Mary Ink

Abstract Stripe Scarf
Abstract Stripe Scarf

Screen printer extraordinaire Mary out of Nashville, Tenn. puts her mark on everything from tees to bags to glassware. I love her funky illustrations and the sheer variety in her shop — there’s something for everyone!

Silkscreened Votives
Silkscreened Votives

Grand Array

Hannah Stouffers illustrations in a Secret deoderant ad campaign
Hannah Stouffer's illustrations in a Secret deoderant ad campaign

Lately, I’m loving the commercial design trend toward illustration that looks as though it stumbled out of someone’s sketchbook. It’s great that ad firms are finally able to say, “Yes, this was made by an actual human being and it’s beautiful” and I think it speaks to a desire of consumers as a whole to want to know their merchandise was made with care by a person, not a machine.

Hannah Stouffer is one of the top illustrators driving this trend. Little did I know as I was simultaneously admiring Secret deodorant’s latest ad campaign (above) and Grand Array‘s screenprinted pillow (below) that they came from the same hand! Her work has such movement to it — and I’m a sucker for any well-drawn paisley or swirl illustration.

feYerwerks

Heart Box
Heart Box

The testing grounds for the creative genius of Bob Feyereisen, feYerwerks is an innovative oasis for those looking for smart handmade items. Each piece is thought through from beginning to end and exceedingly well designed and crafted. As a designer these are the types of pieces I wish I had bopping around in my brain: beautiful in their execution and perfect in their concept.

2009 Urban Calendar
Urban Calendar

Molecular Muse

caffeine necklace

What do you get when you combine one part self-proclaimed science nerd with one part artistic metalsmith? Raven Hanna of Molecular Muse. She makes beautiful silver jewelry of some of our favorite molecules — seratonin, estrogen, caffeine and dopamine — and occasionally branches out into other mediums, such as the lovely ‘ethanol’ flutes below.

etched ethanol molecule champagne glasses
etched ethanol molecule champagne glasses