Idea

I stole this photo from the Material Girls blog, which they took from Domino.  What a great, inexpensive art idea.  Just print huge numbers that go in order of the date.  Take them to Kinko's and get them bound, and each day roll back the number.  I can never remember what day it is anyway, so a huge reminder in the kitchen would be stylish and practical.  Love this idea and I'm going to do it on Monday.  

A Well Dressed Man

Andre (3000) Benjamin is always so well dressed as seen on the Sartorialist. The Sartorialist blog truly defines today's style around the world.

On another note, I saw Andre Benjamin walking at Chastain Park in Atlanta. He was dressed in a trademark preppy suit.... even when exercising! So it's not just for show.

Retro Etsy

Not only does Etsy have every handmade item I can imagine, but the vintage housewares are so well priced and perfect for my apartment. Here are some of the finds, but the choices really are endless. It's fun just to browse.

If I had more time, I'd collect all the awesome thriftstore finds from Atlanta and sell them on Etsy. But I don't have time. So I'll just buy these:

8 Vintage Blue Glasses from Moxie Thrift.

Retro Owls from The Runny Bunny.

Vintage Double Sided Gas Station Sign from Blue Belle Bazaar.

Vintage Sindhi Ralli Quilt from Pakistan or India from Rayela.

Sidenote: My love for quilts is a love for quilts as wall decor. Not beds, because I think quilts are art.... although most people think they are tacky.

These would look great all together. Vintage Bird Prints from Emily Lynch Vintage.

GoGo

I first heard of Gogo Jewelry years ago from my friends from South Georgia and people with ties to St. Simons, GA. Turns out, they were on to something, because Gogo Jewelry is going to be on display at the High Museum of Art sometime in November (more to come when I know more, I'm so excited!) I wish I had bought some of her work when it was less expensive.

The owner, Gogo Ferguson, makes her jewelry out of anything from seemingly odd material such as rattlesnake jawbones and ribs, alligator scute (apparently part of the skin) to real starfish. She casts them in 14k gold or silver to preserve the fragile item.

Rattlesnake ribs

Rattlesnake ribs

Alligator scute

Last night I was reading Garden and Gun magazine, which is a really great magazine that covers a weird, yet appropriate for the South, combination of clothes, hunting, art and alcohol. Every issue of Garden and Gun features Southern artists, which I love. In this most recent issue, I read a great article on artist John Alexander, who was born in Beaumont, TX and went to SMU (now lives in NYC and Amagansett but clearly influenced by the South). I've noticed his work before, and liked, but admittedly hadn't paid that much attention. But after reading this article, I really have a new appreciation (the article is definitely worth reading). Just as strange yet fitting the articles are in Garden and Gun, so too are John Alexander's subjects, which range from beautiful depictions of wild life to eerie, skeletal figurative paintings.


Proud
Charcoal, 25 x 19

Oil on Canvas, 2008, 76 x 84 (I actually would love this above a mantel...)

Class Reunion
Oil on Paper 2008 10 x 10"

John Alexander

The artist's studio

Works from studio

Oil on canvas, 90 x 100, 1986

(images from Garden and Gun and John Alexander Studio website)

Art Writing

I just read an awesome interview with Glenn O'Brien in an older Bergdorf Goodman catalogue/magazine. He's a writer, blogger and so on, and focuses alot of his work on art. I was so so so glad to read this, because alot of times art history and theory gets a horrible reputation because of the overly wordy and almost condescending way it is written. I try to argue this all the time in art history classes, but it gets me no where. I loved this little bit that I cut out to use in future arguments. I wish I had written it. Most of my art theory books sound exactly like his satire.

Q: You're working on Art in America now. What is the problem with art writing today? How come I can't understand the writing in art magazines?
A. The problem with art writing is that it isn't good writing. I believe in putting out a plain-language art magazine that any smart person can read, without a degree in jargon. Also, I think there aren't enough artists writing in art magazines. I'd like to see more primary material from artists, not just people reacting to art.

