The Experts Agree

Spoonful of Sugar

January 20th, 2011 by samanthatroy

Check out this beautiful hand-lettered umbrella! It is from Spoonful of Sugar, Leen Sadder’s project for Stefan Sagmeister’s class “Can design touch someone’s heart?” at SVA.

According to the Spoonful of Sugar facebook page, “Mary Poppins is on a mission to cheer people up on a rainy day. With a hand-lettered, spoonful-of-sugar-blasting umbrella and 100 chocolate-dipped spoons, she will be escorting unhappy, umbrella-less people across the streets of NYC.” Sounds pretty awesome.

via Design Work Life

Black Swan

January 20th, 2011 by samanthatroy

I haven’t gotten a chance to see Black Swan yet, but I really want to. These international teaser posters for the movie are making me want to see it even more. The posters are available as iPhone and desktop wallpapers from the Black Swan site. I haven’t yet been able to find them for purchase, but there is a mix of real and fake ones on ebay. Does anyone know who designed these posters?

UPDATE: The posters were designed buy La Boca. Also, in addition to finding the posters on ebay, Fox Seachlight has launched a shop where you can purchase the posters along with other merchandise with La Boca’s designs.

TypograFriday: The Alphabet

January 14th, 2011 by samanthatroy

For the first TypograFriday of 2011, here is a lovely little font-filled film, The Alphabet from Alessandro Novelli.

The Alphabet from n9ve on Vimeo.

via Public School

Belated flickr Mondays

January 12th, 2011 by kirstenfinkas

It’s been way too long since I’ve last posted…before the holidays! Please enjoy these belated photos from a coworker by the name of Eric LaFleur (also goes by the name of sonicflwr on flickr). Beautiful shots of my favorite subjects…nature! Enjoy.

More photos here.

Etsy Schmetsy: Counting the Days, 2011

January 12th, 2011 by samanthatroy

Happy new year! 1/1/11 has passed and so has 1/11/11; have you found a great calendar yet? There’s a lot of really swell 2011 calendars on Etsy: typography, illustration, gocco, miniature and more!

Row 1: woma; strawberryluna; PAWLING
Row 2: desTroy; sarahparrott825; spreadthelove
Row 3: Cabin; ALittleHut; dutchdoor
Row 4: dekanimal; dirtybandits

Elva Fields, again

January 6th, 2011 by samanthatroy

I have posted about my love of Elva Fields jewelry in the past, but since she is having a huge sale right now, I felt it warranted a second mention. Visit Elva Fields on facebook or twitter for a 30% discount code. Man I love that black and yellow one.

To Resolve Project

January 6th, 2011 by samanthatroy

Have you been following the To Resolve Project over at Motherland? I think it is a pretty genius idea. Here is a little bit about the project from Chris:

TO RESOLVE PROJECT is something that came about when I started talking new years resolutions with my girlfriend. You create a list, stuff it away in a drawer and it never sees the light of day till the year has passed. I decide to ask as many talented designers I know (or don’t know) to create a resolution for the new year as an iPhone wallpaper. It’s the one thing I do look at every day. This way you not only get a daily reminder, but you get a very stylish daily reminder at that. From now up until the new year I will be posting them as they come in, so check back often. Can’t find one to fit your needs, then just download the template HERE and add to the project. No restrictions, so lets have some fun with it.

I’m not sure if he is still accepting submissions, but even if you just made one for yourself, it could be pretty great. Here’s a small sampling of some of my favorites. Check them all out on Motherland.

Liberty Puzzles

January 5th, 2011 by samanthatroy

I’m not really a puzzle person, but the super-intricate wooden puzzles from Liberty Puzzles might make me change my mind. They are pretty awesome looking when disassembled — the pieces aren’t your typical jigsaw puzzle shapes, but instead relate to the final puzzle image. The puzzles come in a wide range from vintage posters to Asian art and Impressionist masterpieces, plus they can even make custom puzzles with your own picture.

We Present: The Experts’ Holiday Gift Guide

December 17th, 2010 by theexpertsagree

We experts are feeling a bit behind on the whole holiday shopping thing this year. We figured some of you might be as well, so we present to you our last-minute gift guide. Since we are having a ton of trouble coming up with gifts for all the people in our lives, here are some things we like — maybe someone in your life will like them too. Happy shopping and happy holidays.

