new blog: bloesem

we just got home yesterday and i'm catching up on emails- d*s won't kick back in until tuesday but i thought some of us might need good reading on new year's day. nothing like recovering from a fun night out by relaxing and reading up on a fun new design blog. bloesem is a new dutch design blog run by irene hoff. i'm always on the lookout for a blog to fill the niche that frida left and i'm hopeful that irene hoof's bloesem might be it. so click here to check out bloesem. happy new year- see you on tuesday! [thanks, irene!]

happy holidays

the holidays are here and i just wanted to wish everyone a very happy holiday and best wishes for a wonderful new year. it's been such a wonderful year here at d*s and i wanted to thank everyone for reading and their continued support. it's truly been an honor to work with and talk to you all. i'm closing up shop today and will be posting my next biz box post later next week. now that i'm home i'm going to try to step away from the computer and spend more time with my family. i hope you all enjoy the time off with your family and friends. i'll return on january 2 rested and ready to go...i hope you'll all join me for the launch of the new january d*s shop and the debut of my favorite d*s project to date. i'm so excited and i hope you'll all enjoy it. so again, happy holidays and best wishes for a wonderful new year. i'll see you next tuesday. xo, d*s

new podcast: cavern home

as something of a wallpaper fanatic, i've followed the recent resurgence in wall decor with great interest. from wall decals to wallpaper i've kept an eager eye on emerging designers in this field, anxious to see how people would reinterpret such a classic medium. cavern home was one of the first companies i took note of and followed as they launched their debut line at the 2006 icff. founded by a pair of childhood friends, carly margolis and ophir tanz, cavern home entered the market with a beautiful line of designs inspired by nature. cavern's collection often includes animal imagery and traditional techniques like flocking- all done with a modern twist. the result is a series of clean, modern papers that combine bold pattern with subtle color and metallics. thankfully carly and ophir were able to take some time out from their busy schedule to answer some of my questions and give some fascinating insight into the world of wallpaper and starting a new business. you can [click here] to hear the full podcast and hear about how the pair met (hint: it involved the beastie boys), why they're called cavern home and what they're working on for 2007. [thanks to carly and ophir for taking the time to record with me]

in addition, speaking with carly and ophir inspired a new bizbox post which will go live tomorrow. stay tuned for a link and new post on entrepreneurship in the creative community (along with some tips culled from this interview).

on the road...

happy holidays everyone- today i'm headed south on a train to va beach to see my family. i'll be posting a new podcast later this afternoon (around 3 or 4) but i'll be editing the sound on the train so it won't go live until i'm home with an internet connection. i'll have a few more posts for friday (including a new bizbox post) and then i'll be taking next week off to be with family and friends. when i return i'll be announcing a brand new project that i've been dying to share with everyone and that i hope will be a positive way to ring in the new year. in addition i'll be launching a new january d*s shop, the much-delayed letterpress guide and the international design project. my sincere apologies for the delay- november and december were nutty months and i'm just now getting back on my feet. so, i'll see everyone later this afternoon with a brand new podcast. [beautiful pottery above and below by artist diana fayt]

chirp chirp

not a home product, i know...but i love them. bird jewelry from EliandRa at etsy...

les louisettes

new from les louisettes- wall, glass and floor decals just in time for new year's decorating (i always de-clutter and redecorate over the holidays). i absolutely love the way the decals look on the floor. available at sprout home in chicago (they aren't online right now but just give them a ring, tara and her staff are extremely nice and will mail them to you (just call 312.226.5950) toot sweet).

french vogue

many thanks to scott at the sartorialist for the shout out in french vogue. merci beaucoup, scott.

terrariums by paula hayes

too beautiful not to post....terrariums by paula hayes via atny.

sarah cihat

brooklyn designer sarah cihat just sent over some custom pieces she created exclusively for the future perfect. they're fresh out of the kiln and ready to buy. click here to contact the future perfect for pricing on individual pieces. [thanks sarah!]

[minor christmas emergency so i've got to run out for some errands...be back tomorrow with a fresh podcast and some updates for the new year]

essimar

beautiful silkscreened cards by esther mar of essimar. i love the rounded edges and mix of bright color and texture...perfect for a unique holiay thank-you card. click here for more info and to contact essimar for orders. [thanks, esther!]

d*s shop: update

donna jo brady at re-surface design decided to run a little holiday special at the d*s shop- for the rest of the december shop run she'll be offering a fresh new design at a special discounted price. the lamps are available right here for $60 each and have a fresh new textile pattern on a soft lavender shade. click here for more info and to shop.

lost bird found

sara jenson's pomegranate bags were a huge hit in the shop this month so i was thrilled when she emailed today with new designs. sara is selling her gorgeous pomengranate designs via her site, lost bird found. the pomegranate pattern comes in canvas bag, small pouch, large tote, apron and as canvas fabric. each one is cuter than the next...click here to view the full collection and shop online. [great work, sara!]

