i want these spoons...

How lovely are these bone china spoons and bowls made by Caroline Swift. They are exquisite! {via Oh Joy!}

Have a wonderful weekend!

feeling silhouettey

Silhouettes have been a huge design trend in home decor lately. I love the idea of a couple incorporating their silhouettes into their wedding stationery - a nice, personal touch! Sometimes silhouettes can look a bit creepy, but I thought the below silhouettes were done beautifully {by KC and Sara as featured on Once Wed}.

And take a peek at this beautiful silhouette cut out of a leaf...exquisite! This is by silhouette artist Jenny Lee Fowler.
I was shocked to find out that some of these silhouette artists cut the silhouettes directly from paper {or leaves!} without even drawing them first. This boggles my mind...how can they be so accurate?! Check out this Silhouette artist from the U.K. who attends weddings and events and cuts silhouettes on the spot. {For a bit of a chuckle, below his YouTube video, see the comment left from his embarrassed, over-critical teenaged daughter perhaps?! Just a guess here, but it made me laugh}

Liam Stevens

Today, I am liking the work of Liam Stevens.

Kitchens I fancy...

Oh baby, look at these beauties.

1: From here accompanying an interview with Ericka from Urban Grace Interiors.
2: Stephanie showed me this from House Beautiful... lovely isn't it?

Albert and His Adventures by Marlene Reidel

Time for a little book love. Here is, "Albert and His Adventures" originally by Monroe Stearns which is retold and illustrated by Marlene Reidel. The copy I have is from the 1960's and has the most beautifully colored and black and white woodblock illustrations. It is a about little Albert who is a day dreamer that wanders off into his imaginative and adventurous world.

Dahlias and other delights

Happy Friday, lovebugs!



I hope you all have wonderful plans for the weekend. I intend to sleep late, eat quite a bit, and maybe even get some stuff done. We'll see. I'd also like to buy some flowers that last for more than 3 days. Ahem, farmer's market dahlias from last weekend, I'm talking to you.

Thinking of Paris...Ladurée

Ah Paris. After looking through my photos today, I realized I have not shown you many from our trip, how about I sprinkle some in with my other posts?

Here is Ladurée, it is amazing, quintessential Paris. People line up to select their macarons, croissants and other delights while watching them be wrapped up in the most divine packaging. I felt like we were showered with elegant and grace; a wall full of ribbon, stacks of gorgeous boxes ... a foodie and packaging lover's dream. We tried a few different macarons in the city including Ladurées, and decided we liked their 'classic' flavors best. This is a must stop while in Paris.

wee things

So once again I was reading my fave new blog Something's Hiding in Here, and I have to say, they never fail to entertain me! Look at this teeniest tiniest letter ever that was sent to them by the World's Smallest Postal Service! So then it got me wondering...what other wee things exist out there that would just make my day? So sorry to digress from the usual design and decor talk...I really needed to share all the adorable wee things I found!

{Tiny Pies}

{Tiniest Egg}

{Tiniest Monkey...awww!}

{Tiniest Purse}

{Tiniest Tomatoes}

{Tiniest Snail}

Stay tuned...I've got more wee things coming!

Giveaway winner.

Thank you for everyone who entered the giveaway. I am anxious to see and show you Angela's design when it is completed. Using random.org the winner fell on #50 = dorthea b. who said... "So admirable to start your own business! I'm inspired." Dorthea email me (blackeiffel@gmail.com) with you address and I will forward it on to Angela!

Paris Vogue

I love this Paris Vogue cover with Sofia Coppola. There is something that I really like about her.

(via this is glamorous)

everything i know about life, i learned from drawing

I'm not sure where I found this little poem, but I've kept it for years! It inspires me to not take art quite so seriously and to just 'dig in' and create.

Everything I Know About Life, I Learned From Drawing:
Always carry a pen.
The best way is to be still.
Everyone can do it, except those people
who say they can't.
Forget your eraser. There are no
mistakes. Only lessons.
Don't do it for fame. Do it for you.
Don't seek beauty. See it.
Everyone's perfect pen is different.
Learn from others. But don't be an
imitation.
No books, no teachers, no system, can
teach you as much as practice.
If you don't like a drawing, turn the
page and do another.
Study how kids do it.
A forest is just a lot of trees. A tree is
just a lot of leaves. And you
know how to draw a leaf.
Value everything you make.
Give your drawings away.
If you can do it perfectly, it's boring.
It's all about the Now. That's why it's
called a drawing, not a drawn.
Know when to stop.
-Danny Gregory

{the cutest and quirkiest little birdie doodles by Kate Wilson}

Onions, caramelized

If you hate caramelized onions, please just stop reading. Also, what is wrong with you?



