My daily bag is most definitely a canvas tote. Whether you need to bring just your daily necessities, do some groceries on the way home or bring an extra sweater: it always fits and it’s never too bulky. There’s just one problem: they don’t last a very long time. Now that my favorite tote bag (I’m talking about the white version of the “my bauhaus is better than yours” tote which already replaced the black version) has developed holes big enough for my keys to fit through, it’s time to think about replacement. I’ve been keeping an eye out for a pretty substitute and I’ve gathered my finds here. Number 2 is probably my favorite, although I have a hard time picking just one. (Especially when I look back at this post from two years ago, where number 4 and number 6 caught my attention again.) Which one would you pick? (And feel free to share if you found other great designs!)
It’s hard to imagine that some of you have never bought anything on etsy, but if that’s the case: this is your chance. If you register on etsy now via this link, you’ll get € 5 discount on your first purchase, not bad right? Etsy offers an amazing amount of pretty things and it’s easy to get lost when you’re looking for something specific, so I’ve selected a few of my recent favorites that I think you might like as well.
If you’re into the blogosphere, you probably noticed the past weeks were filled with press days and new collections. I joined in on the fun a little bit and discovered lots of pretty things! Totally appropriate for a Pretty Things post, so I’ve selected 8 brands you want to keep an eye at for next season.
I can’t get enough of pretty plants and beautiful ways to display them… so here’s a little bit of inspiration! Find more in my archives or on my pinterest board.
Surely most of you have seen photos of the latest Chanel fashion show, for which Karl Lagerfeld and his team turned the Grand Palais into a supermarket, where every packaging down to the last detail was redesigned (see number 1). The result was of course amazing and turned the show’s guests absolutely crazy. It made me dream of a real life supermarket with nothing but well designed products, thereby improving my everyday groceries experience, but also be very painful for my wallet, without a doubt. So I figured it was about time I shared my favorite pretty products with you again! It’s been a while since I did (see here, here and here) and I had a very hard time picking favorites from my pinterest board, so I figured why not share a few extra favorites?
I’ve explained to you before what my opinion is on tattoos, and I haven’t changed my mind. I see a tattoo as a way to remember something, maybe to communicate a message with others or yourself. A message that is valuable and important to you and by eternalizing it becomes a form of poetry. So no fake tattoos for me, no too fashionable tattoos either. I’ve been toying with a couple ideas lately but I haven’t made up my mind yet, so for now I’m just looking at pretty tattoos on others. I’m in love with the work of Stanislava Pinchuk, a designer known as Miso, who tattoos her friends at home with delicate constellations and flora (as seen in number 1, 2 and 3) in exchange for a drawing, a dinner… Other favorites are the skyline, a perfect way to remember a favorite city (as seen in number 4) and the literary tattoo that is part of Shelley Jackson’s Skin project (as seen in number 8). This is a story published exclusively in tattoos, 2095 tattoos for 2095 volunteers. It can never be read in its proper order, but the story exists out there. It reminds me of the Human Rights Tattoo, a project where volunteers donate one square centimeter to a letter of the human rights declaration. For more tattoo inspiration, take a look at my pinterest board.
PS. This post on Booooooom is really eye-opening on facebook and how facebook pages work, as many people who liked a page and want to receive its updates, won’t ever see them unless the facebook page owner pays money. Despite the fact that this blog has over 600 followers on facebook, some posts only reach 6 people. Less than one percent. So if you want to stay updated, go to the au pays des merveilles page, click on “Liked” and select “Get Notifications” in the dropdown menu. In theory you should receive all the au pays des merveilles facebook posts now and be able to stay up to date!
PPS. I’m selling some clothes on Flemish facebookpage Louvintage, take a look at what I’m selling here. It’s in Dutch and aimed at Belgian girls, but if you’re really interested in something you can always send me an email.
I firmly believe you can never have enough notebooks. Where else will you jot down ideas for diy’s and blogposts or collect your favorite places in a city you’re getting to know, take notes during class or write down memories? It gets even better when you have a collection of pretty notebooks to choose from! I have a decent amount of notebooks lying around, quite a few still waiting to be used for the first time, but I wouldn’t mind adding these to my collection at all.
Notebook with geometric print, available at papier tigre. They have lots of other pretty stuff (like number 6 on this list), so take a look around in their webshop!
Notebooks with horseshoe print, handmade by Nightjarbooks. This shop is closed for the moment, so you’ll have to wait patiently until March for this one.
