Posts from October 2008

A friend recently gave me this small vintage pitcher, knowing that I "visited" it in the shop several times and wouldn't buy it for myself. It was a lovely gesture and it's such a unique piece - the prettiest shade of blue, and metallic detailing combined with freeform floral outlines that appear as if drawn by hand.

The piece is by a German company called Three Crown China. I'm trying to find out more info on what the pattern was called, but so far nothing has turned up on Replacements or similar sites. If anyone out there has any leads, please share - thanks!

So I'm not a big Halloween costume person - but I do like playing "dress-up" - and wish that I had thought beforehand of wearing a feather headband like these by Shannon Nicole. (All Kenley from Project Runway associations aside!) I also think they would look gorgeous for an upcoming holiday party...

Becki from shoppingsmycardio is giving away two of these lovelies at her blog. Visit this link, leave a comment and you could win! (Winners will be drawn November 3.)

Images from Shopa-list.

Jw and I carved our pumpkins last night... and I think they turned out pretty great! Mind is on the left; Jw's on the right... we both had slightly more elaborate/creative ideas for what we'd carve before we opened 'em up and found the walls were inches thick!

If you haven't carved your pumpkins yet (or want a tip for next year), I definitely recommend this knife set - specifically, the 2nd knife in from the left with the jagged edges... it's great for carving tiny little details & I found it much easier than any of our regular knives for cutting through my super-thick pumpkin.

Once we were finished, we brought them inside and took some photos of them all lit up... and we just couldn't resist playing with the exposure settings on Jw's camera!

Here's hoping for a safe & fun Halloween for everyone!... I'm looking forward to seeing adorable kids in costumes, eating tons of candy (which is the #1 best part of Halloween, by the way) ...and then taking the weekend to recover from my candy coma!

images c/o me and Jw

Oh, man... have you seen these? Chronicle Books is now offering Moleskine's newest lines of notebooks, called Volant. Yes, they're colored.

Covers are the same durable "Moleskine" material that you're used to, but now in beautiful shades instead of that same-old black (and sometimes red).

The Volant collection are soft-covers, perfect-bound; availabe in ruled & plain, and sizes: large (5x8), pocket (3x5) & extra small (2x4)... the best part is that each color option (Black, Blue, Green & Pink) come as a 2/pk with a lighter and darker shade of each color.

I'll have the Large Ruled, in Green, please.

Check out all the available options, here.

c/o Chronicle Books

Dots Gift Wrap, sky on steel (left); Dots Gift Wrap, white on orange (right) :: both styles are $8.00 for (2) 19x25" sheets.

I've been a fan of Shannon Riffe (aka Rifferaff)'s silkscreened paper goods for quite a while, so I was thrilled to get an email about some of the new papers available now in her Etsy shop!

Dots Gift Wrap, White/Orange :: made into envelopes for a future Rifferaff project.

Since I'm terribly predictable, it won't be surprising to anyone that I'm a huge fan of the dots pattern, printed in white ink on Tangy Orange stock (made by the ever-popular French Paper)... this is actually the same orange stock that's part of our Lattice Line!

Jigsaw Bead Gift Wrap, white on grey (left); Jigsaw Gift Wrap, rose on pink (right) :: both styles are $8.00 for (2) 19x25" sheets.

These wraps would certainly be great for the holidays, but they're so stunning, and the colors so versatile, that you could certainly have several sheets on hand for any occasion...

And I love the addition of Angela Liguori's cotton ribbons in the above shots!... they're just the perfect accent to these lovely papers!

Jigsaw/Butter folded cards, $16.00 5/pk.

Rifferaff also makes note cards (shown above) and gift tags... check out the entire shop, here!

images c/o Rifferaff.

Orange is a bit of theme today, I guess... oh, wait - it's always a theme with me ;)

I thought I'd share pics of me in my ridiculously-awesome rust demi top from treehouse28 over at Etsy. The top is just the orange 'tank' part - and I bought this turtleneck (from Target) to go underneath.

