heysusy

USED, LIKE NEW { sally and mark bailey }

Hey Ducks. Yes, yes... apologies for being absent from my blog for a few days. Things are just very busy, and as I often say, when nothing has popped out at me that seems to be of note, I usually choose not to post. I know you are picky. And, ducks, THAT is what I love about you! You would have none of it if I just posted pabulum here for the sake of looking prolific. Right? Ehhh...

Anyway. THIS is postworthy. Promise. Something I've been thinking about lots lately as a business owner is branding. Not just the look of a company-- but the actual energy of a brand. Branding is much more than a logo, and it doesn't have to be as icky and slicky as it sounds. It's actually your entire outward facing side...and hopefully a good deal of the inward workings, too. Everything from customer service, to invoice formatting, to your hold music, to how you treat your staff and collaborators. It is finding out what can work FOR you, and then, making it work for you, in a thoughtful way.

So, I wanted to post about a design duo I just found out about...Mark and Sally Bailey. Not only do I love their asthetic, but it is exciting to see how they have developed it into a store/home concept, and a design and lifestyle attitude, which is present in a delightful variety through many elements of their brand. (See the map of their store below, in which each building has become a part of their store).

Anyway, the idea here is for you to go and check this out yourselves-- so I will stop posting and start linking in a moment. But not before I tell you that they also have a book, and a place to buy CHOCOLATE AND BISCUITS.

Baileys Home and Garden Site Here
Baileys Recycled Home Book Here
Curious Chocolate Here
Quote above from The Independent

Sister, Master { Sister Corita Kent }

Hello My Sweet Darlings! Many apologies for being away...I've been so busy that I decided to put my blog  aside for a few days to make sure all of my retailers and web customers get their orders on time!  And, In related news...to take some time out. This weekend I managed to steal a day off on Saturday...as those of you who follow my (often absurd) twitter feed, may know...on Saturday, I went to a bunch of gallery shows that Should Not Be Missed.

For any of you who are in New York City...or who will be, in the next couple of weeks, I highly recommend heading to the Zach Feuer gallery to see the Sister Corita Kent exhibition; which I was lucky enough to do this weekend.

I was new to Sister Corita's work...but fell instantly under it's spell. This artist (who was a nun for a time, an activist, and a teacher) used pop art vernacular to convey uniquely joyous, meditative, social and spiritual sentiment...with works titled " Come Alive" and "Power Up"...you can just feel the energy, the life, and the humanity in her mindset. I found this work refreshing, positive, and so energized...what a way to zap myself back into the present. 

Anyway, I wanted to share some of Sister Corita's screenprints and work here, and to introduce you, if you haven't heard of her yet. These pieces brought me such joy...and the phrases she uses, often funny, meaningful, and always full of life...made me feel like a whole human being!

More about Sister Corita Kent (art and activism) HERE
Zach Feuer Exhibition, Chelsea, HERE
The Bruce Davidson show at Bryce Wolkowitz was GREAT
This Olaf Breuning show at Metro Pictures was GREAT
and...this Drawing Center show was GREAT..funny and thoughtful. (Ree Morton)

Thanks for your patience, all. I hope you enjoyed a little peek into these gallery shows! I certainly did...

LIKE IT { erica weiner jewelry }

Hey all! Running off to Brooklyn as soon as I eat my Nutella-slathered-Multigrain-Muffin-Thing but wanted to be sure and post this excellent jewelry first.

I did glimpse some of Erica Weiner's jewelry at the Renegade Craft Fair this past summer, but her tent was so crowded that I felt a panic attack coming on just looking from a distance.

While some of Erica's items are decidedly delicate (feathers, hummingbirds etc) I personally love these chunky meets clunky 80's inspired pieces. I normally don't wear logos (my theory is they make people look poor) But really, how cool are these Vintage YSL Zipper Pull Earrings?? ...In an ironically, fashionably, referential way, of course...

And just so you know...they also come in brown.

These pieces available in Erica's Etsy Shop
She also has her own website Here
and...blog Here
and...if you're in NYC, you can even arrange to shop her LES studio over the holidays, how fun!

And of course I can't resist this, but for some totally nerdy proto-pop art fun, I also like this Balantine Ale bottle opener. Jasper Johns would also probably like it. Ballantine. The Original Drink of the 1950's New York City Expressionist Movement.

iklee { where are they now ? }

Hello Kiddos! Took some time to get organized yesterday. So busy...but in good ways. Thank you for being patient with me. I really appreciate it.

So, here's (finally) a second installment of Where Are They Now, a relatively new feature of my blog where we revisit new work by a favorite artist or designer who has previously exploded all over the blogosphere with one or more of their beautifully contagious projects.

My first Where are They featured Knittalatte, whose gorgeous crochet-covered sea stones were the darling of many a design blog..and today, I'm happy to feature another artist, Imke Klee, whose color cards (see below!) made quite an impression on so many of us.

Anyway, I took a spin by her blog and found she has recently moved to Paris..and I can't wait to see what work emerges from that new geography! I also found these recent, gorgeous photos of honeycomb and bee-keeping tools. I love the way these photos use Imke's signautre style of a strict set-up shot, taken from overhead, but bring in some "Tools of the Trade"...they celebrate work, and object, but also create a sacred space around related, purposeful things. I have always liked the implied narrative meeting objectivity in Imke's color composition collections, and it is great to see some what happens to new ideas and items when they are translated by Imke's hands, eye, and lens.

