sixty thousand.

monsieur qui

Fashion illustration is one of my most favorite art forms. 

Check out delicious work by Monsieur Qui. 

art for shoe's sake

I can't imagine a more delightful combination then shoes and art, because of course... shoes can be little works of art. I find the Christian Louboutin FW 09/10 ad campaign particularly elegant, with shoes posed as everyday objects in 18th century style still life paintings. Shot by photographer Peter Lippman, each photo is worth a second of admiration. It may be my own perspective, but as still as each photo is in theory, there is a sense of disarray caused by the presence of each perfectly placed shoe. 

On a side note, both the links for Louboutin and Lippman are worth checking out. Loubouin's website is quirky and random... while Lippman's still life photography beyond this campaign is also stunning. 

lauren kovin

I don't have much to say about designer Lauren Kovin, because I am not sure there are words to express what I felt when I first discovered her designs. I don't want to talk about them, I'd rather just look. They are breathtaking. Something about their flowing, ephemeral, water-like quality appeals so deeply to me... I could look at them all day. 

Pictures via www.laurenkovin.com

hidden messages

Life has gotten in the way of blogging. However, as life often does... things have slowed down and I have time again to share. 

The innocence and positivity in Japanese artist, Yosuke Ueno's art (pictured above) is undeniable, and even more intriguing is that Yosuke wants to lead us deeper into his imaginative world. On his website, there is a tab titled "keys"which unlocks the hidden meaning behind his many symbols: scissors, butterflies, tri-colored hair etc. 

Though the keys offer his intended meanings behind the use of symbols, what resonates most with me is that I feel happy when looking at his art. That message is simple. Someone buy me one. 

nostalgia

If you are old enough to remember this book as a child, then you are undoubtedly excited for the release of this movie in October 09.

Incredible. I can't wait. 

stunning.

I can't tell you the exact path that led me to this visually-pleasing find, but it started with a casual online browse for a non-conventional wedding dress for my upcoming wedding... Somehow, and to my delight, I stumbled across Portland based-designer Kate Towers. If I had an unlimited budget, I would have Kate Towers design my dress in a heartbeat. Alas, the search goes on...

Check out her website for her collections. Her work is beautiful. 

stressed out.

So I have a presentation due tomorrow morning in one of my classes and I feel a little stressed. Anxious might be a better word. Its been a lot of work, and I get kind of nervous about oral presentations, I guess fear of forgetting my point in the middle of a sentence or something. I wonder if there is a term for that, _____phobia. Luckily, it's a group project so I have some counterparts to share the stress. 

Back to the point, while I sat working on the final touches to the presentation materials, I found a song running through my head... the hook, "I really know how it feels to be stressed out, stressed out..." from Tribe Called Quest's song, Stressed Out. I don't think I have heard that song in years, but it is forever burned in my memory because I absolutely loved Tribe Called Quest with my whole heart in the 90's. Still do in fact, but sadly they are no longer a crew. So I had to find the video and put the song up, because it is still amazing and I am inspired to dig out all my old Tribe cd's and throw them on rotation in my car. Q-Tip has a new album out, but as good as he is on his own, nothing will ever match Tribe Called Quest. It's kind of like solo Wyclef Jean after The Fugees, he had his moments.

They staying power of music that moved you is incredible. If it moved you then, it will move you now... and if you are lucky, even more intensely. 

rain.

It's definitely spring in Minnesota. The weather is relentless and summer seems like a figment of my imagination. I keep telling myself that the rain is just a precursor to all the green and life that is to come.... "a pay-off later type of deal," as my yoga teacher put it the other day. However, out of long stretches of melancholy weather should come some sort of inspiration, and that for me, is in umbrellas. (Had to did deep for that one).

By the time I get around to purchasing my cute new umbrella it will probably stop raining. Perhaps I should still do it just for that outcome. The red umbrella on the top left is adorable, but more so for someone other than me... if that's you, find it at modcloth.com. The two umbrellas in the middle are clear, which I LOVE because when I was a little girl I had a clear umbrella, so I feel nostalgic and happy when I look at those, which is a good way to feel when it is raining. I think the clear umbrella would be my top pick, chic and girly. The clear umbrella on the top row was found on this site, which really doesn't lend the opportunity to purchase as you can see for yourself. So I may have to settle for the clear umbrella pictured on the bottom row, which is from umbrellas.net, yes a whole site dedicated to umbrellas... you'd be surprised how many there are. It is priced at a nice $39, which is a bit much for an umbrella ("in this economy"). Still contemplating if umbrellas are investment-worthy purchases like purses and jeans.

I know you are eyeing the amazing little umbrella on the top right. You can find this eggshell parasol here. I have no idea how much it costs, it's priced in yen and made in Japan. But if I saw one in a boutique here in Mpls, I would have a hard time passing it up. I love it. I had to include the purple umbrella on the bottom right because anyone who knows me would wonder why I didn't want a purple umbrella, so there it is, my purple pick, which is available with many other stylish umbrellas at Tray6.

Oh, Rihanna is included in my picture collage because apparently the success of her hit song Umbrella, inspired Rihanna's very own line of umbrellas, which is just plain silly. Maybe just as silly as a whole post on umbrellas.

 

va$htie

I love this video, it's a spec video, but you'd never know it, despite a small budget and limited resources, it's pretty seamless. The concept is great and the visuals are really creative. It's a spec video by producer Va$htie Kola for a song of Kanye's mixtape... you can read more in an interview with Va$htie on worshipworthy.com, here. I've recently become a fan of Lupe Fiasco, since spending some time listening to his album, The Cool. The collaborative group of Kanye, Lupe, Pharrell is known as C.R.S. or Child Rebel Soldiers, and I am anxious to hear their album, which is supposed to be out in late 2009. I'm not a fan of Kanye West, mainly because his self-centered attitude turns me off, but I can't deny that he's talented. Speaking of talented, I think Miss Va$htie Kola is also one to keep an eye out for. 

kissing the ceiling.

Photographs from Canadian photographer, Fred Muram's series: Kissing the Ceiling. 

What is compelling to me, is the intimate and normal presentation of something so awkward. 

Photos courtesy fredmuram.com, see more.