maybe maven

Moved!

2009-04-23T14:26:00.000-07:00

At long last, I've decided to move. I was a tad tired of mm and have been thinking about developing a line for etsy - so I decided to start fresh and see where things go.

Feel free to visit me and tell your friends! I so look forward to this new journey!

Here: Oak & Olive

...

Coldplay's 10 Rules

2009-02-17T14:21:00.000-08:00

1. ALBUMS MUST BE NO LONGER THAN 42 MINUTES, OR 9 TRACKS.

2. PRODUCTION MUST BE AMAZING, RICH, BUT WITH SPACE, NOT OVERLAYERED. LESS TRACKS, MORE QUALITY. GROOVE AND SWING Drum/rhythm are the most crucial thing to concentrate on; diff. between bittersweet and science of silence

3. COMPUTERS ARE INSTRUMENTS, NOT RECORDING AIDS.

4. IMAGERY MUST BE CLASSIC. COLOURFUL AND DIFFERENT. COME BACK IN GLORIOUS TECHNICOLOUR

5. MAKE SURE VIDEOS AND PICTURE ARE GREAT BEFORE SETTING RELEASE DATE. And highly original

6. ALWAYS KEEP MYSTERY. Not many interviews

7. GROOVE AND SWING. RHYTHMS AND SOUNDS MUST ALWAYS BE AS ORIGINAL AS POSSIBLE. Once jon has melody, twist it and weird it sonically

8. Promo/review copies to be on VINYL. Stops copying problem, sounds and looks better.

9. Jaqueline Sabrido, ns p c c, face forward

10. Think about what to do with charity account. Set up something small but really enabling and constructive. Ref; j oliver fifteen

from here.
via here.

Evert Nijland

2009-02-06T12:55:00.000-08:00

I am completely inspired by the work of Evert Nijland - I want to be completely surrounded by it - I want to dress like it, decorate rooms like it... it is so incredibly prefect.

via Another Shade of Grey.

Antoine et Manuel

2009-01-21T10:10:00.000-08:00

Antoine and Manuel are my go-to for graphic design inspiration. Awe-inducing, crazy-making, I never know what to expect - except that it will undoubtedly be new and challenging; I might even not like it - hello gold cardboard. It's that whole let's-do-this-just-because-it's-not-being-done-and-just-because-i-want-to attitude that I love. So French.

Mary Emma Hawthorne

2008-11-21T13:25:00.000-08:00

Here is some serious collage love, by Mary Emma Hawthorne. I enjoy collages, not only because of their intricate quirks, but also because they inspire me, they give me great ideas for graphic elements and pattern - see - stitches, stripes in cirlces, paint splotches, ovals, italic caps... Via Love Made Visible.

This Colour

2008-11-20T22:35:00.000-08:00

Art by Tom Burrows. Medium: cast pigmented polymer resin. Luminescent. I want to swim in it.

Rain Rain

2008-11-14T14:56:00.000-08:00

Living on the west coast, you have to do everything possible to try to enjoy the rain, otherwise this season is totally unbearable. Wellies, raincoats, rihanna on the radio, ya gotta do what ya gotta do. So, this season I have embraced the gum boot. I searched high and wide and found a few lovable (ie. not too obnoxious) options. Hunters, Tretorn, and Chooka, are legendary around here. Then I ran into Moov Culture and was quite impressed ~ love their cut-and-paste graphics too.

But, just when I thought I had seen all rubber boots imaginable, I spotted a girl on the street with boots painted in that victorian/grunge look that is so fabulous. Assuming it was a brilliant diy project, I looked it up and found this and this. So, I'm now mighty tempted to pick up some basic boots,
krylon and stencils and see what happens....

Eco Graffiti

2008-11-12T11:03:00.000-08:00

Moss typography! by El & Abe. Part of their manifesto reads: "We hope that not only the words will be noticed, but also the moss itself, put to the forefront through it's sculpting, fashioned into a form we can understand."

via Trendland, who are forecasting eco graffiti to be the next big thing. Tutorials are available, like this one at Instructables. Now I'm thinking of ways in which nature can be drawn ~ the possibilities intrigue me...

Luved

2008-11-10T10:14:00.000-08:00

So, after a long hiatus from blogging, I decided to jump back in with something completely different - clothing! No worries, I don't plan on switching to clothes coverage as I am no expert, but I found these sweaters by a Canadian label called Luved at a local Christmas craft fair, and totally fell in love with them. Perfectly snuggly cozy for this time of year.

The Colours of Kozyrev

2008-07-18T10:41:00.000-07:00

Sure, I love visiting sites like Color Lovers and My Pantone but, other times, I really think painters do it best. The above, most beautiful paintings are by
Dimitri Kozyrev.

Journaling

2008-05-20T00:21:00.001-07:00

I sat back, admiring my midnight E doodle, picking out shapes: raindrops, leaves, a mustache, sperm, goggles, nothing entirely unexpected. Then it hit me. I saw a bird, landing on a large piece of driftwood, nestled in the sand. Do you see it?

I love moments like this, when I have no expectations, and no vision - when I just follow my pen. Even when the results are ok at best, there is always something that draws me back and feels a little magical.

It's not often that I write my own experiences in this blog, or share my own stuff - and often I wonder, why? I'm starting to feel too safe. Well, we'll see.

Olofsdotter

2008-04-30T09:47:00.000-07:00

I love the illustrations of Linn Olofsdotter (Sweden). I am completely drawn in by the delicate line and pretty shading and odd subject matter. Lovely.

When I see sites like this I'm always aching to pull out my own watercolours, ink, brushes and pencils. A career in illustration has always appealed to me ~ I long to get off this keyboard, out of this desk, this office. I wonder if it's in me. It feels good to be wondering out loud. I think it's time to hit the moleskine again.

Exciting news: she's also on Etsy!

Daniele Buetti

2008-04-21T10:39:00.000-07:00

I am crazy inspired by the artwork of Daniele Buetti (Swiss living in Berlin). Crazy inspired. It is totally glamorous yet thought provoking, commentating on fashion and advertising, beauty and identity. I would love to see one of these lightboxes in person - I'm sure they are a whole nother universe.

See more here and here.

Kleenex & JWT

2008-03-06T19:36:00.000-08:00

I know this campaign has been out forEVER, but I think it warrants a mention, as it continues to make me smile, even after seeing it a million times (and even though it may be totally choreographed). Yes I still love it. Why? They stepped away from those generic, safe guarantees that most commercials throw at us. This campaign says that viewers are emotional, and we want to experience and feel and share and connect. I think it hits a little deeper. But, at the same time, it makes sense for the brand. Tissue is naturally connected to crying. But it's not sad, it's a release.

