vivant.nl

some beautiful product from a company out of the netherlands called, vivant. most especially these cushions and bags. but they also produce some beautiful papers and have a great fall/winter for 2006 line. and if you dare their spring 07 line is available for a sneak preview.

fast forward - spring 2007?

i couldn't resist. a sneak peak of the spring 2007 vivant line just a small one. i had to post these great "to-go" vase bags. i've seen some in clear - but these colored ones have so much more punch! and such a great idea to pack home some flowers from the office.

mirage paper co.

came across a company called mirage paper co. the other day who have some new fun items in their collection. 1. "faux wood" contractor handbooks. 2. paisley and circles file folders 3. and their organics line of notecards. check here for retail listings.

form and function

i'm also liking this company i found via redhouse called form and function who have a great selection of vinyl wall decals to choose from.

from poppies to letters. what i like about these is you could really go crazy designing your own composition using their various sets.

email form and function at asa@formandfunction.se

muurbloem

a fun little table i happened by while visiting the site muurbloem out of the netherlands.

they also have some beautiful lamps i first saw at red house.

some of muurbloem's products can be found online at present time also out of the netherlands. (which by the way, if you're looking for a clock of any sort has the most amazing selection).

wonderwall.se

i recently received an email from anna of red house design out of boston. she mostly posts about scandinavian designs and has some great links for the short time she's been online. one especially that caught my eye was wonderwall.se, an online site for affordable art from sweden and surrounding area. their idea is to bring art into the home at affordable prices. there are some beautiful pieces to see including bios on each of the artists. to see more of wonderwall click here.

cupcake alert

not just another cupcake. this is in a whole other league; but found on my cupcake group over at flickr.

made by kylie lambert out of sydney, australia.

check out other cupcake shots at cupcakes take the cake pool.

okay, back to our regular programming.

agence eureka

a collection of vintage ephemera from agence eureka.

from aviation to cinema posters in real size. great graphical inspiration. from rhone alps, france. (via the skinny).

falling stars

some interesting lighting ideas coming out of germany from taschide. this one named "sleeping beauty" is made with sheet metal and punched out stars that seem to fall off the shade.

(via designspotter).

fred + sublime

this looks like a great book from sublime stitching! comes with 88 iron-on transfer pages, 35 stitch diagrams with instructions, tips and hip patterns to be sure!

from fred flare. $19.95

real canadian cookware

i came across this flame cookware set while reading our community's newspaper and just had to post it.

despite i'm sure, it lacking in quality, it really makes up for it in looks. can one not resist?

from the real canadian superstore.

tiny meat etsy shop

i was going to do an etsy run today and just kept on getting pulled in by all these fun proprietary laminate processed things from tinymeat's etsy shop out of vermont. made with a proprietary laminate process of sewing artwork and paint chip swatches or artwork between layers of clear vinyl.


it's blue and it's a wallet. (just in case you were wondering). inside there is a large pocket for your moolah and 4 pockets for your ID and cards.

and this scooter trash one is so nifty! a checkered motif and a lime green lambretta too!

sizes are 3.75 x 4.25 inches closed.

fun stuff and only $12 bucks!

new stencils

some fun new stencils at stencil1 to consider pasting up on one of your walls. check them out here at their online shop, and a how to before you start. available at bang-on, 101-1001 w. broadway, dept 424, vancouver, bc canada V6H4E4 (604).684.3394 and other stores across the u.s. and uk here. (via ny times).

knitting project

found this lovely knitting project by marieke at treats and treasures, (a blog by a lawyer and soon to be graphic design student out of amsterdam).

i think that it looks like a pattern that i could actually manage and could even make as gifts if i really got good at it.

marieke says it's the easiest thing she's ever knitted.

see her instructions here.

(off to the knitting store)!

näckrosryss + hanna werning

if you happened by design sponge friday you would've probably seen these new wallpapers by hanna werning. some great fall patterns and colors from sweden!

i'm especially liking the näckrosryss pattern. like grace mentions, it has a mid-century sense to it and would probably really compliment some straight modern edges.

font friday

my favorite font in a while stöhr_numbers. as stated on dafont, "stöhr_numbers font was made of prints of old stamps found at a house in albertsthal. the stamps were used by the stöhr family that lived in the house until 1945. the main part of the font are numbers, but it also contains caps and some special characters." download them here.

the butler did it

every week we drive by a yard sale (same place, same time). and each time the same things. brass candlesticks. obviously the guy thinks they'll sell, or maybe they are and he keeps putting out more and more. but hey, maybe he should try this. painting them with some amazing colored plastic paint. i'd buy them!

