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
Raisin Mother’s Day Card
We love the Good Paper people. Gearing up to treat mom is sometimes one of the trickiest tasks of the year. It has to be good, funny, special, sentimental, not too much BUT just enough. Start out with this Thanks for Raisin Us card and you’re on the right track. Of course you need at least one sibling for it to make sense. After that maybe you go with a north African dinner reservation or a beach vacation for the big gift. There’s a theme her people. Go with it.
Hot Diggity Posters by Hawk Krall
We first learned about Hawk Krall and his illustrations on a trip to Philly. We popped into Hot Diggity, a South St. Hot Dog joint, and the menu was a set up 15+ visual masterpieces. The walls at Hot Diggity are embellished with Hawk’s unique designs. Besides listing the ingredients and displaying the hotdog, he peppers in specifics about the cities the Frank’s are named after creating art so interesting that they sell prints of the menu. Hawk’s gone on to illustrate lots more food things. From festivals to T-Shirts to MORE menus, his unique hand preemptively conveys the food fun your about to have.
Pizza Pin
So, we have a thing for pizza. Not only do we love to eat that crispy crust, bubbling cheese and aromatic triple meat topping BUT, we’ll wear it on our lapel. Jen Adrion and Omar Noory make lots of perfect little, delicious items. None more satisfyingly cute than this pizza pin. Their website does tons of explaining on who they are, their Ohio studio details, what they have done (and it’s a lot) and where you can get their stuff. Aside from their creative excellence the seemingly obsessive use of ™ and ® is fantastic. As in their tagline, WE MAKE THINGS™. The line YOU LOVE THINGS™. Or, as in this mantra, These Are Things®. Whether truly trademarked or registered, the inside joke or official-ness is welcomed. Plus, they have cats that are dope based on their Insta.
Jack & Jim St Patrick’s Day T-Shirt
Amidst the ridiculous and borderline offensive St. Patrick’s Day t-shirts available, we thought this Jack & Jim St Patrick’s Day T-Shirt had a little respect to it. It’s nostalgic, historical and not overtly inebriation focused. Appropriate? No. Acceptable? Yes.