Picture It.

{Leonardo al mare IV}

DIY Cocktail Party Invitations.

Anna Bond of Rifle Paper Co. consistently blows my mind with her clever design ability and stunning hand-lettering skills. I'm not sure why it took me so long to skip across these DIY Cocktail Party Invitations she created for The Crafts Dept., but it's time to find an excuse to hand some out. Love.

Cinnamon Peach Chili.

{recipe and photo Jeremy & Kathleen}

See this Cinnamon Peach Chili? You need to clear your schedule and make it asap. It's ridiculously perfect. Kathleen made it Monday for dinner, paired with brown rice and cornbread muffins it was heaven in a bowl.

Mini Designer Chairs.

There's a good chance hell will freeze over before I own more than the hope of a designer chair. But I can clearly see these mini designer chairs lined up on a few shelves in my office. I probably need them. Yeah, I do.

Picture It.

{Tom Palumbo}

Blackbird 35mm TRL.

Over the past decade or so I've amassed quite the collection of cameras. Let's see... there's my trusty PowerShot that's usually in my purse, the Rebel, my dad's old Minolta, two other manual 35mm my aunt recently handed down to me, and a Polaroid among forgotten others. Several are missing from my collection, namely a Holga, a Diana and this beauty of a twin reflex lens, the Blackbird. (As a side note, I'd also be up for being photographed with the Blackbird! It's a natural beauty.)

Eames Three Serigraph.

I couldn't weave a web around the Eames Three Serigraph any better...

This elephantine “3” will afford its owner endless conversational fodder as you weave your dutifully nodding dinner party guests through the story of Charles and Ray Eames’ obsession with circus imagery and how the three on which this digit is based hung in the graphics room at the Eames Office and became the impetus for a set of numeral fonts offered by House Industries and that David Dodde lovingly hand pulled this poster and patiently let it air dry to achieve the unique flatness characteristic of air dried screen printing inks can I make you an espresso you look a little drowsy. Then enjoy the poignant silence as your guests consider the cultural breadth of your knowledge or decide if they should feign an urgent call from the babysitter so they can leave before dessert.

Picture It: Eat Up.

Paulo Coehlo.

Watermelon Punch.

{cocktail recipe and photo yummy supper}

It would be lovely to be sipping a tumbler of Watermelon Punch spiked with rum right about now. Perhaps while sitting by a pool or relaxing on a front stoop, watching the day go by. So long as it's under 90º.

The Perfect Pour.

Click for full-size view

Some days I think coffee courses through my veins. Others I'm convinced it's broken when the caffeine doesn't kick in on time. Either way it's a torrid love affair that shows no signs of letting up. Plaid has created a rad coffee guide – The Perfect Pour – for everyone and anyone who has a love of the dark brew. {via Design Milk}

Picture It.

{Elizabeth G Browne}

Grace Chair.

The Grace chair from Air is easily one of the prettiest chairs I've ever set eyes upon. Now if I could only get my greedy little hands on six of these sunken beauties, along with a lightly worn farmhouse table and a bigger kitchen or dining room I'd be one happy girl. {via Design Milk}

Deglon Meeting Knife Set.

Designed by Mia Schmallenbach, the Deglon Meeting Knife Set comes with a paring knife, carving knife, 15cm utility knife, and a 20cm chef's knife. All nested together in kitchen utility bliss.

Monday Goodness: Affordable Luxury.

{via Jak & Jil Blog}

Happy Weekend.

{Ashley Marie Quinn}

+ I know it's the weekend, but it's never too early to get things organized for the other five days

+ I wish my backyard were bigger because this Backyard Scrabble project is begging to be a part of the decor

+ Pretty Marimekko desktop wallpapers

+ Receiving one of these balloon invitations would make me positively giddy

+ Check out Dating Brian, a social media experiment of sorts chronicling his thirty dates in thirty days

+ A brilliant idea for recycling crayon nubs with the most beautiful results

+ This 80 Penguins ad campaign had me rolling

+ Measure your attitude by the length of your skirt with these rad leggings

+ I really want to read this book (doesn't hurt that it's easy on the eyes)

Happy Weekend!

PS: Don't forget, you have until Monday at 9am CST to enter the Make Believe giveaway

Picture It.

{via ffffound}

RGB.

The designer in me wants a few bottles of RGB nail polish for the name. The product whore in me wants it for the packaging. And my fingernails want it because they've been naked for weeks.

Picture It.

{Kelli Pennington}

Yellow Owl Workshop Postcards.

I'd love to hang a set of these hand screened postcards in a frame on my wall. Choose from Analog, California, New York, France and England sets.

Zerotreunouno.

Zerotreunouno is a ceramic herb garden inspired by old-fashioned milk crates. Six individual pots and a handled basket make it easy to carry herbs right to the kitchen counter or dining table. (Although I see myself using this as an art caddy of sorts.) {via A Cup of Jo}

Billykirk.

Billykirk is all about top quality leather and hardware. I'm especially drawn to the aesthetic of their bags. {via Shiny Squirrel}

Picture It.

{via and by the wei...}

Black Cherry and Mascarpone Tart.

photo and recipe Poires au Chocolat

For the past month cherries have been trying to seduce me. On a few occasions they've succeeded and I've returned home with over a pound in my bag. I'll eat a handful here and there, but always end up tossing some that I don't get to in time. By this point I'm tiring of eating them alone, and beginning to look forward to fall fruits. Until yesterday that is, when I saw this recipe for Black Cherry and Mascarpone Tart which I'm hoping to make this weekend. Don't those glistening jewels of fruit make you want to dive right in?

William James.

Wall Pockets.

Wall pockets are a genius storage solution and the creation of local shop Green Couch Design. They'd be perfect catchalls in the bathroom, the office or my favorite idea, the entry way.

Picture It.

{Olivia Malone}

Custom Fingerprint Paper Cutting.

Lori Danelle uses her paper cutting prowess to create custom designs from your own fingerprints. Holy detail, Batman. {via Paper Crave}

Win It: Make Believe.

A few weeks ago I posted about Make Believe and their super rad tees. I love how timeless the designs are, you could have bought one yesterday or found it in the back of your dad's closet. All of you seemed to fall for them just as hard as I have, and now you have a chance to win one of two shirts – Old Glory or Silver Geronimo. (Their site scrolls sideways if you want to check out the rest, including the BP shirt, where $3 of each sale goes to help the animals effected in the oil spill.)

To Enter, Leave a Comment and Tell Me:
1. About your favorite go-to t-shirt
2. Your email address
3. Do it all before Monday, July 26th at 9m CST

The Fine Print: Please leave only one comment. Those who do not leave a valid email address will be disqualified. Winners will be selected randomly and contacted Monday, July 26th.

Pinhole Art.

Every so often I get in a mood where I want to take on something monotonous. I can get lost in a good stipple project or organize the hell out of my studio. In fact, I'm in one of those moods right now, but my fine tipped pens are all dried out and my studio is already in order. Enter pinhole art, which only requires a piece of paper and a thumbtack. Check and check. It's on. {via Design*Sponge}

Monday Goodness: Grief Ain't Good.

{via ffffound}