Posts from March 2009

I couldn't very well let L's post about the contents of her bag go without a follow-up, now could I?

So, here you go, all you little voyeurs :: the contents of my bag. It's actually kinda cool seeing all of it laid out nice & neat like this...

I will quickly note a couple of things here :: the bag (top right) is my new Z bag from Zola Jones (ain't it purty? ;) and yes, L and I both have Kate Spade sunglasses!... for the list of contents, check out the tags over at our Flickr page.

image c/o me!

Almost a decade ago, Kate Spade published an unusual, limited-edition book devoted not to the handbags they'd made iconic, but to the contents of the bags themselves.

At the time, my mom tracked down a copy for me (numbered 259, and signed by Ms. Kate Spade herself), and I have treasured it ever since. Each spread features a photograph of ephemera and an accompanying list of the items, as well as a brief description of the bag owner's occupation. The end of the book reveals the identities of the participants, and asks some additional questions that help provide a clearer glimpse of who they are, based on what you've already learned by peeking into their handbags.

Some of my favorite pages included items that felt incredibly glamorous to me: the art dealer's matching green and yellow Hermes leather accessories and light blue Morgenthal-Frederics sunglasses (top); the ballerina's beautifully worn satin and canvas ballet slippers (above, left); the graphic designer's pink notebooks, Japanese candies and Smythson "Private and Confidential" book (top, right).

I decided to capture my own handbag "contents", and it's pretty descriptive of my current stage in life as a designer-blogger-mom (above). A listing of objects is in the comments...

Images taken by me.

This weekend was jam-packed... Saturday was the DIYODS (Do It Your Own D*mn Self) Show at Pulaski Park Auditorium. There was a great turnout for the first time the show has been held - so much so that you really did need to come early to get your pick of the best stuff! OrangeBeautiful's table was nearly empty by 2 o'clock!

Thanks to the Chicago Craft Mafia and to everyone who came to the show!

Once the show was over, I had even more to do!... OrangeBeautiful and Sidedown co-hosted the Chicago Listening Party for this year's RPM Challenge. I met some great people that I'd only heard about from Jw, so it was nice to put a face to the name (or to the music!) -

You'd think I would be fully rested after an entire day of laying around yesterday, but, well, I think I'm going to need just a bit more recovery time... see you tomorrow!

top image c/o Donovan Beeson's Flickr photostream

To follow up L's post on those lovely Bell'occhio containers and to answer Victoria's call for equally-as-lovely labels, I thought I'd post about STUCK Labels - from the super-inspirational Jordan Ferney | Oh Happy Day! -

These labels come in printable sheets and various sizes - perfect for pretty much any project (including labeling your shelves of colorful Bell'occhio boxes!

I'm dying to have a stash of these for labeling my stacks of to-be-packaged greeting cards... Maybe once the studio is entirely finished, that could be a nice "reward" (as if having a clean & organized space isn't reward enough!?) -

If you're not familiar with Jordan's awesome blog, be sure to check it out!... and then head on over to STUCK and label it up!

images c/o Jordan Ferney

Forget those icky clear Rubbermaid containers - perhaps all you crafty Chicagoans can corral your newfound tools & supplies into these stunning paper boxes from upscale general store Bell'occhio.

Available in such whimsical shapes as oval, shoe, letter, and "mini-hat box", these organizational helpers are meant to be seen and appreciated. Romantic-feeling paper finishes, including aqua & crimson shimmering matelasse (top), Paris green & black foil (above), and Heliotrope & dore foil (below) ensure these boxes won't get pushed to the back of the shelf.

Images from Bell'occhio.

Word is it's going to be another rainy weekend here in Chicago... so, what better way to spend a Saturday than at the Do It Your Own D*mn Self craft supplies show at Pulaski Park Auditorium, stocking up on goodies to inspire your own crafty projects for all the rainy days to come!

The show is sponsored by the Chicago Craft Mafia and will feature 40 artists, designer & craftspeople and their new and/or gently-used tools & supplies. (Yes, this includes OrangeBeautiful!)

NOTE :: this is not a craft show like DIY Trunk Show (held in the same location every November)... the vendors will not be selling their finished goods, but rather items that you might need for your own crafty endeavors. Hence the title do it your d*mn self!

The list of potential finds (here) is a bit overwhelming, so here's an edited list, just to give you an idea ::

• fabric
• beads
• art supplies
• envelopes
• collage materials
• craft punches
• crochet supplies
• paper
• felt
• sewing notions
• books
• jewelry making supplies

• and more, more, more!...

If you're wondering what OrangeBeautiful will be bringing, there will be quite a lot of stuff recently uncovered during the ongoing grand reorganization. Mostly, envelopes (of all sizes), paper stock (text, cover & decorative), awesome scrap bags (!), crafty tools, ribbon, buttons, some jewelry-making goods, and a ton of other stuff!