these, by harry allen are from wheredidyoubuythat.com. £32.00

things i like thursdays

some design links for those interested:

corporate identity documentation a magazine and an interesting new content destination for designers interested in branding and corporate identity. bringing an archive of corporate identity documentation, corporate design manuals, styleguides and also logo- und manual-reviews, etc. (via banter blog).

aiga vector symbol signs for downloading

make your own ipod photo tutorial (via photojojo).

typographie–bougies – french kids playing with matches creating letterforms (via jack on adobe blog).

hello indie, craftster book and make

the latest hello indie magazine (the ezine of the diy craft scene) is out full of some crafty interestingness. like an interview with leah kramer (craftster.org), who has just written a book; the craftster guide to nifty, thrifty, and kitschy crafts, available here.

and make, a workshop place to learn how to make crafty things in new york.

main & broadway bazaar

antisocial and dada base have rallied the shops in the main street area of vancouver together for the 4th Annual Main and Broadway Bazaar! this thursday starting at 11am from 8th Ave to 10th there will be a sidewalk sale. then at 4:30 the residents will be having a yard sale.

at lark they will be pulling all of their summer stock out on sale for thursday, which will also be the last day of their summer sale….but not the last day of summer!!!!!

radio flyers, sesame and marimekko

i'm having blogger image uploading problems (time for an upgrade?). safari is just not cutting it these days. so i bring to you some fantastic links from the land of the internet sans photos.

another lovely card from insurgent muse made with a print gocco of course! radio flyer red! beautiful!

such a beautiful thank you notecard from sesame letterpress (seen on their flickr page). such a great pink!

and design sponge picked out some new textiles from marimekko yesterday that are to dream about.

couturious.co.uk

i was thrilled to receive an email today from three layer cake about her interview with debra franses bean, the creative director behind couturious out of the u.k. i was an instant fan of her wallpaper and textile designs

especially the purse pillows and paper. the pillows, made from cotton satin, raw linen and silk satin. luxury piped cushions with plump feather pads. sizes are 45 cm and 60 cm.

the papers are hand printed silkscreen 52 cm width by 10-meter rolls. digital printing is used for smaller runs and strong colours. bespoke designs are great with this technique. papers available are vinyl, matt and gloss paper (61 cm wide).

some items available in the u.s. at the future perfect.

modern alphabet flashcards

26 cool mid-century flash cards from bauhaus to zap by jargon.

i'm already imagining flashcards made by typographic parents; each one a different font. does one have to be a child to get these?

(via bblinks).

studio opal

oh to have a studio opal on the wet coast! garment construction, pattern drafting, draping, fitting lessons.

i really need a zipper and button sewing class.

marimekko of finland

its a sheet day here today and loving this marimekko of finland set that cb2 just emailed out today. beautiful moss green and brown combo.

270 thread count - $74.95/set.

gulp!

design sponge just posted about little by jenny a designer/fabricator out of brooklyn she found out about via indie fixx.

i'm in awe with the ships with lace pattern and colors. handprinted on 360 thread count.

$50 per set.

l.a. fast food eateries

over the past eight years, gerald panter has taken over 250 pictures of the fast food eateries in the los angeles area. he says in that eight years, alot of them are gone or changed.

a fascinating series if not just for the signage/typography and vintage stools.

from polar inertia.

oreo cookie pillow?

always a sucker for felt and this pillow from fluf-design out of toronto is a treat for the winter season. L-O-V-E the round sedimentary layer made from industrial felt (round: 14” diameter layers of thick felt with a polyester core).

tondata sixty

nice link from lifefever blog today about a store called, creativando. contemporary italian design from udine, italy.

the bean bag chair, the tondata sixty (lost in translation - 60 beans?), you buy it in a tin can, then fill up with about 0.60 cubic meters of polystyrene beans.

t

an art outing

if you're in need of a good art outing, beyond robson's, degan's suggestion to see me and sst at the parking spot is a good one.

check out simon redekop's watercolour paintings on discarded sea temperature maps.

the felt club

saw this great woodgrain bag by cakemountain on the its knot wood blog which took me to the felt club, a mini-monthly craft fair out of socal. so i thought it would be fun to seek some out.

first off, sew darn cute! embroidered sweet treat bags, pretty pin-up girl pocket mirrors, silkscreened notecards, squirrel clutches, zippered cake pouches, crochet hook cozies and more. visit SewDarnCute here.



next on the poppy radar, michelle caplan, mixed media artist selling
original works, note cards, prints and accessories with images from her art on them. visit michelle caplan: mixed media collage here and here.



susanstars* has handmade vintage-gone-modern jewelry and accessories, plus a-line skirt kits—everything you need to make your own skirt. visit susanstars* here.



and how could i not include some fine handmade stationary, especially when it's made by one of my favorite paper gooders, sidepony.



