candy for the feet

it is parisian, christian louboutin's, 20th anniversary as a revolutionary footwear designer.  with his distinctive red soles (which came to existence out of sheer accident), his shoes are the ultimate fashion, coveted by many.  he uses only the best quality in materials, and with the superb craftsmanship and talent to create imaginative shoes, how could you not want a pair!?

"these heels are candy for the feet; they're for please, not practicality." ~christian louboutin

if you decided you wanted to add to your own shoe collection, louboutins are sold in bergdorf goodman, select department stores and boutiques. below are a few of his designs and sketches that caught my eye.

images louboutin

rhino art

images megan.christine

high above encinitas boulevard, along the pacific highway by moonlight beach, sits a nondescript cement building that i recently learned houses the rhino art company.  opened in 1994, this independent locally owned and operated art supply shop has excellent products at competitive prices.  the sun drenched space is filled with supplies, books, cards and miscellaneous funky products.  the store also doubles as a gallery, with original works displayed along the interior walls.  the staff is friendly and accommodating, and having direct experience in the arts themselves, it's great to be able to compare and discuss with a knowledgeable source.  having discovered this local gem, i will happily bypass the chain arts & crafts stores from now on.

animalistic fairy tale

last spring when i was grabbing brunch in venice beach, i stopped into altered spaces, a gallery along abbot kinney.  they feature various artists and craftsmen that they believe to be "visionaries in their fields, and originators in new eras in design."  it was the first i had seen of michele mikesell, who was currently showing chapter 3: disambiguate at altered spaces.  the alabama born, texas based painter, creates child-like, slightly disturbing, fairytale scapes filled with stylized animalistic forms with underlying human presence.  the surface, painted on baltic birch board, is subjected to a process of adding, scraping and sanding, which results in a contrast between smooth and worn.  this hazy dreamlike visual effect is reminiscent of surrealism, which along with expressionism and children's art, is michele's inspiration.  chapter 3 has since closed at altered spaces, but if you find yourself in atlanta, georgia, stop into the alan avery art company to check out chapter 4: 10.

images michele mikesell

bulls-eye

images jason shaltze

this past month i had the pleasure of meeting jason shaltze, one half of new york based the shaltzes creative (the other is his sister carrie).  we met at the birthday party of our mutual friend who, like the shaltze's, hail  from flint, michigan.  (i did learn that even the mcdonalds in flint have bars on their windows.  didn't leave itching to visit.)  this sibling duo has an eye for energy, and shoots both photography and film - check out their awesome portfolio on their website.  while in san diego, the guys decided to take a quick trip to the shooting range.  having had an enjoyable time at a range a while back myself, we exchanged stories, did some re-enactments and shared photos.  jason had some great shots, which would further back their creative talent.  kind of makes me want to head back and perfect my bulls-eye.

morgan maassen, photography

through social networking, last night i discovered morgan maassen.  the california native is a talented photographer and filmmaker, as evident through his online portfolio.  his impressive client list includes patagonia, nike, billabong- just to name a few.  at such a young age (21), he is sure to have a long successful career ahead of him, and i'll be looking forward to see what he produces.

images Morgan Maassen

beach. a place to regenerate.

I recently purchased a book, Beach a Book of Treasure by San Francisco photographer Josie Iselin.  I was window shopping in Solo, one of my favorite Solana Beach decor boutiques, and came across the book.  Between my studies of art and architecture, I already have quite the collection of coffee table books, but something about the images spurred the impulse purchase.  In her opening she states, "the seashore and its remarkable power for healing captivates us all." There is something to be said about the immense calm that can come from the magnificence of the ocean.  With the lapping rhythm of water, to the whistle in the breeze, or the fresh salty air - stress begins to fade and the breathes become slower.  Committed to looking closely at not only what surrounds you but also what is within you, the ocean allows us to clear our mind and presents the opportunity to look for beauty in change.  Just like each tide is new, our life can also ebb and flow, shifting to reveal new treasures.

