Explosive Kiwi

The End

2010-10-18T20:40:00.009-04:00

But welcome to a new chapter: Explosive Kiwi, my labor of love for the past few years, is growing up and becoming something new. Gone are the days of aimlessly wandering yarn stores and grabbing at whatever caught my fancy, causing my yarn stash to get wildly out of control too fast. Also gone are the days of...shudder...100% acrylic yarn on scarves and cowls, pieces meant to offer comfort and warmth to your neck when it's chilly outside.

Instead, say hello to Threadbare Supply Co., the more grown-up, thoughtful version of Explosive Kiwi. With Threadbare Supply Co. I offer pieces that work harder for you, from keeping you warm to looking great paired with even more of the things you already own. You'll see the change between past and present in the carefully curated collection for Threadbare Supply Co., making its premiere later this Fall.

In the meantime, please visit threadbaresupply.com for all-new posts and updates on the fall/winter collection. It's a "soft" site release for now, but you'll be able to see it grow I'll be ceasing any writing here, but you can find all my new adventures in all the following places:

Official site: threadbaresupply.com
On Twitter: twitter.com/thrdbrspply
On Flickr: flickr.com/photos/threadbaresupply

Hope to see you there!

Vertigo-inducing Prints

2010-09-24T18:44:00.004-04:00

Vertigo: not just a great thriller/mystery by Hitchcock. The other vertigo: a condition I recently discovered I have. Compared to Jimmy Stewart's, mine is less agoraphobia and more good-god-make-the-world-stop-moving-why-won't-it-stop-moving. So after getting over the fact that it's totally something I can live with and not as significant as say, cancer, my mind immediately went to fabric. Specifically, clothes with patterns for which I would risk bouts of vertigo.
Admittedly, these pieces aren't as ridiculous as they could be. However, I tend to be conservative when it comes to prints. Wearing them has always scared me a bit—there's an image in my head of attempting a pattern on pattern ensemble as suggested by all those fashion blogs, but it goes horribly wrong and results in blindness.

But prints (particularly in/on accessories) have the great ability of introducing color into an ensemble without dropping cash on that eye-searingly electric blue dress that you'll wear once. Take, for example, the Painterly Clutch from Anthropologie: It's got a bunch of colors working harmoniously that can be mixed and matched throughout various outfits.

And until I can overcome the vertigo and face even crazier prints, I'll take one of each from above: 1. Twist and Shout Dress by Mink Pink, 2. Camo Cat Dress via Nasty Girl, 3. Painterly Clutch by Stephanie Johnson, 4. Vigg Raincoat by Gudrun Sjödén, 5. Burnout Squiggle Stripe Tee by Truly Madly Deeply

In Good Company

2010-09-16T08:23:00.004-04:00

Like that guy last night on "Top Chef: Just Desserts" said, when you make something it becomes your baby, and you hope everyone else think it's as wonderful as you do. And maybe, just maybe, Julie of Elliven Studio thinks the same.

She recently featured my Alexandria Legwarmers in a lovely post highlighting some knit items she has discovered on Etsy. I'm delighted to have my legwarmers included among such lovely items (I particularly LOVE that gray cowl/shoulder warmer)—thank you, Julie!

You can read her full post here, or check out Elliven Studio's Etsy shop here.

Giving plastic wrap another chance

2010-09-05T21:59:00.012-04:00

I've only ever known saran wrap to be evil: getting caught on itself as you're trying to roll it out of its box, refusing to separate itself from itself as you struggle to cover a tray of freshly baked brownies, getting entangled in your hair in what your Puerto Rican mother claims is a family secret to hair straightening. Then I came across the only thing that could make saran bearable, even cool:

Kate Cusack took rolls of these clear plastic sheets and created a series of Marie Antoinette-esque updos for a Tiffany's window display a few years ago. The French queen was known for making her wigs high and dramatic, and Cusack hasn't disappointed her—these things are huge! The artist pulled off over-sized curls and braids in a finicky material, and all those layers of saran perfectly mimic those powdered wigs. Major props to Cusack for once again taking a mundane material and transforming it into something unexpected and ingenious.

See more pictures below, and read more about the project on the artist's website.

Images via ecouterre and Kate Cusack.

Swooning Over: Tomato Red

2010-08-26T22:37:00.006-04:00

With Fall not-so-sneakily arriving, it's time for some Summer colors to get a little more serious. So say hello to Coral's replacement, Tomato Red:
Everyone's familiar with that Crayon Red color, with its cheeriness and in-your-face-ness. But add a tiny bit of yellow and you get Tomato Red, a cheerful color with a little bit more interest. It works just as hard as regular old Red, but the hint of yellow/orange makes it feel a bit more playful.

Though it's been around for a while appearing every now and then in mainstream fashion, lately it's been making quite the resurgence. A huge benefit is that it mixes easily into any wardrobe, adding a playful contrast to any neutral. Add accents of it here, layers of it there, and it adds a pop of color and some intrigue to what could otherwise be a pretty uneventful look.

Keep a lookout for Tomato Red this Fall, or you can start adding to your collection with the pieces featured above: 1. Canyon Messenger Bag, Madewell 2. Moroccan Market Scarf, Madewell 3. Flower in My Pocket Dress, Need Supply Co. 4. Lula Magazine S/S 10 5. J. Crew Editorial 6. Knotted Leather Ring, Urban Outfitters

Loom of Fate...er, Slumber?

2010-08-15T16:34:00.005-04:00

Image of Janine Antonie's "Slumber" (1993) via Artist Research.

Just a few lines

2010-08-02T23:14:00.002-04:00

Illustration by Garance Doré.

I will be leaving you with many more findings as Explosive Kiwi goes into some kind of a hibernation...or rather, its cocoon phase. Have I piqued your interest?

Drawing all over the walls

2010-07-28T18:39:00.000-04:00

I've stayed at many a Courtyard Marriott (thanks, 18th birthday sleepover), but they've all got this weird, New England/floral-patterns-on-everything feel to them. A new trend in hotel design is going boutique—designing each room differently, making each visit a new experience. Each room gets lovingly thought out, and I recently discovered one specific room at the Ace Hotel with an extra special touch: hand-drawn wallpaper about New York City:

Timothy Goodman, the person responsible for this amazing feat in hand-drawn awesomeness, calls it "99 Frames." According to the artist, he "hand drew 99 picture frames to create a dense wall of 'discovery' about NYC that could be passed to the common tourist staying in the room. Each frame contains a different fact / love / tidbit / thing of interest / or shout-out to a place [he digs] in the city." At a whopping 120 square feet, Goodman covers the good and the bad, from the Arch at Washington Square Park and Nathan's hot dogs to sky high rent and pigeon poo. Yes, I'm a sucker for the project because it's about the city that I love/hate oh-so-much. But I'm also crazy for it because it was executed by an actual human being with a great hand and some equally great memories.

Check out Timothy Goodman's post about the "99 Frames" here, or see a few more images below:

Thanks, Jane Austen

2010-07-26T08:24:00.000-04:00

Last week I finalized the scheme for my new living room, but the bedroom was giving me some trouble. The room needed something relaxing but not too somber, colorful but not too Lisa Frank. A few days ago I found a beautiful book cover for Jane Austen's "Emma," and it all fit together. Voilà:
The pattern on the book works so well because the bright coral is balanced with the darker purple, all of which sits on a calming backdrop of natural linen and white. Considering the pieces I already have, it also makes sense for my bedroom: I can leave the walls white, I've got light wood and some black furniture, it's an excuse to buy anything in coral (a color I've been recently falling in love with), and the purple and white/natural is a nice variation on the lilac/blue in the neighboring living room. I'm a fool for purple, too, and though coral is pretty trendy right now, this grouping of colors isn't (which means I won't be over it in 3 months).

I can't stop drooling over this color palette :) However, my next mission is the bathroom, with its white, black, and orangy/yellow tiles...eep.

And if you're curious, here are some image credits (from left to right, top to bottom): 1. Pin-Tuck Duvet Cover and Shams, West Elm 2. "In glorious technicolor" by *raffaella 3. "Emma" by Jane Austen, White's Books 4. Crystal Votive, Anthropologie 5. "Cures for Love" by Stendhal, Penguin Books, 6. Prism Knob, Anthropologie 7. Glass Parlor Box, Urban Outfitters

Cycling about

2010-07-23T17:56:00.003-04:00

"In glorious technicolor" by *raffaella via flickr.

The best jewelry of all

2010-07-21T08:24:00.000-04:00

I like shiny things. And I like jewelry. And chocolate. Is it possible to fuse those 3 things into one amazing thing that I could love even more than its separate parts? Allegedly so: Promise Me Chocolate, a site geared towards brides, sells chocolates, truffles, bonbons, and peppermint patties in the shape of rings and gemstones, painted to look like rocks you’d wear (I mean, they're not really fooling anyone, but A+ for the delicious effort!). I’m particularly loving them because they come in beautiful jewel tones and look like rings I’d actually buy.

A single ring goes for $13 (eep), or you can get sets of gem truffles for less. I was going to buy a 4-pack of truffles, but shipping is a whopping $26, so that’s a no-go. It comes in a box, a small one, so that price isn’t ok unless it’s getting hand delivered via Sherpa.

Check out more of their pieces on their website, and if the shipping and handling doesn’t scare you, snatch a few for yourself.

Pantone Fall 2010 Colors

2010-07-19T08:49:00.003-04:00

Pantone has spoken once again (well, technically they spoke almost a year ago), with their projected colors for Fall 2010. And it seems only appropriate for me to bust this out now, as summer sales are winding down to make way for new fall merchandise. Check it:

Don’t they seem surprisingly spring-like? There are bright, cheerful colors like Golden Glow, Lipstick Red, and Purple Orchid, and few neutrals. Where are the heavier colors to balance them? Perhaps, then, these predictions are more like suggestions for pairing with timeless neutrals? I also would’ve expected heavier colors because of the season itself, as the wintry weather usually brings out more serious, morose tones. Compare them to Spring 2010’s predictions, and you’ll barely notice a difference—with a few exceptions, most are only a touch darker and/or warmer (see the Spring 2010 colors here).

But how does this compare to clothes you’ll see in stores? A survey of some of the more colorful A/W runway shows makes Pantone’s predictions seem moot, except for Oyster Gray and Rose Dust. Instead, it seems we’ll find electric blue, icy grays, tomato red, and oxblood red (in addition to black, nudes, and navy). See for yourself:

Jeffrey Monteiro Fall 2010

Vanessa Bruno Fall 2010

Twinkle by Wenlan Fall 2010

So the overall assessment? If Pantone is right, it’s going to be a cheerful winter. We city-folk may cling to our blacks and grays, but for the love of God, I hope we can manage to inject some color this season. Pantone seems to be giving us an excuse to, anyway.

Image credits: Jeffrey Monteiro Fall 2010 via Refinery29, Vanessa Bruno Fall 2010 via Style.com, Twinkle by Wenlan Fall 2010 via nymag.com

Hydrangeas in the living room

2010-07-14T20:17:00.004-04:00

With all the stresses of moving 2 years worth of your life from one space into another (usually with a UHaul through the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel and inevitably getting pulled over by cops with poor senses of humor), the single thought that keeps this girl going is decorating the place. And since the new space in question contains a bedroom AND a living room (thank you, Brooklyn!), I've been pondering how to fill it with things that will make me happy. Ergo, I present my color board of insta-happiness:

It started when I found a picture of some hydrangea cupcakes (yummy), and then kept stumbling upon photos of light, hazy, pastelly blue/purple florals. I'm a fool for purples and muted tones, so it quickly became clear that light blue, purple, and ivory should be the colors in the living room. I realized I could also justify using a reddish brown, pulling from the living room's flooring and partial brick wall (again, thank you, Brooklyn!), and may have flipped out a little when I also realized the palette gives me an excuse to get tons of plants.

