Store Closing...

Just to let everyone know who has written to me, I have closed my vintage shop. It was getting to be a bit too much juggling the store with the "real" brick and mortar shop that I manage. Thanks everyone for their support with my endeavor. I will continue to blog from this site when I find new and interesting designers.

Hey Miki You're So Fine!

I am loving the illustrations of Miki Amano, a Japanese illustrator and textile designer who was trained at Parsons School of Design. Her designs are out-of-the-box ideas that really resonate with me. And, apparently, I am not the only one enamored with Miki. Her work has been featured in Elle, Nylon, Jane, YM, and Bust. Love her stuff!

Blog of the Week: Juniper Designs

I love when people leave comments on my blog. Not only does it let me know that someone out there--somewhere-- is reading my stuff, but it allows me to find some really interesting and creative poeple. Jen at JUNIPER DESIGNS visited my website recently. She left a comment, which prompted me to click on her name and see what she was blogging about over in her neck of the worldwide wide. What I found was a super cool jewerly and soon-to-be home designer with a killer instinct for finding unique and interesting art and design. Check out her blog. It is bursting with great ideas.

Take that New York!

For the first time...(in about ummmm FOREVER) Boston receives the first U.S. store of a major international designer. That's right, Marimekko is coming to Cambridge!! After reading about the soon-to-be opening in the Boston Globe I nearly fell off my deskchair. Last March, the company launched a campaign of flagship stores internationally located in Japan, Sweden, Norway, Portugal, and Belgium. These so-called "concept" stores sell exclusively Marimekko products and Marimekko Cambridge is the first US store to be part of the initiative. (Yes, there is an existing Marimekko store in New York but it is not considered a concept store.) So ha! Boston isn't sooo behind the times (at least we're in the 21st century at this point.)

Stupid Funny

Sometimes, I think I have the humor of a thirteen year old boy. Gross out jokes and stupid punch lines make me laugh. Take for instance, UNCOOKED CARDS. I find Natalie and Armand's (the creators of the card line) humor very clever and completely immature ( and so would a prepubescent boy). These cards are not meant to be sappy, run-of-the-mill salutations. And, that is exactly why I think they are brillant. Check them out and let me know what you think.

Designer's Guild

I am a big fan of the products that come out of Designers Guild. Founded in Chelsea, London back in the '70s, the company has achieved international renown for a wide variety of home and lifestyle products; most notably huge and varied ranges of furnishing fabrics and wallcoverings, bedlinen, blankets and towels, furniture, carpets and rugs, paint, stationery and leather goods. Right now, I am loving their ultra-preppy pillows and cushions. Great design and great color choices.

Hello again!

Yes, I know it's been too long since I last posted on this blog. My life has been crazy, hectic recently. But, I am back (at least for a short while) to catch everyone up on fashion, beauty and design finds. First off, Heather at Tractenberg & Co. sent me some of her favorite beauty products for me to try out. Can I tell you how excited I was when the package arrived?? It was like Christmas in September. Inside, the box was jam-packed with amazing lines like Jaqua, Cornish Spa and Sanoflore Organic. Already, the forerunner for my favorite product is the Mint Chocolate Body Lotion from Jaqua. I love all body products that smell like dessert and this one didn't disappoint. (It smells very light and fresh, but just like an after-dinner mint.) The lotion melted into my skin immediately and didn't leave that greasy-feeling that many body lotions tend to do.

Speaking of bath and beauty products, often times, I tend to judge a product more by the packaging than what the product will actually do for me. Case in point, Sharps shampoo. Yes, this is just your normal, daily conditioning shampoo, but how cool is the product design?? In fact, all of Sharps products have great packaging. Do I know if their line really works? Nope. But, I would be willing to spend the money to find out, just so I could keep the bottles when I am done.

Felt Cuffs

Thanks to Style Hive, I have found my fall accessory staple...Kelly Mulloy's wool felt cuffs. These beauties are made from 100% wool felt with reversible closures. They come in nine different colors and each one is a unique, one-of-kind piece. I think these would be great for days that I feel like wearing all black but want a little color to make the outfit pop.

Denim Therapy

Cheaper than buying a whole new pair of Sevens. Read about it HERE.