Hope to see you there!

middle image from the Flickr page of Truche, who will also have a table at DIYODS this Saturday!

I'm clearly a huge admirer of green entrepreneur and blogger Michelle Adams (see recent posts here and here). But my jaw truly dropped when I saw the new Rubie Green Bedding that just became available.

Not only are the organic cotton shams, duvets, and bed skirts like something right out of my "perfect bed" dreams, but the product shots by Patrick Cline are absolutely lovely (and if they look like something you'd find in domino, you're not far off - Adams used to work for the magazine, and the bedding was shot at the home of Tom Delavan, a former domino editor).

I have a black and white trellis-print DwellStudio duvet that I think would look stunning with the East Village pink shams. There goes the rest of my birthday money!

P.S. - Don't you want to be this girl in the pretty nightgown sipping coffee with her NY Times?

Images from Rubie Green.

Laura always has the latest scoop on the fashion launches over at Target... how does she do it?

I love the looks from the upcoming Tracy Feith line... there must be a deep-seeded part of me that wants to be a surfer (which explains why I love this place so much) - now, there are certainly a few questionable pieces for me in Tracy's new collection for Target, but I'm definitely loving this pastel floral cropped jacket (left) with black mini dress, and the "8" B&W tee, paired with a pleated, floral miniskirt!

See more images of Tracy Feith for Target here.

Images from Nitrolicious.

Tracy Feith's collection for Target is due in stores May 17, and I'm looking forward to this one. The designer/surfer (a favorite of Michelle Obama) included beachy prints and summery color combinations in his collection; I look forward to seeing the floral-print lined white jacket, left, and the striped sleeve cardigan (love the coral-turquoise-black-white stripe combo), right.

By the way - this model is Allie from The City, no?

See more images of Tracy Feith for Target here.

Images from Nitrolicious.

The other day, Jw saw this pic of Reese Witherspoon at a Monsters vs. Aliens premiere and said to me, "You like these shoes"... he's totally right. And not only do I like the shoes, I love that dress - and, well, her whole look is pretty killer.

I'm usually pretty hard to impress when it comes to Hollywood fashion and the way celebrities dress (despite hiring/paying a "professional" to help them look good) - but whoever got Reese ready on this particular day :: well done.

Not only does she look awesome and fashionable, she's the exact right amount of "hot" and "appropriate"... yes, her skirt is incredibly short, but she also kinda looks like a super-hot sci-fi character.

The stellar shoes are by Balenciaga, and the dress is from Rodarte's Fall 2009 Collection (addtl. images from the runway here) -

via I'm Not Obsessed! and The Superficial

drawing names for the giveaway

and the winners are...

the beginning of the OB Studio's new inspiration wall... (more to come!)

the reorganization continues... out into the hallway!

keeping all the piles organized

More photos to come this week... especially of the progress made with the studio!

images c/o Jw

Providence wrapped up my list of favorite Atlanta shops from my recent visit.

The relatively small space was filled with treasures, yet was merchandised clearly and easy to navigate. Outside the door I gleefully rummaged through a bin of vintage jewelry (most pieces were $5 or less!), and inside, brightly rehabilitated antique furnishings greeted my eye.

Highlights for me included the set of three framed scraps of vintage wallpaper, above; the $10 locket I bought, top of the post; and yet another elephant side table (so I think it's time to "borrow" the one from my mom's house for awhile...)

I already can't wait for my next Atlanta visit. Thanks to all the shop owners who graciously allowed me to take photos of their beautiful spaces, and to Kristen for being a lovely hostess!

Images taken by me.

This past Thursday, Jw and I attended a sneak peek of the new Smart Home at Chicago's Museum of Science & Industry. The modular, pre-fab home was assembled right on the museum's campus in March 2008 for last year's exhibition, and has since gone through a bit of a transformation for the '09 exhibit ::

This year, the home features a new bolder, more modern design of the interior rooms. The more neutral design from the previous season has been completely replaced by a rich & vibrant color palette, which I loved at every turn. All the accent colors in the home used low-VOC paints (like this delicious Curry C2 paint in the living room!) from Colori Eco Paint Boutique. The sofa is from Verde Design Studio and is locally made using FSC hardwoods and water-based adhesives & finishes. The artwork is by a Chicago-local artist, Tim Anderson... the artwork of many local artisans is featured throughout the Smart Home.

The decor throughout emphasizes the use of paint treatments over wallpaper (like these horizontal stripes in the nursery) in order to reduce waste and indoor pollutants. The bed frame in the Master Bedroom (from Sawbridge Studios) is made from recycled wood, recovered from various demolition projects. Also, the two rooms are connected via a wall-mounted touch video screen camera (part of the home-automation system that runs throughout the house), so that the baby can be monitored with both sound and sight at all times!