At some point I'll realize that I can't afford a Domino Magazine apartment. But until then, I'll be dreaming in these colors. Well, maybe until I come up with the palette for the bedroom...

And finally, image credits are as follows (from left to right, top to bottom): 1. Ocean photo, 2.Russian Floral Stream Printed Rug from UO, 3. "Blue Hydrangeas" by Snowy, 4. Brick wall photo via Saucy Dwellings, 5. Eiffel Tower Pillow Cover, iviemade, 6. Table setting by Amy Neunsinger via Haute Design

Try this at home: Lace Nails

2010-07-13T16:14:00.005-04:00

I’m a fool for nail color and nail art—it’s the overlap between my Puerto Rican desire to bling out, and my graphic designer desire to have color. So I bought the nail art pens. I bought the matte-ifying top coat. I’ve even been told I have to be supervised when trolling the makeup/nail polish aisles in Duane Reade.

So imagine my delight when I found this awesome tutorial on something NEW to try! Lace decoupage action! I like it because it’s abstract, because it’s like arts & crafts, and because it involves fabric. And because her outfit is mad cute.

If you want the step-by-step to do it yourself, check out the original post here via Behind the Seams. And if you do it, I demand pictures of the finished product. Muahaha!

What if our whole world were plush?

2010-07-06T09:11:00.002-04:00

Plush Polaroid available at One Late Night.

I'd live in this city

2010-07-01T10:49:00.002-04:00

Urban Carnival Scarf Pillow via Urban Outfitters.

Vintage clothing, like, legitimately

2010-06-28T12:56:00.006-04:00

Until recently, the Brooklyn Museum's Costume collection had been hidden away in storage, gathering dust and getting forgotten about. But now it's back and in full glory in the show American High Style: Fashioning a National Collection, showcasing early American designers (and some foreign ones) who've had an impact on the country's style in the past century or so. Borrowing some of the Brooklyn Museum's pieces, the Met is concurrently running a twin show on their grounds, American Woman: Fashioning a National Identity.

From photos on the Brooklyn Museum's website, the show highlights pieces with dramatic lines and silhouettes in a rainbow of colors and fabric. They also feature an interactive plaything via Polyvore that let's you match pieces from the collection together.

There's only about a month left for each show, so check them both out while they're all spiffed up:

American High Style: Fashioning a National Collection
Brooklyn Museum
Event description here
Now through August 1

American Woman: Fashioning a National Identity
Metropolitan Museum of Art
Event description here
Now through August 1

Swooning Over: Tiered, ruffley things

2010-06-24T08:35:00.004-04:00

Nothing makes me feel more like a lady than wearing something with ruffles (thank you, J.Crew, for constantly appeasing me), but this summer, the ruffle is out in full effect. More interesting, though, are ruffles with a twist: tiered, angled, and at irregular lengths. Here's what I mean:
The Chris Benz dress in image 1 is amazingly out of control in bright colors with layered panels of slightly ruched fabric (which totally counts as a ruffle). The irregular slices of light fabric and the stacked colors are gorgeous, making it look almost weightless and petal-like. The vest in image 2 also pops with color, and makes use of chaotic pleating that makes it visually interesting and gives it the volume that more traditional ruffles would.

And who doesn't want to jump into that bed, or into that knit tank? In fact, I DO jump into that knit tank in white on the regular, c/o Madewell (J.Crew's younger sister), and I love its angled ruffles that jostle around as I walk.

Keep your eyes peeled for more irregular, angled, and unusual ruffles this summer and into the winter!

1. Layered silk organza dress, Chris Benz 2. Barcelona vest, Anthropologie 3. Waterfall ruffle shams, Urban Outfitters 4. Layered ruffles tank, Madewell

Beach style

2010-06-18T13:57:00.002-04:00

Here's to a warm, delightfully beach-filled weekend!

Image via psitsshereen.tumblr.com

A tangle of cords and lights

2010-06-16T08:28:00.000-04:00

Knit work slyly makes it's way into high design. This one's called Ray while its cousin is called Matt.

Image of "Ray" via Ilot Ilov

Angora rabbits, hopping their way into my heart

2010-06-13T10:05:00.006-04:00

I've been considering getting a pet for a while. Qualifications: pint-sized, adorable, and cuddly. This leaves me with gerbils/rats (not as high up on the adorable scale), hermit crabs (at the bottom of the adorable scale), hamsters/guinea pigs (too needy), birds (they never die), and rabbits (WINNER!). I'd been obsessing over dwarf rabbits, the smallest, most cuddly of them all, until my friend Heather (of the blog Bleach Bottle Bird House) mentioned Angora rabbits:

!!! I don't think there's anything I need to say about how ridiculous this rabbit looks. So ridiculous, in fact, that it's pawing away at my heart, asking for me to love it. AND asking for me to comb it regularly and spin its fur into delightful knit goods.

You mention "angora" to a knitter, and we swoon. It's one of those luxurious fibers we dream of using, but it tends to form a fuzzy halo once it's worked up (like my hair, thanks Puerto Rico). According to Alpaca Farm Girl, though, knitting it with another fiber reduces the fuzziness, shedding, AND pilling. She also says the fur on these bad boys is 6-8 TIMES WARMER than wool, and feels even more heavenly.

COME ON!

First image and info via Alpaca Farm Girl
Second image via Shruggle

Simple portrait

2010-06-11T22:28:00.004-04:00

Image via ffffound.com

An amazing DIY job

2010-06-07T11:49:00.004-04:00

Upcycling at its best. But how easily does it snag?

Photo via Tobacco&Leather

Swooning Over: White Porcelain

2010-06-03T22:57:00.005-04:00

Making something in one color is pretty risky—you can always hide flaws and poor quality in a heavy, colorful pattern, but you've got to step up your game when it's a solid color. A solid color lets texture and form shine through, and lately I've been obsessed with all-white ceramic or porcelain pieces with great craftsmanship. A few examples:
I love how clean and precious these pieces look in all white, and the texture really shines through on each one. The vase in pic #1 is super modern and geometric, and the white draws attention to the intriguing facets. Matte finishes feel rustic (like with the hand-embossed "Lucky" in picture 4), while high gloss makes a piece feel more polished (like the vase in #3).

My fav is #5, the tea service set that's actually a stealth candelabra. You'd expect a tea set to be all white, but you WOULDN'T expect it to be in one piece AND hold candles. It'd be an interesting experiment, though, to use teacups and saucers around the house as candle holders. Hrm...

Keep an eye out for more all-white ceramic/porcelain pieces in your favorite store's home goods section, or follow these links to get more details on the images featured.

1. Materialized Vase, Erich Ginder 2. Petal Hook, Anthropologie 3. Small garden vase, Prettyrandomobjects 4. Lucky tiny text bowl, Paloma's Nest 5. Tea Party Candelabra, Anthropologie

LeAnne Marshall comes out of hiding!

2010-06-02T08:10:00.001-04:00

I started watching (/becoming obsessed with) Project Runway back in 2008, and went gaga (not the Lady) over winner LeAnne Marshall's floaty, feminine creations. The year before, my cousin gifted me with an early design of LeAnne's from her Etsy shop, so I was stoked to see her go on and win PR. Quickly after her victory, however, LeAnne's shop went quiet while she pursued her collection...and I was very sad.

HOWEVER, she's back on the radar and keeping her shop stocked. Yay!

She's doing high and low end designs (though low-end will still run you around $250), and they all carry her signature folds, loose pleating, and origami-like accents. Her pieces tend to stick to solid primary colors, and she'll sometimes plays with a creme/white palette. All the designs look easy to wear, and she makes sure to use soft materials close to the skin, including silks and linen (perfect for the warm weather!).

If you're looking for a summer splurge, I'd highly suggest checking out LeAnne's Etsy shop, stocked regularly and full of lovely, light pieces.

1. Tania Dress 2. Emmeline Dress 3. JennyLou Dress

Madewell online shop FINALLY launches

2010-05-28T13:06:00.005-04:00

Finally, after months of being teased by in-store displays and newsletters that a Madewell e-commerce site was going to open up, it has finally happened! Last Friday there was a splash page, Monday the page was animated, and when I checked this morning, that puppy was up and running!

Though nothing compares to an in-store experience (particularly sales racks), at least now I can plot out the damage I'll be doing to my wallet. The rest of my summer will be spent in front of my screen, drooling over what I'll be buying, what's new to stores, and how I can one day gloriously work there. Beach tan? No. Computer screen tan? Yes, please.

Madwell1937.com

Tush Mag does superheroes

2010-05-26T11:51:00.000-04:00

Fashion editorials offer a canvas for designers, photographers, and art directors to get together and dream big, coming up with imagery that can be whimsical, dramatic, and tell a story. Some teams go for it, while others take the safe route. "Summer on the beach"? Lame. "Superheroes"? Tush Magazine, you've piqued my interest.

Tush Magazine's latest issue (20) reinterprets famous superheroes (most of them female, hurrah!), dedicating full shots and graphic portraits to each character. Most images are monotone, like Poison Ivy and Witchblade above, while Mystique lends the spreads a punch of that electric blue. The stylist made good use of hard metals as well as exaggerated shapes and silhouettes, giving character to these...ahem...characters. It's also interesting to note what the stylists do aside from slapping a dress on someone—in this case, Witchblade's hair looks sculpted (and probably feels like it with all the gunk they must've loaded it with), and Poison Ivy's face is being devoured by tendrils. And I must say, the stereotypically apathetic/pissed-off model look works well for the various characters' back stories.

Check out even more of your favorite characters on Tush Magazine's site:
See images from the editorial
See the video

Bust's Spring Fling Craftacular 2010

2010-05-23T14:49:00.014-04:00

Sunday's Spring Fling Craftacular caught me almost completely by surprise, but I was able to assemble the troops and scope it out. This year's Craftacular at the Warsaw in Brooklyn featured 50+ vendors packed in a few neat rows while DJs kept music pumping in the background. Though the equation was right, I felt like there were some flaws in the execution.

Jewelery tables are always popular, but I noticed that many jewelers were selling rather uninspired work: there were lower-quality, prefabbed, dime-a-dozen charms everywhere. Few jewelers did much of their own casting, a lot of the craftsmanship felt "meh, I guess," and several people relied more on selling vintage odds and ends instead of re-imagining those pieces into something interesting.

I also think it was tough for other vendors to get any attention, like screenprinters and plushie-makers; you can justify shelling out money for something you'll use every day (like jewelry) instead of something that's not as utilitarian (like a plushie). And there were so few of these vendors that there was little variety for people to chew on.

Booths of note, however, included KG+ AB (unglazed white porcelain figurines and plates, including one with a unicorn silhouette from the famous Unicorn Tapestries), Lillian Crowe (hand-cast rib cages and other creepy/beautiful jewelry), Raw Toast (prints and posters that made me smile), and SML Bags (nice clutches and bags, including the one pictured here that I bought).

