Cut, Folded, and Glued!

Don’t be fooled by the basic sheet of paper. It can be formed and molded into the most extraordinary, meticulous pieces of art. Paper cutting artists are some of the most patient that I know. I have some experience working with paper and creating art books, being a graphic designer. I am fierce with an Exacto blade. But after seeing these pieces by various artists, I should just surrender, lay down my blade at their feet, and pick up this This is For You (a book that we carry!) in order to simply enjoy and be awed by the masters of the trade.

Keep looking after the fold for some more inspiring pieces. These ain’t no paper cranes!…

[Image above: Various works by Peter Callesen]

Peter Callesen, with the touch of Midas can turn a flat sheet of plain ol’ copy paper into a castle. A CASTLE! Shoot@!  Many of his works are almost life-size, including a room and staircase entirely constructed of paper.

[Image above: Various works by Scott Fife]

Being the featured artist on the Summer ‘09 issue of Fiberarts Magazine can really get you noticed. And for good reason! Scott Fife creates these deeply elegant and interesting sculptures from cardboard, glue, and screws. By the way, that dog is gigantic.

[Image above: Technicolor Prism by Jen Stark]

[Images above: Macy's storefront display by Eloise Corr Danch]

Lastly, I happened upon this storefront display at Macy’s in NYC a month ago and felt the need to snap away. I later found out that Eloise Corr Danch is the mastermind behind these intricate and beautiful flower layouts.  The display was very eye-catching.

I hope you enjoyed! Please share if you have any other interesting pieces of paper art to include in this list, or if you have done any work yourself. We would love to see and be inspired!

With the sun warming Pittsburgh closer and closer to summer, the cyclists have brushed off their bikes and begun to come out in droves. And frankly, I love it. This week, May 11-15th, is “Bike to Work Week”! So hopefully you can gain a bit of inspiration from these neon-colored bikes and helpful guide about biking in style.  There are some great organizations out there that can help you get on the road, and safely, as well as some really great biking gear that is perfect for the type of gal that still likes to bike in skirts and leggings.

Read on to see a bike helmet that you can finally color coordinate to match your outfit!

[Image above (clockwise from right): Simple City bike ($599), The customizable Republic Bike ($394),  Simple City bike ($969), The Ridley MP motorized bike ($2499), Dahon Mariner folding bike ($494)]

While not always cheap, or practical, the cruiser beach bike is perfect for the fair maiden who likes to arrive in style. Unfortunately, if you live in a city (such as Pittsburgh) that has an average hill grade of 6%, then a road bike is a more practical machine. I love the colors of the (customized by you) Republic Bike. For me, and my grocery shopping, a bike basket or pannier is not an option. I love the light color combo of the bottom bike. And for those who aren’t interested in riding for the exercise, this bike with a motor is a really beautiful design. I love the vintage Pre-WW2 feel of it. Lastly, for those in need of a bike that is small, compact, but still can get them “there”, there are always folding bikes that are great for taking on planes, trains and automobiles.

[Image above (clockwise from left): Yakkay bike hat/helmet,  Bicycle necklace, CycleChic bike helmet, Colorful bike bell, (Scarborough Fair dress), Euphrates sandals, The Carrie bicycle basket, Classic bike bell, (Floral Shop skirt)]

Leggings have become the cure-all for my desire to dress like a lady and still ride bikes, chase boys, and climb trees. The dress and skirt above are perfect for a sunny Sunday roll in the park. I love the bike necklace, and any bicycle needs to accessorize (just as much as you!) with a bell, basket, streamers, noise makers or really whatever it is that makes you enjoy the experience even more. And lastly, I have been searching and searching for bike helmets that aren’t so dorky-looking. The Yakkay hat (oops I mean helmet) looks exactly like a hat but has the protection of a helmet. Sometimes I feel like “Sheldon the turtle” biking up the hill in my green windbreaker, bulbous helmet, and huge backpack. Looks like I need a biking wardrobe overhaul myself!

For those that are less into pedaling and more into motorized bikes, look at these vintage-style motorcycles. Aren’t they beautiful?

