While I like a lot of Kiely’s designs (I was a kid in the late 1960s/early 1970s, so I’m just socialized to really like a lot of Scandinavian design), I haven’t seen anything from Target worth buying, especially when a trip to a flea market would probably net you the original stuff. I mean, who needs a petit fours cake server these days?!?!? And all the melamine stuff. Who can possibly use dishes that aren’t microwave safe, for pete’s sake?!?!?

Love it – and I fully expect my wife Julie to chime in soon with her concurrence.

If I found that tray at a flea market I would be all over it. But I’m like you – seeing it at Target makes me go “meh”.

I like the target stuff because I can afford it. It is great when I can find real vintage swedish design at the thrift (hello arabia jello jar) but you can’t always count on that. Sometimes you need a canister to put your coffee in.

I think you know my feelings:

http://tinyurl.com/cb23dx

Thanks for the shout-out, Babe.

Sometimes I get really sick of the twee attitude most ladies have on design blogs.

A-FUCKING-MEN. I like some of Orla Kiely’s stuff, but not the Target stuff particularly. I refuse to conform to the “Love It or Hate It” framework. So there.

I can’t say I hate it but I definitely would not purchase any of her collection items. The mass production definitely deters my interest. The nature of her designs does not help either. Individually, they are repetitive, but each design looks the same to me as well. I’m just simply sick of seeing it around. The reason most of us would jump on it at a thrift is because of its uniqueness.

Love in smaller doses. It has certainly been overkill in the blogosphere lately, and I would really be OK (no pun intended) if I never saw that pear print again. I do like the multi-stem … doubt I’d ever want to put it on my fridge, though.