Mint

I usually don’t like to post about new companies until they have a shop up and running, but I got so excited about Falconwright’s screen printed leather goods that I had to share. Currently, Falconwright is knee-deep in the holiday craft fair madness, but their online shop will be launching in a few weeks. Check out their blog for more details, or sign up for their mailing list. Aren’t those patterns great?

One of our favorite sponsors Felt & Wire has some really great gifts for everyone on your list this year. They also have a large selection of cards and tags that would put the perfect finishing touch on any gift! Here are some of our favorites for the holidays, and be sure to check out their entire shop!

1. Heart Cushion Cover / 2. Holiday Music Card / 3. Yellow Candle Holder / 4. Kids Letterpress Color-in Clock / 5. Recycled Canvas Bucket / 6. A Year in Caps 2012 Calendar / 7. Fern Art Print / 8. Italian Grapes Journal / 9. Letterpress Holiday Cards (set of 6)

Thanks F&W! Sponsors help make Mint possible, and I am so grateful for their support. If you’re interested in advertising on Mint, please get in touch by emailing ellie at mintdesignblog dot com, and I’ll be happy to give you all the details.

The 3rd issue of Wrap is out, just in time to cover all the Christmas presents you’re buying. If you’re unfamiliar with Wrap, it’s a new magazine focused on contemporary illustrators, so you can read interviews and features, then flip over the page, disassemble the magazine, and re-purpose it as wrapping paper. Visit their shop for the full Christmas collection.

Illustrators: Donna Wilson, Josephin Ritschel, Andrew Groves, Iker Spozio, Ruth Munro, and Lesley Barnes

This weekend Brendan and I went to Neomonde in Raleigh, which was hands-down the best Mediterranean food I’ve ever had. Ever. I wasn’t even a big baklava fan until this weekend, when I realized the problem was I’d never had good baklava. So if you’re local, run over to Neomonde and be sure to get the Bird’s Nest for dessert. But if you’re not local, I came across this recipe for Pistachio Baklava Cake which is gorgeous and delicious, I’m sure. More photos and the full recipe on Hungry Rabbit.

Luci Everett is an Australian illustrator / graphic designer / collage artist extraordinaire who creates beautiful work and seems to always have her hand in a new adventure. We caught up with Luci to get a little peek into her mind and see what she’s been working on and what’s next for her!

When did you first become interested in graphic design and illustration?
I think I’ve always been interested in it. Definitely since I was about 12 at least, although my work aspirations have changed (I don’t particularly want to design for teenage girls’ magazines anymore!).

We have been following your blog and love your posts “Things I’ve been working on.” Can you tell us about these new pieces? 
These are peeks at some illustrative stationery I’ve been creating for an online wedding stationery store which is launching very soon.

Do you have any other exciting new projects you are currently working on?
Yes! A few personal projects in the works. I’m working on a publication with my friend and great photographer Olga Bennett and an animation with two friends. I just finished a fun illustrative typography project for Frankie magazine which will be in the next issue.

Who, would you say, is/are the biggest influences of your work?
Probably a mixture of a gazillion sources. Some which come to mind: Chris Silas Neal, MASH, Dane Lovett.

What piece of art do you own that you cherish the most?
Other than my nephews’ drawings, I have a beautiful wooden “egg head” (that’s the only way I can describe it) by artist Eveline Tarunadjaja.

What are some of your favorite materials to work with?
Paper/collage, watercolour, pencils.

What are three things you never leave your house without?
Phone, keys, shoes!

What is the best part about living in Australia?
Lots of beautiful places to visit and road trips to take. The Melbourne coffee is killer too.

Thanks, Luci!

All work and photos by Luci Everett

Some things we are coveting this week:

+ Pippa Small’s ethically traded collection at Terrain.

+ These constellation calendars by little bright studio via Unruly Things

+ Erika Lawlor Schmidt’s collages via Design for Mankind

+ This apple galette recipe from La Tartine Gourmande, above

+ Turner Pocock’s Owlet Wallpaper via Design Sponge

+ A very cozy looking Rennweg Scarf from Anthropologie

+ LOCAL STUFF: First Friday Gallery Walk in Raleigh // Durham Storefront Project // Holiday Open House at Marbles Kids Museum’s Corner Store // Raleigh Winterfest on Saturday

 Have a good weekend!

Sara Söderberg is a Swedish ceramicist living in Los Angeles and the artist behind Terttulla Ceramics. Naming her business after her two grandmothers (Terttu and Ulla), Söderberg creates pieces that she hopes will last many lifetimes. “The intent is that each piece will last you a life time, and then be picked up in a thrift store and last another life time. It is an answer to our throw-away culture that pays less and less attention to quality and integrity, and more and more attention to quantity and consumerism.”

Each one of her designs “is thrown or built, trimmed, sanded, and glazed by hand,” so you know you are getting a beautiful, durable piece that will stand lots of use. Söderberg is offering free shipping on all of her pieces from now until Christmas!