Another complaint was the lack of space: kudos to keeping the event relatively small, but there were so many people in and out of there that it was hard to walk around or even get a good look at the merch on tables. The whole thing felt like I was fighting to put in my order at the deli.

Overall I wasn't impressed, though I did walk away with a nice bag and some stud earrings. My heart lies with The Market on Mulberry, as it's got a great variety of vendors, your fav vendors will pull rotations, there's never a huge crowd, and the artisans' work feels a little more purposeful. I guess we'll have to wait and see how Bust's Holiday Craftacular plays out this coming winter.

Swooning Over: Covered Wedges

2010-05-21T11:03:00.003-04:00

My relationship with wedges has been difficult: so many pairs were calling out to me with their vintage/retro styling, though their usual cork or rope-covered heels usually come off as cheap to me. I've recently discovered, however, a new segment of wedges—covered:
I mean, HOW FREAKING CUTE? They're like undercover heels, giving you height and length, sans the fear of toppling over due to a skinny heel. In my quest for covered wedges, the designer Jeffrey Campbell kept coming up (images 1 and 3), and he really knows how to make shoes that are fun statement pieces.

At first I thought all shoes in the "covered wedge" category just looked like clunkers, but I've come to learn that they must be carefully styled. I find dresses/skirts, tights, and skinny jeans go really well with this type of shoe, as it becomes extra important to balance the top and the bottom (leg and shoe, in this case); anything looser and you look like you're wearing a surgical boot. The shoes in images 2 and 3 are perfect for summer, and #3 in particular gives you height while deceptively looking like a regular sandal.

More and more of these wedges have been cropping up, so keep an eye out for the pair that you'll take home with you.

1. Mary Rocks, Jeffrey Campbell 2. Canvas Striped, Mini for Many 3. Molly, 80%20 4. Rosegold Suede Heel, UO 5. Hillaery, Aldo

Site to Follow: 100 Layer Cake

2010-05-19T10:13:00.009-04:00

Quite a few friends have been getting married lately, and in attempting to nosily influence their themes and color palettes, I've become pretty well acquainted with wedding blogs. One thing I've noticed is that many wedding blogs have KILLER color/inspiration boards—collages of related images that capture a bunch of related, pleasing-to-the-eye color combinations.

One of these is 100 Layer Cake's blog, and buried in their "Inspiration Binder" category are some gorgeous color boards, offering unexpected palettes and fanciful swatch names. Even the boards themselves are beautiful, using elegant photography, a wide variety of visual references, and a clean, simple layout. (Click on any of the boards to go to its page on 100 Layer Cake.)

If you need a color palette for your next project, 100 Layer Cake's blog had better be one of the first places you go to look for one.

See the "Inspiration Binder" section here.
Get to the blog's main page here.

Happy 100th post!

2010-05-17T11:33:00.003-04:00

Photo from Strawberry Weed via weheartit.com

Rocking what nature gave us

2010-05-13T12:18:00.000-04:00

Laura Lombardi Jewelry is organic. Not like baby-lettuce-from-a-farmer's-market organic. More like, patterns-found-in-nature-with-slight-irregularities-and-they're-so-damn-pretty-I-want-to-wear-them-around-my-neck organic (my favorite kind).

The jeweler starts with vintage metals, chains, crystals, and findings. Then, she turns those metals into geometric, symmetrical shapes (like triangles pictured above, or hexagons, or spheres), and roughs them up a little. Gold will be in the shape of crystals just found in a cave somewhere, and the stone in stacked earrings look like they've just been chipped off the side of a mountain. Sometimes she'll pick things straight out of nature, like the feather necklace in image 3. Her crystals (image 1) will have beautiful irregularities, and she'll use stones in the same way. Each little detail turns what starts off as a simple or everyday shape into something interesting and noteworthy. And there's not a dud in the collection—I can picture myself wearing every piece (maybe that should be more dangerous than exciting?)

Check out more of Laura Lombardi's pieces in her etsy shop, or view the full collection on her website.

Photo 1: Sterling Silver and Gunmetal Crystal Necklace
Photo 2: Triangle Cascade Necklace
Photo 3: Bone and Gold Feather Necklace

Curl up in a big knit

2010-05-11T10:57:00.000-04:00

Image from grayskymorning.tumblr.com via vi.sualize.us

Swooning Over: Splatters

2010-05-10T12:36:00.011-04:00

For one of those "trends" that always seems to be around, splatters have been hitting pretty hard lately. The key, however, is to wear them well. Cue helpful image:

Survey these examples and you'll see that splatters are versatile because they look like patterns without the rigid regularity of a plaid or a houndstooth. They feel a little more accidental, and can lend a piece insta-movement.

One way to maximize the effect is by focusing on a main focal point. In the Omaha drip dress by Full Circle (#1) for example, the action is concentrated up by the neck and then tapers; it's well-thought out, and much easier on the eye than a lot of paint everywhere. The Grace Heels by Olsen Haus (#2) are also measured in their splatters, but use a silver metallic (which adds a nice pop and contrast to the 1940s pink). If you do want an allover splatter, a great way to go is with a smaller allover print, like the adorable Eve clutch by Lauren Merkin (#6) that looks like a Monet from faraway.

Moral of the story: smaller splatters work well for visual interest, while bigger ones should be used in moderation. Use this lesson wisely.

1. Omaha drip dress, Full Circle 2. Grace Heels in pink, Olsen Haus 3. Splatter Vase, Urban Outfitters 4. Billy Lo-rise skinny jean, Delia*s 5. Splatter bangle, Forever 21 6. Eve splatter print clutch, Lauren Merkin

Kina Fernandez puts color to work

2010-05-07T10:32:00.000-04:00

Though I love this city, people shy away from wearing non-black colors as though it were dangerous to their health. So thank God for Kina Fernandez's S/S '10 collection reminding us that color does exist and hot damn, can it work hard:

This collection is a symphony of color, with fantastic stripes in oranges and warm yellows, a fantastic electric blue, and some very grown-up floral patterns. You'll also find super feminine details like ruffles, well-placed pleating, and lady-like silhouettes. Each piece jubilantly exclaims that Spring is here, and why aren't you outside right now soaking up the sun? That orange dress in particular makes me want to walk through a field of wildflowers like I'm in a Sophia Coppola film.

Read more and see the full collection via High Snobette.

Blossoms in the bedroom

2010-05-06T11:11:00.003-04:00

While this may be a legitimate installation by Keophila, it makes me want to McGuyver one for my own bedroom. See more images from this project here.

Affordable Art Fair lands tomorrow

2010-05-05T10:28:00.001-04:00

I like things on my walls, but I've outgrown the adolescent need to put a blown up image of Orlando Bloom's face on the wall next to my bed (ok, maybe I still did that into college), or drape a hideous tapestry on my wall for "color". The Affordable Art Fair, however, is just what a twenty-somethings adult girl is asking for.

Thursday, May 6 through Sunday, May 9 the Affordable Art Fair will display work from 70 galleries and artists available at a wide range of price points. The site claims you can get something for as little as $100, which sounds like a steal for original work (and is also classier than an overly reproduced glossy print from a generic poster website).

The only downside is that you have to pay to get in ($20 for general admission, $15 for students), so it may be for people determined to bring something home.

What: Affordable Art Fair
When: Thurs., May 6 through Sun., May 9
Hours: Thurs. 12pm-6pm & 6pm-9pm; Fri. through Sat. 12pm-8pm; Sun. 12pm-5pm
Where: 7 West 34th St, near 5th Ave
More info: on Facebook and their website

Leopard print and donuts

2010-05-04T17:29:00.003-04:00

I want the faux-fur jacket, the pink hair, the mess of rings on all her fingers, AND those 2 sprinkle donuts.

Found via Teenage Fashion Addict.

Must see video: Up There

2010-05-03T09:47:00.011-04:00

A dying art, painting large-scale ads on the side of buildings takes a huge amount of skill, foresight, and passion. The following documentary, "Up There", shines a spotlight on these artisans, showing their professional highs and lows in a beautiful, touching way. Do yourself a favor and watch this video all the way through (12:46 min total, but you'll feel like a better person for having watched it):

Wasn't that amazing? And on so many levels??

Each character is endearing, and I want to sit with each of them on a rooftop (hands wrapped around a hot cup of coffee) and ask more questions. It's clear they take huge pride in what they do, and who blames them after seeing the skill it takes to paint giant scenes on the side of whole buildings? It makes me glad to live in NYC, one of the few cities still employing such craftsmen.

The film is impeccably shot, too, with great pacing and a soundtrack that adds (but does not distract). "Up There" was conceived by the advertising agency Mother, one of the few companies that sets out to make meaningful work, not just another buck. It was produced by Mekanism, and directed/edited by Malcolm Murray, and presented by Stella Artois.

And the "surprise twist" at the end? It's an ad, but you’re not hit over the head with a sell (at least not until you see the final product of these men’s work). I mean, mega points to Stella Artois for facilitating this, as the documentary says "we take pride in our craft" without some stupid mascot screaming those words at you.

I hope you enjoy it as much as I did, and don't be afraid to give it a second or third viewing :)

Anthropologie opens in Chelsea Market

2010-04-29T23:51:00.009-04:00

Ah, yes. Anthropologie (one of my favorite stores) does it again. And this time, they're doing it in Chelsea Market:
Their newest store in the city officially opened up mid-April, and the location couldn't be more perfect. What with Chelsea Market's exposed brick, industrial architecture, and rustic feel, it seems only natural that Anthro would set up shop there.

I hope to check it out in the next coming days, and the topiary of the Brooklyn Bridge totally makes the journey worth it!

Both images from Anthropologie on Flickr: Brooklyn Bridge, sailboat

Juliette Hogan is right

2010-04-28T10:32:00.011-04:00

Her designs for Fall 2010 ARE so pretty they hurt (that's the name of the collection, I swear, not just some sub-par joke):

The fabrics, drapes, and colors make all her designs oh-so-feminine, while the cuts and patterns make them classic: plaids and florals in fall-appropriate pastels as well as rich, deep colors. The cape (image 1) is divine in that purple, and the oversized bow makes it all grown up. The whole collection feels a little vintage but definitely not stuffy, and all the pieces could be wardrobe staples.

And let's not overlook that giant knit bow (image 3). How amazing!? It's a fun twist on what knits can do and what they should look like.

I have no idea how much individual pieces are going to cost, but as she doesn't sell online AND seems to only operate out of New Zealand, getting my hands on any of those pieces may be more of a dream than a reality. If anyone knows where I can get my hands on them this fall, lemme know!

Check out the full collection c/o Buzz Beast.

Swooning Over: Exposed Zippers

2010-04-26T00:05:00.015-04:00

They've been gripping the nation for a while now, and I must say, I'm excited to be a part of that frenzy. I'm in love with the exposed, industrial zipper detailing you can find almost everywhere now:

For so long, we assumed that you shouldn't see zippers, so people would disguise them in the same color as its garment, or hide them beneath folds of fabric. But at some point someone decided to let them out and play, and behold what that has brought us: shoes, boots, and sandals with zipper detailing, dresses with contrasting zippers in back AND as a focal point up front, accessories made entirely of twisted zippers, bags wtih zippers as trim. There's something about them that's delightfully gritty and reminiscent of the industrial-era. For as chunky and old-timey as they can seem, you can ironically find them on floral swimwear from Generation Y brand Hurley, and even on lacy tops from the more upscale and adult Anthropologie.

