Your Custom Silhouette

All Pop Art is a custom service that creates modern looking silhouettes in the 18th century tradition from your own photos. Send in your materials and choose an existing layout or suggest one of your own. The company will create your silhouette, email you a proof, and then ship your collaborative effort to you. This is a great handmade and personal gift. Prices start at $50.

I created a similar look for our children using the work of a local silhouette artist. Scanned them in, recolored and resized them, and Voila! The bottom image shows the result--- Henry on the left, Elsa on the right.

PACE PRINTS / Monoprints

I think Pace Prints is a great place to spend an afternoon. Not only do they represent a variety of accomplished artists, but the prints exhibit a full array of different printmaking techniques. I love the top photo of a monoprint by David Row called Santiago Venus (from Notes from the Street Series). Monoprints are made by painting directly onto a plate, and then covering the plate with paper and applying pressure. The result is one-of-a-kind. The bottom print was made the same way but it was done by my daughter Elsa when she was four. Go to Pace Prints.

FABRICATED TRAYS

These fabricated trays from a NYC company are made using a painstaking process: fabric is hand-printed, laminated between sheets of vinyl, cut into patterns, molded under high heat and pressure, and sealed. Great results and just in time for the holidays. Featured at one of my favorite internet shops, Violet.com.

Shim + Sons

This small Portland design studio hand crafts sationery and functional goods,but it's their pencil cups that I like the most. Who wouldn't want one of these on their desk, or in the bathroom, or in your kids' room? They've covered metal paint cans with visually exciting fabrics to create a nice little pop for your desk. Great. At Shim +Sons online.

FOOEY

I don’t usually feature clothing on this site, but Chicago friends of a friend have created a fantastic line for children (and adults) that I’d love to promote. Their designs strike a note between cool and whimisical and show a sophistication we’d all love to see in our children. It’s never too early to promote good taste! At Fooey.

New from HABLE CONSTRUCTION

In addition to their incredible line of hand screened fabrics and bags, Hable Construction has long offered some of the best Christmas stockings you can find. Hands down, the teepee and mermaid are my favorites for Elsa and Henry. Also for the first time, they are offering these great felt ornaments. Hable's website.

Michael Slagle

This NY-based artist paints abstractions of maps that are fascinating and thought-provoking. Read what he says about them on his website:
“They are a representation of reality-- and we take for granted that they are an accurate representation. We faithfully assume, for the most part, what we are looking at is accurate. Can we be sure of this? Secondly, maps are an abstraction, reducing the world to lines and shapes and using a range of formal means to do so: line, color, scale, shape, size, etc. What fascinates me, specifically as a painter, is the symbolic arrangement of these formal elements and how they translate as formal elements from a map to an abstract painting.”
Now at Madron Gallery, in Chicago. Via AT Chicago.

Lisa Jones

Great illustration and design from stationery guru Lisa Jones. Her hand-screened cards and wrapping paper can be found here and on her website.

Sophie Arnold

These lithographs are from British artist Sophie Arnold, who often uses architecture as her inspiration. These remind me of Donald Judd's drawings and sculptures. She creates these pieces using etching, embossing, and collage and you can see more of them here.

Clip It!

Another tool for you. I’m passing along this FREE clip art site because you could use it for so many things. A great source via the blog of the tremendously talented Camilla Engman, who doesn’t need it because she can actually draw very well!

Da Font

I always feel I should be making things this time of year so I'm going to list a few tools in case you feel the same. Da Font is a great font site that offers FREE hip and cool fonts including these. Font fever.

THIRD DRAWER DOWN

New teatowels from Australian artist Holly Story and Third Drawer Down, silkscreened, now available to use or frame. Third Drawer Down continues to present great artists in this format (see my earlier post). These functional pieces remind me of a new company (worksonwhatever) in the US who produces Alex Katz portraits on beach towels. Towels.

Essimar

These great screenprinted cards are from Chicago etsy seller Esther, an interior designer who clearly knows her way around good stationery design. I think they almost look like paintings. This is one of my favorite design styles-- simple geometrics and color. Exceptional. These cards are all hand screenprinted. Shop here.

