Better View

The Better View black-out shades by award-winning Helinski designer Elina Aalto are composed of small cutout holes that form a city-scape composition of Helinski, Tokyo, Stockholm or Paris. A wonderful way to turn day to night! (via momed)

Folding technique

Try this if you need to sort out that T shirt cabinet at home! (via Core77)

Pulp Bulletin Board

This clever Pulp Bulletin Board made from densely packed magazines even allows you to save on the need for push pins altogether! (via momeld)

Index Chopping Boards

Designed to avoid cross-contamination of various food types, these color-coded polypropylene index chopping boards help keep the cutting of raw meat, cooked foods, fish and vegetables separate. The horizontal filing unit with a non-slip rubber bottom is really neat too! (via Swissmiss)

Tutu Lampshade

I just love this! Available here.

Sparkle Thots

I would like to warmly welcome on board Sparkle Thots, another sponsor of Laissezfaire! You can find the link to their website on the leftmost column of this blog.

Sparkle Thots offers wearable, unique yet affordable designs for trendy women who want a bit of fun. My favourites from their curent collection include this, this and this. Do check them out!

(above) Citi Smoke. USD$13.75

Make an entrance

A welcoming hallway sets the tone for the whole house. Here are some inspiring decorating tips for entrance hallways I found from House to Home. Trying to save cost and not wallpaper the whole place? Try strategically selecting a few key areas in your home to add some drama. Here, the bold red really adds some visual excitement to an otherwise died serious stairway.Wallpaper by Brian Yates, chair (I would love to have) by SCP .
The gorgeous floral wallpaper by Designers Guild will make me feel like I am living in a magical dollhouse in the Lake District. Tip: Stick to 1 collection in your home (in this instance, the floral collection) and you can be sure that the rooms will complement each other.

I just love the look of this graphic hallway. The simple Ikea mirrors really enlarges and brightens up the space. Wallpaper by Jane Churchill, cool coat stand by Skandium

Recycled bathtub

Here is an idea what you could do with an old bathtub. (by Reddish Studio via Apartment Therapy)

Name a son, win a couch

The lovely Raymond & Karina of Pomelo Home emailed me today about a contest they are holding to get friends, family and readers to help name their son who will be arriving in 6 weeks! How fun is this? They are looking for precisely ONE English name, and ONE character for his Chinese name. If the name you propose is picked, you will get a brand spanking new, Blu Dot Couchoid Studio sofa. For more info, click here!

Old School Stuff

I came across a website with one of the coolest old school stationary, living and accessory selection ever. Do check it out!

Coco

Here are some sheer gorgeous illustrations by Coco. As an illustrator with a background in fine arts, Coco begins her design process by experimenting with old-school processes such as painting, drawing and ceramics. She composes the final montages in photoshop. While she like mixes several techniques, she aims for restraint and minimalism in the finished work. Do check out her website for more eye candy.

Catherine Ledner

I find these images by photgrapher Catherine Ledner quite facinating...Love the vibrant colours and wallpaper! Do check out Catherine's book, Animal House, featuring her fantastic animal photography.

Imagekind Story Frame™

I recently found out about Imagekind, the world's fastest-growing online community for creating, buying and selling custom framed artwork and photography. Imagekind recently released their "Story Frame™" collection, a group of customized framing products that allows anyone to transform a series of digital images into a story worth telling.

It has been a few months since I got the very talented Ron Lee of Eyedea's photography to capture the moments of my little girl Vera playing in a park. Some of the gorgeous pictures Ron took were sent to Imagekind and transformed in a gorgeous story frame that is now hanging in Vera's room. I really like the idea that Imagekind’s high museum quality framed works will ensure that the pictures will be preserved and kept as a wonderful keepsake for my child as she grows up.

If you have a kiddo, you may be interested to know that Imagekind is currently organising a "First Moments" Contest. Between now and March 15th, you can send 2 or 3 digital photos of your child’s “firsts” - first day of school, baby’s first bites, first trip to the beach, first time meeting Grandma, that together tell a great story. It could be a collection of different “firsts” or a few shots of one great moment. Imagekind will choose four lucky winners whose photos tell the best story to receive a custom Story Frame™ worth $100. To enter, simply email them your digital photos along with a brief explanation to firstmoments@imagekind.com

Mary Emma Howthorne

I really love these mixed media collages by artist Mary Emma Howthorne. Mary uses her paintings as metaphors for concerns and inspirations in her life. The nolstalgic, aesthetic and emotional elements in her work really intriques me. (via Freshly Blended)

Recycled textiles

These cushion covers made from clothes care labels really take recycled fabrics to the next level! Requires 4 weeks lead time to snip and make from scratch. (via indie-guest)

Marian Bantjes

I have always loved unique typography so it is no surprise that I am drawn to the work of Marian Bantjes. The work featured here is her recent project for Stefan Sagmeister's “Things I have learned in my life so far” series.

