3-P4 (three potato four)

I had the absolute pleasure of popping into an outstanding store in Philadelphia called 3 Potato 4. I also got to chat with the owner Stu (he’s so nice).. 3-P4 sell online and i think they even ship to Australia.. so check it out.. I took so many photos along with buying too much (to take back to SYD that is) otherwise i may not have been able to stop.. how much is a container to Sydney.. hmmmm

I am needing a needle guide

I was in Doylestown, Pennsylvania on my way to Philadelphia (with Miss SC) and stopped at the Mercer Museum this place really has some history. The Museum came about when handmade objects were being discarded in the late 1800′s for all the fancy new machine made goods (sad). Henry Mercer (1856-1930) the museum creator, set out on a mission to collect and preserve the outdated tools and material before they were buried and forgotten by the Industrial Revolution.

So.. this place is AMAZING! but i cant show everything now. I will give a bit away every week. So enjoy part one. I am needing a needle guide

Typographers this is for you. This is a Needle and Shuttles guide look at it, the way it is laid out everything about it is so perfect.. It was on the wall of the shop in the museum. The shop was behind glass and was kept the way it would have been in the early 1900′s below is a wider view for you. Look at the guide again..just because.

Sorry I shot this through glass about 3 meters away and this is the only angle i could get.. front on would have been so great!

A book was launched and the snow did fall

What a day in NYC, far out talk about freaky weather.. I was hanging out at Anthropologie at Sibella’s Launch of her new book Nomad when halfway through the chat the world turned white. It was CRAZY wild and very cold.. the rest of the day was spent in my apartment. Brrrrrrr. Check out the display of Sibella’s books.. nice.

Textures, Textures & Even More….

Again I have seen 1000 textures that are amazingly inspiring. I am obsessed  with worn fonts, billboards on brick buildings. I also like looking at the sidewalks and the cool textures they have used over the years.. check out the circles of glass.. love it!

Early Coffee Stop on Duane St

Most people have heard the horror story about the lack of good coffee in NYC.. well its getting better. This little bakery was open early one morning so I stopped  to test it out.. So good!.. Here are a few snaps from the inside. I was so happy I found this place it has inspired me for a really fantastic collaboration I will be working on in the new year. (these photos were taken while i was sitting having coffee, to sleepy to move around)

Flowers on Ludlow

Just a really lovely contrast. I like looking at the small detail on the flowers/weeds (each to their own) look at the small hairs/fibers on the beige ones. This is also a really sweet collection of colours. Green, Beige & Lilac.

Chalk Boards and Patterns

 

I know that most posts seem to be the inside of restaurants but that’s the mood I have been in.. This is so cool, tiles and chalkboards, I also love chalk type.. The contrast is beautiful. I draw loads of inspiration form interiors when i am designing.

Feel Free to look up!

I was in the mood for another day of textures and thought I would pop by Freeman’s. This is a fantastic restaurant hidden at the end of Freeman alley off Rivington St.. I was with some friends so I did not take many images but I did manage a few of the ceiling. I love looking up in places, sometimes you find the coolest patterns, lights and some objects are also very interesting when you look at them from a different angle. Oh and the colours and wool…sigh.

Yummy Monday Snack!

ABOVE: This is the apartment across the street i loved the colours of the leaves and branches together along with the brick, stone and wood. Not to sure about the tile but left it there anyway.Today was a great day I took some advice from my friend Sibella’s Book The Stylists Guide to NYC and went to a little Greek Cafe called Snack. This is such a cute cafe on Thompson Street in between Prince & Spring. I love the texture of the Celling and the old tattered cards of the traditional outfits lined up along the counter, I am working on a new type of illustration at the moment and this little cafe sure did supply some inspiration. Such a neat little place.

Sunday Colour.

Just a quick one. How beautiful are these.

Textures for a Friday

I absolutely love textures. I also love fonts. There are so many buildings like this in NY. I love how you can tell where a building once was and all the old painted billboards. The browns and Yellows are really beautiful especially when they are warn away as these ones are. hmmm getting ideas for something.

Today was a day of answers.

Today I thought I would trek into the streets of Soho to a great little cafe called Ground Support they have free wifi & they make good coffee, so I thought I would stay and work there all morning to stock up on my caffein levels. job done! I am still a bit twitchy 6 hours on.

Friedmans Lunch

So guess this is kinda cheating on the illustration of the day by posting about where i had breakfast/brunch this morning..Friedman’s Lunch is a cute cafe/lunch bar in Chelsea Markets. The font and the bird are super cool and it felt so great being there with all the chalk boards and lettering.. i did not have my camera so i had a friend take the image for me. i will go back and take more Fonty images… mmmmmm Fonty!

Hello NYC.

Okay, This is the first post for my “work space odyssey” chapter #1 NYC. Above is where my work will take place for the next Month, it is the most amazing apartment in Chelsea (heart) over looking the Hudson River and The High Line NYC’s elevated garden. (beautiful, I can’t wait to get a bottle of Rose on Saturday & relax somewhere along it.with someone to share the bottle with me of course.)

What am I doing here? A few reasons really. Firstly – i love the place. Secondly – I am meeting new clients. Last but not least – I love walking through new neighbourhoods gathering photos and ideas for my own personal projects and the projects i am commissioned to do. I think it is something a designer really needs to do, especially now that the internet is so prevalent. Design is different from country to country and I would like to see it for myself. It really is a different experience when you are actually here.

Now I have to go and make this scanner work so i can upload the illustration of today.

Tribeca Church – ITD

This is the first illustration of the day. (we will see how that goes) this is an amazing Church in Tribeca NY that i love. Anyway. Enjoy.

Work Space Odyssey

I am working on a fun personal project at the moment and the first chapter (no, its not a book) is NY I will be relocating my desk there for 1 month and then back to Sydney again to get married and plan the other relocations. I will be working as normal just in NY so “clients” don’t stress.. and the ones in NY you will get to see me in work hours. Next year has some more amazing Cities… oh, I love my work. Relocation takes place on the 16th October – 14 November

Beijing

I have so many memories of Beijing that bring a smile to my face. This one was a Saturday morning in the centre of the city at a little hardware store and these are the children of the shop keeper.

Summer Palace Beijing

I was looking through some photos from  my stay in Beijing (btw, one of my most favourite places) and came across these. These are illustrations that cover the walkways to the lake. So amazing and really heart warming. If you ever get to Beijing do yourself a favour and visit the Summer Palace (for the illustrations). love.

The image above is very old.. i guess they have not re-painted over it as yet. even more beautiful like this.

Old friends & New friends

I was hanging out at my good old pals shop the other day and fell in love with Mr Giraffe or is it Mrs or even Miss.. whatever she/he is I love it.. It was hanging on the wall of her every so intensely amazing shop in Paddington the society inc. I could not help myself I had to buy more.. So, I am now the proud owner of a Giraffe, Hippo & Cassowary who now live in my Studio. Hmm thinking about getting some for home as well.. maybe a bit over the top.. Anyway here i am (having a very bad hair day) with my new friend. Also check out the super nice post about me on Sibella’s blog..Friends all round.x

Feathers for thought

Well, not everyday do you come across something (an artists project) and think..Holly Crap that person is Amazing & Crazy (in a really great way) Check this out… Kate MccGwire Iwill let you read about it from her site.. but just quickly.. these are all feathers collected from different types of birds and brought together to make these incredibly thought provoking sculptures..I am speechless.