Link love

The powder room of this laid-back Californian beach pad..

Shoulder bag or rucksack? Your choice!

This unique Japanese handmade pitcher for your kitchen?

Try a gluten-free quinoa crust as an alternative for your pizza..

If you can't decide between scandinavian style or mid-century modern.. A mixture is looking pretty good.

DIY Serving plate so sleek no one will guess you took only 30 seconds to put together.

T-shirt for lazy days..

Figs and ricotta cheesecake popsicles? Yes please!

Xo, The Bloesem Team

Channelling the wanderlust

@corinaesquivel

A month in, and the post-holiday craving for the next travelling season is now in full force.. Here's how we're channelling all that wanderlust: the Instagram feeds of these amazing Instagrammers from all around the world! We're scrolling endlessly through their travel photos and making a mental list of all the places to visit. It's a pretty long list, but we can't help it.. All of their snaps look incredible..

@commoncomfort

@elenabazu

@unicloh

@maeandmany

#BinstaGood

.. Follow Bloesem, Zara S. & Mei Kwee on Instagram

Meet Leah Goren

Brooklyn-based illustrator and surface pattern designer Leah Goren is definitely someone to keep an eye out for.. Her style for fun and playful graphics paired with unexpected colours palettes, many would agree, is definitely a treat for the eyes, seeing as she has worked with clients like Anthropologie, Ban.do, and even had her super cool illustrations grace the cover of our favourite Frankie magazine! That's not all, you can also find her on our latest Bloesem Gazette as one of our guest contributors where she talked trends, tips and inspirations. Read the rest of it here..

How would you describe your creative or artistic process?

Every project I do starts with a drawing on paper. I then scan my work and assemble the final piece digitally. Usually, if I'm working for a client, we begin with pencil sketches to nail down the concept and layout before I start on the final piece.

What's do you think is a typography that best describes you?

I most identify with loose, brushy hand lettering. Since I draw with a brush, that's what my lettering always looks like.

I'm guessing brushes are your favourite tools of the trade? 

Yes, my favorite materials are Winsor & Newton gouache, and Winsor & Newton Series 7 brushes. I love the matte finish of the gouache, and just by adding water it's easy to change the feel of a drawing. And their brushes are the best quality!

What are the top 5 design resources you gain inspirations from?

My studio mates, the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens, Rockaway Beach, Google Images, and Instagram.

Any favourite designers?

I look at the work of artists through history more than designers. So my favorite artists are Niki de Saint Phalle, Matisse, Sonia Delaunay, Richard Diebenkorn, and Celia Birtwell. I'm most inspired by artists who use a lot of color and pattern in their work, often in an abstract way.

Share with us one of your favourite design projects and the process behind it.

I really like the tide and moon charts I did recently for a local beach magazine, Rockaway Summer. It was challenging because I needed to translate accurate charts into my style, which is often organic and free-form. My process was the same as I mentioned earlier: draw on paper, scan into the computer, and assemble the final piece. Even though parts of the illustration had to be precise, I included a border of little surfers, fisherman, and sea life to add interest.

Wow, that's some attention to detail! Do you have any advice for budding designers who are just starting out?

Make a ton of work. Not all of it is going to be good, but as long as you're making things constantly you will get better, and develop a dedicated work ethic. I always look back on things I made and think they were terrible—I just threw away bags of drawings from 2012 and earlier—but I making all that work informed who I am today.

What are your favourite creative trends?

Right now I am really into eyelet and embroidery on clothing. I always have an eye out for vintage pieces from the 60s or 70s.

Neat! What about print trends.. Any you're excited about at the moment? Or a fond favourite you have done before?

I'm not really sure what's on trend right now print-wise! One of my favorite prints I've done recently is a bathers print for Loeffler Randall—women lounging around in swimsuits and sandals. I think it will be released in Spring 2016.

We can't wait to see it.. Thanks again, Leah!

Photo credits: Leah Goren

.. Leah Goren
.. Read the Bloesem Gazette here

Learn a new skill.. Check!

Learn how to start and build a brand with a social mission from Co-founder and Co-CEO of Warby Parker, Neil Blumenthal.

Every year I have a mental list of new creative skills I wish to take up and this 2016 is no exception.. But having Skillshare around just makes it a whole lot easier! An amazing online learning platform for virtually any and everything under the sun, you can quickly pick up almost any skill you can think of through their nifty videos from the comfort of your home.. You'll be surprised! Whether it's baking, photography, marketing, or even business strategies.. Yup, they've got you. In fact, we think choosing from such a huge variety of classes has to be the toughest part. But here's some good news for you..

Once you've mastered lettering and calligraphy, it's time to take it to a different platform and achieve even more by digitising it without losing that textural, hand-made feel.

Instead of paying $10/month, our Bloesem readers get Premium Access to over 2,500 (!) classes for 3 months at just $0.99! So go wild with the classes.. Use the code bloesemblogs99 to redeem the offer or you can just click this link to sign up.