And now, because I'm so pleased with my first treehouse purchase, I'm coveting all sorts of things from their shop :: for example, this two-color turtleneck (left) and ruffled pants (right). Now I just have to decide what colors I want!?! (Did I mention you can pick & choose the colors you'd like your custom-fit piece made in!!!)

Check out the entire shop here - trust me, you will find something you must have.

top image c/o Jw; bottom image c/o treehouse28.

Check out these lovely photos by Kirstie Tweed, from Orange Girl Photographs of her new stationery... courtesy of OrangeBeautiful! I wasn't responsible for her logo design - she already had that - but I did lay out the business cards, notecards & envelopes, incorporating the logo & clean look and feel Kirstie was going for.

I loved working on something with so much orange in it (both in the color & the name!) - and Kirstie was a joy to work with from beginning to end. Hopefully, we'll have more projects to work on together in the future!

Oh, for those interested, the cards are Mohawk Superfine Ultrawhite 130# dtc (double-thick cover), die-cut with rounded corners. The envelopes are a slightly-iridescent orange 4-bar, called Stardream Flame.

The above image shows the back of the business card & the front of the envelopes... I really love doing "address labels" printed directly onto an envelope - it looks very custom and makes it easier to hand address a bulk mailing!

top 2 images c/o Orange Girl Photographs; last image c/o OB.

These dramatic collar jackets are surprisingly wearable...interesting enough for evening, smart-looking for day. The beautiful putty-colored, cropped wool version on the right is by Loeffler Randall and I think it's completely striking. But the black and plum jackets on the left, by Simply Vera Vera Wang, better fit my budget. I picked up the version in black; I'm thinking of getting the sleeves shortened so they end at the same line of the jacket hem, dressing it up a bit.

Left images from Kohls. Right image from Saks.

Holy cow. the SCOOP came in #6 on Home Rejuvenation's poll of Top 10 Most Influential Design Bloggers! Thanks so much to everyone who voted for us!!! (See HG's poll results post, here.)

We're honored to be on a list with 9 other great blogs (a couple of which I hadn't heard of before - and am now excited to check out!)... here's the full list:

1. design*sponge :: if you're not checking in on this blog pretty much daily, well, then you're missing out. Not only does Grace find the most amazing interiors, goods & artists - she also posts several times a day, so you'll never get bored.

2. NOTCOT.org :: updated constantly with submissions by both NOTCOT editors & readers alike, this blog is ripe with awesomeness.

3. decor8 :: this is one of those blogs that I simply don't check in on enough. Holly, who runs her own design firm, posts about pretty much anything inspiring & beautiful - including a lot of reader submission for DIY projects & crafts. To top it all off, the redesign of her blog is simply stunning.

4. Apartment Therapy :: with versions for 6 different cities, this is a great site for unique home accessories & amazing home tours... I'll admit, I really only read the AT Chicago version ;)

5. SWISS MISS :: Swiss-born, turned Brooklyn-ite, Tina posts about pretty much everything: design, gadgets, prints, artists, interiors, fashion... which is why I, personally, adore this blog...

6. the SCOOP :: I don't have to tell you how fabulous this blog is... you're already reading it!

7. inhabitat  :: this is one I hadn't heard of before - but I'm glad to now know about it. With it's plethora of contributing writers, this blog covers innovations in technology & sustainable/eco-friendly design practices. I've already gone ahead and bookmarked this one.

8. MoCo Loco :: I'm very familiar with this site due to the fact that Jw is one of their contributors... it's an excellent site for (mostly) contemporary design and architecture, but also has regular art posts (Art MoCo)... very sophisticated stuff here.

9. desire to inspire :: an Australian and a Canadian trying to inspire the world one room at a time. MidCenturyJo and Kim give us a peek into the most beautiful interiors around. This is serious eye candy for those of us who love interior design.

