Oh happy day at LAMA! The new holiday merchandise has FINALLY gone up on the site. Personally, I’m loving the new products. I hope you all do too. Happy shopping!

Thanks again Hijiri for putting together yet another beautiful newsletter! Click here to check out the new merchandise. 

A few weeks ago I received a message from a reader in response to a post I wrote regarding the state of the nation and how it affects shop owners like myself. It was a rather personal account which I debated on putting out there for others to read. To my surprise and delight, the response ended up being so positive and encouraging! It really lifted my spirits.

I was so touched by one reader in particular (the lovely Stacy of Inkspot Workshop) who not only sent me the sweetest message, but she also sent me a pack of one of her latest card designs that was oh-so appropriate for the occasion.

It’s certainly something I have done my best to keep in mind ever since. “Life is Good: Despite What the Media Says.” Aside from the card I keep on my desk in front of me everyday, I’ve mailed out the rest to friends and family that have needed to read this simple yet affective phrase. 

To order your own set and check out the rest of Stacy’s fun and beautiful work, check out her Etsy shop Inkspot Workshop. I’m loving this gorgeous calendar!

Thanks again Stacy! It meant so much. 

Especially a vanity as stunning as this little green gem. 

I came across this stunner on craigslist over the weekend and thought my search for the perfect vanity was over. That is until I saw the $465 price tag attached to it. No! Say it ain’t so Joe! (that’s my favorite Sarah Palin quote. I need to stop using it). Anyhow, back to the vanity… I’ve been wanting one for years. There’s just something so ultra-feminine about a vanity. I can’t help but feeling oh-so glamorous every time I sit down at one. They make me want to do things like style my hair with a silver comb or spray perfume out of a vintage bottle.

I guess I’ll just have to keep my eyes open for the perfect vanity (with the perfect price tag) though, this one is going to be a tough act to follow. For now, I’ll just have to remain green with envy. (Yes, I had to go there). 

A few years back, I came across a fantastic book entitled “Revolucion!” After looking at page after page of the beautiful Cuban poster art inside, I was hooked. Propaganda art has quickly become one of my favorite forms of art around. Between 1960 and 1980, the Cuban government recruited the most talented Cuban artists to create these propaganda posters in order to promote and educate it’s citizens on everything from national literacy to opposing international political enemies. The posters spread throughout Cuban cities and has helped to define Cuban politics through bright and vivid imagery. 

Below are a couple of gorgeous movie posters that I found through Home of the Cuban posters. Don’t you wish movie posters still looked like this? I know I would be begging the manager at my local movie theater to give me one… or five. 

One of my favorite modern propaganda artists is Shepard Fairey. His Obey campaign was really popular back when I was living in Los Angeles. I loved seeing his famous Andre the Giant posters and stickers posted all over the sides of buildings and billboards. More recently, you’ll probably recognize Fairey’s work from the “Hope” posters he created for the Obama Campaign.

You can certainly see how influential early propaganda art was to today’s artists. In celebration of Obama’s victory, Shepard Fairey has created a new Obama poster that will be available tomorrow right here through moveon.org. This limited edition print won’t be around long so I suggest you snatch one up quickly before they’re gone.

Fred (my boyfriend), Miles and I got up extra early this morning, grabbed some coffee to go and took a nice walk over to our local polling station. Yes, I took Miles. He didn’t quite understand we were heading out to vote. All he saw was Fred and I putting on our walking shoes. You can see how this would have been a problem had I not brought him along. Anyway, it was a beautiful morning, the sun was shinning, the leaves were falling and (I’m not sure if it was the crisp fall air and bold coffee) but voting has never felt so exhilarating.

It must have been contagious because everyone I came across at the polling station seemed just as excited as I was. The woman next to me said, “I feel like I’m making history today.” I have to agree. Today is a huge day for all of us.

If you haven’t gone out to vote yet, grab your friends, colleagues, co-workers, pets (yes, they can come along too) and go make some history. It’s a guaranteed great feeling.

When the lovely Holly from decor8 asked me if I would like to offer a special sponsor discount to her readers I was like, “um, yeah!” I’m a firm believer in the statement “it’s just as nice to give as it is to receive.” Why not give a little something back to a whole bunch of people I happen to have something in common with? That something being our mutual love for decor8. Plus, it’s tons of fun for me to see what Holly’s personal favorites from LAMA are. Check them out! 

From now until November 21st, when you enter the code LAMAdecor8, you’ll receive 20% off your ENTIRE PURCHASE! Wow! I have also extended this offer to our LAMA mailing list so if you would like to be a LAMA insider (of course you would), go ahead and sign up on our mailing list. 

Thanks decor8 for making us a part of your reader discount offer! To read the full post and check out decor8 for yourself, click here. Warning: If you love design, you will become addicted to this blog.