Accessories: Lem Lem Shoes

If Patternity made footwear, I wouldn’t be surprised if it looked something like this. LemLem, the Ethiopian-made label by model and activist, Liya Kebede recently launched these wonderful slip-on oxfords. Made for colder climates with Italian Merino wool, these graphic flats are part of a beautiful initiative for female empowerment . In an effort to provide economic independence for women from Kebede’s hometown, she created a weaving studio for all of LemLem’s products. Read more about it here.

June 28, 2011 | By: Shayna Kulik

RISD's Artrepreneur Kit

So you just graduated and after experiencing the highest high, you’re in the lull of the next step. Rhode Island School of Design is hoping to inspire and direct their most recent alumni with a unique and inspiring package: The Artrepreneur Kit.

The kit includes a number of tools to help artists and designers present their portfolios, take credit card payments and market their work online – for example, a card reader made by Square, Inc. that plugs into a mobile phone and allows users to process credit card payments anywhere. Other goodies include a free trial with Behance’s new online portfolio site Prosite, an Action Journal and a discount with the file transfer site YouSendIt.

“With our Artrepreneur Kit, we are providing new grads with just a few of the online tools and resources that can help launch their work in the public spectrum,” notes President John Maeda. “It’s just one way to help them make a living in whatever way they choose.”

June 1, 2011 | By: Shayna Kulik

Domestic Construction: Digitally Dyed Rugs

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How beautiful are these Domestic Construction rugs? I’m now the proud owner of the moon dance style, thanks to a lovely and amazing friend who knew my front hall needed a bit of love. Designed by Trish Andersen and Maureen Walsh, each rug is a replica of a paper-cut design and is digitally dyed and machine washable. Beauty meets function- the perfect mantra to kick off the long weekend!

May 27, 2011 | By: Shayna Kulik

Budget Buys: Fishs Eddy's FEED Line

Dishes after our own heart! The latest collection from Fishs Eddy (which popped up in our Manhattan Users Guide email) looks like it could have come from the Pattern Pulp design studio. In addition to the lovely orange appeal, 5% of proceeds go to the New York City Food Bank. Dig in and check it out.

May 20, 2011 | By: Shayna Kulik

Homegoods: Lighting at ICFF

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Whenever I get excited at the start of a trade show, I have to wonder if it’s beginners luck and if I’d have the same joy after having walked the entire floor. After rehashing my photos and press materials, I can still say that one of the booths I was most impressed with was Plumen, and it appeared within the first five minutes of walking in.

Plumen’s the CFL designer solution to the ugly lightbulb. Sculptural from every angle and covered in a colorful cord, these British bulbs have a lasting life of 8,000 hours. Here’s a better picture from their website:

To note the other designs from today’s slideshow, Lara Knut’s miniature woven canvases at the Model Citizens show doubled as art pieces. Back at ICFF, the rain and cloud lighting by DCS-corp, were both delicate and conceptual works of art. Keeping with bulbous shapes, these mini people from Hola Amiglo at Model Citizens mimicked the metaphor of having a bright idea and finally, the chairs created by the team at Idut presented sensory seating. As I sat down, the outer tim lit up.

May 17, 2011 | By: Shayna Kulik

Print: A Wash of Watercolor

I have a soft spot for water colors and gouache. When hues bleed into one another within confined boundaries, the results are nearly always stunning. Here are a few branded examples:

Hermes’ latest tableware collection, entitled Bleus d’Ailleurs, is beautifully complimented with light-infused circles. In the soft accessory world, the silk lison pillows from ABC Carpet share a similar whimsy. Simplifying the process, West Elm’s latest collection of Luli Sanchez pillows is a stunning reminder of a collaboration done right. Using wood as the backdrop, this coffee table top from ABC carpet provides soft results from similar color bleeding.

Also, I wanted to share a personal project I did using a similar technique. The above design is a spliced montage of my husband and I. I made it for our wedding party and the girls from You Plus Me Styling enlarged it to 5′ x 5′. While it’s a bit scary to stare at, the project was really fun to compile and a made for a great evening of cutting and pasting on the carpet.

May 11, 2011 | By: Shayna Kulik