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

Objet du Jour: My China! Emperor Rim

I've got to say how much I looooove this china pattern, My China! Emperor Rim, which I came upon via Cutable.

tags:
tableware
china pattern
Emperor Rim

Objet du Jour: Endless Necklace

The "Endless Necklace" is made entirely of clasps. Clever!












At greenergrassdesign for $88.00.

tags:
jewelry
INSERTgreenergrassdesign
necklace

Black and Yellow Week Roundup

Aw heck, "week" is an arbitrary period of time to do something, right?

Here are some great black and yellow finds. Above we have a way cool print titled "Avenge Me, Blockhead!" It's from The Little Friends of Printmaking, available for $20.00, and is currently on backorder.

If you're in the mood for gift giving, I love the giftwrap at Sprout Home, especially this "Roll of Knots" paper.
























The pendant below is from one of my favorite Etsy shops, Madison Craft Studio. It's as classy an item as you could hope to find, and a steal at $3.00. (Check out their other pendants--they have such lovely designs!)























On the other end of the spectrum (the one that ranges from small, hand-made goods to large, mass-produced goods) is this lovely piece of rolling luggage from Samsonite's Black Label line. (This one is via Spray Glue.)


I know there's more black and yellow goodness out there. I'll show 'em as I find 'em. Meanwhile, please still shoot me any finds you come across!

tags:
black and yellow
Etsy
design