GETTING SWEET & CRAFTY: VALENTINE'S DAY IDEAS

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

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

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!

     


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!

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

              

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.)