10 Days of Design Crush Anniversary Giveaways: Day 1 Artifact Uprising

 

Ten years ago this month I started Design Crush as a place to gather inspiration for my day job as a graphic designer, and five years ago it became my full-time job. I don’t even know how to begin to thank each of you for your support along the way to living this dream that I didn’t know I had. To be completely transparent, when it’s been good it’s been great and when it’s been bad I still couldn’t think of anything else I’d rather be doing. I never used to believe people who said when you love your job you’ll never work a day in your life, but it’s so very true. And to thank you all, as well as highlight some of my favorite sponsors from over the years, we’ll be hosting ten days of giveaways in celebration of ten years of this little site that could.

 

Print + Wood Cleat

I first met one of the founding sisters of Artifact Uprising at lunch during Alt Summit when we shared a table, and since then I’ve had the pleasure of partnering with them many a time. Katie and Jenna started AU on a foundation of a decade’s worth of experience as professional photographers and a desire to create printed photo goods with elevated quality, thoughtful design, and responsibly sourced materials.

 

Wood Calendar

Since 2012 they’ve done that and more by staying true to their mission and an authentic, creative-driven business model. Artifact Uprising‘s focus on sourcing recycled paper for their books and wood products continues to resonate with me and many others, and they continue to give good materials a second chance at life by using locally-sourced fallen beetle-kill pine.

 

 

From a basement to an office in Denver, Artifact Uprising still prides themselves on being an authentic company that’s true to its eco-conscious roots – and that matters! Consistently surrounding themselves with people who challenge, and building great things with great people is what AU is all about.

 

Float Frame

As Artifact Uprising continues to create beautiful, minimal products that everyone is sure to love, they also keep a focus on stellar customer interactions. Seriously – their customer service is some of the best I’ve ever experienced, and it shows in everything from the site’s interface and user experience to the end product showing up at your doorstep.

 

Instagram Friendly Frames

“We believe that doing good is more important than doing well – and that kindness makes the world right. We believe in travel and the things you can learn from getting lost. And we believe the best lessons come from the listening. We try to laugh when light is needed and persist when the path requires it. We love wide open spaces and campfires and the kind of quiet that allows you to hear the snow crunching below your feet. We believe in those who wake up every day to choose joy. And we believe in the underdog. We believe in always remembering where you came from. We believe each of us will – in time – do something really, really nice for the world.”

Artifact Uprising is kind enough to be giving away a $250 gift code to one Design Crush reader! There are up to SIXTEEN(!) ways to enter, but act fast because you only have 48 hours to get on it. (They’re also offering 10% off using code GIFTDAD if you’re shopping for Father’s Day!)

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

30

Then and Now

 

My Mom is my everything. My best friend, my sounding board, my ride or die. The one who gives me tough love when I need it and tells me to be gentle with myself when the days are hard. We’ve always been close, but it was only once we no longer lived in the same house that I began to appreciate the things that once annoyed me. The way she always put me first, how fiercely protective she can be, and even the amount of discipline she instilled in the way she raised me.

 

1981

My mom was made to be a mother, my mother. She had me at a young 22 years old, but was wise beyond her years after some difficult family circumstances early on in life. But once she gave birth she never really looked back – we went everywhere together, did everything, and were sidekicks. We still are.

 

2015

I wanted to give her something extra special this Mother’s Day, something that represents how we began and how far we’ve come as mother and daughter as well as friends. I chose two of Artifact Uprising‘s Instagram Friendly frames, each of them measures 8 x 10″ and is deep set with a gorgeous walnut finish. In the first she’s holding a one and half year old me in her arms at my cousin’s baptism, and in the second we’re crouching in together at Mother’s Day brunch two years ago.

 

 

Both of these photos were already in my Instagram feed, so I only had to connect the channel and voila – no uploading necessary. I know these two museum quality frames will be something my Mom cherishes for years to come, and I love that we can add to them in the future with more shots of the two of us!