amanda kavanagh

i first met artist amanda kavanagh through my dad- they were flickr photo buddies and from the moment he showed me her work i was hooked. amanda lives in brooklyn with her husband and creates beautiful paintings from her home near prospect park. i've always loved the sort of ethereal moods she creates in her work and her ability to play with light in such a powerful way. over lunch a few weeks ago we talked about affordable art and the trend in sites like tiny showcase (where she sold out almost immediately) that cater to people interested in prints. amanda was considering offering high quality print versions of her work and today she opened a shop where she's selling 8 prints (in limited additions of 100) for prices as low as $25 each. each print is signed and numbered and printed on acid-free hahnemuhle photo rag satin 310 gsm using ultrachrome archival inks. the prints are really lovely and since so many of us are interested in affordable art i thought this would be right up our alley. click here for more info and to shop online. [great work, amanda!]

[kristina from three layer cake is in town today (all the way from rome!) so i'm off to meet her and chat design. be back later this afternoon with a new post]

oh china by fifty-eight b

lorraine from design studio fifty-eight b sent over this beautiful new vase called "oh china". the oh china vase is made from silver and gold plated spools of colorful thread. the effect is simple but modern and the thread is such a nice pop of color. fifty-eight b has a great collection of furniture as well which you can check out right here- they also have studios in dublin and paris so click here for more info on the studio and their locations. [thanks, lorraine!]

stitchella

after yetserday's ipod cozies i got tons of requests for more handmade versions. these cozies from stitchella on etsy were too cute to pass up. each handmade felt case is perfect for an ipod nano or cell phone case and has a recycled button closure to keep your gadget from falling out. the final touch is a cute screen printed bird in three styles (crow, sparrow and something that looks like a chickadee)- they're available right here for $10 each. enjoy!

marimekko

i'm so happy i found my carrie bradshaw curtains at marimekko and it looks like their winter collection now includes a similar pattern called kirgiisi designed by maija isola and kristina isola. kirgiisi comes in a very holiday friendly palette of rich red and green and a muted tan and white variety. any of the colors would look lovely as curtains, table linens, pillows or anything you can think of...click here for more info.

new from cavern

cavern home has released a new colorway called "snow" in their blackbird line. "snow" is fun, modern and perfect for adding a little pattern to your life. click here for the full collection from cavern home and to place an order. [ps: stay tuned for a podcast with cavern home later this week]

osborne + little

pretty patterns for friday: wallpaper from the new tara collection by osborne + little.

ipod cozies

i love handmade ipod covers. i don't own an ipod but if i did i'd want to keep it snuggly in something like this- handmade felt ipod covers by suezybees at etsy. $18 right here. [update: they seem to be sold out- but there are similar products available on her site...]

a (pretty) cup of joe

i wish more coffee houses invested in pretty take-out coffee cups. these clever cups were designed by gina triplett for the last drop coffee house in philly. too cute to pass up. have a cute local cup to share? send an email and i'll post the results here. i've heard some shops in chicago have great custom cups...

[i'll be back at 1 with 2 new posts]

hygge life

lovely new additions to the (newly updated!) hygge shop (via mav)...

emma jeffs

i'm considering using emma jeff's adhesive window stickers in our bathroom...despite the rather high pricetag, i think it might make me happy enough to be work the cost in the long run. plus, as a renter i jump at the chance to add pattern to the walls and windows that isn't permanent. i was deciding on patterns when i noticed emma added pretty new photos to the site. i'm a sucker for a good product shot (i think it's one of the most crucial things to invest in when promoting a product) and these are a nice addition to the site. you can pick up emma's decals all over the place these days but you can view her full collection right here. happy sticking...

[i'll be sure to post pictures of our project when i'm done]

stuart

the ny times ran a fantastic article this morning on a new online gallery program created by charles saatchi. i've always admired saatchi's love for student work and he seems to be doing well by the students who've made him a lot of money over the years. he's created a new website called "stuart" (it stands for student-art) that lets student artists around the world create a free myspace-style page where they can post their work and sell it directly to customers without a gallery fee or rep cut. i love love love that he's letting artists sell their work without a fee and am curious to see how the site progresses. it's a potential cash cow for saatchi but he says he wants to leave the site alone for a year and see what happens (he's not buying any work from the site for at least a year). i can't wait to see how it works out- already gallery owners and buyers are discovering phenomenal new artists and i think it's a fantastic way for young artists to start selling their work and communicating with other student artists across the globe. what a fun idea...click here for more info (and to set up a free page) and here for the original times article.

