heysusy

NEXT WEEK {sneak peek}

Happy Weekend, everyone! Just a little note to mention what I'll be up to here next week...as promised. I'll be following a different posting-schedule, so there will be lots of little posts instead of one really big one each day.

My etsy favorites folder is bursting with designers and artists that I can't wait to mention, and so, I'm indulging in a week dedicated to the handmade inspirations in my life, ranging from the fashion to the art to the obscure categories and everything in between.

After all, if you look around, don't all the big fashion houses and popular stores take their influences from these creative folks? You betcha. See you on Monday!

UNEXPECTED IN THIS WORLD {underdesign}

Hi Everyone!
I'm so sorry I haven't been posting for the past couple of days...I'm suffering from a combination of sinus and migraine headaches, and trying to catch up on all my work when I'm not lying on the couch and moaning. uhhhhhh....

But! This morning I am feeling much better, and so glad to be back at my blog. I know I promised an update on thoughts on NSS-- which I think, given the response the show has got on blogs this year, would be really valuable for readers...so, that is most definitely in the works-- but I want it to be thoughtful, so I'm getting it organized.
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Anyway- I think I have figured out my next field trip, and It's going to be to the CB I hate perfume gallery. As some of you who actually have seen me may know...I have a....'prominent' nose (fig. 1a). And with this genetic wonder-feature, comes a sense of smell that I consider one of my joys to indulge. Actually, when I lived in Boston, I used to go on field trips to the Diptyque store whenever I was feeling blue, and an acquaintance who worked there would humor me and let me just sniff and leave...sometimes letting me buy floor samples for $12 each. Totally worth it!

I also wanted to mention how much I love the CB I hate perfume packaging. The underdesigned quality is in such a stark contrast to the typical bottle of perfume, which generally tries to tell you what it's all about before you even inhale. This design, or lack thereof...assumes intelligence of the customer. That YOU know things smell like, and you have your own associations and experiences. It's very respectful, and yet, powerful. It makes you *want* to smell the product.

This is the power of the under-designed. And it's something I love. When it's done right, without too much irony or negativity, and you can feel the love behind the lack of frills, calling you to make up your own mind, and have your own experience, it's really enticing, surprising, and for me, a total joy.

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I'll be back later today with a roundup of my ideas for next weeks posts. I've really missed doing that these past few weeks...so, stay tuned!

GREATER VISION {Art Direction and V Magazine}

One thing I love about NYC are the bills (posters) that get pasted up on many of the construction site barricades...usually at night, when no one is looking.

I love seeing huge images, that are changing all the time. Frankly, I have a preference for cities that have a lot going on visually...and large graphic stuff all over the place. It's overwhelming, brassy, surprising, and at times, inspiring.

Which is why I'm posting about V magazine. I don't read it, I'm really not interested in hearing the particulars of fashion culture-- but, from a visual standpoint, I loooove to look at the pictures. I've definitely got a strong admiration for fashion photography that pushes the boundaries, and V is full of it. But, I also love the new, bold way that they are using their identity-- I'm wondering if they recently got a new creative director who is better wielding their brand, because it's looking GREAT. This includes the first one that I thought was really spot-on, which featured Gwen Stefani in a great, Matthew Barney-esque, color-saturated spread. Gorgeous.

Anyway-- I'm a huge fan of hard edged, Helmut Newton, 80's style, and V does it proud. Above, I love the mixture of a powdery-pure retro finish meeting a richness of color and pop of dramatic shapes that are what I consider their signature.

There is much, much more to explore at the V Magazine site... and believe me, getting those digital issues is sooo tempting....but, there is work to do, and so, I have to stop ogling! 

IT ALL HANGS TOGETHER {hella jongerius}

I have posted about Hella Jongerius' Shippo Plate series before, but until today, I had not had time to explore her work to the extent I would have liked. I was reminded to read up on her when I received an email from Bradley of Urban Mercantile in San Francisco...who I had the pleasure of meeting at NSS this week.

