August 20, 2008

Oooh Now, This is Exciting

Because of my strange shape (aka gigantically tall, narrow-waisted, huge-boobied and with the rib cage of a sperm whale), I have a somewhat hard time finding fitted dresses. If they have any sort of waist, they're out, as it hits me about two inches below the bottom of my bust line. Also out? Any sort that button up the front as it would pretty much take fabric the size of the AIDS quilt to combat the one-two punch of my breasts and aforementioned rib span. So I'm stuck with stretchy jersey options which can look good (here, here [all right, you really can't see that one but hey look! It's me and Jenny!] and here), but can also look relatively vavoomy and are certainly too cocktaily to wear to the office. Nevertheless, I keep trying. For I am a soldier. Hence my recent purchase of a $130 lovely from Banana Republic:

And, zomg, it fits! Well, kind of. It fits in the important parts, though the waist and, weirdly, the very top are kind of bulgy. So, I'm going to do what I've never done (out of a dedication to being profoundly stubborn and also strangely frugal) and bring the bitch to a tailor. A TAILOR! I know. So extravagant. But considering I talked BR into giving me a 15-percent discount after I bought it (they really have *the best* customer service), I think I can take the money saved and actually procure something that conforms to my "never seen on any woman ever...no really, not ever" dimensions like a glove. Which I also can't buy because my fingers are about as long as cartoon octopus tentacles. Oh the travails!

Posted by Bree at 09:06 AM | Comments (2)

August 01, 2008

Sticks and Stones

Tonight, Matt and I are hosting the Sticks and Stones Party. Similar to 2007's Ball Ball, Sticks and Stones will pay tribute to ball-based cuisine but this year we've thrown a spoke in the works. Or a stick in the spoke. Whatever. Stick-based cuisine will also be on the menu.

Pulling the decorations for the party together pretty much equals taking down the sex swing and buying some plastic forks so I was doubly pleased with myself for having the gumption (and credit-based buying power) to go get some flowers from an actual (non-grocery store) florist for the occasion. And lookee what I done got!

Awww! I even pulled some of the parsnips or kumquats or cucumbers or whatever those things are out of the bottom of the vase BECAUSE I'M AWESOMELY SKILLED LIKE THAT.

Next on the list: wash Kryten dirt off of the baseboards. It's only about 110 degrees here so I'm looking forward to accomplishing about 15-percent of my chore list before collapsing from heat stroke. Good times.

Posted by Bree at 02:05 PM | Comments (2)

June 04, 2008

Homeboy

I was just flipping through the latest issue of Country Living (because that's how I like to rock on Hump Night), and was shocked (!) to see my "Uncle" Mike's gorgeous house featured! Well...uncle's how I always knew him, but to get technical - he's my mom's best friend and my brother's godfather.

No stranger to house press, he, Mike is an amazing craftsman whose restoration of this 1787 Federal in Connecticut also has been in Martha Stewart Living twice. I've seen it myself, and the house as well as the the back outdoor entertaining area, pond and waterfall are all absolutely stunning.

The article isn't online, but I found pictures of the property here. Be sure to click through the link for more pictures on the next page. Apparently it's up for grabs for $3,150,000 so, you know, time to sell some stuff on ebay and get your financials in order.

And if you want to read a wonderful piece Mike wrote about riding in a fox hunt, click here.

Posted by Bree at 09:40 PM | Comments (0)

May 20, 2008

Design Diplomacy Meets Design Dipshits

Grace from Design*Sponge is diplomatic as ever, but check this little nugget out from her time at Surtex:

"surtex was a really interesting show this year- both for the type of work shown and the difficulty i had getting some of the designers to hand me as little as a business card. the nature of the show is a bit trickier than icff and the stationery show- most of these designers are trying to find licensing deals so they’re not looking to deal with press of any type- let alone someone coming up from a website."

Because getting press on one of the most widely read and linked to design blogs would only HINDER their chances at getting a licensing deal, of course.

The fucking attitude in certain areas of the design world (Royal College of Art, I'm looking at YOU) is unfortunate and completely foolish. Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall, as they say. (And by they, I mean the bibles.)

Good luck with that, d-bags.

Posted by Bree at 11:39 AM | Comments (0)

March 20, 2008

Project Runaway

Breaking: I have another project to start!

Thar she blows! Stolen directly from a Design Sponge DIY contest winner - and the perfect solution as to what to do with my beloved Nana's somewhat beloved monogrammed suitcase! Granted, I don't have a dachshund (which, by the by, I totally didn't realize was the same dog as a "Doxon" until, like, 2006), but I do have a Walter. And access to Denver Fabrics, a shop Jessica assures me is to cloth what Hickory Farms is to boxed sausage and cheese. Envy me, bitches!

