Sunset Gurl Design

Hipota

In awe of the beautiful embroidered brooches and coin purses of Japanese handmade shop, Hipota. In awe because of its originality and the delicate, method of execution. So, of course, I just had to share.

Photos: Courtesy of Hipota.

Kitsch Kitchen

Patiently waiting for products of Dutch company, Kitsch Kitchen, to be available in the U.S.  Guess I will just have to visualize their collection come ashore while I browse their site.  Love those bright colors and folk motifs.

Photos: Courtesy of Kitsch Kitchen.

Ann Granlund

I love the simple bold patterns of Swedish textile designer, Ann Granlund. Ann hand prints all her designs using bright colors on cotton and linen. You can see many of her patterns and her studio setup on her blog, Ann Granlund, Texitltryck. It is in Swedish but Google translate will give you a general idea of what she has written. While you're there be sure to check out Salt, a craft shop she co-owns with five other talented designers.

Photos: Courtesy of Ann Granlund.

Clothkits

Just recently discovered the UK company, Clothkits. The company was originally founded in 1968 and in 2008 was acquired and revamped by Kay Mawer. Clothkits are kits containing silk-screened fabrics that include the surface design, sewing and cutting lines to make dress making easier. Also included in the kit are zippers, labels, buttons, threads and instructions to guide you through the project. Certainly a great concept but considering the weakness of the dollar, each kit, unfortunately, is a fun but pricey holiday gift idea.

Photos: Courtesy of Clothkits.

Elly Nelly

Here’s a fun way to liven up a bland space, figural silhouette wall graphics from the mother-daughter design team, Elly Nelly. These self-adhesive vinyl cutouts stick on any smooth clean surface and are easily removable.   I could certainly use a bit of whimsy in my space.

Photos: Courtesy of Elly Nelly.

Sweater Clocks

My niece has about three cuckoo clocks in her house, maybe four. Thought she may want to add a sweater clock from Anthropologie to her collection. The clock creator, Andrea Williamson, shares the same given name as my niece so certainly my niece is fated to own one. The Fair Isle sweater clock was handspun in the Shetland Islands and retails for 398 U.S. dollars, a paltry sum to die-hard clock collectors.

Photos: Courtesy of Anthropologie

Ciao Italia

Travel to foreign countries invigorates our lives and for me Italy did just that.  So ends my homage to Italy.

“The traveler who has gone to Italy to study the tactile values of Giotto, or the corruption of the Papacy, may return remembering nothing but the blue sky and the men and women who live under it.” - E.M. Forster

Photos:  © Cari Mateo. All rights reserved.

Colors of Italy

Italy is rich in vibrant colors. Here are just a few snippets.

Photos: © Cari Mateo. All rights reserved.

La Perla D'Oriente

On the way to Piazza Navona my eyes were drawn to these glass balls hanging across a narrow street. They belong to the bead shop, La Perla D’Oriente. The small shop carries not only these fabulous glass balls but also carries a collection of glass beads from Syria, China, India, the Czech Republic and Italy as well.

Photos:  © Cari Mateo.  All rights reserved.

Modigliani Italian Pottery

The dollar was at its lowest during my Italian sojourn that window shopping was the only spending I could manage. Of course, in Italy you cannot ignore the great ceramics that abound.

The Campo de Fiori designs shown above are from the Modigliani shop in Rome and are available in the U.S. Their website includes three videos that illustrates how some pieces are turned and painted, a very rare hands-on process.

Photos:  © Cari Mateo.  All rights reserved.