[Image above: Found at Bike EXIF via thecoolhunter.net]

Lastly, there are some really great organizations that continually promote safe biking, and are trying to make biking in cities a more recognized and appreciated mode of transportation. Recently Pittsburgh was recognized as one of the most bike-friendly cities in the US in Good magazine. With the help of Free Ride, an organization dedicated to distributing used bikes throughout Pittsburgh, and the efforts of Bike Pittsburgh, we have upped our ranking among some of the most supportive cities like Portland, Seattle, San Francisco, Austin, Minneapolis, and Salt Lake City. If you would like to find a bike coop or distributing community in your area, check out this national listing of biking information. I hope you find something good. Or hey, why don’t you start one yourself! (Oh and for a little added fun, check out the video of some of the most unique ways of riding a bike.)

[Image above: Bike PGH, Free Ride Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh's Illegal Soapbox Society]

I am hoping that after reading Maggie’s post last week on the top ten places to travel to, you have finally booked your flight and purchased your tickets to anywhere, because this spring some traveling needs to be done! Enough of this recession-shmession, let’s enjoy life! I can’t tell you how many trips I have been sitting on, just waiting for my opportunity to go. And the idea of the Hippie trail going from Germany to India through Western Asia is a dream to me. (Thanks a lot Maggie for putting another ridiculous/somewhat dangerous trip in my mind!)

The world is to be seen, and appreciated. As a world traveler myself (I have been lucky enough to visit 17 countries, mostly in Europe and south Asia), I have pulled out some of my favorite things that will help you be on your way in style. It’s easy to be weighed down in traveling, so I encourage you: pack light, bring a comfortable pair of shoes, and do some planning before you go (you don’t want to end up stranded at the wrong train station at 3am in a country where you don’t speak the language)!

Continue reading to see what other great things you can bring along…!

[Image above: France, India, Peru, Egypt]

[Image above: (clockwise from left) Never again miss your train, bus, plane, boat or moped with the Time for Romance necklace, A true world traveler needs a Carmen Sandiego trench for the chilly evenings by the water, the In the Navy jacket is such a classic daytime coat and the lightweight fabric won't be weighing you (or your luggage) down, the Locksmith purse is the perfect day purse (it is just big enough for the necessities of the day, and small enough to not become cumbersome), the Monique sunglasses are a classic frame, the perfect little pouch for carrying your change or metro card!]

[Images above: (clockwise from left) Write about your travels to friends with the adorable Pen n' Pals stationery set, keep the rain away with this fabulous umbrella, and set your luggage apart with this really cute luggage tag]

Lastly, the envelope clutch shown above, doesn’t have a whole lot to do with the act of traveling; it’s just so adorable, I couldn’t pass up mentioning it.

I hope this inspires the heck out of you and that if you haven’t already bought one of the amazing travel deals that are happening this spring (I mean, seriously, Pittsburgh to Athens for $500!), that you will immediately go to Kayak, search for anywhere in this great big world, and see it (for cheap!). If I could go anywhere right now, it would be Peru to see Machu Picchu before it closes to the public. And I would wear these flats, the Brewster Sisters tunic, and Coffee and Cigarette ankle jeans for my expedition. Oh I hope it will be warm and that the sun god will bless me with his rays!

If you could travel anywhere right now, where would you be this spring?! What would you do there and what ModCloth item can you NOT leave behind? Leave us a comment! I want to see where my fellow travelers are headed and what they are bringing. Bon Voyage!

One Man’s Waste is Another Woman’s Treasure…

Hey all! Natalie here. I wanted to share with you the instructions I gave my kids for the after school art class I teach. The basic idea is melting old plastic shopping bags into a composite plastic which you can then create a waterproof recycled tote/wallet/pouch/creation of your imagination. I have never seen a group of kids so excited about something that they created from a plastic bag…a plastic bag! It’s almost like reinventing the stick as an essential plaything. But as you can see by the smile on our bag model’s face, she is proud! The process of making a fused plastic bag is fun and a great way to put all of those old shopping bags to use instead of throwing them into the landfill. I challenge you to make this project your own and use the instructions from this class as a guideline to make with this fused material whatever your little creative heart can dream up!

