Since I missed Etsy Love last week, I’m determined to make it up to you today with a lovely set of shops featuring talented artists selling everything from fashion to mosaics.

I just recently discovered this beauiful little shop in Portugal. Kjoo is filled with gorgeous experimental textile jewelry that is designed by Maria João Ribeiro. If you love color, texture and shapes, these pieces are bound to lure you in like they did me, without hesitation!

Sigmosaics is the shop of native New Zealander and lovely designer Kerrin. Here you will find functional decorative items, and art mosaics that are made from a mix of acrylic and resin tiles, ceramic tiles, recycled tiles, stones, mirror, glass and much more! I find all these gorgeous gems so reminiscent of the Mediterranean, and Europe in general, which is actually where Kerrin sources all her acrylic and resin mosaic tiles.

New York City fashion ceases to amaze me, inspire me and captivate me, and this Brooklyn shop is no exception. Alexandra Grecco carries the sweetest pieces from hair accessories to shorts, tops, and dresses. With a style so feminine, delicate, and playful, I can’t turn my eyes away from anything in that shop.

Kim is a photographer, designer and vintage seller from Massachusetts, who does all these things at a little shop called trampoline. With a series of items salvaged from a home at 303 pleasant street between the 1930 and 1960s, vintage is ever so charming! I adore those ruffled floral sheets, doily and crochet, and silver trays. Beauty and detail is everywhere here.

(images: sources listed above)

Happy Friday! The weekend is finally upon us, so let’s look at some exciting design inspiration together. Formed in 2004, The Loyal Loot Collective is based out of Edmonton in Canada, and is the individual and collaborative work of Doha Chebib, Carmen Douville, Dara Mumniski, and Anna Thomas.

These artists all maintain varying perspectives and knowledge, sharing a common dedication to creating an eclectic mix of beautiful and functional objects which posses an inherent value that will endure and remain loved.

I found the Log Bowls by artist Doha Chebib most interesting and captivating, mostly through their high contrast between the rough, natural logs and modern, glossy finish in the colorful bowls. Even more impressive is that each bowl is handmade using only locally reclaimed trees of all varieties that have fallen or were cut down due to infrastructure, re-landscaping, droughts, or stormy weather. The trees are all hand selected, gathered, turned and finished. Tell me, are you completely drawn to these stunning bowls, that also make great display accessories?

(images: loyal loot collective)

It’s finally Friday! So let’s start the weekend on a light note with some gorgeous floral design to inspire you and brighten up your day.

Designer Janie Medley trained in New York CIty  and is constantly exploring distinctive flower markets and specialty shops in order to stay fresh and creative. It’s evident in her work, as Janey Medley Flora Design creates sensational floral arrangements that are full, colorful and eclectic with many different types of flowers. I find it most interesting when bouquets and arrangements are made up of a selection of flowers and stems with a variety of colors, rather than ones that stick to one hue.

(images: janey medley flora design)

Happy Friday! The weekend is here and I’m off to watch the World Cup matches, spend some time with friends, and catch up on errands. What plans do you have this weekend?

I’ve put together my favorite photos from the first issue of the new online magazine BY FRYD. I’ve been hearing so much about it in blogland and meaning to share it with you for a while, so if you haven’t seen it yet, you’re going to love it! It is now available in English, and packed with gorgeous visual inspiration. You can download the first issue at no cost over at Issuu.

Jeanette Lunde has designed 92 pages devoted to inspirational images, lifestyle, kids, baking, flowers, decor, and everything light and positive. Jeanette also has a shop where you can get gorgeous designs and prints. So head over to download the issue and see the whole magazine!

(images: jeanette lunde)

Are you ready to explore some of my Etsy picks this week? I’ve got lovely goodies for you to take all in; and on the roster today I’ve got a design shop, a fashion boutique, photography prints, and some woodland themed jewelry and accessories.

If you’re into that whole gorgeous, sweet nostalgic photography thing, then you’ll love what you see from Lola’s Room Photography! Photographer Cassia captures the beauty in simple, everyday objects like shoes, flowers, and thread. Cassia develops harmonious shots with a great balance of negative space, creating calm and understated beautiful photographs.

