Sunday Night…

Another weekend has come and gone, but at least spring has finally arrived here in upstate New York. We still may get snow, but a taste of spring is what we needed. Sorry for the lack of posts. My bookmarks, notes and desktop items to blog about are piling up. Here’s to a good week ahead!

Work-wise, I think I am headed for an all-time low in my 17 year career as a graphic designer. I saw this in the paper today and feel the need to post it somewhere in my workspace. Maybe it will help. Or else just putting it up will make me feel better. Calmer. Namaste.

St. Patrick’s Day has come and gone, but I did get some cool suggestions of other Irish blogs.

Aideen’s blog, i like local*, was featured in my St. Patrick’s Day post. She is a  writer and designer based in Ireland, and passionate about the promotion of design and architecture. Her blog was recently included in House & Home Magazine’s Irish Hot 100 and is a finalist in the Irish Blog Awards 2010. Congrats, Aideen, and thanks for the following links…

• www.thisisfieldwork.com (art, design, culture)
• www.alwaysreadthesmallprint.com (design, illustration, culture)
• www.thisisanoffshoot.blogspot.com (fashion, culture)
• www.hitone.wordpress.com (irish book covers)
• www.vaughshannon.wordpress.com (design, culture)

St. Patrick’s Week!

With this Wednesday being St. Patrick’s Day, I thought an interesting post would be to focus on some cool Irish blogs. (Hopefully that doesn’t translate into a cheesey American thing to do.) Here are a few that I’ve found. Maybe they will pass on their homegrown favorites in the days to come…

Ireland is well represented on Etsy. Just visit Etsy Ireland and see!

Making Time makes well of her time. Great felted pieces!

Irish with French flair – Dandelion Daydreamer – very cool – you need to check this one out!

I already LustCovetEnvy a lot on here!

i like local* – we all should. the world would be a better place.

And, on an unrelated note, if you’ve never heard of Unhappy Hipsters, go there. Now.

Go stag, why don’t you?

Oh, deer. While looking for my beloved faux deer that I finally just found, thanks to Cody Foster and The Well Dressed Home (see previous post), I have accumulated a bunch of notes and bookmarks and scribbles on deer stuff. Here is just a few of them. I would take them all, really!

Pay close attention to #7 and check out that link. Ponoko – looks like a whole new world there. Haven’t got my head around it all entirely yet. More to come.

1. www.rockettstgeorge.co.uk/stag-heads—red-2661-p.asp
2. www.rockettstgeorge.co.uk/stag-head-wall-clock-3016-p.asp
3. www.dutchbydesign.com/products-Rack-Oh-Deer-Coat-Hook_390-400-010.htm
4. www.snow-home.co.uk/store/itemDetails.asp?search=true&id=55-0-2489#2489
5. www.madewithlovebyhannah.com/deerbrooch.html
6. www.tinythingsarecute.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2_18&products_id=677
7. www.ponoko.com/showroom/freestylen/brooch-tape-with-little-deer-3523
8. www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=16208020
9. www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=39720983
10. www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=33881293
11. www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=37974206

Bring Cupmen to America!

I recently came across these “Cupmen”. After you pour your boiling water in your cup-o-noodles, fold the lid back down and pop this guy on top and watch him as he changes color. As he keeps the top down, he turns white when your noodles are ready. Wow – how have we lived without these? I can’t believe Cupmen aren’t all over here in the US. I emailed Japanese designer Akira Mabuchi, and he was nice enough to write back and hint that they would be coming our way in the future. I want one of these now, and just think what cool presents they would make. Who doesn’t love cup-o-noodles?

Check out Akira’s site as well as this one for more cool stuff!

Big in 2010 – Dala Horses

There is something about each of these dala horses, and every other one that I see – a mystery, a world of possibilities and yet a rich history, all at the same time. Their old-time craftsman ship seems fresh and their symbolism strong. A red one would be perfect next to my computer…

1. http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=37564241
2. http://www.lefsetime.com/store/template/product_detail.php?IID=258
3. http://www.swedishdesignhouse.com/
4. http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=20876201
5. http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=20976430
6. http://www.ingebretsens.com/details.php?prodID=2661
7. http://www.scandinavian-south.com/dalacarve.htm
8. http://www.scandinavian-south.com/dalasign.htm
9. http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=37384556

Next Big in 2010 Turquoise!

I’ll take that challenge!

Just saw this interesting post on Smashing Magazine, and I thought I’d take them up on their challenge. But, I won’t count anything I do in my day job, so hopefully the evenings will hold some inspiration for me. I’ll try it – let’s see what happens. Watch for my challenge logo here soon! Are you in?