The exposed, industrial zipper has huge potential to leave as quickly as it arrived, but I'm hoping it's a fad with a long shelf-life. I've already seen a few examples of it cropping up in some Fall/Winter 2010 collections, so I may not be disappointed. But if this look floats your boat like it does mine, I'd suggest picking up some pieces that have high contrast (like pic #1) for big impact. Check out some of my suggestions below:

1. Contrast Pocket Dress, Need Supply Co., 2. Dolce Vita Patricia Dress, Urban Outfitters, 3. Zipper Pin, Kate Cusack, 4.Pixie Boot, Jeffrey Campbell

Hester Street Fair reopens this weekend

2010-04-23T11:30:00.000-04:00

I've already gone to the Brooklyn Flea twice this Spring, and have been itching for something new to check out. Cue the Hester Street Fair, opening this weekend and running through December. We have Suchin Pak (of MTV VJ fame) to thank for this one, as well as her brother, a marketing guru, and a guy handling the business end.

According to Refinery 29's article, the fair promises to be "be 1/3 vintage, 1/3 crafts, and 1/3 food," and "curated very carefully." I'm excited to see the range of vintage items present, as well as the crafters who made the cut. It goes without saying, too, that I'll be there pigging out, so I'll have each of those 3 areas covered.

Oh, and the last time the Hester Street Fair was open? 1895. Yeah, this is gonna be serious.

What: Hester Street Fair
Website: hesterstreetfair.com
When: Sat. and Sunday, 10am-6pm
Season: April through December
Where: Corner of Hester and Essex
Subways: F to East Broadway or F, J, M, Z to Delancey

Cute as a macaron

2010-04-21T18:03:00.018-04:00

For the past year the cute little french pastry known as a macaron has been getting a lot of press, and with that has come its evolution. Some bakers have turned what is traditionally a simple, uncomplicated sweet into something creative, colorful, and extra yummy.

Your usual variety includes chocolate, almond, and pistachio, but now people are making french toast, black forest, and cotton candy. And the usual beiges and pastels have become saturated and beautifully contrasted. Word has it they're difficult to make, so extra points to the bakers who decide to take on this challenge. I know I've got a few ideas brewing myself...

Check out my flickr gallery, "Particularly delightful macarons", for more images, or check out the links below for some recipes.

Photo 1: Black sesame and nori, from Lemonpi
Photo 2: Black forest, from Lemonpi
Photo 3:"Macaron Monday" from Run Mia Run
Bottom photo: "Particularly delightful macarons" gallery on Flickr

The Girls with Glasses

2010-04-20T10:46:00.003-04:00

Two ladies, both super cute and super talented, teaming up to host a tv talk show in which they talk about things that matter? Yes, please!

The ladies in question are Summer Bellessa (of ELIZA Magazine) and Brooke White (of American Idol fame), and they hope to create a "smart girl talk show," something I think my generation of females is hurting for. "The Girls with Glasses" show claims to be "a part-hipster, part-variety talk show aimed at providing refreshingly grounded and inspiring perspectives on fashion, entertainment, art and music" and dear God, do I hope they're right. Though there's no info yet about when it launches or where, they've grabbed my attention, and I'll be sure to pass on the deets when I hear.

In the meantime, check out this delightfully adorable stop-motion video for the theme song that both Summer and Brooke co-wrote and performed (note the precious pup cameo, too):

For more info, check out the Girls with Glasses website here: www.thegirlswithglasses.com

Eeny meeny miney moe with Eugenia Kim

2010-04-16T13:23:00.007-04:00

Target seems busy lately with all their designer collaborations, and another one premiering this Sunday heralds what promises to be the Summer of Cute. Eugenia Kim, a milliner from NYC, is releasing a selection of hats including fedoras and cloches at prices that don't offend my bank account. I'm currently torn between these 3:

I mean, that mint green fedora plus my mint green bike? How freaking precious will they look together zooming down the street?

I'm also dying over the pseudo press-release on Target's site, with its saturated yet vintage colors and postcard theme:

This collaboration is quite fortuitous, as I have declared this to be a hat-tastic spring/summer. Let the fun begin!

Read Target's press release here: http://bit.ly/9EKEKY
See all of Eugenia Kim's looks for Target here: http://bit.ly/9g5pwB

Old favorites with a new twist

2010-04-14T11:48:00.003-04:00

Just discovered some Penguin Classics that have gotten a refreshing, contemporary makeover. I love the colors, the simple graphic patterns, and the way they all work together in the series.

I found these on Anthropologie's website, and again on Amazon.com for a few dollars less. Either way, get your hands on some of these and add some flava to your bookshelf (and your reading list).

"The Odyssey" by Homer
Via Anthropologie: http://bit.ly/bZr4KQ
Via Amazon: http://amzn.to/9NZRGQ

"Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass" by Lewis Carroll
Via Anthropologie: http://bit.ly/9KeP43
Via Amazon: http://amzn.to/9sHPIQ

Zac Posen for Target's Shopping Party

2010-04-09T21:48:00.007-04:00

I've got mad love for Zac Posen—a designer that plays with color in a way that's totally wearable, über feminine, and refreshingly vibrant. That, plus Natalie Portman is allegedly his muse (and she can do no wrong in my book, except for the movie "Closer," and maybe "Goya's Ghosts"). He's doing us mere mortals a favor by teaming up with Target for a collection launching April 25, but lucky New Yorkers get a chance for double-Zac fun on April 15:

Target is hosting a "Shopping Party" where, for 24 hours, shoppers can get their grubby paws on all the pieces before the rest of the world. Posen's great collection + Target's stellar marketing x New York City = Awesome freaking night.

Is it a coincidence that the 15th is pay day? I think not.

Read Target's Shopping Party press release here: http://bit.ly/bSDQQR
See all of Zac Posen's looks for Target here: http://bit.ly/ckhqZf

Modern Flower by Sephora

2010-04-08T00:23:00.008-04:00

I received an email from Sephora a little while ago bragging about some new nail colors, and though I normally only scan those emails, I was totally grabbed by the contents of this one:

I mean, how beautiful are those colors? And the rich tones in the photograph? The shimmer on those nails? In addition to Sephora telepathically knowing I love sets, they tried to convince me to buy the whole set of springtime nail polishes called "Modern Flower." Well, they had no trouble.

How was I to refuse their bright pinks, shades of purple, and a metallic-flecked green? Intending to just buy 1 color (or maybe 3), I walked into the store only to be confronted by a mini-set of polishes. The beauty of the mini-set is that the bottle sizes are .125 oz (vs. the usual .5) and you get 4 colors. I mean, it's a perfect sampling at the perfect size (cuz who finishes a whole regular-sized bottle anyway?).

The mini-set came home with me, and after playing around with "Iris I Was Thinner" and "It's Bouquet With Me" I came up with the following:It's a great set and a great range of colors, so grab them (both the mini set and the individual polishes) while they're hot, kids!

Polishes: Handpicked For Me, Go With The Flow-er, Leaf Him At The Altar, Iris I Was Thinner, Handpicked For Me, Cover Me In Petals, and It's Bouquet With Me (in order as shown in the first image) by Sephora for OPI (available here)
Mini-Set: Handpicked For Me, It's Bouquet With Me, Iris I Was Thinner, and Leaf Him At The Altar (in order as shown in the first image) by Sephora for OPI (available here)

Pairings: The Rinoa Cowl

2010-04-04T19:53:00.009-04:00

I recently posted the Rinoa Cowl over at the Etsy shop (http://bit.ly/93u1Si), and was super excited plotting the perfect outfit to go with it! Great for transitioning to Spring, the Rinoa Cowl would look great with:
The cowl, made of beautiful Peruvian wool in navy and baby alpaca in chrome, is versatile enough to work as a basic to which you can add a springtime punch of color. Both navy and gray are classic colors, so this season I'm embracing raspberry as a pop of color to keep things fresh. For this pairing I've matched a cute, deep-cut leotard with a gray skirt (mega versatile). The surprise twist comes with the raspberry tights, a touch of sparkle with hair clips, and some matching nail polish if you're feeling saucy. Slide on these cute heels, and the look is complete!

But that's only the start--snag the Rinoa Cowl for yourself and welcome this flexible piece into your own wardrobe.

1. Tamy Skirt, Cheap Monday 2. Cotton Spandex Jersey in Navy, American Apparel 3. Opaque Panythose in Sangría, American Apparel 4. "Set the Mood" nail polish, Sephora by OPI 5. Henny in Navy, RSVP 6. Sparkle Bobbies, Anthropologie

Anthropologie loves details...

2010-04-02T17:39:00.007-04:00

In search of a birthday gift, I went into a nearby Anthropologie (by Rockefeller Center, near work) and was blown away, yet again, by the attention to detail in not only their products, but also by their exquisite in-store displays. I spotted these particular details and had to share (click on the photo for the larger version):

Top photo: An entire section filled with white, creme, and gunmetal gray was set within a muslin/sack cloth dream. The walls were covered in this cloth, painted roughly with white and carrying obvious seam work. There were ruffles in the same fabric swirling around columns of wooden chairs, as well as this beautiful floral sculpture.

Middle photo: Suspended above a display table was a gorgeous chandelier crafted entirely of painted, corrugated cardboard. I'm amazed by the coils, curls, and shapes the artist was able to make with what people usually think of as refuse.

Bottom photo: Who doesn't want to fall asleep under a canopy of leaves? If you don't have access to a tropical island, I'd say this would make a close runner-up. It was a hand-made tree hanging over a 4-poster bed, and the leaves in different greens and the extra hanging threads made it a show-stopping piece. (Maybe they should consider selling hammocks, too?)

It's amazing how Anthropologie's displays do so much with so little. But it also makes me wonder what happens to all those pieces once it's time for a new display...who do I have to bribe for those?

Swooning Over: Seafaring Chic

2010-03-21T23:53:00.011-04:00

Thought it began last year, I'm stoked to see my favorite fanciful professionals coming into their own this summer. Let's hear it for old timey sailors, pirates, and general seafarers!
Seafaring chic, you'll notice, is firstly expressed with thin striping in a sailor's favorite colors: black, red, and navy. Stripes are a pretty basic pattern regardless, but this summer many brands are getting a little more creative with those spangles. It's getting easier to find accessories and screen prints with anchors and knots all over them as well, but some items are really making use of the medium (like the Anthropologie rope belt shown above). You'll also notice more shops carrying straw boating hats (a personal favorite, though more for your recreational sailor than your boat captain).

Keep your eyes peeled for great clothing, decor, and accessories for you and your favorite seafarer!

1. Nautical Stripe Pillow, Urban Outfitters 2. Anchored Shell Earrings, Need Supply Co. 3. Ahoy Necklace, Hello Berlin 4. Tanker Anchor Canvas Pumps, TopShop 5. Dockline Belt, Anthropologie 6. Flutter Stripe Tunic, Need Supply Co.

