Storque articles: Reviews

News From the Craft + Style Blogosphere: November 5, 2009

2009-11-05T16:00:00-05:00

“This is not a novel to be tossed aside lightly. It should be thrown with great force.” — Dorothy Parker

This week's edition of News From the Craft + Style Blogosphere has cozy homes, experimental embroidery, skulls composed of yarn and Red Vines, and a fashionable Etsy seller you should know about.

Read on!

Intricate embroidery always captures my fancy, and these embroidered antique photos by Maurizio Anzeri make for a compelling visual interpretation. The old is new again. [Via Today and Tomorrow]

I instantly fell in love with Nadinoo's spring line when I first saw it: the feather prints, bright tights and styling made it all too irresistible. When I discovered her corresponding Etsy shop...that's when I started to hyperventilate. [Via Greedy Girl]

The light and airy homes highlighted in Tim Clinch's portfolio have that neutral-minimal-primitive mix that is always so enticing. [Via Desire to Inspire]

Skulls, gorgeous skulls! The skull artist, Jim, makes these sculptures from a wide variety of materials. I am fascinated by the many cultural and tribal references evident in his works, as well as the licorice looking skulls. [Via Beautiful Decay]

Wanna give me some more artsy, style or design blogs to peruse? Leave them in the comments! And check out past installments of News From the Craft + Style Blogosphere!

Blogs We Love: CoolMomPicks

2009-10-30T10:00:00-05:00

We got CoolMomPicks in the twin-maker at Etsy Labs! A visit from these bloggers was a special treat, considering that they come from near and far. Liz Gumbinner is in our neighborhood here in Brooklyn, while Kristen Chase lives in Atlanta, GA. The two met online while posting to their individual parenting blogs. After a certain synergy (and a name change from the former CoolMomSh*t blog), CoolMomPicks was born — one of our favorite blogs featuring reviews of gear for children and moms. Liz and Kristen are staying true to their roots: passion for supporting indie businesses and bringing excellent design to a wider audience.

Liz and Kristen's moms were both crafty and that has informed these bloggers' roots in craftsmanship, unique designs and independent entrepreneurship. When the CPSIA controversy hit, CoolMomPicks put up a special page of resources, which was key in informing many of their readers about the issue. Liz and Kristen both spoke to us about the importance for crafters and artists to take pride in their work — from the safety of children's items to clear, beautiful item photography.

We here at Etsy admire their strong opinions and their dedication to high quality. This must be why their readers trust them — in addition to their good taste. For me personally, it's always fun to meet internet friends face-to-face for the first time — especially when they have interesting jewelry! Liz and Kristen really do put the "cool" in CoolMomPicks.

After simultaneously barraging these two bloggers with questions while giving them a tour of our office, we talked over lunch about the handmade movement and blogging. Here's a bit more from our chat and a follow-up interview we did with Kristen and Liz:

Can you give bloggers a tip as to how you built your audience?
It really started virally — we were already in the parent blogging community, so we reached out to friends and colleagues to tell them about this blog we started, and it just sort of took off from there. We don't do any advertising. But we do have relationships with like-minded websites and publications (like The Storque!) and love linking to those we think are doing great things. It's good karma, it often comes back to us, and there's more than enough bandwidth to go around for all of us.

And while we realize what we do won't appeal to every single person out there, we do really work hard to find items for a broad range of people, from the frugalistas to the celeb-obsessed designer diaper bag whores (heh). We also try and pay attention to the needs of more diverse families, single moms, or adoptive parents. But in the end, we just feature the things we love ourselves, and we think that being picky has created the kind of trust that keeps our readers coming back. It's something we value greatly and take very seriously.

What other blogs do you enjoy?
Kristen: For as much as I complain about not being a crafter, I'm obsessed with crafty design blogs like Makeandtakes.com and Designmom.com. They inspire me to do more than the noodle necklaces with my kids.

Liz: For some reason I'm a sucker for guys' gear blogs like Uncrate, and especially DaddyTypes.com which is the first blog I ever read. He drops all these fabulously arcane references to mid-century modern paint colors or whatever and makes me feel stupid. I love it.

What first showed you that you had a growing audience? A surprising spike in traffic from one of your posts, a link or praise from a better-known blog?
Fairly early on, a wonderful artist we featured named Michelle Caplan, a.k.a. mcaplan.etsy.com, told us that right after her review went up, Real Simple called. Then another shop told us that a producer from The View called after seeing the feature on her. We were like, "Wow — so now we know it's not just bloggers reading us." Soon after, Real Simple featured us as one of their favorite three parenting blogs, which definitely gave us a lot of legitimacy. (Thanks, Real Simple!)

