peace out

airstream party found on pinterest, by way of little blue deer

"Art offers the possibility of love with strangers"

This quote, by art curator Walter Hopps, has been bouncing around in my head all week. I consider all forms of personal expression to be art. Art to me is a beautifully curated +/or written blog, a savory home cooked meal, a simple line on paper, a great outfit, a physical space that's been appointed in a way that fills me with a rush of happiness, excitement or calm. As long as I respond to it, I know I've made a connection, for a moment, with its creator. I'm pretty sure that this is the point of creativity.

Heavy thoughts on a Friday, indeed.

Around here we're getting ready for our beach to explode as tens of thousands of people descend upon our little town for the big 6-man volleyball tournament and International Surf Festival. It's always, sure mayhem at the beach but also a celebration of beach living. Personally, I'd like to be sitting quietly in a tricked-out Air Stream, having a glass of wine with some good friends. But no matter how you choose to end the week, I hope it's a celebration of sorts.

yes.

on location.

on color palette.

on napping.

From Canadian House and Home, via The Bubb Report

sneak peek- on Target

I'm not sure what makes me happier that Target just stepped it up to a whole other level or that an endeavor such as Poketo has collaborated with the super retail giant, allowing so many talented indie artists a vehicle to expose their genius to the masses.

Coming in August, to select stores, the Poketo for Target Line.

Pricing is anywhere between $9.99 - $29.99.

Poketo’s “art for your everyday” philosophy originated in the notion that art should be accessible. This led to the creation of their signature Limited-Edition Artist Wallets, which merged functionality with the work of contemporary art’s most formidable talents. The brand has since expanded with more art products, and with collaborations worldwide. Poketo for Target now brings creative energy to an even wider audience, in hopes that art can be accessible to all!

Check back on August 10th, I'll be showing images of the collection.

some of the artists included will be: Betsy Walton / Camilla Engman / Catalina Estrada / Cole Gerst / Melissa Contreras...and more.

what's happening

Remember that High-End Designer Tag Sale that I went to last year in Venice? With only a few hundred dollars in hand, I scored huge. Mostly via Krista Ewert, from whom I bought the bounty of my booty.

This Saturday, July 31st marks the third year of the event and it keeps getting bigger and better. New location in Brentwood, from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Bring cash and there's a $10.00 entry fee.

"The Designer Tag Sale is an upscale interior designer yard/tag sale hosted by Fyndes and Little Castle Productions that will feature over thirty of Los Angeles' top interior designers and stores/vendors selling items including small furniture such as side-tables, lamps, rugs, pillows, art, accessories and more at incredibly low prices—from $5-$200 only!"


For more info, please check out their website: Designer Tag Sale.

in and around

note:: the floors are still dark brown. The fear of dirty looking floors has put this one to rest for now. Also, check out that, orange bag from French Basketeer.

This is the fore mentioned, bus roll that I picked up at the Redondo Beach Antiques Fair on Saturday. While, I'm sort of tired of seeing vintage bus rolls hanging in every, urban hip soho loft interior shot for the past several years, I still can't get past the intial appeal they had for me. I love a good bit of graphic, typography on vintage signage.

poor quality shot. unrealized, until now.

This one spoke to me especially because it's not the, ubiquitous, 8 foot long size and because it's banged up and faded - or "ghosty" as the dealer referred to its patina. A little research and I found that these are the stops along the main road of a town in West Yorkshire England with one of the stops being a cricket and rugby field. I like knowing this is where it originated.

Dewayne, the dealer, told me that he had one that announced, 'Mystery Drive' which referred to a practice held on Sundays where the rider would climb aboard, leaving the destination- leisurely drive into the bucolic country side- to the driver.

...................................................................................................................

Nick's Walk With Sally event was an enormous success { thank you for all of your encouraging messages and well wishes } The bit of rain we had didn't dampen a single spirit and we all turned out in our finest whites and wilted hair {or in my case, enlarged hair}. Generous amounts of money were raised for this incredible cause and everyone had a blast, ending the evening with dancing at 12 + highland with a feeding frenzy of garlic fries at 2 a.m.

