{ friday inspiration! }

Really beautiful portfolio work by Lizzie Thomas.

via Design*Sponge

{ serie beech furniture by lifegoods }

Lifegoods offers a creative (and sometimes humorous) line of furniture and products, which are often simple in form yet multi-functional and adjustable.

Above is one of my favourites, the Serie furniture line in beech. I admire the simplicity of the legs and how the bookcase has multiple orientations - flat and angled, for better viewing of books I'd imagine!

{ dv at archdaily! }

A bit of exciting news about { dv } - I am now a weekly contributor to the architecture blog ArchDaily! Woopie!

This is a really great opportunity for me to write in-depth posts about interiors and architecture that knock my socks off. I will post updates here as my new articles go live.

Above is my post about the interior design for the London restaurant Olivomare, designed by Italian architect Pierluigi Piu. You can read the full article here.

This is actually my second contribution to ArchDaily. My first post was about the whimsical new TBWA/Hakuhodo offices designed by Tokyo-based Klein Dytham architecture. You can read the full article here!

{ milk packaging by hattomonkey }

Ridiculously cute milk packaging by Hattomonkey. Love the cross stitch detail!

via Lovely Package

{ textiles by ink & spindle }

Here is some lovely textile work from Ink & Spindle: patterns Bloem in olive, Seeds in orange gold, Birch in robin's egg and Bonsai in deep red.

Ink & Spindle is a boutique screen-printing studio run by three Melbourne textile designers – Lara Cameron, Bianca van Meeuwen and Tegan Rose - who were brought together by a common passion for screen printed textiles and sustainable alternatives to the mass produced textiles that dominate the marketplace.

{ cannelle et vanille pick-me-up }

The past few days have been rough, and I anticipate the next few months being rougher, but after a weekend of seclusion under the covers I needed a good pick-me-up.

Now granted, having this delicious food would be better than looking at it, but looking is all I can afford right now! These cheery desserts by Cannelle et Vanille did put a smile on my face today.

What gives you a pick-me-up when things aren't going to plan?

{ job loss }

Friday I was laid off.
Saturday I found out I don't qualify for Medicaid or any medical assistance.
Sunday I learned that I will only make 1/3 of my salary on unemployment, which is not enough to cover medical, school loans, car loans, cell phone, car insurance, bills or groceries.
Today they discovered a mass on my ovary.
Friday I lose my health insurance.


I don't feel much like posting anything today, as design seems completely frivolous by comparison to everything else that is happening.

{ friday inspiration! }

Lovely samples of the Flickr set Japanese Matchbox Labels. Their designs date around the 1920s - 1940s!

via Death by Kerning

{ new york times headlines wallpaper }

New York Times Headlines Wallpaper, designed by A. J. Bocchino of WallpaperLab.

"I collect headlines from the New York Times and use them as data for systems that generate complex networks and forms. The headlines are organized chronologically and color-coded according to subject. Global, national, and local events generate a continuous stream of news from which color patterns emerge."

{ destination seoul at moma }

Destination Seoul is a new collection of products that are typically found only in South Korea. The selection reflects Korea's cultural interest in color and nature and puts a modern spin on traditional Korean design and crafting.

My favourites, available at the MoMA store.

{ 1 } Forest Cups, $55
{ 2 } Tea Mug, $18
{ 3 } Black Stripes Plate, $115
{ 4 } Cloud and Bird S&P Shakers, $38
{ 5 } Project Notebook, $8
{ 6 } Bird Bowl, $60

{ halvors packaging by tank }

Norway-based Tank is the brain behind this austere packaging for Halvors Tradisjonsfisk, an exclusive brand of fish products.

I especially love the contrast of the more traditional black and white photographs (from a local museum) that perfectly convey the chilling, fresh environment from which these fish are harvested.

via The Dieline

{ teeny tiles }

Teeny Tiles are 2" x 2" ceramic tiles printed with your uploaded images. Each comes with a teeny magnet that you can optionally use. Fun!

{ campfire on your desk by studio on fire }

Studio On Fire printed this charming letterpress promotional piece designed by Swink. I am swooning over the subtle design details, like the outlined monsters hidden in the landscape and the use of overlapping colours to make the brown tones.

