more blue munday: Blue Pelican books

Look at this awesome collection of Pelican Books over at Ace Jet 170- (images from Ace Jet 170) The covers are just stunning! Do any of you have any of these? I gotta start keeping an eye out!

blue munday: paper vacuum in Real Simple

Happy Munday. I continue to be impressed with Real Simple's paper sculpture art they've been using for their division pages. April 2007's issue had a cleaning supply theme, which always holds a special affection with me. The fact that it was all in blue tones too didn't hurt either. The sculptures were created by Matthew Sporzynski (click on his name to more of his amazing pieces) and photographed by Monica Buck. My favorite is the vacuum cleaner. The April issue had some great ideas for organizing as well as some interesting facts I did not know about. I am planning on trying some of the tips for organizing my laundry area, which I'll update later (after I actually do it) and here is a link to their fascinating article about "how safe is your kitchen?"

TGIF!

Happy FRIDAY! woo hoo! hope you enjoy it, (despite the fact that it's friday the 13th)
if you get the chance, have a sexy party!...

New shades of grey

As many of you recall, my great Grey obsession of Summer 06-(and which still continues today)... well, I thought I'd give you an update as to how that has affected me. Here are a few new grey things that have recently somehow... miraculously...(hehe) come into my life... First, is my new print from Patent Pending Industries. Oh joy did a post about them awhile back, and I couldn't resist this one. Next up are these awesome glasses I got at Maison Midi, which is connected to the American Rag store. I got these at the one in Fashion Island. This was another example of weakness, but c'mon- grey with fluorescent orange trim detail? Wrap it up! Maison Midi is a great place for unique dishes and glasses. I wish they had a website, but alas, I guess they're keepin' it old skool. Finally, I had been longing for the Jonathan Adler Money tree platter from his Utopia Collection ever since I saw it at the NYIGF. However, it was just too much for me to afford. Then, they had that big sale recently, and lo and behold, the platter was on sale too! I'm so happy I got it, and it was a great deal cuz now it's not on sale anymore! It's not really techinically grey, but it looks grey-ish due to the finish. Speaking of JA, I have always regretted never getting one of his aorta vases, which he doesn't make anymore. If anyone knows where I might still be able to find one, please let me know.... Have any of you added any grey things into your lives lately?

funny...

Thought this site was hillarious! Thanks to Miss Chiffonade for pointing it out-

Tree Blocks

Remember Lincoln logs? Well, I randomly came across these real wood toys, but I kinda find these much cooler! Welcome to the world of Tree Blocks! I don't know if they're originally from the UK, or if they're based out of Santa Barbara (perhaps its the US distributor?), but they say they're "elves" so... perhaps that would explain the mystery. The UK site looks more developed, so my money is on them as originators. Anyway, regardless, their toys are so great. The pieces are made from reclaimed wood, discarded from paper forests. I love that many pieces retain the actual bark. How Lord of the Rings is this house set? And these sets could look amazing simply as sculpture on a coffee table or in a bookcase. The most stunning are these "toad stools" but sadly they're apparently out of stock (boo...) What fun huh? As we say over at I(k)NW, "wood is good!"

I REALLY found it!

One of the columns I love about Domino is the "found it" where they try to find something they've seen and come up with either the actual thing, or a really close alternative. Well, this month's "found it" was a little dissappointing. The writer saw this leaf "garland" at a friend's house, and ended up finding this other garland, but honestly, the two are sooooo not the same.However, I am proud to say, that I actually "found it!"- Well, at least found something that looks very very similar to the original photo. Turns out it's not "garland" at all, but rather a metal sculpture. It's actually a little heavy, and I'm suprised that whoever owns the original was able to secure it to the mirror, but I guess it's totally possible. Anyways- I found this metal sculpture at a recent estate sale. It was a bit expensive, but I kinda just went for it. I don't think I'm going to have it in my house.. but I may use it in another project, or re-sell it... but anyways- what do you think? Did I "find it"?

Blue Munday: Breakfast at... Sears?

"Tiffany" blue, so iconic, so soothing, so lovely. It automatically conjures up so many images and associations of fancy living and one "very stylish girl." I spotted this surprisingly elegant dinnerware set at Sears. Crisp white china, with chrome/silver lines and "tiffany" light blue edge. The whole set is $119.99. Currently the website says it's out of stock, but I saw these in-store, and they looked quite nice and solid actually. I particularly loved the matching teapot, sugar bowl, and there was also a tablecloth (not shown) and some fun napkins. It's part of Sears's "Everyday Luxe" collection, and comes in a black/white version too.