10. Oh Joy! :: the blog of designer-extraordinaire, Joy Deangdeelert Cho - this is another that has a little-bit-of-everything - it's also great to keep tabs on Joy's own design work & amazing paper goods, Nantaka Joy!

If any of these are new to you, I urge you to check them out! Or if you're a regular visitor to some or all of these - keep reading! I know we all appreciate it, and we're doing it for you!

image c/o me.

type designer :: Gerrit Nordzij

Over the weekend, L and I received a message from Michael at Kat Ran Press in Cambridge, Mass, telling us about their newly-updated web archive of Postage Stamps by Type Designers. Now, we all know that I'm a little, well, obsessed with typography, so I immediately went to take a look.

type designer :: Julian Waters

I've always been quite disappointed with the way a lot of our U.S. postage stamps look nowadays (except for those Eames ones, of course), so looking through these was very refreshing.

type designer :: Walter Brudi

type designer :: Wim Crouwel

I'm especially fond of these last stamps, designed by Reynolds Stone... the color combinations are just stunning!

type designer :: Reynolds Stone

You can check out the archive in its entirety, right here. Enjoy!

images c/o Kat Ran Press.

Interior design duo Pappas Miron created this bedroom for the Hamptons Cottages and Gardens Idea House. The space shows that within a soft, light shell, key pieces can be highlighted to make a grand statement.

The effect could be replicated on a "regular" budget, starting by recovering all or part of a pair of vintage wing chairs in graphic fabric such as this or this ... Ballard?s Lavello mirror mimics the designer room?s curvy-lined ebony square frame ... This airy chandelier (which, by the way, my mom has in her kitchen and is absolutely striking) resembles the floaty light in the idea room, albeit minus the subtle blue tint.

Finally, this custom mural wallpaper parallels the chinoiserie scene depicted above the headboard. For finishing touches, add a pair of vintage lamps spraypainted high gloss white atop a simple black credenza, crisp white linens, and a standout pillow.

Images from Pappas Miron.

Jw showed me this amazing type study this morning... it's Garamond, but powerline-style.

Who's responsible for this awesomeness? :: Danish graphic design firm, 0c/0m/0y/0k, that's who. Be sure to check out the entire alphabet here.

"B" is for brilliant.

images c/o 0c/0m/0y/0k.

While working in the studio, B and I often find ourselves saying things like, "when we're not so busy, we'll ________." It's always some very good-intentioned project idea or suggestion, but really, when are we not busy? I guess there are worse problems to have...

It really has been quite a busy year for us... and certainly an especially busy last couple of weeks. The popularity of the calendars has been a pleasant surprise and we're really excited to put the finishing touches on everything for those - and to be sending them out (by the hundreds!) in just a few weeks!

You can view the calendar lookbook here and pre-order your very own calendar here.

Among many other things we've been preparing for our end-of-the-year shows (the DIY Trunk Show and, of course One of a Kind Show Chicago), we've printed up several new holiday card designs.

You can view the lookbook here and purchase the cards here.

Thanks so much to everyone for their support through these busy (and somewhat stressful) times... we really appreciate it!

If you can't get enough of unique & interesting things to give as gifts (or keep for yourself), well then Uppercase Gallery's online shop is somewhere you must visit. There's a great list of made by Uppercase items that I adore, including these Eclecto Pouches (below), made from vintage papers that are sewn between shiny, protective sheets of vinyl... perfect for carrying small items in a big bag, or - in my case - carrying around never-know-when-you-need-them tools, like a small pair of scissors, a bonefolder & little tape measure!...

The Eclecto line continues with Uppercase's Eclectonotes, journals made with vintage papers, repurposed decorative elements, laser-printed transparent covers & ribbon bookmarks! Each one has a theme (and all have unique one-of-a-kind covers) and, of course, I really like the Arts & Crafts one the most!

Another Uppercase-made product (that I think is pure genius) is this It's Your Bag bag which you can customize with your very own message that Uppercase will iron-on to your bag!