Keep reading for full instructions on how to transform waste into a recycler’s dream!

What you need:

- Old plastic bags (any type of plastic bag will work, but the ones that fuse the best are the flimsy, good old “Thank you Thank you Thank you” type

- An iron and ironing board

- Parchment paper, or even just copier paper

- A sewing machine

Step 1: Lay down flat 3-4 bags, or rather 6-8 layers of plastic (more or less plastic will result in either holes, or the plastic not properly fusing).

Step 2: Trim the bottom seam, and the top handles off the bags. And layer the bags how you would like, with the most important design showing on the top. (If you would like, you could consider a more complex design in your plastic by layering or cutting out different shapes– stripes or polka dots– and placing them on top.)

Step 3: Between two pieces of parchment paper, place your layers of plastic on the ironing board and very slowly move the iron across the plastic perhaps for 20 sec. or so. Each person’s iron heats to a different temperature, but to give you an idea, I put mine on the Rayon setting. You want to heat the plastic enough for it to entirely melt together, but not burn holes or become too textured. There is a very fine line, so I would suggest a few trial runs until you understand the material the best you can. Iron the top for a while, and then flip the plastic over and iron the bottom (Of course, always with the parchment between the plastic and the iron. We don’t want to be ruining our irons!!). When you are finished it should very much be one smooth(ish) piece of plastic! If you have gotten this far…Hooray!!! because this takes some skill and patience!

Step 4: Draw up a pattern for the type of bag you would like to make out of your plastic. For ease, the kids and I created 8 x 12 in pouches with a Velcro closure, but I am sure our readers have much better sewing skills than 5th graders, so I encourage you to create a pouch with a zipper or snap closure. Investigate handles, and consider creating a more complex pattern than ours! Cut the pattern out of your plastic, sew the sides, add the closures, and you are ready to walk off in style and with a happy heart knowing you have helped the earth!

If you have any questions or comments, please let me know. And if you take a picture of your finished project, please send it to me at diy@modcloth.com or post them in a comment- I’d love to see your projects and share them with other blog readers!

[Frames are found on these sites: Eyeglass Boy, Allyn Scura, Ed Welch's Eyeglasses Warehouse, Optometrist's Attic]

The past few weeks I have been scouring thousands of sites (well, no not literally) to attempt to find the perfect vintage-inspired frame. After losing my first pair of designer glasses, sitting on my “spare” pair, and buying my third pair while traveling in India and having the lens literally crumble in my hands, I have found myself, pretty much without a decent pair of eyeglasses. I now know that I am careless, forgetful, and also cheap, which leads me to search for the perfect pair of frames within my boundaries.  And I came down to the fact that if I want vintage-inspired, perhaps I should refer to or purchase a pair that were actually made in the past.

Read on to see some great frame options, and inspiring looks for that perfect pair of vintage frames…

For a moment I considered finding my grandmother’s old frames buried somewhere in the piles of stuff on her Iowan farm, but realized the look she wore in the 60s might be a little too extreme for my taste. In hindsight though, it may have been a great way to commemorate her life and who she was. Perhaps, I may still seek out this option in the future.

[Classic Unisex styles from Optometrists Attic]

The good news is that all of these vintage frames are great if you are on a limited budget, and if you are looking for a unique look that will make you stand out in a crowd. Most of the frames that I found online were priced between $35-150, and since not every frame looks good on every face, most sites would let you return them! I happened to call up one of the sites to talk to a “customer service representative” who answered the phone in this way: “Hello, this is Bob, what can I do for ‘ya?” He proceeded to tell me he needed to “fire up” the computer to see the glasses I liked. Let me tell you–Bob was an adorable elderly man who told me all about horn-rimmed, brow-line, cat-eye, rhinestone, and aluminum frames and how they were all the rage back in the day. Very nice, and unexpected!

[Image above: Glasses are from Urban Spectacles]

If you are into higher end, vintage-inspired frames, take a look at this artist who carves his frames out of mixed wood, plastic, and recycled aluminum. He will even customize a pair to your specifications. Wow!