Photo Booth Love graciously donated their services to this year's Walk With Sally event and it was a huge success. We so appreciate Jeremy + Danni { Oh, Hello Friend } for helping make the event so great with the added pics. Who doesn't love a photobooth?

"One non-blonde"

::Pamela Johnson::

Fine artist, Pamela Johnson creates larger than life, oil painted images of gluttonous amounts of processed foods and their packaging,

reflecting back to us our culture's need for instant gratification



while ignoring the consequences of our indulgences .


Johnson's work can be seen at the Adler Gallery in SF and here.

mixed music monday

I did nothing like laying prone on the beach this weekend. My entire family was gone all weekend and so I ran around doing things that I like to do, mostly including buying vintage crap and changing wall colors. I bought a, $30.00 vintage dresser {which I'm going to be ripping-off the idea from betsy burnham and painting, Union Jack }Went to the paint store, chose paint color for one bedroom {guy's coming today to paint}, on the way back from the paint store, stopped into an Antique Fair and found a cool, beat up, ghosty bus roll {score} which I like because it's not like the ubiquitous 8footers but still has that great graphic signage quality.

I've got to get to work on this dresser, enjoy some music if you'd like:

1. Grizzly Bear- Two Weeks
2. Florence and the Machine- Dog Days Are Over
   
3. Neon Indian - Dead Beat Summer
4. The Drums- Let's Go Surfing
5. Maria and the Diamonds- I am not a robot
   

summer of color

In May, my little 8th street guard station received a perky make-over via the public art project, Summer of Color.

The project works with children who are disabled mentally and physically creating these large, brightly colored wraps for every station from Zuma to San Pedro.

Custom board short makers short-o-matic have teamed up with Summer of Color and are selling shorts that match the stations. A donation of $10.00 for every pair sold will benefit Portraits of Hope.

And for the next two weeks, if you mention BEACHBUNGALOW8 as you check out you'll receive a 15% discount.

peace out

If you're hot, stay cool. If you live here, at the beach, pray for sun. I gots lots to do this weekends and most of that includes lying in the prone position on the beach.

but more importantly here are the randomly selected winner, winners of the, 'Cassis de Cassis' candle give away {generously provided by West Third Brand} ::

Lee Nicholson

Allison Mills

Cynthia Cowles

Thanks for all of the great comments. I have some great giveaways coming up - so stay tuned.

the pygmalion effect

Susan Peterson fell in love with this sofa:

ok, it was more about the length and the general quality of the craftsmanship. But deep within, she saw that it could be more. After taking 9, 2 hour classes, she transformed this old gal into this stunning, chic number:

un believable.

here's the cost breakdown:

$30 - Couch

$90 - Fabric (microfiber,17 yards bought on an extremely LUCKY truck sale)

$320 - Class ($160/per person)

$120 - Other Materials (staples, foam, jute, legs + muslin)

$560 - Total

and here's a time lapsed video of the project:

and for all of you in West Lafeyette, Indiana, this weekend is the Upholstery Fair! oh ya. 2 days of learning how to upholster from a few of the best in the business.

disco balls pinatas @ confetti system, decoration designers

I want to spend my days in a studio that sits atop the only veterinary dermatology office in NYC

{ imagine }

I want to walk into a light filled space, and quietly get to work cutting and pasting silvery pieces of crepe paper and humming quietly to myself while creating disco ball pinatas and pastel garland.

Designers Julie Ho and Nick Andersen have created such a career with their design shop, Confetti System. Inspired by dime store finds and pinatas made in Asia,

<>

the two collaborated their love of textiles, bright colors and found plastic trinkets to create beautifully made art that doubles as party decoration.

fringed party hat for Urban.

the above, was made as a party favor for pop magazine in honor of teen style blogger Tavi, to be worn in the hair of the gals and as a bow tie for the guys.

hi. dream job.

