There’s something magical about painting with watercolors. Especially when Tokyo freelance artist, Mizue Hirano, holds the brush. Her website inspired me today to start painting again, and although I’m not very steady with my hand (or brain!), I’m beginning to think that perhaps I should put my acrylics aside and experiment with watercolors for awhile, maybe produce something worthy of a small frame for a shelf in my house.

Do you paint? Have any work that you can point me to? Go ahead, self-promote in the comments section below this post. Also, can anyone suggest a good watercolor kit? I’ve been hunting around the dick blick website, but I’m a little lost…

If you’d like to contact Mizue, or if you’re interested in seeing more of her work (it’s stunning and much of the website is in English in addition to Japanese), please visit her online. She is also an illustrator and works with acrylics and oil on canvas, too. Below is a photo of an exhibition she was a part of last year. You can also email Mizue at hirano[at]mizue[dot]info.

(images copyright 2006 mizue hirano)

Urban Outfitters has such cute new items. Papers and Mirrors and Sweet Geisha Lighting. Pillows and glass hooks for hanging your things, these are a few of my favorite things…

By the way, the Geisha lamp was first spotted atAnh-Minh’s blog, so I get ZERO credit for spying it first!

(images from urban outfitters)

Feel like having a little fun this afternoon? Head on over to Polaroid-o-nizer… No, it’s not the next Arnold action film nor is it something you’ll be adding to your family of small kitchen appliances, it’s a simple site I found via Anh-Minh’s blog, that converts any photo into a polaroid moment. Just when you thought we moved forward in technology, handfuls of us are still clinging to the good old days. I tried this service with a shot I took over the weekend. What do you think?

It’s fun, free, and retro-cute!

(images copyright 2006 decor8)

Kim O’Neill wrote in over the weekend to tell me all about her company, Good Stock, a charming online store that offers a modest collection of items designed around making family life enjoyable. Themed around everything Kim loves, including her family, the business name actually stems from something her grandfather always told her about their own roots, that she comes from ‘good stock’. Good Stock is a collection of Kim’s favorites in life: design, words, home, family, color, details, and nostalgia.

Whether it’s a family tree, a Good Stock book that you can write and give to your children, animal-themed onesies, quilted floor pillows in 6 juicy colors (I love the turquoise), and an adorable ‘how to’ placemat set for training little ones, complete with a napkin and napkin ring. I love how everything old-fashioned is suddenly modern again at Good Stock. Nicely done, Kim!

Thanks Kim for introducing us to Good Stock!

(images from good stock)

Jonathan wrote to me today about his company, Nina’s Pillow Designs. Based in Houston, they are a boutique designer, manufacturer, and seller of custom decorative pillows, some featuring hand-stitched leather-like vinyl details – fun! Here are a few designs that stood out for me. You can check Nina’s Designs out via the web right here.

Thanks for the tip, Jonathan!

(images from nina’s pillow designs)