studio t lighting

ac and i are about to have some lighting installed (pictures to come after the holidays- we're starting to spend more time on the apt these days) so i've been paying particular attention to pendants these days. these new pieces from studio t lighting in chrome, wood and powder coated aluminum are sleek, modern and just the right size for a little nook or small dining table. designed by pratt grad (and professor) timothy richartz, the pendants are available right here at velocity for around $375-$450 a piece.

sample sale

i'm a big fan of niche modern lighting and they're having a HUGE sample sale this weekend. niche will be offering 50–70% off hand blown lighting and home furnishings. if you know their work you know that is one heck of a steal. so stop on by and say hi to co-founders mary welch and jeremy pyles- you can even go home with a 10% off coupon for any future lighting order. it's a great deal so click here for more info and to get directions. [sale: december 16+17, 12-7, 258 e. third street at ave. c, 212-777-2101. cash and carry only please]

new podcast: paper + cup

earlier this week i sat down with minhee and truman of paper + cup press. i'm a huge fan of their stationery line and was thrilled that they were able to talk to me about their company, their thoughts on running a small business, how they met and everything in between. click here to hear their full podcast. the podcast runs a bit longer than most because they had such valuable insight on running a small business and the debate between mass market and keeping things small. it's definitely worth checking out.

[thanks so much to minhee and truman for taking the time to record the podcast!]

d*s shop update

heather guidero's ornaments just can't be stopped: she's sold out of two rounds of ornaments and she's now produced a third and last version. the newest version is made with a variscite stone and is available right here for $26.

gift on grand

this is a must-visit. there's not much more to say. if you're in nyc tomorrow you've got to check out the gift on grand fair (33 grand sreet, brooklyn)- some of the greatest artists in the area will be selling home-made goods just in time for the holiday season. i'm even dragging ac, that's how must-visit it is. click here for more info (sat, dec 15 from 11-8)...see you there!

kim family benefit

lisa, stephanie and gerrie are setting up a wonderful online auction to benefit the kim family of doe. it's such a thoughtful idea and a wonderful way to contribute to a good cause. there will be over 40 different artists contributing to the auction items in a wide range of media. you'll find paintings, prints, ceramics, soft toys, jewelery, paper goods, home decor and more. 100% of the auction proceeds will go to the kim family fund. bidding begins january 3rd and ends january 7th. click here for a preview of the auction items in the coming weeks.

at home: chloë sevigny

last week at h&g we passed around the january issue and checked out a new spread on chloë sevigny's home. i expected lots of edge and "look at me" accessories. you know, something that said "i was in the brown bunny". but when i opened the issue i was shocked to see a stylish, dare i say traditional connecticut-style townhouse. it turns out chloë is true to her ct roots and worked with a designer to create a classically beautiful home. there's a gorgeous slideshow of her home (love that green wallpaper) and an even better video of the photo shoot on the h&g site. i love watching people pose so getting to see chloë toss her head back and forth while standing on a ladder was priceless. it's definitely worth checking out- even though she lives a sort of movie-star life there are a lot of usable design tips to learn from her home.

d*s shop: update

just a quick update- heather guidero has added a few more of her branch ornaments to the d*s shop so they're available right here for $20. also, theresa's beautiful handmade holiday cards are available for $25 and would be perfect for those post-holiday thank yous we all have to send. and don't forget there are 2 new versions of the a-light available from re-surface design right here for $100. click here for more information on the shop and the charity of the month, art start. happy holiday shopping!

ferm living

yesterday i got an email from designer trine anderson who runs a small design company in denmark called ferm living. trine designs really beautiful wallpaper that combines bold graphic designs with bright pops of color. i'm nuts about the peacock pattern, but the entire collection is lovely. there's plenty to see at ferm (including an adorable collection of acrylic ornaments) so click here to view the full collection. [thanks, trine!]

[i'm heading out for a bit so i'll be back with more posts at 2:30]

maru calculator

this guy isn't new by any means but it's one of my favorite products around right now. so simple but so beautiful. the maru calculator was designed by takumi shimamura for monacca and uses yanese cedar veneer around a cork spacer. the effect is stunning and i love the idea of introducing a natural material like cedar into the office environment. available at moss online for $85.

wsj

thanks so much to jessica at the wall street journal for including d*s and the d*s shop in her roundup of blogs. it was an honor to be included among such a great collection of shops and websites.

sugar spoon

nature inspires some of the most beautiful designs. i'm loving this branch sugar spoon from egg mercantile in amsterdam. they offer overseas shipping so you can pick up this little guy or a host of similar spoons (in smaller and thinner varieties) right here. enjoy!

design blog party!

tonight is the 5-blog design party! if you're in the nyc area please stop by the dwr in soho from 7-10 to meet up with the gang from apartment therapy, mocoloco, treehugger, curbed and d*s. happy holidays!

