New from Sanna Annukka

Everyone's favourite Finnish/English graphic artist, Sanna Annukka, recently added a couple of new products to her online shop. First is this gorgeous new five-colour silkscreen print titled Mummola, which was inspired by Sanna's childhood visits to her grandmother's house and drinking homemade berry juice and eating sweet buns in her kitchen. Sanna is also a fan of decorative kitchenalia, and the print is packed with patterned pots and pans. I love this print (being a big fan of decorative kitchenalia myself), and the colours used are just so lovely. There are only 75 copies of this print available, so I'm sure they won't last long.

Also new are these Aurinko oak tealight candle holders, which have been decorated with sun symbols and patterns inspired by Scandinavian folk weaving. Each tealight holder has a different pattern with screenprinted details on all four sides, and has been numbered by hand.

You can check out Sanna's full range of lovely items via her online shop, and visit her site and blog for information on her work and projects.

Rock Scissor Paper

Rock Scissor Paper is a California-based stationery and giftware company developed and co-run by sisters Heidi and Susie Bauer. Heidi and Susie launched the company in 1993 with the goal of crafting greeting cards that appealed to the sensibilities of a young and design-savvy audience. Since then, their product range has grown from strength to strength, and their line currently includes a wide selection of paper goods and gifts such as personalised stationery items, greeting cards, invitations, notebooks, coasters and mugs.

Heidi and Susie employ printers that are local to them, and ensure that soy-based inks and recycled papers are used where possible. I really do like the Rock Scissor Paper range - Heidi and Susie have a super cute, colourful and retro style that makes their selection fun and fresh. Some of their designs really take me back to my childhood!

You can check out the full range at the Rock Scissor Paper website and visit the Rock Scissor Paper blog here. And on that note, I hope you have a happy, sunny and joyful weekend!

emerald + ella

emerald + ella is a lovely online shop and prop hire business that is run by Sydney-based food stylist Jane Collings. emerald + ella is based on the names Jane has picked out for her future children, and the shop itself is an eclectic mix of beautiful homewares, kitchenwares, stationery and vintage items.

Jane has made a point of stocking items that are difficult to source or expensive to purchase from overseas, as well as featuring a range of handmade items from Australian and New Zealand creative types. I especially love the garden markers and cute selection of cupcake cases. And the paper straws. And the twine...

I'll stop spelling out my personal emerald + ella wishlist, and instead encourage you to pop on over there and check it out for yourself!

Antonio Ladrillo

This just made me smile, and I hope it does the same for you. It's a little concertina Robin Hood book by Barcelona-based graphic artist Antonio Ladrillo. Each Robin Hood illustration has a different statement and facial expression/action, and they're all very sweet. You can purchase copies via Antonio's online shop, and check out his website to view his full portfolio of work.

Cake With Giants

Take a look at this fantastic new print from Melbourne-based illustrator Amy Borrell of Cake With Giants. Titled Bird Eggs of Australia, it's a lovely pastel collection of illustrated eggs produced by Australian birds. The print area measures 19.6 x 26.6cm (with a border for easy framing), and is a giclee reproduction of one of Amy's original watercolour and pencil illustrations that is printed on Museo Portfolio Rag, an archival acid-free paper with a smooth matte finish.

I think this print is such a lovely idea, and each egg has its own particular characteristics. And how about that hand-drawn type? You can purchase the print via Amy's online shop, and pop over to Amy's website to view her portfolio of lovely work.

Rob Ryan's 2011 Valentine's Laser Cut

Every year Mr Rob Ryan creates a beautiful print or cut out for Valentine's Day, and this year is his lovely 'Can We Shall We' lasercut design. It measures 27cm wide by 37.5cm high, and is cut from blue card and presented in a red folded envelope tied with black ribbon. Each lasercut is signed and numbered by Rob in an edition of 1000. You can purcahse the lasercuts from Rob's Etsy shop and from Soma Gallery in the UK.

Lisa Rupp

Well hello there Friday, thanks for joining us! It's been another week of change over in my neck of the woods, so I'm thankful for the relaxing weekend ahead of me. How about you?

