Liquid Treat

New York's famed Strand Book Store is almost as famous for its iconic tote bags as for its "18 miles of books." After offering up special totes designed by the likes of David Hockney, Art Spiegelman, and Adrian Tomine, the store is inviting artists from around the world to submit their original illustrations representing the Strand for its first ever tote bag design contest. The grand prize package includes the production for sale of a Strand tote featuring the winner's artwork as well as more than $1,000 worth of graphics-rich books. Co-sponsored by the School of Visual Arts, TOON Books, Drawn & Quarterly, and Fantagraphics Books (who have all chipped in on prizes), the contest runs through March 31.

The flexibility, affordability, and vast selection of FLOR's modular carpet tiles have long appealed to creative types, but a new offering will really add interest underfoot. A pattern called "Be My Neighbor" features a photo-satellite view of a leafy neighborhood printed on soft, smooth tiles of cropped velvet. Configure one or more sets of six 19.7-inch square tiles to create your own surburban landscape. It's the perfect choice for Google Maps addicts or those feeling nostalgic for the neighborly world of Mr. Rogers. And if you ask nicely, FLOR just might throw in speedy delivery at no extra charge.

Later this month, the Vertigo division of DC Comics will release a comic book fit for a king—Stephen King, that is. The bestselling novelist teamed with short story writer Scott Snyder and artist Rafael Albuquerque on American Vampire, a new monthly comic book series that puts a vicious, historical spin on the craze for blood-sucking humanoids. Twilight fans may wish to avert their eyes from King's lead-off tale of Skinner Sweet, a bank robbing, murdering cowboy/vampire of the 1880s. Think Daniel Boone with rattlesnake fangs. "I love vampire stories, and the idea of following the dark exploits of a uniquely American vampire really lit up my imagination," said King. "I owe big thanks to Scott Snyder for letting me share his vision, and sip from his bucket of blood."

Show the world that you know good design and great literature with the help of Out of Print, which sells t-shirts printed with iconic and often out of print book covers. "We work closely with artists, authors, and publishers to license the content that ends up in our collections," note the founders, who are currently offering wearable versions of American Lit. syllabus standbys such as Catcher in the Rye, Invisible Man, and Of Mice and Men. Meanwhile, the vintage vibe goes beyond the graphics. Each 100% cotton shirt is treated to feel soft and worn "like a well-read book."

We're counting down to National Licorice Day (that would be April 12) by stocking up on Red Vines, which led us to the American Licorice Company's online exhibition of licorice-themed artworks. Click through the works in the Red Vines Gallery to see the child, teen, and adult winners of a drawing contest that challenged licorice fans to pick up their pencils and creatively express their love of the classic candy. There are the usual smiling children encircling the globe (an image no contest can resist) along with more offbeat fare, including an art deco-style portrait and a surreal up-close look at what really goes on between the twists.

If you like your photomanipulation quick and dirty—or just need to tweak images on the fly—you'll love Rollip, a no-frills site that transforms uploaded images (jpegs, bmps, gifs, and pngs) with your choice of 40 effects. It's easy, fast, and, thanks to a smattering of unobtrusive banner ads, free. Tint your childhood photos a wistful sepia, impart an eerie glow to last Christmas, or warm up a cold city shot with the nostalgic tones of a faded Polaroid. Live it up with the "Styled Lenses" but for the sake of your memories, go easy on the "Extreme Stylized" effects.