jen corace ornaments

ok- i'm nuts about these ornaments. my pair just came in the mail yesterday and they make our tree look so festive. designed by providence artist jen corace, these little felt gingerbread ornaments are available online at figments in providence for $16 each. they're well worth it- i sat on the bed and stared at them for a good 10 minutes last night. they're adorable. click here for more info and to buy.

ayumi horie

i've heard ayumi horie's name so many times before (mostly from the gang at variegated) but i have no idea what took me so long to post about her. ayumi is a potter based in rosendale, ny who creates truly unique hand-made designs. there is such heart and soul to her work i find it irresistible. you can tell that each piece is made by hand with such care and attention to detail. ayumi often leaves little corners or edges the natural pottery color to contrast with colored glazes and paints- a detail i love. her work really speaks for itself so click here to view her full collection and shop online. [thanks, ayumi!]

artgoodies

lately i've been spending a lot of time at etsy looking for affordable artwork. i was browsing through the home section and found these cute little block printed dishtowels by artgoodies. at only $9 a piece they'd make a perfect housewarming gift. click here to view the full collection and shop online.

i'm off to record a podcast with paper+cup press so here are some links until tomorrow...

amy helfand's open studio this weekend

great tshirts for a good pet cause!

stop by the 5 design blog party at dwr tomorrow!

new finds and links at hg

beaded bahavana carpet at mocoloco

photo diy at notcot

white forest pottery via mav

little changes...

sometimes a fun new table lamp is the perfect solution for room boredom. when i feel like a room is getting stale i like to change out accessories like table lamps, rugs and wall decor. this cute little owl lamp ($24) at urban would look adorable with a vintage shade like the one pictured (which i can't find on the site, grr...) or something simple like a nice slate colored linen...or turquoise? click here to get more info and to buy.

eye candy

just a little eye candy courtesy of hoping for happy accidents. i want these animals in my window so badly...

birdyheads

this month's shop has knocked my socks off and i just wanted to take a second to thank all of the artists and readers who've supported the shop and this month's charity. we've sold out of a few items and amy ruppel's birdyheads are going fast so i just wanted to place a little reminder since we're nearing the bottom of the supply. amy's handmade birdyheads are available right here for $60.

[ps: there will be some exciting changes at the d*s shop in jan 07. stay tuned...]

dan-ah kim

yesterday i got an email from artist dan-ah kim. a recent pratt grad, dan-ah creates beautiful prints and illustrations she sells in her etsy shop. i snapped up one of the "brooklyn" prints (love the feathers) and thought you guys might like them as well. prices are extremely reasonable (around $15 for a print) and you get to support another wonderful independent artist for the holidays. click here for more info and to shop. [thanks, dan-ah!]

case study bed: yum

i'm a sucker for mid-century style beds with clean lines. this new case study bed from modernica (at velocity) is too cute for words. so simple, so clean- i love it. the bed is hand built of 26-layer maple plywood with a perforated steel mattress support and six multi-ply bentwood legs for extra support. you can choose from natural wood, dark cherry, classic, walnut or dark walnut and maple finish. prices start at $1190 and the bed is available right here. sweet dreams...

d*s shop update

heather guidero's gorgeous branch ornaments sold out this month but she offered to make a small second edition with beautiful faceted turquoise stone. they're still only $20 a piece and would be perfect for a holiday or post-holiday decoration. readers are even buying them to use as necklaces, so click here to check out heather's branch ornament and shop online. enjoy!

programmable press

nick butcher is studio mates with nadine nakanishi, the artist i mentioned last week in reference to my new framed work. nick's work uses some of the same warm colors that i love so much in nadine's work and i couldn't resist sharing. i'm nuts about nick's audio show poster and the beautiful oranges, pinks and yellows and he uses. i'm finally getting used to our neutral colored walls and these colors look so warm and inviting up against them. you can pick up nick's print for $35 right here but he only has 10 left so email quickly if you're interested.

[ps: speaking of pretty colors- samira's trays that were featured in lucky magazine are available for pre-order via email]

jayson home and garden + discount

jayson home and garden is a beautiful home design shop in chicago. located in lincoln park, they're well known for their collection of high-end furniture and unique accessories. i'm a big fan of upholstered furniture these days and jayson has a great collection of vintage pieces upholstered in bright modern fabrics. nothing beats a classic chair updated in today's fabrics. but since we're not all in the market for larger pieces i checked our their accessories as well- i'm feeling feathers these days (still?) and i love the cast iron/ metallic gold feathers and john derian's gorgeous little feather tray. there's a lot to choose from and the gang at jayson was kind enough to extend d*s readers a 20% discount (and free shipping!) on all holiday gift ideas and decor until december 24. so if you see anything you like be sure to type in "DSBO6" when you check out. click here for the full collection. happy shopping! [thanks, abbe!]

