the obsessive imagist | art, design, life

LET'S GET KINETIC

2012-02-17T08:48:00.001-05:00

Are you excited about the long weekend? I am spending it with my parents and my fiancé's parents planning the wedding. Should be fun!

Anyway, I thought I would leave you with a look at all things "kinetic". Above are the gorgeous kinetic hanging lamps created by the London-based designer Michael Anastassiades. Meant to be a modern take on a chandelier, each arm of the lamps rotate like a Calder mobile. Learn more about these beauties here.

Even though this video, of the Kinetica Art Fair in London, is a recap of the exhibitions held in 2011, it still features an unbelievable array of technological artwork. The 2012 exhibition looked equally amazing; learn more about it and see some of the work included here.

Have a great weekend all! See you back here (with a late post) on Monday!

PUMP UP THE VOLUME: WIRELESS SPEAKERS

2012-02-16T08:23:00.000-05:00

Now that I have officially worked my iPad into my daily routine, I am starting to be on the look out for cool accessories to trick it out. Enter the Zooka! It is a concept for a speaker (donate to their Kickstarter fund to ensure it goes into production!) that works wirelessly and fits seamlessly on top of your iPad or MacBook. Cool right? I particularly love the idea that they are making a special glow in the dark version specially for their Kickstarter campaign. Thanks to the Design Ark for the tip.

Reading about the Zooka reminded that somehow I have never posted about the Jambox by Jawbone. What?! Basically the Jambox is also a super cool wireless speaker that prides itself on being rad looking, powerfully loud, and surprisingly small. At $199 it is a bit of an investment—we are, for example, registering for one for my wedding—but one that would certainly not disappoint. I love all the colors it comes in and can only imagine all the ways you could use it: movie night, parties, midnight dance sessions. :) The list goes on and on!

Learn more about the Jambox and buy one here.

MARKO MANEV GETS SUPER SIMPLE

2012-02-14T10:25:00.002-05:00

I have a thing for simple, clean posters (as you have seen here, here and here). But Macedonian designer Marko Manev's minimalist renditions of Marvel super heroes (including my all-time favorite Wolverine!) are the perfect combination of visual interest and clarity. They capture the power of the characters without forgoing their idiosyncrasies--I love how the posters look a little creased and worn like their rough-and-tumble subjects.

See more (and buy your own copy!) here and learn more about Manev here.

IDEAS FOR THE LAST MINUTE VALENTINE

2012-02-13T08:44:00.001-05:00

With Valentine's Day on a Tuesday this year, you may have already spent this past weekend cuddling with your sweetheart and whispering sweet nothings to each other. But in case you are celebrating tomorrow and are still looking for the right way to show you care, here are some great last minute ideas to ring in the day of love.

write a love note | DIY valentine cards
1. Kissing Thaumatrope, The Brooding Hen
2. Valentine Scrabble Gram, Oh Happy Day
3. Pixelated Pop Up Card, mini eco

send an e-card | instant gratification
4. Big Love E-Card, Kate Spade
5. Love You To Pieces E-Card, West Elm

get crafty | cute, quick projects
6. Sweet Nothings Mini Megaphone, Design*Sponge
7. Naturally Sweet Food Stickers*, twigandthistlestore
8. I Love You Garland, Lovely Indeed

*Though these are available for purchase (and therefore not technically "instant"), you could easily make your own version with office supply stickers—just make sure you put them on plastic containers and not the food itself.

Looking for more love-ly ideas? Head here and here.

A CATHEDRAL OF LIGHT

2012-02-10T08:53:00.000-05:00

How incredible is this? It's called the Luminarie de Cagna and it is a huge cathedral-like structure, over 90 feet high, made out of 55,000 LED lights. 55,000! It was created as part of the 2012 Light Festival held in Ghent, Belgium at the end of January. And it is affirming my belief that all of the coolest art installations happen in Europe (like this and this).

This weekend if you need a break from valentine's candy (as if!) and are looking for some eye candy instead, here are a couple of links to tide you over until we return on Monday:

Don't have a planner yet (me neither!)? This Etsy store has some amazing (and practical) designs.

The branding for this company is perfect.

I made my own version of this cool necklace and am totally in love. Sally is brilliant!

As you know, I am graphic design geek and am a big fan of George Lois. These remind me why!

I am contemplating hanging one of these in front of my white bookcases. What do you think?

Escalators are not just for riding! These are too beautiful to be purely utilitarian.

This gorgeous video reminds me much how spectacular our country's natural wonders are. And how much I want to go visit them!

What are you up to for the next couple days? I have a fun dinner date with my hubby-to-be to celebrate VDay and afterwards we are going to watch the best movie of all time. Hope you have something fun planned too!

SLIP ON SOME STRIPES (AGAIN)

2012-02-09T08:19:00.000-05:00

In case you missed it, yesterday I did a round up of some of my favorite stripy clothing. Well, in keeping with my obsessive tendencies, I found SO much amazing attire to share with you that I had to throw in another round. Without further ado, here it is!

from left to right (diagonally), top row to bottom row:

1 ///// Girls striped sequin heart tee*, JCrew, on sale for $29.99
2  ///// Loosened Stripes Tank, Anthropologie, $88
3  ///// Ribbed shimmery striped tank, Gap, $19.95
4  ///// Livia Knit Top, Kate Spade, $145
5  ///// Striped roll call dress, Madewell, on sale for $69.99
6  ///// Stripefade tee, Madewell, $38
7  ///// Stripe Intersection Top, Anthropologie, $98
8  ///// Boatneck Popover, JCrew, $105
9  ///// Watercolor striped pocket T, Gap, $22.95

*I know its a girl's shirt, I just couldn't resist sharing it with you! It's too cute!

Hope you like them! See you back here tomorrow!

SLIP ON SOME STRIPES

2012-02-08T08:30:00.001-05:00

I don't know about you, but I am a big fan of stripes. There are so many different styles out there I am convinced that there is one to fit every body type. So, without further ado, here is part one of a quick round up of some of my favorite striped numbers around today. Check back tomorrow for part two!

top to bottom (diagonally), left to right:

1 \\\\\ Kate Spade, Nera Coat, $558
2 \\\\\ Ann Taylor Loft, Petite 3/4 Sleeve Stripe Boatneck Sweater, $44.50
3 \\\\\ Piperlime, Horatio Striped Knit Pleated Dress, $385
4 \\\\\ Boden, Mariner Jumper, $98
5 \\\\\ JCrew, Rugby Striped Dress, $88
6 \\\\\ Ann Taylor Loft, Petite Cotton Color Block Stripe Sweater, $59.50
7 \\\\\ Boden, Stripy Tunic, $58
8 \\\\\ JCrew, Blouson Dress in Stripe, $148
9 \\\\\ Ann Taylor Loft, Color Block Stripe Skirt, $69.50

WEATHERED BUT RESILIENT

2012-02-07T08:44:00.002-05:00

My apologies for not posting yesterday. After the devastating result of the Super Bowl, I decided to take some time off from social media and the news. I am rejoining you today to share some stunning photographs of the weathered, the tested, the resilient and yet the strong. Appropriate, right? :)

The black and white photos, taken by artist Traer Scott, are of shelter dogs. A little about the series, which will soon be turned into a book:

"The portraits reveal the strikingly intense emotion, dignity and, sometimes, humour and whimsy that Scott saw in each face despite the dog's circumstances. By documenting the undeniable expressions of emotion in the dogs encountered in her volunteer work, Scott raises awareness of animal rescue causes, and especially the need for more adoptive homes for abandoned dogs. This book of true portraits of fifty beautiful shelter dogs is a poignant and loving tribute to all dogs."

Learn more here.

