In the Nea Future

{puffed heart wall wear by nea}

In honor of her 4-year anniversary, Montreal-based Etsy seller Nea (aka Janick Gravel) has marked everything in her shop 15% off today through August 21. If you have yet to see her stuff, I suggest you check out her shop. I'm partial to her Wall Wear collection, which often features embroidery thread, vintage buttons and beads, natural fabrics in rich colors and vintage frames - but she also makes some totally covetable jewelry.

{fawn and flower wall wear by nea}

{luska earrings by nea}

{floral wall wear - 38 by nea}

Relax, Get To It

{"Relax (Frankie Says)" original painting by SuZanna Anna}

Who couldn't benefit from having an artistic reminder to just relax? This week has been crazy busy for me - if I could clone myself, I totally would. Alas, cloning is not an option so I just need to take a deep breath and remember to relax. How's your week going?

Vandalized Vintage

{fuckwit plate by trixiedelicious, $20}

{lover/hater coffee mugs by trixiedelicious, $30}

{dork teacup by trixiedelicious, $25}

New Zealand-based artist Trixie Delicious reworks vintage plates and cups, giving them a new life with a modern twist. Each piece is hand painted using brushes and a mapping pen - no stencils or transfers here. In fact, look closely and you can even see some of the brush strokes - an intended effect. I'd also like to note that this is the first Etsy shop I've encountered that features a warning label! Of course, with a tag line like "naughty vintage china," it isn't surprising to find some of the works emblazoned with what some might dub mature or offensive lingo. So, while the pieces in the collection might not be for everyone, they had me at "fuckwit."

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Check out more works from the Vandalized Vintage collection on Etsy or BigCartel.

I Say Hello (Hello, Hello)

{Pattern for Life by HelloWilson}

I'm loving this Pattern for Life print by Yorkshire-bred, Rome-based artist Rachel Wilson (aka HelloWilson). Check out her other works here.

Love Is All You Need

{Image from Cox & Cox}

Ah, yes, if I only had 200 GBP (aka $307.46), I would totally buy these All You Need Is Love wood panels. They're available at the end of April. If someone buys them, please give them my love.

If You Ever...

Several years ago I stumbled upon a series of odd, but adorable illustrations by artist Jason Sho Green. The site where the illustrations were housed has gone missing, but I managed to find a few of the images through a Google search (yay, Google!). Above is one of my favorites - if I had a Valentine, I would give them this.

Rock N' Roll

I seriously need to own this "I Want To Rock With You" digital print by UK-based Etsy seller Yumalum. It's only $37. Anyone want to buy it for me? Pretty please. Oh, and check out Yumalum's blog here.

Art Happens :: Keetra Dean Dixon

A couple of years ago, I went to hear artist Keetra Dean Dixon speak about her work. She has created various designs that have piqued my interest, but perhaps my favorite is her "tiny public plaques" project, in which she places little plaques in public places where you wouldn't expect to find them - think trash cans, bus stops, ATMs, pay phones (wait, they still make those?). The plaques feature uplifting inscriptions such as: "everything will be ok," "close your eyes & make a wish" and "pssst you are lovely." Dixon had three goals for the project: to instill wonder in daily routine, to bring surprise and delight to those who stumbled upon the plaques and to encourage "an attentive community." I only wish I could stumble upon one. 

Love To Love You

I can't help but love these Je t'aime Pillowcases, inspired by the French artist Louise Bourgeois' Red Room (Parents) - despite the negative connotations often interpreted in the actual piece of art. 

Tea Towel Time

Danish company ferm LIVING has some wonderful graphic tea towels that are sure to inspire some creative genius in the kitchen - or at least compel you to do the dishes more often. 

Holiday Shop 'Til You Drop!

