BlueBird Hill

Sorapot Modern Teapot

I love the simple design of Joey Roth's Sorapot Modern Teapot.Only 300 will be available, so hurry!!

 

Living Room Inspiration Photos

Dining Room Inspiration Photos

Mod White Wreath

The wreath is from San Francisco's own Kenneth Wingard, and constructed of overlapping circles of powder-coated steel. How is that for something different?

Hang one on your door for the holidays, or (as Wingard suggests), lay it flat on a table and fill the center with pillar candles for an interesting centerpiece.

Available for $60.

Kiki & Polly

Artist Lisa Golightly runs this adorable website called Kiki & Polly where she incorporates your photos into an original painting. The process takes 4-6 weeks and prices vary according to size.

Bookhou Design

bookhou design was co-founded by John Booth and Arounna Khounnoraj in 2003 to showcase their individual and collaborative works emphasizing handmade natural materials and small production pieces. They have really nice furniture, housewares, ceramics and baby items. Here are a few pieces from their site:

Bathroom Scale Art

OK, now I have seen it all! Available for $95 on bathroom artist Wendy Gold's website. She also offers personalized toilet seats, but we'll leave it at scales for this post. From Art de Toilette..."Each unique design brings fun and levity to that daily moment of truth. And for an added smile, any design can be ordered with positive affirmations in lieu of numbers, or even with no numbers at all."

Yumi Yumi

These prints from Yumi Yumi are very sweet and would look great in any kid (or adult) room. Originally from Brazil, the artist (Aline) now resides in Columbus, Ohio. She's a full-time mommy and part-time artist. You can get her $10-$20 prints here on Etsy.

Jelly Beans Original Art

These watercolor reproduction paintings available on Etsy are very clean + simple and affordable ($12.00). The artist, Angie Vandenbogaard, is a current student at the University of Western Ontario, entering her fourth year of the Medical Sciences program with a minor in Classical Studies.           

Angie is self-taught and loves working with bright colors. Below are a few examples. She also has Christmas gifts tags!

 

Vacation

We'll be at Disney for a few days...postings will resume on Wednesday!

Forget a Tea Party

Forget the silly, tired tea party. Have a sushi party!! (Pretend, of course). Comes with a cleaver (again, pretend - but boy you could scare Grandma with that one!!) and chopsticks. Very hip urban baby. Available at Genius Jones for $19.95.

Life Without Plastic

Traditional Japanese urushi lacquerware is wood treated with several coats of lacquer from the urushi tree, which is extremely durable. According to the site: "It is waterproof, resists strong acids and high temperature. It almost smells like honey." Honey? OK, that's interesting. At any rate,get the 5-piece child's set for $89.95 (USD or CAD) from Life Without Plastic.

   

Paint-by-Numbers Wall Strips

These strips of wallpaper allow you to paint/color your own border - you can paint/color a little, a lot or none at all. Crayons and paint pens are recommended. Easy to hang....you only need water and three rolls will work for most rooms. Available at 2Jane for $18 per roll.

Indoor Play Houses

The days are getting colder, and the kids are stuck indoors. Here are some cute indoor tents, structures and play homes.

This first one is a super cute Mushroom House Play Structure . Kinda reminds me of Smurfs or Gnomes when I was a kid. This fun fungi is $119.95. Also shown are the Rocket Blast Off and Circus Tent. All available through Blueberry Forest Toys.

Hearthsong offers some really cute hideaways with themes such as Under the Sea, Rose Garden, and Fairy Garden for around $75. Comes with a carrying case, too!

Molly M Jewelry

BEAUTIFUL laser cut earrings and pendants from co-worker Molly McGrath. For sale through her website, or at SFMoMA, soon!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving! Lots more posts tomorrow...

Follow Your Bliss

Love this photograph from Irene Suchocki. Many more available on her site, too.

Rare Device

Rare Device is one of my favorite little online stores. I got my husband these personalized coffee mugs below for his birthday. Awwww. You can put your initials and significant date onto a carved tree. I've also included some other nice items from their site.

Thanksgiving Inspiration Photos

I'm a total sap for Thanksgiving and Christmas, so prepare yourselves for some photo insanity. Here are a some beautiful images to get you in the Fall mood!

Natural Architecture

A new book due out any moment (11/07) by Alessandro Rocca (and published with princeton architectural press) is called Natural Architecture. These projects are meant to "comment on architecture and provide a new framework to approach buildings and structures." I just think the photos are really cool. Here are a few photos from the book:

(projects are 'la tonnelle’ by gilles bruni and marc babarit, 1996; 'organic highway' by mikael hansen 1995; 'the streampath' by gilles bruni and marc babarit, 1998; 'clemson clay nest' by nils-udo, 2005; 'weidendom' by sanfte strukturen, 2001; 'convex:concave' by armin schubert, 2003; 'organism' by armin schubert, 2005; 'running in circles' willow and maple saplings, patrick dougherty, 1996)

Ikea Hackers

Did you know there is an entire counterculture of people who take Ikea designs and 'hack' them? It's pretty fun to see what people can do with a $19 Lack table. The blog Ikea Hacker even had a contest at one point earlier in the year. I could lose HOURS looking through the cool ideas people have come up with.

But no Ikea posting is complete without their delicious Swedish Meatballs! I cannot get through the store without downing a plate of these puppies. Click HERE for the recipe.