So after all my searching, I have narrowed it down to these two vintage inspired frames below. Which do you like better? Lastly, if you are interested in having the look of vintage frames, but are blessed with good vision…you are in luck! We currently carry some really cute frames and sunglasses that will help you pull off that look to perfection! And if you have an awesome pair of vintage specs yourself…feel free to post the picture here in the comments! I’d love to see! Thanks!

[Her Morning Elegance from Oren Lavie]

HER MORNING ELEGANCE
I set out in hopes of finding some of the best artistic YouTube videos, and really felt as if I came up short in general. Most were amateurish: lacking in technique, and interesting content. But the one above is my absolute favorite of what I have found. It was created by Oren Lavie, an Isreali artist, and really is beautiful. My favorite parts: the dancing, the wind, the fish, and the part where she is jumping from one pillow to the next (it kind of reminds me of Mario Bros).

There are a few more interesting videos after the fold. Read on! And submit a comment if you would like to share any other artsy vids…

LOST IN A MOMENT
Love it! If I was a little sushi roll, this would be my last sight. How bleak that life would be!

[Lost in a moment from Dennis Wheatley]

BANKSY PET STORE
Bansky, a graffiti artist from the UK, opened a “pet shop” in the Village for the month of October, which showcased fish sticks swimming in water, a vain bunny rabbit, mechanized hot dogs in glass cases, and my favorite–the chicken nugget chicks dipping themselves in BBQ sauce. It was created to say something about the way we view animals, food, and the things we buy. Needless to say it was very interesting. Take a look at the video!

[The Village Pet Store by Banksy]

ROB WANTS TO GIVE YOU A HIGH FIVE!
This video/social experiment should just be a reminder not to take life so seriously all the time. It definitely made me smile, and I appreciate its light-hearted nature.

[Rob wants to give you a high five by Improv Everywhere]

CHUCK E. CHEESE AND USHER
This is basically awesome. A guy named Aaron Fetcher choreographs performance sequences of the Chuck E. Cheese Showbiz Pizza Band to some pop/techno songs of the past and present. They are timed perfectly and the combination of the strange, yet innocent figures of our childhood with the more ‘mature’ lyrics of the songs creates an interesting juxtaposition. (Please excuse any controversial language in these songs).

[Usher: Love in this Club by Chris Thrash]

I seriously cannot say enough about patterns. They have crept into my life from every angle. I love to draw them, see them, wear them, and print them over and over again. While I am not an organization person, I am a color and shape person. Art always seems to pull its influences from other things, whether it be sounds, people, nature, trash, the past, or other fields, art is never generated out of thin air. I have been astounded within the past 5 years at how much fashion and interior design have begun taking cues from the graphic arts world. While I understand that patterns and illustration have been around for years, it is astonishing to see how much the trends in fashion have gone from traditional to the graphical/technical realm. With advances in fabric printing techniques, weaving, and manufacturing, you can now literally wear anything on your clothing. Also with our daily investment in the digital world, we are more and more accustomed to the look of digitally- created objects. Take a look at some of the graphically-influenced clothing below, and appreciate their beauty and digital enhancement.

Continue past the fold to see more graphic patterns

[Image above: Suno ]

[Image above: (from left) Tracy Reese, Naeem Khan, Vivienne Tam ]

[Image above: (from left) Herve Leger, Mara Hoffman, Tibi ]

[Image above: (from left) Diane von Furstenberg, Cynthia Steffe, Diane von Furstenberg ]

]]> http://blog.modcloth.com/2009-02-19-we-cant-stop-talking-aboutgraphically-influenced-patterns/feed 6 http://blog.modcloth.com/2009-02-12-we-cant-stop-talking-aboutgraphic-kitschy-dinnerware?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=we-cant-stop-talking-aboutgraphic-kitschy-dinnerware http://blog.modcloth.com/2009-02-12-we-cant-stop-talking-aboutgraphic-kitschy-dinnerware#comments Thu, 12 Feb 2009 19:45:34 +0000 Natalie http://blog.modcloth.com/2009-02-12-we-cant-stop-talking-aboutgraphic-kitschy-dinnerware

I have just discovered the wonder that is Fishs Eddy.  Maybe I am slow to hop on this train, as I have seen some of these fun products floating around the net for some time, but am glad to finally have a grouping of some graphic-printed dinnerware that I would LOVE to have in my kitchen when I serve up my favorite meal of the day: breakfast!

