I dream of Pat Nixon

Chris Benz resort 2011 collection was inspired by Pat Nixon. I'm so down with it. Sassy but elegant







photos via style.com

artist Jennifer Celio

I went to a show on friday night that was full of surprises. I had not been in the space since it was a metal/tin shop some years ago. Now it's this really cool funky space that can be rented out for events as well as art shows. I'm sort of obsessed.



But this woman? Jennifer Celio pretty much blew my mind. You can't tell from the photo but she does this very detailed pencil marking in the style of Edward Gorey if you're familar.

She then takes these simple little city imagery and puts in on a large white board, leaving the image to just float. like the one pictured here. I love me some white space the same as I like chocolate.

$2200 was my Friday night crush - If I had it? wouldn't have thought twice. seriously worth it.

dream home

in case anyone was wondering - this might just be my dream house. I mean who doesn't want a loft above their kitchen?

photos: The Selby is in your place See the whole amazing place here.

Pretty

Karey from Mackin Ink emailed me a bit ago and asked can you turn this postcard into something letterpressed? So I took that little pattern she had done for her friend and made it into a beautiful wedding suite. Even I was surprised by all of it's amazingness.



it's hard to tell but the color was this lovely deep blueish-purple, and I pressed the main envelope so that the design was partly on the front and the back [new for me]. I haven't been this nervous about a job in a long while I might add, I dunno something about being perfect, I wanted it all perfect for her. The most surprising part? the little rsvp envelope which I made to have the little motif on the back flap - it looked like something that would come from the Royal Family. They are in the U.K. after all!

have an idea of something you want to make come to life on an invite? I love that more than words. just contact me and we can chat about it all and dream up something fantastic. richele[at]richiedesigns.com

I'm having a moment

I can't decide if I'm having a moment about green, Oscar or just dresses in general.
All photos from Oscar de La Renta's Resort Show. Images from Style.com

we just got the cutest new vintage dingbats

available with personalized notecards

A strange sort of giveaway...

is your name Jamie? Do you know a Jamie?



a funny giveaway today...This is a perfectly lovely set of cards with the exception of the person's name was Jaime I was making them for [thankfully I discovered prior to sending!]

So...is your name Jamie? I have a lovely set of notecards with your name all over it {seriously} just contact me richele [at] richiedesigns.com and I'll send you a free set of cards.

I just really hate wasting paper and ink. Plus? I'm sure there's a Jamie out there dying for a set of notes anyway.

happy

Have I ever told you stripes and dots make me happy? they do.



I could so use a dose of happy. It feels like I've been sick for weeks [really only 1 week] that I won't stop coughing and that there are just not enough cough drops to help a sister out.



I think it's stress. I've started interviewing again for reals. Then I got a call from my doctor ... hey we'd like you to come back because we see something fishy [it was nothing] Nothing like being a grown up to add a little stress to your week.

but stripes? totally wash it all away. Well mostly anyway

Available at the Alice Supply Co

cute vintage type

I've got some serious cooties...be back next week

photo by 's photostream

Karen Elson

are you in Los Angeles? Karen Elson [wife of Jack White] is performing at Spaceland Wed June 9th. Wish I was going but the budget won't permit. Report back if you go I want to know how she does live.

kinda in love with this String Garden idea
featured on poppytalk

Is it Monday?

It's closing time on Monday already. I'm a little late for the game as usual.

first may I tell you about this cutie pie baby shower invite?



my clients at Kuro designed it for one of their partners, I printed it. I love animal mom with the boobs myself.

Also the reason I'm late to Monday? I lost Sunday altogether. How do you lose a day you might ask? Chris and I went to dinner on Saturday night. My fancy Birthday dinner. Soon after I began to get itchy and by midnight I was covered in hives from something I ate. Sunday was spent at the ER eyes swollen shut as they pumped mass amounts of benedryl into me along with some roids to calm the inflammation down. What I was allergic to is still a mystery. Was it the sauce on my fish [not shellfish btw which I'm not allergic to anyway] was it the passion fruit inside one of the desserts? maybe - I've never had passion fruit before.

who knows. All I know is that it's the itch-scratchy show around here and benedryl is not my friend when trying to stay awake and work.

The meal though? amazing. [minus the whole ER thing]

happy friday

this is too hilarious not to send you off into the weekend with
sex and the city parody with Bea Arthur

Satchel of Gold

I have nothing better to say that what's being discussed today over at SGM. Last night's RHONY was nothing less than a stunning example of [ are you ready? here's my disclaimer: possible] drug use in America - or mental illness I'm not sure what would be better in this case.



if you missed the Real Housewives of New York last night and can handle the truth like Al Sharpton [!!] you should catch a rerun over the weekend. It's a beautiful train wreck even I couldn't look away from [twice].

I always have fantasies of being a bike person. Maybe if I had that Public bike I saw a couple weeks ago I would. My mountain bike? it hurts my shoulder [wrong pitch of handlebars or something]

But The Netherlands are kicking some serious green bootie. Apparently 1/3 of their residents commute by bike. Check out a different kind of rush hour.