For caramelized onions, as for so many kitchen related things, I trust to Mark Bittman's method. There is nothing wrong with doing what I had been doing for many years, which is slicing onions and cooking them with olive oil over low heat until they turn brown. But when I saw Bittman's instructions in How to Cook Everything Vegetarian, I decided to trust him. And it was worth it.



I'm paraphrasing here, but the general instructions are simple. You slice a ton of onions (they cook way, way down, so you might as well do at least 5 onions) and toss them in a heavy bottomed stock pot with a lid. Don't put any olive oil in there yet! Cook them over medium high heat for about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onions are soft and sweating and starting to stick to the pan. Then toss in some olive oil (a tablespoon or two will do) and a few pinches of salt. Take the lid off and reduce the heat to low. Continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are done to your preference (mine take 30 - 40 minutes). They will be a lovely, melting golden mess when you are finished.

Simple, right? And heavenly. I make a largish batch at a time and then store them in the fridge where they'll keep for a week or two. Toss them in them in a quiche, or on a pizza, or in an omelet, or stir them into lentils. You'll love them any way you decide to try them. They are especially tasty with sundried tomatoes, even if you just spread the mixture on crusty baguette.

P.S. If you have onion haters in your household, this might be the perfect way to convert them.

Fabric Poster by Erin Jang

What an adorable use of fabric, look at this poster created by Erin Jang, and see her other inspiring creations here. Fabrics from Purl Soho.

Giveaway.

Remember to enter this giveaway by midnight. I am excited to see what Angela will surprise us with! xo Rachel



(image of SeeSaw Designs 2009 lettepress calendar)

Michael Bierut's Notebooks

Fascinating post over at the Design Observer about the way Michael Bierut keeps notes in his 85 different notebooks over 26 years.

Perhaps it is more of a artist and designer thing to keep a notebook/sketchbook, so I am wondering... how many of you utilize and keep notebooks, sketchbooks or books of lists full of your thoughts, tidbits and ideas? What is your method?

Her Morning Elegance by Oren Lavie

This is one of the most clever and original music videos I've seen in a long time. When I go to sleep tonight on my mattress I will be thinking about it again, I'm sure. I also like the song, it is called Her Morning Elegance by Oren Lavie. Listen to more here and he was on Morning Becomes Eclectic in December and has an album up on itunes. I love discovering new artists.


Directed by: Oren Lavie, Yuval & Merav Nathan / Photography: Eyal Landesman / Featuring: Shir Shomron

(via Design Dust)

Happy post.

To bring some cheer after the previous post, I looked around for things that make me happy today. Here they are...


How fun would this be to get in the mail? (via BLTD)




Kind of random, but what about beautiful Japanese Cardboard Cookies? (via simplesong)



Cool photographic collage postcards by aviewto. Check out A View To blog which also has lots of gorgeous eye candy. (via bees knees)

Domino

I am extremely sad that Domino is folding :( it was one of my favorite magazines, and I especially thought the most recent issue was lovely because it included this house. Tears... sad to see it pass away like my other favorite Blueprint... more tears...

(thanks for letting me know Steph)

inBloom studio stationery

Sometimes I have the need to write a little note to a client - in a mailing, if I'm sending samples, or even just a simple thank you. Recently I printed my logo on these little scalloped recycled notecards...perfect for sending just a quick little jot! {click the photo for a closer view}

a perfect little barn venue

{picture from Massey Barn Events}

We've always, our whole lifelong, been searching for the perfect little barn event venue, and in the GTA it was nowhere to be found! Until my good friend Brooke (who has fantastic taste and a keen eye by the way), sent me a link to a cute little barn in Cobourg that she had heard about once before. Called Massey Barn, it has a lot of a history behind it, built by the Massey family in 1837. And it is REALLY super cute - the renovations are a perfect blend between rustic but still a little upscale. It's like a pretty canvas just waiting to be made even more spectacular! Our clients (and friends...clients sound so harsh, doesn't it?) Ryan and Tahlia asked inBloom to help decorate the venue for their wedding...and inBloom says a resounding OK! We'd be THRILLED to help...we've been waiting a LONG time for this!

I'm a little fascinated by this chandelier. Such a perfect contrast between rustic and upscale decor.

The barn in all it's beautiful glory - just waiting for inBloom's personal touch!

this is the view behind the barn. apparently there's a clearing in the forest for a ceremony. tahlia loves the idea of using this trail as the aisle.

Ryan and Tahlia - they look happy ... obviously!