daniel fischbaeck print via typo/graphic posters.

for a long time, i kept hearing ‘print is dead’ and i mourned that. i love print. for many years i was actually a print production manager, working in ad agencies producing print advertising for campaigns like these for levi’s 501’s and condé nast publications. it was fun, it was tactile and it was creative. i’d go on press checks all over the country and the smell of fresh ink running on those big old Heidelberg presses was a familiar and happy smell for me. but i don’t think print is dead at all and we got talking about this over lunch today — we see ink on paper making a comeback in lots of arenas — there are some wonderful new magazines in publication the last few years, and letterpress printing and typography in print is as mighty as ever. my thoughts for a friday are all about print. i thought i’d share. what are your favorite reads in print these days? what am i missing?

gather journal.

• gather journal – it’s just so stunning. a bi-annual recipe-driven food magazine devoted not just to cooking and eating, but to what those acts inspire: the bringing of people together. You will find lushly imagined images from some of the country’s most esteemed food photographers and fun, insightful writing.

anthology magazine video short from their latest issue.

• have you subscribed to anthology? it’s definitely one of the lovelies bringing print back. gorgeous home tours, delicious entertaining and adventurous travel ideas with sublime styling and photography. you should watch this little video to get an idea of what i’m talking about. anthology is on my ‘must read every issue’ list.

uppercase magazine.

• uppercase is where it’s at. a beautifully handcrafted magazine about all things design-related, printed on some really lovely paper. i write for uppercase on a regular basis, but i’m still unbiased — this magazine just shines. UPPERCASE publishes books and magazines for the creative and curious: products that spark the imagination and inspire creativity. and every issue centers around a specific theme. you’ll love it.

kinfolk magazine.

• and then there’s kinfolk magazine. Kinfolk began publishing to respond to the gap on the newsstand, and caters to a growing readership of artists and food enthusiasts, focusing on simple ways to spend time together and live with intention. Each issue of Kinfolk combines essays, recipes, interviews, personal stories and practical tips and is a trusted resource inspiring meaningful activities — whether it be a new cooking skill, a road trip route, or camping guide, all photographed quite beautifully.

savior magazine.

• there’s a stylish new independent fashion magazine out too, called savior. i haven’t seen it in person yet, but from what i’ve seen online it looks quite beautiful. have you see an issue of savior yet?

the new issue of rue magazine features two of the bay area’s own home girls — bloggers erin hiemstra of apartment 34 and caitlin flemming of sacramento street. both as talented as they are tall (have i mentioned how short i feel in their presence?) the two are great friends in real life and share equally exquisite taste. rue was quite right in featuring their most recent interior design work — erin’s new loft space home office; and caitlin’s work on her mum’s new san francisco apartment. both beautifully photographed by emily anderson. and speaking of some darn good taste, the entire issue of rue this month is pretty exceptional – one of my favorites.

erin’s beautiful new home office space.

caitlin’s collaboration on her mum’s new home is sublime.

• all photos by emily anderson via rue magazine.

i know, i know. i always, since the dawn of blog time (i.e. 2006) have said, ‘oh, and happy, happy friday’. and i tried to switch it up once and there was a rebellion of unheard-of proportions. but you must know by now that of course i wish you a happy friday, so i feel it’s just a tad redundant. maybe, instead i can leave you with a few parting and useful thoughts each weekend, or at the very least share what i’m thinking about, how the week’s comments gave me insight, or just share a good book with you. so, from here on out (until i change my mind again), here are my thoughts for a friday. and, oh, happy, happy friday — just for old time’s sake.

• first off — i shared my new cottage space with you this week and while a lot of you liked it (thank you!) many of you thought it could use a pop of color and personality and i tend to agree. so i’m working on those ideas. one idea you inspired was to make another blow-up print to live side by side with the rose garden. i love this very personal one by andy warhol of dominique de menil i saw in this month’s lonny magazine. i thought perhaps i could achieve a similar one with a photograph taken with after glow, my new favorite photography app.

• i also found this great wool crewelwork pillow at anthropologie that i went ahead and ordered. it’s a trey speegle paint by numbers of cabbage roses, which i thought added color, and picked up on the rose motif i have going on in the print above the sofa, but without being too precious. we’ll see how well it works!

• i still want to make these dip-dyed wooden spoons. i realize they’ve been around, but i’m slow with the diy. i need to work up steam to take on these projects.

• i think you will love this book — beautiful ruins by jesse walter. a little bit 1962 hollywood meets the italian rivera. a gorgeous read with a lot of sentimentality but not in a cheesy way. obviously, i lack skills in book reviewing, but i loved every page of it.

