happy new year

Hello friends, just wanted to wish everyone a happy new year! I like to think of the whole world as being sparkly, because that's a happy thought.

Top image by Spanish artist Chema Madoz, second image from Confetti System.

favela painting

Have you guys seen this project in Praça Cantão? What used to be "hillside slum" is now a monument for this community Santa Marta, a favela in the heart of Rio de Janeiro.

Art & design projects of this magnitude really blow my mind. I bet this would be amazing to see in person.

the talented ashley meaders

Oh my, aren't the scenes in these photos enchanting? This fabric installation was made of braided fabric, hand-sewn garland, fabric strips, and lights by the ever-creative Ashley Meaders for the wedding of the uber-talented photographer, Max Wanger.

Ashley makes a lot of other neat things for events & parties... like plush yodel bubbles for photobooth props at Google's Annual Oktoberfest. I like the way this lady thinks....

le love and why i love it

Tomorrow is Valentine's Day, and while I'm not into the consumerism/commercial aspect of it, and I believe love should be celebrated any & every day, but I love seeing all the creative things the design world has put together in honor of the holiday [hence the last few posts I've made]. I also really love the way a single image/thing/project can make you feel, and that is what art and love is all about. Happy Valentine's Day everyone, I hope you take a moment to appreciate something in your life that you love, whether it's a person, a feeling, or a creative endeavor and celebrate that.

Having trouble coming up with something? Find some inspiration here on this relatively new [and ingenious] site, by Thought & Theory, called yiloveit.com where you can read about profess love about anything and everything.

{images from the Le Love blog, which is also definitely worth checking out too}

kate spade valentines

Some more free valentines! This time from Kate Spade and a whole slew of talented artists. Check them out here.

{via Creature Comforts}

obey this

Going on sale tomorrow (Feb. 13th) are these Japanese Fabric Pattern Obey prints. They come in a set of 4, each 18 x 18 and are a limited edition of 100. Get 'em while they're still around.

freedom

Did you know that this week is Freedom to Marry Week? Yep, just wanted to give a little attention to a good cause and nice logo design.

transmogrification

Today I saw this cute little illustration entitled "you are what you eat" by Hiss Illustration. Isn't it adorable? It reminded me of this silly video my boyfriend sent me earlier. Check out the transformations of this crazy looking bird...

[For those of you using an rss reader, click through to the web page to see the following you tube video]

{illustration found via so sweet & so cold}

yoran morvant

These intricate drawings on stone are made by Yoran Morvant, you can find them in the Ashes & Milk online store. I think they are just beautiful.

pattern tales by alan, the gallant

Here is another really cool pattern to enjoy this week. This one is a limited edition handmade designed wallpaper called TOPO AZUL by Barcelona-based creative studio Alan, The Gallant. You can see more patterns from the Pattern Tales series here.

gravity's rainbow

I'm really digging this print by Dan Funderburgh called 'Gravity's Rainbow'. The print is available on the I Am Still Alive website.

This pattern is especially neat because when you look up close at the details, you notice the knives, scissors, etc.

Dan has another print for sale on the same site, called 'Census' in which all proceeds will go to the Obama campaign.

{via local Jacksonville blogger, Paper and Stitch}

john derian at target!

Oh my oh my... I am so excited, what a nice surprise to come home to! Upon peering into my new issue of domino last night I saw an ad for Target promoting a new line coming in September by John Derian! This is so great! {pardon the dodgy photo above, I just snapped a photo of it real quick on my phone to display the ad.}

I have admired John Derian for years now. In fact my first 'decor / design / inspirational' blog post I ever made was an ode to John Derian on my myspace blog (ick myspace blogs, i know). I'm not going to bother linking you to myspace, but you can see a small set on my flickr with the objects I posted about. {Btw, that was over two years ago! I can't believe how fast time flies... I quickly launched rachel best blogs with blogger very soon after. Yep, a 2 year birthday for the blog coming up in November!}

Well, this post has turned into a little trip down memory lane. Sorry about trailing off on a side tangent, John Derian sits a little close to my heart. His style is eclectic and I love that. He works in beautiful collage form and incorporates a lot of swoon-worthy pieces that mix old fashioned writing with beautiful organic forms like leaves, animals or insects (did I mention I have always had a thing for dragonflies and butterflies? ask my friends from middle school.. they will confirm).

