Tea Note

Lovely packaging for tea from a Japanese website called Tea-note.

Muji Craft Box

This craft house box from Muji is simply too cute. Think this will make a holiday cake gift box. Available here.

My Best Friend's Wedding (invitations)

I spent the last few days working on the church wedding invites for my best friend, Elaine. A talented designer herself, I felt really honoured to be entrusted to design Elaine's wedding invitations for her.

Elaine and I have known each other since we were 12, and I can say that I don't know of anyone more similar in interests and taste than her. For the design of her invites, I decided that a simple and classic handcrafted wedding invite would reflect Elaine's timeless sense of style.

We decided to keep the cards simple and focus on subtle elements such as the selection of the font and texture of the paper. While scounting the web for a wedding calligrapher, I chanced upon the work of Laura Hooper. As soon as I set my eyes on Laura's work, I knew at once that we had to engage her to do the calligraphy for my best friend.

Laura is well known for her intricate, unique and delicate style of calligraphy. She offers a variety of services including 29 different calligraphy styles for envelope addressing, placecards, etc., and even draws the most gorgeous maps.

I finally settled on a beautiful Allegro Script , which I paired with a San Serif block-like font, for the invite to achieve a simple classic look. Not long after contacting Laura (who is super prompt in her responses), I received the gorgeous artwork and was on my way to gocco-ing 125 invitations by hand. I also got Laura to handwrite the address of the lunch reception which I screen-printed on tags (above) to accompany the invites.

(above) Screen-printing the cards by hand using my beloved gocco! I simply love the imperfections, blotches and everything behind this labour intensive process!

I finally completed the invites at 4am this morning and sent it out. The bride-to-be loves it and I am one happy friend and bride's maid.

Chocolate Pie, anyone?

Made of 70% milk, 20% dark and 10% white chocolate, the Chocolate Pie Chart is just too irresistably gorgeous and yummy-looking to pass. I will go for the milk and leave the dark for my husband. Available for sale at Mary & Matt's General Store. (via Hi+ Low)

Wall mounted Crates

I love this storage idea. (via Creature Comforts)

Shabby Chic Charm

I came across this interior from Sandbox Studios and fell in love with the shabby chic charm of this room. I just adore how the bed seems to be propped up by the neat stacks of books and wooden crates. And the bare branch and elephant just completes the pretty picture in this lovely light-infused room. (via Pause4thought, via Soon Lee)

1950's Royal Typewriter (Restored)

I would so love to have one of these...

An exception

I usually don't post anything "political" on Laissezfaire although I had to make this an exception as this video above is just too funny to pass. I couldn't stop laughing at "McCain's dance expressions". But I know Obama can dance. I have seen his dance moves on Ellen. Quite impressive!

Anyway, funnies aside, I think the recently concluded presidential elections in the US was pretty inspirational and deserves a special mention on laissezfaire. I was particularly inspired by Obama's rousing acceptance speech and touched by McCain's gracious concession speech.

Congrats from Sunny Singapore to all Americans for being a part of this historic presidential elections! I wish our own elections were as inspirational and exciting as yours!

Corner Forest

I really love it when designers turn the most common objects one would usually not bat an eyelid to into beautiful objects. Such as these paper toilet rolls above by yuken teruya.

Yuken Teruya is a artist whose work involve manipulating everyday objects and transforming their meanings to reflect on contemporary society and culture, such as the growing consumerism of contemporary society, depleting natural resources and other problems associated with globalism.

By cutting trees out of paper bags and cardboard toilet paper rolls, he creates meticulous and intricate art works which relate to broader concerns. In each bag and roll, the shape of a tree is created without adding or removing anything, just by cutting out and folding the paper from the bag itself. (via Oh Joy)

Dear Creatures

Love these grainy pics from Dear Creatures. (via Three Potato Four)

Printable matryoshka labels

Download printable matryoshka labels and to-do list sheets from Yasmine at A Print a Day. (via HowaboutOrange)

New patterns by Jessica Jones

Jessica of Jessica Jones Design emailed me recently to let me know that she has restocked her etsy shop with lots of patterned goodies--like cool mousepads for $10 and postcard sets for $6. Many of these will make nice for stocking stuffers and affordable gifts for Christmas.

The fabric used in the tote bags are from her new collection. They are available by the yard here for anyone who wants to make their own:

thanks for letting me know, Jessica. Keep up the gorgeous work!

New Collection at Sparklethots

Ruth of Sparkle Thots has told me that she has just restocked her online shop with lots a brand new collection of pearls, silver and gold items. Many of the items would be very pretty and would be perfect as a gift or for adorning a bride and wedding entourage on her special day.

If you like any of the items, you will be happy to know that Sparkle Thots is doing a FREE SHIPPING promotion. Just spend above SGD $50 to receive this offer. Enter code [GIFTED08] upon check out.

(above) Drop of Golden Sun (SGD$45)

Rolling Pin

This rolling pin has raised lettering that prints into your pastry. Beautiful!

Exchange your envelopes for some cool pins!

Sweetie Pie Press is collecting security envelopes for her new pin set. If you send her your old envelopes, she'll send you a set of pins. Sounds like a sweet deal.

Letterpress Clocks

Gorgeous Letterpress Clocks on scallop cards by Cursive New York.

Beehive Kitchenware

I had blogged about the pretty kitchenware by Beehive Kitchenware in a previous post. Here are more of my favourites from their latest collection. above: Dolly Coaster Set
above: Baby Spoons