At my first job out of college, I worked as a pattern designer for women’s and children’s footwear. I think I must have churned out hundreds of patterns a year, and of that total, a good majority of those were filled with animals and insects . Kids love these little guys, as do parents, so you can imagine my delight when I stumbled upon Wee Gallery’s sample sale on One Kings Lane today. Surya Sajnani’s lino cut style is very trend forward and quite reminiscent of Hugo Guinness and Perla Anne’s illustrations. The cards are half off, and perfect for framing or for just letting someone know they’re special.

1. 1. Tavis Colburn’s illustrates the BAFTA best picture nominees, via Kitsune Noir
2. 2. Interview with Sanjay Patel, illustrator of Ramayana: Divine Loophole, via Grain Edit
3. 3. Queen B candles made from 100% Australian beeswax, via The Design Files
4. 4. The vibrant and punchy design of London’s Poncho No. 8 burrito restaurant via Yatzer
5. 5. A variety of beautiful works by Sally and Peter Nencini, via Kickcan & Conkers
6. 6. The distinctive style of Polish studio homework’s posters, via Design Boom
7. 7. Lace fences – a spectacular idea! via Hearththrobs & Villians
8. 8. Beautiful simple mixed media artwork by Hollie Chastain, via The Jealous Curator
9. 9. “Delight” wallpaper from mod green pod, via Design*Sponge
10. 10. Ethereal portraits by Serena Cole, via My Love For You is a Stampede of Horses
11. 11. [...]

What could be more ordinary than chewing gum? Possibly the most accessible material on the planet, gum never fails to be graphically inspirational, whether you’re dodging spots on the sidewalk or observing them in a highly curated gallery. Interestingly, these two-toned glass sculptures from Vogue Living breathe life into this sculptural concept, merging high and low culture with a complex medium. Interestingly, this New York, New York Gum on Canvas piece by Adam McEwen, along with Dan Colen’s 2006 technicolor Untitled compilation, remind us of the infamous Rorschach Ink Blot test. Regardless of the imagery one sees in these random arrangements, one thing’s for sure, these blots are highly adaptable with timeless appeal.

We reported diamonds to be a shining motif in pattern design back in June and now the trend has officially crystallized.

We’ve seen the classic diamond shape shift to a crystal-like gem on works ranging from new Matt W. Moore murals to Chase Bank advertisements. The laser cut shapes are bold. Just check out these angular bangle bracelets by Patricia Field and this radiant Helena De Natalio clutch. The sassy accessories are the perfect way to flaunt some flash with a basic black get-up.

But these crystals don’t sparkle like their compressed coal predecessor. Instead, they catch eyes with their geometric shapes and powerful lines. Strong colors further emphasize their graphic feel, as evident in Phillip Low’s sculptures and Jen Kao’s angular FW10 debut. We can’t wait to [...]

Patience, a steady hand and a magical world of psychedelic wonderment are just a few thoughts that come to mind when viewing Arpana Rayamajhi’s intricate illustrations. Rayamajhi is originally from Kathmandu, Nepal and is currently living between New York and Philadelphia as she builds her portfolio and determines her next creative moves. Not long ago, Bill Gentle shot a striking series of Rayamajhi for his infamous photography blog, Backyard Bill. It’s nothing new for an artist to be an inspirational force in every capacity, but at only 22, we can’t wait to see what the future holds for this rising star.  Check out our Q+A for a glimpse into Rayamajhi’s daily routine!

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PP:  What websites and news sources do you generally start your day with-do you have [...]

While shopping in London last week, I couldn’t help but notice all of the string installations that kept popping up throughout the big department stores. From elaborate window displays to intricate floor designs, immense and artistic webs seemed to be woven throughout the merchandise in an effort to spice things up.

Selfridges, one of London’s main department stores, always dedicates a portion of it’s windows to art and is currently displaying a truly complex and over sized replica of a twisted loom. The design is very abstract with a constructivist style. Not only is it impressive, but wholly inspirational; I love it when I see good modern art that can inspire my own work.

Over at Liberty, there’s a beautiful geometric crystal chandelier installation that spans at least 4 floors in the Women’s section. It’s gorgeous and truly [...]

1. 1.Melissa McClain’s photography looks like abstract paintings, via Art-Milk
2. 2. Excited about Liberty of London’s collaboration with Target, via Refinery29
3. 3. Gorgeous new print by Swoon for Paper Monster, via My Love For You is a Stampede of Horses
4. 4. Lovely new graphic pillow designs from Kenzo Home, via Design Milk
5. 5. Amanada Hughen’s beautiful science inspired art, via The Best Part
6. 6. Envelopes and Shakespeare get folded, via Design*Sponge
7. 7. Cozy new rugs by Patricia Urquiola for Gans, via Yellowtrance
8. 8. Eco-friendly customizable pocket-sized notebooks by Scout, via Modish
9. 9. Mark Langan makes art out of corrugated cardboard, via Design Year Book
10. 10. Sigrid Sandstrom sees his paintings as a form of landscape via Little Paper Planes
11. 11. Lovely intricately cut steel tea light holders by Polli via [...]

Oh, the proverbial question: Which came first, the chicken or the egg? The debate can go around and around. Much like the debates of who inspired whom, what inspired what, and where on earth do ideas come from. And of course, how do they become adopted by society and wind up as trends.

Because, we think we called it via our Interior Design Takes a Spin feature: people, they like change. They also like pixels. And in this case, web cams. We recently spotted Pepsi’s Refresh Project, One People tv spot, where a variety of people on their web cams interact with one another. Each paper conveys a pixelated vibe, and as objects are “magically” passed between squares, the concept is unified as global sharing. Naturally, we delighted at the synchronicity to our fun interior finds. Of [...]

It’s no secret that Matt W. Moore’s vectorfunk graphics are single-handedly influencing an entire generation of artists. His fusion of graffiti, graphic design and watercolor are upbeat, intricate and extremely brand friendly. His work has appeared in countless magazines and print campaigns, from Nike and Burton to Wired and Mountain Dew. Moore’s Design and Illustration studio, MWM Graphics, is based in Portland, Maine and exhibits in galleries throughout the world, collaborating with clients from all sectors. Moore is also Co-Founder & Designer for Glyph Cue Clothing. Check out our Q+A for a glimpse into MWM’s daily routine!

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PP:  What websites and news sources do you generally start your day with-do you have a daily routine for news/blog/information consumption?

MWM: I get at least an hour a day of Cyber Surfing in [...]

1. 1. Modern honeycomb wall clocks, via Blue Moss Girls
2. 2. Fabulous pillow from Kreme, via Design-Milk
3. 3. Digging these batik print shoes, via Fly Girls
4. 4. Eye popping mixed-media works from Nikki Farquharson, via The Cool Hunter
5. 5. Patterned winter coats are so uncommon. Love this one, via Refinery 29
6. 6. Wonderful photos of Japan from the 1860’s by Adolfo Fasari, via Quazen
7. 7. Analog clocks that spiral instead of tick, via It’s Nice That
8. 8. Stephanie Levy’s colorfully patterned collages, via Design*Sponge
9. 9. Trippy limited ed. Fornasetti vases by Bitossi Ceramiche, via Designboom
10. 10. Great pillows made from recycled wool sweaters by Plytextiles, via Decor8
11. 11. Loving  these super swanky knits, via For me, For you
12. 12. Now that’s an interesting idea: curtains made from old slides, [...]