Stash Studios

Loft Tour: Nassau Street Office Turned Home

via loftlifemag.com

Curators

We'd probably all agree that visioning and creating a bag or a painting or a photo or a piece of music constitutes creating art on some level. But I'm going to take it further and say that creating a shop can also be creating art. And maintaining that shop is like curating an ongoing, ever-changing exhibit. 

Any type of shop that has a unique vibe, that strives to bring together a broad range of elements in a creative way, that makes me think of and desire objects in a new way and with a new appreciation is a well-curated shop.

Last week I gave some examples of unique menswear and denim shops: Liquor Store and Butcher of Blue. And this week I want to celebrate a few more shops that do more than shopkeep. Rather than simply sell loads of cheap manufactured crap, they are more selective, more innovative and therefore I consider them to be artisans.

Saffron and Genevieve is a shop curated by the lovely Colleen Hickey and based in Santa Cruz, California. And the sign shown at the top of the page was taken from her shop. (Love the sentiment Colleen). 

Uncommon Objects is a shop in Austin, Texas curated largely by Steve Wiman and his staff of unique seekers including folks like Bruce and Julie Webb of Webb Gallery .

Stag is a menswear shop opening soon in Austin and curated by a group of talented guys including Steve Shuck (also known for his amazing shop - Mercury Design Studio), Bobby Johns, Joel Mozersky, Ted Allen, and Don Weir. Read more here.

Tumbleweed Boutique is a dress shop in Portland, Oregon curated by Kara Larson who got started by sewing dresses in her sister's garage. Kara designs a lovely line of dresses known as Kara-line which can be found at Tumbleweed along with a well-edited selection of jewlery, hand bags, slips, shoes, and items for home and garden.

There are many many more shops to list but these are a few favorites. The bottom line is this: these days its not about buying more but about buying more thoughtfully.

That's all for me today. Peace out,

Mothology

Enjoy this new discovery - Mothology. So much vintage-inspired goodness. The science of style indeed. I've been looking for unique lights and these mercury pendants (above right) are brilliant and reasonably priced.

 

I have a thing about magnifying glasses so this one struck me as postworthy. And those bowls! Is it me or does that look like rusty nails to you. Very interesting!

Peace,

via Di @  designersblock.blogspot.com

That Girl

via gatekeeper.tumblr.com

I'm imagining myself curled up here with a good book.
Have a great weekend,

We have a few issues

Four issues to be exact. REFUELED Magazine is going to drop this weekend. My main contribution to this issue includes photos of Monahans (sneak peek tomorrow) and the cover photo and story on singer-songwriter, Amy Cook (above). 

If you are just tuning in, REFUELED is a FREE (yes, free) online magazine that an ever-evolving group of creatives contribute to on a twice-yearly basis. Since issue one, I have volunteered services as a features editor and photographer/stylist and occasional talent scout. So far I've contributed feature stories and photography on the following:

• Hotel Saint Cecilia
• Courtney Smith Barton
• Western Fifth
• Refueled Editor Style
• Collector Series: Don Weir
• Slip Into My Life
• Photo Essay: Teeth
• Photo Essay: Warrenton
• Collecting: A Religious Experience
• Music Review: Jim White
• Various photos throughout

I can't link directly to these stories in issuu for your convenience, however, you can catch up on the previous issues or watch the promo video for this issue at REFUELED Magazine. And you can see all the REFUELED-related posts that I've done on my blog here.

The magazine is the brainchild of Chris Brown who currently runs the following blogs: Refueled, Fuzz, and Choka, as well as Refueled Films and Refueled Sidewalk Surfboards. Chris is the publisher, creative director, bulldog, and editor-in-chief. No, I have no idea when or if the man sleeps. 

The publication has evolved quite a bit in the last two years and I hope you enjoy Issue 4.

Do You Know Jack?

via www.flickr.com

I've long loved Jack, Union Jack to be exact. Was thrilled to pick up one with a good patina recently. But when something crosses your radar, you begin to notice it in other places. Here are a few places Jack has shown up recently.

via fuzzfashion.blogspot.com

 

via www.theoldcinema.co.uk

 

via www.therugcompany.info and thebedlamofbeefy.blogspot.com

via homeshoppingspy.wordpress.com

via heartanddesign.blogspot.com

via sixxdesign.com

All for now,

Details

Here is a peek at some of the details in our guest space. 

Bamboo, palm, lots of new and old vinyl, books, collected fossil and etched word rocks, a sea fan, an old magnifying glass, a record player, an oil painting from my great-grandmother's house, and a vintage Union Jack (traded with the Spartan man at Texas Rose Show - Chaz from Cape Cod) for a jalapeño margarita at Warrenton this past season. 

More photos soon.

lets. rebuild.

via letsrebuild.blogspot.com

Between the fall breeze and inspirations gained from lets. rebuild., I might be covering those Cole Steel chairs this weekend. Let you know how it goes.

Set to Stun

Working with hide on a regular basis, I can tell you that it is not the easiest material to work with. Nothing cheapens a hide product more than a poor cut or bad stitch. There is an art and nuance to using the material. So I was truly stunned when I came across the work of Kyle Bunting. 

This man is passionate about hide and it shows. Working with hide for more than a decade, Kyle has successfully and elegantly redefined how hide can be used in interior applications. 

 

His collection and studio work include rugs as well as wall coverings and are a testament to his passion and vision for the potential of hide.

Desiring

If you don't know my friend Leanne - The Vintage Laundress, you need to. She does a Want It Wednesday post that always knocks my socks off. It was her most recent WIW post that introduced me to Jayson Home & Garden of Chicago.

Although I've just returned home from a massive junk and curiousity scout at Warrenton, Jayson's kind of made me have post partum for a few of the things I left behind.

Vintage Trunks and cases are always a must on my scavenger list. I'm loving the one shown but I recently scored a Vintage Hartman case with a killer patina, so not much regret there.

Enamel Numbers are something I just started to scout. After seeing how fantastic they looked in Courtney's home, I'm looking for ways to incorporate into my own.

Bus Station Scrolls are killer. This one is a bit smaller but I especially like the red accents.

Suzani Pillows. Suzani means needlework to most collectors but really is synonymous with the glorious embroideries of Uzbekistan in Central Asia. Really, any way in which to incorporate a touch of beautiful ethnicity and handwork into a home works for me.

Ah, the Barcelona Chair. These are a remake of the Barcelona but I am completely infatuated with the sleek look and feel. I'm on the lookout for something like this in the new office lounge space.

Drums make a great side table. When I saw this one, I kept thinking of the one in Warrenton with a clear face and two ceramic light sockets wired in. I had absolutely no place for it but I was slightly obsessed with what an amazing lighted side table it would make.

Have a great weekend,