MODERN QUILT PATTERN INSPIRATION


You know how Pinterest can be this black hole of inspiration, where you start searching for something on a whim—in my case modern quilt patterns—and hours later you look up from your screen with quilt piecing patterns burned on your retina and a lingering confusion where the afternoon went? Yesterday I fell head first into that black hole and came out with these pattern-perfect quilts that will, hopefully, search as my muse when I endeavor to make my first quilt this winter (I will do it, gosh darn it, even if it seems overwhelmingly complex!). Even if you are not a craft nerd like me, I have a feeling you will appreciate these beauties. Take a look with me, will you?

the pattern of the quilt above was derived from computer code!




I love the color and traditional-cum-modern pattern of this example.




Love this bolder take on a sweet crib quilt.

This simple, fresh design was based on a Society 6 print. Cool!





Again, modern yet classic, this quilt is full of bright orangey goodness.





Or go even bolder! This pattern reminds me of Charlie Brown!
I love the use of ombre in this girls quilt, proving feminine can also be modern and cool.



I am dying over the colors in this example. So pretty!




This cross pattern/plus pattern baby blanket is AWESOME. Very grown up without losing its playfulness, don't you think? 

Grey, mustard and yellow are always an elegant combo. This triangle patterned piece is no exception.



Last but not least—this one is my favorite of the lot—is this chic orange, coral and B&W number. I think it would look fabulous on a bed with tiny white and black polka dot sheets, don't you?
p.s. Feeling quilty? Previous quote about my favorite quilt patterns here.


BLUE & GREEN, PATTERN & PLAY

PATTERN PLAY
PATTERN PLAY


PATTERN PLAYPATTERN PLAY






Thank goodness it is Friday! I don't know about you, but I am ready for a nice restful, relaxing weekend. So here are few of my current Etsy favorites in cool blue and kelly green—to keep things light and fresh and fun. Wouldn't it be nice to have these beautiful clean patterns around to keep you on an even keel all the time?


Mint Green Paper Garland, inkwhimsy, $9


Vintage Bottles Print, madebyanna, $30


Cloudbirds Cushion Cover, skinnylaminx, $32.20


Flatware Tablerunner in Wasabi, skinnylaminx, $45.50


Happy weekend all!



METHOD & LIBMAN: GOING DOTTY

METHOD & LIBMAN: GOING DOTTY


I have noticed a lot of cleaning products are starting to feature really bold designs, especially polka dots. I saw a commercial for this Method laundry detergent last week and I almost fell over at the sight of their new 'dotty' logo. I LOVE the brightly colored overlapping circles and would probably wallpaper my whole apartment with that pattern if my boyfriend would let me (though really a pillow or two might be kinder on the eyes and look better with my couch). I also LOVE the red and white polka dot pattern on the new Libman wonder mop (I feel like a commercial voice-over just typing that). The old mop only had the small dot pattern, now seen on the inside. The new mop uses the scale of the polka dots to represent different absorbencies in the fabric, giving bigger dots to the more absorbent strips on the outside. The result is a bright modern twist on an otherwise retro 1950s-era pattern. Awesome! This dot patten has also been used for the scrubbers of this green and yellow mop -- a clever and attractive solution to the intersection of form and function.

If you are interested in buying these prettily designed cleaning products check out the Method website here and the Libman website here.


MY DREAM HOME: PATTERNED WOOD FLOORS


You know what one of my favorite parts of traveling in Europe is? Gawking at all the beautiful architecture, particularly the historic homes and museums. And, obviously besides the paintings and furniture and all around finery, the best thing to check out is the flooring. It seems that Paris and Florence and other historic cities across the pond have a monopoly on gorgeous inlay flooring. Since I have an unending war with the terrible square parquet floors in our rental apartment (there are huge gaps that seem to spit splinters every couple weeks!), I am taking a minute to channel the perfectly patterned pavement of European mansions and file them away for dream home inspiration. Join me, will you?






My preferred style—and likely the most replicable in real life—is tie between herringbone and chevron. There are a lot of ways to modify these common patterns to add some extra visual interest, including an inset of contrasting wood or long, straight plank across the middle of the room. You pretty much can't go wrong.



Click through the link for more floor-tastic inspiration . . .

FROM THE ARCHIVES: PATTERN POLAROID






Just a quick post today to share some of my favorite polaroids from my portfolio: a selection of shots focusing on pattern and light. The top is a window in Amsterdam; the middle was taken last summer in my apartment; the bottom is a wall in Berlin. You can find more pattern photos here and more polaroids here.


Q & A: QUILTS & AWESOMENESS

Despite the steamy weather here over the last week, I have been endlessly daydreaming about quilts. Sounds crazy, right? Well, if you take a look at these beauties I have gathered I think you will see where I am coming from. These aren't your grandmother's quilts! The trend now is bold, modern patterns in bright welcoming colors. Doesn't it make you want to grab and sewing machine and dig in? (Or just take a nap, haha).


