Objet du Jour: "Messy" Tablecloth

I love this tablecloth on so many levels. The graphic is wonderfully irreverent, and the simple needlepoint treatment projects a lovely indie/handmade aesthetic.
























Also, it colors outside the lines! I love it when art breaks through its frame; there's probably an arty word for that, but as I have no background whatever in art or design of course I don't know it. If there isn't a word for it, there should be. I played around with the concept a bit in this piece from my Flickr photostream. (Yes, I'm aware I'm rambling. It's been a long day.)

In any case, the tablecloth is by AZEdesign, and I spotted it on a blog called roadside scholar, which is well worth a look.

tags:
AZEdesign
tablecloth
needlepoint
roadside scholar

Objet du Jour: HateMail

Sometimes the sentiment you want to express is hard to find in the greeting card section of your local drugstore. For example, "Thanks for trying, but you blew it. I appreciate the effort but here's how and why it was a disaster." Nothing could be more perfect than this "Good Intentions" notecard, from the HateMail collection by CarolLeeDesigns on Etsy.

With Valentine's Day right around the corner, this may be just the time to look for the perfect sentiment.

















tags:
greeting cards
Etsy
CarolLeeDesigns

Objets du Jour: Clio Tableware

Handmade ceramic cheese platter. Waaaaay cool.
























"Improved Crockery" dinnerware. Tres chic.
























"Seconds" teapots. Ah, the irony. No, not irony. What do I mean? Literalcy. Literality. Literalness. Yes, my spellchecker tells me the latter is correct. (However, I prefer "literality.")

This type of literality is part of a design trend. I'll track down some other examples for you one of these days.

All available at Clio.

tags:
tableware
Clio
design trends

Handmade Christmas

I made this for my niece, Laura, for Christmas. She loved it. (Oh, look at it big, please do! You just have to click on the picture. This took me hours and hours over weeks and weeks--truly a labor of love!)

This Christmas all of my gifts were handmade or thrift store items. I had a blast, spent no more than $5.00 on any one gift, and really scored some bargains: my sister-in-law got a genuine Coach handbag that I'd found at Goodwill for $3.00!

My niece is sixteen, and she was simply mesmerized by all of the images on the box, which included lots of subtle references to her life going back to childhood ("oh my gosh, a TROLL!") I also made her a nice necklace with Swarovski crystals. My niece is pretty special to me.

tags:
decoupage
crafts
handmade gifts

Objet du Jour: Yada Yada Yoga Frogs

It's been so long, do I even remember how to do this?

Hell, it's not rocket science. . . .











I was filled with joy by these yoga frog figurines. Enough so that I had to break my over-long silence and post them for you. Some of you out there might have some very tense frogs on your hands, so it's the least I could do.

Available over at Art & Artifact: $59.95

tags:
yoga
frogs
figurines
Art & Artifact

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