Posted by Bree at 09:58 AM | Comments (0)

Allaying My Quilt

I was so inspired in Chicago! Both Molly and Jessica have the sweetest, coolest little homes as well as tons of interesting and fun projects and design ideas. All weekend, I kept thinking, "Why, why hath I no time to be all creative and girly? Why ith my time not devoted to making, and doing and learning?" Then I would pour another glass of wine and take a nap.

But! Like a piece of toilet paper stuck to the bottom of a shoe, the inspiration has followed me. So! As is my wont, I decided not to recrochet the wheel over here and, instead, stole one of Molly's projects. Thus! I have ordered pre-cut baby-quilt fabric squares from ebay. From the exact seller she ordered hers from, in fact. Because I am both a copywriter and a copycat. (Though I must say, hers were a lot cooler than mine. Sigh. Gender-neutral pastels? God, I'm desperate.)

Behold! The 20-square chenille quilt squares from Ebay seller Mason's Cottage.

Now all I have to do is learn how to sew and have a baby! Easy peasy.

Posted by Bree at 12:32 AM | Comments (0)

December 20, 2007

Gift Tags c/o The Lovely Molly P.

(Click on the above for expanded version, print and festoon.)

Posted by Bree at 02:35 PM | Comments (0)

November 15, 2007

Branching Out

Awesome awesome awesome idea for curtain rods, via one of the design sites on my Google reader:

I mean, sure, you couldn't really close the drapes but who cares? It's so pretty, it makes me feel funny in the area where my bathing suit covers.

Posted by Bree at 12:28 PM | Comments (0)

November 13, 2007

For Molly

Something to put in your fireplace while you're waiting for it to be redone?

Plush firewood, $12 each at Shiny Squirrel

Posted by Bree at 05:28 PM | Comments (0)

October 28, 2007

Swoon River

I think that I would love to have this wallpaper in a bathroom. Not my weird, slanty, tiny bathroom, naturally, but a bathroom all the same.

Posted by Bree at 11:35 AM | Comments (0)

October 26, 2007

Reminder

Buy the shirt here.

Posted by Bree at 03:04 PM | Comments (0)

October 22, 2007

Guest Columnist: Mike L. Previews Hong Kong's Bathing Ape Store

$350 shoes, $100 t-shirts... this shit is urban pimp for the limo set. The store is also mad cool. As you walk up the neon enhanced staircase into the showroom floor, there is a see-through plexi-glass floor, revealing a revolving track display of their latest kicks. Their newest gear is packaged in toy store packaging... think GI Joe figurine packs but larger. Awesome!

Posted by Bree at 09:18 PM | Comments (0)

September 28, 2007

Prescience: Brabacus Edition

Recently, I nervously confided in Angela that I thought it was high time the abacus made a re-entry onto the design scene and that I believed she should jump the gump by making a cool looking ceramic one. Arguments like "There's gonna be an abacus in every Urban Outfitters - mark my words," and "Abacus, abacus, abacus - what's not to covet?" failed to woo her over to the plus column of my mathematically-based commercial design projection. Indeed, it wasn't until I suggested renaming the tool the "Brabacus" (in honor of, well, me) that she even deigned to consider crafting a prototype in her fancy little kiln.

The word snob springs to mind.

Anyways. As I said, that conversation was held "recently." And nary a mention of the forthcoming Brabacus has been intimated from her corner since. So imagine my delight and excite and overall feeling of glorious vindication when I saw AN ABACUS over on Happy Mundane today:

Apparently it's an archival image available for purchase from House & Garden's new store section. Why? Because people would like to look at a beautiful abacus. In their home. A lot. Down with the haters! ¡Viva la brabacus!

Posted by Bree at 05:19 PM | Comments (0)

September 24, 2007

New Entry Courtesy of Jenny and Zoe

Too funny to stay in my inbox:

Jenny: Thanks to Stella McCartney you can forego pants this winter and still stay warm, all the while exuding the fashionforwardness of a freshman year weed den.

Next spring--the return of the baja.

Zoe: this is what happens when you refuse to use animal products.
the fact that those shoe boots are pleather deepens the wound.

Posted by Bree at 09:03 AM | Comments (0)

September 16, 2007

Good News for the Ape-Armed (ahem...)

According to that dude, "The so-called "bracelet" sleeve, which stops a few inches short of the wrist, continues in popularity."

NOTED!

Posted by Bree at 10:51 PM | Comments (0)

August 06, 2007

Little Push

Awww! Look at that! P Design AND INV/ALT got a write-up in "This Week in Denver." Wheeee! Fame! I wonder what the de-ntellegentsia would say if they knew what trouble those three got up to at the Ball Ball...

