Michael Milano

 

Seattle-based Michael Milano creates fabric-based paintings, doing things to and with fabric that harken back to age old textile traditions. His abstract take on things is a fresh way to keep the history of those methods alive.

In my practice I employ materials that are part of our everyday experience, producing fabric-based paintings that are indebted to textile traditions and the history of abstraction. Thinking through the physical properties of textiles, as well as their cultural associations, I combine processes such as dyeing, pressing, and distressing to create abstract compositions that champion a deeper engagement with our material environment. Whether it involves the piecing of a quilt, or the seam, fold, or drape of a shirt, the ubiquitous and seemingly mundane quality of cloth continues to motivate me in the studio. 

 

 

 

 

 

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Get Your New Year’s Eve Outfit in Check

If you’re someone who looks forward to doing it up big for New Year’s Eve, well, I know you’re already thinking about your outfit. While I try to get away with wearing pajamas to my friend’s party, you’ll be painting the town red in satin, sequins, and tulle and shuffling down sidewalks in shoes that are not at all winter weather appropriate… and I salute you. It wasn’t so long ago that I did the same, it’s just that these days I prefer not to fight the crowds on super busy nights out. What I do like is picking out what I might wear if I were braving it out there, and sharing all of those sweet finds (and SALES!) with you.

 

Cleopatra Embellished Stiletto Heels (available in black and rose gold) // Drapey Sequin Skirt // 
Flared Cuff Striped Sequin Dress

 

Formal Pants with Side Frill // Gianna Sandals // Gisele Pleated Dress

 

Hanky Hem Tulle Skirt // Holly Textured Dress (available in red and black, on sale) // Iridescent Sequin Shoulder Pad Midi Dress

 

Jenny Wrap Mini Dress (available in black and yellow) // Luisana Dress // Metal Headband

 

Odelle Heels (available in black, yellow, and pink) // Oil Slick Pleated Mini Skirt (on sale) // Ombred Sequined Dress

 

High Waisted Sequin Leggings (on sale) // Pleated 2 in 1 Midi Dress (on sale) // Plissé-Lurex Dress (on sale)

 

Point D’esprit Fit And Flare Midi Dress (available in navy, peach, and red, 40% off) // Pointed High Heels // Ruby Sequin Mini Dress

 

Sequined Palette Midi Skirt // Spaghetti-Strap Dress in Star Tulle (on sale) // Stars in Her Eyes Anklet

 

The Essential Jumpsuit (available in black and ivory) // Sequin Dress // Tulle Midi Prom Skirt

 

Tulle Midi Skirt // Walter Velvet Midi Dress (available in green and mustard) // Wrap Jumpsuit with Self Belt

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Kirstin Lamb

 

Kirstin Lamb collects skulls, taxidermy, ribbons, fabric, vintage photographs, and paper ephemera, then organizes it into staged settings to capture in paintings both large and small. I love these miniature worlds Lamb creates with inspiration flying at her from every direction. Have a look at her artist statement to get a better understanding of her vision.

Shop Kirstin Lamb’s work

 

 

 

 

 

 

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DIY Christmas Decor Roundup

1/ DIY Wintery Garlands with Citrus Peels
2/ DIY Braided Rope & Ribbon Wreath
3/ DIY Colorful Christmas Village
4/ DIY Colorful Wood Christmas Trees
5/ DIY Cozy House-Shaped Luminaries
6/ DIY Eucalyptus Garland Christmas Card Display
7/ DIY Felt Foliage Party Garland
8/ DIY Festive Mini Banners
9/ DIY Foraged Diamond Garland
10/ DIY Giant Paper Holly Garland

 

11/ DIY Gingerbread Gift Tags
12/ DIY Gingerbread Village Centerpiece
13/ DIY Hanging Eucalyptus Wreath Centerpiece
14/ DIY Hanging Holiday Lanterns
15/ DIY Holly Berry Surprise Ball
16/ DIY Letters to Santa Mailbox
17/ DIY Minimal Christmas Village
18/ DIY Modern Christmas Terrarium
19/ DIY Painted Bead & Brass Garland
20/ DIY Painted Block Garland

