prix-prix notebook

Got this mini note from Prix-prix at Renegade Handmade in Chicago. Hand screen printed and such an elegant use of the cereal boxes!

My Old Consumer Ways: Le Sport Sac & Stella

So I was walking up Damen Street in Wicker Park/Bucktown area of Chicago and peeped into the Le Sport Sac ,when the sales girl cheerfully greeted me with a, "Hello, just wanted to let you know that the Stella McCartney travel bags made of 100% Recycled Eco Polyester are sale priced at 50% off." Pause. I absorb the key words: Stella, Le Sport Sac, recycled materials, and sale, then continue to sense the danger in this situation. Yes, Warning: DANGER as Jon would say. Why? Because it is in these exact situations that I am still powerless against my old consumer ways. I would've definitely said no if it wasn't eco, like I did a few weeks ago to the Orla Keily bag I was drooling over at their new online shop. But when it is totally eco-conscious, well-made, affordable (for luxury items) and fabulous, what it one to do!? As a veteran of the fashion industry, and formerly a professional consumer, this was one of the more troubling dilemmas in the dramatic process of "greening" my lifestyle.

I recently read in the Editor's Note of the latest issue of Dwell, that Sustainability Will Save Design. It took me a little bit to understand what this really meant, but I suppose it means we can still indulge in great design, with the stipulation that it is in moderation and that the product is not harming the earth. Yes, sustainable products will save design and continue to give ourselves the opportunity to make products better.

So the bag pictured above is the large bowling bag in her signature muted aubergine. In the shop, I weighed out all the facts for about 45 minutes including the fact that my current overnight bag was over 10 years old with broken feet that had already been repaired a few times. Okay, I thought. I called my husband for reassurance, paid for the item, thanked the girl for being very helpful and traveled home in style.

Hyperbolic Crochet Coral

The coral form I made using the method of hyperbolic crochet. This one was a single, single, double.

Chicago

Some snaps from our trip to Chicago...
view from the 21st floor at the W Hotel Lakeshore. It's summertime and everyone is either at the beaches, the parks or their boats!View of the "L" train from Millennium Park.
Scuplture garden during our 2 hour lakefront bike ride.
Pretty colors at the Art Institute of Chicago.Roadkill course at Moto.My favorite building because of the argyle pattern.

Quote: Albert Einstein

" You can never solve a problem
on the level on which it was created."

- Albert Einstein

Documentation: i-D Tom Ford

I've made almost $200 on Ebay selling my old magazines, but boy were they a pain to package and ship! This is an old i-D mag from 1999? What a great shot of Tom Ford and his pup.

Documentation: From Michelle

From Michelle, who I used to babysit in high school...

Reminder about Energy Saving Tips!

Got this link about Simple Energy Saving Tips: Level 1 from Co-op America this morning. These tips are perfect for the summer, especially to compensate for any AC we might be sneaking in on those super hot days. I did not realize there were levels, but I can see how it can get overwhelming without them! I think I've done everything but the energy audit. Even though I've read these tips a hundred times, I notice how great any reminder is because it's easy to slack!

• Turn Off Lights You're Not Using
• Schedule an Energy Audit - have done my own self audit, but I wonder what a professional would say
  
• Let Your Dishwasher Breathe - by skipping the drying cycle, yes
  
• Shift Your Load to Off-Peak Times - done!
• Don't heat or Cool Empty Rooms - installed 2 new fans last March to prevent using AC as often
  
• Turn off Electronics - turn off computer if gone for more than 1 hour
  
• Eliminate Phantom Load" - damn those phantoms, we're still working on this one, recently ordered those new power strips that turn off peripherals, more on that later.
  
• Eliminate Your Second Fridge - does the wine fridge count?? yes, darn. ok, have to talk to the spouse about this one.
  
• Wash Clothes in Cold Water - most of the time :)
  
• Give the Dryer a Rest - with the summer heat, hang drying has been my big project as of late, more on that soon.

How to Dispose CDs

Disposed of old data cds by scratching them up with a safety pin. Will recycle them to Best Buy this weekend.

Rare Device & Amy Ross

While in SF, I got to meet Lisa Congdon and Rena Thom and visit their shop, Rare Device. Personally, I think the bag sticker says everything about them - sweet, hand made creative, impeccable taste, and rock stars!

Also got to meet artist Amy Ross, who happen to be having her art opening at the shop. We adored and bought "Gold Finch Shroom".

D*S guest blogging

We (Jon and I as It's (K)not Wood)are guest blogging on Design Sponge this week! Our first post is about one of my favorite shops - Tortoise.

San Francisco weekend

Spent several relaxing days in SF for a family event this past weekend... wandered into Berkeley's architecture department, took in a view from Grizzly Peak, ate fried smelt from Sea Salt to remind us of Spain, visited Heath Ceramics in Sausalito, and savored outdoor mornings with coffee and the paper by the water.