Abysmal picture not befitting the collective Colorado coolitude (coCoco) represented by this ball-loving trois-some

OH AND BIG NBenz: Look for a FULL-PAGE feature on Angela's snappable wine glasses in September's Bon Appétit.

Posted by Bree at 11:07 AM | Comments (0)

June 11, 2007

Bada Bing

Great piece in the Design Observer: Everything I Know About Design I Learned From the Sopranos.

On commitment:
"I came home one day, shot her four times. Twice in the head. Killed her aunt, too. I didn't know she was there. And the mailman. At that point, I had to fully commit."

I heard this back in design school, and I still forget it every now and then: if you're going to make something big, make it really big. If you're going to make it simple, make it really simple. Or really small, or really fancy. If you're going after a project, if you're trying to win a competition, if you're serious about getting the job done, don't bother unless you're willing to fully commit.

Posted by Bree at 03:16 PM | Comments (0)

June 06, 2007

Realiza With a "Z"

There is absolutely nothing I hate more in this world than measuring. Which is totally the reason why I haven't ordered window treatments, I just realized.

30's = self-realization
40's = first convertible
50's = vaginal reconstruction surgery
60's = burgeoning interest in cryogenics
etc.

Posted by Bree at 06:47 PM | Comments (0)

May 30, 2007

Quoth

"Beware of all enterprises that require new clothes." - Henry Thoreau

What a DORK. Getting new clothes is arguably the only value of any enterprise. And that includes new jobs, new towns, new husbands and new children.

Do you think this is the kind of stuff underlying why my BF refers to me as the pessimistic nihilist?

Huh.

Anys, far as I'm concerned, I can't wait to hit up the Flatirons Mall on Sunday and git. me. some. spanking. new. P. Design. duds. Chick's gotta look styley, quaff ex-lax, etc.

Posted by Bree at 05:17 PM | Comments (0)

PR Meet Design; Design? PR.

I just got an e-mail that said, in part, "Downer day on sweetandbitter. For what it's worth, I believe that only acceptance of something you know to be untrue, unfulfilling or unsatisfying constitutes failure.

Failure would be if you stayed living a soul-crushing existence in NYC. Failure would be if you chose to do PR instead of contemplating what it would be like to do your own thing. Failure would be if you resign yourself to anyone else's opinion of you."

Hear, here.

To that end, and to alleviate the bumm I've been cultivating over in the Park Hill area, I've been thinking about all the exciting things that lie in store between now and that day in 2099 when I finally pass away from this mortal coil. One thing that gets me revved?

The first meeting of an (as yet named) design club here in town last night. Nota benz Jamie at DesignKlub's wee write-up on it, and shoot her an electronic if you'd like to get on the list.

And, not calling it failure or anything, but I, erm, did offer to serve as PR rep for this group. How could I not? It's chockablock with an exciting mix of industrial, graphic, fabric, fine and ceramic artists (incl. my new favorite person, Angela at Inv/Alt), gallery and shop owners and even just a few hobbyists - all of whom can benefit from my masterful use of the em dash and AP style city abbreviations.
Apple don't fall far from the press release tree, apparentaments.
You can run, but you can't hide.
Rhythm is gonna get you.
As are sub-heds.

Jeebs.

(See, Rick, told you I posted more when I was unhappy. Or was it that I posted more when I was happy. Shittt. Now I dun furgot. Pass the herb.)

Posted by Bree at 03:28 PM | Comments (0)

May 09, 2007

Logo Schmogo

Surprisingly, I'm not having the best of luck with the part of TSC I like the most...the design part. Specifically, the logo design. I've participated in enough branding initiatives to know this stuff takes as much time as it does inspiration, so I'm sweating the process very little, kicking back and enjoying the research. To that end, check out these business card design ideas (gripped [xoxotoyouANP!] from kottke as I shamelessly like to do.

Some favorites:

Gilded edges

Metallica (really like it for the grommet...sshhh)

Schoolin' the competition

Posted by Bree at 08:38 PM | Comments (0)

May 01, 2007

Lighten Your Load

Wow.
More info here.

Had enough of the gossamer chair? Come back down to earth with a plateful of batshit crazy here. But really, why stop at the plateful...scoop up a cake of foie gras and chow down on a disheartening Per Se exposé here. This piece makes me a. realize the futility of exercise and b. realize how much I miss New York cuisine. Mmmm.

Posted by Bree at 10:19 PM | Comments (0)

March 21, 2007

Shutter to Think

Not too shabbs an idea for those of us (me) still hanging on to relics of an almost obsolete era. However, since this move has been the first time I've actually relegated the CDs to the basement rather than displaying them front and center in the living room, I'm not quite ready to reincorporate them into my decor.

Thus?

