instant vintage

I love all things vintage, especially old family photographs. Now thanks to a link I discovered on Little Brown Pen's blog, I can make any of my present-day photos appear vintage with just the click of a button! Check out this site to see how (there's a button in the top right that will change the language from Japanese to English!)

Look at this "before" photo I took in the Netherlands:


And wow, instant vintage in the "after":


Here are a couple more – now go play with your own photos, it's so much fun!

more eye candy

This weekend I actually had a bit of time to surf the web and I stumbled across Cox & Cox, an online store based in the UK. The photography is so soft and serene, it really creates an amazing mood - it makes me wish I could live my life in close-up mode!


Plus, their product selection is very unique. Yes, there are a few things I've seen before in the US but plenty of things are new to me – enough to make me consider ordering a few things and paying the price to have them shipped across the big pond (I simply must have those heart-shaped brown sugar cubes to hang on the rim of my tea cup!)


COX & COX
www.coxandcox.co.uk • International: 0870 442 4787

eye candy

Do you ever come a cross a website that makes you say "wow" out loud? Well, I do (quite a bit, actually) – but this site by Amy Atlas not only made me talk to myself like some old cat lady, it made me wish I lived in NYC and had some fabulous event coming up so I could hire Amy to create her magic!


Amy's desert tables are simply out of this world! Just take a look at these amazing displays of confection and creativity:


And should you need any inspiration for your Halloween party this year, look no further:


To see more of Amy Atlas' delicious designs, just visit her website. (all photography shown here is from her site - isn't it gorgeous?)

AMY ATLAS EVENTS
New York City • 917.974.9285

shop talk - camellia

After driving by this store for months and always thinking "I gotta stop by there!" I finally had a chance to visit Camellia on Fremont in NE Portland. And boy, was I in for a treat!


Shop owner Emily has scoured the country and come up with a huge selection of beauty products that pamper your body and soul. And best of all, they're all natural and organic! Just think: beauty, cosmetics, skincare, and body care that you can feel good about in more ways than one!

Just take a look at these snapshots to get a sense of Camellia's fabulous selection:


And you'll feel rejuvenated just walking around her spacious store, taking in all the goodness it has to offer. Don't forget to look up at the ceiling for a visual treat:


CAMELLIA
4941 NE Fremont • Portland • 503.287.4645 • www.camelliapurebeauty.com

studio visit

I'm always so inspired when I see where other people work. Ink & Peat's shop (see previous post) certainly was inspirational – Pam has created a fabulous work space for herself! So I thought I'd share with you my own work space, which I happen to love.


I'm one of those people who is influenced by her physical surroundings. When I was in college, I always found it really hard to study in a cluttered apartment. While those college years are decades past (yes, decades!), I still find it hard to concentrate in a messy office.

So when I moved my home office for my design studio Defteling Design from the attic to the basement, I decided I had to have a nice view. A little hard to do when you're six feet underground, but I nevertheless achieved success: I look out on a beautiful, calm collection of various objects and photos while the messes pile up behind me.

Above: view behind me (desk was a great find at the Portland Antique Expo a few years back)
Below: view in front of me (the display ledge above the bead board was my hubby's idea and it turned out great!)


The view to my right: I started collecting old type back when I was studying graphic design. That then expanded into old enamel signs (I picked up the vintage document clip from a Dutch grocery on my last trip to the Netherlands). And my wall of fame, if you will: a sampling of logos that have won design awards over the years.


The view to my left: these simple Ikea magazine boxes store printed samples of various client projects from the past five years. Love the great Pottery Barn clock, which was a Christmas present from my sister and her hubby. The built-ins cupboards at the bottom are where I hide all my various computer manuals and software boxes.


One of my favorite things, though, is my entry way. I had my logo recreated in cut vinyl that makes the window look like etched glass. Now my clients can park on the side of the house (we live on a corner) and know they're at the right place before they come knockin' on the door!


And yes, I work in this very same office when designing all my greeting cards and paper products for Cecily Ink! No need to reinvent the wheel, right?

shop talk – ink & peat

This past Saturday, I was invited to attend the grand opening of Portland's newest floral design and home decor stores, Ink & Peat. I was SO excited – I had been meaning to stop by Pam's store since she first opened her doors a few weeks ago and knew I would be in for a treat based on the pictures she had posted on her blog.


And boy, she did not disappoint! Ink & Peat is filled with treasures big and small that include must-haves for the home and body. While taking the photos below, my heart kept jumping with delight as I discovered piece after piece.


And yes, I did not leave empty-handed! Besides a set of dish towels (you can never have too many designer towels!), I snagged a gorgeous blue serving bowl, a delicious-smelling candle, an adorable silver ring, and a beautiful gift for a friend who's having a birthday in a few weeks.


And the flowers, oh, the flowers! Pam's arrangements are so beautiful, they're like pieces of art! I especially loved how she sprinkled vases and containers with just a stem or two throughout her displays. It made the store come to life!


And what would a grand opening be without a spread of goodies? Pam and her family outdid themselves – everything looked gorgeous, of course, but was absolutely delicious as well!


And aren't these little party favors adorable? Amy with Candywinkel did a great job tying in the favors with Pam's colors and tags!


INK & PEAT
3808 N. Williams Avenue • Portland • 503.282.6688 • www.inkandpeat.com