Focal Length Designs

An email with this etsy item was sent around our studio today and I had to share it! A local photographer/designer creates these beautiful bracelets from broken camera lenses. I LOVE it—such a simple and great idea!

Current color love

I didn’t realize I had a favorite color combo until recently I noticed a pattern in my choices. Red and magenta are two colors that I’ve subconsciously chosen in some recent purchases (i.e. Rob Ryan’s beautiful lasercut card, fragrant soap and incense from Anthropologie). I have’t used any of the items because the design and packaging are so pretty.

A belated Thank You

Right before the holidays, our Nature Boy/Nature Girl gocco bags were featured on DesignSponge thanks to the talented Abigail Percy, who included them in her gift/wish list. Thank you, Abigail!!!

Andrew Bannecker

Illustrator: Andrew Bannecker

I love discovering beautiful design in unexpected places (like during a 10 hour flight). On our flight to Copenhagen, I fell in love with the cover of the Hemisphere magazine. After a little investigating, I was able to find out who the illustrator was.

The bearded guy and smoking girl with the umbrella remind me of hip Portlanders (even though Portlanders don’t use umbrellas).

Greetings from Scandinavia

We’re back from our amazing Christmas trip to Scandinavia. Here are just a few highlights from our trip.


One of my favorite souvenirs was this delicate, beaded band that I purchased while in Stockholm at Lo. The background is the torn cover from the airplane magazine, Hemisphere.


This is Lo resizing my ring. She was so sweet and charming. She gave us a glass of glögg while we waited and chatted.




Last May, I saw this cool Japanese book about Scandinavian patterns and textiles on the blog, Book By Its Cover. After many phone calls (Kinokuniya and Amazon.com) and Google searching, I pouted and reluctantly gave up since the book was out of publication. So I freaked out and bought this tea towel and jar at Design Torget in Malmö.

Arapahoe Acres, Denver

While in Denver for Thanksgiving vacation, we drove to Arapahoe Acres, a dreamy little neighborhood filled with beautiful 1950s modern homes. The street signage was classic (Jetsons?).

Mathilde Aubier

While collecting imagery and inspiration for a holiday project, I found French illustrator Mathilde Aubier in one of the file cabinets in the art buying department. I love her style and use of real elements/photos! I haven’t seen anything similar to this illustration style. These would make great holiday window displays.