Similar to the piece she made from sugar (“Indestructible”) for the Fox River Paper booklet, Marian uses sugar to script the phrase "If I want to explore a new direction professionally, it is helpful to try it out for myself first." She wrote the phrase five times, photographed it, and then destroyed it and photographed the destroyed version. Do check out her website for more images of the project. Sweet! (via Sub-studio)

Knock Knock

Here are some really cool and witty stationary from Knock Knock.

(above) 3-Way Pads organize useful lists into 3 logical thirds. With an elastic band for closure, everything is conveniently contained in one portable, stylish unit.

(above) Witty and honest filing folders

Clever ideas to declutter

I came across this clever idea on HGTV on how to recycle tin cans to wonderful storage organisers. For more ideas and instructions, click here.

(above) "Hot glue heavy-duty magnets to ten soup cans and stick them to a steel cookie sheet. Hang it within kids’ reach using a plate hanger. Use the cups to hold crayons, chalk, markers and even Legos. Label the cans for easy clean up."

(above) Organise the little odds and ends in the drawer with these tuna cans!

(above) Now this is something I need to do! "Bolt three eye-catching blueberry cans to a wooden cutting board with a frame hanger on the back."

Pool party

Above is a photo of what appears to be a family underwater. But the water is not in the pool, it is on the glass lid above. Now here is an idea for something looking for a pool party to talk about!

via Emanco

Jellybean

I found out about this gorgeous shop in Sweden called Jellybean via a beautiful and humourous blog called mackin ink today. The colours are so yummy I could eat them right off the screen! Thank you Karey for finding this!

Design for Mankind - Inspiration

The beautiful blog Design for Mankind has just released their first ever e-zine called "Inspiration". Dedicated to the design community, this online publication consists of twenty pages worth of absolute inspiration. What's more, it is available to download for free! Thank you Erin for doing this! I absolutely enjoyed the gorgeous pics, links and words of inspiration on the first issue and am eagerly looking forward to the second!

ps: Do email Erin ASAP at designformankind@gmail.com if you'd like to be involved in Issue #2.

Envelope Accordion

I came across a wonderful craft project which can be used to organise all your small odds and ends such as stamps, tickets, coupons, and business cards. The project is simple enough to do and will made a wonderful personalised gift or even a special wedding keepsake to store up little memories you have of the day.

For step-by-step instructions, click here.

Coffee in a box

Next time you pass by one of these ocean containers, make sure you are not passing on something special! via

Crafty rooms

I saw these pretty and super organised craft rooms on HGTV. Hope these will inspire you to set aside a little neat corner of your own at home and get those crafty hands moving!

Nooka

How cool is this Nooka watch? It challenges how time is being read by representing it in a linear/graphical fashion. (via)

Marie-Chantale Turgeon

Marie-Chantale emailed me recently to let me know about her work. Marie-C lives and work in Montreal, Canada, and is an art director, web designer, illustrator and painter all rolled in one! She has done web design for many clients within the music industry (Universal Records, Deutsche Grammophon) and has illustrated for clients such as Skirt! Magazine (USA), Figurati magazine (Brasil) and the Fox 2003 day planner. She is now into building meïdia, a creative studio where she teams up with collaborators to offer different services relating to new web technologies such as blogging and podcasting.

Whew! Wonder where she finds all the time and energy to do all that! And if this is not enough, she also recently self published her first book, First Thoughts on life, blogging and the creative process. I was so blown away and inspired by Marie that I could not resist finding out more about her through an email interview and sharing it on laissezfaire.

1. What made you start as an illustrator? How long have you been drawing?

My dad was a graphic designer for the local newspaper, he had his creative corner in our house's basement, and my mom loved fashion - she had fashion magazines hanging around the house, and since i could not read, looking at pictures is what i loved most.

As far as i can remember, that's how it all started at around age 7, by playing around with a pencil and creating my own magazines, cutting in my mom's fashion magazines on my dad's drawing table!

