Posts from fav products (338)

Whenever a new catalog from J.Crew arrives, I know that I'm bound to find multiple bits of inspiration... and not just fashion inspiration :: as a designer, I love browsing through anything that includes product styling, new & interesting color combinations, and page after page of well-used typefaces.

This time around, however, they went and kinda blew me away with an it's-so-obvious accessory trick :: wear two belts at the same time, idiot!

Now you can always layer on two, three, four belts at a time, but this involves actually buckling one belt to another... so, it really only works with two of the same style/make of belt. (Which J.Crew has for you in spades.) - I'm very happy to use my colorful leather skinnies, handmade by Studio Amiel.

I may have to stock up on even more just so that I can have more two-belts-at-once combinations!

Yes, ever since I was a wee little Kat, I have *loved* getting new school supplies. There was always a little adrenaline buzz I got from choosing new folders, color coordinated notebooks and just the right pencil box to contain fresh, new supplies.

These days, the choices are endless compared to my days of the primary colored Mead spirals and Trapper Keepers with the kittens on top.

You can let your personality ring out with these lovely choices:

from top right

Origami Sticky Notes @ Delight $3.95 for 100 sheets and 10 pages of instructions

Suger G Color Me Backpack at Organize.com $34.99 for the right to doodle a custom pack. Comes with 3 permanent markers.

Greek Key file folders at Jonathan Adler $9.99 for six. Other patterns too!

Russel + Hazel Chicklet Adhesive Notes Set at Organize.com $11.99 for eight pad (four colors of 50 sheets each]

How great would this combination look on your desk?!

Sparrows Nest Paper Clip Holder from Urban Outfitters $4.99 on sale

MUJI Colored Pencil Set from MOMA $17.00 for 36 pencils and carrying carton

Geometric Pencil Box from Mozellemotana $30.00

No sandwich crust worries here!

Puzzle Piece Sandwich Cutters at Uncommon Goods $14.00

Vintage Alphabet Lunch Bag at Organize.com $15.49

...is buying new stuff for the store!

I definitely anticipated that I would thoroughly enjoy my job as "Buyer" for the new shop half of OrangeBeautiful - but it's even more like Christmas than I could've realized.

Boxes of goodies show up nearly every week, and you get to pour over the most amazing items... and they're all things you picked out! What could be better? (hmmm... taking it all home, I guess ;)

Here's a little, tiny sneak peek at some new lines that we'll be carrying in the fall... Folded Felt Screen-Printed bowls from Meghan Burch (top image); absolutely stunning jewelry from Cursive Design (middle image); and delightful, hand-designed screen-printed cards + prints from Gold Teeth Brooklyn ::

I can't wait 'til it all arrives!

The weather lately has got me feeling way too hot, and craving much cooler temperatures. Here are a few hot+color items to aggravate things further ;)

Yellow Fire Agate and Quartz Necklace, $55.00 and Aquamarine Ice on Silver Earrings, $26.00; both by Krista Peel.

Hot vs. Cold Print, $20.00 by gneural.

Prairie Campfire, $116.00 by Maandag.

Popsicle Print (8x10"), $12.00 by Mint Buttercup.

stainless steel bookmarks, $9.00/each; by pink tank ltd.

So, is it fall yet?

I think color and I are about to have a fling.

I am neutral-with-a-twist. I am black-and-white, plus a pastel and metallic. I am usually not bold and when I go bold, it's with a SINGLE standout element. Perhaps that's how I'll break into this new phase, just a piece at a time. Because I'm drawn right now to things that remind me, however literally or indirectly, of the Big Top...

Ellie Bag from Rubie Green. Take a deep breath and start with a bright color and big pattern - on a sweet little clutch.

Party Necklace from Cursive Design. Each little element is so interesting - there's several things going on at once, but in the best way.

Goodwin Grand Sofa in ikat linen/cotton print, from West Elm. Even my husband likes the idea of this allover, bold pattern on the most major piece of furniture in the room, which is so not like us, but makes me think it would be so fun to try.

