spiralbound_

spiralbound_ unwound

What? No more spiralbound???

Well, no, not really. I'm just moving a few houses down. Basically, to a house with one more bedroom.
So...now I'll be blogging about all things spiralbound_ and all things Susy...like my business, susyjack*, my studio scd and my jewelry collection susyluxe* over at HEYSUSY*.

Don't worry. There will still be plenty of posts about sneakers, people dressed as gumballs and how to accessorize with pencils.

But, there will be more of them, because I'll be posting in one place instead of 75.

ciao! and please do drop in...

sus   

SEEING DOUBLE

Absolutely LOVING this print by Leesa Leva who I found while experimenting with pimping myself on a VIRB, a social networking site. Well, as one of my favorite male muses, Jack White, says 'you can't be a pimp and a prostitute, too.' So, I don't think I'm cut out for the myspace, facebook thing....but Virb showed promise...and hopefully soon, they'll have more robust sections for fashion, art, culture...right now, they're centered on music. So I'll give it a try in the spirit of experimentaiton...but all that really happened was I ended up killing 4 hours trying to figure out how to make my page look good, only to still have no friends. sigh.

But! More Importantly!! Onto Leesa. I'm loving her new work-- and I would definitely hang this in my apartment.  I'd love it in a larger than life size. To me, this piece does something really important. Something I always look for in art. I ask myself 'Could this Have been made at any other time in history??' Well, with this piece, I say nope. It's today...in a nutshell.

The siamese-splitting of the Olsens is pretty ingenious, I think. I love the way she's really concentrated on the difference in their faces. Also, the rorschach bloom in the back is really great. I just adore this powerful and arresting piece.

Below are more pieces of Leesa's work, and you can read more about her on her VIRB page, I love Birdy.
 

STRICTLY SPEAKING

I woke up this morning to check on Etsy's  front page, and there, staring back at me was work by Brandi Strickland.  So...over to her shop I go...and she's quite prolific. Personally, I really enjoy her collage work the most. I love how just a few simple elements tacked to a piece of paper tell the beginnings of a story.

There's a game you can play...in 6 words....tell an entire story. When asked to do this, Ernest Hemingway thought for a while and said "For Sale. Baby Shoes. Never Worn." It's morose, I know. But, then again, you could imagine that the baby grew wings and never needed to walk like the rest of us. Or, that he simply refused to put on his shoes. Either way, short stories get me thinking.

You can also find more of Brandi here at her own website.

ANALOG WILDERNESS

Yes, there's much to be said for digital cameras. But, if you are looking for a hobby...or, just to get back in touch with reality, instead of the computer screen, then consider a Holga.

Not only will you enjoy the Holga's tough, no-nonsense functionality, but perhaps you will also find yourself falling for her atmospheric, softly focused charms. Above and below, two pictures my boyfriend Kurt took over the past couple of weekends...one from here in NYC (soho) and one from Annendale, up at Bard College, where we went to see the Keith Edmier  show. I bought him (Kurt, not Keith Edmier) a Holga for Christmas, plus a book about how to use it (actually for a little, inexpensive camera, the quirky yet stalwart Holga is capable of a multitude of beautiful effects...not to mention, you never really know what you're gonna get.)

For more on the Holga and her counterparts, check out The Lomographic Society  which is like the iconoclastic person's version of
flickr.

START UP

I thought these illustrations showed promise. While you can see that this illustrator is still finding his signature style, his most recent work is quite beautiful. I think certain parts of these drawings look a little hesitant-- like the hands, and some of the linework which looks a bit tentative. But, the overall ideas and structures--- the concepts are really lovely. His newer work is definitely worth checking out. Personally, I'd like to see even more white in these. I'm really loving how it is used as a highlight, but I'd like to see the white really blow out the detail in some areas.

SAY SOMETHING, SEE SOMETHING, .

ROPE TEXTURE.
Yet another reason to read the handy dandy spiralbound Trend Ether column/list to your left..because it's fairly accurate! Above, from today's T magazine (which is published by NY Times and available online right here a couple of images showcasing what I meant by 'rope texture'...bullseye.

