Posts from January 2009

The mass re-organization of the OrangeBeautiful studio began this week... it's really daunting, so in order to cope, I've been keeping an eye out for inspiration in and out of the office. In moving things around, I've realized how much awesome Russell + Hazel stuff I have - all of which will be really key in getting things more put together... and looking good, all at the same time.

I'm a bit addicted to R+H's adhesive notes (you can get an awesome combo pack of those here!), as well as their mini binders. The one I have may need to be replaced soon, since I've sort of "loved it to death" ;)

I also have (2) sets of these Three-Ring Binders, filled with paper and dividers... just ripe for some serious filing of admin records, wholesale inventory notes & project instructions!

Check out all the beautiful organizational goods over at russell+hazel's online shop...

Hey, if I'm not mistaken, that's an OrangeBeautiful business card tucked into the bottom left slot of that Mini Black Book in the last pic! ;)

This post falls under the "things you don't need that make everyday tasks more fun" category. First up: this peanut butter & jelly spreader, pictured above, was given to me by my mom, who is well-aware of my lifelong PB&J love affair. Its simple color-coded design avoids getting the PB in the J jar, or vice versa - a pet peeve for some. Bonus usage: its silicone construction allows me to quietly stir my coffee or tea after I put my baby down for a nap, which is incredibly satisfying.

I figured the company that makes it (Cuisipro) must have some other fun gadgets, and I was right: this ice cream scoop & stack (in pretty colors) makes cylindrical-shaped scoops that can be stacked, as the name implies. Note that I haven't used this gadget so I can't attest to its efficiency, but it seems like a fun idea.

Images from Cuisipro.

When House & Garden wrapped, I was bummed. When Blueprint folded, I was shocked and disappointed. When InStyle Home, O at Home and Cottage Living followed suit, I thought, "uh-oh". And, as I'm sure you've heard by now, today's news about domino closing confirmed what was starting to seem inevitable.

A commenter to the WWD article that broke the news said it best: domino was more than just a magazine, it was an entire aesthetic. Wonderful job domino, you will be incredibly missed! My hope is that the staff can reconvene a few years down the road and start anew...

Favorite images from domino.

We all know about my Agnes & Hoss obsession. Around the holidays, A&H designer Stephanie Waddell let me know about these new little storybooks, and amidst all the craziness I somehow forgot to post them. Aren't they so pretty? I like how they come in a set of three, because I don't think I could really decide which is my favorite among all the fabric covers. A journal like this deserves to be displayed on top of a stack of coffee table books.

Images from Agnes & Hoss.

My Indie Clothing Pledge (let's call it ICP from here on out, shall we?) apparently started last year... Here's some pics of two items that I've made mention of before, but had yet to show off in use...

Jw surprised me with this Miss Alison vinyl wristlet after I pined over it at the DIY Trunk Show in November. I love it. It's just the right size for my cell phone, a lip balm and my wallet. And it's a lovely color of rich reddish-orange. Perfect.

I think I'd love it even without the stitched decoration, but the detail just puts it over the top as one of my very favorite bags. Needless to say, I'll be adding more Miss Alison goods to my ICP list in the future.

I already showed an off-the-rack shot of my awesome orangyporangy skirt in this post about the DIY Trunk Show, but I couldn't resist showing off a couple shots of me wearing it! Thanks, Natalie!... this one definitely went to a good home! ;)

orangyporangy and Miss Alison both have much, much more on their online shops - so, check it out!

Just two more great shops to add to my Indie Clothing Pledge list!

images by Jw, of course ;)

In Step dress by Twinkle.

What a weekend! Events and freelance projects galore. Found some ideas for how to spend my earnings this morning: a sale on SCOOP favorite Twinkle by Wenlan at Basic.

Slow Turn dress by Twinkle.

Slow Turn dress (back detail).

Striped sweater by Twinkle.

Images from Basic.

Why is it that a fast-approaching weekend always makes me think of all the work I'm gonna get done?

Oh, right... 'cause I'm a workaholic ;)

Enjoy your weekend, everyone. I got some pretty stuff to make... and then I'll see you on Monday!