Woodland Belle carries lovely necklaces, rings, bracelets and hair accessories that are handmade by artist Mai McKemy in North Carolina. Woodland Belle designs are soft and delicate, with a playful charm and a rustic aesthetic, full of intricate details captured from the beauty of nature.

Eva Juliet is a design studio in Montréal, Canada with beautiful prints, and positive messages in typography and illustration. Art director, graphic designer and illustrator Eva is happiest with a sketchbook and pen, and spreads the positivity and brightness through her light hearted and pretty prints.

I find so many things I love at Babooshka Boutique, with fun, eclectic and experimental fashion and accessories. Their summer collection, on which you can get 20% off right now, features soft and edgy designs with over sized shirts I have been lusting over, to feather and studded headbands, and pants that come in all interesting and creative shapes, models and styles.

(images: sources listed above)

I’m excited to announce the first ever contest and giveaway here on Burrs & Berries! I have 2 copies of down the rabbit hole, the book I designed that tells the visual story of Alice in Wonderland. And I’ve decided to give them to two lucky readers! I’d love to share this book with you, so if you’d like one, the details on how to enter are below so please read them carefully and follow them closely to make sure your entry qualifies. Thank you!

Entry Details:

This contest is open to all who read this blog from anywhere around the world, and I will pay the shipping fees so it is completely free! No anonymous entries will be accepted. Comment on this post below using your valid email address, which is the email I will use to contact you if you win. It will not be published in the actual comment, it’s for my eyes only!

In the body of the comment you must list your first name and answer the following question. How do you incorporate art and design to express your creativity in your everyday life?

The giveaway will be open to enter for one week from now until Monday, May 31, 2010 at 12:00 PM EST and will have two winners. Winners will be selected using Random.org. I can’t wait to read your comments!

(images: samia kallidis for burrs & berries)

Ooh, have I got some floral inspiration that will brighten up your day! Poppies & Posies is a boutique floral and event design firm based in New York City co-founded by Sierra Yaun and Juliet Totten.

Partners Juliet and Sierra met when they both moved to the city just in 2007, and decided to combine their love for design, flowers and parties – and voila! Poppies and Posies was born. Sierra and Juliet create the most gorgeous, colorful and lively arrangements, inspired by the organic movement and composition of the country gardens where they both spent summer days as children.

It seems so easy to mix and match florals to create a lovely little bouquet, but when I  actually get to the flower shop I have no idea where to start! It’s one of these things that appear to be easier than they really are. Hopefully if I keep practicing, I will eventually start to create pretty arrangements that will fit in my home. I love how floral designers combine such distinct stems and flowers that may look uninteresting or plain by themselves, but combined with others, create such beautiful, exotic arrangements.

Do you create floral arrangements for your home? Perhaps you have a favorite flower?

(images: poppies & posies)

If you haven’t yet seen the work of super talented Sydney-based graphic designer and creative Dilshani Jayawardene, then I must tell you to be prepared to drool. Dilshani creates stunning, dreamy illustration and photography collages, and her work has won her several well-deserved design competitions and features.

I am so excited to share this with you, as I really adore her work. Isn’t it just gorgeous? I feel like she maintains a touch of girly, flirty, softness but there’s also an edginess to her work. Dilshani has recently won Australian brand Sportsgirl’s design competition, which includes incorporating her design as the wallpaper backdrop on their website.

Dilshani has a unique eye, and I just love the stories her work tell, softness of her designs and her color palette. Although her work is digital, she creates such an organic feel and aesthetic, making her collages look very natural in a way.

Dilshani creates gorgeous compositions using a combination of organic and digital forms, creating a contrast between the gorgeous flowers she includes and the illustrated patterns and details. You can find Dilshani and her work online at her blog a new day.

Her beautiful work transports me into a different world, a fairytale. How does Dilshani’s design make you feel? Does it speak to you in a way?

(images: dilshani jayawardene)

Event planner and designer David Stark just recently released his new book David Stark Design earlier this week on April 27th. So if you’re looking for a little party decor inspiration, look no further than David’s new book that highlights his design philosophies, conceptual process and breadth of work. David was so kind to answer a few questions for burrs & berries readers, and also included his decorating tips for you! So let’s get started!