 

21/ DIY Paper Holiday Houses
22/ DIY Paper Magnolia Leaf Garland
23/ DIY Paper Poinsettia Flowers
24/ DIY Festive Pom Pom Garland
25/ DIY Reindeer Gift Box
26/ DIY Sequin Christmas Tree
27/ DIY Stocking Hanger Box
28/ DIY String Lights Garland
29/ DIY Swedish Candle Wreath
30/ DIY Tin Bell Garland

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Carlo Cane

 

At first look Carlo Cane‘s paintings resemble destruction happening mid-tornado, but what he’s creating is vastly more cerebral. As a lover of nature, evolution, and Darwin, Cane opposes humanity overtaking the environment. His art puts forth undefined spaces where lush vegetation and nature attempt to repossess their lost spaces.

 

 

 

 

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20 Alternative Christmas Trees

Some Decembers an actual tree just isn’t feasible. Maybe you’ll be gone most of the month and it doesn’t seem worth the trouble. Maybe your place is on the small side and space is at a premium. Maybe money is tight and every dollar is going toward your bills. No matter the case there are plenty of options for making your home holiday ready! Have a look at the twenty options below for inspiration and DIY projects that think outside the tree. (Sorry, I had to.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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3 Agate DIYs for the Holidays

 

Agate is one of those things that never really goes out of style. Case in point: I still remember the brown agate drink coasters we had on the coffee table when I was a kid! The banded stone has been back in the spotlight for a few years and I’ve been looking for a project that would make it the star. Here are three different ways to use agate and birch slices in your holiday season in three super easy DIY projects. I love how they all turned out and can’t wait to add them to my own festivities and gifts!

 

 

Supplies
birch slices (with pre-drilled holes)
agate slices
superglue
• permanent metallic marker
• string
• needle nose pliers

 

 

All three of these projects start the same way, by matching up the birch and agate pieces. Once you’ve done that work quickly to place a few drops of superglue on the wood before affixing the stone and pressing together firmly. Because we don’t need the pre-drilled hole for this gift topper, go ahead and cover it with the agate slice. I really like this DIY because sometimes a plain kraft box looks so nice on its own but needs something extra – the gift topper is a sweet little extra that the recipient can keep.

 

 

 

For this colorful birch and agate place card repeat the first few steps from above. Once the two pieces are firmly attached to one another use your permanent metallic marker to write out each guest’s name. I chose to follow the natural shape of the stone with my letters.

 

 

 

 

Again follow the first few steps outlined above, this time leaving the pre-drilled hole in the birch accessible. You may need to use a small nail or skewer to clear any wood pulp debris from the opening before threading the string and tying a knot. (Use a pair of needle nose pliers if you need a little help pulling it through.) I used 6-inch lengths of single-strand white thread to make it as invisible as possible.

 

 

 

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Christina Graham / Ridgewood Reflections

 

Christina Graham‘s paintings are intriguing, and her Ridgewood Reflections site-specific installation in a DIY space in Queens, New York this past summer is both bright and curious.

The walls and molding are Agnes Martin variations on white paint, caked on from years of layering, a radiator, mirrored closet doors. Everything in the room has character — a sort of proud outer-borough minimalism.

It seemed important to respond directly to the space and not pretend it’s a white cube. I used the windows, doors and radiators as armatures, but let textures from my day-to-day seep in. The mirror and concrete sculptures are supporting acts for the paintings, a way to see the room from unexpected vantage points.

 

 

 

 

 

via Juxtapoz

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Buy or DIY: Stockings

What kind of stockings did you grow up with as a kid? Mine was the red felt kind that you can still buy literally anywhere, with my name written on the white part in glitter. I loved it and it still hangs at my Mom’s house every Christmas! Stockings are my favorite part of gift opening, so I thought it apt to do a Buy or DIY post dedicated to this very special holiday tradition.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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