dawanda style lab coming!

elizabeth over at the fabulous dawanda tipped me off this weekend about a new feature they are launching soon — the style lab. it’s a tool that members can use to offer their customers special tailor-made products — think hand sewn fabric, made to measure or monogrammed items.

for those of you who don’t know dawanda, it is a marketplace similar to our beloved etsy, but is based in europe. this could be a great new valuable outlet to showcase your work if you are an artist or crafter.

wander through their wonderland of goods here, and if you think it’s a good fit, become a member (they are having an august special). be sure to mention tthat you wish to apply for the style lab.

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leather bathtubs from ws bath

the fancy bathtub collection from ws bath has got something for everyone!

for the uber-modern: an acrylic liner with a base covered in leather. i like the floating headrests, made of marine-ply wood, connected to the tub by stainless steel supports.

they also have a wood-wrapped option.

for the organic: a flintstone-style, 1400 lb. travertine tub, handcarved and sculpted from natural stone.

for the modern-organic: tubs crafted from beautiful solid wood, such as teak and cedar (my fave!).

for the comprehensive ws bath collection and to contact click here.

via trendir

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lovely products at chicago’s lovely bake shop

lovely, a fresh-faced bakery at 1130 n. milwaukee avenue, just opened their doors a few days ago. it’s the most civilized bakery to open since bittersweet, and the food is delicious too!

this stretch of milwaukee, between division and the highway, is half industrial, half residential - and not too pleasing from an aesthetic standpoint. you won’t remember what’s outside though, once you step into the warmly lit space, with painted tin ceiling, oversized vintage bakery photographs and plenty of comfortable antique tables and chairs.

brooke and gina, the owners, studied at the french pastry school downtown. they’ve created sweet vignettes within the shop featuring antique commercial baking essentials, so if you get tired of sitting and eating, there’s something to walk over and admire.

you won’t be bored eating, though. these girls have got pastry game. the antique pastry cases are reflective of the shop’s classic inventory: flaky croissants, cakey madeleines, not-too-sweet blueberry muffins. chocolate chip, oatmeal raisin and peanut butter cookies. raspberry tea cakes and coconut skivvies (you’ll have to ask them). h & h bagels from new york are the only things not made on the premises. a separate case holds delectable cakes.

until today, i thought sweet thang had a stranglehold on authentic croissant baking in the city. now, i’m not so sure.

lovely’s store design sets itself apart from other bakeries with it’s gorgeous shop area. most of the handmade items, like tea towels, aprons and soaps, are made by local artists. everything is charming, and reasonably priced. i have a strong feeling that the folks from design*sponge would like this place.

if you whiz down milwaukee avenue on your way to work like me, or if you don’t, you need to stop and visit. right away.

check out their blog until their website goes live.

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