Wednesday, June 29, 2011

christoph niemann

New Yorker cover by Christoph Niemann

In this interview, Christoph Niemann is so charming—about humble design versus "fine art," about failing to get a good night's sleep, about making his kids a bathroom-tile map of the NYC subway system. He's done covers for the New Yorker and Wired, a blog for the New York Times, and several books that showcase his cleverness and imagination. His new children's book, "That's How," is a perfect distillation of how kids imagine the inner workings of ordinary things like trucks and boats:

Images here

seasons

"Seasons" by Blexbolex, available here
 
This book held Tessa's interest way more than I expected. I thought the images were pretty—but appealing for me and RP in a retro nostalgic kind of way for people who like graphic design. I didn't really think it would excite a kid who doesn't have the same frame of reference (or interest in midcentury-inspired design). "Seasons" is a series of single-page images about (duh) the four seasons, each headlined with one related word. They look like woodcuts, or maybe a well-rendered computer facsimile of woodcuts; the colors have a lovely washed-out, slightly off-tone look. Tessa, meanwhile, said she liked learning new words. Like "avalance" and "glum"—and I suppose it's nice she made it to four and a half without knowing those.

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

her name is rio and she dances on the sand

Laura Mercier almond coconut eau de toilette here

This fragrance smells like 1980s-vintage suntan lotion. It takes me back to middle-school summers: Cocoa butter and almond oil. Tinfoil sun reflectors in the cool-girl neighbor's yard. Copies of Seventeen magazine pilfered from her older sister. And all the good songs by Duran Duran and Thompson Twins and Cyndi Lauper. On cassette.

Sunday, June 26, 2011

eddie borgo for jcrew

Studded bow pin here

Speaking of bows again, this pin has great contrast: sweet ivory leather (itself kind of a contradiction) and rounded-off gold studs. I like it in black too:


...but it doesn't seem available on jcrew.com—when you click on the black pin, you're only given the ivory option.

Friday, June 24, 2011

red stripe

How cute is this Kayce Hughes bikini?

I don't usually go for anything red, but I've had my eye on this little girl's bikini for a few weeks now. Fresh stripes, white bows, old-school shape—and just my luck: it got marked down today.

Thursday, June 23, 2011

emersonmade

All images here

The style-blog world loves her already. I'll just add that the India collection from Emersonmade is especially appealing and summery.

Monday, June 20, 2011

gardening at night



I used to *love* REM. I mean, in high school and college, I was REM girl. One of the first conversations I had with my (now) husband was about "Automatic for the People." (Yes, we're that old.) Sadly, the band's music has mostly gone sour for me; even the songs I loved most ("Superman," "Sidewinder") seem dated. And Michael Stipe's recent interview with Kurt Andersen only confirmed what I'd suspected in recent years: he's still really smart and interesting but way too self-conscious and serious. (Of course I respect and admire him greatly. Let's just say he's not a barrel of laughs.)

But tonight, I couldn't stop singing "Gardening at Night" to myself as I pulled weeds around the azaleas and tomatoes and mint. It was totally peaceful, with the fireflies for company and the neighbors walking by. Then it got too dark to see what I was doing, so I came in and scrubbed the mud from under my fingernails and looked up "Gardening at Night" on YouTube. Turns out this song holds up. It's nostalgic, mild and sweet—mumbled lyrics, jangly guitar and all. Look how young they are. Look at the prehistoric production values. Look at Michael Stipe's hair!

Friday, June 17, 2011

l'aviva home

Stumbled on this site selling beautiful global home objects: Mostly textiles, many in my beloved cool blue and gray, they all look so peaceful and airy.

All images here

Thursday, June 16, 2011

signs of summer




Charlie finished second grade today, and Whole Foods was selling beautiful peaches and nectarines.

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

by boe

Image here

Speaking of bows, this one from By Boe comes in various sizes, for your neck, wrist, ears, and fingers. (Thanks, Erin!)

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

muny

Images here

MUNY (Mumbai/New York, get it?) has a small selection of Indian-produced children's clothes. The Maggie dress has a great mix of prints—and you have to love those patch pockets. I'm also digging the owl quilt


and this peasant top


is totally something Tessa would wear.

body paint

Sometimes something as simple as watercolor pencils can make your whole afternoon.




these are things

All images here

These Are Things, run by a couple in Columbus, has great (Fathers' Day–friendly) silkscreen maps and charts of cities, countries, and continents. I love the graphic design and the cool, slightly off color combinations: mint green, lemon yellow, light coffee, orange.

Monday, June 13, 2011

britney, really?


Is it wrong that I *love* this song?

more girl clothes


Little Star's handmade clothes from Melbourne have a sweet, simple, fresh look. Nice detailing like broderie anglaise, smocking, tiered ruffles—but nothing too overdone.

Sunday, June 5, 2011

tough girl

Cute bow cuff from here

It also comes in gold, white, beige, and seafoam. A bit of girliness for your wrist. The pinked edges really make it, don't they?

father's day?

No. 46

Don Hamerman shot a series of baseballs he found in a park near his house while walking his dog. He turned kids' lost or discarded fly balls and strikeouts into something thoughtful, moving—and beautiful in the way that used, once loved things can be. My baseball-fan husband might get one or two of these prints from 20x200 for Father's Day.

Ford Heavy Wreck

Hamerman also photographs toy trucks and matchbox cars that he buys on eBay. I'm not in the market—Charlie's wall space is definitely full—but these sure would look snazzy in a boy's room.

Thursday, June 2, 2011

nice pool

Image here
Blue water surrounded by a gray rectangle and green, green grass: I love the simplicity of this pool in the Berkshires. It's a weekend retreat for the reality-show-starring, house-flipping, many-kids-with-eccentric-names-having Novogratz family.