The very open Master Bath makes me a bit weak in the knees... the double sinks (supplied by the Smart Home's designer, Michelle Kaufmann Designs) are made from fly ash concrete and bits of old toilets! (aka recycled porcelain). And the beautiful green tiles in the shower are made from 100% recycled post-consumer glass.

An "awkward" space underneath the staircase, which was used simply to display some art pieces last year, has been repurposed into a great office area... It's amazing what the right layout and pieces of furniture can do for a tiny space: the white ThinkChair? (from Steelcase) is a Cradle to Cradle (or C2C) product, which means that it is recycled into a new (or similar) product at the end of its intended life.

As in a real home, the Smart Home also has all the "unpretty" parts that you would imagine: a utility room, a back stair... and a garage. But this garage has been done right. Not only is the space painted a beautiful color (I'll get back to you on the specs of that), but there's an amazing workstation, built by Michigan artist, Floyd Gompf out of salvaged wood trim, plywood, 2x4s and bamboo. I never thought that a garage could be made into something so inspiring!

If you're in the Chicago area, or are planning a visit between now and the end of the year, you should definitely get out to the Museum of Science & Industry and check out the Smart Home in person. This isn't even half of what there is to see in the space.

I think we've all got a lot to learn about what it is to truly "live green" and, even though not all of us could afford to build ourselves a Smart Home (dammit!), there are certainly things that can be done on a smaller scale. And that's a great start!

ADDENDUM :: as promised, here's the info on the paint in the garage: it's also from Colori Eco Paint Boutique and it's called Salty Brine... ah, even the name of the color is great!

images by Jw

Thanks to everyone who entered our SCOOP Birthday Giveaway last week. Over the weekend, I printed out all the eligible entrants' names, cut them out & drew two names :: nancy and danielle... Congratulations to you both!

( I'll be contacting you both directly via email to get your shipping info... and you'll be receiving your OrangeBeautiful giveaway goodies very soon! )

Thanks again to everyone who left their nice comments and to all of you for reading our little blog & letting us do this for two whole years (and counting)!

South of Market was a must-visit stop during my Atlanta visit. (More about my shopping excursion in the city here.) I first experienced this shop about two years ago; its warm-minimalist style and excellent wares beckoned me back.

The exceptional kitchen and servingware collection here is quite well-priced, and gorgeously displayed against the gray wooden casework. I almost bought the pitcher/vase with the cutout handle shown in the photo above, and seeing it now I wish I had!

SOM features a unique aesthetic that combines rustic elements, like the oversize basket pendant fixtures above, with big, brightly patterned pillows (by favorite designers like Thomas Paul and Lulu DK), cozy seating and well-placed color. The stacks of books displayed throughout the store make you want to sit down and get comfortable.

One element I particularly appreciate about SOM's style is its ability to pull off several bold gestures at once, without being overwhelming. Take for example the oversize pendant light, framed newspapers arranged in a grid, and upholstered seating in the photo below; the key to the balance lies in the simple palette of orange, brown and greige that allows the large items to coexist. The patterns on the pillows and tufted sofa add textural interest that finishes off the vignette nicely.

Images taken by me.

Good To Smile, 8x10", $20.00 from Laura George

Thanks to everyone who entered the giveaway! I loved reading all of your accounts of nice - such a great pick-me-up to realize that, despite all the jerks that we encounter, there are a lot of nice people doing nice things for each other all the time... we just have to tune into seeing the nice over the not-so-nice!

Be Nice To Yourself, 8x10", $20.00 from Laura George

Along the same lines, how wonderful to have one of these lovely illustrations by Laura George hanging on the wall of your home or office! Sometimes we need a little reminder about how good things really are just to put things in perspective...

Things Are Going To Work Out, 8x10", $20.00 from Laura George

You Are Beautiful, 8x10", $20.00 from Laura George

You're Doing Everything Right, 8x10", $20.00 from Laura George

Each of these prints are 8x10" in size, with approx. 4x6" artwork centered with a white border... Check out all of Laura's delightful prints at her Supermarket shop!

all images c/o Laura George

Can you believe it?!?

On this day, two years ago, the SCOOP was born! It seems like much longer and not nearly that long, all at the same time...

Check out some of our very first posts :: here, here and here.

And our 1st birthday, here!

To give you an idea, those first posts were #s 8, 9 & 10... this is post #1013 (!)

In honor of our birthday, L and I want to give you a gift! And given how NICE giveaways are, I thought it'd be fun to see what you all are doing to be nice to one another (I think Melissa will love this ;)

* * * * * Here's what you'll get:

two (2) letterpress notesets from OrangeBeautiful's Lattice Line
(12 B&W blank folded notes w/ a variety of colorful envelopes, shown above)

two (2) random packs of GOCCO notes
(12 screenprinted folded notes w/ mustard envelopes)

and two (2) packs of B&W pattern buttons

* * * * *

You're probably noticing a trend here, so to continue the 2 theme, your task - if you'd like to enter the giveaway - will be to list two things in the comments of this post :: one nice thing you did today and one nice thing someone else did for you - Got it?

