New Weaves

cb2 has some seriously snazzy rugs, and at amazing prices too.
Usually "art rugs" (not sure that's a real term but that's what
I call 'em) tend to be really expensive so I was pleased to see this
collection. Now if I only had a big beautiful space to decorate!

Around Town

Fun art and design snapped around Brooklyn and Soho:
Fab Marimekko umbrella in the window of Goldy + Mac, one of my favorite neighborhood shopping destinations; A mural by Little Annie; Beautiful, modern prints in the window of Sigerson Morrison; Vintage Fonda del Sol menu by Alexander Girard at Bright Lyons

Our yoga calling cards are featured on Papercrave today -
you can view the full post right here. It's a beautiful Monday
here in NYC and this is a great way to kick off the week!

Recent Work

In addition to the stationery line, I've been lucky to have some really fun design projects come my way lately. One of my summer goals has been to update my design website - helloashleyaustin.com - and I'm finally thisclose to getting it done! Here's a sneak peek at some of the identity projects I'll be adding to the site: Truth Art Beauty, fresh, organic, custom-blended skincare; Arghand, a natural beauty company (with amazingly gorgeous handmade soaps) based out of Kandahar, Afghanistan supporting local artisans; and LunaStar, a mom-made line of kid-friendly, all-natural mineral makeup (see the company's current site here: Luna Organics).

Ugmonk

More typography inspiration, this time from Ugmonk. In addition to
these beautiful hand-silk-screened prints, they have some killer t-shirts.

Sign Watching

Well-designed, thought-provoking signage for the Ace Hotel, by the Original Mfg. Co.

Summer, Slow Down

New York City summers are just so jammed-packed with fun things
to do that it's inevitable you're going to miss something. Case in point:
the Knoll Textile exhibit at Bard Graduate Center, gone and done.
I had every intention of visiting this, but somehow July sneakily slipped
by, like a black cat on a moonless night. Luckily, some of the highlights
are online, at the link above.

P.S. If you haven't seen the Alexander McQueen exhibit at the Met yet,
stop whatever you're doing right now and get over there. It closes this
weekend and is simply not to be missed!

Industrial Chic

I'm not a stamp collector by any stretch of the imagination,
although I do have a few of the Gee's Bend quilt stamps tucked
in a drawer somewhere that I refused to use - and I'm planning
to do the same with this collection, Pioneers of American
Industrial Design. These guys are perfect for the promotional
mailing I'm sending out this week, and I ordered an extra sheet
or two for keeping.

The future of stamp design seems uncertain, as we hear more
news about post office closings seemingly on a daily basis. These
little gems are perfectly minimal and modern in design, and
showcase some deceptively simple, iconic everday objects. The
Henry Dreyfuss phone might be my favorite (a design that was
once ubiquitous and is now more likely to be spotted in a period
piece, a la Mad Men), but the super space age pencil sharper
is a close second.

Happy mailing!

Summer Romance

Pretty textures and patterns to kick off the week. Bohemian tiles tunic by Emerson Made (loving everything in the E.M. India Collection...), sweet-yet-glam gold doily heart bag by A.S.I.S., Montmartre pillow by Rosie's Armoire