Storque articles: REVIEWS

News From the Craft + Style Blogosphere: May 15, 2008

Thu, 15 May 2008 20:02:00 -0000

It's almost Friday, and there's a lot of blog out there to report! Sculptural crochet, recreated children's drawings, fashion and mystery await!

Tally ho!

This post from SuperNaturale has a great illustrated primer on the different techniques of sculptural crochet (displayed on a really cool curio shelf). [Via Craft Zine]

South Korean photographer Yeondoo Jung recreates children's drawings into imaginative photos. Amazing! [Via Drawn]

I'm not sure what's going on over at Антуфьев, but it's confusing (and pretty!) enough to be curious. Russians — help a sister out with a translation! I'm dying to know the commentary for all the incredible visuals. [Via About Today]

Ranna from Only Shallow always has the best fashion, as exhibited above. The Finnish do up their fashion blogs right! So inspiring.

That's all for this week! For more blogging fun, check out past editions of News From the Craft + Style Blogosphere. Also, I really need some new blogs! Leave your favorites in the comments!

Earth Tones Recommended Blog: Haute Nature

Wed, 14 May 2008 20:00:00 -0000

If you're looking for a dose of style with your eco friendly content, have we got a blog for you! Haute Nature is a blog centered around "ecologically based creative ideas, art & green products for your children, home and lifestyle........an eco guide blending high style with sustainability."

Haute Nature has tons of useful eco links, features on d.i.y. projects and lifestyle topics, artwork and forward thinking design. (Like this repurposed quarter chair!)

We initially found HauteNature when searching for our friends Luke Fischbeck and Sarah Anderson's (of Lucky Dragons) sumi creations.

After a wee bit of web-crawling we found that HauteNature has an Etsy shop! Sadly, hautenature is sold out of her needlefelted hedgehogs. (Relist!)

In the meantime, head over to Haute Nature for tips and tricks relevant to leading a green chic lifestyle. Lots to dig through!

EGCG | Trashion | EcoEtsy | Environmentally Friendly Gift Guides | Earth Tones Series

News From the Craft + Style Blogosphere: May 8, 2008

Thu, 08 May 2008 18:46:00 -0000

After a long weekend at the beach, I'm inspired and ready to be back in the city. Natural scenery is so good for the senses, and being at the beach really just makes everything look like a foggy and whimsical Polaroid. (Which is how I'd love my life to look all the time, ideally.) With that idea in mind, here are but a few inspirational morsels that I've stumbled upon this week.

Tally ho!

Lola Goldstein's ceramic housewares are basically the cutest things on earth. It's a bear that pours tea out of its arms! Come on, now! [Via About Today]

dadaya makes amazingly innovative dolls and woolen oddities. Her fashion sense is similarly forward-thinking, and inspires me to take more chances. (And she makes those hats, too!) Go dadaya!

I am in complete adoration of Jessica Williams from Paperheart. The sheer amount and variety of work showcased is really something to marvel. I love all of it.

Nothing is New highlighted the beauty and complexity that is Ikat fabric. (A recent obsession of mine as well.) The pieces featured are from the V&A's visual archive of Ikat fabrics from 19th century Central Asia. Pretty amazing stuff! Check out the Ikat selection on Etsy for more goodies.

The work of Joey Piziali is so eyecatching and fun. Geometric shapes never get old. [Via Treasuring]

The photography of Nicholas Lorden has a certain dreamy quality about it that just makes me think of summer and being a teenager. So good. [Via Czina Likes]

That's it for this week's News From the Craft + Style Blogosphere! Check out past posts for more good stuff, and leave any design or style blogs you like in the comments! I'm always looking for more fodder for my Google Reader.

You be the Judge: Vuitton and Darfur

Tue, 06 May 2008 18:41:00 -0000

I’ll admit it: as Etsy's in-house attorney, I love reading legal disputes and thinking about what important issues each side should stress. I especially like to analyze pending copyright, trademark, and patent cases. I daydream about what points I would argue if I were the lawyer for each side and then I put on my imaginary judge’s robe and make a decision.

