March 2015 - Design Crush

March 31, 2015

Countdown to Easter

What happens when it’s decided that Easter dinner will be at your place a week before the big day? You start brainstorming, of course. Thankfully most of the food will be covered by others, which leaves me to focus on the unexpected. The tablescape, the flowers, and the treats.

ROW 1: Caramel Egg Stuffed Easter Croissants // Wax-Resistant Egg Dyeing // Brownie Easter Eggs
ROW 2: Giant Easter Peep Cake // Marbleized Easter Eggs ROW 3: Floral Easter Eggs // Geometric Paper Easter Egg // Bunny Ear Ice Cream Cones ROW 4: Printable Jelly Bean Pouches // Ombre Easter Eggs // Cotton Candy Easter Nests

Posted In easter, holidays, round up

March 31, 2015

Valentin Dommanget

Just what happens when real world and virtual influences collide? In the hands of 25-year-old Valentin Dommanget it’s a series of marbled canvases that get stretched and torqued to mimic what look like Photoshop effects. (I’ll take ten.)

Posted In create, painting, sculpture

March 30, 2015

Wine Awesomeness + a Free Month of Wine!

A miraculous thing happened at my house a few weeks ago. Three bottles of wine showed up on my porch stoop safely packed in their own little suitcase. The good folks over at Wine Awesomeness made it possible with their monthly subscription service that aims to prove that wine is for everyone, wine is everywhere, and wine is discovery.

Good wine is for the masses, and not just at dinner parties. Wine Awesomeness is a monthly journey in wine education that’s curated for adventurous souls. Sound like you? Read on. Every month their sommeliers dream up a wine-fueled adventure and send it right to your door. They comb the globe to find the coolest, tastiest wines that you just don’t see everyday.

They’re so confident in Wine Awesomeness that if you can recreate their box for less, you’ll receive an entire year on them! But to start, they’re offering your first month’s box for free (just pay shipping and handling). Click here to get this week off to a grand start.

Posted In food, sponsored post

March 30, 2015

Amy Bennett

Lately I’ve found myself wondering why there aren’t more summer camps for adults. Places to unplug and unwind, with or without family in tow. Amy Bennett‘s At the Lake came along at the perfect time, making me think that maybe it all really is possible through her paintings and tiny pastel cabins.

Posted In create, painting

March 27, 2015

Happy Weekend

01/ Great. Now I want to rescue a magpie as cute as this one.
02/ What happens when the elderly model street fashion?
03/ Christopher Rimmer photographed cows on the beach and I really like it.
04/ A restaurant where you can order champagne with the push of a button.
05/ See meticulously iconic scenes in miniature thanks to the Ikonen project.
06/ Pop Idol Devotion Candles are a modern riff on religious iconography.
07/ Looking forward to the upcoming documentary on Iris Apfel!
08/ Artist Maria Aristidou uses coffee as watercolor.
09/ A woman in Germany is using an unlikely medium to discuss feminism.
10/ Hey Seattle, look out for Peregrine Church‘s art that only appears when it rains!

This week on Design Crush:
Miranda Lorikeet works what can only be called magic in MS Paint.
Try rice pudding 10 ways.
Laurent Chéhère creates dreamy depictions of flying houses.
A jewelry collection from Seaworthy that’s begging for summer days.
Embroidered mantras from MaricorMaricar.
Mid-century inspired illustrations by Masako Kubo.
Step away from the screen and put the Social Preparedness Kit into action.
Take a peek at the fun, whimsical illustrations of Aiko Fukawa.

Posted In accessories, collaboration/project, create, happy weekend, house and home, painting, pets, photography, see it, street

March 27, 2015

Aiko Fukawa

The lighthearted illustrations of Aiko Fukawa are especially timely right now, with Easter being the most whimsical of holidays. (Rabbits! Chicks! Pastels!) Who ever said art needs to be serious and stuffy anyway? I’d rather have a cat marriage.

Posted In create, illustration

March 26, 2015

Social Preparedness Kit

I’ve been a fan of Egg Press for years now, and their latest line – Social Preparedness Kit – is full of great graphics and a few cheeky words. It’s all a reminder to step away from all the screens in your life and enjoy the connections in your life. Send a note or make a list of possibilities, just make room for a little magic.

Posted In cards, notebooks + journals, paper goods

March 26, 2015

Masako Kubo

Masako Kubo divides her time between New Zealand and Japan, which sounds like a pretty sweet deal with plenty of inspiration all around to vibe off of. I love the mid-century inspiration that’s evident in Masako’s style, which I’m guessing might be related to her past career in advertising as well.

Posted In create, illustration

March 25, 2015

MaricorMaricar

MaricorMaricar are an artistic tag team, which in my opinion there should be more of. Sometimes it’s nice to have someone push your limits, bring out your strong points, and say “No, that sucks” in creativity. These two ladies excel at the creation of embroidered illustrations, lettering, animation, and design (sometimes at the same time).

Posted In create, paper goods, prints, textiles

March 24, 2015

Seaworthy

Marisa Howard’s Seaworthy jewelry collection is inspired by a variety of traditional aesthetics, from textiles to architecture. She draws on the Oregon coast in particular to bring color and texture to her designs. The 2015 S/S collection is full of pretty metals, varying is weight from thin and delicate to heavy and chunky.

Posted In jewelry, wear it