AND

There will be TWO giveaway winners randomly chosen. You must comment before midnight (12pm) EST tonight to be eligible.

Let the nice-ness begin!

digital portrait by SIDEDOWN

UPDATE :: Comment submissions for our birthday giveaway are now closed (as of midnight EST Thursday, March 19th). Feel free to keep the niceties coming, but please note that comments posted after that time will NOT be included in the drawing...

We'll have the two winning names for you on Monday, March 23rd (and the winners themselves will also be notified directly via email).

Thanks again to all who entered!

...I would do this for my wedding invitation, only with different colors. The flowy hand-lettering filling the invitation and reply card is perfectly accented by the tone-on-tone envelope and marbelized paper liner. The effect is so elegant, but the text on the diagonal (and bleeding off the page) shows this will be a wedding that doesn't take itself too seriously.

From Martha Stewart Weddings, via Ritzy Bee.

I'm loving the well-curated collection of beautiful goods over at Los Angeles art & design gallery, Fifth Floor... soft sculptures (like The Gun Club's awesome Sewn Machines below), furniture, accessories & jewelry, and even *ahem* OrangeBeautiful letterpress cards!

Sewn Machines by The Gun Club, at Fifth Floor

Mutt Hutt by Andrew Armstrong, at Fifth Floor

Jewelry by Io Olivera, at Fifth Floor

I'd love to be in L.A. to visit this space and browse the items available in person. It's a bit the way I'd imagine laying out my own store if I ever get there :: uncluttered and full of beautiful objects.

You can browse through much of the gallery's collection online and even purchase a selection of items at the Fifth Floor Store. (It's probably pretty obvious what I've got my eye on!) -

And, if you happen to be in the L.A. area, definitely check out one (or all) of Fifth Floor's upcoming exhibitions... the next exhibit, Short Stories, includes the work of Diem Chau and Wendy Given :: opening reception is this Saturday, March 21st from 6-9pm.

images c/o Fifth Floor

When I visited my sister in Atlanta recently, I was able to check out some of her favorite home decor spots and Armour & Co was at the top of both our lists.

Located in the adorable Virginia Highland district, the shop has abundant light and is tastefully filled with beautiful furnishings, decorative items, books and objects. Topping my wishlist were the blue vases and artichoke lamps (above) and the ceramic elephant side table (below).

I had the pleasure of meeting owner Jayme Leffler, who opened up the shop about two years ago. Armour & Co immediately scored points for me by carrying those gorgeous lacquer boxes (below) that I've blogged several times before. Usually I don't love "sets" of things but in this case I covet each size box in every colorway.

With such inspiring inventory, I can only imagine how fun it would be to arrange (and re-arrange) the shop's vignettes on a regular basis. This is the kind of place that makes me want to have a shop of my own...someday...

Top image from Armour & Co; the rest were taken by me.

As I continue to wade through the mess in the studio, it's nice to finish off smaller areas (like this area for printing) which makes me feel like there is a light at the end of the tunnel...

I had been using these two wine crates to hold shipping boxes... After I moved the studio's "kitchen" (i.e. coffee maker, fridge, microwave & toaster over ;) from the front of the studio and into the back corner, I felt like I needed some additional storage shelving for glasses, bowls, cleaning supplies, etc. It was Jw who suggested mounted the wine crates to the wall rather than buying anything new (genius!), so that's exactly what I did:

I used drywall screws, my power drill & a level... it was surprisingly quick and easy to put up. And, of course, once they were up, I felt like a finishing touch was needed. The paper wall offered up many an option, but I ultimately settled for this amazing (and unfortunately discontinued) Neisha Crosland wrapping paper. It only took one piece of wrap and a few inches of Incredi-Tape adhesive.

The circle pattern and orange color look great and, best of all, the wrap covered up the screws!

I love DIY projects!

Over the weekend I learned of shoe company Marais USA (via Creature Comforts), and I am completely smitten - with the shoes, with the price points, and with the story of its founders, Catherine Chen and Haley Boyd.

The 20-something women attended Parsons together, and partnered in 2007 to fill a void in the market for simple, versatile, essential shoes that were still affordable. The stylish ladies now operate Marais (named after a summer the pair spent in "Le Marais" district in Paris) with three other young women.

The shoes, which include flats, sandals and heels in very distinct and perfectly chosen color palettes, will be available in May through the Marais USA online shop. I'm bookmarking the site for the Perry sandal ($49) in blush and black; the Mercer flat ($52) in Easter, and the Waverly heel ($59) in blush.

