DESIGN GLUT

I have to give some love to my two little friends, the charming Kegan Fisher and Liz Kinnmark, the totally irreverent and completely talented duo that make up Design Glut. Not only are they both adorable (by the looks of it, they just got themselves a shmancy photoshoot - but in real life the girls are less glam but equally cute), but they have a fledgling little Brooklyn design firm that focuses on cheeky, DIY projects.



Also, and not to make me biased, they attend Surface events like it's their job. They come to parties, to speaking events - they are like the smart, interesting kids that you always meant to be friends with in high school - but for the New York indie design scene.

Of course, they just launched a sale on their site, which is impeccably designed and very visually appealing. A couple of their products are pretty rad, like the globally inspired world links necklace:


Which is only $60, but at their sale price is less than $50.



I also like their newly introduced world currencies money clip...:


REMEMBER: Use coupon code HAPPYFUCKINGHOLIDAYS

I recently got emailed about this small DIY project the two girls conceived of (with a $100 prize!) involving a Christmas tree ornament and following some cutting-and-folding instructions. Commenting on the current economic situation, the girls are encouraging people to cut out their money-tree-topper, assemble it and send them a picture of the project for prizes and general sense of community. Take a looksee here and see what you can come up with. Can you beat these two? Send me a copy if you dare to submit.


Happy fucking holidays, indeed.

New York Jewelers I Want Stuff From

I've been running into jewelers on blogs and whatnot that are New York based and feature some stuff that I really like. There is this nice trend of incorporating found, recycled or natural objects into necklaces and bracelets, and I think it makes things look a bit more well-crafted. And I like fake bling, aggressive images encased in metal or gold, or laser cut acrylic. All three of these designers have a really unique aesthetic, but there is something similar. I can't quite figure it out...



Alex and Chloe: Geometric and extravagant, Alex and Chloe kind of made it big with this awesome necklace featuring the CC of Chanel in black plastic dripping down. I can't find where to purchase it online for the life of me, so I will just have to satiate my desire with a diamond cut out, and amazing perception bending shape and a bit out oceanic imagery (as a way to soften up the collection).
Chloe's Zero Carat Diamond: $52.00


Alex's Pyramid: $56.00


Dream Reflector Necklace: $111.00

Oh, and if one of their swords fell onto my neck, I wouldn't complain one bit.




Erica Weiner : This is the only designer I've actually purchased something from, and Erica wrote me a nice email thanking me for my purchase. It made me feel like I was really supporting something: giving an artist money directly. Erica works with found and organic materials. I love how antiqued everything looks. It has this sweet nostalgic feel, but also stays within the corporal by having these pieces that have a very biological, almost 'cabinet of curiosities' undertone to them. I ADORE the claw necklace.

Book Lover Necklace: $45.00


Raptor Talon Necklace (Gold): $90.00


Twig Bracelet (Silver): $80.00




Made Her Think: Seemingly teeeny tiny, the webstore doesn't have much, but what they do have seems to be a happy medium between Alex and Chloe and Erica Weiner. That antiqued, claws-n-teeth thing translates into a tougher street style that feels very contemporary. Unfortunately I culled this from another blog, but I'm excited to see what this little Brooklyn upstart can do. I am certain that I'll be seeing a ton of those Pyramid Totem Cuffs around - its colorful, charming and a little bit threatening.

Talon Ring: $88.oo

Pyramid Totem Cuff: $132.00

Rose Totem Cuff: $264.00


Note: you can purchase all of these online...so get yourself something threatening and beautiful. Or get it for me. Either/or.

THE ACCURSED DANCE

In the Battledroid world, I'd like to think we crave culture like bats out of hell (what?). I just wanted to give a little shout out to a group of talented dancers that are doing a little performance at the Brooklyn Arts Exchange this Friday and Saturday (my room mate, the sensuous Marisa Wallin, will be one of them).

Since we all hunger to support independent, experimental and localized projects, I thought I'd put up a little information about the performance, which sounds incredibly chaotic and imaginative:

"In The Accursed Items, choreographer Andrew Dinwiddie reanimates the work of other dance and theater artists as discovered in a particular kind of accursed item: deleted scenes and rehearsal videos from never-used and drastically reworked dances.

Alternately austere and rambunctious, The Accursed Items draws from material that was not quite good enough for The Wooster Group, Big Dance Theater, Metallica and others.

Anchored by text from J. Robert Lennon exposing the lingering psychic life of objects, The Accursed Items is a sympathy card for everything that was never good enough. "

I have a tremendous amount of lingering psychic life from objects, and I hope to get it excised during the show. Oh, and in the worst case scenario, they have three dollar beers you can drink inside.
Here is the info:

ADDITIONAL ACCURSED DETAILS:

FRIDAY, JUNE 13:

Pre-show reception
Beer & cheese pairing hosted by Chris Munsey of Murray's Cheese
7 pm | $50 suggested donation
For this reception, RSVP to dinwiddie@gmail.com

Friday's performance features a reading by author J. Robert Lennon and post-show talkback with Andrew Dinwiddie.

SATURDAY, JUNE 14:

Saturday's Accursed Items evening includes performances by Karinne Keithley, Daniel Linehan and Neal Medlyn

Afterparty at Jackie's Fifth Amendment
404 Fifth Avenue (at 7th Street)
9:30pm | $10 at the door

The Accursed Items is being created by:

Katie Brook Frank DenDanto III Benjamin Forster Natalie Green

Jill Guidera Caleb Hammons Tom Hennes Julia May Jonas

Dylan Latimer Kristine Lee Carly Pansula Erin Tracy

Marisa Wallin Angrette McCloskey Daniel Allen Nelson Jessica Wasilewski

Wendy Meiling Yang

With text by: J. Robert Lennon Atul Gawande

Oh, and at $8 for you low-income peoples (us creative types, struggling against commoditizing our art), its totally worth it. Get tickets here, and here and here and here.