Any new initiatives on the horizon? TV deals?
We have a ton of exciting initiatives on the horizon — you'll just have to wait and see. [Cue evil laugh.]

How many people are working for you now?
The site really wouldn't be possible without the help of our invaluable staff. We've got an amazing associate editor, Christina Refford, our head of ad sales and all around CMP VIP Julie Marsh, plus seven phenomenal contributors, a great designer, and some tech folks who all make us look good every day. But our dream is to have a person solely dedicated to giving us all foot massages all day. That's when we'll know we've really made it.

What have you learned about your readers? Do you notice any traffic patterns? Times of day or days of the week or seasons for moms online?
We definitely see big spikes around gift-giving holidays like Mothers Day, Fathers Day and Christmas. Also back-to-school shopping time is huge. Flag Day, not so much. At the beginning of this year we launched our first Ultimate Baby Shower Gift Guide (which included a lot of Etsians), and it was hugely successful so I'm sure we'll be doing it again. People have babies all year long, it seems. Go figure.

We spoke a bit about good product photography and well-made items. Kristen remarked how beautiful, well-designed packaging is part of the experience of buying handmade or vintage. It adds to the allure and specialness of unique items.

Any other tips for sellers who want to submit their items?
We love when Etsians submit items for editorial consideration on our site, because our heart is always with handmade and small businesses. Here's a few things that help (besides the great photographs, which can literally make or break your pitch):

1. Make sure you read our blog and get a sense of what we do and don't feature. We try to make it pretty clear.
2. Tell us your story in a few brief sentences. We love to know how you came to make and sell your items.
3. Send us a few links to your items — skip the 300 jpg attachments.
4. We can't help it but we love emails with personality. No need to be formal and write "Dear Ms. Chase and Ms. Gumbinner..." We're not captains of industry. Just bloggers.

Thanks, Liz and Kristen!

News From the Craft + Style Blogosphere: October 29, 2009

2009-10-29T14:00:00-05:00

"But you see in dealing with me, the relatives didn't know that they were dealing with a staunch character and I tell you if there's anything worse than dealing with a staunch woman... S-T-A-U-N-C-H. There's nothing worse, I'm telling you. They don't weaken, no matter what." — Edith "Little Edie" Beale

This week's edition of News From the Craft + Style Blogosphere has spacey dyed clothing, illuminating evidence on what folks hold dear, photobooth kookiness and drool-worthy interiors.

Read on!

Mociun is, hands down, one of my favorite up-and-coming designers: the dye techniques, the Navajo prints, the spacey prints and flattering silhouettes are very of the moment. I love the vibe of their fall line, as well as the images by Kara Healey. [Via Slow Progress]

You can tell so much about a person by what they deem important enough to carry. Francois Robert's photographs speak to this notion, showing how much (or little) individuals need to exist. I love the inclusion of the hands. [Via SeeSaw Daily Inspiration]

UK photographer Lucinda Symons has an eye for interiors. These photos make my urge to decorate short circuit. [Via Desire to Inspire]

The photobooth portrait is an indomitable medium that opened up photography to the masses. Within the confines of little more than a curtain enclosed closet, you can be anything your heart desires: the vamp, the weirdo, the mysterious one. View more quirky, sincere and memorable portraits at Square America.

Wanna give me some more artsy, style or design blogs to peruse? Leave them in the comments! And check out past installments of News From the Craft + Style Blogosphere!

News From the Craft + Style Blogosphere: October 22, 2009

2009-10-22T17:48:00-05:00

"I can see beauty where others see ugliness. That either makes me an artist, or a person of very poor taste." — Anonymous

This week's edition of News From the Craft + Style Blogosphere has an invisible man, mirrors to provoke the mind and challenge the eye, modern interpretations of Renaissance fashion, and youth revisited.

Read on!