While you're browsing through the shop, be sure to also check out great products from OB favorites, mmmg and russell+hazel!

images c/o Uppercase.

So elegant...yet these pale blue apatite drop earrings by Jane Diaz are simple enough for everyday. Can't decide if I like this pair or the golden citrine version better...

Image from / available at auto.

I'm so excited to announce our 2nd appearance in TimeOut Chicago Magazine!... Our Happy Couple card was featured in their latest wedding issue! This issue is probably at the end of its time on newsstands, but you can view the cards included, as well as where in Chi-town to purchase them, right here. (You can find our card at KOMODA at 2559 W. Chicago in Ukranian Village!)

I'm loving the "I'm glad you're getting married and I'm not" card in the center of the shot. It's from PaperDoll Chicago on Division!...

(check out our first TO Chicago write-up here)

card feature image by Nicole Radja.

Maybe you've been wondering where I've been for the last two days, or maybe you didn't even notice that I was gone... either way, Jw and I returned to Chicago yesterday after a 4-day trip to Cincinnati, OH & Covington, KY to visit friends and family, and for a little "work" (more on that in a second)...

As soon as we arrived in Covington, we took a walk to meet up with my dad - who happens to live right by this place: The Ascent - a pretty intense residential building on the Ohio River that has one of the craziest silhouettes I've ever seen on a building. More on the building and its architect (Daniel Libeskind), right here.

On Sunday afternoon, we got to see a live performance from our friend (and artist on Jw's label, Sidedown Audio), Jeremy Simmons... if you haven't heard (or bought a copy of) his album CASTROVALVA, you really should check it out - right here.

Besides getting a little much-needed R&R, our trip also had a "work" purpose, which was to attempt to go through some of the storage locker that my dad has in KY - the locker is filled with family mementos, things from our old house, and quite a lot of "paraphernalia" from my childhood (& my brother's)... the pic above is of me, wearing the Princess Leia yarn wig that my grandmother made for one of my many homemade Halloween costumes. I guess my head is a bit bigger now than when I was 6.

Well, I guess it's back to work now... Cincy & Covington were quite good to us. There were people all over the place dressed in orange (for the Bengals!), our Waffle House breakfast was greasy (and delicious), and the weather was beautiful, - not a bad weekend away!

images c/o Jw.

J.Crew creative director Jenna Lyons' brownstone will be featured in the November domino, and this portion of her house tour video inspired me two ways:

1. The contrasting color behind the glass doors of her black cabinet is beautiful, and makes the books and displayed objects really stand out. I have a cabinet almost exactly like that in my kitchen, and now I'm thinking of lining back of the piece and the shelves with this coppery contact paper (that I learned about courtesy of blogger Nick Olsen).

2. How great does that simple white top/bright pants combo look? In the spirit of J.Crew, I've fallen for these chartreuse cords.

Top image: video still from Slouch Productions video via dominomag.com. Contact paper image: Aubochon Hardware. Cords image: J.Crew.

These organic cotton pillows (hand drawn, screen printed and sewn by Chakra Pennywhistle) are just lovely... I especially love the oblong shape of the Tulips style (shown above).

Check out all of the pillows here at Chakra Pennywhistle's Supermarket shop!

images c/o Chakra Pennywhistle.

When I was little, I opened up a bookmark shop in the foyer of our house. It was called, accordingly, The My Stars! Bookmark Shop - and while I can't say a single bookmark ever sold, I did have a fabulous time creating product (this was back when rubber stamping was big) and developing the store's concept, down to the visual merchandising and branding. (When "customers" would walk into the store, a pre-recorded message would greet them. Welcome to The My Stars! Bookmark Shop. We have a wide selection of bookmarks for boys and girls...)

When I saw the Basar play store, I immediately thought back to my bookmark peddling days, the first of many inspired retail operations to come. (Artwork, clothing, friendship bracelets, stationery, and books would each follow with a moment on the market - not to mention the basic "grocery store" games that preceded the more sophisticated enterprises!)

