Current Craving - A Marimekko Slip Cover for my Ikea Chair

A recent trip UHURU concluded with a Tullsta chair for my living room. Like how I say that as if you automatically know what I'm talking about? As if you also have the entire IKEA catalog memorized? While I quickly covered it in a sparkling new $30 white slip cover from IKEA, what I really want is this Marimekko Fandango pattern slipcover from Bemz for a mere $195.

Please Santa, if I'm really good this year, can you bring me one of these??

Sycamore Street Press SALE

Sycamore Street Press is having a sale!! 35% off their current stock of fun prints, cards, and gift tags, just enter GOODBYECOLUMBUS at checkout. I discovered Sycamore Street Press at the 2008 Craft Fair when I purchased mini print to/from gift tags. They burst of color, block lettering and multi-colored string gave even the most simple of packages a special little flare.

Here are my pics from their current offering. Need I remind you that I have a birthday coming up?

A Kari Jorgensen limited edition print for only $25.00. So cute in this little frame.

A Letterpress Alphabet Poster, in tulip and water. Perfect for a baby's room or calm bedroom corner. Only $30 before the sale price.

Finally, the perfect thank you card! I just might frame it and never send it! $4.00

Check out these clever printers and let me know your favorite!

Most Creative Use for Grandmas Rosary - Bloodmilk

If vampires made jewelery, they would call it Bloodmilk and sell it under an umbrella at the Philly craft fair. The ladies behind the counter would wear dark lipstick and rosaries embedded with human teeth. The displays would hold vintage gloves, old stained black and white photos, a lace handkerchief, and an ominous black mask with a long nose, circa 1930 Carnival. If you bought a pair of shark teeth earrings, you might be inspired to wear fishnet stockings, move to northern liberties, hang out in the piazza during a full moon, and generally feel like a real bad ass.

I'll pray for you.

Top Five Prints at the Art Star Craft Bazaar

This last Saturday and Sunday, Philadelphia hosted the annual Art Star Craft Bazaar. People who sew, people who paint, people who make art out of old teeth, all descended upon Penn’s Landing for an explosive display of artistry. This was nothing like the craft fairs my Mom took me to as a kid - no macrame in sight! Just booth upon booth upon booth of pretty little things. There were so many precious finds; I decided to break them up over the next few days.

Today I am featuring my favorite prints from the day.


No. 5 - "Octopi" by Octopie Paperie

Octopie Paperie displayed this grey and soft yellow octopus with bright pink accents. Sadly, I didn't make a purchase. Because now I can't find them anywhere on the internet. Not even ETSY. Anyone out there that can help?


No. 4 - "Underwater Circus" Silkscreen by Jamie Zollars



Jamie Zollars' images nearly always feature a young female heroine facing an emotional dilemma. Indeed, most of her work could be perceived as dark. But this colorful and light piece mirrors our fair mermaids vanity. It's just pretty, colorful and makes me smile.


No. 3 - "Pork is a nice sweet meat" by Spread The Love

Okay, I can't resist bacon. This sweet image and pastel color palette will blend in well in my increasingly feminine bedroom. The delectable square card is a perfect fit for my Ribba IKEA frame. And there is not much that fits in that frame. I personally feel that every gallery should feature a "Ribba Friendly" postcard section.


No. 2 - Octopus by Popidiot

Hands down, best wearable art at the fair! These creative creatures, robots, skeletons, hula girls and monkeys adorn a variety of fitted tees in mens, womens and childrens sizes. The vintage design aesthetic gives them a warm cozy nostalgic buzz, while bringing a totally fresh dollop of hip and now. I snatched up two for my little disabled honey and I'm guessing he'll want more once he wears them out in Rittenhouse and gets a few jealous glances from the boys without cool GF's that buy wearable art. Boys and their robots.


No. 1 - "WAVEJUMPER" by Tugboat Printshop

Coolest prints ever! I wish I could buy the entire "Deep Blue Sea" series. Tugboat Printshop hand carves their design into wood blocks and uses them to create their crisp and vibrant prints. This one is by Paul Roden and Valerie Lueth.

This last photo features shows the carved wood block, and the print.

Tugboat Printshop gets my vote for the most beautiful prints of the day. And who got yours??

Jen Corace Exhibit at the Art Star

One of my favorite places in Philly, Art Star, has a stunning exhibit going on right now that features artist Jen Corace. I love her use of color and pattern – and of course I like the delicate femininity of each piece. Here are a few of my favorites.

The show only runs through April 12th, so get out and see it soon!

LiLash Spider Lashes

One of my favorite parts of travelling is walking into boutiques and discovering new designers, or coming upon a new product. And that is exactly what happened yesterday in my stroll through Japan Town, San Francisco. While Debbie waxed my brows and tried to talk me into warming them up with a little gloss, I couldn’t help but notice her long spider leg like eyelashes.

“You have the most beautiful long eyelashes.” I told her, trying not to sound like I was picking her up. And then another woman walked out from behind a curtain with the same long, we are talking 1.5 inch long, thick lashes.

“Are you two related? I’ve never seen such long lashes in my life.”

They giggled and told me they both had been using LiLash, an eyelash stimulator, for the last four months. LiLash was developed out of glaucoma eyedrops that had a side effect of stimulating eyelash growth. Scientists were able to isolate the chemicals causing hair growth and bottle it up in a little liquid eye liner length bottle. You brush it on the lid of your eye and after a few months you have these spider leg lashes that actually require trimming! Trimming!! Can you imagine??

The only catch is that a bottle of the eyelash miracle work costs $140. Why so much? I’m guessing when the patent wears off, cheaper knock-offs will emerge and every cosmetic company will be adding the ingredients to their lengthening mascaras.

So here is the Econ breakdown. Supply for eyelash stimulator is currently low and the demand high. An elastic demand means they can charge whatever they want! But when the price goes down and cheap knock-offs flood the market, everyone can buy it and everyone can have long eyelashes and suddenly it will be more special to have them natural. So perhaps I should stay ahead of the curve and keep my $140.