When you really stop and think about it, mirrors are like magic. They reflect their surroundings, and looking into them provides an alternate reality. These installations are seemingly simple, but visually stunning. [Via The Look See]

The bristling ice queen is the original femme fatale. I adore this fashion editorial from Dazed and Confused magazine. The creative reinventions of what a duchess might have worn circa Henry VIII's reign carry me away to heights of "Could I actually wear that?" (while slick puffer coats and stacked platforms are inspired additions to the period costuming). I'm also a sucker for poor Yorick. [Via Haute Macabre]

Photo blog My Parents Were Awesome shows off the many inspiring, stylish and amazing young people of yore...before they had children. Wild, young and without a care in the world, it's hard to believe these folks might ever settle down. [Via Rackk and Ruin]

Miu Miu's latest line brings to mind many different reactions: a. CATS! b. naked people! c. I adore this. The collars, the silhouettes, the warm and nubby fabrics: it all completes the picture. [Via Style Rookie]

Look closely. Do you see what I see? Chinese artist Liu Bolin is an invisible man, literally painting himself to blend in to his background. It's a rare sight to see unaltered photographs such as this these days. See the whole set here. [Via Automatism]

Wanna give me some more artsy, style or design blogs to peruse? Leave them in the comments! And check out past installments of News From the Craft + Style Blogosphere!

News From the Craft + Style Blogosphere: October 15, 2009

2009-10-15T16:40:00-05:00

“It was a wrong number that started it, the telephone ringing three times in the dead of night, and the voice on the other end asking for someone he was not.” — Paul Auster

This week's edition of News From the Craft + Style Blogosphere has Nancy Drew style drama, primitive school house chic, bumps on a log (beautiful bumps, mind you), and a labyrinth of mythical proportions.

Read on!

This Catskills farmhouse makes me want to pack my belongings and head upstate. The anatomical models, Scandinavian ceramics, vibrant wall colors and primitive touches are oddly reminiscent of an old school house. Also, a bed in a nook is always a good idea. [From the New York Times, via Lola Bits and Pieces]

Nature is such a continual source of inspiration (especially in macro). I never knew I had a thing for slime molds until today. These gorgeous fungi remind me of something from the bottom of the sea, but instead they grow on trees and forest floors. [Via English Russia]

I've always been into Nancy Drew mysteries and pulp fiction artwork; this Harper Bazaar editorial sates my urge for thrills and masked ghosts around every corner. The artwork is so spot-on '60s! All this needs are some creeping girls with flashlights and Scooby Doo. [Via Haute Macabre]

The aerial views of these elaborate labyrinths brings to mind a mystical journey, hair metal David Bowie and leaving a lipstick trail to retrace my steps. According to Design Related, these labyrinths draw from the Medieval city plan for Toulouse. "Isabelle de Beaufort and Bernard Ramus created a maze in Cordes-sur-Ciel, France where the abandoned house at the center of the maze represents the lair of the legendary dragon that lurks beneath the streets of Toulouse." What an inspiration... [Via Automatism]

Wanna give me some more artsy, style or design blogs to peruse? Leave them in the comments! And check out past installments of News From the Craft + Style Blogosphere!

News From the Craft + Style Blogosphere: October 8, 2009

2009-10-08T16:00:00-05:00

"Age is something that doesn't matter, unless you are a cheese." — Luis Buñuel

This week's edition of News From the Craft + Style Blogosphere has an exciting new online magazine that could fill the gaping hole left by Domino's demise, new heights and shapes in footwear, simple and modern styled interiors (with a Scandinavian touch), and a historic treatise that we should judge a man not by his achievements, but by his facial hair. (And this man should also be a poet. Prepare to learn about pogonology!)

Read on!

I was quite despondent after the fall of Domino. There are other magazines, sure, but Domino left a big hole in the eclectic, thoroughly modern (yet achievable) design mag field. However, there's a new front-runner for my reading love, and it's Lonny Magazine. There are lots of familiar faces in the inaugural issue (Eddie Ross, Grace Bonney, etc.), beautiful photography and fonts, cool how-to's and covetable objects. It's also completely online, so you're able to indulge in that addictive "virtual page turning" effect. Check it out!

