besotted

 With Christmas slowly creeping up on me, I've been thinking about packaging/stationary etc. and in my researching frenzy discovered Besotted Brand, where I became rather *ahem* besotted....

I love the simplicity and the vintage styling, perfect for any occasion. I may even have to start writing letters again just to use the stamps, papers and envelopes!

Are there any great stationary brands you guys would recommend?

not another bill...

Every time I hear the words "You've got post" I do a little groan. Great, another bill, another appointment I need to make at the doctors/dentist/opticians, another piece of junk mail I don't care about. So when I came across the concept of 'Not another Bill' (found via Jackie Magpie) I couldn't help but smile.

Ned Corbett-Winder (a graphic design graduate) came up with a gift-finding service which delivers a little surprise package a month to subscribers. These gifts come from creatives from all walks of life and range from incredible silk scarves, pocket sundials, folded maps in marbled envelopes and even pieces from a collaboration with Tatty Devine jewellery.

A fantastic idea executed with exceptional style- who wouldn't love this? 

folded maps

pocket sundial

tatty devine collaboration

silk scarves

illustrated love

Recently stumbled upon this fantastic Swedish illustrator, Hannah Muller. Giving fashion a new perspective, check out more of her work here.

Have you made any discoveries lately?

Stag Sixteen

I always find it exciting when designers from all arena's join together, especially when it's for one amazing cause. It doesn't happen often, but when it does it always promises amazing results, and this November the project Stag Sixteen have brought talent together to raise money for the homeless charity Centrepoint. To read a more in depth piece on what they intend to do, take a look here.

The general idea behind the project is getting 16 designers from the fashion, jewellery and interior world to put their own spin on an iconic stag head. Making each one unique and, (as expected), awesomely stylish, these stag heads will go up for auction on the 16th of November where all proceeds will go to the Centrepoint charity.

Here are just a few, click here to see the full collection!

Charlotte Olympia's stag

Lulu Guiness' stag

Manolo Blahnik's stag

Rob Ryan's stag

I'm loving this idea- my favourite is Rob Ryan's stag! Which one would you bid on?

Creative Sweets

Hands up who uses Adobe's Creative Suite? This one's for you....

 One of my incredibly talented friends Tom O'Malley has combined his expert design skills and quick wit to come up with 'Creative Sweets' wallpapers. Put together on a rather slick website, you can download free versions for your iPhone / iPad OR go old-school and buy yourself an actual print, (I know novel right?), either way these designs are pretty damn "sweet' (see what I did there?!?)

 To see more of Tom's skillz check out his website.

This is just one of many cool projects my friends are constantly thinking up, and I'll be blogging their genius ideas more and more over the next few months, so stay tuned..... 

Do any of you have any super talented friends?