CRAFT & CONSUMPTION

The world of Charles & Ray Eames

2012-02-10T10:00:00.000-05:00

Over the weekend, I watched this great documentary about husband & wife team Charles and Ray Eames. The PBS documentary (titled "The Architect and the Painter") walks the viewer through the couples' personal, professional, and creatives lives together. From the MoMA design competition in the late 1930's that sparked Charles' fascination with the perfect modern chair, to the couples subsequent adventure out west & the development of the Eames Office in downtown LA, this movie really gives the viewer an inside glimpse into the wonderful world of the Eames, both as a couple, as artists, and as successful entrepreneurs.

For those not familiar with the work of Charles and Ray, definitely click here to read about and watch this amazing documentary on the PBS website.

Some of my favorite quotes from the Eames:

"Take your pleasures seriously."

I love this quote, because it reminds me that life = work = play = life. Your play can turn into your work, but you must approach even the fun you seek in life with curiosity, devotion, and commitment.

"Never delegate understanding."

This quote from Charles Eames really resonated with me, as I believe in this philosophy whole heartedly (and try to live by it daily). I am the type of person who truly desires understanding, and I will ask a million questions about the topic at hand until I fully understand it (this, I have been told, is called "hashing"). At the essence of this quote is the importance of understanding. You can't count on others to fully understand a subject or a process for you, if you need to break something down and dig deep, become the expert. Ask the hard questions, read the volumes of books, and do the research that will get you to the level of understanding you need to tackle whatever it is you need to tackle.

Go forth, young creators... be inspired by the fascinating lives of Charles and Ray. You'll find curiosity, creativity, love, and a little bit of tragedy in this gem of a film.

Etsy Pick of the Week: Be Mine

2012-02-09T07:00:00.000-05:00

Lovely little Valentine's Gifts for oneself or one's lover...

Tu Eres Mi Amor print - from HappyDeliveries - $18
Red Baker's Twine - from LittleAppleStudio in California - $1.75
XOXO Pencils - from theBigHarumph in Kansas - $10
Let's Get Lost print - from VaporQualquer in Portugal - $15

Butternut Squash Pizza

2012-02-07T06:00:00.000-05:00

I recently made butternut squash pizza from a lovely little recipe I found on my fave cooking site, Epicurious.com. The recipe was simple, and it got even simpler when I decided to call the local pizza shop and purchase a bit of pizza dough on the way home from work, for just $3 (you know, instead of laboring over the actual dough-creating process after work)! Turned out to be a great time-saver, something I'll definitely repeat in the future.

The recipe is available here, and was pretty easy and made a very hearty little weekday meal.

Just sauté some onions...

Gather some fresh spinach...

Cube up some butternut squash and roast it...

Collect the sautéed onions, goat cheese, spinach, and cornmeal. (Note to self: more goat cheese next time. Lots more!)

Grab a beer.

Chop up the spinach. (With my trusty Timex, similar here from Piperlime)

Proof that I was actually in the kitchen when all of this cooking went down! I assembled the pizza toppings on top of the dough, then put cornmeal down on the baking pan to create a barrier between the dough and the pan (Note to self: use less cornmeal next time!).

Add a lovely infusion of Tuscan spices from Penzey's for some additional flavor (basil, thyme, salt, pepper, etc)

And the finished product, which I ate with the two boys most consistent in my life, my lovely boyfriend Mark and my wonderful brother Collin.

P.S. While checking for that Timex link I found these awesome watches on Piperlime. And for less than $200 too! I'm becoming a total watch-a-holic!

Link it up:

A little writing...

2012-02-02T09:00:00.000-05:00

In 2011 I got the chance to write my very first published article for a local magazine, Berks County Living. The assignment was about environmentally-sustainable fashion. I chose to write about my very talented childhood friend, Annika Blomberg. Annika has been working with recycled materials since we met, over 10 years ago. She recently gave up her day job as a fashion merchandiser to focus on her accessories line, Anschtecka. Check out some of Annika's hand-made creations here.

Etsy Pick of the Week: Hot Pink

2012-01-30T08:30:00.000-05:00

I can see these bright printed coasters adding a splash of color at a lovely outdoor summer gathering. Strawberry lemonade perched atop these beauties? Yes, please! The printed coasters by Portland-based Ruby of Ruby Press are available here ($12 for 8). Read more about the amazing garage-shop that Ruby runs here. It is a model of sustainability and environmental consciousness.

The hot pink tags are available from Colorado-based Etsy shop owner Melissa, here at Paper And Present ($3.95 for 25). I would get them for Valentine's day and use them all year round for an extra special pop on a birthday or a "just-because" gift.

White Out

2012-01-29T13:32:00.000-05:00

I've been very inspired lately by the clean, crisp, spring-like quality of white. I just want to paint every room in my house white and bask in the sun-drenched walls. Aren't these images so clean and fresh?

For now, I'll settle for some fresh white hydrangeas greeting me each morning when I wake up :)

P.S. My bedside book lately is Will Shortz' Little Luxe Book of Crosswords. A must-have for any cross-word enthusiast (or novice like me!). It's a lovely way to start the weekend, nestled up in bed with a good crossword, your sweetie, and your beloved pooch. Hope you all had a lovely weekend!

Etsy Pick of the Week: Neon edition

2012-01-19T07:30:00.000-05:00

I love etsy for all of its great handmade and vintage finds. It's like having a top notch craft market in your own backyard, 24/7. In an effort to support smaller, local businesses this year, I've decided to point out some of my favorite etsy finds, starting with these great spring/summer accessories.

Check out the fluorescent grecian sandals by etsy shop ammos here. And that chic neon clutch by etsy shop clutchny here.

Happy etsy shopping!

Farm to Table (backyard edition)

2012-01-16T12:00:00.000-05:00

I live in farm country and don't get an overwhelming amount of visitors. When my friend Jamie called unexpectedly to say she was coming down from NYC last fall, I was oh-so pleasantly surprised (read: ecstatic). Jamie is a food journalist (check out her writing here) who lives in Brooklyn, one of my dear friends from college. Her adventure to rural PA introduced me to a world I was so happy to find in my own backyard.

Jamie was in town to visit friends on a local farm, Eckerton Hill, for the annual pig roast. Hosted by farmer and writer Tim Stark (check out his book on tomato farming here), the gathering was a communal feast of farm hands, friends, and locals who all celebrated the summer's harvest and congratulated one another on a season of hard work.

It turns out, my parents' know Tim and his family well, and my Mom (a big organic gardener in her own right) joined me for the farming festivities.

We partook in some of the roasted pig.

Then feasted our eyes on these beautiful chili peppers, drying in the rafters of the Eckerton Hill barn.

The farm staff organized a few horse-drawn sleighs to take the visitors out to the fields and gather some pumpkins for carving.

Homemade whoopee pies were ahhhh-mazing.

I was recently reminded of Tim's farm when I came across this amazing organization, Outstanding in the Field. More details on that to come. Suffice it to say, Jamie's visit to the area made me realize that the rise of farm-to-table is right in my very own backyard. And that, my friends, is a beautiful thing.

Bookbinding 101

2012-01-10T09:00:00.000-05:00

I am, admittedly, a big journal nerd. Back in 2001 I started a travel journal and began visually documenting any trip I embarked on that lasted more than a few days. I've been doing it consistently since, which adds up to over 10 years of travel journaling (as I said: nerd).

Knowing this was a fond habit of mine, my sister got me a great book called "Real Life Journals: Designing and Using Handmade Books" as a gift a few months back.