Holiday from BiNTH

I know it's early (or is it?), but here are some choice holiday / winter cards from BiNTH. Cards are screenprinted on warm gray stock.
See entire line.

Maira Kalman's new CB2 ads

I know what you're thinking. I might be a little stalk-ish about this artist. But I can't ignore new work from Maira Kalman for CB2. (I even confirmed with the company that these are in fact newly commissioned from Kalman-- no imitation.) I'm interested in everything she does. I can't help it.

Jason Rohlf

New York based artist Jason Rohlf is known for his densely worked surfaces. Our friends Cam and Heather introduced me to his work a few years ago. His abstract, geometric paintings "are very musical in their play with rhythmic patterns. Elements of collage and drawing are embedded in layers of varnish, obscuring lines and shapes." I like that you can see part of his process on the surface-- layers of paint, collaged pieces, etc. At Tory Folliard Gallery.

Little House on the Big Screen

Today is a BIG day for us-- Our house is the house tour slideshow on APARTMENT THERAPY. Thanks to everyone at AT, especially the wonderful Heather. Take a look HERE.

The A_Stool (again)

Some things I can’t get out of my head. So I wanted to repost this great stool from Chicago designer Jonathan Nesci, who I met at the ICFF show. The more I look for barstools, the more I like this one. Stylish and cool. Smart design. Called the A_Stool, these powder-coated beauties retail for $1,050 (OK, a minor problem) and come in any RAL color. halefurniture

Embroidered Wall Art

This great little piece of folk art (inspired by Swedish designs) can be found this fall at Urban Outfitters for $60. I like the push of handmade (looking) personal goods that Anthropologie and Urban Outfitters have introoduced in the past year. This is another good example of their "handmade" sourcing. Find them here.

Margaretha Eriksson

Textile designer Margaretha lives and works in Stockholm. I always respond to the distinctive look of Scandinavian design. Simple but strong. Graphic but sophiscticated. Even the offerings of IKEA are unique in this way. Eriksson launched a new line of rugs this year as well. (Via print and pattern.) See Eriksson's site.

Ray Fenwick

Ray Fenwick is a prolific, talented, and witty artist. He mixes a playful art style with a wicked sense of humor. His is a great mix of message and medium. I like that almost everything he does plays with type. Fenwick is the guest blogger at Julia Rothman's book-by-its-cover this week. You can also see his work on his Flickr site, or you can lose yourself in his wonderful patterns (a must see), or you can purchase his great bag designs at this Blue Q store. Oh, and he also has a website where you can see his screenprints and more. Whew! He's everywhere! (Images courtesy of Ray Fenwick.)

Print It!

I think these new number stamps are so cool. Each number comes with a solid shape and a dotted outline, so you can play with colors and registration yourself. These are great tools. Say what you will about this lady, but her new craft site is full of possibilities.

Yoshie Watanabe

Bonnie from violet.com sent me some additional information about yesterday's post. The journals were designed by Yoshie Watanabe and have 60 blank pages. Bonnie and her partner Amy founded violet.com this past spring. Great site. Yoshie also designed this 2008 ribbon calendar, which you can pick up here.

Notebooks

I can easily collect too many notebooks, there are so many ideal uses for them and so many great designs. And these are exactly what I'm talking about-- clever, fun, great gifts. And don't those string closures remind you of old office supply stores? Come on! $20 from a great online store violet.com.

Drew Beckmeyer

California artist Beckmeyer screenprints everything himself—by hand. I like the bright forms with the almost pencil drawings of people. One of his pictures is the Tiny Showcase featured print this week but you can see his work and store on his site.

Concetta Gallo

Pillows are a great art form these days-- lots of screenprinting and simple techniques used on a small "canvas." This pillow is blowing out of the Habitat stores and has become a top seller. I like it because it looks like some paintings I like. “This,” says Gallo, “is all about contrast and juxtaposition. I mixed photographs with original drawings, smooth graphic lines with grainy textures, and precious gold finish with a floating, surreal sense of scale.” Plus it's got horses. For details, try
Habitat online.