Jessica Swift rain boots

Cue girlish squeals! I am soooooooo excited about Jessica Swift's rain boot line coming out! I get her regular email updates and have been watching her Kickstarter page get closer and closer to her goal and voila! It's happened!



Her patterns are super fun, colorful, bright (just like her paintings) and I just love them. Sadly (kind of), we don't get much rain here in sunny San Diego, so buying rain boots isn't exactly the most USEFUL way I could spend my money, but it's one of the funnest!

I think what finally got me to realize that drooling over the wonderfulness of the boot project wasn't going to get me merrily clomping around in a pair was when she kept blogging about painting and being inspired just by getting off the computer and into the studio. I particularly liked the pink whale painting:


I knew that this pattern-making spunky lady of the South is a woman after my own heart and I must, simply must, get a pair of these boots. I eagerly anticipate the next chance of showers (a.k.a. marine layer threatening to spit about a half inch) so I can throw on my bright yellow raincoat and splash around in the "puddles".



You can help too! She's reached her goal, which GUARANTEES that the boots are soon to be a reality! Pledge any amount, and $100+ means you get AT LEAST one pair of your choosing (I'm having a hard time deciding) and larger pledges = more swag! Plus, the more money she gets, the more patterns she can release from the start, so get your friends over there too via Twitter, Facebook, or one of the badges available on her site!

This is a total sales pitch, but whatever. I'm just stoked to see talented ladies pull up their bootstraps and get it dooooooone.

Adam Juresko + Catcher in the Rye = Making Richmond proud

First the Penguin clothbound classics by Coralie Bickford Smith, and now this. Newly vamped book covers are a hot design trend, and I am super stoked to see a Richmond not-so underground art powerhouse making his mark in the literary world as well.



Adam Juresko has long been a figure in the Richmond art scene, and I have to say I am extremely pleased with his newer works and the direction in which he's headed. I've always been a fan of his collages and paintings, and to see his work take a more tightly-knit focused approach to layering paper and assemblage techniques is way exciting, to say the least. Even from across the country it's apparent that he's headed for big things, and I'm sure this won't be the last we hear of him.

Not to mention Catcher in the Rye is a badass book. Nice first choice!

Mati Rose McDonough

One of our newest artists at work is Mati Rose McDonough (not Matt-ey like a adorable nickname for Matthew, Mate-y like ahoy) and I'm absolutely in love with her work. I moved my desk to a nook by the door and ordered 2 of her pieces to put on my new walls. She has an adorable portfolio and has recently joined the Lilla Rogers stable of artists. We only have a smattering of her work available through Oopsy daisy, but I'm crazy about her necklaces, especially the January Sprout Studio necklace seen below:

She's also a fellow blogger, and has a crisp site that I could definitely take a lesson from. Check it for cool updates, kitschy links, fun videos, and brainstorming sessions that are definitely better than anything I would even dream of creating.

The Curiosity Shoppe

No amateur, professional, occasional, or practicing designer should ever find themselves without at least a half-decent library. The internet is a vast and often overwhelming resource for all things modern and historical, but nothing beats the old fashioned pages between covers, and sometimes even a good quarterly doesn't cut it. The Curiosity Shoppe has grown immensely since I started following them a few years back, and their library selection is second to none. Self described as "a carefully curated, extremely subjective selection of some of our favorite books in the whole wide world", their offerings range from subjects as obvious as contemporary and as quirky as children's books with silly illustrations. Check out their selection, and the rest of their online store as well. Not the most extensive of shoppes, but one of the best, methinks! While you're at it, check their crafty blog, Smarts & Crafts for tricks of the craft trade.

More Wall Decals!

Wall decals seem to be the rage in home decor, and with endless sites and stores popping up with these must-have design items, there's a plethora of colors and shapes to pick from! Blik has pages upon pages of the things for reasonable prices, with designs ranging from comic characters to minimalistic silhouettes to even faux furniture! Here's a few of my favorites (even better for the renters out there- no repainting!)

