Fly

Erykah Badu's Drawings

Just wanted to share with you her illustrations she did for the design of her CD liner notes. It was for the album Worldwide Underground. I love how detailed and playful they are.

Pearl River Market

Apparently you’re not a true New Yorker unless you shop at this store every now and then, at least that’s what I heard. Well, if that’s the case then I am officially a New Yorker. Before I headed out to Williamsburg, Brooklyn for the Bust Magazine Craftacular, I went to the Pearl River Market to see what this place was all about. I was surprised to find a huge space with thousands of Chinese goods stuffed into every nook and cranny of the store. I loved it. You could probably stay in there for hours browsing through Chinese slippers, fabric, candy, dishes, robes...the list just does not end. I splurged on some paper goods for my little paper collection.

Salvor Kiosk

Saturday was a busy day. There were so many craft bazaars going on all over the city and I wanted to go to all of them, but not before I visited Salvor Kiosk. I read about this eclectic shop in the November issue of Lucky Magazine. Sadly, if you were not looking for it you would miss it on the street, but I saw the sign and followed the cute little neon pink arrow pointing to a door that leads you up a flight of stairs to their space. I was excited to find a tiny shop filled to the brim with goodies from Mexico. But no this is not a Mexican store, you see, every few months the owner changes the product theme based on a different country. So maybe after Mexico it will be Brazil or Mozambique. Anyway, I loved the handcrafted clay animals, and the embroidered belts (not pictured). They also carry wrapping paper which is hand-printed by staff. I left with a sheet that is too fabulous to use, I’ll just admire it. Check it out, it’s the bottom right image.

Cowgirls

We all have a little cowgirl in us. Who doesn't love rhinestones, tight jeans, and a little tumble in the hay? Well maybe that's just me, but I must say I always loved Madonna's liner notes for her album, Music, which was totally inspired by cowboy/cowgirl culture. When I thought that whole look would be inspiring designers back in 2003 (which it did a little, cowboy boots and rhinestones were casually hitting the scene) I starting scanning images to reflect that. Then I happily stumbled upon the beautifully designed book, Hillbilly Hollywood, and was entirely intrigued. Here are some images from that book and Madonna's liner notes.

Inspired by Fly

I was so excited to get an email from a Fly visitor, Jeanee, saying that she was inspired by some doodles she saw posted here. Jeanee, a designer at Hallmark Cards, was designing a card collection for the holiday, Sweetest Day. After doing some doodle research she used a lettering artist to create lettering based on her findings. She then incorporated the lettering into her designs, which resulted in the cards you see below. Thanks for sharing, Jeanee. Also check out her blog, which showcases some inspiration displays at Hallmark headquarters.

N.E.E.T. Magazine

I learned of this online magazine through the Free People Blog and I’m hooked. This magazine is stocked full with fun products, funky clothes, and beautiful photography. Visit N.E.E.T. here.

Scary Ladies

With these paintings I wanted to play with skin tone using two random colors. When I completed them, the eyes were bothering me a bit (aren't they creepy?), but I didn't have the heart to change them.

Indian Inspired

Be inspired by the beauty of Indian art, design and culture, maybe for yourself or for gifts during the holiday season. Here are some great resources for Indian inspiration:  1.) Kaneesha – Indian clothing and accessories company,  2.) Great article in Selvedge Magazine about Maiwa Handprints, Inc. which supports craft initiatives throughout India,  3.) 1000 Patterns,  4.) Kaneesha,  5.) Indigo Arts features art pieces from different regions in India

Other places for great gifts or just for browsing include:
A.) Paper Source – this store has an extensive collection of gorgeous hand printed papers from India,  B.) Layla Boutique in Brooklyn carries fabulous textiles and wonderful but inexpensive bangles from India,  C.) Matta sells Indian inspired clothing in playful colors,  D.) Indian Style - fun book on art and design in India,  E.) Indigo Handloom - beautifully designed textiles from South Asia.

Saul Steinberg

Recently I was so excited to learn from the New York Times that Saul Steinberg’s work is being exhibited at the Museum of the City of New York. I am strongly inspired and influenced by his sometimes simple and sometimes intricate line drawings. When you look at more of his work you will see where I found the inspiration for my Voluptuous Ladies.

José Francisco Borges

One of my favorite stores in Philly is Indigo Arts. I used to love to go in there and drool over the art, furniture, and dishes from all over the world. It was that store that introduced me to the woodblock prints of Brazilian artist José Francisco Borges. If I could, I would buy every single print of his, all of his work is phenomenal.

My Saturday Afternoon in Philly

This weekend I went to a holiday trunk show at the Nexus Gallery in Old City, Philadelphia. It was a quaint little gathering of independent designers showcasing their wares. One of the designers, Rakia, who told me about the event, was premiering her own line, Planet Rak. It was hella cute. Some other goods I was diggin' were these funky dresses and clutches covered in ric-rac, lace and feathers designed by Nicole Rae Styer. I also came across some beautifully handcrafted journals by E Bond. She uses contrasting textured materials to create a unique book that would be a perfect gift for anyone. 1.) E Bond 2.) Rakia and I, 3.) Artwork in the Gallery, 4.) Nicole Rae Styer.

Mexican Dresses

After the Mexican Inspired collage I did last week, I remembered the beautiful Mexican dress my friend Makeeda rocked over the summer. I did a search on these dresses and came across several different styles. I love it! I can’t wait to get one. 1. eBay find,  2. FunkyFanny's Vintage eBay shop,  3. Bits and Bobbins on Flickr,  4. Elf Couture on Flickr

Sheila Bridges

A few weeks ago a Fly visitor introduced me to Sheila Bridges via a news article in the Washington Post. Apparently I’m not as design savvy as I thought I was because everyone seemed to know of this famous designer but me. Sheila is an interior designer who’s known for her show, Sheila Bridges: Designer Living and for designing Bill Clinton’s offices in Harlem. She also has her own line of textiles and tote bags. Shortly she will be launching a site, The Nestmaker, which will be a resource for readers who are looking for design ideas and advice. After she was diagnosed with alopecia areata, she became an advocate for The National Alopecia Areata Foundation. Wow! Sheila Bridges is fly and definitely a woman to know. Thanks again Camclark for the link.