Making a Loft Like a Home

2010-03-14T19:46:00.011-04:00

Just the thought of moving into a new place plagues me with stress, heart murmurs, and night sweats, but helping a friend (or in this case boyfriend) move into a new place is pretty exciting. Particularly when that friend (/boyfriend) asks you for help decorating and choosing color palettes. Ahem:
We started with a pair of Movie Sofas (from CB2) in a delightful truffle color that Zach already had, and since there's a whole lot of white wall in the apartment, we knew the place should have a flexible palette. Zach's first purchase was the flokati rug (cooler looking than a shag) in ivory, which helped us figure out our primary colors. We added more ivory (pillows, throw blanket from West Elm) and a cool gray (throw blanket, more pillows w/shams from CB2), and it already started feeling cozy. His mom made the genius suggestion of adding a punch of color, so we went for red with a touch of orange (to go with the Marais chair he already had and loves). Two pillows later, and the palette was complete!

While all the pieces look great together, what makes them particularly interesting are the textures: fuzzy flokati, chunky knits and suede-like couches. That, added to the machine-age period pieces he already had and the plants purchased along the way, turned a spacious, empty room into a cozy, lived-in feeling loft.

Pantone Spring '10 Colors

2010-03-08T18:48:00.004-05:00

Though Pantone premiered their spring 2010 forecast almost a year ago, it didn't much matter to the average person until very recently when the hope of warm weather and fewer layers was born. And now that we're officially hitting springtime, we can compare what we're seeing on hangers and shelves to what Pantone predicted:

This round of colors hits both ends of the spectrum, from conservative neutrals to bright attention-stealing hues. I'm excited to see "dried herb" in the mix, as it's coming into its own as a neutral that can be paired with almost any color. It's also great to see 3 of my favorite colors on there: "turqoise," "fusion coral" and "violet," which I love in any combination. Though "tomato purée," "aurora" and "amparo blue" are too similar to pure primary colors for my taste, each one would look great as an accent color in patterns, so I'm interested in finding out how they make appearances this season.

Also interesting is a side-by-side comparison of this year's colors for spring vs. last year's:

8 of this year's 10 colors is a direct relative to last year's colors. Some like "turqoise" and "tuscany" have become slightly more saturated, while others like "tomato purée," "fusion coral" and "violet" have shifted hues. "Aurora," surprisingly, became a little lighter, softer, and easier on the eyes.

But as always, Pantone's seasonal color report is a springboard for thought, design, and patterns that actually end up at Fashion Weeks and in stores--I'm sure we'll see a wider range of colors in production. Changes from year to year, as you can see above, are very slight, so perhaps it would be an interesting experiment to compare seasons 10 years apart to see if they truly reflect the times. For 2010, I interpret hope with measured optimism (Go 2010!).

Craft fair season is upon us

2010-03-04T16:40:00.012-05:00

We've suffered through a cold and dreary winter, and we here in the city are getting that much closer to busting out our spring jackets. Imagine that! And the advent of spring ALSO means the advent of craft fair season, and ho boy, am I excited! Here's what's on the docket so far:

Bust's Spring Fling Craftacular:
Last year's Spring Fling
May 23
Location to be announced (Manhattan)

Renegade Craft Fair:
Renegade Website
June 5 & 6
McCarren Park (Brooklyn)
(Above photo came from their flickr stream here)

The Market
The Market Website
Every weekend year round (but now that spring is approaching, you'll actually want to walk to it!)
268 Mulberry Street (Manhattan)

Brooklyn Indie Market
BIM Website
Every weekend starting April 3rd
Smith Street & Union St (Brooklyn)

Let's get this party started!

Pairings: The Jenna Cowl

2010-03-01T17:50:00.006-05:00

Last week we posted another item, the Jenna Cowl, in our shop on Etsy. This trim little collar uses some great fibres: alpaca, mohair, and silk (yum!) in jadeite and truffle (double yum!). What can you pair that with? We've got some suggestions:The base colors for this are the jadeite and truffle, with a backdrop of slightly off-white and an occasional touch of plum. We've paired the Jenna Cowl with a racerback tank and a sheer top in our primary colors. For pants we suggest this pair of slightly off-white jeans (love the tint and how distinct it is!). To accessorize, we'd throw on this beautiful ring (with colors that perfectly match our palette) and 2 coats of the plum nail polish to bring it all together.

We hope you love the color combo as much as we do, so snag the Jenna Cowl for yourself!

1. Solid Sheer Layering Top in Taupe, Free People 2. Tri-Blend Racerback Tank in Tri-Lemon, American Apparel 3. Large Medallion Ring in Creme, Urban Outfitters 4. "Purple with a Purpose" nail polish, OPI 5. Skinny Grey Cloud Jeans, Free People

Pairings: The Annie Cowl

2010-02-23T00:19:00.013-05:00

A few days ago, we posted the Annie Cowl (the latest addition to the cowl family) over at our shop. It's soft and supple, made from a combination of 2 yarns: 100% baby alpaca in linen, and 50% superfine alpaca/50% silk in lavender. In addition to these cloud-soft natural fibers, the all-over seed stitch we used gives it great texture.

But once you've bought it, how do you wear it? We've put together this "Pairings" post to give you some suggestions!For this outfit we're starting with the calming neutrals of the Annie Cowl that match the softness of the lavender yarn. We've picked out a creme sweater with a wide neck so that the cowl can drape fully in the front while still showing off your neck and shoulders. Denim with a slight yellow tint blends nicely with this color family, while the tinted sunglasses and gold/lavender bangles echo the lavender in the scarf, tying the whole look and palette together.

Whichever way you wear it, the Annie Cowl is a great addition to any wardrobe. Snag it for yourself and find out!

1. 80s Sweatshirt by Truly Madly Deeply, Urban Outfitters 2. Sunglasses, TopShop 3. Lucky 7 Bangle Set, Forever 21 4. Skyscraper Studs Jeans, Roxy

Snag It! Corrine Cowl in citrine and gray

2010-02-15T23:26:00.004-05:00

I posted some images a while ago of this cowl in progress, and I'm pleased to say it's finally done! I pride myself on using soft yarn in cowls, and this one takes the cake: 65% baby alpaca, 10% cashmere, 10% camel, and 15% silk. Yes, I went there. I also dig that it clings to the neck, but is still floppy, giving it the appearance of volume.

After reading about the Corrine Cowl's inception, snag it for yourself in the Etsy shop!

Happy Valentine's Day

2010-02-14T16:02:00.004-05:00

Whether you like the holiday or not, I hope you've had a relaxing, beautiful Sunday.

Photo: "Paris is for lovers" by IrenaS via flickr.com

Snag It! Half for Haiti at Explosive Kiwi

2010-02-01T17:04:00.011-05:00

The earthquake(s) in Haiti have caused much more devastation than I can grasp, curled up in my warm bed in a beautiful apartment in one of the world's richest cities. And even though I texted 90999 to donate $10 to the Red Cross effort, I just don't feel like that's enough.

So for the next month Explosive Kiwi will be doing something I'm calling "Half for Haiti": Buy any item in our Etsy shop marked with our Half for Haiti logo and 50% of your payment will be donated to the Red Cross, specifically their Haiti Relief and Development efforts. We'll keep a running tally on our Twitter (@explosivekiwi) and in the shop.

Here's a roundup of the first few items:

And please check the shop every few days, as several items will be posted throughout the weeks.

Yarn Porn

2010-01-28T16:04:00.015-05:00

I love food, and I LOVE great food photography. There's nothing that makes the tongue water more than beautifully photographed food: macaroni and cheese with a lightly browned crust sitting in a ceramic dish and a spoon pulling a string of gooey cheese, or single-serve blackberry slump pouring out of its glass topped with melting vanilla ice cream. It's called food porn, and recently I realized there also exists yarn porn.

I've seen tons of knitting blogs with some beautiful photography, and they make me want to reach out and touch the yarn (yes, sometimes in a creepy way). I love when photographers carefully set a mood, choose yarn colors, and thoughtfully arrange the skeins in their shots.

In building up my stash of yarn porn, I've begun a gallery on flickr for what I think are great yarn shots. If you see any along the way, shoot me a link and I'll add it to the collection. In the meantime, view the inaugural gallery here.

Photo above: "Yummy yarn spaghetti" by The Dreaming Press

Swooning Over: Bang-Bang in "The Brothers Bloom"

2010-01-12T14:54:00.012-05:00

A month or so ago I saw the rather under-hyped movie "Brothers Bloom" and was immediately smitten: whimsical story + beautiful locations + great cast + enlightened art direction + spot-on costume design. Within that last ingredient lies my favorite character, Bang-Bang, the impeccably dressed explosives expert.As the above pictures shows, her costume palette is pretty traditional, with the creme adding a bit of depth. The subtle details in the costuming are what make each look, many of them too small to notice in the above pic. From luxurious (the Chanel half-tinted sunglasses and the red piping on the creme suit) to the casual (a black bowler hat paired with a fur jacket and the canvas Converse sneaks), each look is so rich but seems so effortless.

One of my favorite items of Bang-Bang's is the half-tinted Chanel sunglasses, and it's been a hunt to try to find myself a good-looking fake. The real ones are discontinued and were $300+ (!!!). For the non-baller, like myself, looking for a good looking fake got easier when Mrs. Lilien helpfully exposed them on her site (plus a link to snag your own pair).

I'm now determined to imitate the great Bang-Bang with my own half-tinted sunglasses. YOU should consider doing the same, but only after you've curled up with some popcorn and the movie "The Brothers Bloom".

Audrey Kawasaki's "Hajimari - a prelude"

2010-01-11T17:10:00.016-05:00

Though my love for Audrey Kawasaki knows no bounds, my inability to grasp the concept of a calendar overpowers that love, leading to bad things. The most recent bad thing? Missing Ms. Kawasaki's show, Hajimari - a prelude" at the Jonathan LeVine Gallery.

Fortunately for me, wonderful people like Matt Sung understand how to use calendars, made it out to the show, AND documented it for unlucky people such as myself. Check out his article for more info, or his flickr set for more pics from the show.

From what I can gather, Ms. Kawasaki keeps evolving her representation of sexualized, feminine youth. Lots of her figures are now found in environments or contexts, instead of just imagined shapes and forms. Her use of (what looks like) color stains or tints continues to amaze and, per the usual, subtly highlights the wood grain she paints on. And of course, her style of illustration is soft and often dreamy, easily endearing itself to the onlooker.

Check out Mr. Sung's article and flickr page for more about "Hajimari" and benefit from people who know how to make it to gallery shows in time.

A Christmas DupliCowl, complete!

2010-01-03T17:00:00.015-05:00

Late into the night before Christmas Eve, I finished knitting, casting off, and frantically sewing together the knit tube that ended up transforming into a finished, beautiful Christmas DupliCowl!

The whole thing ended up being a whopping 12" x 15", which means it can be pulled further up on the face when it's extra cold out. Not that that matters much, as the double-lining on this baby alpaca cowl ends up making it feel like a little oven around your neck.

I'm super excited about it, and more importantly, so is Zach, who premiered it in chilly upstate NY (which was between 10 and 40 degrees at any given moment this past week). And I plan on stealing it quite often, so this winter will (hopefully) be a little warmer this time around.

To read how the Christmas DupliCowl came about, read the previous post.

Pantone Color of the Year 2010

2010-01-03T16:34:00.011-05:00

If you've ever perused my collection of favorite color chips, gotten a peek at my bedroom color scheme, or even checked out my Twitter page, you would know that Pantone just recently validated my sense of color with their pick for Color of the Year:

That's right, ladies and gents, Pantone chose Turquoise (otherwise known as 3258 C to true color nerds), as this year's official color. Though their site spouts a whole lot of nonsense concerning what Turquoise means, for ME it means delightful pops of color across most media, unusual color combinations in unexpected places, and a free pass to use the color on and in everything!