CHARROS. MATADORS. MARIACHIS.
And a lesson for myself...if something pops out at me, I need to get my lazy behind over to my spiralbound_ admin page and post it. So...FYI I am updating Trend Ether today to include...Up and Coming....Matadors. Mariachi Suits, Buttonry, Charros (those are Mexican Cowboys, fyi) anything remotely Folk/Mexi/Glam/Charro. There is a beautiful, glitzy, folk-vernacular symmetry, ornamentation and joy and drama in these themes. If you want to check out what I"m talking about go here. or here.  No, those are not very Vogue examples...but accuracy counts with me!!

CHIFFON IN DIRTY 70'S SUNSET HUES
Below, the first photo is from an artist book about Paris by belleslettres popped out at me when I was reading about her as a featured seller on etsy waaaay back on February 2. I immediately grabbed it and put it on my desktop for further inspection. Today...I see similar colors/materials in T (see second photo, below.) Dear T, are you reading this blog? Please say yes. Anyway- I am not a huge fan of wearing chiffon. But...in photos, it does look beautfiul.

NOT FAR OFF

Not only is spring not far off...but, I just wanted to note the spring color forecast from Pantone which has been blogged on decor8. Gotta say...my predictions weren't far off! Mine were a little brighter, and more acidic, but hey. Nothing wrong with that! Anyway, I'll be wearing my own interpretation, regardless.

TIE ONE ON

Loving these ties at Ulterior Motive. Great for girls, or guys...I'm especially fond of the skinny ties, since they're not *too* skinny...just right. Plus, the way that the design goes around the neck and then stops is quite elegant.

Also, they have some really cool, slim Tie Clips and Money Clips if you're looking for a gift for your sweetie this Valentine's day.

COLOR AND SHAPE: FELT BEADS

My eyeballs fell in love with these beautiful, embroidered felt beads at Mimosa on Etsy. Made in Morocco, and embroidered by hand. I love the hot, spicy colors, and the vivid, energetic designs. Each one of these is like a little world...like a little planet, like a little sculpture. For an extra treat, click on the images and look at the pics enlarged...they're glorious.

***This Just In as of Wednesday, Jan 31*** Annette of Mimosa has just contacted me and let me know that she will give a 20% discount to readers of spiralbound_ at her lovely shop (just by going there, you feel like you've gone on a little trip overseas.) So, just convo her prior to ordering, and let her know you are a reader!

Totally Rand

Shame on me!

I haven't posted in a long time. Shame. Shame.

It's mainly b/c I've been working on this stuff and on this stuff. And I've been basically slammed.

Ok, now that's done, feast your eyes on the incredibly comforting work of gobuggy, who I just discovered via etsy's Featured Seller section.

...many people who know me know that I adore-- ADORE! dumplings, and can't resist them. Although I'm now sitting here wondering about the nutritive powers of felt, I'm also wondering how these would look on my shelves.

In other news, more references that people who enjoy this blog might enjoy:
Good book: Unmarketable by Anne Elizabeth Moore. About the ways that large corporations co-opt the ideas of the punk, diy, indie and craft movements in order to sell more of their wares and build their brands.

Good Film: Stranger than Paradise directed by Jim Jarmusch. Just really enjoyed this, plus has a few great shots of 80's NYC.

Good Music: Peaches by the Stranglers. Totally my favorite song. So go take a listen...you can hear it on youtube for freebies, like. It's a raunchy song, but...the groove, c'est fantastique.

Also...if you have the time check this out...it's a nice interpretation of a classic. I've never embedded a movie before into this blog...but here goes:

THE NEW DEAL

So...when I was interviewed for the Etsy Storque last week, one of the questions that was asked was 'do you have any new features planned for spiralbound_?"

I thought about it...and this is what happened. The New Deal: Each week, I'm going to try to find 2 wonderful items to feature here on spiralbound_. One will be a high-end item, and the other will be a comparable handmade alternative.

Here's the first installment!
Chanel No 5
Classic. Classic. I could bathe in this and never have enough.
Price $155

vs

Signed 5 x 7 Chanel No 5 Print by emmakisstina.
Beautiful for your boudoir. Handmade.
Price $15.00

ELKE THE OBSCURE.

