Arkme

Stephanie Land is a Brooklyn, NY artist by way of Chicago making waves as a photographer and paper artist. Her photos document life and her travels, while her paper arts combine old materials, vintage finds, handmade papers, and her personal spin to create unique masterpieces. She is also a self-proclaimed letter writer and her personal letters to friends and family are each distinctive pieces shared with lucky receivers.

It's Sunday- original letter

In spending just a short time with Stephanie, it’s clear that not only is she talented, she’s a lovely spirit bringing that to all she works with. At the recent FRESHER! exhibition put on by Younity, she confessed she didn’t know what she was going to contribute to the show to be in line with their eco-conscious theme, but was up for the challenge. After Younity suggested a book art piece, Stephanie had fun with merging the old + new world, reworking images, and creating The Whole Wide World- a revamped book turned flip-through art.

The Whole Wide World - repurposed book

The Whole Wide World

Boxes and Writings, one of Stephanie’s photographs, was also on display at the FRESHER! gallery. The photograph was taken in Sao Paulo, Brazil as she documented the streets through her eyes during her stay. While the photo keeps in theme with the FRESHER! message and common aesthetic of brown cardboard boxes, Stephanie also took the theme to a personal level when choosing what to submit. She interpreted the show’s theme as being open to change, especially creatively, going for the reinvention of self, and always benefiting from doing so. Her pieces in the show have done that for her, and it’s an idea she takes on in her life and with other projects. Her email signature even includes a quote from the inventor of Polaroid in the same frame of mind: “Don’t undertake a project unless it is manifestly important and nearly impossible.” – Edwin Land

Boxes & Writings - photo by Stephanie Land

Currently Stephanie is working on another project involving her Brazil travels. Leading up to her visit to Brazil, Stephanie wrote letters to the friend she stayed with. After arriving, Stephanie took photos and gathered books from thrift shopping. While only a small percentage of the letters she wrote leading to her visit to Brazil actually made it to the recipient, no doubt Stephanie will bring together a series of unique viewpoint, life, and free spirit as she creates this project.

For more of Stephanie’s work, please visit her sites:
http://www.stephanie-land.com/
http://stephanielandclicks.blogspot.com/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stephanieland/sets

You know those favorite clothing pieces you have? The ones you will tear up the house for when you need a clutch item, the ones that are so you, the ones that fit and wear well and speak for your core self when you need it most. Yup, those. Well, I, like you, have them, and turns out the majority of mine are by Princess of the Posse.

I came across Princess of the Posse (P.O.P.) about a year ago as they were preparing for their lookbook shoot. Kelly, the leading lady herself, sent a hopeful email about borrowing shoes, I referred her to our press showroom, and so it began. Our showroom had some pairs for P.O.P. to use; I was especially happy because Kelly was so willing to work around what we could do and was so sweet and unpretentious, I wanted to help her. I’ve seen a bunch of emails from people asking to borrow shoes for all sorts of projects. Some are professional, some convey a sense of entitlement, some are too big for their britches, and some are brown-nosers like none other. Kelly’s emails and whole way she handled the sample pull had something different: heart.

Since that initial contact, that’s what I associate with Kelly and her line: heart. Heart well balanced with brains, hard work, taste, and doing what needs to be done.

And indeed, Kelly is staying consistent with how I think of her when it comes to her latest collection. A few months back Kelly asked if she could borrow shoes for her A/W ’09 lookbook shoot, and of course I wanted to give her all I could. In the follow-up to see pictures and hear how it went, Kelly broke it to me P.O.P. was not going to release their AW ’09 collection. I was surprised. I saw linesheets, I saw photos, I picked out my must-have pieces, and I was excited for it. I hoped it wasn’t due to some hard life circumstance thrown at her.

Originally, P.O.P. planned on releasing an entire A/W ‘09 collection. They came up with the designs, presented linesheets, put together an awesome team to shoot their lookbook, and gathered orders. Did I mention that the P.O.P. team of two, Kelly and Peter, took care of all the above? Did I mention Kelly balances being a mom with creatively driving the line, figuring out production, spreading the word, and so many other hats that come with running a company? Or that Peter holds it down as a photographer to keep this self-funded venture going?

