Built NY x Alexander Girard

Built NY has created these Alexander Girard Retrospective neoprene bags that are so squishy to hold and lay your head on. Making it even more outdoor lawn concert perfect is its ability to keep sodas, apples and sandwiches cool. Artist Alexander Girard's textile designs are a favorite (along with Retrospective, I also picked up Girard's La Fonda, modern art collaborations are clearly my Achilles heel) so these were a must grab. With these I finally found the perfect laptop / ipad sleeve by Built which conveniently fits inside these bags. Too bad I'm not going back to school.



Image: MAM for Gave That

Ruffian's Mise en Scene

To be sprawled out on top of these Love Letter sheets by New York City based Ruffian would be divine (the missives superimposed are said to be vintage Brooklyn), with a Denyse Schmidt quilt on top. Swoon. From Anthropologie.

Image: anthropologie.com

ADAM x Ellen Harvey x EV DAY for the Whitney Museum

The light has really failed me today. You know those days that are otherwise gorgeous and have a tantalizing blue sky but the light seems trapped in the upper hemisphere and never quite reaches you in this black forest like setting. That's been this week and how inconvenient because I have so many incredible things to show you.

One being this new collaboration between ADAM (Adam Lippes) and Ellen Harvey benefiting the Whitney museum. Evidently limited to 1000 pieces mine is number 195. You can get yours here at the Whitney online shop or by stopping into the museums gift shop. Three pleasant surprises: the shirts are made in the USA. There are actual patches sewn onto Harvey's shirt (from the pictures it looked screen printed) and lastly, the Suprima cotton fabric feels out of this world. It could be mistaken for silk. Nice job Mr. Lippes.

I also got the E. V. Day designed shirt as well and it's equally luscious. One or both might make an appearance on me here at the blog. In the mean time hopefully this has wet your appetite for clothing doubling as art and a fun way to support living American artists through the Whitney.

Image: MAM for Gave That

Pin Up!

Playing around with silk ribbons and vintage pins...




Image: MAM for Gave That | J. Crew Fall 2010 Lookbook via Style.com

Friendship Bracelets

Over the past few months I've noticed an explosion of the childhood summer staple... woven friendship bracelets. Personally I'm ecstatic not only because of the fun memories of weaving and swapping but just the whimsy they add to life nowadays. Today I dug out my ancient copy of Laura Torres' "Friendship Bracelets" from Klutz (the best book if you want to whip up your own) and made the little lavender & gold chevron number above out of some silk embroidery floss laying about.

These are actually very easy to weave by creating tiny knots. Somehow just the act of making them is deeply therapeutic in itself. I'm off to make another. Once you've made some you can take things to the next level and add some rhinestones... for that and another easier to make braided crystal wrap bracelet, see my tutorial here.

DIY silk floss friendship bracelet worn with a Swarovski crystal wrap bracelet & watch by Movado.

Image: MAM for GaveThat

Living Centerpiece

Scrambling for something to add to a Home & Garden tent show this past week my sister gave me the idea to use glass cubes for some living centerpieces (thank you x 1000 sis!). Inside I layered some chunky sea glass, sea shells and colored lavender sand. On top some plump Hens & Chicks, one of my favorite succulents.

While mine looks (I guess) far removed, in the back of my mind for the longest has been terrarium pieces by Lítill designer Lauren Coleman which have been floating from blog to blog for some time now. They're simply too incredible not to include here as well.


Image: MAM for GaveThat | Litill pieces from Litill.com

Tour de France

The Tour de France is far away from me but the intense heat, cool trails through the woods and open farm land dotted with red barns makes up for it. The heat signals one thing and that's crashing biking... sometimes I even fish out my old school yellow WindSkin jersey (a gift from Dad!). Above are some new sunglasses from Rudy Project and a little energy drink that actually tastes decent. The Chocolate #9 with Agave. Now I feel ready for all those bike for causes events coming up and have a secret stash for any cyclist riding through my gift list. Have a fantastic weekend everyone!

Image: MAM for GaveThat