letterpress calendar

husband and wife design team c&a design of berkeley california sent over their beautiful 2007 letterpress calendar. the botanical themed calendar is printed in shades of sage, gold and coral and the dates are pritned with a rich burgundy. each handmade calendar is 10 1/2 x 7" and is available via email right here for $25. enjoy!

tikoli

this weekend designer maja brugos sent over her debut line of kitchen textiles called tikoli. colorful, affordable (prices start at $8.50) and just in time for a little holiday spruce up, maja's textiles are available online as well as through relish in berkeley. click here for the full collection and to shop online. [thanks, maja!]

frederique morrell

mk over at cursive sent over these gorgeous trays by french designer frederique morrell. morrell tracks down vintage needlepoint designs and laminates them to make lunchboxes, keyrings, covered journals and my favorite- trays. they're a really unique gift idea and, if nothing else, are wonderful to look at. i've always loved needlepoint and this is a fun way to have it at the table without worrying about spills or water damage. the trays come in large ($90), medium ($65) and small ($35) and are available directly through cursive nyc (646-602-3806).

d*s shop in lucky!: sold out

this month's issue of lucky magazine just landed in mailboxes and features a brand new product from the jan d*s shop (pg 117). starting january first the shop will be featuring a beautiful series of cubby trays created by recent pratt grad samira gagne. i met samira last year at her senior show and was blown away by her work- she showed a beautiful series of trays and i asked if she would expand upon the existing series for the shop. her new designs are stunning and i'm thrilled to announce that they're now available for pre-order on the d*s shop. (because she's part of the january d*s shop she won't be shipping orders until january 1).

samira's trays are handmade in brooklyn and she's created 6 different color options, each more gorgeous than the next. trays start at $70 (small) and go up to $90 (large) with shipping included. they're a wonderful way to add some color and handmade art to your home. you can click here to check out samira's trays and pre-order for january 1st. thanks again to lucky for supporting independent designers.

[UPDATE: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR PRE-ORDERS, WE ARE NOW TOTALLY SOLD OUT FOR THE MONTH OF JANUARY. BUT STAY TUNED FOR MORE GREAT PRODUCTS COMING IN JAN 07]

futures antiques

thanks to amber at my aim is true i picked up these vintage chrome and cork lamps from futures antiques for $90. i'd been looking for something like this and after AT did a post on similar lamps in domino amber left a comment about these. i scooped them up right away when i found out the shop in question was actually in my hometown. small world. they seem to have a nice collection of furniture and lighting online if you're looking for some fun vintage pieces- they ship throughout the us so you can order on the phone and have it shipped to your front door. click here for more info. [thanks, amber!]

[if you type in "cork lamp" on ebay you can find similar lamps]

d*s shop update

always designing, d*s dec shop artist donna jo brady of re-surface design has decided to add two new lights to the shop. her first limited edition sold out so she's now introducing two new styles- promenade and berry. same price ($100, shipping included), same cute white base- just different shades to choose from. click here for more info and to buy. happy holiday shopping!

[heather's ornaments sold out this week and sara bee's bags are next to be sure to place your orders before they're all gone...]

not your mother's pearls

maybe it's the southern girl in me but i've always loved a good set of pearls. i don't wear them in my day-to-day life but they always remind me of classy southern women at dinner parties. d*s shop alum (and risd grad) ryan kundrat updated the classic pearl earring with gold and oxidized silver for a new edition of tink jewelry. the full collection is right here- just in time for the holidays.

jen corace letterpress

i pretty much love anything that jen corace does so i was psyched to see these affordable letterpress prints of jen's at mahar dry goods. created exclusively for mahar, the prints are made on watercolor paper and have jen's trademark use of subtle color. available for $50 each or $80 for the pair right here. enjoy! [click here for the d*s podcast with jen corace]

design blog party

hi everyone- just an update on the 5-blog holiday party. dwr would like everyone to rsvp so we can get an idea of who's coming, so if you have a chance please rsvp to soho@dwr.com by december 12 if you can. everyone's invited so come on down and meet the gang from treehugger, apartment therapy, mocoloco, curbed and d*s (even good old ac will be there). happy holidays!

echo park craft fair

silverlake is home to some of the greatest design shops in la so be sure to check out this alternative craft fair taking place just outside of silverlake. details: holiday smackdown, december 8, 7-11 pm, taking place at sea level records (1716 w. sunset blvd). have fun!

kim family

i've decided to take a blog moment of silence today in light of yesterday's sad news. the design and technology community lost a wonderful person and i would like to send my thoughts and condolences to the kim family. i thought we could all use a break from products and perhaps take a minute or two to think about the friends and family in our lives. posting will resume tomorrow.

nathan gwirtz

ceramicist nathan gwirtz creates beautiful ornaments from his studio in brooklyn. i love seeing iconic new york imagery like water towers in ornament form- such a fun way to decorate your city tree. nathan also has bird and ornament images that are perfect for those seeing something a bit more traditional. click here to view the full collection and shop online (ornaments are $16 each). enjoy!