Documention: Figure Sculptures

In the process of getting rid of stuff, I've been documenting some items. It makes parting just a little bit easier. These are from our figure sculpture classes taught by our friend Damian almost 10 years ago. This particular brand of clay never completely hardens, so several, but not all, needed to go. Such a different dimension with photos.

gradient of succulents

This is just the most lovely gradient of succulents. Was on Abbot Kinney this afternoon photographing the Tortoise shop for IKW as the guest blogger on D*S next month.

shredding the past

Next phase in our clean up -- going through about dozen plus plastic bins of financial and work docs that go way back to our college days. I am convinced you can write the story of your life based on your credit card bill statements. They tell you where you've lived, places you frequented, who you worked for, how much money you felt comfortable blowing in one month, and then some. This was interesting to me because I had forgotten when I had traveled, where, and with who. Before shredding, I noted some of these dates and times for my future autobiography, ha ha, no really only because I am so forgetful these days and it's nice to reminisce.

Some notes about this experience: it takes forever because you are revisiting your past; a good shredder that does not overheat is your best friend; the Notebook program I got for another project has been archiving my life story perfectly; canceled a credit card today, going to try and pay cash more often.

Memorial Day

In addition to remembering our troops who have passed, it's important to slow down and not take for granted the things that they risked their lives for. This weekend, it was for blue skies, kites and bike rides on the beach.

Rogan for Target

Just got back from some Saturday night shopping at Target and found the latest Go International designer, Rogan, on the racks -- "Designed by Rogan Gregory, an environmentally-conscious collection of modern silhouettes and nature-inspired prints and patterns." It was so bizarre to see this one dress reminiscent of a Martin Margiela meets Helmut Lang utilitarian aesthetic. On top of that, the entire line was made sustainable. How could I resist. Above, what I will be wearing all summer.

Now home, I have been reading that this Rogan for Target line premiered at Barney's, yes Barney's. I'm not sure what think about all of it except that everyone is just getting along so fabulously. I love it.

Less Traffic

I work at home, but I've been hearing a lot lately, from people that I know, how traffic is easing up as a result of soaring gas prices here in LA. Really makes me realize that people's pocket books will clearly be the main way out of global warming.

bucket in the bathtub

Been noticing lately, really how much water I waste waiting for the hot water to warm up before showering - it's quite a bit. So I got a new bucket at the hardware store last Saturday.

I easily fill up half the bucket with each shower. I've been using the water to fix my bed head hair in the morning, I've washed my dirty feet a few times, and have been watering plants.

work hard and...

enough said, right!? via uppercase

Muji socks

My favorite socks from Muji made from recycled cotton. I bought a set for me and set for my mom years ago and just found that they still sell them!

Young at Heart Chorus

We just got back from seeing the documentary Young at Heart. What a beautiful movie. I hope I grow old this way. It's a documentary about a great group of people, who happen to be 70 years old and up, performing rock songs, yes rock songs.

It's great to see what we are capable of in old age. There is no limit to how far we can take ourselves, which should remind us that there is no reason not to do things when we are young.

My favorite song in the movie is actually when they sing James Brown, I Feel Good. Can you imagine?! Makes me want to practice it on the karaoke.

Warning, it's a tear jerker no matter who you are. Coldplay should feel honored for this great rendition of their song. That sound in the background is the guy's oxygen tank pumping air into his lungs.

Craig's List

I sold on Craig's List for the first this week. Brilliant. Sold an old table and dishwasher in a matter of days. Classifieds are the optimal way in the "story of stuff" because things are being shuffled around from those who don't need it to those who do. It's the ultimate form of recycling.

I also noticed how nice it was to interact with random people in the community. In the two transactions, I always shook someone's hand and got a small piece of their story. I have several close friends and family who are always befriending strangers anywhere they are, whether it's with a smile or an entire conversation which has sometimes continued to extended friendships. Now, I have a better understanding of why.

Geoff McFetridge at Olympic Scupture Garden

Geoff McFetridge's installation at the Olympic Sculpture Garden in Seattle. My photo was shot through the glass because it was a Monday.

The Dalai Lama

Needless to say, April just wizzed by. So many things happened. One of the hilights, seeing the Dalai Lama! Kinda neat.

This annual trip to Seattle (Jon was there too, but we did not see him) just happened to coincide with Seeds of Compassion, a conference in which the Dalai Lama was the honored guest. We decided to crash the party thinking there may be empty seats on a Monday at 1pm and we were right. The panel included His Holiness, as he is called, and a group of business leaders, the most noteable being the president of Costco there to discuss bringing compassion to the workplace.

It was amazing to see how humbled these business execs were to be in the presence of His Holiness, who happened to be the most humble of them all. It was quite ironic, because he frequently spoke about how industrialism was the begining of the man-made problems of war, violence, anger, hatred, and jealousy. What could these businesses do bring compassion to their employees, how would that affect the customers and ultimately the bottom line? The truth is that before before industrialism, more importance was placed on a healthy mind, compassion, warm heartedness. This made for healthy and thriving societies with a more wholistic view of world. To back it all up, science is now proving that emotion is so important to creating this well being.

The conference was focused on the youth, parents, and caregivers. By teaching the youth compassion at an early age, they will show that same compassion towards others through out their lives. "Early child development, after all, is the foundation of community development." And if we can inspire them early, we might be able to soften the soul-less effects of industrialism.

I know so many people having babies lately, this is a great message.