NAEEM KHAN

Um, wow.   I was first introduced to Naeem Khan's work here and here (and what a beautiful bounty of color that dress is!), and now am officially head over heels in love.  If only I had a) the 6'0" frame to pull these dresses off and b) the bank account to back it up.  I love his subtle palette and lively patterns.  Even better?  The intro on his website is an elegant flickering - a mix between flash bulbs and sequins.  Terribly drool-worthy.

PUTTING ON A FRONT

This morning, as a special treat for myself and as part of the search for a belated Father's Day present, I went to the new Bob's Your Uncle store Front in Fort Point.  Not only was the store as beautiful as everyone described (see decor8 here) but I had the added bonus of meeting one of the creative geniuses behind the Bob's Your Uncle line: Michele Yeeles (seen in the first photo)!  Bob's Your Uncle was started/is run by a husband & wife team (Michele and Martin) both of whom started in design (she in shoe design and he in graphic design) making the perfect basis for their colorful, sassy, brilliant products.  Turns out that their office is just on the other side of Front's door so either Michele or Martin are in the store at all times.  I had a wonderful conversation with Michele (she is so nice!) during which she offered a ton of great advice (for budding designers like myself) and generally cemented my love for Bob's Your Uncle products and the Front store!  Go check it out yourself at 25 Channel Center Street, Boston.

p.s. Did I mention that I want to buy everything in the store?  I managed some restraint & only bought two things . . . 

CAN ELECTRONICS BE SEXY?

This weekend my gorgeous, tiny, extremely lightweight LaCie portable external hard drive arrived!  It is even better in person (aka in my apartment) than in the Apple Store (yes, this is the little guy that every Mac Genius in the country uses) or online.  I am doing my first Time Machine back up now, but so far so good!  Get your own here officially or here for thriftsters like me.

p.s. Ultimate plus: I can throw this in the bottom of my bag (like I do with everything) and not worry about anything happening to it!  Now if they can just do that with sunglasses, cell phones, and ipods . . . .

GREAT BANNER DESIGN

Is wrong to want to buy something simply based on the logo design of the company?  I suppose it helps that Kalla Textile Design (on Etsy here) also has some pretty sweet stuff . . . 

WE CAN ALL BE DALI (OR JOHN WAYNE)

This little set of stamps makes my upper lip tickle just thinking about them!  Girlontherocks (a fun store on Etsy) is selling this cheeky little 'stache kit for a tempting $21.  Too steep?  There are mustache mirrors and bottle openers for a more palatable price . . . 

CALL YOPLAIT, STAT!

This spoon is genius!  I am definitely an advocate of eating the last bit of everything . . . see more photos of this clever little spoon here.  Now all we have to do is get this in yogurt lids . . . 

JOHN POUR HOME

I am digging these throw rugs, even though they are totally impractical (made of felt, hard to vacuum).  I like the fact that the silhouetting of the words allows the hardwood to show through . . . Find them here at John Pour Home.

HABLE CONSTRUCTION

If you know me, you know that I am obsessed with organization.  I become giddy when purchasing little boxes, labels, or cases.  Not surprisingly then, I LOVE (as in, I want to buy an armload of these) these "large zip toiletry bags".  The patterns are pleasantly irregular (the lines look hand-drawn but parallel) and the color choice is impeccable.  I pretty much want the blue and white pattern all over my house.  Does Hable make bathing suits?  Not yet - but wouldn't that look cute?

HOMMIN TRASH CAN: ULTIMATE ECO-FRIENDLINESS

What better way to up-cycle than with this stylish trash can?  Designed by Hommin (Hong Ming Chen, a designer based in Sweden) he tries to "simplify and twist the daily object which has the potential to be a little bit better" .  Now all you have to do is find some plastic bags worthy of being on display and being thrown away . . . 

COLLAGE FOR A SUNNY DAY

A bright, beautiful collage for a bright beautiful day.  Buy it here through the Etsy store brandistrickland.

MOM VISITS, ADDICTION TO "WEEDS," COOLNESS

My lovely Mom was visiting yesterday, hence no posts.  We had a nice little jaunt to Crate&Barrel (there is only one in my home state of Connecticut and it is about over an hour from our house) and a tasty dinner - all in all a very nice evening.  This morning she had an interview downtown - knock 'em dead Mom!  Also, posts may be slower for a little while as spring hits Boston hard and makes it difficult to be inside.  And, as a side note, I am obsessed with Showcase's show "Weeds".  I love the main character Nancy - she is so neurotic and adorable and real!  Not to mention her son is hot . . . . Watch the episodes for free (though illegally) here.

