Dec 29, 2008

Found Objects Find High-End

Miracle Icons Necklace 
$245
Finders keepers, losers weepers.  Found one of a kind vintage religious medallions strung on sterling silver chains.  Miracle Icons are finding themselves in upscale retailers such as Barney's, Marqsmen (Seattle), Intoto (Minneapolis), and Fred Segal (Santa Monica). Mary Jo Pane's unisex line of bracelets and necklaces was inspired by a visit with a sick friend living in New York post 9/11 and her own belief in saints, guardian angels and spirits.  Try visiting here for your own inspiration.

Dec 27, 2008

How To Make Guacamole


image saveur

Juice of a fresh lemon
2 medium ripe avocados
3 medium cloves garlic minced
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. or more cayenne
2 chopped jalapeños
1 tbsp. salsa
1. Place the lemon juice in a medium sized shallow bowl
2. Add the avocado and mash it to whatever consistency you like
3. Stir in the remaining ingredients.
** To help the Guacamole retain its color add the avocado pits and remove just before serving.
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Dec 25, 2008

Alone With Kurt Cobain's Duffle Bag

Courtney Love left Charles R. Cross alone in a house with a duffle bag full of Kurt Cobain's diaries and personal effects that he's quite certain 'no one wanted him to see'. The result - Cobain Unseen. View the trailer for the book above or here.

Dec 24, 2008

Yves Saint Laurent's Final Moment

Yves Saint Laurent
image telegraph 

Yves Saint Laurent and his partner Pierre Bergé spent 50 years compiling their art collection. An eclectic mix of styles and periods the collection has been cited as 'the last flicker of a long heritage of French taste, now faded.' by gallery owner Nicolas Kugel. Most of the collection will be up for auction, including 'looted' Opium War sculptures, during a three day event starting February 23, 2009 at the Grand Palais. Labeled the 'sale of the century' by Christie's, it will include over 700 lots worth an estimated $250 million to $380 million. Bergé acknowledges that 'the collection would not be truly complete until the hammer fell on the last lot.' The auction catalogue can be purchased here.

Dec 23, 2008

Cocktail Hors D'Oeuvres - 3 Recipes


Spiced Nuts, Ancho Chili Humous, Two-Olive Tapanade

Do an assortment of six to eight cold and hot appetizers that can be eaten in one or two bites for a full-on cocktail party.
Here are three to get you started.
Spiced Nuts
3/4 tsp cayenne
3/4 tsp curry powder
1/2 tsp sea salt
1/4 tsp ground coriander
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground ginger
2 Tbsp olive oil
2 cups unsalted shelled mixed nuts (almonds, cashews, pecans, peanuts)
Preheat oven to 325 F.  In a small bowl mix together all the spices and set aside. Heat the oil in a skillet over medium heat.  Add the spice mixture and toss well. Place the nuts into a bowl, add the spice mixture and toss.  Spread the nuts on a baking sheet and bake for about 15 minutes.  Remove from oven and drizzle with any left over spice and oil over the mix.  Cool to room temperature.  Makes two cups.
Two-Olive Tapanade
1 clove garlic
2 Tbsp capers
1 1/2 cups pitted kalamata olives
1 1/2 cups pitted green olives
1/3 cup chopped roasted red peppers
2 tsp balsamic vinegar
Zest of 1/2 lemon
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
1/3 cup olive oil
Toasted crostinis
Add garlic and capers to a food processor and coarsely chop.  Add olives, red peppers and basil and chop.  Add balsamic vinegar, lemon zest and olive oil and blend.  Transfer to a kitschy bowl and serve with crostinis.  Makes about 3 cups and can be refrigerated for up to three days.
Ancho Chili Humous
Two 19 ounce tins chick peas/garbanzo beans (drained)
2 cloves garlic
Juice and zest of 1 lemon
1 tsp sea salt
2 to 3 ancho chilies (in adobe sauce)
1 small bunch cilantro
1/2 cup olive oil
Place everything in a food processor and mix until smooth.  Add more chilies to achieve desired temperature.  If too thick, add more olive oil and blend. Transfer to kitschy bowl and serve with baked pita chips or veggies.

