Luster » inspiration

::: Vintage Postcards from Tangier :::

Luster — Thu, 05 May 2011 16:39:27 +0000

Look at these amazing vintage beauties from Tangier. There are no dates on them, only French phrases written below.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

The Makers Project ::: by Jennifer Causey

Luster — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 08:08:45 +0000

One of the most exciting things about living here in Brooklyn is being surrounded by fiercely creative artists and designers. The last few years has seen a surge of Brooklyn-made products & services accelerating this borough as an epicenter of design, style and locally made goods. So much so that it could be called the Brooklyn Boom. Photographer Jennifer Causey, has started the The Makers Project inspired by artisans who “embrace a more tactile way of living.” Here are three of my personal favorite Makers that she has captured in the series so far.

Morris Kitchen makes the best Ginger Syrup I have ever found. It’s perfect for home made ginger ales and cocktails, or you can use it as a marinade, or in baking. I always keep a bottle in my fridge. It also makes a great gift, that’s why it was featured in my Holiday Foodie Gift guide.

Lena Corwin is a well-known textile designer and illustrator {I always love her city maps for Elle Decor}, and author of Printing by Hand. I’ve been following her work since I read about her wedding several years ago. She holds classes in her Fort Greene brownstone, curates the Lines & Shapes book series, and posts observations on her blog.

Saipua has made quite a name for themselves as the purveyors of stunning and original floral design. They also make beautifully packaged Olive oil based soap. Last year Sarah and Nicolette of Nicolette Camille Floral Design started the Little Flower school and I have really been wanting to take a class.

All photographs by Jennifer Causey. Found via Destined to Design

:::: Peter Beard ::::

Luster — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 05:08:24 +0000

I received this two volume coffee table book set of artist/photographer/illustrator Peter Beard’s work this past Christmas that has been incredibly inspiring and continues to captivate me. Spanning four decades, this tome chronicles his life and artwork in New York City, Montauk and Kenya through 784 pages of collages, photographs and interviews.

Born in 1938, Beard was raised in New York City, Long Island, and Alabama, and studied at Pomfret academy entering Yale University as a pre-med student. He quickly changed his major to art history, and after life-changing trips to Africa in 1955 and 1960, he returned after graduation and settled in Kenya on a property adjacent to Karen Blixen’s.

He began keeping diaries at a young age to chronicle trips, and throughout his lifetime, he has amassed these incredibly beautiful, fascinating accounts of life on two continents. I first found out about him this summer when I was reading I Married Adventure by Martin & Osa.

I don’t think I could ever tire looking through the pages and pages of handwritten diary entries, photo collages, hand drawn illustrations, clippings from the media, and photographs from Africa’s wild. Every time you look, you see something new.

Left to Right: A collage from 30 years in Montauk, NY. Beard working in his studio {for sale as of 2009}, on the lawn at Andy Warhol’s with Mick Jagger, Catherine Deneuve and Andy.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Fore more, visit Peter Beard’s website. All images via Peter Beard 2008, Taschen

Are you following LUSTER on Facebook & Twitter yet? ♡ Keep up with me elsewhere!

::: Happy Valentine’s Day! :::

Luster — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 20:53:39 +0000

Wishing you a wonderful Valentine’s Day! Hope it’s filled with joy, sweet treats, and the ones that you love. We’re going out for sushi and making chocolate covered strawberries when we get home. If you missed my Valentine’s Day post from a couple of weeks ago, you can catch it here

XOXO

Images: Cover photo Timo Elliott photography | Be my Valentine, cupcake, and fabric stuffed hearts via Ashley Meaders | All you need is love poster via Poppytalk | hand carved love sign

::: Books & Libraries :::

Luster — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 08:25:13 +0000

Whatever home my husband & I end up settling in will have to have some serious built-in bookshelves given our love of books, and coffee table books for me especially. Actually, as long as I am going down daydream lane…a library would be even better. Here are some book storage ideas collected with the help of Pinterest.