The book is so amazing. First off, it walks you through a bookbinding questionnairee before you jump into actually crafting your book. The questionnaire is called "Choose your own bookbinding adventure", how freaking cute is that? As you go through the little survey, you answer questions like "Do you want your journal to open flat and stay open by itself so wet paint can dry easily?". My answer was YES ABSOLUTELY and OMG HOW DID YOU KNOW THIS BOTHERED ME IN OTHER JOURNALS?!?! After you've answered the questionnaire, you end up with a suggested book type based on your personalized needs. Genius!

Needless to say, this little book helped me embark on my very own journal-making endeavor that was tailored to my personal use for the book (read: traveling, watercolor, lots of collage, and overall durability).

I ended up creating a concertina fold, which allows you to sew lots of little "pamphlets" of folded paper together. I also got a little crazy and alternated regular drawing paper with vellum for the actual text pages. I'm so excited about the mix of textures in my new book.

You can see above that I used 3 concertina folds for the project, 2 white with 1 black sandwiched between. I sewed each pamphlet of folded paper into the concertina fold and added 2 strips of fabric for extra support.

I bought some panels of black leather and stitched them together for the cover. The end result is something I'm so proud of and can't wait to use! I hope it holds up through many, many trips. It will be stowed away in my suitcase on many adventures to come. Here's to a calm, creative, and adventurous 2012...

New Year, New Commitments

2012-01-07T18:41:00.000-05:00

Ok, so I want to get something off my chest. You know, clear the air. My apologies, the most sincerest of apologies, for taking over a year-long hiatus from Craft and Consumption. My brother tells me I have lots of craft projects that I could've been sharing with the world in the last 16 months, and I think he's right. So in light of 2012, and a brand new start, I'm resolving to chronicle my adventures in creating (and consuming) more consistently.

I've been vacationing this week with my family to get 2012 off to a relaxed start (wait, family + close quarters = relaxation??? really?!?!? are you sure?). So while (ahem) relaxing on the trip I found some time to do a little bookbinding. More on that to come (I am SO excited to share)!!

I also have been reading this great book, Design*Sponge at Home by Grace Bonney. I LOVE it. It's been such an inspiring book to start the year with. Lots of DIY projects, lots of amazing interiors at which to gawk. More on my favorites to come! And a big thanks to my sister Avery for gifting it to me this holiday season!! <3

Here's to a wonderful 2012, with beautiful imagery, personal discoveries, lots of projects, and maybe even a little relaxation :)

Lily

Art will fill any space, if you let it

2010-08-26T23:34:00.003-04:00

My boyfriend's mom Pam just forwarded these amazing pencil sculpture photos to me this evening. She wrote a beautiful little intro to the images. First off, the subject of the email was "takes a pretty steady hand". Then she elaborated in her email body, "art will fill any space, if you let it". I couldn't help but share the message and the images as both were quite inspiring this evening...

What a lovely thing to do with short, used pencils that are no longer usable for writing! I'm not sure I would have the patience or steadiness to do this type of work, but I am in awe of the little mini sculptures this artist created from the recycled lead.

Foray into Mask Making

2010-04-04T06:05:00.012-04:00

So this post comes super super late, but since my last post was all about Halloween mask inspiration, I thought I should share the outcome of my foray into mask making here on Craft and Consumption. I was a little shy about this process at first, but my boyfriend Mark provided me with a little nudge (and a great book about paper masks), and I got the creative process flowing right before we hosted our big Halloween bash. If you're interested in paper mask making, definitely check out the Cut and Make mask book series, available at Amazon.

We're pictured above in our totally unique, DIY paper masks. Here's a detailed view of mine:

I made the whole mask almost entirely from a great, heavy weight paper from the Martha Stewart craft collection. She makes a ton of variety paper packs, I chose one with a wide array of vivid colors. I used this awesome doily lace edge puncher to create the pretty scallops, also from Martha Stewart's craft line, and a ton of hot glue to keep the paper in place. The base for the mask was one of those white hockey masks that you can pick up around Halloween for about $2.00. I accented the paper with a few sharpie lines, some feathers, and 3 turquoise navettes in the center.

Mark also used the same paper, albeit in some of the more neutral tones! He extracted the eyeballs from a cheap dollar store mask and integrated them into his own creation. Pretty cool, eh?! He went more of a tribal route, while I ended up looking more like a bird (or something?).

I totally encourage you all to make DIY costumes next year. Making the mask was totally just as fun as the party itself!!

Halloween Inspiration

2009-10-15T22:27:00.003-04:00

My boyfriend and I are having a Halloween party. I hope to make an owl mask like this one. And Mooseman will be rearing his ugly heads...in a totally friendly Halloween sort of way.

Fresh Blackberries

2009-08-15T12:25:00.003-04:00

I picked fresh blackberries this weekend from my mother's garden. She's quite the gardener extraordinaire, as you can see from my bounty pictured above.

I also learned a new adjective last night, copacetic. Thank you Miss Anna.

Family Reunion Today

2009-08-01T10:53:00.005-04:00

We're hosting a big family reunion today, picnic style. I am in charge of the slideshow. Here are a few highlights from all the family images I've worked to compile in the last 2 weeks. It's so interesting seeing what stands out as memorable and important as far as images go. I wonder how different the slideshow would be had another member of my family compiled it, instead of me.

What images have you taken recently (or better yet printed) that a family member might archive and display once you've passed on?

Lisa Mayock: Vena Cava

2009-07-24T08:38:00.010-04:00

Vena Cava designer Lisa Mayock was recently photographed in her Brooklyn apartment for an article over at Refinery29. Check it out. Below are a few of the highlights from the post.

The shadow box in her "closet" (which is apparently a humongous room filled with clothes) reminds me of artist Joseph Cornell.

(R29) What wouldn't you be caught dead wearing?

(LM) "That's a difficult question. I often have complete changes of heart about certain looks. And I l

ove things that are good taste/bad taste and other things that are just plain tacky. So, honestly, the only thing I can think of right now that I would never wear is a 'sexy' Halloween costume. Which you may see me in come October."

Name something in your wardrobe you'll never throw away?

"Old T-shirts, sweatshirts, and leather pieces...they just keep getting better with time."

Vena Cava designers Lisa Mayock and Sophie Buhai (in black) with models wearing their Vena Cava for GAP pieces, which I got excited about h ere back in May.

Not that we're surprised, but your apartment is off-the-charts cool. And we hear you just gave it a little makeover...what look were you going for?

"If I had to give it a name, it would be called 'Things I Like.' That was pretty much the only criteria."

I really like her break all the rules attitude. She has a "Just Bone Me" poster above her bed. And Mayock wears a bright freaking yellow beaded dress that apparently sheds beads as she walks. But it is gorgeous. And I am intrigued. Plus the chair in her living room (below) can also be found in my father's office. His came without the spikes and does not sit atop a sheepskin rug. Nevertheless...

Get an inside look at the designer's inspiration over at the Viva Vena Cava blog, which Sophie and Lisa started back in February. Thank you Refinery 29 for giving us an inside look at this modern gem.

P.S. Did I mention I want Mayock's hair cut? I juuuust grew out my bangs and am lusting after them again!

Spring 2010 Inspiration

2009-07-11T15:00:00.006-04:00

Seeing this awesome photo shoot with the ginormous bubbles reminded me of making huge bubbles as a kid. I've been thinking a bit about the creative direction for Sorrelli's Spring 2010 jewelry line, and I think bubbles might become an integral part of the campaign. If any of you readers out there are bubble producing experts, holler at me!

Velib - Traveling the Streets of Paris in Style

2009-07-10T17:09:00.003-04:00

The Velib bike rental system in Paris is amazing. The image above is from The Sartorialist, one of my all time favorite blogs. Seeing the chic Parisian dude on the rented bike reminded me of my recent trip to Paris, in which my friend and I rode around the city like giddy-as-could-be-children. Something about renting a bike for 24 hours for only 1 Euro & riding beneath the Eiffel Tower really evokes a sense of child-like wonder. It was very liberating, easy, and somehow felt quite chic. All cities deserve to have such an amazing (and environmentally friendly) transportation option!

