heysusy

THE ADAMS FAMILY { angela adams, that is }

I have a rule that I try and follow strictly, which is not to look at other designers' work, or follow what other people in the gift and paper industry are doing too closely. Personally, I find that it cramps my style, so to speak. It can be really hard to get back to doing your own work, and cultivating your OWN style after looking at what other, stylistically strong designers are doing. 

Another thing I find interesting to note is that often, the designers who do best pick a style and stay with it through thick and thin. They commit to it. Become known for it. When people ask my advice on starting a line (which they do, often)...it's hard for me to give it. Because my advice is pretty basic, and not as fun as expected, probably. Make good work. Devote yourself to your OWN style. Innovate. Then...Price it for what the market will bear.

Today I'm featuring the work of Angela Adams because it's not only good to look at, it's also a really great example of how a single style can become really diverse, and yet, still feel unified. For me, that spirit of exploration-- yet with a singular voice and outlook,  is probably what keeps Angela Adams audience coming on back for more. It's like watching something grow!

For inspiration, visit the AA site
I particularly love this green vanity and decor selection!

ps. only one post today...I've got a really crammed afternoon! xx s

ANGLOMANIAC { Vivienne Westwood }

Ohhhh...These candy-colored bags are quite fun to look at. But there is a long story behind them. This weekend, T ran a good article (nested in with a bunch of their usual conspicuously-trendified other articles- they have a pretentious tendency to try and over-prove that they know their subject matter) about their designer, Vivienne Westwood. She is someone who has gone her own way both in business, attitude, and style. I say this not because of her punk roots, but in spite of them. While punk is all about doing your own thing, going against the grain, and being the square peg with joy, it gets a bad rep as a "style".

There are pleny of punks out there without all the Hot Topic trimmings...walking around incognito. Maintaining the talent and vision to go their own way-- whether it's through music, through style, through doing what other people tell them doesn't make sense, through trying to stay zen in a world of adherence...or, like Vivienne Westwood through a creatively-driven life. I call these people "Punks for Life".

So, enjoy the article if you care to read. I'll be pasting in my favorite quote from it later on today.
Vivienne Westwood's Website Here
A little web shop is here
Check out her new World's End shop Here
T article Here

A CLOAK OF MANY COLORS { madeline weinrib }

You probably all know about this already, but Madeline Weinrib is a very inspiring textile designer. I am only mentioning this because I didn't know about her. Because I live under a rock.

Since I started looking at John Robshaw's work a couple of weeks ago, I just can't get gauzy blockprinted fabrics out of my head. And when I was looking back through some old magazines this past weekend, I came across Madeline's designs, and immediately went to her site to check them out. She's the granddaughter of the founders of ABC Carpet and Home. So, she knows a thing or two about carpets, pillows and upholstery. But, regardless of affiliation, her collections are purely beautiful.

Using time honored textile techniques, such as suzani, ikat, block printing, and more (these blue rugs up here are denim!) There's a lot of contemporary flair to her pieces...contrasted by a grounded traditionalism.

Take a peek on the Madeline Weinrib Atelier site. What a treat.
See last week's post on John Robshaw's block printed textiles here.

FABRIGASM { lisa fontanarosa's friends }

This post goes out to all of you who stick with me, even through the Pirate Marching Band Fantasies.

Seriously. Check these out!! Wow. Today, I was curious to see what Adam and Viktoria have been up to, so I took a little swing by Lisa Fontanarosa's site. And I was rewarded with several pillows that I hadn't seen before. Plus, some upholstered dreams come true. I love the bold, engaging, and color-conscious look of their work, which mixes texture and motif in an excellent way. These textiles and pillows are absolutely great in every imaginable way.

Also...a collection that I hadn't noticed before... the work of Bonita Ajuha. Much of which is too understated for my taste-- but I LOVE her Trail Pillows (below). To the point where they get extra stars-- yes, extra on TOP of being a pick, plus yes-- there's more... they get a WDITOT award (Why Didn't I think of That). Personally, I think the white on white Adam and Viktoria pillow and a white on white Bonita Ajuha Trail pillow would look perfect together. On an old white couch...with a bunch of white books...and a lot of white porcelain...and....

