Last night, I hosted the DIY station for Refiner29’s pop-up shop, Tinseltown and had guests make and decorate their own holiday cards using Sarah Reynolds signature frame stationary.
The pop-up shop officially opens today and runs through the weekend. So head over to 201 Mulberry Street and do some holiday shopping, get a makeover (and tattoo — theirs a falsey station!), and make some cards!
{My DIY card station}
Who’s on top of their holiday shopping? Here are some of my personal picks of gifts I’ve gotten (mostly for myself) and loved!
1. Royal Apothic Conservatory Collection Candle in scent English Rose ($26) – this candle is lie a little piece of heaven. It’s a soy-blend wax and burns for 60 hours. It’s larger then it looks in the picture (5″h, 3″ square) and is gorgeous from package to scent. It’s like walking through a rose garden, the scent is superb.
2. Sarah H. Reynolds Original Frame Notecards & Envelopes ($22/set of 10) – I love sending cards and this versatile set includes two of each print of five original charcoal frame drawings and ten envelopes by NY based artist, Sarah Reyholds. Leave your love note, thank you, or even your own drawing or picture inside one of these beautifully drawn frame (or use stamps!) and send. I like that they are artsy and give you a foundation to customize the card and they work for number of different occasions so they are handy to have around.
3. International Sanctuary Beautiful Green Necklace ($40) – As seen in my video campaign with SpaFinder (and regularly in photos on my instagram page, I wear this necklace all the time. This website (and necklace) are amazing. iSanctuary works to help victims of human trafficking reintegrate by employing survivors. Their mission to end human trafficking through
I was recently introduced to The Cools, a Social shopping start-up website founded by Parisian entrepreneur Olivier van Themsche. The Cools delivers a social marketplace tailored to your personal style (you take a quick survey then it takes you to this incredible assortment of womens + mens clothing and accessories, interiors, art and vintage). Think upscale etsy that’s highly curated.
The Cools is stepping offline for Cyber Monday to debut 26 collaboration items designed specifically for the holiday season.
Preview them Monday, 11/26 from 6-9pm at the The Gallery at the Dream Hotel Downtown in NYC. Performance by Raekwon of Wu-Tang Clan.
For all the times I’ve passed by the Robert Lee Morris store, and marveled at the window, I’ve never stepped in. However, masked with an invitation to meet the iconic jewelry designer and check out and preview his spring collection was plenty incentive for a visit.
{Spring 2013 Preview}
The spring collection was nothing short of a work of art. His jewelry, all distinctive and unique statement pieces featured these incredible cuffs and bead with medal combination necklaces. The green/gold contrast is something to admired.
Have you seen this collection??? OMG, I’m obsessed. While recently visiting the Diesel showroom I stumbled across the Ugo Cacciatori x Diesel Black Gold capsule collection, designed in collaboration with famed Italian jewelry designer Ugo Cacciatori.
{Ahem, all of these pieces are under $300. My fox friend is $245}
The collection was originally unveiled at the Diesel Black Gold Fall/Winter 2012 Menswear show — however it’s clearly unisex — and looks great on me (if I do say so myself).
The collection, which consists of rings, bracelets, necklaces and belts are solid bronze creations which result from a lengthy hand-carving and gem-setting process, all
I recently discovered this really cool website, Designers & Books, which features profiles of the world’s most esteemed designers and the books that inspire them, as well as ones they have written. We’re talking all types of designers — fashion (like Donna Karan and Cynthia Rowley), architecture, graphic design, interior design, landscape architecture, product and industrial design, and urban design.
From October 26-28, Designers & Books is hosting their first Designers & Books Fair 2012, at the Fashion Institute of Technology Conference Center in New York Citywhich includes a dynamic series of featured speakers in a variety of design disciplines including Donna Karan, Todd Oldham, Valerie Steele, Debbie Millman we well subjects such as Cover Stories: A Conversation about Book Design, and How to Get Published in the World of Design Books.
In addition there will be an exhibition hall featuring approximately 35 design book publishers and booksellers selling their newest titles at discounted prices and also antiquarian dealers, authors signing books, and book artisans demonstrating calligraphy, book binding, and letterpress printing.
For our lucky readers, Designers & Books Fair 2012 is offering a discount of 40% or more off the listed advance-purchase ticket prices. All tickets include free admission to the exhibition hall ($10 value). Please see the main Programs or Tickets pages on our website for a full description of all programs. To access your special discount, click the links below and input the discount code at time of purchase.
