I've been trying to get a hold of this magazine all week! Lauren and Derek (of The Curiosity Shoppe) are featured in it--and they're on the cover! Their home looks so cute, colorful, and ultra DIY--exactly the way I imagined it would be. Until I get a copy, you can see more of the magazine here on their blog.
I'm a sucker for wire mesh. So I'm trying to find a right place for these pieces in my home to justify their purchase. (I'm sure I'll figure something out.) But first, I would also like to check them out in the store to see if they look and feel just as good in person. The chair is the De la tour chair from Urban Outfitters and the table is the Link side table from CB2. I'm glad they're finally opening a store in San Francisco this summer.
I went with some of my friends from high school to see The Roots and Erykah Badu on Monday--which was really good. The Roots set was super short (like half an hour) and Erykah's set was super long (like 2-1/2 hours, I think?)! I love that along with her extra large hair which obscured her face, Erykah wore this funky red, grid-patterned pantsuit (which looked like something straight out of Andre 3000's closet), Urkel-style black-rimmed glasses, and mule tennis shoes (at least it looked like that from where I was sitting). I wouldn't doubt she probably had suspenders on underneath, too. Everything about it from the performance and music to her outfit seemed both feminine and masculine, uncompromised, vision-driven, and just plain nutty. Loved it.
Anyway, seeing The Roots again also reminded of a poster I made ten years ago. It was my final project in the one and only graphic design class I've ever taken. I took this class right after college when I realized that I was interested in more artistic pursuits. I remember choosing to hand-make this poster on manila paper instead of using a computer to design it.
It's always interesting to look back on your early work to see how far you've come and at the same time, to see what hasn't changed about you.
If you've got time to spare and want to hear me babble (on and on) about how I got started with my business(es) and what I've been doing over the past 9 years, I recently did a podcast with Jennifer Ackerman-Haywood of CraftSanity. I have to say that I actually enjoyed doing this podcast because it felt more like a conversation with friend than a press interview.
I also did a podcast several months ago with Chronicle Books. I was kinda nervous when I did that interview. Okay, why couldn't I remember what I covered in my book?! Seriously. There were some definite deer-in-the-headlights, crickets-a-chirping moments during that interview. Thank goodness it wasn't live. Thank goodness is wasn't filmed. And thank goodness for the magic of editing so that I seem like a competent book author. Um, really, I am!
I'm still getting used to doing these broadcast interviews and I tend to get all self-critical when I listen to myself speak, so I haven't actually listened to either podcast yet. But trust me, you should--you'll either walk away with some quasi-interesting information about me or maybe even some laughs at my expense. Either way, it's good times.
So busy preparing for the Stationery Show in May, I didn't realize Paula opened a Henry Road Store in Los Angeles (Studio City, to be exact). It's great to see businesses grow and take that step in opening a retail storefront. The store truly reflects her personality and aesthetic---showing her passion for color and eclectic art. I can't wait to visit her shop!
Henry Road
3949 Laurelgrove Ave
Studio City, CA 91604
(South of Ventura, 2 blocks west of Laurel Canyon)
Tel : 818 762 8966
I know, I am much slower to post than some people. But nevertheless, here is an image of the Mixed Co. booth last week. The Stationery Show (which we've affectionately dubbed "Summer Camp") was really great! In addition to the all-important store orders, we made good contacts with press, publishers, and other designers. It was validating to see the fruits of our pre-show marketing push with stores and press coming into the booth telling us they came specifically because of the mailer we sent out.
And it's always so much fun to meet with other designers (especially ones you've only "known" over email or blogs) and this year it seemed like there was more indie designers. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to go around the Javits and visit as much as I wanted to...I kept feeling ill off and on. Maybe it was allergies or the dang air conditioner blasting in there! Overall, it was a really worthwhile show. And I seriously enjoyed all the laughs with the good company in the booth. Looking forward to next year!
At the beginning of this year I started a new project/division called Mixed Co., which provides grassroots marketing and representation for independent designers. The first of several shows planned for 2008, we'll be at the National Stationery Show (Booth 1448) from May 18-21 at the Javits Center in New York City representing a talented group of designers including Allymoon, Good on Paper, Linea Carta, Laurel Denise, Nantaka Joy, and, of course, my company Mateo Ilasco. If you'll be visiting the show, do stop by and say hello!
I'm so happy to be a part of Maria & Lena's Lines & Shapes, Vol. 2. Other artists featured in the book are: Jim Green, Maditi, ThussFarrell, and Stephanie Waddell. It was great exploring the book's theme, "Block". I decoupaged wood blocks with graphic symbols and strung them together to create flexible wood block sculptures (see image above for one of the sculptures).
Below is an image that didn't make it into the book which shows almost all the blocks.
This image is in the book. I share a studio with a 3 other artists/designers, including Lisa of Good on Paper, and this is an image I shot of the blinds on her front window. I love black and white stripes!
The book is only $21 plus shipping or you can get a subscription so that you get all volumes. If you need visual inspiration, you should definitely have these on your bookshelf!
