pieces from Eskell's eponymous clothing line... check those out here.

Representing the LA side of independent fashion is the refreshingly 'gent-centric' boutique, All Purpose, which features co-owner, Alessandro Tomassetti's in-house clothing line, Filius, as well as other gifts, clothing & accessories for men. Despite all of that, my pick for AP's Refinery29 shop is going to have to be these Thanks a F**king Lot cards, from one of my all-time favs, OPLUSD!

(I'm also really looking forward to seeing OPLUSD at NSS this year... definitely check out last year's SCOOP interview with owner, Olga Krigman, right here!) -

And be sure to check out Refinery29's full list of shops. If you're lucky enough to live nearby one (or several), be sure to visit them ASAP... if not, the Refinery29 shops are OPEN 24/7 to shoppers near & far ;)

I caught an episode of Small Space, Big Style recently that featured the home of Jamie Bush and Stephen Calipari, and I was totally drawn to their beachy, glamorous style.

I contacted interior designer Jamie, who was kind enough to provide these images as a sneak peek of what's to come when Bush Interiors' full web site launches later this year. These spaces represent work on both commercial and residential projects.

To me, the rooms feel very serene and yet are so stimulating to the eye. I find myself noticing such lovely details and thoughtfully chosen elements.

(Love that large-scale paisley wallpaper! It's Rajapur by Cole & Son, pictured in the entryway of Bush Interiors' West Hollywood office.)

Fabulous light fixtures are incorporated into each of the spaces; Jamie tells me the lighting scheme is usually decided at the outset, followed by an exhaustive search for exactly the right pieces - which can be vintage, custom, or off the shelf. Light fixtures are even used in non-traditional ways: as collections, sculpture or somehow modified. In Jamie's home, ceiling fixtures are repurposed as sconces around a doorframe.

The attention to detail extends to the ceilings, which are frequently wrapped with wallpaper, such as in the bath and piano studio, both pictured above.

Click here for additional images and more info on the space-saving features of Jamie and Stephen's LA bungalow! And thanks to Jamie for sharing these images with us.

Images from Bush Interiors.

OrangeBeautiful is extremely proud to include Urbanic Paper Boutique (located in beachy Venice, CA), on the list of shops that carry our line. Audrey (who co-owns the shop with her husband, Joshua... read their great story, here)... anyhow, Audrey emailed me a few weeks back about the launch of Urbanic's new site - and it's now up & running ...and it is just LOVELY!

I'm hoping to someday get out to CA for an in-person visit to the brick & mortar shop, but for now, the new site will have to be my window into Urbanic's classic-yet-modern feel. I love the site's alternating background patterns that frame each section.

But more than anything, I can't get enough of the little seals throughout - reminiscent of postage cancellation, or a monogram embosser. (I especially like the one with the heart in the center... used on Audrey & Joshua's "OUR STORY" section.)

OB is also very proud to be listed, amongst an amazing group of fellow stationers, on Urbanic's page of Eco-Friendly Designers that are carried in the shop.

I cannot wait until Urbanic's online shop is complete!... look for that this coming Fall!

And if you're in the Venice, CA area (or headed there for vacation), be sure to visit the shop @ 1644 Abbot Kinney Boulevard... (pick up some OrangeBeautiful cards while you're there, too!)

images c/o Urbanic Paper Boutique.

If you haven't heard of HBO's Flight of the Conchords, hear it now. Their new album is out and, well, I knew the music enclosed was excellent, but the album artwork, printing, layout, etc. far exceeded my expectations... STUNNING. The illustration is gorgeous & the die-cutting is intricate, well-conceived & well-crafted.

If you like laughing and you like owning beautiful objects made out of paper, then BUY THIS NOW. Don't make the mistake of buying this album off of iTunes or pirating it off the internet. That would be a complete waste of some brilliant design & print production.

And, don't you like giving money to talented people who deserve it?

I do.

images c/o Jw.

NOTE: Thanks to Jw for letting me know who the illustrator for this piece is --> Tyler Stout... check out more of his work here.

