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For Terese Bast, art comes to her after what could best be described as a mini-meditation: she focuses on her thoughts and feelings for a time before she puts pen to paper. What crosses her mind are fundamental notions that make up our day-to-day lives: “Friendship“, “Embrace“, and “Soft and Solid” are just a few of the titles she’s selected for her deliciously simple, kid-friendly prints.

The simplicity of Terese’s pieces opens them up to a wide range of reactions; sometimes it’s the delicate lines that she employs in her art; other times, a gently nuanced smile; and sometimes, it’s nothing more than the colors. Many of her pieces take place in forest scenes and have a very innocent, almost pastoral feeling to them. A true artist, Terese takes genuine delight in observing as people examine and respond to her work, which includes prints, postcards and magnets.

Bast also offers a series of limited edition animal-themed prints; these pieces feature full-colored backgrounds and have rabbits, pigs and other creatures in demure poses. These definitely have a more complex, adult appeal to them, although I find them just as cute as her other works. Terese’s artwork is available in two spots: her Etsy shop and her home page, which also carries her limited edition art.

Originally published at Cuteable. Please leave any comments there.

My daily cute finds, served up fresh from me to you!

Cute Plum Pudding dolls made from 10% cashmere wool, with felt details and cotton ears.

Funky French barrettes, made from 100% wool felt; the barrette is the real deal and made in France.

Why do they only make stuff like this in kids sizes? Cute ladybug and penguin luggage, on sale too!

Chocolate truffle beads galore; keep these away from the kids, because they look tasty!

Love these cute little charms, although they’re really pricey; they’re limited edition and available at PNUT jewelry.

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It’s impossible to miss Laura Peery’s porcelain sculptures–playful is probably the best way to describe them, as each of them seems to have its own mischievous, slightly off-kilter spirit. I love the flirtatious colors, floral embellishments and purposely irregular features, which remind me of something you might find in a wickedly cute cartoon; I almost expect them to sprout eyes and legs and dance off the table.

Here’s a fun exercise: take a closer look each teapot and pay special attention to the textures. If it reminds you of fabric, you’re not too far off–Laura actually rolls ultra-fine clay across surfaces such as canvas and lace, and then assembles them like a finely tailored dress.

It’s this attention to detail that gives Peery’s work an artistic appeal, as they should–you won’t be steeping oolong in her teapots anytime soon, as they’re nonfunctional. Each pot is available in a limited edition of 10; most are well out of my own price range but my favorite, “Tiny Teapot”, is relatively affordable. You can view more of Laura’s work on her homepage at The Guild.

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Clinks: Cute + Links!

These interesting chalk+paper vases from Yousaytomato are virtually indestructible and reusable. Via k style.

Extra cute totes over at newly opened Bored Inc. Via Creature Comforts.

These beautiful patterns are part of a new collection from Atelier R.Bernier and is available on lampshades, rugs, wall decals and pillow cases. Via print & pattern.

Fresh colors and mod shapes abound with rock scissor paper’s brand new Home Collection. Via decor8.

More Gocco goodness with these beautiful tree and tissue paper notecards by bubbledog. Via Paper Pusher.

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I know I’ve been featuring a whole lot of sock dolls lately but what can I say–I love socks, even though I tend to lose them faster than I can replace them! I really like these Sweater/Sock Kids–they all have hands in their pockets and beanies on their head, which gives you the impression that they’re really cold.

The truth is, they hail from balmy Hawaii so the shipping is a little pricy, but overall I love the style. BTW, Sock Puppies and Kitties are also available if you’re looking for more “traditional” fare!

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Micki Whelan’s encaustic jewelry is made with pigmented molten wax which must be repeatedly heated between brushstrokes; her pieces are elegantly framed in metal like minature paintings. Available at mickiwhelan.com.

