Paper and watercolor combine in the mixed media art of Victoria, British Columbia-based artist Morgana Wallace. The end results are mythical and storybook characters that come to life by her hand, layer by layer. Each three dimensional piece is full of color, texture, and story with an incredible level of detail.
Just as this winter’s browns and greys started to hit their peak I came across these rolled French leather bracelets that are the exact opposite of cold and dreary. Melbourne’s Jen Booth hand-paints each Mixed Doubles piece in a duo of eye-popping color that’s sure to brighten up even the dullest of days.
(via The Style Files)
Posted In jewelry, wear it
Nina Torr (aka Andy Wyeth) is a Pretoria-based illustrator with a penchant for animals in the wild and the beauty of the human hand. She captures both with exquisite flair and personality, sometimes together. (Nina’s love of skeletons is also beautifully represented.)
I’m trying to live a slightly more minimal lifestyle these days, but winter with all of its layers is trying to throw a bit of a wrench in my best laid plans. Scarves, hats, gloves, boots – the necessities of cold weather are no fun to corral. My usual (bad) habit it to shove as much as possible into the pockets of the coat I just took off and hang it on the stairs’ bottom newel post.
My solution was to take those unfortunate habits and make them work to my advantage. By adding a wooden bench with woven accents I created a small storage area right out in the open. Boots can be tucked underneath while other cold weather gear can be stacked on the lower shelf. It will also make a great place to sit to lace up footwear, as well as a spot to put friends’ bags when they’re over for a visit.
The pastel blue seat of the bench will make transitioning to spring and summer easy with its breezy feel. And I’m also really feeling the combination of the woven pattern next to my tribal throw rug. Completely unexpected and slightly out of my comfort zone, but it seems to be working well.
I tucked a white sherpa throw into a vintage metal crate nearby for those extra cold Pennsylvania days that will be here soon enough. The idea being that you walk in the front door, take all of your outdoor gear off, and grab a blanket to cozy up with immediately. (It’s especially going to come in handy after I come inside after taking down those Christmas decorations!) So take that winter, because I’ve got you all figured out.
This post is sponsored by Target. Shop Home Décor for modern luxury made easy. All words and opinions are my own. Thank you for continuing to support the brands that keep Design Crush going.
Posted In house and home, sponsored post
Amyisla McCombie is a freelance illustrator from the UK with a special style. The most defining characteristic to me is the way she deliberately gives the people in her mixed media pieces detailed faces, while all but ignoring all other present objects. If you act fast she has a special going on in her shop – but two prints and get a third free.
Horse and Cactus // Tower of Chairs // Horse Riding // Boats // Buffalos in the Wild
Posted In create, mixed media
When subscription boxes became an overnight trend a few years ago it was tough to separate the wheat from the chaff. There were plenty of smart ideas, but little quality in my experiences. I’ve remained true to Birchbox and Hatchery, and now I’m under the spell of Makrbox.
Their idea is to provide a collection of the best handcrafted home and kitchen goods made in the Pacific Northwest. Each of the 2-3 products you receive includes the story if its creator, their inspiration, and the process. A few favorite pieces I received are above – an ergonomic hardwood saute tool by Geoff Fisher, Flying Bird Botanicals Dreamcatcher Tea (a new obsession), San Juan Sea Salt, Pigeon Toe Stacking Thimble Cups, and a linen tea towel from Love, Daniella.
We Love Your Work by Wasted Rita // Bouquet by Alexandra Dzh //
Home is Where the Pants Aren’t by Jenna Kutcher // Let Me Entertain You by Variety Show
I Love October by Mateja Kovač // Single Ladies by Draw Me a Song //
Botanicals No. 1 by Mia Carameros // Girl with Glasses by Lindsay Letters
01/ A beautiful (not Photoshopped) half male, half female cardinal, called a gynandromorph.
02/ The Camping Doughnut makes me want to be outdoorsy all of a sudden.
04/ The What Color Is It? clock app translates time into the corresponding hex color.
05/ New York Subway Conductors captures subway operators lost in thought.
06/ Shannon Holt‘s extreme body painting turns humans into animals.
07/ The Sound of Power is a collection of desktop speakers in the likes of five world leaders.
08/ This bride who was left at the altar is my hero!!
09/ The Pedestrian Self Hypnosis Station was recently installed on a Sydney street.
10/ Love this Samsung ad campaign of classic artists photographing their self portraits.
This week on Design Crush:
An amazing photography project that turned models into actual living dolls.
HausCraft spell kits to get you ready for the new year and all that entails.
Pretty illustrations by Katy Smail.
A collection of camp blankets to keep you warm on cold days.
Somber and dimensional illustrations from RJ Gemmell.
I’d love a fistful of these Silhouette Rings.
Let’s do this, twenty fifteen!
Crushing on the animal pottery of Barruntando.
The original, modern pottery of Spain’s Barruntando initially caught my eye with the colorful little bears above. What I found when I dug a little deeper only made me more excited. Little clay creatures with tons of personality, unique and functional household pieces, and combinations of the two.
Ceramic White Bear Figurine // Ceramic Cat Miniature // Glazed Spherical Earthenware Planter //
Ceramic Fox Yarn Bowl // Ceramic Arctic Fox Figurine
Tasting Stars print by Danielle Kroll
Sayonara 2014, aloha 2015! Last year was full of much success on both personal and business levels, but it was also filled with turmoil and challenge. Some good, some bad. I’m looking forward to grabbing the new year with everything I have and squeezing every last drop of potential out of its 365 days. Here’s to a good one!
Posted In holidays, new years, paper goods, prints