Material Culture, Philadelphia

2009-07-03T12:00:00.033-04:00

I just read an article over at Design Sponge about the furniture store Material Culture down in Philadelphia. I will definitely be taking a drive down this summer to the Wissahickon Avenue location. The store seems to stock an unbelievable selection of home furnishings from throughout the world.

The interior shots of the store remind me of my recent trip to the jam packed outdoor market, or medina, that I recently went to in Rabat. I bought some punched brass lanterns there, which I plan to hang outdoors on my new patio. I can't wait to search for more unique outdoor furnishings at Material Culture.

The image below is a photo from the home of Material Culture owner, George. The 18th century Moghul teak arches look freaking fantastic by the glow of candlelight.

Styrofoam Installation

2009-07-02T21:13:00.005-04:00

I found this mesmerizing installation over at Ace Gallery online. I love the end result but feel pretty conflicted about the piles and piles of styrofoam cups that artist Tara Donovan used to make it.

In the installations below Donovan uses drinking straws to create an entire room of undulating texture.

Le Smoking

2009-06-30T08:17:00.003-04:00

Le Smoking, Yve Saint Laurent's 1966 tuxedo suit design, styled with a frilly blouse and an oh-so-chic and smooth pixie cut. This image defines the look with a late night Parisian aura, and shows how important styling truly is. The location, make-up, hair style, lighting, and pose can transform a work of design into a legendary style. Menswear never looked so sexy, and this was 43 years ago!

Silkscreening HOW TO: Handmade Invitations

2009-06-06T23:16:00.013-04:00

I like to make things. And I really adore sending letters in the mail. So it's no surprise that I take great pride in making invitations for my annual birthday celebration and mailing them out to all of my lovely friends. The fine print on this years edition, which is a silk screened print for each guest, reads "come visit (poolside)" with the relevant time and place.

Below are some photographs of the silk screening process. I used Diazo Speedball Photo Emulsion to make the screen. It's super easy, you just apply this light sensitive paint to a piece of raw silk that is stretched onto your frame & let it dry overnight. Next you print the design from your computer (black and white only) onto a transparency. You then lay the transparency on top of the dried photo sensitive screen and place a bulb on top (12"-16" away) for 20 minutes. After rinsing it out with the garden hose, you have your screen ready for printing!

This is a photo of me placing the colorful invite down on the "registration marks" before screening (In case you're wondering what's behind the blue paper, I used an old pottery barn catalog instead of newspaper to protect my table, I know, kind of random).

Apply paint and use squeegee.

Wa la, hand printed invites on perforated postcard paper. Way easier to distribute than cutting each by hand! Below is my mess of materials for addressing each postcard. More than half have already been mailed! I hope everyone likes them!

Sewing my (rough draft) maxi dress

2009-06-05T20:56:00.005-04:00

I posted a few weeks ago about a maxi dress I had some interest in making from scratch (no pattern, mom!). I sewed the preliminary grey dress (with $1/yard fabric) as a test before working on my more expensive black silk (by expensive I mean $8/yard). Below are images bearing the fruits of my labor and some things I found along the way.

I made an error in this preliminary dress in that I sewed the elastic at the empire waist before I did the elastic at the very top of the bust. This was a mistake because I ended up with a bust of ill proportion, in other words, the fabric from the empire waist to the top of the dress ended up being uneven. If I had sewn the top elastic first, I could've measured down from there, and then any inconsistencies or errors in measuring could've been made up for in the hem down below. I'll do it the right way for the real black silk dress, and hopefully won't end up with uneven boob-age.

Oh, and in case there are any sewers out there who are wondering about how I sewed the elastic exactly, I made a casing for the top, but the elastic at the empire waist was sewn directly to the fabric. I used 1/2" elastic, I simply threaded the elastic through the casing with a safety pin on the end and then tacked it in place on the seams. I'll try to take more detailed pics of the black dress when I make it to explain!

The book above, The Dressmaker's Technique Bible, ended up being a great find that helped me in the process of making this dress without a pattern. It gives detailed info on constructing different parts of clothing, from sleeve cuffs to elastic bands. It's a little more advanced than your traditional DIY Sewing books, which I liked. It's very to the point and shows detailed drawings to help you "reason out" the process on your own.

More to come as I work on the real black silk dress! No progress shall be made until after my return from Europe!

Jewel Toned Living Spaces and Striped Seats

2009-06-02T19:16:00.005-04:00

I stumbled upon this beautiful living room over at Elle Decor a few weeks ago & was just reminded of it today while couch shopping. The photo above is from the home of Ali Wentworth and George Stephanopoulos in Washington D.C. I love the rich use of color in the living room and the striped chairs. I just found the couch below over at Wisteria and was reminded of this beautiful living room. More amazing printed furniture to come (in all price ranges!)

Wisteria Swedish Stripe Curved Sofa ($1400)

Bright Interiors

2009-06-02T19:11:00.003-04:00

While browsing for couches online today I was reminded of these beautiful interiors that I found a while back over at Apartment Therapy. I especially love the bright chartreuse and blue colors mixed with the gilded legs. I should start a blog about gold leafing. I love all things gilded. Anyway- the light in these rooms is phenomenal of course, but the decor is just the right mix of eccentric and clean, don't you think?

Paris - Flea Market Highlight

2009-06-02T10:02:00.004-04:00

I'm so excited to leave for Paris next week! I haven't done as much research yet as I should on places to go and things to do, but I have been scoping out the flea market scene. I can't wait to give a first hand report on the Porte de Clignancourt (Les Puces) flea market next week! Here are some pics from Paris Perfect to tie us over...

If any of you have suggestions on Paris shops/bakeries/general shenanigans that I simply must experience, please advise!

Artist Spotlight: Dustin Yellin

2009-05-27T17:38:00.001-04:00

I found this on Etsy.com while they were down for maintenance this afternoon. Wanted to share!

Get Excited and Make Things

2009-05-27T17:18:00.000-04:00

DIY Message Board

2009-05-14T21:49:00.005-04:00

I like this DIY message board idea a lot from Rebekah at Orange Poppy. I have a bunch of old windows that I could totally use! And apparently all I need is some dry erase markers and I'll be good.

Cheating on Sorrelli: Liz Claiborne Cocktail Ring

2009-05-13T22:36:00.003-04:00

Ok, so whenever I wear other jewelry that's not Sorrelli, I feel in some weird twisted way like I'm being disloyal or sneaky or just plain weird. I work for a jewelry company, why would I need to buy (or gasp, LIKE) other jewelry? But this little cocktail ring over at Isaac Mizrahi's new Liz Claiborne caught my eye. So I'm posting about it here in my little safe-haven that is C&C.

Shhhh... don't tell!

Just to be clear, I really like how the floral details come alive on the outskirts of the crystal bezel. Like a drawing that peaks out of its gilded gold frame.

Flavor Paper: More beautiful wallpaper

2009-05-13T22:08:00.007-04:00

How beautiful is this Van Gogh-inspired Iris wallpaper from Designers Ted and Jon over at Flavor Paper? I stumbled upon the wallpaper company while reading a post on Apartment Therapy.

These two wallpaper designs below were done by Dan Funderburgh of Flavor Paper, a soon to be Brooklyn-based wall paper company that started in New Orleans.

Both designs above retail for $150/roll. A roll is 27" x 15 ft. If I had to guess wallpaper costs on the Price is Right, I would lose. I have no idea how much $150/roll is comparatively. But I know I like Dan's "fruit" designs above!

I so want bright colors in my home right now. I wear black, beige, grey, and brown - but I decorate with turquoise, fuchsia, yellow, and orange (and maybe even one day chartreuse)! The gold/turquoise "Monaco" design above has a special place in my heart. I will find a bold wall for it to call home, one day...

