letterpress

Briar Press has everything you need to know about the letterpress. Here you can search through the classifieds and purchase your own press, or learn about the history of the press along with photos of antique machines. Even if you don't know much about letterpress, like myself, after you visit this site you are going to want one of your own.
www.briarpress.org

"master craftsman"

Kougei
This web-site shows how traditional Japanese paper is made, what the paper is often used for, papermaker interviews, and it also has many wonderful photos. It is pretty cool that the paper we incorporate into our own design also represents the beautiful design of another. aahhh....if only I lived in Japan. Although I was mainly interested in learning about paper, this site includes information on weaving, dyeing, paper stencils - amazing, wood working, bamboo and even metal casting. Most of the artists interviewed are considered "master craftsman... and has devoted (their) entire life to this craft."
www.kougei.or.jp/english

Mom, Beach and Me.

The weather in the Midwest is heading into the unbearable territory in the near future, so it always brings me a little warmth looking at this picture of a young me with my hot mom at the beach. So I thought I would share. I would also like to share that our friend Noble has bought a house with her adorable family in Galena and is hopefully all moved in by now, but maybe not quite unpacked. We can't wait until she's back online and posting away. Speaking of posting, I am making a little vow to myself to be a bit more dedicated to things here at Doug, Jack and Me. My goal is at least one post a day during the week (I can't promise anything on the weekends). So for anyone out there who does read this besides Doug, Jack and Noble...be prepared for a lot more blogging! Happy Beach Thoughts!

the isongbook

"Designed exclusively for Anthropologie, this portable iPod docking station features an AM/FM tuner, detachable speakers, sleep alarm and remote control."

www.anthropologie.com

I guess I need to upgrade from a Shuffle to a real iPod if I want to buy this and have it work, but I would also need to find an extra $350. So I guess I'll just look for now - or add it to my pretend Christmas list. Any one else have an extravegant gift they would like to receive this season? It's always fun to wish for something you know you would never get, right? Wait, is it even November yet? If Bath and Body Works is playing holiday music, you know it's time for present buying.

Bo Notes

My friend SaraBo has one of the cutest apartments in Des Moines, and she has recently created a series of postcards for guests to send while visiting, or after having been to a dinner party that she and her roommate Jenny have hosted. This was a DIY project that I witnessed while spending a cloudy afternoon last week hanging out with Bo. We had hazelnut hot chocolate, and I did some online updating, emailing, and such... while Bo became completely engrossed in this project.

Each postcard has it's own unique caption on the back, too.

On the couch postcard: Without the modern amenity of television, guests enjoy fine conversation and views from 21 windows in this craftsman style duplex in the heart of Des Moines.

And on the suitcase postcard: A craftsman style duplex in the heart of Des Moines becomes a stopping point for many cross-country journeys and Iowa vacations.

Inspiring.

07 Calendar time

As soon as I get a job, I'll be purchasing a replacement for my rockin' Pentagram Design Typographical Calendar.

Sidebar Update

I just updated the sidebar with almost all of the links to sites we have posted about. Can you say, "Bored at work??"

papa stour

From: www.papastour.com

Kate George
"Kate has created a new product - BoxArt which mixes her strong simple outline illustrations with seventy’s retro textiles and 5o’s chic florals to create fun and quirky box frame canvas prints.

The canvas is stretched on a 14 inch (35mm) deep wooden frame which can be mounted on a wall with ease or can simply stand on a shelf."

Simple and perfect for a little one's room. Love the sweet color palette she uses.

x doug

late night

i didn't feel good, and couldn't sleep the other night... this is what i ended up doing untill i was finally feeling tired. all the circles were starting to get to me...

virgin

this site is great... flodipa's portfolio is amazing...

www.flodipa.com

"creating thoughtful beauty"

www.shopheidi.com

I saw a post about Heidi yesterday on design*sponge and wanted to convey how much I love her wrap collection. They make me want to give a beautifully wrapped gift every day. I believe these papers are also frame worthy since the patterns and colors stand so well on their own.

Egg Press

If my scanner would work I would have a nice image of the cute note cards Egg Press sent to me for being the 125th of 200 people to sign up for their mailing list. It really is cute. And they hand wrote on it, extremely personable. I sent them an email to say thank you and they replied the same day. Everyone should visit their web site today. And when I get married, they will do my invitations.

Blueprint, take two.

I was looking through the newest issue of Blueprint magazine today. Toward the back, there's a crowded, but beautifully typeset spread of 100 home-related websites that we should bookmark. Or so they say. I will have to check them out. I like the type in this publication. So much so that sometimes it's distracting from the article/content at hand. Somehow that seems wonderful and inappropriate all at the same time.

In other thoughts. I saw a really great menu last night at a restaurant. A new friend of mine, a college student, just learned about loupes and dots and offset printing and plates and all. I brought my loupe and we inspected the images in the menu. Our friends decided we were weird.

