Sarah Neuburger, the artist behind The Small Object, has built a devoted following online and across the globe with her hilariously inventive art and handmade gift objects. Chronicle Books is thrilled to release a new line of Small Object stationery that perfectly captures the wit, charm, and DIY aesthetic of Sarah’s art.

The Small Object Thumbprint Notecard Set

With this mini stationery kit, it’s okay to be all thumbs! Following in the tried and true elementary school tradition –your thumb, stickers, and step-by-step instructions turn these simple notecards into one-of-a-kind works of art. A host of charming thumbprint characters give life to the scenes on each card. This sweet little set is ideal for all kinds of correspondence, from children’s birthdays to grown-up greetings.

Small Object Sticky Notes

Everyone love sticky notes. Sarah’s guided, often hilarious text make these notes stand out!

Small Object Labels and Stickers

Stickers and labels are a perfect packaging tool for crafters and cooks, scrapbookers and anyone devoted to The Small Object. Sarah’s hilarious text adds a level whimsy and charm.

Win one of 5 sets of Small Objects gift packs.
Answer the following questions by leaving a comment below. We’ll pick 5 random entries to win Sarah’s new notecards, sticky notes, and labels and stickers.

What do you think is the next big animal trend?

Who is your favorite up and coming artist? (extra points for including a link)

Patti Quill
Marketing & Publicity Manager

Popularity: 3% [?]

Once again James Jean is thrilling folks at Comic Con (this weekend in San Diego). If you are lucky enough to have scored a ticket to the sold out four-day event, try your luck again and head over to Chronicle Books’ booth #1506 to be one of the first to buy James’ new book Kindling. There are only 500 copies available at Comic Con, and they are sure to go quickly. James will also be signing Kindling on Saturday afternoon.

Angela Carone wrote a great piece on James on her fabulous KPBS blog Culture Lust. If you aren’t familiar with this blog, you should be.

Also be on the look out for this GAP (PRODUCT) Red T-Shirt by James.

Not going to Comic Con? Check out a preview of Kindling here. And add a comment below telling us what you think of the book. Five lucky winners selected at random will win a copy of Kindling and James’ postcard book XOXO Hugs and Kisses.

Patti Quill
Marketing & Publicity Manager

Popularity: 2% [?]

Chronicle Books is lucky to work with some of the most talented and original artists creating work today, and in this case some of the nicest. As a fan and friend of Lisa Congdon I was thrilled to hear we would be publishing her work. Lisa is a self-taught artist and illustrator who didn’t start making art until the age of 33. Her work is vibrant, fresh, and provides a unique look into the natural world.

Congdon works in a variety of media including paper, pen and ink, paint, and textiles. Some favorites include her three-dimensional shadow boxes and collage which she creates using her vast collection of vintage books, fabrics, old photos, and notions. The lovely Le Forêt Notecards are pen & ink drawings on the pages of an old French book.

When not working in the studio you can find Lisa at Rare Device her San Franciso design-led shop and art gallery she owns and operates with friend Rena Tom.

In Spring 2010 Chronicle will be publishing more of her lovely designs in an eco notecard box featuring four of her birch forests. Here’s a sneak peek:

And right now you can head over to Design for Mankind to enter to win one of the original illustrations used for the Le Forêt Notecards along with a copy of Lisa’s journal and notecards.

Lisa will also be at Renegade SF this weekend be sure to visit her in booth #135. She’ll also be signing at the Chronicle Booth on Saturday & Sunday at 5pm.

To see more of Lisa’s work visit her site.

Christina Loff
Publicist

Popularity: 3% [?]

Considered one of the greatest textile designers of the twentieth century, Alexander Girard (1907-1993) is “of the moment” once again. Pillar Viladas in the New York Times blog The Moment declared “The Designer Alexander Girard Shines Again” last year, and just posted another blog about Girard on July 7th.

Girard was the director of design for Herman Miller’s textile division from 1952 to 1973. He worked with George Nelson and Charles and Ray Eames to form a design team that has influenced the fundamentals of design throughout the United States and the rest of the world.

Girard also developed a furniture collection for Herman Miller in 1967–originals from this collection are rare and have become highly collectible. For the Braniff International Airways lounge, he helped the airline re-brand itself to “end the plane plain”. This project gave Girard the opportunity to work with textiles, color, and graphics on a grand scale, redesigning everything from the sugar packets to the ticket counters to the color of the planes themselves.

His colorful designs and impressive folk-art inspired collections were some of the most important designs of the time. Perhaps Girard is best known for his designs for the interior of La Fonda Del Sol restaurant (a high-end Manhattan eatery in the 1950’s.) Housed in the New York’s Time Life Building, Girard won a silver medal from the Architectural League of New York for La Fonda Del Sol.

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Popularity: 2% [?]

This is no doubt totally old news to you Nara fans out there. But…

The acclaimed Japanese artist was arrested back in early March for drawing in the subway station at Union Square in New York the night before his big opening at the Marianne Boesky Gallery.

Okay, but it gets better. According to Art in America,
“Nara was arrested the day before his show for tagging graffiti-a portrait in marker of two Japanese friends-at the Union Square subway station. Subsisting on peanut butter sandwiches and milk, he spent two days in the downtown jail, which he optimistically described as ‘a nice experience in my life,’ saying it was ‘like in the movies,’ a small space filled with all manner of people he would not otherwise meet.”

Didn’t your heart just melt a little when Nara was quoted as saying that jail was “a nice experience” in his life, you know, just “like in the movies?”

Well, mine did. Big time, people.

You can spread the Nara love with e-postcards.

My favorite being: Oh! My God! I Miss You.

Who wouldn’t want to get that in her inbox?

Hannah
Entertainment Marketing Manager

Nara postcards, journals and book can be found here.

Popularity: 4% [?]