Happy Mundane Easter Weekend

I hope you all had a great weekend. Mine was pretty much mundane. but a Happy Mundane. I originally had some plans for Sunday, but they all sorta fell through or were postponed. So I was left with a day with completely no agenda. It was overcast here in OC, and it left me with this quiet lazy "grey" feeling. Not exactly excited. Not exactly bored. I suppose just... content?
The trees in my complex are starting to bloom with bursts of white flowers. It's like little popcorn clusters. Its really quite pretty. Today, with the grey sky back drop, they appeared much more subdued, but still fresh and bright.Everything was pretty much closed, except for supermarkets, so I stopped by to stock up on rations. Had myself a really basic mundane lunch, but it tasted a whole lot better than it usually does today. By the way, if you haven't tried Trader Joes Roasted Tomato Salsa- go run and get some, and pick up some White corn tortilla chips while you're at it. Yum!Anyways- I hope you had an enjoyable weekend. A new week is here. The busy work week begins. Hope you have a good one!

all about lighting...

It's funny how lighting can totally change your perception of something isn't it? I was watching this new video for "Makes me wonder" from Maroon 5. I actually enjoy the song, but the video itself is what really caught my attention. I will forever have a thing for airports. I find a certain inherent glamour about it, and have always been attracted to the whole "transport" aesthetic, as well as all things airline/stewardess-esque. This video has all that, (as it's set in an airport) but what I found interesting was the lighting they used. There's a pink/lavender hue that's cast in several of the scenes throughout the video, and I can't help but think that the video wouldn't be as interesting had it not been for the lighting. With the pink/lavender hue, you get this sexy glamorous futuristic vibe, but if you can imagine it without it, it probably would just look kinda... normal? See for yourself:

Colored lighting isn't anything new, but have you considered using it in your own home? My downstairs guest bathroom is kinda weird. The toilet is actually in a separate little room of its own. It's a small..."water closet" and I didn't really know what to do with it. The rest of the room that adjoins it, as many of you have seen before, has this sorta vintage-y tropical feel. I ended up getting the bright idea (pun intended) to simply place a hot pink light bulb inside. It was cheaper and easier than paint, and it quickly transformed the awkward space and gave it fun unexpected character. Have any of you used colored lighting in your home?

UPDATE: just for kicks, here's another favorite airport themed video I love. (NOTE: turn down your sound, for some reason this one is louder than usual)

Dos Lagos futuristic bridge in Corona

As a design lover that happens to live in suburbia, I'm always excited when I see something new and forward thinking appear there. Case in point: I was recently in the "IE"- (Inland Empire) specifically the city of Corona, and went to the new Dos Lagos shopping center. Now the center itself was nothing that exciting. Typical new outdoor-ish mall development, but what caught my eye was this amazingly striking and cool looking pedestrian walkway that cut through a man made lake and had a waterfall that followed it. I posted this on AT:LA yesterday, but thought I'd also share it here as well. It looked like something you'd expect to see in some new development in Asia or Europe, but not here in .... Corona! I highly applaud all those that let this pass and get made (it was designed by Nardi Associates, by the way). We need more forward thinking people to bring back the fusion of art and public environments. Have any of you been to this place?

1.51 Miles of String

Saw this great post on Dezeen, about the temporary shop within Selfridges in London. Called "1.51 Miles of String", it is part of a series of installations that coincide with the exhibition Surreal Things: Surrealism and design, from the V&A museum. I'm so fascinated by it. It kind of reminds me of a weird web, but I'm curious if it is all one long strand? If it is, that's pretty amazing. It's like one big "cat's cradle" game gone wild!

J.otto is back!

As a huge fan of Mr. Seibold's work, I was very sad to see his old site (jotto.com) had gone down- BUT I just got a comment from him and it's back! (well, he got a new domain name) YAY! He said, "...yeah, somehow I couldn't prove I was me when re-registering my domain (after ten years!)... and in the process, someone who needed to make a crappy gambling site was able to nab the jotto.com. So, tell everyone this sordid tale..." I guess moral of the story is, keep tabs of your domain name and make sure you renew it before it goes! Here's more in his own words. Well, I'm thrilled he's back (not that he ever left, just his site) and looks like we'll get to see more books and projects in the near future. He also recently completed some fantastic posters for St. Judes Pediatric Cancer Treatment center.

And he has a blog as well! Catch up on what he's been up to- (click on news) Check out all his characters/books, and even download a fun paper box!

MORE blue munday: Chloe+work in Progress

I have a love/hate thing with actress Chloe Sevigny. But love her or hate her, you gotta love these limited edition posters. They were designed by Work in Progress, and are part of Self Service magazine's issue that pays tribute to her. They are available at Colette's eshop. My favorite is are the two shots with the blue type. So graphic and bold!

blue munday: turquoise fireplace

Happy munday. How was your weekend? It was another fantastic So Cal weather weekend here. I checked out the CA Boom 4 show, which I'll be posting highlights from on AT:LA. CA Boom featured tons of resources and vendors, and was the perfect place to outfit your home if you were planning a renovation. If I could build my own home, I'd definitely want to find a place for a cool turquoise fireplace, like this one from Sunset Magazine. I love how they juxtaposed it with the grey-ish tiles. The rest of the cottage this fireplace is from is pretty amazing too. Check it out here.

mundane aesthetic: apples & oranges

Throwing up some shade... finally.

