World's Largest Gem Sweater in the World

Grrr! and Arg!

Grrr! and Arg! Two of the best words EVER! And they can now be worn with all your girly pride - brought to you by finestimaginary. You can pick up yours on etsy today!

hugga wugga

Vimobot Design Contest Retrospect

A MIMOBOT is a little USB flash drive with a whole lot of personality. I've had one for years - it goes with me EVERYWHERE and never ceases to make people smile. This little video showcases some of the artists from around the world who hand painted their own custom DIY blank Vimobot pure vinyl toy for the Vimobot Design Contest last year. Check out some of the amazing entries that vied for the top spots in their first community-designed MIMOBOT flash drive collection, the VDC MIMOBOT Series. Way cool and lots of fun. I love it when design products reach out to their fan base and involves them in the creative process. Hopefully they'll have run contest again this year!

Chiquita Banana The Original Commercial

eye popping monsters

Anyone know more information about these guys? My searching on-line has turned up very little. They're called "i pop monsters" and are from Schylling. Aren't they fantastic? They make me laugh.

X'mass-a-go-go

X'mass-a-go-go, Off to grandma's we a-go-go. Back after the weekend.

To check out more great vintage album covers visit LP Cover Lover.

Gem Sweater Lady

So, sometimes you just assume that EVERYONE has been exposed to all the same stuff you have, especially when you have a lot in common. But then, in middle of a conversation, you realize the person you are talking with SOME HOW hasn't. In just that breath everything STOPS. "How could anyone miss the Gem Sweater Lady???" I was stumped.

Just in case you too SOME HOW missed that email from your friend with the link for the Gem Sweater Museum or perhaps this Leslie and the Lys' video (shown below) - you have now been exposed. Both are outrageous, hilarious and a bit confusing.

Perhaps you're in the know, but when was the last time you looked at the gem sweaters? My, how the collection has grown! With no further delay, I introduce to you Leslie Hall, the Gem Sweater Lady.

Self declared “Keeper of the Gems”, Leslie takes her collection very seriously. Each sweater is given a name and now there in a Mobile Gem Sweater Museum. Check out her band’s website, Leslie and the Lys, to see when the museum rolls into your town.

Just in time for the holidays! Get your Gem on.

Sleeveface

Perhaps you are still looking for a good idea for this year's holiday party?

Or maybe you just need a good laugh. In either case, check out: Sleeveface.

In search of Ray Fenwick

So, it seems I have been searching for a man I have never met and never even knew existed: Ray Fenwick. That may sound a little weird, so let me back up and explain...

Sometime back, I feel completely head over heals for this image. It is hysterical. Imagine it on a very feminine garment, maybe with a little lace and printed a little smaller. WHARRGH! UGH. SLICE. HURRAH! How can you not laugh?

Being a commercial textile designer, it goes without saying that I see a lot of patterns in my line of work and it can be darn hard to impress me, but this one sure did. Knocked my socks off in fact. Time passed and I became obsessed: WHERE had I found the image? And even more, WHO had created it? I was at a lost and yet it had become so much apart of my day-to day life. It made me happy and no one I asked knew the answer. (It was sad.)

Time passed and then yesterday, thumbing through the book Over & Over (a book I thought I knew, but OBVIOUSLY didn't), I found my answer: Ray Fenwick! The print covered 2 pages in a different colorway, but there it was! Nearly jumped out of my skin!

I feel more complete knowing who had created the image that brought me so many laughs.

Be sure to check out more of his artwork, he's got a great sense of humor. My favorite are the small moments that occur in the patterns, graphics and posters - all straight to the point without too many words. Ray Fenwick, it is nice to finally met you. Thanks for making me laugh so much.

The end is nigh

Check out this auction at Christie's. Page through or search for the Clash, Ramones, LA flyers, Sex Pistols, etc. Your closet may be a better retirement plan than your 401k.

Truth in Prato, Italy

Because it rained ALL DAY today...

We haven't had rain like this all year and really needed it. I choose this image because it was happy and unexpected. More works by Truth can be found here. This one is in Prato, Italy.

monster shots

Some obsessions are short lived, others only fuel greater obsessions. My monster shot glasses from Munktiki are in the later category. Aren't they cool? It's hard to say which one is my favorite, I guess it depends on my mood. You can purchase your own here. Be sure not to miss the stacking mug sets. Imaginative and just plain wacky. Each is full of wise-crack humor and yet is exquisitely crafted - which is not an easy thing to pull off .

suspicious vans

Suspicious Vans - Some things just speak for themselves!

gathered together

gathered together 2009 calendar

This is the 4th calendar collaboration between Jill Bliss & Saelee Oh. Incorporating paper cut-outs, drawings, scraps of fabric, clay, bits of nature and other random objects into sweet little staged vignettes. Beautifully photographed. Great colors. The project explores the theme of "keeping a float" and you can learn more if you visit the website and can be purchased on-line directly from the artists: here and here.

My favorite page are February, July & October.

When I see these images, I can't be help imagine the elements IN MOTION! Imagine the the paper waves gently moving in the last January while the images on the strings dipped in and out of the water. October's sea monster swim across or the turtle in February... (I love that turtle.) July would be really fun to to animate and see the story evolve. Each page has a narration that when you close your eyes you can almost see them move...

runny bunny

Runny Bunny is one of those wonderful shops on esty that I know very little about, but suspect that the artist, Robin VanValkenburgh, is someone who experiment in her work and will be fun to watch out for. She has just started blogging so hopefully we will learn more soon. Obviously, I am drawn to the hybrid ceramic series. Their subtle humor and wonderful craft create a sense of jamais vu that is hard to resist.

Stop by the Runny Bunny shop to see more of her creatures.

art-o-mat

Selling snack-sized original art wrapped in cellophane was a project started by Clark Whittington for a solo art show in 1997 and is still going strong with over 400 artists contributing from around the world. Repurposed cigarette vending machines dispense original art for around five-bucks! Art-o-mat machines can be found in museums, galleries, cafes and various shops. The machines themselves are incredible pieces. Check out their website to see more. Planning a trip? Be sure to check if there will be an art-o-mat machine in the area - each one's different and worth searching for.

To find an art-o-mat near you, click here.

jello cityscapes

Stumbled upon Liz Hickok's jello cityscapes a few months back @ an open studio night in the mission district of San Francisco. Wandering the studios, I saw these curious candy colors peeking out from under a tarp - I HAD to find out! The artist wasn't there. I wanted to be respectful, but I HAD to see. Gently peeked under a corner: It looked like a miniature of San Francisco made out of...hmmm, I'm not quiet sure what - wait, is that's aged jello?!? Yes. Yes, indeed it was made of jello. Absolutely mesmerized, I could NOT be pulled away. Soon someone came - not the artist, but a friend and I was given permission to peek (phew, I felt better). Wow.

Her photos are amazing with the vivid glow of colors. And I love how the sweating buildings begin to crystallize and jiggle, but I'm glad my first experience was peeking from under a tarp and seeing this magnificent techno-jello color city emerge from the darkness.

Click here to visit Liz Hickok's website.

HEL LOOKS

HEL LOOKS is a street fashion photo project from Helsinki, Finland that started in 2005. (Out of respect to the individuals, HEL LOOKS asks that the photos not be republished - that's why you don't see any images with this post.) Flipping through the individual photos and reading their comments on style is so much fun. And the wonderful combinations of textures and colors! Go take a peek - you’ll find yourself hooked.

"The most important thing is that clothes fit the mood of the day. If they don't, the whole day can be spoilt." - Merja