UPDATE: Psssst....I'm STILL here. It's Friday now and I have had about four hours sleep, so I haven't had time to update my posts - apologies!! But it just hurts my eyes real bad to look at this computer screen right now!
The real job has me off on a press check since 4:30 Thursday morning, printing a beautiful photography book of the Point of Passion campaign we produced for Condé Nast Publications, so I'll be back in a bit with some new posts. Forgive the lack thereof this week - it's been nutty and I'm a bit off my game!
EmmaRose Papery has created a winter wonderland of beautiful new holiday cards. Each one created and letterpressed by Eszter Rabin, the talented designer behind EmmaRose. Eszter uses pretty red & pale blue unprinted recycled envelopes, and 100 lb. recycled paper with soy-based inks to keep the line of holiday cards not only lovely, but environmentally friendly.
Jenny of Ciuccio (it's prounounced choo chó) wrote to me to let me know she is no longer sewing in her kitchen...she's taken over the dining room instead! Which has allowed Jenny the creative space she was craving to design her gorgeous new line of throw pillows, Cuscino, the newest product from Ciuccio. Never mind about getting a gourmet dinner on the table - this San Francisco based artist has quilted beauty to create!
Jenny's Cuscino pillow line uses wonderful, bright color combinations and every pillow has been pieced and quilted in a unique design, so no two are alike. Which floors me, because her prices are so reasonable for the amount of work Jenny must put into each and every one. You can find Cuscino at Jenny's new etsy shop, or on Ciucciobaby.com, where you can also find her unique, modern and beautifully sophisticated baby blankets.
Iris Apfel rocks. I mean look at this incredibly unique personal and timeless style. Because it is so completely her own, makes it timeless. No one is putting any shelf date on what she collects and what she chooses to put together, and I just love that. It takes guts in today's society to wear what you like, love it and not care if people think you odd or even ridiculous. What's really ridiculous is putting on a different tie and the same bloody suit every day of the weak, oops, I meant week. Now in her mid-eighties, Iris Apfel is a unique style icon. An exhibit of her incredible fashion collection, "Rara Avis: Selections from the Iris Barrel Apfel Collection" was even on display last year at the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute and the Norton in West Palm Beach, Florida. Of the collection Iris says, "This is no collection. It's a raid on my closet."
Iris Apfel is a woman who has always been ahead of her time. More than 50 years ago as an interior designer looking for fine traditional silk-woven fabrics and noticing a lack thereof, she recognized an opportunity and, along with her husband, Carl, founded Old World Weavers. She built it into one of the most prestigious brands in the world of textiles and interior design, with an illustrious clientele, including Greta Garbo, Estée Lauder and the White House. Iris Apfel combines offbeat styles, colors, textures, and patterns without regard to anyone else's conventions and proves that true style comes from individuality, with a love of "objects from different worlds, different eras, combined her way. Never uptight, achieving - hopefully - a kind of throwaway chic." Perhaps that's why I feel so akin to her - it's pretty much the way I go about decorating - a little bit of everything and a subtle dose of restraint.
There's a beautiful coffee table book out about Iris, Rare Bird of Fashion: The Irreverent Iris Apfel, by Eric Bowman, as well as loads of online interviews, should you want to learn more about this amazing style icon. Iris says, "I've been called a lot of things in my day, but I've never been called an inspiration." As for me, I must disagree! And I am just so happy I bought a pair of humongous vintage sunglasses in Amsterdam when I spied them - I feel so fabulously Iris! I might even find the nerve to wear them!
Photos courtesy of NY Times.
A few years ago I hosted a birthday party for myself (how gauche!) and to deflect from the party being about my further aging process, I thought it would be fun to have a 'Self Portrait Painting Party'. I provided a stack of small canvases, some inexpensive brushes and paints from an online discount art supply company (there are lots of them) and some recycled jam jars for water to clean the brushes. I then invited my guests down to my then art studio-basement for a paint-fest. I can tell you that at first there was quite a bit of hesitation and shyness on their part, but once they got a cocktail or two in them, it was hard to hold them back. Once one person started, the inner child in everyone broke free and some really great art was produced. It was so cool and so much fun to see everyone's unique painting style and an arty, good time seemed to be had by all. I was thinking this could be a fun holiday party idea - guests would walk away with a handmade gift for a loved one, or just a great party favor and a nice holiday memory. All you need to do is include a little paint & canvas, and of course, some libation to get the party going!
BlueFlip Art launched a new limited edition print yesterday from the Spanish artist Manuel Lariño entitled The Origin of Symmetry. It's a numbered 10.5" x 10.5" giclee print on archival fine art paper and was printed in a limited edition of 100. As with all art on BlueFlip, each artist donates a percentage of their sales to a charity of their choice, and Manuel has chosen to donate 10% of the $30 sale to Spectrum for Living, a non-profit organization providing assistance to people with physical and developmental disabilities. A gift that keeps on giving!
