Modern Vintage black cracked leather 'Ully' sandals
available on Bluefly, $80.99

These look comfortable. The wide strap. The textured leather. There is something friendly yet sexy about them. They look Belgian. And by Belgian I mean Martin Margiela or Dries, or Ann Demeulemeester. I like these.

Dolce Vita brown leather 'Ginger' sandals
available on Bluefly, $108

I've had it up to here with studs. Too many studs. But these studs I like. I think they are leather. That is what I like about them. But will this trend be over too soon?

Charles David black patent 'Tinker' slingback wedges
available on Bluefly, $97.20

How about these? The straps look super comfortable. The heel is very YSL. But I am not sure if platforms are totally out. What do you think?

Hitoma portable tea ceremony [image via Cool Hunting]

Sometimes I am so glad I click when I do. Clicking on Cool Hunting this morning, I found that I have not missed checking out this potentially really cool Japan Pop-Up Shop here in NYC. Check out the below article from Cool Hunting, in its entirety. I know what I am doing at lunch today!

The Japan Brand Pop Up Shop, currently at NYC's Felissimo through 30 May 2009, is full of the latest fashion accessories, kitchen props and home décor straight from Japan, but what really caught our eye was Hitoma—an enormous portable tea room meant to easily turn any room into the perfect tea or meditation retreat.

The project's title, Hitoma, signifies a room used to promote a time and place of relaxation. Built from Kishu timber, a high-quality cedar from the city of Gobo and known for its extraordinary grain patterns and long life-span, the portable tea room is a soft, calming space reminiscent of the forest from which it came. Sliding doors covered in bamboo paper display calligraphy or a woodblock print while tatami mats cover the floor, each holding a pattern that signifies an animal or a plant, much like a family crest.

The tea room was developed by the Gobo Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and retails for $18,000.

Japan Brand Pop Up Shop
Through 30 May 2009
Felissimo Design House
10 West 56th Street (5th & 6th Avenues)
New York, NY 10019
tel. +1 212 956 4438

Antonio Gaudi (1984), directed by Hiroshi Teshigahara

We were en route to Central Park to have ourselves a picnic. After a surprise street fair on Madison Avenue which provided the picnic provisions, we continued on for iced coffees, and that's when we spotted it. Antonio Gaudi. Playing at the Paris, right next door to Bergdorf Goodman. A movie about inscrutible Catalonian architect, Antonio Gaudi? Playing at a theater that I thought was reserved strictly for stage plays. This out to be good. We sat in the balcony. In very plush light purple velvet seats. A bit about the Paris from a 2008 New York Times article.

The 586-seat theater is one of the oldest art houses in the United States. Opened by Pathé Cinema in 1948, the Paris started out showing French films (“La Symphonie Pastorale,” which ran for eight months), and it still shows French films, both revivals (“Belle de Jour”) and new ones (“Amélie”). When French films are not available, the theater shows movies that seem French, including the Foreign Films Lite oeuvre of Merchant and Ivory.

If you decide to see this film, which is almost entirely visual, I suggest reading this article first. I was excited to learn more about Gaudi. I have been searching for good books about Gaudi for years. But can't find many that are more than picture books. This movie is similar to that pursuit.

Check out this site for some information (that I would have liked to have been included in the film) about the buildings featured. Scroll down below the photos for the text.

[all images from Gothamist]

Dutch Kills in Long Island City is on the new side of things and definitely worth checking out. We checked it out the other night, in fact. The decor is great. All the design details are well thought-out, without being over the top. The menu is made of wood. I wonder if the printing is offset or laser? But anyway, the cocktails are tasty. The remote location adds to the mysterious 'hidden gem' quality of the place, and should keep down the city crowds. Or will it?


Dutch Kills
27-24 Jackson Avenue (corner of Dutch Kills Street)
Long Island City, Queens
718.383.2724

The Stanton Social. The decor is worth checking out for sure.