Forest notebook, handmade by dozi, who sells all kinds of stuff with pretty prints.
Perforated notebooks, available at present & correct. This amazing webshop sells pretty paper and office objects inspired by homework, the post office and school.
Message postal notebook from Moleskine, a notebook that transforms into an envelope so you can send your thoughts instantly by mail.
Sloane stationary sells bespoke notebooks: you can choose a color and an engraving. (Photo by Carmo)
Currently on rotation / waiting to be used: (from left to right) muji planner (customized with washi tape from ikea, labels made with hema label maker and baker twine), hema black leather look notebook (customized with gold dot stickers from school supply shop), black notebook from muji (customized with white paint marker), notebook with angular lines from marnix & ally press days, muji cardboard notebook, flying tiger cardboard notebook.
With a lot of birthdays coming up in the next weeks, I’m already researching ideas for gifts. I love giving something I made myself, but I don’t always have enough time on my hands. When I’m buying someone a present, I still want it to be something unique and that’s when a website like DaWanda comes in handy. This ‘on line design market’ is the home to many independent designers. Here you will surely find something special for a loved one… or yourself! To make it a little easier, I’ve collected my favorites below.
Lasercut virgo necklace by Asymmetree, available in all zodiac signs.
Wooden tripod by Renna Deluxe to give a classic clip lamp an update and turn it into a beautiful standing lamp. (After all, how many pretty vintage desk lamps does one need?)
Geometric necklace from SNUG, available in different colors.
Platter from SNUG, who you might know from this beautiful calendar (as seen on the blog before here) and number three above. They also have beautiful posters and cardboard vases, so be sure to check it out.
This blog post has been on my mind for so long, but it’s only now that I’ve found some time to actually finish it. During my 5 month stay in Portugal (and the several trips I’ve made there ever since), I’ve discovered lots of Portuguese talent that I’ve been wanting to share with you, so here they are!
Best Sunday Dress stands for everything I could possibly desire from a fashion brand: apart from working only with sustainable and ethical materials, they also aim at a sustainable design aesthetic by using simple lines and special details, resulting in items that are interesting and basic at the same time. I own the runner shorts, made out of the softest recycled polyester and I wouldn’t mind adding more items from their line to my wardrobe.
Wetheknot makes board shorts out of the textiles of broken umbrellas, resulting in unique items. Also worth checking out: their limited edition backpacks out of quilted cotton.
Raquel Castro and Francisco Vieira Martins, alias Alma Geméa (Portuguese for soul mate) designed this beautiful tea set for their product line ‘The Whistler’, named after one of the oldest cork oak trees of the world, which can be found in Alentejo. The line beautifully mixes cork with ceramics and I’m absolutely in love with it. Available here.
Handmade Emílio Braga Notebook, with a cover made from vintage Portuguese wall paper and named after the founder of one of Lisbon’s best stationary shops which is now over a century old. Available here.
Toyno is a collection of cardboard animals that are willing to hold your stuff for you, every one of them with their own personality. Their office used to be located in my street in Lisbon and walking past it would always bring a smile to my face.
White Tent is the brand of Russian-Portuguese duo Evgenia Tabakova and Pedro Noronha-Feio, which gives a lot of importance to sustainability and exploring new design concepts such as laser cutting, combined with a minimalist aesthetic. Available on asos.
I’ve already proved to you that Portugal has the most beautiful packaging, and this is yet another example: O Melhor shaving cream, after shave and soap by
Confiança, a company founded in Braga in 1894. Available here.
To celebrate the start of 2014, I collected the prettiest calendars around. There’s a little bit of everything, from year calendars to monthly calendars, there’s one you have to embroider yourself and there’s one from which you can fold pretty origami shapes. For more pretty calendars, look at my pinterest board.
If you know me, you know that I love giving presents and I love wrapping them! So here are my current favorite inspiration shots to help you get all your presents shining on time before Christmas. Although I have to admit I had a very hard time choosing just eight! Find more inspiration on my pinterest board, or in my archives.
1 – 3 – 4 – 5 – 6 (I can’t find the original sources for the others, please let me know if you do.)
A few outfits I’d love to wear now… as you can see I’m really into neutrals and combining different fabrics these days. However, when I look at this post from about a year ago, it’s clear that these themes have become a constant in my wardrobe. It feels good to enjoy qualitative pieces that can last a long time without looking dated at some point and not craving the newest trend piece every week. Makes dressing in the morning that much easier. More outfit inspiration on my pinterest here.
