A Fresh Start

I’m not going to pretend this hasn’t been a challenging year for many of us and the month of January has been particularly cruel to me in the past. That being said I enter this new year with a new optimism and hope that will bring us all much happiness, good health and prosperity. Wishing the happiest of New Year’s to all! (Panda photo courtesy of DJ Bass)

A Shift in Reality

If you have an iPhone and want something very fun to play with, download this TiltShift app for a mere $1.99. I have long admired tilt shift photography in which a regular world becomes miniature through the use of a special lens. There is also a pretty good tutorial for achieving this in Photoshop and I intend to play with that as well. This iPhone app does it all for you and lets you save high resolution copies of the final image as well. 

Numerology

Beautiful laptop/tote embossed with numerals from the Didot alphabet. Designed by Assouline for Cole Haan.

Merrie

Have a very Merrie Christmas!

Cut Me a Vowel

Beautiful hand-cut posters from artist Peter Karras. At the The Cutty Spot you can order any letter from the alphabet, each poster is individually set and hand-cut out of natural white Arches paper. 

Baked

Sorry for the lack of posts this week, I have been baking up a frenzy, wrapping gifts and prepping for the dinner I’m hosting for my family here on Christmas Eve. Found great packaging at Surfas for baked goodies. The boxes have an oval glassine window which I added a label of my own to. You can order online but if you are in L.A., it's definitely worth a trip to shop at a gourmet & cooking supply store the size of Macy's. Where else can you find freshly baked blue corn tart shells, beet powder, cheeses from all over the world, chef's aprons and every kind of chocolate known to man? (AND lots of cute chefs buying supplies!!)

Best Xmas Tree Ever!

A most imaginative tree assembly by Dutch artist Jane Schouten! I love how the light switch is worked into the collage. See more of the tree at her Flickr site. (Click on photo to view in detail)

Ice to Meet You

To mark the launch of TheNewIceAge.com, a giant ICE WALL was erected outside the Royal Festival Hall at London's Southbank Centre, which encompassed an array of fruit, vegetables and seafood magnificently suspended in ice. This artistic display designed by IceBox, showcased the freshness and high quality of frozen foods. So simple , so beautiful and just a wonderful winter installation.

Peace Wreath

I just love this wreath from Chiasso and for only $30, it's a great deal. Just know they are out of stock until Dec. 15th, so I'm hoping to snag one then.

Poems & Pies

This event could easily be a wet dream for anyone suffering from the munchies. This weekend here in Echo Park, Machine Project is presenting a lecture on the theory and history behind pie-making hosted by their December Artist-in-Residence Joshua Beckman and Master pie-maker Jen Bervin. They are also holding a Fry-BBQ where you bring all your stashed fryable foods, and well, you get the indulgent idea. Fry & Pie, oh dear! This week they also are continuing with their Poetry Delivery service for local residents. Machine Project hosts such interesting events and really celebrates the community of artists here in Los Angeles. 

Fabric On-Demand

Not being crafty or able to sew at all, I am still tempted to go ahead and print some of my own fabric just because you now can at Spoonflower. There is no minimum, it costs $18 a yard and is printed on quality quilting-weight cotton from Moda™. I'd love it even more if they printed on cotton heavy enough for covering furniture, maybe more options will be available in the future. A few examples from customer designs shown above.

Bits & Pieces

Beautiful fabric typography installation by Shunichiro Nakashima. 

Stitch in the City

Not your grandmother’s quilts, these modern & very graphic urban quilts from artist Amy Ahlstrom are so covetable. It’s like having a fabric poster. I so want one!

Minimal Impact Tree

If I had enough wall space I would opt for this very modern tree solution. This limited edition self-adhesive Christmas tree wall sticker from WOW (I did a post on them yesterday) is 72" x 17" and only $100. A very arty option for decorating, so fun!