I am very late dropping in for a visit with fellow flickr member PaperNest today! Sorry y'all, but today was crazy and I had to go to the regular job instead of having my usual blog day. But, PaperNest, aka Annie, has allowed us a glimpse at her lovely home and garden in Baltimore, Maryland. Annie loves a good cup of coffee (in some really cute cups!), so pour yourself one too and take a peek at her pretty, vintage looking home. I love all the colors and the really homey feel. It looks to me like PaperNest and her family have an amazing bond, a strong sense of family history and have made a beautiful life there together!
Who is your favorite artist?
My daughter, the first time she made a figurative drawing.
Who do you admire?
My father, who is 97, loves life, and wants to make it to 100; and my mother-in-law, who was widowed and left with six kids under the age of 12, and raised them almost flawlessly.
What's the last great book you read?
Bread and Jam for Frances. The last great memoir I read was The Color of Water by James McBride.
What's your favorite film?
Map of the Human Heart.
If you could photograph anyone in the world, who might that be?
My mom when she was 18.
Who would you like to sit down to tea with?
Any of my great, great grandmothers.
Do you have a guilty pleasure?
Entourage.
What is your most treasured belonging?
A few pairs of scuffed baby shoes, worn by my brothers, that my mother never had enough money to have bronzed.
What do you despise?
Resin figurines, supermarket pantyhose, port-a-potties, and broken parking meters.
What's your favorite word?
"Mommy," when said by my daughter. "Coffee," when said by anyone.
What is your favorite outing?
Cranes Beach in Ipswich, Massachusetts, followed by fried shrimp at Woodman's, Essex.
I was cruising past one of my very favorite haunts in the city, Nest, this weekend when I saw this beautiful ghost-like window display. I just had to share it, and also popped in and snapped a few more photos for show and tell while I was there. Nest is quite like a French flea market with lots of multi-cultural, cosmopolitan flair. The shop carries gorgeous home decor accessories with a unique, vintage look, all found under one Fillmore Street roof.
Nest has great coffee table books, the most beautiful vintage furnishings, delicate etched glassware, soaps and candles, colorful, bohemian and luxurious bedding, quilts, pillows and hand knit throws, in French, Moroccan, Indian, Chinese and a variety of other ethnic styles. A wonderful spot to pick up unusual, one of a kind gifts.
Nest is definitely one of those places that's truly unique and just a great place to visit, even if it's just for the eye candy and the loads of inspiration you'll find. There's everything you weren't expecting, including lots of kitschy Parisian knickknacks and souvenirs, girly jewelry and feminine clothing and accessories, all gathered on buying trips from around the world including Paris, London, the Far East and even our local flea markets. Definitely a must see on your next visit to San Francisco.
Clockwise from left to right: Pink, Seafoam/Aqua, Vintage Red and Chartreuse Green.
An Anthropologie Art Director makes beautiful memories.
A stop for a taco.
At the old standby.
And some lovely and refined objects I saw around town.
A Winter Walk by Walter Martin and Paloma Munoz. The duo
I hear it's a crazy thing called Black Friday out there in shopping land today, but I prefer a White Christmas. I'm just not into an insane amount of rushing, spending, and stressing out around the holidays. I love a handmade gift, or a book and every year I try to convince my family we don't need to be stressing ourselves out so much rushing around looking for just the perfect gift. But, I do love this white Christmas tree from Design My World and think it's a simple, pretty start to the holiday madness. From South African designers, with a fantastic silhouette that really looks quite Scandinavian, this laser-cut lightweight steel tree consists of two parts that slot into each other and is about a foot high. So sweet!
These funky, whimsical looking Christmas countdown plates should give you a grin every time sit down to your holiday table. They remind me of the gorgeous works of porcelain art I saw in Amsterdam at the Frozen Fountain. Between a partridge in a pear tree and twelve drummers drumming, you'll find Scottie dogs and swans, Eiffel Towers, crowns, and a cast of other quirky characters. Another pretty addition to a white Christmas and an instant heirloom collectible (and not just another throw away), these pretty appetizer plates are made of porcelain, twelve total, and come in a cute matching gift box.
Janet at Three Potato Four sent me a sneak peek at what the shop has lined up for the holiday weekend. They'll be posting a bunch of cute new merchandise on Saturday, so set your alarm clocks kids, this is my kind of shopping! And I love Three Potato Four's photo styling - it all looks so smashing! I'm going to need a big 'cart'!