Conceptual transparent bike by German studio Designaffairs, made from a polymer called Trivex, which was developed for helicopter windscreens and fighter jet canopies. (source)
Wooden handlebars designed by Adam Brackney. This pretty bike was on sale here. Was…
FIXA bike shelf and storage unit, by Chrome Ltd.
photos by me
Last but not least: the prettiest one I know. I’m always jealous of Machiel‘s bicycle! (FYI: He’s also the cyclist you see in this blogpost.)
Find more love for bikes on my pinterest, and this pretty things: bicycles post.
As promised, here is a selection of the collages I’ve collected lately. Check out my pinterest to find more collage inspiration and get out those scissors to give it a try yourself!
It’s been 2 months since I moved into my new home in Antwerp, but I haven’t gotten over my decorating slash DIY obsession just yet. As you can see, my current favorites can be found in the world of concrete, plaster and metal.
Copper pipe wall sconce, I already know the perfect place for this one in my room so I might give this a shot soon! (source)
Porcelain hands from etsy seller Hruskaa, unfortunately sold out (although they have similar ones here) but I think a similar result is achievable with some concrete or plaster and rubber gloves.
As most of you know, I recently moved to Antwerp. Obviously, a new place equals a new interior but unfortunately I’m still on a student budget. Luckily, DIY’ing is a lot of fun and a lot better for my wallet! I’ve already started by making my first piece of furniture from scratch thanks to the workshop Libre Objet (expect a full photo report soon!) and my handmade Existenz lamp is still looking pretty after three years and one move. But my room is far from finished yet (the piles of books on the floor can testify) so I can’t wait to create more pieces myself! (If you’re looking for more inspiration, go to my pinterest or my previous blogposts.)
Concrete ‘plastic cups’ for candles, reminding me of these. (source)
With a move in the near future, I’ve been collecting interior inspiration with even more enthusiasm than usually. Therefore (and also to make up for my absence lately and the fact that it’s been ages since I’ve shared pretty interiors) I made this extra long pretty things post devoted to interior inspiration only. As you can tell, I love bright white spaces with lots of personal touches, a mix of vintage and industrial accents and lots of green. If this isn’t enough inspiration for you yet: take a look at my pinterest board here.
everything from muji, hema or random office supply stores
Pretty office supplies make studying so much more fun, don’t you think? (Ok, I admit, I don’t exactly need an alphabet stamp set, fancy envelopes or watercolor paint to help me learn all about concrete or acoustics, but they do make for fun (and creative!) study breaks…) I think I’m set when it comes to pretty notebooks and pens for a while, especially since my days of studying are coming to an end. One more day.
Sweeper and dustpan by Jan Kochański. The handle of the dustpan can be used as a funnel to dispose the dust. (source)
Gorgeous desk called solo, available here. (source)
Pattern of Recycling by young design studio VDPP (a talented friend of mine).
Wallpapered table by Friis & Black, available here. It’s inspired by traditional wallpapering tables and carries a wallpaper print on the table top. (source)
Armchair designed in 1953 by Pierre Guariche.
Crest Bottle Openers by Gregory Buntain and Ian Collings of Fort Standart. (source)
Ray Bathroom by Michael Hilgers for ex.t, inspired by Ray Eames’ famous chairs. (source)
While you are reading this, I’ve arrived in Lisbon and I’m soaking up the sun. Going from 17 degrees and rain in Belgium to 32 degrees in Portugal (and even up to 37!) asks for a little bit of preparation. Therefore I’ve gathered some items that would fit perfectly into my summer wardrobe.
Nothing is more fun to wear than a maxi dress (instantly makes me feel like a princess, and super comfortable at the same time), especially when it’s hot. This one is by Mango and available here.
Bikini with a fun and unexpected leopard print by Anna & Boy. Available here.
Espadrilles are my favorite footwear for the summer. I usually by mine for a few euros in the supermarket, but I wouldn’t say no to a pair of these two toned espadrilles by Mint & Rose. Available at Just Julia.
Leather might not be the first fabric that crosses your mind to wear in summer, but how amazing does Laura from The World Looks Red look in these leather shorts. Makes me want to order these rightaway.
When it gets a little colder at night, these scarves with a gorgeous photo print by Jen Altman would perfect to keep me warm. Available at Cisthene.
