book review :: Print & Pattern

I'm sure you all know that surface design blog, Print & Pattern....now you can have more of Print & Pattern at your finger tips! Curator of the Book and the force behind the blog, Designer, Marie Perkins (a.k.a Bowie Style) has compiled some of the most eyecatching and brilliant surface designers from around the world in this one book. With over 750 full color images, Bowie shows you the who, what, and where of modern design. It's like a bible for the design community, everyone is finally all in one place with in depth descriptions and even artist contact info. Seriously everyone should have this book, even if your not the artsy type, it will inspire you!

3D Type

My obsession with type goes deeper with these 3D type designs...






by jason rubino and make studio




ad campaign by Pablo alfieri




toothpick type by vladimir koncar

cozy cushions

Since Zoe (10 months now) has figured out that she can crawl, i've had to use my cushions in a whole new way....as blockades! so since i've had this cozy and multi functional home accessory on my mind, i thought i'd do a little cushion round up today.


mermaid cushion by rodney and ginger


Cuore's Dachshund Weiner dog plush doll pillows


Floor cushion from Mookah


Erin Flett's custom design pillows


Postcard pillow

NOVICA :: The Original Handmade

Novica.com (part of the National Geographic Family) is an online, fair-trade marketplace based in Los Angeles, with sourcing and direct-shipping offices in seven developing nations. At any given time, Novica features more than 30,000 limited edition and one-of-a-kind handmade works of art, ranging from handmade jewelry to handmade apparel to world-style home decor. Launched in 1999, to date Novica has helped change the lives of 50,000 people in developing nations, including artisans and their dependents, uniquely helping each artisan earn personal recognition and real-world prices for their work.
These are the people whose ancestors were the roots of craft, they are the people whom of which we gain inspiration for modern design and craft today. This is an awesome way to connect and give credit to the artisans directly and develop more and more fair-trade around the world. Some of the countries featured are the Andes, Bali & Java, Brazil, Thailand and many more. I've already put a few inspirations (below) on my Novica wishlist....

karen barbe

Sorry i've been so "non-involved" in my posting this week, the whole family is contaminated with a nasty cold and it's not a pretty sight! well, enough about that, I wanted to share a little inspiration while I have a minute without a runny nose! Love the work of textile designer, karen barbe, out of chile. I adore the way she takes very old styles and reinventing them in her own way. She has a very unique and delicate touch to color and application, very much apprechiated!

book review :: very small shops

Super interesting book here, Takes visual engineering to a new level, a small one but an inspiring one! Very Small Shops by  John Stones (Lawrence King Publishers) brings you all over the globe looking at at and discovering the stories behind some of the most creative small spaces in the retail business. I would call them shopping playgrounds! Small Independent businesses thrive by their uniqueness and their ability to push the envelop to bring you in and see what they are all about.


For instance these two shots of a shop (above, lil shop in Berlin) and a cafe (below, sis. deli & cafe in Helsinki) use bold graphics and positive and negative space to highlight their products. simple idea, dramatic execution.




And my favorite, Magama Product Store in London, UK....the entire shop is created out of cardboard, i do mean entire shop, from the counters to the changing rooms! simply amazing stuff and will make you not want to put this book down.

LOVEly Things

More uniquely clever ideas for your significant other on valentine's day!


Mini luchadores from blugrndesign :: throw a little humor into the mix!



limited edition Valentine Goody Bag by Linda & Harriett


spell it out with red valentype from house industries

color me :: nothing at all

1.The key to my heart  2.spoons and wells  3.lu summers  4.somethings hiding in here

Karin Eriksson 2010

rocking bowls, they are hand thrown porcelain bowl with screen printed ceramic decals and a rounded base that makes it rock slightly. Love this idea!


new take on some old favorites!


hand thrown small hanging basket. made in a coarse charcoal colored stoneware clay with a transparent glaze inside.
seek out karin's shop for more beauties!

for the love of charity and great design!

This melamine plate set is based on the four seasons, by four artists. Spring by Deadly Squire, Summer by Lost Bird Found, Fall by Julia Rothman and Winter by Oh Joy. All profit from this plate set will be donated to Oxfam's efforts in Haiti. Be awesome, buy this set. Limited edition - orders will only be accepted until 2/28/2010 at the Lost Bird Found shop.

Scandinavian Folk

My obsession with Scandinavian folk design continues with these beautiful appliquéd items in a wonderfully whimsical way (say that 5 times fast!) by Syko out of Helsinki Finland. Her website is not in English (nothing google translator can't fix) but you can also visit her etsy shop and blog which are. I do adore her cushions very much.

LOVEly things

Only a few more weeks until you can unload your heart to the one you love! Here are a few different takes on the Valentine...



my mom and dad have this thing where they take a little plastic bug and hide it on each other for a little surprise out of the blue, it's just a little thing they do to show each other they are thinking of them...i guess in a weird, creepy kind of way..lol here is a way less creepy way from Poketo, i love this capsule letter idea, this could be something that could go on and on all year, wouldn't it be lovely to find an "i love you today" note hidden in your sock drawer one morning! makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside!



Remember how special you felt when your love gave you his/hers most coveted music on a mixed tape (for me it was a cassette tape!) well why not keep that musical flame burning with a "mixed disk" card from tea and company! i love the un teraditional colors, sometimes pink on pink on red gets a little old every year!


For a more "hopless romantic" take on the valentine here are some little Love Token Hearts by Nina Glaser. They are made from clay and covered with paper mache book page strips. Each one is coated with a thin layer of gloss for a hint of shine and measures 2.75" x 2.75" at its widest points. Each heart comes ready for gift giving with a mini white envelope, tied in ribbon, and placed inside a gift box! now thats romantic!

love is in the air...

Sarah of The Small Object has launched a new etsy shop called Together Forever featuring some fantastic and uniquely handmade cake toppers like this colorful beauty you see above. By the way, doesn't that cake look so yummy?

color me :: lime

1. vintage op art bedspread  2. green bean cakes  3. azami  4. simplicity pincushion

cozy cross-stitching

After our frozen tundra weekend, sitting down with a nice cup of hot coco under a blanket makes all those below zero thoughts disappear. Something I always find cozy is great cross-stitching, this is not your grandmas cross-stitching though. Chez Sucre Chez mixes it up a bit with modern design and vintage flair. Wouldn't it be wonderful to fill a whole wall with those hot air balloons!