Stocking Stuffers

I've put together a gift list on ThisNext of great stocking stuffers for under $10.00. I thought you might enjoy it, so here it is. Click on an image and it will take you to the ThisNext post. If you click on "Buy This Item," it will take you to where the item is available online, which will show you the price. I hope you enjoy the list!

Lights On, Nobody Home

Hi, friends. Thanks for stopping by. I have been absent from posting for a number of weeks due to technical difficulties.

During this time I have decided to intentionally continue the hiatus in order to focus on. . . my focus. I will be gone at least through the end of August. In early September I will post an update about my plans for the blog.

Thank you for your patience, and God bless you.

--LisaJay

Sarah Hood Art Jewelry

I'm just totally loving Sarah Hood's "Spice" series of necklaces. This work is truly innovative and artistic, and at the same time, completely wearable. (A problem I have with some art jewelry is that it is pretty to look at, but totally ridiculous in terms of wearability.)

Above, the necklace "Five Spices." Below, "Nutmeg." (Nutmeg!)

















via cuteable.

tags:
Sarah Hood
art jewelry
spices

Objets du Jour - Graham & Green Mugs

Cool mugs at Graham and Greene. Above, Urban Alphabet Mugs.

Below, By The Lake porcelain tea cups and saucers.
























tags:
Graham and Green
urban mugs
tea cups

Collage: Sojourner

Here's a bit of collage I put together. It is called "Sojourner."

My husband wants to know, "Now what are you going to do with it?"

I have no idea. I was only shooting to make it. Do something with it? No idea at all.

tags:
collage
Sojourner
Crafts

Objet du Jour - ISAK UK Counting Poster

I fell in love with these little birdies from ISAK UK when they were featured on Delight.Com last week. The platters and plates are nice, but this children's counting poster is IT.


I know it's not nice to play favorites, but I particularly like number 17.

tags:
ISAK UK
Delight.Com
child decor

A River Blue: Art By Children of Northern Uganda

A River Blue describes itself as an "art empowerment project for the children of Northern Uganda." These children are living in IDP (internally displaced persons) camps in Alepdong, Aloi and Amoro. A River Blue is a project of Barefoot Workshops,

a non-profit, media-based educational and development organization. Barefoot has attained a building in Alepdong to be developed as a rehabilitation and vocational center for young people, giving them the opportunity to express themselves through the arts so that they may begin to heal themselves and one another, as well as educate the international community about their situation, and acquire occupational skills for their futures.

The artworks above are by Ongora Innocent (left) and Okwir Nickson (right), while those below are by an unidentified youth artist (left) and by Ojuka Maxwell (right).


The artwork speaks for itself, and speaks volumes about the project's power and value. I thank my flickr buddy "Gadjo Dilo" for bringing it to my attention.

tags:
Northern Uganda
A River Blue
Barefoot Workshops

Madeleine Stamer Prints

Very cool prints from Madeline Stamer of Little Circus Design.


tags:
art prints
Madeleine Stamer
Little Circus Design

Objet du Jour: Bird Print Cups

Aren't these great? I love the graphics and the chic way the cups are stored/displayed. Just one thing: I would get obssessive/compulsive about making sure they were stacked correctly, and I really don't have time for that. Like, the cats wouldn't get fed because I'm messing with the cups.

Still, they're great. At Dutch By Design for $35.00

tags:
cappucino cups
Dutch by Design
tabletop

Objet du Early the Next Jour: Ryan McGinnes Soccer Ball

See, now this is cool. You don't have to be a soccer player for this to be cool. You don't even have to be the Arbiter of Cool to know that this is cool.

As described on the Vivre website:

Perfect for the athlete-aesthete, this stylish hand-stitched soccer ball is patterned with surrealist icons by artist Ryan McGinness. The ball is FIFA tournament quality. Black/gold. Size 5.

At Vivre, for $185.

tags:
soccer ball
Ryan McGinnes
Vivre

Objet du Jour - Twinkle Living "Midnight" Rug

I'm loving this rug from Twinkle Living, called "Midnight." Only $1016, at Design Public.

tags:
Twinkle Living
Design Public
area rug

Objet du Way Too Long: Warm Biscuit Fairy Diary

OK, so I went on vacation with the completely incorrect assumption that internet access would be so easy you'd never know I was away. Picture me walking the halls of my aunt's apartment building with my laptop open, trying to increase the signal of some unknown neighbor's wireless connection from one to two bars so I can post. Picture my frustration. Picture the posts I would have posted. *sigh* OK. Onward.
























To make up for it all, I've found you this delicious fairy diary from Warm Biscuit, a newly discovered online store that has me charmed completely.

Would you not have loved this as a child? Are you not tempted to buy it, on the pretense that it's for your niece, while knowing full well you'll keep it for yourself?

And here's something you should know: fairies are the new skulls. Remember, you heard it here first. (But you have to spell it "faeries." Not sure why, but know it as fact. Trust me.)

tags:
Warm Biscuit
diary
faerie

Objet du Jour - Tea Talk Teacups

I'm loving these word-play tea mugs. The list could be endless, couldn't it? Humili - tea. Adversi - tea. Indigni - tea.

I should probably leave it to the professionals.

At Wrapables for $11.95 apiece.

via Design Milk.

tags:
tea cups
wordplay
Wrapables
Design Milk

The Mane Lion Dinnerware

Lovely dinnerware from a site called The Mane Lion. Above, the Paradise Collection (my personal favorite). Below, the lovely Elspeth Collection.




















Finally, the Pastoral Pink Toile Collection, which I myself would find necessary to pair with these adorable bunnies (salt and pepper set) from the Easter Collection of specialty items.



tags:
The Mane Lion
dinnerware
dishes

Objet du . . . uh, week?