I have long coveted one of his gorgeous pieces, but they are really out of my casual spending range. But alas! Now target is doing what it does best, making the work of amazingly talented designers affordable for people like you and me. Now I can have my very own Derian piece. This makes me truly happy. And I'm happy that more people in the world will now know of the great work John Derian makes. Thank you Target!

p.s. I can't leave this post without mentioning the lovely objects (aside from his decoupage pieces) he carries in his store. You can see them on his website too.

p.s.s. I should note that I have no idea what the pieces at Target will look like aside from the ad above, I have searched for pics to no avail. The other photos in this post are all from his website.

pink unicorn

I think this temporary tattoo from Julia Pott is hilarious. She is quite a talented illustrator, check out the work in her portfolio on her website.

{via krisatomic}

pattern by hand

oh, i really love a lot of things about this space.

{via design*sponge}

alberto seveso

Today I am really enjoying this series called Destructive Vintage TyPO experiment from Italian illustrator and graphic designer Alberto Seveso. Here are few more...

{via Oh Joy!}

something's hiding in here

Today Grace at design*sponge featured the most fascinating sneak peak that I had to share it. The sneak peak gives us a look at the home of Shauna Alterio & Stephen Loidolt , owners of the lovely shop called Something's Hiding in Here. Here are some of my favorite images from their loft...

I really love their headboard with a nook for their deer collection and the paint-by-numbers above the mirror.



And I just love this image taken looking through the mirror where you can see their print of an eye chart, which I think I may be right by saying it is the 'hind sight is always twenty twenty' print from the Keep Calm Gallery.



How cool is the porch swing in the bedroom?



Doesn't their studio make you jealous?

You can see more images from their loft here.

Last but not least, if you haven't already seen any of the products that Something's Hiding in Here makes you should definitely check out their shop and visit their blog for a view of products in the making. Personally, I love the paint-by-number United States {pictured above}.

{photos from design*sponge and something's hiding in here's flickr}

digitile map

Today I am loving this translation of a world map to tile. Digitile is a company that features collections of digital wall tiles, custom floor tiles, photo tiles as well as bespoke wallpaper and wallpaper murals from internationally renowned designers and photographers, check out their website for other interesting tile art.

{via the style files}

muto by blu

MUTO a wall-painted animation by BLU from blu on Vimeo.

i don't normally post videos, but i'm making an exception to a really incredible piece of artwork, in one my favorite forms. you have to watch it to believe me.

{via urbismus}

small magazine

Have you ever heard of Small Magazine? Although it seems like they are on their 6th issue, I just discovered Small Magazine today. It appears to be an exclusively online publication.

For anyone with little kiddies in their life (or anyone who can appreciate good design for wee ones) take a look at the magazine. They show off some really cool artists.

And feature some pretty amazing photography.

I love the For Frida spread {pictured above}.

{via Black*Eiffel}

well styled: the black kids

So I was just scrolling through my daily RSS subscriptions (thank you beloved google reader), and I happened upon a blog I enjoy quite a bit, grain edit. And whadya know, a post about our local hometown heroes, the Black Kids, and their new tour poster designed by Michael Fusco and Co. !

Which I agree, is awesome! I'm really loving the direction of the band's style. I mean I have known Kevin and Reggie for years - I believe I first saw them play at my best friend's brother's birthday party back when I was still middle school (gasp! that's at least 11 years ago) - but point in case, I have never thought any of the band members lacked in style, so the choosing of the posters and artwork is not surprising at all, and I think is great. I'm also really digging this photo / graphic:

Not sure who put this last one together, I've just seen it on their myspace page and other random places.

Good job, y'all! Jacksonville represent!