Happy New Year Friends and welcome to the Guest Blog for 2012! We are starting off a very exciting year with one of TDF most favourite people – Beci Orpin! All week we’ll be seeing into Beci’s World, starting off with Books. Speaking of which, leave a comment on any of Beci’s posts before 10pm on Thursday for your chance to win a copy of Compendium of Me by Beci Orpin. Thanks to Erm Books and Beci for this giveaway! -Jenny x
hello TDF readers! welcome to my guest blog. this week i’ll be showing you some of the things that help me along the path of design goodness. things i use every day to keep my inspired and happy. first off: BOOKS
i LOVE books. so much. they are the one thing i will never hesitate spending money on. subsequently i have a pretty big, and ever-expanding book collection. its becoming a bit of a problem – the amount i books i have is far outweighing the amount of bookshelf space i have. thus, my desk more often than not, looks like this:
and my bookshelves look like this:
but, its worth it!
japan for me is book mecca! japanese design books are the best, i love them because they are often so specific. the book 2nd from top left is just about woven ribbons! amazing!
i brought these japanese trademarks and logo books about 10 years ago. between the 3 of them they span the 1970′s and ever single page is an absolute goldmine. they are expensive but i think i have looked at them at least once a week since i brought them
but you don’t have to travel overseas or spend a lot of money to get great books. a lot of my collection have come from opp-shops (btw, there is no shame for buying a book just because it has a great cover!)
i also have a bad habit of collecting series of books (hello ebay):
and zines too – i love zines and small publications:
but, all time favourite book is this one
i had lusted after it at a friends house in LA one time, but she had found it at a thrift store, so i thought i there was no chance of finding it (this is before the days of abe books). the next time raph returned to the US he secretly hunted down a copy and drive for half a day to collect it from a bookshop in the middle of nowhere. pretty awesome.
- beci
I’m so happy I just discovered your work – your watercolors are so much fun & your book collection is making my mouth water! I can’t tell you how jealous I am.
LOVE this post. Feel the same way about books!
all so gorgeous as usual!
Thanks for kicking things off with a colorful guest blog! Looking forward to more. Thanks for sharing, beci!! X
loving the colours to start my day- thankyou also from my colour inspired 9 year old daughter!
STUPENDOUS & SERENDIPITOUS… xx
Thanks for sharing Beci, your new book looks spectacular. Your Wood Appliqué book is very special – is that the art of patchwork made with wood?
Awesome collection Beci. And yes, great colours and inspiration to start off the year!
Colour Colour Colour, Love it.
Would also love that book collection of yours, so much inspiration on so many shelves.
Oh more Beci goodness! love it. Whether I win it or buy it, I will definitely be adding your new book to my collection.
Love the colours!! Beautiful!
I so get what you mean about books… I could happily spend hours lingering in book stores and the same in front of the bookshelves in op shops. Your book looks amazing – congratulations!
Compendium of Me…stunning colourful and fun!
Hi Bec
Thanks for brightening up my Monday morning. And convincing me that buying books (even for just a cover or a couple of images inside) is money well spent.
Another book lover here! Love the colours in your new book too – very much my style :)
looks like an awesome collection. love you work Beci!
A women after my own heart….many a time, actually most times, the books on my shelf have been chosen because I loved the cover… sometimes with absolutely no intention to read the book!
Wow great ideas for quilts …thanks SOO much
Colour makes me happy and inspires me so I know a copy of this
beautifu book on my coffee table would be a lovely vision every day.
so bold and colourful!
Grooving to Gloria Gaynor and drooling over your pictures. A lovely way to start the week. xS
There is a grin plastered across my face- such a happy collection
wow! a colour explosion of loveliness!!
Being a Melbournian I seem to be always dressed in black, but I’m breaking free baby! I ♥ the excitement, vibrancy, frivolity, and joy of colour! Your designs spread smiles and happiness. Just beautiful! ♥♥♥♥♥♥
wow i love all these books, what a collection! love beci’s work and would LOVE her new book!
Clearly the old saying “never judge a book by its cover” does not apply in Beci-land! What a delicious collection.