Favorite New Website

I think people fall into two categories in life...those who love to hunt for a great bargain and those who hate to rummage through tons of duds to find a fabulous gem. I fall into the former category. I love the thrill of a good hunt. Most weekends you can find me at a thrift store searching through bins of discarded items to walk away triumphant with a handful of vintage butons, a fabulous bag, or an out-of-print art book. Now, my love for bargain shopping has gone interactive with SHOP GOODWILL. A quick tour of the website showed a pair of Kate Spade shoes selling at $30, a Japanese woodblock print selling at $10 and vintage teacups starting for as low as $1!!

My latest obsession...

A saleswoman at the J. Crew store directed me to these Lulu Guinness inspired, peep-toe pumps this afternoon. They are heavenly. How cute would they look with a girly skirt or black pants?? Oh, but I can't see my toes lasting more than a day at the shop with these beauties strapped to my feet.

South End Open Studios

Where: The South End
When: September 16th and 17th
Time: 11am-6pm


Over 250 artists will open up their studios to the public next weekend. Expect to see tons of clothing, ceramics, photography, sculpture and mixed media arts. Click HERE for more details.

I think I should play the lottery...

Just found out that in a few short weeks there will be TWO Filene's basements in Boston (and both within walking distance of my shop.) This is my lucky week. Anyone wanna come to Vegas with me :)

Great wallets: db clay

Always on the lookout for cool designers, a friend of mine recommended that I check out the work of db clay. Based in Portland, OR, db clay specializes in unique and concept-driven wallets. Using gaffers tape, the company transfers original artwork and photographs to the wallets creating very cool and very durable products. Here are some of their original designs:



1. Deer Heads













2. Tree















3. Abstract

Today's going to be a good day...

Got the newest issue of Blueprint (the second one is even better than the first.) And, found out that Domino magazine is having a two-day, home accessory sample sale in NYC October 13th and 14th!! Yep, today is going to be a good day.

My Newest T-Shirt Addiction: M. Carter

I recently stumbled upon M. Carter's awesome selection of t-shirts through Brooklyn boutique SODAFINE. The designs are amazing and the fabric looks ultra soft. I feel a purchase coming on...

Rachel Pally

A woman came into the store yesterday wearing this Rachel Pally pashmina and looking uber fierce in it. How cute is this scarf?? What's even cooler is that it is made of jersey material. I tracked it down at Shopbop selling for $95. Love it!

A Super Cool Store

I was reading a copy of Wired magazine at the gym this morning and came across an article about author David Eggers and his Superhero Supply Company store in Park Slope, Brooklyn. The superhero supply store functions as a retail space selling capes, jars of anti-matter, and superhero tights (packaged in metal canisters). What's even cooler is that the store is just a "front" for children writing workshops. Enter a secret passageway through the retail space to find 826NYC, a non-profit writing and tutoring center. Proceeds from the store help support the center. What a great idea!

Be gone bad jeans!

Why oh why won't the skinny jean go away? I am seeing it all over the fall fashion magazines and it is making me crazy. I think only 10% of the women out there can really pull off the look. So, who is the fashion industry trying to fool? And, is anyone else out there completely tired of wearing jean capris? I definitely am sick of mine and am ready to start wearing my long, dark wash denim . Bring on fall!

Sorry, this was more of a rant than a post :)

ALMOST Good Enough to Eat...

I love walking through the South End of Boston. The brownstones are gorgeous, the people are friendly and the neighborhood has a buzz to it---so much so that I think the stores in the area are definitely a step ahead from the rest of Boston. One shop that I always enjoy going into is the POLKADOG BAKERY on Shawmut Ave. Nope, I don't own a dog, but if I did, he would be spoiled rotten at this doggie boutique. The shop is set-up like a french bakery with display cases full of delicious looking cannolis, cookies and cakes...the only problem is that they are not for human consumption (that is unless you like the taste of doggie treats.) That's right all the beautifully presented desserts are for dogs. What's more, all creations are all-natural with no salt, sugar or preservatives added. What an ingenious idea!

Bellamuse

I love love love finding new stationery. I am definitely the type of person who buys tons and tons of note cards and then stashes them in a drawer to only look at from time to time. Like a designer pair of shoes that you don't want to wear outside for fear of scuffing, I am almost afraid to mail out gorgeous cards because of what the post office may do to the pretty letter pressing.