This blank canvas of a store would provide backdrop for hours and hours of creating and refining unlimited retail concepts. Though pricey, I think it would also double perfectly as a child's first "kitchen", thereby taking up less floor space - and opening up a secondary, culinary realm of play when it's time to close up shop!

Image from Oompa Toys.

I've been spending a lot more time on Etsy this week (due to the popularity of these), and, inevitably - while helping to run OB's shop - I've been looking around at the shop's of other designers, artists & crafters at some things that I'm really coveting right now. I thought I'd share just a few with you here ::

Sincear Jewelry :: colorful, handwoven thread earrings

SCHiZO :: awesomely unique hoodies, jumpers & jackets

polarity :: magnetic // interchangeable lockets!

essimar :: cards printed w/ hand-cut elements and rich, beautiful colors

If you'd like to check out more of my Etsy favorites, click here!

Remember the gorgeous designs of Church & State, photographed equally beautifully by Chris Hornbecker? (See original post here.) Well, they're back again with a fall collection entitled "Stateside" - a modern twist on Americana colors, inspired by the perceived nuances of how people dress in different parts of the country. The election year tie-in was not lost either - several styles incorporate military elements. I love Rachel and Nathaniel's approach to the collection, and once again the images just suit each design so perfectly (that's why I felt compelled to include about half the lookbook!).

Above and below: Maine trench.

North Dakota blouse; Montana skirt.

Vermont dress.

Oregon dress.

Alaska blouse; Connecticut shorts.

Delaware dress.

Images from Church & State.

This straight-to-the-point notepad from Pretty Bitter seems to have been making the rounds in the blogging world... I spotted it here on the new + lovely blog, Madame H?rve: Behind the Curtains.

It got me to thinking about how to simplify my tasks for any given day. I find that I have extensive to-do lists (sometimes overflowing into 2 or more pages), which got me to wondering what would happen if I was forced to focus on only one thing that I would do each day.

If you were to do just one thing today, what would it be?

Whenever anything OrangeBeautiful lands a coveted mention on design*sponge, I'll be the first to admit that I feel a little bit like a celebrity...

Thanks to Grace for posting up a lovely mention of our new calendars this morning... we really appreciate it!

image c/o d*s.

Elum Designer Prints :: Gerber Daisies (left) and Dots (right), both $3.50/sheet (22x34").

Let's face it, I will never get tired of looking through beautiful color combinations & unique patterns, especially when they come in the form of a beautiful sheet of decorative paper.

Here are just a few of the sheets I'm coveting over at PAPERmojo.com... Enjoy!

Chiyogami silkscreens :: Classic Floral on Black (left) and Magic Beans on Black (right), both $8.00/half sheet (18x24").

Kichi Golden Flower (left), $6.00/sheet (24.5x36.875") and Katazome-shi Floral Vine on Brown (right), $10.00/ half sheet (18.5x24").

images c/o PAPERmojo.com.

The absolute prettiest subjects abound over at This is Glamorous, which I have just added to my favorite daily reads.

This blog shares my preoccupation with beauties like Loeffler Randall (and that apartment), and every selected image has an air of such elegance. The workspace above speaks to me so intensely that I want to model every room in my home after it - the perfectly imperfect balance of darks, lights and colorful pattern.

Image from This is Glamorous.

We've kept this a bit under wraps for the past few weeks, but now it's time :: OrangeBeautiful's 2009 Calendars are now available for pre-order!

These limited edition wall calendars are printed & assembled entirely by hand in our Chicago studio... using 2 Gocco printers, 4 hands, and a lot of printing, cutting, perforating & binding!!!

And these aren't just any old calendar, folks... we wanted to make something that had a dual purpose: so, instead of tossing the page into the garbage (or recycling bin) at the end of each month, we've perforated the pages so that each month (including the 2009 cover!) easily tears off into a 5x7" art print!

