
one of the things i really love is when great design meets great website design. working with the also team on the d*s relaunch last october, i really came to appreciate the way they were able to take the design details i love and turn them into a beautiful, working website. so when nikko moy emailed me for a website designer suggestion i knew also was perfect for her. so i was thrilled to hear from nikko a year later about her brand new (just opened today!) shop, ashes and milk.
from the second the site loaded i was in love (especially with betsy dunlap’s written logo for the site). i love the way the little wooden boxes set the scene for beautiful ceramics, painted stones and other home accessories. nikko, an artist based in chicago, founded ashes and milk “on the principle that a lot can be created from very little”. she explains that “[ashes and milk] is driven by modern ideas with a reverence for traditional methods and the belief that the things we bring into our homes should have a soul and a sense of history.” i couldn’t agree more- and i was thrilled to see that the first pieces in her shop have a real sense of character and craftsmanship. i was especially drawn to yoran morvant’s drawn stones- each one is one-of-a-kind and drawn to fit the unique stone used.
i have a feeling ashes and milk is going to grow to be one of my new favorites. i just love the combination of a beautiful site and beautiful handmade products. you can click here to view ashes and milk’s full collection and shop online. [thanks, nikko!]




October 22nd, 2008 - 11:30am

one of the areas in which i wish i had more expertise is japanese design. there are so many fantastic designers and stores coming from tokyo and beyond- but sadly my range of local contacts is rather limited. so i was thrilled to hear from rumi nagata this morning. rumi works at the uber-chic tokyo stationery store, winged wheel. winged wheel just recently opened an english online store (yes!) so you can shop from their selection of beautiful, simple paper goods. this new animal series is my favorite of the lot- each one is letterpressed onto a 100% cotton card and available in a set of 6 for $15. click here to check out their collection online.

also- d*s (as well as AT and some other fantastic sites) was featured in the ny times today. thanks so much to penelope green for giving me the opportunity to showcase some of my favorite artists in the market right now. it’s always so great to see indie designers in the mainstream news. click here for the full piece (each blog’s profile and product choices are on the left)

September 18th, 2008 - 08:00am

i’ve got to get over to this shop this weekend- i’m loving this incredible gallery wall of artwork at brooklyn’s fact and fancy. eric at the flea tipped me off and now i’m planning my sunday around a trip here. click here for more information and directions to fact and fancy.
September 11th, 2008 - 08:00am

architect turned vintage shop owner cara piscitello of designlab shop just opened an online version of her bellingham, washington shop. full of great vintage finds arranged by category (office, home, kitchen, dining, patio), designlab shop’s website is a great source for vintage tableware and odds and ends like a faux bois metal box (great for keeping work bills and invoices safe). click here to check out cara’s online shop….
August 20th, 2008 - 11:00am