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New at MY MY: I love the abstract patterns on these pendants by Intuitive Design; they’re handpainted with ink and paint, and then varnished in matte or glossy varnish. Also at MY MY: a Sewing for Beginners class will be held July 25th from 7pm-9pm; you’ll get to make your own 12″x12″ pillow case!

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If owning a home is out of your price range at the moment, get the next best thing with these cute mini-houses by J.Davis.Studio! They remind me a lot of the play pieces you’d find in Monopoly, except with a bit more detail. Made from sterling silver, there’s quite a bit of work that goes into each house–one of them even has a lovely cobblestone texture. I particularly like the house rings; if you’re well heeled, you can even get the neighborhood ring.

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Art on bags is a simple premise but one which is beautifully carried out by husband and wife team Rian and Julie Berry, who together have put together a line of fashionable yet functional handbags and accessories. Their artwork has a nice, hand-drawn style; this season the focus is on different locations such as Portland’s Pearl District and Paris’ famed Champs Elysèes. This makes sense, as Rian draws much of his inspiration from his travels.

The bags themselves are clearly high quality pieces; not only are they beautifully designed but features such as antique brass hardware, fine leather construction, contrast stitching and small printed details on the interior show a real dedication to delivering a top-notch product. I particularly like the two-toned design; one tone being a base color and the other one being the illustration, which is printed directly onto the leather. It acts like a frame for the artwork and really makes it stand out.

There is, of course, much more on the way. Their company, Rian Handbags, has been around since 2004, and for the summer ‘07 season they plan to offer floral patterns (inspired by a trip to Italy); Rian is also working on a separate line of bags just for men. If you’re interested in seeing more of Rian Handbags, feel free to visit their website, or if you’re in a shopping mood jump directly to their store.

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My daily cute finds, served up fresh from me to you!

I heart these super-cute silkscreened extra cuddly plushes by Post; they’re available in red, green, blue and orange.

Simple but stylish felt nano cases with lots of extra contrast stitching for durability, by etcetera media!

*Love* these cute animal-themed domino pendants by Kayann Works! Each one is signed, numbered and features the original artwork of Heather LeMay.

Ahhh, what kyoot widdo widdo bunny wabbit! A 5×7 matted print by Elle Bee Photography.

What a find: Bari J lets you design your own handbag! Choose from plenty of lovely vintage/mod fabrics and tons of sizes.

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Circa Ceramics is run by Andy Witt and Nancy Pizarro, consummate indie designers with a flair for fun and functional tableware. Their pieces all feature vintage/kitschy patterns on brightly colored glazed earthenware and porcelain. I like that they use a variety of techniques to apply their graphics; switching between screenprinting, laser printing and gocco, gives their pieces a diverse, spunky appeal that’s tough to match with just one approach.

At present, their lineup consists of tabs and magnets which are earthenware, and tableware which is made in porcelain. The latter seems to sell rather quickly as the bulk of their inventory seems to be tabs. Fear not, however–working from their north-side Chicago studio, the pair also frequents art festivals and offers open studio weekends 3x a year. Special orders are also available; for more information, visit their main website, their Etsy store or watch them in action at their Flickr gallery!

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Clinks: Cute + Links!

I am so thoroughly amazed by Sanna Annukka’s beautiful Finnish artwork; fun fact: she illustrated Keane’s second album cover, “Under the Iron Sea.” Via the style files.

Absolutely delish ceramic work by Stephanie Dearmond. Via Design*Sponge.

The folks at Deadly Squire take pretty patterns and put them on basically everything, making for super easy coordinating. Via Indie Fixx.

Urban Outfitters has quite a few new and cute arrivals in stock! Via print & pattern.

If you were lucky enough to score an iPhone earlier this month, these stylish wraps are a great way to protect your investment. Via Popgadget.

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Shevon Gant’s work is a study in relationships; between her life, raw materials and her spiritual beliefs. All of this culminates in lovely ceramics which are filled with spontaneity and natural beauty. Her store is available at shevongantceramics.com.

