design goodness

Paint Makeover!

2008-09-18T19:53:00.000-07:00

It's been so long since I've posted to my little blog! After such a long sebaticle, I decided to make my next post about something I've been obsessing over for some time now. I love old stuff, but I especially love old stuff that's had a really great makeover. Every time I see a great piece of furniture in need of some TLC, or a barren wall, the creative juices start flowing. I can't pass a crappy dresser with peeling paint without lingering for just a moment for some creative contemplation.

Which brings me to my next obsession lately - Flickr! There is so much inspiration on Flickr I can hardly stand it! Here are a few of the great paint makeovers that I found and wanted to share.

How charming is this Rasberry Dresser from SwanketySwank, with the handpainted flower design?

And here are several great ideas, all found at Aoneko's Flickr photostream - thanks Aoneko! I've decided to try and talk my dad and stepmom into tearing out there dated mauve carpet runner over their beautiful wood victorian staircase, and letting me do something like this instead! If I ever actually do it, I'll share the pics with everyone.

How cute are the little decoupage birdies! And the clever relief tree on the dresser...I should add that to my tree post as well!

Maybe writing this post will be the extra little shove I need to actually complete one of my own creative projects this weekend. I guess we'll see won't we ;)

* All photo's were posted with the owner's permission.

Blueflip Art - Good Art for a Good Cause

2007-08-28T19:41:00.000-07:00

Thanks to one of my favorite design blogs, Design Sponge, I've got a new favorite online art resource. Not only do they have really great variety of great art, most of which has that edgy, fun indie flair I love, but it's very affordable, and Blue Flip lets the artist choose a charity to donate 10% of the purchase price. I love this print by Jen Lobo. The colors in this piece are amazing. Her affinity for nature and animals is definitely apparent in her work. Her work is very detailed, and for me often brings to mind antique scientific illustrations (which I love). But she mixes in touches of whimsy in such a way that makes it all her own. You can find her online portfolio and contact info. here. And here is an interview she did with The Little Chimp Society, if you'd like to learn a little more about her.

Another one of my favorites, atleast on my first trip to Blue Flip, is this piece "Dream" by Eduardo Recife. I'm lovin' the vintage feel of his collages and the handworked feel of the typefaces.

Master of many trades, you can see more of his work at a website he created, MisprintType.com, that features more of his collages, typefaces, sketches, etc. (And the web page designs on the site are really cool and abstract too!)

Solitaire Pendant Lamp

2007-08-12T21:01:00.000-07:00

I read somewhere there is a new bubble product on the market for kids, that blows colored bubbles. Take that whimsical vision everyone has of a child blowing bubbles off in some sunny field, and add rainbow bubbles to the mix. That takes it to a whole other level of daydream, huh?

That's what I think of when I see these lamps, from NicheModern.com. I really like the mustard-yellow and the smoky green. And the blue is nice too. And I love the Edison bulb.

Nice touch.

Droog Rag Chair

2007-08-12T20:12:00.000-07:00

What to do with those treasured pair of m.c. hammer pants from the 80's you just can't part with? Well you could break 'em out, because I heard droopy drawers is making a comeback. Or, you could gather up your old duds and make a very comfy sitting chair, such as this Droog Rag Chair, by Tejo Remy, from Greenergrassdesign.com.

Then you can sit and reminisce in your poor fashion choices of times passed.

And - you'll be a good dooby for recycling to boot!

Sweep Dreams

2007-08-03T19:44:00.000-07:00

Whether you're always on the lookout for unique home products with personality, such as myself, or need an alternate mode of transportation, check out these nifty brooms from SweepDreams.com. I especially like this red and yellow one, but they come in all sorts of colors.

Trees...Trees...and more Trees

2007-07-27T14:04:00.000-07:00

For those of you that don't already know (probably most of you), I heart trees. Big gnarly trees, tall skinny trees, fat and squatty trees - I love 'em all. I joke around with my friends that I'm putting away money in a treehouse retirement fund. There's something I find very soothing about a tree. I guess I, and a lot of people for that matter, feel that way about nature in general. But there's something I find especially endearing about a tree. Here are some of my favorite "tree-themed" finds:

I could gush over these photo prints by Alicia Bock a lot longer than anyone would probably care to read. So, I'll keep it short and sweet. Love em. You can find her work here, on Etsy.com. She's in my favorite sellers list on my Etsy account. All of her works are amazing. You should definitely check her Etsy store out.

