blogroll:

My androgynous streak awaits its daily dose of cool from the informative and fun A Continuous Lean. Partner at the PR and marketing firm Paul + Williams, Michael Williams, does a bang up job making up for a "lack of interesting coverage of men's style, fashion, design, media and technology" on his blog.

ACL is heavy on style, posting advice such as how to care for your denim, and montages of clean, modern, classic, and utilitarian looks in international fashion:

An autumn look

Canvas totes from Utility Coop, Japan

He also has updates on local retailers, such as DWR Tools for Living:

 

ACL's Maps and Intel section features shopping, dining and drinking places of note in NYC, with mini reviews of each spot – a useful quick reference for the visitor or even seasoned New Yorker looking for hip recommendations:

Finally, ACL has a keen eye for design, including great flickr finds and local art and photography exhibits:

Typewriter ribbon tins from Flickr

Photo exhibit on disappearing mom and pop stores

Even if you aren't in the market for menswear, ACL is a great spot for the latest news and inspiring ideas from the front lines of cool.

unconventional lace

An unconventional treatment of utilitarian metal objects such as shovels, car parts, and a wheel barrow by Cal Lane. via Debi van Zyl.

dear domino,

When I received my much-anticipated October issue, I was pleased to see the "destination" piece about my hometown, Boston, but not so thrilled about many of the articles in the issue. To begin with, the feature on Kelly Wearstler's guesthouse renovation was an eyesore. Her decor "looks like a wealthy Arab just ran amok in an early 80s motel," as the blog mirrormirror aptly put it. Or like she ate the set of 'Casino' and then threw it up in pastel colors. When I got to "Piling on the Patterns (and stripes and checks!)," I liked the befores better than the afters, which looked like Martha Stewart on speed. Also, what happened to the Renovator's Notebook layout?? I thought I'd hit one of those special advertising sections that try to trick you into thinking it's a regular article but has "advertisement" in small letters at the top. It's something about the font in the captions on top of the photos – terrible! Things I liked: "5 easy pieces: an organized pantry," Anya Hindmarch's London townhouse, pretty much the whole Nesting section, Christiane Lemieux's New York loft, and the georgeous photography in "Fall Fruits."
Sincerely,
Laura, author of particular aesthetic

for the bees

Honey in a clay pot that encourages you to plant flowers that help the honey bees. via the dieline. Honey bees are in trouble by the way; helpthehoneybees.com says, "Sadly, honey bees are mysteriously vanishing in staggering numbers - a crisis known as Colony Collapse disorder - which is alarming considering honey bees are responsible for pollinating one-third of our natural food supply."



What could be more awesome than crumping bees?? go to helpthehoneybees.com for more info and check out their lovely site.

porcelain succulents

Really?! Porcelain succulents? Succulents + porcelain + no watering = perfect. via a merry mishap

mosiac

1. laura, 2. nutella, 3. BB&N, 4. purple, 5. Prince, 6. ginger ale, 7. Cap Juluca, 8. mille crêpe cake, 9. printer, 10. family, 11. talented, 12. particular aesthetic

An idea from the SCOOP: make a mosaic of "you" using flickr and mosaic maker instructions here. 

marcel wanders

As a former dance student, I really dig the art direction for the photos of Marcel Wanders' collection of wallpapers. The wallpaper isn't too bad either. It popped up recently on id textile and on cool hunting's post about Mondrian South Beath Hotel Residences.

sköna hem

There's some Sköna Hem love going around the blogosphere these days, and I can see why:

blogroll: inchmark

Hello friends! At the suggestion of my husband, I'm starting a new series of posts on Tuesdays called 'blogroll' to review new and interesting blogs. I thought I'd get started with inchmark, a new blog (that I found via cup of jo) by fellow Brooklyn resident [correction:] Southern California resident, Brooke Reynolds. 

Brooke is, among other things, a book designer, a mother of two, and the former senior art director of Martha Stewart Living and Martha Stewart Kids. Her blog is a lovely combination of interesting graphic media, photographs of her projects, and sweet anecdotes about her family, with a masthead reminiscent of the margins of now-defunct Blueprint magazine (sniff).

Brooke is also the designer of Lena Corwin's inspiring new book, Printing By Hand!

Check inchmark every other day or so for a aesthetically pleasing/inspiring/delightful post to sweeten your day.

party dress

Here is a lovely party dress from Monocle's September issue article on fall back-to-work clothes, in honor of my sister, Ellen's birthday today. If anyone knows the designer, drop me a line. Happy Birthday, Ellen!

alchemy

I've been admiring this alchemy stool at CB2 the last couple of times I've been in the store. The slab of wood is so delicious against the pewter base.

laura's little dress

I know I'm a bit late with this post, but I couldn't let it go unsaid on PA that Riitta Immonen, the founder of Finnish textile company Marimekko, died last month. Marimekko means "Mary's little dress" in Finnish, and the company was born in 1951 at its first small showing of dresses at a Helsinki restaurant. In April, I posted about this dress that my grandma Frieda gave me and I wore as a kid. It's still sold by Marimekko almost 30 years later. I'll be forever greatful to my grandma Frieda for introducing me to such great design.

the girl effect

Typeface animation to promote the girl effect. This post is dedicated to my friend Jane, who understands the girl effect and is making a difference with her organization, the Vietnam Fund.

skyline

I'd be hard-pressed to find something I didn't like at Rocket St. George. Their new skyline tumblers

are so nice; they make me want to whisk off to Europe.

i heart heartfish

... for her lovely post that includes particular aesthetic. Thanks, Hijiri! :) Click here for her post on Free Texture.

gastronomica

Debi van Zyl points out the gorgeous cover photography on Gastronomica magazine.

Vinaròs

These last few steamy NY summer days make me wish I were sipping a tall one here. via Monocle

laptop/clutch

Wow! This special edition HP laptop by Vivienne Tam is almost enough to make me switch from my Mac. According to designboom it's due out sometime next year.

rustic

A couple of super fab posts on style files about rustic style led me to these books on Amazon UK by Baileys owners Mark and Sally Bailey on how to get rustic style.

labware

Benjamin Hubert's Labware lamp series will debut at the 100% Futures show in London in a few weeks. I'd love one as a nightlight! via notcot

autumn arrivals

Shaz Madani for Sainsbury: campaign to promote the importance and benefits of seasonal food. via creature comforts

sandra juto

Are you ready for fall? Wrist worms, handmade by illustrator/artist Sandra Juto. This is her blog. via Shiny Squirrel

toast

I can think of several people who would like the simple wares from TOAST.

the hendrick's rose

Please indulge me as I hang on to the last thread of the summer...  The Hendrick's Rose, from Michael Mina's Clock Bar in San Fran, contains Pimm's, Hendrick's gin, cranberry, lemon, and ginger beer. Yum. via liqurious

suzy hoodless

I could not agree more with Domino's and Bedlam of Beefy's taste in wallpaper (and interior design) when it comes to Suzy Hoodless... Hello, what?! How incredibly fabulous are these designs?

studio bas_i.c.

Wallpaper house interior by Studio BAS_I.C. via Bloesem

I heart canvas

Canvas weekend bag from Martin Clothes

grace & go

All creatures tea towel and mid century chairs tea towel from Grace & Go.