heysusy

OR ELSE { alternate uses for cool vintage items }

Good Monday Morning, sweethearts! I hope your weekends were wonderous. Mine was...work-filled. Taxes. Paperwork. Invoicing. Tabulation. Computation. All the little bits and pieces that require more concentration than I typically have during the week. Things are getting BUSY. So, just probably this one post today-- but it's a good one!

These really cool vintage cheerleading megaphones seemed like just the thing to put up here for a Monday. Go Team! You Can Do It!

I like the idea of inspiring myself with objects I love...finding new uses for everyday things, which I'm sure you can tell from my own collection and designs. There's an element of surprise, but also a kind of delightful transportation that occurs when an object appears out of context.

Each of these would work well, and happily, they are all available for sale. 

In fact, you can find them right here.

THE POSEIDON ADVENTURE { sea botanicals }

The student in me loves to see the sheer variety of plants which grow in the sea...each leaf, stem, and tendril created to harvest energy from the sun and ocean in a certain way...

The abstract artist in me loves to see the way the shapes of things evolved in the ocean retain their flow when pressed onto paper. 

Some of these are already sold, and some are not, but I thought you might enjoy them. While there are lots of prints of seaweed out there, somehow, having the actual plant pressed on paper creates a different kind of "drawing". There's a process there that feels less scientific and more reverent.

See more here.

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

BLOCK PARTY { JOHN ROBSHAW }

I'm loving the simple, honest prints of John Robshaw. The patterns and colors are somehow very peaceful and positive without looking like trendy. Perhaps it's the blue and white? Or maybe the lovely substrate of organic cotton. Either way, his textiles hold color and pattern in a beautiful, accessible way. Personally, I really love the random, constellation-like dotted pattern up there...but they are all so beautiful.

And...since it's sort of related...can someone please tell me how to work an elephant into my logo? I think I need an elephant.

Definitely check out...
John Robshaw's Pillows
John Robshaw's Textiles and Fabrics (great, traditionally block-printed linen)
Beautiful lightweight robes... what a wonderful gift one of these would make.

COVERING HISTORY { PENDLETON }

Hi Everyone! How you?

So, yesterday before I went and met Kurt and a friend for German Food, I stopped off at the park to sit on a bench for a little while. I love the little walk back to the subway from my new workspace. There's a little park, and although I only spend a short amount of time there on my daily trek, I love having even a minute of nature back in my life (these are the sad truths of being a city dweller!)

The smell of fall was in the air. I watched a leaf make it's way down from a tree, and it sort of swayed here and there, as it fell. It's path was completely incalculable, and it brought me a lot of peace and focus, even though it only took a moment.

So, today, I thought it was the perfect time to post these  Pendleton Blankets. I've been so inspired by Native American patterns lately-- I love the story they tell and the way that just by looking at them, I can feel a more lyrical connection to life's story. Bright, complicated, full of contrast and connections...not to mention something you can hand down through generations...my dad bought me a Pendleton a long time ago...and it's still just as warm today. As blankets go, they are The Best. IMHO a perfect wedding or graduation gift. They last a long time.

The Pendleton Website
Read about the company history-- since 1909
View their beautiful line of bed  blankets and (how cool) saddle blankets.
Also, some of their blanket coats are not to be missed.

I hope this made you feel a little warmer-- I feel a little warmer. xx s

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

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

COLOR CHOICES { early fall at toast }

There are some nice colors happening at Toast for early fall! I really love how they've focused on certain hues to achieve their vision for the season. Looking at their latest catalogs reminds me that I should be less arbitrary with my own color choices.

Looking through their catalog, I saw many shots that combined earthiness with pops of bright, spicy colors...and their signature, comfortable, rustic style that doesn't go too far into the quaint. I was reminded of the interior color palette of this apartment, which I posted about a month or so ago...oops, I mean in May (things move fast around here!), which a lot of readers seemed to like quite a bit!

Variety Show { inspired by Modern Cabaret }

Wilkommen, Bienvenue, Welcome. Fremde, Étranger, Stranger...

Today, in addition to this post I direct you to Bon Bon Oiseau's blog,  Your Destiny Is Stone Golden, where I am the guest-postress du jour. Also, I will be gp-ing tomorrow at What Posessed Me. In the meantime...for your viewing pleasure...This weekend, while I was sick, Kurt rented Cabaret for us to watch. And I think this post is inspired by that (I also posted a tiny, hinting  tweet about it last night)... So, I direct you here for some fine musical accompaniment to this post.

I adore variety, and eccetricity, and city life, and joie de vivre... and could these KISS signage pieces say it any better? That dark jade color is probably, most probably, my number one Color Forecast for 2010 fall/winter. Not to mention it's the color of Ms. Sally Bowles nail enamel. Divine Decadence, darling.

Also, I'm hungering after this Stephen Sprouse illo. How close can the 1980's get to Toulouse Lautrec's wonderful observational sketches? I'd say about that close. Ah, Ephemera, Eccentricity, Élan. The three E's to keep in mind when feathering your own Cabaret.

Find more random inspiration (and many of these antique items) > here
More about Mr. Sprouse > here
Enjoy your day! xx S