(Hey L, what are you up to this weekend?)

Over the past year or so, I've gotten just a slight taste of what it is to purchase clothing from the person who made it... I pride myself on buying as many handmade products as I reasonably can - but somehow, the idea that I could have a good portion of my wardrobe be made by individual craftspeople kinda escaped me somehow.

So, this year, I'm making an Indie Clothing Pledge, where I will, whenever looking for a new article of clothing, seek out something that is ::

1) made by an individual designer, seamstress, craftsperson, etc.
(i.e. not made in a factory in some far away country and then distributed here in the U.S. for 10x the cost to produce it),
and/or
2) made in the U.S. (or better yet, Chicago) and sold at a local boutique
(however, the retail markup of even a foreign-made item would be going to support a small business in my community)

Not that it's surprising, but Etsy is a really great place to find clothing items that fit into category #1. Like these kick ass slippers that I got from Etsy shop, Hydra Heart. They arrived yesterday and I wore them all last night and Jw had to pretty much pull them off my feet this morning.

I was in desperate need of new slippers and normally, my first place to look is Zappos! (which is great, don't get me wrong!... but it doesn't quite fit into my Pledge, now does it?) But when I couldn't really find anything that was quite right (or wasn't some ridiculous price), I decided to search "slippers" on Etsy... I was pleasantly surprised to find HydraHeart, and even more pleasant surprised (read: ecstatic!) when they showed up at my door!

If you're skeptical about ordering shoes from a girl in California with a knack for sewing, well, let me dissuade you: All you do is measure your foot, length & width - (I traced my foot onto a piece of paper and measured that), and they'll arrive in just a few weeks, custom-made to your feet!

There are other colors/styles available, too, so be sure to check out HydraHeart's entire shop, here!

*Check back for more updates on how my Indie Clothing Pledge is going throughout the entire year... hmm, and probably for many years to come!

And, if any of you know of (or you yourself make) clothing, shoes, accessories, etc. - anything that fits into the description of "being part of someone's wardrobe", leave info in the comments. I'd love to find more places to shop for the Pledge!

images c/o Jw

For your viewing pleasure, here are some pics from last night's Inaugural Ball... You'll get some nice views of Michelle's (now infamous) Jason Wu gown. From the comments on L's post, it looks like there are both rave reviews along with a bit of constructive criticism. I don't really know enough about fashion to have an actual opinion on whether or not this was the right dress for Mrs. Obama, but well, I think she looked AMAZING.

And is it just me, or doesn't this just feel like we were all given a sneak peek into someone's amazing wedding?... you know, a wedding where millions of people are watching your ever move and Mariah Carey and Beyonc? are your wedding singers...

images c/o newsday.com

- Man cannot live by bread alone. He must have peanut butter... - Bill Cosby -

Last week, I got an email inviting me to sign up for email newsletters from REAL SIMPLE magazine. There's everything from recipes to wedding tips to Keep-It-Together checklists...

One of the newsletters I signed up for was Daily Thoughts, "a daily dose of inspiring quotes and ideas to keep you motivated" ...and we all know how much I like motivation, don't we? ;)

Today's thought (above) made me think of my boyfriend, Josh, who, well... would, I'm sure, agree whole-heartedly with this quote.

image c/o MatthewA's Flickr photostream

Prespring 09 gown by Jason Wu.

As President and Mrs. Obama spend this evening ball-hopping, the blogosphere is surely firing up about Jason Wu - the designer of Mrs. Obama's Inaugural ball gown.

The 26-year old Taipei-born designer seeks to celebrate the hourglass silhouette of the female form and, not surprisingly, counts Richard Avedon as one of his influences. This aesthetic seems perfectly suited to Mrs. Obama's strong-yet-feminine style as she assumes the role of First Lady in a new era - especially as Wu (according to his website) "aims to revitalize the art and perfection of dressing with a relaxed and youthful attitude".

Prespring 09 looks.