Fernwood Mirrors by Blaine Fontana

What's for Lunch by Working Class Studio

Delfts Blue Transfers by Jansen+co

Pirate Infested Waters by Threadless

Me, Myshelf, and I by Blik

7.00 by Threadless

Foxy by Threadless

Bye Bye Apocalypse by Threadless

Flock by Blik

Olivia Headboard by Mina Javid

Bunny Family Anomalies by Threadless

The Bull and The Bee by Threadless

Birds of a Feather by Threadless
Okay, so I had a lot that I can't live without. This is just motivation to buy a house, right??

Chairs

I hate chairs. Not because I hate sitting or any simplistic reason like that; actually, it's a very deep-seeded hate, stemming from a former awful office job that revolved around the attempted manufacturing and distributing of those godforsaken items. However, I can't resist the kitschyness of these handmade semiprecious metal pendants made by Bruxe Design in Montreal. Tiny Little Chairs are available for purchase and are sure to please any sitting enthusiast with an eye for design.
Picture taken from Swiss Miss.

Three Apples

To the millions of Sanrio fans out there, LISTEN UP. This weekend kicks off what should prove to be a great show in LA titled "Three Apples"; in honor of the 35th anniversary of Hello Kitty, this phenomenal event is unlike anything that America has seen before, taking place at Royal-T (LA's first Japanese-style cosplay café). Unless you've had first hand experience of the Japanese mania surrounding this iconic figure, you have no idea the impact it has made in our country and around the world. The fact that this cutesy cat has lasted through over three decades of worldwide fame and is recognizable in virtually every country in the world is a testament to the designer who created her, and her entire band of Sanrio friends!

Come view the work of many of the big contemporary artists today, including Amada Visell, Buff Monster, Frank Kozik, Friends With You (FWY), Gary Baseman, Huck Gee, Luke Chueh, Natalia Fabia, Ron English, Simone Legno, Tara McPherson, and more! Don't miss the Happy Hour specials on Saturday after the opening; the show runs from October 23 through November 15. Plenty of time to stop by and getting cheered up/ creeped out by the perpetually perky feline!

8910 Washington Blvd
Culver City, CA 90232
T 310 559 6300
F 310 559 6633

Blog Alert!!!

I love finding and reading other blogs- in this information age, it's difficult to have your voice heard amongst the cacophony of millions of others just like you! Still, it's a great feeling whenever your passion for your work is recognized, so whenever I am introduced to a particularly interesting outlet, I like to pass it along and say hey! Take the time to read this!

My sister brought glow.like.berlin to my attention; it's a sleek but confusing, exploding, bright, subtle mess of words that make deciphering the entire point of it almost impossible. Nonetheless, the wide range of topics from music to fashion to art to Germany (Berlin specifically) make for an interesting read. Just don't expect the expected. Her Etsy post specifically caught my eye, and her design*sponge-esque way of laying out her favorite DIY selections left me drooling for all of her picks. It would be silly for me to post pictures of work that she/he too has posted, so do yourself a favor and check it out. If you think you can't commit to a whole afternoon pawing through the posts, just read the first page. Even that is chock full of so many goodies that I feel confident you too will become a believer.

Noah Scalin

Noah Scalin- Richmond legend, owner/creative director of Another Limited Rebellion, and most famously known for his Skull-A-Day project; recently he had an exhibition at none other than Quirk Gallery, and just to make sure his work continues to be appreciated here's just some more note-worthy work to feast your eyes upon!

Design and Design recently awarded him with recognition for his work seen here.

Actor's Choice Book Covers


The Richmond Vegetarian Festival 2009 Poster


Fair Share Campaign


First Vote Postcard


Artseen Invitation

It's hard not to envy such talent.

All photos courtesy of Design and Design.

Marimekko

Scandinavia obviously has the global upper hand in all things kitsch. Marimekko is just another Finnish design powerhouse with worldwide recognition in textile design. I got my first taste of their bright splashy designs at Quirk, where we carried a few lines of their goods and I fell in love. Their lines of clothes, interior decorations, and bags all carry their signature bright and modern designs, and now they've introduced wallpaper!

This is just another motivator for me to get my own house. Design*Sponge offered the first look at this exciting venture here, and I was blown away. Texture and pattern rules without overwhelming the rooms, while keeping with the Marimekko aesthetic. The line is launching at IIDEX in Canada this month, and their new line of autumn fabrics are available to view here.

