These wood block sculptures from Shawn Smith are where NES meets fine art, in the best possible way. As a person who spends most of their (paid) time creating intangible things on the internet, I completely relate to the need to create things in the “real world”. That is one of the many reasons I am drawn to Smith’s pixelated version of nature – something familiar and real, yet sterilized and abstract at the same time. More of his work after the jump.

Gainesville is like a second home to me, so when I saw this project from recent University of Florida grads Catalina Rozo & Melissa Clinard I knew I had to share. Their burlap bags are beautiful and practical and fit right in with the local farmer’s market vibe in Gainesville. There is such a great sense of community there it’s no surprise to me that these talented girls decided to create something to help local farmers generate revenue at the markets.

New lovely cards from Rifle Paper Co near my hometown in Winter Park, FL. Check out all the new designs on their site.

Now that I am a full-time freelancer, I am really coming to understand that blowing off some client-related steam is absolutely essential at times. What better way to do so than with this hilarious-because-its-true invoice by Jessica Hische out of Brooklyn. You can pick one up for your best freelance buddy (or yourself) for just $25 from her shop. Detail shots after the jump.

Fifty and Fifty is a design project created by Dan Cassaro out of Brooklyn, NY. He has organized fifty different designers from each state to illustrate their state motto. I am loving the modern takes on these motto’s – most of which I haven’t heard since elementary school. (Above: Florida, Below: Massachusetts)

Get more info on the project on Fifty and Fifty site. Mississippi and South Carolina after the jump.

If you haven’t heard the term bas-relief sculpture since Art History 101, prepare to have your mind blown by Ran van der Ende. He carves away salvaged wood in its original condition to produce these intricate and beautiful sculptures. More of his work after the jump.

I’m more than happy to end the week with some beautiful illustration from Maria Fischer. A recent design school grad, Maria is currently based in Munich.

I can’t believe it’s the 20th anniversary of this epic show, but I am so glad that someone has decided to celebrate Twin Peaks in all of its strange glory. If you happen to be in the L.A. area this weekend, stop by and check out the exhibit. I love the contribution by Scott Campbell (below). Check out Scott’s blog to get a detailed view of his process for this painting.

I’ve been following this talented group of designers for months, eagerly anticipating each new post of typographic bliss. I have a major soft spot for hand lettering and Friends of Type have curled up in that little spot and made themselves at home. Be sure to check out their work, especially their designer interviews.

I recently made a trip out to North Adams specifically to check out the Material World: Sculpture to Environment installation at MASS MoCA. The exhibit kind of blew my socks off, but I’m more than a bit partial to artists working with everyday materials. My favorite  part was the work of Orly Genger (above). She crocheted hundreds of feet rope and arranged it into a floor to ceiling wall and this giant rope-spill. I was overwhelmed by the massiveness of this installation, not to mention the amount of time it must have taken to knot all that rope. I’m no knitting expert, but I do remember several hours going into a french press cozy.

All of the installations were gorgeous, including this paper forest created by Wade Kavanaugh and Stephen B. Nguyen. Some of the trees were floor to ceiling, encompassing skylights at the top and allowing natural light to filter down through the middle of the sculpture. If you haven’t already, I’d highly recommend stopping by to see the exhibit. Material World will be at MASS MoCA through the end of February.