+ seriously amazing

I wish this video by House Industries allowed embedding, but you'll have to check it out for yourself.
Amazing. Mystifying. I'm all about it.

+ four techniques for combining typefaces

This article by Hoefler & Frere-Jones about combining typefaces is full of good information.
"Here are four tips for navigating the typographic ocean, all built around H&FJ's Highly Scientific First Principle of Combining Fonts: keep one thing consistent, and let one thing vary."

serious motor skillz of Jeff Canham

I'm working on a super type-oriented project, and the hand-painted signs of Jeff Canham have been hugely inspirational. He's been well recognized for his serious skillz, but isn't it crazy to think that not too long ago there was a large number of professional sign painters?

(all images by Jeff Canham)

Semi related is the documentary 'Up There'.

UP THERE - trailer from Jon on Vimeo.

“Hand-painted advertising is a dying craft, equal parts art and labor. Shot predominantly in Lower Manhattan in the Fall of 2009, 'Up There' is the emotional story of a few generations of men — some working on Stella Artois’ ‘The Ritual Project’ wall, others reflecting on the lives they’ve lived – who continue to keep this form alive despite changing economic conditions.”

Hopefully I'll watch this someday soon.

+ just super wonderful

(prints from inaluxe via seesaw.)

mosaics & tile

Seriously down with this amazing flickr set of tiles and mosaics. 

(via Mustard & Sage)

the ABCs of the Circus

There's no better way to combine type with illustration than an ABC book. It's about as basic as you can get, but allows so much room for awesome work to shine through. I love this ABC is for Circus board book illustrated by Patrick Hruby that was featured a little while ago on design work life. There's so much to look at, but he does such an excellent job of creating a focal point. I also just really love elephants. 

+ another color scheme photo

(Tom Palumbo via Darling Dexter)

color nerd

Can we talk about how much this kitchen and these colors speak to my soul? 

I'm specifically partial to those bowls on that overhead shelf. 

Simply Color is one of my favorite features on Design*Sponge. Pulling color palettes from interiors is such a genius idea...people already live with these colors, now we can go ahead and apply them in other areas. 

typetastic: Bodoni Egyptian

Bodoni Egyptian just showed up in my email inbox by way of the MyFonts newsletter.

"Beneath the dominant signifier of identity, a surprising dimension of Bodoni is revealed—its core architecture, stripped of the famous high contrast cloak. Further subverting typographic norms, a monoline of even width (in all but the heaviest weights) here describes capitals, lower case, and serifs. And yet a certain quaintness is evident; this is, after all, both deconstruction and historical fiction."

I'm all over that italic. I think I need this in my life.

I also think it's so fun that MyFonts allows you to use headlines from The Onion as sample text. Such a great idea.

Darren Booth lettering

Darren Booth has been making the ROUNDS lately, and for good reason. He tipped his hand on his process for the cover for Steve Martin's An Object of Beauty, and his website is stocked with so many good things. I like that his style seems so accessible. It makes me want to find some paint and paper and just play. So incredible, and such solid color choices.

Richard Perez

Jenny Pan's packaging for Dashe Cellars was featured on Lovely Package last week, and I was immediately taken by the simple and delightful monkey/fish illustration. A poke on Jenny's website revealed the illustrator: Richard Perez. And a poke on Richard's flickr revealed more familiar work that was equally delightful. I especially love his stylized animals. 

The Visual Telling of Stories (or, "Peace out ffffound!!!)

um, hello magical resource of incredible things! although the navigation is a bit tricky (and slow), there are some true GEMS on The Visual Telling of Stories. I'm out of my mind jazzed about these Insel Verlag covers, and there's endlessly more! It's worth the dig, I tell you.

I also can't resist this guy:

(via Miss Moss)

+ I see this dining room in my future.

(via Miss Moss)

cats.

Despite a bad cat experience growing up (the evil cat is actually still alive), I'm pro-cat, which is helpful since the internet is mostly cat videos and pictures. For instance, this happened today. The work of Jonathan Zawada was featured on Inspiration Lab this morning. I was drawn to this image immediately, not because I'm a cat lady (I am) but because the internet is inundated with cat videos and pictures and spoofs, and here is something that has dignity. The lines are beautiful, and it's a rare unique look at something we see so much of. I like it.

Detroit Decay

These beautiful photographs make me sad. Call decay natural, or part of the cycle, but I'd like to pretend that the world is sunshine and daisies. Or at least that cities are thriving and dreams are being realized.
Yves Marchand and Romain Meffre have done a beautiful job of capturing "The Ruins of Detroit" with respect and compassion.
"Nowadays, unlike anywhere else, the city’s ruins are not isolated details in the urban environment. They have become a natural component of the landscape. Detroit presents all archetypal buildings of an American city in a state of mummification."

Be sure to view the full collection through their website.

holla (hala)

This restaurant branding by Motto featured on design work life this morning stood out because it balances ornamentation and simplicity very appropriately. The color palette seems to suit the client so well (such wonderful tiles!), and that stationary is perfection. Safe to say I'm hungry now.

+ color/pattern

(spotted on Gus & Lula)

This is (more or less) a nice representation of current favorite colors. Warm grays, cool grays, shades of vermilion-based greens, cool faded reds, and some unconventional blue thrown in for good measure. 

Anna & Marina engraving

I'm beyond into engravings, both pseudo and actual. A portion of an incredibly comprehensive branding for Anna & Marina, this little crest is all of the things I love about engraved crests: detailed, organic, shaded, and featuring a delightful banner. View the entire project by Province Studio on Behance. Also worth checking out? Their project featuring heraldry work. Sublime.

(via Graphic Exchange)