This first item is the result of someone buying an extra Ikea brace frame. He added some plexi, cables and a light and made a light sculpture.

Here is some clever little cat furniture made with Ikea shelves:

A customized craft containment device using an Ikea Fira chest:

 

And this one is my favorite, an Ikea Regolit light with little drink umbrella embellishment:

California Photos

Yes, we have earthquakes and the housing is too expensive, but when you see photos like this....well, you see why people move here! Photos of the Golden Gate and Yosemite are by tychay on Flickr.

Cute Baby Booties

These adorable little shoes are crocheted by Heather's Treasure Box and available from Mahar Drygoods. These are made to order and $40 a piece.

Filigree Cupcake Wrapper

I thought these were pretty. Perfect for a baby shower or tea party. Very fancy. Available here for $12 (for 12).

Ida Pearle Alphabet Cards

Beautiful set of 26 alphabet cards from the cut-paper collages of New York artist Ida Pearle. These would be very cute in a nursery. Available here for $45.

Stuffed Animal Chairs

As stated earlier, I have a personal interest in harnessing stuffed animals. It's outta control. Here is something you don't see everyday...stuffed animal banquette chairs! How crazy are these limited edition chairs? Chairs are designed by Fernando and Humberto Campana and offered through Moss. You know when it says 'price upon request' you're in trouble. So, let's just enjoy this clever chair and leave it at that.

Reference Books

 

Playroom Inspiration Photos

Boy Rooms - Inspiration Photos

Girl Room Inspiration Photos - Pastels

 

Living Spaces

Cute Birthday Gift Ideas

Here are some cute ideas and items for a little something different come b-day party time.

Adopt a real, live animal through WWF:

A cute felt birthday cake to decorate all on your own:

 

For the little scientist in your life - some bug and bird badge sets. Can't find these at Toys R Us!

 

Who wants to be restricted by what BARBIE wants? He/She can design their own dreamhouse!

 

Forget Nintendo, take them back to the old days with a Viewfinder!

Blackboard Globe

Available at Muji, this blackboard globe is made of fsc-certified wood. This would make a really cool holiday gift!

Flocks Pouf

Flocks Pouf, available at DWR is pretty cool. Could be a fun ottoman or funky side table.

From DWR:

Using extra-large knitting needles produced specifically for her enterprise, Christien Meindertsma's Flocks Pouf (2006) is hand knit using strong wool from New Zealand crossbred sheep. The pouf is available in two sizes (medium: light grey, large: dark grey) to accommodate use as a seat, occasional table, ottoman or even as a purely organic sculpture. As a testament to Mother Nature (who we know can't be rushed) and the few craftspeople who know how to knit at this scale, the Flocks Pouf will not be in stock until early January, 2008. However, a Flocks gift card and wool swatch will be sent in the meantime for each order. Hand knit in the Netherlands.

Heath Ceramics

My husband and I were yammering (ok, I was yammering) on and on to my in-laws about the plates at our recent dinner out in the city. Heath Ceramics is close to home and one of our all-time favorite brands. The company is one of the few remaining mid-century American potteries still in existence today. They have been making tableware and tile for over a half-century in their Sausalito, California factory. The crew of 40 skilled artisans still makes every product on the premises, often utilizing the methods and techniques developed by Edith (founder) throughout her career.

Table Settings

In honor of Thanksgiving - here are some table setting photographs I thought were pretty...

Lotta Jansdotter

Lotta Jansdotter was born in Scandinavia and lived in San Francisco (Nob Hill) until  very recently. Now her studio is in Brooklyn. She creates beautiful screenprinted stationary, bags, clothing and home items. Available here.

Modern Printed Matter

I love the stationary, calendars and cards from the Rhode Island-based artist, Anna Cote and her company, Modern Printed Matter.

Home Office Ideas

Playhouses and Treehouses

Outdoor Living Rooms

Cute Kid's Room

Recycled Magazine Mobiles

I really want one of these! These beautiful mobiles are constructed using imagery from recycled magazine pages. Each two sided piece is hand cut and strung with monofilament. Each mobile is a handmade and takes up to eight hours to construct. Between $85 and $200 and available at Frazier & Wing.

Feeding Time (for grown-ups)

Just when you think everything has been done, you come across a coffee mug like this. Very imaginative! The Mocha Dunk Mug is billed as "a must-have for every cookie lover" and is available in both left and right handed versions. All this ingenuity for only $23.00.

French Bull makes the coolest melamine plates. Lots of different designs and all shatterproof! Available through Plum Party.

Alyssa Ettinger makes some beautiful, unusual ceramics for your table. I love the cable knit sweater vases.

Feeding Time

Here are some cute little items for mealtime. The first is called the Loopa Spill-Resistant Bowl. It boasts "revolutionary spill technology" (huh?!) and a rotating inner bowl. Good luck getting little Sally to eat when the bowl looks like a big 'ol toy. I personally think it looks JUST like the contraption Jodie Foster got into at the end of her movie "Contact" (right before she met some aliens). Available for $7.99 here.

 

These plates, bowls, bibs, and place mats from Crocodile Creek are super cute. Nice prints and your whole table can match like Garanimals. Very fun. Available here.

 

 

Outdoor Eating - 2

Outdoor Eating

Here are some gorgeous photos of dining al fresco!

Modern Bathrooms

Part 2: Clean, Modern Kitchens

Clean, Modern Kitchens

Some photos of cool, modern kitchens: