perfectbound

noreply@blogger.com (perfectbound) — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 05:34:00 +0000

Perfectbound is on an indefinite hiatus. (As of September 2009.)

sneak a peek

noreply@blogger.com (perfectbound) — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 13:00:00 +0000

Hello friends! We hope you're all enjoying the last bit of August. Is it really almost September?!

We wanted to pop in to let you know you can find us over at decor8 today. Holly so kindly invited us to share some of our favourite things around the apartment as part of her new series, A Few Of My Favorite Things. If you haven't checked them out already, be sure to take a look at all the lovely spaces. There's so much great inspiration! We are so excited for Holly and were more than happy to help her out as she gets settled in Germany. Thanks for having us, Holly!

Also make sure to check out fieryeyed's summer sale! Jen's getting ready to close up shop on the 31st and has marked down prints to only $20!

We're still working on some new ideas for ourselves and for perfectbound, so we'll be taking an indefinite break until we sort things out.

Have a wonderful day, everyone!

a quick fix

noreply@blogger.com (perfectbound) — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 15:24:00 +0000

Hello friends, and Happy Monday to you all. We hope you've all been well! We're just dropping in to mention that our last Guest Blogger appearance on Creature Comforts is today. You should definitely stop in for a yummy surprise from us! Thanks again to Ez for allowing us to be a part of CC.

We'll be making another guest appearance around a special space soon, so we'll let you know about that when the time comes.

Have a wonderful day!

creatures of comfort

noreply@blogger.com (perfectbound) — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 15:00:00 +0000

Hello everyone! We just dropped in to mention that we'll be helping our friend Ez out with her move as guest bloggers on Creature Comforts! We wanted to take this oppurtunity to thank Ez for the chance to be a part of CC and wish her the best of luck with her new digs.

Today will be the first of three posts from us. We're sharing our current colour crushes and who knows, maybe there'll be a little treat in it for you. But our lips are sealed! You'll just have to wait and see. We'll be back with some more news in the coming weeks, so check back!

Much love and Happy Wednesday to you all.

away we go

noreply@blogger.com (perfectbound) — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 13:00:00 +0000

Hello Friday, oh how we've missed you. It's been a long and very rainy few days here. We Hope the skies are sunny where ever you are today. You may have noticed that we were a bit light on the posts this week.We've been mulling over the possibility of a makeover for our little blog, and have decided to take some time off from posting to see what we can come up with. We promise not to be away too long!

clockwise from top left } the photographic dictionary, Lottie + Doof, bumblesea, design work life, Alex Ostrowski, Bird & Banner

In the meantime, we've got a round up of great sites for you to explore. These are current favourites and recent finds, all with something lovely to offer. From food to photography, there's something for everyone, so we hope you find a new favourite, too. Another thing they have in common? Lovely banners and wordmarks. We like to think of these as the book cover of a blog, and they certainly tell us good things await inside. Have you come across anything of interest lately? We'd love to check it out as we'll be surrounding ourselves in as much inspiration as we can find for this redesign.

Oh, and this is a fantastic curated online gallery of sorts. There are some wonderful pieces there to be seen.

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone! (A Happy August Long to our Canadian readers.)There are a few fun announcements to be made in the next week or two, so we'll keep you posted on those. And we'll pop into our Flickr for some visits, too.

Until then!

one of those days

noreply@blogger.com (Kathryn) — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 13:00:00 +0000

Is it wrong to read through cupcake recipes while eating a cupcake? I think not. Yesterday was just one of those days and by the end of it I was craving a cupcake. I didn't want to wait for the time it would've taken to make some so I indulged and bought one. But these little Butterfly Cakes from Nigella Express do look good! What's your guilty pleasure?

left to right } The Zooey Top, multi-artist coloring book, Sonic Youth poster

While enjoying my cupcake I also indulged in browing some of my favourite web sites. This fun top from ModCloth is such a lovely colour and reminds me of Casey's cute Alice Dress. Colouring books were one of my favourite things as a kid. The multi-artist version available from Lena Corwin looks like so much fun! And I always like to check out what's new over at The Small Stakes. I am loving the (very) limited edition Sonic Youth poster.