On a hot day, I prefer one simple piece of jewelry that makes a bit of a statement. Like this upper armlet, found on etsy. Simple, but effective!
Gorgeous sunglasses (unfortunately way above my budget) by Illesteva, available here.
Give black and white graphic print, combined with some gold and I’m happy. So here’s the perfect boho bag, available (on sale!) at Plümo.
Since the Belgian weather isn’t really co-operating on giving us some spring, we have to do it ourselves, by bringing some green into our homes for instance.
I love this ‘living wall’ created by urban landscaper Kari Elwell Katzander of Mingo Design. Gives you some green, some light and some privacy. Perfect. More photos of this house here.
These concrete planters seem like an easy DIY, but if you’re a bit lazy: you can also buy them at Joanna Wojtkowiak’s etsy.
Jeremie Egry and Aurelien Arbet did a series called Underground, consisting of plants growing in the most unlikely places, such as these books, a cap and a jean jacket.
You can use this mobile prism as is, but it is also the perfect size to hold air plants. I’m kind of confused about what exactly air plants might be (or more exactly, what they live from), but it looks really pretty. You can buy this ‘Himmeli’ (referring to the finish tradition of celebrating the winter solstice and serving as a means of good fortune for the future, Himmeli is swedish for sky, or heaven) here.
Textile designer Isabel Wilson lives in a gorgeous home filled with plants, and -as they always do- freunde von freunden captured it beautifully. More here.
Despite – or maybe even thanks to?- the energy saving lamp, designers have been focusing their attention to the classic light bulb for a while, giving it new shapes or putting it in the spotlight with beautiful sockets. I’ve collected my favorites for you!
With some help from a talented grandmother, you might be able to make your own version of this knitted lamp from byBLINE, no?
If you’ve got some swedish up your sleeve (or google translate on your side) you can figure out how to DIY this golden beauty.
Small Spica by Iacoli & McAllister gives a beautiful light bulb all the attention it deserves.
This mint version is my favorite, but Muuto’s E27 pendant lamp is available in many other colors as well.
Noam Rappaport puts the light bulb in the spotlight with just some wood and plastic cables.
I think I featured this one on the blog before, but Ferro Watt produces the most beautiful lightbulbs, based on Edison’s authentic design. The beautiful packaging is a bonus.
Base is a design from the NUD collection, and nothing more than a lightbulb with a beautiful concrete socket and a cord that comes in 44 colors.
The atelier lamp by Frama is a beautiful twist on the regular lightbulb. Available here.
Eric Therner’s Diamond Light has been going around the blogosphere for a while, but I had to include this one! You can buy a similar one here.
This work lamp inspired golden girl is available here, but I have to admit I really like the classic work lamp as a design element too. (It’s a pity I can’t remember where I have seen this being used…)
I came home from my Erasmus in Portugal with no money and the good intentions of buying less and recycling/DIY’ing more. A plan that is surprisingly easy to stick too, if only I had a little bit more time on my hands to execute every idea! Anyways, I’ve already had a lot of fun creating birthday gifts and redecorating my room, so I figured it’s time to let you in on all the fun. It wasn’t an easy task to limit this list to just 8 ideas, so feel free to take a look at my pinterest board and these old posts.
This kit introduces you to the art of Japanese bookbinding, although I’m sure with a little bit of google work you can find the right tutorials and start without the kit.
I’m obsessed with decorations in concrete and combined with gold, I’m lost for sure. Beau-ti-ful! (source)
Surely I’m not the only one who’s having trouble keeping her jewelry collection in order (at the moment I taped my necklaces to the wall with bits of colorful washi tape, not for heavy necklaces though!), and this branch display seems like the perfect way to do it. And it’s gold! (source)
A simple shirt and some scissors make for this gorgeous cut out top. Easy-peasy!
Throw in some architectural references in an interior and I’ll love it, so this skyline made out of what seems to be electrical cord is surely a winner in my book. (source)
All you need for this is simple white mugs and a porcelain marker. I’ve tested this myself as a gift for my sister’s birthday and it has been approved! You don’t even need a really steady hand, there are tons of simple designs anyone can do. I pinned a lot of inspiring designs on my diy pinterest board and miss Mangelmoes even devoted a whole board to painted porcelain, so no excuses! (source)
More branches! I already declared my love to branches in interiors years ago, and my opinion hasn’t changed. How beautiful is this lamp ornament? (source)
If you’re too lazy, you can buy this black and gold clutch here, but this shouldn’t be too hard to have a go at yourself.