The color photographs, taken by Anchorage-based artist Tim Remick, are of mountain climbers who have recently finished their climbs. As Remick said,

“I wanted to document that point where the human body goes past exhaustion, where people hit that wall and push beyond it. There were all sorts of responses based on the environment, the weather, whether their experience was positive or negative. It was all reflected in their faces.”

Learn more here.

I hope you all have a great day; I will see you back here tomorrow. Until then, stay strong!

WEEKEND UPDATE

2012-02-03T08:43:00.001-05:00

What are you all up to this weekend? I need to clamp down and get some work done, but in case you are looking to explore and are in New York, here is a quick run down of some of my favorite gallery shows on view at the moment.

Guenther Foerg at Greene Naftali Gallery
Closes February 18

Shirin Neshat at Gladstone Gallery
Closes February 11

Ai Weiwei at Mary Boone Gallery
Closes February 4

On Kawara (top) and Doug Wheeler (bottom) at David Zwirner Gallery
Closes February 11 and February 25 respectively

The Wedding (The Walker Evans Polaroid Project) with Roni Horn at Andrea Rosen Gallery
Closes February 4

Gallery shows not doing it for you? Here are some other things to check out over the weekend:

The Color Run looks super fun if not entirely messy.

A great debate among arts administrators about how to work with communities in a technological era.

Looking to check out the latest graffiti tags 'in the wild'? A guide to finding the best work here.

I want one of these very badly! Where can I find one?

Trees get a clever makeover in England.

A detailed, and beautiful, map of New York's energy consumption by neighborhood.

This app, just like their watches, looks entrancingly cool.

Sophie Blackall has designed a wonderful new poster for NYC subways. Kudos!

Have a great weekend! See you back here on Monday!

LEGO LOVE

2012-02-02T08:26:00.000-05:00

I have waxed poetic about my love of legos before (see here, here, here, and here), but this amazing boardroom table, created by the firm abgc architects for an advertising agency in Dublin, has my mind spinning. And with a little bit of planning (and a whole lot of legos!) I can totally imagine making a kick-butt dining table or desk for a kid's room. Definitely more practical than this big lego project!

Learn more about the project here and here.

(thanks to design milk for the tip)

RICHARD MOSSE

2012-02-01T08:32:00.000-05:00

I received a gallery show announcement for photographer Richard Mosse a couple weeks ago. Unfortunately I missed the exhibition, but yesterday I decided to look through his portfolio anyway. Needless to say I was floored! Aren't these stunningly beautiful? That color!

See more of his work here.

Also, without further ado, I am pleased to announce the winner of the Bites Dessert giveaway is . . . drumroll please . . . Karen F! Karen, I will have Shreena email you with all the details. Thank you all for entering! I am going to try to do more giveaways from here on out so keep checking back in. And Happy Valentine's Day!

GETTING SWEET & CRAFTY: VALENTINE'S DAY IDEAS

2012-01-31T08:33:00.001-05:00

The way to make a holiday feel special (especially for the DIY-crazed folks like me), is to do just a little bit more than the everyday. It doesn't have to be a big thing, but hanging up a banner or making your own card or setting out new, pretty candle can turn a "Hallmark" holiday into something more personal and special and, well, fun! So, here is a little round up of ideas to set that amorous day, February 14th, apart from the rest. Hope you like it!

one | Yrsno Candles, Ikea, $2.99
two | Crinkled Wheel Set, BHLDN, on sale 12 for $16
three | Lace Hearts Tutorial, Michelle Made Me
four | Folded Cards Tutorial, Martha Stewart*
five | Raspberry Almond Financiers, Martha Stewart*
six | Foxy Valentine Favors How-To, PaperSource
seven | Romantic Paper Hearts Garland, thePathLessTraveled, $8.50
eight | Playing Card Valentines Tutorial, Martha Stewart*

Also, don't forget to enter the Bites Dessert giveaway here! It ends today at 5pm so get in while the getting's good!

*Did I tell you I was on the Martha Stewart Show? Check out the link (in the "Headlines" section of the sidebar ➭) to watch a clip!

CANADIAN COLOR: ANDREW B. MYERS

2012-01-30T08:30:00.001-05:00

I am totally in love with the colorful quotidian scenes artist Andrew B. Myers likes to photograph. Something about the color palette (and the nostalgic, childhood-recalling objects) makes these shots seem like dreamscapes or hazy, pastel-infused memories. And wouldn't it be great if all childhood actually looked like this?

Learn more about Myers' work here. And don't forget to enter our delicious Valentine's Day giveaway here; it ends tomorrow!

(thanks to Fast Co. Design for the tip)

LOVE, NOTED

2012-01-27T08:33:00.000-05:00

As a stationery nerd, I have to say that my favorite part of Valentine's Day (besides cuddling with my sweetie, of course!) is picking out the right card for the right person and dropping it in the mail as a little surprise. Remember when we used to give everyone in our class a little valentine? Why does that have to stop? I would love to be able to send a note of love/friendship to everyone in my life . . . wouldn't you?

If you are looking for cards that are sure to make someone smile, the companies listed above—Egg Press, Walk Up Press, Fugu Fugu Press, Rifle Paper Co.—never fail to deliver. I am particularly in love with the heart shaped Egg Press cards and Rifle's 'You're a Fox' card. Too cute!

Have a great weekend all! Make sure to enter our delicious Valentine's Day giveaway here! See you back here with more 'obsessive images' on Monday!

GIVEAWAY: MINI AND DELICIOUS!

2012-01-26T08:37:00.000-05:00

Just in time for Valentine's Day, I am happy to announce a big (and tasty!) giveaway!* The lovely Shreena, owner and baker extraordinaire behind Bites Desserts, has offered to give one lucky reader one of her "Sweetheart Bouquets" (below) which have 12 red velvet cake pops with pink vanilla frosting. Aren't they adorable? I think they would be the perfect alternative to the traditional red roses and box of chocolates.

So how can you win?

For one entry:
Leave a comment below with your favorite way to celebrate Valentine's Day. Make sure you leave your email address so I can contact you!

To double your chances:
Tweet about the giveaway by mentioning @katiejosephson and #giveaway (and tell me you did in the comments).

To triple your chances (whoa!):
Like Bites Desserts on Facebook here (and tell me you did in the comments).

The giveaway will close next Tuesday at 5pm and the randomly-chosen winner will be announced on Wednesday!

And for all of you who can't wait that long, O.I. readers will get 10% off everything in the Bites Desserts shop by using the code VDAYBITES. Also, check out Shreena's blog here and facebook page here.

*As always, I only write about products, people and organizations that inspire me and fit in with the O.I. aesthetic. In doing this giveaway I have received no compensation whatsoever; I just wanted to feature the lovely Shreena and give you a (well-deserved) treat!

CHEERS!

2012-01-25T08:00:00.000-05:00

In honor of yesterday's illustrious holiday—National Beer Can Appreciation Day—here is a little round up of all the goodies you need to throw a fabulous Beer Bash. And even if, like me, you are not a big beer drinker, I can promise that all of these things will work just as well for a party with hard cider or soda or whatever beverage you prefer! :)

1 ::::: Mexican Craft Beer, Cervecería Sagrada
2 ::::: Vintage European Beer Coasters (Set of Four), halfpintsalvage, $14
3 ::::: Tubtrug 3.5 Gallon Storage Bucket, Amazon, $6.99
4 ::::: Alessi Marli Bottle Opener, Amazon, $26.42
5 ::::: Lucky Lager Beer Tray, cocodot, $30
6 ::::: The Beer Book Beer Appreciation Poster
7 ::::: Stratton 22 oz. Beer Mug, Crate & Barrel, $11.95

Check back in tomorrow; we are doing a big (delicious!) giveaway!