The campaign was created by JWT. In reading about this campaign, the idea of advertisers as anthropologists kept coming up. I think this is a good example of that, although I am kind of tired of people in the design/marketing fields trying to rename themselves, creating bizarre titles.

Posters

2008-01-23T00:07:00.000-08:00

Tauba Auerbach has fun with type.

And - comments on a peculiar trend.

And - download MM Paris' 2008 Poster Catalogue.
It's crazy, beautiful, wonderful.

Dieter Rams: Ten Commandments

2008-01-22T00:31:00.000-08:00

Source, and larger, more legible version here.

Design Police

2008-01-15T20:54:00.000-08:00

Made me laugh. Learn color theory. Ha. via Josh Spear

While we're at it, ruthlessly making fun of the less design-inclined, check out clientopia.

Cafe Revive

2008-01-14T01:45:00.000-08:00

The identity for Cafe Revive at Marks & Spencer was created years ago, but I still think it's rather brilliant. Can this be a formula? Repetitive action becomes simple icon becomes pattern. Sometimes it makes sense, sometimes it just feels too trendy. But in this case, it's all fun, and it's perfect.

Designed by Graphic Though Facility (London). They are also the genius behind Habitat.

John Maeda

2008-01-12T12:39:00.000-08:00

Quoted from John Maeda: Simplicity

"While watching my daughter's viola lesson, and as she stood in front of the class, I realized that the moment when the bow touched the strings was not something to be taken for granted. It was the moment when she was to begin the process of expressing herself by creating music. To create is to potentially embarrass oneself in front of others. It is about the courage to be oneself and to be seen as oneself. Putting ink to a page, or pressing one's fingers against clay, or typing a line of computer code, or blowing glass and realizing mistake. Or success. With everyone watching. But most importantly, you.

So it dawned upon me how important it is to be a creative. Because it means you have within you infinite capacity to experiment. You are unafraid to go somewhere new because you are creating a new thought process about your own creativity. You know that if you stop and no longer challenge yourself, you cease to be creative. You become still, silent, and the bow no longer connect with the strings and music is not made. And you do not exist. You show you do not have the courage to exist.

Creativity is courage. The world needs more fearless people that can influence all disciplines to challenge their very existence. Creativity is reflection aimed not at yourself, but at the world around you."

Weekend Project: Salon Wall

2008-01-10T22:23:00.000-08:00

I have spots of quasi salon walls in my apartment, but I've always wanted something to reach from floor to ceiling, far left to far right, full of energy and life. I keep running into fabulous photos of salon-like walls, so I'm taking it as a sign, and finally tackling it this weekend!

The above photos are from Dania and Co on Flickr (top) and
Decor8, who blogged about Liza Giles.

I also love this wall, styled by James Leland Day.

This also has to go on my wall. I's just so great.

Revolt

2008-01-09T00:03:00.000-08:00

I do not mesh well with history and politics, and cannot dive into a discussion about France 1968. I do, however, know impact and revolution when I see it. And it inspires me, even if not in the same way it was originally intended. The above posters are bold, fearless, raw, simple, created with true confidence. None of this subtle designy foo foo.

See more posters from the student revolt in Paris 1968 here.

By the way, loose translations of the above: be young and shut up/be quiet/be concealed (left) and he's the shit (right). Funny how these sayings have carried on and changed and become part of everyday language.

Persepolis

2007-12-20T01:19:00.000-08:00

Movies are on the mind again. I just found out Persepolis is coming to Vancouver on Dec 25th, and went through all the great stages of no way! wow! really?! I have to find out more! So, the official website is here and a blurb about the buzz is here and buy the book here.

Beautiful Losers

2007-12-17T21:59:00.001-08:00

A Must See. Beautiful Losers: a feature length documentary profiling a vital group of contemporary American artists in their journey from DIY roots to international acclaim.

It even features some of my personal faves, like Margaret Kilgallen, Ed Templeton, Barry McGee, plus plus plus..... These are just the people I want to know more about.

The release is set for Spring 08. See the trailer here.

Oh, Drama

2007-12-15T09:34:00.000-08:00

I have always been more drawn to subtlety: sweet muted tones, quietness, fog. But every once in a while I crave drama... some kind of operatic, symphonic, dark, shiny, fabulousness.

This time I saw it at The Cool Hunter, in a little post about a Bookstore Made in Heaven. Totally stunned, I had to find out more. The architects, Merkx and Girod (Amsterdam), have inspired me to rethink drama. I was hit by a ton of ideas while browsing their site. I hope to introduce my aptmt to more darkness, more contrast, more sparkle. Very rich.

2008

2007-12-09T00:24:00.001-08:00

Made me Laugh. 2008 Calendar designed by Noa Bembibre, titled: Cats Let Nothing Darken Their Roar. Available through Noa's website or Kiosk.

On Walls

2007-11-26T23:07:00.000-08:00

Or, Wanting to be on my Walls.

Left to right, top to bottom:

• Lisa Congdon at The Shiny Squirrel.
• Michael Sowa (inspired by Amelie) at The Poster Shop. I often forget about posters, but really, all they need is a nice big frame and voila. I always love budget that doesn't look like it.
• Tapies Exhibit Poster at All Posters.
• Wilson Hsu at Thumbtack Press.
• Ashley G at Etsy.
• ISO 50.
• Cole Gerst/Option G at Little Paper Planes.
• The Black Apple at Etsy.

Restraint

2007-11-05T23:58:00.001-08:00

Let me first say, I have been waiting, almost obsessively, to see this gem. (checking the site everyday, rechecking just to make sure!) So, my heart skipped a little to finally read "It's ready!"

Restraint is an ornamental font that contains letterforms. It is a collaboration between Marian Bantjes and Tiro Typeworks. Read about it here. Buy it here. Watch the hours wile away.

Lululemon

2007-09-21T23:52:00.000-07:00

Fact. It is not possible to live in Vancouver without eventually purchasing something from Lululemon. I just bought my first pair of sweats there, and was frankly surprised I hadn't caved earlier.

Besides awesome yoga wear, they are also consistent with their philosophy. Everything (stores, graphics, people, etc) speaks about a healthy lifestyle, positive energy, friendly, fun, passion. This can be summed up in their manifesto (shown above). This image is also on their packaging, a reusable fabric bag, laminated on front and back. Ah, so much to love.

Ich et Kar

2007-09-11T22:48:00.000-07:00

I know, I know, wall stickers have been everywhere for the past while. But I still think they make a nice solution for adding colour and energy to a room. The above stickers were designed by Ich et Kar (France), and can be found (along with a ton of other fun-loving designs) at Design 3000.