I don’t know a lot about painters, but I do know I love Gerhard Richter‘s work and that every time I came across one of his paintings in a museum, it made a big impression on me. ‘November ‘contains 54 works in ink and for what I’ve seen, they are absolutely stunning. (source)
Designer Thomas Billas is the man behind ‘How to make it without ikea’, a zine that shows us how to transform everyday objects into useful tools. Volume three comes out soon, volume I and II can be found on line here and here. (source)
As far as my german skills tell me, ‘wenn ich mal gross bin, werde ich designer’ is a student project and a pretty cool one at that. This masterpiece contains beautiful illustrations, both hand drawn and on computer, and even some pop-up mechanisms. Take a look here.
‘Quite good houses‘ shows us ordinary European houses, which might surprise us upon taking a closer look at them, but honestly, the title alone already does it for me.
Like every self respecting person of my generation, I have a collection of tote bags. However, the author of this book, which is conveniently named ‘The tote Bag‘, has gathered a much bigger collection that is well worth taking a look at if you love design and illustration. (By the way, author Jitesh Patel also has a blog dedicated to the subject.)
‘Don’t eat the yellow snow‘ gives us advice in the form of 250 of the best pop songs from the last 50 years, in all possible genres.
The flamingos on the cover are what got me interested in ‘Mémoire universelle‘, and the fact that it’s available at Hunting & Collecting (one of Brussels’ finest shops) was very promising as well. Stylist and curator Benoît Bethume started a series of nine ‘bookazines’ of which this one is the first, devoted to love. It’s available with four different covers and shows us a collection of articles and shoots, presented as an encyclopedia of personal memories.
The need for people to consume less and invest in more sustainable and timeless pieces, is something that doesn’t need explanation anymore, in my opinion. But shopping more sustainable is not always the easiest thing to do, so I collected a few brands that manufacture products without harming the environment or exploiting people, but instead make the world a better place, one step at a time.
O My Bag stands for beautiful bags that make the world a little better. They are made out of eco-leather, which is taken from local cows and produced without the usage of harmful chemicals and while keeping in mind energy management, water control and safety conditions. This leads to a reduced carbon footprint, but the production process, which fully takes place in India, of this bag also offers education and jobs to the economically and physically challenged. They get a fair wage, health insurance and get to work under fair conditions. Read more about it here and get your own O My Bag in their online shop.
Jollie goods gives a pair of socks to a homeless pair in your area for every pair of Jollies socks you buy. These help homeless people to improve their foot hygiene, which can avoid several extensive foot problems, often caused by the lack of clean socks. Get your own here and share the love with another pair of feet.
The Bogo brush is a biodegradable tooth brush made out of bamboo. Bogo brush doesn’t only care about the environment, it also cares about the people living in it: for every brush that is bought, they give one to someone in need. Oh, and it looks super pretty too.
LN Andes is the little sister of LN Beanies, a brand by Ellen Kegels. While the beautiful products of LN Beanies are knitted by Belgian grandmothers and Ellen, the scarves and beanies of LN Andes is made by Peruvian teen moms, who are often disowned by their family but now get a chance to work in humane conditions. Ellen’s dream is to set up her own farm in Peru, so she can not only help teen moms, but also give the alpaca farmers a fair price for their wool.
LADAK produces beautiful blankets, pillows and ponchos made out of recycled materials, which explains why every product they make is unique. Their products are manufactured in sheltered workplaces and 15% of the profits go to homeless shelter in Amsterdam. Get your own cosy blanket here.
WeWOOD is responsible for wooden watches that are produced without artificial and toxic materials. For every watch sold, a tree is planted.
Honest by is an innitiative by Bruno Pieters and the first company in the world to share the full cost breakdown of its products. The whole production process is carefully watched to make sure that every garment is as environmental friendly as possible and that working conditions are safe and humane. Honest by does not sell products using leather, fur, shell or horn but wool and silk that is organic, recycled or sourced from farms that ensure animal welfare. If you completely want to avoid animal products, they also sell completely vegan garments. Regularly they work together with international designers to create a ‘Green’ item, of which 20% of the profit goes to a charity, chosen by that particular designer. Oh, and they take care of your skin too, no garment should affect your skin’s health.
