so sorry for the long delay- i’m up to my ears in work so i’m going to have to close up early today. but i’ve added a list of great posts and links to check out so you’re sure to get your daily dose of design. i just wanted to add these new pieces set to debut at the gift fair this weekend that will be shown at elsewares booth: new pieces from poketo, alissiaMT (who’ll be speaking at the biz ladies night), watdesign, & adam frank. the booth # is 3877 so be sure to stop by- click here for more info on the products (no prices and details yet). i’ll be covering the show on monday so be sure to stay tuned. i’ll see if i can get some audio of the show, as well. have a great day- i’ll see you tomorrow!

• be sure to check out joy’s great interview with papa stour and short piece on photographer aaron dyer at the guest blog (photos below)
• scandinavian finds at bloesem
• maria’s new photo blog- a year of mornings
• imm cologne coverage at mocoloco
• eco lifestyle tips from treehugger
• jewelry by tarja tuupanen and marc monzo at karin’s style blog
• domino’s paint palette galleries- when you’re in a color rut

Aaron Dyer’s still life photography has a certain whimsy that I just love. This image, in particular, is perfect for showing off its unique objects. It’s no wonder that the new Refinery29 Shops showcase this photograph on their shop website.

thanks so much to robin for the tip that the new spring marimekko fabrics are up. they’re a feast for the eyes- click here for the full collection. i’m running out a mini biz ladies coffee with maria, lena and rena so i’ll be back soon.

[biz ladies update: we will record the speeches and run them as podcasts on d*s so we can all benefit from their advice. i'll also provide downloadable printouts that highlight the basic "tips" from each expert]

irene at bloesem posted these beautiful stools from the zaishu project. inspired by japanese design, this slot-construction flat pack seat and table featuring unique designs by international artists. click here for more info.

mark your calendars- the second biz ladies meet up is set for tuesday, february 20th! we’ll meet at dwr brooklyn heights from 7-9 pm- but this time we’ll have experts there to give advice and answer questions. details below (please rsvp right here if you plan on attending):

• we’ll have drinks and snacks (and card-sharing, mingle time) from 7-7:45 and then we’ll introduce our panel of experts who’ll introduce themselves and give a brief explanation about what they’re there to discuss. speakers will be:
  

  • ryan deussing and audrey aponte of elsewares (pricing, marketing and getting your work in shops)
  • alissia melka-teichroew and karen of clothes-pin (producing, distributing and manufacturing your goods. will include tips about stateside vs. international manufacturers)
  • grace bonney (me, design*sponge) (discussion: public relations and promotion for the independent designer/artist)
  • joi lakes (discussion: legal issues and law advice for the indepedent designer/artist)

we won’t be formal lectures but we’ll set up sections for each “expert” so people can come and go as they please to ask questions and hear advice. so, come early and bring questions- we’re all here to help each other. hope to see you all there!

Kelly from Relish at Home really does it all. While running her retail shop {and upcoming online shop}, she also creates products for her own line, K. Autumn.

1 ~ what’s your name, shop name, and shop location…
hello! my name is kelly sperbeck and i own relish at home in berkeley, california. the boutique is a small workshop, home to an ‘out of the way shop’ and a workspace for my creative projects. we’re located in the ‘activspace’ artist complex in a very up-and-coming area of west berkeley known as the “wharehouse district.” you will find us on the corner of pardee and seventh streets.
{address :: 2703 seventh street #112, berkeley, california 94710}

2 ~ tell us about some of the objects in your display…
the first display features the joanna mendicino collection. pictured are the large bird vase and the smaller versions. joanna started out here in activspace, and she is such an amazing artist. she is as graceful and warm as her work. i’m in awe of her ability to produce all of her own work especially as her demand grows.

the rose + sadie pins are a fun collection. the girls have a terrific whimsical sensibility about their company. they make everything by hand in san francisco. i love receiving a new batch from them as we’ll get everything from pigeons and toast to robots and cupcakes! everything is housed in a 1960’s glass cabinet hutch that came from my childhood bedroom in northern california.

the second display features seattle, washington designer tanya monique. tanya designs a very special enamal and sterling animal collection. the fawn and the canaries are suspended from a manzanita tree and a cut tree stump found on a street corner in oakland. our resident burrow owl is from roost, and he reminds me so much of bubo the owl from clash of the titans – only made of wood!

3 ~ describe the mood, what inspired you, or what you intended when creating/arranging these pieces…
i’ve gotten used to working and living in small spaces. the shop is only 200 square feet and i try to
use the space creatively. i always start with what’s close to me. the second display is interesting in the sense that i’ve tried to build a shadowbox out of mis-matched armoire drawers and lined them with cork. it is part of a series of three. i’m resourceful by nature and i tend to merchandise with found objects, antiques, apple crates, or anything i can bring new life to. i really try to feature all of our collections in an interesting vignette. i’m completely inspired by color and texture. urban ore salvage yard is just blocks from the shop, and there are a variety of flea markets spread throughout the east bay. i am never happier getting lost in them!

4 ~ what are 3 objects/pieces sold in your store that you are dying to have or… you already have and love…
oh dear. i have such a long IOU list to relish! well let’s see, right now i really love helen ige’s mobiles. the “owl” and the “birds of a feather mobiles” are my favorite. i will probably splurge on a pair of joy ‘o designs hammered rose gold leaf earrings which are stunning! and every morning i start my day by looking at jill + saelee’s delicious farm life calendar. that is still one of my favorites of 2006.

5 ~ list three things that provide you with inspiration…
~ living in the bay area and specifically north berkeley. i know this sounds so cliche’, but there is so much diversity and opportunity here. the trees, the food culture and the variety of architecture is so fun and inspiring to be around every day – not to mention people watching!

~ the home collections of the 1960’s. i love the simplicity and the colors, furniture and textile designers of that era. vera, girard, lindberg, marimekko, the list goes on and the mere thought of it all makes me shiver!

~ lastly, they are the designers have become a part of relish. their work inspires me every day to do the best i can, to keep evolving, and they remind me of why i’m here.

an extra tidbit…
The relish online shop will be launching soon…stay tuned!

i’m such a big fan of alice stevenson so i was thrilled to see she’d added some new designs and sketches to her website. she doesn’t sell these pieces directly through her site but she will sell her work if you’re interested, just contact alice here about purchasing or comissions. i hired her to create the d*s shop banner and it was well worth it- she has such a way with illustration. her book covers are my personal favorite. click here to browse her most recent work. [thanks, alice!]