Tuesday, June 26, 2007

Here, Piggy, Piggy


Over generations, children have learned to save by dropping their hard-earned coins into ceramic piggy banks. One theory suggests that in the Middle Ages people tucked money away into cheap clay pots called pygg jars and over the centuries the name took on a different meaning/spelling. Well, some people are still trying to instill their childern with the value of saving money by using the piggy bank. If you fit into this category, perhaps you'd consider a more stylish alternative. The Amigos Piggy is made in Argentina from reconstituted leather and holds coins in its belly. If you release the flap beneath its tail, it emptys the money. Check it out at:
www.momastore.org

Tuesday, June 19, 2007

Blog

2modern Design Talk is a blog that posts on a wide range of contemporary design topics. The blog contributors are a group of designers, artists, editors, retailers, architects, and as of recent...apparel designers. Yes, that's right! Beginning today I have become a guest contributor and will try to share my take on modern design as it relates to the fashion industry. To check out my first post, called "Mobile Art", and much more, visit:
http://2modern.blogs.com/

Be Seen


SweetskinZ makes rubber tires where the entire tire is reflective at night. Their graffiti inspired patterns are cool and have great names like 'Scorch', 'Rattleback', 'Nightwing' and 'Hazarea'. To check them out viist:
www.sweetskinz.com/

You Light up my Life





Have you ever been in Art Bar in NYC, where the bathroom is coed and the stalls are glass? The first time you experience this you can't figure out what to do but those who dare enter the stalls quickly figure out that the glass turns opaque after entering and switches to clear upon exiting. Well, the same makers of "switch glass" have recently developed "magic tape" and "lighting stripes". They are an extremely thin, flexible film emitting light. They come in five different colors, can be seen from up to 130 meters (426ft) at night and are also dimmable. To check out the product range of the Elshine company, visit:
www.elshine.it/inglese/chi.htm

Monday, June 18, 2007

Mood Board Contest Vote


It's voting time for the Decor 8/ Amy Butler, Mood Board Contest. Select your four favorite finalists. My entry is #11, Book Inspired Teresa O'Neill. You have until noon on Friday, June 22nd to vote. Visit the below website to vote and view the 30 finalist's entries.
http://decor8.blogspot.com/

Oh, Sandra, Oh, Sandra





British graphic designer Sandra Isaksson, has created her own studio named ISAK. ISAK sells patterned textiles, wallpaper, cards, prints and home accessories. You just can't help but smile when you see her work! To check out more, visit:
www.isak.co.uk/index.php

Not the Hospital



St. Jude is a British company that works with artists to produce and sell their prints on fabric. One of the artist/printmakers they are currently working with is Angie Lewin. As stated on the St. Jude website, "Her limited edition linocut and wood engraved prints are inspired by the skeletal plantforms seen against the sea and sky of North Norfolk." To check out more, visit:
www.st-judes.co.uk/index.htm

Paint by Numbers




As a kid I remember receiving 'Paint by Numbers' kits as gifts. The picture was usually some sort of nature scene (ie: two horses running through a field with a barn in the backgound). Anyway, the paint by numbers kits I came across recently on Weego Home have a different type of aesthetic. Above is Kyoto Bloom, Prism and Gardenia. To view more designs and colorways, visit:
www.weegohome.com

Friday, June 15, 2007

Twist and Shout




Schleeh Design has 'Morph' pads that can be twisted and shaped into a desktop sculpture. They even do custom work so that you can use your own colors or artwork.
Website: http://www.schleehdesign.com/

Wednesday, June 13, 2007

Ciao Bella



Stina Persson, the Stockholm-based illustrator is showing 30 original pieces of art at the Gallery Hanahou in NYC. The images of spirited, Sicilian women are dramatic in their use of color and form. "Immacolata and her Friends" can be viewed until July 6th.

A Cut Above


Robert Sabuda and Matthew Reinhart create wonderful pop-up books. Their recent project was a pop-up trilogy, known as 'Encyclopedia Prehistorica'. Depictions of sharks and dinosaurs were constructed from scratch and mimic the movements the animals would have made in their natural habitats. These beautifully crafted creatures literally leap out at you. As for their next works...Reinhart is completing 'Star Wars', a pop-up book that celebrates the 30-year anniversary of the first 'Star Wars' film and Sabuda is working on his version of 'The Chronicles of Narnia'.....

Say what?


So, I entered a mood board contest on a blog called, 'Decor 8' and I was chosen as a contest finalist. To view the board and comments people have left for it, go to: http://decor8.blogspot.com/
Feel free to leave a comment yourself...I'd love the feedback.