Gap awesomeness: Vena Cava and Alexander Wang

2009-05-13T21:57:00.003-04:00

OMG this Vena Cava dress for GAP is awesome. I just found it over at the Pipeline. SO CUTE. And Alexander Wang for GAP khaki pieces are below, apparently the khaki collab hits stores June 16! I'll be away in Europe when the Alexander Wang collection hits stores, might have to bust out my iPhone in España and web shop these goodies! I can so see rocking this khaki motorcycle jacket. Mmmm excited!

Trevor Brady: Fashion Photographer

2009-05-12T18:04:00.004-04:00

Just found Trevor Brady's work over at FASHION INDIE. Working in the studio myself makes me really appreciate these.

Germany Embarks on a Carless Suburbia

2009-05-11T19:23:00.004-04:00

Awesome post from the New York Times published today about Vauban - a suburb near Freiburg (in southern Germany) that is apparently testing life without automobiles. It is a bike & walking friendly settlement in which serious restrictions have been placed on car ownership and parking. It's awesome to read that communities like this are actually popping up in response to climate change. I've been meaning to get my Trek in for a tune up and start commuting to work again...
"Street parking, driveways and home garages are generally forbidden in this experimental new district on the outskirts of Freiburg, near the Swiss border. Vauban’s streets are completely “car-free” — except the main thoroughfare, where the tram to downtown Freiburg runs, and a few streets on one edge of the community."

Though cars are allowed in the community, car ownership & parking in Vauban is prohibitively expensive. Over 70% of families living in the community don't own cars at all, according to the NYT article.
“When I had a car I was always tense. I’m much happier this way,” said Heidrun Walter, a media trainer and mother of two, as she walked verdant streets where the swish of bicycles and the chatter of wandering children drown out the occasional distant motor.
The Vauban community was completed only 3 years ago, and is part of a movement referred to as "smart planning". More info here on how the NY state department here in the US is trying to integrate smart planning into their communities, especially when it comes to transportation.

Collage Imagery: Thomas Allen

2009-05-11T18:10:00.012-04:00

Fury, 2006, 24 x 20 inches - chromogenic Print

I saw artist Thomas Allen's work at a gallery show in Chelsea in the spring of 2007. I just stumbled upon his work again via the email service Very Short List and feel the need to share his photographs with my lovely (however few) followers here at C&C.

Allen uses an exact-o knife to cut illustrations from old pulp fiction books. He then assembles the cut outs in dioramas, creating twisted narratives from the carefully placed illustrations, like the homoerotic "Distraction" below. I like how Allen uses the elementary-school art form of the diorama to create sexually charged mini-plots. Each diorama is then photographed for the final c-print.

Distraction 2006, 20 x 24 inchess - chromogenic Print

Tangle, 2008, 20 x 24 inches - chromogenic Print

Maneater, 2006, 20 x 24 inches - chromogenic Print

This "Maneater" photograph above reminds me of Neko Case. The red hair. The title. Her song People Got A Lot of Nerve is simply phenomenal (listen to it with the player below if you have time!).

People Got A Lotta Nerve - Nek...

Red, 2002, 20 x 24 inches - chromogenic Print

Stop by Foley Gallery on 27th St in NYC to see more of Thomas Allen's work. I can't wait to start collaging a bit more! If anything serves as inspiration for a little collage action, it's certainly Allen's detailed work.

sorrelli, marknester photography, and styling

2009-05-11T12:06:00.006-04:00

I just happened upon a photo shoot recently done over at Design Mom, and thought I should post the fruits of my labor from a recent shoot I styled and produced for Sorrelli Jewelry. The images are by Mark over at Mark Nester Photography. These shots feature the newest Sorrelli collections for the upcoming fall line. I styled them with vintage clothes borrowed and found, some pieces from my personal wardrobe, & a beautiful couture-inspired dress that my mother recently designed and constructed. Just a few of my favorites from the shoot...

NY Magazine: Design Liberation Issue

2009-05-10T00:32:00.006-04:00

I loved the recent "Design Liberation" issue of New York Magazine, which showcased a myriad of design perspectives via personal interiors in and around New York. Among those featured were:

-fashion designer Jason Wu in his grey apartment (cooking dutifully throughout the interview in a beautiful NY kitchen, almost an oxymoron)

-former model and current director at Deitch Projects, Nicola Vassel, in her very utilitarian Manhattan loft

-ad agency owner Richard Christiansen in his color-soaked suite at the Bowery Hotel

-Drew University senior, Maximilian Sinsteden, in his amazing college dorm room

Of all the interiors featured, I was most impressed by and drawn to the Drew University senior's space (above). For me this was very inspirational and telling that of all the accomplished New Yorkers featured in this magazine, this Drew University senior has the most innovative, beautiful space. Being a good designer doesn't mean you are a certain age, or from a certain place, or of a certain tax bracket.

I am in awe that someone this age would be so motivated to paint & decorate a temporary dorm room to this extent. He clearly has a need and desire to design the world around him, and the dude obviously has a knack for it. Sinsteden's not afraid to make bold moves, use unexpected colors (just a shade beyond that green could've easily evoked puke, and yet this shade works in a calming, plant-like way), and just let his imagination run. I'm excited for him and hope he can throw together a sustainable business model that will get him through the current financial climate after graduation.

Designer Spotlight: ENK Accessories Show NYC

2009-05-09T10:03:00.008-04:00

Just got back from the ENK Accessories show in NYC. Sorrelli exhibited at Pier 94. There were some awesome clothing designers that I got to check out at the concurrent show over at Pier 92. Alexia Admor was one in particular my Mum and I were drawn to. Mom really liked this champagne shimmery dress, which I have to say looked better on the hanger than it does on this e-dress me model below.

I also bought a beautiful beach cover up from a friend down the isle, Jay (of the husband and wife team Deepa Gurnani). He promised to ship it before my 6/10 trip to France!! It's from their upcoming line, so pictures online of the beautiful tunic do not exist yet. Deepa Gurnani also does great headbands. I'm kind of bumming that I didn't get one at wholesale prices. I'll have to wait til the next show in August.

I also got to meet the lovely Wendy Mink behind Wendy Mink Jewelry. Her designs are amazing, and her team was so warm and friendly at the show. Cant' wait to stop by her boutique on Orchard next time I'm in the city. I bought some beautiful tear drop earrings from Wendy, so excited to wear the gold and turquoise works of art!

More coverage of some of the amazing independent designers I met at the show to come...!

Originality a la Jim Jarmusch

2009-05-04T06:43:00.002-04:00

From my friend Mallory over at MalzWerld. More about the indie filmmaker here.

Morel Hunting

2009-05-03T17:37:00.003-04:00

Morel mushrooms grow wild here in our area of eastern Pennsylvania. My mom used to take my siblings and I out to hunt for them when I was just 7 or 8 years old. They are a nostalgic mushroom for me.

Mumsley went out in the misty weather this morning and found this little bounty of morels:

NYU is awesome: NYLE, Let the Beat Build

2009-05-03T10:54:00.002-04:00

Kanye just posted this awesome rap video from NYU students on his blog. Go NYLE! I don't even know this kid but am SO proud of my alma matter right now. Awesome. Check out the video below, and read an interview with NYLE over at the blog NYU Local here.

Nyle "Let The Beat Build" from Nyle on Vimeo.

Living Room Make Over plans!

2009-05-02T19:44:00.009-04:00

This is my little watercolor sketch of the living room. Last fall we painted the north wall a bright, cheerful Planetarium Blue (from Glidden). See pictures below. The plan is to paint the east and south walls the same color, and add tons of ledges above the couch. The ledges will give us freedom to change the paintings/objects on display as we see fit. I'm very excited!