Tom’s is known for it’s shoes, made out of sustainable and vegan materials, of which a pair is given to a child in need for every pair sold, as part of larger health and education programs. Recently, they added sunglasses to their collection, again with the one for one strategy. For every pair sold, a person in need gets a pair of prescription glasses, a medical treatment or sight-saving surgery. That’s right, for each pair of sunglasses you buy, someone gets to see properly again.
Arrow cuff from Nasty gal: unfortunately already sold out… Hopefully they restock again!
Beautiful antler ring from aether design, available in sterling silver and 9ct gold.
My favourite: “Home is where the heart is” engraved cuff from Lisanne Janssen, photo by Danique from 88forever. Totally speaks to me due to the two homes (Portugal & Belgium) situation I have going on right now…
Golden twig bracelet, unfortunately without source…
Despite the fact that I live in Portugal at the moment, I’m obsessed with fall looks and beautiful coats at the moment. Because without heating, double glass or any isolation in most houses, 15 degrees celsius outside means 15 degrees celsius inside… My winter coats are unfortunately still in Belgium, so at the moment I’m warming my hands with hot tea and wearing two jumpers at the same time. Oh well, you can’t have it all right! So, with that in mind, I’ve been browsing the internet for pretty coats. These are my favorites!
Packaging for ‘la pasta famiglia’, where each family member is represented by a different kind of pasta, illustrated as the family member’s hair. (source)
Don’t let this post fool you, I’m not planning on getting a tattoo. For me a tattoo is something that should have a meaning, remind you of something important or define something about yourself that you’d like to share with the world or remind yourself of. So far, I haven’t felt the urge yet to eternalize something on my body, but I do appreciate tattoos on others. Lately I’ve been coming across many beautiful tattoos, so I figured it was about time I shared them with you, especially with the fake tattoo trend in mind! (I will let that trend pass though, as the beauty of a tattoo lies in it being permanent for me, although I have to admit there’s some amazing fake tattoos to be found on the internet!) So tell me, which one’s are your favorites and do you have a tattoo yourself?
AlissaRose sells gorgeous succulent cork magnets on etsy for a very fair price. Too bad she only ships within America! (source)
Bart & Pieter, two garden architects, show their gorgeous home, overflowing with plants, on coffeeklatch.
Succulents in cute color blocked pots, an easy DIY if you ask me. (source)
Clara Balaguer, who is a design thinker, lives in a wonderful home in Manila, The Philippines. “ I took all the dying plants from the garden downstairs, no one really goes there because it’s so full of mosquitoes. And I put them upstairs next to my mom’s old Jesus statues, so they’d actually have something to pray about.” (source)
Handmade folded notebooks are a must for every creative notebook lover. (source)
Glass etched decanter. I love the triangle design! (source)
The only things that worries me about this chain camera strap, is how comfortable this could possibly be. I’d love to try it though, it looks fabulous! (source)
While you’re reading this, I’m packing my bags and leaving for Dour festival. I’ll be back on Monday, but no worries, I’ve planned some posts so you won’t be bored! Unfortunately it will be rather cold and wet the next few days, but I’m still hoping I can look as effortlessly cool and chic as these 7 ladies! (Although I won’t be bringing my maxi skirt, I’d hate to ruin it!)
Every story needs a book, and that’s exactly what My Book by Dennis Guidone offers: a cover sheet, chapters, a table of contents and a blank body for you to fill. (source)
Ryan McGinley, one of my absolute heroes, selected his favorite photographs from his first decade of work and collected them in the book You and I. My birthday’s in two months, just saying! (source)
Urban knits by Simone Werle stuns you with images of the latest street art hype.
Carpe Diem journal is a wonderfully illustrated diary for both your mini and major goals.
Jonathan Safran Foer collaborated with graphic designer Sara De Bondt on his book ‘Tree of codes‘. It’s a cropped version of the Polish story Street of Crocodiles by Bruno Schulz – and you can take ‘cropped’ quite literally: Foer literally cut out words of the story and left the blank spaces as empty holes in the page. If you click here, you can find videos of the making off and people’s reactions when they first open the book.
If you’re following me on facebook, you’ve probably already seen this photo of the view I had from behind my desk while studying. The lovely weather we had a few weeks ago inspired me to add some fresh flowers from the garden next to my hyacinth (a gift from a friend) and my sanseveria cilindricum (bought in ikea). (The red glass and pot on the right are also from ikea, the mug is from our local thrift shop and the glass jar was found in the kitchen.) Because I love this green view so much, I figured I’d gather all of the interior decoration featuring plants I have been collecting over time. Here they are!