How do you begin your process of planning a new event?

Because I create events for real people, with real likes and dislikes, desires, and specific goals and occasions, my first and foremost goal is to jump inside my client’s heads and hearts.  I really want to know what makes them tick, what they love, what they hate, an and what is inspiring to them.  The events are so custom that I really need to fall in love with each and every one of our clients so that I can understand WHO we are creating for. It’s so custom and the individual personality of each client is what drives variation and instills the great breadth in what we do!

What was your inspiration for pulling the book together?

Events are so ephemeral.  They last for five or six hours and then they are just a memory.  The book allows me the priviledge to collect a whole bunch of memories in one place and share them with others that could not be at the parties.  I suppose a painter has paintings to document his or her creative act.  In many ways, I think of the book as that kind of record for me since my creative work is so short-lived.

What are your 5 tips for summer entertaining?

• Bring back Games:  Horseshoes, croquet, Trivial Pursuit, Monopoly, Scrabble, cards – don’t just talk, drink, and eat, play stuff together!  Games break the ice for guests that are new to your usual gang and provide a stylistic framework for other aspects of the evening.  An invitation created with Scrabble letter tiles and cookies decorated to look like Scrabble tiles are the kinds of details that help make a regular gathering of friends memorable and special.

• Shop your Hood:  Look to your own backyard to find unique food ideas.  My neighborhood in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn is well known for it’s terrific culinary treats, and I don’t need to look far for what to serve at a party especially when I am short on time!  Local pickles, olive oil, cured meats and cheeses, baked goods – all are uniquely from around the corner and not available from chain supermarkets.  Not only am I giving my guests a window into the local tastes, but I am supporting my community and neighborhood businesses.  It’s all good.

• Avoid Disposables:  A cloth napkin is NOT for just a special occasion or holiday.  In fact, you are good enough to “treat” yourself to one everyday, and in doing so, you are helping the environment to cut down on unnecessary waste and helping your wallet in the process.  Go that extra mile and wash your plates instead of using paperplates.  An outdoor picnic is so much more glam when using real china.

• Turn it out for your hostess:  Instead of that perfunctory bottle of wine, curate thematic gifts.  I often give a favorite cookbook of foods from some far off land alongside a selection of essential ingredients that are key to the recipes inside.  My other default is a set of linen napkins with my napkin folding primer NAPKINS WITH A TWIST, picking napkins that speak to my host’s taste.   Going that extra mile is ALWAYS appreciated (and you will always be invited back!).

• Delight that Inner kid:   I like to take the seriousness down a notch, using materials that harken back to childhood to decorate summer backyard parties, infusing them with surprise details.  Giant blow up pool toys, crazy straws with boyant paper fruits that turn cocktails into journeys, water guns, and silly sunglasses – adults want the same thing as kids:  a little fun!

Thank you so much David for your insights and for your fabulous summer entertaining tips!

(images: david stark)

Ramon Lenherr is a graphic designer from Saint Gallen, Switzerland, working mainly with typography and editorial design. His work is excellent, just scroll down to get a glimpse of his lovely portfolio.

I love his non-traditional and edgy compositions, and the use of photography, line and typography is fantastic. The black and white contrast on the cover is striking, and I’m loving the contrast of color against the black and white photography. Ramon has a unique eye, and so much talent working with type. His experimental nature and creativity in print is so refreshing.

I would love to see more fashion magazines use this type of design element, look and feel. Ramon is not afraid to play with typography, making his work fun and creative, but still clean and sophisticated, don’t you think?

One of my favorite fashion magazines right now is W Magazine, for it’s high fashion style, and beautifully designed layouts. And how could I forget Lush Magazine, which I find has the most beautiful graphic design of anything out there right now, art directed by a former professor of mine at design school, Paul Sych. It’s my dream to one day work in the fashion magazine industry, combining my love for graphic design and fashion. I imagine being surrounded by layers upon layers of dresses, shoes, purses, and combining beautiful photography with expressive layouts and type. Oh, what a fairy tale that would be!

(images: ramon lenherr)