Here’s the schedule:
Keynote: Designing the Future of the Design Book
Fri., Oct. 26: 7:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Special offer price: $18 (regular price $30)
Go to: bit.ly/DBFairspecial11 Enter code: KEYNOTE2012
Book Design at Pentagram
Sat., Oct. 27: 9:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. (includes 30-min. break)
Special offer price: $25 (regular price $50)
Go to: bit.ly/DBFairspecial2 Enter code: PENT2012
Donna Karan Connects the Dots: A Conversation with Valerie Steele
Sat., Oct. 27: 9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Special offer price: $15 (regular price $25)
Go to: bit.ly/DBFairspecial6 Enter code: DONNA2012
Last night, UrbanDaddy and Samsung Mobile hosted a “Picture Perfect Evening” at Gallow Green, the rooftop of the McKittrick Hotel. First off, for someone who almost didn’t make it or know what to expect out of a Picture Perfect evening, I’d say UrbanDaddy and Samsung Mobile nailed it!
Gorgeous rooftop — I’d been to the McKittrick Hotel for Sleep No More — but never the rooftop bar, Gallow Green.
Exceptional jazz band to add to the ambiance…
Custom caricatures being done a la Samaung Galaxy Note by artist, Rich Weinstein (look, i’m a cartoon!)
I would like to send a big shout out and congratulations to my friend, Jenni! The infamous queen of DIY, (she founded the website ISpyDIY.com) has written her first book, I SPY DIY STYLE. Inspired by looks from the runway, Jenni encourages women to “find fashion you love and do it yourself.”
While trends come and go, especially from the runway this book is great for getting inspiration on how you can use different materials, hardware and paint to make something your own or reinvent a basic. It’s well laid out with clear direction (and beginner friendly); not too many steps or copy and very visual. My key takeaway was I need to go on a glue spree. There are at least 3 variation of glue I never knew I’ve always needed.
{I SPY DIY STYLE book launch party}
{Besties turn twinsies! Mike and I come to support — with unplanned matching outfits}
{Cheers to Jenni!}
{In deep thought over creating my own custom Lara Eurdolian original DIY bracelets}
{Voila, my bracelets! — clearly DIY is not my forte}
{DIY drinks on the other hand…}
There is a downfall to knowing Jenni (and some of you avid readers may find this as well…) — my favorite DIY project of hers wasn’t in the book! As she would say, “you need to wait for the sequel”, and lets face it, she posts new projects almost daily so she can’t fit them all in. However, since patience is not my virtue, until part duex is written, I’m bookmarking posts from her blog for when I’m ready to get creative! And fortunately for me, I found the recipe for the Rope Wrapped Chain Bracelet I was looking for!
I SPY DIY STYLE by Jenni Radosevich, SRP: $21.99, available on amazon.com ($14.95)
I need to start this post with… If you’ve never been to Maison 24 and love really edgy modern art and unique eclectic home decor pieces (and have a high decorating budget), you need go!
Started by bother and sister duo, Allison Julius and Louis Marra, the store is a reflection of their travels around the globe and selects of unique products, as well as design their own items. Maison 24 brings together products and designs, artist exclusives (like Dobner) that are modern, traditional, serious, and quirky in a unique and oh-so-hip, setting.
My familiarity with the store bridges from references to their original Bridgehampton’s location. It wasn’t until receiving an invitation for the launch of Rory Dobner premiering a shop-in-shop at Maison 24, that I realized they have an NYC location (which launched last July).
{Rory Dobner Shop-In-Shop at Maison 24}
As for Rory Dobner, international man of art who has worked and exhibited in the UK, USA, Australia, Haiti, Hong Kong, and New Zealand before returning to the UK in 2005 and setting up a studio in Hampstead, London. Rory has completed a variety of impressive commissions and interior design projects in the U.S. including Soho House and Agent Provocateur and has also been commissioned to do projects for will.i.am, Kate Moss, and Robert Downey Jr. And now as of last week, his work resides in a little boutique in the back room of Maison 24.
{Cheers! Aaron & I playing dress-up with their glasses at the opening party}
{Party time!}
{Glitter Gun! Photo Credit: Wire Image}
Ahhhhh! Not since I used to hang out at Leila Sham‘s apartment have I wanted a home makeover so badly! There are so many cool, unique pieces. It was everything I expected and more (including the price tag). Le sigh. Someday…
Maison 24, 470 Park Avenue, NYC
Okay art fans, collectors, and decorators, it’s that time of year; the Affordable Art Fair kicked off last night in NYC. Running through April 22nd, the show features contemporary art pieces from over 75 galleries. Located at 7 West 34th street, there’s a bit of a battle to get through the lobby of the building. Once you do and make it to the elevators (and up to the 11th floor), it’s like teleporting out of midtown and an endless art gallery. Spacious, with booth after booth of an eclectic array of paintings in mixed mediums and limited assortment of photography and sculptures.
GENERAL FAIR HOURS:
April 19th, 2012: 2 – 9 pm
April 20th, 2012: 2 – 9 pm
April 21st, 2012: 11 am – 8 pm
April 22nd, 2012: 11 am – 6 pm
The word affordable is always an objective term when it comes to art; you can expect pieces to run between $1k – $10k. For more information visit affordableartfair.com
