heysusy

MAKE IT WORK! { laura skelton and prix prix }

Often, when I'm in vintage stores, I see so many neckties...just lying there in all their patterned, bygone glory... Each one with a story...each one, to me, representing the style choice of some anonymous person. And it always makes me a little sad, sigh...ties are a little too small to make anything out of...

Then along comes Laura Skelton. And all the neckties yell out, clamoring in their bin... "Hey, Laura...over here!! Wouldn't I make a great wallet? Whaddaya think of me for a necklace? I could be your guy! Well helllloooo lovely lady!"

She saunters over to the Necktie Waiting Area...and picks one out that catches her eye....Yes...he'll do just fine....

"Hey! She's picking Steve! Hey, Steve, you lucky guy! Bon Voyage Steve! Don't Forget To Write!!"

But Steve doesn't hear them...he's off to live his next life as a new accessory. He's with Laura, and she's gonna make him feel brand new.

I really enjoyed writing this...and I really enjoy Laura's products and concept. I think these designs are very 'of the moment'. Recycled, somewhat preppy, clever without irony, personal, and a menswear look that will work for the ladies. Not to mention, they can probably be personalized if you sent in your own tie-- for example, that one with the whales that your dad always wore! (Hi dad!-- just kidding-- I'd NEVER mess with the whale tie!)

Visit Prix Prix Here
Visit Laura's Etsy Store Here
Visit her blog...Here

Enjoy! 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!

PAIRS { band on the run }

Hello everyone! Lovely weekends? Yes? Well, that's what I like to hear. Yupper!

I am not offering a large post today. Reason being that I think Pirates and Drum Majors in a single post are pretty sufficient. We'd better hope they get along. So far, so good. Seriously, I'm having WAY to much fun imagining a ragged gaggle of castaway band-members...with their once-crisp jackets tattered and torn...their brass buttons dented and dinged... their instruments beaten and dented... their braided epaulets unraveling in the salt air...Hey! Perhaps this post will inspire John Galliano's next foray! Or, maybe it will just prompt me to drink less coffee.

So. There you go. I'm heading over to the studio...and hopefully, going to get lots done. Rejoice! Then take your tuba to the beach.

Pirate Ships From France HERE
Leader of the Band Vintage Jacket HERE

xx s

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

GOT BRASS IN POCKET { money clips, key fobs, chrissie }

Ok, before you read this, for a little musical accompaniment, please put on Brass In Pocket by The Pretenders.

This post was inspired by that song. Here's the great thing about  Chrissie Hynde. She actually moved to the UK from the US Midwest (Ohio)  to find the kind of people who would 'get' what she was trying to do, musically. I love that idea...if you can't find an audience for what you love to do, what you feel is in your heart to do, where you are...you must go and seek it out. Even if it's different and new.

The other thing I love about Chrissie Hynde is her strange, subversive, and powerful beauty. As I often like to do on this blog...I like to remind myself that beauty is about SO much more than what you look like, where you shop, or how young you look. It's about going places, acheiving things, being, becoming, and doing.

Anyway, here are some wonderful pieces I found to accompany me on my own journey. Where? Today, Brooklyn. Tomorrow? Who knows!
Enjoy your day, you fabulous creatures. xx s

LOVE key set found here
I adore the Indian Head Nickel. This gorgeous money clip is from BonBon Oiseau
Antique Brass Keyfobs in a cool variety of motifs also from the talented BonBon Oiseau
Check out BonBon's blog, where SHE IS HAVING A GIVEAWAY!
Antique Key and Hotel Key Tag (so cool!) found here (worth doing a search)

FRIENDS WITH BENEFITS { designers give back }

I love the idea of giving something when I purchase something. Lately, I've noticed several really beautiful new products created with a cause in mind, and I've been thinking of creating a few limited edition products that would benefit environmental and animal-welfare causes.

Businesswise, doing a pro-bono or "proceeds go to" project or capsule collection in your own line is a great way not only to promote a cause you believe in, but to gain positive buzz for your own products. Also, as a designer, I think it's a great doorway into designing something that you might not have otherwise-- and to step outside your usual collection's asthetic and allow yourself to be inspired by something new, while using your signature style to express it. (Diane Von Furstenburg's projects up here are a good example).

Communitywise, donating proceeds from projects to ideas you care about is a way to build connections with other creatives and contacts who are also involved, and to share a common purpose with other people. Anyway, I thought I would share some of them here. You can check them out to see which causes they're giving back to.

Links:

I ADORE Sarah Pinto's 2010 planners and notebooks. This new designer has a small, versatile, and focused line of books. View these products and learn more about Sarah's personally charged cause at See Jane Work

A brand that has always inspired with their one for one policy-- Tom's. I'm really loving their new lace-up Cordones!

Diane Von Furstenburg supports local and worldwide causes with her Proud to Be Woman Tote and High Line Beach Towel

And finally, Etsy is a great place to create buzz around a cause you care about... search for Etsy Project Embrace to learn more about what these smart Etsians are doing with their hearts and hands.

If you have seen any products that have a great cause behind them, post them here so that we can check them out!  : )

Rural Settings { inspired by the farm }

Hello Everyone!

I'm sorry that I didn't post yesterday-- there was just too much to do around here and I lost track of time. And sometimes, you know, nothing is really popping out at me...and so, on those days, I'd rather say nothing than post something I know isn't really quite there.

Anyway, that is happily *not* the problem today...because last night, through Trunkt, I received a message from Fey Handmade...and when I went to check out the shop online, I thought "problem solved!! Hooray!!"

I was instantly smitten by the selection of photography-- especially of the beautiful, glowing red barn, which reminds me of when I would drive back through Vermont on my way to Boston...in the early, foggy morning...to beat the traffic. The gray light would make all of the woodsy colors and textures glow.

Since that doesn't happen too often here in NYC, I'm thinking maybe some soap from Saipua would help me get back that grounded feeling...and some proper equestrian earrings? Well, perhaps not grounded, but Hey is for Horses today.

Get your Farm Finds On at Fey Handmade.
Be voted Most Popular at the Farmer's Market with these reusable canvas vegetable bags (below)
ps. The Chicken Sampler is from my own folder of inspirations. Inspired by Chickens??? Yes, that's what I said.

Enjoy!! xx s

GATHER ROUND { lovely clusters }

Hi Ducks! Just popping in for a minute today because I am off to work in my new space...and I'm late already. And my boss? Well, you know how cranky she can get.

Anyway...I received a nice email from Rachel Follett, the designer behind Design Lovely about her new venture, a shopping site called Lovely Clusters, where I found some new work by some of my favorite independent designers (White Owl, and Elephantine, a really new line by a different blogger, also named Rachel)  and was introduced to some new favorites (Cassia Beck)! As a blogger, I love sites like Lovely Clusters, because they make weeding through the internet so much easier. As an entrepreneur, I love them because I enjoy seeing where other independent designers are going with their work, and getting inspired through the images and styling of so many different artists.

Anyway...Thank you Rachel F., for the tip-- and I hope you all add a new favorite to your lists today! There certainly are a lot of creative and talented folks out there to choose from. If anyone else has a new favorite they'd like to share here, please do-- I would love to know what else you readers are loving right now!

Enjoy your weekends, all! Thanks for visiting. 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