This "Woods" birch print wallpaper is by Cole & Son, and part of their New Contemporary Two wallpaper collection. I originally found it on ThisNext.com. It comes in many different colors as well.

This is the Hultet room divider from Ikea. It's a little plain, but I love how natural and earthy it is.

This Lumen oil lamp from Rare-Device.net is way cool.

This tree bed from Shawn Lovell Metalworks looks like it's straight out of a fairytale.

These items are all from Doe. They have a lot of home decor items that follow the same sort of nature theme. I really want the Thomas Paul pencil holder for my desk at work!

I was perusing another blog as I was writing this one, Big Daddy Seashell, and she had a post on tree-themed items all found on Etsy. Guess I'm not the only one who likes trees!

Clare Nicolson's Amazing Pillows

2007-07-26T23:48:00.000-07:00

I love vintage fabric designs. I found these amazing pillows by Claire Nicolson. These are gorgeous! She also has a nice little selection of other products, all based around these types of vintage textile graphics, including tea towels, darling little lavender filled birdies, etc.

Dreamy Outdoor Lighting

2007-07-26T23:16:00.000-07:00

These bazaar & rice-hole outdoor votive candle holders from Heal's are stunning. I love the graceful shapes and delicate cutout patterns.

And the pure-white color is dreamy.

Toy Elephant

2007-07-18T16:54:00.001-07:00

I found this super-sweet "Toy Elephant" print on Shanalogic.com, and was immediately drawn to it. I did my youngest daughter's room with a clean vintage, nostalgic feel. This print would be a perfect fit. It's by Are age of 555 design. Don't you just love it?

Any eco-friendly design is a friend of mine.

2007-07-11T22:09:00.000-07:00

Whether you've been a treehugger you're whole life, or you're just making the eco-friendly lifestyle conversion, or you just like really unique, artware-type items, this website, Eco-artware.com, which sells all sorts of beautiful enviromentally-friendly items, has got some wonderfully clever and well-designed items. These were some of my favorites.

Horse pin made of clockwork

typewriter key cuff-links

Woven baskets made of old telephone wire

Multicolor Rainbow Glass Chandelier

2007-07-07T22:30:00.000-07:00

HL Starlight Rainbow Chandelier by KARE

This chandelier is....wow. I spotted this in a magazine several months ago, but when I tried to google it, I couldn't find it, or any others that had the same funky style. (It didn't help that I threw away the magazine and couldn't remember what it was called or who made it.) I just rediscovered it in a great (and beautiful) blog, Daily Poetics.

Sometimes any personality is better than no personality

2007-07-02T22:04:00.000-07:00

Price for a prime acre of land on the Strip, in millions of dollars - 11

Average gambling budget per trip, in dollars - 559

Average nightly room rate, in dollars - 66

The look on your wife's face when she see's this beauty sitting in place of her prized (read: boring) West Elm table lamp - PRICELESS

Las Vegas Lamp

Vending Machine Art

2007-07-01T10:03:00.000-07:00

I thought this was really cool. Instead of buying an overpriced bag of 3 chips, or a stale twinkie, you can now buy art from a vending machine. Artomat art to be exact.

Some artist (Clark Whittington) came up with the idea to recycle old cigarette vending machines and turn them into art vending machines. Artists can design pieces of art the same size as a pack of cigarettes, and they are sold for $5 or less for anyone to buy. If the person who buys the art likes it, they contact the artist via their contact info. that comes with the art. Just the machine itself is a piece of art. The machine shown below is here in St. Louis, located at the St. Louis COCA location (524 Trinity Ave, University City, STL, MO).

But there are 82 machines throughout the country (each one is designed differently) and you can visit the website Artomat.org to see all of them and where they are located, and find one near you.

Lace...and Concrete...who'd thought?

2007-02-12T22:19:00.000-08:00

Tired of you're same old drab grey concrete driveway? Do something different. Check out the "Lace Paving Slabs" from jethromacey.com. Simply beautiful.

A noon nap sounds good..

2007-02-12T21:58:00.000-08:00

I LOVE this. I see this comfy quilt (from urbanoutfitters.com) and it reminds
me of one my grandma made me as a baby that I still have, made of scraps of old bright colored polyesters, (most certainly from leftover pairs of polyester pants, which she seemed to have an endless assortment of, and in every color of the rainbow) and other fabrics. I just want to take a running leap into this bed, and take a noon nap. Maybe after some milk and cookies. mmm.