Laura Walker

These Lace Print Buttons by Laura Walker are so amazing. Each ceramic button is so beautiful and unique and I love the lace graphic, not to mention the more oddly shaped buttons. You can see and purchase more of these buttons at Laura's Etsy store.

Via Style Files.

Leslie Shershow

Leslie Shershow is a Boston-based jewelry designer. She spent a summer in Alaska and created a jewelry series in response to her time spent there, noting that "In a place coined by man as "the last frontier," Alaska faces the threat of human exploitation. I illustrate this exploitation with issues such as hunting, tourism, mining, drilling, climbing, controlling nature, developing, etc. I am not, however, deeply rooted in my views on preserving nature, in light of the dire economic situation that Alaskans face. Rather than illustrating this conquering with disgust, I choose to display a more vague and humorous approach to these issues. For many reasons I am contradictory to these subjects, for I was only a summer visitor."

A few of the pieces are available for purchase on Etsy.

Via Cool Hunting.

Subliminal: Debi van Zyl

Debi van Zyl is a British-born, South African-and-Canadian-raised, LA transplant (whew!), currently working in architecture and exhibition design. When she's not on the job, she's knitting little beastie creatures and creating paper goods, mobiles and designing furniture. She's been knitting beasts for about a year and a half, and is currently trying out knitting some new, more human-like creatures.



What are you currently inspired by?
Clever and elegant reuse of materials (ie: Piet Hein Eek) and Polaroid photos...with the news of Polaroid's demise, I love how everyone is in "Polaroid mode". It reminds us that new technology is not always better.

What websites can you not live without?
Besides all the blogs I have bookmarked (and there are too many to list)...designboom.



What magazine subscriptions do you currently have? (Bonus Q: How many of them do you actually read?)
None, actually...I used to subscribe to Dwell, Marie Claire Maison and an Australian design journal called Artichoke, but I had to stop. I couldn't store all the back issues and I felt guilty getting rid of any them. Now I just buy the ones I want when I want them. I am thinking about subscribing to I.D. magazine, though. These days I am reading it cover to cover.

4. Which designers most inspire you?
Eileen Gray
Eduardo Chillida
Piet Hein Eek
Hella Jongerius



What are your favorite inspirational spots?
The high desert - Joshua Tree, CA - the landscape is very inspiring. Sometimes in my car - the traffic has me sitting for hours, so a lot of day dreaming goes on.

What is your favorite local store?
The SCI-Arc Supply Store, in downtown LA. I still go there to buy stuff, long after graduation.
Tortoise, Venice, CA.
Turpan, Brentwood, CA.

What is your favorite music to work by?
I actually listen to a range of things...and it's never one artist or CD. Also, I listen to old 'This American Life' shows, though mostly I'm tuning out.

What books are you currently reading?
None at the moment, but I just finished "The Road" by Cormac McCarthy, which was incredible. And sad.



Any "inspiring" deadlines coming up?
My first wholesale order to an upstart shop in London to be completed in a about two weeks, and then my own personal deadline of launching a new set of knitted creatures (end of July).

Thanks to Debi for the interview!

Heather Smith Jones

We took part in an exhibit with Heather Smith Jones at Artstream in November, and Heather just emailed us about the opening of her online shop. Heather's works are both beautiful and quiet, with splashes of color and simple line drawings. All of the pieces in her shop are originals, so be sure to check them out before they disappear!

The artist's statement: "My paintings intuitively originate with fields of abstract color. I use marks, patterns, pinholes, words, and imagery to visually sew information together. Through painting I examine relationships within the detailed world of human experience. Particular thoughts, objects, experiences, and memories, become in my mind, moments of beauty when understood on a phenomenological level. Replanting elements from the natural world in an abstract way allows new correlations to become recognizable."

Etsy halloween

Happy halloween, folks...Here are some of my favorite picks from Etsy...Clockwise from the top: The Line Up by Brian Gubicza, Dead Fish Friendly Owl by Matt Cipov, and Octopus with Ghost Costume and Rabbit Dead by Mandy Lamb. Hope you all have some great costumes out there!