These make me smile. And I really want to spend a day making a whole lot of these.

Be sure to get a head start and pick your favourites for edor's 3 for 4 sale on Sunday!

Have a fabulous day!

hunter gatherer

noreply@blogger.com (Julie) — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 13:00:00 +0000

Hello everyone! Did you all have a good weekend? I was re-reading issue 2 of UPPERCASE, when the article on The Buldging Book of Ephemera got me thinking of the odds and ends: the piece of ribbon, the tag off a shirt, the paper perfume tester strip that we keep. (I actually seek out pretty ones at the department stores.) Inspiration comes from everything, which I think is why we set things like this aside. Sometimes, we even go out of our way to hunt them down. Because even in the simplest paper clip or ticket stub, there's something there that you want to remember.

1. Pure cuteness, 2. The Eisner American Museum of Advertising and Design, 3. Untitled, 4. old ledger paper, 5. :: new (old) stamps ::, 6. Vintage Supplies, 7. Untitled, 8. paperswap, 9. Learning about numbers

I gathered a few vintage pieces of wonder today. Where do you look for vintage ephemera? Etsy of course is brimming with it, but besides the occasional yard sale I'm unsure of where to look. I search around Flickr to see people's collections. I've bought a few things from Papier Valise, which is a wonderful online shop of some of the loveliest ephemera I've seen.

I wish I had stacks of odds and ends from relatives past; something that comes with a story. I think we all love the idea of the time that these pieces came from, wouldn't you agree? It would be nice to know more about it. But when it comes right down to it, I adore the look of ephemera! The charm of the past. I hope to get my collection growing. Maybe I'll do paperclips next. How about you? What do you want to start collecting?

Make sure you check out what Marichelle's making.

I just want to spend a whole sunny, breezy day lying here.

Happy Tuesday, friends!

wear me out

noreply@blogger.com (Julie) — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 14:30:00 +0000

I know it's still July and summer is alive and well, but this is usually the time of year when I start getting excited for fall. Fall fashion begins trickling into the stores and you can feel the summer weather winding down. After my first round perusing the new arrivals for the autumn season, I realized how long it's been since I've looked for clothing. Which is a shame because some of the best colours and prints can be found in fashion.

clockwise from top left } Wavelet Blouse, Wine & Roses Bag, Wisp-Of-Lace Tank, Inkdrop Necklush, Silk Sirrah Dress, Smocked Two-Tone Skirt

That being said, I wanted to share some of the things I found. I suppose I was inspired by the purple satin in my shot because most of these finds feature lovely violet hues. I still can't decide if stopping by Anthropologie is a good or bad thing. I always find some of the prettiest things but they're sometimes out of my price range. But I adore this Wavelet Blouse! Sweet but not too young. I feel in love with this Wine & Roses Bag the moment I saw it. The pleats make this everyday bag a little more special. And if that doesn't do it, the colour sure will! And how pretty is the Wisp-Of-Lace Tank? I love the crocheted detail around the collar and the print is fantastic. I wish I could buy a few yards of it for pillows and such.

If you haven't yet noticed, Kathryn and I love scarves which is why these necklushes caught my eye. An easy way to look instantly put together. The best part? It can be a scarf, a necklace or a cowl and come in some terrific colours and prints! Be sure to head over to J.Crew to check out their new arrivals, like this gorgeous Silk Sirrah Dress. It looks like hammered metal, doesn't it? And the ruffle collar detail is lovely. Finally, there's the Smocked Two-Tone Skirt I saw over at the Gap. Purple is such a great colour to wear now into the fall. And anyone who knows me knows I can't turn down skirts or dresses with pockets. I truly can't.

