Paper Theatres // Pukaca
Thursday, 3 April 2014
Uncommon Goods // Gifts for Kids
Wednesday, 27 November 2013
As much as I love flesh and bone shopping, when it comes to kids gifts, more and more often I am drawn to online stores that sell original and unique toys (instead of the big brands that that our local toyshops sell). I recently discovered US company, Uncommon Goods, a treasure trove of such products for young and old. Their kids collection is especially good. I think I could find something for everyone in there. Here are some of my favourites...
Another thing that makes them fabulous is their 'better to give' program - for everything you buy, you choose a charity to donate $1 of the cost to it. They've raised aLOT of money for some great causes. Hoorays all round!
If you're after uncommon adult presents also, then their Christmas gift selection is a good place to start (especially good things for Dads.. Dads are so hard to buy for don't you think?!)
This is a sponsored post. All product choices and opinions presented are my own. I fully support and admire Uncommon Goods as a company, so am very happy to represent their products.
Dreamland nightlight / Petit Collage baby book / Giraffe and Penguin booties /
Rainbow sound blocks / Swamp monster and Silly horse hat
Rainbow sound blocks / Swamp monster and Silly horse hat
Playon crayons / chalkboard with alphabet scroll / Magnetic vehicles /
Storybook Puppets / Prismania blocks / Build your own city
Storybook Puppets / Prismania blocks / Build your own city
Make Some Great Art book / Make your own Kaleidoscope set / Pixel Colouring book /
Felt mosaic game / Rorys Story Cubes / Stack the carrots game
Felt mosaic game / Rorys Story Cubes / Stack the carrots game
Another thing that makes them fabulous is their 'better to give' program - for everything you buy, you choose a charity to donate $1 of the cost to it. They've raised aLOT of money for some great causes. Hoorays all round!
If you're after uncommon adult presents also, then their Christmas gift selection is a good place to start (especially good things for Dads.. Dads are so hard to buy for don't you think?!)
This is a sponsored post. All product choices and opinions presented are my own. I fully support and admire Uncommon Goods as a company, so am very happy to represent their products.
Browsing the aisles : Talent Gallery, Stockholm
Monday, 21 October 2013
I discovered Talent Gallery while roaming the (amazing) little streets of Sodor, Stockholm. It is a print shop and exhibition space full of the loveliest of things made by designers and illustrators both old and new. I asked the very lovely Sara Rosenquist, gallery founder and director, about her space, swedish design and other assorted printy things.
What is Talent Gallery?
Talent Gallery is basically a gallery and gift shop for new, emerging graphic design and illustration. I let designers exhibit if I find their work interesting, independent of wether they are established or not. Most of the items are handprinted, which I think is an important part of the whole idea with the gallery. I think that nice prints should be of a good quality, but not necessarily expensive. It is also much more fun to sell a limited amount of prints. The items that are being sold at the gallery either come from earlier exhibitions, individual designers that just want to try and sell one or two prints, and some other items that I import from the US and UK.
How did the gallery come about?
I started the gallery in March 2011, just 6 months after I had returned home from NY where I lived and studied for three years. Because of my years abroad in NY, I didn't have any contacts or experiences within the graphic design and/or the illustration business when I returned to Stockholm. I started to ask myself if there was any place where I could exhibit my works, just to get some attention within the industry. When I didn't find such a place, I did some research and found that there was no such place for graphic designers in Stockholm, so I decided to fix the problem myself! My background is within the art world, and having mainly worked at large institutions and galleries, I wanted a place that would be accessible for everyone without the pretentious part. I found it very interesting that no such place existed in a design - fixated city as Stockholm, and dedicated most of my time to try and develop the idea and to find a good space for it.
How do you select the works to be shown in your shop?
That's a hard question, I think that I go with my gut feeling most of the time. I try to think about what I haven't seen before, and that goes for new graphic techniques as well. I really try and find something special independent of trends, but most importantly, designers who likes to take risks. My main goal I think, is to find things that aren't sold in other places, and that have a childish feel to them. I've discovered that childish prints and items always have a nostalgic quality that almost everyone can relate to in a way or another. Sometimes when you discover a new designer, you can almost feel that they've had fun while working on their prints, and that's when you should invest time in their works.
What is Talent Gallery?
