Friday Quick Links!

1. These geometric designs look like paint over photos, but they’re so much more via The Jealous Curator
2. This clutch by Scout and Catalogue is just perfect for summer via Poppytalk
3. Universal wrapping paper is such a brilliant idea! via The Dieline
4. Irina Douer’s interesting beautifully colored illustrations via Hard Feelings
5. Sarah Yen’s interesting take on combining high and low end into chairs via Yatzer
6. These animal group prints from Woop Studios are beautiful and charming via design*sponge
7. Aldo is rocking some pretty amazing colors and patterns for spring via The Audacity of Color
8. Love this bubbly and polka-dotted collaboration by Leah Duncan + Satsuma Press via OhJoy!
9. A hand carved & painted wooden bracelet with geometric touches via My Adventure is Your Advantage
10. Are rocks the new paper? via Ashes and Milk
11. Enjoying Cordy Ryman’s art via Sweet Station
12. Simply breathtaking art by Mark Lawrence via Design For Mankind

May 13, 2011 | By: Shayna Kulik

Twitter Influencer: Gilbert Ford

Gilbert Ford comes from a family of creatives and, as it happens, Gilberts (he shares his name with his father and grandfather). The Gilbert in question, however, didn’t pick up a camera to join the family business in Jackson, Mississippi. Instead, the youngest Gilbert picked up a suitcase and headed to New York’s Pratt Institute where he earned a degree in illustration.

After school he worked for a company where he designed and illustrated children’s products including activity books, games and puzzles. In 2007, he ventured out on his own to work as a full-time illustrator. Fortunately, his endeavor has been quite successful as he’s done work for a slew of companies as well as children’s books, including penning and illustrating one himself. His twitter feed is full of latest news and quips evidencing a fantastic sense of humor. Follow along!

May 12, 2011 | By: Shayna Kulik

Sascha Nordmeyer and His Flowers

When the delicacy of paper is understood, manipulated and mastered, it can be a beautiful thing. I recently stumbled upon the floral work of Sascha Nordmeyer and fell hard for his orchid-like creations. Born in Germany and now residing in France, Nordmeyer’s designs appear to have Asian influences- in color, detail and minimalist restraint. Such beautiful inspiration to usher in Spring.

May 12, 2011 | By: Shayna Kulik

Print: A Wash of Watercolor

I have a soft spot for water colors and gouache. When hues bleed into one another within confined boundaries, the results are nearly always stunning. Here are a few branded examples:

Hermes’ latest tableware collection, entitled Bleus d’Ailleurs, is beautifully complimented with light-infused circles. In the soft accessory world, the silk lison pillows from ABC Carpet share a similar whimsy. Simplifying the process, West Elm’s latest collection of Luli Sanchez pillows is a stunning reminder of a collaboration done right. Using wood as the backdrop, this coffee table top from ABC carpet provides soft results from similar color bleeding.

Also, I wanted to share a personal project I did using a similar technique. The above design is a spliced montage of my husband and I. I made it for our wedding party and the girls from You Plus Me Styling enlarged it to 5′ x 5′. While it’s a bit scary to stare at, the project was really fun to compile and a made for a great evening of cutting and pasting on the carpet.

May 11, 2011 | By: Shayna Kulik

Video Splicing for Spring

Who else has been noticing the latest trend in video segmentation? Coming from the music and fashion worlds, it appears as though directors have been splicing with Mondrian in mind. From Barney’s latest “shop the video” campaign to Kate Spade’s blog endorsement of The Young Veins’ Take a Vacation to Duffy Higgins and John Jaxheimer’s product video for Pret-a-Surt’s resort line, the visual similarities are congruent, multi-layered and rather fun to watch.

May 10, 2011 | By: Shayna Kulik

Homegoods: Circular Spaces

Today I made a stop at ABC Carpet to check out the new displays. Aside from terrarium and moss overload (which we’re seeing essentially everywhere), I found the space inspired accessory displays to be quite beautiful.

Using glitter on both glass and mirrored surfaces, abstract shapes mimic and interact with merchandise. These spiderweb discs share a similar vibe and are as unique as snowflakes. Both refreshing and mystical in their own way, these circular spaces are a nice touch for the coming season.

May 9, 2011 | By: Shayna Kulik