Ali Z

my current stack of books

Just wanted to share with you the books I am loving right now. The newest three just so happen to be on the top of my stack. I adore "work/life 2" from uppercase magazine. It's packed with so many great illustrators. If you are an art director or designer who hires illustrators often, this would be a great resource for you. I know it will be for me, I'm already dying to hire Alyssa Nassner. "At Home With Handmade Books" has tips and instructions to make sweet one of a kind creations. Jonathan Adler's "Happy Chic Colors" is so bright and cheery and contains some of my favorite things...paint samples and fabric inspiration boards. Ah, then there are my style books, my dirty little secret. I love style books. I have way too many. I heart the way "I heart Your Style" is organized and "The Elements of Personal Style" reminds me a little of Polyvore. So much fashion to drool over. Lastly, and the most exciting, is Etcetera. I can't say enough good things about this book by stylist Sibella Court. The production values are amazing. Lovely paper, pages printed on vellum, just gorgeous. I keep it on my nightstand and love to flip through it before I go to bed. My dreams are much more stylish that way.

bespoke blankets

Did you know Anthropologie has a special home gallery on their website where they showcase special collections by artists and craftsmen of their choice? Well they do, and it's a brilliant idea. I just stumbled upon it while shopping for shoes. Love browsing Anthro shoes, anyway, my favorite creations were these quilts by Fred Shand. They are works of art, aren't they? I love the color palettes, textures, and graphic themes. I don't love the prices, but considering each one is handmade and one of a kind, well, that makes them pretty special.