Window Shopping | Orike Muth

I discovered this German company, Orike Muth, yesterday over at decor8. I am really loving their cross cultural collage-y-ness.

Design | Hand printed tape

I wish I could remember where I first saw this(may have been on scoutie girl) - block printed tape from Etsy seller Jezze. I think it's really beautiful and an interesting idea that I haven't seen before. There are lots more designs to choose from on her site.

As seen on . . . 

Here are a few things that have caught my eye recently that I think you might like. They don't really have much in common except perhaps a well worn patina - which is a good enough excuse to love them, I think!. First up some Moroccan slippers from everyone's favourite expat Maryam at My Marrakesh.

 

Next, we have wonderful red letters as seen on one of my regular reads, latligt (above), and a fabulously simple, vintage, french linen runner from Vagabond Vintage (love ALL the imagery on their site and want everything they have to offer - can't help it.)

A fantastic vintage bowling pin from White Elephant Vintage (what is it about these things that I love - perhaps the carnival-like red crown around it's neck.) 

Random Objects | Wallpaper Bag

Check this out. This bag is made from vintage vinyl wallpaper - who knew? Made in Italy by Etsy seller drawflowers(lots of other cute stuff too.)

Have a great weekend!

Thanks for joining me this week. Have a great weekend - get out and enjoy the glorious days of September - best time of the year if you ask me! This beautiful image is from Alicia Bock as seen on sfgirlbybay.

Inspiration | Blues and Greens

I love blues and greens together especially sky blue and acid green. Here are some fabulous examples.

Middle interior photo is another from Tricia Guild's Pattern book. The quilt is from Urban Outfitters and the bottom image is from the amazing Mr Matthew Mead.

Design | Rice bag pillows

These are right up my alley - I think you might have guessed that! - Rice bag pillows. From Koko and Co.

Inspiration | Textiles

Great textiles from guess who? They never cease to amaze me. It's probably a good thing that they don't have store anywhere near me!

Inspiration | Textiles

I am a big fan of bold, oversized patterns and colour. So I was surprised that I hadn't seen these designs from Koko Company before.

I love to crop patterns and images in unusual ways which is probably why these caught my eye. I love their folk-artsy, yet mid century, patterns - what a blast to introduce these into a simple interior space. I post quite a few pillows on this blog (you have probably noticed that!)  No, I don't have a home full of pillows - it's just all about the surface designs  :-) 

Inspiration | Iconic clocks

These George Nelson clocks represent a series of simple, beautiful design icons that really have never gone out of style. You can still find these starry influences everywhere you look in today's design world. They are often featured in my doodles!

Inspiration | Granny chic

Can't help but be inspired by these pretty little pincushions. They are perfect in colour, scale and dimension. Great examples of the modern craft revolution. 

Inspiration | Fabric

I was very excited to see these chairs in the Neiman Marcus catalogue. The top one, the peacock chair is remarkable - it's all about the back of the chair. I love the way it is paired with the striped rug too. I love to see well mixed patterns. The bottom one caught my eye because I love crewel embroidery especially on velvet!

Inspiration | Book covers

I often end up looking at book covers for design inspiration - I used to design lots of book covers when I was a free lance graphic designer. These ones caught my eye at Les Indiennes. If you love their textiles you will love these notebooks.

Inspiration | Patterns

As I mentioned the other day, we are getting ready to design a new collection for Cartolina - so it's all about inspiration here at Cafe Cartolina for the next while!

Vintage suzani pillows from Madeline Weinrib and one of my all time favourite interior shots from Tricia Guild's Pattern book.

Design | Inspirations

I noticed these dishes at World Market the other day. I thought they were really great and they totally reminded me of traditional mehendi(henna designs). I was thrilled at the results I got when I googled mehendi - pages and pages of fabulously inspiring, over the top, swirly designs - luv 'em!