the next felt club event is on Sunday, September 10, 11am-6pm | THE ECHO, 1822 Sunset Blvd., Echo Park

rita godlevskis

rita godlevskis is a toronto-based photographer and art director working primarily on photo based art publications and projects.

she recently completed her masters in creative media at r.m.i.t. in melbourne, australia.

i'm drawn to her work, perhaps because of it's simplicity and the only word that comes to mind is softness, especially with respect to her momentos and diary series.

but of course, my favorite is the pool series and i had to bring her stuff to poppy's when i saw it on a wall in h & h's september issue.

inspiration

sometimes i just click with a cover on a magazine and have to have it. such was the case last night when i came across the september issue of canadian house and home.

the combination of the red (yes, red even if it looks a little orange on my screen) and white print by tracy kendall along with the colorful ceramics, white walls and furniture seems so cheery and light. (something needed on the wet coast). and of course anything about small spaces is going to raise an eyebrow with me these days as we battle with storage and clutter issues.

every card you need this year

such a brilliant idea from set editions. 40 cards, includes, 6 birthday, 2 congratulations, 2 valentines, 6 thank you, 2 mothers day, 2 fathers day, 2 sympathy, 2 anniversary, 4 blank, 2 get well, 6 holiday, and 4 new year.

$60

(check out set edition's newest designs at d*s - cool prints!)

millicent & frank

singapore's imedagoze always has some amazing finds, and when i saw her post on some centerpieces from australian's millicent & frank, i just had to bring the word here.

in addition to some beautiful wooden and acrylic or mirrored table centerpieces, designer, jaqueline morony, has delivered some beautiful photographs in the form of wall hangings.

m & f's centerpiece, flourish has been named a finalist in australia's home beautiful magazine's product of the year awards.

they also showcased their wares at the young designers market, august 11th & 12th at the powerhouse museum in sydney. (further info).

fantastic find!

sustainable graphic design

etiquette.ca is a social enterprise whose mission is to create social value for consumers and marketing value for eligible businesses. as their site states, "they seek to serve the needs of the conscientious consumer looking for options that reduce harm to the environment and help improve social condition. by the same token, they work to support the innovative businesses that have decided to take the high (and difficult) road towards incorporating a culture of sustainability/responsibility in the marketplace".

vivace sustainable graphic design is a montreal-based agency specializing in sustainable graphic design. it develops communicational tools such as corporate visual identity, advertising and visual communications that are conceived with an eye for environmental sustainability.

vivacedesign.com

letterpress tutorial

here's one to add to my tutorials links section, my hatch show print, by be a design group blog.

a great video on the makings of a poster in nashville's famous, hatch show print.

local happenings

there will be a massive sidewalk sale and neighbourhood extravaganza in the lark 8th ave area within the next two weeks. keep posted here for more details as we get them.

also here is a list of the comings and goings over at my favorite crafty/art place, blim:

Mon August 14: OpenStudio/ Blim Button Workshop
Tues August 15: Open Studio/ Blim Knitting and Crocheting
Wed August 16: Open Studio/ Level 1 Screenprinting Workshop
Thurs August 17: Open Studio/ Level 4 Screenprinting Workshop
Fri August 18: Open Studio/ Battle Royale 1 and 2 (film screening).
Sat August 19: Super 8 Film Hand Processing Workshop/ Grilled Cheese Sandwich (film screening)

crafty devils

check out these gorgeous blue feather cards by designers, vice & vision from the new independent seattle site, the crafty devils.

each card is hand printed and original. gocco print. white ink. blue paper. green envelope. (love the green envelope with the blue)!

$4.50 each.

also from the crafty devils this leather wallet, by stitch & swatch.

handmade leather wallet with triple stitched embroidery. classic wallet style with 4 slots for cards and bill slot. you can even choose the stitch color!

$45.00

new site - fashmatch!

new site and it looks like so much fun! if you're into mixing and matching outfits and don't have time to run around from store to store, fashmatch may be the answer to all that searching and it looks like you'll have fun looking too.

it's still in beta mode, but its all up and running!

precidio

some fabulous kitchen canisters from precidio's kitchen line.

i'm already tossing out my old ones to make way for these on a countertop near me.

airtight acrylic with see through lids and bottoms. case pack of 4 in burnt red, magenta, olive and teal.







and i can hardly wait to see these tempered glass wood grain cutting boards in real life.

they also come decorated in a stone image, stripes and circles.

from precidio kitchen line.

it's a handmade life

this cute little cuddly softie is made on vancouver island and sold on etsy at little bear's shop.

i'm especially liking a little golden retriever, hana. but there's so many to choose from in the thistletown studio, including, my favorite, carter the racoon.

there are also some adorable thistletown critter pins to wear about town.