this is just gorgeous.
(via popptalk)


i am currently having a love affair with this pillow by dermond peterson


semigood is not half bad


weirdly beautiful...there's a teapot and espresso pot too.

...oh and i apologize for the wacky fonts and general wonkiness on this site currently, things should be remedied soon.

i've decided to cut off registration for beautiful use early, as it seems i am quite unable to say no to anyone and the number of participants has already more than doubled. in the next few days, i'll be sending a message with information about the swap to those of you that made it in.

in other news...
i smell like white pepper ice cream...


and i can't stop browsing baileys home and garden.

due to an overwhelming response, i've bumped up the number of participants in beautiful use...but hurry and sign up...there are only three spots left!

love love this table at ippolita.

via domino magazine
...oh and be sure to check out the domino blog, its got lots of great stuff - like this great ceramist.

happy friday!

woah.
i am so excited about the new everyday series over at the conran shop.
lots of wonderful stuff.

oh and don't forget to sign up for beautiful use!

apparently i have bags on the brain.
this one from marimekko is quite nice.


i really want one of these city boy picnic grills for summer outings in the park.



have you seen the copy/paste project by ucx architects?



these new canvas shoes by built by wendy are quite nice.

got really excited when i saw these too.

also, a handful of really great links that i stumbled across on a new-to-me blog, spray glue:


+ an excellent book of photos by stefan ruiz


+ beautiful, interesting pillows by esther diamond (i especially love the vintage collection, be sure you download the catalogue)


+ i like everything at truck. wow.

+ oh and ercol, click on the originals collection


and also, i'd like to announce another beautiful use...

beautiful use is a swap project, by hoping for happy accidents.

participants are asked to send any three objects that are at once utilitarian, simple and beautiful to their partner. think about the beauty in the everyday...a packet of perfect new pencils, a white enamel bowl, handmade beeswax candles, a natural canvas tote with red stitching... these objects can be new, thrifted, vintage, handmade...just keep in mind that its probably best to send something that you'd be pleased to receive yourself.

if you'd like to participate, please e-mail the following (by january 31, 2007) to beautiful_use(at)yahoo(dot)com:

+ your name
+ email address
+ mailing address
+ website
+ a little something about yourself
(do you collect? do you craft? your favorite color? describe your style.)

also, please indicate if you are willing to ship your swap internationally.

this swap is limited to 25 people and you must have a website, blog or a flickr account to which you regularly post to participate. swap partners will be announced after january 31.

the mailing date for this swap is february 21, 2007.

a week away, accidentally.
this post is long overdue...



this recycled leather bag by ashley watson is so gorgeous.
(via fiftyrx3)

i love this book by mcsweeney's.

i got so excited when i stumbled across the fall collection of carolann wachter over at abigail percy...

and the work of mara skujeniece over at bloesem

also, two new, very interesting etsy sellers can be found here and here. one of these days i've got to do a longer etsy post...there are just so many interesting things to be found there...

and to those who have been asking...
+ a picture of "the ring" is coming soon, but probably on flickr rather than here. jan and i are pretty private people and i feel slightly uncomfortable posting too much about relationship related stuff here.

+ a new accidental interview is coming very soon - i plan to edit this weekend and post next week.

+ and another beautiful use swap will be announced very soon as well.

i think i might need this rug from anthropologie.

its a long weekend, which is always nice.
i'm going to try to see this and this.
if you are in new york city, maybe i'll see you there.

i know i mentioned them last year, but i'm still in love with m0851 bags, especially the weekend bags.

i really love the photos of meiko arquillos. she's the photographer that snapped me for lotta jansdotter's upcoming book.
(also over at chronicle, this book of photographs by terry falke looks very interesting too.)

spruce up your desktop with these gorgeous wallpaper downloads from mina perhonen's 2006 collection.
(via favorite colors...i'm so jealous of her recent heath mug thrift score!)

here are some great links from the recent eco products feature at house and garden:

+ north south project - what a wonderful concept.

+ ecoforms - i really love the colors that are available and the textures.



+ mi-workshop...so many things to love...






oh and have you seen mav's post on uta barth? wow! what a find!

do you ever dream about shoes?

for me, despite my complete and utter love of them, its a rare thing. so when i awoke this morning from a long, consuming, beautiful and bizarre dream featuring this pair from tracy reese...

i was a bit surprised. apparently they have been living in the back of my head since i first saw them last year. they are dream shoes for me, indeed, as they are out of my price range and higher than i am capable of walking in without looking like a total idiot. dream on.




i sort of love this book.



and these bird clips are beautiful and useful.

also:

+ a well-curated collection of some of the most interesting video on the web.

+ great vintage for the home (and yes, they ship internationally)

+ a fun read - an a-z by zadie smith (if you haven't read on beauty or white teeth...you should. soon. trust me on this one.)

a lazy sunday...
my new radio, some new beeswax candles from a favorite greenmarket vendor and two new favorite blogs:
+ favorite colors
+ strandgut

i adore happy accidents.
curious and joyful happenings.
astonishing beauty.
surprising gratification.
sparking creativity.
inspiration.
the impulsive and the unforseen unfolding into something so much better than you ever imagined.
an unexpected and lovely proposal.

there are just so many new things to get excited about...

+ a new blog called 3191, by two wonderful ladies whose ability to create and capture beauty really astounds and inspires me.

+ another new blog called bloesem, with more interesting links than i can possibly list here.

+ porcelain from mud australia...i received the small jug above in dark green as a christmas gift and it just blew my mind. its so beautiful i can hardly stand it. i feel a collection coming on...

+ much excitement over brushes? yes.

+ a must pre-order for a fun, handmade spring.

+ a great bag - the yellow is just so fresh and unexpected.

+ lots of fun swedish products to browse.

+ i might just have a basket obsession.

+ riceboy sleeps from jónsi of sigur rós.

+ i love this milk jug by jenaer glass. love.

+ aren't these yoshitomo nara glasses excellent?

...oh and don't forget to go bid in the auction to benefit the kim family.

how were your holidays?

mine were happy and healthy and bright.
i spent time with family in texas (my grandparent's home, pictured above, is a constant source of inspiration) and welcomed in the new year under fireworks-filled skies in brooklyn.

my 2006 was an excellent year.
i learned a lot about myself and about the world around me.
it was a year full of exciting events...
my biggest one being...
becoming engaged on december 17!

2007 is going to be a big year...
ready. set. go.