SAUL BASS DOES IT BEST

2012-01-24T08:45:00.001-05:00

I have written about Saul Bass before and I had to do it again because the graphic designer keeps popping up on my radar. Last fall a beautiful new comprehensive book on Bass' work came out and it skyrocketed to the top of my wish list. You can buy a hardcover copy from Amazon here and see more page spreads here.

Also exciting? Bass' classic children's book, Henri's Walk to Paris, is being reprinted and will be released in February. The illustrations in this book are truly wonderful; it would make a great Valentine's Day present for kids and adults alike! Preorder your copy on Amazon here.

Dwell has also put together an awesome top five list of Bass' best movie title sequences. Though they are all brilliant, I have always been particularly inspired by Bass' illustration-based designs; Anatomy of a Murder is iconic!

THE ARTIST SPEAKS

2012-01-23T08:24:00.001-05:00

While not technically attributed to an artist, this quote was too good to pass up. Learn more about Arthur Hays Sulzberger, the publisher of the New York Times for twenty-six years, here.

THE WEDDING FILES: iPAD EDITION

2012-01-20T10:04:00.000-05:00

As the new year hit, it started to dawn on me that I am getting married this year. This year! It is so exciting (and overwhelming; so much to do!) that I can barely sit still while I type this. And this year, for Christmas, I was given something that has made planning the wedding far more fun: an iPad!

The moment I unwrapped it my mind went into overdrive about how I could use it to keep track of my inspiration. Obviously Pinterest needed to be play a role, even though they don't have an iPad app! But I also wanted to use it to create color swatches and moodboards, so I could share my ideas with potential vendors. In the end I decided to import all of the inspiration images from my Pinterest Wedding board into several apps so to see what gave me the best results.

In the end I really enjoyed using the Pantone Weddings app—which lets you comb through Pantone color palettes* and import photos to make inspiration boards (bottom)—and fell in love with the Moodboard app (top)—which has similar features but more control over sizing, text, borders, etc. I have loved playing with both apps and can only imagine their uses are endless. Planning a birthday party? Dinner party? Vacation? Designing a poster? Invitation? Keep track of all the components and all your inspiration beautifully with these two apps.

Do any of you have an iPad? Any recommendations for other cool apps I can download?

*Though I do enjoy having this app, I was disappointed to see that not all of the Pantone colors are represented, only those they feel people will want to use for their wedding. So, although there were not a lot of bright reds and oranges to choose from, I found you can easily import swatches snagged from the Pantone website as images, as I have done above.

FALLING DOWN, CLIMBING UP

2012-01-19T08:42:00.000-05:00

Add this to the list of the ridiculously cool installations that I can only dream of seeing—a full scale model of a building facade has been laid on the ground (so that visitors can hang out on it) and is reflected by a giant mirror, offering the illusion that people are hanging out of windows! The installation is now at the Parisian gallery Le 104 and has been created by artist Leandro Erlich.

Learn more about Erlich here.

(First published by Lonely Planet Magazine, found via Present Correct)

STOP PIPA & SOPA

2012-01-18T15:32:00.002-05:00

I usually don't like to get into politics on the O.I., but since the new PIPA and SOPA legislation being brought before Congress so directly affects the blog world (by regulating the internet), I thought I would make an exception. Today my only goal in posting is to support the 'black out' effort to protest this retrograde lawmaking, encourage you to learn more about the issue and sign the petition here.

Let's keep our internet free!

(Image of Google's homepage in protest, learn more here)

BLOG CRUSH: COLOSSAL INSPIRATION

2012-01-17T08:26:00.001-05:00

I think I am a little overdue for a Blog Crush post. Honestly, I have been meaning to do one for a while since there are so many amazingly creative sites out there! But over the long weekend, I found a blog that I was so excited to share with you that it kicked me into high gear!

So, without further ado, I present to you Colossal. A blog created by the talented Christopher Jobson—a web designer, writer for the super cool Wired Magazine, and contributor to the equally cool site designboom—who strives to explore, in his words, "the intersection of art, design, and physical craft," and offer, "a constant source of visual goodness that hopefully inspires you to go make something awesome." That's about all you can hope for as a blogger, right? Needless to say his numerous posts are all so striking, it was hard for me to pick my favorites. After much deliberation, I managed to narrow it down to six stories that made me swoon. Find the images and links below, or check out all of the Colossal posts here.

New York artist Molly Rausch takes US postage stamps and continues the compositions beyond their borders

Markus Reugels takes photographs of water drips that look like miniature planets!

Kyle Kirkpatrick makes tiny topographical landscapes out of carved books

Jonathan Rosser takes beautiful, grainy, raw portraits

Artist Yayoi Kusama asked children to decorate and all white room with thousands of stickers!

How about edible gelatin typography? Delicious, pretty and informative!

DAMIEN HIRST: THE COMPLETE SPOT PAINTINGS, 1986-2011

2012-01-12T08:39:00.000-05:00

If you have read this blog for any period of time, you know that I am obsessed with polka dots. Obsessed! So, not surprisingly, Damien Hirst's Spot Paintings have always made me smile. Haven't seen them you say? Well the illustrious Gagosian Gallery, which represents Mr. Hirst and has eleven locations all over the world, is out to change that. Starting today every single Gagosian location, from New York to Hong Kong, will be exhibiting the Spot Paintings (totaling all 1500 paintings from the series)!

Want to see more? Learn about Hirst and the exhibitions here. Also visit the Gagosian shop for a sweet dot clock (love it!) and to download their gallery app.

BLACK, WHITE AND GLITTERY

2012-01-11T08:08:00.000-05:00

As winter starts to insinuate itself here in New York and a new year sets in, I find myself itching for things that keep it simple and get the job done. Though I have a perpetual love affair with any- and everything bright and colorful, there is something about January that makes me want to reach for that one chic and subtle failsafe in my closet (or cabinet!) that I know will always look great. More often than not, that surefire option involves black and white, gold and/or geometric pattern.

So here is a tidy little round up of things that are both lust list-worthy, practical and timeless. Perfect for a housewarming gift, Valentine's Day present, or just because!

1 ///// Yoshimoto Cube, MoMA Store, $65
2 ///// Lightweight Merino Wool Shawl Black Polka Dot, Virginia Johnson, $13
3 ///// Midas Collection Glassware, Design Within Reach, $42-$70
4 ///// Nylon Stripe Chad Laptop Bag, Kate Spade, $338
5 ///// Gemma Hatch Bowl, Crate & Barrel, $5.95
6 ///// Stephan & Co. Metal Bangle Seven Pack, Madewell, $38*
7 ///// Gold Flecks Tank, Anthropologie, $89.95
8 ///// Pyramid Post Earrings, Madewell, $18*

*Madewell, a new discovery of mine, has the best (and most reasonably priced!) jewelry. I would love (hint, hint) to see either of these things show up on my doorstep sometime.

GETTING FROSTY WITH BABYCAKES

2012-01-10T08:52:00.000-05:00

Ha! I have heard lots and lots about the adorable Babycakes Bakery here in New York. But given my stickler status for super delicious baked goods, I was skeptical about their propensity for vegan goodies. Well, after coming across their awesome-looking cookbooks over the past couple months and recently discovering their cheeky/silly demo videos (like the ones above) I am totally sold.* Clearly a pilgrimage to their shop needs to be made pronto!

Learn more about Babycakes here, read their blog here, read an interview with sweet (ha! see what I did?) founder Erin here, and watch more of their super cute videos here.