So here's to Turquoise (major upgrade from Pantone's pick for last year, Mimosa) and to the new year! May 2010 kick 2009's ass!

1. "Untitled" by i.Anton 2. "{89/365} Macaron Monday" by Run Mia Run 3. "Afterhour" by Andy Julia 4. Caramel Swag Booties, Anthropologie 5. Cielo necklace, Need Supply Co.

A Christmas DupliCowl

2009-12-22T14:32:00.013-05:00

Holiday gift-giving can be oodles of fun (oooh, what would they not expect that'd make them smile?) or oodles of terror (holy shit, this is going to end up at the bottom of a closet and they're going to shamelessly lie to me about how much they like it...). Fortunately for me this year, the Gentleman Caller and I were together when we discovered his perfect wintry gift: a beautiful, double-thickness knit neckwarmer from his favorite store, A.P.C. featured on their website.
Neck warmers, otherwise known in the universe as cowls, have become quite popular recently--A/W '08 there was a hint of them, and now you can find them in such commercially popular places as Urban Outfitters and American Apparel. It took A.P.C.'s version to convince the Gentleman Caller that cowls are a-ok, so we decided to duplicate A.P.C.'s as his Christmas gift.

A.P.C.'s Cowl: 100% camel, fringed ends (claims the website, not that it looks that way), 11" x 12.2"
Christmas DupliCowl: 100% baby alpaca (which, as I've said before, feels like kittens), 13" x 12"

I bought 4 total skeins of Cascade Yarn's Baby Alpaca Chunky in "Storm Twist" (see pic on Purl's website, though it's acutally more neutral, not green) and quickly got started. I'm working in the round and currently have a 13"x 14" tube going (and working in the round is a plus because I don't have to worry about the edges curling under) We're going for a total finished length of 12" or so, so I've got to keep going until I reach around 24"; at that point I can bind off and stitch the open edges together. It's already working up nicely to be extra thick, warm, and just like A.P.C.'s scarf (which, by the way, is already sold out online).

And since Christmas is approaching, I'll be finishing up in the next few days, ready to post pics of the final piece. In the meantime, checkout the items featured above: 1. Neck Warmer, A.P.C. 2. Atsuko Cowl, Explosive Kiwi (me!!!), 3. Unisex Circle Scarf, American Apparel, 4. "Cold Day in the Sun" by Erika A. on lookbook.nu

Snag it! Tabitha Scarf in pink!

2009-12-14T19:15:00.004-05:00

Last night I voyaged to Soho in the dark and rain, maneuvering my way around puddles and unpredictable taxi cabs to get to my favorite yarn store, Purl. I was greeted by their bright lights and delicious yarns--rich, saturated colors everywhere and a fun variety of fibers everywhere. I ended up purchasing some skeins of baby alpaca (in the corner by the cash register AND the cashmere...so dangerous!), and fondly remembered the day I purchased the bubble gum pink baby alpaca to make the Tabitha scarf.

SO, in honor of how miserable last night was outside, and how awesome it could have been if I had been wrapped up in the Tabitha Scarf, I'm offering 20% its original price in our Explosive Kiwi Etsy shop. Check out the Tabitha Scarf, and snag it for yourself!

Site to Follow: P.S.-I made this.

2009-12-07T18:36:00.004-05:00

Living in New York City is mad expensive, and so is attempting to look like you're from there. I've been told many times you should "dress for the job you want," but even emulating an intern in this city leaves you feeling pretty poor.

Erica Domesek, on the other hand, has discovered how to repurpose seemingly useless miscellany (that's either lying around the house or dirt cheap to buy) in order to mimic accessories and objects found in high-end magazines. Ms. Domesek started P.S.-I made this, a blog in which she patches together mood boards of inspirational images, then figures out how to make them on the cheap. She also updates pretty regularly, showing you how to make budget-friendly versions of accessories and home goods.

I'd certainly be sure to visit at least once a week, as her projects are stylistically relevant AND include do-it-yourself directions. Visit P.S.-I made this yourself, and visualize yourself with a baller, New York-type job!

Swooning Over: Lots and lots of chains

2009-09-07T03:29:00.008-04:00

I've come to terms with the fact that I am stereotypically girly: I'm the first one to jump on pastel, rainbow-colored anything, I've got a marching band of Hello Kitties at my desk at work, and I still squeal with delight whenever I thumb through my Sailor Moon manga (that's "comic book" for you non-nerds). However, there's another part of me that wants to slap on holsters and raid some tombs like Lara Croft, wants to hang out with (and dress like, mostly) those vampires from "Underworld", and wants to nonironically dress up as one of Sylvia Ji's catrinas for Halloween.

Where, exactly, is the overlap, and how does this actually pan out in the day-to-day? Fortunately for me, it manifests itself in a recent obsession with super-feminine items coupled with cascading chains. Hurrah! Pieces like those picture on the left are the perfect meeting place of femininity and a harder edge, signaling not only a love of shiny things (mmm...metal...) but also a level of multi-facetedness in this somewhat ironic pairing.I decided I had to be a part of it, too, and made the Cotton Candy Purse (pictured above). It's super soft, with rhinestones and ric-rac, but that chain just sneaks up on you, all subtle-like. Check out more pictures or snag it for yourself at the Etsy shop, then check out the helpful image guide and matching links below for more cool items I'm craving.

1. Cotton Candy Purse, Explosive Kiwi (and available for sale and on sale at the shop!) 2. "Locked Heart" retro vintage multi-chain bracelet, by La Belle Savage 3. "Jessabella" triple chain in fleur, by RockLove 4. Style No. 6FCB01, from the Marquis & Camus Collection by Sarah Kang

Do we smell a sale?

2009-08-30T19:48:00.002-04:00

There's been a relative radio silence over here at Explosive Kiwi because of uber amounts of work at the agency, but tonight puts an end to that. We're instating a sale, Explosive Kiwi's first ever, over at our Etsy shop, starting with some older pieces from EK's debut.

Check out the shop in the coming days as more and more sale items are added!

Special Project: Kindle Case

2009-07-12T19:25:00.006-04:00

"Manly Kindle case" was the assignment. The same guy with the "Babies suck" cross-stitch was now in need of a case for his beloved Kindle, so he hit me up to make it happen. An obscenely long time later I sat down to put it together, and based the design on his "Big Wooly" (an iPod case made of super thick felt, which means I can keep both my dignity and pride).

I started a few weeks ago, having to hunt down the nearly impossible-to-find 3mm grey felt. As the felt was too thick to go through my plebeian sewing machine, I had to hand-sew that bad boy, removing all sensation from my fingertips. Feeling it was a little plain with just the grey felt and contrasting brown thread, I decided to add a felt icon to it. I asked Mike what "manly" icon could satisfy him (again, stressing that it be G-rated), and the answer came: robots or skulls. I chose the latter. I cut it out, sewed it on, tried making it darker, and accidentally fused paper to the felt when I was heat-setting it. Horror!

After recovering from a mistake I thought would be fatal, I ripped the old skull off and decided to give it another go. Predictably, I used the last of my brown felt on that first skull. I found felt easily through the help of etsy.com, and it's made from recycled plastic bottles (bonus points for my karma). Tonight I sat down with it, cut out another little skull, and finally finished!

See the results of that overly-complicated process below, or check out my flickr page for more images.

Oh, Anna!

2009-06-30T23:47:00.006-04:00

As previously reported, the near-goddess Anna Sui has designed a collection for us penniless day-laborers, available at Target starting in mid-September. Images have come out of that collection, and I flipped out over most all of them. Check out the full slide show from NY Mag's blog, The Cut.

However, Nylon Mag later reported that several of these looks are borrowed from past Anna Sui shows. Is it just me who's left feeling a little cheated? I mean, the woman says she's using the ladies in the Gossip Girl cast to inspire her collection, but she just rummages through stuff she's already done in order to find pieces that are vaguely reminiscent of her alleged muses? Let's not lie, I'm excited to buy ALL OF THOSE PIECES and have my own (affordable) versions from her ready-to-wear lines, but where's the design challenge in that?

I'm left disgruntled and sans any satisfactory conclusions. Thoughts?

Renegade Craft Fair, Bklyn style

2009-06-07T23:56:00.006-04:00

250+ vendors who work in a variety of media and employ a variety of styles, gathered together in a park on a sunny Saturday and Sunday? Yes, please!

McCarren Park was a sea of bright white tents and was thick with the smell of hipsters. I entered the fair with high hopes, and slowly made my way around to every tent. There were adorable felted animal heads by Cherry Box, beautiful chain necklaces by Tilly D'Oro, and adorable porcelain figurines from kg + ab.

I'd have to say though, there seem to be comparatively fewer gems each year. Each progressive fair sees its number of vendors go up, but the overall number of sellers with a strong design point-of-view stays the same. A fair that once answered a variety of niche demands has seen over saturation; you now see many duplicate screen printed tee, hand sewn bag, and headband stands. It takes an increasingly unique perspective and an obsession with detail within each niche to stand out, like Giant Dwarf's headbands do. Compare this vendor experience with Bust's Craftacular, in which a limited number of participants were hand-selected, featuring vendors seemingly at their game.

This observation didn't stop me from feeling inspired, making a few purchases, visiting some recent friends at Mean Cards, enjoying the sun, and deciding that I'll jump on the vendor bandwagon next year (if only for the chance to play with cute puppies all day).

Site to follow: Zara Illustrates

2009-05-31T23:51:00.006-04:00

I recently joined yay!everyday, and visit the site a few times a day to see what new posts will get my mind turning. About a week ago I found an image that instantly made me smile, and begged me to find out more about its creator. After a quick hunt I discovered the culprit to be Zara Picken, a London-based illustrator whose simple designs are fresh, youthful, colorful, and my very favorite--whimsical.

Each of her works feels like a 50s-era poster, when all the elements of a print piece were layed out with grids, pencils, tracing paper, and an industrious pair of hands. She weathers each piece, transforming something flat into something with texture and character. It doesn't hurt that there's a strong undercurrent of cheer and optimism in virtually every piece, translated through pallette and subject matter.

After you check out these next few images, do yourself a favor and check out her website, quickly followed by her blog, where she's got a larger inventory of all the work she has done. Her body of work is just so damn wonderful, you must check it out. (And if I haven't sold you yet, reread that last line in a pretentious English accent. It works every time.)

(Click on this link for the larger image, for who couldn't love a pug drinking tea?)

Latest cowl-making venture

2009-05-25T21:35:00.011-04:00

A few months ago I journeyed with Adette to Purl Soho in search of some quality yarn, hoping to challenge myself by sticking to Pantone forecasted colors for spring. The trip was quite a success, as I picked up some luscious "Road to China" yarn in "Grey Pearl" and "Citrine," both of which are a baby alpaca/cashmere/camel/silk mix. The colors look fantastic together, and I felt validated in my decision after discovering Monique Lhuillier's gorgeous S/S09 collection (though my picks ended up being a loose translation of the forecast).
I knew this yarn was destined for a cowl, and its sport weight (which I don't usually use) seemed great for springtime, as it has a delightful drape. So began attempt #1: a tube with one row of contrasting purls in a sea of knits. Fail. Attempt #2: an all-knit tube with a grey acrylic, to give it body. Fail. Attempt #3: pictured above, with a 5x4 rib at the base that turns into a regular tube. Win. I'm super stoked about it, and can't wait to finish. HOWEVER, I seem to have misplaced a small sampling of the yarn in both colors, and I'll have to find them to make this cowl the perfect length...I hope they turn up soon...

