A teacher from University sent me a link to this book quite some time ago. It seemed interesting, but it was not until I stumbled upon it in a little paper shop here in Toronto that I feel in love. Maybe it’s the tangibility of books that really pulls me in. The moment I lay my hands on one and start flipping through it’s pages, a voice from somewhere whispers “must have”.

The Paper Bride is brought to you by the Purgatory Pie Press and by letterpress artist, designer, and once-bride Esther K. Smith, who inspires one-of-a-kind invitations, albums, guest books, and more. It includes unique projects and guides, like the Paper Bride Handwriting Practice Sheet that can be downloaded here to help you achieve that perfect cursive.

The beautiful imagery. The impeccable typography – both stylized and traditional. It just screams to be taken home, admired, and cherished for years to come. Did I buy that book that day? No. Mostly because I was on an important paper run and I couldn’t let a fantastic book distract me from the task at hand,… but of course it did because I stood there flipping through it for a good 10 minutes or so.

My point is… it’s on my ‘to buy’ list and it should be on yours too if you’re at all interested in taking the DIY approach for your wedding. It had some pretty amazing/quirky ideas in there for fun and budget-conscious couples.

I can’t even begin to explain how much I love building my own personal book collection. I want my own organized mini library one day in my at-home studio. The Paper Bride is guaranteed to be in it.

Aside from this book, Purgatory Pie Press produces some other really cool projects, including custom wedding invitations. Read more about them here and here. I’m really digging their 50s vibe.

{image from Purgatory Pie Press}

These vintage-inspired stoneware lace dishes by Kim Wallace are beautifully romantic, yet indie. They have the potential to make a great personal set for the home, as each piece is unique and you do not have to stick with just one colour – why not get a mix? They also vary in pattern, from elodie, to nyala, to lune. Finally – an elegant, modern approach to the lace dolly. Much better than the ones lying around your grandma’s place.

According to the online Australian gallery shop Udessi, each dish is made by pressing a vintage lace doily into the clay whilst wet, leaving the detailed pattern of the lace behind, and then finished with a coloured underglaze and clear gloss glaze.

Check them out here! I am SO in love.

{photos from Udessi}

These are perfectly feminine and great inspiration for invitation, stationary and just doodles! Alice Gabb’s illustrative style also has a vintage touch to it, which we always love.

{images from Alice Gabb}

Lydia Nichol has some really cute illustrations in her portfolio. Vibrant colours, hand drawn type…what’s not to like?

{images from Lydia Nichols; found via designworklife}

The PANTONE WEDDING™ color guide includes all of the 194 colors, chromatically arranged and numbered for Spring 2010. The colour fan guide and swatch cards will make shopping for wedding fashions and coordinating colors with your wedding vendors quick, easy, and painless (at least in terms of colour). Get yours exclusively from Dressy Group here.

{image from Dressy Group}

I love cooking. Or at least I love trying to cook. I have a great mentor (my mom) to guide me along, who just has a knack for it, making every meal seem effortless and delicious at the same time. I’ve asked her where she learned how to make this or where the recipe is for that and the answer is usually ’she just knows’ or they now look like this:

{image © H+H}

I actually think it has some character and I love the fact that it shows how much the recipes were used. However, it is getting difficult to read and pretty soon 1 cup of sugar might turn into 4. Which for some may not be a big deal but for those of us who are learning, every step counts! So, I suggested to my mom that I’d make her a book with all of our family recipes. And that’s how I found and fell in love with TasteBook.

TasteBook allows users to personalize a cookbook to suit their individual tastes either by searching for a certain meal or uploading their own favourite family dishes. The books come in a hardcover, which can be personalized and are bound like a binder making it easy to add or take out recipes.

The site is beautifully designed, easy to use and free to join! Chef or just starting out, I think this would make a great birthday gift, or as I’m planning, a Mother’s Day gift. Oh… and you may or may not get lost in the deliciousness featured on the site. Bon Appétit!

{images from sew_liberated via flickr}

I have been following and admiring Julia Pott’s work for quite some time now, but it’s about time I shared it with all of you. You will quickly notice that Julia is a lover of animals. Kitties, puppies, polar bears and foxes play main characters in her art, and a few of their favourite activities include: prancing about, holding hands, and dancing in forests together. What’s not to love about them? They’re absolutely adorable in the coolest way ever!

Her most recent projects include: a series of short ads for the television series Skins from Treat Studios (the creative collective she’s a part of); a signed limited edition 5×7 print in support of Haiti relief; and a multimedia project for the band The Decemberists called Here Come the Waves: The Hazards of Love Visualized at UCLA’s Royce Hall in Los Angeles. Julia’s prints/illustrations can also be found on pillows, totes, and aprons. Make sure to check out her personal portfolio site, blog, and photostream to follow up on other current projects.

And now I leave you with the very first project I saw of Julia’s: My First Crush, which was her final film at Kingston University. It’s an animated film based on interviews with people about their first crushes. Enjoy!

{images from Julia Pott’s photostream}

As part of it’s new series of Search Stories, Google presented this Parisian Love ad during this evening’s Super Bowl event. It’s a pretty simple approach really, with hardly any budget towards fancy footage or acting, but it certainly stresses the significance of the core search feature.  It focuses on the integral role it plays in our lives, offering every-day solutions and new opportunities. Watch here.

{video found via battellemedia.com}

An amazing new project has surfaced from two famous bloggers, Kristen of Paper Crave and Maddy from Inspired Bride, called Nonpareil Magazine. It’s an online magazine filled with clever DIY projects, inspiring ideas, and downloadable printables and templates to use. The first issues titled Beautiful on a Budget was just released 2 days ago. Check it out here! I’m already excited for future issues. Congratulations ladies and everyone who contributed!

{image from Paper Crave}

I want to share some illustrative work I found on Flickr a while back. Kate works under the name Little Doodles online and produces a beautiful collection of hand-drawn/painted pieces. She relies on a technique called pointillism, and is known best for her vast collection of little birdies. They have made appearances on stationery, tote bags, window displays, and a variety of trinkets.

Check her Flickr stream, blog and Etsy shop for all the goods!

{images from Little Doodles on Flickr}