When you take into account all going on behind the scenes at P.O.P., it’s understandable that releasing a fresh collection each season is a lot stay on top of. P.O.P. has quickly gained fans and grown quicker than anticipated in their 2 years being out. For this season, their fans would have found new favorites in what they cooked up, but Kelly and Peter felt the collection wasn’t all they had to give. In pausing to look at it, they weren’t completely satisfied with what they produced and knew they could do better. To stay true to their artistic vision, they chose not to rush, but instead take a hiatus for A/W ’09.

However, instead of calling it quits, P.O.P. has recently released the (versatile and cute) “Paid in NY” crewneck sweater for Holiday 2009. The sweater is a standalone item and solo release for the A/W ’09 collection, in two colors and limited quantities. True, P.O.P.’s presence may be slimmed down for the season, but to maintain their brand integrity and take a step back to focus, P.O.P. chooses to give us a single to rock as they work on the next album for us.

With pieces that speak who you are and you want to wear proudly, you expect they come from a place that is putting heart into it. Looking at P.O.P., this is definitely true, and to maintain the same level as past collections, maintain growth, and stay true to their vision, they’re choosing to step back. It takes courage to do so, and of course comes with trepidation that some will forget, but the reward is they get to design as they see best, regroup, and resume at their own pace.

Whatever comes next, P.O.P. is committing to put out their best, put their all into it, and not stop. The girls who are their Princess of the Posse aren’t going to stop being so, and they’ll keep seeking those key pieces P.O.P. strives to make.

Turns out, you really can be rational and lead with heart, and that’s what’s up for P.O.P.

Welcome to the tea party of the ladies of the LES who lunch- the 80%20 Spring 10 collection. Here you laugh and sip spice tea with the Mad Hatter, and still get to kiss the prince.

Stay tuned for more leading up to the December ‘09 exclusives and February ‘10 collection release.
http://8020shoes.blogspot.com/

Seriously, how excited are you for the “Where the Wild Things Are Movie”?!??!? Not as excited as me? Well, get there.

WTWTR soundtrack

Check out the soundtracking my gf Karen O. did for the movie. As if the movie needed more reason to be awesome.
http://stereogum.com/archives/stream-the-where-the-wild-things-are-soundtrack_092471.html

Let’s all be monsters and go there with Max.

<3

Sometimes I look around and wish something would light my fire. Even when I find things I appreciate, would and will wear, and look more than twice at, it’s not often I am blown away and inspired by an entire line.

Take that into consideration as I tell you: THIS LINE LIGHTS MY FIRE. Not tired, not a revamp in new packaging, not someone else’s. Finally here: Pre-K.

The name is quite fitting, not just because of their target demographic, but because their launch brings the same feeling I recall when I started pre-k. You know, preschool was under my belt, so I wasn’t nervous anymore. It was time for fun, games, friends, learning, and new life. True to its name, the apparel line is exactly that. It’s for the babes, with ingredients the grown and knowing will appreciate. Brian Pope and Renatta Hosein let us play with their brainchild: the wonderfully quirky, sweet, and definitely spunky Pre-K apparel line. A perfect niche indeed and showing that hours of labor bring things of beauty. Declaring, “Street wear and baby clothes both embrace meaning, color and playfulness. They’re a match made in heaven,” Pre-K delivers art, giggles, and reality rolled into one. Trust, you will ooh and aah and likely want a baby just to see it in these threads.

Don’t believe something so fresh can really be true? Look at some of their first lookbook shots and see for yourself.

Young’ns, see what hard work and creativity bring about? A very bright future.

Learn all about it: http://prekapparel.com/
Stock up for all the tots in your life: http://www.karmaloop.com/vendor.aspx?VendorCode=PRE&bysex=2

Spread the word and support your independent creatives.

Ello, Arkme-ers!
To launch my part here on this new site, I have chosen to set the tone with this vid, a new fave. Enjoy, laugh, admire, wonder, and smile a whole lot. Even if you’ve seen it before.