Following L's Look for less post, I wanted to post up a look for less of my own:

On the left is a beautiful color fade mini dress, by one of my favorite fashion designers, Diane von Furstenberg. Normally, I'm drawn more to her signature patterns, but the bold colors & casual cut of this immediately caught my eye... to see the entire DvF Sprint 08 Collection, go here.

On the right, is my look for less find - the Insight Sugar Hill dress, in Fluro Aqua... only $58.00, from Urban Outfitters... I definitely prefer the colors of the DvF dress, but the look is close.

images c/o DvF and UO.

A major highlight of my grade-school era was visiting the Detroit Institute of Arts with my mom to wander the galleries, have lunch at the cafe and gaze at my favorite painting: The Nut Gatherers (Les Noisettes), by William Adolphe Bouguereau.

I still love this painting, mostly because it now reminds me of those happy days spent with my mom and how she gently encouraged my interest in the arts. I can also appreciate what drew me to this particular painting then: the girls, who looked to be about my age, were probably friends who liked to tell secrets and play together. I liked how the blonde girl wore her hair tied back with a thin red ribbon from which wavy, whispy strands would "escape" (like mine did). I thought the blue-gray color of the other girl's skirt was soft and beautiful - and I still do; in fact, I'm considering re-painting my family room a similar color.

It's interesting how early influences inform someone's current aesthetic. I'd love to know about yours! What do you recall from childhood that has contributed to your style or direction?

Laura's post, "Never too young", made me think about how I'm turning 30 this year & how happy I am that there are still "toys" that you're never too old for - like this awesome SmartCar... also in black & white.

If I didn't already own one of these, then I'd be seriously thinking about putting my $99 down to reserve one of these little guys. But I'd be limiting my highway driving (to none), I think!

(For more things B&W, definitely go here.)

Every parent finds some sort of magic "trick" for keeping their child happy, or at least occupied. Right now my daughter, Catherine, loves looking at faces and babbling most of all, but when I need to get away for a couple of minutes to brush my teeth, I know I can rely on Black and White to keep her satisfied.

The book contains silhouettes - black on white on one side, and white on black on the other - of simple but interesting objects like a chair, a banana, and a sailboat. Most babies respond to high-contrast objects so the book was designed with that in mind.

Because it's an accordion-style board book, I can set it up around her in the crib or play yard, then flip it over for a whole "new" set of pictures. This has become my go-to gift for new parents!

Image from Amazon.

The weather has finally taken a more permanent turn for the better around here - and I think it's lifting everyone's spirits... However, it is still Monday, so I feel like I need a little extra somethin' somethin' to brighten my day & get me through the week:

I think these stunning drawings from the doodlespark™ noteset collection, by Philly-based Loop LLC will certainly do the trick -

These cards, which are printed by an FSC-certified printer on 100% post-consumer, processed chlorine-free recycled paper with soy inks, are available for purchase at Loop's Supermarket shop...

Also, be sure to check out the main Loop site and their new blog!

We just can't wait to visit their booth at NSS at the end of May!!!

images c/o Loop LLC.

The sweet embroidery on Loeffler Randall's Dot Dress (above right) is so simple but intersting; the white trim dotted against the soft gray fabric is quietly striking.

I found a less expensive take on the style in Forever 21's beaded dress (above left). While the ruffle across the hem takes away from the simplicity, the effect of the trim, and the pale fabric, really do remind me of the Loeffler Randall dress.

Images from Loeffler Randall and Forever 21.

Keds continues to pleasantly surprise me. Their new (2nd) line from fashion designer, Nanette Lepore, is so... not Keds. (Or at least, not the boring old white lace-up shoe that I always associate Keds with.) I especially love the Wedge Lace in Yellow Flower. Not too sure about the $100 price tag, but they are very cute.

These Retro Hi Wedges are definitely more in my price range ($59.99), but I'm not sure I could pull them off. I love how 'trendy grandma' they are... and the white with green piping is very Spring-ready.

These are both great, however, I think, for my new shoe purchase, I will still have to go with one of these.

images c/o Keds.

Fun Crochet Fortune Cookie, $2.95 each from The Bag Doll's Etsy shop.