By the way, Apartment Therapy has begun their 8-Step Home Cure. I'm always ready for advice and inspiration to make my apartment cozier! Now sounds like a good time to jump!

Verb List

2007-09-09T10:23:00.001-07:00

Richard Serra, Verb List Compilation: Actions to Relate to Oneself

"When I first started, what was very, very important to me was dealing with the nature of process. So what I had done is I'd written a verb list: to roll, to fold, to cut, to dangle, to twist...and I really just worked out pieces in relation to the verb list physically in a space. Now, what happens when you do that is you don't become involved with the psychology of what you're making, nor do you become involved with the after image of what it's going to look like." (Richard Serra) Read more: Man of Steel

Mink Chocolates

2007-08-30T19:03:00.000-07:00

Mink Chocolates is my new favourite Vancouver cafe. for so many reasons. 1. (obviously) hand-made chocolate bars to die for. 2. awesome quality coffee and hot chocolate. 3. you get a little chunk of chocolate with your cup o coffee. 4. a fondue bar! 5. their branding, the swirls, the colours are so luscious. 6. I just can't resist names like "Tawny and Ruby are Friends," "No Grumpy," "Open in Case of Emergency," "Certifiably Nutty..." and this cheeky touch makes them perfect for gift-giving. 7. their packaging: brown coffee bean bags, stamped with their name. 8. they live by the water. Ah...

Molo Design

2007-08-28T13:39:00.000-07:00

I also love Molo Float Glasses (Vancouver). Beauty.

Fever Fever Rug

2007-08-27T21:08:00.000-07:00

Definite object of desire. I cannot resist this adorable illustration. in rug format! mmm. From HZL at 2 Modern.

By the way, I do not have the funds for such fabulousness, so I'm gonna draw this on my chalkboard!

BYOB

2007-08-25T03:30:00.000-07:00

Stylish. Sustainable. Organic. Customizable. Vancouver-based. So many good reasons to BYOB! I can't resist all these recent anti-plastic-waste campaigns. The statistics make my jaw drop.

How big is your ecological footprint? I scored 6.1, not bad.
Some things you can do to have a smaller footprint.
Also, be sure to join The Nature Challenge

Flag Handmade

2007-08-23T00:41:00.000-07:00

Was browsing old links and was happy to find this super fantastic window display. I now have an incredible urge to build big letters. Find it at Flag (Zurich), a graphic design duo hot for tasty type. Wander the site; this project is under the "handmade" button, lots of photos, a wicked van.

Also: a brilliant pile of letters on Ace Jet's found type friday.

And: I like this photo of big letters in the home. bold? fun? is this overdone? hmm. I'm undecided.

Chalkboard Tuesday

2007-08-21T00:19:00.000-07:00

Probably my favourite thing in my apartment is the huuuge chalkboard in the kitchen. Everyone should have a chalkboard, it's seriously simple and totally fun. I like to switch up the image every Tuesday; it makes for a nice routine, a jolt of inspiration, no waste, doesn't matter if it's complete rubbish.... The above chalkboard aquarium was inspired by this flickr photo, found in the Domino Magazine pool.

Who Am I?

2007-08-19T18:21:00.000-07:00

Playing with business card design... can't help but go back to basics: Who is my audience? What kind of image do I wish to portray? Who am I? What do I stand for? A big load for such as small space.

The above pages are displayed through an awesome tool called Pictobrowser. Post Flickr pictures by way of tags, sets or groups. It is miracle-simple.

Made Thought

2007-08-17T12:44:00.000-07:00

I mentioned Made Thought (London) yesterday; they linger on my mind. I had to post again. Soooo what do I love about them (besides the fantastic folding letters as shown above)?

1. A simple website with strikingly gorgeous full-bleed photos.
2. Diagonal horizons, diagonal folds, slashes in titles.
3. A luscious gray background in all photographs.
4. New colour palettes.
5. White on white, black on black.
6. Large type. Yes! Go big!

Brand Drop

2007-08-16T12:32:00.000-07:00

1. Nothing Something
2. Via Daily Poetics
3. Made Thought

I've been looking for ideas and inspiration for my own business card, and decided to post a few fishies from the pool. Also, here are a couple of resourceful sites on logos, brand and identity: Logo Orange and Identity Works.

Sandstrom Design

2007-08-15T12:22:00.000-07:00

The identity system for Sandstrom Design (Portland, Oregon) is quite brilliant, with a website to match. I love the frank stories and simple layout. Their colour of the month made me laugh out loud.

Sandstrom was also the mind behind Tazo Tea, whose identity, packaging and website add up to be one of my all-time favourites.

Find the above image and a plethora of other letterheads, business cards, labels, tags... at Daily Poetics.

Idea for Hanging Small Prints

2007-08-14T09:40:00.000-07:00

I've been having a long-term love affair with small pieces of art. Gems from Tiny Showcase, Etsy, Art Magazines, Student Art Shows, Postcards, ATCs.... they're everywhere and they're often affordable. So I have this collection. Now what? I want to display some, I want to avoid frames, I want to enhance the textures and rough edges, I see a creative opportunity. So:

Materials: 12x12" sheets of wood, needles, hammer, hooks for back, some small pieces of art. To do: 1. Attach hooks to back of wood. 2. lay small piece of art in center of piece of wood. 3. Using hammer, lightly tap the needles into each corner of artwork and into the wood, just enough to hold it in place. 4. Once all four corners are nailed, lift artwork away from wood so it rests against the head of the needle. Art should rest about an inch away from wood. Voila! Hang on wall and admire your handiwork.

The above artworks are two of my personal favourites. On the left is the amazing Camilla Engman. On the right is a print I found in a little boutique in Paris. Ah memories. Makes my heart skip a little.

Jorg & Olif

2007-08-13T16:24:00.000-07:00

I wasn't completely sold on the Dutch city bikes until Scout was introduced as the new kid on the block. Available in Vancouver through Jorg and Olif, it's completely perfect... im having visions of long lazy travels to the market, a thick wicker basket housing blueberries, sweet potatoes and a couple of baguettes. ding ding.

YFWD

2007-08-10T23:51:00.000-07:00

You fuck. We don't. Well, that's one way of saying it! These guys are subversive, cheeky and totally talented. The collective is made up of Last-R, Drey and Nolenz, three young Art Directors in Paris. This is their avenue for personal projects, research and experimentation.

LKSIR

2007-08-09T01:56:00.000-07:00

"Listen to your walls!"

LKSIR (France) has a new project out there in the world. I love how the story develops and changes as you wander through the space. Explore his blog... it is full of gems, like the Eyeliner set. It's amazing; all about life and emotion and the best kind of craaaazy.

