Found Bookmarks

image: keaggy

The word for this week is FOUND.

What kinds of found materials have you ever used as a bookmark? A bus ticket? A receipt? Here's a whole plethora of options.

Thank You!

Just wanted to quickly say "thank you!" to poppytalk for featuring my journals and to Brooklyn bride for posting about my wedding!

(sorry about posting my image again.)

Nick Bantock

Image: Urgent 2nd class

Many of you will recognize artist and author Nick Bantock from his famed trilogy: Griffin and Sabine, an alluring and surreal love story. More so than the plot itself, what captivated me was the whole experience of reading each book. Turning each page was like an act of uncovering a secret. The reader is invited to open envelopes, unfold correspondence, discover exquisite drawings, decipher handwritings...

Image: Urgent 2nd class

What does this have to do with the word "found"? You see, Bantock is a master at manipulating found ephemera to make the most wonderfully imaginative art. His book "Urgent 2nd class" showcases how he uses forgotten photos and documents to create something else quite curious and beautiful. An interweaving of the past and present maybe? More images here.

A Word A Week: Found

Photo: moderna

The word for this week is FOUND. As in to come upon or discover.

The "Look at Me" project is a collection of found photos. These are photos lost or forgotten, but each has a story behind it. The project started when Frederic Bonn and Zoe Deleu found a few photos in a Paris street in 1998.

Who are these subjects? What are they like? How are they connected? Are they?

Project excerpt:
"... Some of the photos were found on the street. Some were stacked in a box, bought cheap at a flea market. Showing off or embarrassed, smug, sometimes happy, the people in these photos are strangers to us. They can't help but be interesting, as stories with only an introduction."

You can contribute a photo here.

Light as Air

Photo: annarosa via: BlackEiffel

Love the movement of these flowy, airy dresses...

Photo: RJ Muna
Dancers light as air.

New Goodies in the Shop

Photos by chewing the cud

And we interrupt the posting to bring you the latest news....

Our new line of "BIG" goods are listed in our shop. The idea behind this series is pretty self-explanatory:
"BIG bear hug" and "BIG Thank You" flat and folded cards and "BIG Ideas" journals, you get the big picture...

Big thank you for putting up with my shameless self-promotion. I'll stop here.

Gypsy Chandelier + Pendent Lights

Image: dutch by design

The word for this week is LIGHT

How fun is this bohemian mini chandelier by PT?

Image: thorstenvanelten

I'm also quite taken with this vintage pendent light by Kathleen Hills for multi. The shades are vintage so they come in varying sizes and colors. Kathleen is a U.K.-based designer. In addition to her portfolio of lighting designs, she also produces beautiful tableware and ceramics.

A Word A Week: Light

Photo: RJ Muna

The word for this week is LIGHT

Light as a source of illumination is an immensely powerful tool for photographers. Lighting can make or break a photograph, and prolific photographers know how to use light in amazingly creative ways to add that special spark to their work.

Photo: Myrtle & Marjoram
Using natural sunlight to add a touch of romance in portrait photography.

Photo: Dwight Eischliman
Subtle lighting for white on white still-life.

Photo: Daniela Stallinger
An open door letting light in for a dramatic portrait shot.

Photo: Dwight Eischliman
Multiple lighting sources for a moody tabletop shot.

Happy Valentine's Day

Photos: typolade

Sorry the posting is a little scant this week.

In the spirit of v-day, how about some letterpress chocolates?
For more chocolate ideas, look here.

Circle and Square

Photos by chewing the cud

The word for this week is FOUR

Recently, I designed an identity package for a high-end retail store in Pacific Heights, San Francisco. Circle and Square is an interesting gallery/store concept that showcases truly unique pieces from local and international artists.


The final identity that I developed is a 4-circle icon that implies a square. The identity was applied to their letterhead system, retail trade dress (i.e. hangtags, shopping bags, gift certificates etc.), store signage and website.

What I loved was that one of my favourite ceramic artists, Rae Dunn, translated that concept in dimensional form to create these giant square dices for the store. How cool is that?

Views of Four

Photo: Laurie Frankel

The word for this week is FOUR
How do you view "Four"?Image: Inflagrante Collecto

As an even number?Image: Inflagrante Collecto

A square with four corners? A cube?

Photo: kirpputori via montmarte

Four separate components pieced together?

Photo: Getty

2 pairs of 2?

Image: Inflagrante Collecto

or good luck?!

Petit-Fours

Photo: Michael Recchiuti valentine chocolates

The word for this week is FOUR

With the big Hallmark holiday (yes, you know which one I mean) coming up, I just had to do a post on one of my favourite topics... sweets! How about these petit-fours for your sweet tooth?

All the petit-fours featured have asian ingredients in them, in honor of the Lunar New Year.

Photos: Kuidaore

Kuidaore has some treats here:
Jasmine Tea Macaroons filled with a white chocolate (Valrhona Ivoire) ganache delicately perfumed with jasmine tea.
Mandarin Orange Friand: ground almonds and a puree of gently poached mandarins.
The photostyling is just as lovely as the desserts!

Photo: Pate Eng

Tomorrow is the first day of the Chinese New Year. We celebrate this season for 15 days. Since I have a dinner party to attend this Saturday, I thought I might try making these Asian-style petit fours by Pichet Ong: sesame balls with drunken fig.

Happy New Year all!

Groups of Four in Nature

Images: Spring (eggs) by Anna Kuperberg, Summer (water) by Asger Carlsen, Winter (snow) by campviola, Autumn (leaves) by Aimée Herring

The word for this week is FOUR

Four suggests stability. In nature, it seems to be the number that rounds up a process or progression of sorts.
Think of the 4 seasons: spring, summer, autumn, winter.
4 parts to a day: morning, afternoon, evening, night
4 elements: air, water, fire, wood.

What other groups of 4 can you think of?

Dragonflies and Butterflies...

Images: etsy

... have four wings.

The word for this week is FOUR

EnfinLaVoila says,
"Always wondered where butterflies come from? Yes, yes I found the answer, yesterday, on a secret place in the woods..."

Dragonflies and other nature prints from currawongwhisper

A Word A Week: Four

Photo: Getty

The word for this week is FOUR
For as long as I can remember, 4 has been my favourite number. But that aside, the number 4 conjures up many associations and interesting facts that I thought might be fun to explore further this week. To start:

• The number 4 is the only one in the English language where the number of letters in its name is equal to the number itself.
• There are 4 human blood groups (A, B, O, AB)
• Did you know that 4 is the universal number for women?

More to come on the number FOUR this week!

Photos: Todd Hido

The word for this week is ORANGE

Todd Hido is one of my favorite photographers. Love the mood and lighting in these photos.