Herbs in colorful marimekko mugs at the home of weekday carnival.
I think I’ve told you before how I choose my wine: I just go with the prettiest label. No need to tell you this would be my pick! (by Ali Labelle, source)
It’s always inspiring to see the design process, right? Claire from fellow fellow posted a few sketches of a logo for an online shop.
Amazing branding for a bakery. I know where I’ll get my baguettes when I’m in Melbourne! (by Fabio Ongarato, source)
This design for a fictional brand of high-end greek imported products, is the result of a graphic design assignment at the IED Barcelona, Spain. (by Mergime Raci, source)
Like every Belgian blogger out there, I need to complain about the weather these days. We were luckily spoiled with a sunny and warm weekend, but today it’s raining cats and dogs again. (Which even led to me skipping class, oops.) So while I’m staring out the window I’m dreaming of the hopefully warm and sunny summer to come.
By the way, how awesome are these pants? Wishlisted!
PS. Does anyone know why my images always turn out so crappy after I’ve uploaded them? They look fine when I open them on my computer, but once I’ve uploaded them to wordpress they look horrible in comparison to the original. I’m saving them as a jpeg by the way. Any help is welcome, this has been bothering me for quite some time.
Lately I can’t get enough of canvas tote bags, and why should I? There’s plenty amazing totes out there, and in general, they’re not expensive at all!
Deer Dana sells t-shirts with amazing portraits of celebrities like Dolly Parton, Steve Jobs, Kanye West, etc. But besides the shirts, they also print totes with their designs. Unfortunately they’re a bit on the expensive side, but oh well. Sometimes you just need to make a good investment! ;)
My personal favorite, and already in my possession: the one and only ‘My bauhouse is better than yours‘ tote. Architectural reference? CHECK!
Another one of my own collection, a mustache print! I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, a mustache is always a plus in my book.
With the initials trend on full force (have you spotted the jewelry section in urban outfitters lately? Nothing but alphabet necklaces, bracelets and rings.), alphabet bags can’t lack in this list. Availble at, of course, alphabet bags.
You can never go wrong with monki! They’ve got quite the collection of tote bags too, and bring some color to the table.
With beautiful words and a pink dip dye, you can’t go wrong either. And this isn’t the only beautiful tote fieldguided sells! For triangles + boats, take a look here, and if you’re a fan of Serge Gainsbourgh, this tote must be your favorite. (Oh, and I’ve featured one of their totes before here.)
Paisley magic sells all kinds of totes with a detailed black and white print. Totally worth checking out!
Plant stands made out of wire, available here. (source)
Seppl is a porcelain espresso maker designed by Arvid Haeusser. (source)
Oven gloves with that perfect black and white print by RK design, available here.
I’d love to own this Airplane Doorstop, although a doorstop probably is the last thing I need. I just can’t resist a paper plane. (source)
Niels Datema‘s bread spoons each serve as a measuring tool that gives the correct quantities of flour, water, yeast, sugar and oil to bake the perfect loaf of bread. (source)
Japanese designers Nendo‘s line 1% products is so perfect in all of it’s simplicity: these block vases for example, can be stacked together like building blocks. (source)
1. Cold Spring Aptohecary has the most beautiful packaging and a very environmental friendly philosophy too. Too good to be true, you say?
2. Pretty tape with pretty hipster triangles. Availble at seventy tree.
3. Unfortunately, this branding and packaging is for a fictional flower shop, but if it looks this good and if it’s named after a joy division song, someone should make this happen.
4. Colorful goodie bags, and apparently not that hard to make at all. (source)
6. Perfect basic calendar from rk design. (Unfortunately sold out, but I don’t think it’s that hard to make one yourself, shh.) Don’t forget to check out the designer’s blog, it’s one of my favorites!
7. Since I know absolutely nothing about wine, I always choose wine according to the most beautiful packaging (preferably with animals on it). Unfortunately, pretty designs are quite hard to find in our local supermarket. If only I would find this bottle of wine on the shelves! (source)
After seeing paper and chain’s lovely jewelry on several blogs, and running into the gorgeous lookbook of jewelry brand Two Hills (those rings! I want them all), I started browsing etsy for more delicate jewelry inspired by the beauty of geometry. Behold my discoveries!
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photos by me
via fuglafrae – 
