unsolicited opinions on random things
I saw this link to Craig Damrauer’s Modern Art print (above) over at A Cup of Jo, and loved it. So I checked out Damrauer’s website for his “New Math” project (from which the Modern Art piece originated). Aren’t these brilliant? I particularly like the dog one, below.
The One of a Kind Christmas show starts today and runs until December 5. I’ll be there this Saturday, checking out the goods and trying not to spend too much! The last time I went was a few years ago, so I’m excited to go again. If you’re going, be sure to look out for my client Jill Schwartzentruber who will be selling her gorgeous (and very reasonably priced) earrings and necklaces at booth H29.
I love Argyle socks. (Heck, I love Argyle anything.) Family members, listen up – you can never go wrong with Argyle socks (and tights) for me under the tree or in my Christmas stocking! BTW, I’m a size 9.
I happen to like Jonathan Safran Foer and his books. Ian thinks he’s a pretentious dork (and Ian hasn’t read anything by him, so to me, his opinion on this subject is useless). Regardless of how you feel about the author, you have to admit, his new book is amazing.
Called Tree of Codes, it’s actually another book (Bruno Schulz’s The Street of Crocodiles) with a bunch of the words cut out, so it makes its own story. More about the book and the printing process can be found here. Forget your e-reader… I think you have to see this in actual book form to appreciate it. Can’t wait until it’s released on January 11.
[via Fast Company Design]
Rifle Paper Co. has announced their 2010 Holiday Collection, and it’s spectacular. One year, I would love to splurge on custom personalized Christmas cards by Rifle – they’re so gorgeous, and much more original and interesting than the custom photo cards I get each year (which is enough of a splurge as it is!).
But if you don’t go custom, their other cards are quite reasonably priced. And Rifle Paper Co. stationery and prints are great gift ideas…
This morning I’m jumping on a plane with 5 of my favourite ladies, and we’re headed to Vegas for 3 nights to celebrate Hilary’s birthday. I’m not much of a gambler, and I won’t be partying much (being pregnant has me in bed by 10pm most nights), but I am looking forward to hanging out with my friends, a little shopping, and eating our faces off.
We have reservations tomorrow night at Bouchon Bistro, and I haven’t looked forward to a meal this much in a long time. Bouchon is a Thomas Keller restaurant (you know, Thomas Keller of The French Laundry? Arguably the best chef in America, if not the world?), and although I’m sure Keller himself will NOT be in the kitchen tomorrow night, it will still be a meal to remember.
Just look at those steak frites…
Remember when I was searching for bedding for our new queen bed? I did end up getting that Dwell Studio duvet cover from Target – I ordered it off the website and had it shipped to my Aunt in New York, who then shipped it to me. Even with that extra step, it was still a deal – I couldn’t find anything I liked in Canada that was around the same price. Now that it’s here, I think it looks great in our master bedroom (semi-blurry iPhone photo above). Now I just have to decide what colour to have the walls painted… I really can’t stand that bright blue.
Seriously, how cool is this? Greg Neal, a potter in Ohio, is making and selling these yarn bowls through his Etsy shop. If you’re not a knitter, you probably won’t get it. But if you like knitting or crocheting, you’ll see the value in this product. It holds your spool or ball of yarn, instead of having it roll around on the floor next to you (where, in my house, yarn picks up dust and dog hair). The cut in the side guarantees your yarn comes off the spool easily. And it’s a gorgeous piece of handmade pottery that you can leave out for display.
Dear Santa, I would not complain if one of these ends up under the tree with my name on it.
[via Ready Made]
Budget Travel just published a roundup of the World’s Weirdest Hotels (the 2010 list – you read the 2008 list here and the 2009 list here). The list includes Palacio de Sal, a hotel made entirely out of salt in the expansive salt-flats of Bolivia, Hotel Utter Inn, a hotel room that’s 10 feet underwater in a lake in Sweden, and La Villa Hamster, which features a hotel room modelled after a hamster cage in France, which includes a water fountain that comes through a tube in the wall.
If those aren’t weird enough for you, how about sleeping inside a giant beer can in Denmark? Or bedding down in a circular pod suspended in the trees of Vancouver Island? My favourite has to be the Hotel Kakslauttanen (pictured above) in Northern Finland, where you can sleep in a glass igloo, offering a complete view of the Northern Lights from the comfort of your bed (complete with zebra-striped bedding).
Kinnon is selling cards and ornaments featuring her original artwork over at Zazzle.com. There is no minimum order – you can buy as few (or as many!) as you like. And they have good volume discounts, too – even an order of 10 cards (and they don’t have to be 10 of the same card, either) is eligible for a discount. The cards are blank inside and printed on bright white quality paper, perfect for sending holiday greetings! You can visit Kinnon’s store here.