I was trying to hold off on this Christmas Card Round Up for as long as possible because I keep seeing more fantastic designs each and every day. But I thought I’d better get it posted before everyone’s cards have already been stamped and sent! Well what are you waiting for? Take a look!
We’ve been blasting anything Flight of the Concords for the past two days here in our office. But Business Time trumps all other songs and always leaves me giggling! If you haven’t already, have a listen…
Posted In music, see it
Sometimes it’s nice to realize I’m not entirely nut-zo. For the past few Christmases whenever I see a box of panettone I always think Pantone in my head. Apparently the designers at Purpose were on the same wavelength when creating at this piece for Greenford Printing!
By building on the familiar language of colour specification, Pantone swatches initiated the main theme for our concept. ‘Panettone’ created a colourful twist on the traditional Italian Christmas cake. The Panettone boxes arrive as a set of 5, featuring special dates from Christmas Eve to New Years Day, each one representing a different pantone colour.
:: via The Dieline
Posted In food, packagingI love the honesty behind I Love You But… because every single one of us has been there at one point or another. I used to date a guy who said “Uhhh” all the time and it killed me. In fact, it became a deal-breaker.
This is a picture book about the moment in a relationship when you realize you don’t love someone completely, because there is one little thing that keeps bothering you. When it bothers you so much it actually makes you physically cringe, you know it’s time to say; ‘I love you but…’
:: via A Cup of Jo
Jeremiah from Laughing Hyena emailed me over the weekend to share his Series 1: Caffeine tees. Besides the tees I’m digging the coffee bag packaging – a super nice touch!
He really tells it best: Laughing Hyena designs and produces creative tees for the independent thinker by deconstructing pop culture a single subject at a time. Each series highlights key components with an emphasis on typography as wearable art. In addition to the fresh and modern approach of Laughing Hyena comes a moral mission as well. A percentage of the profits from the sale of its shirts will be donated to a cause related to the “single subject” of the series. The reason is simple. Donating to a just cause, “just cause…” is a nice thing to do. All of our designs are screen printed on 100% cotton (some orgainc cotton) high quality, American made, sweatshop free t-shirts. A percentage of the profits from the sale of Series 1 will be donated to “Coffee Lifeline” a Freeplay Foundation project www.freeplayfoundation.org. This innovative project seeks to empower coffee farmers in producing countries by utilizing self-powered radios to provide access to information and education in isolated rural areas. “It’s not a hand out, it’s a hand up.”
I had absolutely NO intention of doing three installments of the 2009 Calendar Roundup. There are just so many great calendar designs out there for this coming year, that I couldn’t bear to leave any out!
2009 Desk Calendar from Jennifer Squires Productions. This calendar is a combination of 12 black and white and colour photographs. All images are custom printed by a professional photo lab on Fuji Crystal Archive paper and presented in a clear plastic jewel case that folds back to sit atop a desk or shelf.
Whipup.net 2009 Calendar. Calendar of artwork from 13 artists whose work has appeared on the website whipup.net.
Bird wall calendar from The Yvestown Shop. Calendar measures 36.5 x 26 cm. NOTE: This is only my favorite calendar from TYS – check all the other wall and desk calendars available!
Inkless Letterpress tufted calendar. We’ve taken our 10″ x 10″ letterpress paper tile, and made it into an elegant little calendar. Each month is perforated, and simply tears off to reveal the one that follows. The paper tile has been mounted to acid-free foam board, so it’s sturdy enough to stand on a small easel, or hang on the wall. Each calendar comes with removable adhesive squares for hanging.
2009 printable PDF calendar from Narchi Screenprints. Print a whole year on only 3 pieces of paper! Calendar measures 4 x 4.”
Seeing Eye Calendar from Numbered Type. Forget near and far, the time has come to be now-sighted. Sundays are red, the rest are black – a minor detail. Test your vision but keep in mind these days are numbered.
Limited Edition Thyme Calendar from Nora Whynot. Rich in legend and folklore, each month depicts an unusual use of the herb thyme, from Egyptian embalming to ancient Greek honey collecting. The calendar comes with an introduction explaining each month’s image, eg January – If you plan on sailing the seven seas, take a tip from ancient mariners and wear a sprig of thyme around your neck for protection against sea monsters. Limited to only 100 calendars, each comes with a signed, numbered and dated Stamp of Authenticity on the back. Measures 7.9 x 5.7.”
Ornaments are the real stars of a Christmas tree, so why not show them off more on the PossibiliTree? Oh, and the simplicity and storage are lovely, too!
Twenty-five years ago, architect Richard Babcock had an idea: Rather than buying, hauling and disposing of a Christmas tree every year, why not create a tree his family could use year after year? The six-foot wooden tree he created back then is still used by his family today. The PossibiliTree shown here is a tabletop version, standing almost three feet tall, with branches that can be fanned out in various ways. The tree is easily assembled and disassembled. The pieces can be stored in the original packaging – a tube, similar to the ones used by architects to hold drawings.
Posted In christmas, grand design, holidaysThe Rain Man decanter makes pouring liquid about a hundred times more interesting. And I love the versatility of the vessel – use it to water plans, serve water, or decant wine among other things. Gorgeous.
:: via Liquorious
Although I think eating with this Piattona cutlery by designer Elise Rijnberg would be a little challenging, the clean lines just look so good. And you’d definitely look good doing it!
:: via Food Gawker
Posted In grand design, kitchenI’m a little politicked out you could say, but that’s not keeping me from loving this Time feature on photographer Callie Shell.
Four years ago Time photographer Callie Shell met Barack Obama backstage when she was covering presidential candidate John Kerry. She sent her editor more photographs of Obama than Kerry. When asked why, she said, “I do not know. I just have a feeling about him. I think he will be important down the road.” Her first photo essay on Obama was two and half years ago. She has stuck with him ever since.
On the campaign bus driving through New Hampshire, 1/6/2008.
Senator Obama was doing press interviews by telephone in a holding room between events. Sometime later as he was getting ready to begin his event, he asked me if I was photographing his shoes. When I said yes, he told me that he had already had them resoled once since he entered the race a year earlier. Providence, R.I., 3/1/2008.
It was primary morning in New Hampshire. Barack and Michelle Obama had been campaigning separately all week. In the first few months of 2008 their private time seemed to consist of a few crossover moments in back hallways before rallies. This moment was rare and you could tell they just loved being able to sit together. Jan. 8, 2008.