The nominees have just been announced for Modern Postcard’s 2007 Spotlight Awards, and we were elated to see our favorite shutterfly and Spear Collective member Zach Cordner on the exclusive list of finalists. He was one of five photographers (out of 400 entrants!) to make the cut in that category. The voting is open through the end of May, so you all should go take a look at some of the finalists’ work and vote for Zach, or someone else if you like their work more (we’re biased, but we’re entitled). The three awards categories are artists, graphic designers/ illustrators, and photographers, so you’ll surely see a diverse body of work among those in the drastically whittled down judging pool. Congrats Zach, and may Monkey Boy triumph over all who stand in his way! He sure made a great April calendar image for the Spear Collective Calendar. Monkey Boy is after jump.

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As a child of the 1980s, it’s a little weird to see trends starting to come back around. For example, while the Trapper Keeper may have gone by the wayside, buttons are making a huge comeback. Frankly, when I think of buttons I tend to think of the “I’m With Stupid” version I had pinned to my stonewashed jean jacket as a kid. I’ll tell you this: it was pretty rad at the time. But those of you who are into buttons (or getting into them again) are probably looking for something a bit edgier and unique. Chicago’s El Boton offers a variety of limited edition sets for your buttoning pleasure. Included among the sets are logos from Chicago’s “El”, a series of animal designs from artist Laura Park, and others. My personal favorite, set #4, includes bits of street art drawn from around the Windy City– including a spot just a few blocks from where I live.

previously: Helvetica is Everywhere!!!

It’s no secret we love our Marc Jacobs x Vans sneaker collaborations around here. They’ve been a mainstay on the site since 2004, when Josh stated clearly: I love limited edition sneakers, skateboarding, and Marc Jacobs. I’ll go ahead and agree with him on that one. The classic white canvas slip-ons are some of my favorite Vans of all time, even though they tend to dirty up really quickly. To me, soiled white Vans are chock full of character, and I still enjoy – like I did as a kid – seeing how many different stains I can get on them. The newest run of three from this collab catches us just in time for summer, the middle model (above) even tricking us a bit into thinking it’s an Old Skool. Cop ‘em from the Vault for $80.

Via Complex

Heather and I just found a new source of idolatry in the FAB28URR, a 50’s style refrigerator by Italian innovators SMEG. Hailed by NYMag as the next SubZero (a claim that, while debatable, we may embrace if only for the FAB28URR’s endearing curves and colors), this fridge comes in a nice variety of shades to complement the most conservative, or the most dramatic (hello, lime green!) kitchens. My refrigerator prowess isn’t quite sufficient enough to compare the FAB28URR to other offerings (in terms of interior size and set-up), but if those other aspects were given even half as much consideration as the exterior design I’d be perfectly appeased. After you play with the color of the FAB28URR and find your soul mate, the SMEG dealer closest to you is here.

I think the fact that I was just incapacitated by laughter for at least twenty minutes over Some Ecards could say a lot about my character…like that I’m a terrible person with no issue indulging in schadenfreude, and/or that I have a completely twisted sense of humor (thanks, Dad.) I was a little relieved though, to learn that my friend Suki, who’s expecting a baby with his girlfriend in the fall, was thoroughly amused by the “you’re going to be a great father, assuming you’re the father” card I sent off without a second thought. With dozens of inappropriately hilarious versions for virtually any imaginable situation, they’re sure to be enoyed by anyone with a decent sense of humor.

And if not, they suck at life and you shouldn’t be friends with them anyways.

via NOTCOT

Baracuta, the Manchester brand that’s been dashingly dressing rock and screen stars for seventy years, has updated their iconic G9 jacket. The SlimFit G9 features the same classic elasticized cuffs and waistband as the original, but offers a nicely trimmed fit that will undoubtedly throw today’s male seekers of svelte into rabid fits of bliss. Also worthy of checking out are the G9 collaborations that Baracuta has done of late with Kent and Curwen, Stussy, and Griffin (my favorite is the black and white pinstripe version by Kent and Curwen: delicious). You can find most of these on the Baracuta site, but be ready for a steep(ish) price tag; G9’s typically retail for about $240. That’s a small price to pay, though, for such a classic and dapper wardrobe addition.

In today’s fast-paced world, young Catholics are finding it hard to slow down enough to say the rosary. The Catholic staple, wherein “we say fifteen decades or tens of Hail Mary’s with an Our Father between each ten, while at each of these fifteen decades we recall successively in pious meditation one of the mysteries of our Redemption” is apparently thought to be monotonous (no way!) by the young faithful. In order to address this pressing issue, a “critical concept design” has emerged in the shape of the iRosary, which attempts to make the rosary more attractive and flexible for younger believers. The iRosary converts the iPod’s white headphones into a hybrid prayer bead that can be shifted and then heard as an “audio bead” during prayers, which are themselves monitored via the iPod’s integrated calendar. As an added bonus, the iRosary accommodates for various degrees of piousness by allowing users to choose between three settings: “Infidel,” which recites the entire prayer for the listener to follow along to; “Believer,” which only displays the right prayer in the mode; and “Shepherd,” which allows the user to listen to music and hear the sound of the beads. Hmm, I’m getting a little overwhelmed by all the iEverythings these days- plus, according to the iRosary, I am an infidel. What do you think, readers? Too much, or totally brilliant?

blik, the kids who bring color to the walls of renters and hope to decor commitment-phobes worldwide have teamed up with Spear Collective member Undoboy to add some super fun new wall decals to their already extensive collection. Available in late May/early June, the collaboration features four new designs, allowing you to create your own candy-colored Dreamland, or cover your bathroom walls in (ahem) Rainbow Poops. Fortunately for you, it’s as modifiable, temporary, or permanent as you want it to be. I wonder how well a Scratch-n-Sniff version of these would sell…then again, I get a kick out of my houseguests thinking I’m weird quirky like that.

previously: blik loves Threadless