Oh, I could go on and on...anyway, ENJOY!

TEAMS { john & yoko, wary meyers }

Hi All.

An early, early post today (it's only 8:30 AM yaaaaawn). But some important news. Wary Meyers has a blog! And, it seems, a Tossed and Found book! So, there's no need to read my blog anymore, because you can just go there, instead. Ha, only kidding. I would love it if you came here on your way there. Thanks for reading and see you on the flip side.

So. I've been a fan of Wary Meyers since I first saw their scripty remade dresser in Time Out NY (which I blogged about way back here in 2007 or so) and it's great to be able to read more about what theY're up to. As someone who grew up in New England in the 70s and 80s, I have an affinity for types of items and melange of decor influences that they celebrate. They seem like things my parents would have had in our chilly old New England house. Right down to the retro posters, yarny rugs, old backpacks, weatherworn anoraks and sailing gear. So, I'm not going to say too much more about it, because you can go and check it out for yourselves. Oh, there's also a book-related interview with them on Design Sponge this week right here.

Anyway, onto the Wedding Album cover and why that is up there too. One of my favorite fashion periods are the years of John and Yoko's partnership. I have always enjoyed their white suits, frazzy hair, and separatist style. The white on white bookshelf at Wary Meyers brought their Wedding Album to mind...and lots of their other early marriage and family photos. So I added that to the mix. More of those iconic years can be seen at this great site. Same decade. Similar energy.

Enjoy the weekend, everyone! Thanks for stopping by. I really hope this made sense. xx s

PLAY ON, PLAYER { zid zid }

Roooooooooowwwwwwwrrrrlllllll! Good morning! Feeling Dandy? Good! Me too. 

So...I've been in love with these gorgeous masks since I first saw them, and I'm thrilled to post them today. They're by Zid Zid...an excellent, handmade, fair trade, A-Grade ...and nicely priced (!) kid's product company. But persoanally, I'd hang these in our (very maturely decorated and grown-up) living room.

I love the asthetic of Zid Zid's line...it's playful, inspiring, and magical. It brings me back to the days before insanely huge strollers, kids who can't eat peanuts, and Louis Vuitton Bambini. Back to the days of marching through the woods, getting dirty, and having real adventures. And, furthermore...who wouldn't want a cape with a big gold star on it? Just a hunch, but it's my opinion that's really what we're all serching for in life, isn't it? Albeit metaphorically.

Ok, maybe not all of us. But anyway, before you get too sick of my snarky tone today...I beg of you...Head on over Zid Zid and have a play date! I'm overdue for one. Are you?

xx   s

PRETTY COOL { aurélie bidermann }

Hidey Hi.

Popping in to share some very cool jewelry that I came across yesterday. I thought these photos were so much fun, and I love the ideas being explored.

While I've seen a lot of jewelry with feathers and geodes, crystals and lace; I really like how designer Aurelie Bidermann keeps it real and textural in her pieces. While you might think that would make the pieces seem harder and more raw, actually, I think the actual natural elements (many of them hand-dipped in gold and silver) actually look more graceful than an imitation would. I love the cuffs of antique lace, made even more precious by a sort of preserving dip in gold...and the cockle shells, almost showing their joyful aura with carefully applied colors. Coral and feathers dipped in laquer...tropical, tribal...amplified.

My Latin teacher told our class once, "A translation is like a stewed strawberry"....meaning...that when you're one step removed from the original thing, it still makes sense, but it loses something undefinable yet palpable. I always liked that expression; and looking at these makes me glad that Aurelie likes to go right to the source.

Visit Aurelie Bidermann's Site Here

CENTS AND CENTSABILITY {penny loafer love}

Hello, Hello! Good weekends? Good. Happy.

