Presidential Letters

Image from Letters of Note, as spotted on Neither Snow.

Say what you will about The President, but I think anyone who takes the time to write an unsolicited thank-you note - and for an indirect gift at that - is a lovely person (especially if the person who is writing happens to be one of the busiest people in the world!).

Above, a note from #44 himself to Canadian author Yann Martel. President Obama read Martel's book, The Life of Pi, with his daughter and then penned a handwritten note, which included this sentiment:

"It is a lovely book — an elegant proof of God, and the power of storytelling. Thank you."

Print & Pattern Book!

i am super excited and extremely honored, to say the least, to have my work { littleoddforest } featured in the print & pattern book, by pattern design guru curator, bowie style! especially along with so many other talented designers - all 119 of them! you will know the most famous ones, like orla kiely, cath kidston, and jill bliss, but it's a great mix of big and small, with lesser known artists, such as myself! lynda lye! - with a little of our bio and background information. how fun!!! :D and such an honor to also be alongside some of the artists whose work i love, like ana ventura, caroline pratt, helen dardik, and marilyn patrizio! and a few other designers whose work i have just discovered and fallen in love with, such as silkie lloyd, scott rhodes, and patapri, thanks to this book!

i have already ordered a few copies a couple of months ago (the book was launched in march this year 2010), and gifted them to some people whom i know would appreciate it. hee... you know who you are! you can get yours here! -
http://www.amazon.com/Print-Pattern-Bowie-Style/dp/1856696464
or a kinokuniya if you have one near you!

you do not have to be a designer to appreciate this book, this book is for all who love design, if you are seeking inspiration, or just wanting to have a big dose of design goodness!







i have been anxiously waiting for this book to be published and launched, ever since 2 years ago, when london-based designer, marie perkins (i did not know that bowie was her online pseudonym until last year!! gosh!), from the very famous pattern design blog - http://www.printpattern.blogspot.com - emailed me to ask for some product shots and write-ups. it has been 2 years since! if you read my info in the book, it says i've been doing this for the past 4 years, but it will actually be my 6th year chugging along with my baby, littleoddforest, this year 2010!

bowie scours the world for all good things, design and pattern related, as can be testified by her blog full of visual deliciousness! this print & pattern book is basically a compilation of current designers whom she had most probably previously featured/mentioned in her blog, who work with graphics, surface design, patterns, illustrations and etc., and translate them onto actual products like stationary, textiles and the like.

bowie has been really generously supportive of my work - littleoddforest has been previously featured in her print & pattern blog, and she has also very kindly helped me with some questions i had about expanding my line abroad, when i emailed her asking for any input she might have for me.

thank you so much!! :D

Inspired by: bookcases

With all my reading of late (thanks in part to a gift from my mom and also thanks to our public library's awesome online hold system where I select books I want to read, they get them in and set them aside for me - for free [woohoo!]), I am in need of a place to put all my books (not the library ones obviously).

Aren't these perfectly styled bookcases gorgeous?

From MDEsign via Shelter


From Domino (RIP) via Say Yes to Hoboken


From Domino via Oh Happy Day


From Domino via Say Yes to Hoboken

I love that the top image and bottom image both show bookcases with colored backs. I'm considering doing that with one of our bookcases (don't mind the crappy iPhone photo):

What do you think?

Also, do you spy the "This Land is Your Land" print nestled in there? I'm not yet sure that's the perfect place for it, but I do love that print!

To do: book list

I waxed poetic (ha) about reading and basking in the sun recently, but - shockingly - haven't quite followed through yet. Hey - it's been gorgeous out - things to do, boats to kayak, outside patio bars to haunt! - plus kickball has started back up and Lost is in its final season (I know, I know, awful to say, but it's true!).

But I am serious about turning off the tv (especially with the sun back, and past 6pm!) and digging into the large pile of books stacked on my bedside table.

I just started The Happiness Project today. I'm only about 20 pages in so I can't make a fair judgment yet, but I'm eager to read more. We could all use a little more happiness right?


Here are some of the other books currently (and patiently) sitting next to the bed and waiting to be read:

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
What the Dog Saw by Malcolm Gladwell
If You Have to Cry, Go Outside by Kelly Cutrone (my mother saw this one and thought of me - should I be concerned??)
What is the What by Dave Eggers
The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein
Plainsong by Kent Haruf

Have you read any of these? Do you have a current favorite or something you just read and want to recommend?

Sun, spring, books and dance

With the weather turning more and more beautiful by the day (hellooo, spring!), I'm so eager to spend more time outside. But a slew of books gifted to me for my birthday has me eager to dig into those, too, so I'm a bit torn on how to use my free-time. Right now I'm trying to soak up the sun during the day and do my reading at night, but I'm looking forward to the days when it's warm enough out to sit outside in the park and read.

Here's a lovely quote about doing just that - reading in the sun (and dancing too):

I love this sentiment by Voltaire. Reading and dancing really are two of the best art forms/activities humanity has discovered.

And here's a self-portrait. It's me, reading in the evening:

Ha - I wish. Check out those shoes!

So what about you? Have you read any good books lately? Do you ever get the chance to just sit in the sun and read or dance up a storm? Both things are fun to do, free and good for you. With that being said, here's a cheers to spring (and sunshine), to dancing, and to reading good books!