Where have you been all my life?

www.feinedinge.at

I can't translate a thing on this site, but I love love love this cup and saucer.

Design Camp 2006

I'm not quite sure if I will be attending Design Camp this year. None of the speakers nor the activities seem exciting to me. Sad. I usually l-o-v-e Design Camp. Sigh.

More info: aigaminn.org/designcamp

For Like Ever

I totally like love this poster. And they have like a t-shirt and tote bag too. So like brilliant.

www.vllg.com

x doug

Edit: I just like bought my very own! I shall hang it above my desk.

Helvetica - The Movie

"Helvetica is a feature-length independent film about typography, graphic design and global visual culture. It looks at the proliferation of one typeface (which will celebrate its 50th birthday in 2007) as part of a larger conversation about the way type affects our lives. The film is an exploration of urban spaces in major cities and the type that inhabits them, and a fluid discussion with renowned designers about the choices and aesthetics behind their use of type.

Helvetica encompasses the worlds of design, advertising, psychology, and communication, and invites us to take a second look at the thousands of words we see every day."

www.heveticafilm.com

x doug

Copy Goes Here

I just found this great short film by Veer. It's pretty great. Copy Goes Here touches on a bit of workplace reality. Sometimes extremely passive workplaces are really just hiding places for people's imperfections. The ending is a rather dry ironic twist.

Beastie Boys DVD

I am buying this tomorrow - and I never buy DVDS. But I love the Beastie Boys and am still bitter about Mike D's bicycle accident that prevented me from seeing them in 2000 with Rage Against the Machine (before they broke up). Plus, I thnk the idea of giving your fans cameras and seeing the show from their point of view is outstanding. I hope it's as good as I am dreaming it to be.

Etsy

Etsy

"Your place to buy and sell things handmade."
If you want something unique this is the place to look. You can even shop by color!

x doug

peek keep

peek keep

"From Anne Black, a Danish-based design company, come these elegant, casted porcelain cups with a hand painted inside in varying patterns in blue. They are made with non-toxic glazes suitable for any foods and beverages and are dishwasher safe."

There is something I love about a plain outside with a nice pattern inside.

x doug

Weego Home Nickel Lanterns

Weego Home

I would like to eat dinner at the beach with these lanterns tonight. Just me and the lanterns. Sounds lovely.

x doug

"LG joins up with Designers Guild to launch a stunning new range of limited edition Steam Washing Machines"
May 25, 2006

I'm a couple months late on this one, but I l-o-v-e this black washing machine and the idea of cute washing machines in general.

x doug

The 2nd Annual Smallest, Coolest Apartment Contest 2006

"The Smallest, Coolest Apartment Contest is a contest for all small apartments and homes in the lower 48 states under 650 square feet. We are seeking the most ingenious and beautiful 120 submissions along with all the tips and resources we need to maximize our own homes."

Living in a kind-of-small apartment myself, I found the slideshows of the winners to be quite inspiring. Plus, I enjoy getting to look inside other people's homes.

x doug

MOZI T-Shirts

"Hand screen-printed and made from 100% Australian cotton, our long sleeve T’s will enliven any grey day."
Cute, cute, cute place in Austrailia - "MOZI" - I want all three of these shirts.

x doug

Parisian Wallpaper Dishes

"Black, white and beautifully baroque. This mixable, modern collection will add elegance and attitude to your plain-Jane dishes. Two motifs, derived from French wallpaper patterns."

'If Rosanna Bowles ran the world, everyone would sit down to dinner each evening and enjoy a fresh-cooked meal presented on exquisite dishes. She believes that eating together is truly a giving and loving experience. “Make sure you set the table every night,” she reminds us.'

x doug

Bird Purse

This fine bird-patterned purse caught my eye in OK! Weekly magazine of all places. It's from yakpak.com and comes in various other colors and non-bird patterns. Even though I contain a dislike for birds (especially the pigeon couple who think it's cool to mate right outside my bedroom window on the weekends) I love birds printed on things. And cukoo clocks. But that's it.

x doug

Design Public

I really really really like Design Public and have added it to the links section. I think half of it is the little chicken in the logo. Hummmm, baby chickens.

x doug

Silhouette Mirror

"A sophisticated mirror that surprises by adding a romantic touch to minimalism." Love this mirror from Umbra, Design: Matt Carr. I think anyone would feel more beautiful with flowers around their neck.

x doug

threadless.com

I can spend hours at work just looking through the submissions at threadless.com - someday I might even submit my own design. I was thinking "You look like a big dinner" would be a funny t-shirt. Maybe I'll put a fork and knife on it too. With eyes and arms of course. Any other t-shirt ideas anyone?

x doug

Let the posting begin!

Let's play memory!

I should be doing a load of dishes right now, but thought it was a better time to begin the Doug, Jack and Me blog. So we begin with a find courtesy of Jack, via Doug. Could there be a better way to play the memory game than with stunning patterned materials by Maharam? I might start my game collection with this one.

x doug