Places & Posters

I came across both of these sets of advertising prints today through completely unrelated sources, and just have to post both. 
The first set I found were by ilovedust, a graphic design company that I found via The Dieline.  They were created for an unspecified exhibition in New York.  Such great details.  Each showing the cities from varying perspectives from the waterways to the neighborhoods to the subways to the skyscrapers.



These posters below were of course created for the Minnesota State Fair by Allan Peters (discovered via Snippet & Ink).  He broke it down to the most perfect, simplest, representation of what a State Fair or any fair for that matter is all about…the food!  At least they are for me anyway.  I often dream of the thick crusted corn dogs completely slathered in mustard that you can only get at a fair. 


I once convinced Pete to go to the San Mateo County fair just so I eat cotton candy and corn dogs, such was my ridiculous craving for these things.  It wasn’t even free to get in, but we did have a good time.  We rode just one ride, the Ferris Wheel, and spent the rest of the time, when not eating, strolling through the 4-H and garden exhibits.  Eventually we rolled ourselves home. :)

Vintage Chair Coasters

Love this little cherrywood coaster set featuring modern and retro chairs by Peppersprouts on Etsy. 

The houses version is also very cute as well.

Herriott Grace

I’ve been admirer of Herriott Grace since last winter when their products first started hitting the blogging scene.  Herriott Grace was formed by the father and daughter team of Lance and Nikole Herriott.

Lance lovingly crafts each of these beautiful, one of kind, pieces by hand using reclaimed wood that has not been chemically treated.  Nikole styles and takes the photos for the shop, in addition to creating some of the products herself.  She also authors the blog, Forty Sixth at Grace, where she shares additional photos of their creations as well as posting her delicious recipes among other things… whew! 





Of course, due to the high quality and handmade nature of the products, they sell out in a hurry, so joining their mailing list is the best way to get your hands on one exquisitely made pieces.

Oh, Paris

I’ve been staring dreamily at this photo since I first came across it on a tumblr blog a week ago.  There are just so many things to love about it… the hat, the dress… the view!

I tried retracing it’s steps through multiple other tumblr blogs, but was not able to find the original source for it.  Let me know if you know the original source, so I can give proper credit.  The lack of proper credit to images used on tumblr is definitely my biggest pet peeve with the site.
I’ve just recently started using a new web image cataloguing site called Pinterest that I’m really excited about.  Aside from a few bugs here and there (it is new after all), I find the user interface to be incredibly easy to use, and the best part is that it automatically tags the images with the original source, which travels with the image from board to board.  It’s currently invite only, but I have a few that I can send out if you’re interested in checking it out.  Just email me or leave a comment with your email address, and let me know. 

A long lovely weekend

Pete and I had nice little break over the weekend in my hometown.  My niece Brittany had her high school graduation on Friday, and on Sunday we had a Father’s Day bbq at my parents house.  In between, there was much relaxing and resting because that’s what you do when you’re in your small hometown far away from your computer (conveniently left behind when I thought I was only going to be gone overnight) and everything else in your everyday life that pulls at you to keep going and moving and insists that you must be doing something at all times.
 
It’s been a long time since I’ve been able to work a normal schedule, if only for just a week, so I’ve been making a point to get as much rest in when I can.  All the better that I got to spend time with family while doing it.  


My hectic work schedule also means that finding the brain power to blog five days a week is difficult at best, so when I do find something I love, you best believe that I will summon up whatever energy I have left at the end of the day and post it.  The writing may be lack luster, but know that the very fact that I’m posting is because I’ve found something that I must share with all of you. 

Speaking of lovely things, these porcelain pieces by Liesel Trautman are certainly worth posting about.  You can see her training as a textile designer and wildlife artist reflected in the beautiful porcelain pieces she creates for her shop in Cape Town, South Africa.   

Have Axe Will Travel

Still looking for a gift for dad?  How about one of these beautifully crafted axes from Best Made Company?  A bit on the pricey side, but isn’t dad worth it?  Every Fall and Winter he’s out there chopping wood to keep the family warm.  He deserves the best, quality tools for his hard labor.




They even sell an axe sling. 

I wouldn’t mind having this one for myself…

…which makes Pete laugh as I write that because really what would I do with an axe being that I live in an apartment in the city?  What can I say, it’s hard to resist this new wave of prettified tools.  It reminds me of an episode of Gilmore Girls when Rory volunteered for Habitat for Humanity and had to explain to the foreman that the reason her hammer was pink and had frills on it was that her mom didn’t like ugly things and was compelled to make such things pretty.  

One Apartment In Need of Clothespins

The dryer in our apartment building is on the fritz, and of course we are the ones left with the wet load of clothes to deal with.  So of course when I came across these pillows by Coucou salut I had to smile.  So clever and cute!  :)

Beautifully Sewn Illustrations

I was finally getting a chance to read through my June issue of Martha Stewart Living, and noticed the beautiful “plates” that were featured in the article on tarts.  The “plates” turned out to be Miyuki Sakai’s sewn illustrations.  Using 200 plus threads, she creates these amazing and incredibly detailed illustrations using a sewing machine. 





You can see the stunning “plates” she created on Ffffound by clicking on this link here, and of course do check out her website.
 
{images via Miyuki Sakai}

Photo Finish

A few last photos from our trip to O’ahu. 

Hanauma Bay



Gate at the War Memorial


Offerings at shrine along Kalanianaole Highway



Statue of Queen Liliuokalani
 

Sunset over the Pacific
{images by me}

Little Sapling Toys

Little Sapling Toys makes organic wooden children's toys, and plants a tree for every toy sold.


They also make these really cute teething toys in the shape of animals and States.



I’m partial to this one of course.


Friends of ours are expecting their first child.  This one below would be a great gift for the mom-to-be.  A little reminder of her home state of Tennessee. 

Hedwig Bollhagen Ceramics

Considered “the most important German ceramicist of the 20th”, Hedwig Bollhagen’s love of ceramics began in childhood and lasted a lifetime.  She continually worked on her craft and remained true to her vision throughout Nazi occupation, State control of her factory, and finally at the age of 85, the reprivatization of her factory.  She continued to work until her death in 2001 at the age of 93. 



The above pieces are available from Colex, a Japanese online shop that is unfortunately not in English.  You can also visit Hedwig Bollhagen website, which is in German. 
A biography about Hedwig Bollhagen can be found here, and is where I got the information above. 
{images via Colex}

Rifle Paper Co. for Father’s Day

Rifle Paper Co. just released these new Father’s Day Cards and great new "Hat Collection" print that would make a great Father’s Day gift. 



Their artwork is always cute, but it’s their color palettes that really get me.  Don’t you just love the deep green with the peach and orange on the cards.  The colors would look so amazing in a room together. 
{images via Rifle Paper Co.}