Basically Myra » design

Dylan Lauren

nmyra — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 15:43:50 +0000

I love Ralph Lauren. Love him even more after seeing the wedding dress he designed for his daughter, Dylan Lauren. Awesome.

Whimsical Mittens

nmyra — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 14:06:58 +0000

I almost can’t stand how cute these mittens are. Whether you’re hailing a cab or directing traffic, these mittens just take the cake! I love product design and I’m always fascinated with ways to turn something ordinary into something extraordinary. They also have a really cute pair that says “Hi” on one hand and “5″ on the other. I’m giddy.

On a side note, recently, I’ve been very impressed by the direction of the Kate Spade empire. Bye bye nylon bags and hello to a completely revamped and chic lifestyle brand! I love their blend of colorful but classic styles this season. If you don’t have a ton of cash lying around, Kate Spade has affordable accessories to add that extra punch to your wardrobe.

Kate Spade

English Tea Time

nmyra — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 15:33:54 +0000

Tea time is a ritual I take part in every day. I love having a moment to myself to just relax and enjoy a break in the middle of a usually busy day. This eco-friendly reusable cup just brings a smile to my face. The pattern reminds me of all the blue delft I bought while in Amsterdam earlier this year. The cup also brings back memories of “high tea” from my visit to London last winter. I looked forward to warm tea, scones and resting those weary legs after a long day of sightseeing. So glad tea drinkers can accessorize (and be environmentally conscious) just like the coffee drinker next to them. Can’t wait to add this to my Christmas list.

Tea Lovers Eco Cup

Postage Stamps

nmyra — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 17:41:16 +0000

In a world of e-mails, texting and chat, the art of the handwritten letter faces near extinction. I write at least a couple of letters or cards or a week. There’s nothing better than to receive a lovely note in a pile of mail that usually consists of bills and junk mailers. I obsessively design and collect stationery. I have more pens, papers, card stock, and embossers than anyone I know. My shoe collection is jealous of my stationery collection — that’s saying a lot!

Besides practicing beautiful penmanship and modern calligraphy, the choice of postage stamp is the final detail that should never be overlooked. I have a collection of stamps that I keep on hand. There are times where you only need one single stamp. There are other occasions where an assortment of stamps related to one another (asymmetrically placed) are successful in adding that hint of vintage elegance. However, let me stress that there is NEVER a time for a U.S. flag stamp — that is, unless, it’s for a Fourth of July party. Here are some of my recent favorites:

Winslow Homer

Love him and his artwork. Beautiful choice for correspondence cards. Just recently released by the USPS — get them now before they sell out.

Baseball Theme

Great for party invitations and summer time bbq’s. Many vintage stamps are sold online. Always buy from a reputable source and make sure they are all uncanceled.

Floral Theme

Gorgeous Magnolia themed stamps. These would be beautiful for a southern wedding invitation suite. I love the craft envelopes. They add a casual handmade touch to the overall style.

Old Hollywood

I adore “Old Hollywood” — the glamor, the excess and the beautiful people that graced the silver screen. These Katharine Hebpurn stamps are a current USPS release. For bold stationery (black & white, chevrons, neutral letterpress), these stamps add a subtle punch without distracting from the overall design.

If the current USPS stamp selection doesn’t inspire you and vintage ones are too difficult to come by, may I suggest Zazzle? Yup, design or own custom stamps or choose from an assortment of user-submitted styles online. Too much fun.

Images via USPS and Elizabeth Anne Designs

Pumpkins

nmyra — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 13:39:52 +0000

I love decorating as most of you do know. With the weather changing and harvest season upon us, what better way to welcome autumn than with rich hues of yellow, red and orange. A simple and cost effective way to get into the spirit is to creatively decorate with pumpkins and gourds. Whether you just mix and match a few out on your front steps or decide to go all out creatively, you’ll definitely have some festive decor to carry you from Halloween through Thanksgiving. Here are some of my favorite pumpkin design ideas to date.

Toadstool Pumpkins

Darling Ribbon Wrapped Mini Pumpkins

Peek-a-boo Pumpkins

Gilded Pumpkins

Cutie Scarecrow Pumpkin

These are all too cute. Can’t wait to get my hands dirty and start on some of these. First up, gilded pumpkins!

Images via Martha Stewart and Good Housekeeping

Not so ordinary

nmyra — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 20:16:13 +0000

New ways to look at ordinary objects. Case and point: pencil salt and pepper shakers. A tongue-in-cheek way to season your food.

Vintage Jane Austen

nmyra — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 14:04:18 +0000

Just darling illustrations. I heart Jane Austen. I don’t care what anybody says.

Via Random House

Lego Conference Table

nmyra — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 20:48:57 +0000

I’m in love! The perfect table to help get those creative juices flowing!

Via Furniture Fashion

My new love

nmyra — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 20:03:32 +0000

Since Domino is done, dead, and gone forever, Lonny Magazine has taken over as my favorite interior decorating/design resource. Better yet, it’s free, online, and probably won’t be going anywhere for a very long time. Home decor. Eat your heart out.

We All Live in a Yellow (Tea) Submarine

nmyra — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 20:38:48 +0000

I’ve seen a lot of creative tea infusers lately. I love that the focus on design (or redesign for that matter) is creeping into the ordinary things in life and making them prettier. I thought the shark infuser had beautiful clean lines but this tiny yellow submarine just makes me smile — just in time for the spring.

Via swissmiss