Fly

Fly Girl of the Week

Who? Zoe, 27 years old
Where? London, UK (born Washington, D.C.; grew up in Los Angeles)
What do you do? I'm curator of contemporary programmes at the Victoria and Albert Museum, Britain's national museum of art & design.
What inspires you? I wouldn't do the work I do if I wasn't constantly inspired by creative people and the impact they have on the world we live in. It's a real privilege for me to be part of the creative process to share people's work with a larger audience. Art with a social purpose really moves me. I'm also constantly inspired by the women in my family - my mother, Donna; my grandmother, Mommy Harriet; and my aunt Debbie. They're each amazing women who are a constant source of love, support and wisdom. And I can't fail to mention Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson, whose musical vision inspires me to 'infinitely go against the grain'...
Why are you fly? I think I'm fly because I always try to be true to myself and to other people. I never want to stop learning or growing as a person.
Advice: just do you - and support your fellow fly girls. We can creatively build together; we don't ever need to compete or tear down one another to move forward.

Honor Wagon

Last week on our way back from the beach we discovered this cute little wagon robust with fresh fruits, veggies, and flowers ready for a passerby to pluck. I never heard of this concept; an honor wagon is stocked with goods to be purchased, only there's no one there to collect money. It's trusted that you'll adhere to the price list, take only what you paid for and deposit the money in the secure cash box. It made me feel so good to think that there's still a little simplicity left in the world.

Prada.com

I saw these Prada bags in the latest issue of Elle Magazine and fell in love! Aren't the colors just luscious? So I went to the Prada website to see if I could find more photos of these pretty little things, I didn't, but found something better. Prada.com has these fantastic videos that show you the start to finish work of creating their famous bags and shoes. It's incredible to see the sketch turn into a tangible fashion piece. Click here and then click the video camera icon to see the magic.

Alex DaCorte

I love this beautiful wallpaper by Alex DaCorte. Via Urban Outfitters blog

Summer Books

I can't believe summer is almost over! But there's still plenty of sunshine soaking, pool-side lounging and beach-chilling to do, which means there's still a lot of free time to use reading a few good books. I have a few suggestions:

1. SOUL CITY by Toure - This novel brings together fantasy and soul to create a very interesting group of characters and themes. It was a really fun read.
2. THE RED TENT by Anita Diamant - I mentioned it before and will forever more. I LOVE this book and I feel EVERY WOMAN and man should take the time to absorb this wonderful story. It's definitely a good book club read.
3. THIRD GIRL FROM THE LEFT by Martha Southgate - Racy and very sexy and another favorite. This book has some moments that I really appreciate as it covers three generations of women growing into themselves. I'd be curious to see what others think about this one. I heard from the author that the movie rights were bought for this book, I think it would make an excellent movie.
4. THE SECRET GARDEN by Frances Hodgson Burnett - I have not read this book since I was eight but I just happend to be looking for it when I found it at a fleamarket for a quarter. This classic is worth indulging oneself at any age.
5. ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF SOLITUDE by Gabriel Garcia Marquez - I have to admit I never read this book! It was given to me when I was about 10, I tried to read it then and didn't get it, and at 23 I couldn't get into it. So I will force myself to get through it now. I hear it's another classic that must be apart of one's personal library.

Do you have any book suggestions? Have you read any of these books? Would love to hear what you guys think.

Alyson Fox

Fun illustrations from Alyson Fox.

WEBISODE 4: Punk Rock Fleamarket Festival

Last weekend I went with Rakia to the Punk Rock Fleamarket Festival here in the heart of Philadelphia. The place was packed with so much stuff that we were in there for hours fighting the crowd trying to see everything. We used my digital camera to record our findings. We didn't get much of the inside because it was too dark, and please excuse my amateur directing and editing skills {{smile!!!}}, but hopefully you get a sense of how much fun we had and of course appreciate the fact that in fashion you can still find cute but yet inexpensive stuff. Click here for the youtube.com version.

Alice Ritter's Spring/Summer Collection

The colors and textures from this Spring/Summer collection seem more Fall to me, either way Alice Ritter's pieces are still very beautiful. See more Alice Ritter here.

