I stumbled upon these awesome custom mugs by BROOKLYNrehab and Miss Crowland and actually thought about how they would make a perfect couples Valentines Day gift. All you have to do is submit photos of you and your boyfriend/girlfriend/partner/wife/husband/lover/pet (yes, they do animals too if you want to get mugs of your furry friend)/etc. in profile and they do the rest. You’ll receive an e-mail containing digital profile portraits that you can then print, share on the Internet, etc. and be sent a set of matching mugs, like the ones above. I really like that they are a unique gift, they can bring joy on a daily basis (because coffee always makes me smile) and even though they are custom, if it doesn’t work out with you and your significant other you can always say you found the mugs at a garage sale and have no idea who is on them. I know, I’m such a romantic sometimes.
And in entirely unrelated news, as of last night, you can now see local clothing designer Jay McCarroll work his butt off (literally) on VH1’s Celebrity Fit Club 7: Boot Camp 2. I walked down the block to his place last night to join a small group of friends in enjoying some hors d’oeuvres and drinking some champagne in honor of the first episode and experienced the weird situation that is watching someone watch themselves on television. We all giggled at the camo visor he wore in the opening credits, which he defended, saying he wore it because he thought it was funny, and everyone agreed that K-Fed was the most shocking reveal when it was time for each cast member to strip down and face the scale.
Celebrity Fit Club 7: Boot Camp 2 is on Mondays at 8 p.m. on VH1 or check the listings because we all know how VH1 loves to replay episodes.
photo by Karl Seifert
FYI: the Kensington Sculpture Derby date for 2010 has been set for Saturday, May 22, noon to 5pm. Hooray! Those who have been, mark your calendars; those who don’t know what this is, they explain it better here so there’s no point in my rephrasing it; those who want to be in it this year, here’s the registration info; those who have heard of it but are all “Kensington’s faaaaaar,” really, suck it up and go, it’s free, it’s a delight and it’s probably not that faaaaaaaar.
We took some pictures last year, if you’d like to see them.
Oh, and on a related note, crafters:
I’ve always felt a special kinship with Calvin and his inappropriate snowmen:
So in honor of the snow and the first interview with Calvin and Hobbes creator Bill Watterson in over 20 years (I wish the Plain Dealer had asked some more interesting questions, like about the legal whatnot behind the widespread copyright infringement of the decals of Calvin peeing on various things, but I’d imagine that that was part of getting the interview), I give you: How to make a snow T.rex. Pics after the jump…
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Calvin Klein has always been really good when it comes to reminding us that models don’t need to actually wear clothes in order to sell clothes. This summer alone brought us Eva Mendes greased up and stripped down and the foursome on a billboard in SOHO that made moms and this city councilman (who sounds drunk) protest. Now the two windows of Klein’s NYC store give us two stories of model David Agbodji—practically ALL of model David Agbodji. Even the NY Times’ Bill Cunningham, couldn’t help but take note of them in his most recent installation of “On the Street”.
Truth is, I think a little nudity on Madison Ave. is refreshing and I imagine that there are plenty of old ladies wearing Chanel who would agree. The second window (which you can see over at The Shophound) has a kneeling mannequin positioned squarely in front of the semi-transparent scrim bearing** the naked image of Agbodji. As much as I enjoy the rearview, I think this second display is tipping the scales on the side of tacky. I’ll give a few creativity points for the arrangement but seriously CK, it’s still Madison Avenue, not the red light district. Please try to keep your nudity classy.
**definitely one of my better unintentional puns of 2010!
I really appreciate the consistant Facebook and Twitter updates I’ve seen from Arcadia Boutique in the last 24 hours. They are trying REALLY HARD to convince people that they should brave the snow to come out tonight for First Friday. As mentioned here yesterday, they are holding an artist reception for the opening of Rene Micheli’s show and The BirdQueen Trunk Show.
I’ve already gotten calls today from my hair salon and my acupuncturist at Philadelphia Community Acupuncture to reschedule the appointments I had scheduled for tomorrow and I feel like I need to follow their lead and stay inside.
And so I wish you the best my dear Arcadians because tonight I will be bundled up tightly and safely in my South Philly bungalow, I just really wish I could be bundled up in this amazing ensemble by Country Road. You can see the entire Country Road Winter 2010 Lookbook at Fashionising.com.
For getting around in apocalyptic snow, we present a variety of silly ski masks:
Bruce Lee.
A misfit.
Doesn’t this look like it was knitted by an oddly malevolent grandma?
Panda!
Rorshach.
Hannibal Lecter.
Cthulhu.
Mustachio!
Jason.
In reparation for the measly number of events we’ve been offering up as of late, its First Friday tomorrow and we’ve got a boatload of stuff for you to do.
At 4pm tomorrow, Art Star will be featuring the artwork of 7 year-old Lewis, amateur drawer and sculptor, already getting his foot in the door! Titled “Sea Monsters of Death”, the works will be for sale and benefit NLARTS, an organization offering arts programs in North Philadelphia. Not like Lewis needs them, clearly.
Pileggi Boutique is teaming up with Carmelita Couture for sales, champagne, and cupcakes starting at 5pm on Friday They’re offering 20% off all new merchandise (including brands like Jbrand, MZ Wallace handbags, and Genetic Denim), as well as a sale wall with 70% off. Bonus: The store will be contacting the boyfriends of any girls who attend and make a wishlist. If they come into the store and purchase something off the list the following week, it’s 20% off. Not that they should need an impetus…but it sure helps.
From 6-9pm, Arcadia will be hosting a joint event—a Bird Queen jewelry trunk show as well as new artwork by Rene Micheli. Both Bird Queen designer Gretchen Diehl and Rene will be on hand that night, as well as DJ JHNRDN. All clothes, including sale apparel, will be an extra 25-50% off, and all sale shoes are marked down an additional 50%.