• and lastly, but possibly very importantly — i am always looking for submissions for home tours. so if you have a home you think would be a great fit for the blog, please do send it my way, or even better submit it to this flickr group i’ve set up.

have a great weekend. love, v.

i stumbled upon a wonderful website this weekend (as the rain poured down in san francisco, rendering us all house bound) called coffeeklatch — creative chitchat. i even love the name — much like the selby or freunde von freunden it’s a site that features creative people and the fascinating spaces they occupy. whether it be their homes, or their studios so many of these spaces and their occupants are inspiring. this particular space belongs to creative duo jan & delphine featuring their loft which is located in an industrial warehouse in Ghent, the Flemish region of Belgium. The creative duo does productions, from pop-up stores to interior projects, always related to art.

coffeeklatch, a creative chitchat, is an original and personal way for Magali Elali and Bart Kiggen to go and look for inspiring personalities and intriguing stories, showcasing photographs and interviews with creative entrepreneurs in their homes or daily working environments. check out coffeeklatch for many more inspiring interviews and spaces.

the february issue of rue magazine has hit the online stands, and it’s got some beauuuutifully photographed home tours. there’s a few in this issue i got pretty envious over, including the fabulous dining room below. here’s a sneak peek of the all new rue, but go have a look-see for yourself. the new issue is online here for your viewing pleasure!

the february issue of Harper’s Bazaar features model Bette Franke photographed beautifully in palm springs by Lachlan Bailey. i couldn’t help but be reminded that this Palm Springs location will host its annual Modernism Week this february 16 – 26th. modernism week is an eleven-day celebration of mid-century modern design, architecture, and culture in Palm Springs, California. if you’ve never been, i highly recommend a visit — pop into the ace hotel and take one of the tours of these racquet club estate mid-century modern homes. plus, it’s warm down there this time of year!

• via trendland

rue numero six is out, and available on ‘online shelves’ everywhere…and it’s a good one. there’s some fantastic home tours and photographic eye candy. i loaded up on some mighty good inspiration in rue this month, and i think you will too. here’s a peek at just a few of my favorite bits, what were yours?

this may be one of my very favorite unexpected guests. not only is this home fabulous, but the photographs are quite stunning as well. please meet dabito of the blog old brand new. dabito says he also goes by Dab, David, Thrifty, and sometimes Crazy. but i say crazy with color and style! dab loves to thrift and has a passion for collecting beautiful things needing to be saved, like film cameras, shoes, books, art, furniture, knickknacks, and even plants, and he clearly has a knack for finding the good stuff. you can follow dab’s finds on his equally stylish blog, old brand new, and check out his prints at toss and turn. let’s take a look at his mid-century modern los angeles loft.

Where do you live in Los Angeles, and what are a few of your favorite things to do in your neighborhood?
I live in a new loft in Downtown Los Angeles with my heartmate and our precious dog, Beatrice Arthur. I’m a few blocks away from LA Live which has the Staples Center and a bunch of eateries, so it’s fun to grab a bite and then catch a hockey or a Sparks game. There’s so much to do in downtown but I also enjoy taking a stroll in Chinatown, get dim sum and check out the wonderful galleries on Chungking Road.

i think y’all are going to love this unexpected guest. i got an email from wendy withers, a blogger who has worked with some friends of mine in the advertising world as an art producer/photo editor for many years, but recently took a break to have babies (or, the smalls, as she affectionately calls them). wendy is kindly sharing the oh-so-charming, and very hidden cape cod home in los angeles she shares with her husband gavin lester, a creative director and artist, the smalls, and the furry smalls, their pair of pugs.

i just love these inspiring images of their home in the mar vista neighborhood, near venice, which was remodeled by architect  hope alexander. and multi-talented gavin designed the ‘yours sincerely’ art in the bedroom as well as the ‘a really nice view’ neon – smashing, huh? let’s sneak past the garden gate and check it out…

What are a few of your favorite things to do in your neighborhood?
walk, eat, ride, shop, and look at the los angeles city skyline from our neighborhood hill, and then look at the ocean from our other neighborhood hill.

What are your go-to online shops?
1st dibs, topsy design and ebay (of course).

What’s your favorite flea market, or secondhand find?
jewelry. i heart my estate and vintage costume jewelry collection.

What five things can’t you live without?
my four smalls (furry and human kind), chocolate, converse all-stars, kitchen time and facials.

If you could go shopping with anyone in the world, who would it be?
elizabeth taylor circa richard burton!

What bores you to death?
hearing myself complain.

what would you attempt to do, if you knew you could not fail?
save the world or sing on broadway.

the lovely april palmer did the landscaping (which looks really beautiful when the blooms arrive for the warmer months).

•photos by claire cottrell and image locations.

the lovely folks who bring you frankie magazine, have been quietly working on something new for you — this time a look at eclectic interiors. frankie brings you spaces, a type of ‘mook’ (kinda like a magazine, kinda like a book) all about people’s pretty spaces!

spaces is a collection of eclectic interiors from around world, brought to you in a large-format magazine (oooh, 256 pages of real paper!), exploring homes, studios, shops and cafes of graphic designers, photographers, and vintage collectors, sharing the unique ideas and individuality of creative people living everywhere from Melbourne to Amsterdam.

If you want to buy a copy online, head over here or check out frankie’s favourite australian shops to see if they have any issues of spaces in stock.