Glasvegas show

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

For Ivy

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

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

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

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

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. 

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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

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

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

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

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

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?

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

Patterns & Peas

Vogue Paris Oct 2007

Cocina Mexicana Lunch Date!

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

"Toxi" is my new best friend

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

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.