Tuesday, June 12, 2007

Decor8 contest




I came across a contest on 'decor8' that Amy Butler was helping to sponsor. The idea was to design a mood board for a room you would love to live in...this is pretty close to my ideal livingroom...the layering of of old school, new school, sleek and organic...The contest recquired that the board be "hand done". (I hope that the photography is up to snuff) Most important, was when I was creating the "ideal mood board" that I incorporated Yankee Candle's , 'Willow Breeze', lots of texture layered upon texture, a memory of the love for my husband and the outdoors, and the haunting simpleness of colors that bleed into one another.

Decor8 contest





Monday, June 11, 2007

Scent of a Woman


I was looking for a new "summer" scent this weekend and I came across some perfumes that are newly on the market. One thing I couldn't help but notice was the common use of one-color botanical prints on the packaging. Above from left to right is: L'eau D'Issey Summer, Sake Fresh, Dior Addict Light Summer. Stella McCartney Sheer, Matthew Williamson Sheer.

Renegade Craft Fair




The Renegade Craft Fair, now in its third year, takes place in Chicago and Brooklyn. Over 150 crafting vendors from all over the country sell items such as jewlery, reconstructed clothing, stationery and comic books. This weekend the fair is coming to Brooklyn. To find out more visit:
www.renegadecraft.com

Saturday, June 9, 2007

Nasty Eye You Got There...


Just had to share a Photo Booth shot Carlo (my 10 year old son) took today. We've had a lot of fun with Photo Booth, as many of you have...thanks for sharing! (Especially, you Andrew!) If you haven't gotten a new Mac in a while here's some incentive. And I promise you've never had so much fun on a computer!

Single Silken Sachet


My new favorite! Maybe I am late in coming, but I have just discovered a fantastic green tea with coconut from Harney & Sons called Bangkok. I also tried Caribe, a green and black tea blend with guava and strawberry. Their website offers all types of black, green, white, and exotics. Some even offered in "Silken Sachets". So, check out the "Art Teas" which bloom as they steep, and read about their travels while tea tasting at www.harney.com

Who's Your Uncle?



Bob's Your Uncle! So, everything must be good!
I was at an off-site design meeting, where one of the guest speakers was a lovely woman named Michele Yeeles. Her and her husband, Martin, started a stationary/home goods company - Bob's Your Uncle - while working as footwear and graphic designers, repectively. She reminded us that good ideas and great business don't always need to start off with huge backing - they have done this all on their own dime (starting out with simple home published greeting cards). They never had any grandious complicated plans, they often come out with a new product at the suggestion of a friend, an account, or one of their manufactuers - which are all local (Boston) based. She gave us all the page marker tabs shown above - LOVE them! I am definately ordering up "the emergency box" of all occassion cards. They will be opening a shop in the Fall. For more info on the history of the name, other products, and where to buy go to www.bobsyouruncle.com

Wednesday, June 6, 2007

Saima Says



After graduating from Maryland Institute, College of Arts in Baltimore, with a degree in Graphic Design, Saima Khan founded Saima Says Design. Her use of color in personalized, couture wedding invites, baby announcements, and party invites is fantastic. Check out her portfolio at:
www.saimasaysdesign.com

Foreign Accessory


Jane Eadie had many traveling adventures, including being a safari guide for the Prince of Wales in Kenya. Inspired by her travels and the jewelry designers she came across along the way, Jane decided to take up jewelry design and open a store on Elizabeth Street in NYC. Her store sells items such as cuffs, necklaces and semi-precious cocktail rings from her own collection and from designers located in Argentina, Brazil and Italy.

Wear Bamboo, Plant Bamboo


John Hardy has a new campaign entitled, "Wear Bamboo, Plant Bamboo." He has created a limited edition sterling silver bamboo collection where 10% of the purchase price is put towards the planting of bamboos on Nusa Penida (a small island off the coast of Bali where his workshop is located). The collection is available through his website:
www.sustainableadvertising.org

Monday, June 4, 2007

Everyone Always Thinks They Are Right


Sagmeister, a New York City graphic design company, designed 30ft inflatable monkeys as part of The Six Cities Design Festival that opened on May 17th in Scotland. The purpose of the 3+ week festival is to illustrate the importance of design and architecture in Scotland. The monkeys spell out "Everyone Always Thinks They Are Right" and are part of Sagmeister's global project, "Things I Have Learned In My Life So Far".