Fashionista Fanatics

Louis Vuitton was never a favorite of mine, but I know plenty of people who are loyal to the monogram handbags. However, there are a fringe few who take it to the extreme.

Louis Vuitton trash bag. Talk about throwing away your money.


Pimp your ride with this paint job.


This is the wrong kind of curb appeal.

You Can Quote Me on That

If you love words and visual puns, then you'll love these clever products.

Let your food do the talking. Chat Plates from Moma.

Make a statement with your books. Quote book ends from Show.




Talk about a conversation piece. Comic Shelf from Fusca Design.

Good Enough to Eat

Hamburger Dress

Joy Kampia found a way to combine her passions for food, design and crochet with her line of food inspired dresses. Does this make you hungry?

Sundae Dress

Donuts Necklace

Diet Coke and Mentos

This is really more performance art than design related, but it's too funny not to share. Caught these guys at the Maker Faire this weekend. Who would have thought that Diet Coke and Mentos would provide so much entertainment?

From Blah to Beautiful: Decorating Plain Closet Doors

The last thing I look at before I go to bed and the first thing I see when I wake up is my wall of plain closet doors, and it drives me insane! I want to look at good looking things that make me happy, and there is nothing joyful about 3 white closet panels on tracks. Since they are essentially blank canvases, I have many options to play with, and I'm considering the following:

Wallpaper

I love wallpaper but I'm too chicken to commit an entire bedroom to it. I do like the idea of using it as an accent to add color and pattern.

I couldn't help but smile when I saw Alicia Paulson's of Posy Get Cozy closet door. The patchwork of vintage wallpaper is so cheerful, and the project was easy. Her blog has all the instructions.

I love the modern wallpaper Benita at Chez Larsson installed on her closet doors. The pattern reads more like texture and really pops against her white walls.

Murals

I consider myselft crafty, but not artistic, so I'd have to hire someone to paint a mural on my doors, but it might be an investment. Jim Griffith's murals look like old world art.

Thomas Hochmann's Living Room Closet Doors

Apparently, you can buy closet doors already adorned with beautiful brushwork in China. Why can't we have this at our local Home Depot?

She's Got Legs

Blaue Blume Tea Set by Tina Tsang

Last year, my boyfriend's mother gifted me a teacup from her collection (she likes me, she really really likes me!), and it inspired me to start a vintage teacup collection of my own. While I don't mind a hodge podge of vintage cups and saucers, I would like a complete service set of teapot/sugar/creamer. I think I found the perfect set by Tina Tsang of Under Growth Design. I'm a sucker for sassy design.

Felt Brooches by Kireina

Bloesem Broochonniere by Kireina

I was helping my boyfriend shop for his mother's birthday, and I thought a floral brooch would make a lovely gift. I was looking for something very specific - classic but not old fashioned, simple but not plain, feminine but not frilly. It's been a long time since I shopped for something like this at the mall, and I was supremely disappointed by the schockly, cheezy accessories and jewelry they carried. (note to retailers - give us a compelling reason to spend by stocking your shelves with beautiful things, and we will gladly part with our hard earned money!). I had a suspicion I could find something handmade, beautiful and affordable online. That's when I found these gorgeous floral broochonniere by Kireina.


Her broochonnieres are hand made using the finest merino wool and blended felts. They come in a variety of colors and styles. You can also request that an alligator clip be attached instead of a pin if you prefer to wear it in your hair. Unfortunately, I found these after my boyfriend decided to buy pearl earrings (yawn). But now I know what I'll be sending for Mother's Day.

It's OK to Cry

This economy sucks. I don't know anyone who has not been affected by it. It's at the forefront of my mind and the hot topic of every party I go to. It's even made it's way into everyday objects, like the Dow Jones Hanky by Design Glut. This hanky is embroidered with the graph of the Dow Jones from the past 5 years, 2004 to 2009. For $95, they will embroider the graph of your stock portfolio. Let's hope these graphs look very different in the near future.

Making the Disposable Permanant

I'll be the first to admit that I can never go green all the way. Growing up in LA, I believe that driving is a constitutional right. I once tried going vegetarian but that lasted only 2 days. But there are baby steps I am taking that cumulatively should make an impact, and there are some good looking products that will help me reduce and reuse.

Larena Barrezueta's line of take-out inspired dinnerware comes in a wide range of sizes, shapes and colors. I would love to serve some fancy-schmancy food at a stuffy dinner with her plates.

I especially love the TV tray. Brings back fond memories of childhood.

Glass carafe and glasses by Seletti are much more elegant and eco-friendly than the plastic counterparts that inspired them. They even come with glass caps.

This famous Greek paper cup has been around since 1963. Currently, over 180,000,000 per year are carried out of New York delis full of hot coffee. The world's more famous cup is now available in ceramic.

Now I can slurp my ramen noodles in style. I ate way too much of this stuff in college.

Magnetic Curtains from Florian Kråutli

I was lamenting with one my Shutterfly designers the lack of exciting new products and designs on the market. If I see another variation of Mid-Century Modern or Hollywood Regency, I'm going to scream.

On one of my breaks at work, I came across these amazing magnetic curtains from Florian Krautli. There hasn't been any newness in the windows category in a while, so seeing these curtains was a breath of fresh air. Embedded magnets and facet let you mold and shape the curtains into a variety of shapes. Endless hours of entertainment.