I'm also quite taken with the founders' stylish profiles on the site; a smattering of their inspirations and favorites (including their Marais picks). I can't wait to shop and support this company in May!

Images from Marais USA.

Are there enough hyphens in that post title?

So, as promised, I wanted to post up a pictorial step-by-step to... well, to the way I tie my scarves. After this post (where the last pic shows me wearing one of my three jersey scarves from American Apparel), I got a few comments and a bunch of emails asking exactly how I make it look like that... the funniest thing is that I actually get asked about it in person, too and I've taught a few women in my building how to tie their scarves. I'm think I'm both flattered and a little weirded out by it all...

Anyhow, let's get to it! Despite the (9) steps shown here, it really is a pretty straightforward process. Also, please realize that the outcome is going to depend a lot on how thick and how long your scarf is, but I'll give you a tip at the end on how to deal with those differences ::

1) hang your scarf around your neck, making one end hit near your waist and the other hang long - probably down to your knee... this longer end is the one you'll be wrapping around.

2) loop the longer end around your neck once, making sure that the loop goes over the scarf already on your shoulder/neck...

3) continue around your neck a 2nd time with the same longer end, but this time go under the other end. This is going to create a little loop that you'll need later ;)

4) this image shows how your scarf ends should look when that longer end is looping underneath...

5) your scarf will now be looped around your neck twice and you'll have ends (roughly of equal lengths) on both right and left -

6) now find the loop you created, it'll be up near your neck... and take hold of the end that you've been looping,

7) put the end through that loop - this is basically locking your scarf in place and creating a really nice "braided" look around your neck.

8) I usually fluff up the scarf a little at this point, and then

9) even out the ends by rotating the scarf around your neck until the ends meet (or until the ends fall where you want them... maybe unevenly instead!) -

*if your scarf is shorter or thicker/chunkier, take out the first loop around the neck (steps 2&3) and go immediately to the 'looping underneath' step (4). Basically, you just take out one of the revolutions around your neck, but are still creating the "hole" for your scarf end to pass through. This is how I tie my heavier, wool smARTWORKS scarf!

Okay, go get a scarf and try it out!

If you need a larger step-by-step image to look at while you try it out, just click on this link!

I really miss Blueprint (and all my other favorite magazines). Recently I was flipping through some back issues and came across this fashion editorial that really struck a chord with me when I first saw it, and still seems relevant two years later.

"Foundation Pieces" marries classic clothing with home decor items that are meant to last years and years. From the shoes to the furnishings, I think all the picks were right on, as was the philosophy behind the story:

Flash-in-the-pan fashions can leave you feeling burnt. (Perhaps you could dress the wounds with that terrycloth tube-top babydoll tunic?) Invest in a few trend-proof pieces, however, and you'll have clothes you'll look cool in for years to come. Think of these as classics for the future - several steps beyond the black pumps and pantsuit. And your wardrobe will be just the warm-up. Soon enough, you'll be hot on the trail for timeless home styles, too.

Now that I give even more consideration to each of my purchases, this story does provide inspiration for things to look for: clean yet interesting lines, perhaps using classic colors but in unexpected ways; silhouettes rooted in vintage styles, with one or two tweaks that make them feel current; "basics" that have some discernable details that make them seem "special".

I think the images are so lovely, setting perfectly placed pattern and color against layers of textured white and black, with one or two reflective elements thrown in. This concept is what I aspire to keep in mind for both dressing and decorating.

I snapped photographs of the magazine itself, so the image quality is kind of weird! Original images by Roland Bello, text by Rory Evans. Blueprint, March/April 2007.

Heart Brooch (handsewn, felt), $7.50 from Magenpie.

In my continuing search for new clothing made by independent designers & craftspeople, I've been pleasantly surprised by the seemingly undending amount of finds over on Etsy. Here are just a few more of my favorites ::

Reconstructed Cowl Neck Soft Sweatshirt, $45.00 (top) and Royal Blue Tank Dress, $45.00 (bottom) from angeldamico.

Pleated Collar Dress, $195.00 from Amanda Archer.

Peel modern light jacket, $95.00 from J.Alvo.

Sleepy Sleeveless Shirt-Dress, $25.00 from chicpeagoods.

Okay, so call me crazy, but I've been really itching to put up some customizable noteset options over at OrangeBeautiful's Etsy shop... so I did!
And, even though I really should be finishing up the Grand Reorganization, I'm looking forward to doing some small-scale (but still made-to-order) projects.

1-color GOCCO (screen-printed) cards w/ blank envelopes

(7) style choices ? (7) ink color options ? (8) envelope colors

Sets of 50 and 100 are (for a limited time only) available right here.