I didn't know he had a blog...but when I popped over there, I found a bunch of great topics and posts, curated by a thoughtful and comitted entrepreneur. If you like contemporary furniture and items with an eclectic stlye...definitely visit. Bradley is a great writer, and has really interesting insights into the choices he makes for the San Francico retail location of Urban Mercantile.

So, one of the things that had been posted was the Bovist pouffe by Hella Jongerius for Vitra-- which Bradley likens to a shumai. Couldn't agree more...and there is something so delicious and hand-crafted about this design which borders on a vagueness and shaplessness...yet holds it's focus, asthetically.

I found many more thought-provoking works  when I visited the wonderful JongeriusLab, online. Hella shares not only her products, but also her sketches and studio photos...it's great to feel like you're part of the process, and this artist/designer certainly aims to include her audience. Anyway-- I love the way that her designs hang together, even though she is obviously influenced by so many different things. There's a play between nature, craft, antiquity, fantasy and the contemporary which I think creates a wonderful spirit...and complex yet uplifting personal voice, in all of her work. So, if you're feeling like getting inspired to spend the day in your own studio...take a wander over there.

Okay, I'm off to enjoy this beautiful NYC day. Happy holiday weekend, all!

UNRELATED {or so it seemed}

Hi Everyone! I'm back from the frantic headspace I've been occupying for the last few weeks...onward and upward!

Anyway, I received an email from EZ of Creature Comforts yesterday, and it reminded me that I wanted to head over there to check things out...I love stopping by CC on days when I'm super-busy, and I always find EZ writes calming, funny, thoughtful posts...and creates combinations with soothing, soft colors.

I was really excited when I saw some of her newest work-- and I wanted to post here as a way of offering my own little bit of encouragement to someone who I think has a really unique photographic eye. In her post about a couple of these new photos (the string and the scissors), She mentions that she really likes the new direction of these explorations....I do too. There's a focus that I really enjoy-- and I think more of a concentration on a concept...not just on whether something is pretty...I feel like she set these up and was controlling the outcome, and I love it. I really enjoy how each of these photos that she mentions seems to have a personal meaning for EZ, even if she has not uncovered it yet...I think it's there.

Anyway--  I'm a firm believer that there is a deeper level to things visual than just what's pretty...and so I'm always trying to achieve that symbolism and resonance in my own work. Kudos EZ, and I can't wait to see where you chart your course, next!

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I'll be back soon with thoughts on the stationery-- because I think it might be helpful to those of you who are independent designers, yourselves. It was definitely a thought-provoking week, so I'd like to go a little deeper than just showcasing what was on display-- but in my own way, I want to talk about what the show brought to mind.

To everyone who offered their support in the past few months...and days...a sincere thanks. I cannot say enough about how much that support has meant to me-- truly it is the thing that made the business grow, and gave me the courage to really try and do something different...and every day, it helped to know other people thought there was room for me in such a challenging category.

I am really hesitant to post a pic of the booth...because my pictures make it look pretty bad. I think in person, it looks much better! But, it would be really foolish of me not to put something up so I could share the final fruit of the labor of the past few months, so here goes-- I'm not sure if people will find it interesting, but I am also going to post a longer entry when the show is over as a wrap up to the whole 'first year' of my business-- along with a few thoughts on participating in the National Stationery Show in general. I am really glad I did-- and you know me...of course, I have a few thoughts to share!

Also, I'll take a moment just to say, one of the best things about it was actually, physically meeting bloggers and people from the online world who helped me from the beginning. That has been the cherry on top. And in a way...like coming full circle and wonderful.

Anyway-- here it is...without further ado....Eek! I hate to add grainy, slightly out of focus images to my highly curated blog! But...I have no choice.

So...as you can see, the booth is very white. But, as I mentioned before in other posts, the idea is to show off the product, not to overdo it. So far, the response has been great and people are really digging the contrast to other booths.

The whole minimal approach has been a lovely experiment-- and a gratifying one. After all, if you don't expect results, you don't get dissappointed. But I have some lovely results which I'll share soon.