Pre-order yours now, right here.

Enjoy!

Clearly I'm a chocolate fiend, so the Mast Brothers Chocolate bars listed on Lena Corwin's "10 Things that Make Me Happy" page in the October domino totally intrigued me.

The launch of Rick and Michael Mast's beautifully packaged, obsessively crafted chocolate last fall marked the beginning of their "chocolate revolution". The finest cacao beans are sourced from the best (often, organic and fair trade) growers in Venezuela, Ecuador, and the Dominican Republic. The brothers then make all the chocolate themselves in small batches, handwrapping the resulting bars in vintage and patterned papers (which is where they really got me).

Though not yet widely available outside of Brooklyn, online shopping is in the works. Until I get my hands on some of the bars, I can visit the site and enjoy the adorable old-fashioned "filmstrip" that tells the duo's chocolate story.

Images from Mast Brothers Chocolate website and Facebook profile.

Curvy Bookcase by Vincent Leman :: via Home Rejuvenation blog.

Tomorrow (October 15th) is the last day for voting over at Home Rejuvenation blog's poll of the Top 10 Most Influential Design Bloggers. The SCOOP is part of a long list of quite reputable design sites... and I know that many of you have already voted for us (thanks so much!) -

If you would still like to vote, you can see the full list of nominees here and cast your votes here.

Thanks to everyone who has voted for us so far! We really appreciate it!

I actually don't wear heels... ever. Okay, that's not entirely true - I have several high-heeled boots, and then there's these... but I'm not a stiletto girl, that's for sure.

But if I were, I'd definitely have a pair of these City Slippers from Norwegian shoe + accessories company, SWIMS.

I received a press release about these last week, and, at first, I wasn't really quite sure what I was looking at... but then, at closer inspection, these Slippers are durable, rubber "forms" made to slip around the outer edge of your heel - stiletto or otherwise. They even thought about the fact that many women's shoes have embellishments on and around the toe, so the cut is extra low in the front...

SWIMS is originally the creator of their Ladies (and Mens) lines of slip-on galoshes. Shown above are the Ms.Swims in Lemon. I'd love a pair of these for the spring - to slip on over my Keds!

The galoshes are available now - and the City Slippers will be available online soon at swimsstore.com - and in a few weeks at Saks and Bloomingdales!

images c/o SWIMS.

RELAX letterpress sign, 8 x 19.25" from Yee-Haw Industries.

This may have something to do with my love of type - but lately I've been really into cards with blunt, straight-forward messages (like these)... Whether they be sweet or a little bit sour, I'm definitely a fan. Here are just a few well-designed words of wisdom from Etsy sellers, Yee-Haw Industries, Pressa Russa, A.Favorite Design and RAR RAR Press:

Keep On The Sunny Side letterpress oversized postcard, 5.5 x 15.5" from Yee-Haw Industries.

Evil Bastards card, 4.25 x 5.5" from Pressa Russa.

Love More silkscreen tag, 1.425 x 4.75" from A. Favorite Design.

F that S letterpress postcard, 4.25 x 5.5" from RAR RAR Press.

I definitely need the RELAX sign for the studio... and that F that S card just kills me. I wonder if they'd give me a discount for buying in bulk! ;)

Much has been written about decorating with iconic gift boxes. Debates have even ignited over whether the look is perennially chic or rather tacky - see Style Court's excellent post on the subject here.

In an attempt to curb spending, I've been trying to rearrange or create new tableaux out of objects around the house. It occurred to me that I have collected several lovely gift boxes over time - and I thought the boxes' colors and textures would look interesting placed together.

Top image, clockwise from top left: Black and white gift box from C.O. Bigelow; blue jewelry box from Tiffany; cream and black perfume box from Jo Malone; pink and silver perfume box from Sarah Jessica Parker; gold Union Jack dishware box from Rosanna; lilac chocolate box from Vosges. Bottom image: Yellow and cream date planner box from Graphic Image.

