Lisa Jones Studio

Today's post is a little later than usual - apologies for my tardiness! I should probably try and get on top of that growing to-do list, but first, I want to take a minute to look at these lovely creations from London-based Lisa Jones Studio. Run by Lisa and her partner Edward Underwood, the homewares and stationery label tentatively begun in 2000 as a commercial channel for their work, and their original remit of stationery has expanded to encompass a range of goods that now includes tea towels, prints, books and, most recently, a cute range of mugs. When it comes to their product line, Lisa and Edward strive to use ethical materials and methods of production wherever possible.

Aside from their own range of goods, Lisa and Edward also work on commissioned projects for a range of clients, some of which include the V&A Museum and Habitat.

I really love Lisa and Edward's cute characters and bold use of colours. Head over to the Lisa Jones Studio webshop to browse their lovely selection of items, and check out their website and blog for further details. I'm signing off for the weekend now - hope you have a good one!

100 Posts!

So I’ve made it to one hundred posts – an achievement to be proud of! I’ve really enjoyed writing this blog so far, and I hope you’ve enjoyed popping by for my daily dose of gushing and overuse of the word ‘lovely.’ While I haven’t always felt motivated to post – especially after a day at the office – I feel it’s important to have a creative outlet that’s separate from work. And while my new job here in Melbourne is still within the illustrious world of book publishing, I’m not so exposed to design in my ‘day’ job these days, so this here blog gives me a reason (and excuse) to stay connected, in some small way, to the design community both here in Australia and overseas. Or at the very least it gives me an excuse keep a record of the pretty things that float my boat.

I have some ideas on ways to improve and add to this blog, which I’m sure I will eventually get around to (as I try to familiarise myself with all of this techie web stuff), but in the meantime please feel free to leave a comment or get in contact if you have any feedback, words of wisdom or news that you think I might like to hear about.

This post also signifies another event in my life – the Englishman and I have now been living in Melbourne for six months. Adjusting to life back in Australia has been harder than I imagined, and while I miss being in the UK, I'm slowly settling into some sort of normalcy and routine. I'm sure others who have been in a similar situation understand the mixed emotions. But as time passes I'm becoming more and more familiar with this diverse city, and I'm looking forward to the warmer months ahead (and making use of my patio!). To me, Melbourne is all about great coffee, yummy food, cute houses, citrus trees in people's gardens and lovely independent design shops, book shops and craft/handmade fairs, among many other things...

Speaking of all things Melbourne, these fantastic photographs by local photographer and blogger Jacinta Moore sum up Melbourne much better than I ever could in words. I think they're just lovely. Check out her Etsy shop and blog to take a look through rest of her portfolio of images, and enjoy the virtual tour.

Oil & Water Do Not Mix

While I don't use the word 'unique' all that often, this project is just that... unique. Oil & Water Do Not Mix was developed by Brussels-based communications agency Happiness Brussels and designed in the UK by printmaker Anthony Burrill. A limited-edition run of 200 posters have been screenprinted using oil from the Gulf of Mexico disaster, which was picked up on the beaches of Grand Isle, Louisiana. All benefits from the sale of the prints are going to CRCL (Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana), a non-profit organisation dedicated to restoring the Gulf of Mexico’s coastal wetlands.

Visit the Oil & Water Do Not Mix website for more information and to purchase a print.

Beci Orpin for Seven Seeds

I love the work Melbourne designer, artist, illustrator and all-round creative extrordinaire Beci Orpin has been doing for coffee producers and cafe Seven Seeds. Seven Seeds coffee is a bit of a treat in our household, and Beci's packaging, logo and website visuals are as good as the coffee, which is a pretty big compliment. Beci also designed the logo for the new Seven Seeds cafe De Clieu (187 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy), which I'm still yet to visit (because I'm just not that hip). For more from Beci, check out her website, blog and online shop, and if you're visiting Melbourne, then do check out Seven Seeds (and their other cafe locations Brother Baba Budan/De Clieu), not just for the best coffee, but also for the lovely packaging!

Cut Copy Create

I thought I'd kick things off this week with some rather nice work from Ashley, a Glasgow-based design student who goes by the name Cut Copy Create. Ashley specialises in retro-inspired illustrations, and has a particular penchant for lomo cameras. Cut Copy Create is Ashley's creative outlet where she sells prints, keychains, badges and tote bags featuring her illustration work.

I love my Diana camera, but don't go out as often as I'd like to take photos (excuses, excuses...). In fact, I've been incredibly lazy on the photography front since I moved to Melbourne, but this sunshine is making me want to get back into it (speaking of which, if anyone has any good lomo photo development recommendations in and around Melbourne, please do let me know!). Check out Ashley's blog for more information about her work, and pop over to Ashley's Etsy, Folksy and Big Cartel shops to check our her product line.

