logo crush: chromalab

chromalab

Grace has a nice post about Chromalab and their wacky cool bright furniture on Design*Sponge. When I visited Chromalab I was smitten with their logo! It would be a nightmare to letterpress (each color would be a new pass through the press), but it's perfect for 4 color or digital printing, and really represents the colorful concept of their "lab."

holiday treat

from amy atlas events

Look how pretty something as simple as a custom label on a chocolate bar can be when displayed en masse. Personalize each bar with someone's name, or a holiday greeting, and stuff a stocking for a sweet surprise! Love this idea from Amy Atlas Events!

wedding photography favorite

vallentyne photography

This photo by Heather Moreau of Vallentyne Photography is one of my all time favorite wedding photographs.

glitter ornaments

photos: delphine

I, and my entire house, are glittered top to bottom, but I did manage to finish making glitter christmas ornaments for the handmade ornament exchange over the weekend!

client (and store) we love: orange & pear

all gifts shown available at orangeandpear.com

When Jennifer came to me asking for help with a logo for her new business I was intrigued. She promised a "fresh perspective on gift giving." Interesting, but possible?. She said her favorite colors are green and orange. Yes, yes. My favorite, too. Go on. Please add shades of grey, she said. No more brown ... happy dance. She said it would be the END of boring hostess gifts. Hmmm. Really? She was so sincere, so lovely, so darn NICE. So I spent hours sketching and playing with type, tweaking and improving, until I designed a fun, sweet, colorful logo for her. I had a blast working on this logo with her ... all the while I had yet to see nary a peek at her website, which was still in the works.

But guess what? She delivered!!! Not a one ordinary gift to be found on her site-- everything is carefully curated. Perfectly wonderful. It's the end of boring hostess gifts for real! Yay! Congratulations, Jennifer, on the successful launch of your shop: Orange and Pear.

handmade holiday ornaments

martha stewart crafts glitter

Since I signed up for a handmade holiday ornament exchange a few weeks ago I have been trying to decide what to make. I'm not quite sure what I'll make yet, but I'm fairly certain it will involve glitter! Last year I made a 3-d paper snowflake, and I may do that again. Or perhaps a paper cone filled with candy. I'd love to make some felt animal ornaments, but I think that would take too long and I need to make a bunch. Do you have any other ideas?

SALE on party goodies

delphine for ForYourParty.com

Great news: a special sale just for delphine fans at ForYourParty.com: 15 percent off your $50 or more order! Customize napkins, matches, stir sticks, gift bags & boxes with delphine icons for a super chic party this holiday season. Enter code: DEL08 at foryourparty.com during checkout {offer expires Jan 15, 2009}

shoe sale

shoes: j.crew

J'ADORE yellow shoes. I have a pair of yellow moccasins that are completely worn out, yet I continue to wear them. These chic pumps from J.Crew (along with ALL their shoes) are 25 percent off today and are screaming to get into my wardrobe. Enter code SHOESALE at J.Crew checkout. Offer ends 11/19/08.

holiday party goodies

delphine for ForYourParty.com

Have a holiday party to plan? Remember it's the little details that make all the difference. Take some time to make a music play list that includes some fun but classic holiday tunes (please, no alvin and the chipmunks!), decorate your front door with a fresh swag of yummy smelling pine, and place extra side tables in every room so guest have somewhere to set down their drinks.

At ForYourParty you can use delphine graphics to adorn napkins, match books, stir sticks, gift bags and other party goodies. ForYourParty is offering free shipping now through January 15, 2009: just enter code HOL08 at checkout.

in the press: C magazine

delphine, as seen in c magazine

We're extremely honored to be included in C magazine's holiday issue again this year! Our delphine 2009 letterpress calendar was chosen as one of their hot and "chic" picks for holiday giving.

road trip

photos: delphine

This weekend J and I drove to Arizona to see the Grand Canyon with our son and some friends. The hours on the road reminded me how huge (and beautiful) this country is.

cupcakes & champagne

Dreamy Celebration

Cupcakes & champagne, you say? See you there!

ceci n'est pas ...

"i am not a paper cup," available at a+r

magritte

I'd like to fill a "this is not a coffee cup" with a "this is not a bloody mary" and go for a surreal walk on the beach this morning (instead of working).

van gogh for kids

vincent van gogh and the colors of the night kids' book

This do-it-yourself art book for kids is near the top of MY list for Santa this year.

happy birthday, Marines!

Happy Birthday, Marines. Thanks for your service!

Today is also a day to remember the sacrifice of our returning heroes, more than 30,000 of whom have been wounded--many severely--in recent conflicts. Wounded Warrior Project aids in the recovery process and smooths the transition back to civilian life.

Tomorrow is Veterans Day; it is a time to remember, honor and thank all those who have served our country. Please consider a donation to the Wounded Warrior Project.

coveting: glass links chandelier

glass links chandelier from z. gallerie

I'm not sure where in my house this glass links chandelier would fit in, but I really, really, really love it!

dear santa ...

cashmere hoodie from j.crew

I work mostly from home. I look mostly like a slob. However I could be a slightly stylish slob in this cashmere hoodie, right, Santa??? Please???

vintage: floral wallpaper

wallpaper from second hand rose

Sometimes, when I'm feeling especially creatively challenged, I check out vintage wallpaper patterns for a little inspiration. I like the unexpected color combo here: olive, puce, pale seafoam, and eggplant.

wallpaper from second hand rose

This one makes my inner typofile happy.

winning vodka

these guys make prairie organic vodka

Last month J and I were having lunch at the bar at Community Food & Juice and I could not stop staring at the gorgeous label on the Prairie vodka bottle that was peeking out behind the bottles of tomato and carrot juices.

I was not surprised to spot it again as a winner in the Communication Arts magazine's design annual. The look and feel of the Prairie website is totally unexpected (it's dark, with wolves and buffalo ... not light and airy like their label). Makes me want to buy a bottle, which I suppose is the whole point of packaging, right? Fabulous!

Congrats to OLSON for the design!

holiday ornament swap

holiday ornament swap

I just signed up for the 3rd Annual Holiday Ornament Swap hosted by cake & pie and freshlyblended. For all the details please check out either of their blogs. Deadline to signup is November 10th. I can't wait to start making my ornaments!

another reason to visit manhattan

bouchon bakery

Oh, how I wish there were a Bouchon Bakery in my neighborhood (Rancho Santa Fe, California). I was initially drawn to Bouchon because of their fabulous graphic design, but became a big fan due to their perfect pastries. Sigh.

new us citizen votes

Today my mom, a new US citizen, voted in her first presidential election. Congratulations to all the new citizens out there who are exercising their right to vote today!

fun stripes

Paul Smith (notebook and coffee pot) is the master of stripes, but I also love these Jonathan Adler pillows! The sparkly dress by Banana Republic is in last year's Pantone Color of the Year, Blue Iris. I think you'll see this color sneaking into home décor next year. Necklace from Banana Republic; chic chartreuse lamp from Moss.

today ...

Today I get the true pleasure of watching two new citizens (my mom, Beatrice and my grandmother, Delphine) vote in their first US presidential election!

polling place photo project

The New York Times Polling Place Photo Project

I received a reminder email from AIGA, the professional association for design, this morning about the NYT Polling Place Photo Project. Take your camera to the polls tomorrow and help document the election.

Every state has diferent election laws, some which allow photos of polling stations and others that do not, so check your states' procedures to find out what is acceptable.