gable bar cart

If I could afford the kind of apartment that had room for a bar cart, I might consider this brass and glass one from Restoration Hardware.

Chocolate Research Facility

A boutique chocolate shop in Singapore that must be owned by a graphic designer. Incredible packaging and beautiful space. I've requested that my co-worked bring some back for me when he's there for his non-chocolate research.

yes, please

Jamaica Oxford from Sodafine in Brooklyn ($191).

eena duffel

Small Eena duffel from Canoe

getting the holiday spirit

Pine cone garland from Wisteria ($24)

faux folio

I have a major crush on this folio briefcase bag at Urban Outfitters. Too bad it's not real leather... via youaremyfave.

brooklyn go hard

gift guide 2008: donate it!

PA guest blogger Ellen and I put our heads together and came up with some ideas for our 2008 gift guide. The idea is to keep it environmentally and wallet friendly.


"Be the change" shoes from Toms. For every pair of shoes purchased, Toms will give a pair to a child in need.

 

Support a woman as she rebuilds her life, family and community with these Hi 5 gloves from Kate Spade, handcrafted by women in war-torn regions. via a cup of jo

My friend's mom, Jane, runs this excellent charity that helps improve the lives of children in rural Vietnam. Consider making a donation on behalf of a friend or family member. 

Name your subscription price to Good Magazine — between $1 and $1000 — and 100% your money goes to the charity of your choice. The magazine's articles and design values are pretty good too.

vintage cocktail guides: reprint

Cocktail Kingdom's authentic reprints of vintage cocktail guides

coin-operated lamp

Just the thing for the recession! Coin-operated lamp by Jethroe Macey. Turned on by a coin-operated switch, the lamp is set to predetermined time by an internal mechanism.

pelican project

The Pelican Project at thingsmagazine.net catalogs Pelican Books covers by decade. via notcot.

say what?

red.house posted today that H&M is launching a line of housewares. Really?? Exciting! I will have to go to Sweden if they aren't launching in the US.

[update: Apartment Therapy has a poll here asking whether you think you'd be likely to shop at H&M Home.]

deep sea dresser

Deep sea dresser from Boston-based team Chroma Lab. via notcot

a horse is a horse

Bosa collection for bosa ceramiche, by Jamie Haydon. via hellofrancis

top

I love this herringbone handkerchief top from Built by Wendy, on sale for $85.

terrarium

This is a little out of my price range, but this terrarium at A+R is nice to look at.

skin letterpress?

Ninette van Kamp is an interdisciplinary and interactive designer from the Netherlands currently exploring the conflicting relationship between pain and beauty through the medium of textiles. Her design, embroidered with beads on the inside, leaves an impression on the skin. via playmedesign

hint hint

Among the many things I would like from Japan is... pretty much anything from Labour and Wait. More specifically, the items above would do. Later this month my husband will be in Tokyo, where Labour and Wait has recently stationed an outpost. Mostly, I'd like to go to Japan. Perhaps next time. 

blue sky

I have a new job today! Flickr photo by Yives

happy halloween!

Laser-etch doubleskull print from Mama Tried Studios.

pumpkins

Whoa! via notcot

blogroll: merry mishap

Okay, I officially have a blog crush on A Merry Mishap by ::{J}:: from Boise, Idaho. She keeps busy with handmade, DIY projects and has been blogging her favorite finds since March 2008. Since then, I don't think there's a single post that I haven't loved. Miss ::{J}::, you have excellent taste! Here are some of my favs from A Merry Mishap:

Images from Claire Wayman's portfolio

Graham & Brown enchanted forest wallpaper

Photo by Adrian Briscoe

Cabin + Cub Etsy shop

Camera from Domstikate

Spring designs by Marimekko

P.S. It was nearly impossible to choose, as I had about 100 favs.

random find

I was doing a Google image search at work this morning and came across these wonderful drawstring bags at British store, Random Retail. They also have pillows and bags with other vintage prints.

letterpress: election day

I am behind on my blogroll post for this week, which I will post later today. In the meantime, above is pic of my first shot at letterpress printing, from my weekly class at the Center for Book Arts in NYC. I thought I'd do something timely, so I borrowed an idea from from kwvh's etsy shop. Even though I'm not in a swing state, I'll be giving these out to friends in the next few days to remind them to exercise their right to vote. I encourage you to do the same!

marc jacobs: affordable!

via the moment

casa orlandi

Photos of this AMAZING 18th century palazzo, Casa Orlandi, in Prato, Italy were posted on the style files a few weeks ago. When I own a palazzo in Italy I will take a similar approach to decorating that Sabrina Bignami took here. Click here for more photos (definitely worth checking out).

happy birthday!

One year ago today, I started this blog with a picture of a cute handmade purse from Sassi Designs at Etsy. They are still making lovely purses, as you can see above, one of their current designs. Here is Particular Aesthetic's very first post:

sukie

Coming out next week from Chronicle Books is this title by British artists Darrell and Julia Gibbs. The book contains 30 iron-on transfers and instructions. Click here for more information and other titles by these artists. 

greenhouse

A few weeks ago I was at the Atlantic Antic in Brooklyn with my sister. It was totally packed with people, but somehow I managed to run into my friend from summer camp, Howie, who I hadn't seen in a zillion (okay maybe 18) years. His wife, Toni and her business partner had just opened Greenhouse, this incredibly nice store on Atlantic Ave in a neighborhood with lots of great small shops. Not only are the housewears and furniture super attractive and the color palette really beautiful, but all the products are also eco-friendly. I completely fell in love with the wide-weave linen fabric on the furniture. Greenhouse is definitely worth a trip out to Brooklyn, and if you're already in the neighborhood it's a must-see. Click here for Greenhouse's website and directions to the store.

nothing's shocking

I wish I had seen this John Varvatos photo shoot with Perry Farrell, just two blocks below my office on the Bowery. I walk by this intersection every day on my way to and from the train. You can actually see the building I work in; it's the brick one left of the second 'one way' sign. 

this is jazz

The jazz uniform circa 1960, from Blue Note: The Album Cover Art.

blogroll: hi + low

Former Senior Art Director at Kate Spade, Abby Clawson Low is currently a designer/art director, a faculty member in the Communications Arts department at FIT, and the author of hi + low. She has also worked for such interesting clients as Chronicle Books, West Elm, and Takashimaya NY, and lists her interests as "stamps, ebay, used books, found objects, music, lists, and a good burger."

Abby finds inspiration in found objects, many of them dating to the 1960's, such as the French cookbook above, La cuisine est un jeu d'enfants, or in a grouping of old record sleeves:

She also posts more modern work, such as the 2007 Royal College of Art catalog by Filip Tydén (below, left)... 

...and her own work, like the monthly newspaper she creates for Madewell (above, right) and the 2008 Kate Spade agenda she designed (below).

I find hi + low reminds me to look closer at objects that I wouldn't normally turn to for inspiration, and I eagerly await Abby's new posts each week!

many thanks

I bought these letterpress cards by Elum last weekend.