Love the popping of colour and images, very inspiring, thank you Beci! Linda
Color your day!
Color your life!!!
♥ Franka
Wow, that’s a lot of books! I have a weakness for Japanese craft books, my boyfriend gets annoyed because I come back with a new one every time I visit the bookshop.
A girl after my own heart…you can never have too many books, and I need one more – I think you know the one ;)
Such a kaleidoscope of colours and inspiration, it makes me happy. I just brought your ‘lightbulb’ gocco print for a friend and would love the book to go with :)
Brilliant indeed!
So excited to have Beci as the guest blogger!
Amazing colours and all round awesomeness!
▲▼LIZE▼▲
Thank you for sharing! You’ve inspired me to make NACHOS! I love your work on the Taco Truck, the fact its hand painted makes it even more precious. Well done.
Wow we have a fair bit in common. Overspending on books & my desk also resembles yours. I also love arranging my collection by colour and size. Maybe we can do a swap!
Hi Beci, Love your book!
What a gorgeous book. Would love to win it, and look forward to your guest posts this week.
Wow, so lovely. I love my collection of vintage fabric and sewing books, your book would be the perfect conclusion to my shelf.
LOVE the book collection, so much inspiration!
yay! I buy books on the value of their cover alone too, although thats not the only reason I buy them! Books are like friends. I love your collection especially the older 2nd hand ones – so, so much design gold! Loved looking at these.
Welcome to the guest blog- awesome way to kick off 2012! Looking forward to what else you have to share this week. Congrats of your success- you’re extremely talented :-)
Love your book collection… inspires me to renovate my bookshelf to give my own wee collection the home they deserve! x
Beci, Congratualtions, your new book is just gorgeous, I would love a copy to add to my collection of bright colours!!!
love love love… that is all! :)
All those beautiful colours just woke me up and made me feel alive. LOVE Beci Orpin!
OH this book looks amazing! i have been very fortunate to meet beci a couple of times through out the last few years of my studies, i studied the same course at rmit as beci (textile design) i think she has done so well and is such a lovely lovely person. i would love to own this book! if i don’t win i will defiantly go out and buy one x
Lovely books!
Love your work Beci! Can’t wait to see the book.
What an amazing collection of colour – very inspiring!
I love Beci Orpin’s work. I would love to win one of her books. Would help to inspire me when designing children’s rooms. Her book makes me smile, so much fun and color.
YOUR BOOK COLLECTION IS AMAZING!!!
My collection is only a small fraction of this and I am so jealous. The colours are brilliant. Your new book is so gorgeous. It would fit perfectly into my collection. Love Beci Orpin!!!
Beci Orsome!
Beci, you’re making me want to get off the computer and start browsing some of my own book collection. You rock.
Happy Beci Orpin day!
So inspiring! I love Beci Orpin!
So much colour! Great way to brighten up a Monday morning.
Love the Compendium of Me, so bright and cheery – the perfect way to colour up my days in 2012.
I am also unashamedly a book collector with groaning shelves……although I cant imagine my life without that constant inspiration… :)
Looking forward to a whole week of this marvellous-ness!
Wow, I thought I had a big collection…until now! Amazing.
I love Beci Orpin’s use of bright colour. So cheerful.
yes yes yes!!!
I love your world Beci! And I love that you love books (the paper variety!!!) There is nothing like a book in your hand to instantly calm. Thanks for sharing your world!!! x
Love your book collection, especially the Wood Applique gem. One of my most prized books is an early 80′s womens self defence manual written by Bob Jones (body guard to the likes of Fleetwood Mac!) called “Hands Off!” which features tutorial images with Stevie Nicks! So cool!
i’m guilty of judging books by their cover, and of buying them for that reason only!
Wow! love what you do Beci. I’m off to unpack my studio, and get out all my old children’s books!
Awesome work!!!
Our house is over flowing with books too!! Thanks for sharing..
Love your books and your work.
Beci is such an inspiration! I’d love to win a copy of her wonderful book.
Such beautiful diversity! I’m lucky to have a huge library at home and at work… but I’m drooling over your Japanese collections, fantastic!
I love your book collection!