To cutback on my stationery shopping tendencies, I have decided that any note cards that I buy must either be sent out immediately or get framed and put somewhere inside my home. One artist that will definitely go into the latter category is BellaMuse. BellaMuse was established in 2003 by artist and typographer Alicia Peck. Alicia's work draws upon a love of writing, whimsy, humor and antique illustrations. For you lucky New Yorkers, Alicia has an art stand in SOHO on the weekends. Look at her lovely cards!

1. Have expensive luggage, will travel.

2. All dressed up.
















3. You saucy saucy tart.

Own a piece of fashionista history

Celebrity auctions seem to be the hot new thing right now. Tori Spelling is offering up her used clothes on Ebay and Cher is throwing a garage sale party in October. But, neither of these actresses hold a candle to the ultimate auction item going up for bid this winter. On December 5th, Christies in London will be selling the black dress worn by Audrey Hepoburn in Breakfast at Tiffany's!! The dress is expected to fetch somewhere between £50,000 and £70,000 when sold and all proceeds will go to a charity which helps under privileged people in India.

Velvet is Not Always a Fabric!!

Attention all fashion designers: Please don't name your clothing company after a fabric. Perfect example?? The company Velvet that sells cute women's clothing to Anthropologie. About six months ago, Anthropologie was stocking its stores with the most fabulous yoga-inspired, cropped pants from a clothing brand named Velvet. The fit of these pants were superb. They looked great on every figure and the COTTON fabric held up after several washings. The problem is that Anthropologie has discontinued selling them and I desperatley want to add a second pair to my wardrobe collection. So, I turned to the internet to track them down. But, search engines only lead me to "Velvet yoga pants" or "Velvet cropped pants". It seems that Google, Yahoo and the likes keep defaulting Velvet as a fabric search rather than a brand search!! I haven't been able to hunt down the company Velvet to see if they still carry the line. Woah is me. Any readers have suggestions?
p.s. Don't you feel horrible for the girls who have to model these hideous velvet track suits in the picture above?

Thinking of Fall

I can't believe we are already well into August and I STILL have no tan to show for the summer. Ah well, I guess that is the life of a desk jockey. With the temperatures finally cooling down a bit in Boston (a gorgeous 75 degrees here right now), it almost seems like fall will soon be making an appearance--and that means Back to School Goodies!! Though I haven't been a student for quite sometime, I always enjoying loading up on cute journals, notepads, and other office supplies. Here are some of the treats I will be snatching up before they are sold-out.



1. Mouse pad from Fred Flare.












2. Nostalgic Nancy Drew notepads available at Black Ink.

















3. My very own premade pro/con list from Knock Knock cards.

Shoe Shopping

I admit that I am very hard on my shoes. With all the city walking I do, I usually give my heels an expiration date of 2 months before they literally fall off my feet. That's why I never buy very expensive shoes. Since moving to Boston a year ago, DSW has been my standby for cute and affordable shoes. They carry loads of high end designed shoes (okay, so maybe they are a season behind) at super cheap prices. But recently, their stock has gone sour. I mean the inventory there looks like it fell off the back of a Payless Shoes truck--not inspiring footwear.

So, I've had to go in search of greener pastures and leave dear old DSW behind. And, I think I have found my new shoe mecca...the Lord & Taylor Shoe Department. Waaaay in the back of the women's department there are many shoe goodies to be found. The salespeople are friendly. The shoes are not picked over. They carry a huge selection of brands. During my latest visit, I saw Coach, Kors, Tods, BCBG, and Weitzman at ridiculously cheap prices. Please keep it a secret though...I don't want it to become another DSW.

Michael Sowa

I stumbled upon the work of German artist, Michael Sowa, and have really enjoyed his pieces. Sowa studied art in Berlin and is internationally known for his surreal and stunning paintings. Though he has created a number of books, my favorite is SOWA'S ARK. This book has 50 paintings by the German artist. The illustrations have an otherworldly quality that I think is profound yet hilarious. Here's are 2 of my favorite pieces:

1. Piglet goes for a swim.












2. Poor dog.

Clean Sweep

Summer turns me into a bit of a clean freak. It's the time of year when I want to thrown open all the windows, get rid of the dust I couldn't see in winter light, and throw away the soups and chowders taking up room in my freezer. I have to admit though that sweeping is one of my least favorite chores. Dragging a broom around a bunch of hardwood floors is boring...that is until I came across this find yesterday. The Swan broom is a prima ballerina. Look at how well trained she is to make the drudgery of housework look as effortless and elegant as a night at the ballet. The rubber handle is super strong and bristles seem to grab all those dust bunnies that usually have free reign over my apartment. I'm a convert folks!