Talent Gallery is basically a gallery and gift shop for new, emerging graphic design and illustration. I let designers exhibit if I find their work interesting, independent of wether they are established or not. Most of the items are handprinted, which I think is an important part of the whole idea with the gallery. I think that nice prints should be of a good quality, but not necessarily expensive. It is also much more fun to sell a limited amount of prints. The items that are being sold at the gallery either come from earlier exhibitions, individual designers that just want to try and sell one or two prints, and some other items that I import from the US and UK.
How did the gallery come about?
I started the gallery in March 2011, just 6 months after I had returned home from NY where I lived and studied for three years. Because of my years abroad in NY, I didn't have any contacts or experiences within the graphic design and/or the illustration business when I returned to Stockholm. I started to ask myself if there was any place where I could exhibit my works, just to get some attention within the industry. When I didn't find such a place, I did some research and found that there was no such place for graphic designers in Stockholm, so I decided to fix the problem myself! My background is within the art world, and having mainly worked at large institutions and galleries, I wanted a place that would be accessible for everyone without the pretentious part. I found it very interesting that no such place existed in a design - fixated city as Stockholm, and dedicated most of my time to try and develop the idea and to find a good space for it.
How do you select the works to be shown in your shop?
That's a hard question, I think that I go with my gut feeling most of the time. I try to think about what I haven't seen before, and that goes for new graphic techniques as well. I really try and find something special independent of trends, but most importantly, designers who likes to take risks. My main goal I think, is to find things that aren't sold in other places, and that have a childish feel to them. I've discovered that childish prints and items always have a nostalgic quality that almost everyone can relate to in a way or another. Sometimes when you discover a new designer, you can almost feel that they've had fun while working on their prints, and that's when you should invest time in their works.
How often do you have exhibitions and how do these come about?
Graphic designers and illustrators can exhibit at the gallery for up to two weeks at a time. During this exhibition period, they can sell either all exhibited items or just a number of them, but the idea is that all exhibition items should be for sale. Because I wish that all people should have access to nice prints without having to pay a fortune, the price ranges are quite low, where the average cost for a print is roughly 400 SEK (approximately AU$65). After the exhibition period has ended, the exhibitors can chose if they wish to continue to sell parts of their exhibited works at the gallery.
Is there a certain design style that you can identify as being particularly Swedish?
Yes! It's funny, but most of the Swedish designers are very creatively "safe", that is, they rarely take risks. But this is not necessarily a bad thing, I think it's good sometimes, depending on what you do within the design industry. In most cases, Swedish design is simple, clean, sometimes very childish and naive, and color-wise, safe. I think Scandinavian design is formed through our idea of functionality that design should always fill some kind of function. I guess that's why many people admire this kind of design in a way, since it's almost never too much or too boring, and in this way relates to a large audience. But this is of course a big generalization!
A few of your favourite things...
Books - In terms of design related books, I must say all the Moomin books, and everything on Olle Eksell and John Melin, the two latter ones two of the most amazing Swedish graphic designers I can think of.
Magazines - I like Monocle a lot. They have some great illustrations in there, as well as interesting articles. Icon is very nicely made as well, a Swedish lifestyle magazine that tries to resemble Monocle in a way.
Websites/blogs - I like to check on www.itsnicethat.com, www.ycn.org, and www.graphicporn.com.
Designers - Not really favorites, but here are some that I think are pretty great: David Pearson, Olle Eksell, John Melin, Alvin Lustig, Alexey Brodovitch, Tove Jansson, and many more that I don't know the names of…I'm so bad at names! I tend to get more inspired by architecture actually.
What is your favourite part of running a design shop and gallery?
That I really enjoy my workspace. After this, I could never work in a place without graphic design on the walls. It feels really great to sit in a space covered with all these beautiful prints, and to see how these prints make so many people happy and inspired.
What is the least fun part?
All the administrative stuff that comes with it! I didn't know anything about how to run a company before I opened the gallery, and it still brings on a huge amount of frustration sometimes. But its definitely worth it.
You can find this lovely hole in the wall at...
Kocksgatan 23 / 116 24 Stockholm / Sweden / +46 8 641 22 00
& online here
Graphic designers and illustrators can exhibit at the gallery for up to two weeks at a time. During this exhibition period, they can sell either all exhibited items or just a number of them, but the idea is that all exhibition items should be for sale. Because I wish that all people should have access to nice prints without having to pay a fortune, the price ranges are quite low, where the average cost for a print is roughly 400 SEK (approximately AU$65). After the exhibition period has ended, the exhibitors can chose if they wish to continue to sell parts of their exhibited works at the gallery.
