PIXIE MARKET, MY LOVE

It pains me to give up the goods, but this one with the zippers is on sale for $75.

They have our size and everything. Buy it because I can't. Sigh.

Dear Pixie Market,

I'm yours. If you'd have me I'd never look twice at another retailer. I have yet to make my first purchase because I can't even afford groceries at this point, but when my day comes- and it will- I'm blowing a wad.

Would you look at this stuff? The designers they carry often have little more than a myspace page and are making these masterpieces in their homes! The most wonderful part is the price point- it's not cheap, but very affordable for the odd splurge, even for a student. You can feel good buying because these remarkable pieces are made by hand, with love, in limited amounts.

It's grungy, it's beautiful, even comfortable looking. STUNNING.

I know I'm a puddle, but I honestly think pixie market has it done PERFECTLY. Their first shop is in the Lower East Side, NYC and one just opened- I believe- in L.A. Spirit airlines has 60$ flights to NYC. Just sayin. This is the first time I've ever planned to hop on a plane to shop somewhere for an afternoon.

I'll treat myself one of these days. Until then, I'll live vicariously through you.

click click

xo.s

COCO IN MOTION & DETAILED CHANEL

Chanel. Stop-motion. A charming french ditty. Natalie Portman. Love.

An animation for V magazine, directed by Stephen Smith.

AND, it's in the details with a silent-ish short of the Chanel spring/summer 2010 collection.

It's long, and kind of vapid, but the RINGS at about the 2:30 mark are incredible.  

click click

xo.s

LITTER SF

<3

wowowowowowow.

wow.

Mackenzie and Rachael are the ladies behind 'Litter SF' (San Fran) Jewelry. This stuff is ethereal! 

And not too terribly expensive, considering you're paying for PERFECTION! 

They're backed up on some orders right now because they can't keep up with demand. Not surprising.

The DAY I have some money to spend I'm ordering that chainmail sort of vest piece and the last shoulder piece. Gawd.

click click

xo.s

IARTISTLONDON

So, this is interesting....

IARTISTLONDON has created a set of do-it-yourself kits for the recreation of well-known pieces of british contemporary art.

Mark Quinn, 'Self (the real thing)

The Do It Yourself 'Self' kit

Damien Hirst 'For the Love of God'

DIY 'For the Love of God' kit

Tracey Emin, 'Everyone I Have Ever Slept With'

The DIY kit

One of Banksy's Rats

Yeah. DIY

From the site:

"We believe art should be for everyone. Our boxes contain all the necessary elements so you only have to concentrate on creating. In no time you will have a masterpiece created by yourself. It couldn't be easier!

IARTISTLONDON presents the world's first affordable DIY high art sets"

There are currently six sets to choose from, including a DIY 'For the Love of God' by Damien Hirst to be created from a plastic skull and rhinestones; a 'Self' replica by Mark Quinn which allows you to create a frozen sculpture of your head out of YOUR OWN BLOOD (what. the. f&*k), and a DIY 'Everyone I Have Ever Slept With' tent a la Tracey Emin.

Ok, I've seen 'Self' and think it's a great piece, but to include instructions on how to create your OWN is insane to me.  That is Quinn's piece, his vision, his creative sacrifice..... HIS blood.  I mean, is this even safe?? 

All the work listed here to 'copy' is personal vision.  I get the appeal, but I'm hating this idea! I don't think it would be possible to come up with an idea to cheapen these relevant pieces of art any more than IARTIST has.

Sure, anyone could collect the supplies to knock off nearly ANY piece of artwork if they tried hard enough.  But these people too would have to be innovative in doing it themselves.  For a company to make money off telling the average joe how to recreate a piece of contemporary art that he likely doesn't even understand or know much about is sick.

I haven't been able to find it, but I would be interested to hear what the artists think of this! If they had to give IARTIST LONDON permission? I would imagine.... but I'm seriously disappointed to think that they might get behind such a cheap idea.

When the Momart warehouse in East London burned to the ground in 2004 and Emin's tent was lost, she refused to reproduce it even when the Saatchi gallery offered her a million pounds, saying "I had the inclination and inspiration 10 years ago to make that, I don't have that inspiration and inclination now.... My work is very personal, which people know, so I can't create that emotion again- it's impossible". 

click click

xo.s

DESIGNBOOM DESIGN MART 2009

'Nervous System' jewelry (Jessica Rosenkrantz and Jesse Louis-Rosenberg, USA)

'Polaroid Mirror' (Colin O'Dowd, Ireland/UK)

'Imperfect' Ceramics ('Studiomake' David and Im Schaefer, USA)

'Crayon Rings' (Timothy Liles, USA)

Bowtie and Bag Collections ('Skinny Vinny' Vincent Lai, USA)

Ceramics ('Cul de Sac Design', Laura McKibbon, Canada)

Cups ('The.', Mihoko Ouchi and Sherwood Forlee, USA)

'Punch Mugs' (Karich Design, JC Karich, France/Chile)

'Inner Message' Rings (Jungyun Yoon, Korea)

'Speak-er' Speakers ('the.')

'Anti Theft' Lunch Bag ('the.')

During the ICFF (International Contemporary Furniture Fair) in New York (may 16-19), designboom held its fifth annual 'Design Mart'.

I was there for last year's and it was the best part of the fair (that and the Umbra and Moooi exhibits).

From designboom:

"for the fifth time in New York, designboom provided an unprecedented opportunity to meet the young avant-garde and become familiar with their work. Visitors were able to buy design souvenirs and limited edition pieces directly from the designers themselves"

If I remember correctly, nothing at the mart costs more than $100. Here are some of my favourites!

xo.s