Wu's background in sculpture (he studied in Tokyo) is evident in the looks above from his Prespring 09 collection; the combination of draped fabric and origami-type details is both interesting and beautiful. Wu also studied in Paris, then at Parsons, and interned with Narciso Rodriguez (another of Mrs. Obama's favorite designers).

Spring 09 looks.

My picks of his Spring 09 looks, shown above, venture outside the diaphanous forms and ethereal palette to incorporate more color and texture. Here, his brilliance appears to be in the details of each piece.

How exciting to see such a young designer's career catapulted - literally - overnight!

Images from Jason Wu.

I'm ecstatic today over the beginning of Barack Obama's presidency. There's so much more to the inauguration of this particular President... It's more than just politics; it's more than policies and appointments to the new cabinet. There's so much more happening here than just a change in our government. And, yes, I believe that even the clothes worn by the wife of our Commander in Chief has, and will continue, to affect us.

Fashion :: it may seem superficial, but to ignore its power is near impossible.

Since Barack announced that he'd be running for president - nearly 2 years ago - there's been a watchful eye on his wife, Michelle Obama, and, not only what she's had to say, the content of her character, her beaming wit & intelligence... but also her clothes. She's been compared to Jackie O in her classic style and the way that she carries herself, and, in my opinion, she's living up to the comparison quite brilliantly.

Michelle with Stephen Colbert on Colbert Report

It's undeniable that there's something inspiring about Michelle Obama: The clear love and devotion that she has for her husband and her children; her confidence, her presence in interviews and in front of thousands of people...
her ability answer questions intelligently and calmly, letting her individual personality shine through - all the while looking professional, put together
and colorful!

I look forward to seeing what Michelle Obama will bring to the rather undefined role of First Lady. At this point, she could continue dressing nicely and answering questions articulately, and she'd still rank as one of the best in history. However, I sincerely doubt that is all she'll bring to the table...

top image :: Michelle & Barack Obama, this morning, heading to church in DC .
Michelle's dress/coat is by designer, Isabel Toledo. Later, she brought out a pair green leather gloves that matched perfectly to her green heels... just thought you should know ;)

bottom image :: a campaign rally in OH; an appearance on The Tonight Show.
I love that she's wearing the same sweater (like a real person!) - and that at the rally its dressed down with bright blue jeans, but for a more formal TV interview, she dresses it up with a skirt & different accessories. She is a genius!

all images c/o Associated Press

Quite a lot of work comes out of the OrangeBeautiful studio on a weekly basis, and probably only a quarter of it is ever posted here on the SCOOP.

So, in the interest of, well, showing off a little, I'm going to make extra effort this year to fill you in on projects I'm working on, as well as images of custom orders & the progress of the studio's major transformation (more on that later)...

What better piece to start this trend off with than Robin & Ilan's beautiful wedding invitations. They went with an A2 tri-fold invitation, where the last panel is perforated and tears off as a reply postcard! These are letterpress printed in Rubine Red on Crane's 100# Lettra stock...

I'm really happy with how beautifully these came out!

(Remember those little birds from this invitation set?)

images c/o Jw

This little guy kinda makes me all giddy inside... I mean, the $129,000 price tag turns me off (quite a bit) +plus the fact that, despite it's alarming resemblance to a VW Microbus, this vehicle is not manufactured by Volkswagen.

I'll try my best to look past the fact that logo of the company who created this cuteness (Verdier Van & Camper Inc.) is nearly identical to the VW logo - and whether it be "homage" or "rip-off," it does bother me a little.

What doesn't bother me, at all, is how adorable this little car is... it's very well-designed, comes suped-up with all sorts of camping gear (collapsable beds, a grill, folding chairs, a home theater system, and a 2nd floor!) and is available in an awesome bright blue (called Blueberry - see first image above)...

If I had 129 Gs burning a hole in my pocket, I wouldn't be completely opposed to thinking about maybe spending it on one of these ;)

Oh, and if you're a bit of a car geek (like I am) and want some more info on the Verdier Camper, check out this article on WIRED.

via PEACE LOVELY blog.

images (except for the last one) via Verdier

Todd Nickey and Amy Kehoe, the duo behind these beautiful rooms, describe their style as a masculine-feminine fusion called "warm minimalism", but the words that come to my mind are "purposeful eclecticism".