The Stanton Social's spacious dining room

The Stanton Social. Potentially a good place to check out on Memorial Day Weekend, when the crowds in the city will be at a minimum. The decor looks check-out-worthy. I'll let you know!



The Stanton Social
99 Stanton Street (Orchard & Ludlow)
LES
New York
212.995.0099

Birdcage Pillow from Ferm Living

How can one company make so many cool pillows? I ask you. Check out Ferm Living creations here.

Just found this on Etsy. It's vintage. And a very small size. I want to make this piece! What a great idea. So graphically pleasing!

Hurt Feelings Rap. Yes, this is a pretty great one too. "No one even mentions my casserole. [...] You could have said something nice about my profiteroles."

More Flight of the Conchords on YouTube here.

What a great image! Turk + Taylor. I love all the confusing grid lines of the pipes, scaffolding, monkey bars?, roller coaster? What is going on in this image? I love it.

An exhibition postcard from San Francisco design store and gallery, Rare Device

Did you know that Rare Device moved to San Francisco and started doing gallery shows? Where have I been? By the way, this invitation is also pretty fontastic.

Flight of the Conchords (one of my faves! I can't wait until the second season comes out on DVD so I can rent it and watch it in one day again, because I am too cheap to buy cable, and definitely too cheap to pay the extra $2.25 to rent it for the second day) doing their thing. The song: Hiphopopotamus vs. Rhymenoceros.

More Flight of the Conchords on YouTube here.

And for you looking pleasure, for that matter. Pretty cool video.

Spring Trends: 15 Key Pieces, 7 Fabulous Looks
[pageprint from BussBuss]
click image to enlarge

Spring Trends: 15 Key Pieces, 7 Fabulous Looks
[pageprint from BussBuss]
click image to enlarge


Spring Trends: 15 Key Pieces, 7 Fabulous Looks
[pageprint from BussBuss]
click image to enlarge


Spring Trends: 15 Key Pieces, 7 Fabulous Looks
[pageprint from BussBuss]
click image to enlarge

I randomly clicked on BussBuss today to see what was new, and I found my own design featured. How cool!!! BussBuss is featuring my Bamboo Cowl Top in a piece called Spring Trends: 15 Key Spring Pieces, 7 Fabulous Looks. According to BussBuss, you can wear the Bamboo Cowl while Running Errands, spending A Day at the Museum, and having Cocktails with Mr. Right. Yes, I agree. The Bamboo Cowl Top would work for all those outings.

BussBuss editor and style expert Kelly Lee shares the top trends for spring and shows us how to mix and match 15 key pieces for 7 fabulous looks that will take you from the office to cocktails and beyond. Best of all, all pieces can be bought online in a click - no traipsing through the stores required.

Spring's Top Fashion Trends:
1. Ruffles, Tiers and Pleats
2. Arty Floral and Graphic Prints
3. Canary Yellow
4. Metallics and Shine
5. Non-Leather, Oversized Bags
6. Pastels, Nudes and Blush Hues
7. Grey Matter
8. Luxe Trench Coats
9. Hot Pink
10. Statement Necklaces

If you like the top, you can shop the Bamboo Cowl here. This item is in stock and ready to ship. Tell your friends!

Do I ever tire of taking these shots of palm trees?

No, I don't.

This tree looks like a Van Gogh painting.

I want this.

Look at this array!


What?? Do you believe how big this aloe plant is?

This barely-there blue-green brush was under this tree:


So beautiful. So sculptural.

Yes, I think that is always my favorite part of going to sunny Southern California. The plants! The trees! In the East, you can only find these things in pots, not growing in the ground. I am continually amazed. Here are some of my favorites. Some good textures too.

Lost.* And found.** On the sunny sunny suburban sidewalks of Southern California.


*by Abby.
**by me. But I left it there, hoping Abby would come back to find it.

Three Potato Four is all about collections. Products and belongings that tell a story.

Browsing Fashion is Spinach, which is always a great browse, I found Three Potato Four. What a nicely designed Website! Check it out. Ooh, their blog is really nice too.