Boy Wonder from Down Under

I first heard of this kid a few years ago on Boingboing, and was recently re-introduced to his work. Pogo is a 20 year old musician from Australia who specializes in remixing audio from movies. He also makes videos for the songs by remixing the movies he ripped the audio from. My favorites are Alice (from Alice in Wonderland) and Expialidocious (from Mary Poppins). I love this kind of culture remixing.

snazzy shoes from Greenpoint and Guatemala

I met up with my friend at the Brooklyn Flea this weekend. By the time we met up he had already bought some of the snazziest pair of shoes I've seen in quite a while.

Turns out they were designed by Osborn Design Studio. A local business run by couple Carla Venticinque-Osborn and Aaron Osborn in Greenpoint. They work with cobblers in Guatemala to make hand made, fair trade shoes out of locally sourced materials. Oh, and did I mention they're really snazzy?

You can't get much better than do-goodery and great design. You can pick up a pair for yourself at Alter, Oak, or their stall at the Brooklyn Flea. Every color way is limited run, so act quick!

They're bad. We get it.

Part of President Obama's legislation for tobacco industries calls for the doing away of colorful packaging, limiting cigarette packs and cartons to just the use of black and white text and warning labels. To me, that merely sounded like a challenge. Apparently, The St. Petersburg Times did too, because they asked Dj Stout to come up with new marketing designs for a brand like Marlboro which embrase the new law. I wish my reds looked like this now.





The rest of the article and images here.

The Artless Artist's Guide to Artistic Achievment

While perusing the $1 book carts outside of Strand a week ago, I came across this little treasure

What initially seemed like an overly ironic tongue-in-cheek Urban Outfitters style gag gift is actually a really endearing little guide for those less classically talented in the realm of visual art. The introduction reads:

"This book was written for people who feel the creative urge, but think they lack the talent needed to bring about a work of art."

I know, I know, give me a break it was written in the 70s.

"No book can provide the reader with artistic talent or make a Michelangelo out of anyone. However, there are a great many people who fail to recognize the talents they do have... Never be afraid to attack any project; there are no real mistakes in art."

The book is comprised of six chapters with names like "Drawing that almost Draw Themselves" and "Paintings Produced the Painless Way" and feature simple projects almost anyone can do such as silhouette portraiture, rorschach art, and tracing photographs. I have scanned and uploaded the entire book to Flickr for your browsing pleasure.

Fashion Humor

Fashion takes itself so seriously sometimes. That's why I love people like Jeremy Scott, and Agatha de la Prada so much.

Refinery 29 just brightened my day with their post poking fun at one of the most serious of all fashion bloggers, The Sartorialist, Scott Schuman. The post features this flow chart detailing a fool proof plan for both men and women, model pretty or not, rich or poor, to increase their chances of appearing on Scott's blog. So read up kids and go stand on a cobble stone in SoHo, QUICK!

Refinery29

Suno’s Liberal Use of Pattern Does Not Make Me Want to Gouge My Eyes Out

I’m definitely biased considering the bulk of my wardrobe is black/white/grey/brown, but with the scene look that led into the whole hipster thing wrapped up in the ironic 80’s trend that just needs to go away, I’d rather not take any chances in looking like a walking seizure. Prada was able to coerce me out of my monochromatic shell in s/s 08 with plaid-on-plaid and a little Jean Jean as bait, but not much has sparked an interest since.
I bookmarked Suno a while ago after reading an article discussing founder Max Osterweis’s use of collected Kenyan textiles for the line. The clothing is designed in New York City, and the patterns are sent back to Africa to be produced, employing local talent in hopes of spurring social and economic change (suck in Dov).
What I appreciate about the clothes themselves is that the silhouettes are just as intriguing as the use of pattern and color, so as not to have one element screaming over the other and down-playing it. But in the midst of all of the goings on, they aren’t too visually complicated.






Admittedly, most of the resort collection is still too much, but it’s growing on me. Considering though that the company is practically still a baby, only three seasons in, I’m ready to see more from them.

20 going on 12

I'm of the opinion that sparkly shit can make any day a little better. Not too long ago, after a really bad day at work, I went to Girl Props and bought a huge rose ring that covers about two fingers. Then I put Swarovski crystals on it. AB volcano crystals to be exact.

The resulting ring is probably the most obnoxious piece of jewelry I own. Which is saying a lot considering my recent Etsy acquisitions. The first necklace that I bought was this charming little bar of glitter:

photo and necklace by starsprinklez

My boys often call me out for using this phrase even though I'm lacking in the proper anatomy, but you know what? They can suck it.

The second is a little more family friendly

Photo and necklace by yurapockylover

Yeah, she's headless, but you get the gist! Those of you who feel like this is a problem should refer to the first necklace for my response. Minnie came in some of the cutest packaging imaginable. The tape sealing the envelope had pastries and polka-dots on it, and the jewelry boxes were inside an adorable little paper bag with stars, clouds, and botched english phrases like "My heart won't stop throbbing"

The moral of the story? Sometimes dressing like you're 12 will make you feel like a million bucks.

Deadly Ponies

I’ve become increasingly picky about bags in my old age (20), so my coveting every item in the Deadly Ponies collection is overwhelming even to me. DP is the brainchild of New Zealand design pair Liam Bowden and Katie Smith, who infuse their pieces a moody and eclectic voice. The A/W 09 Pestle And Mortar collection is especially impressive, being based on Aztec armies of the 12-16th centuries. Bowden and Smith have taken the opportunity this season to expand upon their belts, attire, and jewelry.

See more at Deadly Ponies and Deadly Ponies Precious.