You can check out their blog Beastpieces for more of their custom work or buy some goodies for yourself at their online store.

via Design*Sponge

{ happy valentine's day }

Happy Valentine's Day! I love you for like, ever.

Beautiful desserts from Cannelle et Vanille.

{ friday inspiration! }

Corner Forest by Yuken Teruya

{ wallpapers by mini moderns }

Above is a sampling of the darling selection of wallpapers by Mini Moderns - a range of interiors products for kids and kidults, designed and produced by London based design and branding agency, Absolute Zero Degrees.

Their designs bounce between trendy colour schemes and black and white patterns that are meant to be coloured by kids. I feel like the awful Photoshop cut and paste objects with drop shadows really detract from the modern simplicity of the wallpaper!

Some designs are available at Bodie and Fou.

via Housemartin

{ pixel couch by cristian zuzunaga }

I am drawn to the humor and beauty of this Pixel Couch designed by Royal College of Art graduate Cristian Zuzunaga. Much of his work focuses on the pixel as the visual framework for his designs, and he states, "We live in the digital era, conditioned by the pixel, the icon of our time."

The textile print was designed by Cristian Zuzunaga, printed on Blitz fabric by Kvadrat and distributed by Moroso.

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{ toys by alexander girard }

Alexander Girard was a textile designer and architect who once worked for Herman Miller alongside George Nelson and Charles Eames. His bold use of color and geometric patterns has roots in traditional folk art, of which he was an avid collector - donating over 100,000 pieces of his personal collection to the Sante Fe Museum of International Folk Art.

The images above are of Girard's Memory Game, Puzzle and Blocks, available from House Industries.

{ [me] & goji cereal }

[me] & goji is a custom artisanal cereal comprised of all natural and organic ingredients. Started by three friends, they combined their passions for healthy food, unique products and good design into this wholly customizable cereal.

I cannot yet speak for the tastiness of the cereal, but I do find the possibilities of eliminating added sugars and preservatives appealing!

{ 24 hour imagery by miska knapek }

Miska Knapek's 24 Hour Imagery deals with visualizing time and space. He compiles slivers of photographs from one location taken over a one day period into a beautiful frozen gesture of time.

via It's Nice That

{ friday inspiration! }

Deer Magic by Jean de Falandre, Junior Awards: 11-14 Category
First Encounter by Brian Skerry, Adult Awards: The Underwater World

I was breathtaken when I first saw the Deer Magic photograph, in awe of its impressionistic qualities. More winners of the 2008 Wildlife Photographer of the Year here!

{ chrysalis by cindy-lee davies }

These delicate wall-mounted butterflies are Chrysalis by Cindy-Lee Davies of Lightly, part of her exhibition "Whispering Tales of Time Gone By" at Craft Victoria in Melbourne. They are carefully crafted from recycled saucers, using the inherent curve of the cup to capture the soft gesture of the butterflies' wings.

via The Design Files

{ gandia blasco nordic bedding }

Gandia Blasco is a Valencia-based company with a pretty slick line of furniture and textiles. If you are smitten with large graphic prints - like those of Marimekko, which is actually ten years younger than Gandia Blasco) - then you're sure to admire these textiles, too.

Their furniture line is clean and minimal (and sexy), so I find their rugs and bedding to be a welcome punch of color and vibrancy.

{ creature comfort's valentine }

Speaking of lists, Ez over at Creature Comforts has posted her Valentine's Day Winter Lodge Edition list.

It is full of inspiring lumberjack-ish lovelies that make me want to chop down a tree and start a romantic fire in a remote cabin.

via Creature Comforts

{ my teal-ish valentine }

I have never subscribed to Valentine's Day, choosing instead to celebrate my love whenever I feel like it, and without obligation.

However, this holiday gives me an opportunity to make a list of things I want, which I love to do! My list is void of pinks and minimal on hearts, as I do not care much for either.

My Teal-ish Valentine

{ 1 } Bike Love by Dora Drimalas, $40
{ 2 } Chloe Vessel Decorated by Perch, $70
{ 3 } Smoked Balsam Soap by Naiad, $4.50
{ 4 } Owen Sheep Table by Ibride, $396
{ 5 } Log Bowl by Loyal Loot, $138
{ 6 } Tilt Bowl by Clio, $32