Their firm, Nickey Kehoe, was named one of the domino ten last year, and Amy's work appears in this month's issue of that magazine. I particularly admire how they balance light, dark, and colorful elements in their rooms (like the pink bathroom pictured above, which manages to not look overly girly thanks to the grounding black frames and molding trim).

It seems the items in their shop (pictured above) are composed into artful vignettes that truly look lived-in and cohesive, though the pieces each appear interesting enough to stand on their own. I am particularly drawn to the display on and above the shelving unit in the image on the left.

Images from Nickey Kehoe.

As I write this post, it is a ridiculous-but-not-unexpected -8˚ outside. (Yes, there's a negative in front of that single digit number.) But, maybe because I'm wearing killer earrings, a bright orange scarf & the best pin I own, I'm feeling pretty great.

Today, I'm sending out wholesale orders, Etsy orders & Supermarket orders... and I'm having much-awaited drinks (and non-stop gabbing) with my lovely friend April later tonight. Awesome.

Here's some pics of the most lovely holiday gift I received, from - of course - Jw. These earrings are from the aforementioned jewelry designer, Holly Rittenhouse, who was my neighbor at the One of a Kind Show. I drooled over this particular pair at the show... and now they're mine! I feel so sophisticated when I wear them, +plus the stones are clear, blue & orange!

I'm also wearing my bright orange scarf today (from American Apparel) and the best pin ever - picked up at Rar Rar Press's booth at the DIY Trunk Show back in November.

Let's just say, it speaks the truth.

Here's hoping that you all - wherever you may be - are keeping warm & happy.
It's a day to be productive!

images c/o Jw

Somehow I missed the news that Orla Kiely is doing a housewares collection for Target, scheduled to hit stores in February.

Though the pieces together appear a bit too Brady Bunch for me, one or two would look smashing paired with more traditional or spare modern accessories. My favorite pieces from the collection are pictured above. The crosshatch servingware and pear bowl would be welcome additions in my kitchen, and the floral storage bin would look cute in Catherine's room.

(See the Apartment Therapy post for pics of all the items!)

Images via Apartment Therapy.

Since it's about 5 degrees outside, I'm thinking sunny thoughts.

I want this bikini in two colors: coral and black. It's hard to be original with swim silhouettes but I've never seen anything like the ruffle top before. Bonus: each costs less than $35.

Images from Victoria's Secret.

Our baby turned one over the weekend, and we celebrated with our family despite having to originally postpone her party due to a massive winter storm!

I had fun putting up a few decorations, and Catherine thought it was interesting to see her familiar spaces transformed - and filled with a houseful of favorite faces! Without having a theme, I just put together colors and things from around the house that I liked.

This advertisement sparked the idea for a paper flag banner and marbelized balloons.

She seemed to love being the center of attention, even in her own quiet way. It's amazing how her personality is really making itself known to us, down to her refusal to mess herself up with birthday cake (served on a Pop Ink cake plate that E gave me several years ago!).

We love you little Catherine Jo!

At the end of '08, Pantone? announced its pick for Color of the Year for 2009... 14-0848 Mimosa - a bold, saturated yellow.

I love it.

I always find color trends very interesting. Remember when everything was tiffany blue & chocolate brown and we couldn't get enough of it? Remember when everyone thought orange, in any shade, was atrocious and to be used solely for construction barricades?

I guess everyone has their favorite color(s) - especially us uber-visual people. I think I love this Mimosa shade because of its vibrancy. I'm not one to overdo it with the pastels (except grey) - but I do love the idea of pairing something so rich with something more muted.