2. Can you describe your design process?
With time i learned (and i'm still experimenting!) to follow my feelings and intuitions. I work when i feel like, and if i dont, i allow myself to nap, go out for a walk, read and so on until inspiration is there. Usually ideas come when i write in the morning, when i relax or play around, when i'm out for a coffee alone or a walk.

I've been working for design agencies for quite a while, and i've quit this 9 to 5 world 4 years ago to be able to live at my own rhythm. To find and live with your own rules is something quite scary, but how much exciting and rewarding, i love it!

3. What is your typical day like?

It depends a bit on the season, here in Quebec we have a short but intense summer, and a long and cold winter, but i usually get up around 8h. This time is for me the most precious thing in the world - my phone is off, and i try not to rush to my computer to read emails (this is the hardest!!). So from 8h to 10h i'll often take time for myself to write. I write a lot, i have a 'private' diary and another journal from which come my books and blog entries. These 2 hours are the most important ones since i get many ideas from this quiet time.

Then from 11h to 15h i do all the stuff that has to be done, like reading blogs (!), emails, stuff to send out, bills, client work and so on.

Most of the time i stop around 15h, because my energy is getting low around that time, and its not worth to try to work. I take this time to go either for a coffee, for a long walk, or at the gym (this makes me really proud of myself and gives me energy - even if i dont like it that much!).

Evenings are often spent finishing stuff i want to finish for this day, or working on fun stuff, or reading. I do not watch tv, i think it's one of the worse invention - it drive all humans afraid, crazy and lazy instead of giving them the guts they need to realize their potential. But i like to cuddle in bed with my boyfriend, our 2 cats, and a good dvd :)

4. Can you tell me a little more about your book? What made you start on it, what is it all about etc...?

My last book just happened, i dont know exactly how. I just realized that i had too much that i wished to share, and that my blog could not be the right medium to hold all of that stuff. And since i write and love to draw, sheets of paper just started to pile over each other until i decided to make a book out of them.

The other reason, as the book is about blogging and the creative process, is that working in the web industry since years, and doing a lot of work with blogs, i got really sick of seeing people taking over blogs and categorizing them as 'marketing tools' only.

I felt like 'hey woooohey! blogs are much more!' - i think blogs are wonderful tools to expand our creativity and grow together as a whole. I am preparing a second book on this topic, but i wanted my first book, First thoughts on life, blogging and the creative process, to inspire people, to motivate them so that they take back the tools and use them in their own way - that is really important.
Creativity happens spontaneously, so does blogging.

5. Do you have any advice for other aspiring artists/illustrators?

Play around a lot. Make mistakes - no one can juge your art good or bad. I have this quote by Martha Graham which i always hang on to. It says it all:

“..There is a vitality, a life-force, an energy, a quickening that is translated through you into action and because there is only one of you in all of time, this expression is unique. And if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and be lost. The world will not have it. It is not your business to deternine how good it is nor how valuable nor how it compares with other expressions…”

Thanks, Marie-C, for sharing your work and thoughts on Laissezfaire! Keep up the inspiring work!

(above) First Thoughts is available for purchase here (if you wish to have a signed copy) or here at US$28.

Valentine's Cards

It is that time of the year again! Thought I would also post some lovely Valentine's Day Cards I found recently. Hope they get you inspired to start making something special this Valentines!

(above) Beautiful 'I love you' cards by Debi Van Zyl. (Available at her etsy store)

(above) Printed by hand using antique wood press on eco-friendly sustainably harvested wood veneer by Papermonkeypress.

(above) Downloadable gorgeous V Day cards from Samantha of Maquette. You can download any of the images at full resolution and email them to your sweetheart, print the white-background versions on your home printer, or go to Zazzle and make 5×7 cards out of the color versions (in flickr click on all sizes and download at original size). If you’re feeling green this Valentine’s day, Sam has even suggested printing these on recycled paper or the backs of old cards! Here’s the link to the flickr Valentine’s Day cards set. Thanks Sam!

And again for those earth-friendly folks out there, thought you may be excited to take part in an exciting new contest on craftzine for Valentine's Day called "Recycle Your Heart". This Valentine's Day Card Contest is an opportunity for you to express your true love by creating a card made from recycled materials. You can use and mix any type of material you find and don't need to limit yourself to paper crafts. Just let your imagination run wild. Click here for more details.

Last but not least, click here if you wish to download a giftbag template to hold your pretty presents! Also, don't miss more lovely gift and craft ideas from marthastewart.com.