I could use a few scoops of this. And am loving the tones and feeling of this and this.

Thanks to everyone who visited us at Design*Sponge and thanks to anyone who visited from D*S! We've had a a lot of fun in that space.

I hope you all have a terrific weekend!

colour blind

noreply@blogger.com (Kathryn) — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 13:00:00 +0000

I've been having a case of the blahs for the past few days. I'm not sure why, perhaps it's just the daily grind and monotony of routine catching up with me. I thought a burst of energy (or in this case, colour) was in order! There's nothing like a brightly decorated room to liven up your mood. And since we don't have any of the rooms quite completed in the apartment yet, I needed to pay a visit to some of my favourite places for inspiration.

1. Colourful Kitchen 2.Bright Living 3. Patchwork Sofa 4. Bright Upholstery 5. Pumped Up Traditional 6. Colourful Bookcase Display

Since I am still strongly drawn to white decor and all of our walls are currently white, I wanted to look for rooms that worked off a white backdrop. It's also fun to see how colourful you can make a room without having to change the wall colour. I am atttracted to all of these rooms for different reasons. This kitchen is so friendly and inviting. I love that it's not overwhelmingly bright but still makes a statement with the hits of fuschia, purple and yellow. I can imagine lounging for hours in the second living space. I'm also really liking how the furniture provides most of the colour in a room. Everything is perfect in the Chicago living room of Summer and Josh Thorton. And the bookcase in the last photo is pure joy.

Here's another colourful post that makes me smile.

And one more wish I were here moment.

Be happy today, friends.

get inked

noreply@blogger.com (Julie) — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 13:00:00 +0000

I admit it. I'm being awfully tight on the purse strings lately. I needed some magenta paper to line an envelope with, so I brushed some ink over some loose sheets of tracing paper that I have. It actually works pretty well as long as you don't drench the paper in too much ink. (And would work great lining vellum envelopes.) The colour is so vibrant. I think the best part was trying to make the right hue. The paper towel I used to blot on is pretty fun, too!

left to right } Beautiful Day print, I think you are...heart print, Today Is the Day print

Breaking out the inks, combined with my recent love affair with my fountain pen got me thinking about an ink post. Whether on its own or used in mixed media, ink is one of my favourite mediums. It can be soft like in this Beautiful Day print by Studio Mela. I love the white space and the colours. It also reminds me of Marichelle's bunting. I'm always drawn to a good pen and ink piece, like this I think you are...heart print by L'Daim Fille. Good ol' black and white with some sweet text and lovely line work. Added plus? It's only $3! Rounding out today's finds is a fantastic mixed media piece, this Today Is the Day print from Stephanie Corfee's shop. The colours are gorgeous and dreamy. I love her little description that "today is the day to fall in love, finish a book, snuggle your kids." Today is the day for anything and everything, don't you think?

Hoping to help spread the word, visual artist Katie Daisy is seeking representation! I love her style; so whimsical and colourful. Take a look through her portfolio; you'll see what I mean. (I especially love her type work.)

And be sure to stop by D*S for our guest post today. More paper love! And a guest appearance by a certain cursive typewriter.

Wishing you all a wonderful Wednesday!

see spot run

noreply@blogger.com (Kathryn) — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 13:00:00 +0000

Good Morning! I hope your week is off to a good start. Thanks to everyone for stopping by the d*sponge guest blog yesterday, we truly appreciate all your comments and support. We hope you enjoy the rest of the week's posts!

For today's post I started thinking about circles and dots. There's nothing quite like a classic polka dot pattern to put a smile on my face. I especially love when it's the lining of a bag or hidden pattern in the pockets of a coat. It can be both sophisticated and playful at the same time.

left to right } pillowcases from castle, Chilewich Pressed Vinyl Dots Table Runner, blik Sweet 16

After seeing these lovely bed linens from castle on seesaw a little while ago, I couldn't stop thinking about them. Oh how I dream of having all the patterns and colours! Check out the artwork section as well, it's pretty awesome. I love the "flatness" of this vinyl dots table runner by Sandy Chilewich. And it comes in a bunch of colours, including hot pink! Sometimes the simplist ideas are the most brillant. I keep coming back to these Sweet 16 blik wall decals. I think coming home to a wall like this would make me a little happier each day.