Thinking a couple of shutters hung on the wall over my desk might make a swankadoo storage spot for folders and notebooks and all the effluvia I like to look at while I'm daydreaming. Naturally, the piece will be accented with one (or more) Mick pics, a couple of inspo-quotes, snaps of my lovies and all the other stuff I also like to look at when I'm daydreaming. Like Jack Wagner.

Posted by Bree at 11:25 PM | Comments (0)

January 03, 2007

Linkin Park

I haven't even assuaged my dehydration with an XL coffee yet, and still - here I am: striving to make your January 4th January 3rd a quality one with the following designy jewelry link, forwarded from my excellent compatriot Paul.

Check this: Han Cholo. Site rocks, stuff rocks, everything rocks rocks.

I think I need that Guns n' Roses t-shirt, like, statwise.

Paul, did you know that if you had a party and invited everyone you knew...you would see, the biggest gift would be from me and the card attached would say, "Thank you for being a friend."

Oh wait.
You are having a party.
And now I have to get a gift?
Crap.

Posted by Bree at 08:24 AM | Comments (0)

November 26, 2006

Nice Work, D(rought)-Town

Hey! Look at that! Denver's water-saving campaign just got a mention on the Cool Hunter.net. (Lest you be confused, this site is apparently different than Boulder's own coolhunter Josh Spear and also is not the same as the similarly monikered Coolhunting.com. This rampaging gang of cool leads me to believe that - like Ice T in Surviving the Game - cool clearly is the new prey, and Denver better watch its back. And turn off its faucet.)

Posted by Bree at 02:58 PM | Comments (0)

November 22, 2006

People Who Live In Abandoned Brick Warehouses...

shouldn't hang wallpaper.

Unless, of course, it looks like this:

In which case, carry on, way to go, hooray for you, nice work and sorry about what I said before.

Posted by Bree at 03:53 PM | Comments (0)

November 14, 2006

Oh and Speeeeaking of Organic Design...

Check out these new lights from Wunderworks:

Bones! Bling!
Bones-n-bling!!
It must be a sign to make that spine mine!

UPDATE: This is definitely in the running as the least compelling entry ever. Aside, of course, from the weather report below. Ever in search of justification, I've decided to blame both the "Kathleen Turner with a traecheotomy" case of laryngitis I've been rockin' since Saturday and my overall unease with the poetic form. Either way, my recent problems with communication of both the literal and artistic sense have clearly been extended to the typed realm.

Next up? Banging on my bottles like a chimpanzee. Anyone got a webcam I can borrow?

Posted by Bree at 04:38 PM | Comments (0)

November 13, 2006

Furby

Above, the latest piece of animal to find its way to my cozy home backslash den of death. This one comes all the way from Scot-o-land care of the fabu new gifty/crafty site Papa Stour.

Between the coffee table vertabrae, the horse skull, the hairy buffalo horns, the horn bowl and the stag head, I'm beginning to think that Rick was right when he called my design sense "organic." Organic or super-illin'. Potato, potahto.

Posted by Bree at 09:04 PM | Comments (0)

November 10, 2006

Clarification

In talking to a few of my loyal fanbaseheads, I realized that I failed to make clear that the pictures posted of my recent design project were BEFORE shots.

I've been working on it all week, and will definitely post a bunch when I'm done but here's just a little taste of the progress made:

Sun King

Fly Away on Butterfly Wings, Black Abe...Fly! Fly!

Posted by Bree at 10:40 PM | Comments (0)

November 06, 2006

Giving Catholicism the Brush Off

A+ News: I got the go-ahead to buy one of these awesomely brushily brashily bad boys from P Design Gallery for Rick's living room redesign project:

[Not so shabs for a cellular snap, she noted smugly.]

Friends buying from friends to help friends: Oooh we likey the synergy so muchy.

Posted by Bree at 09:10 PM | Comments (0)

D-Town D-Sign O-Rama

A few weeks ago I started on a super-fun project for my friend Rick. The charge? Make his living and dining rooms more cozy and more inviting on a budget of about $3,000 (not counting furniture). "Ah...no probs," Bree enthused, shoving a third handful of peanut butter cups into her maw. "Will you buy me another orange scone?"

Naturally, this process won't be "done done" for about a month or so - especially seeing as Rick is flying on a private plane (incredulity mine) to NYC for the week as I type this - but I wanted to post some before pictures to give you an idea of where I've been spending a lot of time.

Also, so you can see where the party's gonna be while he's in NY. Seriously. There's even a Ping Pong table in the basement.

Did I hear someone say, "Beirut?!"

Yeah, that Diet Pepsi and Pantone book are mine. Shove it.

More are over there on Flickr (hit the link to your right, strive to outthink the ghastly user-unfriendly interface, nod head in awe that I just wrote the word "interface," etc.). Or just click here, and doubleclick on any picture to see it fullscreen.

Posted by Bree at 08:41 AM | Comments (0)