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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We all know i’m a sucker for silhouettes and theses illustrations from Amy Ruppel are no exception. These little graphic works are designed digitally and then cut out and placed neatly into a wax painting. The final product is just stunning. She also offers prints of her works… just in case you want to buy a few.
At first look these embroidered pillows are gorgeous. The work is clearly done by such a skilled artisan. But then there is the story behind the work. These pillows are made by a group called Fine Cell. Fine Cell Work is a social enterprise that teaches needlework to prison inmates and sells their products. The prisoners do the work when they are locked in their cells, and the earnings give them hope, skills and independence. I love this idea and hope one day it can be implemented here in the states.
Love these laptop cases from Twelve South. Such a classic look for a very modern machine. Best of all they look pretty darn padded in case you are anthing like me and a little rough on hi-tech devices.
Right before the Christmas we discovered the Greenpoint Food Market, which is held right down the street from our apartment. I don’t think we were fully prepared for what awaited us inside. There were so many awesome people selling everything from vegan sandwiches to locally made pickles. My absolute favorite was a little company called Kors d’Oeuvres. They make a wonderful variety of spreads and dips that would liven up even the most boring dinner party, but of course it wouldn’t be boring if you were there. Currently they are only available in the NYC area, but if you ever get a chance to taste these tasty dips I promise you will not be disappointed.
Matt and I finally sat down and watched Paper Heart last night. We both loved it. It’s not often that a love story, or rather a story about love, comes across as real. The simplicity of the story combined with amusing anecdotes from everyday folks made for a sweet but far from saccharine tale of falling in love, or at least falling in like. If you are looking for a romantic movie that won’t have your eyes filled with tears and even your boyfriend will like the definitly get in on this Charlyne Yi and Michael Cera non-chickflick. And for a little paper heart of your own I recommend this beautiful garland by Allie Ruth.
Check out this prototype for a built in wall extension cord, the rambler socket. A great concept designed by Meysam Movahedi. Reminds me a little of the wrap around hose caddy we used to have in the backyard. I really just love this idea, simple and uncluttered.
I really wanted to create something modern and simple for valentine’s day. So here they are… inspired by vintage paper doilies these acrylic pendants will let everyone know that you are ready to fall in love! Available now at Peppersproutdesigns.com
I have a soft spot in my heart for coin jewelry. Growing up I remember my dad having some rings made out of coins and he taught me how to make my own with a big metal spoon and a hard surface. But the manipulation of money into wearable art has come a long way. The beautiful pieces made by Stacey Lee Webber are more than just rounding out an otherwise spendable slab of metal. Her work has a sculptural feel to it that turns such an everyday object into something fantastic. It’s so easy to see art in nature, but it takes a different eye to see the artistic value in a penny.
At first the little nautical gift tags from African Grey caught my eye. Then I dug a little deeper and I was hooked. Just look at the the cute little bunnies, seals, and puppies. I love how the illustration style is so crisp without screaming vector graphics. This is now one of my go to shops when I’m looking for a cute card to brighten someones day.
Admit it. You had a floaty pen when you were a child. It was something so magical, like a snowglobe that actually had a function. Well the awesome crew over at Gama-Go have created a new line of floaty pens that would look awesome in that empty cup on your desk. For a limited time if you but the complete set of six you get two for free. So the next time someone asks to borrow a pen you won’t have to worry about breaking up the set.