Ohhhh, wow. I really love Elke Kramer's little pouches for her jewelry...more of which is available at Modamuse, the fantastic AU and NZ online boutique...perhaps even more than the jewelry itself. They make for an absolutely wonderful experience with an independent designer...worth every penny for a truly unique experience.

She also makes pendants that are more abstract...but I am a big fan of this Legacy Brooch, which looks sort of like one of the medals that people used to wear in the 1910's...for membership in some obscure club. I'd love to see her explore that obscurity further. This little piece is fantastic. More, please!

They remind me a little of McSweeny's in their mysterious and out of context writing style.

MEZMERIZED

Can someone pleeeeaaase translate this for me?

Because I need one of these. It's funny, I spend lots of time contemplating lots of visual styles...then, I come across something as simple as a bunch of wood in a simple, flat, geometric design, and I'm floored. (No pun intended). I love these– especially the top. Being that big round earrings are my favorite thing to wear lately, I would LOVE to have any of these made into a pair.

These are made by ViVá, who recently added me as a contact on flickr.

There are also some beautiful, double-drilled square necklaces in the same, mezmerizing horizontal motif. But, I'll let you see those for yourselves.

PLUNGING NECKLINES

Yes, it's true... I posted about incredible jewelry yesterday...but I had to follow up with another when I found Rust Belt at the new 'designer direct' shopping siteSupermarket.

I'm completely smitten by the textures and colors combining in this work. I love the way the rough edges, organic texture, and matte finishes play with the more formal elements, like clasps and chain.

Above: Metal Necklaces, Earrings, Jute Necklace and a Bracelet...trés jolie.

CLEVER GIRL

If you're not familliar with the work of Elizabeth Yarborough, then go take a peek right now.

What I truly adore about Elizabeth Yarborough's design is her love of the quality of objects, and her abilty to not just transform them, but to celebrate them for their BEST qualities. It's clever, yet not overly ironic.

A leather button becomes a simply gorgeous ring with attitude...
A frizzy piece of mohair adds delicacy to a chunky bangle...
Simple necklace clasps transform a charm necklace into a functional and beautiful, and wearable, customizable toy...
A big satin bow gets the royal treatment...

ALL THIS, AND MORE.

2008 Color Forecast and New Trend Ether

Inspiring colors for early (still cold) Spring to Summer 2008.
Drawing on India-themed colors...think spices and saris...
bright yellow gold and filigree.

BUT...take it into a country weekend beatnik palette with truly acidic greens, bright red matte lips and brassy, bronzy yellows...added to faded, mismatched blacks and green-browns.

Musty old books and Weekends at the Farm.
Reading Ginsburg.
Redheads in Pink Sweaters.

Nubbly Textures and vintage wear combine with foggy silks and misty denim.
Naples Yellow. Your mom's old box of oil paints.

Mauve Happens.

Watercolor washy blues and dark eyelashes.
Orange and umbers the color of fox fur.

And, last but not least...a new feature on spiralbound_ ... the Trend Ether...Which will serve to remind me what I think is coming up. Vague at times, but hopefully information enough for accuracy.

INSIDE MIND

Hello, and happy Black Friday all. I know I've posted about Essimar before, but not like this. If you want to loosen up your mind a little, then take a ramble through her flickr page.

It's like going to an open studio. The sense of someone traveling deeper and deeper into their own paper-process-induced world...and you go with her. This is an artist that I think will change things--whether she is credited for it or not. Her asthetic is precisely what's needed right now. Enjoy.

The images above are from her website, and her flickr acct.

YOURS, TRULY

Just so you know. You can thank my mom for this information. I had no idea WonderWoman was into terrycloth!

GOD OF SMALL THINGS

Much like gum, I feel that the pencil is overlooked as a chance to accessorize. Seriously, if I had my pick, would I be a Criterium, a Venus, an Escolar? An Executive? Not sure. But they all sound so....1962 Desk Set. Yep. Loving that.

Not to mention the typography and the colors are the sorts of things that make me want to get emotional. Anyway, thank god for Bob Truby's Brand Name Pencils. A site after my own heart. Informative, obsessive, organized, and entertaining. Somehow, ephemera always stirs the imagination.

