happy chic*

(AGT: art for everyone)

admin — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 05:21:01 +0000

Etsy Spotlight

admin — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 03:16:26 +0000

Esty allows access to handmade crafts-men and crafts-women to sell their work online. Etsy expands across the globe to sellers and buyers in over 150 countries. The company was founded in 2005 and likes to be considered a community above all. Their slogan, “Buy, Sell, Live Handmade” is exactly what they do. Their products present an easy alternative to a new economy by skipping the department stores and hitting up the one-of-a-kind handmade products that no one else has. From vintage necklaces to 1950’s side tables, Etsy supplies an alternative to the digging through those bins at the flea market and antique stores to online hunting. It has opened doors for crafters to sell their work to the mainstream and creating an identity for their brand.

I am constantly searching their site for the newest ideas and items available. Allow me to do the hard work for you and show you the goods.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT:

Heather Knight // Element Clay Studio

“About Heather Knight:
I find my inspiration in all aspects of nature. My goal is to make work that reflects my touch and recalls the complexity and beauty found in the natural world.

I live and work in a beautiful studio in downtown asheville, come visit!”

Her items can be found at Etsy!

Francine Turk

admin — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 17:37:06 +0000

Francine Turk:

Known for her iconic charcoal figure drawings, Francine Turk’s work is simply stunning and emotionally grabbing. She is currently represented by “The Chicago Art Source” located off N. Clybourn. I have yet to see her work in real life, but her images online are definitely worth taking more than one look at. Join The Chicago Art Source in celebrating “Body Language,” an exhibit featuring Turk’s beautiful works of art September 18th from 6-9pm.

Her work was even displayed on the set of “The Break-up,” starring Vince Vaughn and Jennifer Anniston. Here are a few of the images from the set of the movie:

BIOGRAPHY

Francine Turk considers her work a kind of emotional self-portraiture, an expression of and about freedom. While Francine’s works capture the body’s form with seeming ease effortlessness, they are essentially soulful – revealing and so provoking in the viewer an unmistakable feeling. It is no accident that many of Francine’s nudes are named not for their subjects’ physical postures, but for the passions by which they are animated.

Francine’s work has a timeless quality that allows it to feel equally organic in modern and traditional settings. Francine’s many influences include historical illustrations, photography, architecture and design and nature. These may help to explain why Francine’s pieces, while filled with life, are nonetheless hard to date with any precision. Francine recalls once having seen a photograph of a turn-of-the-century Parisian salon with a gallery of artwork covering its walls. “I realized I didn’t want my work to feel limited to today. I wanted my pieces to appear as though they might have been collected over time.”

Francine is inspired by spaces and considers original artwork to “breathe life into an environment” in a way nothing else can. Francine’s appreciation for historical detail inspires her use of antique frames, which she restores and hand paints, to complement, or indeed complete, her artwork. “Framing changes a piece dramatically; the two work together to form a whole. I never want someone to have to reframe my work.”

“I believe original artwork defines and intensifies the aesthetic integrity of a space. It breathes soul into a room in a way nothing else can”

-Francine Turk

Placemats with Versatile Aesthetic

admin — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 02:22:04 +0000

Modern-twist is a result of founder Kat Nouri’s ongoing search and passion for products with attention to that extra little something — detail. Their focus is on design that goes one step further to be tasteful and different while maintaining practicality and functionality. Modern-twist is a collaboration between Kat Nouri and an extremely talented group of independent designers (mostly from the San Francisco Bay Area) who share a passion for clean, minimalist design. The products are interesting to the touch, playful to the eye, and versatile in use. Drawing on the diverse culture of the San Francisco area, some of the designs have been inspired by traditional objects. The idea is to create products with modern means, using materials or objects in a new way, often combining industry with nature and giving the products an organic feel. Modern-Twist brings a clean, versatile aesthetic to the home. With a background in U.S. manufacturing, Nouri strives to manufacture Modern-twist products responsibly. U.S. and overseas manufacturers that produce Modern-twist products share our values in respecting the environment, workers and consumers. Modern-twist donates one percent of profits to OnePercentForThePlanet.org.