Sometimes shoes cross over to an avant-garde place where feet cease to exist as extensions of the human body. Alexander McQueen's Spring 2010 collection makes morphing into an alien, snake-skinned creature with clog hooves seem like a very appealing prospect. Bring on the sequins! [Via Le Fashion]

Dutch styling duo FriedaMaria have scratched my monochromatic itch with these blue and white toned interiors (and the gum drops on a stump: you're killin' me over here!). The delicate patterns, muted tones, and effortlessly simple vibe give off a lived-in feeling that I'd love to experience first-hand. [Via emmas designblogg]

Okay, this is just genius. In 1913 a man by the name of Upton Uxbridge Underwood circulated a now highly-coveted leaflet that judged men not by their achievements, but by their facial hair. Thus was the birth of Poets Ranked by Beard Weight, the "centerpiece of Underwood's estimable, if fetish-fueled treatise on pogonology, or the study of whiskers and associated lore." Underwood puts forth the premise that "the texture, contours, and growth patterns of a man's beard indicate personality traits, aptitudes, and strengths and weaknesses of character." As you can see, each poet is ranked accordingly. (I love the beard types! Van Winkle? Hibernator?!) For more details, check out A Journey Around My Skull.

Wanna give me some more artsy, style or design blogs to peruse? Leave them in the comments! And check out past installments of News From the Craft + Style Blogosphere!

News From the Craft + Style Blogosphere: October 1, 2009

2009-10-01T15:45:00-05:00

"Boredom is like a pitiless zooming in on the epidermis of time. Every instant is dilated and magnified like the pores of the face." — Charlotte Whitton

This week's edition of News From the Craft + Style Blogosphere has fly looks from the Tim Burton canon, Navajo rugs to blow your mind (did you know they could get better?), a soft and modern monochromatic pad and cold weather clothing inspiration (must get a hat, stat).

Join me, won't you?

My fascination with Navajo rugs has reached a fever pitch in recent weeks, and apparently Andy Beach of Reference Library has been feeling the same vibe. The brilliant rugs above are examples of Navajo pictorial weaving. (I love the bison and eagle!) [Via design*sponge]

Um, YES! This fashion homage to Tim Burton's costume oeuvre brings back fond memories of my Edward Scissorhands costume of yesteryear. I think I might go as Lydia this year...or maybe just a general Burton-inspired costume. This is fashion at its most inspired (for me, at least!). [Via Musie]

Oh, to live in a beautifully modern, monochromatic manse such as this! This Melbourne dream house is currently for sale, but I'm sure it won't be for long — not with an interior like this to sell it. I really love the nubby textural interplay between the t-shirt rugs (ahem, you can get your own on Etsy!) and the neutral color scheme and simple designs. (And who can resist an antique wrought iron bed?) [Via Desire to Inspire]

Fall officially got serious in New York this week. These Garance Doré shots are all the impetus I need to a. get a big hat, b. get some ankle boots, c. throw everything in my closet on the floor for a thorough survey, d. commence weeping. Garance, you pain me! (The second photo especially. I want that look now!)

Wanna give me some more artsy, style or design blogs to peruse? Leave them in the comments! And check out past installments of News From the Craft + Style Blogosphere!

News From the Craft + Style Blogosphere: September 24, 2009

2009-09-24T16:19:00-05:00

"Don't threaten me with love, baby. Let's just go walking in the rain." — Billie Holiday

This week's edition of News From the Craft + Style Blogosphere has luminous tableau vivants (ooh!), glitter and ruching, the wonders of undersea photography and sculptural jewelry.

Here goes!

I gasped when I first saw these collages. All of these pieces came from an "albumen photomontage with watercolor embellishment" composed by the socialite Constance West (or her sister Amy — there's a debate!) in 1867. Photos of Constance's social circle (oftentimes disembodied) are superimposed on luminous watercolor landscapes, dark drawing rooms and in states of genteel repose. This journal serves as an artistic documentation of West's aristocratic lifestyle and her courtly social circle (as bluebloods like the Earl of Scarborough and the Queen of Naples are identified in script). Take in more of these gorgeous tableau vivants at the George Eastman House archive. [Via Nothing is New and (what is this?)]

The latest Burberry Prorsum collection is totally mouthwatering. The ruching! The platforms! The nude palette and glittering accent pieces are my idea of fashion perfection. I would gladly rock this wardrobe. [Via Hollister Hovey]

Underwater photographer Elena Kalis documents the many varied undersea residents of the Caribbean. These expressive creatures make for ideal portraiture (I'm not even sure what the first thing is, but I love its face!). As someone who once dreamed of being a marine biologist, this sates my aquatic thirst. [Via mtraub]

These intricate sculptures are actually rings and bracelets (!). Anthony Roussel's many-faceted designs are composed of carefully layered panels of wood and cork. [Via Design Milk]

Wanna give me some more artsy, style or design blogs to peruse? Leave them in the comments! And check out past installments of News From the Craft + Style Blogosphere!