More often than not, whenever I actually watch a commercial (rather than fast-forwarding through it - thank you DVR recorder!), I'm usually pained by how idiotic and well, just bad it is. Advertisers definitely hone in on the dumbest parts of us, and display images and messages to us in some of the most uncreative ways possible.

Now, every so often, a commercial actually makes me happy. I don't know that it necessarily makes me run out and buy the particular product being advertised, but it will make me pause, then rewind the TV recording... like the latest batch of (adorable) commercials from Frito Lay ::

If you watch even a little bit of TV, you've probably seen these little guys... the yellow circle lives in a world of green circles and can't seem to find where he fits, until he meets his match: a blue circle!... as the website states, they're made for each other!

But my new favorite is definitely the one with the magnets (Two Hearts are Better than One)... mmm, probably because it has a cat in it ;) - After looking in the wrong places, the little magnet nearly gives up, but finally finds his match in the end... with another magnet!

The music with each commercial is different; this particular one features a song by Katie Herzeg, while others feature artists including Anya Marina, Rabbit!, Melodium and Leon Jean Marie.

It's nice to see happy commercials that are fun & pretty to look at, promote new musical artists, and use storytelling, creativity and a positive message to advertise their product. Well done, Frito Lay... well done.

View all the videos (and play around with really cute Flash animation) at madeforeachother.com - and definitely check out the Lights & Sockets commercial if you haven't seen it already!

In my never-ending search for things that will keep me focused and provide me with inspiration, I'm happy to have found (via Jw) a new blog :: thinkmore.

These images of an abandoned bridge here in Chicago are quite captivating. I love the way photography can really focus you in on otherwise commonplace subject matter... I've seen this particular bridge many times in the nearly nine years that I've lived here, and I always found it a bit terrifying. Now, after seeing how beautiful it is in these images, I'm looking forward to seeing it again in person.

There's a good deal more to look through over at thinkmore... I especially love posts 44, 42 and 8 -

images c/o Hemmant's Ricoh GR21 camera

Artist Nathan Abels just let us know about a gorgeous new print available of his original drawing, Two Roofs. While at first glance the image may appear abstract (or like a faceted jewel, which was my first impression!), it is actually the rooftops of two large condo buildings. The drawing, based on an aerial photograph the artist took in Denver, marries the subject's hard lines and edges with the soft, warm gray tones and lovely background color. The result feels so quiet and contemplative to me.

The print, a limited edition of 50, is available here (and is exceptionally well-priced at $39. I really want one!). Read previous posts on Abels' work here.

Image from Nathan Abels.

Sara Hicks Malone of Party Perfect recently blogged an idea that's just too great not to "borrow". She bought her son a typical first words book, but was struck by the disconnect between the words and how impersonal the accompanying illustrations would seem to him.

Sara, the former art director for Martha Stewart Baby and Kids magazines, decided to shoot her own images using thrift store letters to identify familiar objects and people. She tailored the book (created in iPhoto) to words that her son was already understanding, as well as words that would help him communicate his wants and needs to her.

She and her son liked the words book so much that she's now going to put together a book of relatives (including those living far distances) for him. I can't wait to create our own versions for Catherine. Thanks Sara for the inspiration!

All images via Party Perfect.

clockwise from top left :: Sweet Granita Shoulder Bag : Bungalow Dress : Vizcaya Jacket : Possibilities Cardigan : Stucco Slingbacks

After I put this 'pick list' together, I took a 2nd look at it and felt like it wasn't mine at all... but rather something that L would put together! How odd. But still, I think all my picks are at least kinda "me"... even that Bungalow Dress (top right), which, by definition (a dress!) wouldn't be on any wish list of mine, but... I love it. It's gotta be the stripes. Yeah, that's it, the stripes got me all confused ;)

The piece that is definitely me is that Possibilities Cardigan on the bottom left... the best images showing the different ways it can be worn are in the catalog (which you can view online, here, pg.49). It seems to me like it's basically a pullover, long-sleeved shirt with an extra long 'front' to it, which can be wrap around the body in a few different ways or just loop over your head once and worn as a non-closure cardigan... this is a must-have. I only wish it came in a wider variety of colors :/

I'd be interested to see what L would choose from the same catalog. Maybe we'd have overlapping picks!

images c/o Anthropologie

Number Organization Clips, $13.00/4pk from Mateo Ilasco

How great to have any (or all) of these beautiful items from Mateo Ilasco... I'm especially enamored of the Organizing Clips (at the top & bottom of this post), which are letterpress printed, heavyweight paper circles (just under 2" in diameter) with metal clips affixed to the back for clipping on your files, notes, lists, etc.
I might just need a set of these to use in the (soon-to-be organized) studio!

