Free Music Friday

 

This Friday for your free downloading pleasure, I'm passing on the Sub Pop Sampler.  A 25-song mixtape, free for the taking (or, in this case, downloading). The sampler includes songs from bands both new (Dum Dum Girls, Beach House, Happy Birthday) and old (Nirvana, Fruit Bats, Vetiver), as well as a few tracks that will make you laugh. Love the throwback early 90s digital graphics.  Download here

Track List after the jump...

Tweet-le Lee Dee

I just discovered the work of Brooklyn artist Ann Wood (so many many talented folks in this neck of the woods!) via the blog automatism. Ann creates beautiful, romantically eerie creations in fabric and papier maché using mostly found and salvaged materials.  She also has a blog and a shop as well, though it isn't well stocked. Seems best to get on her email list! 

Heart You!

 

I'm not advocating changing the decor in your house around for one little holiday, but I have to say that the little cupid day sure inspires some lovely designs and gift ideas. Like it or not, I'm posting about it all week. Well not exclusively! But what can I say? I'm not a "fan" of the holiday but I love flowers, hearts and the color pink. Especially pink.  It makes me happy. How can it not? The color conjures cotton candy, bubble gum, blushing, little baby girls. Isn't there a reason the saying "looking at the world through rose colored glasses" means seeing everything perfect, even if foolishly? So, hate the holiday if you must, but give it up just a little bit for the beauty it inspires. Here are some sweet examples form the English design company Rockett St. George. I love the button collage which would be easy to replicate (obviously doesn't have to be a heart). Maybe you've finally found a place for all your "The dog did it" buttons. 

Stay Gold

I think I have read S.E. Hinton's The Outsiders close to twenty times. No, I'm not in the midst of some weird Peter Pan teenage syndrome; I taught middle school Reading for two years and it was a favorite among all my classes. The old cover, as I remember it, was a poor illustration of three "tough guys" Grease style; cheesy and so the opposite of how cool Pony Boy and the gang were. Enter Mikey Burton, an illustrator who's new branding campaign has created "illustrative reinterpretation of classic book covers directed toward junior-high-school students."  I'm thinking it just might be time to reread To Kill a Mockingbird. In public.

Poster series of prints available here.

via Ffffound

Typos

Beautiful hand drawn typography via Smashing Magazine.

New (som), Joanna

Joanna Newsome's new song, Good Intentions Paving Company, a little bit folksy and a lot to love, from the second released song from Joanna Newsom's upcoming triple album Have One On Me, out February 23rd on Dragcity.

Cirque de Magritte

Rus Anson, Barcelona born, San Francisco based, is a Fine Art Fashion photographer who's images evoke the fantastic in the real. They definitely evoke the painting of Magritte; he brought the surrealism to paintings as Anson does to photography; Slightly creepy, eerily beautiful, and oh so dreamy.

Anthropological Dig

POP's windows have really stepped it up this year if I do say so myself.  And I've got some inspired window ideas for Spring so stay tuned.... And yet, I'm restrained by my space and frankly the creativity.  Oh how I covet the windows behind the creative minds at Anthropologie.  As for the store, I personally won't pay full price for most things there; Sorry I just know the wholesale on waaaay too many of the items they carry (read unreal mark up!), but that doesn't mean I can't be inspired by their windows. They are beautiful, dreamy and creative (plastic water bottels turned into beautiful flowers!). Genius. I have barely enough room for my mannequins, let alone a car or giant honeycomb but I'm definitely taking notes. 

Going Gaga

I missed the Grammys (on purpose) and have no idea what Lady Gaga sings (on purpose) but that doesn't mean I can't appreciate the pure spectacle that is her ability to take risks, transform and above all perform. The test will be in her longevity, but for now,  appreciate these looks from the Grammys.... She even brought her own tea cup! All images via NY Times 

Lunch Date

I live around the corner from my shop. I have two microwaves and two small refrigerators at the shop. I have no excuse; And yet I eat out nearly every day.  Maybe if I had a super cool lunchbox to sport I might be more inclined to bring my lunch.  I owned my last lunchbox in nursery school (we used to go home for lunch in elementary school because it was right around the corner, so the boxes got stored away and likely sold at a yard sale along with my Mad magazines many years ago....). As I remember it, the lunchbox had Mork and Mindy on it. Loved it.  Maybe it's a wave of nostalgia, maybe it's the fact that it's 2010 (really? really?!) Well, I wouldn't go as far as collecting the boxes  in shelves in my kitchen or swinging it as I skipped down the street. Maybe just slip in into my my messenger bag.  I am beyond positive that reviving the memory of drinking from a Holly Hobbie thermos is something that will make me smile. Most lunch boxes on Ebay and Etsy are $9.99 or less and a little worse or the wear. But just think how many memories they hold. Not to mention PB&Js.