Here's the list of yellow items, just in case you were curious ::

1. Sling Kram bag, $65.00 by Kartwheel.

2. Lemon Yellow Citrus Birds A4 Giclee Print, $20.00 by sugarloop.

3. Globe-Trotter Centenary 28" Suitcase w/ Wheels, $2,200.00 by J.Crew.

4. Slate and Sunshine Double Circles post earrings, $44.00 by TreAnelli.

5. The Groove watch (in yellow), $80.00 by Nixon Watches.

I leave you with a final thought from Pantone? ::

• In a time of economic uncertainty and political change,
  optimism is paramount and no other color expresses hope
  and reassurance more than yellow.

If that's the case, I'm gonna wear a little bit of Mimosa every day!!!

White Noise, 8.75" sq. - $12 from Lizard Press

I just love this letterpress-printed broadside from Etsy seller, Lizard Press. I'm one of those people who actually craves white noise, so that my brain has something to focus on that's just... nothingness.

This print feels so peaceful. It would go well with this print of mine (by Yee-Haw Industries), which was a recent gift from Jw ;)

Oh, and if you love this (and you're into music), be sure to check out this, too!

image c/o Lizard Press

Okay, so you all know how much I love B&W stuff, right? So, it makes sense that I just can't wait for the first batch of Ruritania + Friends small giclee prints to make their debut over at Sidedown!

There'll be a new series of designs each month, starting (in February) with this B&W series, titled "Breakbeats" - I won't describe the inspiration half as well as the artist, so here are his words ::

Our first series, "Breakbeats," combines simple geometries, stark rhythmic textures and loose script to visualize the frenetic, mathematical nature of electronic music.

Below are just 4 of the designs... Since the pieces are a great 9x9" size, I think I'd choose a few different ones and hang them in a grid, maybe 2x2 or 2x3, depending on the space they're filling...

I'm just glad that I live with the artist... it increases the chances that I'll have the entire set of designs hanging in our house! ;)

images c/o SDDWN

As promised, I took the names of all the commenters on the Only 10 Left calendar post, printed them out, put them in a bowl* and drew a name...

Solomon checked the bowl to be sure the contest wasn't rigged... a little mixing,
and the winner is...

Congratulations, Rachel! I'll be sending out your calendar this week!
I hope you LOVE it all year!!!

Thanks to everyone who commented... I'll be sending you all a special email this week, so keep an eye out for that!

*the striped bowl is from fellow Chicagoans, Circa Ceramics... isn't it lovely?!

images c/o Jw

This week, Coco + Kelley is investigating color trends for the upcoming year, and she's assembled a fabulous panel of bloggers to help define what will be the color of 2009.

I was particularly intrigued by Absolutely Beautiful Things' predictions, based on this painting by Australian artist Kate Dorrough: pastel colors that recall gelati flavors, grounded by doses of black. This happens to be exactly the type of palette I'm consistently drawn toward. Click here to see her choices, represented by colorful chairs, and don't miss the other bloggers' predictions this week!

We are still trying to decide on a paint color for our family room, and I think it's interesting to see that the two colors we're deciding between have elements of this painting in them - the bluish "pale smoke" and more minty "quiet moments". We're also looking into getting a new sofa to anchor the room, and I'm thinking something in a graphite velvet...we'll see!

Painting by Kate Dorrough, via Coco + Kelley.

Last year, Jw bought an iPod Touch... We both had been coveting those damn iPhones for a while, but we're pretty much dead set against supporting AT&T (don't ask), and well, neither of us use our cell phones enough to merit the plan we'd have to sign up for anyway... so, long story short, we were pretty psyched when "an iPhone without the phone" came out...

So, I finally broke down and bought a Touch, too... and I just have to say ::

it.
is.
totally.
AWESOME.

I even had the back engraved with my new favorite quote (thanks, Laila!) - recognize that print?

I don't want to be too dramatic, but this little gadget might actually change my life... As you're probably getting an inkling, 2008 kinda kicked my ass all over the place. I've been struggling with managing the business (mostly the money side of things) and just feeling calm & relaxed, in general. For me, being organized is the key to being able to function properly on a day-to-day basis, so the plan is for this little computer to be my go-to-guy for keeping track of ideas, to-do lists, images, contacts, etc.

