this is where I want to go right now

 Brazil's Uxua Casa Hotel

{Photos by Fernando Lombardi via the New York Times}

camera phone photography

 I'm always amazed at the capabilities of cell phone cameras these days. It's frustrating to not have an actual camera around when a good photo op comes along, but mine seems to take some decent shots every so often. Pictured above are a few that I've taken recently. From the top: at the car wash during the Jackson Pollock-style, scented foam-bath cycle (scented?); great pattern on a fabric panel at IKEA; Auguste, a lovely Bordeaux from a fun girls' dinner; and French botanist Patrick Blanc's vegetal wall at Capitol in Charlotte – one of the most gorgeously designed shops I've seen. Side note: make sure to check out Capitol's fantastic new blog!

And, happy birthday to the most fantastic sister ever. Laura, hope you have an awesome day today!

february inspiration

Where are you, Springtime? Seems like everyone's got either rain or snow right about now. Bring on some sun, please! Since we've got at least a month until daylight savings, I've been web-collecting a few things here and there to brighten up your day. Here are just a few - voila!

First up and pictured above is the Colour Mania book series. You can get yours at the delightful Rare Device online store. They have all kinds of other awesomeness, too.

 Above and below, photos from the Kate Spade site of their store on 5th in New York. I'm a sucker for anything stripey, and cannot get enough of these cheerful colors. I want to live in this room.

And, I'm so excited about the brand new issue of Lonny magazine - hot off the virtual press today! My dream sofa is pictured below, photographed by Patrick Cline and art directed by Editor-in-Chief Michelle Adams (co-founders of the magazine).

Photos below (also by Cline and Adams) are from another Lonny spread about the fantastic design work of Betsy Burnham. Those casement windows are just beautiful.

Speaking of Michelle Adams, her lovely line of organic cotton fabrics, Rubie Green, is making me want to reupholster everything I own. Photo below, from the Rubie Green site, features the East Village and Megan patterns.

{All photos in this post are from the shops/designers listed with each item.}

stationery for minted

Just entered another contest at minted! For this challenge, designers were asked to create personal stationery + matching mailing labels. You can see the full beth perry DESIGN entries (including the fun mailing labels!) by following these links – pictured from top: Lumiere, Prep School, Florette, Wintergarden, and Greenhouse.

If you have time, please take a moment to rank as many designs as you can – not just for me – all the new and talented designers there need your input! If you don't already have a free account at minted's site, it's super fast to set up – just click here. Thanks so much for your support!

the twenty-ten calendar

Finally! The beth perry design calendar has been finished for a while, but I hadn't had a chance to take photos. So, here it is in all its monthly glory! The best part is that you can hang the calendar on a ribbon from a wall hook, stand it up on your desk or even pin all the months up on a bulletin board. I used a few hand-drawn elements this year, but hope to use more for 2011! I know, that's so far away –  but I'm already thinking of ideas!

a perfect surprise

Back in November, a friend's husband called me to help arrange a surprise party for his wife. I was so excited to help make it a great night – at least in a small way – with some placecards and invitations! The wintery, blue-grey background and the bark-colored text turned out beautifully. The best part was that the guest of honor was most definitely surprised, and she had a fantastic birthday!

happy twenty-ten!

Hope you're having a Happy New Year so far! These are a few new designs that I've been working on lately. Lots more in the works, including a seriously belated 2010 calendar – on the blog next week!

holiday gift guide 2009 – part deux

 Hello again and happy holidays! Now that the feeding frenzy of Thanksgiving and the mass bedlam of Black Friday are behind us, the gift-giving season is in full effect. Without further ado, here are some more unique and creative suggestions for your loved ones.

Pictured above is a lovely pillow from designer Lena Corwin. The whole site has some really nice ideas for your home.

For more home goods, you must check out the fantastic bedding and pillows at John Robshaw. Absolutely gorgeous, albeit a big splurge.

 For the book or design lovers on your list, the new hardcover Pictorial Webster's is a must-have for any desktop. Available at Chronicle Books and other online booksellers.

More fun desk/office/school supplies include this fantastic fluorescent pencil set from Spoon Sisters.

And, this set of fun, cheerful happy tape is a great gift. I'm dying to wrap a package in kraft paper and use this tape to make a plaid pattern all around the box.

For the calendar-lovers on your list, this desk calendar from Moleskine is a perfect stocking stuffer, available at the great guy shop, Gent Supply Co.

I am loving pretty much everything from Present and Correct, especially this fun grid blackboard. I may have to get this one for myself!

This is the grown-up version of glow-in-the-dark constellations on your ceiling – the Personal Planetarium from Restoration Hardware.

Oh! So pretty. This necklace will be a most welcome gift, perfect for any New Year's Eve frock. Available at Anthropologie.

These stylish Flight Bags from Wm. J. Mills and Co. are perfect for guys or girls and available in tons of colors. The vintage styling is really nice and the heavy canvas makes them durable and ready to last for years. (Found via the delightful blog Design Crush.)

I love this vintage xylophone player from the Hindsvik shop on etsy. So bright and colorful and a cute, one-of-a-kind kid's gift!

A nice gift for a co-worker pal or anyone's stocking is this beautifully packaged candle from Saipua. Available at Bird.

And, finally, for the naughty peeps on your list, they will love this coal chewing gum! Available at Paper Source.

{All photos in the gift guides are from the shops/designers listed with each item.}

holiday gift guide 2009 - part one

I've been collecting ideas for a gift guide series for a few months now. From books and stocking stuffers to some really beautiful vintage finds, here's the first part of the series – much more to come in the next few weeks. In the meantime, hope everyone has a Happy Thanksgiving!

First up, and pictured above, is a vintage classroom map from the trampoline shop on etsy. trampoline has lots and lots of specially curated vintage treasures, including the vintage dice collection pictured below.

Penguin Classics finally released their Coralie Bickford-Smith-designed cloth-bound collection here in the U.S. They are not just beautiful to display on your bookshelf, these are meant to be read – the absolute best classics, including Jane Eyre, Pride and Prejudice and Wuthering Heights, among others.

These mercury pendant lights from Mothology are just so pretty. They would look as beautiful over a dining table as they would in your home office.

With the demise of Polaroid, Fuji Instax is a nice replacement. Available through lots of retailers, I found this one and refill film over at Urban Outfitters.

Another Urban Outfitters find is this antique-inspired industrial accordion table. The price is a steal, and it would look great in almost any space.

If anyone on your gift list is as wild about office supplies as I am, this bright orange Swingline stapler from CB2 would be a great stocking stuffer.

More office/school supplies! This full set of yummy colored pencils from MUJI at the MoMA Store are almost too pretty to use.

For the little ones on your list, I love this fun, stripey duck by Esthex, available at Twig.

And, Pink Chicken has adorable kid's clothing - this Tess Dress is so sweet.

Another one for the kids, or yourself, is this delightful, limited-edition alphabet poster from Anna Bond's Rifle Paper Co. She just opened her shop this week and it is incredible!

For the men in your life, this cool vintage-looking Stanley flask from Restoration Hardware would be a great gift.

Another nice one for the guys, or maybe more for you? Whichever it is, this garter and stockings set from Academy for Wayward Girls is just awesome.

{All photos in the gift guide are from the shops/designers listed with each item.}