Plans for the future:

1. paint rest of the room

2. add IKEA ledges for interchangeable art

(see sketch!)

Design Inspiration: Nan Whitney

2009-05-02T09:05:00.014-04:00

I ended up over at Calico Corners.com this morning in an effort to find some cheap, wonderful wall paper. In my explorations there I stumbled upon the extraordinary stylist Nan Whitney and fell in love with her bright, polished interiors (how awesome is the deep blue couch above and the rust orange ottoman?!). Below is the first room I saw of hers, love the bright bright bright colors.The green and yellow tables in the room above are so so fresh. And I love that there are many different printed patterns going on all over the place: the yellow floral chair, the fuchsia ikat chair (below, very interesting, very "me"), the velvet brocade pattern on the couch, the details of the persian rug. It's all so chaotic but harmonious. I love it!!!

After reading about Whitney for a bit this morning I realized she styles for Pottery Barn, which explains why I kept noticing Pottery Barn pieces in a lot of her shots. I actually have the corner version of the desk below in my office. A lot of the beauty of this room is the natural light, but I especially love the play between the leafy plant and the bright green upholstered chair. And who would think to mix this citrine color with an orange wall? But it works beautifully!

I love the turquoise Paisley chair in Nan Whitney's photo below. It's funny, I dress myself in mostly black/beige/brown, but when it comes to my home I want the brightest turquoise, fuchsia, and yellow in my immediate surroundings. More on my personal interiors to come...

Obviously the architecture of the staircase is amazing, but Whitney styles the room below in a way that makes even this modern glass interior feel warm and homey. The patterned citrus rug mixed with the swirling fabric on the armchairs was a bold ballsy move that really worked out well.

I have a soft spot in my heart for black and white checkered floors. Growing up the kitchen at my mom's house had big black and white tiles. I love the way a B&W floor looks with bright colored furniture and paintings. In Nan Whitney's room below the floor seems to be painted in a B&W checker pattern! It looks very chic with the silvery decor. See more work from this Boston-based designer here.

Wallpaper Awesomeness

2009-05-01T17:34:00.002-04:00

Just found this beautiful wallpaper by Jill Malek over at Design*Sponge. More wallpaper posts to come. I had been researching a bunch of options back when I got my Domino decorating book, definitely considering some crazy wallpaper to brighten up my cozy little (mostly beige) home.

Patio Inspiration

2009-05-01T07:10:00.008-04:00

We're planning a patio off to the side of our house, and this means lots of gardening and design research! The patio will be situated between our little orchard and the west wall of our little home. More images to come of the actual house. Just some ideas for planters here from DIY Ideas.

I love the varying heights of the planters that Katy just posted on her blog. My mother has similar tall urn-like planters at her door and it is gorgeous!

I love the planter box on the side of this little patio (from Design*Sponge). I want to put a raised box with tall flowers in it to act as a big green and floral wall.

I just bought this Campanula flower at the local greenhouse. It's very tall and blooming happily in my front yard! If it makes it through the winter I hope to get many more next year!

Mark's mom recently introduced me to Bachelor Buttons. They are the most vibrant blue flower with a very full bloom. I'd love to grow these tall flowers in the raised beds around the patio.

Shadow Boxes: Joseph Cornell

2009-04-29T06:53:00.007-04:00

I was reading a post over at Crafty Nest about repurposing old drawers for shadow boxes. It reminded me of artist Joseph Cornell's beautifully eclectic works of assemblage. I learned about Cornell's work via Professor Bertolo, a Photo and Imaging prof at NYU who taught a collage class there while I was pursuing my un

dergraduate degree. He was a super interesting character, a recluse. Check him out!

A few of Joseph Cornell's shadow boxes:

Another shadow box idea DIY from Design*Sponge.

The original Crafty Nest old drawer-->shadow box DIY is below. I don't love the finished product, but I think the drawer transformation is a genius idea. What an easy way to experiment with this format! If I make my own I will definitely draw on Joseph Cornell for inspiration.

Do It Yourself Organization

2009-04-28T13:02:00.009-04:00

While checking out my Google Reader feed this afternoon I stumbled upon Apartment Therapy's DIY Storage & Organization post. Since my mail is always cluttering up the house everywhere, I was immediately interested. Mark and I recently found a utilitarian little box from IKEA to satisfy our key hanging and mail holding needs, but some of these fabulous DIY Mail ideas are tempting!

Like this turquoise shutter mounted as a letter holder:And this beautiful little old bird cage converted to hold mail and stationary:

This is genius. I love the rustic tool box convterted to a file folder idea.

Check out more DIY storage ideas from Better Homes and Gardens DIY Mag here.

Paper Artwork

2009-04-15T08:45:00.002-04:00

Australian artist Jaq Belcher makes beautiful works of art via intricate paper cuts. Her fingers look surprisingly intact for all of this work she does with paper.

First of all, I love the layering of the works in the image above. I also really love the way the cut out pieces remain on the floor, reminding you of the whole that once existed.

I have to thank my sister Ivy for bringing this artist to my attention via our shared Google Reader feed. If you haven't used Google Reader yet, you need to check it out.

Scrabble at Miss Wieders

2009-04-13T22:24:00.000-04:00

2009-04-13T11:23:00.000-04:00

bird print by Fanny Shorter at Boxbird. This is a bit more pricey at £100.00 but I love the color and detail here.

2009-04-13T11:19:00.000-04:00

elizabethbrinton

I found this van gogh-inspired screen print from elizabethbrinton on etsy.com. It's only 8.5 x 11, I wish it was larger, I would love for it to take up my whole living room with color!

Keep Calm & Carry On

2009-04-13T11:14:00.000-04:00

Words to live by from letterhappy at etsy. Mark showed me a print from this seller a few weeks ago, and I found myself stumbling upon their fresh prints again today. I should buy this for $10 and keep in in plain view at all times. I have a tendency to lose it every now and again. I also love turquoise, so it's a win-win.

Dear Brother- feliz cumpleaños!

2009-04-12T11:44:00.001-04:00

Decorating my brother Collin's birthday package on Easter morning

Chocolate Easter Eggs

2009-04-11T23:22:00.000-04:00

My Mom and I found an old chocolate mold at the Renninger's Farmers Market last weekend (at this little shop which I am slowly falling in love with). The mold has 4 egg designs, each with a unique bunny/peep imprinted on the shell. I was worried the mold might leak and be a big mess, but it was sealed perfectly. We ended up with 2 dozen BEAUTIFUL chocolate eggs after an afternoon of candy making.

STEP 1 of our candy making adventure: Use the double boiler to melt "Wilbur Buds" melting chocolate, we picked some up earlier today from our local dry goods/health food store, Echo Hill.

STEP 2: Pour melted chocolate into the hinged metal molds (no butter or PAM or oil required). We put the mold on a bed of ice so that the chocolate would begin to cool immediately, but this isn't necessary for successful eggs. It just helps to make sure the walls are coated a bit more evenly.

STEP 3: Add your choice of filling. We started off with milk chocolate eggs with crushed almonds and then moved on to dark chocolate eggs with marshmallow interiors. The marshmallow + dark chocolate were my favvvvv!!

*Note: If you don't have an apron on by this point, put one on!

STEP 4: Close the hinge carefully and shake a LOT! Shake in all directions to make sure chocolate is completely covering the interior wall of the mold. This is the step in which you hope and pray that your mold is sealed tightly. Chocolate all over oneself and one's house is a possibility at this stage, depending on what type of mold you have!

STEP 5: Place the entire mold in the freezer for 3-4 minutes. After the first 3 minutes, flip the mold over on the opposite side and keep in freezer for an additional 5 minutes.