Two Days in Paris

2007-08-08T11:14:00.000-07:00

I'm totally psyched about this movie, and let me tell ya: I don't get "psyched" too often. haha. My favourite place, my favourite people Adam Goldberg and Julie Delpy (also the writer and director!), my favourite everything, comedy, bohemian, quirky. Stellar. I'm psyched.

Watch the trailer here. Read more on imdb here. See it in Vancouver at The Ridge, starting Friday. Get tickets here.

If You Could Do Anything

2007-08-04T22:49:00.000-07:00

If you could do anything tomorrow, what would it be? I love this theme. I love this publication, which has just released its second issue. I wish I could get my hands on it. It showcases illustrators and designers, new and established, and parallels an exhibit which shows the originals. It includes some of my long-time favourites, like Mario Hugo of Loveworn and new favourites like Marion Deuchars.

And it all begs the question, if you could do anything tomorrow, what would it be? Hmmm....

Espira

2007-07-30T00:25:00.000-07:00

Biography: "Espira is a London based visual artist who triumphantly mixes fashion, costume and uniform with the mundane and commonplace of modern life, resulting in a supermarket assault on the senses. Born in the UK, he was raised as a strict Mormon, developing strong visual interpretations of symbolism and iconography. This acclaimed Underground artist creates his work with a computer, using his own photographs of objects and models as reference."

Contemporary, relative, honest, violent, thought provoking, drool-worthy colour combinations... amazing.

Sol LeWitt

2007-07-29T11:28:00.000-07:00

I crossed the wall drawings of Sol LeWitt a while ago, and they remain on my mind. Here is a great article released by sfmoma, which details LeWitt's ideas and process.

LeWitt stated the importance of reduction in the artistic process: "When an artist uses a conceptual form of art, it means that all of the planning and decisions are made beforehand and the execution is a perfunctory affair. The idea becomes the machine that makes the art." Supporting his idea that the thought is more important than the act, LeWitt rejects the notion of art as a unique and precious object. He often uses assistants to execute the works based upon his detailed instructions.

The above image is Wall Drawing #146, made with blue crayon. Call me crazy, but I totally want to do something similar to this on my wall.

Inspiring Spaces

2007-07-16T13:09:00.000-07:00

I try not to borrow finds from other blogs, but here I could not resist. I found these images via the amazing Love Made Visible. It is the home of Domino’s Editor-in-Chief Deborah Needleman, as featured in New York Magazine.

More ideas I want to steal (mwah ha ha): green table and pink flowers behind the sofa, the large acrylic coffee table covered with coffee table books, a hit of yellow, odd patterned cushions, black and white stripes, a ginormous cheap paper lantern, gray walls in the dining space, symmetry, sections, and a baby grand.

Diagonals

2007-07-13T10:00:00.001-07:00

Been noticing a lot of bunched diagonals in graphic design lately; this was especially apparent in London. They were everywhere. I took this shot of some window for some sort of clothing shop (which one? I have no idea!)

Why blog?

2007-07-11T13:00:00.000-07:00

I was browsing old journals when I found this entry, a perfect reminder to blog a little more. I think it's time to jump in again.

The one thing I could do that would make a difference in my professional life would be to blog on a regular basis:

1. Increase my level of discourse in the design field
2. Keep abreast of trends and new stuff
3. Networking possibilities
4. Inspiration and an opportunity to inspire others
5. Increase my level of awareness and observation
6. Opportunity to develop a brand/identity
7. Learn some HTML; new technical skills
8. Have a place to organize my finds, a filing system of sorts

Confession

2007-06-18T22:28:00.000-07:00

Ok. So the real reason I have not been blogging a lot lately is a new little thing in my life called facebook. This is not normally the type of thing I would be attracted to, but it's just so fun, all these friends, all these reunions. There. I let it out. Feels good.

A Little Wondering Out Loud

2007-06-08T18:22:00.000-07:00

Well, it has been a long long time since I last posted. Strange... I didn't really miss blogging, I didn't feel lost without it, I didn't feel any less motivated or inspired.

In fact, I think that not blogging made me feel less cluttered, less overwhelmed by the myriad of info out there.

So, I think I will slightly change the structure here. So far, I have largely been posting stuff of other people, things I find and like and probably lust after. But, is this really useful? Is this really the best me? Am I actually learning anything from this process? I don't think so.

I want to fill my life with things in which I would feel lost without. I want this blog to be one of those things.

By the way, the above image was created at nskr.net. I was looking for images of flowers blooming or birds flying, to parallel my thoughts, but I kept returning to this little perfect mess of colour in my files. Fun!

V&A

2007-05-07T21:53:00.000-07:00

I've had my eye on the Victoria and Albert Museum lately because of my nearing vacation to London. But, I have actually long been intrigued by the V&A. While in school, constantly flipping through design magazines, one of the first identity systems that caught my attention was for the V&A. I kept thinking, what is this Victoria and Albert Museum? How did it manage to obtain such an awesome leading in design? A place so classic in it's subject, so contemporary in it's graphic identity? It didn't make sense to me. But, I loved it. And still, their logo is one of my faves.

Antony Gormley

2007-04-17T23:37:00.000-07:00

I have been researching London like crazy lately (counting the days til I board my flight!)... finding great shops, design-heaven, eats, streets, artists, galleries... stuff beyond the usual. I will probably be talking about Brits for the next couple of months.

Along my journey, I came across the Southbank Centre which touches all corners of the art scene, from music to literature to the visual arts. They will soon be exhibiting the new work of British Sculptor Antony Gormley. Besides a selection of work inside the gallery, the exhibit will also feature sculptural casts of the artist’s body on rooftops and public walkways across central London, dramatically transforming the city skyline.

Marci Washington

2007-04-16T21:52:00.000-07:00

I found out about Marci Washington through her contribution to Tiny Showcase a few weeks ago. I checked out her site and found the above image particularly irresistible. Twould be perfect to fill one of my blank walls. Her inspiration: Currently I am interested in building a fictional narrative with connections to history as well as to the present. It's like I'm illustrating a novel that doesn't exist. If it did, it would probably be a lot like Wuthering Heights, Jane Eyre, or Bleak House- novels which function as social commentary as well as beautiful romantic epics. I love. Love.

You can also find her art on sale at The Beholder, a great site that connects artists with a larger audience, outside of the gallery system.

Gathering Colour and Pattern

2007-04-13T01:41:00.000-07:00

This image of fabrics, colours and patterns has been floating amongst my boxes of stuff for a long time. For some reason, it never tires. It must be that girly-without-being-girly-girl type of aesthetic that I always love.