I actually own four of their placemats and couldn’t be happier with them. They are actually made from silicone and the patterns are hand screen-printed. They are even heat resistant enough to set pots from the stove directly on their surface. They can be found at Art Effect right off the Armitage brown line stop or you can find the closest retailer near you on their website. Their products range from coasters, napkin holders, decorative glass rings and many other products. Here are a few of my picks:

modern-twist placemat

color yourself placemat

Patterned Placemat

Decorative Wine Ring

If you feel like something a little more CUSTOM, that is available as well. Here are a few examples:

Customize

modern-twist.com

Visit their website and order your own today!

modern-twist.com

Pagoda Red

admin — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 19:33:10 +0000

As you walk past “Pagoda Red” along Damen Ave, you can’t seem to resist its exclusive antique charm. The entrance begins with an outdoor zen garden area full of boulders and Chinese sculptures. Nestled on the 2nd and 3rd floors are their showrooms, which transport you to a far off dynasty. ”Pagoda Red” specializes in antique Chinese furniture and decorative arts for the home. The store was opened by Betsy Nathan, who was born and raised in Chicago, and spent three years studying Mandarin language in Beijing. The store is known for its unique sourcing of contemporary art and unusual finds from China.

Here are my favorite picks:

Green Lacquered Roundback Chair.

Piereced Origin. Contemporary stone that can be lit from the bottom.

Heavy Plank Top Bench.

"Chinese Cartouche" Kite by MIchael Thompson

VISIT:

1714 N. Damen Ave.
Chicago, IL. 60647
773.235.1188
Monday-Saturday 10-6
Sunday 12-5
info@pagodared.com

http://www.pagodared.com

Asha Spa & Salon

admin — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 01:55:31 +0000

Are you new to the City and are clueless which Salon won’t let you down? I cam across the Asha Spa & Salon while remodeling one of their locations. Their interior is an exceptional example of Chicago design and architecture. As soon as you sit down in their custom salon chairs, you will feel like a million bucks. Have a look for yourself. Here are a few snapshots I gathered while working on a redesign:

Custom Salon Chair

There are a variety of locations for Asha Spa; these pictures come from the Asha located in Lombard, IL in the Shops at Butterfield. Asha is owned and run by The Bortz Group, also the creator of a number of other experimental venues from restaurants to night clubs. Check out their website to for yourself what their luxurious Spa Menu has to offer.

http://www.ashasalonspa.com/

Colleen Soissen: Heroine Chic

admin — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 00:27:00 +0000

If you are in desperate need of a Rockstar-worthy piece of jewelry, Heroine Chic is the perfect jewelry to make a statement.

I had the opportunity to interview Colleen Soissen, creator of “Heroine Chic” to get the scoop.

INTERVIEW:

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself: name, location, affiliations, background education, etc?

So Heroine Chic is really a collaboration of designers. I (Colleen Soisson) started the company back in 2005. At that time I was working with a group of designers, each of us specializing in a certain accessory. We made handbags, belts, jewelry, hats, t-shirts and we sold them out of this gallery space we had at the time in Wicker Park, which was called Street Closet (wood/milwaukee). It was a pretty cool concept. But in order to venture into the wholesale industry, we gave up the space and trimmed down the line. Belts were our best seller for a while and we were able to gain accounts all over the map selling the the belts wholesale to niche markets and boutique spots. In late 2007 I went through a huge transition, split with the old designers and brought in some new blood, namely the new jewelry designer, Yung Bagley. She is ridiculously creative, and she brings a whole new energy to the brand. Jon Scordato is another artist that we’ve brought in specifically in designing the belt line. He’s an amazing illustrator and you can see his talents in our “Natural Selection” belt collection. Personally, my background is in Fashion Design and I received my BFA from Columbia College.

2. Describe your creative process; what inspires you?

In terms of the jewelry, Yung is the designer so here are her words: Eastern roots meets Western residence. Simplicity imbued with complexity. The designs, often organic and inspired from the earth, combine metal, semi-precious gems and gravity, which creates pieces that move with and drip from the body.

