Style, Naturally

Summer Rayne Oakes is launching her sustainable fashion and beauty book today! Check out the video below to learn more about Summer and to get sneak peeks of the book (which Reiter8 products are featured - yippee!). I didn't get an advanced copy so I'm lining up with everyone else to get mine. Note: In an effort to propel this useful resource for fashion, beauty AND environmentalism to Amzaon's top sellers list, make your purchase today as close to 2-2:30 pm EST as you can.



Summer is a model-eco-powerhouse and has much more in store for us! This April, she’ll be launching Zoe & Zac a sustainable shoe line with Payless ShoeSource and in August, a sustainable line of home linens and textiles with Portico Home & Spa. She also works as a sustainability strategist whose client list includes Payless, Alcoa Foundation, Yale University, Recycle Bank, Conde Nast, Ogden Publications, Discovery Networks, Portico Home + Spas.

Inspiration and a Library Card - Part II

Part two in the series from the NYPL and Design*Sponge.
I grabbed my notebook and started to list my jumping off points for my next trip to the library. Get your blank page and pen ready!

Featured in this series is Rebecca from Moontree Letterpress. I simply love her work and am excited to get a hold of some at this Sunday's 'Gifted', the Brooklyn Flea's indoor market in Fort Greene. Last time we were there it was so busy, by the end of the day when I got over to her table to purchase she had packed up what little she had left. This Sunday I'm going as a shopper not a seller!!

See part I here.

Back to last minute orders!

Flurries, Inspiration and a Library Card

Been holding out posting about the beautiful Brooklyn holiday cards by moontree letterpress until we were appropriately close to the holidays. My son is adamant that we not speak of Christmas until after Thanksgiving. And we have to have an observe a small pause - no trimming the tree on Thanksgiving night for us. So, yesterdays brief snow flurry was just the excuse I needed to bring Rebecca's work to your attention and still be respectful of the 'other' holiday.

While I was visiting her blog, I saw the first "Design by the Book" video. Its a series of videos by the New York Public Library in collaboration with Design*Sponge which brings a small group of Brooklyn designers to look for creative inspiration at the library.



I remember going to the NYPL branch across the street from the main branch when I was a student a Pratt. They had a image room - thousands (?) of manila folders with images tucked inside, sorted alphabetically by subject ... and a xerox machine. Pre digital, baby. Thankfully they have kept with the digital age and now have digital image collection.

I am looking forward to seeing these artists go through the creative process and to see what hatches.

Kinokuniya -New York main store opens

Japanese craft book alert! Kinokuniya has recently opened it's new main store located opposite Bryant Park at 1073 Avenue of the Americas between 40th and 41st Streets.

Make a B-line for the lower level to find books on sewing, crocheting, knitting, beading, felting, and ... sock and gloving. There is a display table of 'craft best sellers' (see pic) in front of an expanded craft section (also pictured). Their craft section has to be at least 3 times larger than the one at Rockefeller Center.

Don't forget to get lost in the Interior Design section among books like French Boys Rooms, Danish Rooms for Girls, Kitchens in Paris, and Danish Kitchens. Downstairs also houses the expanded stationary section (an increase of about 4 times the previous space) with LOTS of mini stickers and magnets in addition to high-end fountain pens and calligraphy sets.

They now carry 'Cotton Time' on the airy street level magazine section. They also feature a branch of Cafe Zaiya, a Japanese-style pastry and sandwich shop on the second floor that I will make a point to visit next time.

Find info (Mostly in Japanese) here. . Store hours: Mon-Sat 10AM -9:30PM Sun 11AM - 7 PM

Check out Crafting Japanese for more info on additional stores, books, projects and translation resources.