Ok, sleep tight...it's quite late, and I'm writing this from the couch. Off to dreamland....

INTO THE BLUE {here we go!}

Here's a Holga picture Kurt took of me in our Hotel room in Las Vegas about 2 weeks ago...The scan of it doesn't do it justice...the blue of the sky is really much more cyan-y but, it says a lot about my state of mind right now...Just looking out onto the horizon...waiting to see what happens. Strange new terrain.

I do apologize for not posting for the past couple of days-- but the Stationery Show has taken up my time. In true, Susan, DIY fashion, I've been carting over all the stuff myself...well, okay, with the help of a few NYC cabbies and my sweetie.

And today, Saturday, I'll be pasting stuff up in the actual booth. The thing I have to remember is to keep it SIMPLE. Looking around the show, there's lots of...well...stuff. Props, props props, and each booth is like a little head-trip into that particular brand's world. It's easy for me to get turned around and think 'I have to do it like that! Just like them!' But, then I right myself and say...Hey! Susy!, let your paper goods BE the decoration....just like you planned all along. Let them do the talking, and people will make them into what they want them to be.

After all, that's what my designs are all about...symbols and motifs that people pour their own, distinct meanings into...not about foisting my style onto the world.

So, it's a big experiment...but that's what makes it fun, right?......Right?

Okay! More soon. Here I go....

Divine Intervention {the thing you can't explain}

The seminal cubist artist Georges Braques once said that what makes something a work of art is the presence of that thing you can't explain.

Perhaps it was an effect of the gorgeous combinations at Lake that I posted about yesterday and can't seem to get out of my head, but this morning, I couldn't decide whether to showcase the strange, fetishistic, and otherworldly work of fashion photographer Paolo Roversi, the sublime, clay-defying ceramics of Sara Paloma or, the minimalist, two-dimensional, symmetrical and meditative jewelry collection of Polli.

Anyway, after opening up all of the images I had sampled recently from each of these websites, the topic became clear. All three. I love the magic happening between these picks. There's something light, evocative, etherial and well....beyond words.

EXQUISITE VISION {delicious curation}

In researching retailers to send my postcards to, I came across Lake. After one visit to the site, I knew had to post some of the incredible images from this LA based retail venue here, and I was reminded to do so, yesterday

What  struck me most about these images was the feeling of place that they have...it's clear that this shopkeeper has an intimate appreciation for her products-- and a stellar eye for putting together combinations that sing.

I think these images speak about what style *really* is...it's putting together a meaningful combination. A unique take on what you are wearing, how you're wearing it. What you see in it. I love the personality inherent in each of the objects that are showcased at Lake. And, after reading the concise and interesting shop profile, it's clear that I'm getting the right message.

Personally, I love the shot of these light, suede boots. With just the right light and angle to capture the bone color of these gorgeous soles, it tells a story. Also-- the straw fedora and delicious orange blouse...right on.

Enjoy! It's very early...and I'm going to try and get a teeny bit more sleep before starting a very busy day.

JUST COULDN'T WAIT {shop update}

Sigh. I often laugh at myself for having the willpower of a flea and the patience of a housefly. Oh, and not to mention, and this is an actual FACT from when I had my animal tarot cards read: The Warrior Spirit of the....Butterfly. Tough, eh?

That's the case this week, too. Basically, the so-called cat is out of the proverbial bag, and I have uploaded a MAJOR preview of the newest items for all to see in the boutique!

The reason for this is twofold-- I want people who will visit the stationery show to have a better idea of what I am all about, and secondly, I am participating this month at Poppytalk Handmade and thought it would be great to show the newest items off through Jan's wonderful venue. Oh...and thirdly...I was just too excited to sit on it any longer.

Anyway, there is definitely more to come later in the week, including new accessories to match the stationery, and a bunch of wall art panel designs. So, although there is much new to see...there's still more!

And, of course, whatever documentation of the big show I can provide later on this week...