Maija Isola


Anna Danielsson


Pia Holm


Courtesy of Design*Sponge

Kidrobot Dunny 2009 Series

As of Thursday, it's here! The Dunny 2009 Series hits stores everywhere, so don't miss your chance to snag some of these hot items from designers like Amanda Visell, Andrew Bell, Amy Ruppel, Brandt Peters, Dalek, Devilrobots, Gary Taxali, Mori Chack, Huck Gee, Jeremyville, Kozik, Kronk, Luke Chueh, Mad, Pon, MR. Shane Jessup, Shawnimal, SupaKitch, Travis Cain, and Thomas Han. Not only are there 20 designs by these artists and more, try to catch the 2 chases and the Golden Ticket for a 3-inch Dunny not for sale anywhere!!!



All images copyright Kidrobot.

Sienna Gallery

Art jewelry is a booming underground niche in contemporary art circles. More and more galleries dedicated to the 3-dimensional handmade are popping up, my former alma mater Quirk included. Sienna Gallery is another space dedicated to the innovative, the craftsman, the wearable art that is taking hold in big and small towns alike. Nestled in Lenox, Massachusetts, this idyllic town has served as the perfect muse for generations of artisans; they specialize in the display of traditional and non-traditional jewelry presentations as works of art.

Sienna boasts a large, varied, and proud group of represented artists, such as Susie Ganch (Head of Metals at Virginia Commonwealth University), Sayumi Yokouchi (featured in Quirk's Sparkle Plenty 2), Barbara Seidenath (participant in Sparkle Plenty 3), Giampaolo Babetto, Lauren Kalman (an especially interesting artist whose unconventional unique work speaks volumes about body adornment and alternative social values), and a variety of assorted jewelers each making exciting statements about the way we present ourselves through ornamentation.


Lauren Kalman


Anya Kivarkis


Esther Knobel


Myra Mimlitsch-Gray

Visit Sienna Gallery to see more work by these fabulous artists, upcoming shows, previous exhibitions, and more!

Ghost Town Design

With such a huge influx of "hot" designers and "must see" shows at any number of galleries across the world, it's sometimes hard to keep up with the real movers and shakers of the art industry as opposed to the 15 minute famers. Ghost Town Design, a screenprinting and design firm, seems to fall into the first category, having been in business since the early 2000's, with their client list including CBS, CMJ, Epitaph, Hard Rock Cafe, HBO, HellCat Records, Interscope, Reebook, Rolling Stone, Warner Bros., and more!

Originally a duo-turned-solo project, Ghost Town now consists of a whopping two designers in Rhode Island, a small state but a giant in the art world. Peter Cardoso and Darren Johnson are the artists/designers with an impressive portfolio of posters & fine art prints with a heavy emphasis on promo posters for bands like Wilco, Doomriders, Fucked Up, Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Girl Talk, Kings of Leon, Iron & Wine, Death Cab for Cutie, Explosions in the Sky, Wu Tang Clan, Modest Mouse, Muse, Slayer, Belle and Sebastian, and WAY MORE. You can also view their individual portfolios here, with more fine art and individual prints available to purchase.

You've probably seen their work hanging on club promo boards or online at some point, so be sure to check it at the source. Ghost Town definitely seems like it is here to stay!

WOOD DONKEY DUNNY

I always get excited for the new Dunny releases, and Amanda Visell is an especially exciting artist with her whimsical and playful imagery. An resident of that place we all know and love, Los Angeles, she proudly states that she never went to art school and has an exclusive line at Disneyland! Pretty impressive stuff for a self-taught artiste! Her Wood Labbit SDCC Exclusive, partnered with Frank Kozik, was a smash hit and now for the perfect forest partner- the Wood Donkey Dunny!

"Discovered in the woods and raised by lumberjacks, Wood Donkey spends his days chopping down trees.After a lifetime of terrorizing the forest, all the living creatures fear him, forcing him to chop himself up to make new friends.

Watch your fingers, because Wood Donkey's always looking to expand his circle of friends!This 8-inch figure is sold with a bonus stump and axe, and features delicate vinyl leaves as fingers.

Limited to 1500 made worldwide."
Don't miss your chance to snag one of these beauts up for $75 at its release on August 20th!






images and text taken from KidRobot

Kidrobot Dallas opens tomorrow!

