So Long 2007.

And that's all she wrote. In a few hours I'll be off on the next leg of my holiday travels to visit some friends.

As cheesy as this sounds (pass the crackers please!) I wanted to take a second to thank all of you who take the time to read Design Crush. I love being able to share the things I come across and what would be the point of it if no one read my posts? So thank you, thank you, thank you.

All the best in 2008 to all of you. Cheers.

:: image via Veer

Vanilla Cardamom and Chocolate Ginger Fortune Cookies.

Vanilla Cardamom and Chocolate Ginger Fortune Cookies seem very New Year's-ish, so I thought I'd share the recipes as one of my last posts of 2007. I have yet to make them myself, but I'm sure my favorite part would be writing the fortunes and that I'd put way too much time into it. Cheers!

:: via With Vanilla and Honey

I Heart Cereal.

A lot. It's perfect and I could probably eat it three times a day, every day, for a few years before I ever tired of it. These accessories available through Vincon would only serve to feed my cereal addiction in a more attractive way. So long ugly cardboard boxes and soggy spoonfuls. The stainless steel cereal dispenser is attractive enough to leave on the counter and the cereal spoon lets you eat first, drink second. (The spoons would also be fantastic to use with soup.)

Designer Crush: Mike Perry.

Mike Perry is a jack of all trades when it comes to design. Art direction, illustrations, typography, web? Check, check, check and check. I've mentioned his book - Hand Job: A Catalogue of Type - before and it's been hanging out on my Wish List for a few months. Thanks to a Barnes & Noble gift card that won't be the case for much longer. Hand Job is only one of his projects, just take a look at his site to see the lengthy list of accomplishments Perry has under his belt. In his spare time he runs a small design studio in Brooklyn. I'm 99% positive the man has no time for sleep.

Pantone Pen Print.

The Pantone Pen Print is one of the coolest, most original ideas I've seen in awhile. Daniel Eatock actually completed the project back in 2006, but I've only just heard about it. It consisted of one complete set of Letraset TRIA Pantone markers arranged in the color spectrum and left for one month sitting on their uncapped points on a stack of 500 sheets of uncoated white paper. The results were incredible. The ink bled through 73 sheets of the paper. The numbering of each sheet corresponds to its position within the stack furthest from the top (i.e. 1/73, etc.). The pricing also corresponded similarly with 1/73 valued at £1, 2/73 at £2, etc. Of course by now everything has been sold out for ages, but I think a little home experimentation and patience might be in order on my part...



:: via NOTCOT

Saucer Champagne Glass.

The Schott Swiesel Bar Special Tritan Saucer Champagne glass is pretty much perfect. It's the champagne glass I picture being used in old Hollywood films where the ladies call everyone "Dahling" and the gents walk around with cigars between their teeth while bubbly sloshes onto the carpet. In other words, perfect for New Year's.

On the Rocks: Lava Lamp.

The New Year's edition of On the Rocks had to include something featuring a little bubbly. The Lava Lamp looks like a classy way to ring in the new year. You know, if that's the way you're looking to do it...

Ingredients:
- 6 oz chilled champagne (or sparkling wine)
- 1 tbsp Ocean Spray Craisins Sweetened Dried Cranberries
- 1/6 oz fresh lemon juice

Pour chilled champagne (or sparkling wine) into a champagne flute. Add sweetened dried cranberries. Let it sit for a moment. Cranberries will begin to slowly float up and down in glass. Serve while chilled.

:: cocktail and image via Cocktail Times

Juno.

I haven't been this excited about a movie in a long time. I can't wait to see Juno.

UPDATE: Saw it. Loved it. Immediately went on my Top 10 Favorites Movies list.

Thanks For the Mention.

A big thank you to desire to inspire for mentioning Design Crush in their Holiday Reading Part 1 post! Stop by and check out all the fantastic blogs mentioned in parts 1 and 2.

On another note, posting will still be sparse through January 8th as I'll be traveling through then. I hope everyone had an unforgettable holiday!

:: thank you card via cotton idea studio

Merry Christmas.

It's time to do laundry and start packing for my trip home to Pennsylvania. I leave bright and (too) early at 6AM tomorrow and only have about a million things to get done before then. I hope you all have an unforgettable Christmas filled with family, friends and memories. Gushy, but true. I'll be posting sporadically through the new year and things will be back to normal starting January 9th. Cheers!

On the Rocks: Eggnog.

