WRITE HERE

This is nuts. Talk about some serious lettering talent... Thanks, Christopher!

GIBBERISH

Jaime over at Design Milk made my heart skip a beat with these letter form and number form scarves from Little Factory. I am at a loss for words...

{not-so-subliminal message: hubby, our anniversary is coming... click here.}

BACK IN ACTION

My visit to Washington went well. It was a little crazy, but it is always restoring to be back up in the PNDubb. Maybe its all the oxygen from the trees... Anyway, I know some of you might have already gone to visit Ross Geerdes' blog that I mentioned last week, but today he has a great find, The Pattern Foundry. Make sure to check it out.

Hmmm, I think I am getting inspired for a new MStetson background!

SUSYJACK-ED

Sure wish I could slip away to the National Stationery Show and check out SusyJack*. All these colors and patterns make me smile. I heart colorful patterns… and extended sans serifs (in the logo). Plus, Susan Connor will be debuting her new 2008 line soon.

Stay in-the-know by visiting HeySusy, Susan's blog. Not in NYC for the NSS? Shop SusyJack* here or here.

CLEANLINESS

This is the best looking dry cleaner I have ever seen. KAA Design Group does it again… I wish I lived closer so I could CLEAN MY STUFF THERE.KAA Design Group, based in Los Angeles, is a comprehensive design firm that offers their creative services in architecture, landscape, graphics and interiors. I can’t encourage you enough to go and check out their website (flash or html).

JEALOUS

For those of us less fortunate than Ace Jet 170, images of Pentagram’s Black Book will have to suffice. Hmmm… how am I going to track one of these down?photography: pentagram

TYPE

Next book on my list… Seventy-nine Short Essays on Design by Pentagram partner, Michael Bierut. You can also find his writings on the Design Observer website.

DOUBLE SHOT

The way graphics and interiors complement one another has always piqued my interest and in the case of Brooklyn’s Gorilla Coffee, it seemed to be quite a successful combo. Bring together the works of two very talented studios, interior designer Christopher Burns and advertising/creative services company One Trick Pony and look what you get…

Check out their website here…

photography from Christopher Burns & Gorilla Coffee

designs by One Trick Pony

FRESH TAKE

I know I’m a little late with Pangea Organics (and really this topic, for that matter), but everytime I see their packaging, I get excited. (I love those line art graphics!) I know much of the “green” industry battles balancing social responsibilty and consumerism. However, I find that when companies like Pangea Organics utilize smart, innovate, considerate branding and packaging, it elicits a stronger response than those that do not. And won’t that desire to purchase and promote quality, natural products versus non-sustainable products get us closer to our goal? Anyway, I guess all I am trying to say is that Pangea Organics is a wonderful example that organic products don’t need to be ugly. I should have just said that and been done with it.

We can thank IDEO for the branding and design of these lovely packages. We can thank (and support) the Pangea Institute for their efforts in researching and teaching sustainable living.

HIRING? I WISH

Wow. I was blown away as I perused the website of Hong Kong based design firm, WHITESPACE. Not only am I amazed by their diverse portfolio, but I also love their site. The clean layout, ease of use, sensitivity to type, the loaders (see above) are so tasteful and thoughtful. How much do I wish I lived in Hong Kong, so I could apply there!?!

Below is a small sampling to present the quality of work WHITESPACE produces. Want to see more? Check out the WHITESPACE blog as well.

{ muse bar }
cocktail bar and lounge in The National Museum of Singapore

{ brunch club }
neighborhood café in Central, Hong Kong

{ kush }
a luxury apartment brand in Hong Kong

{ deborah oppenheimer }
Hong Kong based interior designer

PROBONO

One of my favorite type foundries, Fountain, happens to offer one of my favorite pixel typefaces, Scrixel (see below). However, they also furnish a nice set of pro bono typefaces (see above) and I thought I might share the love. (view the site for usage rights.)It’s looking like I need to get my hands on Fountain’s latest type specimen booklet, Urgent, as well!

SLABBED

I noticed it has been some time since I posted on one of my favorite things: typefaces. Just as I began my post, I received an email from my favorite type foundry Hoefler & Frere-Jones about their new release, Archer; It stopped me in my tracks. I have always been a fan of slab serifs and the sheer versatility of Archer is unbelievable. Forty styles and character sets to choose from could create one dynamic yet cohesive mix. It seems they have carefully refined every aspect of this typeface from the lining and old-style figures to the balance of slab serifs and terminal balls of a typewriter font. Regardless of whether you even understood the previous sentence, you will definitely recognize the quality of this extensive type family.