Now. Onto today's business. I am SO excited about todays post. I honestly don't think I've been this excited about anything since Krakatoa.  I take the job of providing knowledge on the historical obscurities of classic fashion and personal grooming accessories VERY seriously here at HS* And today, I'm happy to feature The Penny Loafer! 

So, every time I go up to the Adirondacks, I look forward to wearing my trusty loafers; which I leave up in the cabin so I always have comfortable footwear when I arrive. This weekend I said to Kurt..."You know, I'm surprised I don't see more people wearing penny loafers around NYC..." and he said they had a kind of 1960's female expressionist painter charm. This made me realize...it's time to bring my country shoes for a visit to the Big Apple.

The Penny Loafer is a shoe almost as varied as the Penny Itself. My personal favorite is the classic "Penny Keeper" design, which was pioneered by Bass. There are myriad species...heeled versions, patent versions...tassel, and Kiltie varieties (a Kltie is that fringey thing that hangs over the shoe.) My own twist on the PL is to keep coinage with personal meaning into the front.

Shoes aside, I would LOVE to get into the coin-collecting dimension here, but I'll save that little tidbit for another day. I've put a few of my recommendations up here. With mysterious, names like Flowing Hair Chain, Liberty Cap, Coronet, Classic Head and Lincoln Wheat, the US penny has a lot to offer. For a touch of Edwardian or Pre-Punk flair, I recommend looking into UK Coinage as well... Which go by species names like the Britannia, and The Heaton Mint.

Oh, moi? My personal favorite? Glad you asked. A pair of solid gold Widow's Head Queen Victoria Sovereigns. Pricey, but so nicey. Not for spending!

---

Clickable Things...
A History of the Penny Loafer
Where to buy Bass Weejuns
All sorts of PL's. Including the Cole Haan Air Penny shown above
History of UK Coin Denominations (you have to do some digging to find images- but it is worth it)
More info on British coins of the Pound Sterling
All about the American Penny 

THINGS TO MAKE AND DO { fabric frolic }

God I love things like all of these up here. I love the whole raw asthetic. It never fails to inspire me...and to reset my artistic compass. So. How were your weekends, all? Good? I hope they were! Mine was great- although I pretty much worked and got caught up, and that was it. Still I managed to get quite a bit done.

Lately, I'm really looking forward to the future of my business, and of making new products and going into new places with my designs. I'm thrilled to be working on some really fun things right now, and that's keeping me creatively upbeat and feeling inventive.

As for these fun-filled items up here, I can't get enough of handmade, homemade, good ol' down home punk rock inventiveness. Most of the things up here are by independent artists...the exception being the Tom's shoes; which feature the slogan "Make Art Not War" which is quickly taking the place of "Keep Calm". Which I think is interesting. MAKE! MAKE! MAKE! ACTION!

Clickable things:
Tom's Shoes in Remarque (Make Art Not War) Here
Groovy little elephant and funny "Gucci" bag here
Great, raw Striped Totes Here and Also Don't miss This One
World's coolest loafers? Survey Says....Yes! Here by This Person

MINING FOR GOLD { mineral inspired wall coverings }

Ummmm. Yeah. What to say about these up here, other than that I don't just love them, I luuurrrrve them. The beauty is not so much in the patterning (while that is very nice), but in the actual ink choices, which intensify and deepen the natural motifs...something I'm looking at closely as I plan what I'm gonna be doing for next year with SusyJack*...exploring some new finishes and inks!

There's something that feels so right now about this gorgeous ONYX family of wall covering options from Osbourne and Little-- which actually debuted in May. There is a sort of...what to call it...sophisticated awareness? About them.

On that note, my dear, aware, sophisticated friends, I hope you all have wonderful weekends. I plan to enjoy some mellow time here NYC. I have a lot of nice things brewing so I'll be taking a moment to relax before I rev back up again for fall.

Thank you so much for visiting Hey this week! I'll see ya back next week, I hope! xx sus