Is there a certain design style that you can identify as being particularly Swedish?
Yes! It's funny, but most of the Swedish designers are very creatively "safe", that is, they rarely take risks. But this is not necessarily a bad thing, I think it's good sometimes, depending on what you do within the design industry. In most cases, Swedish design is simple, clean, sometimes very childish and naive, and color-wise, safe. I think Scandinavian design is formed through our idea of functionality that design should always fill some kind of function. I guess that's why many people admire this kind of design in a way, since it's almost never too much or too boring, and in this way relates to a large audience. But this is of course a big generalization!
A few of your favourite things...
Books - In terms of design related books, I must say all the Moomin books, and everything on Olle Eksell and John Melin, the two latter ones two of the most amazing Swedish graphic designers I can think of.
Magazines - I like Monocle a lot. They have some great illustrations in there, as well as interesting articles. Icon is very nicely made as well, a Swedish lifestyle magazine that tries to resemble Monocle in a way.
Websites/blogs - I like to check on www.itsnicethat.com, www.ycn.org, and www.graphicporn.com.
Designers - Not really favorites, but here are some that I think are pretty great: David Pearson, Olle Eksell, John Melin, Alvin Lustig, Alexey Brodovitch, Tove Jansson, and many more that I don't know the names of…I'm so bad at names! I tend to get more inspired by architecture actually.
What is your favourite part of running a design shop and gallery?
That I really enjoy my workspace. After this, I could never work in a place without graphic design on the walls. It feels really great to sit in a space covered with all these beautiful prints, and to see how these prints make so many people happy and inspired.
What is the least fun part?
All the administrative stuff that comes with it! I didn't know anything about how to run a company before I opened the gallery, and it still brings on a huge amount of frustration sometimes. But its definitely worth it.
You can find this lovely hole in the wall at...
Kocksgatan 23 / 116 24 Stockholm / Sweden / +46 8 641 22 00
& online here
A trip to Koskela in our 'fancy silber car'
Friday, 11 October 2013
I've never been into cars at all. We have an old car. It goes. I put petrol in it. It goes some more. All good. However, for better or worse, things have now changed...
Thanks to the generous folks at Ford and Kidspot, I have been driving around in a brand spanking new Ford Focus Titanium* for the last few weeks (and the next few too). I was all ready to continue being unimpressed with cars but the technology in this one is pretty darn incredible.... and now I'm kind of smitten...
+ It reverse parks itself! seriously. That blew my mind. It finds you a space and then the steering wheel is taken over by some kind of parking god. ta da! Hello tight spot. Bye-bye embarrassing parking attempts.
+ I can literally just say the command and it will call who I want to call via Bluetooth, play music on the stereo and probably do lots of other things that I haven't discovered yet too.
+ When it rains, the windscreen wipers just go! No flicking on and off of that damned lever. That's some kind of magic right there.
+ It tells me how to get places! I am thoroughly enjoying not having to juggle imaps and the steering wheel at once... and the rest of the driving nation is probably relieved too!
So... it turns out I been living under a technological rock when it comes to cars! Who would have thought that it could actually be an enjoyable experience to drive around the city?!?! I'm thinking this may be a problem when I have to drive our old rust box around again but for now I'm just going to roll with it.
Our little trio took a drive to Koskela to see the Beci Orpin exhibition (more about that in a post to follow) and have a little peruse around the amazing (but sadly too pricey for our pockets) homewares on show.
We ended the day by driving to centennial park for a scoot (the cub did the scooting) and an ice-cream. Thanks for the ride 'fancee silber car'
*'fancy silber car' is what the cub calls our new wheels. He loves getting in it (no battles. Yay!) which makes me love it all the more.
This post is one of three written as part of Ford Australia's 'Choose Your Own Adventure' challenge (in conjunction with Kidspot, Voices of 2013). I was not paid to write this post nor was I told what to write. But, I was given a swish car to drive around in for 6 weeks which is proving pretty nice!
Thanks to the generous folks at Ford and Kidspot, I have been driving around in a brand spanking new Ford Focus Titanium* for the last few weeks (and the next few too). I was all ready to continue being unimpressed with cars but the technology in this one is pretty darn incredible.... and now I'm kind of smitten...
+ It reverse parks itself! seriously. That blew my mind. It finds you a space and then the steering wheel is taken over by some kind of parking god. ta da! Hello tight spot. Bye-bye embarrassing parking attempts.