The Pantone mug is a must for any artist, designer, or lover of color and they come in almost any Pantone shade available. I am intrigued by the “nudy” glass and bowl. They would raise a few eyebrows and giggles as I use them to serve a big ol’ bowl of oatmeal and glass of orange juice. The very colorful plasticware from Kitsch Kitchen is fabulous; I love the pixelated platter and robot cups. The Chemistry Salt and Pepper shakers are a classic for the kitchen. And my absolute favorite are the swimmers glasses and the- ahem- peeing boy cup. These are so clever and would be entirely enjoyed. (All of the images are clickable above, so take a closer look if you are interested.)

[Image above: (clockwise from left) Valentine typwriter circa 1969, a tie dinner napkin I will hand my boyfriend during our Valentine's dinner date since he is neither neat nor dressy, I hope hope hope I get a cupcake from Dozen (hint hint), simple, yet bright, pieces like this vintage fire engine red chair are a good way to add some valentine's to your decor]

If you are one who endlessly reads Danielle Steel novels by the fire while listening to “It’s All Coming Back to me Now” by Celine Dion, you should keep reading…

[Image above: (clockwise from left) leather feather earrings on etsy, Eye love you shades, The Goji dress, One of our 'Sweet Something' Name It and Win It items, this parasol is soooo pretty, another great poster by the Keep Calm Gallery]

[Image above: shimmery love pillow, and a perfect pair of organic cotton pillows]

[Image above: I love the images from the 2009 Chanel show. Of course the house of Chanel clothes are beautiful, but I am more intrigued by the handmade, blushingly romantic, white flowers that covered the set of the runway]

[Image above: The perfect valentines are ones with simple elegant script, tandem bicycles for two, and fake breakaway chocolate...so good I could almost eat it, but then I'd have paper in my mouth]

[Image above: While Kanye West's live singing performance on SNL a few weeks ago makes one realize just how much they enhance voices for album production, I still can't help but appreciate his adorably geeky style, the design of his album, and the simple photography used. The 808s & Heartbreak album carries passion in Kanye's barely capable vocals and lyrics about just that: heartbreak.]

]]> http://blog.modcloth.com/2009-02-06-we-cant-stop-talking-aboutvalentines-day/feed 11 http://blog.modcloth.com/2009-01-28-we-cant-stop-talking-aboutcold-greys?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=we-cant-stop-talking-aboutcold-greys http://blog.modcloth.com/2009-01-28-we-cant-stop-talking-aboutcold-greys#comments Wed, 28 Jan 2009 18:01:51 +0000 Natalie http://blog.modcloth.com/2009-01-28-we-cant-stop-talking-aboutcold-greys [Image above: (clockwise from left) Just perfect Stacked Rings by Deka Ray, Metal rocking chair, Metal pin hole lanterns at Terrain at Styers (VERY pricey but beautiful), For those days of fantasizing about riding into the sunset with your knight: the Camelot ring, Trusty steed glasses, Silver water flask, Grey-t expectations coat]

Grey Days:
It has been cold, and snowy and the days have been short. So we have clung to the gloom and embraced the grey colors that are perfect for wintry Pittsburgh.

Read on to see some other lovely greys…

[Image above: (clockwise from left)  the light and breezy Victorian Boho blouse, awesomely large unicorn ring, Dorian Grey wedges, Joshua Jakus industrial felt media pocket, the lovely Dizzy Lizzy dress with buttons down the back and metallic grey trim, an interesting take on a scarf by Necklush]

[Image above: (left to right) Lovely light metallic vintage frames (I NEED these), OMG Lichtenstein Tee!!!, nice large striped scarf from Organic Giraffe]

I LOVE these delicate B&W line drawings. They are sold as very inexpensive prints here by Etsy seller nosideup. I might have to partake. I hope you have enjoyed this all!

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