There's something universally likable about fortune cookies... Now, sometimes the fortunes make no sense or the cookie doesn't taste quite right, but - inevitably - at the end of your meal at the local Chinese place, everyone grabs a cookie & reads their fortune to the entire table. Weird.

These crocheted cookies (above) are so adorable that I could imagine simply having a bowl of them on your table as a centerpiece... but you could also give one as a gift (or use it in a proposal ;) - esp. since The Bag Doll can customize the fortune just for you!

I also love these little baby socks from Present By Design. The Fortune Tootsies come 3 pairs in a pack & each sock has a fortune cookie message printed on the bottom. (I think my favorite 'fortune' is the one reading, "You will sleep through the night... soon.") Get your set right here!

And for those of you who, like me, hold on to those fortunes that you hope will actually come true, pick up this Fortune Folio by Lunalux. Each folio has 25 pages, cut with slits to hold your fortune, with a place to fill out the date & place where you received your inspirational scrap. Available at Greer Chicago, $9.50/each.

We've added some items to our Supermarket shop... check it out here!

image c/o OB.

This morning I saw this blind debossed invitation from Elum in a magazine, and I loved it.

Later this morning, while reading Oh Joy! I saw this post on Lou Dorfman's "gastrotypographicalassemblage" wall, and I was struck by the correlation! I guess I'm supposed to blind emboss something or create something with type today.

Top image from Elum. Bottom image from Oh Joy!.

This street ad (for a dentist) - a spin on the normal tear-off info sheet - is just pure genius. It's well-designed, well-made & makes you smile all at the same time.

Kudos, Dr. John Mullally, D.D.S. If I lived in Maryland, I'd want you to be my dentist.

via Design Crush... & Old Glutton.

I'm not married and I'm not planning on getting married any time soon, but I love this Mr. & Mrs. Coffee Mug set... $21.99 at Target.

What an adorable (& low budget) wedding gift these would make!

image c/o Target.

My current pair of sweet, red Pumas are - after several years of wear & tear - finally ready to be retired... and I'm considering replacing them with some high tops. Am I crazy? or a fashion-forward genius? (Or a bit of both?) -

I've narrowed it down to two pairs that I found on Zappos (where else?) - first are these awesome Nike Blazers in Silver & White, with fuchsia accents (!)... They a bit pricey, but that paisley design on there is keeping me interested.

I think these Puma Capris may have a slight lead, given that they're 25 bucks cheaper and they're a bit more my style (not quite so "sneaker-y") -

What do you guys think?

images c/o Zappos.

I admire this Italian glass bottle each time I visit Anthropologie and now it's on sale. They call it a "perfume bottle" and I suppose it could hold perfume but you would have to fill it with every kind you own because it's a pretty decent size.

For me it's a little hippie-ish and not what I usually go for, but maybe that's why I'm drawn to it. I could see it on a white lacquer dresser...but I also think a pair would make fantastic bookends.

Image from Anthropologie.

I'm waiting (im)patiently for the official launch of these lovely damask prints - an in-progress series by one of my favorite artists, Chicago multi-media artist, Dolan Geiman.

These acrylic & silkscreen painted wooden tiles measure 16 inches square, and will come in a variety of colors - great for any room in the house and perfect for hanging in mix & match groupings. For more information, check out this post on Dolan's blog.

And to see more work by Dolan, be sure to check out the Etsy shop.

I, myself, am dying to own this piece... and while I'm daydreaming, I might as well pick up this piece, as well!

images c/o Jw.

UPDATE: I spoke with Ali about the availability of these pieces, and this is what she told me:

We’ll be officially launching the DG Damask Series in our Etsy shop on May 2, just in time for Mother’s Day. Until then, we’ll be posting new artwork created for the 4 Bridges Arts Festival (April 19-20, Chattanooga) and the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival (April 25-27, New Orleans).

Also, in honor of Mother’s Day, we’re hosting a 48 hour sale on May 2, available only to newsletter subscribers. Subscribers will receive a discount code good for store-wide purchase from our Etsy shop. Lastly, our May newsletter will also announce the winner of our spring art giveaway, a quarterly art raffle for our subscriber list.