Well, here’s your chance again. If you were the judge, what would you decide on this real-life on-going legal battle? (Remember, this issue hasn't gone to court yet…and it will likely be decided in a Danish — not U.S. — court).

Nadia Plesner is a Danish artist. According to her website, the illustration “Simple Living” was inspired by “the media’s constant cover of completely meaningless things. My thought was: Since doing nothing but wearing designer bags and small ugly dogs is enough to get you on a [magazine] cover, maybe it is worth a try for people who actually deserve and needs attention.” One hundred percent of the profits from the Simple Living t-shirts and posters will be donated to Divest for Darfur.

In February, 2008 an attorney for Louis Vuitton Malletier (“Louis Vuitton”) sent Plesner a letter asking that she discontinue making and selling the Simple Living products. According to Louis Vuitton, the illustration infringes on the company’s intellectual property rights, in particular the Louis Vuitton Monogram Multi-Color Trademark, to which it is confusingly similar.

Plesner responded to the letter, arguing freedom of expression. She said she will continue her Simple Living campaign in order to raise money for the victims of Darfur. Louis Vuitton sued her and according to torrentfreak.com the company demands $7,500 for each day she continues to sell Simple Life products. Plesner found a lawyer to represent her free of charge.

Although this is likely a question for the Danish court, what do YOU think? Is there risk of confusion? What about the fact that Plesner is raising money for charity? Feel free to discuss Louis Vuitton and any other people or companies that may also have issue with Plesner’s illustration. In the comments below, you be the judge!

Read Sarah's previous post in the series Apples to Apples and all her Legal Info for Artists pieces.

News From the Craft + Style Blogosphere: May 1, 2008

Thu, 01 May 2008 18:56:00 -0000

It's May Day! Gather round ye olde May pole and prepare for dizziness. However, before you adjourn to making your May baskets and leaving them on doorsteps, read on for but a few of the tidbits I came across in my style and inspiration search this week.

Good times!

Rare Bird Finds is an amazing resource for finding all the random cute stuff out on the internet. This week they highlighted this awesome tea cup set by TrixieDelicious, plus so many other great things, I can't even sum it all up! Check it out.

Spot-on fashion blog Vain and Vapid has a post on Vice Magazine's latest fashion issue. It's very astral lady, and I love it! Psychedelic mimes rule.

Dinosaurs and Robots is, hands down, just a great blog. Their mission is to "seek authentic, handy, rarefied, disgusting, illuminating, delicious, mysterious, intoxicating, commonplace, historic, intensely personal, entertaining and enlightened objects, both priceless heirlooms and exquisite trash." This week they highlighted the adorable work of Harry Whittier Frees, the o.g. of so-cute-it-hurts anthropomorphic animal photography from the early 20th century. (He positioned all those animals and waited to take the photos!) Frees, as well as Dinosaurs and Robots, is truly worth investigating.

Modish has a cool collection of mother's day gifts, many from Etsy. Take a look!

Brooklyn artist David Horvitz has totally captivated me. His work is a little bit Learning to Love You More, a little bit quirky wonderful. His "if" series highlights all the different things he will do for a certain amount of money. For instance, "if you give me $1,626 I will go to the small Okinawan island called Taketomi and send you an envelope filled with star-sand (don't worry, I've been there before, I know where to go). I will send it from there." You can also sign up for his mailing list and receive a different photo of the sky for each day of the year. Amazing!

That's all for this week! Check out past News From the Craft + Style Blogosphere posts for more links for your browsing pleasure. Let me know your fave posts in the comments! I'm always looking for my blogs to highlight!

News From the Craft + Style Blogosphere: April 24, 2008

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 16:40:00 -0000

Spring is finally here and I couldn't be more pleased. I encountered the smell of fresh cut grass (very unusual in New York) on the way to work, and it was — what's a less intense word for transcendent? Magnificent, basically. Here's to more inspiration for your day! Design and style, onward!

In case you didn't know, the friendship bracelet is all the rage this season. Kate at For Me, For You pointed out the work of Ray Fenwick, who paints friendship bracelets and cute teen slang (like you'd read in a yearbook) on old book covers. So adorable!