3. What does it take to run a jewelry business?

Heroine Chic is an accessory line. I think what it takes is having consistency and longevity. These days everyone and their mother wants to design jewelry, so there’s a lot of saturation in the market. I mean to be honest with you, the last thing the world really needs is another freakin fashion label, you know what I mean? But I think if you have consistency and you keep showing up, customers start to recognize you and that means a lot in this business. Word of mouth is priceless. And not giving up. If you have a bad month or a lousy year sales wise, you’ve got to figure out how to keep going.

4.Describe a typical day for you.
Everyday is an adventure. Mostly trying to figure out how to fit everything that needs to get done into the hours of the day. A lot of my work is done on the computer, so I can work form anywhere, and I do. I’ve begun to transition myself from being a “designer” to being the head of a company. So, I’m not in my studio half as much as I used to be. Yung is the main artist nowadays. She holds down the production end for the most part.

5. How do you promote your jewelry/belts?

Word of mouth really. We haven’t exactly establish a marketing plan. We just kinda go with the flow. The boutiques we sell in always give us a lot of love. Over at the Silver Room in Wicker Park, the owner Eric Williams is always pushing our brand. So it’s cool. We throw parties and special events here and there to keep people in tune with what’s new from HC.

6. If you could sell your jewelry in any store, which one would you choose and why?

Probably Barneys, just because it’s a chain, yet it’s still exclusive and carries dope designers.

7. What designers do you look up to in the Chicago area?

Maria Pinto, jus because she’s doin her thing and she gets a lot of publicity. She was able to bounce back after being off the scene for awhile, she’s smart and has the right people around her.

8. What advice would you give to fellow designers?

Don’t be a copy cat.

9. Tell us an interesting fact about Heroine Chic.
Heroine Chic has been featured on Daily Candy, appeared in Men’s Vogue, Chicago Magazine, Time Out Chicago, Lucky, Image Chicago, and various other publications. Celebrities such as Rihanna, Jennifer Hudson, Michelle Obama, Lisa Ling, Kelly Hu, Lee Ann Kim, Wood Harris, Common, and many more own HC pieces.

10. In ten years, you would like to be________?

An Empire.

THE END.

Here are some of my favorites from the Heroine Chic website, which you can visit at http://www.heroine-chic.com/

Also, I have been told that the best place to shop for Heroine Chic jewelry is at The Silver Room nestled in Wicker Park.

Beth Cummings: diffractionfiber

admin — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 01:04:37 +0000

I recently had the opportunity to interview Beth Cummings, the designer behind “diffractionfiberiber”. She was nice enough to send me a few pictures from her studio where she is able to create her one-of-a-kind pillows. These eco-friendly pillows are not only stylish put provide humor to any design landscape. Beth describes herself as a “craft-o-holic,” and one look at her esty website confirms her crafty ways. Her crafting began when she was just 5 years old when she decided to make a pillow as a present for her Great Grandfather.

Lets get to know Beth a little bit better……..

INTERVIEW:

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself: name, location, affiliations, background education, etc?

My name is Beth Cummings, I create in my little studio in Roscoe Village in Chicago. My education in sewing and creating happened in a more traditional way, passed down from my mother and grandmother. They were always sewing and creating, mostly as gifts or for practical use around their own homes.

2. How did diffraction fiber begin?

Honestly, my sewing machine was getting dusty. I had expended all the “practical” uses for decorating my home, I had made stuffed animals for my niece and nephews. And yet there was that itch to sew. My first pillow in the DiffractionFiber line was the Topography in Blue pillow. I grew up on the water with old oceanic maps and always loved how dreamy and peaceful they seemed. It only seemed natural to begin there.

