Black + White Baby Themes

Pattern Pulp’s been a hint quieter these last few weeks. Between a renovation, a move to Brooklyn, some family related medical stuff, wrapping the galleys for my Pattern Studio Chronicle book (!) and my own pending labor, things have been, well, busy. I haven’t talked about being pregnant all that much here – and have tried to keep the baby stuff to a minimum, but in my hunt for decorative and necessary items in these last few weeks of my third trimester, I figured I’d share a few favorite finds with all of you. The theme here is black and white – and as usual, I’ve veered away from cutesy…if you’re into this direction, I’d love to know, as I’m happy to post more on the topic.

Here’s my latest round up:

1. Cole and Son Columbus Etched Wallpaper, Nubie Boutique, $108
2. The onesie every new mom can relate to, Etsy
3. Cotton Baby Mittens, Rocky Racoon Apparel, $7
4. Messenger Diaper Bag, Littlephant, $215
5. Hello, Animals, Baby Book, $5.95
6. Freehand Swaddle Blankets, Land of Nod, $49
7. Miffy Light, MoMA Store, $199

January 21, 2016 | By: Shayna Kulik

Holiday Gift Guide for Pattern Lovers

We always put a little patterned guide together come holiday season and today’s post features our most recent edit. Happy shopping!

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1. Kantha Bow Tie, made from the saris of Bengali women, To The Market, $34
2. Oyuna Seren Cusion Cover, a textured take on the classic check, ABC Carpet, $295
3. The 52 Week Card Deck, illustrated by the talented Kimberly Ellen Hall, Nottene, $15
4. Carven Camouflage Jacquard Sweater, Moda Operandi, $371
5. Impasto 2 Way Bag, Mansi Shah, $45
6. Polka Dot Bunny Rattle, Bitte, $29
7. Sidona Peplum Top, Morgan Carper, $186
8. Hanging Flower Pot, made by Camilla Engdahl, Darkroom, $57

December 10, 2015 | By: Shayna Kulik

Patterns in Packaging from Birchbox

I recently came across the packaging and graphic design work of Mary Rabun. Her aesthetic is bold, bright and feminine – and a playful departure from the minimalist illustration styles we’ve been seeing for a bit. In exploring her portfolio, I was struck by her full-time design work for Birchbox – it’s all very vivid, maximalist and distinct.

While these boxes were released in March, they have a timeless appeal and reveal how a brand can successfully apply print and pattern. Using bold brush strokes and a harmonious color palette, Rabun excels in keeping Birch Box at the forefront of unique and cool packaging.

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In addition to the boxes, the accompanying insert cards play to the same creative mood and get interactive with a Q&A contest. If you have time, dive into Rabun’s past work, it’s beautiful, engaging and a great fusion of commercial pattern design.

August 20, 2015 | By: Shayna Kulik

The Women of Al Kawtar Marrakech

I’ve been sitting on the post for a while, but wanted to finally get it out into the world. While traveling through Marrakesh earlier this Spring, my good friend Lisa and I made a stop to an incredible non-profit for women with disabilities, called Al Kawtar. Al Kawtar was founded in 2006 and has evolved into a full-service center that includes meals, transportation, physical rehab, technical training and medical support. The women are taught how to sew and embroider and are given an opportunity to be independent and earn a salary in a safe and dignified environment.

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The visit was incredible – in that the women were extremely kind, supportive of each other and skilled at their craft. The head woman in charge walked us through the center and showed us how everything worked and what the products looked like from concept through production. She also ran us through the itemized pricing and how she managed the work flow and international orders.

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It was obvious there was a lot of pride in the pieces that were being made. It’s also worth noting that everything was very unique and extremely commercial. I remember seeing a stack of handbags on one of the tables – where the body of the bag was a converted Moroccan pillow case with florescent embroidered clasps and embellishments. I wanted to buy one, but was told they were part of a big order for a boutique in Paris.

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I discovered on the last leg of my trip through France that this specific collection went to Bensimon’s home shop. The mark up was expectedly significant, though in all honesty, the prices seemed fair and reasonable along the production food chain. It almost seemed expensive for wholesale pricing – which was refreshing to see the collective getting a fair rate for their handmade goods.

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I ended up designing two bags on the fly, which surprisingly only took 24hrs to assemble. I was able to pick them up the next day before heading out and was elated with how they came out. In addition to these incredible clutches, there were embroidered friendship bracelets, pot holders, baby clothing, robes, tunics, blankets and napkins. Everything had a hint of French flair with beautifully embroidered accents. Here’s a video that shares a window into their world. If you can support Al Kawtar by visiting when you’re in Marrakesh or placing a custom order for your shop, definitely do it, you won’t be disappointed.

August 17, 2015 | By: Shayna Kulik

Shoes, Stars & Stripes for the 4th!

In the vein of our upcoming holiday weekend, it’s hard not to share these fabulous sneakers from Saint Laurent. Amusingly, they’re French, not American, though they carry the essence of American patriotism that’s also reminiscent of Wonder Woman…right? Super fun, yet a serious splurge.

Enjoy the long holiday weekend in whatever sneakers you may or may not be wearing and happy 4th to you all!

July 3, 2015 | By: Shayna Kulik

Addiction & Obsession in Paris

I’ve been meaning to post this show since I returned from Paris…it’s one of the best retail-meets-art installations I’ve seen in a while. Merci Merci is a wonderfully curated lifestyle, fashion, home and art experience in Le Marais. Whenever I visit, I make sure to pop in to see the latest presentation. As you can image, I was beside myself when I stumbled upon the Addiction and Obsession show that’s currently on display. Celebrating pattern, photography, objects and markings, both Paola Navone and Daniel Rozensztroch have joined forces to share their life’s work. Each artist’s process is documented in both an addictive and obsessional manner, then commercialized and sold in the store in the form of wallpaper and printed materials.

Obsession by Daniel Rozensztroch, Artistic director for merci. Obsession because he has always been fascinated with everyday objects and the inventiveness that emanates from them.
Russian ornaments from the 19th and 20th centuries, brushes, toothbrushes, spoons or hangers, obsession is accepted and displayed on 3 meter long sheets of paper, representing these symbols of popular art in an oversized manner.

Addiction by Paola Navone, longtime lover of the color that fades between blue and indigo. Full framed depiction of autobiographical patterns. The fish ( her astrological sign ), the frank look, and omnipresent Asian culture with the shadow of a geisha and traditional textile pattern.

To purchase the enlarged and oversized wallpaper versions of their work – which was super cool, click here. It took every bit of willpower to not to buy the toothbrush print. It’s a conversation starter for any bathroom.

July 2, 2015 | By: Shayna Kulik