Though thoughtful and enjoyed by most, I’ve always considered greetings cards to be just a formality that anyone can simply buy, sign the name and consider it a gift. Not to say they are worthless, I just think a little more thought and creativity could be applied. However, some greeting cards are much more elaborate than your standard Hallmark one with a cute picture and witty message. Here we find the Banner Cards from Fifi Du Vie, normal cardstock accompanied with a crafty mini banner attached to the front that you might actually keep as decoration instead of just throwing away in a week. [SwissMiss]

There is something special about salvaged building materials, like old beams, flooring, doors etc… that have such great character from their years of wear and use. They possess an aesthetic that is impossible to replicate, and have a certain striking aura that I have come to greatly appreciate. Luckily, many of these materials are in good enough condition to be re-purposed into new pieces of furniture like the ones you see above from MFEO Furniture. Wire spools and an old parquet floor that have been turn into some very sharp looking tables; spectacular pieces from some very innovative designers. [LAImYours]

Wood & Faulk out of Portland Oregon is renowned for finely crafted leather goods ranging from bags to belts to camera straps. Self proclaimed “designer, builder and tinkerer”, Wood & Faulk founder Matt Smith decided to compile all of his passion projects into one blog and offer his goods for sale. One of their newest products caught my eye because of it’s simplicity and handsome aesthetic, the leather coaster. It functions well and looks really nice on a raw wood table.

Big fan of the newly released typeface Mission Gothic from Lost Type Co-op, a sans serif family in five weights and italics. “A year in the making, Mission Gothic is a collaboration between Trevor Baum and James T. Edmondson inspired by the hand-painted signage and lettering found in the Mission District during Field Trip SF.” I greatly admire how they designed a font on some old hand painted signage they stumbled onto in the Mission, now that’s some authentic inspiration. Like the other fonts in their collection, these can be donwloaded by naming your own price (which means you could do it for $0), but the quality of their design are worth every dollar you are willing to pay.

While recently perusing the Melrose Trading Post (the wonderful weekly swap meet at Fairfax High School, corner of Fairfax and Melrose), I stumbled upon a very impressive furniture maker. Starting out of a small garage in West Hollywood and now expanding to a larger workshop in Downtown Los Angeles, Westin Mitchell Design Group has a very handsome collection of furniture pieces that embrace the classic Americana style. Their mission statement is something that we at Fairfax By Night will wholeheartedly approve: “In an age when nearly everything Americans buy is made in China, Westin Mitchel Design Group is proud to hand craft all of our pieces at home in America. Utilizing reclaimed steel and wood, as well as vintage industrial parts, WMDG is recycling America while helping build its economy.” The rustic aesthetic and pragmatic design of their furniture masterfully achieves a vintage look, and is nicely complimented salvaged materials, giving their furniture much more character than pieces you can find at modern furniture stores.

Poster-makers the Old Try design and hand press a magnificent collection of  prints inspired by the Southern states that they call home. Now, I am delighted to saythat they have released a new design that us Western folk can embrace, the Go West Young Man poster. In collaboration with Western style outfitters Buffalo Jackson, the message of the poster embraces the pioneering and adventurous spirit that define the Western half of the United States. Knew I had to. Get out there. West. For a summer, at least. Breathe in the mountain air. Leave my cares back in Mississippi and drive up into Wyoming. Time away from everyone I knew and everything that I was. Up to the mountain. She helped me gain perspective. To see clearly. To witness a bit of God’s green Earth west of the River. Go West, young man, Go West and grow up with the country.

Like the great french and dutch masters, contemporary artist Jeremy Mann incorporates many of the principles of impressionism in his vivid portrayals of street scenes and cityscapes. By composing his pieces in a more rough sketch-like form, the urban landscapes he paints are given much more life and realistic atmosphere than those that are more detailed. Cities are living breathing organisms that aren’t rigid like outdoor landscapes, so their natural movement and ever changing nature are best captured by the impressionist style. It allows the viewer to experience the city in its true form, even allowing for their own interpretation of details and subtleties that have been intentionally left out. [TheFoxIsBlack]

Photographer Grant Harder has an impeccable talent for turning moments of his everyday life into compelling photographs. His work is eloquently self-described as: “Portraits and details that subtly bring context to narrative, Grant’s images evoke a quiet and often quirky authenticity. By placing himself in situations that allow for something interesting to happen, he artfully captures the genuine moments of life in-between the ones we are aware of.” These 3 wonderful photographs above are snapshots of his experiences in the wilderness, that together convey create a well rounded visual narrative of his adventure.

As a lover of fine architecture and craft-work, one of my favorite activities in New York City is wandering the around observing the built landscape. While walking once from the East to West Village, I found myself fascinated with the how the structural details of each building, like doors, windows and parapets, varied from neighborhood to neighborhood. Acclaimed graphic designer Jose Guizar has also taken a liking to these architectural elements, reproducing them digital in his specific artistic style, and collecting them together in a wonderful blog called Windows Of New York. His attention to detail and documentation of the location of each window show a level of care and precision that I truly appreciate. [SwissMiss]

Not many actors are worthy of having great pieces of art made in their honor. Bill Murray on the other hand has the persona and prestige that inspires artists to create works of art paying homage to him and his characters. Here the gilded comedian is superimposed onto a historical painting of a great war general, exuding his prominence and distinction. This Bill Murrary Replaceface Portrait is a masterpiece.

The legendary Johnny Cash has an iconic name, and also an iconic visage. Graphic designer Chad Gowey took his silhouette and pair the text Cash Only, in a two sharp looking typefaces, to make an overall great print.

Here we have two of my favorite things masterfully crafted into one piece of art. The classic painting Nighthawks by Edward Hopper, and the famous characters of the legendary Bill Murray. Artist Justin Cozens has done a series of chalk murals on walls around his hometown Toronto, with this one of Bill Murray being an absolute gem. As much as I love the original Nighthawks, I would be proud to hang this Bill Murray version right next to it. [BuzzFeed]