Kidrobot hits Dallas! Tomorrow they open their doors at 5307 East Mockingbird Lane, with guest artist Huck Gee! He'll be on hand to sign his 3" Golden Ticket dunny which will be given away for FREE. A signed Huck Gee toy for free? If anyone is in the Dallas area, I would be your best friend if you got me one!

The opening is from 6-8 pm, so don't be late. I'm sure this will be a mass frenzy of excitement in the Lone Star State! Check out the KRonikle article about it here.

Green Fonts!

Everyone has gone green-crazy lately, and while some might think too little too late, I am of the opinion that every little bit helps! The Dutch design firm Spranq shares this mindset, and has introduced a new eco-friendly font using 15% less ink. Not a new concept by any means, but since it's the hip-to-be-green generation, today's showcase is on Ecofont. The bubbles within the letters allow it to be easily read while using less costly ink, a double bonus in this struggling economy when green doesn't always equal more green in your pocket. This font is available as a free download here, so grab yours now. Be sure to check out the other great designs they have going on- this Dutch firm is already a strong player in the design scene, and for good reason!

MUTO by Blu

I stumbled across this free share video of public art made by BLU in Buenos Aires. Trust me, this interactive work in a public space is well worth checking out and passing along. Be sure to also check out the rest of the website for news about his latest book, drawings, and maybe even the shop? Enjoy!

Huck Gee does it again

Ok, I am sick to death of Huck Gee. Why does he keep having to come out every 2 seconds with another highly collectible and highly EXPENSIVE must-have vinyl toy? Now he's even recycling previous designs in limited editions! His Skullhead Dunny from Series 1 is being re-released as a monstrous 20-inch Dunny from Kidrobot. Only 200 were made, and all are signed by the man himself. At $400, it's out of my price range, but not my desire range. Snatch yours up if you can!

Outdated, old fashioned, a giant hassle- many words and phrases that come to mind when considering wallpapering vs. painting a room. Believe me, trying to change wallpaper is NOT a simple project for the antsy decorator who loves to change room decors per season. Still, if you're ready to make a semi-permanent decorating decision, then wallpaper is a funky and fun way to make a potential accent a major part of the decor. The Curiosity Shoppe has a new book out all about your options and project ideas! Wallpaper Projects by Derek Fagerstrom and Lauren Smith is available now in a 144 page hardcover edition that's chock full of amazing projects involving wallpaper, not always on walls! Pick one up if you're ready to take the plunge...

Enter their giveaway at their blog Smarts and Crafts to win a free copy!

Vinyl store in San Diego now!

The nearest Kidrobot store to me is in Los Angeles. Now, I'm sure LA is a great town. There's a ton of artsy stuff going on non-stop, it's a giant hub of the world, a really lovely place with lovely people... right. As much as I LOVE the 2 hour drive up there to buy overpriced (albeit cool) clothes and knick-knacks, I'd just as soon stay local and buy my vinyl wares in the neighborhood. Now, thanks to Gunnzo, I can do just that!

Gunnzo is located in Old Town San Diego at 2445 Juan Street. It doesn't look like much from the outside (the store is located in the left side of a house smack in the middle of an incredibly steep residental street), and the inside consists of a small front room which leads to a slightly larger and more angular back room. All of this is attached to a great back porch which opens into a small courtyard linking the other side of the house (I'm assuming). What it lacks in space it makes up for in cozy quality.

Chika Sasaki has opened the only designer toy store in San Diego as far as I'm aware, and I'm hoping it works out beautifully for her. I got to go to the "opening" party where every attendee got a free Mini Munny Mobile to decorate as they pleased! I got to talking with a guy there (Jesse? Maybe? Bad with names) and apparently this entire venture started from her own personal collection. From the sounds of things, it seems like she has more internet business than walk-ins, but I'm sure as the buzz continues she's going to find herself in a great spot to dominate the toy market in San Diego. Not only does she have a great collection of hard to find Dunnys, Gunnzo is the exclusive US retailer for MINDstyle Asia Exclusives.

The fact that this is a toy store by a toy collector means that some things are off-limits, but what is for sale isn't grossly inflated with outlandish retail upcharging. Yes, she's got to make a profit, and her collection is small but very thorough. Sasaki seems to have a good handle on what's available and what's coming, so I'm expecting great things from her.