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I seriously can’t stop laughing at these stuffed felt and fleece monsters by Suki Suki Shop, and I mean that in the nicest way possible. The goofy expressions, lopsided body parts and poses are sooo cute! My favorite is Angry Chef, who looks a bit like me when I’ve got to cook in a hurry — he’s even got a Japanese bandana and a pair of chopsticks to boot!

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This is a somewhat unusual and slightly feisty bracelet DIY, but it’s a great way to reuse old bras who have worn out their welcome. The end result is an embellished bracelet with a nice lacy/vintage style!

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I *really* like these botanical placemats and napkins by Erin Corvisy of Blossom Creations, which are printed on beautiful earthtoned/natural colored fabrics. The placemats are made from hand-frayed Jute, while the napkins are composed of durable cotton drill.

Erin’s influences are broad and include Swedish, Danish and Japanese styles; she also believes that it’s possible to merge environmentally sustainable practices with good design. I’m inclined to agree; if you like her work, I encourage you to visit her Etsy shop or her blog!

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When I first came across Yuko Uemura’s kitchen towels I was immediately impressed by the beautiful color combinations and delightful shapes; in short, I loved them. I’m not the first, nor the last–from Decor8 and Hostess With the Mostess to Etsy itself, Yuko Uemura’s shop, PataPri, has been well received by the online community as a whole, despite having only opened in late March.

Yuko begins designing her towels on the computer by drawing out shapes in her signature cute+simple style; objects include pears, apples, penguins and kitty cats. She then silkscreens, irons, washes and irons again. Her towels are generally 100% white linen and are limited to runs of 100, making them instant collectibles.

Inspired by nature and beautiful things in general, Yuko was raised in an extremely creative and artistic family; her mother and sister would craft with her, while her grandmothers and aunts were skilled in doll making, wood carving and Japanese calligraphy. It’s therefore not a huge surprise that she has taken something as humble as a kitchen towel and turned it into a work of art! Yuko’s towels are available at her Etsy shop; you can also keep up to date by visiting her website and blog.

Originally published at Cuteable. Please leave any comments there.

My daily cute finds, served up fresh from me to you!

I love these two-toned flower hair clips; they’re studded with small gems that add a slight shimmer to your hair!

Cute snuggle blankets feature a beanie baby on both ends and are made from super soft minky fabric.

I’m very fond of the color and contrast on these simple polyclay pendants, which are adorned with handpainted blossoms and canework.

Elegant yet simple, these eastern-inspired pillows are made from dupioni silk and hand-printed with a gold-stamped Endless Knot.

Moleskine rules, or so I’ve been told–these jackets keep them safe and stylish!

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A journey into the land of Spooky Daddy is a quirky one; the fact that his Flickr gallery has both “cute” and “creepy” sections tells you all you’ll need to know. From doody dolls to skullbunnies, Spooky Daddy (along with Momma and Baby) loves making cuddly monsters from his home in West Virginia, and it shows! I must admit I have a soft spot for monsters so it was a delight to find that these are all handmade.

Each doll is made from soft fleece, and in his own words, has been “personally blessed and cursed and sewn and taken apart and resewn until it is just right.” I love his spirit and it definitely comes across in each of his dolls; even if they’re a little strange, they each have their own cuteness. New pieces are always being made, and custom orders are also available at relatively affordable prices; for more information, check out the Spooky Daddy Toy website!

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Clinks: Cute + Links!

Sweet little gocco prints from new Etsyian 3P-3; I love how they look framed. Via poppytalk.

Stylish retro/modern patterned pendants by Butterfly Blue, doublesided and framed in blackened silver or antique copper. Via print & pattern.

Make your toddler too cute to boot with these Livie and Luca shoes! Via drool.icio.us.

I’m a huge fan of pixel art and really enjoyed this interview with artists Ari, Thalia and Sokkuan by Veron of sparklette.net.

Get Fabergé without the extreme cost and fragility with these adorable Russian easter eggs by wardi! Via Softies Central.