*Is it just me, or do you also imagine you look like this while you are baking? i love baking so much, I totally feel like a rockstar when I do it. Only my kitchen doesn't have such good lighting. ;)

AB FAB: ABSTRACT AERIALS AND SAUCY STATIONERY

2012-01-09T12:32:00.000-05:00

I have mentioned before how much I love the new flash sale site Fab.com. Love! About 1/3 of my holiday presents were actually purchased from them. But I couldn't resist sharing two of the amazing sales they are offering this week. First off, the gorgeous abstract aerial landscape photography taken by Denver-based duo Brent and Sarah. These super saturated prints (bright colors! my favorite!) are being sold in an 18 x 18 inch size for the very reasonable price of $70. What's not to love?!

Also on sale at Fab.com this week are the hilarious greeting cards crafted by the good people at Old Tom Foolery (whom I raved about here). I love each and every one of the cards on offer at Fab; you are sure to find a set that will put a smile on the faces of any recipient. Also, be sure to check out their Typestach poster--funny and informative!

If you haven't signed up for an account, you can only do so by invitation; I have got you covered! Head over here to sign up! If you are already on the Fab bandwagon head here to see the photos and here to check out the cards. But act quickly because the sales end in three days and things sell out fast!

MARICOR/MARICAR

2012-01-06T10:59:00.000-05:00

I just stumbled upon the work of graphic designers, illustrators and "makers of things" Maricor and Maricar Manalo. Based in Sydney, this dynamic duo has done work for everyone from Wired Magazine to Australian television networks. While my favorite is their kick-butt embroidery work, I would highly recommend checking out their other eye-catching creations on their gorgeous website here.

And as we head into the weekend, here are a couple things you should definitely put on your to do list:

+ check out this exhibition at the Whitney and this one at MoMA before they close this weekend
+ go see this movie, because I am totally obsessed with the books and have been collecting them for years
+ or, if you feel like staying home, watch this documentary (now online!) of the most creative couple in history (whose work, coincidentally, comprises another obsession of mine)
+ also, join me in drooling over these architectural wonders and adding them to the "dream home" inspiration file
+ ponder the wonders of the universe or the amazing advances of our technological age

Have a fabulous weekend, all! See you back here on Monday!

(Thanks to Dwell for the tip.)

THE GREAT BLUE (GREEN, RED, PURPLE) YONDER

2012-01-05T10:05:00.000-05:00

How ridiculously cool are these sunrise and sunset photos taken by Eric Cahan? I am not sure how he does them (though they have to be touched up, right?!), but no matter the process the end result is incredible. I can just picture having a huge print (or two, or three) on view in my apartment to bring some color to my rental's starkly white walls.

Give yourself a color pick-me-up and go check out Cahan's entire Sky Series here.

(Thanks to Black*Eiffel for the tip.)

FRIGID BEAUTY

2012-01-04T10:57:00.000-05:00

I don't know what the weather is like where you are, but here in New York today is it freezing. Certainly the coldest winter day here, by far. So I think it might be fun to share some equally frigid, yet superbly beautiful things with you today. The photographs above are of typographic ice sculptures created by artist Nicole Dextras. As she writes,

The Ice Typography series consists of three-dimensional words fabricated in ice placed outdoors that speak to how the viewer’s gaze frames and informs the landscape. The installations have varied from 8-foot high ice letters on the Yukon River to 18-inch high letters set in downtown Toronto. When the ice texts are installed on site, the temperature determines how long it will take for them to change state from solid to liquid. This phase of transition becomes symbolic of the interconnectedness of language and culture to the land as they are affected by time and by a constant shifting and transforming nature.

Pretty cool, huh? I can only imagine they would be incredible to see in person, particularly being able to watch as they melt away. Learn more about her work here and here.

And while I don't completely understand exactly what is going on in the video above, I had to share it because it just looks so darn cool. I believe (but don't hold me to this!) the divers are actually walking upside down on the underside of a layer of ice? No matter which way is up or down in this video, it is still filmed with a great attention to detail: the lighting, the framing and the actions of the divers all make for a surreal scene that is totally captivating. Originally found here, though I have no other information for it . . . if you know more about the masterminds behind this video let me know in the comments!

Stay warm today all!

A LOOK BACK: BEST OF 2011

2012-01-03T12:17:00.001-05:00

To finally get myself out of the non-posting rut that is the super-busy holiday season, I thought I would kick off 2012 with . . . drumroll please . . . a look at the most popular posts of 2011.

So without further ado, and in no particular order, here are top stories and subjects you liked the most (or those you clicked on the most, at least!). Hope you enjoy them!

The (now annual) round up of the best vendors at the National Stationery Show.

The new series, entitled the Wedding Files, that helps to keep track off all the fun wedding inspiration I come across, especially the introduction to Proust, an online memory-sharing site that lets you create a digital scrapbook to share with friends and family.

My continued obsession with all things balloon-related, especially the amazing new company Geronimo.

My equal obsession with artfully crafted documentaries, particularly the strikingly beautiful movie The Mill and The Cross. Unfortunately I missed it in the theater . . . thank goodness for Netflix!

The ongoing trek to see (and document!) all of New York City's best museum and gallery exhibitions, particularly on days when I am off from work and free to check several off my list!

And, similarly, my personal mission to introduce you to the world's coolest art installations, including this shimmering beauty in France.

It also doesn't hurt to keep a running tally of the super cool ways graphic design enters (and usually betters!) our lives, such as this fabulous round up of Chevrolet speedometers.

And last, but not least!, everything you could possibly want to make your home a more friendly, well-designed and overall more lovely place (as my blog mantra says, "Why buy boring, when you can buy beautiful?"). What better place to start than Muppets wall stickers?!

GETTING ORGANIZED

2011-12-30T08:42:00.001-05:00

As you have probably figured out, I have not returned to regular blogging despite my promise last week. Oops! Turns out I needed a slightly longer stretch of downtime than I thought to decompress from exams and the holidays and to gear up for 2012.

So let's start fresh next year, shall we? I will be back in full swing (I swear!) next week with some fabulous inspiration and eye candy to get you excited for another year of "obsessive images". Until then, enjoy the last days of 2011!

(photo of products at the Apple Store taken by me, in Boston, circa 2008)

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

2011-12-22T08:40:00.001-05:00

I am heading home early tomorrow morning to spend the holidays with my family (and, later, my fiancé and his family). How will you celebrate the holiday season? We have a couple of traditions we like to abide by: eating a big family-style meal with friends on Christmas Eve, wrapping each and every little thing in our stockings, opening surprise balls at Christmas dinner, etc. I can't wait to dive into them all!

To tide you over until my return next Wednesday, here are some things to explore:

—Going on a trip would be much more adorable with this.
—This looks so dreamily beautiful, like the perfect place to start an adventure.
—I want to take this guy home. So cute!
—Get lost in the stars.
—We are having a New Year's Day gathering and I would love to make these for our apartment door and use these to make a little treat.
—Super cute vintage-inspired garland.
—Looking for a 2012 calendar? Look no further!
—Need last minute gift wrapping inspiration? Check out some fabulous (and free!) ideas here, here, here, and here.
—Great garlands! Holy wreaths!
—The true meaning of Christmas, as explained by the expert.
—If I had little ones, I would definitely be making these.
—This one's for you Mom!
—Cards for next year? Cute, sweet, and hilarious.
—These tags would be perfect to top a winter wedding gift.
—Have non-believers in your midst? Have Santa send them a personalized (admonishing!) message here.
—Or Santa will reply to your letter!
—Last, and perhaps teeniest, this will make you swoon with cuteness.

Have a great holiday weekend; see you all next week!

(adorable illustration by Gemma Correll)

UNDER MY TREE?

2011-12-20T08:16:00.003-05:00

Here are a couple things that I am hoping my show up under my tree this year—a holiday wish list of sorts. Hope you like it!

