The week in review: December's here

 #1

If you want a round up of the best blosts (blog posts according to those in the know at LKR) then this post is a must read for small business owners or anyone runnning a blog or business online. The best of LKR. 

 #2

I created a brand new product this week. Boo yah! Personalised Music Pencils. They are pretty dang cool I have to say, really happy with how the box cover design turned out.

  

I think that the lady who tried to teach me how to play piano probably deserved a set of these.

#3

A friend of mine asked for my advice in sourcing a cute diy kit for her daughter to make a teacher gift. My top two favourite sets that I found were these guys

I love the work of fellow NTHS seller Laura Clempson of Clara and Macy from her about page to her product descriptions. I thought this pudding kit would be so cute. Or the robin. Great as a stocking filler too.

over on Etsy I found Georgina Giles' shop where she sells these absoloutely adorable looking sewing kits.

#4

I found the coolest idea for gift wrapping my presents this year. (Yes this is something I actively look forward to) over on pinterest. The original post was from over on the Country Living website

expect lots of misleadingly shaped gifts this Christmas peeps.

Until next time

xx V

Designer Thursday... the notebook

A friend of mine forwarded me this video on 'The Death of Paper' (below)

Which got me thinking about how I record things. My ideas, designs, business tips, quotes even my shopping lists. You see I love technology, I use it constantly but I still use a day by day Diary to plan meetings and I am never without a notebook of some form.

 My collection of notebooks.

While I can see myself going more online from a practical point of view, being able to access my Diary from anywhere would be a good idea. I can never see myself without my trusty notebook. 

Which brings me to this weeks Designer Thursday. The notebook! 

My go to for years was always the Moleskine. Interestingly the company have recently teamed up with Evernote to offer a range of Smart Notebooks.  I am not sure if I am entirely on board with what they are trying to sell (it seems to rely heavily on 'smart' stickers) but I think the idea of cross collaboration has potential. 

Below is a Moleskine notebook that I covered in the cut off part of an pair of tweed trousers!

Each notebook is dated on the outside cover 

If I am feeling a blocked or in a design rut I often flip back through my old notebooks. Below you can see the initial design sketched for my Egg. 

 

 Or the very first idea sketch I did for my hand covered pencils

My notebooks are a a vital tool, a recording device that I don't think I could translate into a digital medium. 

I sometimes make my own notebooks. The one you see below is a small pocket notebook, the binding is sewn using an old Singer sewing machine.

I hope you enjoyed this little peek into my love affair with paper and my obsession with notebooks!

Until tomorrow. 

xx V

Designer Thursday: The Mug

Welcome to another Designer Thursday

Today I am inspired by the rain, the rain that is pouring down outside my window as I type this, the rain that just won't stop. 

source : seekerofhappinessblog.com

On days like this I consume about twice the amount of tea, maybe that's why us Irish love our tea so much. 

And like any good tea drinker I know that the enjoyment of a cup of tea greatly depends on what you are drinking it from. I am not a cup and saucer lady. I like my mugs, with nice comfortable handles and just big enough that you can savour the moment without the moment ending with a cold cup of tea.

Take these mugs for instance, the result of a collaboration between Designist and Le Cool Dublin. 

This is an Irish truism.

"If the slightest problem arises,someone will inevitably offer you a mug of tea"

I have quite a collection of mugs. But there are still others I lust after. 

I have always wanted a mug with a Rob Ryan, and then this Christmas I got one. Thank you! 

And then I saw this beautiful and romantic (yes I just called a mug romantic) duo by him

"All of these words are worth less then the breath used to say them if we cannot be together"

This would make a really cool 9th wedding anniversary present, a twist on the traditional pottery gift. 

One of my favourite mugs is my Penguin Classic mug which was produced by ArtMeetsMatter.

And I can still remember the day that the handle on my Beatrix Potter mug finally gave up the ghost. - on a complete aside; don't you just love that expression 'gave up the ghost'

Then there is Scottish company McLaggan Smith Mugs whose Morse Code mug I am the proud owner of.

And finally I leave you with my most recent purchase, the Bicycle Riders favourite tea, which I snapped up in a local shop.

 

I think I can still land my collection safely on the right side of obsession, but maybe I should change it up, I could start collecting tea pots next...

Have a favourite mug send me a photo over on twitter @six0sixdesign or on my facebook page

Tea mad and proud. 

xx V

Designer Thursday: Something suspended

 <sup>Welcome to the very first Designer Thursday. 

Each week I will look at a certain area of the design world with the focus being on the designers and makers behind the objects. 
 
 Today I want to share some of my favourite necklaces and pendants from some of my favourite Etsy sellers.</sup>

neck·lace n. An ornamental chain or string of beads, jewels, or links worn around the neck.

pen·dant  n. Something suspended from something else, especially an ornament or piece of jewelry attached to a necklace or bracelet.

  First up we have this beautiful Archery Bow necklace by MisoPretty 

 

This Geometric Necklace is part of a range by Lithuanian designer BlueBirdLab

I absolutely love the pieces that FreshlyFig comes up with. This Cupcake Baking necklace is just one of my favourites by this Portland based maker.

Bubble Meteorite Necklace by Etsy seller Alina who hails from Sofia.
 I LOVE her Rare Diamonds collection.

 Tiny Raw Nugget Necklace by  LoveJewelryByJ

And finally just in time for Easter is this oh so cute Porcelain Bunnyby London designer Jade Gallup from Madebymeme
 

You can also find all the pieces seen here today over on my Pinterest Board here of the same name. 

Now all I have to do is decide which one to buy! Decisions, decisions.

xx V