Orla Kiely

Loving the Spring/Summer 2011 looks from Orla Kiely. How lovely it would be to own a piece from this collection.

Photos : from Orla Kiely

Jillian Tamaki

Today's favorite moment (besides snug-a-lugging with our girls) is when I clicked on a twitter link from Design Sponge + Jessica Hische and instantly became mesmerized by these stunning embroidered book cover designs for Penguin Books by Jillian Tamaki! They are gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous! Wouldn't you agree?! The titles, Emma, The Secret Garden and Black Beauty couldn't be more perfect either.

We will all have to wait a while to get our hands on these babies, sounds like November, but it is a dream to be able to see such talent and work in progress! Jillian's other work is incredible too, like this Monster Quilt --  Gasp! Beyond her apparent beautiful embroidery talents, she is a illustrator and comic artist who lives in Brooklyn and also teaches at the School of Visual Arts.
  

photos: Jillian Tamaki used with permission

Music Monday : Metronomy

The music and video by Metronomy is my music crush of the week. Metronomy is a British electronic band that has been around since the late 90's, but they are mixing it up lately and they've got it going on not only in the sound department by artistic music video department as well. Check them out. Happy Music Monday! You can pre-order their new album English Riviera on itunes here or amazon.*

Directed by Lorenzo Fonda 

Photo: from Metronomy's myspace

*purchasing from these affiliate links helps support B*E. Thanks!

Spring Cleaning the Closet

I want to let you know about the Get Clean Sweepstakes, a really great prize awaits a lucky winner!

Laundry, laundry -- love it or hate . . . as for Monday, it is laundry day at our house. If clothes get dirty during the week, it has to wait its turn in the hamper until Monday comes again. This one day only system works for us and seriously gives me 'laundry peace of mind.'

Method sent me some laundry detergent and what I like about it is that the bottle is super small and smart so it really saves on space, it smells pretty darn good, and the concentrated formula works really well.

Here are a few of my other tips for how to organize the clothes once Monday gets them clean . . .  a few spring cleaning the closet tips you may enjoy:

For the last little while my closet has been in major transition (having a baby can do that). Until I get back to my goal, I am motivating myself by not buying any new clothes, and rebuilding my wardrobe in a way that I am excited about.

1: Dress like a French woman and seek after high quality items that will enhance your overall wardrobe, don't get wrapped up in purchasing quantity and those throw-away pieces. You know the ones I'm talking about, right? Have you heard that we only wear 20% of our clothes 80% of the time? Make that 20% the best!

2: Edit through your closet seasonally and filter out things that you haven't worn. If you live in a place where your climate doesn't vary that much, you can probably do this less. Also organize your clothes in a way that works for you -- by color, type, season etc...

3: Have matching hangers, it makes all of the difference and makes your closet look nice and uniform.

4: Organize your shoes. Keep shoes off the ground and find a organizer that appeals to you. A simple shoe rack, a back of the door wonder whatever works in your space. It will feel nice, make things much easier to access, and let you see at one quick glance everything available.

5: Get storage containers that match whether in your drawers or to store seasonal clothing items and accessories -- to give your space uniformity. They create instant boundaries and help limit overall stuff consumption. If it doesn't fit in your closet or storage bins, don't buy it or rotate something else out. Also a little secret of mine is that I always try to have an empty storage bin handy for backup in those quick pick up moments, like when a last minute visitor stops by.

Tell me readers, what are your laundry and spring cleaning out your closets tips? I would absolutely love to hear about them!

*Method provided the laundry soap, which is already our first choice. This post is sponsored by Martha Stewart and Method, but these opinions and tips are how I really roll.

Photos by Rachel Jones – Black Eiffel.

Bodoni Bedlam: Typographic Pop-up Book

Graphic Designer Victoria Macey created this magical typographic pop-up book called Bodoni Bedlam. Isn't it super cool?! See more pages and photos here.

(photos from Victoria Macey)

Gardens of Marqueyssac

Daydreaming of a vacation right about now... A few summers ago I was in the Dordogne region and had the opportunity to tour the stunning Gardens of Marqueyssac with my friend Stephanie. Unfortunately I lost my photos of this dazzling and magical place --but we saw peacocks on the rooftops, listened to various little French musical groups play throughout the gardens and we both seriously weathered the thunderstorm of our lives, it was one of my favorite French experiences! Are you going on a vacation or holiday this year? What has been your most memorable vacation moment/place? We are brainstorming for ideas to put on our list ...

Photos from the Gardens of Marqueyssac

Reminded of this from Haute Design

Chronicle Books Sale

It is that time of year again when Chronicle Books is having one of the killer sales with 30% off plus free ground shipping, now through 4/4/11 use promo code SPRING11 at checkout.

Stanton Warriors - Turn Me Up Some

If you've been reading Black Eiffel for a while you will know my admiration for awesome dance moves (see these previous posts 1 2 3 4 5 ) so although this clip may not be for everyone, I think it is pretty darn cool -- hip-hop/breakdance, ballet and disco all in one... something you don't see everyday and a little something for all you dancer lovers out there. What do you think? How do you like the way they edited it?

Directed by Messrs.

See more credits below...

Read more »

Them...

These two little girls melt my heart, and make me laugh every single day. Sometimes I wonder how time slips away from me so fast and I get behind on things, but then I remember what is most important in life, and it is them. I wish I could freeze frame and slow the clock down. Hip, hip hooray for babies, little kids, and for an amazing husband too. 

What makes you happy?

Movie Title Design

I saw this on Fubiz and I believe it was recently put together and shared at SXSW, if you enjoy movie title design this is super rad to watch. I remember studying about most of these back in the day.Which movie titles are your favorites? Some of mine are here, here, and here. Check out the website Art of the Title for more!

Editor: Ian Albinson  // Initial concept: David Horridge Special thanks: M. Keegan Uhl  & Bill Simmon

(via Fubiz)