The other day was a big one for me. (sorry, this may be a long post) I've been living in my house now for several years... got myself situated... bought "grown up" things, like a real couch... light fixutres... nice artwork... but there was one area that I kind of neglected, until now... proper window treatments. (gasp!) yes. I have been living without proper window treatments for years. But some who've seen pics of my place will say, but you have shades- they're white? Well, yeah... this is true. However, if you actually looked at what they were... you'd be surprised.When most people move into a new home, some people will throw up newspapers, or old sheets to act as temporary window coverings. Well, I used sheets of packing foam. With simple scotch tape, these sheets stuck to my windows. Because they were perforated, I could cut them perfectly to size. Because they were foam, they were semi-opaque, and let in nice diffused light. And frankly, they looked great if you didn't really examine them. So up they stayed... and never came down. Every now and then, the tape would wear out, or a draft would tear the foam or whatever, and I'd simply just roll out another sheet and tape it back in place!

I loved my packing foam sheet curtains. They were great. I highly recommend them if you are temporarily without curtains.

But there comes a time in everyone's life, when one just has to come to the realization that it's time to take some responsibility in your decor. You need to give the proper window treatments your house deserves. I'm not really a curtain/drapes kinda guy. So... I just went to the nearby 3-Day Blinds to see what they had to offer. Ok, one thing about 3-day blinds. It's not that you get your blinds in three days, but rather, it takes them 3 days to actually make your blinds (all orders are custom made). I did not know this. It didn't really matter, because I really wasn't in a hurry. (I waited this long right?) However, my 3-day blinds experience on the whole was a pleasurable one. In the end, I opted for the "dual" shade system. The "dual" shade is essentially two types of shades in one. They are the honeycomb type, but with both sheer and semi-opaque all in one piece. This gives you the flexibility to control how much sheer or semi-opaque you want. In the end, my windows are now properly covered. I feel better. It feels finished. My windows have... closure.

UPDATE! Method Bloq

I got an update to the post I did the yesterday, directly from the source! (and they gave me a much better photo!) The kind folks at Method told me that the "Bloq" line will launch mid-April (next month!). It will be available in four formats: body wash, lotion, shave cream, and bar soap. The Bloq line is naturally derived, biodegradable, paraben-free, and has not been tested on animals. There will also be four scents that have been designed to match four moods: green mint for the "go getter", water flower for the "pure minimalist", beach sage for the "escape artist", and citron leaf for the "eternal optimist." I can't wait to see what these smell like. I'm thinking I might be Beach sage, but I'm always drawn to citrus flavors... although I love mint too... I wonder what "water flower" would smell like?... Which one do you think you'd go for?

candy grass

Spring is here and thus comes easter basket season! Traditionally, the first step for filling your basket is with that annoying plastic grass that gets everywhere. The other day at Target, I noticed that there was this bag of "candy grass." At first I just assumed it meant that it was grass for candy. No big deal. But then I looked at it again, and flipped it over to see if it had ingredients. Sure enough, it was edible. I, of course, was intrigued, so had to try it. What does candy grass taste like? Well... like nothing. period. It has no taste. Its so weird. I was so fascinated by these non-tasting strips. I brought them into the office, and everyone else kind of kept eating them too. They just dissolve in your mouth. Someone commented that it kind of has that ricecake "non-flavour". They also look like shredded paper strips. I liked that they were white too, I could see using these for a really modern easter basket. Maybe something in a clear lucite box ... anyway... In case you were wondering what candy grass was... now you know.

Ceramics Greatest hits

I realize these have been out for awhile, but I've been looking for a good gift for a party coming up . These would make a great housewarming present (or for yourself!). Taking cues from the best of Mid-Century design, this 5 piece set is only about $40. They come in a cool round box too! Part of Rosanna Inc's "American Bungalow" series, it comes in all white, or mulit color.Also really loving these pretty blue toned ceramic beach bottles, also from Rosanna Inc.

Method Bloq

So more Method news... I spotted this tidbit in the latest Monocle magazine, about Method launching a new bodycare line this month. Called "Bloq"- it not surprisingly features innovative packaging, and as with all the Method products, is going to be readily available to the masses (ie. it will be at Target and Duane Reade). The picture they showed in Monocle was annoyingly tweaked with a red overlay, so you can't really see what it looks like. Has anyone seen it out yet? It looks cool from what I can decifer. The design was by Josh Handy, who formerly worked as product director for Karim Rashid. According to the article, the "Bloq" design was a "spur of the moment" creation. They originally were going with a round bottle design code-named "Seed" but found that they couldn't place it properly on store shelves or in the shower. Handy apparently then came up with the "bloq" cube design and everyone loved it and went with it. So many great designs come up like that. You start out one way, and then you take a step back at the last minute and realize it's not working, and then quickly everything changes but works out best at the end. Have any of you experienced that? I'm hoping to get more info on the Bloq, and will keep you posted...

blue munday: Bonjour Tristese

It's supposed to rain tonight... This is one of my favorite movie opening sequences by the genuis that is Saul Bass.