heysusy

Head On

The other day, as is our holiday tradition, Kurt and I went over to check out the holilday windows at Bergdorf's. Recently, Assouline published a book of all of the Bergdorf's windows...and I can honestly say, it's one of the things in this world that I WANT. I love the style and sense of humor of good window design, and I can just see being so inspired by the Bergdorf windows of bygone days.

Anyway, the reason I'm writing this is because, looking at the cover of the book, displayed in a vignette window, that evening, prompted me to issue a plea, nay, an ARGUEMENT, that top hats for women should experience a renaissence. Actually, let me modifiy that.

EVERYONE NEEDS A TOP HAT.

Ok, ok.
Hats here.
Ridiculous Tease...what? NO "look inside this book"??? Too good for you, Assouline? C'mon....here
This Year's Windows here

My favorite books for creative entrepreneurs (so far.)

Won't you come with me to the magical and slightly embarrassing land of self help? C'mon. Don't be afraid.

As a break from the usual holiday fare of gift guides and wish-lists, I'm going to offer up a little list I've been meaning to post for a while. I was spurred into action by this post which I found really thought provoking on so many levels. I started thinking about my own inspirations, and how hard it is to get started (or keep going) as a creative.

Anyway, these are my favorite books from over the past 35 years-- the ones I think of most often, and sometimes even refer back to. Many of them have changed my mindset, helped me protect my sense of self, and helped me as a creative entrepreneur.

The rest of this post continues after the break. Some of these books have cheesy covers. But they all have great ideas. Promise.

I. DYE.

I love the layered, screened, stitched, re-layered, re-screened, re-stitched textiles, decor, and furniture by Pippa Caley.

The chairs up here are just the beginning. Much more - cushions, lampshades, wall textiles, and closeups - all worth seeing: Here.

The Eyes Have It

I was browsing through T magazine this weekend and noticed this incredibly cool eye motif necklace nestled in between other necklaces by Tom Binns, who I have been meaning to write about for...oh...a couple of years now... anyway, I became curious what it was all about...

After looking around, I realized I've been noticing lots of eyes lately...like the great eye print which I have on my wishlist in the latest issue of Neet Magazine.

Have your own staring contest.
Large eyeball ring here
Watching Me print by Orange Beautiful here
Black and white "blink" by Christina Vantzou print here
Diamond/sterling evil eye charm here   i also like this simple gold eye charm

ps. i'm flying down to atlanta and back tomorrow for business. hopefully, this post will protect me!

A Complicated Portrait

 

Hi Everyone - what a busy week it has been. I've been in the process of refining designs for next year, and I'm almost there... but it's taking a while for me to get them right where I want them.

Above are three images from Alexandra Rowley's series of portraits of her father. I came across this series via this blog, and since I first saw it, I have been thinking about it.

A little personal side-note, my parents recently sold our family home of about 40 years. It was in New England, and the three of us have spoken often about the fact we'll miss New England more than we'll miss the house.

As my parents busied themselves categorizing, packing, and discarding elements of our life there, from afar, I found myself mentally going through each room and picturing the objects in it in my mind...almost trying to mentally solidify them for later reference. In a way, I felt like I was holding each item I saw in my thoughts, almost meditating on it. It's strange how objects can have a life -- or show a life. We are so tied to this physical world, to things, to our effect on things.

This series of portraits above was created in the year of the photographer's father's death. She began photographing his belongings and did not stop until three years later. I have to say, the fact this was a process - in more ways than one -- is what makes it so special. This genre of photography, the "collection" often feels so arbitrary and stylized -- it is amazing to see it as a medium when it actually MEANS something.

I find this series at once disturbing, and loving...and complex...as relationships often are. There is a comfort in these objects, but also a sadness, a remote-ness, and a finality. As a process, this is an interesting way to come to terms with the end of something, someone. The unique fold of a handkerchief, the contents of a pocket, the hard barrier of a necktie... the way the sole of a shoe looks like a smoothed plot of dirt.

I guess I will stop there - you probably get what I am trying to explain.
View more from this series here.

Have a wonderful weekend, and don't forget...the more you look, the more you find!

xx S