More books to add to my collection which I did not know about, so thank you so much for having it on Design Files
Colour, colour, colour!! Divine. Love the blog and look forward to reading more and more.
Beci will single handedly save the book industry from succumbing to online stores!
So vibrant so beautiful — just what the new year is all about, new inspiration
what a fantastic collection of books and images.
Very inspiring.
Thanks.
so talented! thanks for sharing pics of the books that inspire you too.
Beci Orpin really does colour my world :)
I too sometimes buy books just because they have lovely covers.
These shelves and books are so “Beci Orpin” I would have guessed that this was your guest blog without being told. I love your style and your wonderful colours!
Deliciously inspiring! Wish I had a book collection like that too!
very special personal treasures. isnt it amazing when little things can but butterflys in your tummy. lots of love and thanks for sharing!
Have always been a big fan of your work Beci, so I loved reading and looking at the beautiful pictures. What a great book collection. That Inkle loom weaving book has the coolest cover design!
x isis
I have been waiting and waiting and waiting for Beci to guest blog here! It just makes sense. The 3 blogs that I make sure to check every day are Design Files, Beci Orpins Blog and Design Sponge. Today I am a very happy Chica!! It was also fun to play spotto with the (comparatively only a few) books that I own too! I can’t wait to make my own way to Japan. Much much love to you creative ladies x
love beci’s work – makes me happy
So colorful and beautiful!
how how lovely! So many bright colours to brighten my day!
I’m also guilty of buying too many books. I spend way more money on books than clothes, but the books never go out of style. I dream to, one day, have a (huge & colorful) personal library in my home.
Beci can start her own library – please do!
Thank you for sharing this. I have just spent my summer holidays spring cleaning (in amongst beach sunshine and pine lime splices). The last three days, I have sifted through our entire wall sized book collection. Late last night as I was finishing up, I came across one of my favourites – a book that sparked both memories and my imagination as I rediscovered the colour illustrations of Richard Scarry’s Best Ever Story Book. Complete with mended pages and my proudly hand scribbled name from when i was little, it’s hard to believe it is 29 years old. Amazing the stories a book can tell, let alone the ones inside. Thanks for a beautiful, delightful way to start the day. Best wishes.
I too love books and colour, great guest blog to start the year
Great inspiration to start the year books & colour what could be better than that!
The book looks gorgeous. I’d love to own a copy!
What a great post! I had a big smile on my face scrolling through this one, I too have a love for books. It is sad but my fav’s are still my massssssie collection of Golden Books (remember those!?)
Thanks Beci and TDF for such a lovely way to start my morning. Beci, I adore and am in total awe of your colour use, it’s one of my thoughts (not quite resolution) to bring more colour into my life and work this year. Thanks for the terrific inspiration!
It is certainly evident where Beci gets her sense of colour from! What a lovely collection of awesome.
beautiful colours and what a book collection!
Thanks for sharing your personal book collection and the sources for your inspirational work. A Beci Orpin book to add to my collection would be a complete joy!
I’ve been following you since you spoke at semi-permanent way back when. I love your style and its so nice of you to share your favourite things and inspiration for the rest of us. Thanks again!
What a collection! I’m a bit jealous :) I need to look up ‘Inkle Loom Weaving’. Love that cover!
woo hoo… a whole week of Beci! joy!!
I love Beci’s stuff. So colourful and vibrant just what we need in our life!
Could not agree more, an absolute book fiend myself! The colours in your work are incredibly inspiring.
I too need more bookshelf space! But i’d gladly make room & pride of place for Beci’s gorgeous new book. Thank you so much. Fingers crossed :) Louise xo
I agree, books are an amazing source for design work. I lament my students lack of enthusiasm for books, and I’m trying to change that. My all time favourite is the Sheila Hicks book ‘Weaving as Metaphor’. Beautiful design and wonderful work – check it out if you haven’t already. Love your stuff by the way Beci! :)
Beci, your wide range of works continue to inspire me as a designer and teacher. I love passing on ideas to my students and they ooohhhhh and ahhhhhh at every piece. congratulations! Kate :)
The book looks amazing and very inspirational – Beci do you ever stop producing work??!!
