HAND-i-crafts

Was looking at my usual blogs this weekend and came across Renilde Depeuter. I love a good cross-stitch and embroidery. I've recently been doing a lot more embroidery also so its really nice to see some modern embroidery.

You have been and are an inspiration...

Today marks the 8 year anniversary of Margaret Kilgallen's passing. There is not a piece of art that I make that isn't inspired by her work.   I often wonder what her art would be like now if she were still alive and I bet she would've pushed it to the limit.   I hope that she continues to inspire generations to come...

"assemblage minus the glue"

I often struggle with the art world in New York, after having gone to school in L.A. and having started with New Image Gallery.  The "high" art world here, in New York, is so different. I really respect and appreciate it.  I have been lucky enough to work among people who have introduced me to artists' works that I've absolutely fallen in love with.  Karen Kilimnik is one of them.   

Her work is amazing.  Her paintings are really great but what I really love are her drawings.  I can't find the particular drawings that I've seen in person on line, but here are a couple of examples.  I've met Karen on a couple of occasions and she is one of the most sweetest people I've ever met.  If she ever has a show up around you, I definitely suggest going.

Some quotes from articles about Karen.  

 "As Kilimnik states: 'Being so inspired by fairy tales, mysteries, books, TV shows, and ballets, et cetera, I like to make up characters myself as if I’m a playwright.' Her mode of appropriation thus involves possession as much as fantasy." -Whitney Biennial

Starting in the late 1980s, scatter art was a proving ground where early 1980s appropriation art was given a new life by infusions from early ’70s Process Art. Its basic strategy of accumulations of separate images and objects — a kind of assemblage or collage, minus the glue — has had a pervasive influence on the art of the last 15 years. -NY Times

Fake cardboard trees, my fake cardboard love

A sneak peek at a project in progress. I love making cardboard trees.

This house was made from an "instructional" by Studio Violet.

More to come!

This is SO you!

that's what my friends will say, I can hear it already.

This line by Tucker of flowy, camisoles, dresses, tunics=I WANT, I LOVE, I MUST HAVE.
I love the prints!


via bliss

If I were bi-coastal...

...or if I could be at 2 places at one time, these are the 2 places I'd be this Saturday night.

In NY, I'm in the +2 Show at Sloan Fine Art that I mentioned a while back. The opening is this Saturday, June 20th. 4-6pm. Its an early, summer party!

My piece for the show...


And in LA, there's this:
"This Must Be The Place" curated by Faesthetic.
Opening June 20th, 7-10pm
Scion Installation L.A.
3521 Helms Ave. (at National)
Culver City, CA 90232
Gallery Phone: 310-815-8840
Hours: Wed-Sat 11:00AM-6:00PM

Glue Kit, Maxwell Loren Holyoke-Hirsch, Damien Correll, Joel Speasmaker, Matt Curry, Skull Phone, Dan Funderburg, and Jemma Hostetler.

Scion Presents: 'THIS MUST BE THE PLACE' Preview from Scion ART on Vimeo.

the high life on the High Line

I don't venture out to the West Village very often, I'm not sure why but I've always been an east sider no matter where I've lived. But on Saturday, I dropped by to see Samantha's show at Charles Nolan Store. Everything looked great! Here are a couple of my favorite pieces...



Also, while we were out there we checked the new High Line Park and the new Standard Hotel. Both were pretty amazing. I'd definitely spend a couple of hours (even on the West Side) reading a book on the High Line.

Photos of the High Line before the revamping.
photos by Joel Sternfeld


photos via the High Line blog

The Standard looks like some of the architecture I saw while I was in Berlin. We snuck in to the hotel and rode up the elevator to check out the rest of the hotel. The best part of the hotel is the video installation by Marco Brambilla. Really surreal and trippy, I just wanted to stay in the elevator all day long. Here's the video, but I suggest going to the hotel and sneaking on the elevator. Its a different experience while moving.

All in all, you should go by and have a look.

PennySMASH!

Lisa is a huge collector of pressed pennies and I forgot all about them til she told me about her collection. So when I ran across the amazing typographer/designer Marian Bantjes recent project with Motherbrand's Souvenirs Shop, we immediately day dreamed our plan to go up to Toronto.

Here is Marian's design for the pressed penny.
I'd like Burton Kramer's design...
Here are some photos of the room.
photos via Studio Gabe's flickr

Please, come fill my home...