STEP 6: After 8-10 minutes in the freezer unhinge your mold and carefully "rock" the chocolates out of their metal cases. (It's a good idea to use a napkin so that your finger prints don't damage the smooth exterior of the chocolate shape).

And wah-la! Delicious chocolate concoctions that are sure to delight every Easter guest. I can't wait to show these to Nana tomorrow!

Not-too-sweet Butter Cream Frosting

2009-04-11T09:56:00.000-04:00

This recipe is from the wonderful How to Cook Everything Vegetarian cookbook by Mark Bittman. I made this frosting for my almond coconut cupcakes this week, and it was delightful. If you don't have a favorite-favorite frosting recipe on hand, this is the one to try.

12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) butter, softened

2 1/2 cups confectioners sugar

pinch salt

1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons cream or milk

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1. Use a fork or electric mixer to cream the butter. Gradually work in the sugar and salt, alternating with the cream and beating well after each addition.

2. Stir in the vanilla. If the buttercream is too thin, refrigerate; it will thicken as the butter hardens.

Making chocolate Easter eggs

2009-04-10T17:19:00.000-04:00

More to come about my cooking adventures with this new Easter egg
mold. Will post detailed pics of the step-by-step process, and the
fancy finished eggs!

An apple a day...

2009-04-09T13:46:00.000-04:00

So I went to my family doctor this morning for a check up. We talked about cholesterol levels. Eating right. Blood pressure. And then she asked me if I make it back to NY often. I told her once, sometimes twice a month. And then, as a spin off of her NY question, she paid me the cutest compliment - something along the lines of:

"I love seeing what you wear when you come to my office, your outfits are always unlike anything people around here would wear."

And then she wrinkled up her nose and we said good bye. Me with my ProAir inhaler prescription in hand. Thanks Doc, for making my day :0)

Below, the outfit I wore to said doctor on this beautiful April Thursday - 62 degrees it was! And sunny!! Oh wait... I forgot to tell you, as if this day couldn't get any better, I totally passed my breathing test! My lungs are getting better and better what with all this usual exercise I've been doing. Woopee!!!!

My "Sorrelli of the day" - Captain and Teal chandelier earrings from ages ago.

This is why Easter is awesome

2009-04-07T19:29:00.000-04:00

Gorgeoooouuus flowaaaaas!

I recently met with my childhood babysitter, Di, to catch up on the last 10 years in which we haven't been a part of each others lives. She brought me a fragrant purple hyacinth. I will plant it come May and think of her when it emerges from the soil each year. Happy Easter, and happy planting!!!!

Auggie

2009-04-07T17:33:00.000-04:00

Still reading the Adventures of Auggie March. I have a big problem with not finishing books. I read them half way, slowly, and then give up when another literary adventure peaks my interest. It's sad. It makes me feel like a failure sometimes. Why can't I just read a whole damn book!? But then there are good books, ones I really like, which I read the whole way through, sometimes even quickly. Hey, I managed to get through Anna Karenina. That says something, right?

So I picked up a date at the mall the other day....

2009-04-07T16:17:00.000-04:00

....talk dark and handsome. The usual. He tells me his name is Ed. Pretty hot, huh?

Cupcake Dance

2009-04-06T13:10:00.001-04:00

Mark was so excited for Round 2 of our cupcake eating adventure that
he did a little dance. I will definitely make these again with a
response like this!

Amazing buttercream frosting

2009-04-06T12:59:00.000-04:00

Last night I made almond coconut cupcakes with a stellar just-the-
right-amount-of-sweet-n-sugar buttercream frosting. I will post the
recipe from my lovely How To Cook Everything Vegetarian cook book as
soon as I find it online!

Glasvegas show

2009-03-27T21:21:00.000-04:00

At the show now in West Chester with Burke @ Anna!

For Ivy

2009-03-20T16:52:00.000-04:00

I just found out Sorrelli might be featured in FutureClaw Magazine's July issue. In flipping through the issues online at FutureClaw's site I found this awesome spread, which I am posting in honor of my sister Ivy, who is totally into anime, and who is also totally beautiful, strong, and badass. All things I was reminded of by this image.

A little spring reading

2009-03-19T20:50:00.000-04:00

I recently stumbled upon Time's list of the top 100 novels (English language novels, that is, written after 1923). In an effort to continue my post-grad education, I've randomly selected two of these literary works from the library, and am in the process of reading them. Both.

Brideshead Revisted, by Evelyn Waugh

Once and only once in his career the bitter, urbane, howlingly funny satirist Evelyn Waugh screwed up all his nerve and his talent and produced a genuine literary masterpiece. Though it's saddled with a faded doily of a title,Brideshead Revisited is actually a wildly entertaining, swooningly funny-sad story about an impressionable young man, Charles Ryder, who goes to Oxford in the 1930's and falls in love with a family: the wealthy, eccentric, aristocratic Flytes, owners of a grand old country house called Brideshead. In the first half of the book the exquisite, hilariously fey Sebastian Flyte, who is Charles's classmate, teaches the young man about beauty, booze and witty conversation. In the second half every one grows up and everything goes spectacularly to smash. Told in flashbacks from the dark days of WWII, Brideshead is aglimmer with the guttering-candle glow of an elegant age that was already passing away.—L.G. (time.com review)

The Adventures of Augie March, by Saul Bellow

Augie comes on stage with one of literature's most famous opening lines. "I am an American, Chicago born, and go at things as I have taught myself, free-style, and will make the record in my own way: first to knock, first admitted." It's the "Call me Ishmael" of mid-20th-century American fiction. (For the record, Bellow was born in Canada.) Or it would be if Ishmael had been more like Tom Jones with a philosophical disposition. With this teeming book Bellow returned a Dickensian richness to the American novel. As he makes his way to a full brimming consciousness of himself, Augie careens through numberless occupations and countless mentors and exemplars, all the while enchanting us with the slapdash American music of his voice.—R.L. (time.com review)

Making my Maxi Dress: Part 2- Lame but Useful Sketches

2009-03-16T17:24:00.001-04:00

A page from my little sewing journal...

I am making this dress without a pattern, so I have to keep notes on what I'm doing. The picture to the right is just a vague idea of what it will look like as a finished product. My version will be much longer. Hopefully it works out! I sewed the elastic to the bust line yesterday, and am hoping to possibly finish the dress tonight, or at least by the end of the week. I am "testing" the process out first on a cheap grey fabric I bought for $1/yard before I go ahead and make the actual cuts to my black silk.

St. Patrick's Day Bummer

2009-03-15T22:11:00.000-04:00

So for Christmas 2007 I was given this pretty awesome point-and-shoot camera:

But during my pre-St. Patrick's Day 2009 festivities I left said camera in a stupid bar.

So now I am checking out the totally awesome wifi-enabled version of the aforementioned camera, the Sony DSC G3, which is crazy expensive but super awesome. You can upload pictures directly from it to the internet! This means immediate facebook albums, immediate blog posts, all without the slightest need for a cord or computer! Oh technology... how I love you.

Making my Maxi Dress: Part 1 - Fabric Purchase

2009-03-13T22:26:00.000-04:00

I went to a lunch date in NY on Friday afternoon with the Magnes Sisters. They are three Israeli sisters who make great handbags. I told them I wanted to buy some fabric while in NY, and they recommended my Mom and I check out Kashi at Metro Fabrics. His fabric store is on the 9th floor of 265 W 37th.

View Larger Map

I bought a beautiful black silk for $10/yard from my new friend Kashi. The fabric is a black-on-black spotted pattern. I think it will lend well to my vision of the ideal maxi dress. I'm super psyched to make it! And for $20 (I bought 2 yards), it's cheaper than all of the long summer dresses I've been eyeing up online.

More blog posts to come as I sew the dress!