Vignettes

I ADORE vignettes in the home. Create a visual story for small corners or tabletops with a little display of pictures, jewelry boxes, tiny fleamarket finds, books, flowers, etc. It gives your space a very personal touch.

West 18th Street Fashion Show

Wish I was there! I posted about last year's event and was hoping to make it to this one. Fortunately, we have some fun pics capturing what we missed. I'm diggin' the funky pieces from KCMO's talented designers. Photo credits: Tom Foley

Fly Girl of the Week

Meet our next self-nominated FGOTW.

Who: Kelli, 26 yrs. old
Where: Currently reside in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, but I am from a little town in the New York’s Hudson Valley called Newburgh.  Two places at opposite ends of the spectrum and I love them both equally.
What do you do? To make ends meet I am an Interior Designer/Historic Preservationist for a Center City Philadelphia architecture firm. What I would like to do is to be an Interior/Exhibit Design Consultant for private residential clients and museums. I’d like to assist museums in properly interpreting and displaying the history of African and Latino Americans. I’d love to see one of our historic interiors in the Philadelphia Museum of Art next to the other historic interiors of the Philadelphia region! I am still trying to figure out exactly how to do that, but that’s my goal. For my residential clients I’d like to assist them in creating the most comfortable, beautiful, personality-reflecting interiors I can with the great taste I have! ;0)
What inspires you? Nature, city life, the Alhambra (Moorish architecture), Louis XV gilded arm chairs, chai tea, Umesh’s (my friend and greatest cook!) photography, dancing, alpona, ashtanga yoga, Degas’ dancers, and Salvador de Bahia, Brazil.
Why are you fly? I am learning everyday a little more about myself and getting over my shyness to reveal my discoveries to the world. I love taking on a new design challenge and working through the situation until the problem is solved to be best of my creative ability. I am carving my own little space out of the world of interior design and historic preservation.
Advice: I know it is cliché but LIVE, LOVE, LEARN, and don’t forget to LAUGH, especially at yourself as you are stumbling through the first 3 things. Embrace your weirdness. Fight for your dream and always remember the people who helped you get there.

Christopher Davison

Love these paintings from artist Christopher Davison.

Webisode 3: Renegade Craft Fair Part 1

This webisode covers some of the many talented artists and crafters who were selling their wares at the 3rd Annual Renegade Craft Fair in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. We covered five artists and decided to break it up into two parts. So here is part one, be sure to look for part two next week. Oh, and just in case you can't read the website addresses for each artist on the video, I have them listed below. If you have problems viewing the video here, visit this youtube.com link to see it there. Music Credit: CéU, Ave Cruz

Hodge Podge - funky stenciled clothing
Hoibo - hand-made and hand-dyed handbags
Pillow Pillow Pillow - cute pillows favoring your favorite pets

Pretty Papers

Here are some really pretty patterned papers (say that twenty times fast) at the Paper Source, my favorite paper store.

Adriana Aviles Clutches and Bracelets

These crocodile clutches are amazing and the bracelets are just as lovely. Check out the photos that inspired this collection while you admire these fabulous pieces. For more info email Adriana at [email protected].


Here's a little about how Adriana got started:
Hi my name is Adriana, I’m 24 years old, I was born and raised in Managua, Nicaragua and moved to New York City four years ago when I got married. I started designing and illustrating handbags for myself and then in one of my trips to my country I decided to have them custom-made just for me…when I got back to NYC I noticed that people were asking me for my handbags on the streets. At first it was funny and awkward, but then I realized that maybe I could actually start selling them. So that’s when I decided to start with this line which is very simple but chic.

As a painter and illustrator I’m inspired by the sights and sounds of NYC, the people, the museums and galleries but mainly by my trips abroad, this line was inspired by my last trip to the Dominican Republic, the radiant colors and shapes of the bags and accessories  came from the fruit markets, rain forest, beaches and specially the people and children.

Also one of the most important things that makes me happy about this collection is that I get to help people from my country. Meeting the people that make the handbags is a very gratifying experience, giving them the chance to work and create these handbags for me is priceless.

I hope you love them the way I do. In my humble experience I hope to continue creating more new and beautiful things, for the people who enjoy the work of imaginative handmade accessories.