Images top to bottom: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8

Some books I would like to be leafing through right now. Clockwise L-R Library Lamp | Leo Fuchs: Special Photographer from the Golden Age of Hollywood | A Perfectly Kept House is the Sign of a Misspent Life | The Private World of Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Berge | Encyclopedia of the Exquisite | Gecko magnifying glass | Vogue Living: Houses, Gardens, People {one of my favorite wedding gifts I received} | DIY Tassel bookmarks and Penguin Classics books | Vintage Cocktails | Agate Bookends | American Fashion Designers at Home | Etc | Cecil Beaton: The Art of the Scrapbook | Library Books mug | Engraved Book plates | Red reading glasses

Two of my favorite places in New York city to browse coffee table books are Clic Bookstore & Gallery by former Calypso owner Christiane Celle and Assouline, located inside the Plaza hotel’s mezzanine {images via Luxist}

Home page photo via Book Shelf Porn

::: Hey, sailor :::

Luster — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 00:39:20 +0000

The Nautical trend has been hanging around for a couple of Spring/Summer seasons, and just about every clothing store you visit will have their version of the sailor striped boatneck shirt. Coco Chanel is credited for seeing the striped shirts worn by Breton sailors, and introducing her “marinière” shirt to the fashion world in 1917. They have never gone out of style. You could blame my Connecticut seashore upbringing, or the fact that my brother and I were dressed up in sailor suits when we were toddlers {see embarrassing photos below} but I am not sick of it yet.

{Above} Me on the left, my cousin, and my brother, just back from Newport probably. {Below} Me, in the family’s preferred toddler dress code: sailor style. {thanks a lot, Mom!} xo

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Top photo by Billy & Hells via Etsy | President and Mrs. Kennedy view America’s Cup race, September 15, 1962, Photograph by Robert Knudsen via Apartment Therapy

::: Sophie Nova :::

Luster — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 05:00:59 +0000

One of the highlights of my year is attending the New York Gift Fair and being inspired by the amazing talent in the Accent on Design section of the show. My first stop is usually the award winning booth by Aesthetic Movement. They are a fiercely talented bunch with a carefully curated group of brands that typically fall under the category of my all time favorite designers and products. I am lucky enough to get to work with them occasionally since I design for one of the lines that they represent. It was great to see they have added Sophie Nova to their group. I have loved her metallic poufs carried by Calypso that I featured in the Gold Gift Guide, but was not aware she also had pillows, bookends and bags in her collection. I am smitten with her soft metallics and rich leather fabrics perfect for anyone who loves a little luster like I do.

All images via Sophie Nova

::: Rainbow revival :::

Luster — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 01:33:31 +0000

Maybe I am channeling the 6 year old girl inside of me, or I am just fed up with this never-ending snowy winter - but regardless, I am instantly revived looking at all these rainbow bright bands of color. Today is Groundhog day, and Puxatony Phil {much to my surprise} did not see his shadow. Hooray…I guess Spring is on its way!

Stastical Insignificance Poster | Windhoek Dishtowel | Lining-the-Field Scoopneck Tee | Rainbow Cake

Vintage color charts

Striped papergoods on Etsy: Get your Sh*t Together 8×10 Print and Anytime cards

Flags Rug | Kate Spade Summer 2011 | Vintage Fendi rainbow bag via Design Love Fest | Vintage umbrella photograph

::: Facet Fancy :::

Luster — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 03:31:30 +0000

While I was looking around for inspiration for a new print design based on triangles and facet shapes, I came across so many beautiful objects I had to share. Now, I am loving faceted anything…it’s geometry at its most elegant.

Edmond Pendant Light / Etch Pendant / Scale Necklace / Assembly NY Geometric Terrarium / Little Faceted Necklace / Bracelets by Lauren Manoogian / Orbit Table Lamp / Boulder Ring / Small Facets Ring

Studio Bel Vitro Pendant Lamps via Coco + Kelley / New Nature Systems by Russell Leng / Facet tealights / Oil Paintings by Carly Waito / ZAP Rug

Spectral Necklace and Wedding Prism

Faceted wood planters by Pour Les Alpes

Are you following LUSTER on Facebook & Twitter yet? ♡ Keep up with me elsewhere!

Imitating {Edie}

Luster — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 00:42:51 +0000

Many years ago, I caught my first glimpse of style icon Edie Sedgwick in a video reel dancing at an Andy Warhol Factory party, and like so many others since, I was instantly transfixed by this girl with the blonde pixie cut and black opaque tights. Randomly today, I came across the maker of the original leather rhinoceros shown in that Vogue 1965 photo shoot where she is doing an arabesque in her New York apartment, listening to the Kinks, and is just about to become the “It” girl of 1965.

She also caught the eye of Bob Dylan, and this song is thought to be written with her in mind. For more on Edie, skip the recent movie called Factory Girl and read Jean Stein’s biography Edie: American Girl

Images: Cover photo Edie by Fred Eberstadt, Edie on a Rhino found here, Edie by Billy Name from Edie Factory Girl