This post sponsored by Artifact Uprising. All words and opinions are my own, as always. Thank you for supporting the brands that help keep Design Crush creating fresh content! Enjoy 10% off your order through May 9th with code AUxMOTHERDAY17.

2

Coil + Drift

 

Brooklyn-based Coil + Drift was founded in 2014 by John Sorensen-Jolink, an acclaimed modern dancer-turned-designer. The studio creates contemporary furniture, lighting, and accessories with a focus on form, sustainability, and function. Sorensen-Jolink taught himself how to design in an attempt to further understand space and the objects within them. I’m looking forward to keeping an eye on what is for sure an up and coming brand!

 

 

 

 

 

 

0

Africa Now

 

Mosaico+‘s most recent collection of Italian mosaic tiles – Africa Now – reinterprets African fabrics in a contemporary way. The result is a range of sophisticated designs made from different combinations of contrasting colors, monotones, and strong graphic motifs. I’d like to this to happen in my entire walk-in shower, please.

 

 

 

 

0

Thomas Voorn / Temporary Tapestry

temporary-tapestry-1-design-crush

 

What happens when an artist buys out all of the A4 paper in a defunct stationery store? Temporary Tapestry is what. Thomas Voorn then took photos of the paper arranged in interesting ways (actually just thrown out randomly), turning them into patterns allowing you to create your own wallpaper. This particular wallpaper comes in single sheets that when arranged turns into a kaleidoscopic pattern, there are nine patterns to choose from.

 

temporary-tapestry-2-design-crush

temporary-tapestry-3-design-crush

temporary-tapestry-4-design-crush

temporary-tapestry-5-design-crush

temporary-tapestry-6-design-crush

0

Let’s Talk Statement Art in the Bedroom

statement-art-1-design-crush

Stormy Drive by Smile Peace Love

Have you noticed the trend of one large, statement making piece of art in the bedroom? Usually placed above the bed and sometimes even in place of the headboard itself. That’s my bedroom above, and I’m definitely considering removing the iron frame and lowering this piece on the wall a bit.

Don’t worry, gallery walls are still thriving. But one large piece of statement art commands all of your attention, which is an especially lovely look if you’re into minimalism. The bedroom should be a place that’s both relaxing and cozy – a retreat. For that reason I chose a piece of art with lots of moody blues, Stormy Drive by Smile Peace Love from Minted, that measures in at a whopping 54 x 40″. Can’t you imagine you’re in the car driving down the highway into this storm? For me it’s palpable.

Here are ten other bedrooms doing statement art right, as well some large scale art recommendations for your own boudoir.

 

statement-art-2-design-crush

 

sfgirlbybay

sfgirlbybay

 

amber-interiors

Amber Interiors

 

house-and-garden

House and Garden

 

stories

Stories

 

a-cup-of-jo

A Cup of Jo

 

deny-designs

Deny Designs

 

apartment-therapy

Apartment Therapy

 

a-daily-something

A Daily Something

 

anne-sage

Anne Sage

 

lemon-stripes

Lemon Stripes

 

statement-art-3-design-crush

1/ Aquarium by Roberta Pinna  2/ Morning River by Lauren Adams
3/ From Down Below by Kim Bliss  4/ Key Rehab by Poppy A
5/ Golden Fields by Kaylee Coles  6/ Fossilized Rock by Frooted Design
7/ Silver Ice by Leslie Le Coq  8/ Going for a Swim by Whitney Deal
9/ Linger by Sarah McInroe  10/ Men in Red by Kate Baird

Thanks to Minted for providing art for this post. And thank you for supporting the brands that help keep Design Crush creating fresh content!

0

ONZA Tiles

onza-1-design-crush

 

With just a glance can you tell what MUT Design‘s ONZA modular tiles are inspired by? Chocolate bars.  In texture, production process, and how they’re melted down with heat. They’re beautifully minimal, composed of just three ceramic pieces with invisible joints that allow infinite compositions when assembled. Choose from three neutral colors – grey, terra-cotta, and white.

 

onza-2-design-crush

onza-3-design-crush

onza-5-design-crush

onza-4-design-crush

onza-6-design-crush

0