Photo 1 from Mary Ruffle on tumblr; photo 2 from atmosfere neorealist via This is Glamorous.

Green Marker sticky book marks

I'm a huge reader and I especially love books. I don't mean reading my blog roll online, not internet articles, not Kindle e-books; I love the actual feel of the paper and the heft of the hardcover. With this reverence for books, I never turn down the pages to mark my place - I hate creasing the pages like that! Then again, I don't really like bookmarks either (except these!); they're usually much too Hallmark or granny-ish for my tase.

That's why I'm loving these awesome page markers from Yuruliku Design. Removable, but cute if you want to leave them, and when you mark a bunch of thoughts, passages or entries, you have your very own garden in a book! Great idea, great design.

Available here (if you can read Japanese) or roughly translated here.

Via Benign Objects.

Rainbow in Your Hand flipbook

Rainbow in Your Hand, a 36-page flipbook by Japanese art director and copywriter Masashi Kawamura, doesn't create an animation on the pages like most flipbooks; instead, it creates the illusion of a 3D rainbow hovering over the pages.

Here are what the individual pages look like:


And here's what they do when flipped:

Amazing!

As seen on designworklife.

Dictionary of Curiosities

The Pictorial Webster’s Visual Dictionary of Curiosities features over 1,500 restored engravings of "archetypes and curiosities" that were originally printed in Webster's dictionaries from the 19th century. The entries run from A to Z (or perhaps abalone to zygote) and feature meticulous illustrations of each item.


The hardcover tome is on sale right now for $23.10 (from $35 originally) and would make a perfectly lasting gift for a child too young to read, an artist/designer, a history buff, or anyone who could get lost paging through these beautifully arranged curiosities.

As found on Mrs. Lilien.

The Exquisite Book Project

This incredible illustration was done by co-founder and head designer of Hello Lucky, Eunice Moyle, for an upcoming book called The Exquisite Book Project.

Designer Julia Rothman conceived of this experimental project, which is a collaboration of 100 illustrators, designers, comic artists and contemporary fine artists. Each artist will contribute one page to the book, but the interesting part is this: the artists have been given no more information than the previous artist’s illustration. Meaning the book could go anywhere and in a million different ways.

"The first artist will be given a few words to inspire their drawing. Each of the following artists will see only the page that immediately precedes their own. Each artist will use images (and optionally, words) to create their continuation to the story, and the inspiration for the next artist in line. ... Each artist must have a horizon line in their image that starts on the left side of the page and ends on the right. Where the horizon line of the first artist’s page ends, is where it begins for the next artist."

Which means that other than the continuation line, the "story" is free to go anywhere, and in any direction and art style. How cool is that?

Some of the contributors include Dave Eggers (who knew he could draw too? jeesh! what can't he do?) and Jen Corace (who I've featured here), among 98 others.

I will be checking this out when it comes out in fall 2010 for sure. The concept is so unique!

Originally seen here.

MacBook? Bookbook!

Sadly, I am not an at-home Mac user (it was Mac by day at work, Sony Vaio by night at home for me), but if I had my own MacBook or MacBook Pro, I'd gladly protect it with this hilariously clever and attractive Bookbook laptop case from Twelve South.

Bookbook's cover is made from rigid hardback leather, but the interior is a soft velvet. So you not only look like Vincent Price when toting about your laptop (ascot and smoking jacket not included), but your computer is protected from falls, bumps or would-be thieves. Brilliant design! I know what I'm getting my brother - King of the Mac - for his birthday gift next year!

As originally found on Made By Girl.

Jacket+Bookmark

I have a sweet little gift certificate to Barnes & Noble (hello, credit card rewards points, and yes, I'm a big ol' book nerd) that is burning a hole in my pocket. I totally wish B&N sold these adorable book dust jacket/bookmark combos:


Created by graphic designer and illustrator Igor “Rogix” Udushlivy, these "Jacket+Bookmark" sets are hilarious and would certainly make hauling around a beat-up-looking book much more fun.




I love the ones for Africa, Paris and of course Alice. Those rabbit ears are too cute!

(As originally seen on Swiss Miss, curator of the best stuff!)

Holiday gift idea: gifts for cooks

After much anticipation for this movie to come out in theaters, I saw it and loved it. And, as of December 8th, it will be out on DVD. I've already put it in my Amazon shopping cart for pre-sale - I'm thinking it will be a great holiday gift for my grandmother. (Side note: Mom, has she seen this yet?)

This DVD, coupled with Julia's memoir, My Life in France (which I haven't read, but I hear it's supposed to be really good), would make a great gift for any chef or food-lover you know, don't you think? With Amazon's usually free shipping, we're talking only 21 bucks ($9.99 for the DVD + $10.80 for the paperback book) - that's super cheap for what I think seems like a really good gift. Heck, at that cost, you could throw in a cute apron and a wooden spoon, and have yourself an awesome cooking-themed gift.

And full disclosure (based on the new FCC rules): I was not paid or bribed by Amazon, the maker of this movie, Julia Child, or anyone else to endorse these items. But, I am happy to take payment or bribes of any type at any time, so leave me a comment or email me if you want in! :)