In conclusion, Pantone has not led me astray, Peru deserves props for some of the softest yarn I've ever held, and I need to keep better track of my yarn stash.

-------
1. Two beautiful ensembles, Monique Lhuillier S/S09
2. Final cowl in process
3. "Citrine" and "Grey Pearl," Road to China

Bust Spring Fling Craftacular

2009-05-17T20:00:00.006-04:00

One of the amazing perks of living in the NYC is having so much crafty, quirky and whimsical stuff available almost anywhere you turn. And today, my friends, was an event that brought it all together in its full indie glory: Bust's Spring Fling Craftacular.

This year, the Craftacular was "Garden Party" themed with demos on vegan cooking, clothing and accessories made from all-natural and organic resources, and tons of kitschy floral decorations. A select number of vendors, the creme of the crop, I'd say, from showings like the Renegade Craft Fair, were tightly packed into The Warsaw in Brooklyn, a space vaguely reminiscent of a dimly lit school gym during a science fair. Elaine (my partner in crime for the day) and I trolled the aisles and found fantastic jewelry from Erica Weiner and Ach Ach Liebling, fanciful perspex necklaces from Brookadelphia, a crap-ton of screenprinted anything-you-can-think-of, showgirl-style headbands, and the cutest freaking cupcakes from ninecakes (chocolate and rosewater?! Wha?!).

My favorite purchase was from Digby & Iona, an emerald cut beauty in sterling silver and gunmetal (check out the sexy pic from their site on the left). I've been stalking them since I saw their stuff at the New Designer's Market in SoHo, and was determined to make one of their rings mine. Is it wrong that I didn't actually know how much I paid for it until I got the credit card receipt via email after I got home? WHATEVER, I had my eyes on the prize.

And I got a free tote. I win!

It's like the gods are smiling down on us

2009-05-06T18:28:00.013-04:00

I have inappropriate love for Anna Sui: I kept the merch bag from that ONE time I bought something at her boutique, use any variety of her products on mood boards I assemble (almost regardless of what that product is), and obsessively check her website in the hopes that her web developer will have gotten a clue.* I also don't hide the fact that if she and Betsey Johnson had a lovechild, that person would be my soulmate.

So imagine my unbridled joy when I read an article on High Snobette declaring that Ms. Sui would be collaborating with Target on a collection for Go International launching in September. 'OISC'C PASOD;LUKJA'S VL!!! Quoting Sugar Rock Catwalk's article, "Sui used materials such as metallic jacquards, herringbone, silk and chiffon and detailing with tulle, lace and sequins." All my favorites!

Someone out there really is looking out for me.

*After reading the article I quickly rushed to Ms. Sui's site again in the hopes that it will have been updated, only to discover that it has been completely redesigned! Double bonus!

Snag it! Demetria Legwarmers in grey

2009-04-20T02:24:00.008-04:00

I'm not sure about anywhere else in the world, but the weather here in NYC has been wack. Two weeks ago we had 60 degree weather, and the next day it snowed. Yesterday, too, was BEAUTIFUL, and then today was chilly. Why, God, why?!

As winter refuses to go away completely, I'm releasing my last pair of legwarmers for the season, the Demetria legwarmers in 2 tones of grey. Now, usually Demetrias are slouchy, but this pair is more tight-fitting. I ALSO tend to go for brighter colors, but I wear so much black with pops of color, I figured I might as well make something that can match nearly anything. Ergo, I present you with this pair. Check out their listing on etsy, and snag them for yourself!

In related news, the Alexandria legwarmers are in today's showcase! Look at them go!

Snag It! Alexandria Legwarmers in dusty rose

2009-04-13T01:47:00.008-04:00

I'm super stoked to present the latest addition to the legwarmer family, the Alexandria legwarmers in dusty pink! A few posts ago I talked about the new colors for spring, and I got so excited about dusty rose that I immediately ordered some yarn in that color. Here's what came of it!

Adette and I were able to sneak outside today and take a few photos, so I'm excited to finally post them on Etsy. She says these legwarmers remind her of strawberry shortcake, and I fully support that description. They fit quite nicely and are oodles of fun to wear. Not to mention they make your lower legs warm and cozy, particularly in this schizophrenic weather!

Check out our Etsy listing for these Alexandria legwarmers, and snag them for yourself!

Swooning Over: Jumpsuits

2009-04-04T00:45:00.012-04:00

At first I didn't understand, and then they started cropping up everywhere. The more I saw them, the more the cuter ones started rising to the surface, and now, I see them everywhere. And you know, that's not a bad thing.
Born in the 60s and revived in the 80s, the resurgance of the jumpsuit makes sense, as it seems the latter part of this decade is all about probing the 80s for anything that HASN'T already been milked for all it's worth. It can also be referred to as a playsuits, and there's a version called the catsuit (which is skintight, and I'm still deciding if I'm ok with that).

It takes certain body types to successfully pull off jumpsuits, and I'm comforted by the fact that the likes of Freddie Mercury and Goldfrapp have donned them. A few weeks ago I hung out with Lani, the co-author of Sugar Rock Catwalk, a fashion/style/cool-stuff blog, and she, too, was wearing one, giving me faith that normal people can wear them with confidence, too! And hey, with affordable options like those from I'm Your Present, I'm hoping a jumpsuit is in my near future.

The images above are from all over the internet, adding to my conviction that these things are two seconds away from blowing up (the fact that Lani was already wearing one proves she's a psychic). Here's a guide to those pics:

1. I'm Your Present's Polka Dot Playsuit 2. Lani's outfit the night I realized jumpsuits deserve a thumbs up 3. Frilly jumpsuit care of Shona Joy 4. Navy jumpsuit by Valerie Dumaine

Obsessed with Twitter

2009-03-29T22:52:00.007-04:00

For all those people addicted to Facebook status updates, God has given us Twitter, an even stalkier way of checking out what people are up to. Such fun people are on it, like the writer of the blog Cake Wrecks, Project Runway winner Christian Siriano, and comedian Michael Ian Black (who is excessively amused by poop jokes).

I joined about 107 updates ago, and am still going strong. I recently added some TwitThis functionality (check out the helpful visual above) so that if you like one of the posts here at Explosive Kiwi, you can click the button and post it, via Twitter, to the world. So come on, let's be Twitter peeps: visit Explosive Kiwi's tweets at www.twitter.com/explosivekiwi.

Site to Follow: Rebecca Miller

2009-03-25T21:41:00.019-04:00

I've got mad respect for good photographers, transforming what is literally right in front of my eyes into something emotional, layered, and beautiful. I've got even MORE respect for photographers who can do all that while also making normal life into something whimsical. I recently discovered Rebecca Miller, a photographer who does exactly that.

I'd love to style my life with the imagination of a Michel Gondry music video or the colors of a Sophia Coppola film, and I think Rebecca Miller would fit right in as "Official Life Photographer". Some of her photography is playful, cheerful, and vibrant, while other images are moody and quiet. Above all there's a child-like honesty and optimism that I absolutely love.

Visit her website here, and her blog here. Will I have to convince you with these pictures?

Silk painting for the children

2009-03-15T19:13:00.016-04:00

After two years of working to get food on the proverbial table and letting art supplies gather dust, I picked up the paintbrushes and applied dye to silk again. I've been working for a few weekends on it, and am finally done! The silk painting, a medium I have been so excited to connect with again, will be donated to Spiro Art's 2nd Annual Arts Auction and Gala: Bringing Art to Life. The event takes place this coming Friday, March 20th, and the silent auction and par-tay are going down in Park City, Utah (HQ of the Sundance Film Festival). Money raised goes to help fund their artists' residency programs, a check plus in my book. My friend, Adam, first told me about it and also donated his own work. Check out his piece, as it kicks a good amount of ass.

Below are pictures from the past few weeks, and check out my flickr account for more.

Pantone Spring '09 Colors

2009-03-07T00:38:00.012-05:00

A year in advance, the people over at Pantone forecast what they think will be the season's biggest colors, allegedly helping guide designers when creating future lines. Though many companies will give their predictions for next year's colors, I only pay attention to Pantone's forecast (as a designer-by-day, my allegiances must lie with Pantone). I did some digging around and found this season's colors, many of which seem like surprising choices.

I've always been a fan of what Pantone is calling "Palace Blue," or any immediate cousin of that color. It strikes me as a little bold for spring, though, along with "Fucshia Red." You'll also notice two of my favorites, "Salmon Pink" and "Lucite Green," which are very similar to the coral and teal I mentioned in my last post. Inspired by "Rose Dust," I went ahead and ordered some yarn in a similar color to make some new Alexandria Legwarmers.

Questionable choices are "Super Lemon" (which would seem to loud if not tempered by more neutral tones), "Vibrant Green" (which I would argue isn't very vibrant at all), and "Slate Gray" (which seems more blue than gray). A few of these colors remind me of glazed ceramic-ware from a few decades past, and I'm not sure I'm ok with those making a comeback.

In general, I'm excited to see if these colors do indeed crop up. During a trip to H&M today at Herald Square I saw some some lucite green and fuscia red, but no strict adherence to Pantone's predictions. Download the full forecast here, or compare these to last year's colors here.

Let me know if you spot them in stores or on the streets. I'd love to finally see if blindly following Pantone is a mistake, or if they're like the Oracle at Delphi, proclaiming a fume-induced future.

Swooning Over: Coral and Teal

2009-03-01T15:44:00.001-05:00

A few hours ago I posted spiralbound_ as a site to follow, and mentioned my appreciation for its use of coral in that site's design. I just went to check my Hotmail account and got an email from Sephora with the same coral, contrasted with teal, a current color combo obsession. I've seen this pairing cropping up quite a bit, and am excited to introduce those colors into Explosive Kiwi merch in the future. It's such a spring combo, and it's exactly what we need to shake off a cold winter.

Aside from being a horribly executed email (violating all sorts of email best practices), the colors are so gosh darn pretty! Click on the pic for the larger version, and use the code to score free shipping on orders over $25 at sephora.com.

Snag It! Tabitha Scarf in pink

2009-02-19T22:23:00.001-05:00

I'm so pleased to unveil the Tabitha Scarf! It's a scalloped, crocheted scarf made of ridiculously soft baby alpaca in bright, bubblegum pink. Woven in the scallops (mmm, scallops...wrapped in bacon...), is a tattered ribbon in a graphic floral pattern. It's super cozy, and I'm super excited about it!

I'm also working on a second Tabitha Scarf in a rich teal, and I hope to have that in the shop soon :)

In the meantime, check out the Tabitha Scarf and snag it for yourself!

Off on vacation!

2009-02-08T19:27:00.000-05:00

Starting this Wednesday, I'll be taking a greatly anticipated vacation to beautiful Belize with the roomies. Ergo, the shop will be closed, and I'll be back with new merch when I get back!

In the meantime, here's a preview of some of the springtime items in the coming lineup:

Site to Follow: YesStyle.com

2009-01-31T17:39:00.002-05:00

I am Puerto Rican, look white, and am slowly becoming Asian. I live with a Filipina, a Korean girl, and as good as live with a Chinese girl. Whenever I need to get anything, from illegally reproduced door keys, to hair cuts to lady doctors, I inevitably end up in a shady store in Chinatown, talking to a hairstylist who is befuddled by my mass of thick hair, or listening to a receptionist greeting me in Japanese. And so I took one, wholehearted step forward in my transformation when I discovered YesStyle.com.

