Absent Without Leave

Sorry Sorry Sorry. I have been AWOL but I have a really good excuse - photography and more photography, collaboration and more collaboration, deliveries and more deliveries and writing copy and more copy for the revamped Ghost Furniture website which is NEARLY ready.
A little peek at some of the new pieces fresh off the camera, as a little gift for you being so patient. It's at times like these I can see the advantage of being an octopus.

If Only I Had a MacBook

Decision made - I will get myself a MacBook if it kills me, especially now you can buy these amazing covers for them. The BookBook by Twelve South

Sculptural Ceramics

Sometimes when I sit and look closely at a designer's work I gasp at the amount of time that must go into it. Katherine Morling who works out of London had me breathless. Take a close look at her work. Love those black outlines.
Via Cool Hunting

Bags For The Russdian Avant -Garde - Lubok

Beautifully designed bags based on the futuristic Russian avant-garde movement. I love the shapes, I love the colours and I love the images.
The Lubok Collection by Francesca Germanetti

Two Art Directors and a Photographer

Can you imagine any better curators of an Etsy shop than Two Art Directors and a Photographer? I have done art direction and know that you amass loads of little items. These people have decided to share them with us all.
You must visit this shop, vintage stuff to die for from all over the world. I am already hooked but then it's right up my street don't you think?

Clothes Made With Old Dutch Post Sacks

Well I have seen post sacks made into cushions, aprons and covering chairs but never befroe have I seen them made into clothes. Amazing creations by Jan Taminiau. So good that even Princess Maxima of the Dutch Royal Family has one of his jackets (below)

T.ruffle Girls

One of my favourite blogs - it always makes me laugh out loud - is Mackin Ink and said author has opened an Etsy shop - T.ruffles with her friend Mary Ruffle. Words by Mackin Ink photographs by Mary Ruffle.
In their words - this trio of four by six delights sits prettily on velvet matte cardstock. accompanied by three envelopes all in white.
Love them.

Mind Blowing Lamps

I have featured the work of James Plumb here on Designers Block before and now I am pleased to present to you - these new mind blowing pieces. Be steady my beating heart

Look - Paper Vases

This is one if things that looks easy to do but would prove really difficult on trying. I would leave it to the professionals who are - Delibab in Japan

Paper Lighting from Korea

Stunningly beautiful paper lighting from Iwashin in Korea and it gets even better

close up.

Ignore This At Your Peril

I wish I had a £1 for every time someone asked me what colour they should decorate a dark room. You will never make a dark room light by painting it in a light colour.
I saw this statement in this months Elle Deco magazine, made by a German architect. He put it a lot more eloquently than I ever have.

Diverse Designs by Marian Duijvestijn

I love to find designers that show their talents in more than one discipline and Marian Duijvestijn does just that. From her Sofa Throw, Table Cover, Glass Cake Towers and even Paper Plates.

Cut Silk and Wood Wallpaers

Beautiful cut out Silk wallpaper and

Wood wallpaper by Tactile Wonderland

Vox Populi At Home and Little Ideas

How I envy Joanna MacLennan the lucky photographer who got to photograph the home of Pascal Palun of Vox Populi in Avignon.
When you look around places such as this it is advisable to come away with some inspiring ideas such as

how to make a doorway interesting - this could be done with an old framed painting,

display anything that makes your eyes pop out of your head,

hang strings of beads from a plain chandelier any old how,

this one is for me - keep your paint tins neat and tidy and

not so much an idea as a thought - does one person need that many gorgeous mannequins? I'm jealous that's all.

Anyone who sits Teddy Bears in a shop window looking out at the passers by and

thinks of hanging a pair of boxing gloves next to a pair of ballet shoes gets my vote every time.

Hyperrealism

I have just discovered the word for paintings that looks like photographs - hyperrealism. Discovered at this amazing artist's website - Pedro Campos