To get in on these subscriber benefits, sign up here!

These Bubble Blowing Ceramic pieces by Dutch designer, Jan Broekstra caught my eye right away... I love the color palette & the patterns a lot, however, it's the way their atypical edges fit together that makes the set truly unique.

via MoCo Loco.

I have a little compact mirror that I keep in my "everyday" bag and it has saved me many a time. These little mirrors covered in Agnes & Hoss signature silk fabric designs are too cute - maybe my "other" bags need mirrors to go with them! Because as much as I have longed for a handbag from Agnes & Hoss, these are more friendly to my budget...

Image from / mirrors available from Agnes & Hoss.

Over the weekend, we added our newest limited edition GOCCO print to the Etsy shop: Love Together Forever.

This is the 2nd in what we hope to be a long series of type design prints. The first print, the Laugh Dream Love design (which was originally made as a baby shower gift for L), sold out its first run in just a couple of weeks... we even ended up doing a 2nd printing!

The Love Together Forever print is themed around - you guessed it: love... and would be great as a wedding or anniversary gift!

Paper is the traditional 1st anniversary gift, after all!

Available in 6 colors, right here!

"Guess What?... No One Wants To Hear Your Inane Cell Phone Conversation." 1440x900 -OR- 1600x1200.

Thanks to everyone who either commented or emailed that they'd like to see these patterns (from Sidedown's most recent Monograph) made into desktop wallpapers. For all of you and everyone else: here they are!...

I've adjusted the colors of each design slightly; lowered the messages, so your desktop clutter won't cover them too much and reformatted each pattern to two sizes: 1440x900 (good for Macs) and 1600x1200 (good for PCs) - if you try one & it seems overly stretched or squished, try out the other...

"Why Do Rude People Always Make You Feel Like You Are Being Rude For Telling Them That They're Rude?" 1440x900 -OR- 1600x1200.

"It Is Possible To Be Both Poor And Happy... Seriously." 1440x900 -OR- 1600x1200.

"There Are People In The World Who Think That Telemarketing Works." 1440x900 -OR- 1600x1200.

ENJOY!

images c/o OB.

Where can you find incredibly interesting yet extremely wearable jewelry?

The answer is auto.

Take the gorgeously simple punctuation-shaped form of the cultured pearl and sterling silver earrings, above, by Nathalie Uhl. It's a more refined version of a pair I've owned for years and wear constantly; they go with jeans, a tank and flip flops and I've also worn them in a couple weddings.

Artist Jane D'Arensbourg was featured last year in Lucky for her Pyrex glass jewelry creations. This necklace is truly a statement piece but I could see it working perfectly even with the simplest of outfits to highlight the translucent, interlocking circles.

These rings by Kaoru are intricate, delicate and unusual. Depending on how it is positioned, the silver shantou lace ring, above, could look slightly different each time it's worn.

I adore the sweet simplicity of Kaoru's gold stardust cluster ring. Much like the caviar cluster earrings I wear constantly (also available at auto), the teeny gold cluster has a subtle sparkle without introducing a blingy gem. So pretty.

Check it out here.

Today is B's birthday, and - because she has an awesome boss - today is an official company holiday.

Enjoy your day off, B... you deserve it!

(This picture is of us waiting around after the last day of the One of a Kind Show this past December... it's a pretty good representation: me, all stressed out & B, helping me to smile through it ;)

The OrangeBeautiful Supermarket shop is now open! We've posted a few of our most popular items to start, but we're planning on some Supermarket exclusive items very soon!

If you haven't shopped the Supermarket site before, you're in for a treat... the online shop, started by Brooklyn-based development company, Supercorp, brings an amazing collection of design products together into one convenient location. Basically, we're in really good company:

rickety yellow van journal, $25.00 from five and a half's Supermarket shop.

darko watches birds print, $130.00 from Christina Vantzou's Supermarket shop.

forest coral 54-week datebook, $16.00 from Blissen's Supermarket shop.

letterpress coasters 8/pk, $12.00 from 12fifteen's Supermarket shop.

