Vintage packaging

Love this vintage packaging. Vintage linen thread from Burgandy Brocante. Thanks Fiona, for the tip - not me, my friend Fiona!

More vintage tin treasures

The faded colour palette of this beaten up, vintage kid's cup and pitcher is so charming - I can't get enough of it. I'm quite obsessed with these miniatures - as you can tell - I seem to have featured a few of these recently - but that's what it's all about - passion. From 5 Gardenias.

Vintage flat files

Fantastic vintage flat file for someone this morning. This is a great buy - a really useful piece. Most of these flat files are usually really large and heavy - this one is compact and very useable - any takers?

Wallflowers

Look how easy it is to make a repeat pattern with Laura Worthington's Wallflowers font from Myfonts. Easy peasy!

Kidimo

Kidimo gives new life to vintage shop signs - in Paris - I know you are going to love this. What an amazing interior space. These images are via Graphic Exchange.

CraftedSystems works in collaboration with the YWCA Women's Shelter of Portland, Oregon. Homeless women at the shelter are trained and provided employment assembling each piece by hand.100% wool felt rugs - available, for good cause, from here

Can I help?

I'd like to tell you about a brand extension that I'm launching this week . . .

Every week creative entrepreneurs email me with questions about starting a small business. I love talking about business and I'm flattered that people come to me for advice. I can talk for hours on the phone about design and branding, marketing and social media. I love seeing business happen - especially in the creative world. I firmly believe that when creative people apply themselves to business it can only make for a better world.

So I've decided to start offering consulting services to creative entrepreneurs.

I've been a self employed artist, living with another self employed artist for over 15 years. Along the way I've learned what it takes to turn passion into profit by learning every aspect of the business from the ground up. After a number of years as a freelance designer/illustrator helping build brands for clients I turned the table and developed my own brand, Cartolina, which I'm proud to say sells in some of the most beautiful stores around the world.

I live the life, I walk the walk and I understand how it feels to be responsible for your own small business. If I can help you - I'd love to! Details here.

www.fionarichards.com

www.cartolinaconsulting.blogspot.com

And the winner is . .

Congratulations to Doug today - his illustration(below) was selected out of 7000 entries to be featured in the American Illustration Annual, 30th anniversary edition. This is a juried annual with stiff competition and I'm very proud of him :-).

This illustration was for Bicycling Magazine.

Xenia Taler

Very sweet and original design from Canadian Xenia Taler. A birdie trivet for your table with cork feet - lovely!

Inspiration - colourful characters

I like these - I find them very inspiring. Sweet, little, chunky figures. The colours are so watery and spring like - I think it's more fun to be inspired by the curious than the obvious.

Salt and pepper shakers from A Vintage Season.

Vintage treasure!

Beautiful vintage engraving from a french dictionary applied to this simple pendant from Sushipot. Love - this - image!

Nice little, vintage inspired, gift tags.

From Kate's Paperie

Happy Weekend

Hope you have something fun planned for the weekend - how about some dancing? You can buy this cute poster here - now try and get that song out of your head!

Gwen Bainbridge

These are so pretty - from British artist Gwen Bainbridge. I love the delicate form and the unexpected texture of these pieces The understated surface design is lovely.

Pony Rider

I thought you might like these lovely vintage inspired items from Pony Rider. I noticed them the other day in the Australian Home Beautiful that we received from the editor. The black and white table cloth caught my eye because it reminded me of a Haida button blanket. And then I also noticed the pennant flags - especially the grandma's scone recipe version. Nice idea!

Inspiration - Pollen Arts

I am so hoping that you didn't see these on the Etsy home page yesterday because I want to be the one to show you first! I love these. I was so excited when I saw them. I love how authentic they are - cast from the real thing. And there's something about glass being reproduced in a soft material like wax that is so charming and inspiring - makes me want to take a completely fresh look at everyday objects. The clever people at Pollen Arts made these and you can see more here.

Inspiration - Forest Bound

I'm really not a girly girl - I like classic clothes, jeans and Ts and recognizable materials and styles. I don't like trendy and I don't like fussy. I like natural textures and leather patina. I like history, provenance and vintage - and I really like these bags - made from historical textiles and hardware by Forest Bound.