I'm kind of wishing I was here right now.

Have a fabulous day!

guest appearance

noreply@blogger.com (perfectbound) — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 13:00:00 +0000

Happy Monday friends! We're excited to announce that we will be guest blogging on design*sponge this week! A big thank you to Grace for inviting us back! It's going to be a fun week and we hope you enjoy it! We've decided to dedicate the entire week to one of our favourite materials, so be sure to head over and check it out.

We will also be sharing some of our outtake shots from the d*sponge posts throughout the week, which you can see here. We'll be back tomorrow with regular perfectbound posts as well!

Have a wonderful day!

j'adornment

noreply@blogger.com (Kathryn) — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 13:00:00 +0000

I was one of the lucky ones that got to Kate's shop just in time to get one of her amazing necklaces. It arrived last week and I've been trying not to wear it everyday! I love the purple hues in the embroidery thread combined with the vintage brass chain. Lately, I just can't seem to get enough handmade and/or vintage accessories. I guess it's partly because of my love for things that have a story. But everything seems a little more special that way, don't you think?

left to right } lucky seven pyrite chunk polyhedron necklace, wave ring set, Golden Leaf Earrings

So of course this mini obsession has lead to a bunch of new favourites on etsy. And what are favourites if you can't share them? First, there's this great pyrite chunk necklace from Ball & Chain. I really like the rawness of the stones combined with the subtle sparkle of the facets. I'm absolutely in love with all the creations at onestonenewyork. This wave ring set is one of favourites though. The organic lines are simply beautiful. And ever since I saw one of shlomitofir's necklaces over at Melissa Loves, I've become a big fan of her work. I think these leaf earrings are calling my name. They would add the perfect bit of whimsy to any outfit.

I can't get over how cute and funny this little guy is!

And how good does this look?!

Wishing you all a bright & sunny weekend!

good as new

noreply@blogger.com (Julie) — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 14:00:00 +0000

I love that looking through magazines, pouring over the details of the most perfectly styled rooms, and searching for the real thing online even though you may not be able to afford it can all be considered research. And if that really is the case, I should have been a researcher. Sourcing out prints, patterns, and objects... that would be a dream come true. I suppose I've been researching quite a bit lately, and reading up a bit on spotting great vintage finds. It's true what they say: they just don't make them like they used to.

left to right } Yellow Triangle dishes, The Carrie Clutch, Mid Century Danish magazine rack

I haven't sought out specifically vintage items lately. But after last weekend's stop into a few of our favourite vintage and antique shops, I felt it was time to see what's out there. I found these cute Yellow Triangle dishes at Kitsch Cafe which reminds me of Kath's triangle post a little while back. (And of my favourite SuzyJack* paper goods pattern.) When it comes to vintage accessories, The Carrie Clutch at Adore Vintage pretty much qualifies as a great find in my book. It's a perfect dress it up/dress it down piece in pearly leather. And to round things out today, I found a fantastic Mid Century Danish magazine rack at the Modbots shop. I suppose you could use this for anything really, (nicely lined up umbrellas anyone?) because with it's classic design, you know it'll look good doing it.

I adore this, this and this. There are so many lovely things to look at today!