I Heart Nanette

My favorite girly-girl designer, Nanette Lepore, is set to team up with Keds to design a limited edition of shoes for their Spring 2007 collection. The collection will include ballet flats, skimmers, peep toes and d'Orsay flats. Each style is said to incorporate Nanette's signature prints and embellishments! We will get a sneak peek of the select styles at her tent during this fall's New York's Fashion week. I am excited to see the whimsy she puts into this collection.

Viva la Revolution!

The D.I.Y. revolution is nothing new, but I am always (pick an adjective) surprised, amazed, and elated when I find people presenting creative projects in a new light. "D.I.Y.: Design it For Yourself" is a book created by Ellen Lupton, chairman of the Department of Design at the University of Maryland, along with her students. The projects include everything from publishing zines to screen printing pillows, to creating rubber stamped coasters. I am inspired to start a crafty project every time I flip through it!

Coutorture

The lovely Julie Fredrickson has asked me to join her fashion community site, Coutorture. Now you can find my daily musings over in her neck of the woods as well.

I'm back....

Not even a "wicked bad" sunburn, some excruciating blisters and a bunch of grass stains on my new skirt could get me down…the Brimfield fair was an absolute success! After six hours of walking, shopping and meeting with some of the loveliest antique collectors in the country, both my vintage partner-in-crime and I returned to Boston loaded up with all sorts of lovelies.

It was an overwhelming experience to say the least-- So many things to see, touch, and talk about. We’re talking everything from Parisian chandeliers to Tibetan statues. The prices were very fair and bartering was definitely encouraged.

I scored the coolest set of vintage Paisley print tea cups and saucers from England. I think they are probably from the late 60’s early 70’s and will look very retro cool mixed and matched with my collection of black and white vintage plates and bowls. I also found this amazing chair from the 1930’s. I love the ornate flower design. The velvet fabric on the chair was once a deep purple, and I am sure looked FABULOUS against the yellow wood. I am trying to figure out a way to restore that shade to the fabric. Has anyone ever used fabric paint on velvet before? Does it work? I really don’t want the paint to crack and split once applied. I loved to hear any suggestions.

Finally, here are just a few pictures from the fair!

1. Porcelain display hands












2. Buddha heads












3. Shoppers searching for costume jewelry.
















3. Floral vintage tea cups

Brimming with Excitement

I can barely contain my excitement for this weekend--a vintage experience like no other. What dare you ask am I talking about? The Brimfield Antique Show!! "Oh" you say, "Never heard of it." That's okay, I hadn't heard of the show either until I moved to Boston. But, apparently this fair is herald as one of the largest antique shows in the country with over 5,000 (yes that's thousand!) vendors from around the world showing off their wares. What's even crazier is that 30,000 people usually appear on peak show days (the fair runs all week). I've got my comfortable shoes, sunscreen, and a cooler full of drinks and food ready to head out the door tomorrow. I'll be sure to take pictures of the show so you can see the pandemonium. Wish me luck!

Last Day of Sale!

Hey guys, it' s the last day of our sale! Stop by and take a look around. I hope you like what you'll find! (And, I promise this is the last of the self promotion.)

Mirror Mirror on the Wallpaper

So simple, that you think someone has thought of it already...But I don't think I have ever seen mirrored wallpaper before. And, how cool is this design?! The artist is London-based designer Afroditi Krassa. Each year she creates a new collection for her fans. This year, she is offering some pretty amazing tableware, furniture, mirror installations and even lighting pieces. All works are limited editions. I can't get over the wallpaper though...

So weird that it's good...

