thank goodness for d*s reader, stephanie. without her i would never have found out about day-lab, an adorable little online boutique that sells gorgeously crafty things like cards, painfully awesome jewelry and all sorts of accessories like bags, shirts and pins. a bit towards the crafty set for some people, but if you’re a one good bumblebee reader and you know what craftster is, this site is for you.

run out of a tiny apt in the garden district of baton rouge, louisianna, day-lab is full of wonderfully designed, hand-made goodies. started (and still run) by amy shutt (who designs cool pillows herself) and ryan baudoin, day-lab is the perfect place to cruise around if you’re looking for something cute, reasonably priced and made by someone with their own two hands.

i’m tied for my favorites- it’s a dead heat between the animal pillows and the freakishly awesome jewelry section. as far as jewelry goes, i love the owl earrings, the bird earrings and pin, the apple necklaces and the lovely, lovely bubble collection. you can’t go wrong with any of it. it’s just too cute. (yes, too cutesy for some, but not for all)

thanks to stephanie for passing this along. i believe she found it via the daily candy, so i wanted to throw that credit in, too. thanks stephanie and dc!

[editor's note: the day-lab site is down as i'm finishing this post, so try back again if it poops out on you]

i’ve been thinking about what i’d like to have another contest for…but seem to be drawing up blanks. apartment therapy has the interior design category down- i always love seeing people’s places up close like that- but there seems to be a lot of room for more fun contests out there.

i loved the DIY contest from earlier this year, but it’s time for something new- so, if anyone has any ideas, please do throw them out there. feel free to fill the comments section with any ideas you have about what it might be fun to throw a contest for…best new chair? best new kitchen product? i don’t know, something more exciting, right? i’m feeling uninspired so i’d love to see what all the other design lovers out there are thinking about…thanks for your tips! i’ll look them over, process and announce the contest(s?) in early august. thanks!

atlas is a manufacturer of beautiful, quality wooden furniture. my favorite pieces in their collection are far from new, but i haven’t heard much about them lately so i thought i’d check back in, because sometimes pieces that are built so well continue to look fresh and modern. and these certainly fit that description.

run by designers joseph fratesi and thomas wright (atlas west and atlas east, respectively), atlas operates in both brooklyn and sanfranciso. their work has been mentioned in all the top design publications, and with good reason- their clean lines, beautiful materials and timeless designs are perfect for those looking to invest in a truly beautiful piece of furniture. you can see the whole collection here and contact them here for information on pricing, installation and purchase. (my favorites are the bed, shelving and dresser)

i was wondering who made the adorable giraffe pillow i saw at romp brooklyn and i managed to stumble upon the designers while cruising the internet during my lunch break…hooray for lucky coincidences!

zid zid kids is a wonderful manufacturer and designer of fantastic children’s products. they make furniture, textilesand accessories that ooze a warm homemade feel that is just right for decorating a child’s room. i’ve always thought that if i have children one day i’ll want to make sure their rooms are a perfect combination of toys and decorations that are both pleasing to the eye and soft to the touch- this collection from zid zid is just like that. each piece, from their adorable “poofs” to their friendly looking animal cushions, are welcoming, cuddly and cute enough to make them an all around hit.

my favorites are the cushions, mini poofs and the adorable flower and cloud table/chair sets. but you can’t go wrong with anything from zid zid. you can find retailers near you by clicking right here, or, if you’re in NY, check out romp brooklyn in park slope for zid zid pillows.

fantastic linens (rugs, pillows and textiles) from company c- as colorful as they could possibly be and equally fun. my favorites are above and below (love that silk quilt above). click here for the full collection (and shopping online).

calling all bird lovers- some dear friends of mine are looking for a great bird feeder for their fabulous new apt’s deck. something modern and simple is the best. i’ve found a few (above and below), but if anyone out there new of any other great resources, i’d appreciate the tips! modern would be the key…thanks guys! [feeders from velocity art and design, perch, eva solo, menu, j schatz, vogeli, and mono]

i often get emails from internet buddies down under and thought i’d share this for them, as i don’t believe they’re shipping our way right now…

cloth is a new australian fabric company that sells gorgeous lamp shades, pillows, bedding and bags with beautiful, organic patterns. the designs are very much in the lotta jansdotter vein, but lovely in their own way as well. my personal favorites are the gorgeous table linens and lampshades- their subtle colors and calming patterns would fit perfectly in a room designed to be a tranquil retreat. so, for all of you down under, check out cloth’s website to see the full collection and find information on ordering. enjoy!