Well, I'm very behind on this one, but for the one reader who might not have seen this on another blog, iconic Irish designer Orla Kiely is coming to Target in the US, with a range of retro-styled kitchen and homewares.

I can't help thinking that the US has got a bit of a bum rap on this one. I do like one or two of the pieces – the square melamine platters and the vintage-Pyrex style bowls – but I'm not entirely keen on the colours or the very retro-looking cross hatching.

I much preferred the collection she did for Heal's – the colours seemed fresher and more contemporary and I love her stem and leaf pattern way above all the others.  And I'm still waiting for her to bring her stores to the US. What do you guys think?

 

All pictures from AT:NY

It’s that time of year again.  Here are some of my faves.

Suzy Jack Deluxe 2009 Calendar, printed on 100% recycled paper using soy inks.

(He he! I just nabbed the last one of these for our kitchen. She seems to be putting them in her shop in batches so check back again soon).

This year I have been accompanied by 2008 calendar from Green Chair Press.

This is made up of loose leafed letterpress cards in a jewel case, with a pattern and haiku for each month.  The quality is absolutely beautiful and the little haikus are really cute.

Here’s this years’ calendar.  I’m not sure I like the patterns quite as much as last year’s (which really has wormed its way into my heart) but it’s still lovely.

This year my desk calendar comes from a Seattle blogger and designer Still Dottie whom I met through the Lab.

 

It’s all beautifully handmade and I just love the colours she’s used – each month scrolls through teal, turquoise, limes and corals – and the addition of colour-matched stitching adds a really original touch.  Here is mine all ready to go above my desk.  She’s still got some left in her Etsy shop and do check out her gorgeous blog as well.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Another Seattle-based designer who always produces a great calendar is Herman Yu, who makes beautiful designs from nature.

Check out the inside pages here.

If I had more wall real estate I would probably consider this enormous, incredibly stylish Vignelli Stendig calendar available here.  Yes, the baby is to scale.

 

Vignelli also designed the classic Max 365 Perpetual Calendar, seen here in an otherwise fairly hideous room set from Pottery Barn.

My favourite perpetual calendar though is the Corian Calendar by Niels Kjeldsen.  These were a special limited edition and enormously expensive (I’m not sure you can even buy them any more) but I do wish someone would mass-produce them.

 

Aren’t these nice?

As you know we’re trying to expand our stationery line here at ‘mirrormirror‘ and I’m wondering whether to buy in some individual cards. I’m still weighing up the pros and cons – but in the meantime you can check out this lovely range at Urubbu.