designer ANTHONY BURRILL

There are some universal truths, there are also some universal words of advice "Keep Calm and Carry On" being on of them. But if you are tired of "Keep Calm...and fill in the blank" there's a new slogan in town. "I like it. What is it?".

It's simple, and for me it's how I see a lot of design. I can't help it, I am just shallow and a bit of a design spectator. I love fashion that I don't have the guts - or place - to wear. I love jewelry that's either too lethal or too delicate to wear around children who will (a) eat it (b) bury it or (c) add it to their spaceship/fort/strange creature.

Most of all - and I don't know why - I love a good old trip to the hardware store. There are bins upon bins of strange looking things that are metal, the weight of a small car and only cost 32c - to that I can only think "I like it. What is it?"

The "I like it. What is it?" poster by British designer, Anthony Burrill is a printed on 100% recycled paper using the traditional woodblock printing method. Each open edition print is hand signed in pencil by the artist.

"I like it. What is it?" and other work is available online through the Anthony Burrill website.

photography THE SINISTER PENGUIN

I don't know much about the Sinister Penguin apart from his Flickr profile has him residing above London. "Above London" could mean any number of things including "I'm better than London!" or "I'm a sparrow". What is obvious is that he is (a) talented (b) odd and (c) a fan of Amazon.com.

To me, his work is sooooooooo awesomely cute that I want to pinch it's cheeks!

Check out more of The Sinister Penguin on Flickr

designer GOCCO*BOOM

These pieces come from gocco*boom's days of the week series. Although, I'm not sure what day if the week is "geting arrested for being a dressmakers form". Must be 6:08pm on Wednesday.

I absolutely love this work -it would definitely adorn the wall of my fantasy design studio.

Check out more designs from the gocco*boom website

designer SUB STUDIO

Here is the latest print from Sub Studio. Doesn't it just make you want to go on a hike. Although, that does sound terribly like exercise. Hmmm, I wonder if they have hiking on the Wii Fit?

Check out more from this designer at the sub-studio website

sale MAKESHIFT MODERN

I just got word from Julie at Makeshift Modern that she's having a sale on her 8x10 prints. These prints are printed on metallic paper which gives the artwork a subtle glow - really lovely.

Prints are $7 and include FREE shipping!

For more information visit the makeshift modern website

go shopping : FALL DESIGN GUIDE

I've just launched Fall edition of the INDEPENDENT DESIGN SHOPPING GUIDE. The guide features work from Britain, France, Australia, Canada and, of course, the US. It's international flavor is matched by the individuality of the designers creations. I mean, how delicious is a hand embroidered revolver on wool herringbone fabric?

Some of the designers have generously offered free shipping and other discounts...but you'll have to check out the guide to see who's offering what and why!

Check it out: INDEPENDENT DESIGN SHOPPING GUIDE // FALL 2008

Featuring the work of:
Home:
Napoleon, One Up Designs, J-me, Etcetera Media, harmonie intérieure

Art + Paper Products:
12 Fifteen, Sweetbeets

Fashion:
Ahpeele, enju

Jewelry:
Simone Walsh, Alice Roche, Caught Red Handed, Coquito, Jewelry by Natsuko

Bags + Accessories:
Moop, Backerton, Paco+Lupe, Sarah Padgham

Baby + Kids:
Ciuccio, Sweetbeets

word up (Stylehive guest post)

Here's my latest guest post for Stylehive and I was thrilled to have the post featured on the front page of their e-magazine. That's very AWESOME!

FEATURING [clockwise from top left]:
+ Filthy Necklace, $50, Trashy Deluxe
+ Words Bracelet, $18, Paloma’s Nest
+ Yes No Maybe t-shirt, £36, YesNoMaybe
+ Nosce Teipsum Ring, $65, Melanie Favreau
+ C’est La Vie poster, $45, studio mela
+ Now Later Never magnets, $10, Cicada Studio

...AND HERE'S SOME MORE
+ snob bracelet, £50, Tallulah Tu
+ Love t-shirt, $21, Neneee
+ Rockstar bracelet, $14, insane jellyfish
+ OK light, $30, Perch!
+ Make Out t-shirt, $32, Every Little Counts
+ big words bracelet, $6, boqinana
+ Optimism buttons, $9, Reed Seifer
+ Typewriter key necklace, $20, Keys + Memories

READ: the post on StyleHive

makeshift modern

Ahh...it's been a while since my last post. I've been working on the INDEPENDENT DESIGN GUIDE // SPRING 2008 - which I have just launched, but more about that later!