The Doghouse Pop-up Bar

The Doghouse is a pop-up bar located on a rooftop in Sydney’s Darlinghurst. Constructed in just 24 days by interior architecture practice Foolscap Studio, The Doghouse is based around speakeasy establishments of the 1920s and 1930s, and even features tables that spring out from the walls and alcohol bottles hanging from the ceiling. The bar is the brainchild of Melbourne-based industrial designer Rob Dumaresq and musician Hugh Gurney, who won Drambuie’s bar design competition, The Premise. Here are some pics (taken by Foolscap) of the laidback rooftop bar, complete with a lovely view over Sydney's rooftops.

I just love those potplants and the hanging bottles. As with all things pop-up, the bar will only be open for a short time, so if you want to check it out you’ll only have until this weekend (287A Liverpool St, Darlinghurst). Check out the Australian Design Review for more info and images. And on that note, have a happy and relaxing weekend!

Made By Anna

It's a bright and sunny day here in Melbourne, and this kind of weather has such a positive influence on my mood (despite having to sit inside and work all day!). And these paper collages by UK-based illustration student Anna Betts just seem suitable for a day like today. Anna uses vintage papers in an array of bright colours and mounts them on white card. Very pretty.

Anna also creates digital reproduction prints of some of her original collages.

Anna was born in South Africa and moved to the UK as a young child, and is currently studying illustration at the Cambridge School of Art (and she also teaches pottery to children in the evenings - multi-talented!). To purchase Anna's range of collages and prints (among other things), head over to her Esty shop, and check out her blog for more information.

Claudia Pearson Illustration

Claudia Pearson is a Brooklyn-based illustrator whose work has been publishing in the New York Times, The New Yorker, Elle, and Communication Arts, and whose client list includes Neiman Marcus, Chronicle Books and Simon & Schuster, to name but a few! Claudia is originally from London, and studied graphic design in my former home town of Brighton, UK. Disenchanted with typography, Claudia specialised in animation in the final year of her degree and went on to work with some leading animation companies in London. During a trip to New York in 1994 she met an illustration agent who wanted to represent her, and two months later she packed her bags and moved to New York, where she continues to work and live with her husband and children. What an inspiring lady!

I really love Claudia’s hand-drawn illustration style (and the yellow Cathrineholm bowl in the above print!), and especially like her food-themed illustrations (many of which are veggie- and vegan-friendly!). Pop over to Claudia’s website to view her portfolio, and you can purchase Claudia’s range of prints, tea towels and tote bags in her Etsy shop.

What Katie Does

I love these new typographic screenprints by London-based web designer Katie Marcus of What Katie Does. Available in duck egg and mushroom grey, the designs were inspired by WW1-era food rationing posters, and remind you to eat sensibly, healthily and ethically. Printed onto recycled paper stock with water-soluble inks, the prints have a slight metallic sheen to them and are available for purchase in Katie's Etsy shop. Katie and I did a little swap at a handmade craft fair the other year and I was lucky enough to pick up one of the digital prints Katie used to do, but I'm liking Katie's new foray into screenprinting.

Katie also has a great blog, which is a mix of posts on food, travel, craft, design and photography. I especially love reading about Katie's veggie food and travel adventures, and it makes me nostalgic for the little excursions I used to make up to London. Head over there now for a good ol' read.

New Darling Clementine Homewares

Norwegian-based designers Ingrid Reithaug and Tonje Holand, aka Darling Clementine, have recently expanded their gorgeous folk-inspired Woodland collection to include a lovely selection of homewares. Available for pre-order in their online shop are these too-cute cushion covers featuring favourite characters from their Woodland card series. The designs fit 50 x 50cm cushions, and come in a printed gift box.

These lovely trays are also available in the Darling Clementine online shop, and are handmade in Sweden from Scandinavian Birch veneer.

I don’t think words can describe how cute Darling Clementine’s work is, so if you haven’t done so already, pop over to their website and see for yourself. And while you’re at it, why not check out Ingrid and Tonje’s gorgeous homes over at Design*Sponge – total Scandi home envy.

Moira Millman

Another working week is almost over – where does the time go?! Anyway, I’ve decided to round this week off by taking a look at some of the lovely work from UK-based illustrator Moira Millman. Moira has been working as an illustrator for over a decade for a variety of clients across the publishing and advertising sectors. Many of her illustrations incorporate hand-drawn and digital elements, and she is inspired by all things 1950s, which is clearly evident in her retro illustration style.

Aside from creating commercial work for clients, Moira also dedicates time to more personal projects, including selling a variety of prints at her Etsy shop. Why not take some time to be inspired by looking through Moira’s portfolio at her website and blog. And on that note, have an enjoyable weekend and I'll see you back here on Monday!

New Orla Kiely Kitchenware Range

Now I realise this has already been posted about all over the internet, but being the homewares geek that I am I can't help but be excited by it, and therefore feel need to express my joy over the new Orla Kiely kitchenware range. Oh my! Take a look at these lovelies...The new kitchenware collection has been inspired by classic Scandinavian design and all things mid-century, and it celebrates the idea of reviving all over pattern on everyday objects such as casserole and butter dishes. And according to the lady herself, the collection has been designed to be left out on show and not hidden away in cupboards. You can view the full Orla Kiely kitchenware range here, although shipping costs to Australia are quite prohibitive. Wouldn't it be nice if there were an Orla Kiely outlet here in Australia?