A saucy dress from JCrew, $188, perfect with a black cardigan

An iPad, starting at $499, because, well, it would be so fun!

A pair of shiny red Hunter Rain Boots, $125, because they would making splashing in NYC puddles actually enjoyable!

This beautiful farmer's market porcelain basket, $14, because it would just make everything you serve look straight out of a food magazine.

This tiered dress from Anthropologie, $188, because it is supposed to be cozy and super flattering and don't we all need more clothes like that?

Anything from lu lu lemon, because their stuff is the most comfy and sexy work out gear I have ever seen.

This newest book from Sue Grafton, $14 on Amazon, because I am obsessed with Kinsey Milhone and love getting engrossed in a good book over the holidays.

What's on your wish list this year?

THE WEDDING FILES: VIEWMASTER CYCLE

2011-12-19T08:24:00.000-05:00

If you are a child of the 80s and a ridiculous photo geek like me, you have reminisced about the good old times of Viewmasters. You know those boxy viewing things, where you insert a disk of photos and they pop up before your eyes in ersatz 3D? I remember when I was little I had a Sesame Street reel and (for whatever reason) one of the mansions in Newport, RI. They were so cool!

So imagine my overwhelming excitement when I discovered that there is a company—named Image 3D—that will make these reels for you with your own photos and text, even embossing the viewers with your name or the name of your event or whatever you like! While a bit pricier than other photo album options, I think the price tag is completely and totally worth it. Now I am just scheming excuses to start making these up myself. Perhaps leaving one on each table at the wedding? An anniversary present? The possibilities are endless!

Check out more or order your own here.

HOLIDAY TECH

2011-12-15T08:32:00.000-05:00

In case you are in need of some last-minute holiday inspiration, here are some really cool items that are sure to please any techies on your list.

The Lytro Camera, $399-$499, is revolutionary! It lets you take a photo and focus on any part of the frame later. How cool is that?

Studio Neat Cosmonaut (left), $25, is a comfortable, wide grip stylus for all your touch screen needs.
Looxcie Camera (right), $119-$179, is a bluetooth video camera that you wear on your ear and always records quietly in the background. If something memorable happens you can go back and save what just recorded, up to five or ten hours worth of footage. Snazzy right?

Wipe T-Shirt, unknown price, has stripes that are made of a special material that will clean your glasses!

Northface Touchscreen Gloves, $39.95, have special touch-screen sensitive fingertips that allow you to access your phone or tablet without getting your fingers frosty!

IMPROV EVERYWHERE DOCUMENTARY

2011-12-14T08:41:00.000-05:00

If you have been reading the O.I. for a while now, you know that I love everything related to Improv Everywhere. Love! Well hold onto your socks people because Improv Everywhere is hitting the big screen! The founders of the group, Matt and Andrew, have been working on a documentary for years now and need some help raising the funds to get the project finished.

Head over to their Kickstarter page to help them out and learn more about Improv Everywhere here.

p.s. I have a total girl crush on Aubrey Plaza; adding her to the trailer was genius!

START YOUR ENGINES

2011-12-13T08:03:00.003-05:00

How cool is this? To acknowledge Chevrolet's 100th anniversary this year, designer Christian Annyas has written about the various speedometer designs used by the carmaker over the last century. My favorite is number 1 and 2, how about you?

Check out more here.

(via 2 or 3 Things)

THESE ARE THINGS

2011-12-12T08:28:00.002-05:00

I am totally digging these new city maps designed by These Are Things (which I have written about here). Wouldn't it be lovely to have a line up of this, this and this on your wall? You would look like such a world traveler!

These new city maps feature Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Portland, Seattle, Minneapolis . . . the options go on and on! Get yours for $59 here.

JOYFUL, PEACEFUL, CARTOGRAPHIC

2011-12-09T08:40:00.001-05:00

The lovely and talented Angela Hardison is aiming to make your spirits a little brighter and your home a bit more beautiful this holiday season. She is offering a free download of these two printable posters—perfect for decorating your mantle (as she has done above) or for hanging on your wall all year around.

Given my undying love of all things cartographic, you know I will be posting one of these in my apartment immediately. I think I will follow Angela's lead and go for a white frame and white mat . . .

Download your own copies here.

THE MUPPETS: COMING TO A WALL NEAR YOU!

2011-12-07T13:37:00.001-05:00

Have you seen the new Muppets movie? What, you think muppets=puppets=just for kids? Sacrilege!

The movie is actually hilarious--the funniest I have seen since Bridesmaids this summer--and comes very well reviewed, in case you don't believe me. I would highly recommend it! I dare you not to smile the entire time!

With that said, I am posting also to tell you about the amazing wall stickers created by Blik to celebrate the release of the movie. How cool would it to have these guys popping up all over your home? They would be perfect for a kids room, but I could also imagine more cheeky placements to jazz up otherwise dull areas: on a wall normally covered up by an open closet door, in the laundry room, even (gasp!) in the shower (hehe) . . . the list goes on and on!

Check out all the Muppet wall sticker options here.

(thanks to swissmiss for the tip!)

p.s. Still need more reason to see the movie? I just found out that Bret McKenzie (of the amazing musical comedy duo Flight of the Conchords) served as musical director for the movie! No wonder I can't get 'Life's A Happy Song' out of my head . . .

VIDEO CHRISTMAS

2011-12-06T08:23:00.001-05:00

In case you needed even more holiday spirit (it's 60 degrees in New York City today, I may be over compensating with the holiday cheer; but that's harmless, right?), here are two of the most adorable christmas 'video cards' you will ever see. Completely, totally adorable.

Check out more of this family's video cuteness, as created by videographer Dad Jared Foster, here.

COOKING WITH SKY, EMERALD, CERULEAN

2011-12-05T08:32:00.001-05:00

I have been quite enamored with the kitchen offerings over at Anthropologie right now. They have lots of products that are both practical and beautiful—my favorite combination!

Here are some of my top picks, any of which would make a great holiday gift!

—1—Kitchen Magic Twisty Whisk, $8
—2—Verdant Canister, $78
—3—Pure & Good Hand Soap in Rosemary and Mint, $22
—4—Paint Can Ice Bucket, Large, $68
—5—Balloon Red Wine Glass, $16
—6—Staub La Cocotte, Oval, $298
—7—Farmer's Market Basket, Large Square, $20 (love this!)

HOT POCKETS!

2011-12-02T08:23:00.001-05:00

Hope you have a fabulous (laugh-filled) weekend.

p.s. Jim Gaffigan is so funny, he makes my face hurt.

RING, REFLECTION, REFRACTION

2011-11-30T08:23:00.001-05:00

Why do all the cool things seem to happen overseas (like this)? This stunning installation, created by French designer Arnaud Lapierre in collaboration with Audi, is called 'Ring' and is made up of numerous mirrors latched together vertically in space. It was temporarily installed in Place Vendome in late October but, thankfully!, will be reinstalled once more in Castellet, France and then will hit the art fairs and the art market. Wouldn't it be incredible to have someplace like Storm King buy this and install it permanently? I can only imagine it would look equally beautiful in an open green field as a French street.

Learn more about the artist here and the project here.

(Thanks to Yatzer for the tip.)

TWINKLE, SHINE, KRAFT

2011-11-29T08:18:00.001-05:00

I know I have been remiss about posting of late. With the holiday last week and a presentation at school this week, I haven't had a lot of free time. And what free time I have had has gone into making these or daydreaming about how to top my holiday wrapping from last year.