Jessica’s Picks

Top row: As some of you know, I LOVE insects. I have a small collection already, but I somehow have no butterflies. So, this beautiful Peacock Swallowtail Butterfly Display by Bug Under Glass would be the perfect addition to the family.
As for the perfect edition (I am clearly a master of the clever segue), The Open Daybook by David P. Earle is essentially a perpetual calendar created by hundreds of artists, each interpreting a day of the year.

Bottom row: Come on. Gold. Deer. Measuring cups. There is absolutely no way around me wanting these Enchanted Buck Measuring Cups.
These Chocolate Wafer Cookies from Miette are a simple, sophisticated way to satisfy my sweet tooth. Delish!
In the age of digital photography, I am still a sucker for instant-film cameras, so the FujiFilm Instax Mini 25 Instant Film Camera is a must-have.

And, as far as I’m concerned, teeny-tiny gold frames add a touch of class to pretty much everything.

Samantha’s Picks

Row 1: I think I may need to upgrade my apron wardrobe to include to the Handy Cooking Guide Apron which has cooking tips and conversions printed right at the bottom. So smart and nice looking too.
I love taking pictures, but I hate looking like a tourist with a huge SLR slung over my shoulder. The Cloak Camera Bag seems like the perfect solution. It looks like a bag, but it give you easy access to your camera so that you can shoot pictures without removing it from the bag.

Row 2: How cool would it be to have a bunch of Vintage Globes?
Oh, how I wish I had unlimited funds and could buy a set of Cherner chairs for my dining room…a girl can dream.
The Glasses from Warby Parker seem really awesome. They are all $95, when you buy a pair of glasses, they give a pair to someone in need and plus they are super stylish.

Row 3: I haven’t actually used the L Letterpress, but I am soooo curious about it. Teeny Tiny letterpress, yes please.
I actually bought these beautiful wooden earrings from molly m designs while taking a break at Bazaar Bizarre. I think her work is great.
I have long admired Sara Paloma’s work and love her White Matte bottle Collection — I just need more space so I can have this in my house.

Kirsten’s picks

I’m always a fan of anything that looks handmade/natural. Although a lot of these pieces are out of my budget, one can always admire from afar! Hope you all find these helpful or at least somewhat inspiring when doing last-minute holiday shopping!

From top to right: Ring of Light Lamp, Kuba Cloth Pillow, Heirloom Recipe Card Box, Pictorial Websters, Blades of France Knife Set, Natural Horn Cups, Herbs of Provence, Jamie Rosemary Olives, Tallba Pine Soap, Branch Bit Stopper, Vintage French Lamp

Owen’s Picks

A. I have a suit from Dutchess and it’s beyond amazing. It’s the sort of fancy suit that makes you want to wear fancy suits, and get more. The Carnaby is high-buttoning mod cut, and it’s delightful. They have my measurements though my gut’s gotten bigger since they took em.
B. MaxineDear makes one-of-a-kind belt buckles from old hardcover books. Right now she has this yellow script Zoology one that is pretty dang rad. Be the first, and only, person to wear it!
C. These classic-but-slightly-shiny sonic ties are woven from 50% audio tapes — and freakishly cool, you can run a tape head over them and get audio.
D. Nixon watches are often awesome. This yellow/gold Newton is pretty blingy but also pretty pretty.
E. I’ll feel like a character from a recent William Gibson book wearing these handmade (in Namibia) vegetable-dyed Kudu Velskoen. Note the near-future tense of this sentence.
F. Do you know someone who doesn’t read Graphic Novels? For a few decades the answer to this sort of situation was considered to be Maus. Now there’s Asterios Polyp (for designery friends), Blankets (for emo sorts) and Fun Home (for gay/theory sorts) — all of which are absolute masterpieces that’d make great introductions to the form.

FLICKR MONDAYS-Lauren “look left and look right”

December 13th, 2010 by kirstenfinkas

Happy Monday All!

These landscapes shots of beautiful Canada are leaving me so excited to visit there again! Canada is one of those places that I keep wanting to go back for more. Such a beautiful place, and I’ve seen so little of it.