Currently Obsessed Edmund Law Shop Ruche Grape Intelligentsia Librarian's Oprah Sperry Top-Sider Devendra Mona Holly Spring Lily Allen Beans

Hello, friends.  During the month we’ve been apart, I (unfortunately) have not been feeling well.  I wish I could report back with grand adventures to account for my absence, BUT I CAN’T!  Tragic.  Here’s a list of things that have been helping me maintain my sanity.

1.  I recently spent a delightful Sunday at Art Chicago/NEXT with my dear college/barista compatriot, Susanna Crum.  Overwhelmed by the amazing amount of work showcased by galleries from around the world,  I learned about many new artists that I had never heard of, including Edmund Law.

edmund law never never land

Based out of Toronto, Edmund’s never never land (shown above) is the most memorable piece I saw that day.  The sculpture features four pairs of joined fly wings that are arrested in a ceaseless flutter (thank you, wind tunnels).  And yes, they are real fly wings.  Edmund has a penchant for organic material such as his own sweat, and skin.

2. I adore clothing that is structurally eccentric, like Anthropologie’s Knotty Pine sweater (one of the best sweaters I have ever owned).  It’s no surprise that I love the chenin grape scarf from Ruche.

3.  In college, my friend Ali would occasionally play Miss Lily Allen at our gatherings, but apparently I wasn’t paying enough attention to the music.  During the past month, I have have been listening to her incessantly.  I even saw her live (Alone!  I stood in the back, sandwiched between prepubescents armed with PowerShots, and sorority girls!  Lily’s pretty and sings well in person!)  I’m convinced that no one else can mobilize an entire audience to wave double middle fingers, while melodically singing “Fuck You”s.  Her slow songs are okay, but her BOYS-ARE-FAILURES songs are superior.  Of course.  Oh, and I really like refried beans.  Which, I think, she’s eating in the picture above.

4. Due to recent health problems, I’m not really supposed to have normal coffee anymore!   TRAGIQUE!  “But, Tricia! Weren’t you a barista?!”  Yes (sad face).  Although it’s been a year since I last prepared a dry soy cappuccino, I could never ignore my visceral barista.  Thankfully, Intelligentsia offers a delicious decaf blend: Librarian’s blend!  This is the official Intelligentsia description:

A flavorful blend of Indonesian, African, and Central American beans, the Librarian’s Blend is named for that person who always told you to keep quiet when you were studying. This blend is representative of the soul of the librarian: steady, reassuring, and always there with that slight edge of eccentricity. It has a bold base with a bit of sparkle. Here’s to good reading.Intelligentsia Decaf Librarian's Blend

How cute.  Testament to my love: I bought an airtight canister SOLELY for my bag of Librarian’s Blend.

5. Another singer I hadn’t listened to extensively until recently: Devendra Banhart.  OH, Devendra.  Devendra is an enchanting singer.  I normally possess a short attention span, and even though his albums are epically long, I find them both engaging and consoling.  He released his last album in 2007, however, he recently covered a cover of Kath Bloom’s “Forget About Him.”  It’s a lot of fun; you can listen to it here.

6.  I’m pretty late to declare my support for Mona and Holly’s Spring 2009 line, but it’s glorious.  The collection is based on “smart and tidy service uniforms of decades past.”  The entire line is impeccably bright and well-tailored, and reminds me of the pleasant aspects of Spring.  Tulips.  Just tulips.  No allergies.

7.  I received my new issue of O magazine, and I haven’t flipped through it all, but I did spot these neon Sperry Top-Siders.  I have normal Sebago Dock Siders, but you know, Oprah wants me to get neon boat shoes.  And of course I have to do whatever Oprah says.  Of course.

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