I met a very nice Finnish lady, Maaret, in Berlin last Autumn at a small business and blogging event that I helped pull together with the goal of encouraging those living in Germany to start blogging and share design from their part of the world because there is a really strong art and design scene over there -  Berlin is like an extra large Brooklyn. That's why today I was so happy to hear from Maaret and learn that she launched a blog just before the holidays called Visual Notes. This print is the work of from Sonnenzimmer in Chicago. Love his screen prints, this one is still available ($48) and looks really nice in Maaret's Berlin apartment.

I like Visual Notes for many reasons, one being that it's in English so more have an opportunity to read it and next, I like that she shows lots of finds from Europe which definitely makes it more interesting. There are so many design blogs out there now that I'm really hoping to see more localized content so I personally can learn more about the part of the world where the blogger lives and what is going on there when it comes to design. I think it's a way we can all make our blogs stand out as a bit more unique if we add in some local stuff. When I'm in New Hampshire I sometimes talk about events and things in my local area (and Boston) and when I'm in my apartment in Germany you'll find me talking about stuff I do and events I'm attending over there. I think it makes blogging more exciting when you can share what makes you proud about your city or country in addition to all of the international finds you may feature because certainly inspiration is never confined to one area. I digress...

In looking over Visual Notes today I came across a few favorites that I'm sharing below so you can get a sneak peek of what Maaret likes to blog about.

Maaret shared with her readers Castle in Australia, a bedding company that also happens to carry a darling collection of hand stitched one-of-a-kind pieces on vintage French linen.

She also wrote about schubLaden, a company in Berlin who fits new furniture with vintage drawers. They do bespoke work, too. Love this!

I found out about Nadja Müller who is a designer in Berlin who makes some very unique things for the home - blankets, bedding, curtains, lighting, . More here. Everything is handmade!

And finally Hanna Konala and her gorgeous illustrative work. She has a most inspiring blog, too.

Be sure to visit Visual Notes for more beautiful finds and congrats on your new blog, Maaret!

(images linked to their sources above)