I first told you about the 100 Layer Cake blog nearly two years ago and I’ve been waiting for them to roll out their website ever since… and voila! Today is our lucky day! It’s live, baby! I love their marketplace, it’s great for connecting brides with vendors and vice versa. In the market, you can buy and sell pieces for your wedding and also bid and post on vendor requests.
“Vendor requests are posted by brides (say, floral arrangements for 12 tables), and bid on by vendors. Vendors have their own portfolios on our site that brides can review before accepting a bid. We think it’s an awesome way for brides and vendors who might not normally connect, to get together and create something beautiful!” Great concept!
I found some great things on 100 Layer Cake shown throughout this post but perhaps you feel like clicking over for some products + inspiration of your own? Also pay special attention to their directory of DIY projects and don’t forget to look over their directory of online resources for crafting your own wedding.
And congrats 100 Layer Cake… Great new site!
(images: 100 Layer Cake)
Do you recall my review of The Homemade Home by stylist Sania Pell? If so, you may have noticed that her book was shot by the talented Penny Wincer in London, who is represented by ERA Artist Management. (If you don’t remember my review, you may click here to read it.)
Some of the photos from Sania’s extraordinary book are shown in this post… and I just love Sania’s styling work combined with Penny’s amazing eye so the combination of these two talents is quite an inspiration to me. I thought I’d show you some glimpses into Penny’s portfolio today. If you want to see more amazing eye candy, you have to check out this link…
Penny has long been one of my top ten favorite photographers in the world of interiors — I love her angles and how she finds beauty in the mundane and even how she makes the extraordinary feel within reach somehow. She has a very strong eye, her composition and lighting is inspiring, and overall Penny has enormous talent. I hope you’ll check out her work for some inspiration of your own today!
(images: era artist management/penny wincer)
Have you heard of Cocodot, a hot new online greetings company based in Los Angeles? Cocodot is a lovely group of very talented people who are passionate about photography, graphic design and online communication that reaches the heart — and I think for online greetings Cocodot has the best (so fresh!) look/feel out there currently. I love how they collaborate with both emerging and established “names” from small companies like event planner Amy Atlas to massive brands like DKNY and David Stark — fantastic! Here are a few of the online greetings that I like from their current seasonal collection — violet, green and silver is my palette for the winter this year so I particularly love these hues together and of course, the whole handmade look is always a favorite of mine.
With Cocodot, you can send ad-free greetings and invitations online but you can also send them via Facebook (I love this since I’m a huge fan of Facebook). You can also add your own music, track and manage your guest list, upload your own logo, include your own photography AND now you can even have your cards professionally printed and tucked inside of beautiful vellum envelopes after you’ve finished designing them on the Cocodot site. Fab!
(images: cocodot)
What do you think of pop-up shops and pop-up exhibitions? From stores like Target to small boutiques that bring in a limited line, what do you think of the overall concept? I love it and predict that it’s going to be awhile for some time — it’s been growing all over the world for some time now and personally I think it’s a great way for people to explore new revenue streams, get in front of a new customer, explore a different city, and in general it’s a great experimental thing to try without investing enormous amounts of money. Have you heard of Once & Again, a pop-up exhibition that is being held simultaneously at the Bass Museum of Art in Miami Beach and online at Gretal Home? I *love* the things in this shop… I sat here this morning going through the photos positively drooling! Want to see?
Bear Face Mirror: By All Lovely Stuff. “By referencing childhood nostalgia with their Bear Face mirror All Lovely Stuff have created a comforting yet fresh and modern piece.”Pillows: Cien Años de Soledad embroidered pillows by Ana Gonzalez (Series of six pillows, each one unique, exclusive to Gretel). “The beautiful embroidery of artist Ana Gonzalez is inspired by symbolism from classic Colombian literature. The story of revival in these pillows is completed by the vintage English fabric which Gonzalez has used as her canvas.” Bowl: Gold-plated Flawed bowl by Studiomake.
Splash bowls by Tim Parsons for AR Wentworth. “Pewter, an old fashioned material, has been rejuvenated by Tim Parsons and the craftspeople that hand-make the unique Splash bowls. Because the form of each bowl is determined by the ‘splash’ of the molten material, each and every piece is different.”
Left/Center: Giant yarn rubber crocheted bowls by Rosanna Contadini for Neo. “By combining the traditional craft of crocheting with a thoroughly modern material (neoprene rubber) Contadini has created a collection that is innovative and intriguing. The giant yarn bowl (21 inches wide) uses rubber yarn that is one inch thick and is a new addition to her incredibly popular series of rubber crocheted bowls.” Right: Hand-carved wood cake pedestals by Iacoli & McAllister (special edition, exclusive to Gretel). “Seattle-based design duo Iacoli & McAllister are well known for giving new significance to ordinary vintage candlesticks. Now, in this extension of their Mini Pedestal series, and also inspired by flea-market finds, I&M has created delicately carved wood pedestals (stained with tea and coffee) topped with Corian plates.”