YesStyle.com is a compendium of Asian brands (Korean, Taiwanese, Chinese, Japanese, etc.) with pages upon pages of versatile clothing for pretty damn cheap for NYC (think a mix between H&M and Mango). Not only are their models hella cute (and completely epitomize the youth-obsession I've come to love/hate), but their styles of clothing are so all-purpose and layerable, so the possibilities are endless!

The hair accessories are a little questionable, and I'm a little over seeing page after page of alleged "tulle" skirts, but this is one of the FEW online shops that has more than 3 things I like. I've literally got 8 tabs open in Firefox right now with different pieces I'm seriously considering buying. 30 pages of just dresses? Yes, please!
Here's a list of items featured above: 1. Black Queen, Sequined Dress 2. Haegal, Convertible Hem Plaid Skirt 3. Romy, Buttoned Jumper Dress 4. Puffy, Cowl Neck Tunic Dress 5. BeccGirl, High Waist Balloon Skirt

The site totally reminds me of the fashions featured at lookbook.nu, another site I've talked about before, so prepare to lose hours of your life by checking out YesStyle.com.

Swooning Over: Old-Timey Insignia

2009-01-26T22:30:00.003-05:00

I'm a sucker for any kind of military insignia or old-timey regalia, and the older looking the better! This love of military paraphernalia, regal stampings and honors has something to do with my idealized notions of royal French courts, ridiculous hairstyles with naval battles perched on top, and royal coffers brimming with rarely-worn jewels (completely glossing over the strict class systems, the restrictions that bound women to men, and how much everyone smelled). I lurv reading lit like Antonia Fraser's Marie-Antoinette: The Journey, and Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, and love Friday nights snuggled up with popcorn and movies like "Becoming Jane".

So I guess it makes sense that I want to physically OWN pieces of this, and that I scour the internet for such sources. Some of my favorite vendors on etsy.com cater to this obsession of mine, and fortunately for me, this seems to be a style that is always appropriate. Great pieces are timeless, and the old-timey military and royal insignia always cater to the ever-recurring blurring of the feminine/masculine line. I'm a huge proponent of the cyclical nature of fashion anyway, and the masses will clamor for it again if you wait long enough.
If I've piqued your curiousity with these pics, here's where they're from: 1. Image from the "Wonderland" shoot, art directed by Kattaca, www.kattaca.com 2. Silver brooch featuring the Insignia of the Order of St. James, found at St. James Cross Revisited 3. Royal Duchess Beaded Necklace, from RedHeart13 4. Military-style jacket, found on We heart it

Snag It! Pink Sugar Heart Purse

2009-01-23T00:04:00.000-05:00

A fitting tribute to the upcoming holiday in celebration of the alleged St. Valentine, EK is re-listing the Pink Sugar Heart purse. I found the fabric and fell in love: It's in a delightfully loud heart pattern, stylized to be reminiscent of that red cowboy pattern. Because hearts on the fabric alone would not satisfy me, I added a collection of mismatched buttons, in hearts and circles, along with some sparklies, on the black band.

If you have any love for love, you'll check it out in the Explosive Kiwi etsy shop, and snag it for yourself!

James Jean's "Kindling" in NYC

2009-01-11T14:19:00.000-05:00

He makes you question why you would even bother picking up a pencil when he can kick graphite's ass. James Jean, whose website I've referenced before, is an amazing artist and painter, and doesn't take a shabby photograph, either. His beautifully fluid lines, mastery of tones and moods, and visual compositions make other people with hands cry in shame.

And finally, he brought his beautiful, jealousy-inducing work to New York City! In the short time that I've been following him, he (as well as other bad-ass artists like Audrey Kawasaki and Tara McPherson) has stuck to the West Coast. However, last night was the gallery opening for his show "Kindling" at the Jonathan Levine Gallery in Chelsea, here in NYC.

Adette and I, devoted followers, towed our friend Dan to the event. We decided to arrive late, at 830 (ended at 9), in the vain hopes of spotting Mr. Jean (whom we have no visual reference for). There was a slew of people there (of course), and it was difficult to maneuver around all the works. We saw a variety of paintings on paper (and some on canvas), as well as a slew of preparatory drawings. I've got mad love for sketches, particularly ghost images, as they have a hugely different, and I think more human, feel than finished pieces (take DaVinci's work, for example). However, his lines and strokes translated pretty damn well across media, and I was left pretty amazed, awed, and dumbfounded.

We didn't manage to see him, but I JUST found out there was an afterparty, to which he gave explicit directions on how to get there in his blog. Talk about dashed dreams!

At the end of this post you'll find some more pictures, though the full set will be on the flickr page (including some that will be stolen from Adette). Check them out, but more importantly, check out "Kindling" if you're in the area!

"Kindling" by James Jean
Jan. 10-Feb. 7
The Jonathan LeVine Gallery, 529 W 20th St (btwn. 10th and 11th)
Tuesday-Saturday, 11am-6pm

Special Delivery

2009-01-07T23:07:00.000-05:00

I finally got word that the blanket did indeed arrive, and Mia has already been engulfed in it. Her mom loves it, and sent over pictures. Check out Mia, and her new baby blanket!

Mia's Blanket, Finito!

2008-12-27T22:05:00.000-05:00

Adette and I finally managed to finish little baby Mia's baby blanket and ship it off to her mother!

It's been a long struggle, considering how much of a failure the yarn ended up being. After making the blanket, (which was almost done in a previous post), Adette tossed it in the washing machine. We had, after all, chosen a soft acrylic suitable for washings (it's for a baby, dur). However, the package lied, and it shed blobs of fiber in the washing machine, as well as all over itself. Two gaping holes emerged, and we were feeling a little downtrodden. We debated for quite a while what to do about it, so it sat on some chairs in our living room for quite a while. We finally decided to mail it, and I'm hoping to hear back from Mia's mom. It'll have to come with a warning about that fuzz...

Check out more pictures on the Flickr page!

Snag It! Harumi Bag in peach

2008-12-21T22:37:00.000-05:00

I'm so excited to announce that I've listed a new item in the Explosive Kiwi store on Etsy.com! The Harumi Bag is a personal favorite of mine--a makeup bag (that can be used to stash anything you can think of, really) in a beautiful orangey-peach toile fabric with BIRDS. I freaking love birds.

It was inspired by Paris, in particular the use of the more contemporary toile pattern (trés French) in a beautiful and unexpected color (trés moderne).

Check out more images below, and then see the full listing in the shop!

Site to follow: Audrey Kawasaki's LiveJournal

2008-12-17T11:11:00.000-05:00

Beautiful lines, delicate features, haunting imagery, and palpable sexuality: Audrey Kawasaki's art is enchanting. A prolific artist, she draws and paints on paper and wood, making something exceedingly difficult look effortless. I've got a girl crush on her, and was overjoyed when I discovered she's got a LiveJournal account that allows for easier stalking.

I dig her style, and I'd highly suggest you check out her work for yourself. I'd also suggest taking a peek at her legit website, though her LiveJournal (called okonomide.) offers a more intimate look: extra content written by her, and frequent updates.

LiveJournal: i-seldom-do.livejournal.com
Website: audrey-kawasaki.com

Snag it! Antoinette Bow Choker in yellow and black

2008-12-14T02:08:00.001-05:00

One of my favorite pieces, I've re-listed the original Antoinette Bow Choker (in yellow and black) in my Etsy shop! This adorable accent piece is a double fabric bow made with a lightly flowered black and white fabric, as well as a buttery yellow fabric. They are clasped together with black ribbon, and topped with an adorable, yellow heart-shaped rhinestone (I can't resist the lure of sparkle...). The strap (knotted in the back) is a solid black fabric. I made another one a little while ago (which you can check out here), but this little fellow is the originator.

It's playful and a tad saucy, precious and quite feminine. Check out the listing on etsy and snag it for yourself!

Welcome, Baby Mia!

2008-12-07T00:40:00.000-05:00

A dear friend of mine had a beautiful baby girl a little over a week ago. Little baby Mia, certainly working her way to be the light of many people's lives, was born November 28th to one damn proud mother. She came a few days early for us, however, as Adette and I were supposed to have her welcoming baby blanket ready for her...uh...welcome.

Though I tend to roll a little late, Mia's arrival is an adorable reminder why we set out in making this labor of love (the blanket, that is). Making blankets, objectively, sounds like a great idea at first, and then you get to your 36th granny square and want to end it all. We're in the home stretch, however, and it's actually starting to look like the baby blanket we set out to make! Thankfully, Mia's mom loves color, and I heartily approve of her choice of golden yellow and hot pink for baby colors.

I'll be sure to post some images of the final blanket :), though in the meantime you can check out the progress on the Explosive Kiwi Flickr page.

An Explosive Kiwi Reformat.

2008-11-22T13:52:00.000-05:00

Explosive Kiwi, for the time being, has gone bare bones. We've adjusted the layout so that in addition to seeing what items are for sale in the shop, you get the back story, too: inspiration, images, and side notes. We're firm believers in a product being an amalgamation of its context, so the Explosive Kiwi homepage is now a 360 degree experience. We're working on a visual facelift, as well, but we were determined to get you the content first.

We'll continue to feature new items in the shop (now available exclusively at explosivekiwi.etsy.com), but are adding even more relevant and interesting content:

Links to our favorite images (care of vi.sualize.us), links to our favorite and inspirational sites (c/o delicious), and links to photos of what we've been up to (c/o Flickr)
Features on interesting web sites to follow
Features on inspirational people, be they fellow crafters, designers, or artists
Posts on misadventures, which will let you better get to know us

We hope you enjoy the change, as we're excited to show you that we're more than just the materials. Feel free to comment, and be our friend on any of our social networks (like vi.sualize.us, flickr.com, and delicious).

Snag It! Atsuko Cowl in purple and gray

2008-10-27T22:38:00.000-04:00

I recently finished the Atsuko Cowl, a super soft and cozy cowl neckwarmer made of gray mohair (ridiculously soft) and a super soft eggplant-colored acrylic. The mohair makes it a little fuzzy, while the purple acrylic yarn gives it body. It's in perfect fall colors, and is just in time for the sudden cold. The Atsuko Cowl reminds me of high collars, and there's very little that I love more than high collars. As always, this Explosive Kiwi item is hand knit.

Check out my Etsy shop for more images, and to snag it for yourself!

Site to follow: lookbook.nu

2008-10-20T23:41:00.000-04:00

Lookbook.nu: go to this site if you want to fall in love. Fall in love with penniless art students from Oslo, fashion designers from Northern Ireland, and plushboys from Germany. You'll fall in love because they're good looking, because they're adorably pretentious, and because they put together the cookiest outfits that you want to steal off their bodies. Lookbook.nu is a collection of photographs of allegedly everyday people from Nordic countries (and sometimes the US) in ridiculously indie gear. And I'll repeat, I want to steal the clothing off all of them.

Today I discovered that you can follow those links to get a list of where each piece of clothing in that image came from. Things I've noticed: lots of cute things come from H&M and Target, which means I need to be hanging out there more, particularly as I've never been good at maintaining a warm winter wardrobe. Long live the winter and lookbook.nu!