Dec 19, 2008

How To Wear A Sweater

Treat it properly and a good sweater can last you a life time.
Here are some tips:
  1. Don't put your sweater on a hanger. It stretches it.
  2. Don't put your sweater in the dryer. You think this would be common sense.
  3. Don't throw your sweater on the floor. It'll get fuzzies and you'll glow under black light.
  4. Don't buy acrylic. It pills, stretches and lasts about a week.
  5. Only buy cashmere from a trusted source. I have 40 year old vintage cashmere sweaters that look better than ones I've bought today. Cashmere should rarely pill. It wears better if you hand wash it or delicate machine it with gentle shampoo and flat towel dry.
  6. Fix snags in your sweater with a crochet hook or other pointed object. Grab the snag from inside the sweater and pull it back in.
How Not To Wear Your Sweater
A great Raf Simons sweater, however, a fit like this should be reserved for jersey knit. Remember your sweater is not a wrapper and you're not a sausage.

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Dec 18, 2008

Do Not Fear Wallpaper



Your walls are the largest areas in your home to have decorative impact, so their treatment is important, even if it is subtle. Combining wall covering materials is effective, and a good way of adding character to a room.
Don't be afraid of wallpaper. Try getting a big effect for little money by limiting wallpaper to a small area, selecting a strong pattern, and emphasizing it. For example, paper one end of a room and its corner pillars with panels that come in square and round corners as in the photo above.

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Dec 17, 2008

Where To Buy A Unique Gift

Do you feel uncomfortable receiving gifts? Me too. I think it's because I only receive them on days when the gift giver feels pressured to buy a gift and therefore it's not really a gift but an obligation.
Why not boycott buying gifts on the 'traditional' gift giving days and buy someone a gift when you see something special you know they'll love - no matter what day it is. The inquisitive look on their face when they receive it is priceless.
Here are 6 ideas of where to find unique gifts:

1. Estate Sales
2. Antique Shops
3. Online Museum or Gallery Shops
You can also order prints from your local library's archives
5. From the artist directly

Dec 12, 2008

Patricia Urquiola and The Italian Papasan Chair

Taking the much loved Papasan chair into the 21st Century is Moroso's Patricia Urquiola. Described as, 'the designer who best expresses Moroso's vision', Urquiola was named designer of the year by now! design à vivre part of the Maison&Objet in Paris. The Bohemian collection for Moroso takes an original approach to tufted seating.
Bohemian's capitonné cushions come in goose down or polyester fiber and are completely removable.
Watch an interview with Urquiola where she talks about her exhibition of luxury porcelain for Rosenthal at the Design Museum in London.

Dec 10, 2008

Vancouver Beholdeth Black Mountain

I have a love hate relationship with the city of my birth. When something or someone I'm fond of, which wouldn't be Gortex, 'super groups' or over priced mediocre restaurants, gains momentum I'm proud to be a Vancouverite again.
It's taken Black Mountain awhile to break it on the East Coast, but only because they're living in West Coast time. Muzzle of Bees has ranked them amongst the top 12 concerts of 2008, above Sigur Ros and The Boss but just below Fleet Foxes and Bon Iver, and Ryan Matteson classifies In The Future (which would sound even deeper on vinyl) as one of the records that without a doubt 'really monopolized my listening habits'.

Nominated for the 2008 Canadian Polaris Prize and CBC's Best Advice from an Artist and Best Hook, Black Mountain should hurry up and change their watches to Eastern Time Zone for 2009.

Watch the video from the 2008 Polaris Music Prize here or watch Wucan here.
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Dec 8, 2008

A Picture Worth a Thousand Words


Magdalena Gerber, Tellerstories, 2004-2008
copyright M. Gerber
I had an old photo of an elk I found in a thrift store put on a mug for work.  I was so inspired that I seriously thought about quitting my day job and buying a mug press.

Magdalena Gerber has taken the process further with her collection of porcelain tableware. Each piece asking, {Who are they?}, {Where are they going?}, {What are they doing?}, {Is it fact or fiction?}.

Dec 6, 2008

Don't Knock the Jazz Flute

Jethro Tull 1976 from Aqualung.
Spark it up.
video above or view it here

Dec 5, 2008

Janis Joplin's Custom Porsche



Janis Joplin and her '65 356c Porsche Cabriolet

I've been humming and hawing over buying a vintage Porsche or a vintage Mercedes. Bought in 1968 for $3500 by Janis Joplin, the Porsche 356 Super C. Painted by Dave Richards.

