Our dining room doubles as a watercolor studio these days. Botanical art being a big part of the weekend. It’s no wonder that a stop at Bower Studio’s booth at the Renegade Craft was mandatory. Vincent Frano and Isa Wang screen their delicate and intricate designs on patches, pins, bags, scarves and cards. The best part, the paper stock is seeded, therefore plantable. Who doesn’t want a greeting card that turns into a bunch of wildflowers? The above set of wild mushroom prints are unmatted, original ink drawings with digitally collaged watercolor that is printed with Epson archival inks on textured Fabriano watercolor paper. The essence of their craft is humbly articulated in their website description. “…to create functional artwork that encourages environmental stewardship, highlighting the diversity of American flora and fauna with educational products that use environmentally friendly materials.” We kind of LOVE that.
More Design Stuff
Greatest “Pop” Greeting Card
We’re a sucker for a good pun. That peeps was a double pun. We met Witty Gritty, Meredith & Melinda the mother/daughter team behind the designs, a couple weeks ago at the Renegade Craft Fair’s Brooklyn edition. With Father’s Day right around the corner we couldn’t help but serve up this gem to treat your pop to a pop card. There’s a few other awesome options the ladies have on tap for dad’s special day. Plus, they have a catalog for just about any occasion you need a “snail mail” somethin’ somethin’ for the someone.
Mac to My Cheese Card
My mom just had a way of mixing the powdered cheese with the hot butter and then coaxing them to cling to the boiled elbow noodles patiently waiting in her stainless steel Sears farberware sauce pan. No matter what your relationship to cheese and macaroni they are an undeniably inseparably pair. These days the fanciest of childhood treats can run up into the triple digits when paired with foie gras, caviar or gold flakes. Under the most glamorous of cloaks the working mans duo is still about one thing which is illustrated perfectly in this Mac to My Cheese Card. Some things are meant to be together and stay together. Much like the comfort of Mac and cheese, this card can be there for the recipient (or you) when your mom can’t. We know it’s not the same but it’s better than nothing.
Beauty’s Luncheonette Bagel T-Shirt
When we land in Montreal we head straight to Beauty’s. It doesn’t matter what day, time or reason for the visit, we always find ourselves in a booth at the famed diner in about 40 minutes after touchdown. Last weeks trip was no exception. My move is always a St-Viateur Bagel with lox, cream cheese and tomato, collectively known as the Beauty’s Special. On this visit there was a new addition, The Beauty’s Shoppe. Jumping on the merch train, and I don’t blame them, the owners enlisted, designer and illustrator, Sasha Endoh to ink some classic menu items. The Beauty’s Luncheonette Bagel T-Shirt was a no brainer for me. Sasha’s simplistic black and white design makes for an understated badge I can use on my home streets of NYC proclaiming my favorite bagel breakfast.
Fries Before Guys T-Shirt
We’ve been seeing this in many styles, designs and mediums and think it’s pretty right on. Maybe that’s my poutine loving wife’s influence but this rhyme is far better than some of the crass copy us boys throw around at happy hour. Also, if the Fries Before Guys T-Shirt is the flag woman start waving these days it beats the “Diamonds are a girls best friend” mantra of the 80’s. I’ll buy deep fried spuds for her all day everyday. I know, diamonds are still a “thing” but a man can dream right?