So, when I came across the Colour Palette Generator, this image immediately came to mind. Basically, the Colour Palette Generator takes any image from any website and pulls out a palette of corresponding web colours, both dull and vibrant (as shown in the second image above; the image is a scan from a magazine, elle decor uk i think).

To use the generator, you will need to obtain the url of an image from a website. How? "Ctrl-click" on the image, click on "properties," and it should come up with an "http//www.-site-.jpg" under "location." (This is for a mac, but is similar for pc).

To get a screen shot: shift-command-3. A Picture file will save to your desktop, which can then be opened in PhotoShop, if needed.

These are things I only recently learned, but have used them so many times since... how did I ever get along without them?

A Small Drawing

2007-04-12T00:58:00.000-07:00

This is an image I clipped out of an art magazine several years ago. (Excuse the strangely splotchy scan.) Everything about this image is unknown, but I love it. It is a 4x6 shot of colour on my wall. I simply mounted it on card stock, and glued a paper clip on the back to hang from a small nail.

It says: there goes my shirt. oops. It's cheeky and it makes me smile.

Beckman's

2007-04-11T11:03:00.000-07:00

I've seen paper folding before, I even have another post about it. But still, it draws my breath every time. So, of course, I was thrilled to fall upon this project by Olof Bruce, Tom Eriksson, and Liv Wadstrom. It is a pop-up book representing Italo Calvino's Invisible Cities. (I love Italo Calvino).

Anyway, the book was a student project while the three were studying at Beckman's College of Design in Sweden. The quality behind the work produced here is amazing. The courses cover advertising, graphic design, product design, and fashion. Even a quick glance offers a lot of inspiration.

One more quick note: I like how designers are embracing the idea of photographing their work in context, with people; it's informative, it adds an extra dimension, and it makes it more real.

TDC 2007

2007-04-10T01:45:00.000-07:00

The Type Directors Club has listed the winners of the annual TDC competition, 2007. Some nice results here, some very unique. I like Fakir and Subtil. Kudos to Joshua Darden as well.

Another great site for type winners: Die 100 Besten Schriften. This is the most intuitive and informative font list. ever.

Daniel Eatock

2007-04-08T01:53:00.000-07:00

I like the work of Daniel Eatock. There is a frankness about it that's quite refreshing. He works a lot with words, groups and ideas. His Felt Tip Print was the first thing that caught my attention. It was made by repeatedly balancing a single A1 sheet of paper on the nibs of a set of Pantone pens. Colourful, sweet, and simple. I love to learn of alternate ways to create things and look at things.

I also stumbled upon the above project, My Favourite Cup. I would like to have a cupboard full of these. Besides funny, they would prove useful: to house pencil crayons or daily coffee or the warmth of a hot cocoa...

By the way, Eatock also has a great reading list on his site.

The Digital M

2007-04-07T23:44:00.000-07:00

Just a quick post to say: I love Leica.
Everything about Leica. Even when it's digital.

And, tomorrow: Pavlova! I've never made pavlova before, but the images are so irresistibly sweet. sexy. perfect. mmm. it better not rain. (update: it rained, sadly, so i will wait for a sunnier sunday).

Wakerly and Barns

2007-04-06T22:22:00.000-07:00

Was attempting to find content for a lovely little Easter post (unsuccessfully, I might add). Rose and Radish has a nice Easter section but what really caught my eye was their pic of Erica Wakerly's House Wallpaper. See more of her fabulous patterns here. I'm already trying to imagine where it could go: a feature wall, a side table, a subtle spot like a closet, hanging in a frame as art, wrapped around storage boxes...

Note how some of the houses look like M's!

And... WOW. I want to convert a barn. Found this essential guide on the website of UK's Homes and Gardens Magazine. and some barns here.

Add Magazine

2007-04-05T10:23:00.000-07:00

Add Magazine describes themselves as A magazine on the subject of belgian design, mainly print, definitely crossover, upright content, for and by designers. Oh it's for free too. I would like to add: it is also readily available via a 300dpi pdf version, ready to download, anywhere, everywhere! (note the excitement!)

I came across this link by way of Pdf Mags, an entire site devoted to free pdf magazines. All magazines centre around the common themes of art, illustration, design and photography. This is such a great resource for independents and little gems.

Not Another Black Laptop Bag

2007-04-04T21:42:00.000-07:00

A good laptop bag is not easy to find (this is a conclusion made via personal experience). But there are actually a ton of options, from classic to whimsical, girly to modern, subtle to bold. They do not have to be basic. They can be fashionable, luscious, colourful... anything to add character to an otherwise dull workday. These are some I've come across:

1. Gaya: Briefcase 2. Kolo Bags: Gina B Bella Laptop Bag 3. Angela Adams: Hannah Briefcase 4. Casauri: Laptop Brief 5. Tucano: Domina 6. Acme Made: Cargo in Plaid Tan 7. Matt & Nat: Shaft 8. Vlieger & Vandam: Not a Laptop 9. Mandarina Duck: File Briefcase 10. Melissa Beth: Pocket Full of Puter 11. Carga Bags: 02

Declutter Your Desktop

2007-04-03T13:26:00.000-07:00

This is surely the easiest, cheapest, most useful DIY I've seen in a long time. Most useful - because I have been battling a mess of cables for so long, and it actually seemed to worsen when I switched from a desktop to a laptop; and let's not forget the addition of an ipod, cellphone, and digital camera (to quickly equal messy).

I saw it on the ever-industrious Ikea Hacker. It originated over at Decluttered, where you can find the full instructions, as well as extra tips in the very lengthy list of comments.

For future reference, when my career is more solid, I would like to start another blog devoted to turning my apartment into a home. I have so many clippings and swatches and ideas floating around. They need to be put in a place that might inspire me into action. This might be it. But no time now.

Paper Cranes & Polaroids

2007-04-02T08:10:00.000-07:00

The image on the left is the first of several polaroids to be auctioned off by flickr member rebecca missing. Bidding has just begun here, and will close on April 6th.

This auction is in support of The Paper Crane Project, a huge undertaking (of which I am a part!) begun by Liz Shuman, known as Eshu through blogging, flickr and Etsy. In a few words, she is ambitiously, generously, mailing out 1000 paper cranes to 1000 different people. Photos of the paper cranes in their new homes will be posted in a flickr set.

March Links

2007-03-31T00:57:00.000-07:00

Spring Cleaning
Architecture in Helsinki
Wordsmith
I'm Not A Plastic Bag
Little Wraps
Kerning Tracking Leading

By the way, the above image is scanned from my Moleskine, an entry from last summer... ah what sweet memories.

