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cute art by terese bast

Thu, 12 Jul 2007 20:41:33 GMT

Originally published at Cuteable. Please leave any comments there.

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.

cuteable finds

Thu, 12 Jul 2007 20:38:23 GMT

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.

laura peery’s porcelain sculptures

Thu, 12 Jul 2007 20:35:07 GMT

Originally published at Cuteable. Please leave any comments there.

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.

clinks

Thu, 12 Jul 2007 20:33:14 GMT

Originally published at Cuteable. Please leave any comments there.

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.

sweater/sock kids

Thu, 12 Jul 2007 20:28:34 GMT

Originally published at Cuteable. Please leave any comments there.

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!

cute collage: micki whelan’s encaustic jewelry

Thu, 12 Jul 2007 20:26:18 GMT

Originally published at Cuteable. Please leave any comments there.

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.

house jewelry by j.davis.studio

Thu, 12 Jul 2007 20:23:06 GMT

Originally published at Cuteable. Please leave any comments there.

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.

circa ceramics

Thu, 12 Jul 2007 02:57:11 GMT

Originally published at Cuteable. Please leave any comments there.

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!

clinks

Thu, 12 Jul 2007 02:53:48 GMT

Originally published at Cuteable. Please leave any comments there.

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.

cute collage: shevon gant ceramics

Thu, 12 Jul 2007 02:49:02 GMT

Originally published at Cuteable. Please leave any comments there.

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.

cute felt and fleece monsters at the suki suki shop

Thu, 12 Jul 2007 02:26:13 GMT

Originally published at Cuteable. Please leave any comments there.

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!

diy: vintage bra wristlet

Thu, 12 Jul 2007 02:24:55 GMT

Originally published at Cuteable. Please leave any comments there.

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!

patapri kitchen towels

Wed, 11 Jul 2007 08:15:35 GMT

Originally published at Cuteable. Please leave any comments there.

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.

cuteable finds

Wed, 11 Jul 2007 08:08:06 GMT

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!

kjoo’s bracelets and brooches

Wed, 11 Jul 2007 07:49:17 GMT

Originally published at Cuteable. Please leave any comments there.

I really like these highly creative brooches and bracelets by Maria of Portugal; she has a knack for picking fresh and trendy colors, and I especially like the way she mixes materials and shapes. Interesting and chunky (in a soft way!), each of her pieces are completely one of a kind which makes them even more special. Personalized pieces are also available; just check out her shop, kjoo!

cuteable finds

Tue, 10 Jul 2007 07:30:14 GMT

Originally published at Cuteable. Please leave any comments there.

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

I reallllyyy like these skull pillows by The Cute Institute–they’re made from soft polar fleece and can be customized in one or two colors.

Messy but very, very cute bear-gurumis!

Coming soon: Todd Oldham sandwich/travel bags by Mobi!

Love these beautiful chiyogami pendants and earrings–buy one and get the second for 50% off–be sure to mention “BOGO” in a note to the seller.

Oh good lord, this is seriously mega-cute: Kate of Little Doodles has added wigs to her birds! Aiyah!

clinks

Tue, 10 Jul 2007 07:19:37 GMT

Originally published at Cuteable. Please leave any comments there.

Clinks: Cute + Links!

Cute clouds–with an environmental message. Via Plastic and Plush.

Love these cute totes by Black Bag; they’re very well put together and sturdy! Via design is mine.

Cute burlap mushroom pincushions at Cathy of California. Via mixed plate.

Holy moly, now THIS is what I call reupholstering a chair–and an Eero Saarinen Tulip at that! Time to hit craigslist! Via sfgirlbybay.

Amazing hand-drawn cups by the talented Irana Douer. Via Creature Comforts.

hand-drawn artwork by not too pink

Tue, 10 Jul 2007 07:02:34 GMT

Originally published at Cuteable. Please leave any comments there.

I’ve been eying the artwork for Not Too Pink for some time now; I’ve always loved her cute, hand-drawn style and classic subjects that include birdcages, leafy trees and the occasional bird. It’s always fun to sit down and just pore over her drawings, looking for all the little details she’s squeezed in; heart-shaped leaves, tiled roofs, little blue birds in nests and tiny acorns dangling from branches leave you feeling simultaneously satisfied and hungering for more.