Be well, friends!

sweet tooth

noreply@blogger.com (perfectbound) — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 13:00:00 +0000

Good Morning friends. Hopefully the sun is shining on you today. It has been grey and rainy here. Really rainy. It does have a refreshing feel to it, though. Like everything is clean and new again. To break the greyness, a lovely package arrived from Tara. She so thougtfully sent a batch of these sinfully good cookies. If you haven't visited her blog, what are you waiting for?! It's filled with great photography and charmingly written anecdotes. She is also featured in issue two of UPPERCASE Magazine. We can assure you, these cookies will not last long around here! Thanks again, Tara!

left to right } Quince and Tea Crème Brulée, Lemon Yogurt Cake, Cinnamon Swirl Buns with Cream Cheese Glaze, Vanilla Cupcakes with Milk Chocolate Ganache Frosting

We just couldn't resist sharing some other sweet treats that have been added to the list of desserts we need to make. This tea infused Crème Brulée looks oh so good, doesn't it? Check out spicy icecream for more delicious inpiration. Jeannette's lovely Lemon Yougurt Cake sounds like the perfect summer dessert. Her love of cake is so endearing, and her explaination of why it's so great makes a lot of sense. Who would turn down a fresh, out of the oven cinnamon bun? No one, that's who! We came across these irrestible Cinnamon Swirl Buns while perusing Smitten Kitchen and have been drooling over them ever since. And somehow it makes us feel a little better that the recipe is listed under breakfast. Finally, we have these Vanilla Cupcakes with Milk Chocolate Ganache Frosting. We're pretty sure that's all we need to say about them, just look at that photo!

Happy Wednesday!

fall in line

noreply@blogger.com (Julie) — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 13:00:00 +0000

Hello and Happy Tuesday, everyone! I hope you're all doing well. A few months ago, I did a post about lines and ever since then, I've noticed them everywhere, in everything. Just this weekend while digging around for a CD, I ended up with a stack of cover art with line work of all kinds. From pen and ink to watercolour and linocut, it was clear that I lines needed to be revisited.

left to right } Blossoms Series Original Drawing, Maramiki Pin Cushion, Lines and Arrows Cushion

I didn't even need to look beyond the shops of Etsy to find some lovelies for today's line up. (You'll have to pardon the pun, but it had to be said.) I'm loving this Blossoms Series Original Drawing I found in siiso's shop. The colours remind me of days at the lake and the line quality is just lovely. (Her shop and portfolio of work are stunning. Be sure to check them out!) I've had this Pin Cushion by Maramiki in my favourites for a while. It almost looks as if it's embroidered on, doesn't it? Which totally suits it, as it's a pin cushion after all! Finally, I had to include the Lines and Arrows Cushion from be still. It has a nice graphic quality to it with it's thick lines. Very reminiscent of a linocut and just as charming, don't you think?

Happy Wedding Anniversary wishes both Heather (yesterday) and Holly (today)!

And I caved into my brownie craving yesterday. I've wanted one ever since I saw this.

Have a wonderful day, friends!

bookmarked

noreply@blogger.com (Julie) — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 14:55:00 +0000

TGIF! It seems like it's taken forever for today to arrive. I seem to be looking forward to weekends more than ever. There's just so much to do and so little time to do them during the week. We're hoping to change things up here on the blog, (we've been meaning to for a while now) so hopefully this weekend will afford us the time to get something started! I also have some major catching up to do in this blogosphere of ours. I've been looking for new sites and blogs to explore. Do you have any recommendations?

clockwise from top left } Proximity Magazine, The Book Cover Archive, James Gulliver Hancock, J'M Photography, Public School, Randi Brookman Harris

That being said, I thought I'd share a few of my bookmarks as of late. There's some great information and visuals here so hopefully you guys can check them out sometime! Proximity Magazine is a contemporary arts & culture magazine based in Chicago, with a lot of great online content. The Book Cover Archive is nothing but fantastic online content. After I discovered this one via Joy, I can't stop clicking through pages and pages of books. My reading list has certainly gotten much longer! I've really enjoyed going through James Gulliver Hancock's portfolio of projects and illustrations. Currently working from L.A., I find his work has a certain charm about it.

