She'll be comin' down the mountain when she comes

Mountain ranges across the U.S in the past year.

-Take a peek into amazingness-

Arizona

Beach bum

I just got back from a stay on the west coast. While visiting the southern california Los Angeles area I did some amazing things. One of which was the Art in the Streets exhibit at the MOCA in Little Tokyo downtown. The first American street art/graffiti exhibit to date, it featured artists such as Banksy, Shepard Fairey & Swoon. "Tracing the development from the 1970's to the global movement it has become today, concentrating on key cities such as NYC, LA, San Fran, London, and Sao Paulo, where a unique visual language or attitude has evolved"(moca). There, you can see paintings, mixed media sculptures, and interactive installations complete with a comprehensive timeline illustrated with artwork, photos, video, and ephemera which will provide a historical context for the work.

Oh, and every Thursday night between 5-8pm its free--thanks to Banksy who is sponsoring the free admission. He has this to say about it: "I dont think you should have to pay to look at graffiti. You should only pay if you want to get rid of it."

There is never a dull sight at venice beach either. Everything from artists selling their handmade drawings and bracelets to any kind of food you'd ever want to eat.. all the beer and booze you can handle.. skateboarding, surfing, lifting weights at muscle beach.. whatever, its there! One of my favorite spots to visit just for the entertainment value and the ocean breeze.. Venice is a must-see.

Heat Advisory

A life without love is like a year without summer -Swedish Proverb

...and this is only the beginning.

Madison, Wisconsin

Bargain of the day

Tarina | Puffer | Collections | Latico leathers

          Attention to details such as unique artisan linings, unexpected leather treatments and extensive interior organization have become Latico signature features that turn heads from coast to coast. Paul and his casual, down-to-earth ways translated into bags that reflected the same qualities-mellow, leather basics with laid-back comfort. Specialty boutiques in Greenwich village couldn't keep his merchandise in stock and soon the ever-famous rock group, The Greatful Dead and crew became fans of his naked-leather bags. As this was Latico's first lucky charm, it invited many other musicians to seek out the bags (read more about the company here).
          I grew up bargain hunting with my mother- living in thrift stores, off clearance racks and going to garage sales. I dont usually buy clothes or shoes without them being marked down once or twice (Von Maur is my favorite!) and it almost always pays off. Here is a prime example of what you'll find on the clearance rack at TJ Maxx. I found this Latico hobo for a measly $23!! It didn't have the original tags but I knew it was something special after I felt the leather.. plus the color is what initially sold me--I am obsessed with green. Retailing for a whopping $168 I'd say I made a pretty good choice.


  

Rainy weekend

My newest obsession(s):

      * All things deer (it started when i bought these).

      * Seersucker: i cant get enough!

      * Burlap/jute (click to buy here).

I have such a weird accumulation of fabric laying around my work space- often finding myself struggling to think of what combinations to use. Being more motivated to sit with my hands under the sewing machine during rainy days, this week has sort-of paid off. By paid-off I mean I made a new bag! One of these days I'll get to making an etsy site and selling all my things, until then I continue to give them away to friends... still never having enough inventory when someone asks to buy one. I did buy some fantastic fabric from Spoonflower & Fabricworm--my two go-to sites for the most amazing fabric that you wont find in your local JoAnn's... and I cannot wait to put it all to use. 

  

RIP ReadyMade

    

It wasn't until I added a second minor in college and picked up Journalism that I really started to dig into what a magazine is. Growing up with home decor magazines all over the house, pulling pages out and tossing the rest aside, I really took them for granted. Upon taking a few magazine courses at the Greenlee school of Journalism and learning all kinds of things involving circulation, publication, advertising, different parts of a magazine, and all behind-the-scenes things that go into it (One of my instructors actually gave lectures for Meredith (ReadyMade's parent company)), that I  have a new appreciation for them. On average, 150-400 magazines are launched annually in the U.S. Less than 50% survive the first year, 10% or less survive the second year, and 30% or less survive 5 years (Lecture, JLMC 341). Readymade has been inspiring DIYers since 2001 across the world to "rethink, reimagine, and reinterpret their everyday life---it encouraged people to take a much broader view of what they might consider DIY"(Farewell, ReadyMakers).  It's evident that crafters have turned to the web for inspiration and information, but isn't it so much easier to follow projects with a magazine in front of you?!?!?! I am truly saddened that ReadyMade isn't going solely to the internet (like Craft magazine did) to keep their readers in tune- I know I would pay for an online subscription! In a time of economic hardship people will be wanting DIY content more and more.   :(
     I will continue to reference ReadyMade publications I have stashed away!

<3

Marker amazingness

I found this on HonestlyWTF a couple weeks ago. I have literally gone to this video a dozen times since I first viewed it because it is that amazing: Two French artists, supakitch & koralie teamed up in Sweden last fall for an exhibit called kimono fusion.

if you've got 8 minutes to spare & be totally inspired peep the video documentary by clicking the link below

Supakitch & Koralie

.knoxville.

I've been in Knoxville Tennessee  for the past month and have formed quite the liking to this southern 'mountain hipster kid' town. Everywhere I have gone to eat.. drink.. shop.. hike whatever it may be someone has introduced themselves to me and sparked conversation. A whole different world compared to the snooty Scottsdale Arizona where I spent 3 months at the end of last year. Its comforting when people are easy to befriend & makes it a heck of a lot easier to search out the sweet spots in town.  I seem to frequent the same places over.. and over again.. or ordering in shitty chinese food (dont ever wing ordering Chinese food in Madison Wisconsin...), Knoxville pushed me out of my shell.  This town is a place I could relocate to. A few of my favorite spots so far are located downtown (also where the University of Tennessee's campus is): Market Square (preservation pub, La Costa, Soccer Taco, Swagger, etc), Old City (theres a hip hop dance club called Hanna's cafe down here!). I also spent a day down at Norris Dam where the water was freeeeeeeezing but the clearest I've ever seen! Initially I was looking for a swimming hole but there was no possible way anyone could even stand in the water without catching hypothermia 5 minutes later! Its nestled in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee so the short 25 minute drive was worth getting eaten alive by mosquitos and the vitamin D overload that day.