South Beach

2009-03-12T12:18:00.000-04:00

My mom & I rented cruisers and biked around South Beach yesterday. It was the best way to see the area. I highly suggest checking out Bike & Roll in your upcoming travels, they had affordable half day & full day rentals, gave us locks, and even helped us bungie our bulky leather purses to the back of our bikes!

Check out my long silk J Crew dress, I borrowed it from my mom. So
easy to make, I can't wait to find some quality silk fabric and
fashion my own version for summer. I'm headed to NY tomorrow on
business, hopefully I can check out Mood while I'm up there!

My new favorite ring

2009-03-10T20:38:00.000-04:00

I wore this huge cocktail ring to the McGinness opening last weekend
and all over Miami this week. How fun are the ginormous flower petals
and bright gold finish? It debuts at Sorrelli this fall!!!

McGinness Show

2009-03-07T21:21:00.000-05:00

Just went to the McGinness show at Deitch on Wooster in NYC. The image
below is from the blacklight room downstairs. I loved the scrollwork
extending off of the canvas and onto the wall behind.

Everything is so Glorious

2009-03-06T08:31:00.000-05:00

I watch Curious George every morning at 7AM. And then I sing the catchy curious george theme song all day. Until the next morning, when I hear it again.

LYRICS SO YOU CAN SING ALONG!

You never do know what's around the bend

A big adventure or a brand new friend
When you're curious, like Curious George

Well everything (everything!) is so glorious (glorious!) And everything (everything!) is so wonderous (wonderous!) There's more to explore
When you open your door
And meet friends like this
You just can't miss
(Whooooa!)

Get curious (curious!) and that's marvelous (marvelous!) And that's your reward
You'll never be bored
If you ask yourself, what is this?
Like curious, like curious, like Curious George

I love this song. So catchy. So true. And I think my dog secretly likes it when I sing it to him in the AM.

McGinness at Deitch

2009-03-05T13:50:00.000-05:00

Ryan McGinness debuts a new exhibit at Deitch Projects in NY this Saturday March 7. All of McGinness' work is silk screened by hand; each design comes from a pencil sketch, which is later digitally rendered. The use of individual screens is something of personal interest for me, it reminds me of my days in the art studio at my hometown high school, and long hours in my parent's basement making t-shirts.

The use of the screens on these molded plastic sculptures is so interesting. I love that the layered effect on the 2D plane is transfered to the 3D forms. The layers of paint and design on the flat surfaces are seen through the various layers of plastic. I hope there are some sculptures on exhibit at Deitch this weekend! Hopefully will post pictures after the opening.

Who says lunch at home can't be fabulous?

2009-03-05T12:49:00.001-05:00

Salad with blueberries, craisins, bean sprouts, feta, carrots, & tomAto
Whipped this up in about 7 minutes!

Patterns & Peas

2009-03-05T12:07:00.001-05:00

Vogue Paris Oct 2007

Cocina Mexicana Lunch Date!

2009-03-04T14:07:00.000-05:00

I love eating at this bright & sunny Mexican restaurant down the
street from my office! Mmm chimichangas!!

"Toxi" is my new best friend

2009-03-03T22:05:00.000-05:00

Ok first off, I was SO excited about the fact that you can watch Netflix immediately via the computer. It is AWESOME. However, this means that anyone can dig up random movie archives at the click of a button. That's how I got into this mess, watching the Toxic Crusaders movie at 10PM on a school night.

"This will teach you to mess with a hideously deformed creature of superhuman size and strength"

That was literally the quote that just happened in this cartoon movie.

"Have no fear, Toxi's here!"

Seriously, if you are bored and reading this you need to netflix this movie for a nice childhood flashback. The Toxic Crusader is kind of like the gross version of Captain Planet. He's anti-pollution. He fights against those who pollute. And he also has a catchy theme song, just like Captain Planet.

CAPTAIN PLANET, He's our hero, gonna take pollution down to ZERO. That song comes into my head at least once a week. Speaking of anti pollution, come to the PA energy fest this fall!

Miami

2009-03-03T21:26:00.000-05:00

I can't wait to get out of the north east cold and into the warmth of Florida! I am packing up my bags this week for a business trip with my Mom. Yay fun with Mumsley!

I recently read a great article in this month's issue of Bon Appetit, "Foodie Miami" which gave some great reviews for dining out in Miami. Writer Lee Klein talks about Michaels Genuine Food & Drink, which apparently features local food from nearby Florida farms. Speaking of local foods, I've been meaning to write about this Pennyslvania-based website BUY FRESH BUY LOCAL. Will get back to that later. I can't wait to try the local grouper ceviche at Michael's with passion fruit, avocado, and papaya! Mmmmm!

And for my Mom, the fabulous Italian woman that she is, we'll have to try the highly recommended Italian restaurant Fratelli Lyon. As a throw back to my college semester in Spain, a little tapas bar Sra Martinez in Miami's Design District should do the trick!

In other news, I am very upset to report that after weeks of lusting after this gorgggeous Victoria's Secret maxi dress, it has been seemingly banished from the Internet. I cannot find it anywhere on the VS site! So sad. It was a beautiful chiffon yellow dress, perfect for the 80 degree weather I love so dearly. A little fancy for around these parts, but definitely Miami-worthy.

In other news... these shorts are hot. And they're only $16. Unfortunately not in my size. This is a real bummer Tuesday. Did I mention my sister ditched me for her friends on our girly date night?

Now these on the other hand, are totally in my size. Things are looking up.

Stephen Sprouse

2009-02-14T13:11:00.001-05:00

I went to see the Stephen Sprouse retrospective exhibit at the Deitch gallery on Wooster St a few weeks ago. My father and I walked around the exhibit together, looked at the apparel on display that Sprouse had designed, checked out the polaroid wall full of Debbie Harry images, and generally soaked in the homage to 80's neon. I can't help but think of my parent's lives at that time, living in NY during the height of this 80's pop art flux.

The Sprouse exhibit conjured up memories of an old red Sprouse bathing suit my mom used to wear. After some digging around in our basement I found an image of her wearing it (below). I need to do some investigating in her closet and find that sexy relic!

The Deitch exhibit coincided with a 2009 reincarnation of the original Sprouse/Louis Vuitton/Marc Jacobs collaboration that debuted back in 2000 (read more about it here).

Sprouse and Marc Jacobs together in 2000.

MJ rocking the new LV handbag line which debuted in January 09.

The floral designs on this Louis Vuitton/MJ/Sprouse bag from the 2009 collection have a definite Warhol-esque quality to them.

Warhol flower prints from 1970.

in celebration of v-day

2009-02-14T12:53:00.000-05:00

I bought some generic undies, sewed a bitty heart into the waistband, and gifted these to my BF this morning for Valentine's Day.

Fashion Show #1

2009-02-10T20:33:00.000-05:00

Mark took this photo of me this evening after work. I had a long, long day at the office; this outfit was a small source of playfulness to counteract all the chaos.

Gap Shirt ($24.99) + American Apparel Tank ($19) + UNIQLO cardi +

Joe's jeans + Frye heels ($188)

I bought this shirt for $24.99 at my local Gap this weekend (under all the layers above).

Potato-Wrapped Halibut Dinner

2009-02-09T21:50:00.000-05:00

This evening's dinner. Recipe here.

I found the recipe in the most recent issue of Bon Appetit. Mark and I are magazine junkies and get a ridiculous amount of them. I was pretty psyched by the March issue, it had some great recipes and a write up about places to eat in Miami. I'm supposed to be heading down to Miami in early March for a business trip, so I plan to pack my BA and, like a good foodie, gorge myself on amazing meals for the weekend. My mom always said I was a "good eater".

Isaac for Liz!