These finds are all from Supermarket's Paper + Prints category, but be sure to check out the Wear + Carry and Space + Place sections, too!!!

I saw this trunk, from Victoria Hagan's Perfect Pieces collection for Target, in the store sometime last year and thought it would make a great side table. It is now on clearance for $24.99 (75% off) and I still like it. Might even be a solution to my storage dilemma...a couple of these could hold a lot of toys! (The dimensions are not listed in the product info, but I remember the size was substantial.)

Besides functioning as an accent table, I could see two trunks placed side by side underneath a clear Lucite-esque console table like this one.

Image from Target.

There's a contest going on over at Ohdeedoh in which readers share their favorite solutions for corralling their kids' stuff. I'm following this closely since we have a growing daughter on our hands who will very soon have toys and books all over the house, and I need some creative ideas.

I particularly like this entry - Dominique took some drum shells given to her by a percussionist friend, stained them dark, made upholstered covers for them out of plywood and favorite fabrics, and put all her daughter's stuffed toys in them. They fit so well under the stairs and don't look like the familiar, modern and boxy kids' storage you see all the time - they could easily blend in with the rest of the family's decor.

Her daughter took to the fun shape and child-appropriate scale of the cylinders, and before long began using them as a table and chair for hosting tea parties with her animals and dolls. So the repurposed item now serves yet another purpose! Great idea.

Images from Ohdeedoh.

There are times when things get crazy, people say thoughtless things that mess with your mind, or maybe unforeseen circumstances just get your day off to the wrong start... Today, I'm laughing my way through some stressful situations & trying to see the positive through the negative: a good rule of thumb for every day, really.

These colorful, pattern spreads are from a recent OrangeBeautiful contribution to the 2nd Sidedown Monograph, published at the end of 2007.

**Be sure to click HERE (then scroll down) to see the enlarged artwork.**

AND If anyone thinks they might want these made available as desktops, let me know and I'll reformat them (what do you think: with or without the messages?)

images c/o OB.

Since leaving his "real" job back in January, Jw has taken on an insane amount of projects:

• doing a lot more freelance, custom design work
• starting his own record label
• continuing to publish serial monographs & zines
• adding to an online shop full of cool stuff you can buy
• making his own music pretty much weekly...
• not to mention, these beautiful prints...

Now, to add to all of that, he's re-launched a bigger, better, stronger, faster SIDEDOWN.org... a blog of sorts, where multiple contributors will post and rant, comment and discuss, on a wide variety of topics.

Want the full details? Go here.

Today I stumbled upon a collaboration of talent! Not only do I love the clothing by Portland, OR based design duo Church & State, I also am head over heels with these product images by photographer Chris Hornbecker.

Church & State designers Nathanial Crissman and Rachel Turk have been working together for four years and create clean-lined pieces with lovely details. I am particularly taken with the ruffled yellow dress at the top of this post - so simple yet special.

The clothing is perfectly showcased in these quietly beautiful images; the patterned backgrounds capture the old-fashioned qualities of the clothes but frame them in a completely modern perspective. If I ever design a product line, I want it photographed this way.

Images from Church & State, copyright Chris Hornbecker.

In a somewhat ongoing search of mine for hoodies that are both comfortable and a bit more fashion-forward, I came across this stunning "blazer" from the husband and wife team of Mike & Chris... I'm absolutely IN LOVE. The color is great, I love the sleeves, the fleece material would be extremely comfortable and the hood is detachable!

The Neil Blazer (in Bakelite Green) is available at CHOCOSHO for $190.00, and although the price is a bit steep for me, I can't stop thinking about owning this piece!!!

image c/o CHOCOSHO.

The weather here in Chicago was truly beautiful this weekend, so, Jw and I got up on Saturday morning, grabbed our usual cup of coffee at The Perfect Cup and then walked down to Montrose for (amazingly) our first visit to local bakery, café & cake designer Angel Food Bakery.