Eleanor Pritchard

2007-03-30T20:27:00.000-07:00

Ah so pretty. I love the complimentary colours, blue and orange in perfect shades. I found Eleanor Pritchard in a profile from Hidden Art Shop and can't stop thinking about how perfectly one of her blankets might drape over the arm of my couch. While brightening the rainy forecast.

By the way, speaking of rain, I'm planning a Springtime trip to London! Very excited. So I warn you: the upcoming weeks very well may be full of London links o' goodness. And laptop bags. because I'm in need. Oh how I love to plan.

Behance

2007-03-29T02:36:00.000-07:00

I am always drawn to methods of organization, especially ones that take into consideration the creative process, beauty and sophistication. Behance does just that. They describe their site as: Insights & Tips on Making Ideas Happen in the Creative Community... This is a great site. Why?

• A nice series of products, like The Action Book. (as shown above). They offer great tools that really embrace the self-help/business community, without the typical over-enthusiastic, cartoony type of presentation.

• A blog that features designers, ideas, companies, how real people are living the creative life. There are a lot of well-thought-out articles, like this one.

• If that's not enough, they even offer a printable pdf download of the Action Pad. The link is here. It's the perfect start.

Loveworn

2007-03-28T12:05:00.000-07:00

Loveworn, I love. It is the work of Mario Hugo, who creates some especially inspiring displays of typography and hand-drawn lettering. Amazing detail.

He also has a great About section:

... I like to think of my work situationally - I don't want to be hampered by media or any particular style. My projects exist as their own entities, and I might work towards a variety of aesthetic, verbal, and conceptual ends.

I am available for freelance, commissions, and collaborations during the daytime, but my nighttime is reserved for artworks, children's books, and dreaming....

Paperhaus

2007-03-27T03:02:00.000-07:00

The Canadian counterpart of Paperhaus has officially, sadly closed. That aside, this grand little shop physically introduced me to a wide array of beautiful office accessories (and my first portfolio case!).

Newer items at Paperhaus include the above Pina Zangaro Portfolio Covers in Snow. I love white in the office. So clean and beautiful and mac-like. Other new hues are coal and flame. Actually, I think I want them all, one of each. Topped off with Case Envy's Portfolio Book in Frosted Green. Drool.

My Desktop

2007-03-26T01:31:00.000-07:00

This has been my desktop wallpaper (on and off) for about a year now. I keep coming back to it. Why? It's simple and non-intrusive, with just the right amount of whimsy. I found it on the Celia Birtwell site. It's not immediately obvious... click on "2006 Collection," then click on one of the clothing items, then click on "wallpaper." Each item has a different pattern, each oh so lovely. (left: full height; right: detail).

Now, I am a little tempted by the designs at Desktopography. Seriously rich imagery. the kind that makes your imagination wander to far away places. all nature-inspired. all designed by designers. So my desktop may soon see the depths of a sweeping landscape...

My Screensaver

2007-03-23T13:54:00.000-07:00

This is my Screensaver. I love it. It's so simple, graceful, clunky, and it keeps real time. I think it beats the preloaded wavy options by miles.

The site also has other fun downloads like a plywood trashcan. and desktop wallpaper too: pink evian alps, a muji desktop, mohagany woodgrain...

My Moleskine

2007-03-22T17:32:00.000-07:00

I have a fairly hefty collection of scrap papers: images from magazines, type samples, doodles, postcards, colour swatches... When feeling creatively drained, sometimes I like to collage them into my journal. It is a complete experiment of layering, cutting, tearing, gluing. It is about embracing a hand-made, almost wabi-sabi aesthetic: learning how to work with mistakes, use intuition, and play. It is about combining things in new ways, stretching possibilities and keeping an open mind.

The above pages are displayed through an awesome tool called Pictobrowser via Swiss Miss. It allows you to display sets of images from your Flickr account. Super easy too.

Hello Spring

2007-03-21T00:16:00.000-07:00

I decided today's post should be dedicated to Spring, as today marks its beginning. Wanting to feature a great Spring-like image, I immediately thought of Kanako Sasaki, whose photographs are just so perfectly sweet and awkward and lively. I love them.

Although, I must admit the above photo is not so lush with the greenery and daffodils I had originally intended. It's more real, actually. It's an image of change, contrast, waiting, longing for no more gray sky. oh. maybe that's just me.

OSX Shortcuts

2007-03-20T09:46:00.000-07:00

I was recently reintroduced to Pocketmod, via the wonderfully resourceful Creative Tech Blog. Pocketmod is a program that allows you to print and make little booklets as a way to organize your stuff. They have templates for various types of calendars, lists, games... Also check out their pdf to Pocketmod converter.

The guys over at Creative Tech have used the template to create a handy little book of OSX Shortcuts. AND they have even provided us with the original InDesign file so we can easily plug in our own shortcuts... the ones we keep forgetting, or ones for different types of software. Imagine the possibilities. I think this type of fold could also be an amazing design solution.

By the way, while on the topic of books, Five and a Half now has their book-making tutorial listed at JPG Magazine. I can't wait to try it out.

Surface 2 Air

2007-03-19T18:17:00.000-07:00

Another Design Studio I am inspired by is Surface 2 Air. This is their blurb: SURFACE TO AIR Paris is a creative studio/boutique operating in art, fashion and communication. Our need for freedom and independence, conditions to creativity, made us organize ourselves around high pluri-disciplinary activities and projects in the creative domains which interest us.

I am especially drawn to their work for Tsumori Chisato. Each season, they come up with such brilliantly detailed original colourful design direction.

Their work also introduced me to the amazing photography of Erwan Frotin, and of course the ready to wear collection of Tsumori Chisato. I always love to see such great talents working together.

Non-Format

2007-03-18T14:05:00.000-07:00

I'm always inspired by the work of Non-Format, out of London. They always seem to be ahead of the curve... in their archives, I see a lot of what is in magazines today.

The image above is a typographic interpretation of music lyrics for Nas. I must admit jealousy. While studying for Communication Design, we were often given these awesomely experimental typography projects. While a good learning experience, rarely we were told, are these practiced and actually paid for. So, to see this particular project, published in Fader Magazine, reminds me that those dream projects do exist.

Anyway, besides that little personal note... Non-Format is also working the art direction of Varoom Magazine. Published 3x a year, it is defined as a journal of illustration and made images. And it looks full of grand.

Tourist Type

2007-03-17T16:28:00.000-07:00

Just ran into a wonderful Flickr set of touristy labels collected by Cotton Candy Hammer. I'm totally drooling over the above type of aesthetic; it's so classic and sophisticated in it's use of typography and colour. It's great inspiration for creating logos, and expanding them into an identity system.

I also love this one and this one and this one and many more, but I'll stop at three. By the way, CCH also has a fairly extensive flickr set of vinyl. This set is so appealing as a whole, with all the shades of yellows.