Shortly after I wrote this post about Alejandro Paul's newest font, Compendium, a client of mine (the lovely Kirstie from Orange Girl Photographs) sent me a Veer gift certificate to put toward purchasing Compendium!!! How sweet!

So, of course, I immediately headed over to Veer, bought up the script and started putting it to use. Over here at the OrangeBeautiful studio, we've printed up a limited edition batch of Thank You notes (available in Coral and Mustard) and Just A Note cards (available in Aqua and Magenta), both designed with Compendium. All of these screen-printed styles are available (while supplies last!) on our Etsy shop!

It really is a lovely font :: a nice mix between casual handwriting (maybe L's?) and precise calligraphy. And it would be perfect for wedding invitations!

Thanks so much, Kirstie! Your lovely gesture will be used well!

images c/o OB.

So here's how my stream of consciousness works: I was thinking about a Halloween costume for my daughter, which made me remember all the various princess costumes I donned as a child, which made me remember this book that has been on my wish list for years.

Assouline's volume Timeless Tiaras is all about the bejeweled, ornate, over-the-topness that embodies a royal headdress. Personally, I am wild about the feathery concoction shown on the cover, with its oh-so-delicate whisps and slim white headband. To me, it's a perfect interpretation of what a modern princess should look like.

Image from Textbooks R Us.

Mara (from maragreenaway.etsy.com) totally made my day last week by sending me a pair of her adorable-yet-effective Barack Obama Barrettes!!!

I've been wearing them on my coat for the last several days (my hair is a tad too short for me to feel comfortable wearing them as barrettes) - I've gotten so many compliments about my "awesome Obama pin"...

I feel very proud wearing these - and regardless of the outcome of November 4th, I will be sporting these for a long time to come.

(See my original Barack-ettes post here.)

images c/o Jw.

Okay, so I know I was all decided that I was in love with these JUMP boots (from this post about wedges), but now I'm in trouble :: I've found these...

Damn you, JUMP. Don't you know the economy is bad?!

Either way, I'm going to have to wait 'til these go on sale... I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

image c/o Zappos.

Flavia Tunic and Flora Tunic / designer Samu-Jussi Koski / by Marimekko.

I was stopped in my tracks when I saw this post of Joy's over at Oh Joy! blog... Apparently, Marimekko's Autumn/Winter 08/09 line is out, and, well, the clothes are just stunning.

Nea Dress and Pansy Jacket / designer Samu-Jussi Koski / by Marimekko.

Three designers make up the collection :: Mika Piirainen, Ritva Falla and Samu-Jussi Koski... I'm definitely a fan of the latter. Koski's bold patterns & vivid color palettes are quite mesmerizing, and his approach to designing is really inspiring:

"Samu-Jussi Koski continues to dedicate his collection to the Mari girl of the 21st century, an independent and spontaneous urban woman who adores nature in all its diversity and who is surrounded by an aura of vitality."

Enrica Coat and Lacy Dress / designer Samu-Jussi Koski / by Marimekko.

Check out all of the new lines here, and Samu-Jussi Koski's complete collection of designs here. Enjoy!

images c/o Marimekko.

I'm practicing my hand lettering for an upcoming project. When I sat down this morning and thought about what to write, the first thing that came to mind was Goodnight Moon, which I can now recite (literally) in my sleep.

Stay tuned for more details on the project...hopefully within the next few weeks!

Christina Vantzou Floral mug, $8.00 each - from the NYLON Mug Collection, available at UO.

I love these (super-affordable) mugs over at Urban Outfitters, which are (yet another) collaboration between Urban Outfitters and NYLON Magazine to bring the work of talented artists & designers to UO's customers in the form of easily-attainable products for the home.

Christina Vantzou Deer mug, $8.00 each - from the NYLON Mug Collection, available at UO.

Alongside designs by Brooklyn-based designer, Mike Perry (you've most certainly seen his book Hand Job) and Pasadena, CA illustrator, Steven Harrington are these two beautiful designs by Christina Vantzou (who lives & works in Brussels, Belgium).