So here is a small inspiration board for wrapping this year. I am thinking of using lots of butcher paper, craft paper and accents of silver, gold and red. Without further ado, here are the links (top to bottom, left to right):

Mae Mae Paperie, 'Tis the Season to Glitter
Knot & Bow Glitter Twine
Compai Gift Wrapping Ideas
Hand-drawn Gift Wrap from Mini Eco
Nice Package, Twisty Tie Tutorial
Anthropologie Glinting Arrows Wrapping Paper
Anthropologie Silver Shine Wrapping Paper

BRING ON THE HOLIDAYS

2011-11-23T08:13:00.001-05:00

Tonight I am headed home to spend the Thanksgiving holiday with my family. I am very much looking forward to some down time watching the Dog Show, eating lots of delicious food, and (best of all!) hanging out with family and friends. What are your plans for the holiday?

I also thought I would share some of the things on my 'to do' list for the weekend:

--1-- Making this delicious Cranberry Pear Pie recipe and my family's traditional cranberry applesauce

--2-- Making an advent calendar from Oh Happy Day's amazing DIY printables

--3-- Heading here on Black Friday to do some early Christmas shopping; so many cute things this season!

Have a great holiday! I will see you back here with some sweet holiday posts next Monday!

FROM THE ARCHIVES: LET IT SPARKLE

2011-11-22T08:24:00.000-05:00

I did some experimenting with time lapse photography and sparklers over the summer and never got around to posting about it. It got me to thinking, wouldn't it be fun to stage a similar photo on a frosty winter night or after the first snow fall? I think it would make a great holiday card, no?

For pointers check out this great article.

(photos taken by me, with my hubby-to-be, over the fourth of July weekend 2011)

ON POINT

2011-11-21T08:29:00.001-05:00

I have noticed a trend in jewelry recently: arrows! Glitzy arrows, gold arrows, necklaces, earrings. Here are some of my favorites (top to bottom):

chevron arrows earrings, $33
taking aim arrows earrings, $35
arrow ranking necklac e, $20
on the mark necklace, $49
arrow necklace on long chain, $88
house of harlow 1960 arrow drop necklace, $159
18 karat rose gold diamond arrow necklace, $2250 (super pricey, but pretty!)

SMELLS LIKE SCHOOL SPIRIT

2011-11-18T08:31:00.001-05:00

What are you up to this weekend? I am headed home to Connecticut to watch 'The Game' (the Harvard vs. Yale football game) with my family and my fiancee's family and a whole bunch of friends. It is supposed to be beautiful weather and I can't wait!

Do you have any fun plans? How are you going to spend this lovely fall weekend?

(photo taken by me at the Harvard vs. Yale game in 2006)

PANTONE WALLPAPER

2011-11-17T08:19:00.001-05:00

If you are like me it's hard to pick a wallpaper for your computer or phone. There are just too many choices (and too few minimalist examples!). But Pantone has stepped in to save the day: they are now offering free wallpapers in tons of sizes so you can put Rococco Red on your laptop, Turquoise on your phone . . . basically make your electronics bold and bright. I am totally enamored with the stacked box design too!

Get your own here.

ELEVEN ON 11-11-11 RECAP

2011-11-16T08:43:00.001-05:00

As I mentioned here, last week I visited eleven different museum and gallery shows to mark November 11, 2011 (and just to catch up on shows I haven't seen!) Here's a quick photo recap of my favorites.

Maurizio Cattelan: All at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum. On view through January 22.
A retrospective of the Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan who has made a career of cheekiness (one of his past exhibitions consisted of simply closing the gallery and putting out a sign that said 'come back later'). This exhibition at the Guggenheim, while a bit theatrical, certainly captures that prankster spirit.

The Private Collection of Robert Rauschenberg at Gagosian Gallery's Madison Avenue location.
On view through December 23.
A beautiful extensive exhibition of the collection of one of my favorite artists. Simply put, Gagosian Gallery always puts on a good show!

Calder: 1941 at the Pace Gallery's 57th street location. On view until December 23.
Who doesn't like Alexander Calder? Seriously, no one. This exhibition, featuring lots of rarely-seen privately-owned work made in 1941, does not fail to deliver. Don't miss the flip books (showing the mobiles in motion) by the welcome desk.

Jacob Hoshimoto: The End of Gravity at Mary Boone Gallery. On view through December 17.
A new-to-me artist, this work in this exhibition is jaw-droppingly complex and simple at the same time. Hard to explain without seeing for yourself, so go check it out!

(all photos taken by me using Instagram; see more here)

MISSED CONNECTIONS

2011-11-14T08:15:00.001-05:00

Have you read the blog Missed Connections? It's a beautiful website, created by artist Sophie Blackall, that features her gorgeous illustrations of the best 'Missed Connections' on Craigslist. Not surprisingly she chooses the wackiest and sweetest messages to illustrate and her talent makes them completely come alive in the most imaginative way.

Check out the blog here or her new book here!

MILESTONES

2011-11-11T09:23:00.001-05:00

Ba ba ba bah! Big news! The obsessive imagist has reached over 50,000 hits! In the three and a half years since this blog was born, I have been blessed to have the best readers and am constantly amazed to see visitors tuning in from all over the world. Thank you for your continued support. Here's to 50,000 more!

My office is closed today in honor of Veteran's Day (and perhaps to celebrate this, ha!) and I will be taking advantage of it by catching up on a whole bunch of gallery and museum exhibitions all over the city (I am aiming for at least 11 shows since it is 11-11-11). I will report back on the best of them on Monday!

Until then, have a great weekend!

FLAMING CACTUS

2011-11-10T08:40:00.002-05:00

This installation in Astor Place has been up for a while, but it has taken me about three visits to be able to get photographs that actually do it justice. Entitled Flaming Cactus it is comprised of thousands upon thousands of interconnected zip ties (like these) wrapped around various light poles in a small one block radius. It was created by the Animus Art Collective as part of the Summer Streets Festival and will be up until June 2012.

See more photos and get more information here.

(Photos taken on my iPhone; see more on my Instagram account here)

'TIS (ALMOST) THE SEASON: PART TWO

2011-11-09T08:21:00.003-05:00

This is part two of my holiday series—where I am getting myself excited about the holiday a little bit early this year because, well, why not? Here are some of my favorite garland and decoration picks.

-1- Confetti Ribbon, $24
-2- Typeface Monogram Ornaments, $8
-3- Snow Felt Garland, $38.50
-4- Glass Ball Garland, $19.95
-5- Christmas Light Garland, $15
-6- Snow Globe, $39.95
-7- Felt Garland, $19
-8- Raffia Confetti Garland, $68
-9- Pop Up Christmas Ball, $5.99

Keep an eye out for the last holiday post next week!

PANTONE HOTEL

2011-11-08T08:42:00.000-05:00

A couple years ago I went to Amsterdam on vacation with my hubby-to-be and stayed at the amazing Citizen M hotel, which is chock full of cutting edge technology (the whole room was controlled by remote!) and great design. Ever since that trip I have vowed to try to stay in cool hotels wherever possible. It looks like if I ever make it to Brussels I am going to have to add this hotel to my list: The Pantone Hotel! Everything is designed with the Pantone color system in mind, making for a hotel decorated with bright beautiful color everywhere you look.

Not surprisingly, this super cool place was recommended by plenty of colour (posted about here!). You can find a lot more details about the building over there.

TAKE FLIGHT

2011-11-07T08:09:00.003-05:00

Can something be captivatingly cool and terrifying at the same time? I think this video proves that they can! Being a huge fan of Man on a Wire, I definitely planning on seeing I Believe I Can Fly (Flight of the Frenchies), if only to see them film amongst stunning scenery.

Find out more about this new documentary, directed by Seb Montaz here.

