mug shots with Skinny laMinx

Hello everyone! Last week I jumped at the chance to participate in a creative workshop with the lovely Heather Moore in her cosy Skinny laMinx studio. Heather provided plain white ceramic mugs, scissors & a selection of her Skinny transfer-printed designs in pretty colours. Then she instructed us cut, soak & stick to our heart’s content, creating our very own unique patterns on the mugs.

The process was super simple… just choose the elements you fancy, cut them out and soak for a short time in water…

then apply the motif to the mug and press out any excess water, taking care not to move the transfer around too much. Heather will soon take our mugs to be fired in a kiln, after which they’ll ready for their first teabag. Because tea always tastes better in a mug, right?


The Skinny laMinx studio is lovely to work in. Heather draws inspiration from her surroundings and these gorgeous books and vintage Scandi fabrics are the perfect creative catalyst for her prints.




all photos my own.

poketo

If I ever find myself in Downtown Los Angeles, I know just where I’d head… Poketo, the fabulous design-driven store which has just launched their real brick and mortar shop/gallery full of art for your everyday. These brass bottle openers are a perfect example of stylish form with real function:

Founded by husband-and-wife team Ted Vadakan and Angie Myung in 2003, the online Poketo created a buzz with their limited-edition vinyl artist wallets & has grown into a leading lifestyle brand with a fun & functional signature style while still retaining the original indie vibe. These cool wallets are among my favourites:

Poketo (pronounced poh-KEH-toe) got its name through Angie’s Korean grandmother’s mispronunciation of pocket. I'm especially fond of their accessories range with their simple geo shapes:

To find out more, be sure to sign up on the mailing list and follow them on Poketo blog, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

ampersand

my guest post last week for Freeworld Design Centre…

The scrolling symbol called ampersand is not only has visual appeal with its curvaceous loops but also equips us with added speed & efficiency while typing or writing... just think how much time you’ve saved by hitting just one key instead of 3!

According to Wikipedia, ampersand can be traced back to the 1st century A.D. and the Old Roman cursive, in which the letters E and T occasionally were written together to form a ligature, which is when 2 or more letters are joyfully united together as a single glyph.

So join me for a little blogging ligature of my own... a joyful sojourn where typography & street style live happily ever after.

& and street style image

& and street style image

& and street style image

& and street style image

& and street style image

& and street style image

& and street style image

& and street style image

& and street style image

& and street style image

& and street style image

& and street style image

& and street style image

& and street style image

& and street style image

iconic prints

I’m such a sucker for a good print and always love the ones they’ve got over at the Print Shop. This monochromatically iconic trio caught my eye today…

cassette, bicycle & camera print at only $15 each.

delightful

in case you missed last weeks guest post for Freeworld Design Centre, it was delightful…

The simplest of materials can sometimes create the most beautiful objects. Take this ball of string... such a useful yet somewhat mundane household item, but look at what you could shape from the humble ball of string. Beautiful string light balls...

Or wrap some twine around a glass jar for an interesting votive holder...

A happy row of twinkling glass lights, strung together with twine, would make such pretty outdoor party decorations...

Perhaps give those crochet doilies a granny-chic update by wrapping them around a glass jar?

And the unassertive piece of paper? Imagine the delightful DIY cube string lights one could create with a simple sheet of white paper? Here’s how...

How about wrapping perforated paper with a delicate pattern around a glass vase for a sophisticated candle holder?

I love these DIY paper cup garlands covered in different wrapping paper prints...they look really easy and inexpensive to make.

This is a showstopper of the paper variety... a stunning origami-style paper pendant fashioned into a spherical prickly ball. Gorgeous!

So let your imaginations take flight and create beauty and charm with the humblest of materials. They’re truly delightful.

(Origami birds & circle garlands)

3 by fryd

 

Did you notice that little badge on the right of my blog? It’s the BYW 2.0 e-course which I’m thrilled to be a part of again this year. Holly of Decor8 shares her massively inspirational e-course with a few amazing guest teachers, one of whom just happens to be a fabulous favourite of mine... Jeanette Lunde of By Fryd. Besides being a graphic designer in Norway, Jeanette is the editor-in-chief of her very own e-magazine called By Fryd. This is her 3rd issue & I’d love to share some of my favourite images from it...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

click on the link below to read the full issue of 3 By Fryd:

 

Open publication - Free publishing - More design