checked bag

I am about to embark on a cross-country trip back to my home state of Virginia for a long weekend full of family and friends.  While I have mastered the art of packing for any trip, regardless of length and destination, into a single carry-on, I have recently run into issues (thanks to the liquid restrictions imposed by the Transportation Security Administration).  Said liquids have, in every case thus far, been wine.  In Portland, in New Zealand, in Germany and most recently in Napa.  I have either been swindled into purchasing a case for shipment, bought a "skin" and checked my bag with a solo bottle or two, or sadly walked away empty handed.  On this specific trip today, I am attempting to bring home local infused olive oil from Temecula Olive Oil Company.  But as I pack my bag up tightly and say farewell as it drifts off on the conveyor belt, I will carry that ounce of anxiety, "will it arrive at my destination."  Then, as you stand at baggage claim watching bag after bag tumble out, they all begin to look alike, black.  Many people fear that someone else may grab their bag, so it was fitting this morning, as I read the NY Times, that there was an article about Tumi's new line of luggage.  With it's loud large graffiti print, artist John Matos covers Tumi's Vapor cases with a distinguishable design.  Scoop up this limited collection while you can, as Tumi is only producing 1,000 of each case.  As long as the airline delivers, you'll not only be sure to walk away with your bag, but you'll strut in style too!

museum access, through google

The other week, a good friend from Seattle emailed me a link: www.googleartproject.com/.  His messages rarely provide explanation, but rather provide the URL to a movie, music show, a new track or an opening.  With a shared love for all things artistic, I always enjoy seeing his name pop up in my inbox.  This particular message contained a link for Google's new Art Project, providing web based access into many of the worlds greatest museums.  Using a drop down, users can pick the specific museum (17 are currently participating) they'd like to explore, such as the Museum of Modern Art, the Uffizi, etc.  The tool allows for general tours, where you can poke around different galleries with 360 degree navigation.  Or, it also allows for the precise examination of specific pieces, allowing all the time and privacy for scrutiny.  There are definitely still some programming bugs and quality control issues that Google still needs to work out.  Resolution of images is not always crisp and some of the tours are blurry smudges on gallery walls.  But, there are also 1,000+ high-resolution images of artworks, which it's creators argue allows for more detail than the naked eye would normally pick up.  The Art Project breaks ground for the artistic online experience.  Despite that many museums have individually worked on virtual projects, Art Project is a portal for easy access into a consolidated database.  It provides access into many institutions that you many otherwise never have the pleasure of experiencing.  It's definitely worth checking out.

271 picasso paintings

I heard on the news this morning that a retired French electrician, Pierre Le Guennec, who worked for the famed artist, Pablo Picasso, over 40 years ago in his Cote d'Azur home, is in possession of 271 unknown works by Picasso.  The works in question appear to come from Picasso's Blue Period (1900-1932).  Although it's estimated that Picasso created over 20,000 paintings in his career, many which remain unknown, the Picasso's Estate is looking into how Mr. Le Guennec came across so many paintings.  Initial suspicion is that the works were stolen.  Regardless how this story unfolds, it will be very interesting to see the paintings once they are revealed!

micro tiles

I spotted these 5 inch micro tiles on Etsy.  Sold as a set, these tiles are delicate, intricate and are rich in texture.  Created by Heather Knight of Element Clay Studio (Ashville, NC), she also sells a selection of other beautiful pieces (votives, bowls, etc).   Her latest collection is botanically inspired 3-d tiles in helios porcelain, and they are absolutely incredible.

Jet Setting: Austin- BBQ & Boots

Last month we flew into Austin, TX to celebrate the marriage of my best friend and her fantastic beau. The entire weekend was such an amazing time, filled with fabulous people, delicious eats, and good down to earth Texas fun. Kicking off the festivities was some finger-licking BBQ at the Salt Lick, we were dolled up in dresses and cowgirl boots, fitting the scene quite well. Before the wedding, which was at the Shoreline Grill along lady bird lake, we explored the city. Huffing it on foot, and dodging the looming rain clouds, we found some adorable boutiques, savvy shops and some more great food.

Two of my favorite shops to mention are the clothing store, By George, and the decor store, Mercury. By George, which is on South Congress, carries apparel, bags, shoes and jewelry from designers such as: La Rok, Corey Lynn Calter, Ella Moss, Salt Optics, etc. Across the water, on W 2nd Street, Mercury design studio is on a trendy block of real estate (including Ligne Roset). It reminds me of a merging of San Diego based Mixture + Solana Beach based Solo. I could have bought almost everything in the store, from the wall reliefs, to fox tails, to the custom covered chairs.

The weekend definitely went by too quick, and there was much more that I want to explore in Austin. Good thing our friends have a big house for visitors!