BurdaStyle made my heart swoon this week. Their post and interview about Blythe Church's soft sculpture was truly inspirational. It's a typewriter! Man, oh man! (She also has an Etsy shop: sewnbyblythe!)

My vote for coolest zine site goes to Cafe Royal, hands down. Swiss Miss pointed them out, and I just keep poking around, looking at all the amazing artists they've managed to corral. As Swiss Miss states, "[Craig and Joanne of Cafe Royale] realize there's a fine line between Fine Art and Craft, as there is between Illustration and Drawing. That doesn’t concern them too much: What interests them the most is the DIY ethic that makes artists’ zines and books so interesting and valuable. Each one is like wandering into a curiosity shop of the artists’ mind." Check it out!

Design For Mankind posted about these wooden USB sticks. Who knew technology and nature could intersect into something so organic? I kind of love it.

Any amazing finds this week? Great new blogs or resources for the artsy and craftsy community? Leave 'em in the comments! Inspiration is always welcome.

News From the Craft + Style Blogosphere: April 17, 2008

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 19:13:00 -0000

This eco-friendly edition of News from the Craft + Style Blogosphere coincides with the Storque's Earth Tones series. There are a lot of amazing things being produced from recycled and upcycled materials, and they're pretty stylish to boot. Enjoy!

Modish loves Etsy seller Bombus' wares, and so do we! She utilizes old maps, comics and other ephemera to make beautiful objects and stationery. I'm glad to see that bloggers are loving eco-friendly stuff! Check out the Bombus lovin' here.

Craft Zine found these beautiful bags made from recycled wool blankets — such an amazing idea, and a surprisingly comfy chic result. I'd want one made from one of those old horse blankets.

Wow. Design*Sponge recently pointed out an amazing interview with Nicholas Jones on The Design Files. Jones takes old books and creates the most delicate, innovative sculptural artworks — they really have to be seen to be believed. Check it out at The Design Files.

Design aesthetic, meet tires. These amazing tubs, made from recycled tires, would be a great display piece, as well as a conversation starter. Tires are so gosh darn versatile! (Via Apartment Therapy New York)

SuperCute (the blog) is pretty — well — super cute! Run by Etsians lorigami, glueandglitter and lizerati, this post is all about recycling fashion magazines that are gathering dust and repurposing them as bubble mailers for your Etsy products. Pretty smart! Check it out.

That's it for this week! Check out past News From the Craft + Style Blogosphere for more bloggy goodness, and leave your favorite eco style blogs in the comments! Make sure to check out our continuing Earth Tones series for more Earth friendly content!

EGCG | Trashion | EcoEtsy | Environmentally Friendly Gift Guides | Earth Tones Series

You be the Judge: Apples to Apples

Tue, 15 Apr 2008 18:30:00 -0000

Well, here’s your chance. If you were the judge, what would you decide on this real-life on-going legal battle? (Remember, this issue hasn't gone to court yet).

GreenNYC is New York City’s campaign for environmental sustainability of the air, land, and water. The GreenNYC logo shows a sweeping letter “N” forming the shape of an apple with a stem and a leaf. This logo can be found all around The Big Apple, including on bus shelters and hybrid gasoline-electric taxicabs.

Apple, Inc. is popular technology lifestyle brand that, among other things, designs and makes computer products and personal electronics (aren't we all familiar with it?). Apple’s logo is the shape of an apple with a simple leaf and a bite out of the right side.

NYC & Company applied for a registered trademark for the GreenNYC logo, but Apple filed a formal opposition on January 16, 2008. Apple argues that GreenNYC’s logo is very similar to the famous Apple logo, in appearance and commercial impression. Apple also claims that certain GreenNYC goods are identical, or highly related to goods and services Apple has offered. Therefore, GreenNYC’s logo will likely cause dilution of Apple’s marks and consumer confusion.

According to a Wired.com article, the City believes that Apple’s arguments lacks merit and no customer is likely to be confused.