(thanks to Black*Eiffel for the tip)

TIS (ALMOST) THE SEASON: PART ONE

2011-11-04T07:30:00.000-04:00

I know, I know. If you are anything like me, you walk into any store these days and leave incredulous that even before Halloween they have already started pushing the Christmas decorations. But since it snowed here in New York last week and since my life is crazy enough that I need to have something to daydream about, I am finally giving in this year and starting to daydream about the holidays (my hubby-to-be, who is the most Christmas-happy person I have ever met, will be ecstatic to hear this). So here is a nice round up of all the lovely ornaments I have come across, popping up in stores this week. Stay tuned next week for another holiday round up.

-1- Tinsel Orb Ornament, $14 each
-2- Candy Orb Ornament (Large), $18 each
-3- Pearly Expanse Ornament, $12 each
-4- Colored Glass Sphere Ornaments, $9 each
-5- Felt Ball Ornament, $6 each
-6- Colored Glass Sphere Ornaments, $9 each, Colored Mercury Glass Sphere Ornaments, $19 set
-7- Jack Frost Ornament Set, $38 for four
-8- Scampering Fox Ornament, $16 each
-9- Vintage Glass Narwhal Ornament, $16 each

Hope you like them! Have a great weekend!

CLAES OLDENBURG

2011-11-03T08:08:00.001-04:00

TOTALLY TATTLY

2011-11-01T10:03:00.002-04:00

Remember how, as a kid, you were obsessed with temporary tattoos? And don't try to tell me that you weren't because every kid loved them. I have always wondered why adults didn't get on the bandwagon. Permanent tattoos are so, well, permanent (ha) and seem like such a big decision. Wouldn't it be nice to be able to slap a cool design on your body for just a week or so?

Well that wasn't possible for the longest time because all temporary tattoos seemed to feature a Disney princess or a Pixar character (and don't get me wrong, I love me some Buzz Lightyear). Well not anymore! Several brilliant creative minds have gotten together to create Tattly: an online store full of cool design-y temporary tattoos. For many of you this is probably old news (the shop opened over the summer), but I finally decided to post about it because the selection of designs has become too overwhelmingly awesome. Just think about having a "Hater's Gonna Hate" tattoo on when you know you are walking into a bad day at work. It would make everything so much better! You seriously cannot look at that design (or this) and not smile.

Check all the cool (reasonably priced!) offerings at the Tattly shop here.

SOTHEBY'S SERIES: YOUR ART WORLD

2011-10-31T08:23:00.001-04:00

Have you seen the video documentary series created by Sotheby's? It's pretty incredible, following four different topics: the artist, the collector the auction house and the auctioneer (rostrum). Not surprisingly, they have interviewed a lot of big name people (Jeff Koons! Tobias Meyer!), making this a unique opportunity to hear from the best of the best in their field.

If you have ever been curious to learn more about how the art world works, check out each of these videos here.

CARSTEN HÖLLER: EXPERIENCE

2011-10-28T08:21:00.000-04:00

I am super excited to check out the latest exhibition at the New Museum called Carsten Höller: Experience. There are lots of complicated art historical reasons why Höller's work is really interesting, but on the most basic level it's fun! The whole museum has pretty much been turned into a giant playground, complete with carousel swings and a giant (multistory!) slide. Cool, right?

Get all the goods on the show here.

LE ANIMALÉ

2011-10-27T08:33:00.000-04:00

I am totally digging this funky Etsy shop le animalé. It sells handmade jewelry and 'totems'—little animal figurines you can carry around in your pocket (or put on display!) as a kind of good luck charm. But what makes the shop special is the quirky humor behind the products. I love the fact that you can buy a "masked red fox"—a fox wearing a bunny mask—or a dust bunny. Cheeky! Plus it doesn't hurt that the packaging and overall shop design is really great; how fabulous are the description cards that come with your little animals?

Check it all out here.

BLOG CRUSH MEETS THE WEDDING FILES: OH HAPPY DAY

2011-10-26T08:21:00.000-04:00

I have a whole lot of girl crush on Jordan Ferney—the mastermind behind the gorgeous blog Oh Happy Day. I have been reading OHD for a couple years now and I have to say I have bookmarked so many of her posts that I might as well start a whole new folder on my computer dedicated solely to her brilliant ideas. She is currently spending the year living with her husband and adorable boys in Paris and, I swear, her posts have become even more beautiful (what is it about Paris? Is there a law that everything about it must be drool-worthy?). Simply put, her blog is chock full of clever DIY ideas, wonderful project suggestions and fabulous travel and activity guides.

Not surprisingly, I have come across a number of projects that are perfect for my wedding inspiration board. Here are my favorites!

Giant Confetti Bags

Tiny Tassels

Weather Balloon Signage

Mini Pinatas

Lemonade Favors

(all photos taken by Oh Happy Day)

STUKENBORG PRESS GOES GLAM

2011-10-25T08:30:00.000-04:00

Remember Stukenborg Press? I wrote about it here. Well now they are doing their beautiful dice prints with metallic gold ink to stunning results. I actually gave in to my Fab.com temptation and bought a couple of these prints, which arrived in the mail yesterday. I have to say that they are even more luminous in person!

Get your own here.

RAD AD

2011-10-24T08:11:00.000-04:00

Love this: the music, the idea, the execution. Its advertising at its best! Way to go Faber Castell—a company that makes wonderful art materials and now wonderful commercials!

Thanks to DesignMom for the tip.

PRO: FORMA

2011-10-21T08:22:00.001-04:00

I love a store that knows its art history—these patterns from FORMA are based on Russian Constructivism. The result is a great combination of geometry and personality. Who wouldn't love to get a present that looked like that?

Check out all the goods here.

FAB.COM

2011-10-20T10:45:00.000-04:00

I am crazy in love with the new flash sale site Fab.com. Literally, I think I have had an account with them for three or fours months and I think I have purchased eight or nine gifts (some for myself, some for others, ha) already. Pretty much every week they have some sort of vendor--jewelry, stationery, housewares, furniture, electronics etc.--that will catch my eye. This week's lineup is particularly killer with OClock watches (posted about here), mas! jewelry, and Blu Dot furniture.

This stuff is sure to sell out fast, so head over to Fab to check it out before it's gone.

(Note to reader: This is not a sponsored post. As always I write about products and vendors that I have tested and can happily give my 'obsessive' stamp of approval. I can therefore personally say that Fab.com has excellent service and goods; how could I help but share the love?)

CHRONICLES OF A BIBLIOPHILE

2011-10-19T08:33:00.002-04:00

I don't know what it is about fall, but recently I have been daydreaming about cuddling up with a good book. Of course because of school I read for hours and hours everyday, but I am talking about fun reading. Here's a quick rundown of the best books in my Amazon cart right now.

(left to right, by category)

FICTION + POETRY
Billy Collins, Horoscopes for the Dead
Elizabeth Hun Schmidt, Poets Laureate Anthology
Maira Kalman, And the Pursuit of Happiness
Bill Bryson, A Short History of Nearly Everything (technically not fiction or poetry, but fun like it anyway!)

DECOR
Christiane Limieux and Rumaan Alam, Undecorate
Grace Bonney, Design*Sponge At Home

ART
Johan Kugelberg, Beauty Is In the Street
Scott Ropthkof, Glenn Ligon: AMERICA
John Elderfield and Jim Coddington, Willem de Kooning: A Retrospective
Douglas Eklund, The Pictures Generation: 1974-1984

DESIGN
Alston Purvis, A Visual History of Typefaces & Graphic Styles, 1901-1938
Rudy VanderLans, Emigre No. 70, The Look Back Issue
Ellen Lupton, Thinking With Type, Revised Edition
Steven Heller, Merz to Emigre and Beyond: Avant-Garde Magazine Design of the Twentieth Century

What books are you dying to read or own?

