Happy International Women’s Day! Here are some lovely illustrations by Ana Montiel.

It seems that 2011 was the year of the neutrino–this year the speedy subatomic particle was proven to travel faster than light.  And,  although I’m still not super clear on exactly what that means,  I hope your 2012 will be as beautiful and mysterious as these neutrino images…

At lunchtime, on particularly dispiriting days at work, I like to visit this sausage making bowl at the Walters Museum.

The inscription reads:

Eperanza de Tierca wife of Miguel Navarro.
Tripe keeper for the town of Muel, year of 1603.

I love that Esperanza has included her name on the bowl and took so much pride in her work.  The Spanish words tresorera de las tripas kind of translate to tripe-keeper or maybe sausage-maker but tresorera derives from the word tresoro which means treasure–so the literal translation would be the woman who treasures the tripe.  The tripe or sausage casings fit on a lip at the top of the bowl and a hole allows the contents of the bowl to be squeezed into the casing.  I like to imagine Esperanza, making sausages with her beautiful bowl,  earning her living despite office politics.

Some interesting iron work beds from Imaginaierro (imagina = image + hierro =  iron  )

I was only in Phoenix for 4 days to attend a conference so at lunchtime, I took the lightrail to the end of the line to see what I could of the city.  From the window, I saw the fantastic Robert Duffy High School with buildings in the shape of Saturn, Earth, Neptune and Jupiter. Shame it’s not a school for younger kids–I can’t imagine jaded high school students appreciating the whimsical design. I also loved the swimming pool blue parking lot–supposedly it reflects heat and helps keeps the city cooler.

Beautiful bobbin lace, handmade in Galicia, Spain by Darou and sold on Etsy. So many teeny tiny knots…

Some interesting label and package designs that I picked up in Spain in May.

A lemon towlette

An Oysho tag from a nightgown. I love the  logo–it’s the same upside down.

Flamenco sells embroidered cotton, bohemian style clothes for women and children. I don’t really like the childish fonts on their tags but I do like the castanet shape and the use of polka dots–a clever reference to the styles traditionally associated with flamenco dancers. The tag was attached to my dress and the little card contained my receipt.

tumbling block pattern–so under-used, no?

engraved cabinet by Laser Lab Studios

Ravello rug from Design Within Reach

Last year three weddings and this year two. Plus there are still two undecided engaged friends.  I can’t say that I  adore weddings–I never know what to wear or what to gift. I hate dancing.

But I do like this poem entitled “What is Marriage” a print in the Newspaper Blackout Poems series by by Austin Kleon, who uses a sharpie and New York Times articles. His marriage poem started as a review of Modern Family.  I guess I should gift this before I run out of single friends.

Here is my design for the Minted baby announcement competition.  The tile pattern at the bottom took me forever so please vote (for me.)  Thank you.