* images Megan.Christine

wool in winter wonderland

Winter is nearing. For most of the country the weather is getting crisp, we're pulling out recipes for warm soups and stews and storefronts showcase thick jackets and tall boots. Even in SoCal the recent cloudy skies and drizzle has me thinking about apple cinnamon candles and my Ugg boots (too bad I don't own wellies). Along with the change in seasons comes change in fabrics, wool being a main staple. But this season I have noticed that wool is the popular textile beyond apparel, showing up all over design magazines and mainstream home stores. And, coupled with the rebirth in popularity of knitting and stitching over the past couple years, it's no shock that Patricia Urqulio's mangas (sleeve) rug collection has become a hit. The Spanish designer's patchwork wool stitch rugs are vibrant in texture with varying patterns of neutral and bright colors in an assortment of sizes. Urqulio's rugs go beyond the traditional shapes of rugs, taking on the shape of balloons and bells. The mangas collection also includes puf's, which can dub as an ottomans, footrest or side table. Many of Urqulio's products can be purchased from Architonic, but if you're in the mood to be crafty, why not try to make something similar yourself!

Kook + Community

In 2007 Matthew Antichevich, a Hemet based sculptor, created "Magic Carpet Ride." The now infamous surfer statue, located on Highway 101 and Chesterfield in Cardiff-by-the-Sea, CA, has become known as the Cardiff Kook. The bronze piece, standing more than 12 feet high, was commissioned by the Cardiff Botanical Society. It's perched on a piece of pricey coastline real estate, residing over one of Cardiff's busiest intersections. Once unveiled, the Kook was met with much opposition and criticism by both surfers and non-surfers. Many said that it was not a true representation of a surfer's stance, particularly it's limp wrists and outstretched arms, and comes across as goofy. What was intended to be a celebration of some of the area's best surf breaks soon became the focus of pranks. But over time, the masks, costumes, and signs have in a sense brought the community together. While it's not encouraged or condoned by the city, many of the pranks are far from offensive, leading even Encinitas Mayor, Dan Dalager, to recently state that he personally loved the paper mache shark that gained National attention when it swallowed the Kook. With bikers, joggers, surfers, walkers and beach goers, passing the statue daily, it's a refreshing surprise to wake up to see a new creation. Once adorned, gaggles of gawkers stand around photographing, talking and appreciating the latest creation. Included here are some of the latest pranks: the great white attack, wedding celebration and fight against breast cancer. I personally enjoy it and can't wait to see what comes next. With each passing week, the bar keeps rising.

* images Megan.Christine

Looking for Art: Green/Flash

Typically, when visiting San Diego in search of art and galleries, one is easily directed to the La Jolla Cove, Solana Beach Cedros Design District, and Little Italy's Kettner Blvd. While those neighborhoods are full of galleries, talent and events, it's worth taking the time to check out the less mainstream areas. The art scene in San Diego extends much farther, and I frequently find myself in North Park and East Village. But for those looking for creativity in north county, with just a little effort, creative pockets are quickly discovered.

One space I've visited recently is Green/Flash. The small gallery and art shop, located in a corner unit on Chesterfield primarily showcases surf related works by local artists. They have an upcoming opening for a collaborative show, The Last Frontier, a surfers inner journey. Artists include: Barry McGee, Thomas Campbell, Chris Del Moro, Matt Beard, Micah Wood, Ash Francomb, Christine Brailsford, and Kris DeGrazio. Opening reception is 16 October, 6-10pm. Enjoy a complimentary brew and mingle with the artists. A portion of the proceeds will go towards Greenpeace. For other upcoming shows and screenings, refer to: http://www.greenflashartshop.com/

Green/flash: 111 Chesterfield Drive, Cardiff by the Sea

California Daze: Cardiff

Tonight, 20 August, from 5-10pm, the Green Flash Gallery is hosting an opening reception for "California Daze" art show. It includes a collection of artists: Susan Wickstrand, Kevin Roche, Ash Francomb, Julie Goldstein, Heather Brown, Matt Beard, Skye Walker, Liz Lantz, Kris Degrazio, and Ashton Howard. With an underlying theme between artists, many of the pieces echo water, movement, and the general surf culture. The Green Flash recently opened in the space previously occupied by Ebb and Flow. It should be a great gathering with local talent. Come mingle and soak in some culture!