So gorgeous, I love all the different paper :)
Absolutely stunning Beci!
Bec always does such beautiful work, congratulations on the book its gorgeous
So excited to see you on the Design Files this week! I share your pain of limited bookshelf space…..I have now filled a wardrobe in our spare room as well!! Can’t wait to see the new book – the colours and patterns are so happy!
Adore all the colours and soooo many books to love!
Lovely cool colourful books to look at during hot hot day in Brisbane!
So beautiful! I would like to live in your book :)
Beci, I have been following your work for awhile now. I am designer
obsessed with colour who wishes I could illustrate like you. Love that you agree there is no shame in buying a book just for its cover….or in my case collecting anything colourful that catches my eye. Congrats on the book.
What beautiful books! Would love a copy of Beci’s book — would match the Beci cushion and artwork that take pride of place in my apartment!
I feel happy just looking at your book – so bright and beautiful! Well done x
Awesballs! Thanks for the blog… and the book! Japanese design books reminds me of a gift wrapping book mum has, some crazy origami moves involved… Look forward to picking up a copy of the compendium to give to my sis and new born niece who reportedly has begun seeing in colour… =o)
Thx again and happy Beci Orpin day to y’all too!
Lots of comments! Impressed by your collection – I too love books and have a pretty big collection of kiddie books for a spinster of 43. I get so much inspiration from them – especially the mid century to 1970′s ones… when printing method limitations forced some great creative solutions.
fave guest blog ever (sorry ro!) can’t wait to read the rest of the week.
Woah, love it. I too am slowly developing an inspirational book collection of my own. Your book would fit perfectly into that collection…
What a cheerful book that looks like it has a special treat awaiting me on every new page. I hope I get turn each one and savour what I see.
wow I am in love with your colourful work…..super inspiring stuff!
Your Book looks amazing
beeeyoootiful
One hundred million Awesome™ points awarded straight to Raph for being The Most Awesome™ for getting you that book.
All books are great, but your book looks FABULOUS! Would love it!
lovely, lovely work! thanks beci and TDF!
A visual feast as alway, thanks Beci!
What an amazing collection – so bright, so happy!
a clever lady
an inspiring lady
cheers for beci orpin day
I’ve always admired the work of Beci Orpin, and have been fortunate to see her talk about it on a few occasions. It’s nice to see that we share a common interest in books, even though my collection is tiny in comparison, but the feeling is the same. I’m looking forward to seeing what else Beci has to say during her time on the guest blog, hopefully there will be some more similarities :)
Gorgeous looking book, as usual from Beci. Love it, and also share the same obsession with books, my thing is interiors, architecture and art. I’d probably spend my very last dollar on books, I’m hopeless.
Beci, I bet you still get more inspiration from books on a shelf (or table or chair) than you do on a Kindle!
wowee what a collection – i’m inspired just looking at the images, can only imagine owning them all!
love your work beci, esp the prints you’ve done for gorman (my fave label)
:)
the joy, emotion and spirit of colour colour colour and design! lovit! congratulations on your new book. from one book adorerer to another. thank you for sharing what you love.
Your use of colour and pattern is superb!
Sigh. So beautiful!
By the way, what is “abe books” ?
My bookshelf needs this!
So fun! Cant wait to see it properly! x
Love your work beci. I love colour too. There’s nothing like a pop of colour to brighten your day!
Inspiring article Beci – the colours & patterns are amazing and very beautiful – clever girl!!
Very cool.
How does it feel adding to your lovely book collection your very own gorgeous book?
Woohoo – colour me please Beci.
Thanks for sharing Beci. You are always such an inspiration!
Awesome as always Beci! I dream of having such a book collection one day…..
Beautiful as always! Where is your favourite place to shop for books in Melbourne? I love a good bookshop tip.
I think I’ve got a bit of a crush on your bookshelves! :)
i too am guilty of spending too much on books…(came home with two today, now that i think of it).
judging books by their covers is fine with me, as is judging them (and magazines) by the paper they’re printed on… nothing beats a heavy, matte tome!
Everything that Bec does is always beautiful. Yet another beautiful publication. If I don’t win it, I’ll probably end up buying it.
