Pattern Party

If you know that I love packaging and pretty patterns, it goes without saying that I would be completely amazed by these brilliant take-out cups. Graphic artist Sarah Walsh designed these beauties as part of an image overhaul for Mallard Tearooms, a specialist tea company. According to Sarah, "the mix and match branding is inspired by the eclectic feel of the establishment, which is quirky, eccentric and unmistakably English." Check out more from this project on her portfolio site.

Obviously a bit excited about these cute designs, I took her cue in putting together a quirky, eccentric and unmistakably English tea party that incorporates both the patterns and palettes from the Mallard project. From tabletop to dessert buffet, the details we might normally overlook are an amazing opportunity to incorporate more of your theme--just check out the cookies with stunning houndstooth-print icing!

Clockwise from top left:
Red ranunculus arranged in a teacup from Domino's, "Unexpected Vases" (via Duet Weddings )
DIY aqua mason jar project via Apartment Therapy
Houndstooth print cookies designed by pastry artist Amber Spiegel
Classic red teapot from Whittard of Chelsea (£17.50)
Dotti red cup and saucer on Living and Giving ($10.99)

Fabric potted plant in black houndstooth by janejoss on Etsy ($28)

Shabby chic English rose napkins on Shabby Chic Rose Interiors (£1.95 for 20)

Picket fences floral plates from Home A La Mode ($24.99)

Sabre red gingham charger plate, found on French Habits
Teal bamboo lattice letterpress note cards from the Garden Aviary collection by Elum Design
Turquoise M&Ms in a candy buffet inspiration photo from Details Event Rental
Strawberry cupcake recipe by Bumbleberry Cakes
Red gingham muffin cups from Fancy Flours  ($4 for 40 wrappers)

Cakes inspired by calico-print fabric on Martha Stewart Weddings
Houndstooth table runner from CoCoMalé (£21.00)

Recycled glass votive holders from Target ($49.99 for set of 6)

One for the Forest

This happy little guy is a creation from Bosque, as seen on the bosque photostream.  Bosque is a particularly awesome new design studio based in Buenos Aires, Argentina, that works with a wide range of media. From graffiti murals and print designs to 3D installations, tote bags and commissioned designs for Vans, the Bosque team applies their street art-inspired style in some pretty unique ways.

I loved this sticker design for its muted colors and its trees-make-me-smile message. Trees do happen to make me smile, and with the lovely fall leaves outside my window, I've been thinking a lot lately about applying this inspiration to an eco-friendly fall event.

The natural linen table runner below would look great with the Japanese Maple bonsai landscape, or any other bonsais you might find to match your style! I prefer a lot of the deciduous trees, but indoor bonsais would be a great takeaway for guests to keep in their own homes. Check out bonsai rental services in your area for the same look at a lower cost.

Photo-realistic forest wallpaper murals and votives wrapped in birch bark take things one step further in transforming your space into a woodsy sanctuary. Throw in some branches and other rustic details and you're well on your way..

Screenprinted leaf table runner in natural/cream linen by elisabethbentz on Etsy ($68)

Manzanita candelabra branch from West Elm  ($99)

Hand-engraved pint glasses with branches and leaves by daydreemdesigns on Etsy ($28.50)

Screenprinted fig leaf napkin, also by Elisabeth Bentz ($18)

Sunrise dahlia, photo from Eiseman Color Blog

Woodgrain fabric in Chocolate from Aviary by Joel Dewberry ($9.50/yd at Quilt Home )

Birch votives with natural bark from Crate & Barrel  ($3.95-$9.95)

"Misty Forest" photo mural wallpaper by Murals Your Way ($5.57/sq ft for vinyl print)

Japanese Maple bonsai penjing landscape by Qingquan Zhao via Art of Bonsai

Natural pine cone garland from Wisteria via Remodelista

Rustic floral arrangements by Stephanie Elhayani of Seed Floral for Kevin & Paige on Once Wed

Redddddd This!

Lisbeth Zwerger is my favorite illustrator. She. Is. Amazing. Please buy all her books so she never stops. One of my favorites is her Wizard of Oz. There's a full spread of the characters in a field of red poppies that is so beautiful and whimsical and strange. It makes me want to live in her books.



