Google Before You Tweet

One of my friends sent me this Google before you tweet poster a while back. And I completely forgot about it until I stumbled upon it again. And thought oh yeah such a true statement! I love Typography sells prints for a mere $15. A pretty small price for such a wise proverb.

{via Design is Mine}

Moomah

Lately I've seen Moomah, a creative arts cafe for children and their parents, everywhere. First I saw the creative logos and packaging designed by Apartment One in HOW Magazine's design annual. I instantly fell for their identity made up of whimsical collages. And I thought what a great idea for a cafe. A space where parents and their children can spend time together and be creative.

Then I stumbled upon pictures of the interior. Which I realized, this is exactly how I would have imagined it. Collages of artwork, missed match furniture of various materials, and spaces to relax and be creative.

Looking at their website I just love the whole concept of this cafe. A place like this would be really popular in DC and many other cities. They believe in serving foods that are locally grown as well as encouraging kids to try new foods. Their menu is clever with items like yummus and a dish called the super tryer where kids choose 6 items to try.

I think their motto says it best, " A place of sweet whimsy, wonder and warmth, moomah is a creative playscape, a cozy cafe, a living classroom, a quiet hideaway, an art oasis, your meeting spot. Your favorite place to be together, and a place for your child to simply be." I just really love the whole concept and think it would be great in other cities. Below are more pictures of the interior and their branding.

Design: Grow

I might not have the greenest thumb ever, but I am a big fan of bringing a little bit of the outdoors inside. House plants naturally purify the air, and they can look really gorgeous when they're integrated into a room's design.

Paper Art Made of Hearts

I've always loved paper art. Could be that I started my road to graphic design in scrapbooking as a teenager. Or it could be that no matter what, I just love paper and handmade materials. Nonetheless paper art has always been on my list of things to experiment with/learn. Sometimes I doubt that I have the patience to do anything intricate though. I mean I know I could never be a Yulia Brodskaya. But some of these seem simple enough to recreate. And it is perfect timing for Valentines Day. Check out all of Sarah and Bendrix's beautiful creations at their Etsy store.

{via Bliss}

Designers are meant to be loved not to be understood

While I don't agree with these design rules completely, I absolutely love the concept as well as the way it is laid out. I wish I could paint/stencil this on one of my walls!

1) Designers are meant to be loved not to be understood.

2) The purpose of design is to make the ordinary extraordinary.

3) The best designers are the ones that find the good clients.

4) Design must seduce, shape &, more importantly, evoke an emotional response.

5) Good design can be planned but great design just happens.

6) Design the right things, design the things right.

7) Imagination is more important than knowledge.

I know this is a Christmas post on Sweet Paul's blog, but this inspires me to make feather ornaments and hang them up all year round. How beautiful are they? I better invest in clear ornaments at Michaels before they are all out for the season! Doing a little bit of research there is a whole online catalog of feathers. Who knew?! They also sell feather ornament balls for around $3.00 a piece. If I remember correctly Anthropologie had feather ornaments for around $12 this year.

via {Sweet Paul}

Framed Everyday Life

I love the idea of the every day object becoming the framed art. This would be perfect for my front entrance.

via {Dolce Vita}

Anthropologie Home Decor

Full disclosure I probably visit the Anthropologie website on a daily basis. Maybe more than that. But its not too often that I make it over to the home section. Don't get me wrong I love their home decor and the whole eclectic look they have going on. Its just that my wallet is usually hurting by the time I get done with the clothes section I can't go any further.

This past week when I made one of my rare visits over to the home decor section and was totally surprised and delighted. Since the last time I had browsed through their home knick-knacks, they had seriously expanded their line. I've always loved their eclectic look in the store, but they never offered half the stuff you would see in their sets and catalogs. But now all of a sudden the vintage random artistic look is more within reach with all kinds of beautiful random vases and statues and such. A lot of it is still well out of reach of my decorating budget. But at least it offers little bit more inspiration and something else for me to dream about.

Pressed Sunflower Pillar Holder

(look at the hanging lights and random collage of mirrors!)

