Wave of the future

22Oct

At the SMART Art Competition of 2009, a competition on turning trash into works of art and/or functional everyday things, this plastic wave caught my attention.

The Plastic Wave from Mark Lukach on Vimeo.

This is what won which is also pretty fabulous:

Grass’gras by Harriete Estel Berman

Over 32,400 individual blades of grass cut from recycled, pre-printed steel. 36 steel base panels (18” square).

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photo delight

21Oct

My dear and wonderful friend Mimi is not only a talented designer but is an amazing photographer as well!

Her (above) and I (below)

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Holiday warm-up

20Oct

I know, I know… it can’t be time for the Holidays yet, right? You’re right — I know it’s WAY too early to be thinking about the Holidays. But for designers, we’ve already mocked up some ideas for our holiday cards. I love these Christmas cards from Fredflare. They bring a fun twist on the traditional cards.

Category: stationery // 1 Comment

Cozy farmhouse

19Oct

After spending the weekend trying to stay warm from the crazy cold rain, I think I’d like to warm up in this cozy farmhouse in the Catskills.

Love the turquoise on the walls — it brings a casual, modern twist to the traditional home.

Soviet posters in the bathroom! Love it.

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Birds and the Bees

16Oct

I’m excited to see that  Shayo, a blog that I thoroughly enjoy, has created their own online shop, Bee Things. Very fun and beautifully illustrated site. Loving their bird prints!

Their new Limited Edition Crane print is magnificent.

Love love love this owl poster.

Category: animals, illustration // 1 Comment

The Bear

15Oct

My love for bears and nature I think stems from my times in CA visiting my cousins since I was about 8 months old.

In 1991, when I was 7, (can you figure out my age?) a French film called “The Bear” came out a couple of years prior and that summer I believe my cousins, sister, and I watched it 4 times. The film is from the bear’s perspective (so no dialogue) and it’s all about respect for nature and its creatures.

My uncle had a battery operated T.V. which he strapped in between the two front seats of the car with bungee cords. (This is 1991 folks!) All 4 of us kids watched “The Bear” while we drove to Tahoe for the week.

(That’s us! My cousins, sister, and my Uncle)

We were definitely influenced: My sister and cousin howling at the “moon”.

I have to put this photo in because of my shirt. A bear rappelling? Awesome. I must have picked that one out.

What can I say?

Category: animals // 1 Comment

Jim Thorpe visit

14Oct

Traveled to Jim Thorpe the other day. Who is Jim Thorpe? Well, it’s a town in Central/East PA. Nestled in a tiny valley, the town is an upcoming artists and outdoorsy community. An Opera House, galleries, rental kayaks, cafes, and organic stores line the streets of this tiny town in the middle of nowhere.

A fun fact about Jim Thorpe:

Jim Thorpe was an athlete in the early part of the 20th century. Born in a reservation in Oklahoma with a name of Wa-Tho-Huk, he was sent to Carlisle, PA to an “Indian School” and excelled in football. In his early life, he was a great football player and Olympian but after his body wore out, he struggled to keep a job. After he died broke in CA, a town in PA named Mauch Chunk (Native American for “Sleeping Bear”) needed some business and took on the name Jim Thorpe and made a memorial for him (although he had never set foot there when he was alive).

I think it’s a “fun fact” because although they seem as though they were trying to honor Native Americans, they took a Native American town name of Mauch Chunk and renamed it for a Native American… but in his “English” name of Jim Thorpe. Bit ironic, no?

We also went out to look at the beautiful fall foliage on that day — or as in New England, went “leaf peeping”.

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