I thought I'd round the week off with the lovely work of graphic designer, crafter and illustrator Lisa Rupp. Lisa is based in Pheonix, Arizona, where she lives with her husband and daughter. Lisa has a particular talent for producing pretty floral surface patterns that are bursting with colour, and her illustrations are also very sweet. You can check out Lisa's portfolio of work over at her website, and make sure to pop over to Lisa's blog where she not only offers photos and tidbits that inspire her, but free printable calendars each month (check out January here). I'm thinking this will be a great way to pretty up my work desk each month! Have a lovely weekend everyone, and see you back here on Monday!

Silkpin

SilkPin is an independent home accessories company based in Sydney, and is a collaboration between friends Mel Tomlin and Justine Mutch. Prior to starting SilkPin, Mel and Justine worked together as high school teachers, and it was during this time that they established a strong working relationship and quickly realised that they shared a love for the little details.

Mel's background in visual arts brings beautiful, detailed illustrations to the SilkPin range, and Justine's background in fashion and textiles sees her manipulating fabrics and adding tactile details to the their products.

The pair have some lovely cushions and tableware items available for sale via their online shop, and I expect that their range will keep on growing.

Thorsteinn Beer

I've been slightly obsessed with Iceland and all things Icelandic ever since I went on holiday there in 2009. It really is such a lovely country. If you get a chance to go there, then do — I for one would love to go back. Anyway, this post isn't about my travel wish list (we'd be here all day otherwise), but about this fantastic example of student work that was featured over at The Dieline recently. This beer brand concept comes from three students (Thorleifur Gunnar Gíslason, Hlynur Ingólfsson and Geir Ólafsson) who are studying graphic design at the Iceland Academy of the Arts. The concept was born out of a task to develop a brand for a micro-brewery, and the name is a traditional Icelandic name that can be loosely translated into “thirsty one.” The concept is to have ten different bottle designs created by ten different designers, with the design changing annually. Looks good enough to drink, no? The eye-catching designs aside, it's really nice to see some examples of unique Icelandic design making the rounds. And while I'm at it, Thorleifur went on his own photographic roadtrip around Iceland, so if you're curious to see what Iceland is really like instead of listening to me gushing, then simply click here.

Canvas

I’ve spent a good half an hour last night lusting over the products on the Canvas website. Canvas is a US-based webshop featuring ceramics, wooden objects, textiles, accessories and furniture for the home created by artisans and craftspeople from the US and abroad.

The products stocked by Canvas combine natural materials with interesting textures, with soft shapes and subtle colours that define a look that is understated yet elegant. They have a continued pursuit for products that are made under fair trade and green principles, and aim for a collection that represents simple, sustainable style.

How much do I want those white porcelain and gold-glazed handmade nesting bowls in the pic above?!

There is also some lovely product photography featured, so pop over to the Canvas site for a browse and a little bit of home interiors escapism.

Rifle Paper Co.'s Valentine Designs

I'm a big fan of Florida-based letterpress studio Rifle Paper Co., and these new Valentine's Day cards and prints are simply lovely. The cards are available individually or in sets of four, and their new custom portrait art prints are an ideal Valentine's gift (if you're into that sort of thing...). You choose your colourway and Rifle Paper Co. customize the design to suit your needs. They're so very sweet!

Check out the full range of Rifle Paper Co. products here.

R. Phillips / Hocus

I'm rounding off the week with the art of R. Phillips, a Toronto-based graphic designer and illustrator who sells her work via her online shop, Hocus. R. Phillips creates whimsical illustrations of cats, owls, dogs and deer (I suppose 'creatures' would suffice), and her results are quite lovely. You can purchase prints of her work via her Etsy shop, and she also writes a blog that features some lovely photography (which probably deserves a post in its own right).

On a side note, it's been one hell of a week here in Australia, and my thoughts keep drifting to QLD and my home city. Thankfully my family and friends have fared well, but the damage is devastating to see. If you're interested in helping out in some small way, flood donations can be made online here. Have a lovely (and safe) weekend everyone.