Wednesday, March 31, 2010

My Peeps!

It's been years since I've been on an Easter egg hunt (though notoriously a friend had a very fun beer hunt once and POP had a plastic egg hunt--discounts hidden in eggs--at the shop. We were still pulling plastic eggs from pants pockets months later.)  I won't even get into the thought of boiled eggs sitting in the warm grass for hours, dipped in dye and eaten days later. Well, we survived. And survive I did , with a  straw basket teaming with towering bunnies, overlord of the jelly beans and peeps hiding in the green plastic grass.  I dare say, my Easter basket often out ranked my Halloween bag, just in sheer quality over quantity. But beyond the childhood baskets, bonnets and frilly ankle socks, I am still drawn to Easter for it's heralding of Spring, the sheer soft smile of  its pastel palette. So no matter what you celebrate, Easter, Passover, Spring Solstice, or just a love of bunnies and chicks, I bring you a little Spring  inspiration in the form of design and arts and crafts. What's not to love and celebrate  now that Spring has finally sprung!
How to make this handstitched felt bunny here.
Grown up Easter Eggs! How to make Ukranian style eggs here at Designsponge.
I have a print by Black Apple that I love. These are just as divine! Buy them on etsy.

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Brooklyn's Finest, The work of Kenichi Hoshine

 
On this grey day I'm digging the black, white and opaque illustrations and photos of Kenichi Hoshine, Brooklyn based artist. Read more about him  here.

Awkward Family Photos

I know many if not most of you have seen the site Awkward Family Photos   before but I decided to pick a few gems to put a smile on your face on this rainy East Coast Day....
This was the winner of their 80s Hot Tub Time Machine Contest.  Now this is the Jersey Shore I remember!
Do you think her sad face is over how poorly her cake turned out, or her life?
Group hug. Get your mind out of the gutter

Friday, March 12, 2010

Free Music Friday SXSW via NPR

Download a free 11-song sampler of the artists featured by NPR Music and public radio stations at this March's South by Southwest music festival in Austin, Texas Right Here. Music from Sharon Jones, Spoon, Broken Bells and more. Full Playlist after the jump.

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

If You Love Something....

Inspired by my sister Anjeli, who recently mentioned in passing she wanted a birdcage, (initial reaction, ew), I looked into birdcages as decor. I must say they sure make pretty table arrangements from weddings to backyard bbq's. I especially love the industrial look of the birdcage as light fixture above or strung in trees as lanterns. And they are pretty much available all over the internets! Just type in "Bird Cage" decoration, etc, lots of options. Need ideas of what to do with them? Here you go!

March Madness 15% OFF Online Only!

This week only, enter the code: March Madness at checkout and get 15% Off EVERYTHING on the site. So much to choose from, so little time...

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

My Favorite Drunkard (AND FREE MUSIC!!)

You've probably already gathered from previous posts that I'm a big fan of satellite radio. To my mind, it's really the only way to listen to music for over 8 hours a day without succumbing to hatred of your old favorites from over exposure.  Thankfully, I have a few (internet) DJs that keep me tuned into the latest in indie music, among my favs is  Aquarium Drunkard  an LA based show by Justin Gage, every Friday on Sirius/XM channel 43 (XMU).  Last week's first hour of the two hour show was the Mondo Boys — a NY/LA sound collage collaborative “CONTINUOUS MONUMENT”an awesome remix of some great tracks by Atlas Sound, Midlake, Fleet Foxes, Air and more. Complete list after the jump. Download the free mix here.

Ahoy Fashion Plate!

Loving the revival of the classic blue stripe as a trend this season. Punch it up a little with varying shades of blue. Twist the traditional by sporting a boyfriend style oversize button down.  Coco Chanel meet Williamsburg Hipster, the result is modern, classy, trendy and uber stylish.  Below are urban lasses sporting the look from Lookbook.nu. Plus to help you out a little, we've got some great pieces in stock at POP (15% off this week online!)
And at POP...

Below The Belt

I'm a huuuuuge fan of etsy. I can spend hours scouring jewelry, ceramics, bags and art looking for new independent designers for the shop. I've purchased unique goods ranging from bags from Australia to salt and pepper shakers from my own backyard in Brooklyn.  But, admittedly, the site can be a bit daunting. There are so many vendors, so many things to distract you for hours. where you end up feeling like you wandered out of a labyrinth of trees without a thing to show for it. How to sort through it? I find the etsy blog to be super helpful and interesting; often taking me in a direction that I never thought of like wandering down a trail without GPS and happening upon a field of flowers, well, not in the Wizard of Oz kind of way, but you get the drift!  Here's a great little bit today about, you guessed it, items below the belt....well actually including belts! There are belts and buckles and  skirts and shoes....  From one blog to another, I dig it.