Illustrator, typographer, and graphic designer Jeremy Pettis can do no wrong. His intricate, candy-colored doodles and his retro typography showcased on his flickr are so awesome. You can check out his latest typography project, Twenty-Six Types Of Animals, on his personal website. He also has a new, cute looking zine out called Tres Leches. - Hazel
It's all about feeling good and lost when you're looking at Nina Hartmann's photographs. They have a gloomy energy yet at the same time, grace and charm in the strangest ways. What a whirlwind of visual pleasure and somber vision. -Maggie Lee
"Try Harder" is not only the name of an Otis Redding record, but also a piece by Chicago based artist Jason Lazarus, showing an image of a determined Otis on his knees with "Try Harder" written across it. Jason installed the 9' x 12' motivational piece at Heaven Gallery in 2008 and has been distributing free small newsprint versions of the poster via SASE ever since. His website shows a submitted image gallery of places where people feel they needed the most motivation. - Jennilee.
Megan Lorenz's jewelry collection, Cities In Dust, combines sharp brass shapes with crystals, turquoise and feathers. We're particularly fond of the dagger cuff bracelets, which will add edge to otherwise dainty outfits.
Beth's Valentine's Day cards are perfect for all you pop culture fans out there. Use characters like Gretchen Wieners, Gob Bluth and Special Agent Dale Cooper to show your S.O. how much you really love them. See more of Beth's clever drawings at her Tumblr.
Gauntlet Hair has released their new video for "Top Bunk," and let us just say that Arnold is back! The band collects old Schwarzenegger movies on VHS, so we imagine this video is something like a tribute to the hours of laughs the tapes have provided them. (via Dead Oceans)
The prints over at The Pairabirds are pretty awesome. They're so colorful and fun, and they would look perfect on our apartment walls.
Like the rest of the interweb, we're flipping out over Rookie and how good it is. Check out Hazel's post about cartoon characters and their alter egos.
The Levi's Bike Shop has already rolled halfway across the country and the crowds keep growing. By the time we reached Austin, TX we realized we were going to need bring on one more to join Errol, Capricia, and I on this whirlwind tour.
As luck would have it, our man was waiting for us at the Urban UT Campus lot as the shop rolled up, asking if he could help the day of our pit stop in Austin. Little did he realize he was about to get recruited.
Next on the Levi's Bike Shop Tour, the crew are making their way to Chicago then they'll begin to head west for the second leg of the tour.
Lego artist Matt De Lanoy recreated the Sudden Valley Bluth residence, and the Bluths, out of Legos for Brickworld 2011. Just a little bit to hold us over while we—continue—to wait for the movie. (Via Juxtapoz.)
Chalkboard skulls. Perfect for leaving a subtly-threatening "Do the dishes!" reminder for your roommate.
Chicago artist Matthew Hoffman is an expert in one liners and the proof is in the product. Although he goes under several aliases, Hoffman is owning up to his work in his current exhibition HEY at the YES Gallery in Cincinnati, OH (1417 Main St.). Go see it for yourself or shop Matthew's ideas at his store, Multi-Polar Projects.
Just in time for you to pick up some plane reading while en route to the Pitchfork Music Festival this weekend, Pitchfork spotlights their 60 favorite music books. This list includes several of our favorites (like Please Kill Me and The Dirt) and is totally going to come in handy for summer road trips and beach reads.
Homemade Speed is a crazy web store that sells jewelry made out of animal bones, Barbie heads, tube worm shells, and other odds and ends. Oh, and it's terrifying. These necklaces are insane but definitely unique! - Hazel
For those dandy fellows still sporting timeless traditions like the handle-bar mustaches and silk handkerchiefs, Chicago-based designers Shrine Haberdashery make hand-crafted leather bags and accessories as well.—Justin
This is the first time that the Andy Warhol: Shadows exhibition will hang on the walls of a Chicago gallery—The Arts Club of Chicago to be exact. Beginning this Thursday, April 21 through July 29, 54 of the 76 x 52 inch panels will be on display for art enthusiasts and 15 minute-junkies alike. -Justin
To Eskell designers Elizabeth Del Castillo and Kelly Whitesell, spring means '70s inspired silhouettes, abstract prints and light-weight silks. The bubbly design duo (who have know each other since freshman year of high school) have produced another stellar collection of innocent-meets-flirty pieces that reek of that perfect Taxi Driver moment! -Justin
BucketFeet, inspired by Firestein's obsession with drawing on his shoes, is the latest addition to the philanthropic sneaker world (Hello Osborns!). Raaja Nemani and Aaron Firestein launched their slip-on collection earlier this year and now give buyers a reason to sleep soundly knowing that their "comfort" purchase will help many children's charities worldwide while promoting new artists. -Justin
Chicago's sickest late '80s brick-and-mortar has just celebrated its second anniversary of selling one-of-a-kind surplus pieces any hunter would kill for. Featuring lace-up, long-sleeve bodysuits and color block vintage denim shorts, if you're feeling the the need to channel a little Jean-Michel Basquiat or the Pretty Woman herself, KoKoRoKoKo vintage is the prime resource. -Justin
