Design^Sprout | Your Guide to Green Design

An illustrated life

     First, I want to give a warm welcome to two new Design^Sprout writers Claire and Kristen.  I fell in love with their blog So Sweet & So Cold awhile ago and pestered them to share their green and handmade finds with us! They are both creative and crafty on their own so I'm sure we're in for some inspiring finds. Welcome guys - so glad that you're here!

Below is Kristen's first post ....

     I get the feeling that the folks behind these fantastic & unusual illustration pieces are the sort who doodled on their desks and book covers in elementary school. I guess I'm in good company, then.
      Gorgeous illustrated tea set by Esther Coombs (above) depicts buildings from New York City & Amsterdam.

     Unusual illustrated pendant. I love the detail, and also the weird combination of the Victorian-style face and the television. From Tilly Bloom whose entire shop is just delightful.

 
   Original paper & acrylic artwork. The strange, fluid shapes, from Rochelle's Little Ones, contrast so well with the text behind them. I love how this appears so casual & doodle-esque, but has an amazing attention to detail as well.

Don't cry for me. Design^Sprout goes to Argentina!

     Now that I have bid a fond  farewell to the good 'ol US of A and am safely nestled in my colonial apartment smack dab in the middles of Buenos Aires - a place full of amazing designers, crafters and architecture! I'm going take tons of inspirational pics (including a dramatic! few of me flinging open tall wooden doors and singing from iron balconies ala Evita!) to bring you the best of what this city has to offer. Woo Hoo!

   The photo above was taken in an Argetnine home accessories store and I thought it was so clever.  I'm such a fan of hodge-podge (no surprise there!) but the way they've anchored all the different frames and photo types with that statement wallpaper is just so creative! There are soooo many fantstic new wallpapers on the market but frequently they are none-too wallet friendly. With this idea, you only have to buy one $$$ roll, hit up a thrift store for some old frames and pow! You have a whole art statement. Bueno?

   Below area few ideas along those same lines.

This is not your grandma's wallpaper!

   Don't these clever designs make you want to run home and paper a wall or two? Artist Natalie Wright hand silk-screens and then paints over the clever patterns she's dreamed up. The mustache design (below) has been snatched up and is currently in production by the WIlly Wonka of wallpaper, Flavor Paper. That's it! I'm gonna need to get some more walls.

TGIF - Bikes! Gotta love those green, mean, earth-loving machines!

     While having dinner with a girlfriend last night she mentioned her fiance and how everything would be just peachy between them if he didn't have such a complete obsession with his bike. "Seriously," she said.  "He's on the internet everyday looking up bikes and bike paraphernalia and people writing about their bikes and artists who paint their bikes... I almost wish it was porn so then I could at least be mad at him!  They don't have support groups for insane bike love!"  I did the obligatory friend nod then went home to see what the fuss was about.
  Sorry friend - I'm on the man's side of this one. Bike's are freaking adorable - not to mention-green! Check out these fun finds and see if you don't agree. Maybe we can start a support group together?

These cute graphic bike mugs (above) would perk up any morning!

Can't say I'd object to keeping my coinage in this cute purse.  These vintage buttons add a whimsical touch to a dresser - maybe to your adorable baby bike fan's changing table?

Bike necklace from Etsy seller Liz Mathews. Go green with a bike grocery tote while showing support with these cute magnets.

Your tot would rock this dress! How cute!

Bike art looks good anywhere! Add a wall decal to keep you motivated.

Silhouettes - sometimes an outline says it all!

    So, you love your pet. No, you looooove your pet. You heart you pet. You cuddle your pet. You speak in high pitched voices and baby talk while your friends shoot you looks as though you've lost a marble. Still, you don't consider yourself one of "those people".  You know, the pet-obsessed freaks who have matching outfits and photos of cats lining their bedroom walls.  Well, welcome to my boat. While looking for a way to display my maternal (some might say obsessive) love for my dog Winnie, I came across the idea of the silhouette portrait. Simple, graphic, stylish.
     They work for your favorite rock stars, children, classic chairs, 70's activists or anything else you can dream up. Yeah, my friends still think I'm a freak but at least now they compliment my artwork. :)   
     Get DIY silhouette-making instructions on the really cute blog More Ways to Waste Time. 

     Get a custom portrait of your favorite baby from Etsy seller Misscrowland.

     Crow coasters, Custom Kids, and Cameo Portrait are all for sale on Etsy.

     Click for links to these funky earrings and gothic sparrow necklace.

     These custom, decreasing-in-size profiles are such a cute family idea!

     Custom couple portraits are a really unique wedding gift. Adding a little lace doily to this classic cameo gives it more interest while complimenting the graphic.

 

TGIF - Why buy art when you can make your own!

    Today while I was browsing through my inspiration photos it dawned on me how wonderful and personal they all looked while gathered together. What was once a hodge podge of magazine clippings and photographs now seems to make a cohesive statement about me - my design sense, wanderlust and love of handmade. Not to mention lending a bit of insight to my scattered mind! 
     Plus, there's no need to go out and buy expensive artwork - the things you have are perfectly lovely (and green!) on their own. Just add creativity and poof - instant masterpiece! Below are some of my favorite "wall collages".  Hope they lend a bit of inspiration to your day!

     Take a cue from artist Lisa Congdon and choose similarly toned art and colored frames for a pulled-together look.

 

     Mixed media lends a funky boho vibe (of course it helps when you have that fantastic Wassily chair to play off of!). Or, think outside the box (in our case, the wall) like Etsy artist Bees in my bonnet and scan your favorite old photos to use as wrapping paper or stationary.

     Try and use different scales of frames and prints for a more interesting and chic look. This look is adorable and eye-catching because of the mixture of soft colors and fun art work. Try and combine flea market finds with more personal items for style that's uniquely you.

All inspiration photos above an below were found via Flickr.