Clockwise from top left
Dress from Alberta Ferretti's Spring 2010 show
Embroidery from Neville Trickett's Flickr
Red Hunter Wellies from Shelba's Flickr
Old Red Hat letterpress pieces
Hoboken Pie Store
Thank You card from Pop + Shorty
Martha Stewart butterfly straw toppers
Living room from stylist/textile designer Marieke van Proosdij
RedruM photo frames
Ulrika May pillows

Origami Folds

I really loved the composition of this photo by Snorkiesnork on Flickr (via oh joy! ). Not sure what the image is from, but the colorful cranes are adorable and seem especially fitting for an outdoor party. I think it's the bright assortment of clothespins that really seals the deal-- regular wooden clothespins wouldn't make half the statement!

I've always loved origami. Cheap decorations, good for killing time in a meeting, and if you happen to get really good at it, you could always try your hand at recreating some of the gorgeous items below. The paper lamp shade and the earrings are my personal favorites, along with the sadly-still-just-a-concept paper crane tea bags. I'd absolutely love to make a quilt out of squares like the ones from Hanna Nyman and Marie Dreiman! Maybe when I retire..

Clockwise from top left: 

Folded "Propellerheads" paper tesselation from EricGjerde's photostream on Flickr 

DIY paper table lanterns by Design*Sponge (simple tutorial)

Origami print tumblers by soule on Etsy via Apartment Therapy 

Large white pendant shade by Claire Norcross for Habitat (£65.00)

Lucky wheel origami earrings in funnysky's Etsy store ($5, hundreds of other origami items!)

Structured origami skirt in purple from Topshop ($80)

Silver origami windmill necklace from Origami Bijou ($60)

Folded fabric for a Bogesunds Vaveri tradebooth by Hanna Nyman and Marie Dreiman 

Hand-folded origami dish from EndemicWorld ($145)

Paper crane origami teabag design by Natalia Ponomareva via Emily Chang 

Origami table design by Matthias Demacker for van Esch

Type Your Life

This photo is both hilarious, endearing, and cool from a featured nursery on Apartment Therapy. By the way, what is that bunny doing there?

Big, decorative letters seem to be a growing trend in interior design. You can get these letters everywhere now. The hardest part is really which letters to buy and what to spell. Suggestions anyone? Or should I just create an homage to this blog, M-I-S-M-A-T-C-H-E-R-I-E?


Clockwise from left:
Letter A light from Perch! Design
Personalized G napkins from Envelop
Letter D from Daily Dropcap
F pendant from Ariel Gordon
Initial ring from MAstyle
Typographic fashion E and A from TypeNeue
Letter P from Briar Press
Letter Lights Balls from Perch! Design
Letter B from Daily Dropcap
Laser Cut Scarfs from LittleFactory
Austin Press calling card from Snippet and Ink
NB from Wohnbedarf
Fail Harder Pushpin Board from W+K
Cut paper Q from Grayhood
Hand Lettering from Joel Holland

Fowl Friends

Even though the fall is creeping in and the mornings are freezing in my apartment, an (seemingly) invisible bird outside my window insists on waking me up instead of letting my usual alarm clock do its job. Don't birds migrate south in cold weather? What happened to this guy and why did he get left behind? Maybe I'll try to catch him and domesticate him. OR I'll just look at these lovely curiosities on boxes from Lyndie Dourthe! Amazing!


Clockwise from left
Rotulos Roura company owl in Barcelona via Whorange
Paper mobile from Sandra Juto
Owl Plushie from Night Owl Papergoods
Birdhouse dolls from Tamar Morgendorff
Owl painting from Andrew Holder
Owl Book End from Chatchada
Godzilla Grows Feathers matte print from Charmine Olivia's Etsy
WAWAYA owls from Gnip
Bird Sketches paper print from dolangeiman's Etsy
Owl candlesticks from Laura Walls Taylor's Etsy
Cardinal garden bell from The Gardener
Bird Mobile from Grayhood
Lacy Bird bowls from Prince Design UK's Etsy
Amma maternity stationary from Beastpieces
A Simple Bird from BROOKLYNrehab's Etsy

Gadgets I Need

I may love super girly things like Anjelica's post about that pink cake, but I love electronics too. I am always looking for new headphones, an interesting clock for my living room, a robot friend etc. So when I saw this concept for the new PS3 system and I went kind of google-eyed. I think a nicely designed product that is both functional and beautiful is hard to find. Often when I do stumble on the perfect thing, its a 'concept' piece, which just means it hasn't been put into production just yet. But one can dream, right?


