Every desk can benefit from some fun-shaped neon sticky notes, right? I love these Silly Notes Page Markers by Suck UK. The tiny sticky notes can be used to mark a place or scribble a wee note. I wouldn’t mind creating my to do list on a vibrant spaceship or dinosaur…

(photograph via suck uk)

Melbourne-based designer Emily Green creates vibrant necklaces featuring lovely hand-formed beads. Come to think of it, she really creates wearable colour palettes full of whimsy and joy. I love visiting Emily’s online shops to spy the newest colour combinations (love those new wintery combinations on leather cord). I am also a big fan of how she styles her pieces on patterns like graphic black and white and bright watercolours. I’m thinking wearing one of Emily’s colour palettes around your neck could only make a day happier…

(photographs by emily green via her online shops here and here)

Serbian designer Ana Kraš debuted her BonBon Lamps in 2010 and has now updated the handsome devils for 2012. Wire framed lampshades looped manually with cotton thread, the lamps are colourblocked in intriguing palettes and crafted in whimsical shapes. What beautiful, hue-filled glow is created as the light shines through the strings. A modern lantern perhaps? I would love to have a row of BonBon Lamps hanging in an industrial space just as they do in the second photo from the top. Sigh…

(photographs via ana kras except second image from remodelista)

Sorry for the unexpected delay in colourful posting this week. Many more bright things to come! First off is this Giant Wall Washi Tape by mt and Sincol. I am a huge washi tape fan (my desk showcases that fact!) and have long been intrigued by the idea of bringing the removable, sheer Japanese masking tape to walls. I love these ideas in the Sincol x mt online gallery. Layering, metallics, patterns, brights, pastels – the possibilities are endless. Perfect for custom, easily changed looks especially in shops and rented spaces…

(images via/see the whole collection here)

I love these Modern Zen Gardens by Gardens of Wendiland. Available in colours including fuchsia, yellow, orange, purple, baby blue, black or white, these vibrant gardens are sure to liven up any workspace. Who needs a boring grey Zen Garden when you can have a modern pop of colour and a perfectly placed cactus? I don’t know about you but making designs in bright-hued sand sounds like the perfect way to combat stress…

(photographs via Gardens of Wendiland)
(thanks Catriana!)

How lovely are these Origami Boat Candles by designer Roman Ficek? Available in six colours, they are beautifully crafted facets of thin wax. I would love to see a pool with thousands floating about…

(spotted on design east)

It may be for children but I would love a copy of The Color-Play Coloring Book created for MOMA by Pascale Estellon. The oversized book is full of colour-focused activities that allow kids (and awesome adults) to play with colour mixing, light and dark shades, warm and cool hues and so much more. I can’t wait to see more spreads of this handsome book of colour learning. Many look frame-worthy!

The Kringel-Kari Notice Board by Mikael Nilsson is a looker. The 30 inch braid of gorgeous magenta is made of soft foam, an intriguing bulletin board material that can be molded into different shapes. I’m thinking adding it to your office or studio wall is an instant style upgrade…

They might be for children but I wouldn’t mind a Stepped Pyramid Block Set for myself. Created in Germany, the collection features 100 hand painted blocks of varying sizes allowing wee ones to create endless unique structures while also learning important skills like spatial conception. I think they would look fantastic in a white design studio and allow for jolly exploration into patterns, typography and so much more…

(spotted at acorn toy shop)

You know traditional letter banners that often appear at birthday parties and other standard occasions? The static wording means the sad banner must be tucked away until an event it fits comes along. But wait, Make Your Own Banner from The Pippa & Ike Show comes with 83 letters so you can put up a banner for any reason under the sun and even personalize it with a name. I love how this flexible banner can make any regular day a reason to celebrate. Why shouldn’t you festoon the small victories of life? Love the colour palette of black, fuchsia, light blue, lemon yellow, green and light pink too. Yep, this banner is an instant party in a box. Just add cake and sparkling beverages…

Happy New Year to all my colour-loving friends! My apologies for the unexpected spotty posting over December. Time to get back in the colourful swing of things. While I am a bit sad the holidays are wrapped up, I am thrilled to be in 2012 – a fresh year sure to be full of evolution, inspiration gathering and lot’s of colour. January is the inevitable month of calendar selling and while there are lots of stylish and covetable versions out there, I love the 2012 Accordion Calendar by the very talented Erin Jang of Indigo Bunting. Always a sucker for an accordion fold, I also love the cozy colour palette and simple mix of hand-lettering and clean typography. Throw in some lovely packaging and I am smitten. There are lot’s of ornate and highly-patterned calendars filling shop shelves but this one reminds me of what I want 2012 to be – full of good design and limitless possibilities that can’t be contained by a standard datebook box. (you can buy Erin’s calendar here)

I love these Crayon Rocks, available in 16 colours and made from non-toxic soy/beeswax tinted with natural mineral powders. In addition to being handsome nuggets of design, they actually develop children’s motor skills and allow for a better grip. They have a magic bean feeling, don’t you think?

It’s that time of year when new calendars and agendas fill shops and blogs. Sure, they are helpful tools of organization but I like calendars mostly for their design possibilities. The Cut Out Number Calendars at Present & Correct are so simple but oh so elegant with their thick paper board, cut-out design and contrasting primary or netural hues. While I would gladly hang these handsome devils above my desk, I almost like them more in a stack. There is just something about that jumble of overlapping numbers that makes me happy…

I recently came across these Pantone Pots by Serax and now can’t stop thinking of all the places I could use one (or twelve). I wouldn’t mind a patio full of colour swatch pots with plants of contrasting hue (maybe some bright blue flowers growing out of that honeysuckle-hued pot?). How about using the pot as a hint of what colour will eventually grow from some planted seeds? For example, some lavender planted in that light purple vessel. Love the thought of one as a kitchen utensil or design supply container. From the Pantone Postcards I posted about before to these Pantone Pots, my Christmas wish list has two official pieces of delightful colour nerdiness.

Pie charts, colour wheels, bright stickers – I love them all. These Rainbow Dot Stickers by Poketo are not only vibrant but translucent so you can bring a little happiness to envelopes, packages, maps and whatever else tickles your fancy. I’m thinking they could really spruce up a boring bill or text book…

I am completely and utterly smitten by the packaging for these Holiday Barrettes by Kate Spade. The vibrant orange card, the mix of typography, the integration of the barrettes into the whimsical sentence – I love it all. Simple and pitch perfect design. I’m pretty sure every holiday outfit would be enhanced by a hairdo featuring words like “pop fizz clink”!

(images via kate spade where the barrettes can be purchased)