I've been looking for photos of the Alexander Girard/Urban Outfitters Collaboration and leave it to Scout to find it for me!

Supposedly it will largely feature bedding and some wall hangings.
I would like every one of them please...





photos via Scout

"I be Jammin"

Canning and Jamming is all the rage and with strawberries in season, I've ventured into making my first strawberry jam.

Saturday, my favorite day-Farmer's Market day, I got 3 pints of fresh, juicy strawberries and started my food adventure.




My favorite part about jamming is hearing the pings when its canned! It feels like "success!"

The results, delicious strawberry jam to last me for months!
This is why I love my neighborhood, as I was jamming, a little drumline started to practice on the street. I love drumlines!!

F%#K CANCER!

A bunch of really great artists are participating in a silent art auction. If you are in the L.A. area, I hope you participate for a really great cause.

The Poketo studio will hold a silent art auction titled, “F%#k Cancer! We Love Justin” to raise funds for the medical treatment of artist Justin Van Hoy. Over forty important Los Angeles artists will be donating their work, with more artists added to the roster daily. All proceeds will go directly to support Justin Van Hoy’s recovery. Those unfamiliar with Justin might not be as distant from him as perceived. As the art director for SWINDLE Magazine, and contributor of works for artists and brands such as OBEY, Roger Gastman, Cobra Snake, and more, Justin’s distinct and captivating work has been feeding our creative hunger for years. All are welcome to the event to acknowledge Justin and those who have been affected by cancer.

Friday, June 5th
7 - 10 PM

Poketo Studio
510 S. Hewitt St. #506 (5th floor) Los Angeles, CA 90013

Auction will be from 7 - 9 PM, winning bidders receive art by10 PM. Cash or check only. No credit cards will be accepted.

Contributing artists include: Shepard Fairey, Saelee Oh, Jeana Sohn, Travis Millard, Mel Kadel, Marco Zamora, Ye Rin Mok, Studio Number One, Sumi Ink Club, Chris Bettig, Sarajo Frieden, Kim Buzzelli, Sheli Ben Ner, Casey Ryder, Saejean Oh, Skyrocket Studios, Ashkahn, Leah Chun, Bill McRight, Josh Hart, Derek Albeck, Ernesto Yerena, Jesselisa Moretti, Kristian Henson, Zach Gibson, Anne Keehn, Jeremy Baker, Phillip Lumbang, Matt Goldman, Florencio Zavala, Marissa Textor, Jordin Isip, Damion Silver, Josh Cochran, Caroline Hwang, Amanda Visell, David Weidman, Katsuo Design, Jared Purrington, Blake E. Marquis, Michael Coleman, Ryan Callis, Jason Filipow, Tim Biskup… ALSO, goods from Poketo, Obey Clothing, and prints from Mike Giant, Dalek, Saber, Jim Houser, and more.

Complimentary food and drink provided by Poketo and the generous folks at Spitz. Thank you!

If you’d like to donate directly to Justin now, click here.

blueberry deliciousness and garden update

When I got the new issue of Martha Stewart this month, the Cream Puffs with Lemon Mousse and Blueberry Sauce jumped out at me screaming "MAKE ME and EAT ME!"
So of course, I obliged. I made these as a housewarming gift to some friends (yes, i like to bake for my friends.) Kinda time consuming, with a lot of different components but not too difficult if you have the time. A really refreshing little treat!

Also, I've realized its been a while since I've updated you on my rooftop garden. Truth is, it wasn't doing so well for a while, not enough heat or something... But here it is! Its doing so well, I'm so proud of my little guys.

In this container, arugula, brussel sprouts and cilantro. These were all grown from seeds and did so well. I think I have to transplat my arugula to my community garden, getting a little crowded.

Here, I have roma tomatoes and brandywine tomatoes (bought from the farmer's market). The romas are rapidly flowering.

Yé Yé Girls!!!

I was recently answering questions to an interview and one of the questions asked was who was my style icon. I always have a hard time with these questions because I love the style of so many women but have a very hard time (and not enough money) to embody them. But I chose the yé yé girls, I love that simple, french style.

The Yé Yé musical movement started in France and was the only movement started by females. They say that most of the songs were sexy but in a deliberately naive way. Maybe sexiness and the french just go hand in hand...

Click here for the yé yé girls' radio station on Last.fm

Serge Gainsbourg and France Gall

Chantal Goya
and of course there is Francoise Hardy...