No worries, you didn't wake up to an On the Rocks Wednesday. It is, in fact, Friday and for most of us the last day of work before the Big Day. This special time of year always seems to call for a little extra something. And by something I of course mean alcohol. Maybe it's the mental stress of this glorious season, or the madness of the malls, or even your blessedly loved family. Whatever the case, a drink (or ten) noticeably helps lubricate your social skills and up your tolerance level of just about everything. On that note, I give you the be all and end all of holiday beverages: eggnog. Now grab your Bullwinkle glass and get started!

Ingredients:
- 8 large eggs
- 4 egg yolks
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 5 cups whole milk
- 1 1/2 cup dark rum
- 1 cup 80 proof Kentucky straight bourbon
- 1 tbsp pure vanilla extract
- 1/2 tbsp freshly grated nutmeg
- 2 cups whipping cream
- 2 tbsp superfine sugar

In a mixing bowl, whisk egg,s yolks and granulated sugar until smooth. Pour into a large, heavy-bottomed saucepan. Stir in milk, gradually, blending well with each addition. Heat slowly over very low heat, stirring steadily, until the mixture reaches 160 - 170F on an instant read thermometer. The custard should be thick enough to coat the back of a spoon. If you draw your finger across the back of the spoon, the line will remain distinct and the custard sauce is done.

Pour the custard through a fine-meshed sieve into large bowl. Stir in vanilla, rum, bourbon and nutmeg. Let mixture cool, then cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until cold, at least three hours and or up to one day.

Just before serving, whip cream to very soft peaks, beating in, superfine sugar as you go. Gently fold into custard mixture until incorporated. Serve from a chilled punch bowl or ladle into individual martini glasses, garnishing with grated nutmeg if desired.

:: cocktail and image via Cocktail Times

Samples, Seconds & Surprises.

Samples, Seconds & Surprises is an amazing Etsy shop I stumbled across recently and absolutely adore. "Samples" are pieces with new glazes, "Seconds" are slightly imperfect pieces and "Surprises" are just that. I especially love the Gourmet Collection which reintroduces the disposable tin food container in fine porcelain. The color choices are spot on - these fun pieces just wouldn't look right in anything other than vibrant, bright hues.

:: via Brooklyn Bride

Mocha Dunk Mug.

The mocha dunk mug is a must for any cookie lover (RE: me). All mugs should have a cookie compartment, but this one actually does. I'm also digging the asymmetrical shape of the mug itself.

Nutmeg Doughnut Muffins.

Here's a secret: combine the words doughnut and muffin in the sentence and I won't be able to turn away. Both of these sweet, sweet treats are two of my favorite things that I (almost) never eat because of how bad they are supposed to be for you. These nutmeg donut muffins look incredible and are begging to be made for some sort of holiday breakfast or gift. I apologize profusely if they happen to show up with a bit of drool attached.

:: via Cakespy

Infused Vodkas.

I have a hard time dealing with Rachael Ray's constant perkiness and exclamations of "Yummo!". But when it comes down to it I have to admit that the woman can cook like nobody's business.

On her site you can check out how to make your very own infused vodkas to give as gifts or stash in the cupboard for yourself. Choose from recipes for coffee, apple vanilla, five-chile and orange ginger vodkas and the recipe gift card templates to print out and attach. If I didn't have to travel to Pennsylvania for the holidays these babies would definitely be brewing my kitchen and making their rounds. Enjoy.

:: via Hostess With the Mostess

Modern Dinnerware.

I totally posted my Christmas list too early. This modern white dinnerware from CB2 would have been in the top three easy. I've been on the hunt for something just like this, but haven't fallen in love with any particular set as of yesterday. And then this modern white dinnerware came into my life. It's simple. It's utilitarian. And the salad plate doubles as a lid for the bowl! What more could you ask for besides the amazing lipped dishes? Perhaps some beautiful matching mugs and serving dishes. So yeah, this may have to be my after Christmas purchase for myself. (Oh come on, everyone does it!)

Boby Trolley.

I want two Boby Trolleys oh so very badly. One for my office at work and one to store all sort of crafty-designy things in at home. They're just so darn modular and cute, not to mention that they can store a ton.

Artist Crush: Dan Golden.

Dan Golden designs and creates these amazing - sometimes snarky - area rugs that will definitely give any room a personality all its own. I feel like he's really taking his work to the next level by using his art in such a way that it can be put to use in everyday environments.

Besides having some serious talent, Golden adopts a sheep from Oxfam for every single rug purchased. Now that's what I call some serious giving back.

Gentlemen's Jotters.

I'm in love with the design of these Gentlemen's Jotters from Russell + Hazel. The front left side has numbers and months so you can circle the date. Form, I'd like to introduce you to Function. I think you'll get along really well together.

