Hola.

Hello all!

I'm so sorry I've been neglecting this blog as of late.  I have a BIG announcement:  we are moving to Portland, Oregon!

(Woohoo!)

In all the chaos that has been moving, I haven't been around here much. It's a bit painful, really - so much design inspiration around these days and I haven't been able to share! The chef hubby is leaving this week to start his new gig and find us a house.  In the meantime will be home for a few weeks with the kiddos, packing things up.   The good news: I should have a lot more time for holiday projects and for blogging (double woohoo!)  The bad news: we'll most likely be Uhauling it the week before Christmas, AND all our decorations are packed, so I'm limited on decorating the house.

To fill the void, I'm hoping to do a lot of paper crafting with the kids.  And maybe some hand turkeys tomorrow!!! (If you don't know what a hand turkey is, please email me. You are living a half-lived life).

Anyone have any suggestions for simple Christmas decorating/crafts?

PS: Here's a last minute free printable from Silverbox Creative that would make an awesome gratitude chain for the kiddos (or a napkin ring, or placesetting, or...)

Baby Animal Halloween

Hi all,

I know I've been light on posts this week, but I've been working like crazy and prepping for a trip to Portland this weekend (with JUST the hubby - woot)!  I will be MIA until probably Wednesday.

In the meantime, I couldn't resist sharing some of the fabulous baby costumes that Jordan posted on Babble this week:

Some cozy, but low-key, costumes from Baby Gap:



Plus my most favorite, favorite baby costumes ever!  How could I have never known about Tom Arna before?

As the mother of a chunky baby, there is nothing cuter than a chunky baby in a plush animal costume. Will would look cute in all of them. I can't choose!

What are your kids going to be for Halloween this year?



Lonny Anniversary!

Happy Monday y'all! 

The newest edition of online mag Lonny hit my inbox yesterday:

As always, Lonny featured some beautifully styled photos and design inspiration.  I love the Gift Guide, which includes some really unique Etsy finds (like hand painted silk skull scarves and a gorgeous purple leather lace iPhone case).

Another favorite was the peek into the LA home of designer Lulu deKwiatkowski (of the textile company Lulu DK).  Check out these shots from her at-home studio:

Check out the full issue of Lonny here.

PS: You can check out another shot of Lulu's workspace, along with a great post on her process, on her blog.

Art + Function = Design (10.8.10)

Problem: I want a beach-themed nursery that’s not nautical (or cliché).
Solution: Emulate this nursery, with beautifully chosen furniture, and just a few beachy details… Cafe Mom (via Design Mom)

Problem:What are the must-have tools for today's creatives? Solution: So glad you asked! Check them out here: O Hello Friend

Problem: It's impossible to find a baby invitation that hasn't already been done...
Solution: Think outside the box (or do I mean block)Black Eiffel

Problem: I'm hungry!
Solution: Me too! These red curry prawn noodles sure look yummy! Design*Sponge

Problem:  Billboards are garish and ugly.
Solution: Beautiful paper is the answer to everything. Stephmodo

Problem:I'm terrible about sending out holiday cards - I'd love to, but they are expensive!
Solution: Luckily for you, Say Yes to Hoboken is doing a $150 giveaway to Minted!
(PS: Can you believe it's already time to think about holiday cards?!)

Happy Weekend!

The Handkermap

Graphic design often involves long hours sitting at a computer, and while that can produce some awesome stuff, my favorite designs almost always include handmade elements (thankfully, a trend that has been growing in recent years). 

My new favorite: "The Handkermap"! 

The "Handkermap" (I love that name) invite was designed for wedding of Youngna and by Jacob, along with the uber-talented designer Kelli Anderson.  I was most fascinated by the intricate design process - making and photographing stitched roads! layouts of landmarks from Google maps! fabric printed at Spoonflower! - which you can read all about here. You can also see some beautifully styled pics on Kelli's website.

(via Design*Sponge)

Kristen Doran

I have never been much of a sewer (although it's next on my list of things to learn!), but I've always been a sucker for a gorgeous fabric.  With my obsession with prints and patterns, how could I not?  I just discovered Australian textile designer Kristen Doran, and already I am a huge fan of her brightly, clean prints.  Not only does Kristen screenprint fabric, she also turns them into crafy goodness by making dolls (like robots and "kokeshi dolls"), and embroidery projects.  Check out a sampling of her work:

Be sure to check out Kristen's blog and shop! 

Wow.

This is the coolest thing I've seen in a long, long time:


Homemade Spacecraft from Luke Geissbuhler on Vimeo.

(Thanks Design Mom)

Ork Map Prints

I love these city neighborhood posters by Ork Inc.  I'd love to hang in a hallway... sort of a gallery of the places we have lived and traveled:

Check out their newest "Brain" poster, too:

All the posters come in several color choices.  You can purchase all the posters above - and more! - at the Ork Posters website here.





