FASHION!

It is my great honor to present to you.... Stump!

This post is dedicated to Toby.

A 10 year old Sussex spaniel came out of retirement to become the oldest dog to ever win Best in Show!  Good for you old feller!  

All images via SFGate.com

I rather Walker, thanks anyway!

All images by Tim Walker.  

Discover my hero...the art of Judith Scott!

Judith Scott used yo be what some refer to as an "outside artist"; I prefer to simply call her an artist.

She began exploring her creativity at the Creative Growth, a non profit visual art center for the mental and physically disabled located in Oakland, California. Here she experimented with various mediums, until she discovered yarn. Judith had little concept of verbal language but worked in such a passionate, intense systematical manner as if she had finally found a voice in her art work.

Her work is both tactile and visually striking; yarns in a multitude of colors mix, hide and reveal ordinary objects that are transformed in to mutated unidentifiable shapes.

I was once told a story by a friend who was so fortunate to meet her.....

A member of the staff at Creative Growth was given the task to resupply the bathrooms with the toilet paper that had just been bought. Upon entering the storage closet the staff member was shocked to discover that the stock bought for a whole month was missing. Puzzled he began searching everywhere, this off course came with out any success. When finally it had been written off as lost someone discovered that Judith had been inspired by the huge mass of toilet paper and wrapped the entire pile in yarn. A new piece of art was completed.

To find out more about Creative Growth please go to CreativeGorwth.org. To find out more about Judith Scott please look in to purchasing her book "Metamorphosis. The fiber art of Judith Scott".

Images from JudithScottDocumentary.org.

Inspiration comes with four legs or none at all!

The last image is a photograph by the talented Mr. Bill Brandt. Google his work it is truly beautiful and inspiring.  Dark, mysterious and gentle at the same time.

Enjoy!

Unicorn Shark, the frilled shark and their other friends!

The Goblin Shark

 The Frilled Shark

The Albino Shark

 And Finally the Magical Unicorn Shark 

Just another day at the park!

Inspiration....

Is everywhere!

Textiles: a love and hate relationship.

A collection I designed last semester for my textile design class..... parts of me are giving up!  The artistry that is involved in the practice is truly lacking from my skill set.  Drawing, painting, collage making (tomes of it is done in the creative process of text. design) are all things I enjoy immensely.  But frankly I just do not see my self as that gifted of an individual.  Artists like Lena Corwin (blog.LenaCorwin.com) and Majia Louekari (MajiaLouekari.com) on the other hand really have it down.  Talented, forward thinking and most of all  really creatively driven these two girls are two me some of the best designers out there. 

Beuatiful people!

Image heavy post ahead.

I have a million of these images on my computer, people that I find inspiring, beautiful, original and savvy.   Here are a few of my favorites.  From streamline shapes and utter simplicity to eccentric accessories and bold colors, each of these individuals captured the essence of fashion and current trends with their own interpretation.  And that it is what it's all about.  Have fun with your clothes, but most importantly have fun in them.

Images from TheSartorialist.blogspot.com and Facehunter.blogspot.com.

Vote for Change!

Tomorrow it's likely to be the most important day in our political history.  Please vote for change and for human rights.

Paris Roundup

Paris S/S Fashion Week came and went, but the strongest looks of the season made a lasting impression.

The husband and wife team behind AF Vandevorst created a collection that is both timeless and on point with current trends.  Androgynous suiting juxtaposed with delicate lace and peeks of underpinnings made the collection both sexy and professional. Sexy secretary anyone?  

The use of color also didn't disappoint.  The Belgian design duo created the perfect balance of playful spring colors and the more sober season-less colors favored by the designers. 

Quilted shirt dresses looked young and effortless paired with tailored jackets. Small doses of chinoiserie motifs brought freshness to the black and white deconstructed ensembles the duo is famous for. Overall the collection offered something for everyone, from the sultry seductress to the fierce go-getter.

Ann Demeulemeester visited familiar and new territory with her beautiful collection of draped and relaxed pieces. The controlled order of stripes grounded the billowy volume of draped dresses and skirts that resembled here and there monks cloaks and Grecian goddesses.  The colors where also reminiscent of the Buddhist postulants; saffron orange and red mixed in a rich feast for the eyes that evoked exotic hot summer nights.  Even the more somber pieces appeared more relaxed than what you would expect out  Ann's box of tricks.  Skirts where short, jackets soft and flowy, and the embroidery was almost more characteristic of Dries Van Noten than Ann Demeulemeester.  This rounded up to a beautiful, less stark approach to her generally severe look. This new approachability will perhaps bring her to be a broader audience; maybe it will make her name easier to pronounce in the future.

For Marin Margiela's 20th anniversary you could not get any more avant-garde than this.  The evasive man behind the ever growing, ever popular line has taken it to the next extreme; at least until his next collection.  Expanding on an evolving fashion narrative, Margiela explored new concepts of concealing, revealing, shredding and deconstructing.  The collection consisted mostly of body-suits, deconstructed jackets, asymmetrical dresses and the occasional garment that doesn't fall in any existing category.  After the incognito shades that were the rage last summer, a play on the concept was to be expected, but who knew it would be so.... can I say loopy?  Sections of fabric stretched to cover faces, wigs where combed forward to create the same concealing effect and straps of iridescent fabric wrapped around bodies. The silhouettes where familiar but strikingly avant-garde and as groundbreaking as ever. Strong shoulders emphasized long, narrow legs exposed by drastic asymmetrical hems or the total lack of pants.  Over all the collection was both inspiring and entreating, it will be interesting, however, to see how many editors will sport the three headed monster suit come spring time.

Something new, something old, something vintage.

I started publishing my words and thoughts driven in part by curiosity, in part by the necessity of collecting inspiration, ideas, images and people. I collect little boxes which I fill with cut-outs, objects, textiles new and vintage, dried flowers, memories new and old, photographs and notes from loved ones.

I am using this as a new medium to express my never ending desire to produce artistically and intellectually as well as a method to reach new inspiring people.