[speaking of ceramics, check out kristina's interview with shelly simpson of mud australia. i'm a big fan of her pottery...]

elegant embellishments

elegant embellishments: a super cool eco-friendly tile system that reduces air pollution in urban areas. click here for more info [via AT via futurefeeder]

[speaking of embellishments, anh-minh lee was kind enough to include some of my holiday decorating tips (along with maxwell at AT and allison at shelterrific) in her article for the sf chronicle. thanks, anh-minh]

k studio

k studio's wildflower pillows for the d*s shop are one of my favorite things we've featured so far. they're eco-friendly, use beautiful but subtle colors and employ just the right amount of delicate, stitched pattern. the pillows are available in 4 color options and make a great gift for the the eco-design lover in your life. they're also a great example of handmade design- each one is made by shelly klein and her mother mary in their grand rapids studio. click here for more info and to shop.

showpony

based in glasgow, showpony is the work of designer emma henderson. emma was kind enough to send her work along yesterday and i wanted to post it before i head out today. i'm a sucker for pleats and folds and emma's work combines fun patterns with simple but stylish pleating. you can find her patterns in purse or pillow form right here for $25-$70. enjoy! [thanks, emma!]

i bride design

steven, one of the owners of egg mercantile in amsterdam sent over these gorgeous platters and trays by a french company called i bride. one series features woodland creatures (deer, squirrel, etc. appx. 16 x 10 inches) and the other features women on round platters (appx 16 inches in diam). i thought they were too cute and unique to pass up. they're available online at steven's shop and start around $40 with shipping. click here for more info. thanks, steven!

renegade craft fair!

on december 9 and 10th the renegade craft fair will be taking place in chicago- if you live within driving distance i highly suggest you stop by! every year i wish i could check out the chicago branch (some of my favorite designers show there) so hopefully some of you can check it out. this year's is being held this coming saturdat and sunday, december 9 + 10 from noon until 5pm at pulaski park (which is located at 1419 w. blackhawk). the fair will be held in the auditorium and 2 gymnasiums and there is room for 100 vendors-sounds like a great show. click here for more info and directions. have fun!

biz ladies: the morning after

there are few moments in my life that i can remember being really and truly speechless, but last night at the business ladies meet up i walked up the stairs and found myself at a loss for words. surrounded by a room packed full of over 80 talented women i had to jolt myself out of shock and pick my jaw up off the floor. thank you thank you thank you to everyone who attended last night, to dwr for being incredibly gracious hosts (thank you, korneel!) and to rena and everyone who helped out with snacks, planning and support (and thank you for your city harvest donations- we have over 200 pounds of food to donate!) after a few hours of talking i think nearly everyone went home with a handful of business cards and i've now heard that there are two small groups already formed and ready to meet in a few weeks. in addition i've heard people are talking about collaborations, teaming up to do websites and promotion and, if nothing else- i think everyone walked away with some new friends who will be invaluable as people get their businesses off the ground. i can't tell you how thrilled i was to look around and see so many amazing women genuinely helping each other and making great contacts. i hope you all made it home safe and sound- thank you again for coming.

[above: karen from nama rococo talks to women interested in opening their own design businesses]

in addition, joi at the nyc craft mafia has been kind enough to let us use their forums to stay in touch and plan meetings. so, CLICK HERE to register and get in touch with us on our very own BIZ LADIES forum. we'll post small group meetings, updates, helpful articles, anything relevent to women in small business. thanks, joi! [click here for a little slideshow of last night. i wish i'd remembered to take a picture of us all sitting down upstairs, the sheer number of people was overhwhelming]

my imaginary boyfriend

last night's biz lady meet up was more amazing than i could have ever dreamed. at my count we had over 80 people attend and we packed every square inch of dwr in brooklyn heights. a full report will come later this morning but i wanted to share the work of one woman in attendance quickly- erika at my imaginary boyfriend. erika makes fun handmade designs for the home, including these fun skull and headphone stockings. erika makes everything from pillows to clutches and bags so click here to check our her full collection and shop online.

[full biz ladies report up next...thanks to everyone who came!]

biz lady meetup: tonight!

ok ladies- the day is here and tonight we're all meeting at dwr in brooklyn heights for the nyc business ladies meet up! we're meeting from 7-9 but if you can show up by 7:45 i'd be most appreciative. we'll all head upstairs around 7:45 or 8 for a little chat and then break apart to mingle after that. we've got over 80 people rsvp'd so far (but i'm betting on about half coming) so come early and bring your business cards! i'll be providing snacks, drinks and nametags but if you can bring a canned food donation for city harvest i'd be most appreciative. i'm heading out now to get ready so i'll see you guys there! [ps: congrats to joy on running a meet-up in philly last night! more details soon...]

