The fantastic-beyond-compare SwissMiss blog is turning 5 and I’m so sad that I can’t attend the bash. So instead I’m participating virtually, via the Flickr party. There’s some great stuff there — be sure to check out all the other well-wishers’ wishes.

One of the most brilliant pieces of unintentional comedy I’ve seen in a good long time.

(Thanks Andrew!)

This is an outtake from something I designed for a client recently but which has taken on a life of its own here at LEAP. Its a stack ‘a dogs. And it makes us all laugh and laugh and laugh. Now you can laugh with us.

Stack. A. Dogs.

Stackadogs.

Stack. Adogs.

We custom-designed the site and built it on top of the Backstage theme from the consistently first-class WooThemes. I’m really happy with the grungy yet trippy background with a little rainbowishness thrown in for a touch of happy. Seems perfect for a musician — especially a chilled-out, affable bass player.

See the whole site, listen to some fine tunes, watch some rockin video, and see some fun photos here.

Logo by Siah Design, found at LogoPond, a great source for logo design inspiration.

Book cover by Julian Hansen, found at his portfolio site.

Just found these Vintage Carnival Gambling Boards over at the always exciting Modern Fifty. What do you think they are?

Regardless, wouldn’t they look fantastic in a kids room?

Buy them here.

The Infinite USB — designed by Gonglue Jiang and winner of the iF Concept Award for 2010. Brilliant and beautiful. Can’t wait to get one and get rid of the ugly USB hub hiding sheepishly behind my computer.

(Thanks Design Milk)

Just spotted the best looking tissue box I’ve ever seen. Actually, probably the only good looking tissue box I’ve ever seen. But regardless of its lack of competition, isn’t it fabulous?

It even comes in colors! I would take that shiny blue one and put it in an all white bathroom and be happy as a clam.

(Found at the always dependable MollaSpace)

We just launched a new website that we’re extremely proud of and I thought I’d share it with you.

Our good friends over at M Pete Inc. were looking to establish their first online presence and we were thrilled to be able to help. Their Design + Build work is clean, modern and smart, and they wanted their website to reflect this.

They already had the circle logo, so we decided that more circles could only be a good thing, right?

Check out the full site here.

Way back in 2008 I met someone who changed my life for the better.

Kirtsy was throwing a party with Guy Kawasaki, at his house. We had spent the past 3 days toiling in the sun, stuffing swag bags, arranging tables, organizing shuttles and managing preparations for a party that was as grand as any of our weddings. Finally we all disappeared into the hidden corners of Guy’s house to change into our party clothes. The transformation when we all emerged was glorious. Everyone was sun-kissed, flushed with excitement and beautiful. As we walked around reveling in our creation, I found myself in front of Lisa Albrecht and Adrienne Adair (Laura’s favorite art director), both of whom I had met just that day. When I complimented Lisa on her amazing earrings, I never expected what came next: she took them off and gave them to me.

Turns out her dad makes them. By the hundreds. Gorgeous, hand-blown, colorful glass discs, suspended on long, slender, silver rectangles. They are unlike anything I have ever seen before. Despite Lisa’s pleading with her dad, he won’t sell them. Instead he gives them all to her to wear. Their deal is, whenever someone compliments her on them, she gives the earrings to that person. Have you ever heard of anything that exuded such good karma? I hadn’t either.

I was so shocked that I actually accepted them.

Then, holding my own earrings in my hand, I started feeling bad. Here she is at this huge party with gorgeous earrings and now she has nothing. So I offered her mine. They paled in comparison to the candy-like drops she had given me, but it felt better. Then we went off and partied and didn’t see each other again.

Every time I wore my new earrings, which I did often, I got complimented on them. (But I never give mine away. Sorry.)

Then one day I got a box in the mail. Inside was the entire contents of the picture above, including a letterpressed Thank You note. It was from Lisa (and her father). Thanking me for giving her my earrings. Does that make any sense to you? She gives me gorgeous earrings that cause everyone who sees them to notice them, I give her an old pair of earrings that no-one even notices anymore. And she sends me a thank you present?

To this day, my heart leaps for joy whenever I see her.

And I want you to know her. In addition to giver of beautiful earrings, she is the brains and brawn behind the amazing LaundryTree, purveyor of Soap Nuts.

Don’t know about SoapNuts? Dude, they are a fruit. That gets your laundry clean. And they totally work. And they’re completely, unadornedly, all natural. Isn’t that a beautiful thing?

Beautiful Lisa being painted by the lovely Katherine Center.

So go check Lisa out. And if you meet her, be sure to compliment her on her earrings. And tell her how much I adore her.