3. Describe your creative process; what inspires you?

As I’m sure you can tell from the line, most of my inspiration comes from the most ordinary of places. From food, from maps, from patterns, from nostalgic images. My husband says I give him conversational whiplash because we’ll be discussing something and out of no where I’ll say “what about pillows with eyeglass silhouettes!?” I have never sat down to brainstorm. I’m just not good at that. Instead I keep my sketchbook strapped to me at all times so when some wacky idea strikes I can write it down, sketch it out. Then when I’m back in my studio I’ll start sewing from my sketches.

4. Is there more than one designer at diffraction fiber? What does it take to run your business?

Nope! Just little ol’ me. And frankly that’s all I can see for the near future anyway. I love seeing my designs through from inspiration to reality. I have always been a recluse in the making, I adore sitting for hours in my studio with just music playing and sewing away. Its these times of silence that I tend to plan and work out ideas in my head.

5. Describe a typical day at diffraction fiber.

The great thing about being your own boss is that I can do things in any order I so choose. Generally though, I wake up sans alarm (I can never sleep late anyway), I’ll check my email, look for orders or questions and respond to those. I’ll make something for breakfast and read up on some blogs. I spend a little time each day promoting and the rest sewing, creating new products and listing them online. Then at the very end of the day I pack up orders and schedule a pick up with USPS. It’s a fantastic little system, I can run out to the farmer’s market if I choose or bake bread or whatever. It all gets done, just not in any particular order.

6. How do you promote diffraction fiber?

I LOVE blogs. Blogs have been my greatest source of publicity. I’ve tried some print ads and some paid blog ads, but really people want to hear from people they know and trust. I love blog readers!

7. If you could sell diffraction fiber in any store, which one would you choose and why?

Oh man, that’s hard. Chicago has so many great little boutiques. Those are the places I love. My stuff is just so quirky and niche, that I love boutiques for it.

8. What designers do you look up to in the Chicago area?

I have a huge crush on Nomadic Ant. She makes the most incredible jewelry and on top of that she is just a terrific person.

9. What advice would you give to fellow designers?

Do what you love. Have high standards and always exceed them. Know the value of your work and your time and believe in it!

10. Tell us an interesting fact about diffraction fiber.

Most of my pillows are made from 100% recycled plastic bottles! How cool is that?!

11. In ten years, you would like to be________? (fill in the blank)

in more boutiques! Doing more shows. A mom!

THE END.

If you would like to purchase your very own piece of diffractionfiber, visit Beth’s site at

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6789514

Design Star*

admin — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 19:02:46 +0000

I was very excited to see that Candice Olsen of “Divine Design” had joined the cast of judges on “Design Star” including Vern Yip and Genevieve Gorder.

Designers compete for the ultimate prize: their very own show on HGTV. Here are a few pictures from their challenges so far:

J’adore Anthropologie

admin — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 05:01:31 +0000

Who wouldn’t love Anthropologie? And I’m not talking about the clothes. Even before you walk into the store, shoppers have fallen in love with their ingenious window displays. It’s like they can’t get it wrong. Most of their displays incorporate all kinds of paper, cardboard, books, balloons and any kind of everyday object. Their visual merchandisers are able to look beyond the window box and create spectacles for gazing sidewalk shoppers. Their designs have never let me down. You begin to wonder how they manage to keep dazzling us.

Even other retail stores are beginning to get in on the act. Most notably, J.Crew, from what I can see. Many store fronts are beginning to use exaggeration as a foundation for intriguing displays. By this, I mean taking an ordinary object and multiplying it in number and arranging it in an aesthetically pleasing manner. Interior designers do it everyday and are constantly searching for inspiration to continue to be ahead of the trends.

Next time you are shopping take the time to study the window displays, you might be able to use it in your own home.

Here are a few of my favorite picks:

Absolutely adorable-Paris Hilton inspired or Sex in the City west side worthy?

This royal blue velvet couch could not make a more appropriate cloud in the sky.

A very cool exaggeration of cut paper birds-very whimsical.

More beautiful paper sculpted into a mountain naturally amusing and unique shapes. The different colors and folding add interest and shape. Loving the flowers on top.

Here are some of j.crew’s similar designs:

What do you think?