[in the meantime here are some links for more great design on the web: wonderful designer interviews by shari of the glass door knob, clockradios and sachets at d*s on hg, tobi wong at mocoloco, ornaments at art stream, oil lights at swiss miss]

shop girl: new at bizbox

the d*s shop has been such an interesting experience that i felt it was about time i wrote about it on the bizbox blog. i've learned a lot about how tough it is to coordinate shipping, orders, customer service and inventory and i thought it would be fun to share the backstory of the site and some helpful tips and resources for first-time shop owners. click here to read the full piece. if you have any tips to share yourself please feel free to leave them under the slate post. thanks! [if you're a designer considering selling your work in your own shop there are some great resources in the post for you]

a&g merch

i just saw on AT that dave alhadeff's a&g merch is finally online! a&g is the sister store to dave's now hugely famous future perfect shop. full of affordable (but still edgy) design, a&g is right next store and has a fun selection of home design ranging from lighting and tableware to couches and tables. click here for the a&g home page. you can also click here to hear an interview with the owner, dave alhadeff.

12 days of christmas

we saw a big rush in the shop yesterday so i'm trying to add little details about each product this week before we're entirely sold out. these beautiful letterpressed 12 days of christmas cards were created by happy menocal for black pearl press. each one represents a verse of the song, my personal favorite being the hens and 5 golden rings. readers have been using them as mantle displays and even a centerpiece in the case of one reader. they're a fantastic idea for holiday decoration or just holiday well wishes and thank-yous. click here to buy ($45 for a set of 12 handmade cards). [all card set orders are sent within 1-2 days so they'll arrive in plenty of time for holiday decorations if you need them]

gizmobies

ok, it's a silly product time out. normally i'm not a fan of those sticky things you can put on your phone and ipod but i was chatting with the gang at sesame and they tipped me off to these little guys called gizmobies. they're totally one of those things that gets sold on the moving carts at the mall but some of the designs are super cute in person. breck at sesame has the fleur-de-lis design and the other day i actually saw the hibuscus pattern on the subway and was shocked at how cute they are. i'm a fan of being able to personalize your devices, so these (at only $20 a piece) are a fun way to give your friends and family a little stocking stuffer if they own an ipod...click here for more info [thanks matt and breck!]

cindy jaswal

artist cindy jaswal was kind enough to send over some of her latest work- beautiful new archival prints and an adorable set of cards with cindy's prints on fabric. you can shop cindy's full collection right here- there are some great affordable holiday finds in here so i highly suggest clicking over. [thanks, cindy!]

trunk

designer and d*s reader gosia korsakowski sent me these beautiful trunk pieces designed to be used as a stool, side table, display surface or simply a unique object. i was really struck by the simple silver versions and the contrast between metal and wood. designed in europe by made for the us market, each trunk comes in two sizes (12 diameter and 14.5 diameter, 19 inches high) and is made with european oak wood dried in a special dryer. in addition the bottom of the trunk has a felt covering to protect your floors. trunks start around $520 and you can email gosia directly right here to discuss ordering. [thanks, gosia!]

holiday party, design blog style

i'm thrilled to announce that apartment therapy, treehugger, mocoloco, curbed and design*sponge are having a holiday party next wednesday, december 13 from 7-10pm. if you love design and live in the nyc area i hope you can stop by and share a drink with us. we've teamed up with dwr and will be having the party at their soho studio- all proceeds will benefit the soho partnership. thanks to maxwell and co. for arranging the details and putting the entire shindig together. so, if you're in town stop by and say hi- the design gang's all here. [details: december 13, 7-10 pm, dwr soho- there will be door prizes!]

d*s search

ok, it's not a perfect solution to search but it's better than nothing. don't know why i didn't add this before but i added a google based search button to the left hand side of the site. just type in your answer and 9 times out of 10 you can find what you're looking for on the d*s. i tested it out with "lighting" "amy ruppel" and a a number of both general and specific posts and found the content i was looking for right away. it's not perfect, i know, but it's been long overdue to have some sort of search function on the site. it takes forever to tag all 3,000+ archived posts so i figured this would be a good solution for the time being. hope it helps. xo, d*s

d*s shop update

the december shop has been going like gangbusters so far and i just wanted to thank everyone for supporting this month's designers. a few of these guys are almost sold out so i just wanted to remind people to place their orders before they're gone. in addition, all orders that need to arrive before christmas should be placed on or before dec 10. thanks! [floral branch orament above by providence based designer heather guidero, $20 right here]

updates: framing

updates to our apt have been picking up slightly lately as we finally saved up enough to make some bigger purchases. a few weeks ago i took in a dozen prints and paintings to be framed at sky art and i'm just now finding places to hang them all. i wanted to share my favorite pieces- a show poster for artist nadine y. nakanishi ($35 right here) and a framed piece of wallpaper by nama rococo. i framed a few more pieces but wanted to share these until i found homes for the rest. more coming soon [ps: people were asking what i thought of sky art and frame and i was really impressed- affordable, fast and they even carried my heavy pieces down and helped me get a cab]

