DIY: How to Make a Bike Lock Sock

Big treat today! Our good friend (ex-New Yorker/chic Parisian/vegetarian sandwich-maker), Tiffany Iung of t i f a m a d e, has offered her crafty skills on cycling culture. Today she’s making a Lock Sock.

Materials Needed:

Step 1: I bought a cheap impermeable cotton at the fabric store. I chose a dark color since I knew the cover would be in some dirty places. I have this Kryptonite lock, so I cut my fabric to measure 115 cm long by 10 cm wide. I made this “pattern” based on the manufacturer’s nylon cover I cut off the chain, but you could do the same with any size cover. I taped off a simple graphic pattern using masking tape, and taped the fabric down to my work surface.

Step 2: I painted the fabric with Folk Art by Plaid brand fabric paint. I had to apply a couple layers of paint to get the opacity I was happy with. Once painted, the paint must dry for 24 hours, and then the painted fabric must be ironed. I used Metallic Solid Bronze and Orchid.

Step 3: The most difficult (and it wasn’t even that hard) part of the whole process is sewing the leather. Just be sure your sewing machine’s needle can make it through a few layers of leather. Then sew a straight seam all the along the length of the fabric.

Step 4: This part’s super simple- just pin the side seam and sew.

Step 5: I finished the seam with a zig-zag stitch for reinforcement. I also hand-stitched the leather to make sure that it stays together.

Step 6: Once all your sewing is done, you can turn the tube right-side out and be so proud of the cool thing you just made. You just have to slide the chain into the tube, et voilà! Super chic new cover for your chain.

Coverage by Tiffany Iung

May 2, 2012 | By: Shayna Kulik

Liberty London x Nike Collaboration

If you’re a fan of Liberty London and you’re a fan of the hightop, you’ll be in paisley heaven with the latest Nike collaboration. The styles include the Air Max 1, Cortez and Free 5.0 in sport red, university gold and imperial purple.

Personally, I love the wedge- what’s your favorite?

May 1, 2012 | By: Shayna Kulik

Budget Buy: Richard Ginori Porcelain

If I had a need for new plates, I wouldn’t think twice and would scoop these Richard Ginori beauties up. On sale today at One Kings Lane, these mix-and-match salad and dinner plates are adorned with unique blue and white patterns, reminiscent of wood block prints.

Since 1735, the work of Richard Ginori has been the epitome of classic Italian aesthetic values. Inspired by the search for beauty and perfection, and embodying the harmony of pattern and shape, these handcrafted Italian objets d’art borrow from various artistic movements throughout history to express a unique and universal design vernacular, while exemplifying the rich heritage and timeless elegance of Richard Ginori.

April 20, 2012 | By: Shayna Kulik

Graphical Homegoods with 56thStudio

Meet 56thStudio. The newest player to the field and the pickings are wondrous. An email recently found it’s way into my inbox decked with adjectives such as “luxe-personified yet kitschy, neo-ethnic, eclectically bold and youthful.” Off the bat, it’s hard not to agree!

Mixing graphic collage, vintage themes and old-school chairs (don’t they remind you of the 80’s? ) a fresh coat of paint paired with a textile refresh has produced a product line of note.

The collection includes chairs, pillows, wall decor, fabric, totes and customized orders and focuses on the caricature as furniture, familiar faces and is a tribute to The Beatles and Hollywood culture.

If you’re in Milan this week, stop by Spazio Rossana Orlandi for their debut exhibition.

So…which one’s your favorite?

April 17, 2012 | By: Shayna Kulik

Textile Inspiration & Handmade Shoes

I find when I’m searching for inspiration for patterns or textiles I often start by looking at objects rather than the actual patterns on things. I love to find a collection of objects with a similar purpose or hand that I can group together to discover a new shape or texture. Here’s one of my recent inspirational collections:

Handmade Shoes:

These shoe images are such amazing shapes. I don’t think too much about color here, more the texture of the wool in the boot or the smooth hard lines of the wooden clog. The wide chunky shapes of the shoes brings me somehow back to line, maybe it’s that one pointy toe too?…and I want to work up some really oversized windowpane plaids!

Coverage by Kimberly Hall

April 10, 2012 | By: Shayna Kulik

Trends in Jewelry

We’re kicking off this afternoon with a guest post from our good friend Elizabeth of Swipely and Frost Yourself. She’s examining jewelry trends and sharing her thoughts.

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Who remembers the accessory trend reports from 2009? (Frost Yourself does!) Those were the tabloid glory days when Micha Barton and Olivia Palermo’s necks were decked with collar-hugging jewels. The bib necklace was a mainstay and interestingly, is continuing strong throughout the rest of the year.

The recent crop, which has been making appearances around the web, sits closer to the collar and emphasizes varied tribal textures as well as jewel-toned colors. Some showcase a central vertical drop while others span an even 2″ to 3″ circumference all the way around.

So what’s different today? Styling. While the 2009 vintage were often featured against bare skin, under a crisp button-down or to perk up a scoop neck dress, today we’re seeing these necklaces layered over a tee, or even other necklaces for a fresh, maximalist take. What do you think? Will you be layering your bibs over a heather gray tee this summer?

1. Frieda & Nellie
2. Janis Savitt
3. Dannijo
4. Lizzie Fortunato
5. Tom Binns
6. Fenton Falon

Coverage by Elizabeth Ducoff

April 9, 2012 | By: Shayna Kulik