I've only had it for 1 day and I'm sold.

Now, I just have to get the perfect case to carry it around in! This Pink Pollock case from debris design (out of Asheville, NC) is stunning, but I think I'm gonna shop around.

Anyone have any good suggestions?... keep in mind that I'd prefer the case be handmade. (Of course! ;)

images c/o Apple, LookyLoo & debris

Browsing through the current Martha Stewart Weddings issue, I happened upon a Simple Silhouettes advertisement (likely styled by the incredibly talented Rebecca Thuss). Suddenly I had simple party decor inspiration for my daughter's upcoming first birthday: paper flag streamers and marbelized balloons (only probably not black ones, though they look incredibly cool for a wedding). I'll be sure to post pics of how it turns out; we're not doing a huge party, but I still want it to be a little festive.

As an aside, how fabulous does the bridesmaid dress, above, look with those Missoni pumps!?

Images from Simple Silhouettes and Zappos.

It's been months since OB's 2009 Calendars first began... and now there are just 10 left, all wrapped up, on a work table in the studio.

If you've been holding off on picking one up, this is your absolute last chance to get one. 'Cause now, once they're gone, they're gone.

(The last batch is available right here.)

It's bittersweet, in a way, to be sending out the last of these... They've been an incredible amount of work & I'm happy that they've been so successful (better to be sending out the last of them the first week of January, than to be wondering, in March, what do with all these calendars!, right?) -

Thanks so much to all of you who've purchased a calendar already... and to those lucky 10 people who'll snatch one up in the final hours...
&
if anyone has some pics they'd like to share of their OB Calendar on display,
I'd love to see them!!!

• And just because I'm feeling generous (& I'm hungry for commenters),
  why don't we say that one lucky person who comments on this post - between now & tomorrow (Wednesday) night - will have their name drawn out of a hat, to be sent
  a FREE OrangeBeautiful 2009 Calendar!

UPDATE :: As of 4:21pm CST the calendars are officially sold out!

Thanks to everyone who ordered... those most recent 10 will ship out at the end of this week!

At 8pm CST I will list out all the commenters on this post and draw the name of the lucky winner of a free calendar. The winner will be contacted via the email left w/ their comment. Any comments left after 8pm CST will not be part of the drawing. Thanks!!!

Cuppa, 2008; Digital Giclee Print, 13 x 16", $60.00 on Etsy.

I simply love the balanced compositions & lovely color palettes of these digital giclee prints by Australian designer & artist, Kareem Rizk... available for purchase on his Etsy shop.

Kingswood, 2008; Digital Giclee Print, 8.25 x 11.75", $24.95 on Etsy.

The Apartment, 2006; Digital Giclee Print, 8.25 x 11.75", $34.95 on Etsy.

And be sure to check out more of Kareem's work on his website!

images c/o Kareem Rizk

New Year's Greetings everyone! To echo E's post, I'm looking forward to this year and starting small with my ideas for new beginnings.

First up: gathering all the art and photos I've been meaning to frame/hang and giving them homes on our walls. This will include a print (pictured top) from photographer Ryan Feeney's "St. James the Less" series, as well as a small abstract painting (above) from Etsy seller Bluesunlight.

Images from Ryan Feeney and Bluesunlight.

Today is the first day of the rest of your life.

Or something like that...

As arbitrary as it may seem, the switch over to a new year definitely does help us to reset, take a breath and get on with those things we've been holding back from doing.

Today, make a list of the 5 smallest things that you put off in 2008. I'm not talking resolutions to lose weight, or drastically change your exercise routine. I'm not talking about quitting your job or being more social. This list cannot contain anything too monumental.

Pick things like treating yourself to a really nice, long-lasting pair of shoes, or deciding to always immediately wash a dish after you use it, instead of putting it in the sink, half dirty. You know, things that are reasonably insignificant and relatively easy to choose to do. I sincerely believe that adjusting the tiniest of things will snowball into a sense of accomplishment that will only help to make those huge changes easier to conquer.

image from REAL SIMPLE magazine's photo gallery of front covers