Desert Swirl Table Lamp from Shades of Light. I've loved this forever, and thought it was too colorful for me, but now...

Rock Candy Crystal Sticks from Oh Nuts. Concessions at their absolute prettiest. (I have a vision of dipping these in a Champagne spritzer and watching the candy dissolve and fizz.)

The entire Summer Collection of nail polishes from Essie. The lilac and mauve shades are right up my alley, but what I like most about them is how they're paired with the lime...and the hot pink...

Vintage Recovered Book from NEAPOLITAN. Now in my shop: a classic book covered in a truly standout paper.

Girls Jelly Sandals from Gap. Don't these just look like air-spun cotton candy? Why oh why do they not have them in women's sizes?

After a slew of boring rubber band and bumper fixes have surfaced following Apple's iPhone 4 antenna disaster, it's refreshing to see these clever (and cute!) vinyl bandages from Antenn-aid.

They come in a multi-colored 6pk for only $4.99, but, if I had an iPhone, I'd have to go for the bandage-colored one!

images from Antenn-aid / via NOTCOT

Blanche - Vintage Button Ring, $6.00.

It's shops like these that make me fall in love with Etsy all over again... Norwich* designer, illustrator and jewelry-maker, Louise Evans creates all sorts of vintage-inspired-yet-modern items and sells them on her aptly-named Etsy shop, SUPER DUPER THINGS.

*Norwich is in the UK, about 100 miles NE of London

Trapeze Striped Ruffle Necklace, $15.00.

Louise makes everything from jewelry + accessories to papergoods + homewares... "quite often these will be one-of-a-kind pieces using recycled or vintage bits and bobs" -

The whole shop is completely drool-worthy, but I'm gonna share a few of my picks with you here... There are about six different things I've specifically got my eye on, but there's a 99.9% chance that these will be mine. (I've already added them to my ever-growing Favorites List.)

hello... brooch, $7.50.

Leather Stag Silhouette in a vintage frame, $22.00.

Creme Caramel Button Brooch, $8.00.

Kudos to Louise on all the great product photography in her shop... if only more Etsy shops could look like hers! ;)

Whichever of the three you pick, you'll still always win!

A Bamboo Pebbles $20.00 @ Branch Home

B Calliope Gift Wrap $16.00 for four sheets @ Smock Paper (Their work will knock your socks *OFF*)

C Antique Hardwood Scissors $17.99 @ Target

It makes really happy to see an uptick in the trend of people using their own bags at the grocery store. I'm hoping it moves beyond a trend and becomes a habit. I made the switch about two years ago and it's been great on many levels:

1. I consume less plastic and paper goods

2. Aforementioned goods are not jammed into the back of the coat closet creating clutter.

3. Money saved and less stuff bought, because I only buy what will fit in the bags I bring along.

4. My bags are cuter than the grocery store brand ;)

Here a few amazing options that are re-purposed from existing goods (i.e. sails, rice bags, soda can tabs) and sent forth stylishly for their next mission. Well done designers!!

1 Flip-Top Tote $98.00 @ Viva Terra

2 Personalized Family Market Tote $20.00 @ The Craft Pantry

3 Giant Market Bag $40.00 @ Lisa990

4 Recycled Rice Bag Totes $8.99 @ Overstock (psst, they're $32.00 @ Nieman Marcus!)

5 Custom Sail Bag Tote $120.00 @ Beehive Design

6 Mega Silver Candy Wrapper Tote $178.00 @ Ecoist

7 Olive Seed Candy Wrapper Tote $138.00 @ Ecoist

I've never really been a charm necklace or bracelet person, but there really seem to be an over-abundance of awesome charm designs out there right now. Here are just a few favorites that are making me want to start collecting ::

left: Polli Necklace "Dixie" Pendant, $37.00, available at Tilde
and right: State Necklace (Utah), $120.00, available at ELSEWARES.

Panda Neckalce and I Scream Necklace, $20.00/each, by crywolf.

OMG, $18.00, by JL67

left to right: Adrienne, $115.00, Lotus, $88.00 and Charmaine, $115.00
all by Alisha Louise Designs.