'Tis the season for holiday craft fairs - yay! The Noise Pop Holiday Shop features a slew of Bay Area artists and crafters. Swing by The Verdi Club (2424 Mariposa St., San Francisco) on Thursday, December 17th between 5 and 10pm and check out the goods. If you can't make it, click on the link above and find links to each seller's website (or Etsy store). Happy holidays!

Creative Reuse

Attention all East Bay folks! My old neighbor Ajay Reed (aka Etsy seller Otterbody), who recently relocated to Oakland, just sent me a flyer regarding the East Bay Depot For Creative Reuse's 30th Anniversary & Holiday Craft Fair. The three-day event is slated to take place December 18-20 at the East Bay Depot (4695 Telegraph Ave., Oakland). Admission is free. Expect to find artwork and crafts fashioned from reclaimed materials. If you want more details, email me and I'll forward you the flyer.

I Heart This Art

This hand-embroidered heart-shaped balloon illustration by Etsy seller Samskiart makes me smile. I especially enjoy how the balloon's string continues off of the cotton fabric. Apparently, the original piece was submitted for the New York-based Gallery Hanahou's "Forget Me Not" exhibit, which highlighted the tradition of stitched work by women.

Art Happens :: Aesthetic Apparatus

There was a time when the walls of my bedroom were covered in gig posters - Sonic Youth, The Cure, Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, Pavement, Elliott Smith - they were all there. At some point I decided to take them all down and replace them with framed works of art. Then I stumbled upon Aesthetic Apparatus, the brainchild of Dan Ibarra and Michael Byzewski. Ibarra and Byzewski combined their passions for music and screen-printing, creating limited runs of concert posters. When I saw the poster for the New Pornographers (one of my favorite bands), I had to own it. It's now hanging on my wall - framed, of course.

D.I.Y. Wreath, Part II

Ok, so here's the wreath I made. I ended up using 72 ornaments, spending $15 and it took me about 30 minutes from start to finish. 

Art Happens :: Ben Jarvis

{photo by Sam from Stereographic}

British silkscreen artist Ben Javens (part of Unseen Agency) has some wonderful screen prints available to purchase on his blog. One of his works (not for sale on his site - bummer) features the first four stanzas of my favorite Emily Dickinson poem, "Hope." Javens also makes totes, pillows, T-shirts and buttons. I want them all!

Kate Spade Has Got Your Covers Covered

The Kate Spade website has a wonderful free downloadable book cover (and a couple of wallpaper options) that features images of vintage book/magazine covers. It's a super cute way to protect your books. The instructions for using the book cover are as basic as trimming away any extra paper to as charming as "find a park bench or shady tree. read at length."

The site also features a suggested summer reading list and, even though it's now autumn, there are several books on the list that I full-heartedly agree everyone should read - especially "No One Belongs Here More Than You," a collection of funny and often odd short stories by Miranda July.

Going Back to Cali

A good friend of mine recently relocated back to California after a year-long stint in Brooklyn, New York. I know those of us living in California are glad she's finally come back to us. At any rate, I stumbled upon this piece by New York-based graphic designer David Rager and it seemed to fit the situation perfectly. Check out more of Rager's work here.

Word.

Brooklyn-based Paper Jam Press (the brainchild of freelance designer Ariann Orland) produces "hand pulled, short runs of words to live by." My personal favorite is "HOW YOU LIKE ME NOW," the title of Lil Wayne song. The poster's description kills me: "This poster makes the perfect reminder of just how awesome you are. Give one to a friend and they'll be reminded (of just how awesome you are)."

Yellow Owl Workshop

Sometimes being a blogger is hard. Especially, around the holiday season when you are scouring the Internet for cool gifts for your even cooler friends. It's very hard to resist the urge to blog about something that you stumble upon and may potentially gift to someone. Enter the adorable items at Yellow Owl Workshop. There are so many pieces that I want - for myself and my friends! My favorites (pictured above) are the Bird and Cage Stamp Set, the Polaroid Camera 3 silkscreen print and the bicycle painted on a wood panel.