J'M is a blog by Toronto based portrait and wedding photographers Justin & Michelle DeMers. Their portfolio of work is stunning. Their studio looks amazing. They seem like just all around fun people. Public School is a creative collective from Austin with a blog filled with neat and curious things from around the web. Finally, we have the porfolio of Randi Brookman Harris. I dream of styling photos as she does one day with clients the likes of Martha Stewart Living and Kate Spade. Le sigh!

And if you haven't read, Kath and I got the opportunity to write the next Blog Beautiful column on the ever sweet and lovely Heather Smith Jones for issue 2 of UPPERCASE magazine! (Which, by the way, is now being carried at the National Gallery of Canada's bookstore! Congrats, guys!)

Wishing you all a fantastic weekend!

paint the town pink

noreply@blogger.com (Kathryn) — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 13:00:00 +0000

It's no secret that Peonies are one of my favorite flowers. But ever since we moved into the apartment they've been hard to come by. So my mom graciously painted this lovely portrait for me and now I have them around all year round. Thanks, Mom! I'm really liking the old world quality it has. I feel very lucky to have parents that enjoy creating things and sharing them with family and friends.

left to right } golden frosted leaf bracelet, pink english ruffle chiffon top, Brown Cork Louise clutch, Jeffrey Campbell Disco in Gold

I'm always so excited to read Ez and Melissa's Chic for Cheap posts. They both find such fun and wearable pieces. And if you haven't already, be sure to update your bookmarks to Melissa's new site!

Inspired by the golds and pinks of my new painting, I thought I'd look for some clothing picks of my own. Have you been to Ruche yet? I think I might want one of everything on their site. It's a good thing their prices are so amazing! A couple of my favourites right now are this golden leaf bracelet and ruffle chiffon top. How great would that top be paired with black or grey jeans! This Louise clutch by Lauren Merkin is such a wonderful colour, I'm loving the flecks of gold and that it's made of cork! Last but not least are these Jeffrey Campbell shoes, called Disco in Gold. There's nothing like a little disco to get you going!

The July issue of Mankind Mag is here! And be sure to check out Heather's interview over at YellowGoat.

Happy day to you all!

snail mail

noreply@blogger.com (Julie) — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 13:00:00 +0000

Lately I've been trying to rediscover things I have. So often I get this or that and it ends up stored away somewhere; I never even get to use them sometimes! It's so easy to forget and I go out and get something new instead. So as I was rereading UPPERCASE magazine, (patiently waiting for issue 2 to arrive) their Postal Service feature had me realizing we haven't done a mail post in a while! Also that I have a lot of envelopes and such that I haven't used for various reasons. But we'll fix that. I adore mail and mail ephemera. Don't you? It always puts a smile on my face.

left to right } Pen and Ink mail set, vintage post labels, Envelope Mail Sorter

It's never very difficult finding something good when it comes to the mail. Take this Pen and Ink mail set I spotted at Present&Correct. So sweet and retro, even a note to say hello will seem extra special written on these. (Which is important, wouldn't you agree?) My favourite part about mail is the packaging, since it's what's seen first. A few charming, vintage post labels from Sweet Kate cheer up the plainest package! I love the colours of these. Especially the Special Delivery labels in that green and yellow! Last but not least, I came across this Envelope Mail Sorter from Kit Kelley Organize. Simple but fun, what better way to keep your mail organized than in an envelope? It comes in a dark stain as well as a natural finish. A perfect addition to any office or studio!

Side note: how beautiful is this?

Have a great Tuesday, everyone!

desk job

noreply@blogger.com (Kathryn) — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 13:00:00 +0000

Good morning friends. I hope you all had a lovely weekend. In an effort to save a little money I've been trying to stay in and work on things that require attention around the apartment. Currently in progress are a couple of chairs that are in desperate need of new cushions and the studio which has yet to evolve. I think Julie and I have a general consensus on how we'd like it to look (something similar to this would work well for the desk set up), but I'm sure both our individual personalities will come through at each of our work spaces.

left to right } Lab Partners, Domino, Marie Claire Maison

While thinking of all the possibilities I got caught up looking at all the wonderful inspiration out there. I seem to be attracted to what I like to call "organized clutter" the most. I really love all three of these spaces. Lab Partners studio has that cool retro feel that I'm always drawn to. The Domino image (found via sarahleeab's flickr) has the bookshelves and the subtle feminine touches that I like. And the Marie Claire Maison image (found via MadeByGirl) is kind of eclectic, which I am also strongly drawn to. Although, I'm not sure about the antlers, they might be a little too much for me. There are always so many options. But we're getting close, I can feel it!