TRUE FINDS

Y'know what I love about Etsy? I love that it's full of stuff you just wouldn't find anywhere except maybe in the Dover Street Market. But it costs less.

I'm considering doing a holiday shopping guide. But I'm not sure. I basically am hungover, and not sure about anything. Except I'm sure feeling snarky today, and except I'm sure I like this stuff up here.

Blame Tweed=Green Thumb Designs
Green Dress + Feather= Ultra Retro
Brooch Brooch= EVOD
Bunny=Essimar

And I'm sure This Whole Thing makes me feel scared.

GIMME FRINGE

Ok, so...here's what you do. You get a really big piece of Jersey Knit Material in a color that you like. Make sure it's big. You get a ruler and a sort of dull pencil. You draw long, parallel lines on a section of the fabric and cut along them with a sharp pair of Fiskars. There you go. One fringe scarf coming up. If you are feeling extra frisky, sew it to a t-shirt.

So, I've been obsessed with fringe jackets since I can remember. And, one thing I do know, is that I still very much am. I love the trend of fringe that I'm seeing lately...and so, here's a little post about it. One thing...I think Fringe Today should be worn in a color, not in natural. That's just my opinion. So-- a dark brown, a white, a red, a yellow, a turqoise. I like the idea of seeing the shape of the fringe. Color helps that to happen. And the LONGER THE BETTER. Above are some picks...the scarf being my fave, and sold at Urban Overpricers. Um...but these other goods can be found at: Lucky, and at Minnetonka and at...Prada. Too expensive for me to even provide a link. And labels are so not me.

Anyway...oh, one more thing. I just want to say that I originally posted about the moccasins Way back in 2005 soooo. It's nice to see that come to fruition. Now THAT's what I love keeping a blog. Pats self on back.

R, S, T, L, N, E

Trend alert! Customized, Personalized letters, just for you. This goes way beyond "HIS" and "HERS" towels. I love these scrimshaw-style rings and awesome (yes, awesome, I still use that word) selection of actual vintage letters names and personalized zodiac signs from Day Lab. Think Laverne on Laverne + Shirley. There you go!

La Cranque

Ok, so please tell me why South Korea gets a Swear store, and NYC does not? Please tell me one good reason. I've been posting about Swear since I started this blog, and I feel I deserve a store in my area. Seriously, having Urban Outfitters carry a couple of pairs online only will simply not do. It will not do.

Desira Desira

These sketches/prints by Desira Pesta are my latest visual treat. I really, really love them...especially the unfinished, scratched on a wood tabletop at a bar quality they have. As a big Diane Arbus/Nan Goldin fan, the re-interpretation of some of these portraitss (and the incorporation of some new ones) in sketch form feeds a few of my artistic cravings...not to mention there are versions applied to dresses, shirts, totebags as well.

I am not sure but, I think in Latin "Desira Pesta" means "I want the plague", or "I want the sickness" either way, I got it bad.

Update: Desira herself has informed me that her name is Italian. Not Latin. I have been exposed for the nerd that I am...but anyway, here's an interesting tidbit. In Italian, Pesta means "Footprint". This concludes today's lesson in "Making Sure You Use The Dictionary Before You Go Posting What You Think Something Means."

Chic Click

Well, normally I really don't pay *too* much attention to the Fashion Weeks around the world...but one day a couple of weeks ago, I just happened upon a slideshow of some shows from Milan Spring 08...and so I had to look through them...all 357 of them. Well, there really was only ONE slide that popped out...and so, I had to download it, and you see it above. This screen grab has been lounging around on my desktop since then, and I almost posted it immediately, but I thought it looked too much like the chewing gum I posted about prior...so I thought I'd wait.

Anyway...what further interested me was that this is a Fendi slide...and after the fact (the next day) all I heard was that the only show that really had anything of interest goin' on was Fendi. So, I pat myself on the back for spotting that one, even though I bring it to you much too late. This is one thrilling belt.

Fendi is the master of the belt for 2008 spring as far as I am concerned. See above, and also more explorations of this rectangular cabochon belt here. Lovely feminine/20's/futurism going on. Lovely.