K Studio

2007-03-16T20:24:00.000-07:00

I know, I know, this has been going on for a while now... but I love it and will post it anyway. Design Sponge has been featuring Sneak peeks into the homes of various great crafters, bloggers, designers... I always like to see how other people arrange and decorate and accessorize their homes. I especially love the home of K Studio, as shown above, and whose website is here. It's interesting to see how her fabrics and designs translate directly to her surroundings.

By the way, totally unrelated matter, I just fixed up my sidebar with some fancy schmancy Blogger Hacks. These things are a tad addictive. One of the features I added was the del.icio.us category cloud, which displays and links to all of my del.icio.us links. It's a tad overwhelming at this point, but I think as I begin to add descriptions to the links, it might make a fairly decent resource.

Alt Pick Deck

2007-03-15T00:01:00.000-07:00

Alt Pick is a great resource of and for commercial artists, from photographers and illustrators to stylists and animators. They have just produced The Alternative Pick Deck of Cards, a fun promo full of talent and inspiration. It includes the work of Alicia Buelow, Jared Eastman, Elliott Golden and Alicia Vergel de Dios. I already placed an order. I just love projects that emphasize the idea of community and working together.

Some other online graphic design communities: Nice to Meet You is my current obsession for its killer design blog, Computer Love is also supplemented by a great blog, Designer ID takes a more professional approach, Die Gestalten is brimming with bookmarkables, Design is Kinky is of course a design star, Lounge 72 is an ezine with a nice pdf calendar that often makes it to my wall, All Maple is Canadian, and Coroflot is another which I often consult. These sites are great because not only do they introduce great artists, they are also perfect for networking, finding jobs, meeting other designers... promotion and inspiration, hand in hand!

Wow, that's a lot of links in just one post... but I couldn't leave any out; I use and like them all!

Paper Doll

2007-03-14T00:03:00.000-07:00

I am so happy to see an online shop devoted to Canadian fashion: Paper Doll. It has a handful of great beautiful quality work, including new-to-me designer Lily and Jae.

The other thing I love about this site is the monthly Artist Project section, featuring artists, photographers and stylists from an international base. It provides young artists the opportunity to showcase their own work, while giving viewers different interpretations of the clothing on the site. The above photograph is by Ye Rin Mok, whose whites and poses are just perfect.

Air & Veilhan

2007-03-13T00:59:00.000-07:00

Air has recently released a new album, Pocket Symphony. The official album website is here. I'm no connoisseur of music, but I have been a long time fan of Air, maybe it's the rain, the slowness, the melancholy, maybe it's the "breathing life into silence using a simple range of delicate instruments."

I am often intrigued and inspired by album cover art. It's a good ground on which to break all the boundaries of graphic design, embracing experiment, play, art. For the cover of Pocket Symphony, (shown above, left), Nicolas Godin and Jean-Benoît Dunkel called upon French Contemporary Artist, Xavier Veilhan. Here is a fantastic collection of his work. His installations involve a wide range of media and technology, from photography and sculpture (as above right) to 3d scanning, lights, and digital imagery. Both musician and artist are fascinated by blurring the lines, between traditional and contemporary, sound and image, art and design...

The strangeness, innovation, focus on technique, complicated, beautiful, subtle, structure is all quite appropriate. Intrigue.

Security Papers

2007-03-11T14:26:00.000-07:00

I love pattern. Any kind of pattern. The other day I came across Joseph King's flickr set of security papers, via The Style Press. I love the neutrals and blues and little shapes. The above sample has been called Dot Matrix Crosshatch. This is an ongoing project. Anyone can participate by simply emailing him a high-res jpg. I think I will spend a bit of time today rummaging through my piles of papers.

Speaking of pattern, I also just noticed the pattern on the white sleeve of my coffee cup, little debossed dots. So Sweet. Pattern is everywhere. Look closer.

Never Effect

2007-03-08T00:43:00.000-08:00

Love love love the illustrations and design work of Christopher Remy, also known as Never Effect, out of Brussels. He also has a profile up at Computer Love, with some seriously amazing sets like this one. His use of line, colour, contrast and splotches is sublime. Funny, just when I thought I was getting a little tired of this type of imagery.

By the way, the above poster is promoting an exhibit. More on myspace. Wish I was there. Sigh.

Blueprint Magazine

2007-03-07T23:37:00.000-08:00

Finally found in Vancouver shops today!

Ten things I love about the above snippets (and Blueprint in general): 01. Yellow... and their attempt to brighten this gray season. 02. Sweet fun-lovin font mixin. 03. Great ideas for low budget art. 04. Title containers. 05. Big page numbers. 06. Adorning type with brackets and arrows and little flowers. 07. It is both classic and contemporary. 08. Organized yet unpretentious. 09. Great ideas for actual small spaces. 10. The content in this magazine is actually relative and worth reading! Boy, that makes me happy.

They also have a new blog: Bluelines.

note regarding no.09: When I saw what Editor Sarah could do with her tiny tiny wee small place, I actually felt inspired to move somewhere smaller so I can put the money I save into more custom pieces, more character, more beautiful fabrics.... more of everything I loooove. Yes. I'm inspired.

Spring

2007-03-05T22:30:00.000-08:00

Above are colours from Pantone's Spring 2007 Fashion Colour Report. The pantone numbers and CMYK equivalents(!) are available from Design Edge Canada (scroll down).

Whenever the season is ready to change, I am generally ready to change along with it. I start thinking about new things I want to try, new images, new wardrobe items, new paint colours for my apartment... This season I am thinking BIG. I was introduced many years ago to the idea of a Mondo Beyondo. Images of sweepingly general, easily forgotten new year's resolutions may come to mind. But no. The mondo beyondo really encompasses the big things, things that seem impossible, things you only dare to dream. Things that make your heart jump just thinking about them. These are some of my current (unedited) thoughts:

1. Embrace improvisational cooking.
2. Design for Designers.
3. Be able to pick up a guitar and sing a tune.
4. Attend the Ecole du Louvre.
5. Learn to speak French fluently.
6. Show in a gallery. Or curate an exhibit.
7. Wear dresses all the time.
8. Be a published author.
9. Host a large dinner party.
10. Bake for friends.

Why not? I smile thinking. This is a really great exercise. And writing it down really makes it real. Already I am thinking of small ways, small steps that I can begin to take. eee.

Base Design

2007-03-04T16:14:00.000-08:00

I always admire design companies that embrace the whole field. Base Design is one of them. Starting in Brussels, they now have offices in New York, Barcelona, Madrid and Paris. Read their profile. They do it all. They do it well. They live large.