QUILT INSPIRATION
QUILT INSPIRATION

Baby quilts made by Hi + Low
(The bottom was made by sewing four map-printed handkerchiefs together, brilliant!)



QUILT INSPIRATION

Zig zag (not chevron!) quilt made by honeybear lane



QUILT INSPIRATION

Pdf quilt pattern written by FrozenKnickers



QUILT INSPIRATION

My personal favorite: quilt by Cluck Cluck Sew (pattern sold here, apparently good for beginners!)



QUILT INSPIRATION

Pixel pusher quilt made by splityarn



Untitled QUILT INSPIRATION

(left) Leaf quilt sold by 'of indian origin' for £72
(right) Quilt made by 'i'm a ginger monkey'



QUILT INSPIRATION

Baby quilt made by inch mark



QUILT INSPIRATION

Quilt in 'nap nook' shared by Hooray (design & lifestyle)



MY DREAM HOME: FEELING DOTTY!




When I was on Pinterest recently I stumbled across a mini trend: decorating small spaces in this fabulous dalmatian-style dot print. I love polka dots but this organic take on it is spectacular!

So, I thought I would start a new installment of 'My Dream Home' featuring none other than—you guessed it—polka dots in all sizes and, apparently, shapes! I know, what took me so long?!

sources: spotted bathroom, spotted entry (painted with a stencil!), spotted bookcase

Click through the link to see more spotty goodness!


OBSESSED: COLOR CORD COMPANY

beautiful, colorful pendant lamp round up

beautiful, colorful pendant lamp round up
Holy cow, I think I just died and went to color nerd heaven! This morning I stumbled across Color Cord Company, an outfit that sells all the materials needed for making some captivatingly colorful pattern-pretty pendant lamps (say that five times fast!). I have been dreaming of adding some hanging lights to a dark corner of our apartment—above our dining table—and I think this discovery just sealed the deal. Not only do they seem to have every style, color and pattern of cord under the sun, they also sell socket covers and shades in all different hues and sizes. All for what seem to be reasonable prices!


beautiful, colorful pendant lamp round up
They even sell super cool bulbs! What?! Mind blown.If you feel like a bulb just went on in your head (see what I did there?) check out the Color Cord Company website here.


I'M BACK (AND I WANT THINGS!)







I am sorry I have been away.  I had a lovely weekend at home hanging out with my family, seeing old friends, and all in all being weirded out by the fact that everything had changed (at my high school) and nothing had changed.  Isn't that always the case though?  Anywho, I have a crazy busy week and apologize in advance if posts are few and far between.  As a little tease, please accept this post with a portion of my wishlist for books (from top to bottom):
  1. Lines & Shapes, volume 2, Lines & Shapes
  2. Modern Dog, 20 Years of Poster Art, UPPERCASE Gallery
  3. 20th Century Pattern Design, UPPERCASE Gallery
  4. Thinking With Type, UPPERCASE Gallery
  5. Petite Pattern Books, UPPERCASE Gallery
Can you tell that I like the UPPERCASE Gallery?  Probably good that it is in Canada, or else I would be tempted to walk in and buy everything in the store!  Although they do sell online . . . .

WALLPAPER WISHLIST

ANTHROPOLOGIE WALLPAPER BOOKS ANTHROPOLOGIE WALLPAPER GEOMETRIC ANTHROPOLOGIE WALLPAPER WOOD ANTHROPOLOGIE WALLPAPER TIN

I live in a rental apartment in New York City, so I won't be buying wallpaper any time soon. But I love keeping an eye on the latest trends, particularly now that wallpaper design has gone way beyond pinstripes and polka dots (though I do love both!) and now features complex trompe l'oeil patterns and images. Anthropologie has jumped into this field feet first with a beautiful—but pricey!—selection of wallpaper. I am obsessed with the paperback book pattern (top) but could certainly see incorporating these other more minimal patterns to add some visual interest in an all-white room. Wouldn't the tin tile pattern (bottom) look great on a ceiling? Much more manageable than the real thing!

Stacked Paperback Wallpaper, $198

Geo Pyramid Wallpaper, $398

Scrapwood Wallpaper, $328

Brooklyn Tins Wallpaper, $348


See more gorgeous options here.


CARAVAN PRINTS





This post is supposed to be about Caravan, a super cool housing swap site made just for creative professionals. Think Craigslist for creatives. But really, all I care about is the amazing pattern featured in the background of the website---a bright diagonal-cum-herringpone pattern. Love it! Yes, it is far too busy for a website background (a pitfall which many twitter fanatics fall victim to), but how sweet would it look as a wrapping paper? Make it happen Caravan!

Check out the website here.