2009-02-09T21:21:00.000-05:00

I have been waiting to see the Isaac Mizrahi infused Liz Claiborne line since I first heard about it a few months ago. Only a few pieces from the collection are available for purchase online currently (see them here), but I'm ready to buy the flouncy polka dot skirt and dress. It's only fair to buy them both, try them on, and decide which one to keep. No sense only ordering the skirt and then fantasizing about the dress, or vice versa. So practical... I know.

I think I'm going to have to make a trip to my nearest Liz store. The cute styling and pixie cut model have me reeled in. And there are so many awesome looks on the website that aren't available for immediate online purchasing. WTF?! I hate when retailers don't allow you to buy the stuff right then and there from their site. I want instant gratification right here in my pajamas (or in this case sweaty gym gear).

I'll settle for the polka dot ensembles for now. I can't wait to see how the pieces fit... eek I'm excited!

Speaking of polka dots, does anyone know where to get some cute polka dot heels? I love the ones in the styled shot above.

Sorrelli's Valentine's Day Sparkle

2009-02-09T21:07:00.000-05:00

A little Sorrelli sparkle for Valentine's Day!

I like the way the pavé hearts on the simple chain turned out. Boutique owners have seemed to love them. We sold quite a few for the upcoming romantic holiday. And the (kind of matching) earrings below are my go-to everyday pair.

super easy and yummy MUSHROOM TURNOVERS

2009-02-09T13:02:00.000-05:00

I found this great mushroom turnover recipe in Martha Stewart's Everyday Food magazine. It is a fabulous vegetarian main dish, and extremely easy & quick to make.

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
4 packages (5 ounces each) mixed mushrooms, trimmed and thinly sliced
Coarse salt and ground pepper
1 sheet frozen puff pastry (from a 17.3-ounce box), thawed OR 1 package refrigerated pie dough
1/2 cup reduced-fat sour cream, for serving

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. In a large nonstick skillet, heat oil over medium-high. Add onion; cook, stirring occasionally, until golden brown, 5 to 6 minutes. Add mushrooms; cook, stirring occasionally, until mushrooms are tender, 4 to 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper; set aside.
On a lightly floured work surface, roll out dough (still folded in thirds) to a 20-by-10-inch rectangle. Using a pizza cutter or sharp knife, trim edges straight; cut dough into four 10-by-5-inch rectangles. Dividing evenly, mound mushroom mixture on one half of each rectangle, leaving a 1/2-inch border on three sides. Lightly brush border with water; fold other half of pastry over filling, and press edges firmly to seal. With a floured fork, crimp edges.
Using a wide metal spatula, transfer turnovers to a large baking sheet. With a paring knife, cut 3 to 4 small slits in the top of each turnover. Bake until golden and puffed, 20 to 25 minutes. Let cool 5 minutes; serve turnovers with sour cream.

very edible FIRST EVER HOMEMADE LILY SOUP

2009-02-08T21:55:00.000-05:00

I was very excited to make my first soup this week. It was a celery vegetable rice soup that I have to admit was fairly fabulous (and SUPER quick & easy to make). Mark calls everything I make that he likes "edible", and this soup was no exception.

Chunky Celery Soup

(from 101 Cookbooks.com)

1 large onion

1 large russet potato

3-4 small-medium carrots (I used 15-20 baby carrots because I had these in the fridge)

10 medium-length stalks of celery, washed well

3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

2 cloves garlic, chopped

5 cups of lightly-flavored, great tasting, vegetable broth (or water) 

2 cups cooked wild rice, brown rice, barley, or wheat berries

1 can corn or peas (optional)

Parmesan cheese, freshly grated (optional)

Chop the onion, potato, carrots, and celery into pieces that are about 1/2-inch or smaller. Do your best to cut everything roughly the same size, this will keep cooking time across the ingredients somewhat uniform. You should end up with about 2 1/2 cups of chopped celery.
In a large thick-bottomed soup pot over medium high heat combine the olive oil, onion, potato, carrots, celery and a few big pinches of salt.

Saute for about ten minutes or until the onions and celery soften a touch and expel some water. Stir in the garlic and add the stock. Bring to a simmer and let cook for another 10 minutes or until the celery, carrot and potatoes are just cooked through - resist the urge to over cook them into mush.

Stir in the rice, corn and/or peas a few minutes before the potatoes and carrot are cooked though. Remove the soup from the heat and ladle into soup bowls.

Top each with some Parmesan cheese (opt).

Serves about 6.

Fun fact #1: I got to use my heavy bottomed copper pot that Mumsley found for me at the flea market this summer. It was like $10!

Fun fact #2: I recently purchased a fabulous NY Times Crossword book by Will Shortz that I highly recommend if you are a crossword-puzzle newbie like me (see above next to half eaten toast). Click here to check out crossword master Will Shortz's Sunday puzzle at NPR.

Tunic Finds

2009-02-08T21:34:00.000-05:00

I've been searching for beach cover ups for the past few weeks. Today at Old Navy I finally found 2 great tunics for only $24.50. I was very excited. Here are some of my recent finds:

$180 at Macy's

$69 at Vix

$24.50 at Old Navy. This image doesn't do the Old Navy tunic justice. It will be super cute with huge shades, a wide brimmed hat, gold flip flops and some clustered bangles. I'm super psyched for SUMMMER!!

home decor

2009-02-08T21:03:00.000-05:00

At a friend's house today I was flipping through a coffee table book, the Domino Book of Decorating. Of course, Domino the magazine is going out of print, but I thought the hard cover guide to interior decorating was very inspiring. I need to grab one for myself!

I recently found a BEAUTIFUL room designed by Geoff de Sousa. I found it in a recent issue of Traditional Home magazine and am kind of in love.

The room has an overall contemporary feel, but I love the cozy, quirky touches. The amazing carmel leather wing back chair in the corner is my favorite. And something about the color combination of steel blue, bright yellow, and carmel brown is just perfect.

v-day tea party

2009-02-08T20:00:00.001-05:00

Ok I know this is my 3rd post for the day but I'm very excited about this blogging business and wanted to tell you all about a lovely little tea party I went to this afternoon. My good friend Andrea hosted a formal, completely girly tea party in an effort to celebrate Valentine's Day. It was very cute. She did a fantastic job as hostess. The party was complete with heart-shaped sandwiches, individual heart-shaped cherry filled chocolate cakes, a wide variety of teas, and chocolate covered strawberries (my fav!). I am currently just coming off of the sugar high.

And, of course it was the perfect excuse to dress up on a Sunday afternoon! I wore my floral Thakoon for Target dress. The pink batik scarf was a gift from my mother, she brought it back for me from Bali a few years ago. It is my favorite sarong in warm beachy climes, but doubles as a great thick scarf during days like today.

what's in a name

2009-02-08T19:44:00.000-05:00

Part of the reason I didn't start blogging earlier was due to my inability to select an appropriate blog name. After tossing around some ideas with Mark, my novio, I finally decided on CRAFT and CONSUMPTION, which stems from my undergrad colloquim title (think thesis, but a bit less intense) that I just finished at NYU's Gallatin School.

My colloquium delved into the history of consumption in America and the value of labor and craft. Liz Cohen's book, A Consumers' Republic, was a great starting point for my research.

I expect this blog to reflect many facets of my life: from fashion, shopping, and CONSUMING, to cooking, sewing, and CREATING with a little bit of travel, personal history, and some humor thrown in.

first blog post EVER

2009-02-08T19:17:00.000-05:00

I am so excited to be blogging for the first time! So excited, in fact, that I thought this recent photo from a trip to Shanghai would be an appropriate first post. I just returned from China last week; the photo was taken on the street right before 12:00AM on Chinese New Year! I was lucky enough to get to experience the 焰火 (yan huo: fireworks) and festivities of the New Year while on a business trip.

YAY for the year of the ox! And for a 2009 filled with blogging, creating, and hopefully not too TOO much consuming.