Reading about B Green Design, I’m thinking, “wow…” A collective of designers focused on giving back, their first project is the 50x Tree Project. Simply put, for every product purchased, they plant 50 trees in South America via Trees for the Future.
I’d mostly just wanted to say how much I love their simple and elegant tree designs printed on wood. And then it got so much better because of their beautiful and inspiring vision and plans to plant trees. (You can buy their work at their etsy store right here.)
Speaking of simple designs printed on wood - just wanted to throw this in - how fab are these Ilsa invitations, a new addition from the oh-so-terrific Milkfed Press?
Have you met the work of Crystal Kluge yet? She’s been on my little hand-lettering favorites list over there to the left since Oh, Pickles! began. Crystal’s background is in interior design; however, since she had her first lettering job in 1999, her freelance career has taken off.
She creates beautiful little maps, illustrations, and, of course, the most amazing range of whimsical lettering, and even has her own two fonts! (And rubber stamps, stickers and more featuring her lettering are available at Paper Source and other online sources…)
When Crystal began doing her own freelance lettering work, she had been working at Paper Source, where she became familiar with a wide variety of papers from around the world, explored book arts and met many other creative people in the community. (How great that she’d been working at Paper Source and now her work is sold in their stores!)
Going back through Crystal’s pictures this morning, I just couldn’t get over her range of lettering styles AND her illustrations AND her maps… Even Rob, looking over my shoulder, said “go back, wait, I want to see that again…” I think I’m becoming addicted to these precious little whimsical watercolored maps…
Now you can see how Crystal’s background in interior design plays a role in her current work! What a terrific illustration of the Mies couch! (See, you don’t have to be planning a wedding to enjoy her work.) She also loves patterns, textiles and blueprints and draws inspiration from photo albums from the 20s-40s (having inherited many, along with old Look & Life magazines).
Some of Crystal’s current favorites include Virginia Johnson’s textiles, Nama Rococo’s printmaking and wallpaper, Cheree Berry paper / invitation design and Mr. Boddington couture correspondence. After you visit Crystal’s website, you must visit each one of these. Incredible each.
Above is a “save the date” featuring Crystal’s lettering. She’ll also be printing her 5-week-old daughter Sophie’s birth announcements on a friend’s (very aptly named!) Kluge press. Crystal mentioned that she shares her studio with her artist daughter, Adrienne (4 years old and apparently very talented! keep your eyes peeled!), and new baby Sophie.
(All images are courtesy Crystal Kluge. But these are just a small sampling! Be sure to visit Crystal online for so much more!)
