Last weekend my friends and I packed our bags- from various parts of the world and headed to Phoenix, Arizona to celebrate the wedding of one of our dearest friends who’s currently living in London.

Upon arrival at our hotel, the intricately designed Arizona Biltmore, Lily, the bride, exclaimed (as many friends and family members do these days), “this hotel’s perfect for Pattern Pulp!”

She was right. The deco pattern motifs were quite literally, everywhere.

Frank Lloyd Wright in collaboration with Albert Chase McArthur were responsible for the masonry “Textile Block” construction which was implemented throughout the hotel and grounds in 1928.

From cement blocks to geometric carpeting, to back-lit lighting, landscaping and interior furniture, the deco theme transports you to old-world Hollywood, emitting a mood of what LA or Las Vegas may have been like in the 30′s, 40′s and 50′s.

Barely using their typographic logo, you know the vibe of the hotel. The surface design and architecture cooperate in telling the story of a unique destination beyond the cookie-cutter expectations of a chain resort.

Large, expansive grounds allow for privacy, quiet pools are hidden behind cacti gardens and a wall devoted to presidential photos reveals the extensive history that’s walked the halls.

Looping back to the mission of the trip, it was such a treat to escape the east coast for a warmer climate, overdue reunion and tremendous celebration.

Here’s an instagram of pre-pool time on game day. I hadn’t been in a pool since July. I was excited, to say the least.

And with that, I’ll also admit that I’m officially old. I preferred the adult pool, where people read, veg and don’t twist down slides.

This little (or rather big) number made it’s way out of storage. Stains, holes and all, it’s still my favorite summer dress.

And finally, a few shots of the ladies (if you’re interested) from Shabbat dinner.

And a glammed-up wedding night. Have you been to Arizona? What do you think?

1. 1. Digging Shaun Kardinal’s collage and embroidery work via design-milk
2. 2. Andy Curlowe’s lovely artwork via All the Mountains
3. 3. Loving Zander Olsen’s Tree, Line project via My Love For You
4. 4. Fantastically adorable ceramic pin cushions & thread spool holders by Eleonor Bostrom via arthound
5. 5. Gorgeous giant DIY blooms via design*sponge
6. 6. Graffiti artist Tilt covered half a room in vibrant graffiti and left the other stark white via This is Colossal
7. 7. Andrew Yee is a delight at mixing stripes via Design for Mankind
8. 8. These ceramic megaphones by En & Is earn a solid oooh via Honestly WTF
9. 9. Impressive illustration work from Liam Stevens via designworklife
10.  10. Fantastic collection of fabrics by Rifle for Villa Nova via Oh Joy!
11. 11. Intrigued by Luiz Zerbini’s color blocked newspapers via Trendland
12. 12. Roy Nachum’s artwork is meant to be touched via Yatzer

Coverage by Emily Gup

Illustrator Jen Mussari definitely has a sense of humor – it’s part of what makes her work so unique. We love how she combines her quirky style of hand-lettering and wonderful eye for color and composition – with a dose of wit tossed in for good measure – to create fun and insightful creations that have captured the eyes of many.

This rising star of illustration has recently moved to Brooklyn from San Francisco and her thrill in discovering her new city is apparent in her twitter feed. Humorous and insightful observations on her surroundings, experiences and life abound, no matter her locale, and she happily shares her creations and interesting finds as well. It’s always wonderful to find an artist whose personality sparkles just as much as their work, and Mussari is a prime example.

Ingredients of Reality: the Dismantling of New York City by Lan Tuazon presents sculptures, drawings and prints that discuss how history, along with the law and class of structures are written on the physical environment. Surrealist in concept, Tuazon takes real and existing parts of the built environment — including buildings, lots, and monuments – and creates a new reality against the repressive logic of property.

The exhibition includes two new works: Architectures of Defense and New York City Bar Graph, which has paired Tuazon’s Army Park and Parking Lot Landscape into new composite figures that render visible what reality has ceased to distinguish. Click here for more info.

Storefront for Art and Architecture: 97 Kenmare Street, New York, NY 10012

Many of us equate the desire to travel with the exploration of the countries and cultures outside of our own North American borders. In this line of thinking, we often forget the rich diversity and nuggets of culture that fill Unites States and Canada. Since 2002, The New York Times has been offering up dream weekends with practical itineraries in its popular weekly “36 Hours” column.

The many expert contributors, experienced travelers and accomplished writers have all brought careful research, insider’s knowledge, and a sense of fun to hundreds of cities and destinations, always with an eye to getting the most out of a short trip. For this book, the Times has brought together new and updated versions of “36 Hours” columns in 150 U.S. and Canadian locations, from the great urban centers on everyone’s travel list to surprising locales with undiscovered character and charm.

The paths lead to fashionable clubs in Manhattan, blues joints in the Mississippi Delta, architectural treasures tucked in the Pennsylvania hills, the French America of Quebec, the seaside cliffs and Hollywood cool of California, and well beyond. For a taste of adventure and a veritable journey throughout the continent, explore 36 Hours in America.

Just stumbled upon the Die antwoord & T by Alexander Wang Spring ’12 collaboration thanks to my friend Lauren‘s Facebook feed. I love the beat, the graphics, the typographic splicing.