So, we picked up a sour cherry muffin (Jw) and a ricotta brioche (me) to go with our coffees and we couldn't resist picking up a couple of sweet treats in the form of a Marshmallow Igloo and a Chocolate Whoopee Pie... D-E-L-I-C-I-O-U-S.

In case you were wondering was was underneath that mound of pink marshmallow (like I was), here's my igloo, halfway finished:

Needless to say, we'll be back (probably this weekend!) to try something else!!!

*If you're on the north side of Chicago, be sure to check out Angel Food for yourself... on the corner of Montrose & Paulina, just west of Ashland. You won't be sorry (unless you hate things that are delicious!)

AND those little orange server dishes are Comma Plates from CB2... in case you were wondering ;)

A few fun patterned papers to send us off for the weekend...

New from Snow & Graham, Hatch (above), Lattice, and Concentric.

Happy Friday!

Images from / papers available at Paper Mojo.

Okay, so there's this amazingly talented man living in my apartment who has been designing custom, large-scale digital prints based around the font, Ruritania... Only a select few (including myself) have received one of these prints, but - as of this week - you can order your very own!

The concept is this :: you pick a base color & give your print a title (or description)... from there, a custom piece is designed just for you, to the size specifications that you choose (18x24, 24x36 or a custom size)...

This stunning yellow print was made custom to a somewhat awkwardly-sized frame that we had lying around, empty, in our apartment - Jw suprised me with it at OB's open house back in November... the party's theme colors were yellow & black, so this was just perfect!!!

(To see the print in the studio space, click here.)

For more information, to check out details on the process & to order - go here.

images c/o SDDWN.

I am saving this image for when my daughter gets older as inspiration for the evolution of her room! I like how designer Katie Ridder turned the full-size bed sideways, creating lounge space for having friends over. And the patterned canopy bursting out of the patterned wall is just so dreamy.

Photo by William Waldron, from Elle Decor March 2008.

Amie & Denny's album is all finished... and shipped. I can't wait to hear what they think of the completed project!

For all you paperphiles out there, the cover is made of GMUND Savanna Tindalo 300gsm Cover and the pages are Cougar Opaque Natural 80# Cover... the entire album measures 11x14" & has 60 pages. Oh, and that lovely titling in the front is made by yours truly...

images c/o OrangeBeautiful.

Illustrator Samantha Hahn designs lovely patterns with her freehand artwork. Samantha tells me she begins with Micron pen and concentrated watercolors, then creates repeats in Photoshop.

These are my favorites of the patterns she has been working on recently (you can see the others here). They're whimsical but modern and her hand is evident in the watercolor and line variations. I particularly like the colorways shown here.

Samantha is looking into having her patterns made into "wallpaper, plates, textiles, pillows, tea towels...you name it". I would love to shop the collection!

Catch more of Samantha's work here or read her fun blog, Maquette.

Images from Samantha Hahn.

So, OrangeBeautiful should seriously buy up some IKEA stock... (or at least get an IKEA credit card) -

Yesterday, we headed out to the Bolingbrook location to buy items for our NSS booth - and definitely got an awesome amount of stuff... all for under $1000.00. I love that store. We, of course picked up some non-business-related items, as well (clockwise from top left):

• UNG DRILL decorative frame, $24.99;
• SOMMAR cotton totes, in orange (for B) & black (for me), $7.99/each;
• LIMMAREN green glass bathroom set, $9.99/4-piece set.

WARNING :: IKEA induces purchasing.

Multi Dot Platters, Plates, Bowls, Tumblers - $7-21, available from Give Simple.

I know it's April Fool's Day, but I'm not really one for playing jokes on people... anything I ever think up for a practical joke ends up just feeling mean & lame...

Toms Polka Dot Swing Shoe - $42, available at Swell.

so - instead - here's a post about some products I like, which feature dots: a widely unappreciated patterned, often dismissed for being too "childish"... These products are definitely fun, but in no way lacking in modern style.

BODIL fabric, $6.99/yd, from IKEA.

Multidot Overnighter, $108.00 (left) and Multidot Bag Tag, $17.00 (right) - both available at Flight 001.

Happy 1st Day of April, Everyone!...