Artist Spotlight: Dustin Yellin

 

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

Get Excited and Make Things

DIY Message Board

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Morel Hunting

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

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!

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

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.