I have absolutely no time to read all my favorite blogs this week and construct a post with my favorite links, but I was excited to see the Meridian Pendant in mumm by Lights Up! receive some AT love the other day. I originally bought this lamp for my own home at DRTC here in Atlanta, and when Drew, a founder of Design Public came to visit, I showed it to him and told him we simply must find out the vendor and carry it at DP. That was years ago, and the graphic prints of the Lights Up! fixtures are still going strong.

In following the AT Before/After story of the Lights Up! owners Nick and Kate (photographed above), I followed the trail to another favorite blog, Door Sixteen. Apparently, Nick and Kate inquired about the pendant lamp they spied in Door Sixteen’s New Years Eve Party Post, which is this lovely piece from another favorite of mine, Mibo. The uber-renovators over at Door Sixteen led Nick and Kate over to Design Public, where they eventually picked out their mumm Meridian Pendant Lamp.

I’m starting to feel like Elaine on Seinfeld typing all of these exclamation points. When I actually take the time to edit my own posts (which is, ah, ahem, not that often, usually after I’ve posted and read it live and say “oh crud, this post is a disaster.”), I find myself cutting out exclamation point after exclamation point, so you are kind of killing me right now, Lights Up!(!!!)!

Nick and Kate’s photos swiped from Apartment Therapy Boston

Door Sixteen photos swiped from Door Sixteen’s Apartment Therapy House Tour – you MUST check this out if you haven’t already! Door Sixteen hit my radar during The Homies blog contest; it’s an excellent renovation and design blog, and the photography rocks.

Apparently I’m discovering this wonderful artist very late in the game, because her book is already sold out. However, since it will be reprinted this month, I wanted to make sure that anyone else like me who missed it the first time around gets a second chance! Cressida Campbell creates beautiful woodblock paintings of interiors (as well as many other subjects; Paperbarks is my favorite). She is drawn to patterns, which must mean she loves a challenge, as the thought of how in the world to engrave them on timber and then get the colors right is daunting.

A recent spread in Vogue Living Australia offers a few peaks into Ms. Campbell’s lovely beach home in Sydney. She has arranged the art over this sofa in such a pleasing way, which is no easy feat. It almost makes me think that champion arranger sfgirlbybay stopped by and assisted her!

As I post this, the reissue of the book is not yet available (it is sold internationally through amazon.com), but I’ll keep my eye out for it and let you know when it is.

Book cover image from cressidacampbell.com.

Second and third photographs by Chris Court for Vogue Living Australia Nov./Dec. 08

I’m reading Steve Martin’s memoir, Born Standing Up. It’s a fun read, and I find myself folding back corners to go back to certain quotes that make me smile. He self-effacingly shares a letter he wrote to a girlfriend back when he was around 20 and just starting to put together about ten minutes worth of an act. Here’s the end of the letter and his commentary on it:

Then I added:

“I have decided my act is going to be avant-garde. It is the only way to do what I want.”

I’m not sure what I meant, but I wanted to use the lingo, and it was seductive to make these pronouncements. Through the years, I have learned there is no harm in charging oneself up with delusions between moments of valid inspiration.

First this made me laugh, thinking about how many people try so hard to be avant-garde without really knowing what the heck they are talking about, covering up bad design/art/performance with a bunch of mumbo-jumbo archispeak that no one is able to follow. But then the cynic in me shut up and I smiled at the lesson  Martin had gleaned from his insecurely pretentious former self. Remember to charge yourself up with delusions between moments of valid inspiration!

Martin’s performing notes he jotted down after a magic show he performed as a kid.

Image by Steve Martin, as seen in Born Standing Up.

Last Sunday it snowed five inches, this Sunday it was about 75 degrees and sunny. It inspired me to start flipping through Garden Design. There were a few images I tore out (for my non-existent inspiration books that I will never get organized enough to put together properly) before recycling the issue; thought I’d share:

Kyle Schuneman of Live Well Design’s moss chair.

Water Jasmine trees in Nong Nooch Tropical Botanical Garden in Thailand. It’s like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory coming to life.

David Stark’s recycled shredded paper topiaries adorning the tables at the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum’s 2007 Awards Dinner. I am obsessed with these – brilliant, beautiful, and so appropriate for the occasion!

Also, CONTEST ALERT! Garden Design is sponsoring a contest to recognize when great design meets ecological responsibility. Click here to find out the details.

photo credits: Joe Schmelzer, Peter Widmann, Marianne Majerus all from Garden Design Jan.-Feb. 2009

I just wrote a post for my other blog that is sort of my frivolous fun thing with no focus, no technical know-how, no cool graphics or layout, with more Atlanta-centric talk and with about 12 readers if you include my mother, but I simply had to share this creative, trashy, and YOUR FACE political incident that’s going on in the way-outer ‘burbs of Atlanta.

IN A NUTSHELL: A mayor ratted out a City Councilman to code enforcement for having a messy yard. In getting it up to code, said Councilman saved the toilet that was formerly on its side next to the driveway, and decided to make it a planter, which he calls “folk art.”

The Councilman could spin this as part of a green design as it is an example of reuse. Perhaps it’s a message to the Mayor.

photo by Shane Blatt for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. I wonder if as he set up his shot, he laughed and said to himself, “I can’t believe the s*** I have to do at this job!”