Style: The Harbinger Co.—Wear It, Hang It, Love It

Being the urban-centric moms that we are, we first fell for The Harbinger Company’s silk screen cityscape prints—detailed maps executed in a stark and bold style. Digging deeper into The Harbinger Company’s collection, however, we discovered that Yvonne Hung, the artist behind the company, also creates a line of jewelry that ranges from the laugh-out-loud to the elegantly beautiful. Hung’s necklaces, bracelets, and earrings include a wide-variety of designs, incorporating everything from the organic to the geometric and warm bamboo to sparkling bling.

Our favorite, Hung’s metal-worked rings, is a series of eye-glass designs that consists of cat-eye frames, horn-rim specs, and a Groucho Marx-inspired disguise. If this is not your style, each Harbinger piece (whether sporting it in on your hand, neck, or wall), manages to offer a fresh and whimsical take on a timeless treasure. Details: www.theharbingerco.com

Style: Kevin Tong Captures the Spirit of Wes Anderson

Kevin Tong, a Los Angeles-based freelance illustrator and artist, creates some seriously-fun work. Although his portfolio ranges from editorial images to some rather cool concert posters, what caught our attention is his spot-on take of Wes Anderson’s movie trilogy triumph: Bottle Rocket, Rushmore, and the Royal Tenenbaums. His silk screens (printed on wood or paper), capture Anderson’s whimsy-filled worlds perfectly. Each piece feels like a miniature set, highlighting Max Fischer’s long list of sidelines, Dignan’s Cold Storage capers, and Royal’s grand palace of eccentricities.

The Anderson-inspired prints are available online at Spoke Art, but if you don’t see what you’re looking for (or Wes Anderson isn’t your thing), contact Kevin or browse his very-diverse collection online. My husband was so anxious to buy a not-yet-available print for my birthday, he contacted Kevin and was given the most accommodating choice of having it mailed or picking it up directly from his studio. Kevin Tong’s creations, just like his customer-focus, are guaranteed to please. Details: http://spokeeditions.bigcartel.com/category/bad-dads-prints and http://www.tragicsunshine.com/

Style: 3 Fish Studios, Falling in Love with Affordable Art

It's not easy to uncover affordable art, but periodically, we'll stumble on a find that's worthy of sharing—in this case, two finds. Husband and wife art team, Eric Rewitzer and Annie Galvin, create so many lovely and whimsical paintings, digital prints, and blockprints (linocuts), it's hard to determine which ones to buy.

I first discovered the dynamic duo after my friends turned me on to San Francisco's Zinc Details. Later, at a Los Angeles' Renegade Craft Fair, I had the opportunity to meet Eric and talk about their creations first-hand.

For over three years, their studio has been a home to art classes, a space for community events, and a testament to their creative endeavors. Now, fans of their work can also browse and purchase online! From post cards to limited editions, 3 Fish Studios has an affordable, artistic find (or two) to fall in love with. Details: www.3fishstudios.com, www.zincdetails.com, www.renegadecraft.com

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Obsession: Beautiful Baubles and Boxes Made from Nature

At a local art fair, I found Sandy James, artesian and “Of Nature” owner. Sandy takes pieces of nature and transforms them into jewelry and sculpture. She utilizes real leaves, acorns, and maple seeds (to name a few), dipping them into a copper patina bath. The end result is a collection of breathtaking earrings, barrettes, necklaces, and containers. Her creations are one-of-a-kind and truly stunning. Details: www.ofnature.com

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Style: Irresistible Wood Creations

Summer in Chicago brings with it a season of free outdoor concerts, farmer’s markets, and art fairs. There are several art shows that I attend every year in search of new artisans and unique finds. This year, I was fortunate to run into Sweitzer and Sweitzer, a father and son team who make exquisite shaker-inspired furniture. They specialize in custom tables, benches, and rockers—each piece warm, rich, and amazing.

Beyond furniture, what really caught my eye were their uniquely lovely cutting boards. Sweitzer and Sweitzer boards are made with a variety of midwestern woods, creating a beautiful, striped effect. Unlike most cutting boards that are made of a single wood, the utilization of several wood types enhances the color and distinctiveness of each piece. Boards and serving trays are available in different sizes and can be custom ordered to meet an individual’s personal requirements.

After purchasing a board for myself and a couple others as gifts, the father, Charlie, sat down to explain the different woods that made each of my purchases a one-of-a-kind. He had a glimmer in eye as he ran his hand over the wood and I understood why his work is so beautifully crafted—he and his son love what they do and it shows. Details: www.sweitzerandsweitzer.com

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Style: Robots, Aliens, and Godzilla, Oh My—Doug Spalding's Colorful Ceramic Tiles

I am well aware that what I am about to say is a bit geeked-out, but I have always been strangely attracted to robots. Maybe this fascination can be traced back to my younger days sitting in front of the television watching Johnny Sokko, but, whatever the reason, I am always in search of artwork with a robot theme.

Doug Spalding, a Michigan-based artist, works with clay to create amazing, colorful, ceramic art. He predominantly crafts pop art tiles that are fun and entertaining (everything from yetis to corn dogs). Many of his pieces frequently get an audible giggle out of me when I see the playful images he conjures up.

One of his reoccurring themes are robots and, if you can't imagine a robot being striking, then you haven’t experienced one of Doug’s vibrant ceramics. He also makes quite a few tiles that focus on architecture and music (my sister's obsession)—each tile a unique story in itself. His art is always approachable, sometimes silly, and never takes itself too seriously. His tiles make terrific, surprising gifts for adults and kids alike. And even if your love for robots isn’t as fervent as mine, it's guaranteed that Doug has something for you, too. Details: www.spaldingstudio.com

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Obsession: Simply Lovely

I know, in these times, buying original artwork or a limited edition print isn't the first purchase on everyone's mind. However, if you experience a sudden, overwhelming desire to personally contribute to the stimulus package or if you need to buy that "special someone" an original gift, check out Melissa Moss's precious nature-inspired prints.

I originally discovered Moss's work on Abbott Kinney Blvd., Venice, California's uber-artsy playground. But, now, for only $35, Moss has made her digitally-colored ink drawings available on ETSY. I don't know if you'll be as obsessed as we are, but her priced-to-sell pieces inspire creative gift giving and an offering of simple beauty even in the hardest of times. Details: ETSY.

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