Standing Magnifying Glass

Small Swirled Glue Bowls (perfect for an art table, candy dish, or key holder)

Metals and Petals Vase

Weatherworn Ferris Wheel

Calendar Swap 2010

It is getting close to one of my favorite times of year.  Calendar buying time!  (I bet you thought I was going to say Fall)  I absolutely love picking out my calendar for the next year.  Usually I can't make up my mind and end up buying more than one.  It used to be kind of difficult to hunt down that totally unique, graphically beautiful calendar amongst all the generic kitten and puppy calendars.  But these days it seems like the options are overwhelming!

So you are probably wondering why I am bringing up Calendars in October.  Well Kelly over at Design Crush and Caroline at Greedy Girl have come up with the most amazing idea.  A calendar swap.  All you have to do is email your name, blog/web address and snail-mail address to calendarswap@gmail.com by October 31st.  They pair you up and send you your swapmate's info.  You can get to know their taste through their blog (though I'm pretty sure you are not required to have a blog/website to participate) and then by Nov. 15th send them a totally unique special calendar over $20 but under $30.  Also no kitten or puppy calendars.

Such a fun idea, right?  And yes I was the strange girl in elementary school who got excited over having a penpal.  So this is right up my alley.  Also Design Crush and Greedy Girl will be featuring different calendars over the next few weeks on their blogs to get your creative juices flowing.  So basically there is no excuse not to sign up for this fun project.  For all the details go here.

Some Etsy Love

I've been having some major Etsy crushes lately and thought I'd share with you my latest obsessions. It is kind of a random list and the only things they really have in common are my love for them, and that they are on Etsy.

This glass ball Chandelier is pretty amazing. I can envision this chandelier in a dining room, bedroom, or even a bathroom with really high ceilings.

This letterpress cupcake box is so adorable. Now you can make homemade cupcakes and package them up to be as cute as Georgetown or Hello Cupcake. Also the seller, Simple Song, is a local which is always a plus.

These gold orb glass earrings are so unique. I could see myself pairing them with so many of my outfits to give them just a little bit extra pizazz.

I'm a sucker for anything fall, it is true. And I love love love fall wreaths. Though I'm more of the natural simplicity type when it comes to wreaths. I love the lines of the twigs along with the fall berries.

Such cute glass bowls with bright patterns on them.

These collage prints are vibrant with so much texture. Also as a bonus she is giving away an extra free print to the next 4 people that purchase from her. It is a special promotion to help her get to 100 items sold. So hurry up and choose your 2 favorite prints!

Not only is this an adorable fall/winter bag, but it also has a multi-purpose as a camera bag. Inside are padded slots for your camera and lenses. Which is pretty amazing because I hate toting my bulky camera case around the city.

A Meal Without Wine...

Couldn't agree more. This would go perfectly in my kitchen.

{via SwissMiss}

Three Potato Four

Lately I've been really into vintage. I had discovered Three Potato Four a while back, but I don't think my love for all things old and cool was in full swing yet. So when I stumbled upon it again today while reading For me, For You, I fell in love all over. Such great stuff! Below is my wish list.....if I had unlimited decorating funds.

This would be so cute to hang up and display your magazines. It reminds me of the racks in the library during my elementary school days.

I love love love these old hardware drawers. And I have no clue what I would do with them! But look at the potential! It would be awesome if I were handy and could build a chest out of mismatched drawers. If only I had taken wood shop in school. But still, oh the possibilities!

Would it be nerdish of me to buy this old phone and not actually use it? I could just see placing it on a stack of old books. I love the colors so much.

Lately I've been seeing a new trend of creating flower arrangement with groups of antique bottles and mismatched vases. You basically just put a couple flowers in each bottle but arrange them all together. These would be perfect for that!

I love these old milk carafes. Would be adorable for fresh flowers or to serve drinks in.

These huge vintage letters from an old Texaco sign are amazin. So far they don't have any letters that have meaning to me, but I'm crossing my fingers. This would be super cute if you had one of those huge wood mirrors propped on the floor. You could prop this over one of the edges.