The best retail displays are made meticulously with TLC. Today’s feature highlights the delicate beauty of hanging flowers. Inspired by the drying process, as illustrated in the first photo, flowers are elegant in all lives. Handmade in both instances, Anthropologie‘s paper tulips hang above their home department. Bisous Ciao‘s display, a love of labor by the owner and chef, Tanya Ngangan, is a gradual wave of layered papers. All very season appropriate, isn’t it?
How incredible is this DIY? It makes you want to go to your local flea market…or to Brimfield (if you’re east coast/USA based), and collect old treasures to decorate. Contributed generously by one of our British readers and fellow pattern makers, Nicolette Tabram, the transformation of these drawers was inspired by traditional in-lay furniture produced by the craftsmen in Rajasthan, India. To follow the steps for yourself, check out Bram’s site, and to purchase this fabulous piece, visit her Etsy store.
During our time on the west coast last week, my husband and I met up with old friends for dinner in Silverlake. These particularly amazing Australians jumped ship from New York for LA. One of the many stories we rolled over laughing about was our collective childhoods and how each of us were better or worse than we one day hope our children will be. One of the best memories had us reviewing a letter that was written to Elizabeth’s mother, from her teacher, telling her parents how disrespectful she was for drawing all over her school desk…
Which made me think about kids today having to sit still and focus for hours on end without any ongoing creative outlet, it’s surprising that classrooms haven’t really evolved to accommodate for obvious behavior. Hell, I still doodle in meetings (sometimes).
Anyway, this brings me to today’s feature- a great capture of artists Ananya Tanttu and Eetuelmeri Sihvonen creating meticulous pen illustrations at the art gallery and homegoods store, Lokal in Helsinki. I was lucky enough to visit this wonderfully curated space earlier this year and have a lot of admiration for the owner. She’s continuous refreshing the store and filling it with original treasures for observation and commerce. If you’re ever in that neck of the woods, check it out.
Who remembers the cloud trend from 2009? Everything was round and plump with rain in the forecast. This mobile from Lucky Wang is reminiscent of this theme and a lovely gift for a newborn. If you’re feeling crafty, it’s also easy enough to make. Which face is your favorite?
Today we’re linking hues round the world. First and foremost, March 27th marks the religious festival of Color, otherwise known as Holi. Gillie Nevel, a friend from childhood, posted this portrait to Facebook today, fresh from the festival in Jaipur. For a kid at heart, it looks amazing!
Of course instagram followed suit with rainbow colored NYC streets that seem to dually reflect this week’s Gay marriage vote (shot by Timothy Goodman). The hair shot is by Lauren Conrad.
Then there’s the Color me Rad race. It’s an interesting translation of Western customs. A vibrant and messy fusion reminiscent of Burning Man culture.
Bringing this full circle and reminding us of tasteful and creative ways to market yourself along w the global calendar, the Polli team recently produced their own Holi photoshoot from Australia. After testing dyed flour powdered paints, Polli used trampoline style propulsions along with a super fast pack to capture loads of frames per second.
Portraiture represents more than a moment- it’s the culmination of a mood, an outfit, a setting and a style. When it’s journalistic, the meaning’s more obvious, but when posed, the message is abstract. Merging paint with portraiture, Boo Ritson, of London paints her subjects as sculptures, then photographs them as stills, capturing a surreal interpretation of reality. The beauty and fashion worlds have been doing the same to a lesser degree. These examples trace the evolution of painterly portraits, revealing a detached reality and imperfect narrative. It’s more interesting, isn’t it?
1. Gareth Cadwallader, Mudpac
2. LOVE Magazine
3. LOVE Magazine
4. Mario Testino & Kate Moss
5. Boo Ritson
6. Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott, LOVE Magazine