Better Bit of Butter Designer Cookies

I just found a new designer cookie maker out of Cleveland thanks to some cookiesChristine Mehling, created for an event Amy Atlas of took part in called Sunday Suppers (It was Moroccan themed and Christine’s cookies are in the picture below top left). 

via Amy Atlas' Blog

Christine Mehling, owner and chief designer of Better Bit of Butter started out as a BFA grad turned jewelry designer and later crossed over into the world of designer cookies.  Applying her talent in jewelry design to sugar and butter,  she hand-designs and embellishes each cookie with bold graphics, colour and repetitive images, producing some fabulous looking cookies if I do say so myself.   As her designer cookies began to take off as gifts, and treats at weddings, and showers, she chose the Better Bit of Butter from an old nursery rhyme and was off to the races building her business.

Better Bit of Butter Cookies (photo via Busy Mommy)

photo via daily grommet

photo via better bit of butter website

Cheerful Art: Beatriz Milhazes

It’s raining in Toronto today and when I’m feeling blah from the weather, I look for things to cheer me up.   I decided a quick glance at the work of my favourite artist, Beatriz Milhazes, is always a perk up.

For those of you unfamiliar with Brazillian artist, Beatriz Milhazes, she is known for her extremely colourful, layered paintings that truly embody the energy in Brazil.  I had the pleasure of taking a quick trip to Sao Paulo, and during the four days I spent there I was able to get a taste of why Brazil is often described as so colourful and lively.   Sao Paulo was as colourful and robust as Beatriz’s paintings. 

photo from hypercreations.blogspot.com

So where did I discover Beatriz’ art?  I first fell in love with her paintings when I discovered them prominently displayed at the 2006  Shanghai Biennale at the Shanghai Art Museum (上海美术馆) while I was living in China.  The two paintings I saw in Shanghai were there large decoupages where she used retail plastic bags and packaging that were cut up in geometric shapes and made into flowers, lines and other configurations of colour.  I love making decoupages on my own and I am known in my house to tear apart magazines and then glue them together into colour boards, mood boards and other works of “art.”  However, when I saw what Beatriz produced from retail bags, I was blown away.  I wanted to see more of her work and from then on have been researching and revelling in the stunning paintings she creates.   While I have not seen her work in Toronto I found out that sometimes here work is on exhibit at the James Cohan gallery in New York.  

There is a good article about Beatriz and her style written on the Tate Etc (the art magazine).

Beatriz Milhazes Palmolive 2004 (via Tate Etc.)

Beatriz Milhaze Panamerican 2004 (via tate etc)

Beatriz With Her Art

Liberty 2007 photo via ruby red life

Brocade Home: Romantic Design

Brocade is defined as a fabric with raised design: a heavy silk, cotton, or woolen fabric with a raised design, often in metallic threads.
A style typically associated with luxury and opulence, it is no wonder that Brocade Home, a company that started selling its fabulous, romantic baroque modern style furniture and home accessory products online and this past year opened a full store in NYC, is one of my favourite design blogs to read when I am in a dreamy, romantic, interior design like mood.  The ecommerce website is also pretty cool.

It is hard to believe that this store is owned by parent company, Restoration Hardware because its website and store do not imbue a corporate feel.  Regardless of who owns who, Brocade Home has beautiful pieces that would be an asset to any gala, event or soiree host/hostess who is looking to inject a bit of romanticism into the event vibe. 

Now only if they opened a post in Toronto, I am thinking either the Distillery District or King Street West/Liberty Village, then I could turn my dreams into reality!

Photo Via Oh Joy

photo via cococozy

photo via I heart Luxe

photo via apartment therapy

Cool Product: Luxe City Guides

(via trend hunter)

Interesting coffee pot

Although I have never made or consumed a cup of coffee in my life (I am a tea loyalist), this coffee pot I found is cool enough to make me want to like the beverage. 

The pot that caught my eye is the one from designer, Ineke Hans found on Moss.com. Ineke Hans’ website has the entire range of “black gold” products among other great pieces.  The “black gold” range of ceramics were produced as part of a three month work period at the European Ceramics Work Centre.

Ineke Hans’ black gold coffee pot:

Black Gold Coffee Pot by Ineke Hans (via moss.com)