Lost + Found

Why do I love Lost + Found so much? There are so many reasons that I can barely name them all. Here are a few. Owners, Sandy and Jenny Martin (mother and daughter), are two of the nicest ladies. Their eye for unique and stylish pieces is uncomparable. Some of my favorite lines are Talla, Tramp, Industry, Heavy Rotation, GSUS, Orla Kiely, Highway Bags, Goorin, Poetic License and LAMade just to name a few.

This store has also been my saving grace on more than one occasion, like when my gorgeous vintage Oscar De La Renta dress decided have a zipper malfunction in the middle of a work day. I promptly wrapped myself in my trench and darted down the street to my favorite little shop. In no time, I had a new outfit and was back at work. :-)

I have recommended this store to so many people, and everyone always loves it. No matter what their style or age.

Lost + Found
133 N 3rd St, Philadelphia
(215) 928-1311


[Clockwise from top left: store front, Sandy and Jenny Martin, store interior, Lost+Found's diverse customers, store interior]

nerd alert

Finally there's a name for it...via Graphic Design USA, JUNE 07

Revenge of the Nerds
Avant-nerdism is gaining steam and will hit the mainstream in 2009, "Avantnerdiwhat?" you ask. Zandl Group researchers, the ultimate trendspotters, define avant-nerd as a stylish, cool or social person who engages in nerd culture with full awareness of the irony of his or her behavior. Irm Zandl says that avant-nerds are the new creative class and that they possess a "compact, eco-friendly, quirky and smart" aesthetic. Avant-nerds tap into retro styles and reflect a european sensibility. They ironically re-approriate nerd culture, transforming the formerly nerdy into something cool. The aesthetic is influencing fashion, industrial design and interior design, Zandl adds.

Amy Ploss-Hampsey Benefit

Date: July 21, 2007
Time: 2-8PM
Location: Erie County Fairgrounds, Wattsburg, PA

welcome to the dollhouse

I love the bright, fun and retro-inspired color palette throughout this article in Readymade Magazine. The chalkboard paint above the fireplace is a particularly simple yet inspired idea.

[Pictures from Readymade Magazine's article "Welcome to the Dollhouse"]

Tsé & Tsé...and it's not a fly

Quirky cool Parisian home accessories from Tsé & Tsé. I can just see the floating flower vase on my kitchen table filled with pretty little blooms.


[Top to bottom: floating flowering vase, revolving treasure stand]

Anne Willi

I first discovered Anne Willi on a trip to Paris. She has a wonderful little shop on Rue Keller, which is one of my favorite little shopping streets. The construction of her pieces is masterful, and the quality and feel of the material is crisp and sophisticated. The Fall/Winter collection has that "cool artist girl who lives next door and doesn't have to try too hard to be stylish" look. Gotta love it.


[From Spring/Summer '07 Collection]


[From Fall/Winter '07 Collection]

the beauty of nature

I really love Alex Monroe's nature inspired jewelry. Every piece is so beautiful, perfect and feminine. While at the same time managing to not be overly sacarine sweet. I may just treat myself to the Two Birds on a Ring piece...


[Top to bottom, left to right: Two Birds on a Ring, Rose Ball necklace, Hummingbird Hoop earrings, Tiny Butterfly ring]

Antoine+Manuel

I adore Antoine+Manuel. They have for years been creating the most magical designs for the Christian Lacroix fashion shows. The complexity and creativity of the pieces is just simply breathtaking. Even beyond their print design, I want to slap their sticker wall graphics all over my little apartment.


[Christian Lacroix Designs: 2006 Haute Couture Checklist, Summer 2006 prêt-à-porter Checklist, 2005 Haute Couture Invitation]

Marian Bantjes

Jealous much? No, not me. OK, maybe a little. I am consistently left drooling everytime I see something new from Marian Bantjes. Her exquistive lettering is any typophile's dream.


[InStyle Wedding Feature]

Why do I love thee? It's the illustrations that look like they are woven lace and the amazing charts that take basic information from boring to sizzling. Anyone who knows me knows how I love love love a good list, graph or chart. Order can be beautiful!


