pretty pictures

Posted on Oh Joy! yesterday, I thought these were very pretty. These photographs  by Alicia Bock were created using vintage and modern cameras resulting in images that highlight the scratches and dust that make the photographs so charming. {Oh it would be interesting to learn photography in depth someday! :-)}

Kustaa Saksi

Thanks to my dear friend Andrea, I am once again going gaga for another artist from Finland.  Kutsaa Saksi  throws mind grenades at you with his explosive colors and elements. "His illustrations are a syrupy disarray of elements: playful, paradoxical, often over-glossy, inviting, troubling, messy and yet strangely clear." read more. 

A luxe find

the 2 million dollar teapot

...will I lose myself in this blog? Luxury Culture.com is my newest portal to a gorgeous experience.  this online guide to luxury high life has a critical focus on sumptuous design. - from travel, exotic food and wine, art , architecture, design, motoring, jewelry and just about everything that falls under the aesthetics category. 

inky black inspiration

She takes her time ensuring each piece is unique and retains the intrinsic charm of her childhood memories of rural Scotland where she draws inspiration for her intricately hand-drawn motifs. As I delve into Johanna Basford's collection I am further inspired to unchain myself from the computer and find my way back to the most basic of it all - pen and ink. It takes time indeed and certainly goes against the grain of industry design practice where technology takes over creativity - where production and profits take centerstage leaving time invested creativity behind. I realize  that its time to check out the rear-view mirror and see what we used to do with our hands where no hardcore computer savvy can claim to outshine. 

love that flavor!

Wallcoverings are coming back and the reemergence is headier and more flavorful.  And Flavor Paper is on the roll with its hand printed wallcoverings which allow customization.  Ink colors from all of their patterns are interchangeable and designs can be printed on any stock grounds without additional fees. Yummy eh?! 

silkscreen and lithograph

There's something about  Sanna Annukka's very clean, bold graphic art  that makes me feel rather nostalgic.  It must be the forests and everything in it created by only those whose imagination is rich- unspoilt. Sanna Annukka's major style  influence is derived from spending most of her childhood summers in small villages in Finland where she enjoyed the midnight sun, arctic rivers, forests, lakes and sang a collection of folklore songs. 

Shoe Fleur -A Footwear Fantasy

I discovered Shoe Fleur sometime last year in one of Apple's Pro profiles and thought I'd share it with you.  It's a collection of whimsical, inventive fancy of flowers and footwear created by photographer/stylist Michel Tcherevkoff.  

THE Atlas

Okay Im digressing but I love the concept of travel! I guess its part of creativity. Experience and novelty have always been part of my jump-start process to kick me out of my creative rut. And this book is the Atlas - it maps out the coolest and hippest hotel destinations worldwide (yes, hotel destination). Though its been long since I've packed my suitcase, I am dreaming of my next journey and this book is my magic carpet as I dream away! HIP HOTELS ATLAS.

Lost and Found

Five years ago my idea of fabric was no more than cotton.  Though my strong, perhaps inborn penchant for designs and patterns always charmed me to fabric appreciation, I was never aware of its diversity. It could be that my regard for them was more visual than tactile - literally superficial. As I now learn more about thread count, sources and types, uses, and production methods my understanding is nurtured even more to according respect and high regard to the artisans behind those well-crafted, beautifully designed textiles. Here is one that I would love to see someday.  

New York based design house, Lost City - home of the most beautiful hand-embroidered fabrics in the world, specializes in hand embroidered fabrics using an embroidery technique from the 17th century Mughal Empire. Founded by designer, Afshan Durrani,  who took her fabrics from the harsh conditions of India to New York now employs almost over 120 skilled artisans and master dyers carrying out exemplary craftsmanship.  Read on..

