Helen Dardik

Helen's "Orange you lucky!" blog is beautiful (a reflection of the lady herself, it seems).

Hope her "party people" help you end your weekend with a little smile...

A Book By It's Cover

Books are such an amazing medium for and inspiration to design, so being able to hit one blog and see so many beautiful tomes is such a pleasure!

In this blog by Julia Rothman you can see amazing children's books, art & design books, handmade books & much much more. Julia usually also posts the story of the book design or where she found it.

Judge this blog by it's cover...it's lovely!

Blogging about blogs is ok, right?

It's a lazy and sunny Sunday afternoon here in Brisbane and I am doing one of my favourite things...going down the rabbit hole that is the Internet to admire other people's blogs.

My friend Emma got me on to this one, which I am starting to become addicted to on a morning and afternoon tea-ly basis...Ryan Blogs Coffee.

The name says it all, really: Ryan writes about every single coffee that he drinks every day. It might sound like the past-time of an obsessive compulsive who lives with his Mum and meticulously records the number plates of cars parked in his street, but Ryan actually seems like quite a cool guy. Apparently (and this is according to my friend Emma, a font of knowledge on these things), Ryan is part of the band The Cat Empire...hmmmm, don't quote me on that.

Anyway, while he waxes poetic on his coffee, Ryan also talks about music, movies, TV, youtube, 80s television ads, cool places in his neighbourhood etc etc. A funny, cool blog. I think I would like to have a coffee with Ryan sometime...

xx Caitlin

My List of (more than) 5 Hot Spots in Brunswick, Melbourne!

Our Wallpaper competition has inspired me to list my favourite hot spots in my old haunt of Brunswick, Melbourne. I couldn't narrow it down so I have 10! If you're ever in Melbourne make sure you check out Lygon Street and Sydney Road in Brunswick. This list is making me very homesick ; (

1. Monk House Design (102 Lygon Street, East Brunswick, Melbourne)
A gorgeous little boutique full of fabulous clothing and accessories by Melbourne designers (see Precious Porcelain - gorgeous porcelain brooches)

2. Sugardough (163 Lygon Street, Brunswick East, Melbourne) 
A beautiful Panificio & Patisserie shop which serves dainty baked goods on vintage china. It smells and tastes delicious!

3. Rumi's (132 Lygon St, Brunswick East, Melbourne)
Lebanese style food. I was first introduced to Persian Fairy Floss here! And even though they are Lebanese they have Turkish Delight - or should it be called Lebanese Delight? Either way it's my favourite!

4. Atticus Finch (129 Lygon Street, Brunswick East, Melbourne)
Sometimes I like to be posh. At Atticus Finch I can sip Tempranillo while snacking on duck pate. You don't get much posher than that!

5. The Alderman (134 Lygon Street, Brunswick East, Melbourne)
The Alderman has a great little backyard for a quiet beer. Or a glass of red in winter by the cozy warm fire. Dogs are also welcome ; )

6. Lulamae (Shop 151 Sydney Road, Brunswick, Melbourne)
A cute boutique run by the sweetest girls on the planet! (I bought a fabulous bright tangerine winter coat here - which unfortunately burnt in my car accident. Luckily when I rang Lulamae they were able to track me down a bright orange one instead! Thankyou!)

7. Thalia Thai (82 Lygon St, Brunswick, Melbourne)
The cheapest and best Thai food around (especially the Pad Thai!) It also has a quirky, friendly chef who waves to you when you come and go.

8. Small Block (130 Lygon St, Brunswick, Melbourne)
Good leisurely breakfast spot (which is a nice way of me saying that the service is really slow) It didn't manage to deter me though as I kept coming back for the Asian pork omelette with chilli jam! I like the vintage petrol signs on the wall as well. I want my walls to look like that too.

9. Gallery 696 (696 Sydney Road, Brunswick, Melbourne)
Run by the lovely Toby and Melika this is a fantastic shop, gallery and art space. You will be introduced to some of the most talented emerging artists around - and you might also find some lovely art to take home (or even a Blanket poster and badges!)

10. Black Hearts & Sparrows Wine Purveyors (131 Lygon St, Brunswick, Melbourne)
Obviously as a designer I base the quality of the wine or beer on the quality of the design on the label. You really can't go wrong here.

If you want to share your list of hot spots make sure you enter our Wallpaper competition!
Email: competition@blanketmagazine.com
(please include in your email your: Name, City and Country of Residence and your list of 5 Hot Spots!)
~Bec

Digby & Iona's new website!

Oh Aaron Ruff from Digby & Iona, can I please be you when I grow up? Just like you, I will work in my glass encased studio creating mystical, quirky jewellery that makes other people think of far away lands, strange adventures and dreaming...

Hmmm, I may have to just settle for interviewing you in the December "Past & Present" issue of Blanket and haunting your brand new website. I see that you deliver to ALL international destinations...how marvellous. Maybe it's because it's Movember and all I see lately are gentleman sporting grandiose lip ticklers, but I want one of the Phileas Fogg necklaces so, so badly.

Caitlin

Blanket Guest Blogger: Erin from Design for Mankind

We were delighted to have the lovely Miss Erin from Design For Mankind to be our very first Blanket guest Blogger. With so much inspiration surrounding her everyday we asked Erin what inspires her?
Erin: Gracious. This is one of the hardest questions for me to answer, because I feel so inspired by so many different things! But, if I had to choose, here are my top five inspirations, along with a few reasons why I think they're totally awesome:


1. Libraries
I love the smell of old books, new books and well, books in general. Although I have to admit, art/design books smell the best.



2. Rain
I love to write during a thunderstorm. Although I don't have a tin roof like in the movies, I still feel like I'm a bit of a star.



3. Portland
As in Portland, Oregon. OK, I've never been there. But because of aforementioned #2 and the bustling art community, I feel like I would love it. I often close my eyes and pretend like I live in a tiny bungalow there. Portlanders--- do they even HAVE bungalows in OR?



4. I.D. Magazine
I get so excited when this goodie arrives in my mailbox every two months that I have my own night dedicated to the action. I call my husband, scream "It's I.D. Day!" and he brings home Chinese food as I devour every inch of those beautifully laid out margins. It's quite possibly my favorite day of the bi-month!



5. Photography
When I'm feeling low on inspiration, I browse Flickr and choose some favorites depending on my mood. It's a fun game for me to play, and sometimes I have to 'unfavorite' my picks and wonder what exact state of mind I was in when I chose that, but most of the time, I love my favorites forever.

www.designformankind.com

Past & Present Influences?

The Lady of Shalott by John William Waterhouse

When I was younger I had this painting up on my wall of the 'Lady of Shalott' by John William Waterhouse. Over 10 years ago when I was last in London I missed seeing it because it wasn't out on display. But while I'm in London I thought I would go to the Tate Britain and see it (I checked this time and it was on display).

It was such a joy to finally see it and because of the upcoming Past & Present issue it made me think about the influence other artists have had on my life and how it has shaped what I do now.

So I thought it would be interesting to find out what artists or paintings have influenced other people in their lives and why?

Leave your comment below so we can all share ; )