I love this photo by "fine little day".  Anyone know what this piece is?  I know this is MOMA, but I was there a month ago and they didn't have this up . . . . Yummy!

I love this "hoop.dee.do" bulletin board series from Etsy's littleprettystudio.  decor8 featured them yesterday and, of course, nearly the entire shop has been cleared out.  Grab one here before they are all gone!

CAN YOU EAT PILLOWS?

. . . because I really really want to.  Don't these all look delicious?  I love the graphic type combined with the realistic images (particularly since they depict things never seen as comfortable: sticky candy, crumpled money, pointy children's toys etc.).  I can just picture a solid-colored big comfy couch with several of these thrown on them . . . sigh.  Check out more lovely pillows here at French home design company Bonjour Mon Coussin (unfortunately, the site is entirely in French . . . ).

THINGS I AM SAD I DIDN'T BUY

Things I Am Sad I Didn't Buy (As Seen On Etsy):

1. Spoons Apron, skinnylaminx
2. Blue Agate Yarn, SeeJayneKnitYarns
3. Vintage Mother Goose Illustration, sushipotparts (GOD, I wish I had bought this!)
4. Circles and Circles Scarf, eninaj

Can you tell that I have been reading a lot of McSweeny's lists recently?

HOLLY WALES RUINS YOUR YEARBOOK

I love this piece - "Class of '72" - by Holly Wales as seen at Early Griffin Press.  Not only is Early Griffin Press' store super-cool (featuring six amazing artists, including Robert Hanson who is definitely worthy of another post!), but Early Griffin's blog and flickr page also detail the background of the artists and their processes.  Basically everything you need in one succinct site!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME

I am turning 23.  I don't have to go to work.  My handsome, wonderful boyfriend is taking me out to a fancy dinner.  What better photograph to represent how I am feeling than this photo of a little cupcake thief?  It says happy holiday indulgence better than any words I could string together.  Made into a pretty card for your note-writing pleasure by Andrea over at lovemonkey.

BIRTHDAY WISH LIST

My birthday is coming up - which means making my wishlist!  Here are some of the highlights (from left to right, top to bottom):

• The Guerilla Art Kit, Amazon.com, $12.21
• Morocco Headboard, West Elm, Queen-size $379
• Oxidized Large Circle Pendant, alisamiller, $130
• Alice Park Slot Wallet, Refinery29 Shop, $65
• Butterfingers Laptop Wallet, Working Class Heroes, $130

ORLA, ORLA, ORLA!

Orla Kiely is fulfilling the obsessive imagist's every paper fantasy by opening up a stationery line, due to hit U.S. stores in a few weeks!  If you know me you know that I have ponied up for three Orla pieces in the past (two tote bags and a beautiful wallet!); I am now nearly giddy with excitement over affordable ($6 notebooks!) Orla designs.  I will be keeping an eye on Mint Julep (the only store in the Boston area to carry Orla Kiely) for petal designed papers.  You can also buy all of her products online here.

Photo and Orla update via Oh Joy! blog.

GOOD GRAPHIC DESIGN . . .

Ain't that the truth?  Perhaps I should make this the new mantra of the obsessive imagist. . . 

This shirt and more at Behance Network (a site which I love for so many reasons - all of which I will have to share with you on another day).

BLACK & WHITE & RED ALL OVER . . .

Though things are a little crazy right now (dealing with graduate school, taxes, installing a show at the NAC, keeping up with the obsessive imagist), I thought I would take a minute and share a couple of goodies I have come across recently.  From left to right, top to bottom:

• Large Font Clock, Matter
• Teardrop Photograph, Erin Tyner
• Red Spoons Apron, skinnylaminx
• Shoplift Bag, Matter
• Orange Circles Modern Mobile, quiltbaby
• Dairy Couture - Cows Milk Tote Bag, spittingimage
• Mini Frame Pouch, oktak

HEHEHEHE . . .

I shopped victoriously!  What an apt slogan!  I am now the proud owner (thanks to Ebay) of this vintage light blue Royal Quiet Deluxe typewriter.  It is supposed to be here in a week - I can't wait!

Thanks to Janine at UPPERCASE (a super cool type/font/design oriented gallery in Calgary, Canada) for getting me inspiring me to make the Royal typewriter search on Ebay.  I was not disappointed!