Clockwise from top left:

Honda Personal Mobility Device from CarPictures
Dream Heart Portable Speaker from ChipChick
Chrysler Peapod Mobility Car from Peapod
Zumreed Rain Drop iPod Bathroom Speaker from PortableGadget
FujiFilm Instax 210 Camera from Fujifilm
Wood Station Weather Display from ThinkGeek
Ora by Alexandros Stasinopoulos Watch from PicoCool
Splitterbot Headphone sharing mini bot from Tesora
Target Clock from DesignBoom
Takaratomy Xiao Instant Digital Camera from AudioCubes
Tengu a USB-powered Lip-Synching Character from Unica Home
Energy Aware Clock from DesignBoom
Black an White Clock from Kibardi Design

A Very Brady Potluck

This print titled "Red Plastic Plates" by Ann Toebbe is an ode to her parent's midwestern dining room, recreated from memory. The original artwork was made from small pieces of paper, hand-painted, cut and glued together in a collage-like fashion. Aside from the quirky décor and mismatched furniture, the different perspectives make this quite an interesting image.

I came across this print on 20x200, one of my favorite sites for affordable art prints. Best summed up by their own equation: "(limited editions x low prices) + the internet = art for everyone," 20 x 200 introduces two new pieces to their collection each week starting at just $20.

Anyhow, the 70's retro/country (read: Brady Bunch) feel of this room struck my fancy.  I can totally imagine throwing a dinner party with this theme. The long table with the yellow cloth and red place settings are easy to replicate. Pear placemats tie in the green and complement arrangements of wildflowers punctuated by candles under various-sized hurricane vases.  A buffet table with a macrame lace runner and neatly arranged ceramic pears serves as the perfect staging area for a friendly potluck. Printed chocolates with retro patterns are an easy takeaway gift for your guests.

Clockwise from top-left:

Ceramic pears by ElementClayStudio on Etsy

Black-eyed Susans in a handmade pottery vase, photo by Penny Sanford

White lisianthus, photo from Better Homes and Gardens

Glass hurricane vases in assorted sizes at CandleSquare.com 

Red dinnerware from the Pier 1 Holiday collection

Pear print placemats by Orla Kiely for Target

Vintage star quilting patches from bonblu's Etsy shop

Macrame lace table runner in "Catherine," from Authentic-Macrame.com 

Swatch of Canary Kona cotton fabric from Hart's Fabric

Chocolates by Choxie in Target stores everywhere

FK 150 Sideboard, designed in 1973, still produced and sold by Lange Production

And Black Blacks

Before Ann posted yesterday's gorgeous all-white post, I had started working on this all-black collage. I figured it was fitting to follow up with this one today. A bit late, yes, but better late than never!

I saw this photo by Colin Simmons and just loved the simplicity. The flash reflecting on these balloons makes them look super glossy and, for some reason, extremely desirable. Don't you just want to reach out and grab 'em?

I love the idea of collecting black pieces to get an eclectic mix of items that are all vastly different but still complementary! Whether matte or high gloss, patterned or plain, textured or smooth, modern or vintage- you can't go wrong when you leverage a classic neutral.

Clockwise from top left: 

7" Do-it-yourself black Munny from Kid Robot ($25)

5" Black mosaic votive holder from H@ME (£8.85)

Pure black votive candle from 100 Candles ($1.39)

Viva black gloss wallpaper by Barbara Hulanicki from Burke Décor ($60/double roll)

Custom-built all-black bicycle from Urban Outfitters Bike Shop ($399)

Fiora black storage jars with glass lids from Heal's (£25-28)

Maura Daniel Chloe double sconce in black from Lollipop Decor ($159)

Eames House Bird, solid steel from Hive ($210)

Licorice bites candy available at various retailers (try American Spice, $3.89/lb)

19th century French antique Baroque sofa at Jayson Home & Garden

Butterfly contemporary wall clock in black lacquer from amode