That's not all.. There's a pretty exciting competition going on where you stand a chance to win 1 FREE year of access to Skillshare on top of the 3-month deal. All you have to do is:

1) Follow @Skillshare on Instagram
2) Post a photo of a new skill or project you're excited to take on this 2016
3) Tag @Skillshare, along with two other friends, and include the hashtag #monthoflearning.

I can already think of a couple of new projects I can't wait to start.. It's such a win-win. But hurry though - promotion ends this Sunday, 31 January.

Go on and attend the classes in your pajamas, no one has to know, right? "Learn new skills in 2016", check!

.. Skillshare
.. Follow them on Instagram and tag them to stand a chance to win 1 free year of access

Time with Silke Bonde

Finding the world map a little familiar? Yes, it's the amazing artwork 'Blue World' featured in a two-page spread across the latest Bloesem Gazette! Painted in watercolour by the talented visual artist and illustrator Silke Bonde, her attention to detail and colour use are always so impressive. We're definitely long time fans of hers, getting our daily dose of gorgeous pictures of beautiful artwork from her Instagram feed.. Featuring nature and neutral colours, I say we have a winning combination for a soul-soothing feed. You have to check it out to know what I mean! 

Besides her incredible artwork, she also shared with us and our readers a little bit about the life of a designer for the Bloesem Gazette.. Here's the rest of it!

How would you describe your creative/artistic process?

I usually find a theme that I find interesting. It has very often something to do with the nature. I explore this theme and transfer the input to my sketchbook. Then shortly after I start working with water and brush to try out different ideas. Most of my creative process happens on watercolor paper, which gives me an idea of the final look and makes sure that I get the expression that I am looking for. I will use tons of watercolor paper before I am satisfied.

Wow, that's interesting! So what's your favourite tools of the trade to use then?

Brush and water are my favourite tools. I like to use the brush to paint with water at first. When I am satisfied with the shapes I drip a little paint into it and the design appears. I like the way I can control and create the design with the water and at the same time combine the stringent and organic shapes.

Share with us top 5 design resources you gain inspirations from.

Designspiration.net, pinterest.com, instagram.com, itsnicethat.com, and printed magazines like Frankie magazine and Cereal magazine.

And your top 5 favourite designers?

Nendo, Hans J. Wegner, Hideaki Hamada (photographer), Børge Mogensen and Lotta Nieminen.

Share with us one of your favourite design projects and the process behind it.

I was creating some huge backdrops for a photo shoot for Broste Copenhagen. We wanted to show the feeling of an old atelier where everything was faded by the sun and nothing had changed for years. I was working outside in the sun for days with all my 10-meter long backdrops throwing randomly with watercolour, spreading dead leaves and walked on it just to make it look old and artsy. It was such a great fit for the photo shoot and it added just the feeling that we wanted. Even a year after I still get contacted by people who want something similar on their wall.

Name a typography that best describes you and why.

One that says “Hi, I am tall, minimalistic and made by hand” because that is what I am and what I like.

What are your favourite creative trends?

I like the DIY trend that occurred after the financial crises. Instead of buying new stuff the entire time, then try to rethink the stuff you already have and create it yourself. Your home will also be more personal and inspirational.

It's a win-win, isn't it! What about print trends? Any you're excited about at the moment?

I really like all handmade illustrations/designs because it is much more personal and it gets us away from the digital world for a while. I had a really good time working on my latest “Looking closer” print collection, just concentrating on bringing my thoughts to the watercolour paper and staying offline for hours. I selected some elements from nature and I wanted to zoom in on them to show the details that we often miss when passing by. My intention was to show the beauty of nature and the naturally-created art.

What is the biggest misconception people have about designers?

I think people are a bit traditional in their way of characterising a designer. I have a hard time making people understand how much time it takes to design a brand and to create my own visual identity on all digital platforms. They often think everything is about the product and how it is made and for some reason forget all the hard work of creating a coherent brand.

Agreed. Do you have any advice for beginner designers who are just starting out then?

Just try to experiment with as many methods and tools as possible. You do not have to know your own style from the beginning that is just something you will discover over time. Do what makes you happy.

Wise words indeed. A big thank you to you, Silke, for your wonderful contribution!

All photos via Silke Bonde.

.. Silke Bonde
.. Silke Bonde's Instagram
.. Have you seen her watercolour painting on the latest Bloesem Gazette?

Cultivate daily luxury

This is definitely linen heaven.. Cultivate everyday luxury through Cultiver's large collection of high-quality stonewashed linen bedding, vintage silk velvet cushions, and chic premium Turkish robes and sleepwear for that perfect night's rest.. With their simple and timeless designs, their products will surely fit into your homes - whether it's modern, contemporary or even traditional. How does one say no to that!

 

.. Cultiver