My little town of Long Beach is making great strides in being better bike people. We now have bike/car lanes called "green lanes" to encourage cyclists [not so great when you get stuck behind one in an auto] we have bike festivals, the whole fixed gear thing went bonkers a couple years ago and all the skinny pant wearing teenagers are jetting around on $3000 bikes now.

I just want to ride a bike that is comfy that doesn't cause trips to the chiro for days afterward. Things to aspire to I suppose.

via cup of jo

I would like you to dance

hello darlings...today my saggy bum turns 41 so I'm taking a couple of blog days off. I will Possibly woof down a hamburger or something naughty because it's an excuse to do so.

see you in a few.

what it looks like in my head

Yesterday I was expecting a phone call from a friend visiting from out of town. I forgot about the expected phone call and so late in the day I saw an odd number come up and answered it hesitantly.



a very enthusastic hello and greeting came from my phone

inside my head {crickets} or maybe more like the art work above? a splattttt of sparkily confetti

who is this I say?

it's Carrie! she says as if I've known her all my days. I don't know a Carrie I think.

inside my head {crickets} seriously. I know by the tone of her voice I should know her and nothing.

I actually say to her "why isn't it ringing a bell?" and she shyly says "I don't know" and then she says something quickly and instantly it's Karey!! Not Carrie

You see?...I see words in my head and not until I put a voice to the face can I recognize the phone call. It's my visual curse once again. Now? Now I'm mortified, she's embarrased and we're both laughing.

Karey from Mackin Ink was in town and we had planned to get together while she was here. Another fab and super fun blogger blind date. I consider her a dear friend, a friend I've never met. This is how this whole weird blogging world happens, you meet people online become friends and have never had coffee with them. My boyfriend thinks it's quite odd that I know stories about her three kids and call them out by name over dinner conversation. "Wait how do you know her?" duhhh My friend who lived in Jordan and now lives back in the US remember? "oh yah...that one you met on your flying carpet ride"

It's not strange at all. I mean I've gone on vacation with 3 women I didn't meet till I picked them up at the airport. And Just two weeks ago? Susannah from Petunia Faced Girl picked me up smack dab in the middle of San Francisco and we shared a pizza with my friend Khobe while we were on our 9$ Jet Blue ticket 6 hour vacation extravaganza. BTW Susannah? cuter than a bugs ear - I was so pooped after that I think I forgot to tell you all about it.

not. weird. at. all. {if we lived in the same cities...we seriously would all hang out and drink too much wine on Saturday nights}



Can I tell you Karey is as magical in person as she writes? BTW she looks like Princess Diana minus the whole crown/dead thing of course. And true to form we chatted about everything from blogging [ the difficulty finding the time and energy to write], kids, marriage, boyfriends, husbands, the girlies three, and what's the next BIG thing we both want to do?

We packed 6 weeks of coffee dates in over a single martini {that she so graciously bought me} gracias. I wish she was here for a few more days but alas she flew home to Uncle Sugar and the girls this morning. So we're back to blogging buddies. I still consider her a dear friend even so.


artwork above by Chris Duncan now showing at Jeff Bailey Gallery

woolly bully

I'm a fan of the whole vertical garden fury these days. These seem pretty user friendly, now if I could just remember to water the plants it would work out so well.

Woollypockets available starting at $39

via remodelista > velocity art & design

you've got my number

ohhh shiny numberssss. Available in a zipper [girl] or men's fold wallet style

available at OK here in Los Angeles and their online shop

What good is a blog if you can't post this stuff?



Watch the little girls in the background elevate him to super stardom in the matter of 3 minutes flat.
all I can say is WOW. This kid has got some MAD skills.

New In the studio - quirky vintage notecards

I have quite a few new cards available on Etsy today. I recently purchased some vintage printer's blocks from a printer retiring after 50 years. They're super cute and quirky to say the least!






Available here

an image from the upcoming e-magazine by designer Jeanette Lunde
Go check out her blog it's pretty friggin' amazing

via decor 8

in love with this scent

I'm in love with this scent that I bought last week on my shindig to SF. It smells just like the old-time candy Violet mints have you had them?

The candy isn't very good but the purply sparkled wrapping always makes me forget and then I buy them again. [it tastes like you're eating perfume] so I can't recommend the candy but the scent is lovely and smells like summer.

I keep rolling it all over my arms and smelling them - no one has told me I'm obnoxiously smelly yet so that's promising!

$16

Benny and the Jets

Happy Mother's Day - wish I was spending it with my mom in Sacramento but alas this flashback in time will have to do.



Me on the left, my cousin Darcy in the middle and my little brother Brian on the right with super chic-cutie pie mom and her magical blue bug in the background.

SP 2010 Speaker - Jessica Hische from Semi Permanent on Vimeo.

because I can't seem to write a post to save my life. here is another video to watch. My favorite type designer [and the best tattoo ever] Jessica Hische in my next life I'm coming back as her. dude at 25? I didn't know who the hell I was, she's giving design lectures. awesome.

while I'm still recovering from my fun hangover please watch this lovely short about the craft of chocolate. I love that they do with chocolate, what I do with my paper. Every piece hand loved.