The video feels like a print editorial come to life and features their new single, Fatty Boom Boom. Here, have a look:

What do you think, well done?

This week, I stumbled on Pentagram‘s project from December, “Today I’m Feeling Turquoise“, and all I could think was, “Hey Pentagram! You took the words right out of my mouth!”. All that has caught my attention this week has been robin’s egg blue and turquoise. Maybe spring is in the air (or maybe it never left with this crazy New York non-winter), but I’m really feeling the revival of these sunny, springtime blues.

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1. Scarf Shop | 2. Cocoa And Hearts Paintings | 3. Turquoise Mineral Rock | 4. Mociun Custom Turquoise Wedding Band | 5.Coral | 6. Keep A Secret 19th Century Wax Seal Ring | 7. Vogue Paris Spread from 1998 | 8. Piazza Sempione Resort 2012

Coverage by Valerie Gnaedig

We’ve got a huge treat for you today! Lesley Morphy recently worked on the PUMA International press launch for PUMA Cedella Marley (Bob Marley’s daughter) Olympic Wear Collection. The coverage on the collection will run this summer, but Lesley’s been kind enough to share the creative process behind the fashion show and set design with all of us.

PP: So tell me about the project…

LM: PUMA International PR hosted a global press launch for long-lead international fashion, lifestyle magazines. Editors from top-tier magazines were invited to preview the PUMA Cedella Marley (Bob Marley’s daughter) Olympic Wear Collection.

It included a fashion show, had an open bar and was catered by Miss Lily’s and the music was hand selected by the Marleys and played by one of New York’s hottest DJ’s: Queen Majesty.

PP: The assignment?

LM: To design a Jamaican inspired fashion show, clothing display, dj booth and time line as well as create a Jamaican vibe in an a New York Studio space.

PP: How did you solve it?

LM: I embraced the three colors of the Jamaican flag and did a lot of research on Jamaica. I gravitated towards woods, corrugated metals, graffiti. I also took graphics from the fashion line and applied them to the event space by using decals.

The client (PUMA) wanted to tell the story of its longstanding relationship with Jamaica, and I wanted to approach this in a unique way – so we took old reclaimed woods and built crates and graffitied them with facts about PUMA and Jamaica. We wheat pasted all the imagery. It was a unique way to tell a story and stay true to the concept, I really wanted to stay away from traditional boring boards.

PP: What did you find challenging about the assignment?

LM: The big challenge, as always, was time and money. Cedella Marley came for her walk through an hour before the event started, and I was covered in wheat paste, paint and applying decals to the floor behind her. We were literally making art till the doors opened. Luckily she was cool with it!

PP: Who helped you bring the vision to life? Did you hire a team?

LM: I hired an amazing team of local artists and builders. It was really cool assigning specific tasks to the specific talents of each artist involved.

To see the clothing, you’ll have to sit tight, everything will be released to the public a little closer to Olympic time.

Coverage by Lesley Morphy

Barbara Strasen’s work is about the potential beauty of complexity, the apparent chaos of contradictory images.

Her focus is based in “finding connections between unlikely images that echo the way in which our perceptions are underlaid by memories and by cultural, historical, and archetypal images.” In viewing, disparate images become juxtaposed, revealing a congruence and commonality between them. The discovery of the commonality between the component images, and the resulting integration of opposites, induces a wider experience of empathy and we find ourselves swimming toward serenity.

As might be expected, this work does not read quickly- the images and the relationships between them reveal themselves slowly, and surprise is an essential part of the experience. Strasen’s visual means include drawing, painting, collage, installation, and lenticular art works. Most of the imagery relies upon her own painted versions of existing two-dimensional motifs, but these are mixed with graphically, or even photographically derived components. Click here for more info.

George Billis Gallery: 2716 S. La Cienega Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90034

Off the heels of the last post, I wanted to share an ad I’ve been holding in my inspiration arsenal for a while. It’s a print advertisement for a line of Japanese Sake (sadly I don’t know the brand), beautifully packaged and branded with geometric texture.

On my last trip to Kyoto, I returned with many printed documents- this was one of my favorites. As you can see, the bottle and design could double as makeup or even perfume packaging. You could even make a baby blanket if you wanted. What do you think?

I’ve been on the pattern-as-branding bandwagon for a while. When a company embraces a creative style, then infuses their branding, a la Hotel La Amada, the results can be more interesting than simply reusing a logo.

Christina Binkley expressed a similar sentiment in this weekend’s cover story for the WSJ’s Off Duty section, with the subtitle, “Prints of all shapes and sizes are replacing logos as a new way to signal a brand’s identity.”

It’s refreshing to cast a light on this part of the industry. Patterns in product development are a tremendous business, as is forecasting – from fashion to bedding to beauty packaging to digital experience, I could go on- textures are mood enhancing and tribe specific and something I’ve buried my nose in for the past 8 years. If you have a moment, be sure to have a look, it’s an interesting read.

Malachite’s forever been a staple in high-end home furnishings. Interestingly, we’re seeing print translations this spring in the easiest home accent, the pillow. From ABC Carpet’s pastel mint swirls to Kelly Wearstler’s Quartz patterns to West Elm’s Agate  styles, these stone applications translate  from high to mass rather nicely.