Kate Wilson

Kate Wilson is a British illustrator with some fantastic illustrations. I love the pieces that use the negative space of the page in the illustration itself, and her limited use of watercolor is gorgeous. See a large body of her work on Coroflot, and read her blog here. You can purchase her work from her etsy store.

Patrice Lehocky

This isn't typically my style (I like smaller pendants), but there is something very appealing about these necklaces by Patrice Lehocky. Each is made from recycled goods. The necklace on the left is made from a reclaimed piece of green, textured glass, and the necklace on the right is made from dish shards. Beautiful work!

Turtle Papers

Jennifer of Turtle Papers sent us images of her very beautiful cards. I am always conflicted about when to start posting holiday products (it just seems wrong to do so before November!), but I really love her Merry Merry card. Not to mention her So in Love sea horse card. Very sweet. The cards range from $9-$10 for a pack of six cards and envelopes and are printed on natural white textured cover stock with archival inks.

While looking around her etsy shop, I also thought it worth mentioning her very cute baby tees. The octopus tee is too cute.

(Thanks, Jennifer!)

Modern Printed Matter

Modern Printed Matter is selling a very nice set of fall notecards in her etsy shop. She also has a much larger selection of cards available on her website.

Working Class Heroes

Working Class Heroes (I love that name!) make gorgeous felt and leather accessories for your accessories - computer, iPhone, iPod, sunglasses, you name it. Everything is beautifully made, and close attention is paid to details. I love the little finger pull at the bottom of their laptop wallet, and the embossing in the leather.

Via Blogue Fonetik.

Remake

Very cool recycled products from Etsy seller Remake. The envelopes above are made from security envelopes turned inside out, and the notebooks from recycled folders, alphabetic dividers and various types of recycled paper.

Melissa Moss

Melissa Moss sent us a link to her illustrative work a while back. Her work is very imaginative - I love the creepy trees silhouettes and all the little creatures.

Abyssal - Magenta

To celebrate having almost sold out our first edition of Abyssal prints, Sean and I printed up a limited edition in a new colorway - magenta and tangerine. It's currently only available at our Etsy shop, but will also be for sale at our booth at the Renegade Craft Fair on June 16-17 (booth 81! Hope all you new yorkers will stop by!).

Also, we started a blog that is dedicated to our design work and the things that inspire it, called submerge. We hope you will check it out!

Ashley G

I'm sure you've all seen Ashley G's work before...I love the simplicity of her drawings and the beautiful colors that she uses. The little girls in her illustrations are especially appealing, maybe because they are so quiet and thoughtful.

Jacqueline Knits

Hello and happy Tuesday. Here's a little something cute to start off the day...Fruit jackets for your apples and pears by Jacqueline Knits. I like. I hate bruised fruit, so this is right up my alley.

Ben Schlitter

I have been a big fan of Ben Schlitter's work since he sent us an email last year about his geography postcards. Ben has an Etsy shop that is full of really great prints and paintings. The Drumlin print (above) is a digital reproduction an original vector illustration and is available for $15. You can find more of Ben's work here.

Rainy Prints

Cute prints from Sherry of Rainy Prints. I like the illustrations of vintage chairs. They are a pretty good deal at $20.

Smack of Jellyfish

I came across these cards on Smack of Jellyfish's Etsy shop. Some of the classifications jog bits of long lost information from childhood, but some of the names really surprised me! A business of ferrets? A smack of jellyfish? What scientist came up with these? The idea was initially conceived for a children's book, but you can find prints and cards of each item on Etsy.

Bellis Studios

These cards by Bellis Studios are letterpressed, though I would never have guessed just by looking at them. I love the texture of the card and the unevenness of the ink. The card is available as a set of six for $12.95 or as a single card and envelope for $4 on Etsy here.

SammyDog Productions

I thought these note cards by SammyDog Productions were cute. They are inspired by vintage coasters. Love the blowfish and the monkey!