Inspiration | Kneeling pillows

Great patterned kneeling pillows, love the tiny pompom trim. I specially love the one on the right. From here.

Inspiration | Unlikely places, part 2

Here are a couple more pictures from that book on cowboy boots - the last post was very popular, seems I'm not the only one who finds these designs inspiring - though it's probably safe to say that I may be the only designer/blogger who is talking about cowboy boots this morning!

Design | Vintage suzani upholstery

Love this chair. Love the movement towards using over scaled patterns for upholstery. Just a great way to bring some vintage, multi cultural style onto traditional furniture design. Nothing like shakin' things up in the living room.

Inspiration | Influences

Lots of similarities between the folk art design on this modern shade and the previous post, below, on vintage leather work.

Inspiration | Unlikely Places

When I scroll down through the last few weeks of posts I hope that you get a feel for who we are and what inspires our work. I love this image, it has all the elements of design I love - bold colour, vintage patina, folk art styling and traditional craftsmanship. And it's a boot! The best inspiration can show up in the most unlikely places! Fabulous vintage(1952) leather work from Cowboy Boots, The Art And Sole by Jennifer June. Have a great weekend - be inspired. See you next week!

Random Objects | Pack up your troubles!

A very extravagant, exotic way to travel from the people at Free People! I'm not sure that this would last long at the luggage carousels at Heathrow but it sure is cute!

Craftiness | Free Bag

No, it's not really free, sorry, it's from those people at Free People again. It's a bit of a grade school crafty project but I like it's rather scruffy Boho hippy vibe - what do you think?

Inspiration | Curtain fabric

 I am just getting ready to start designing a new collection for Cartolina so I thought I would post a few inspiring surface designs this morning. First up some great fabric from Anthropologie.

Inspiration | Blues and Greens

Great interior and plates from here.

Inspiration | Chocolates :-)

Amazing chocolates from Elbow Chocolates in San Francisco - hard to believe these are chocolates - give me one and I'll test it for you.

Window Shopping | John Robshaw

If you have been reading this blog for a few weeks it will come as no surprise to you that I am a big fan of John Robshaw textiles. The indian influence gets me every time - bold colours, block prints and misregistered repeating patterns - love it!

I especially love the brown duvet cover(above). I first saw John Robshaw bedding at Cabin Fever(which I wrote about here) where Rebecca had it matched with nautical ticking and vintage french linen - it looked amazing. That's a lot of pillows on that bed - exactly where do you put them all when you get in to sleep?

Random Objects | Vagabond Mirror

I haven't posted a mirror for a whole week. So how about this one?

Art | L'Affiche Moderne

Melanie wrote to me and asked me to have a look at her web site, L'Affiche Moderne. They sell limited edition prints from illustrators and photographers and they ship internationally. I was immediately struck by the beauty of this photograph by Cyril Auvity - really gorgeous. There are many wonderful prints in their online catalogue. Thanks Melanie!

Wndow Shopping | Oovoo Bags

As I was going through the list of our new retailers(and checking out their web sites) these bags caught my eye at R.H.Ballard in VA. You can see the entire collection from Oovoo here. I think they are quite beautiful and inspiring. I love the hippyesque shapes and embroidery combined with a sort of Upper Mongolian, goat herder look (bear with me, as a designer, I always feel obligated to define a style no matter how obscure!) 

New Cartolina Retailers | Tinsel Trading Co.

Just wanted to say thanks to all the wonderful people who came out to the New York International Gift Fair. A big welcome to our newest retailers who may have met Cartolina for the first time at this year's show. I was going through the list of new retailers yesterday and I am very excited to announce that Cartolina Cards will  now be available at Tinsel Trading Co. in New York. Any of you who have been following this blog will all ready know that I am a big fan of Tinsel and had great fun there in July.

Design | Simple drafting stools

Thanks to Michele at My Nottinghill I found these classic, steel stools for the studio. I love this simple, industrial design. You can find them here at the Wisteria catalogue.