"Lost City is driven by the desire to create the most beautiful hand embroidered fabrics in the world by employing artisans who would otherwise lose their livelihood. We believe that the extinction of rare skills possessed by families that still earn living with needle and thread would deprive the world of a highly evolved art form that has existed over five hundred years.  It's no secret that technological progress often has a human cost. Modernization has pulverized many genteel traditions and sometimes entire civilizations have been sacrificed in the name of advancement. cities once rich in art and culture have vanished. We are not reformists, but we are passionately devoted to preserving some of the craftsmanship that enhances our lives and saving a bit of the magic that illuminate our cities.

The most sophisticated and informed clients in the west have found fabrics created by our artisans to be "breathtaking" , "spectacular" , and "shockingly beautiful". We are gratified in being able to make this connection between two very disparate worlds. Our mission is to make hand embroidery a flourishing art again." 

(I think the pictures don't do justice to their work - gotta head to NY! )

hip hotel

After months of being home from a short trip to Cambodia, my memories at Hotel de la Paix, Siem Reap linger on... It is beautiful - chic and hip. How can I not forget "Better Together" in the background while guests were casually enjoying the high back chairs and free wi-fi. Outside was a garden and what charmed me the most were the huge swings with pillows pillows, and pillows. It was just lovely. I could sit there all day. The slender female sculptures along the hallways looked very delicate and beautiful. How I wanted to so much bring one home. Aside from the obvious reasons why one leaves Cambodia in sheer awe; never again the same person, I was lost for word for the most of my stay because of the hotels. Each was one of a kind, all were built with a very high and careful regard for design and hospitality experience.

a touch of glass

  I want these hand-blown glass goblets by Ben Edols!!  They make drinking ordinary h2o so chic. 

Tokyo chic fitness by nendo

As I try to find my much needed motivation to get in shape I stumble upon a new dimension to fitness. Forget the stone and mock rocks on drab walls, nendo has designed one of the most creative concepts for a gym as yet. "To express the original brand concept of "becoming beautiful" , we chose the theme "rock-climbing on Omotessando" and developed a design that uses mismatch between rugged outdoor  sport to Tokyo's high-fashion district to its advantage." Climbers get a feeling of scaling a huge gallery of frames, mirrors, deer heads, bird cages etc. See more: ILLOIHA. 

Dream Cakes

I think these cakes are  very lovely.. too lovely to eat I'd say.  I could just stare at them be smiling like a fattened pig. (ouch!) Seriously,  Shinmin Li's exceptional artistry makes each masterpiece at I Dream of Cake a delightful visual feast. Dream away and indulge! 

Lovely Thymes

Time and again Thymes bath, body, home and fragrance collection never cease to sweep me off my feet with its design intensive packaging. Designer Duffy & Partners brings each collection its unique look by taking inspiration from an array of influences from across the world. 

Leaf Umbrella

While browsing through de de ce plus  I couldn't help but share this interesting find -  another reason why we love the rain! Steaming hot chocolate aside, treading in the shower has never been as delightful as being under these Leaf Umbrellas by Jansen + co - a young interactive company that designs and produces quirky home accessories, created by Anouk Magis Jansen. The umbrellas are folded flat like a bunch of fresh leaves and open up bearing semblance to huge leaf and stem. 

Couple Cushions

With all the bright and beautiful fabric collections blossoming around, don't you sometimes wish you had room for them all? Being a colour and pattern fanatic myself, I have found these exuberant B&B Italia Couples by Marcel Wanders at B&B Italia. The cushions are split right down the middle using contrasting patterns that look gorgeous altogether. 

Portuguese Charm

I must say these beauty products are not in the least ordinary. The detail put into each packaging arrest me. Makes me want to chuck away my tired bathroom staples for the sake of design.  Check out the listings on where to purchase at Wallpaper.com. 

Pastry Box

My Aunt's home-based pastry business is ever growing and asked me to redesign her box. Its an 8 x 11 x 2 size which has already been cut for her so Im limited to cover and base. I made several designs inspired by her kitchen and lovely home but we can't seem to pick among these narrowed down options. Hmm...??