OK OK OK. I was so impressed with myself for posting three times in one day that I got all full of myself and haven't posted for a week. BAD me! Bad, bad me!

Anyway.

Let's talk Acme Studios.

































Acme Studios probably isn't new to anyone, but it's a great fav of mine and deserves a re-visit every now and then. Now is an especially good time for a visit because of these new leather business card cases, available in early July. (There are more, but I like these two the best.) On top we have "Scarlet King," and below, "Butterflies." Both are designed by Adrian Olabuenaga, and are available for $27.00.

I think the snakeskin patterned one is especially awesome.

Here are some of my other favorite Acme business card cases (I love business card cases). These are all the traditional metal cases, available for $31.00 a pop.
























Up top, "Spring," by Eva Zeisel. Love the colors. Down below, "Prospect Garden," but Michael Graves. Love the pattern. (Sucker for florals.)
























Here we've got the wonderfully grungy "Crops," by Marcel Wanders, on top. And down below, the lovely black and white "Petal," by Gabrielle Lewin. (Again, sucker for florals.)













And finally, the cool architectural style of "Collins Avenue," by Alberto Berga-Perales. And I like this one why? Let's all say it together: "BLACK AND YELLOW!"

tags:
Acme Studios
business card cases
Adrian Olabuenaga
Eva Zeisel
Michael Graves
Marcel Wanders
Gabrielle Lewin
Alberto Berga-Perales

Speaking of Buyolympia.com . . .

. . . and also of Father's Day, this incredibly AWESOME wallet would make a perfect gift. From buyolympia.com artist Tiny Meat, (or do you say tinymeat?), this "How To Make A Motorcycle" wallet is just $14.00.















And no, we weren't actually ever speaking of Father's Day. See, you are paying attention!

tags:
tinymeat
wallet
motorcycle

Speaking of Cards. . .

. . . this reminiscent-of-seventh-grade one is hysterical! Hand-printed by buyolympia.com artist Tennis Anyone, currently (unfortunately) out of stock.

When were we speaking of cards? You really aren't paying attention, are you?

tags:
greeting cards
Tennis Anyone
buyolympia.com

Speaking of Frogs . . .

. . . this one conducting the birthday orchestra makes me giggle! One of a number of cool and sometimes kitschy letterpress cards from B Designs. Here's another:
























From Diane's Collection, this is one they call "Red Shoes." (I would call it "The Angels Wanna Wear My Red Shoes." That's just me.)

What do you mean, "When were we speaking of frogs?" Have you been paying attention? Jeeeez. It was just, like, two days ago. Right here.

tags:
B Designs
letterpress cards
frogs
red shoes

Objets du Jour: Ibride Plates and Platters

I'm loving these melamine plates designed by Ibride for Habitat.

**Warning: both sites are designed, most annoyingly, in the beloathed, innavigable flash (boooo, hisssss).**

























This line of plates is called "Sorbet," and is described as follows:

With unique and dreamlike patterns created by combining photographic imagery, turn of the century line drawings, and high tech computer effects, Sorbet is perfect for outdoor dining or the most stylish midnight beach party.

Way cool, any way you serve them.

Ibride trays, also way cool, are available at Velocity Art and Design. These are made of high pressure laminate over pressed wood and paper board.
























If you don't like the squirrel tray below, well. . . there are plenty of blogs out there, so you might as well just move on.
























Eclectic Detective: arbiter of taste in laminate squirrelware.

tags:
Ibride
melamine tableware
serving platters

Objets du Jour - Scalamandre Fabric

Scalamandre "Calabassas County" Leaping Frog Cotton Print


















Scalamandre "Ewe Too" Checked Woven Chenille


















Scalamandre "Animoux" Lampas

Aren't these adorable? I spotted the froggy print in the current "Traditional Home" magazine and had to share it. Love the ewes and other critters too. How 'bout you?

All can be found at Design Diva Fabrics. The Scalamandre website is here.

tags:
Scalamandre
animal fabric

Inspired By . . . Because We Can

After months of design ennui, today I found myself looking at an interior that stirred my soul and made it cry, "Oh, yes!!!" An interior that re-lit the fire of design lust--that "I must have this" feeling we know so well.

The authors of this artistic brilliance bill themselves as a "design-build firm," but as we see in the pictures they are in fact magicians. The "they" in question is Because We Can, a "mash-up of designers and builders" led by Jeffrey McGrew and Jillian Northrup.

The photos in this post are from one of their recent projects, a "full office environment with custom one-of-a-kind desks," one of which is pictured above. Below are two views of the "engine room," where employees keep their bikes while at work.








































I could have posted literally every one of the photos from this project as an example of what I fell in love with, but instead have given you just enough to whet your appetite. This is to encourage you to go on over to the Because You Can site and have a look for yourselves.

Be sure to visit their blog, where a post about renovation of their own workspace is equally inspiring. I wish you could leave comments--I want them to make some sort of cast or mold of their Shopbot table the next time they're ready to smooth it down. They would be works of art in their own right! I'll have to send them an e-mail.

This is the best kind of good stuff. Go on over and have a look, and if you're in the San Francisco area, let them re-do your office!

OK, I've been trying for the past hour to find where I found this so I could give a via link. I have to let it go. If I got this via your blog, drop me a comment, OK?

UPDATE: My thanks to Sara for her comment. I did, indeed, find these folks on her blog, Rasco-a-go-go.

tags:
Because We Can
Design Build
Interior Design

Objet du Jour: "Romantic Flowers," from Swatch

We must have this watch. Am I wrong? Must we not?

"Romantic Flowers," $35.00, from Swatch.

Yum.


tags:
watch
Swatch
Romantic Flowers