News From the Craft + Style Blogosphere: September 17, 2009

2009-09-17T15:20:00-05:00

"Let us leave this place where the smoke blows black
And the dark street winds and bends.
Past the pits where the asphalt flowers grow
We shall walk with a walk that is measured and slow,
And watch where the chalk-white arrows go
To the place where the sidewalk ends." — Shel Silverstein

This week's edition of News From the Craft + Style Blogosphere has astral ladies, pink species, natural history inspired artwork and New York Fashion Week faves.

Read on!

As a sci-fi fan, a Bowie lover and a fashion-obsessed lady, I'm quite pleased to see this spread inspired by The Man Who Fell to Earth. Photographer Tim Walker shot this extraterrestrial spread for Vogue UK’s October 2009 issue. (Is it odd that I see Lady Gaga all over this? Her influence is everywhere!) [Via Haute Macabre]

I always thought there weren't any pink species, but these insects have proven me wrong. Can you imagine seeing a pink grasshopper just hoppin' by? Identify these colorful bugs at Yahoo Green. [Via Je Voudrais Que]

So, it's New York Fashion Week (in case you haven't heard). There is a seemingly endless parade of spring lines being walked across runways all over the city, and it's a tad bit overwhelming. However, I had to share some of my favorite collections. First up: cult favorite Rodarte brings my inner pagan goddess cause to rise and conquer. The layers and materials translate well to witch costumery (and remind me of Isabella Rosselini's character in Death Becomes Her). View the entire show here. [Via New York Magazine]

Alexander Wang's sculptural silhouettes and capes aplenty make my mouth water. His collection actually looks...wearable! View the entire show here. [Via New York Magazine]

As a Vena Cava devotee, I had to check out what these astral ladies were up to for Spring 2010, and I was not disappointed. I adore the diaphanous veils and celestial patterned fabric. (And I can never get enough fashion geometry.) Check out the entire show here.

Saint Verde Digest always scratches my aesthetic itch, but this Kiki Smith post made me stop short. Amazing.

Wanna give me some more artsy, style or design blogs to peruse? Leave them in the comments! And check out past installments of News From the Craft + Style Blogosphere!

News From the Craft + Style Blogosphere: September 10, 2009

2009-09-10T16:07:00-05:00

"Everything in this room is eatable. In fact, even I am eatable, but that is called cannibalism, my dear children, and is frowned upon in most civilizations." — Willy Wonka

This week's edition of News From the Craft + Style Blogosphere is chock full of cones, rods and pyramids, industrial knick knacks in every nook and cranny, poignant rural photography, Scandinavian design for your walls, and sinister interpretations of myth and mystery.

Ramble on!

Painter Paul Wackers' work is geometric (rods and cones!) and slightly psychedelic, with a heavy emphasis on mountains and pyramids (some of my favorite things). I'm a fan. [Via Design Milk]

Salvaging antiques and reinventing their value is a pet project of mine. (My personal motto is, "The dirtier the trash, the better the treasure.") The Selby recently profiled three entrepreneurial New Yorkers who are indulging their DIY ethos to turn old into new. The photos above show jeweler and collector Derrick R. Cruz of Black Sheep and Prodigal Sons' home and studio. I love the industrial ambiance. (If you are into this look, check out our No Place Like Here video with artist Dustin Yellin.) [Via Rackk and Ruin]

Be still my Marimekko loving heart: the iconic Finnish design phenom is now producing wallpaper. [Via Design*Sponge]

There's something so striking about the simplicity and earnestness of documentary photography in the early twentieth century. Maybe it's just because I'm from farm country, but I find Disfarmer's work to be a stark and poignant reflection of rural life. According to Liebe Marlene, Disfarmer's name is symbolic of his rejection of farm life (as he legally changed it to show that he was above the family business). Instead, he began documenting friends and neighbors as they were in his Heber Springs, Arkansas photo studio in solemn, no frills portraits.

Marnie Weber's seemingly whimsical fairy tale photography is less Prince Charming, more poison apple. The outsize proportions, sallow face paint, fantastical masks and headpieces, and maypole vibe makes for an absurdist recreation of Grimm's Fairy Tales meets mythical centaurs, with a dash of dollhouse thrown in. [Via Cyana Trend Land]

Wanna give me some more artsy, style or design blogs to peruse? Leave them in the comments! And check out past installments of News From the Craft + Style Blogosphere!