Not Too Pink offers prints in several sizes; small prints and buttons are the most popular, but large prints and mini prints are also available. For more prints, visit her Etsy shop here!

felt club: xl summer

Tue, 10 Jul 2007 06:56:00 GMT

Originally published at Cuteable. Please leave any comments there.

If you’re going to be in LA on July 15th, you HAVE to go to Felt Club! It runs from 11am-7am at the Ukrainian Cultural Center off the 101 at Melrose. Free Print Gocco demos, handspinning yarn and needle felting, charm jewelry 101, over seventy indie artists, Craft:, Etsy … ooh my head is spinning just listing all that! PS–the ridiculously cute glue bottle above is the official Felt Club mascot!

open mike at the cuteable flickr forums

Tue, 10 Jul 2007 06:49:00 GMT

Originally published at Cuteable. Please leave any comments there.

Kawaii Crafter has a thread going at the Cuteable Flickr Group to introduce yourself. If you’ve got a moment, please feel free to stop by, say hi, and tell us a little bit about yourself!

daisycakes soaps

Mon, 09 Jul 2007 05:56:16 GMT

Originally published at Cuteable. Please leave any comments there.

“Life is too short for yucky soap,” writes Jean-Marie of Daisycakes Soaps, a Florida-based bath and body shop that specializes in hand-stirred, handmade soaps. I couldn’t agree more; supermarket varieties are bland at best when compared to Jean-Marie’s creations, which are delightfully shaped and made from natural, skin-friendly ingredients. Above are her delectable spearmint and peppermint bars, along with a mint chocolate chip bar.

Daisycakes offers several varieties of soaps, including all-natural soaps (they use olive, coconut and palm oils) and all-vegetable glycerin soaps. The latter soaps are pH-neutral and alcohol free, which means it thoroughly cleans and lathers without drying out your skin. Above: beautifully detailed flower bouquets, butterfly and piggy bars.

Some of her soaps actually had me fooled–her lemon bar and coffee bean in particular are almost indistinguishable from the real thing. Her attention to detail has itself gotten considerable attention, as Jean-Marie is also an Etsy Featured Seller. One look at her sales (over 3,800) shows that she seems to have hit the sweet spot between affordability and quality. For more information (and plenty of soaps), please feel free to visit the Daisycakes Soaps store!

cuteable finds

Mon, 09 Jul 2007 05:47:21 GMT

Originally published at Cuteable. Please leave any comments there.

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

These cute chicken paperweights and doorstops by SwirlyArts are so cute!

Cottage+shabby chic style crafts, available at Mrs. Kwitty’s Cottage.

Brown Eyed Fox’s accessories are truly vintage, made from copper and brass with natural patinas.

Chic handmade jewelry by Clare, with materials sourced from all over the world

Ready-made little monster patches that can be sewed onto your own creations, by Rachel.

cute collage: kirsten fribert

Mon, 09 Jul 2007 05:38:16 GMT

Originally published at Cuteable. Please leave any comments there.

Delightfully fresh and light cushions, drink cosies and other housewares by Kirsten Fribert! Main website: byfribert.dk; also available at: tivolihome.com.

clinks

Mon, 09 Jul 2007 05:36:17 GMT

Originally published at Cuteable. Please leave any comments there.

Clinks: Cute + Links!

Extra cute vintage birdies and bunnies on pillows by Jessy’s Dolls. Via Indie Fixx.

Nice contrasting patterns and colors on these quilted patchwork purses by Justina Maria! Via design is mine.

Very, very hand-drawn mugs by Lobi, but I love them to death! Via Mixed Plate.

Recycled leather bags are also pretty hip in an earthy way; email the designer if interested. Via the style files.

A little bit naughty but still cute: Yeti and Sasquatch drinking buddies; each comes with a plush can of beer. Via Plastic and Plush.

featured site: COLOURlovers

Mon, 09 Jul 2007 05:29:59 GMT

Originally published at Cuteable. Please leave any comments there.

If you like color, you’re going to *love* COLOURlovers! It’s basically a site brimming with user created color palettes which can be ranked and commented. I really like their trends feature, which boils down magazine and website colors to their bare elements; if you’ve ever really liked a particular issue of People or US Weekly, this site offers helpful RGB and hexadecimal codes that eliminate guessing. A boon to designers, artists and crafters everywhere, I encourage you to drop by COLOURlovers–you won’t be disappointed!