And these lists would be great for prioritizing everyday tasks, or breaking a big project down into smaller (more manageable) pieces:

top: To-Do List Notepad, $9.50 and bottom: Numbers Notepad, $9.75, from Mateo Ilasco

Action Organization Clips, $13.00/4pk from Mateo Ilasco

Be sure to check out all the products available on the Mateo Ilasco shop, including the Numbers and Office Desk Sets!

images c/o Mateo Ilasco

Just returned last night from a perfect weekend with my sister in Atlanta. We spent our (sunny, low 70's!) days shopping - more on that later - enjoying Southern specialties (biscuits, grits, and barbeque), exploring the city, listening to our favorite music, and best of all, talking about the venture she's about to launch.

The response to her flower jacket, posted late last year, inspired Kristen to experiment further with fabric flowers. The resulting necklace that I wore in Time Out exemplifies her eye for arranging textures and colors into beautiful, wearable compositions.

Right now, Kristen is building up an inventory of pieces - and as soon as it launches, readers of theSCOOP will be the first to know! In the meantime, I was so taken with her materials and inspiration items after seeing them in person. I thought I'd provide everyone with some pretty images on a rainy Monday morning, as well as a glimpse of what's to come.

I don't know about you, but I had a pretty chill weekend. Since it rained pretty much all day Saturday, and most of the day Sunday, I was "forced" to stay inside and relax. No arguments here.

But, before the rain came, Jw and I ventured out on Friday night and caught the opening reception of the Chronicles of Professor Fliggins at one of our favorite shops in Chicago, A.Okay Official (3270 N. Clark Street). The show featured new work from the awesome-ness that is shawnimals - a Chicago company that I first found out about (read: fell in love with) back in 2005, when I bought one of these guys at the DIY Trunk Show.

I love seeing exhibits at A.Okay for a few reasons:
1) the space is a nice size - I feel neither overwhelmed by the amount of stuff to look at, nor gipped because there's not enough;
2) a trip to the gallery means a trip to the store that's attached & a trip to the store means buying blind box toys to add to our collection. Done.;
and
3) the atmosphere is always really chill and the people that work there (and exhibit there) are nice.
Isn't it sad that we live in a world where it shocks us when others aren't jerks?

Oh, and 4) I can drool over their inventory of excellent sneakers that I desperately want to own a pair of...

This particular exhibit was right up my alley... I love creatures of all kinds: plush, stuffed, drawn, painted, sculpted, etc. If it's cute, I'm there. All of the pieces in the Chronicles are part of the larger story of Shawnimaland, specifically, the journey of Professor Fliggins (seen above, contemplating by the sea & below in super-sized plush) as he encounters all sorts of new species...

The best part is that we can all share in his discoveries... So far there's been the Sausage Cadet (shown above) and the Three Bean Teens (shown below). Each new species can be bought separately or you can get an entire year-long subscription, receiving one plush character (or set of characters, as in the case of the TBTs) each month +plus a 13th character exclusive to subscribers.

Also available (and which I was drooling over at the show) are these (3) letterpress prints (ltd ed 100/each) of Professor Fliggins & his two newest discoveries... I can only assume that each species from here on out will also be made into a print as they are 'encountered' by the professor?!

* * *

If you're in the Chicago area between now and March 28th (the last day of the show), I would highly recommend heading over to A.Okay to check out the show in person (and to check out all the great goods inside A.Okay's shop!)...

images c/o shawnimals, A.Okay Official and A.Okay's blog post about the show opening

Gold Letterpress Necklace, $60.00 by Erica Weiner Jewelry

This necklace, made from a bit of rescued lead type, is genius. The idea of entire texts being set one letter at a time by a pressman is just baffling, and to have a little bit of that dipped in gold and hung around your neck... well, what could be better?

Book Lover Necklace, $45.00 and Scissors Necklace, $50.00 by Erica Weiner Jewelry

Pretty much everything over at Erica Weiner Jewelry is something I'd want in my jewelry box... every item is a little conversation piece to decorate yourself with.

Visit the EWJ site to see more and check out the Etsy shop, too!

images c/o EWJ

So, L hasn't seen this yet - it just came out yesterday - so, I'm unveiling what exactly we were up to to all of you at once! (L looks great in our photo. so I'm sure she won't mind that I'm springing this on her in front of everyone?)

So, amongst a few other awesome bloggers, theSCOOP was featured in the most recent issue of TimeOut Chicago Magazine, in an article entitled Give Us Shelter... After the folding of several home decor and interiors magazines in the last year, maybe we'll all be looking for new places to get our design fix. We were delighted to be included amongst some of our favorites here...

Nicole, of Making It Lovely (who outed us on Twitter last week ;) - and Katie & Jessica, from design boner were featured as well!!! Congrats, ladies... what great company to be in!