COLOR FOR YOUR MONDAY

2011-10-17T08:32:00.002-04:00

Whenever I wake up feeling a bit uninspired, I just hop onto Pinterest and knock myself out of it. As usual, my 'Chroma' pinboard is making my giddy with brilliant rainbow goodness.

See all the links to the beautiful images above here. Check out my other boards here.

(Need an invite to Pinterest? Just send me an email and ask! I will hook you up.)

LET'S GET PERSONAL(IZED)

2011-10-14T08:39:00.001-04:00

I am loving the personalized (reasonably priced!) notepads on offer at Paper Source. They have tons of really adorable designs—one for every personality and interest. Check them all out here.

HERB & DOROTHY 50 X 50

2011-10-13T08:18:00.004-04:00

I have had the darling movie Herb & Dorothy in my Netflix queue for a while now. Now the director, Megumi Sasaki, is raising money to film a sequel which will track Herb & Dorothy's amazing new project: to donate 50 works each to 50 museums in America—one from each state— from their enormous collection. How cool is that story?

Help Sasaki jumpstart her funding by donating to her Kickstarter project here.

DISCOVERY CENTER

2011-10-11T08:31:00.001-04:00

Did you have a good long weekend? Even though it was absolutely beautiful here in New York, I spent the whole weekend inside writing a paper. Bummer!

On a different note, how cool is this new Children's Library in Queens? It makes me think of all the wonderful hours I spent getting lost in the story of a new book as a kid (or, for that matter, now!). Get more information about this beautiful building here.

DAVID SMITH: CUBES AND ANARCHY

2011-10-07T09:58:00.004-04:00

For the past several months I have been working on an amazing exhibition—David Smith: Cubes and Anarchy—as part of my job at the Whitney Museum of American Art. The show opened yesterday and, if I do say so myself, it looks great! The idea behind the exhibition is to trace the artist's geometric impulse throughout his career, trying to debunk the myth that Smith was purely an Abstract Expressionist who only turned to concrete form at the end of his life. With that said, the show features exquisite examples of the artist's work from the 1930s through the 1960s, including his rarely exhibited, but thoroughly fascinating, photographs.

David Smith: Cubes and Anarchy is on view until January 8, 2012. Learn more about the exhibition here.

Image credits (bottom three works):

David Smith (1906-1965)

Zig III, 1961(detail)

Painted steel

93 x 124 x 61 in. (236.2 x 315.0 x 154.9 cm)

The Estate of David Smith, New York, Courtesy GagosianGallery

Photo by Jerry L. Thompson

David Smith (1906-1965)

Cubi I, 1963

Stainless steel

124 x 34 ½ x 33 ½ in. (315 x 87.6 x 85.1 cm)

Detroit Institute of Arts, Founders Society Purchase, SpecialPurchase Fund

David Smith (1906-1965)

Untitled,1963

Spray enamel on paper

14 x 19 in. (35.6 x 48.3 cm)

Jon and Mary Shirley

Photo courtesy of the Estate of David Smith, NY

THE WEDDING FILES: ON PAPER

2011-10-06T08:38:00.000-04:00

I am thinking of getting a nice set of monogramed notecards to have around for miscellaneous wedding uses—though you never really need an excuse for more stationery, right? I have always thought a nice set of monogramed stationery was a great wedding shower or engagement gift (hint hint!).

If you need a wedding gift (or just a treat for yourself!) here are some of my favorite Etsy picks (top to bottom):

LettermintPress, $18 for ten cards and envelopes
JubileeDesignStudio, $18 for 12 cards and envelopes
Paperee, price on request
maidavale, $62.50 for 25 cards and envelopes
BlueSpruceArtPress, $16 for 8 card boxed set
JubileeDesignStudio, $18 for 12 cards and envelopes
rowhouse14, $20 for 12 cards and envelopes

FROM THE ARCHIVES: TO EVERY SEASON

2011-10-05T08:19:00.003-04:00

Can you feel it? All of a sudden New York feels like fall—full of crisp evenings, cool sunny days, early sunsets. While I miss the loss of summer, I am looking forward to long walks through falling leaves, hot cider, and wearing jackets again.

What do you most look forward to this fall? What's your favorite season?

(all photos taken by me; see more of my photos here)

PAUL FERNEY

2011-10-04T08:05:00.001-04:00

Paul Ferney (husband of this fabulous female blogger) is an incredibly talented painter. And now he has a beautiful new website that features the full breadth of his work. If you are looking for some inspiration, you can check it out here.

FRIENDS IN HIGH PLACES

2011-10-03T08:25:00.001-04:00

If you are like me and spend hours watching ESPN, you have seen this awesome commercial for Corona. I have always thought it was cool—who wouldn't want to have a sweet rooftop party like that?—but this weekend I discovered something that made it off the charts cool. Can you see the nattily dressed DJ on the second rooftop? It turns out that is actually my high school classmate, James, who fronts this awesome band The Knocks. How sweet is that?!

Learn more about the band and download the song in the commercial (Make It Better) here.

THE INCEPTION OF INSTAGRAM

2011-09-30T08:40:00.000-04:00

How gorgeous are these graphics? Stunning, right? They were created by Dan Kenneally and Liz Gershman as part of a really great article for 1000Memories (a cool website where you can store and share all your old family photos). The article explores the inspiration behind the ever-present iPhone application Instagram—where you can apply one of a dozen fabulous filters to make your digital shot look like it was taken with cool vintage film—and traces the various types of film and cameras used to get 'the look'. It makes me want to go out and try them all!

Read and see more here.

BAGGU BLISS

2011-09-29T08:26:00.000-04:00

I love Baggu (as you know from here, here, here and here) and I have to say that I am totally smitten with their new colors and patterns. I own about 20 Baggu bags in blue, purple and green but now I am tempted by some fiery fall colors. My favorites are the red and white geometric print and fox pattern—I mean really, how could you not love it?

Check them all out here.

TOO PRETTY TO EAT: GRADIENT CAKE

2011-09-28T08:31:00.000-04:00

As you may or may not know, I am obsessed with baking. Obsessed! However I don't always have time to make the delicious confections I dream up in my head or read about online. With that said, I think I might have to make time for this amazing cake project from Not Without Salt: an ombre fondant cake! Seriously, how gorgeous does that look?

Find the whole tutorial here.

(thanks to Mint for the heads up)

COLORFUL CASTLE

2011-09-27T08:21:00.000-04:00

The wonderful Australian store Castle was founded in 2008 by Rachel Castle—a woman who boasts branding, designing, writing and much more on her resume. Not to mention she clearly shares my undying love of polka dots!

Check out some of the gorgeous sheets, pretty garlands, hand-stitched artwork and colorful pillows on offer at Castle here.

(thanks to Plenty of Colour for the tip.)

THE MILL AND THE CROSS

2011-09-26T08:08:00.001-04:00

What would it be like to step inside a great work of art, have it come alive around you, and even observe the artist as he sketches the very reality you are experiencing? Lech Majewski brings to life Pieter Bruegel’s masterpiece The Way to Calvary, the story of the crucifixion, setting it in 16th century Flanders under brutal Spanish occupation. Rutger Hauer plays the artist, Michael York his patron, and Charlotte Rampling the Virgin Mary. As epic events unfold, bawdy country living continues unabated: couples entwine, musicians play wind instruments, soldiers torment their enemies mercilessly, and children scurry about. Using sophisticated computer technology, the filmmaker creates a brilliantly complex and fascinating multi-layered dreamscape that melds iconic moments in art, history, and religion with the quotidian lives of ordinary people.

I can only imagine that a film this beautifully considered would be as fascinating as it is transfixing. It is playing at the Film Forum here in New York City. Learn more and get your tickets here!