I recently ran into Base's identity design for a MoMA exhibit, On-Site: New Architecture in Spain, and was intrigued. Each of the colourful cubes reflects a different component of the exhibit. They worked on all aspects of the exhibit, from invitations and merchandising to bus ads and billboards.

I also like the identity redesigned for Karen Karch, using high-impact typography, imagery, packaging and web design.

Their work is consistently bold and thoughtful, rare and inspiring. Explore their site; it's full of goods.

Sweet Storage

2007-03-02T19:10:00.000-08:00

I just love clever little storage ideas. I recently found the above two products and had to share.

Left: a hook with a little shed for storage behind it! These Shed Hooks are so great, dual purpose, and they even come in different colours. Great for an entranceway, or super cute in a kids room.

Right: a holder for charging devices, Load-Ding takes things off the floor. Ipods, cell phones, digital cameras... I always have little electronics hanging from outlets. Load-Ding is even portable. Whoever thought charging batteries could be fun! Via: Trends Now.

February Links

2007-02-28T21:17:00.000-08:00

Since February is all about the love....

The Surrealist Compliment Generator

John Gall, book designer; here too, via Ace Jet 170

Home Hotel, via Matt Bites. This place looks awesome. Check it out. chintzy wallpapers, cheerful colours of fuscia, yellow and grass, guilded mirrors, a mid-century modern / vintage / scandinavian aesthetic. woooow.

Lomo Documentary

Bottega Vaneta, via Love Made Visible. These colours make me melt.

The above image is a photo taken at The Contemporary Art Gallery in Vancouver. Created with pencil crayons, these two works show such attention to detail amid yummy child-like colours.

Etapes

2007-02-27T01:28:00.000-08:00

Etapes is a graphic design magazine brimming with international goods, including the above, cheeky pillowcase from Shadow Tricks.

Also found through Etapes:
The Communication Design work of L2M3, from Germany.
Maxalot has an impressive collection of wallpapers.
The Fixed Images of Ratsi from Paris. Very unique.
Lizzy Finn uses textiles as a medium for graphic design.
And Pierre Marie, my new favourite. I'm drooling over their work for Melodie Wolf. (Who are these people?! need more info!)

I could go on forever.

It's a blur

2007-02-26T22:53:00.000-08:00

Whenever I begin a new project, especially one involving brand management, I like to collect. I collect images, paint chips, objects, words... and lay them out on my table and take some snapshots. Due to lighting, they are often blurry. But regardless, I love the process.

Currently I am working on a project that is all about warmth and earth and wholeness. Warm, neutral shades, yellow and green undertones, antiques, yellowed paper, texture, handmade, handwritten, brush strokes, hot cocoa, leather, wool, clay, a splash of red.

Also feeling incredibly inspired by Jenny's images and jewelry, based on the story of the secret garden. So full of heart.

... I always adore these early stages, where nothing is quite certain, possibilities are endless, and inspiration is everywhere.

Wabi-Sabi

2007-02-25T21:50:00.000-08:00

Just finished a little book with a lot of presence: Wabi-Sabi - for Artists, Designers, Poets and Philosophers.

It begins:

Wabi-Sabi is a beauty of things imperfect, impermanent, and incomplete.
It is a beauty of things modest and humble.
It is a beauty of things unconventional.

It resonates. Buy. Read. Share. Let it soak.

Julie Morstad

2007-02-23T00:02:00.000-08:00

The amazing Julie Morstad is showing at the Atelier Gallery in Vancouver, opening Feb 24. The exhibit "Milk Teeth" includes thirty ink/watercolour drawings, plus new etchings and aquatints. A Must See.

Julie Morstad has been featured many times for her wallpaper as well as a sweet children's book titled "When You Were Small"

By the way... to enhance links, I've added SNAP. Just rollover any link to see an up-to-date preview of the site. I like to use it for my sidebar of 20 blogs; it's so easy to see if they have been updated. But... Obnoxious? Helpful?

Tillandsia

2007-02-22T23:58:00.001-08:00

I was first introduced to Tillandsia through the amazing little flagship store for 18 Karat, here in Vancouver. Tillandsia, also known as an air plant, does not grow in soil. Instead, it is simply sprayed or dipped in water. Besides easy, they are really beautiful, with a nice texture and gray undertones. I like the small ones that sit in the palm of your hand. or a little dish.

18 Karat has listed Tillandsia as inspiration for their Spring/Summer 2007 Collection, alongside Fossils and Spirals. They really know how to work neutrals. Rich. Lush. Texture.

Squares in the Home

2007-02-21T00:55:00.000-08:00

Wanting the unit on the left, from Olivier and Co. It's a table made out of boxes. Sweet, subtle, useful. They also have wall hangings, some complex, some more simple, all integrating various areas for storage and little chalkboards to leave messages. I'm thinking about how I can reinterpret this and create it myself. It makes a perfect little vision for my entrance hallway. Oh Exciting.

Square-happy:

Download and print your very own Graph Paper. I love this tool because I know I have graph paper. Can I find it when I need it? No.

Here's a fine idea to use boxes to organize odds-n-ends in drawers.

Make your own flor carpets. These have been on my list since the beginning. No commitment. Always free to mix and match and break it up or add more.... so fun.

Looking Closer 5

2007-02-19T21:56:00.000-08:00

The fifth, latest, and last installment of Looking Closer is now available.

The last edition of this book I skimmed was Looking Closer Two, a recommendation from my school instructors. I am the first to admit that I should be more taken by design discourse. Looking at the contents, it seems interesting... the definition of design, social responsibility... and I like to read... but somehow, these books always get lost in my piles. Is it just me? Well, maybe I'll give this one a try.

Flickr Quilt

2007-02-16T13:22:00.000-08:00

Whenever I need a quick dose of visual inspiration, Flickr always delivers. Above (and here) are some of my recent favourites. I see colour creeping back into my life. like wishes for Spring.

A few more inspiring photo sites:

Ball-saal, via port2port

PDN's World in Focus: The Ultimate Travel Photography. PDN also has a great Top 30 list from 2006.

The Collection at File Magazine is also fun to browse. JPG Magazine too.

Peter Callesen

2007-02-15T19:30:00.000-08:00

The paper works of Peter Callesen are simply amazing. I am in utter awe of what he can do with a simple sheet of white A4 paper... the process of something so terribly cheap and mass produced suddenly becoming a story, a moment, fragile and beautiful. And little pencil marks.

I find the materialization of a flat piece of paper into a 3D form as an almost magic process - or maybe one could call it obvious magic, because the process is obvious and the figures still stick to their origin, without the possibility of escaping. In that sense there is as well an aspect of something tragic in most of the cuts. - P. Callesen