Related Post:

Dec 4, 2008

Paul Evans - 20th Century Alchemist


Paul Evans
1931 - 1987
Paul Evans died before his time.  A trained silversmith, goldsmith and blacksmith Evans was also an alchemist. Taking the common and transforming it into the extraordinary.  Each piece of Evans' forged furniture was made by hand, finished by hand and signed.  Watch for it.

the finished piece

Dec 3, 2008

7 Excuses To Catch The Red Eye To London

Get out of here! Go grab a bargain basement last minute flight from British Airways and head to London for a quick fix of cool before settling in with the relatives for the holidays!
If you need an excuse here are seven:
December 6th 2008
vintage Biba is impossible to find in NA.
watch out for Cameron's crew - they'll be in vintage rock tees and bangles
cash, caffeine, no holds barred

2. YO! Sushi
the most expensive sushi robo I've ever had
worth a visit at lunch in the business district just to ride off the energy!

3. Bon Iver
congratulations to Joe M. - hope you enjoy the show!
View the visually stunning video for Wolves here.

4. Harmony Sex Shop
103 Oxford Street, Soho
njoy toys, the jessica rabbit

Mark Rothko exhibition
free collection displays on Levels 3 & 5 (Cubism, Futurism, Vorticism)

food, vintage, people watching - the best things in life
voted one of the top 100 stores you must visit in the world

7. Ten Bells
84 Commercial Street
when all is said and done
Magners, Aspalls and Scrumpy Jack on tap
Thanks Sarah!

Dec 2, 2008

Signature Series Street Art and Fashion

You don't become a mega brand by ignoring your target market. Hats off to Adidas and Ray Ban for joining forces with street super artists Sam Flores, Chris Mendoza, Herbert Baglione, David Choe and Aesop Rock.
Mendoza
Ray Ban Wayfarer Artist Series
Ray Ban is collaborating with Chris Medonza on an eighties graffiti style limited edition artist series - there are only 100. The series will be released online on December 3rd 2008
You can watch an interview with Mendoza here.
Adidas commissioned a limited edition series of sneaks designed by Flores, Baglione, Choe and Rock. One edition of four parts was released for four Thursdays from July 17, 2008. The folks at Adidas know their market better than their spouses.
You can view the 28 second campaign video for the Rock edition here or check ADIDAS' premiere campaign here.

Dec 1, 2008

Joshua Van Dyke - The Skateboard As Rite Of Passage

The rite of passage. Vancouver based artist, Joshua Van Dyke, explores this universal theory in his latest work of sculpture. Each work, created out of vintage skate decks he has collected from around the world, translates separation, liminality and re-incorporation into a visual masterpiece reminisce of Joseph Campbell's The Hero with a Thousand Faces.
Van Dyke's work is raw, symbolic, and brilliant.








images Stacy Reynaud

Nov 27, 2008

Don't Eat Too Much


your turkeys won't be able to tow you.
Happy Thanksgiving

Nov 26, 2008

6 Gifts For the Geek Who Has Everything


1.  USB storage skull ring

2.  Electronic Bubble Wrap Key Chain
that's right, it makes the bubble wrap sound when you pop the bubbles
The 21st Century Lite Brite!
'sure to keep up appearances'

5.  The E-Cigarette - the electronic cigarette 
6.  LED Color Changing Light Bulb with Remote
put this one on my wish list

Nov 25, 2008

The Traffic Jam Recreated

How many times have you been stuck in traffic and asked yourself why the car ahead of you doesn't move up?  The Mathematical Society of Traffic Flow in Japan may have scientifically solved the true nature of the traffic jam. Researchers argue that vehicles clump together at a certain point on a track resulting in a shock-wave effect running backwards through the traffic. Watch the demonstration video embedded above or view it here.

Nov 24, 2008

The Obama Pet

If it were only as simple as cat or dog.  
The Roosevelt children had a pet.  A lovable one legged rooster.
One-legged Rooster - pet of the Roosevelt children

Nov 22, 2008

We're All A Bunch of Show Offs


Does that mean no one likes us?
If you were at Lollapolooza '92 you may remember the interactive video sound loop thingamajig set up in the village part.  Here you had a chance to compose your own music to looped scenes of drag racing, space launches, animals fornicating or overall destruction - somewhat Koyaanisqatsi or Baraka esque in feel.  A clip from Koyaanisqatsi is above - you can also view it here.
The lineup at Lollapolooza '92 was headlined by Ice Cube, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Soundgarden, Pearl Jam, Ministry, and Jesus and Mary Chain - so yes, the stoner interactive video sound loop thingamajig was a hit.
The 21st Century
Check out Uniqlo's 'Create Your Loop!' an irritating, interactive and supposedly addictive viral marketing campaign directed at hipsters.  Get your mute button ready but do check it out!

