1. not exorbitant or extravagent by city standards, however in a rural setting (like upstate new york) it is in fact, quite fancy.
2. a wonderful blog dedicated to art, design and other things that are indeed upstate fancy.
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Check out these adorable candles from India Rose. The candles and candle holders are one solid piece of beeswax so no need to wipe those wax drips off your favorite candle holder. Available in a variety of colors and sizes, theses are sure to add a bit of color and drama to the simplest white room. They are a tad bit pricey so you might have to save these for a special occasion.
…and let the sun shine in. Take a look at these lovely prints and cards from Slide Sideways. Her original illustrations are super cute and have a retro feel and a modern twist. They look like they would be right at home inside Urban Outfitters. Her Let the sun shine in print is hand screen printed so grab one while you can. And check out her endless summer inspired print and some of her fabulous sketchbooks too.
You may be wondering what these 3 things have in common. Wonder no more, they all relate back to me. Aside from writing upstatefancy, i also work full time as a graphic designer and run peppersprouts on the side. What can I say I’m a very busy girl! Jessica from Miniature Rhino interviewed me for the newnew etsy team blog this week. So take a moment and stop by and read a little more about me and my creativity and daily life.
I didn’t hate the new Tropicana packaging, but I also didn’t think it needed to be changed. There was something so iconic about the previous packaging, with that big juicy orange with the red and white straw poking out f it, it just said FRESH & Natural without having to actually say anything. The new packaging was just a little plain jane to me, it is modern, but it doesn’t have any added value, there was nothing special about this orange juice vs any other. I did however have very a very strong opinion about their new ad campaign, I hated it. It is boring, contrived and the copy writing is subpar (what little there is of it). “Squeeze it’s a natural.” Really? who says “It’s a natural?” I think there is a word missing in that sentence.. or maybe there is one word to many. Either way it just doesn’t make sense.
Well for anyone who has felt even a tad bit leery of the new packaging, or maybe you just down right hated it, there is good news on the horizon ( thanks to the NYT ). Tropicana ( run by Pepsico ) is returning to the old packaging. Apparently the public is up in arms about the rebranding, so the company is listening to the people. Now if only we can get more people to express their opinions about things that really matter.
Please welcome Nan Lawson as she let’s us into her head and opens up about what inspires her.
My name is Nan Lawson and I’m an artist living in Los Angeles. The neighborhood I live in is on the east side of L.A. and is known as Silverlake. It’s a great community with artists, hippies, hipsters, and hills. Just walking down the street I get inspired, whether it’s the color of someone’s house, the plants in their yard, or even the dry as a bone water fountain in the town square. I bring along my camera on many occasions and let the images inspire me when I’m feeling blocked.
A lot of my work is based on retro objects and design. I love typewriters. I own two and only use them occasionally but I love the look and the way they can change the feeling in a room. I also have a bit of an obsession with chairs. Eames, Bertoia, Saarinen, these designers were real artists and the things they made are often the subject of my work. Thank you for letting me share. – Nan Lawson.
What happens when chunks of land are ripped from the earth and suspended in an unknown atmosphere? Islands is a work in progress by Markus Hofko, a German artist living on New Zealand’s North Island. These sculptures are absolutely brilliant, will people keep doing what they were doing, become concerned and filled with unrest, or just enjoy being on an island? This is a work in progress, so keep checking back for more island in the near future, just maybe we will find out what happened to the Lion from the Zoo Train.
I am so digging the new home collection from Megan Auman. I really love the simplicity of her patterns, they are simple and feminine without being overly floral. Created from powder coated steel these laser cut steel pieces are oh so very unique. It’s refreshing to see such a manly material crafted into something soft and lovely.
I wanted to introduce you to one of my favorite furniture designers, WONK. Wonk was founded in 2004 in Brooklyn, NY. Their goal is to produce furniture that combines functionality with design to create an ideal and affordable modern living space. Their pieces are all handmade locally in Brooklyn NY. Their craftsmanship and modern sensibility really make for some fantastic pieces. With 15 different colors and 6 choices of wood there is sure to be a combination that fits your home and decor. I personally have my heart set on the Wilson, in a green and dark wood. If you are in Brooklyn take a trip over to their showroom on N. 4th Street in Williamsburg, or Jay Street in Dumbo. They currently have a store wide 15% off sale, and don’t worry if you can’t afford a new coffee table, or just don’t have room for one, they have some great affordable wall shelves, mirrors, and other home decor items as well.
I have been working on this idea for a while and thanks to the good folks over at ponoko, I have some great new products in the shop. These wood coasters are laser cut form Color Rimu wood, with an engraved frame, and a cut out silhouette. I hand drew the silhouettes, scanned them in to illustrator, laid them out with a fanciful frame and sent them over to New Zealand to be cut. They look so great I am designing a few different ones to add to the series.
A set of 4 casters are available over at my etsy shop, you can be sure these will add a little bit of fancy under that refreshing drink. And maybe even spruce up your table and home.
Happy Presidents’ day from Upstate fancy. While I appreciate the 3 day weekend, I also appreciate the fact that we hold elections and do have a voice in choosing our leaders. So this year be thankful for president’s past and present, and the fact that your voice may be small but at least you have a voice. If you are feeling particularly amped up on Obama today, check out these pillows from alexandra ferguson and let your apartment say what you have been chanting for months. Yes We Can.