+ I can literally just say the command and it will call who I want to call via Bluetooth, play music on the stereo and probably do lots of other things that I haven't discovered yet too.
+ When it rains, the windscreen wipers just go! No flicking on and off of that damned lever. That's some kind of magic right there.
+ It tells me how to get places! I am thoroughly enjoying not having to juggle imaps and the steering wheel at once... and the rest of the driving nation is probably relieved too!
So... it turns out I been living under a technological rock when it comes to cars! Who would have thought that it could actually be an enjoyable experience to drive around the city?!?! I'm thinking this may be a problem when I have to drive our old rust box around again but for now I'm just going to roll with it.
Our little trio took a drive to Koskela to see the Beci Orpin exhibition (more about that in a post to follow) and have a little peruse around the amazing (but sadly too pricey for our pockets) homewares on show.
We ended the day by driving to centennial park for a scoot (the cub did the scooting) and an ice-cream. Thanks for the ride 'fancee silber car'
*'fancy silber car' is what the cub calls our new wheels. He loves getting in it (no battles. Yay!) which makes me love it all the more.
This post is one of three written as part of Ford Australia's 'Choose Your Own Adventure' challenge (in conjunction with Kidspot, Voices of 2013). I was not paid to write this post nor was I told what to write. But, I was given a swish car to drive around in for 6 weeks which is proving pretty nice!
Paper Puppets // With her Animal Poetry
Tuesday, 2 July 2013
These pint sized paper puppets are created by Hong Kong illustrator, Furze Chan. Inspired by animals in general and her pet guinea pig especially. Aren't they adorable little characters?! (The party hat donning penguin has got to be my favourite)
alphabet themed party props
Wednesday, 27 March 2013
It's no secret that I love lettering... and who doesn't love an excuse to have a party? I think I've just found my next reason right here. Papermash's new range of alphabet plates and cups - all 26 delightful letters!
Marimekko comes to Sydney
Monday, 29 October 2012
So, the big and super exciting news for this week is that Marimekko is opening in Sydney this Wednesday (at 66, King st to be precise) Helloooo big bold colourful fabrics and fabulously decadent homewares and dresses. Hellooo empty bank account (uh oh!)
I've posted before about Sanna Annukka's designs for Marimekko but this new fabric design I spotted this week was worth mentioning again. Those colours, ahhh... a seamless landscape that is so very remnicent of snowy fields but without so much as a smidge of white anywhere to be seen. Fabulous non?!
I LOVE this video of the inspiration and printing behind the scenes too
POHJOLASSA from jasper goodall on Vimeo.
I've posted before about Sanna Annukka's designs for Marimekko but this new fabric design I spotted this week was worth mentioning again. Those colours, ahhh... a seamless landscape that is so very remnicent of snowy fields but without so much as a smidge of white anywhere to be seen. Fabulous non?!
I LOVE this video of the inspiration and printing behind the scenes too
POHJOLASSA from jasper goodall on Vimeo.
Stationery online // Quill, London
Monday, 22 October 2012
Online stationery wonderland, Quill - London, is the passion (& stationery sleuthing) of Lucy Edmonds. Quill stocks the products of some of my very favourite studios (Rifle Paper Co, Darling Clementine, In Haus Press etc etc) aswell as a bundle of new and exciting independent designers that are new to my ears and eyes.
These cards make me excited about christmas being nearly here again (instead of the 'eeek' feeling I usually have)... bring on that festive spirit!
Some pretty amazing calendars on the horizon for 2013 too... Spring Once More / Pawling Design Studio/ Rifle Paper Co. / Sebastian Bergne
Origami friends // Bird Told Me
Tuesday, 26 June 2012
Citta Design // Tokyo collection
Friday, 20 April 2012
It's been very rainy this week but I haven't minded it! My mum recently gave me this most gorgeous umbrella (which looks even better in real life) and Leo and I have been covered in wonderful colour (he loves it as much as me and giggles everytime we're using it) It's by Citta Design and on closer inspection I found that in fact all of their new Tokyo collection is pretty special... dangerously special!
Colours and Patterns of Leah Duncan
Wednesday, 7 September 2011
The work of Leah Duncan is not a new find but one that re-discovering today made me appreciate all the more. I love the lines (which look so simple but I know are so hard to do well) and the colours she uses. The blue mountains pillow especially is tugging at my retail weak side!