Utloop
a hipster t-shirt marketing campaign

Nov 20, 2008

Sex, The Economy, and The Guerrilla Marketer


Courbet
Should Nevada's brothels apply for a government bail out too?
The world's oldest profession has been hit by the economic downturn.  The industry has a $400 million impact on the state of Nevada and generates about $50 million in revenues but in the last 18 months disposable income, aka the fun fund, has been going the way of the condom - down the toilet. Revenues for the 25 brothels in the Nevada Brothel Owners' Association are down by as much as 45 percent.  Stats on the women's individual earnings can be found here.
If done correctly,  guerrilla marketing tactics could work brilliantly here.
  1. viral marketing
  2. ambient marketing
  3. presence marketing
  4. grassroots marketing
  5. wild postings
  6. tissue pack advertising
  7. undercover marketing
  8. astroturfing
  9. alternative marketing
  10. experiential marketing
Go here to read a great post on the definition of each type of guerrilla marketing tactic mentioned above.
photo from weburbanist

Nov 19, 2008

What's Going On

Deborah Layton joined Peoples Temple as a teenager. She left Jonestown six months before the suicides.  In the PBS film Jonestown: The Life and Death of Peoples Temple she expresses her unhappiness with the world in the 1960s and 1970s and the desire to change it, noting Marvin Gaye's song "Mercy, Mercy Me" off the 1971 album What's Going On.  YouTube video embedded above, and here's the link.
"...the whole time I was in college, I would go into the library -- they had headsets-- I'd ask them to put that entire tape on (What's Going On).  And it was all about "What is going on here, people," you know?  The war in Vietnam, everyone's upset.  And that sort of drifted into every aspect of my life...You know, we all seem to be lost here and that maybe it is time to get involved in something..."  Deborah Layton; Jonestown: The Life and Death of Peoples Temple (2007)
November 18th, 1978 
Jonestown Massacre
Jim Jones issues a suicide order commanding his followers to drink cyanide-laced Fla-Vor-Aid.  918 people died in Guyana: five at the Port Kaituma airstrip, four in Georgetown and 909 men, women and children in Jonestown.
November 17, 1938.  
Gordon Lightfoot is born.  He releases Don Quixote in 1972, one year after What's Going On. Listen to "Beautiful" above or  here.
60% of participants polled believe the deaths of the adults at Jonestown were murders.  View the poll here.

Nov 17, 2008

10 Rock n Roll Rider Requests Sure to Surprise

The Rider.   Musicians can become legends over these. These contracts can include specs on everything from dressing room 'vibe' and meals to transportation and opening act.  You're thinking about Van Halen, Black Sabbath and NKOB right now aren't you?
Here are 10 musicians whose riders were and weren't what I expected: 
  1. Sheryl Crow - Mon. Makers Mark, Tues. Bombay Gin, Weds. Courvosier Brandy, Thurs. Good Quality Champagne, Fri. Silver Tequila, Sat. Absolut Vodka, Sun. Silver Tequila
  2. Kid Rock - if McDonald's could of set up I'm sure they'd be there.
  3. Coldplay - NO chardonnay, NO Stella, NO U.S. beer but stamped postcards are nice.
  4. Prince - more like a spa than a gig. The Yogi tea and scented candles do add a nice touch.
  5. LL Cool J - the driver must know where to find a Soul Food Cafe and that door better not say Jay.
  6. Boy George - boy o boy happy hour starts at sound check and that black t-shirt better be ready.
  7. Nine Inch Nails - who would've thought these guys were juicers!
  8. The Black Crowes - wooden furniture doesn't go well with zig zags.
  9. Frank Sinatra - plants, Tootsie Rolls and top shelf liquor are 'appreciated'.
  10. Guns n' Roses - Dom Perignon, guacamole and porn.
Korn's rider with a PHAT towel request
click it to enlarge it
What's on your rider?
Source: smoking gun 


Nov 15, 2008

May I Introduce You To...

Shocking Blue.
One of Kurt's favourites.  Nirvana covered Love Buzz.  

You can view more  here.

Nov 14, 2008

Dear Apple Strategic Development

Signature series, limited edition pieces do very well.
Why not try these:

1. Travis Millard - Fudge Factory Comics
3. Powell & Peralta Series
5. Basquiat
image copyright Artist Rights Society

Summer Breeze