Browsing the graphic design section at The Coop bookstore this afternoon, I came across a book of young European artists. One particular piece caught me off guard and actually made me laugh out loud. It was the work of Barney Barford, a London artist and designer who uses a lot of "found" craft pieces in his installations. Although, I don't think I would ever buy a piece, the art is definitely amusing to look at. Check out his portfolio HERE.


Vintage Spectacular!

Yeah! My newest vintage collection is going up for sale tonight at 6:30pm EST. And, of course, all my blog readers get a discount on the merch!! Save 10% on vintage shoes and shirts by entering promo code JULY81 at checkout. Click HERE to be taken to the sale.

T-Shirt Temptress

Though my job may not have fancy health benefits or 401K programs (welcome to the life of freelancing!), the one thing it does have going for it is the dress code. I can sport jeans and a tank everyday with nary a second glance regarding my clothing choices from coworkers. But, this fashion freedom does come with a price. While dressing for the corporate world can be a hassle, "dressing down" for the job brings its own sets of challenges. (It's true--don't laugh!) For instance, there is a difference between "casual wear" and looking like you just rolled out of bed. For me, the bottom-half is easy...keep jeans hole-free, in a dark wash, and designer. It's the top-half that sometimes has me pulling my hair out. You see, I'm a sucker for soft, cotton t-shirts. But, I hate plain tees (boring...). I love a graphic, silk screened print that is a bit quirky and totally unique. Thus, starting in June, I begin my hunt for the perfect summer t-shirts. This year, I found plenty. One of my favorites is from designer Elaine Perlov. In her "T & Pants T", Elaine combined her own logo with a 1950's menswear ad. The result? Fabulous. I love how masculinity and femininity play off each other. And, at $36, the price fits easily into my "work clothing" budget.

Pier 1. Really? Yes!

In the newest issue of Lucky, the editors featured a wicker chair in a lovely shade of robin's egg blue. The piece was from none other than Pier 1 Imports. Honestly, I haven't been in the store since my college days when papasan chairs were all the rage. So, suffice it to say, it took a lot of convincing for me to log onto their website and check out their new offerings. I am happy to report that I was delighted by some of their new designs. Pier 1 really did get their act together. Here are some of my favorites.

1. Ginza Pillow











2. Ceramic and bamboo vase










3. Buddha Sculpture

Favorite Blog of the Week: Shiny Squirrel

It's funny when you stumble across a blogger whose design tastes are so similar to your own. That's exactly what happened when by happenstance I found Shiny Squirrel on the web. Jessica's postings include her own artwork and the work of others. Her selection of design pieces and fashion choices are fresh, crisp and modern. Her posts are funny, creative and always insightful. Take a peek at her SITE and see what she's about.

I guess I am on a stationery kick...

If I owned a boutique, my little shop would be full of these beauties by Fiona Richard. Inspired by vintage ephemera, Fiona creates greeting cards, note cards and stationery that are modern, yet call to mind a bygone era. Love these! Find her work HERE.

MediaBistro Event

Hi everyone, I know there are some New England media folks who read this blog. Are any of you planning to attend the Boston MediaBistro event in July? If so, send me an email or comment to this post--I'd love to finally put faces to names. If you live in the New England area and work in media, you may be interested in learning more about the GROUP and their networking events.

Ferdinand Home Store

I received a tip from a friend about a cute little shop based in Portland, Maine. Ferdinand Home Store, is run by owner and designer, Diane Toepfer. I have a HUGE crush on her cards and stationary. Here are some of my favorites...




1. Birds in Frame card.














2. Leopard and Lady card.

















3. Walking the Goose card.

Find of the Moment: Jessica Elliot

I stumbled upon the lovely work of Jessica Elliot this afternoon. (I think I remember seeing some of her work in an old issue of Lucky.) Apparently, Jessica is an actress-turned-jewelry designer who found a talent for creating some very wearable pieces. I was immediatley drawn to her lovely rings, earrings and necklaces that are vintage-inspired (surprise, surprise). Jessica's work seems to seamlessly mix touches of feminity with hints of rock and roll. Heavy and bold combines with delicate and romantic. I am posting my two favorites from her store (www.jammfactory.net/jessicaelliot/newsite/home.aspx). The rose ring is very pretty, and casting it in sterling takes away the "sickly sweet" factor. I'm also really excited about her skeleton key necklace collection. Finally-inspiration for my own antique key collection!