Natural Beauty

I love jewelry that "rings" of the natural world. This one made me think of so many beautiful things. See it here and also support original artists on Etsy.

Rest In Peace Pretty Boy, Mayor of East 7th Street

I am happy to say I knew this kitty, hugged him, petted him many times when we'd go to Mikey's pet supply shop. He was a great big calm dignified kitty (even when being lifted by kids who didn't even seem to be as big as he was!), and a sweet furry ambassador of the streets. He is probably already "up there" taking charge of a section of the afterlife that needed some representation and putting in a good word for the East Village. We loved you Pretty Boy! This wonderful tribute was in The Villager today (Thanks Rick!).
Pretty Boy, the Mayor of E. 7th, is mourned; He was one cool cat
By Albert Amateau

It has been said that a person whose daily routine is predictable is a person of great character. The story goes that neighbors of the 18th-century philosopher Emanuel Kant in Königs-berg, East Prussia, would set their watches by his comings and goings. Down in the East Village, residents and people whose business brought them to Seventh St. between Avenue A and First Ave. had their own lodestar, a white cat named Pretty Boy who walked the south side of the street for more than 20 years.

Pretty Boy died on Tues., May 19, leaving a small hollowness for those who had felt his inescapable presence.

It’s impossible to say who owned Pretty Boy. The white cat walked into Mikey’s Pet Supply store at 130 E. Seventh St. in 1988 and made it his home base on the block, where the cat became known as The Mayor of Seventh St.

Michael Diaz, operator of Mikey’s Pet Supply for the past several years, said Pretty Boy slept at the store but hung out mostly at Salon Seven, the hair salon at 110 E. Seventh St. run by Mark Dolengawski.

“Pretty Boy loved Mark, that’s where he spent the most time,” said Diaz. “Sometimes he walked over to 7A, the restaurant at the end of the block in the evening and would sit in the sidewalk cafe watching people eat. Some of the customers at 7A loved him but some did not,” Diaz said.

At Salon Seven, there were a couple of photos of the white cat on a shelf last week and a vase of more than a dozen creamy white tulips. A 6-year-old girl who lives next door had been bringing fresh white tulips to the salon since Pretty Boy died the week before.

“She liked Pretty Boy so much she went out on Halloween like Pretty Boy all in white,” Dolengawski said.

He recalled that Pretty Boy was a great favorite of supers on the block who worked out of a basement office and watched the cat walk by.

“One of them said, ‘I wish I had a cool walk like that.’ It really was a cool walk, especially as he got older, it was a Zen-like stroll. It was so serene. I like to think of him as my sensei — my Zen master. I hope to be as cool and serene as that when I get old,” said Dolengawski, who is 55.

Amy Gross, owner of two cats and until last week a resident of the block, learned of Pretty Boy’s passing several days after the death when Diaz told her about it.

“He told me that Herbie, the other cat in the store, had stopped eating for a few days,” Gross said. She recalled that a few years ago a member of a crew filming on Avenue A asked her about “that white cat that walks around like he owned the place.” She told him the cat was the mayor of the block.

When Pretty Boy first came to the block, Dolengawski recalled, they took him to the vet for a checkup.

“The vet said he was between 1 and 1 years old. That would make 22 or 23 years old when he died,” Dolengawski said.

“We’re getting his ashes from the vet sometime this week,” Dolengawski said. “We might scatter them on the block where everyone knew him. I think he was a karmic blessing, he came in here and made everyone feel good.” via The Villager

Fakey Friday, Brooklyn Superhero Supply Co

Real life do-gooders doing good! Just because the superheroes in comic books don't exist, doesn't mean people can't dream of being one. I think someone in a Spiderman costume who saves a child in real-life tops a fantasy character anyway. But even if your daily mild-mannered existence will never put you in the position to rescue more than a kitten, you can still dress the part of someone who can save the world.

The Brooklyn Superhero Supply Company is ready to help you assume your superhero identity. In real life the owner, Dave Eggers, is a hero because all of the proceeds of the shop go to fund the non-profit youth orientated creative writing and tutoring center, 826NYC. So check it out, suit up and do some good!

via A Tribe Called Next

Goldfish Training School Kit

You train your dog, so why shouldn't your fish have the same benefits?
Winner of "Best in Show" at 2009 Global Pet Expo!

"Picture it: Lassie returns to the house barking. "What is it girl? Timmy's fallen down the well?" And then everyone runs to get that little fool out. But it's too late. Goldie already saved Timmy's sorry butt. Because Goldie is the goldfish you trained with your R2 Fish Training School Kit!"

Do not put Timmy down a well just to test Goldie's skills, but sounds like a fun thing to watch when your favorite sports teams aren't throwing and kicking things at things. Cheer your fish on!
Order your kit now from Think Geek

East Village NYC right now :)

Rick and I took these :)

Shapely Beauty

Felted Wool Stones

Put these rocks between you and a hard place and you will be quite cozy :)
Felted Wool Stones
"Renowned South African textile designer Ronel Jordaan takes her inspiration from nature, and uses felt to give free rein to her imagination. Socially conscious as well as gifted, Jordaan has set up a women's workshop in Gauteng- Johannesburg-where her personally trained artisans transform interlocking fibers, made from 100% merino wool, into these freeform oversized "stone" floor cushions. Though they may fool the eye, they provide immediately recognizable comfort to weary torsos in search of a relaxing seat. Soft yet buoyant, the veined, smooth textured cushions can be arranged to support seat and back. Children love them. Parents love them. Guests love them, too. Hand washable in cold water."

