metal on metal

I'm a sucker for touching rockumentaries. This one is no exception.  Never give up on your dreams. Stick to your convictions. Anvil will show you how.

Tulip Mania

During the Dutch Golden Age in the 17th century, the Tulip flower became a status symbol and a luxury item, with rare bulbs selling for ten times more than the average skilled craftsman made in an entire year.  The vivid colors and firey shapes in the petals of ceratin types became highly sought after.  Interestingly, this effect was a result of a virus, and the Tulip market crashed.

Today I picked up this lazy bunch for $6.99 at my local organic market, brought them home and read about them in my Garden of Eden book of botanical illustrations.  (Nerd.)  Fresh flowers are so pretty to look at in the middle of winter.  I'm glad that horticulturalists found a way to achieve the same gorgeous results the virus created through breeding alone.  Maybe when I retire, I will breed Tulips.  Or make goat cheese.  I can't decide.

mini quilt!

Soooo nice to meet you mini quilt!

My wonderful and crafty Grandmother quilted me this stunning mini quilt for Christmas, featuring the Ohio Star pattern.  Growing up in Ohio, this is one of my favorite symbols.  I love the simplicity of shapes.  It's just one square and eight triangles dazzling me to death!  Lovely.  She nailed this one!  Americana to the core: tiny white polka dots on bright red vintage fabric meets navy floral vintage fabric meets cream vintage fabric.  Thoughtful DIY gifts make me feel truly loved.  Thanks Grandma!

A lady of many talents, she also paints like the late Bob Ross.  Kind of ill: 

it's over.

We all write little letters to LIFE, expressing our frustrations, thankfulness, relief, excitement, and anger.  "Dear LIFE, WTF?"

But now, Pratt grad student and artist Rylee Eterginoso invites you to break up with anyone or anything in her amusing The Breakup Project.  It's a humorous take on saying good bye to someone or something that just isn't working for you. I find her blog platform simple, charming and accessible.  Although, I can't wait to see this Project in gallery form! If you need to break up with anything, whether it's drinking on weeknights or that girl who gave you stink eye in the Marc Jacobs store, this is a great method that is sure to leave you feeling satisfied, empowered, and in the end, probably laughing.  Encore!

THE BREAKUP PROJECT

quit your day job.

I urge you to read this motivating article in the New York Times on how crafters are turning to Etsy to flip their hobbies into six figures. 

That Hobby Looks Like a Lot of Work

Take Yokoo, whose knitted oversized chainlinks and cozy neckwamers have become an underground trend, all while making the crafty lady more than $140,000 each year.  If it don't make dollars, it don't make sense!

Yokoo's steez:

meeting heroes: Jonathan Adler!

This is Jonathan Adler and I on our honeymoon. 

We had a lot of fun.

Ok, fine, it *might* not be us on our honeymoon.  It *might* be a snapshot of us after his totally inspiring lecture at the Knoll Design Center yesterday evening.  He spoke about his design work, which is consistently sincere and fun.  It's always a risk expressing your vision, especially when it's provacative, and I was completely taken by his no risk, no reward approach.  When it comes to staying true, this guy is fearless!

Happy Chic!

(One of my favorite features of the website is the "design your own" pillows and rugs, which are hand loomed by Peruvian artisans.  Kind of special.)

new art story!

The newest issue of CHEEK is now live, and it's more fun than swimming with dolphins! I did a nifty little story on a recent show at the Joshua Liner Gallery featuring artists Ryan McLennan and Kenji Hirata. If you feel like nerding out:

THE TIE THAT BINDS

Gun Salutes: Stephen Powers

A gun salute goes out today to one of my art heroes: Stephen Powers, a.k.a. Espo.  I have schoolgirl crushes on hand painted signs, and his are every design nerd's dream.  Over time, these messages will fade with wear, which makes them more special.  They also belong to everyone since they are in public view, and that is something Powers strives for.  His playful phrases keep it real all day, everyday.  I believe he's a true romantic at heart. In issue 13 of CHEEK Magazine, I mentioned his love letters project in the city of brotherly love.  If you haven't checked it out, it's pretty inspiring! 

a love letter for you

let's be lazy! ( + . . + )

Last year, I ventured to Seoul, Korea for a jam-packed business trip for an art exhibition.  Lucky for me, there is one "mall" open 24 hours, which gave me the opportunity to get all of my dear friends little souvenirs at 2am.  Sick!  I received a greeting today from one of those friends with a picture of this amazing little character I stumbled upon:

Meet Namake Tarou!

This little guy is a sloth apparently, and his name means "let's be lazy."  How adorable is that!? Don't you just love his skull and crossbones sheets too?  In our super busy lives, he whispers to us, "don't hurry...take a rest...let's go slowly."  That's good advice sometimes if you are feeling tired;)

crown braids and Cazals.

I am getting waaaay inspired by Cocorosie's live performance with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra in the Netherlands. This shit is bananas!!!  When people throw around terms like "creative" THIS is what they are talking about.  These ladies are weirdos, but they make incredible magic onstage.  Doll make-up, hauntingly beautiful voices, a nerdy beatboxer, creepy toy noises, and beats from outer space.  (Yes, I went to art school.)  Their outfits are just...brave! Whether they are rocking a Peter Pan style nightgown with a new era cap or an NBA oversized jersey with a metallic bowtie, I'm in.  Don't let all the awesome artsy fool you, Sierra (Rosie) is a trained Opera singer. Here are their amazing performances of "Animals" and "Beautiful Boys." It's so rad to see these colorful creatures against the backdrop of a conservative Royal Orchestra.

Beautiful Boys

Animals

All I'm saying, is that Cocorosie makes me want to step up my style game.  A great place to start is with a crown braid and clear Cazals.  It's like, "I'm a duchess living in Harlem in the 1970s." I'll probably need a windbreaker (kidding) or something jazzy like that too. You got to keep people guessing;)

lovin's for fools.

A new painting. My candy colored version of a bleeding heart. So decorative.  I'm not even a real artist.  I just love painting tiny dots.