Recently, designer/illustrator Julie of Makeshift Modern contacted me about her work - and what a lovely suprise! My favorite, noodle bowl, was even more fabulous in person. Her work is printed on Kodak Endura metallic paper, which sounded a little odd, but in actual fact gives the prints a subtle luminosity. The effect is somewhat reminiscent of gelatin-silver prints in early photography, but this time in color.

These prints are not only beautiful, but very affordable at $8 - $13 a print and available online through the Makeshift Modern store.

giveaway : ink & wit [finished]

+ + and the winner is: SignFoo + +

Tara Hogan's work strikes that delicate balance between modern and whimsical. Letterpressed, cool bright colors on warm white paper are her trademark. This print is so delicious, and although I could see it on any wall, my mind jumps to a nursery of first time parents.

The giveaway is for this limited edition print - very limited - apart from the 2008 calender, only 11 prints were made. The giveaway doesn't include matting or frame - but pop in to Ikea or Target and I'm sure you'll find something delightful.

This, and other limited edition prints, is available online for $15 - $40 at Ink + Wit.com

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


+ Congratulations to KerOwyn the winner of the Miss Ficklemedia giveaway!

what + lexie sullivan

Let me welcome Lexie Sullivan to the WHAT designers website.

I love Lexie's work, so was thrilled when she contacted me about participating in WHAT designers. The style is a fabulously modern, but fun and organic too.

See more at WHATdesigners.com and LexieSullivan.com

the art of wood

When Joe Futschik of JefDesigns emailed me about his new collection of silkscreen wood panels, I was amazed by the design and touched by the sentiment. One of the pieces, Fritillia, was dedicated to his mother who died from cancer early this year.

Each one is a signed limited edition print and feature a variety of sea creatures. What I love about JefDesigns, is that the work is undoubtedly modern, but the influence of nature boldly apparent.

Of course, any blogger worth their salt would have blogged about the new collection months ago. But, as usual, I felt compelled to find some other wonderful examples of art-on-wood pieces. I did throw in a cutting board, but go ahead, hang it on the wall anyway - it's lovely!

CLOCKWISE:
+ octopus art panel, $150, jefdesigns
+ branch with lichen, $90, groundwork
+ diver cutting board, $38, olze and wilkens (available through elsewares)
+ mylo, $75, melissa moss (available through WHAT designers)

animal magnetism

I am not a big fan of cute things, but cute with an air of menace - well, hell yes.

Artist Emily Martin's work is just fabulous and reminds me a little of Yoshimoto Nara - without the knives.

The above prints are $13 each and available directly from the artists store.

feeling restless

Printed on vintage love letters, envelopes, and book pages - artist Olivia Jeffries works are sweet and surreal. The illustrations are just lovely in the best possible way and wryly retro. But when printed or drawn over old correspondence, the works become infused with a bittersweet soul.

Available through the artist's etsy store.

octopus me

Oooh, these saucy cephalopods are popping up everywhere I look....even in my email!

They are pretty clever creatures too; disguising themselves, opening jars, navigating mazes - plus expert baccarat players

Whether mythical monster or delicious dish - here are few items for everyone's taste.

TOP (l to r):
+ big head octopus pendant, $15, squid glass
+ hot pink octopus necklace, $20, relish dress
+ octopus sillouette necklace, $12.25, happy hour housewives

MIDDLE (l to r):
+ silk octopus tie, $20, jes switaj
+ "live" greeting card, $4, apak
+ octopus tee, $24, looking for fiddleheads

BOTTOM (l to r):
+ giant octopus buckle, $18, under the big top
+ kids octopus tee, $18, turtle papers