What is your studio space like? Are you a collector or a clutter free worker?

How many of you want one of these to play with? I know I do!

Have a fabulous day!

love triangle

noreply@blogger.com (Kathryn) — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 15:50:00 +0000

It seems I've gotten off to a late start this morning! I hope it is as sunny and bright where you are as it is here today. It's Friday once again and for our friends to the South, it is a holiday weekend! The fourth of July always gets me thinking about backyard cookouts and colourful decorations. Traditional triangle bunting is one of my favourite ways to dress up a party. What's yours?

left to right } Double Pyramid Necklace, Double Triangle Sheet Set, The Decemberists, 1970s Geometry Puzzle

I've been thinking a lot about different forms lately and triangles keep popping into my head. And of course this got me wondering what sort of items I could find that utilize this fun shape. I found this great pyramid necklace over at beth pohlman's etsy shop. I love the open framework and since each pyramid is made by hand, each one is unique. I'm also really enjoying this sheet set by Alexander Girard from Urban Outfitters. The subtleness of the colour and pattern is quite striking. This gig poster by Nate Duval is so much fun. The colour palette and repetition of shape is lovely. Finally, the kid (and the grown up!) in me loves this geometry puzzle from Present&Correct. All the different configurations are so interesting.

Here are a few more wonderful shapes. I'm not sure what I'd use them for, but it's fun thinking of the possibilities!

Also, we want to send out Happy Birthday wishes to Shanna on Saturday and Janick on Sunday! Hope you both have wonderful days!

See you Monday!

blue streak

noreply@blogger.com (Julie) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 13:00:00 +0000

Hello July! And hello to you all! I was so close to asking how your weekends were. Our day off yesterday has got me a little out of sorts. Funny how one day can throw you off track. It was a nice day to have off; it wasn't too hot out, but still warm and sunny. A nice day to sit back and pretty much do whatever you feel! I went through some old magazines and revisited some things I once would have ruled out. Perhaps it's because I adore my blue plate so much, (I know it's a plate but the pattern makes me smile) but blue is beginning to look much more promising as a room colour for me.

1. Two-tone living room 2. Petrol blue sofa 3. Blue entry 4. Sky coloured kitchen 5. Modern blue 6. Vitamin coloured kitchen 7. Boldly blue bedroom 8. Gorgeous and stylish 9. Teak four-poster bed

Initially, I was looking for only three images to share with you today. But once I began looking, it seemed I had found more than I had bargained for. I thought it would be a little tricky, finding blue spaces that caught my eye, especially predominantly blue ones. As you can see, this wasn't the case. I ooo'd and ahh'd at these cool, striking shades. Every room had a lovely blue treatment, and even though shades were similar, each space has a completely different tone. Which one is your favourite? (Right now, I'm really smitten with 1, 3, and 4.) Do you have a blue space in your home?

Remember everyone, Sandra's blog has moved on up! You can now visit her here.

After I saw this post on Marichelle's blog, I sat around for a while and clicked away at all the possibilities! And as Heather mentioned yesterday, don't forget to check out Echoes, now posting every Mon/Weds/Fri for the summer!