Landskap // Kikki K
Wednesday, 6 April 2011
The new Landskap range of stationery from Kikki K is a lovely lot. The colours, the little horse and the trees... oh my!
Swedish allsorts // Hilda Grahnat
Tuesday, 11 January 2011
I came across these Japanese inspired postcards via Hildas great blog and I couldn't stop looking at them.
(I'm sure there'd be music coming out of that first one if you listened closely enough) Hilda takes the most beautiful photographs that ooze the kind of aesthetic that seems to be uniquely and brilliantly Swedish.
These collages and more are in her 2011 calender (pictures via her blog).
& if that wasn't enough talent for one lady... Hilda also makes these fantastical clocks from vintage books. The perfect bedside timekeeper wouldn't you agree!
(I'm sure there'd be music coming out of that first one if you listened closely enough) Hilda takes the most beautiful photographs that ooze the kind of aesthetic that seems to be uniquely and brilliantly Swedish.
These collages and more are in her 2011 calender (pictures via her blog).
& if that wasn't enough talent for one lady... Hilda also makes these fantastical clocks from vintage books. The perfect bedside timekeeper wouldn't you agree!
Festive beginnings
Thursday, 2 December 2010
Being in the hot summer of Australia, it doesn't ever feel overly christmassy at this time of year. Having experienced my first 7 years all white and cosy in Switzerland, the beach and prawns (though amazing) just doesn't seem to cut the pudding in quite the same way!
BUT. As it's December now, I'm actively trying to find my festive spirit! Decorations will be made and mince pies consumed. I'm determined. These little treasures from In Haus Press have helped me along my way so far (despite the pinecones which we miss out on sadly)
BUT. As it's December now, I'm actively trying to find my festive spirit! Decorations will be made and mince pies consumed. I'm determined. These little treasures from In Haus Press have helped me along my way so far (despite the pinecones which we miss out on sadly)
Vintage Paper Goodies > Present & Correct
Friday, 3 September 2010
Present and Correct always has such a scrumptious collection of things. Am especially in love with these vintage feeling treats... internet shopping is a dangerous thing I tell you!
Vintage Index set, Desk stamps, Tag Notebooks, To/From arrow notecards (& then more tag notebooks for good luck!)
Vintage Index set, Desk stamps, Tag Notebooks, To/From arrow notecards (& then more tag notebooks for good luck!)
Paper pencils // Upon a fold
Wednesday, 11 August 2010
A little while ago I ordered a treat from my favourite online shop Upon a Fold. When I opened the package it couldn't have been more exciting! It was wrapped beautifully and came with a couple of these beautiful paper hearts (as well as some extra templates and instructions) They now cover my fridge and make me happy every time i look at them!
Justine has just last week added a new paper treat to her packages... these incredibly lovely pastel pencils (complete with secret storage unit for tictacs). Hmm, just need decide on only one thing to buy now!
(top image from Design Files, other images from Upon a Fold)
Dreamy photography // I brake for bokeh
Tuesday, 8 June 2010
Beautiful photography from Etsy seller 'I brake for Bokeh' Go see for yourself... many a gem in that there shop!
Envelope templates
Friday, 14 May 2010
Can't remember where I first found these great templates in Japanese online shop, Yozo Craft but aren't they great... and they come in so many great shapes. Would be perfect for making lined envelopes... or making envelopes out of inside out photos or paper (so all the good bits are inside when you open it)
The stamp sets in the Yozo Craft shop are also pretty special. Especially the little red riding hood and Alice in wonderland ones.
Market delight // Finders Keepers
Monday, 10 May 2010
Spent a big chunk of Saturday roaming the Finders Keepers Markets at Sydney's Carriageworks. It was full of so much talent it was almost abit too overwhelming... almost! I came away with a couple of porcelain jewellry delights from Angus&Celeste, and not even an ounce of paper (there were too many good ones to choose from i reckoned) These were some of my favourite things:
+ The neons of Lox+Savvy's 3 fold shaped cards.
+ Me and Amber with their screenprinted designs onto mounted old book pages
Blog World Wednesday > Upon a Fold
Wednesday, 31 March 2010
*sigh* Upon a Fold is enough to keep my paper obsessed self dribbling on my desk for days... Written in conjuction with a shop of the same name, it showcases an amazing array of paper artists, demonstrating just how versatile those little white sheets can be and how creative people really are! So much inspiration here... and just when your emotions have been all folded up, you can buy lots of the amazing things in the shop! (see why I sigh now?)
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