I also have more books than space for them. I really like the look of those Japanese books. Where can you find Japanese craft books?
I’d also like to know where you can find Japanese design books here or online…
So sweet & colourful! Reminds me of when I was a kid and was amazed by any awesome colourful stuff in my surrounds. :-) :-) :-)
Visual candy land!
*swoon* I love the way the Beci describes her love of books & the images are just swoon-worthy.
I love all the pics of your books. I struggle with not buying beautiful books. I live in a tiny unit so there is just not enough room. I have a temporary solution for now – I buy them and give them away to other people. At least they are mine – just for a little while :)
Oh for love of books
Colour and form to inspire
Imaginings I want
i love books too! and i’d so love your book!
I’m a total sucker for Japanese books too! Absolutely loved this post and couldn’t agree more that books are magical things.
i love seeing your desk and inspirations! so much colour!!
I love everything Beci makes…I remember lusting after Princess Tina clothes when I was a student. I love looking at people’s shelves…thanks for sharing.
gosh your bookshelves are to die for!
such great shelves and colour, love it!
so lovely!! I’d love a copy of your book…
Beautiful and so colourful – and the book collection AMAZING. Your work is such an inspiration and I love reading your blog too. Looking forward to the weeks posts here!
OMG!!! only day 1 and SO many ridiculously nice comments!!! THANKS so much. i’m well beyond chuffed. oh and ABE books is an online store where you can buy second hand books – it links up to lots of second hand booksellers around the world and is the BEST. and japanese craft books – i think kinokuniya in sydney has a good range? my kitly in melbourne also has some… and if you can read any japanese ebay japan might also be a good place to try?
Beautiful!
Splendiferous! No more to be said!
Hi Beci!
I LOVE your work so much! (I bought mobile girl tote and paper mobile the other day – missed you when I picked them up) I really enjoyed looking at your book shelves – even book shelves are cute. It’s nice to know you like Japanese books as well as other beautiful books (I’m Japanese and now I figured out why I love your work so much – so cute and cool) I miss Princess Tina but I’m looking forward to your new range too.
Being a bibliophile myself, I am glad to see your eclectic collection and note that they are not all single colour spines or colour coded as in many stylists’ photos. ‘Compendium of Me’ is a fantastic title and great motivation for all portfolios. If that is a representation of your world, Beci, what a wonderful and colourful world you live!
Books R my life –keep building bookcases!
Beautiful work
I’m going to have to get one of those logo books! wow. Also glad to see i’m not the only one loves the ladybird books!
I feel the same way about books! My bookshelves can’t contain my ever-expanding collection. I tell myself I am collecting for the future day when I can have my own library with one of those rolling ladders!
Thanks for this pretty peek at your books!
I am forever adding news books to my shelves. Lovely post!
i cant to buy one of these…
I can SO relate to Beci’s obsession with beautiful books; I would certainly love to add her gorgeous offering to my collection!
Love the COLOR!!!!,
Love love!!! Bright beautiful and wonderful, **deep happy sigh**
LOVE the colour and the medicine cabinets, I want one!
I Love your colourful work Beci – you are my design and illustration hero. Would be great to have a copy of your book lighting up my coffee table and adding to my beci collection.
This book is so fabulous. Every single picture describes my personal style. The happiness of colour ♥
Whether I win this giveaway or not, thank you for solving my current “big-birthday” gift giving dilemma!
So lovely & colourful & such an inspirational person! Would love to own a copy
Gorgeous, colour, whimsy and making us all a little happy.
Beci, I just want to dive into your book and swim around in all of that colour. Thanks for sharing your world with me.
Beci Orpin is the Queen of Colour. So great. I love watching what she does. It’s always so inspiring and full of the love of life.
Awesome post! I love books, too. :) And these books look great.
What an inspiration! Love the colour and life ;) Miriam
Beautiful book! So colourful! x
This was very inspirational to peruse through, colors abound!
What a beautiful collection, hope I can make this an addition to mine :)
What a fabulous trio of terrificness you girls are! You’ve brought the love and light back into cooking with your crafty take on this sometimes artful/ always necessary / divine daily activity!