Q: I went to college, own a dictionary and I make art. If I can't understand it, who can? Can you?
A: You're preaching to the choir, baby. Didn't you ever read my satire on artspeak, "Progress here is no longer a subtextual gloss, but a condiment, as it were, related sidereally to a parasite morphology that has been elevated to a counter-theological syntax among its proponent..." Had enough?

Q: Do you like art?
A: It's my life. It's my wife.

Inspired by Childhood Flames

So my friend Mary Catherine and I both simultaneously fell in love with the Timex watch we saw on the amazing, fantastic, wonderful blog Childhood Flames.

This is the one I'd go for. It's only $42.18 on Amazon.com, and the men's style is better for the chunk oversized look. I just bought another men's watch and had the links taken out for only about $10.

Snake Cuff

I've decided to slightly change the ole blog and refocus my efforts to finding "the look for less." I'm still going to find the clothing and interiors I love, but just add a less expensive alternative choice to get the same look. The economy is unstable, there is no reason for a budget to hinder style, and well, I'm poor. Not to mention finding a cheaper way to get the same look is what preoccupies most of my surfing time anyway!

...My boring art history posts will not change, because art is expensive for a reason!

So today's is this snake cuff I've been eyeing.

This Sydney Evan Pave Snake Cuff is a Neiman Marcus for $3,575. I love it. I like how it is still a snake, but much more classy than the chunky bedazzled reptiles that I've been seeing lately.



And here are the cheaper, more affordable versions:

This one is from the Metropolitan Museum of Art store, its 24K gold plate for $76.50 for members and $85 for non. This one is even cooler than the Neiman's one because it is reproduced from a master mold taken directly from an original bracelet from around 300–250 B.C. and now in the Museum’s collection.

This one is from Bettina Duncan and it's $150.
This one is a little scary how real it looks, but I like it, and it's only $42. It's from Michelle Chang Jewelry.

Charlotte Rampling

Style.com just came out with Legends of the Fall, which is an homage to 6 fashion greats. Seeing the stylish English actress Charlotte Rampling made me want to look for more of her great outfits. She truly was chic but edgy and sophisticated but laid back. A new style inspiration...

Fabulous Faux Fur

I'm think I'm going to get this Red Fox Faux Fur Throw. It's such a great price and a good faux alternative to the real thing. Plus, it will look great folded at the foot of my bed.

John Derian

I read in the new Domino (Sept 2008), that John Derian is coming out with a 50-piece line for Target, available September 14. I'm always skeptical of these someone for Target lines because they always end up looking great in the ads, then I go and can't find anything... But that's always clothes. I've always loved John Derian for his decoupage work, he's the ultimate DIY hero. It also has a non-trendy collectors feel. I cannot wait to buy some AFFORDABLE John Derian.


One of the items at Target is that coaster you can barely see, with the club on it.

Katie Stassi

I feel like I blog about Katie Stassi all the time, but turns out I just talk about her a lot. I love everything she does. If I was to rank for some reason (say, if a magazine was interviewing me, HA) my top design themes/looks/items, I would just refer to works Katie Stassi has done. Alas, since I haven't had any magazine articles, I will just put them here.

They are as follows:

SASSY MONOGRAMS

ANIMAL SKINS (I know, I know...)

FRENCH TRUMEAUS

BANQUETTE DINING

CHIC POOLS

THE COMBINATION OF BLUE AND PINK

The Desk of Lola

I'm really into the design firm From the Desk of Lola , which is named for the two principals Alexandra LOew and LAuren Soloff. I read about them in one year of Domino's next big designer lists. Then I re-read about them in Oprah. Truthfully, I think some of these looks would be hard to take out of Hollywood, especially Atlanta, but they are very cool. But one practical lesson learned her though is that bold patterned wallpaper works well when done right. You might ask where one could get insanely cool, hip wallcovering. One place is StaceAge right here in Atlanta, or try online at Retro Walls for a huge selection of statement paper.