As I explained in my previous trademark article, U.S. trademark law is meant to protect consumers from being confused about where a product comes from. So what do YOU think? Is the GreenNYC logo too close to the Apple logo as to cause a risk of confusion in your mind? In the comments below, you be the judge!

News From the Craft + Style Blogosphere: April 10, 2008

Thu, 10 Apr 2008 19:12:00 -0000

This week we've got some trends, plants, notes from long ago (on Greta Garbo, no less!), a fashion music video and much more.

Check it out!

I'm quite the wardrobe_remix stalker as of late, and I must say that piksi_ is pretty much queen and master of the high waisted skirt. She manages to pull off just about anything she tries, so it seems. (Jealous!)

I discovered my new favorite blog this week. Nothing is New is an amazing treasure trove of photos and ephemera that is meant to breathe new life into old ideas to "inspire your creative contemporary lifestyle." (Which it so does for me!) This particular blog post muses on the idea of the little notes and doodles that are so indicative of your thought process. This note by photographer Nickolas Muray, entitled "Notes on Greta Garbo, between 1930 and 1950," came from the Smithsonian Archives of American Art. (Great source!) Get inspired today at Nothing is New. There's tons of great stuff to get your artistic juices flowin'. I love it.

These terrariums are totally inspiring, especially with the dinosaurs added for extra oomph. I totally want to make some of these for all my plant babies. (Psst! We also talked about terrariums here!) Check it out at Two Straight Lines. (Via Apartment Therapy: ohdeedoh)

If you're in New York tonight, Thursday, April 10th, you might be interested in checking out this amazing Blythe exhibit. The show, called Lilliput: My Little Friend, was put together by Japanese art collective Theatre Alfort and looks to be pretty intense and dreamy: it's "an alternate world surrounding an imaginary ballet company...the 80 dolls in the exhibit are customized to create a dreamlike scene of little people that find themselves on the shore of unconsciousness, both eerie and ethereal." All this and more can be found at Gallery Hanahou. (via Worship Worthy)

Monochromatic fashion designer Rebecca Turbow has put together a really cool video look book for her spring/summer collection. It's a great idea for anyone looking to showcase their work in a really interesting way.

That's it for this week! Leave your newest craft + style finds and blogs in the comments! News from the Craft + Style Blogosphere, signing off!

News From the Craft + Style Blogosphere: April 3, 2008

Thu, 03 Apr 2008 21:28:00 -0000

I have so many new favorites to share with you! Unfortunately, there just aren't enough hours in the day to sum them all up, what with fantasy weddings to plan and whatnot, so I'll just get to it!

Here ya go!

Design*Sponge has some great coverage of skinnylaminx's stylish South African digs. Ooh la la!

It seems like everyone I know is all over Muxtape this week. It's a cool way to upload a mixtape and share it with friends, with your own url to personalize it. You can upload as many as you want, and it's cool to see what other people are listening to. Check out For Me, For You's muxtape (which is awesome, and totally hooked me on the idea of making one!), which I found via her blog.

Wow. If you were ever a fan of The Babysitter's Club, you need to prepare yourself to be blown away. I present to you, dear readers, the wonder that is What Claudia Wore — the single most amazing blog of commentary devoted to Claudia Kishi's fashion and all of the BSC's dirty laundry. It is truly something to devote many hours to, and I'm wondering why I'm not reading it right this second, it is that good. Trust! Go now!

If you're a fan of online fashion magazines of the NEET ilk, you'll probably love new magazine Prim. Launched a mere week ago, this online zine features tons of thrifty and handmade fashion stuff, interviews and content from some rad bloggers. It's pretty on-target and very "for the people." (As in, things are actually affordable!) Definitely worth checking out. (Via Style Bubble)

If you're not already familiar with Camilla Engman, get ready. She's an amazing artist that really sticks out in my mind, and I can't wait to acquire some of her work. Check out her blog for a better taste of her whimsical illustrations and gorgeous photos.

That's it for this week's editon of News from the Craft + Style Blogsophere! Leave your fave blogs in the comments! They are the wave of the future, I've decided. Trust!

xo,
Alison

P.S. Are you reading What Claudia Wore yet?! Go!