(Look how good “mstetson” looks and those numbers... please!)

RETROMOD

Jenn Ski is an extremely talented individual, designer, illustrator, artist. She offers both original art as well as giclée prints on her etsy site. Talk about affordable… her prints start at $25! I’m thinking my dining room might need a few of these.

C E L E R Y

During a studio tour of Celery Design Collaborative (what seems like years and years ago), I received a priceless reference, Celery’s Ecological Guide to Paper. The guide contains a comprehensive list of companies that offer recycled or alternative fiber paper lines. I know it can be difficult to find a quality paper that is also earth-friendly and, for your client, affordable. I would encourage you, however, to take a look.

…getting off my soap box.

100 PERCENT

The “paper set” has found it’s newest treat. Nestled in North Laguna, Cotton Idea Studio offers some of the most perfectly letterpressed correspondence pieces, note cards, personalized stationery, and invitations. You can also go home with a piece or two of lovely gift wrap, divine grosgrain ribbon, or scores of ideas on how to dress up your home or the perfect gift.





Friends of Cotton and Proprietor Mindy Gayer celebrated the sweet spot’s new home with a summer soiree to remember. MStetson was lucky enough to be on site for the delightful debut and our favorite photographer Trever Hoehne was kind enough to capture these images and share them with us. Hats off to our friend and bon chance!

MINDY MINGLES MERRILY.

M AND SOFIA MINI.

CRUDITÉS, FRUIT AND CHEESE FROM ZINC CAFÉ, SPRINKLES CUPCAKES, SPARKLING PEAR IZZE SODAS, AND CHAMPAGNE ON CUSTOM LETTERPRESSED COASTERS (OF COURSE).

For an appointment with Mindy...

Cotton Idea Studio
1000 North Coast Highway No.10
Laguna Beach, California 92651
949.715.3600
hello@cottonideastudio.com

WE WERE LEFT OUT

Both M and I ( Stets ) were the babies of the family. Competitive. Peacemakers. We would never make our siblings' mistakes. But when it comes down to it, we totally got the shaft. Our mothers had the best of intentions to create, and complete, our baby books. However, like most parents, when it was our turn to bask in the limelight, it seems they lost inspiration. And so, with the continued excitement from our previous post, we just had to show you Binth's Baby Book. If only our parents had known; we might not have felt so ignored. This sucker is so fantastic, we are confident it will be completed regardless of whether it's your first child or your fifth. The pages will guide you through the documentation of everything from “The First Big Journey” to “Third Birthday Firsts and Favorites.” The cotton bookcloth cover is screen printed in white and sits in a delightful keepsake box.




Make sure to check out the other products designed by one of our favorite companies, Binth.

SIANARA ZAPFINO

Ciao, Edwardian. Farewell, Lucida. Adieu, Snell and Shelley. And dare I say, godspeed Bickham.

Anyone who knows me ( Stets ) and my typography preferences, knows I am a typeface snob. I pride myself in knowing that I can identify most typefaces, and if I can't, I won't sleep until I do. (I love a good challenge.) That is why M and I get along so well; we have nearly unattainable standards when it comes to quality, design, and materials. Her specialty… let's be real, everything designer; mine, typefaces. And with my over exposure to wedding invitations, I have seen many a script typeface. (Did I say I cringe at the word "font" except when used correctly. See AIGA's Font vs. Typeface or My Graphics Notebook's explanation.)

Below are some of my favorite scripts, and in Bickham's defense, it really is a nice script. Lots of alternates, nice proportions, easily legible and beautiful flourishes, but has recently turned into the latest "zapfino." Overused, misused and has become common, as are all the scripts mentioned thus far. Anyhow… i hope that you will enjoy them. I will now get off my type case. I mean, soap box.


{ BURGUES } Burgues Script would be beautiful implemented on a formal invitation. The alternates, swashes and flourishes make it a great calligraphy substitute. Gorgeous, period. Designed by Alejandro Paul.

{ LA PORTENIA } La Portenia is less formal and more playful than Burgues Script. Still great for an invitation, but maybe an event more friendly, casual. Designed by Diego Giaccone and Angel Koziupa, and engineered and expanded by Alejandro Paul.

{ SO PROLIX } So Prolix is a cute script typeface I can see used for baby showers and announcements. Its consistent stroke width makes is easily readable and differentiates it from some of the other scripts available. Could be a substitute for MeMina.

{ DEAR SARAH } Dear Sarah is a perfect option when you are looking for a script with a hand written quality. I mean, seriously, some of the alternate characters are ink splots… you have got to be kidding me. It has a small caps character set as well. Designed by Christian Robertson.