Spica Light by Iacoli & McAllister. “Like many of the designers featured in Once & Again, Iacoli & McAllister proudly produce all of their work by hand. Thanks to the industrial processes they incorporate however, I&M’s designs are far from rustic. Their brand new Spica light features a sleek powder-coated steel frame wrapped with soft embroidery floss. One of the designers, Jamie Iacoli, recently inherited her mother’s collection of hundreds of skeins of thread and the incorporation of them into this modern piece is a contemporary interpretation of the needlework she did as a child.”
Gold-plated Flawed cups and bowls by Studiomake (special edition, exclusive to Gretel).”The gold-plated drips of Studiomake’s Flawed cups and bowls are gilded by artists in Thailand. The process not only refers to traditional Thai craft but also to the craftsmen’s refusal to follow popular ceramic-ware trends of other culture.”
Wonderland candlesticks by Stephen Johnson for Artecnica (Series of 24, including three designs; Bird, Lady and Rabbit, exclusive to Gretel). “Johnson refers to the familiar forms of ceramic figurines in the design of his whimsical Wonderland candlesticks. They have been produced in a striking matte black finish especially for Once & Again.”
What do you fancy from these lovely items above? I love the bear face mirror for a kid’s room, the Spica light for an office, the gold-plated flawed bowls for my china cabinet and the Ana Gonzalez embroidered pillows for my sofa!
Psst: This collection is only available until December 5th so if you see something you like, act fast!
(images: once & again)
I was thinking recently about gratitude. My friend Laurie, who is also an expat from the states (originally from San Francisco) and lives around the corner from me in Hannover, Germany, gave me the idea for this post so I owe the whole gratitude idea to her. You see recently, she held an event for ladies who live in Hannover (but are from another country) to get together for dinner and networking – I even met a few decor8 readers which was a lovely surprise! It was such a special evening to be with ladies from all parts of the globe — Brazil, America, Australia, Denmark, the Netherlands… but in addition to having friendly chats and exchanging information about our new culture, language, lifestyle — Laurie gave us each a piece of paper and spoke for a moment about gratitude. What was the paper for? Well I’ll get to that.
Laurie (who is a change management consultant who works for high profile companies) told us that when people normally relocate it is easy for them, especially when grouped together with others who have relocated as well, to start complaining and conversations can quickly become quite negative as a result. This is one reason why I’ve not yet joined a local expat group — I’ve heard that people in these groups can be big whiners and that’s just not my style. I believe that the more you complain, the more negativity you invite into your life and the more your complaints turn into reality. I also believe that complainers receive less help – people usually want to help those whom they like and complainers tend to have fewer friends. What do you think?
Now back to this inspiring dinner party with Laurie…
She tactfully explained to our group that it’s best to concentrate on what we have in our new culture, versus the things we may miss, and then she asked us to write down what we are thankful for… what do we have currently in our life that we love? Specifically, she asked us what we love about living in our new city. My list covered both sides of my index card and I quickly filled it, which told me something instantly — that I found a great spot to live and work!
The other ladies didn’t realize it (I was discreet), but I took notice of who had to really sit there and think about things to list vs. those who quickly listed their favorite things. I wondered if the ones who quickly wrote their list vs. those who had to really think about what they were thankful have a happier expat experience because they are naturally seeing the good things? Or? It also made think that perhaps by making regular mental notes (and from time to time making them on paper, too) that we all should remind ourselves what we are currently thankful for, what we love about our life, our personality, our home, our city, our job, those close to us… I think being thankful makes us less prone to negative thinking and gives life more meaning. We shouldn’t have to suffer an extreme hardship before we start to appreciate what we have, right?
And so, since yesterday was Turkey Day in America and many of you still have bellies full of pumpkin pie, perhaps it is a nice time to reflect on what you have currently that makes you feel grateful. What Are You Thankful For? I’d love to see some of your lists, would you mind sharing with me in the comments section below? I think writing a list publicly reinforces our feelings and also encourages others to look on the bright side and be more thankful too. Care to participate? I will join you with my list in the comments section below… You may also answer this question publicly on your blog and then leave a link to your blog post in the comments below – it’s up to you.
I’m looking forward to reading your thoughts! :)
(image: Sunday Suppers, a supper club I’m dying to attend someday in Brooklyn that also has a new blog!)
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