[also, what do you guys think? should we paint the architectural frames on the wall? or leave them the wall-color...]

red sox + sesame letterpress

this is sort of out of left field (no pun intended) but i had to include it. if you have a red sox fan in your life (like i do) then you'll understand why this print is so fantastic. breck and matt at sesame letterpress teamed up with the red seat to produce this letterpressed print of the mind of a red sox fan. filled with thoughts of the green monster, 2004 and that team from nyc it's too funny to pass up. the print is available right here for $64.95 (unframed) and $124.95 (framed) it's the perfect gift for the boston fan in your life. enjoy!

nyc craft fair

the lovely laura of wren homemade is helping to organize a craft fair in nyc on dec 10! every fantastic designer known to man will be showing (perch!, deadly squire, laurice curran, kristen mccloud, donna jo brady, alyssa ettinger, wren handmade and more) and i highly suggest stopping by if you're in the area. details:

sunday december 10 at divine studio (21 e. 4th street, suite 605, new york city) 10am to 5pm. it's a must-visit if you're in town and need some great holiday gift ideas...

doe sf: missing family

jen at bunny and bee in sf passed along this sad news: the kim family (owners of the beautiful shop doe in sf) have been missing for several days and friends and family have set up a website for anyone who may have seen them or can help. this is such awful news and i'm hoping that wherever they are they are safe. our thoughts are with the kim family and friends and the staff at doe. click here for more information.

[UPDATE: KATI AND THE GIRLS ARE SAFE AT A HOSPITAL AFTER A CAR ACCIDENT IN ORGEON. JAMES LEFT ON FOOT TO FIND HELP AND THEY'RE STILL LOOKING FOR HIM. PLEASE KEEP THEM IN YOUR THOUGHTS AND LET'S HOPE THEY CAN ALL BE TOGETHER AGAIN SOON, SAFE AND SOUND]

shannon garson

australian ceramicist shannon garson emailed me this weekend about her beautiful pottery. after viewing her full collection i was really taken with her herbarium line. graceful, undulating and inspired by nature, each piece in the herbarium line is unique and definitely worth checking out (as is the rest of the collection). in addition, shannon is part of an arts collective formed by 6 brisbane based artists called the umbrella collective- you can view their work right here. [thanks, shannon!]

[stay tuned today for a small but overdue upgrade to d*s, a holiday blog party announcement, an nyc craft-fair announcement,a new bizbox post and some great new design just in time for the holidays]

ashley goldberg

one of etsy's rising stars, ashley goldberg, has just released a collection of paintings being sold at velocity in seattle. most pieces are around $200 and would make a perfect holiday gift for the art lover in your life. click here to view the full collection and shop. [thanks, ashley!]

port2port + camilla

had to add these quickly- gorgeous new cards from port2port press, including a piece produced with camilla engman. camilla and mav in one place? i don't know if i can handle it...click here to buy. [i'm heading to dwr to check our party location for tuesday- have a great weekend!]

d*s shop: december!

december's d*s shop is open and ready for business! it's gift-o-rama this month with ten different products designed by some of the best and brightest independent designers in the industry. in honor of the holidays i included 4 extra designs so there would be plenty to choose from for holiday shopping. this month we're featuring work from: amy ruppel, heather guidero, sara bee jensen, k studio, amh design, janessa from a fortes design, townsend sakai, happy menocal for black pearl press, re-surface design and moontree letterpress. prices are always under $100, all proceeds go to the designers and this month we're donating to the art start charity. so, click here to check it out- happy shopping! [above: embroidered holiday cards by townsend sakai $25]

[PLEASE NOTE: ALL ORDERS MUST BE PLACED BY DECEMBER 10 TO GUARANTEE DELIVERY BEFORE CHRISTMAS DAY]

[a-light by re-surface design $100, flowering branch ornament by heather guidero $20]

[birdy heads by amy ruppel $60]

[needlepoint photo album kit by amh design $50]

[zippered pomegranate pouch by sara bee jensen $15]

[wildflower pillows by k studio $90]

[letterpress bookplates by moontree letterpress $20 for 10, three styles to choose from]

[12 days of christmas letterpress card set by happy menocal for black pearl press $45]

[pillows by fortes design $72-$80]

ebay for a good cause

sesame letterpress sold out of their letterpress coasters for the d*s shop many times over last month but saved one last set for charity. they're posting it on ebay right here to raise money for the house rabbit society. click here to bid for a good cause.