After being helicoptered out to the island to photograph and research my client’s ancestral history, I returned to New Zealand and came up with the name for each – relating to a specific story discovered in that research. The names were then also matched to the characteristics of a specific wine variety. A top NZ calligrapher, Peter Gilderdale was then invited to create the stunning calligraphy that features on the labels (authentic to the relevant 12th &13th century period of history, but with bit of a modern twist).

Amazing results from Mash, an Australian branding agency for AB&D (Alpha Box & Dice). This is a great case where the branding efforts have been fully incorporated with the birth of a new company.

Each wine unique like a film project, 26 letters, 26 stories all interconnected. Available now ABCD&F – What will surely be a collectors item. Apostle, Blood of Jupiter, Changing Lanes, Dead Winemakers Society, Fog.

Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction empowers artists producing quality work marked by fine craft and intellectual rigor.

“Since 2006, Art In The Age of Mechanical Reproduction has existed as a vehicle through which modern thinkers marry reverence for enlightened ideals with the mandate to reach more minds in an ever-fickle urban scene. Our community of free thinkers and artistic innovators delivers inspiration and aspiration back to The People.”

Well they are about to introduce SNAP, an 80 proof liquor based on the Pennsylvania Dutch recipe for ‘Lebkuchen’, or ginger snap. They offer a behind-the-scenes preview on their site and are launching this new spirit later this summer.

Over at A Field Journal, author Livy created a very victorian packaging suite for her loved one to open on his birthday. How sweet, right?! But it’s all in the details as they say. Just look at how it’s all put together including the tag. Love it!

I found this lovely while looking at a WordPress gallery. The Brooklyn Slate Company is the work of two Brooklynites who are obssessed with food which then turned into their slate product company. They produce and package their slate products by hand in their studio, located in (you guessed it) Brooklyn. Isn’t it amazing how simple and attractive packaging can be?

“Envelopes and other materials are printed by hand, and burlap bags are hand sewn too. Every single piece of packaging that comes with our products can be repurposed for other uses.”

Sometimes I purchase items just for the packaging, and this would definitely be the case with French Navy. French Navy is an online stationery company out of Australia that has impressive packaging that just made me say Ooooohhh. View more of the packaging on lovelypackage.com.

I just can’t get over how wonderful this packaged set for Thompson Building Materials is. The design is by Nate Yates, a designer from (I think) the west coast. All of his work is worth taking a look at, so get over there and peek around.

Doritos offered a chance for eager designer’s to create new packaging for the crispy cheesy chip, and I would have to say Peter Pavlov’s concept is pretty darn good! Due to the packaging’s structure, it can keep itself closed rather than using a clip. Although I’m not sure how they would stay fresh unless it closes fairly tight, it’s a good idea. Right now the packaging uses only solid colors but Peter is developing illustrations to adorn the package and is asking for others to contribute their designs, maybe even a gallery would be created for those submissions.

Via Lovely Package

I’m not exactly sure what I want to do with these but I’ll definitely have fun wrapping gifts and slapping stickers on various envelopes when mailing out. I love when a package arrives and it’s filled with fun items such as these. From the oddly but lovely American Science & Surplus site.

And a totally unrelated photo of my silly cat – Miss Kitty – yawning from her hard day of napping.