I posted about Christina's prints (available on her Supermarket shop) back in April - and I'm excited to see more work of hers here!

Christina Vantzou Floral mug, $8.00 each - from the NYLON Mug Collection, available at UO.

You can pick up some of these lovely mugs for yourself (and check out the other designs available) on UO's website - right here...

images c/o UO.

These screen-printed ties from Cyberoptix TieLab make me desperately want to be a guy that wears a suit to work every day. I'd have one of each style - but, in particular, I'd grab a few of the Haute Math style, printed in neon colors!

I'm thinking my man needs this one, and L, don't you think Christopher would look smashing wearing this one in sky blue?!

images c/o Cyberoptix TieLab

While they're definitely not as refined, these $35 gray snap boots from Target (pictured left) are a good way to get your low wedge boot fix when you can't afford the extra $750 for the original (pictured right).

Left: Mossimo boot image from Target. Right: Loeffler Randall Ivy boot image from Saks.

So, I have a bit of a weird thing about photographs of myself - but I'm not really bothered as much when the pics are showing off a great bit of jewelry, or a scarf, or a great hat that I bought...

This is my Linen Knit Rita hat (from Rocks and Salt). After my initial post, I snatched one up back in July. I had high hopes that it would solve my "I-have-short-hair-and-I-want-to-wear-a-hat-but-not-look-ridiculous" problem (which it definitely did!), but then August was just too hot to wear it much...

Thankfully, it's cooled off since then, and I finally have some pics to share. I'm really looking forward to wearing this hat more and more as it gets cooler! (It's also great for just running errands on the weekend when I'm not up for making my hair look not-insane ;)

You can get one, too... right here.

Stationer Snow & Graham's website has a section called "Odds & Ends" that showcases their papers in different applications. This deer head by artist Jennifer Khoshbin (using Ivory Pattern) is creative...and rather adorable.

While I had Snow & Graham in my head, I found this Partridge (in a pear tree) wrap and now feel an urge to make my Christmas shopping list. (Apparently I'm not alone!)

Top image from Snow & Graham. Wrap images from Paper Mojo.

Kudos + congratulations go out to my friends, Dolan & Ali of Dolan Geiman for the launch (TODAY) of their new website: dolangeiman.com

I'm one of the lucky ones who has seen a great deal of Dolan's work up close & personal (including in my own home and studio), but I love how this new site "appropriately" shows off his amazing portfolio of work even to those viewing pieces via computer screen. There are some great environmental shots throughout, as well as macro shots (which are especially enticing on the construction pieces) ::

Shenandoah Shipwheel, 32"x4" (wood construction) :: $550.00, available on Etsy.

The site also contains tons of information on show schedules & sales, as well as bios for both Dolan and Ali - +plus detailed info on Dolan's green policies.

A shot of the Dolan Geiman booth at Art Fair on the Square 2008 :: Madison, WI... Yes, that's me on the left ;)

Do, Re, Mi (Green), 24x18" (box print) :: $250.00, available on Etsy.

February Journal, 18x24" (box print) :: $250.00, available on Etsy.

Jazz Atlas 48x36.25" (mixed media) :: $4,200.00, available on Etsy.

Field Guide (Riverbank), 24x18" (box print) :: $250.00, available on Etsy.

The new site is quite expansive - both in images & information... so, definitely kick off your shoes and take a leisurely look through all of Dolan's great work. Also, in case you were wondering, the new DG site was built by the very pair who built this blog :: Sidedown (design + construction) and Pete Akins (programming). Well done, guys... well done.

note :: Dolan & Ali are kindly offering 15% off any purchase made during the month of October to you, my dear SCOOP readers, in celebration of their new website! (Discount Code :: "SCOOP-NEWSITE")

Thanks + Congratulations again on the new site! Everything looks great!

images c/o Dolan Geiman.