[Top to bottom, left to right: Fox River Paper Promo, Jerry Garcia Chart, True Heart Valentine, Influence Map]

Date set for 2007 Project H.O.M.E. Young Friends Event

We have a date and location for the 2007 Project H.O.M.E. Young Friends Event! If you’re in the Philadelphia area and you would like to know more about the event, please contact me.

Here are the details:
WHEN: Thursday, November 1st, 2007, 5:30-8pm
WHERE: University of the Arts, Solmssen Court Great Hall, 320 S. Broad Street, Philadelphia

Julianna Holowka

I came across Julianna Holowka's Mean Cards at the Art Star Craft Bazaar. They are so simple, so cute and sooo funny. Not only did I buy some, but so did both of my girlfirends that I was with. I especially like the ones that aren't so G-rated, and for the eco-conscious folks like myself they are printed on recycled paper and the envelopes are made of brown paper grocery bags.

I was pleasantly surprised when I checked out her website and found that she also has other design ventures, including some lovely pillows and very unique lighting. I love the toile mace lamp! You can view her collections on her website, or visit her Etsy site to pick up some Mean Cards for yourself.


[Mean Cards: "Quit almost touching me" and "You dance funny", Flowering Pillow, Mace Lamp]

Amy Hampsey Benefit Event

My beloved cousin, Amy, was recently diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma. It literally broke my heart when I heard the news, and it has been such a devestating blow to our family. Our family is working on putting together a benefit event in her honor to help out with some of the financial expenses she and her family are enduring. She's a trooper, and her positive can-do attitude is an inspiration to me everyday. We were and are like two bookends. She was blonde. I was brunette. She was sweet and gentle. I was always breaking something or in trouble. I love her just like a sister, and she is the ying to my yang. I am working on a poster for the event and will be posting more about it as details get finalized. If you are in the Erie-area, I hope you will come out to support.


[Amy and Joy, "The Dandelion Farmers"]

Jason Sho Green

I spotted this print at a craft fair, but mistakenly didn't pick up. It wouldn't leave my mind, so I went on a mad hunt to find it. I Googled it, and no luck. I contacted the store that was selling it, but they didn't have anymore. Fortunately, they were able to point me to the artist's website and now I'm even more hooked. Jason Sho Green is a ridiculously talented illustrator and so funny! Some of the content is a bit runchy, but some of us (me) like low-brow humor.


[Special Needs Horse by Jason Sho Green]

Zach Horn

I recently discovered Zach Horn's work at Tselaine in Philadelphia, and was immediately struck by the layering and dynamic color of his paintings. If only I had the money to drop on one of these stunning pieces, I totally would. Zach is graduate of U. Penn, but now lives in New York City.

[from artist's website: ARTIST STATEMENT - I see the world in abstract terms. I see chaos in the patterns on buildings and in the movements of people on the sidewalk. I have seen it in schools of fish off the coast of Panama and I have witnessed abstraction in the mountains of Argentina. I see abstraction because the world is infinitely more complex than a painting could be. Therefore, to try to capture the world on canvas is either an illusion or a mistake.]

marimekko love

I have always been profoundly intrigued by Marimekko. No matter whether the patterns are classic geometric style or of the more modern organic influence, the design is undeniable bold. Lately, I have taken a keen interest in one of their newer designers and the vitality that his creations bring to the house.

Samu-Jussi Koski has created a series of sophisticated and playful clothes utilizing classic patterns from the likes of Maija Isola and Anneli Qveflander. There just something so Holly Golightly about it all, and it makes me smile.

I'm dying to get my hands on several items from the winter collection, and I will be posting about that very soon.

[left to right: selections from Samu-Jossi Koski's Marimekko Spring/Summer 2007 collection.]

2007 Art Star Craft Bazaar

As usual, the folks from Art Star put on yet another great event. It's so amazing to see how the interest has grown in this event over the last couple years. The first year I went there were probably around thirty vendors, and this year is was well over one hundred. There was some really cool stuff and some really strange. I'll be posting more about some of my favorites. Even the scorching 90+ temperture did not seem to dampen the spirits of everyone there. And who can say anything bad about delicious $3 watermelon mojitos? Not me, that's for sure. I'm already looking forward to next year.


[left to right, top to bottom: view of vendors down Germantown Ave, Me and Maddy, Amanda perusing TadWorks booth.]