Be well, friends!

bookworm

noreply@blogger.com (Kathryn) — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 13:00:00 +0000

The idea of a book club always seemed fun to me. Although I don't think I could ever be part of one. Having to read a book on a deadline makes me nervous. I'm not quite sure why. Perhaps it's because I'm not the fasted reader, it feels like I have to rush through it to be able to finish by the set date. But when it comes to summer, it feels like it was meant to be spent reading away the days. What kind of books do you like to bring to the beach with you?

left to right } The book as companion book plate, Lili Lite, Letterpress Mini Notepad

I've always loved writing my name in a book. Each year in elementary school we'd be assigned our text books and have to write our names in the little stamped area along with all the names of the kids who had the book before us. So I guess this explains my fondness for book plates. I really love these ones created by Andrea Wilkinson. Personalized versions are available in the form of a rubber stamp upon request. Have you all seen the Lili Lite? It acts as a bookshelf, place holder and reading light all in one. And it looks great too. An added bonus is that it ships worldwide! Having a little notebook is always handy to jot down those titles you've been meaning to read. These mini notepads are just the right size, and the letterpressed pencil on the cover reminds me of being in school.

Issue No.2 will be available this Thursday, be sure to get your copy!

I'm currently loving this and this.

Happy day to you all!

a numbers game

noreply@blogger.com (Julie) — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 13:00:00 +0000

Happy Monday, everyone. Did you have a good weekend? I hope the weather was nice where you are. We had a grey and rainy day on Saturday, the kind perfect for staying in and watching a movie. Yesterday, I dug out a few of my design and type books to study the form of letters and numbers. I thought it would help with my lettering. I stumbled upon this page of numbers that caught my eye. Numbers are truly one of my favourite things. I always notice numbers and odd number combinations. What's your favourite or lucky one? (Mine is 6.)

left to right } numbered napkin rings, Calendreco perpetual wall calendar, Helvetica Iconic panels

Naturally, I went in search for numbers to see what I could find; some delicate, some bold, and some simply spectacular. I found these lovely numbered napkin rings in BROOKLYNrehab's Etsy shop. I love that they do double duty as placeholders and napkin rings. They remind me a bit of Janine's. Being that it's almost July, including a calendar might seem a bit odd. But this Calendreco perpetual wall calendar found at See Jane Work is good for now, later, or even years from today. We've been looking for something to add some graphic punch to the studio walls and this may be it! If not, these Helvetica Iconic panels from B&N Industries will have to do. Who am I kidding? They're pretty fantastic, aren't they? Texture and typography: always my favourite combination! It makes such a statement but still isn't loud, which is perfect.

This charming little necklace now comes in silver! I also really love this bag.

Kathryn and I are excited to see this. We're always suckers for a good love story.

Wishing you well today, friends!

what goes around

noreply@blogger.com (Julie) — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 13:00:00 +0000

I don't know about you, but I'm so happy that Friday is finally here! Though I'm not quite sure what to do with my time this weekend: relax or get things done? Hopefully I'll fit in both. What do you hope to get done this weekend? I hope to pick up some more mini donuts, plain and simple. There have been a few fairs and the like in the city lately, and the best part about them for me is always the mini donuts. They're sugar coated joy in bite-sized pieces. But have you noticed? They're only delicious for a short period of time. All the more reason to shove my face full of them.

1. orange collection, 2. Mashti Malone, 3. color dots, 4. from chad, 5. Double chocolate cookies, 6. perfect circles, 7. Untitled, 8. circles, 9. circles

Never one to pass up inspiration in all its glorious forms, I let the donuts guide me today. I suppose it's because I thought about how none of them are perfect circles, which led me to circles in general. So many good things in life are round. And there's something so visually pleasing about circles. Continual, connected... or maybe I like them because, let's face it, the lack of corners, the seamless boundary it creates, just makes me smile. There's also something very playful about them, don't you think? What's your favourite shape? Bonus points for fun answers like "rhombus".

How great must this wedding have been?

This makes me smile. And is it weird that I'm jealous of this doll's outfit?

Have a great weekend, everyone! The kind with a funny story you can retell throughout next week. Those are always good.