giveaway : sprout studio [finished]

Sprout Studio has just the most delicious array of vintage thingies. Vintage buttons made into rings; fantastic plastic necklaces.

This weeks giveaway is for a pair of white bird earrings (left) - and they are truly lovely. They're this side of cutesy and just make me want to put on a girly dress - or at least when it gets a bit warmer.

Check out these and other delights at the SproutStudio.net

To enter the giveaway:
1. Leave a comment here with your email (or other way of contacting you if you are worried about spam).
2. Join the mailing list

enamel amore

I took an enameling class at college and I loved it - I even wanted to get my own kiln at some stage. With enamel you don't see the finished color as you work on it - you have to fire it, and wait to take it out of the kiln - a beautiful suprise or horrible mistake!

There are no horrible mistakes with these designers - all beautiful, modern and vibrant.

FEATURING:
+ target necklaces, £83, kokkino jewelry
+ samurai orange necklace, $36, verre encore
+ mid-century modern necklace, $42, orange peel enamel
+ oiseau bleu necklace, $46 AUD, dreams and jewelry
+ truss buckle, $125, swear jar design
+ raspberry drop necklace, $28, jewelry by natsuko

Want to see more enamel work? Check out my enamel wishlist on Stylehive and "hive" your favorites.

good design : esque

I came across the work of esque through the velocity art and design website a while ago. Their work is organic and playful - how can you resist the "low poked" bowl (top left).

Not only beautiful, this glasswork is eco too - all Esque glass is made with recycled glass stock; processed in anelectric furnace that's powered by wind energy.

Now that's good design!

Check out their website for more information and to buy online: www.esquedesign.com

giveaway : 2 sisters

When I received the earrings for this weeks giveway - they nearly didn't make it to the blog! They are these delicious little faceted drop beads on loosely coiled wire - both delicate and dramatic. The photo just doesn't do it justice.

The giveaway is for the earrings, but just had to show the Norah lariat necklace ($95) - what a set they make!

Check out all their work at: www.twosistersjewelryboutique.com

To enter the giveaway:
1. Leave a comment here with your email (or other way of contacting you).
2. Join the mailing list

good design : solar, so good

Fireflies in a mason jar; it's like an illusion of a charming evening somewhere in the South. In actual fact it's the brainchild of those crazy British kids from SUCK UK.

I live in the Bay Area - out of the fog bank - so solar power is very appealing, and appropriate. There is not a lot of modern solar design yet, but the designers of these products are changing that. I definitely have the solar house numbers on my wish list - and the boys would have a lot of fun with the helicopter.

Keep up the "good design"!

FEATURING:
+ mason jar solar light, $48, suck uk (available through greenergrassdesign.com)
+ solar helicopter, $32, plastica
+ solar house numbers, $19.99 each, matter inc

wall to wall

I recently heard from Fabien Barral, a graphic designer and new comer to the world of graphic wall decoration. His new venture which he started with his wife is a combination of modern iconography and vintage European charm.

For those who love typography, like I do, the "Type I" alphabet graphic will be a favorite. I can't wait to decorate the boys room and add it to the wall. After all it's fabulous and educational!

Harmonie intérieure is located in France and prices start at about 20 euros, depending on size and style. Shipping to the US is 15 euros.

Check them out at: www.Harmonieintérieure.com

giveaway : db clay [finished]

Congratulations Daisy, you won!

I love db clay wallets and have featured them several times - so forgive me if I repeat myself. Their designs are simply fabulous, especially the new puzzle line, plus the wallets are made from eco-friendly tope. I have their "Lights of Spain" wallet (lower left) and I simply adore it, not just because it is VERY well made, or because the barista at Starbucks complimented it - no, I especially love it because unlike my purse it fits nicely in my pocket. Girls....why do our purses have to be such big beasts....free yourself and go db.

Oh, that's right - it is a giveaway and db clay are giving away number 229 of their puzzle collection (see above, top). It is fabulous and truly one of a kind. You can check it out in all it's glory at: www.dbclay.com

To enter the giveaway:
1. Leave a comment here with your email (or other way of contacting you).
2. Join the mailing list

fun times

It's time for a couple of cool things for the wee folks. I love Pooki & Co, so was delighted when I saw their bag collection. They also have a little pouch just perfect for a makeup bag or pencil case. The t-shirts are by San Francisco designers, Bunny & Bee - their graphics are bold and fun. My absolute favorite is the robot t-shirt, but I also love that their girls t-shirts are cute but steer away from being prissy. If I had a girl, she would wear the girl-bot tee!

You've got flare!

There were squeals of delight when I opened my Fred Flare package to reveal my lego-esque ipod speaker. Yes, the sounds quality is not Bose - but it is so darn cute, it's irresistible!

Of course, no blog post would be complete without a few other goodies - all from Fred Flare. Oh and I am a big Fred Astaire fan too. Confused?, ask the folks at FF.

FEATURING:
+ lego ipod speaker, $25
+ yesterdays news pencils, $9
+ paul frank flip flops, $12
+ LOMO camera, $50

fashion week : academy of art university

It is fashion week, as Tim Gunn put it on the Daily Show "the Superbowl of fashion". Who knew Jon Stewart was a Project Runway fan - maybe his Men's Warehouse suits are a guise for lounging around at home haute couture.

But wait, this is really about some lovely little garments by local students from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco. I love the old school glamour with a modern twist. Very sophisticated. Very fall!

FEATURING (Know the designer for the first two? Let me know and I will credit them):
+ Design by Sherise Eways with jewelry by Melissa Christensen. Picture by Getty Images
+ Design by Jee Hyoung Jang. Photo by Bob Nittoli
+ Design by Juhee Chung. Picture by Getty Images
+ Design by Felice Morganti. Dreadlock wrap by Daniel Emir Armosilla. Photos by Bob Nittoli

giveaway : coquito designs [finished]

Congratulations to Beatriz - these earrings will be on their way to you soon!

I'm very excited about this weeks giveaway! It's for a pair of earrings from Coquito Designs' "alloy and earth" collection. The silver and gold are so delicious together - kind of makes me think there is some warm weather just around the corner!

To enter the giveaway:
1. Leave a comment here with your email (or other way of contacting you).
2. Join the mailing list

mad for plaid

I know plaids and tartans are a little on the fallish side, but I came across this lovely bag and I just had to feature it. Plus my vintage Barbie calendar seems to be travelling with a little tartan number this month.

Sketchbook bags are super cute and have a modern librarian vibe - in a good way. Like in an old 50's flick where you put a pair of glasses on Audrey Hepburn to make her look bookish - but it's Audrey Hepburn, how bookish can she be!

FEATURING:
+ tartan plaid bag, $85, sketchbook
+ plaid notecards, $6, darjeeling paper ltd
+ plaid silver ring, $38, off beat studio

buckle up : 5 men's belts

Belts for men are the equivalent of a necklace for the ladies. And since I don't know how to say the next bit without it sounding a little naughty...well, I'll just say they make a nice gift and a conversation starter. Ahem....

FEATURING:
+ walnut + turquoise buckle, $90, solido (this is an absolute favorite of mine)
+ kermit silver and stingray belt, $660, ruth avra
+ woodwater belt, $175, fourteenfifty
+ oval steel, $52.50, fosterweld
+ triple X buckle, $30, cheshire forge

see more and "hive" your favorites at:
+ WHAT designers stylehive: "belt it out"