Bottle of Wits

Is this real? Can this be allowed? A bottle of wine called The Bottle of Wits after the famous "battle of wits" in The Princess Bride between Westley and Vizzini? Would the film studio truly allow this?? I think, yes I think it's real. Commissioned by the cinema chain Alamo Drafthouse, the award-winning graphic design company Helms Workshop created packaging for a wine in honor of the 25th anniversary of aforesaid film. Really? This exists? Truly? This is too wonderful in too many ways. And it is fan-freaking-tastic design.

Image courtesy Helms Workshop

Mountains would be so nice...

I am very drawn to mountains, but sometimes even more to images of mountains. Or perhaps mountains in the distance. I've hiked through peaks and valleys many times and let me tell you, it's tiring. I'm not sure I'm that crazy about it. I mean, I'm 5' 4" and petite by most standards and a 50 pound pack is no fun.

However, I daydream about mountains in the distance. It is that sense of moving forward, of a dreamland tucked away you don't know where.

These may be containers for tea by a company called Teatul, but it evokes so much more than tea. I'm not sure it evokes tea for me at all without a name on it but I'd buy it anyway.

Found on Lovely Package

Fringe Alchemy Soap

For some reason soap commands a pretty high level of design packaging. It's astounding how many of those little paper wrappings have incredible design. Of course I'm not talking about Zest or Ivory (those their packaging certainly does the job of advertising the concept of basics). These, well, they're alchemy.

Once again I have no idea where I first saw these, but you can buy them here

I Love Package Design

I love package design, from high to low. The brasserie Balthazar in manhattan has packaging that strikes this amazing balance between graphic and dainty. It's thoroughly vintage, but that punchy red paper automatically brings it into the modern world. Because let's face it, anything vintage is never that bright. 

 But this might be my favorite package design ever—from a spool of thread. Low item, high art.