Trend: Animal Masks

Has anyone else notice the over-abundance of animal masks in the past year or so?  I mean, I love them, but by the time I saw them on the cover of the Cost Plus ad (which of course I threw out yesterday and can't find a picture of), it started feeling a bit overdone:

GQ

Refinery29

Examiner

Deviant Art via The Little Owl Shop

Stickers and Donuts

59th Avenue

Pamela Klaffke Photography

Anthropologie

And of course, my favorite animal mask moment of all time:

Overdone or not, I still think a vintage fake fur + a gorgeous animal mask would be an awesome last-minute non-costume costume for Halloween.  Or maybe I'll enlist the hubby and we'll go as Holly and Fred.

What do you think?

Happy Monday!

I know, Mondays are never pleasant.  But the Fall weather is finally kicking in here in Northern California, which is making me a happy girl!  Here some the other things that are making me happy this Monday morning:

Tiger Baby Invitations (at Oh So Beautiful Paper)

Scrabble Save-the-Date (Twin Lens Life via Snippet & Ink)

Oldie-but-goodie: The amazing home of Susan and William Brinson on Design*Sponge

This antler-as-jewery-holder (via Creature Comforts)



Fall Food!  Like this apple gallette...

Or this Chicken Pot Pie. Yum!

Unique Wedding Ideas

Here are some unique wedding and event ideas to take you into the weekend.  Happy Friday!

The Wedding Chicks via Oh Hello Friend

I'm ashamed to say I had to stare at this for far too long before I got it.  Neat trick, huh?

Oh Hello Friend

I wish I had thought of this picnic blanket reception (Oh Hello Friend) before my own wedding! Some cheese, some salami, some thrifted picnic baskets... what a cheap and charming idea for DIY wedding!

Green Wedding Shoes via A Cup of Joe

Loving the multicolored chairs!

Jessica Claire

Rae Dunn

snippet and ink

I love love love the bride's bouquet and this boho-chic seating!

Fill-a-tote favors from Black*Eiffel

Wednesday Winks

More wonderful wonders from the world wide web (with a woot! for alliteration.  It's that kinda day):

I love this hand-drawn identity by graphic designer Emma Robertson: Black Eiffel

(PS: See my previous post on hand drawing as a trend in graphic design)

Oooh, how I want a robot man: A Cup of Jo

I LOVE the idea of this Manhattan map on a quilt! I wonder if anyone has done one of San Francisco? 
Say Yes to Hoboken

Most gorgeous birth announcement ever! (via Twig and Thistle)

Some fantastic tips on road trips with kids (mom-and-dad makeout sessions at a deterrent for fighting? Yes, please). Stephmodo

I’m loving this post on chalkboards. I need to paint something with chalkboard paint, stat. TipToe Butterfly

The Silhouette SD

There's so many new gadgets coming out left and right that I've sort of gotten used to just being obsolete.  I don't have a Cricut (let alone the one for cakes, swooooon), my 4 year old Mac suits me just fine, and I will nevereverever buy a Kindle/Nook/fancyelectronicreplacementforpaper because I love the feel of a book in my hands. 

I know.  So uncool.

However, once in awhile a new doohickey (yes, it's a word) comes along that puts me in danger of smashing piggy banks.  The Silhouette SD is just such a one.  What exactly is the Silhouette? So glad you asked.

The Silhouette SD is "an electronic cutting tool that connects to your computer allowing you to cut fonts and images in cardstock, vinyl, heat transfer material, etc."

So I can design my own decals for my walls?  You had me at vinyl. 

I'll be honest - my exacto knife is sitting in a drawer at my house waiting for me to have the patience to pick it up. So this just might be the tool for me.  (Not sure how my friend Cindy at Scherenschnitte will feel about it...). You can see all the cool projects people have been making with the Silhouette on the Flickr group.

The price isn't bad, but I'm one of those who cringes at splurging on pizza when there is food in the fridge.  Lucky for me, Twig & Thistle is giving away a Silhouette SD!  I really don't need the competition, but you can enter here.

Disclaimer: This blog post was part of my entering to win a Silhouette SD at Twig & Thistle. However, I really DO love it.  A lot. A lot a lot.

Live Window Painting

I'm having some technical difficulties with my internet this week (boo), so while I try to get it together, enjoy this video of artist Natalie Lete live painting a window at Anthropologie in Tokyo!

Coolest. Halloween. Invite. Ever.

I'm in awe of this "Survival Kit" Halloween invite that Brooklyn Limestone posted last year:





Isn't it amazing?  I can't believe I have never seen Brooklyn Limestone and her marvelous boxed invitations. (Girl also sends out screenprinted tea towels for Christmas "cards". Yeah...).

Thanks to Hip Hip Hooray for sharing the killer (ha!) Halloween invite.