Benja Harney

I'm completely floored by the work of Benja Harney. Though it looks easy here, I can't imagine all the cutting, folding, and infinite patience required to make such beautiful 3D structures out of simple pieces of paper.

I also want one of those crowns asap - so much more sophisticated than a free Burger King or plastic princess one, wouldn't you say?

(Via The Design Files.)

Jon Klassen

I'm always looking for interesting art to adorn my walls, and these two prints by Jon Klassen ("University" and "Boat") definitely fit the bill!

Great use of texture and simple shapes to create complex depth and details.

See more of Jon's work here!

Friday Finds

Friday finds from Etsy. Have a wonderful weekend!

Paper Arts

I'm always amazed by the versatility of paper, and at the skill of artists who transform it and make it look like fabric, leaves, or petals.

Some of my favorite paper art pieces from Etsy are: Red Blooming Pop-Up Card by CrankBunny, paper circus with dancing hares by Under the Stairs Studios, and Origami Maple Leaves by Melker.

Little Birds

A collection of little bird illustrations and a handsewn tiny quail from Etsy.

Days of Wine and Rose-Colored Walls

Abandoned places have such a sad, enchanting beauty to them. This was taken at an old, run-down winery in Switzerland by Sven Fennema.

Darling Doodles

Darling, colorful doodles from HowNovel.

Black and Gold and Silver

Too bad the "New State of Silver" collection shown here by Core Jewels will only be available in Japan! I love the thin gold rings - they're delicate and detailed yet still "tough" with a rock and roll edge.

(Via here.)

A Cozy Cottage

I'd love to live in a cozy little cottage like this, tucked away on a quiet street and surrounded by towering pines. It looks like it has a garden surrounding it as well. So quaint!

Glinting Gold and Gems

Everything in SimpleBBeautiful's Etsy shop is so lovely, it was hard to choose which pieces to post! All of her jewelry is handmade, and she uses only recycled metals and conflict-free diamonds.

(From top to bottom: "Forged Ellipse Earrings", "Palladium White Gold and Sapphire Solitaire", and the "Dark Water Ring".)

Beautiful Buttermilk

The phrase "Beautiful Buttermilk" features two words you wouldn't expect to see together, but the adjective perfectly describes the first font by designer Jessica Hische. Her "Buttermilk" font has a modern feel with vintage scrollwork details. Get your very own copy of this lovely font here!

Inspiration from the Clouds

This beautiful image of mist-shrouded mountains and waters, framed by puffy white clouds overhead, was taken by Scott Garner.

Great vintage feel, and soft colors!

Morning Dreams

Just wanted to share this lovely photo I came across on DeviantArt. It's titled "Morning Dreams". Hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

Friday Smiles

For Friday Smiles, I decided to feature Arlo Weiner, the most stylish eight-year old I've ever seen! He's been interested in clothes since the age of three, when he first asked for a top hat. What a creative, precocious kid! Arlo is the son of Matt Weiner, the genius behind the AMC show "Mad Men".

Dyna Moe, the talented illustrator behind the famous Mad Men illustrations and the new MadMenYourself.com, drew this wonderful montage of Arlo's outfits. She's great at capturing expressions and traits with just a few pen strokes, and I love how she depicts fabric.

Enjoy, and have a wonderful weekend!

Bathing Beauties

I'm a fan of all things vintage and retro, so of course I love these colorful bathing suits from LA Drama Queen.

The "Absinthe" suit has simple and classic lines, but adds to the vintage feel with a charming bit of lace accented with a bow. The "Scrunchkini" is playful and bright with its polka dot pattern, but can be cinched to change the look from more vintage to more modern (and back again!).

Painted Lace

I discovered these beautiful hand-painted pieces by Fox and Clover the other day, and just had to share them with you! The artist paints nature- and lace-inspired motifs on reclaimed glass with fine-tipped enamel pens, then fires the pieces to make the image permanent and fade-proof. Lovely and eco-friendly at the same time!

I love everything in her store, but my favorite pieces shown above are: the Frida Lace Necklace, an Inchworm Mini Bowl, and the delicate Acorn Necklace.

See more of her original and beautiful pieces here!

Just My Type

If you love fonts like I do, you'll love these typography-inspired items from Designer Daily's "15 Objects with Typography" list. From top to bottom, these three creative pieces are Little Factory's laser-cut "Uppercase Scarf", Veer's "Lorem Ipsum" silver bracelet cuff, and 1 Boy 1 Girl's "Block Printed Linen Wristlet".

Lovely London

I was lucky enough to study abroad in London when I was younger. Ever since then, I've longed to move back, even if only for a month or two. This beautiful photo by Scott Lanphere only intensifies the yearning! It's absolutely stunning, so full of detail, movement, and light.

Great Freebies!

Just wanted to share these wonderful freebies that I came across today! They're both seamless backgrounds from DeviantArt and free to use (but double-check the terms first!).

The top link features the lovely "Softly Plaidly" tiles created by Kitten Bella, while the bottom showcases the "Gypsy Garden" modern, colorful background made by Pixels and Ice Cream. "Gypsy Garden" is also available as a brush set! Check for the link under her description.

I hope these great patterns inspire you and lead to wonderful creations!

Friday Smiles

Here's a beautiful peony, with an equally beautiful message of love, from Amy Nieto. Happy Friday everyone, and have a wonderful weekend!