Order these and many other beautiful things here

Culture of Cute :)

Sounds.. well.. CUTE! :)
Click the pictures below for the display Flickr set.

DSC_0052

Kitty Chan made an appearance

The Ball Room
Originally uploaded by japancnyc.


Gallery Exhibit Looks At Japan's "Culture Of Cute"
It's Japan pandemonium in Midtown. New exhibit looking at Japanese contemporary culture.

Hello Kitty products never before seen in the United States are some of the many products on view at Felissimo Design Gallery in Midtown as part of an exhibit called Japan C.
Director Haruko Smith says it's a showcase of contemporary Japanese culture, specifically Japan's "4 Cs": cute, clever, creative, and cool!
"Japanese are really into little things. We call them zaka," Smith explained.

The four-floor exhibit is free and open to the public.
Robert Fish, director of education at the Japan Society, brought a group of teachers to the exhibit to learn about Japanese culture through its products.

"They have lots of different theories on the culture of cute," said Fish. "One is just that it is an aesthetic quality, the other is that it fulfills some need; it creates a fantasy world that provides a relief from stressful daily life."

Japan C is at the gallery through November 1st. The Felissimo Design House is located at 10 West 56yh Street. Click for the full report and a video here !

Click the photos for the Flickr set of the opening!

Japan C

Mari's Ringo Chan
Originally uploaded by japancnyc.

Stacked

Get your name on a nesting doll necklace here :)

Comic Sans, Super Font!

Comic Sans the Super Font :) Watch this! :)

Ember Heart! My "new baby" announcement!! :)

I have a new laptop! (Rest in peace my lil' old one) Thank you Rick! And now my new biz! I have been rolling along already but now it's taking off like a cloud of butterflies! Come visit anytime. I ship worldwide and hand-make all the blends, each are unique- you won't find them anywhere else.

Designer Malan Breton in an Ember Heart pendant.
The gemstone pendant is part of the Fashion Scents Gift set found here!
Malan has been such a great supportive person through all ups and downs of the world if you have never seen his lovely designs and craveable handbags you should!

Check out all of Ember Heart's Custom Blends
Malanscents, Malan Breton
Forest Fairy, Wendy and Brian Froud
jolie Miraval!, Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt
Maysong, Aaron May

THANK YOU to Blogging Project Runway for being my first big website supporter and running my little ad :) Wonderful site, wonderful people!

Get a Life! "Bidding begins on 'entire life'"

What is more interesting to me is where is he going to go when he walks out the door with just his clothes on his back his wallet and a passport! He says he is going to get on the first plane with a free seat and just take off! I hope he finds a great adventure and I hope the person that takes over his lifestyle at least lets him stay over when he comes back to visit! :)

Check out his auction here, and his website here and see all the activity that lead up to this moment now about to come to completion in about 6 days!



Bidding begins on 'entire life'
Mr Usher plans to make a fresh start

An ex-pat who decided to make a clean break after splitting with his wife has so far attracted 70 bids for his "entire life".
Ian Usher, from Darlington, who emigrated to Australia six years ago, is selling his house, friends and job on internet auction site eBay.

The 44-year-old said he hoped to earn about £185,000 for his Perth lifestyle.
About five hours after bidding opened on Sunday, the highest offer was just over £314,000.
Up for auction is his three-bedroom home in the western Australian city and everything inside it, including his car, motorcycle, jet ski and parachuting gear.
He is also selling an introduction to his friends and a trial run at his job.
Mr Usher said: "Everything that I have - the furniture in the house - all has memories attached to it. It's time to shed the old, and in with the new.

"On the day it's all sold and settled, I intend to walk out of my front door with my wallet in one pocket and my passport in the other, nothing else at all.

"My current thoughts are to then head to the airport and ask at the flight desk where the next flight with an available seat goes to, and to get on that and see where life takes me from there."

'Complete lifestyle'

Joy Jones, who co-owns the rug store in Perth where Mr Usher worked as a shop assistant, said she supported the auction idea.
Her company is offering the successful bidder a two-week trial, which could be extended for three months and then become permanent.
She said: "When Ian came up with this idea, because we had seen him go through a break-up of marriage and pain and bits and pieces, I thought it was really exciting.

"We thought, why not give it a go?"

Mr Usher said his friends in Perth were willing to be introduced to the highest bidder, allowing him to advertise his auction as offering a complete lifestyle.
Bidding closes on 29 June. Read the whole article here

Fakey Friday, Dolly Goes Shopping

01. Momoko enters re-ment delicacy shop
Originally uploaded by em`lia.


Check out the entire, wonderful photo set of the lovely dolly shopping trip :)



And for all you real dolls.. Go by this store in Los Angeles (great article and more photos!), The Valley of the Dolls
Saturday 6/7/08 to check out their Re-Ment event! A perfect way to stock up on future Fakey Friday supplies (careful you may spend lots of real money!)

Blue Willow Wish