Smak Parlour is pre-gaming the Valentine’s Day fun on Friday with a Fun with Cupid party at their Old City store. Lingerie from Honeydew, Mary Green, and Carrie Amber will be buy one get one free, and makeup from The Balm is half off. DJ The Most will be spinning, and the gals who run the store will be serving up “Love Potion Shots”, which, when asked what they were, were described as “A secret mixture, but we can tell you it will include vodka— and its sure to get you that guy!! 
” Just heightening my curiosity, is all.
On Saturday, from 5-7pm, Group M will be hosting an opening reception for their newest exhibit David Goerk: Drawings. Goerk’s work has been featured in the Philadelphia Museum of Art, as well as across the country and abroad. Below, one of his pencil and color pencil drawings.
Now through Saturday, Third Street Habit is pushing the last of their winter merchandise in a Season Finale Sale. Take an additional 25% off of brands like Rag & Bone, Dolce Vita, and Ella Moss. (And then we can finally get ready for spring!)
And if all of this winter-clearance-shopping and art-show-attending hasn’t completely exhausted you, Ju Ju Salon is hosting a relaxing Qigong session on Sunday morning at 9:30 (every first Sunday of the month, for the record.) Googling pictures and reading their online description sort of leads me to believe it is a lot like yoga, but more focused on energy levels and the medicinal benefits of working out. Sounds like an interesting alternative..
This could be you.
Hopefully this post is not all for naught via the heavy boatload of snow we are apparently receiving tonight. Everyone stay safe, keep warm, and drink lots of hot chocolate!
Robert Siegel (I'm assuming not the NPR one) Ceramics at last year's Bazaar
Hey, all you crafty-type readers, they’re now accepting vendor applications for the spring Art Star Craft Bazaar (which I enjoy much more than the fall one for the reason that I don’t have to wear a coat). It’s going to be May 15th and 16th this year at Penns Landing. If you’re considering getting a booth, it’s a $10 application fee and $250 vendor fee if you’re accepted, but you’ve got until March 23rd to submit. If you’re just a amateur crafty type like myself, then it’s freeeeeeeeee and we’ll both have to wait until May.
Courtesy of Daily Candy
With Valentine’s Day around the corner, Daily Candy has some suggestions. Their slide show, 19 Gifts for Your Valentine features some pretty cool stuff including these vintage Mexican valentines. A not so romantic gift idea? This key chain that makes toilet flush sounds.
If you’d rather make up stories about Valentine’s Day, feel free to submit your ideas to the Coach website.
If you’re looking for a gift to give yourself, Bloomingdale’s currently has a pretty awesome Clinique Bonus.
In addition to having her own series that we covered earlier this week called Kell On Earth, Kelly Cutrone also released a new book called If You Have to Cry, Go Outside: And Other Things Your Mother Never Told You. This Elle article also mentions that she used to read tarot cards in Venice Beach and Los Angeles, and still gets occasional requests from people to give glimpses into their future.
MAC Cosmetics has always had makeup for every shade, but their new campaign All Ages, All Races, All Sexes includes products that promise to look good on everyone.
Lastly, Nylon has the lowdown on Dior’s new compact featuring Egyptian Hieroglyphs.
Yarnbombing: the public art of making everything cozies.
The first one I’d seen in Philly was in Rittenhouse this month (above), and we’ve put a gallery of knit graffiti around the world below, but first, we actually managed to get in touch with the yarnbomber who made the one above and probably made any others you’ve happened upon in Center City and asked her a few questions:
Where/when did you get started doing yarnbombing?
I first heard about yarnbombing when a friend of mine tossed me a link to a picture of a tree completely covered in yarn. i thought it was so beautiful. The tree branches were even wrapped- that takes some dedication. I started about two months ago, wrapping bike racks and parking meters. I also made little chains that i was wrapping around people’s bike locks.
How long do they usually last in a public place?
Some of them have been taken down, because they get kind of grimy after the city takes it toll on them. Others have been taken down immediately, like a handrail my friend and I wrapped at the subway entrance at 15th and Market and a scarf that we wrapped around Rocky. I wrapped another tree on third street in Old City last week. I went back two days later to take a picture and it was gone. That one was kind of a heartbreak, since it was the same size the tree in Rittenhouse.
How do you attach the cozy to the tree? At night?
To keep the cozies on i actually sew them with a yarn needle. The bigger pieces I try and wait until it’s dark. I think it’s a hard thing for people to decide, “is it art, or vandalism?”
I assume you also knit things not for public art, right?
I’ve actually been knitting for about two years. At the moment I mostly make accessories under the name iSH Knits, and I have a website www.ishknits.com. I’m currently consigned at Bambi in the Piazza and plan on pursuing more gallery positions once I finish my spring collection, but i always seem to get distracted by yarn bombing.
Have you done other yarnbombs in Philly?
I’d love to have a Philly crew so we could branch out of Center City and hit the farther reaches of town. Right now it’s just my friend and I, and her piece is wrapped on the lightpost in front of Oscars (15th and Sansom). I’m planning to have a big display soon at City Hall, which may or may not last.
Hey, Oscars is right down the street from Philly Weekly! Neat! She sent us pictures of the one in front of Oscar’s as well as a couple more places in the city. I felt it was prudent not to put her or her friend’s names or emails, but if you’re interested in yarnnbombing and want to get in touch, you can leave a comment here or at her ishknits page. And now, pictures!
Here’s the one outside Oscar’s…
…And here’s one on Walnut…
…And on Chestnut. Now here’s a few not by the people we talked to:
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