Anyway, I'm going to keep watching, I can't wait to see where she is going!

A View To blog here
Come back iklee! Etsy Shop... i wait patiently... Here
Website here

4 U { cool free drop caps from Jessica Hische }

alling all font lovers, calling all font lovers! It seems we have an urgent situation. Typography designer and illustrator Jessica Hische is boldly attempting to beautify the entire blogosphere one capital letter at a time! Anyway, I was thrilled to discover (through Amy of AMH Design) this new blog, Daily Drop Cap. For those of you who aren't familliar with drop caps, it's the name for a capital letter which nests in the beginning of a paragraph (usually beginning of a chapter) like this one up here. Think illuminated manuscript, or fairy tale. And, you can head on over to Daily Drop Cap to find your own favorites to add to your blog posts! While you are there, take a look at the rest of Jessica Hische's work it's quite inspiring. Actually, she has completed many projects in collaboration with Louise Fili, Ltd. who I blogged about here a while ago. Small World isn't it? Good thing there are Big Lettters to keep things in balance.

Daily Drop Cap Here
(don't forget to read the creative commons usage limitations!)
Jessica's Site Here
Jessica's other blog Here

SMILE WITH ME { illos by jamie shelman }

Drawings like this help me forget that I need a haircut, my Amex bill is due, and Facebook is probably selling personal detail about me to Coca Cola or National Defense.

I was introduced to these illustrations after tweeting something about houseplants, which hit a note with Jamie, who then emailed me. What a treat to discover this work.

These oranges are the essense. And the cat illustrations...not to be missed!
Enjoy. Smile.

Jamie's limited edition prints here
Jamie's Cats here
Jamie's Blog here
AND more wonderful work. here

DARKEST GREEN { standout hue }

I just had to stop when I saw this gorgeous pant-suit...what a color! Really, one just doesn't see that much compellingly sophisticated dark green around these days. Perhaps it's an expensive color to really make happen...or, maybe it's just not popular.

Which is why I'm celebrating it today. Whenever I see something that makes me stop, I always like to make a note of it. I love the presence of this lustrous, jewel-tone green. It's understated, quiet, yet makes such a memorable and confident statement. I'm not talking about plain old dark green, or moss green, or bright green, kelly, or malachite. I'm talking about this green...that green.

Here are some links!
Suit: Apiece Apart Spring 2010 (love this whole line)
Jewelry: Elva Fields
Bag (not green, but I thought it was relevant to the suit!): Marni
Photo: Tom Fowlks

DARING FEETS { osborn design studio shoes }

Whimper, whimper...Insanely busy for the next couple of weeks...trying to get orders packed, things accomplished and organized...and projects out the door! Would rather be under desk, rocking back and forth and twirling hair.

Taking a moment to gaze upon these fabulous shoes at Osborn Design Studio...Would look quite groovy with a mini-dress...don't you think?

Also, below...a painting by same, below.
View their website here...MAKE HASTE!

I AM CONVINCED { day and a mysterious visitor }

So...I ended up not posting a weekender "jewelry to go with your gray sweatshirts" post because I got so absorbed in this website and their compelling asthetic that I completely forgot. I'm sorry! It happens.

I make it up to you, hopefully, with this link. Seriously, click on everything available and get lost in Day Birger et Mikkelsen's excellent wild meets urban meets quiet style sense. Wonderful!

In other tangentially related news this weekend, I'd like to share what happened outside our window on Saturday Night....K. spotted a HUGE bird quietly perched across the way on the opposite fire escape. When I say huge, I mean...like...about as tall and wide as a skateboard, maybe taller and wider. It was tucked just out of sight, with it's face in the shadows. It stayed there all night, sleeping, I imagine. When I woke up at 4 AM, it was still there...but it was still too dark to see many details. I saw it take in a big breath, and the shape expanded. The feathers on it's breast blew in the wind, just slightly...it perched completely still...and stayed.

When I woke up and it was light out, it was gone.

This was truly magical for me-- I often feel something magical has happened when I see a large animal in the "wild"...like when I saw that huge fish swim up to the dock at Lake George... It was a moment when I forgot about myself, completely. What it's like to be completely, surprisingly, selflessly, absorbed into something else...something beyond your own world.

Wherever you are, mysterious bird, I hope you are well.

DOWN, BUT NOT OUT! { the gray sweatshirt gets some love }

Hoodie zip sweatshirts will always be popular for their versatility (if you're too hot, you can open up and air out). But there is something so great about the basic, gray pullover sweatshirt. I love it because you can't escape from it! ...and it's tempered with that sort of awkward 1950's high-school sports team try-out thing (think Danny when he's trying out for track to impress Sandy in Grease...pompadour and all!).

It may look like a weakling....but it is scrappy!

So...I thought today I'd present some classic varieties, and a few updates on this look. Nice for a Friday, right? Of course, I opt for the classic at the top left as my first choice. But-- the one at the bottom right has the benefit of two big hip pockets. Perfect, perfect.

Links...clockwise from top left:
Classic Pullover $11! - here
Ruffle Dress, I pretty much like anything by Preen - here
Long Sweater- normally can't stand anything Juicy has been even part of but this isn't bad - here
Pocketed Dress $39! - here
Classic Pullover (pricey, but I bet it's worth it!) - here
Elongated Classic Pullover - here

I'll be back later today with a weekender... some accssories that are sweatshirt-approved!