How to Be a Graphic Designer Without Losing Your Soul.

How to Be a Graphic Designer Without Losing Your Soul by Adrian Shaughnessy has been on my book wish list for awhile now.

Designers are quick to tell us about their sources of inspiration, but they are much less willing to reveal such critical matters as how to find work, how much they charge, and what to do when a client rejects three weeks of work and refuses to pay the bill. How to be a graphic designer without losing your soul addresses the concerns of young designers who want to earn a living by doing expressive and meaningful work, and who want to avoid becoming hired drones working on soulless projects.

On the Rocks: Coquito.

A coquito is the Puerto Rican equivalent of a really good, creamy eggnog. If eggnog tasted tropical and coconutty that is. Feliz Navidad!

Ingredients:
- 2 egg yolks, beaten
- 1 (12 fluid ounce) can evaporated milk
- 1 (14 ounce) can cream of coconut
- 1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
- 1/2 cup white rum
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

In the top of a double boiler, combine egg yolks and evaporated milk. Stirring constantly, cook over lightly simmering water until mixture reaches a temperature of 160 degrees F (71 degrees C). The mixture should be thick enough to coat the back of a spoon. Transfer mixture to a blender, and add cream of coconut, sweetened condensed milk, rum, water, cloves, cinnamon, and vanilla. Blend for about 30 seconds. Pour into glass bottles, and chill overnight.

:: cocktail via Allrecipes

ftf design studio Trays.

The simplicity and sterile feel of these ftf design studio trays is really nice. The four available styles can take on anyone's style and personality and fit right in thanks to designers West Chin and Roseann Repetti. The trays are made out of corian, which is incredibly durable and easy to clean, as well as resistant to burns, scratches, mildew and mold (ew). They're perfect for the kitchen, but are very multi-purpose and can work in other rooms as well.

Ceremony Flower Sticks.

Ceremony flower sticks are "flowers" made out of Pyrex tubes that are meant to be used with or without real buds. You can even place them inside one another. I love that designer Arik Levy makes the flower stem a major part of the piece as well as the bloom itself. It's also a great solution for long-stemmed flowers that need extra support.

Bad Gift Emporium.

The Bad Gift Emporium is genius for this time of year when Christmas sweaters and porcelain figurines seem to run rampant. The Emporium thrives on the thought that one man's bad gift is another's treasure. So add your own horrendous acquisitions and peruse the others - some of which could be yours if they're available and you strike a sweet deal with the current owner.

Helvetica and Swatch.

Today I was reminded once again of what an awesome design shop I'm a part of. This afternoon we had our holiday gift exchange and I have to say how floored I am. My awesome co-worker, Chris, gave me Helvetica the movie which I've been pining over since it's release. And my incredible boss, Jeff, gave us each a Swatch that matched our individual personality. An incredible shop and great people. I really do have it good.

Candle Lanterns.

One of my favorite holiday traditions is placing candle lanterns up the front walkway of my grandmother's house every Christmas Eve at sunset. The bonus of this set from Cox & Cox is that they're not flammable, which I've found to be very important upon waking to the charred remains of paper bags after a windy night.

HD in 3D.

HD is Hester Designs, the design shop where I work. And 3D is our holiday card this year which extends to a specially designed 3D web site. No worries, if you don't own 3D glasses you can request a pair from the site and we'll send them your way. Cheers!

Artist Crush: Nina Clough.

UK artist Nina Clough is my newest crush. I like her work so much that I have trouble describing just what it is about it that I'm in love with. I feel like I'm in junior high. Maybe it's the contrast between dark black lines and pale, filmy color washes. Or maybe it's the two sides of her work: dark and dreary versus bright and cheery. Or maybe it's just that she has the ability to make the mundane oh so interesting. Regardless, owning a piece of her work is a new addition to my ever growing list.

Round Up: Holiday GIft Tags.

Besides the actual buying of gifts my favorite part of getting prepared for the holidays isn't wrapping paper or bows. It's not even the cards in the mail. It's gift tags. I can't get enough of them and this year is no exception. Here's a round up of my favorites from around the web-o-sphere this season.

Happy Holidays tags from Pictures of Lily

maythird

paperologie

Bluebird Lane

every jot and tittle

Holiday Gocco gift tags by things are better with a parrot

Partridge gift tags by Sycamore Street Press

Graphic number gift tags by Sugarcube Design

Hand-printed holiday gift tags from destroy

Petite Pear

Joy tags from Jane Says