My new motto

I had the most amazing day trip to San Fran today with my 9$ Jet Blue Ticket [yes, you saw that correctly]. Me and my friend Khobe went to the city for lunch, had an adventure, good food, met up with a friend and made it back to the plane with only 3 minutes to spare.

I would tell you more but I'm pooped. More later on

Baxter Finley Barber Shop

stylie here in Los Angeles
Baxter Finley
515 N. La Cienaga

read all about it here at Mondette

great kid books

I helped Mary Ann the great mind behind Great Kid Books with her business card recently. Can I point you to her site if you have little ones? Super cool.

Mary Ann is a librarian in Redwood City at an independent K-8 school and the mom of three little ones herself. I think you'll be in safe hands with her recommends!

New In the studio - San Fran Save the date

Amy and Dirk are getting hitched in beautiful San Francisco later this year. It's going to be an elegant black and white affair. We designed the save the date postcard chic and simple. The reverse side is white with black writing to give their guests hotel information in the nearby area.

roadside photographs

I'm in love with this Jen Zahigian's work
featured today on the Bright Side Project

Meg are you in there too? how very sexy Jack White of you



The Black Belles [just realized they're on Jack's record label no wonder they sound like him]

you might also like Karen Elson his supermodel wife now a musician too. Can't get the video to embed you'll have to go here if you're into it.

want her hair - even though I've had a version of this already



Leigh Lezark
model and one-third of the NYC based DJ trio the Misshapes

bag lady

I've become a bag lady. As in the canvas totes bag lady kind. Dunno how it happened. Freebies here or there I guess? Not as in the hey-I-bought-a-widget-at-Home-Depot-and-I'm-carrying-around-their-orange-tote. More like, I got a cute free tote from some company and it's stylie enough to throw my portfolio in to take to a client {it says I'm glamorous right?}


but visiting the Crew tonight and these little gems popped up $10. Possibly the cheapest thing at JCrew evah.



$10 bucks. seriously.

new In the studio - pink peony suite

see more over at the studio

you know I'm a fashion slut already - here I go again



I miss Kell On Earth. There were just not enough shows. But alas, a birdy told me that Sweet Andrew, goth glam extraordinaire has his own blog now. I'm in heaven.

*update...it's not Andrew's personal site but run by someone here in LA a friend? not sure how he gets his daily wardrobe posted so often

When Sorry just isn't enough

My assistant Jeff came to me with this card idea today. He gets all the credit.



Me? I've got me a potty mouth as much as the next girl but somehow seeing it in print is making me nervous.
Still... I can't stop giggling.
available here

Summer Bikes

I got talked into a mountain bike a few years ago. I've rode it exactly 8 times. What I really wanted? a granny bike with a basket.
like this:



Public bikes brought to you by the founder of Design within Reach [these bike prices are much more in reach than his furniture]

plus this? Let's bling it out with a Kate Spade basket? a little over the top I know...



but hey if we're gonna do it lets go big

Mom's Day

we inked up some vintage lead type today
available here

sneak Peek New In the studio - Janet and Mike

I'm not ready to show the whole kit and kaboodle but we got some amazeballs stuff printing this week. This will give you a taste till it's all done. click to enlarge the fabulousness.



have a wonderful weekend loves...

I Am In Love

via Habitually Chic today, looks to be quite an impressive movie



from IMDB: A tragic love story set at the turn of the millennium in Milan. The film follows the fall of the haute bourgeoisie due to the forces of passion and unconditional love.

Salon.com calls it "Ravishing" which is such a lovely word don't you think? I would like more Ravishing things in my life.

please note the man at the dinner table with the sikh hat [is it a hat? might not be the right term] Mr. Waris Ahluwalia, accessory designer and owner of The House of Waris I only know him of fashion but apparently he's an actor as well.

So Cal

big weekend here in So California... Down the street from me is the Long Beach Grand Prix and then out in the desert is Coachella I decided the last time I went that I was too old to do festival shows any more. The all day thing, the outhouses [Coachella has very nice ones though]... grandma needs a nap and doesn't like to wait in line for 5$ beer or water.



This year? I was sort of craving it. Probably have forgot the torture of it all.

Going to miss seeing a few people. She and Him on Friday [I really want to like them maybe live would change my mind?], Sia and The Deadweather being a couple on Saturday, Mayer Hawthorne and Thom Yorke on Sunday. Mostly the idea of going to Palm Springs sounds appealing, sitting pool side and heading over to the concert in the evening for a little bit. All by private car of course to avoid parking etc. This all being that I was independently wealthy and all. In my next life maybe

good or bad idea?

Tonight I walked by the local preschool a block from my house, and I had dreams of buying a baby bunny and putting it in the playground for the kids to find when they arrived.

cute but bad idea? all out bunny trauma? why did I have this thought in the first place?

btw...totally stole this photo from the new Favorite and The Best
she didn't have photo credits so I'll just say it's hers.