West Third Brand Candles ~ in the HOUSE! Give Away Time

I love a good give away. And this week I've got THREE, yes, TRES, count 'em TROIS West Third Brand Candles to give away to a lucky winner.

Without apology, I'm a candle snob. I'm a tough customer and I've been a huge fan of this line ever since I bought my first from Audrey {@ Urbanic in Venice Beach} The cool glass votive container alone, with the etched Peacock feather, was worth a second look, but inhaling the lovely, heady scent had me sold.

They burn beautifully with a fragrance that is a complex layering of aromatic essences that at times can be detected individually and at others, as a harmonic compilation {I take my smells seriously} This one is 'Cassis de Cassis' , which combines rich black currant, top notes of bergamot, licorice and black pepper finished with the freshness of Norwegian pine and the sweetness of myrrh.

"West Third believes Quality defines luxury. Hand poured with a proprietary natural coconut wax blend, the finest lead-free wicks and crafted with the finest perfume and natural oils available."

taking the Cassis de Cassis for a test drive at the bungalow.

Personally { i.e. WTB, does not endorse this use of their product } I love to pour a bit of the warm oil on to the back of my hand once I've blown out the candle. The fragrance smells wonderful and it leaves your skin super soft.

OK! on with the give away. Just leave me a comment. And please, make sure your email is linked to your comment. That's it!

small print:: Give away ends, Thursday, July 22nd, 2010, 11:00 pm PST and will be announced on Friday, July 23rd, 2010. I will make every effort to carefully package and ship your winning candle. However, if for some reason, it gets damaged during shipping, please don't be an entitled jerk about it. It's a give away. Don't get greedy. I'll do my best. Love you!!! xoxo. Viel Glück.

a summer in maine

My friend posted this on her fb page today:

which reminded me that I had just run across some ridiculously gorgeous and thoughtful photos over here (by jonathan levitt)

making me miss my friend, the east coast and $14.00 lobster rolls.

which reminded me how much i've always loved the words and the illustrations of this....

mixed music monday

I sort of had a dream weekend {in my book} a full day at the beach on Saturday -sunburns included {not so, 'dream' } an early to bed Saturday, and early to rise Sunday with a trip to the Long Beach Flea {scored a vintage necklace and some vintage flatware }. I'm simple like that.


Here's a little mixed tape to take you into the week. I realize music, like any art, is subjective. Hope you like it, always welcome to your suggestions.

1. The Concretes - Good Evening
2. Au Revoir Simone- Shadows
   
3. Local Natives- Wide Eyes
4. Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros- Home
5. Beach House- Norway

   By the way, check back in tomorrow I have a great give-away this week. And all you have to do is, comment! So simple.
   

   
   

#survivalofthehippest

The tendency for me, when referring to my blog friends, is to call them by their blog names.

This is all well and fine until you attempt to explain, with whom you had lunch or were speaking on the phone, and your husband {non blog reader } looks at you like maybe he missed the part when you went off to summer camp and made "besties" with a slew of people calling themselves by acronyms and titles.

enter, a great idea with a twist of wry ....

Ashley Albert { @pluckypea } twitterer, artist, actress and musician, is the brainchild behind the jewelry line "Survival of the Hippest". Albert, has created a great jewelery line of customized, id necklaces and bracelets using your very own, social media moniker.

survival of the hippest

Helping to make social media, evolutionary, one vanity plate at a time.

saturday afternoon at the movies

Jean-Michel Basquiat meets the beastie boys, in, The Radiant Child. Centered on a rare interview that director and friend Tamra Davis shot with Basquiat over twenty years ago, the film follows the artists rise to rock star status until his early death at the age of 27.

peace out

by beckergoalie via::sfgirlbybay

it's just charlotte perriand, wearing pearls, on a mountain

no big.

happy bastille week.

it's just a hotel in capri

the JK place. designed by architect michele bonan
shh. no talking. just drink it in.

if you need more info go *here*