The article also features three other blogs that I'm really excited to check out more: Prairie Mod, run by Bryan Kelly, Lisa Kelly & Eric O'Malley; Strange Closets, blog of freelance writer & photographer, Tate Gunnerson; and Katherine Ray's blog, BackGarage. I always love finding new things to distract me from work, don't you? ;)

If you're not in the Chicago area, and can't run out and pick up a copy of this issue, you can check out the entire feature on TimeOut's website... right here

Oh, and I'll let L tell you more about the to-die-for necklace that she's wearing in our photo... and, in case you were wondering, yes, those are my postage stamp earrings from FoxGlove Accessories!

top image by Nicole Radja; all other images by Jw

No, it's not my birthday (yet). I just found, and fell for, this Happy Birthday postcard...

...these Redesigned flower pins (made from letterpress misprints)...

...and these fantastic Pyramid stud earrings.

All handmade. All gorgeous.

Images from Simplesong, Linda & Harriett and Michelle Chang Jewelry.

The awesome-ness that is Hammerpress has started Friends of Hammerpress where they collaborate with other artists and designers on a limited edition letterpress print.

The above print is a design by Debra Smith... not only do I love the design, but the colors are perfect, and the fact that it's a 10-color print kinda makes me weak in the knees...

Stunning.

Meet more of Hammerpress's friends, right here!

Okay, so I'm completely aware that it's March, but for those of you who didn't get your hands on an OrangeBeautiful 2009 Calendar before they were all gone, you can still get one - apparently, Broadway Paper still has a couple left on their online shop!

Get yours now, for only $14!

One of my dearest friends is expecting her first baby, and we've been sending ideas back and forth about her nursery. From the outset, she had a potential color palette idea, and I suggested she find one or two inspiration pieces that would help set the mood for the room.

I absolutely love this print she found (from Etsy seller Nella Designs) shown above. And it's available in 13 colors!

I think I might have to order the "Mary Had a Little Lamb" version for my daughter's room, because we've come to realize that she adores lambs and sheep - our own Little Bo Peep.

Images from Nella Designs.

It was really great "browsing" L and Kristen's spring fashion/style picks. I always love seeing the collections of items that different people put together. L and I have such different styles and sharing our finds with each other (and you!) has always been such a great part of the theSCOOP. And it's fun to see yet another perspective - maybe we should have more "guest selections" like Kristen's!

Here are my Spring Picks, clockwise from top left :: Friday top from flutter, Dallas Peep Toe Wedges Keds, Sky Fleece cropped jacket from Brooklyn Industries, Esther Hong Seaweed clutch from Naked&Angry, Silence & Noise Cropped Trouser at Urban Outfitters, Handwoven Thread Earrings (Orange Thunder) from Sincear Jewelry, and Silence & Noise Drapey Open Cardigan Urban Outfitters.

Last week I shared my vision of an ultimate spring wardrobe. My lovely and stylish sister recently sent me this mood board with some of her (affordable, if you don't buy the whole lot!) picks for spring. Since I don't get to see her (and what she's wearing) every day, it's great fun for me to get a sense of her current look: a neutral palette, composed of classic shapes enhanced by special details, and bits of (still neutral-colored) sparkly elements to dress things up.

Images clockwise from top left: Tops from J.Crew, BCBGirls platforms from Nordstrom, necklace from J.Crew, sandals from Urban Outfitters, necklace from J.Crew, cropped pants from Urban Outfitters.

Chocolate Addiction Cocktail Dress, $175.00 from Glamarita's Etsy shop.

I remember being 12 years old and trying to fashion a skirt out of a bunch of old neckties. (I'm pretty sure the idea was my mom's and the ties were my dad's ;) And I know for a fact that it didn't turn out anywhere as awesome as the skirts, dresses and gowns over at Glamarita's Etsy shop.

Jewel Tone Ballgown, $175.00 from Glamarita's Etsy shop.

I seriously wish I had a fancy event coming up that I could wear one of these dresses to... If I saw someone walk into a room wearing this Jewel Tone Ballgown (above), I'd run right up and ask them where they got it. Unique gowns like this always make me wonder why some of the red carpet dresses celebrities wear are sooooo boring...

Blue and Brown Halter, $55.00 from Glamarita's Etsy shop.

Then again, I could definitely see myself wearing this adorable halter top with jeans and a blazer... oh, and some orange shoes (of course)!

images c/o glamarita

The studio (or at least a small section of it) is really starting to come together. Over the weekend, I squared away the back area near the windows which will be dedicated to in-house printing; both letterpress and (until its completely obsolete) GOCCO printing.

It feels really good to have an entirely cleared out area - and a bunch of empty shelves ready for organized & purposeful re-stocking.

And here's just a taste of what is left to be dealt with... piles upon piles of paper reams and cut-off stock, not to mention the numerous boxes of random envelopes ::

And don't even get me started on what the front of the studio currently looks like... 4 +plus years ago, I really never ever thought the company would have this much. It's satisfying and a bit depressing all at the same time.

Back to cleaning I go!...