This past weekend I went to the biennial Dodge Poetry Festival in Stanhope, NJ. Just forty-five minutes from the rural-ish town (cows > people) where I grew up, this poetry festival is one of the largest (the largest?) in North America. It always features a few poet laureates and other publicly-ordained-people of poetic fabulousness (Mark Doty, Lucille Clifton, Billy Collins, Franz Wright, to name a mere four).

As I walked around the festival this year, I noticed that poetry festival attendees, mostly middle-aged women, are comprised of two main fashion-groups (male-poetry-enthusiast fashion is a different animal!):

1. Those who do not know how to dress, and obviously do not care that they do not know how to dress. (Example: Trousers. Sweatshirt with large word on it. The most functional shoes possible. Glasses.)
2. Those who dress in earth-tones and shop at Coldwater Creek.

Interestingly, both sets contain more long-haired middle-aged women than the American population as a whole. That hair is either: Long, straight, and unlayered. Or long, frizzy, and sort-of-tamed with a silver barrette. (In case you are wondering, I knew that earth-tones would be in at the Poetry Festival, so I arrived aptly dressed in one of the few neutral colored outfits I own.)

Anyway, enough with the stereotyping! Wait, actually, not enough with the stereotyping. First, I have to provide my guide for your How-To-Dress-Like-Someone-Who-Likes-Poetry needs (see image above, links & commentary below).

AFTER THE JUMP: links, commentary. Also, there may or may be not a picture of what I might or might not have worn to the poetry festival. (more…)

I hope you enjoyed this week’s posts & pictures about the fabulous illustrator Yasmine!

If you like interviews and art, then you’ll be happy to hear that later this month our special columnist Tricia will feature interviews with SEVEN different show-poster artists!

If you miss Tricia, you can visit her school supply posts, which are still loved by all.

Oh, and as for the bracelet above: yes, I kind of love it, in all of its awkward, impaled weirdness. (From regencies.com.) Have a great weekend! (I’m taking another quick trip to Cape Cod for a wedding!)

1. For the bicyclists who want their shorts to nearly double as reflectors!
   Nylon Tricot Bike Short in Lime Green, American Apparel, $28
2. To take down your speedy running times.
   Nike Yellow Chisel Watch, Urban Outfitters, $110
3. Okay, scrunchies are horribly ugly, but the gymnasts didn’t seem to get that memo. So, we can still wear them with a little irony, no?
   Custom Sequin Swirl Two Color Hair Scrunchies (choose your own colors!), She Plays Sports, $5
4. Running shoes that will keep your spirits bright on mile 10 (unless you are keeled over like I would be…).
   Adidas Technicolor Runners, Urban Outfitters, $88
5. Much less boring than most tennis racket cases.
   Tennis Racket Carrying Case, Fred Flare, $30
6. Yes, a really brightly colored suit from Speedo (there are other ones, too)
   Women’s Ninja Leaderback Swimsuit, Speedo, $55
7. For you back handsprings.
   Cotton Spandex Jersey Bodysuit, American Apparel, $36
8. A gold medal! Okay, so it’s a gold locket (er, actually brass), but you can pretend!
   Large Etched Locket Necklace, Urban Outfitters, $34

Okay, so I know that the Olympics are a classy event, which is why the Olympians show up in opening ceremonies in perfect, Ralph Lauren style. And I know that Olympians have the fanciest of running shoes, the specialist of swim caps, and they are always all decked out in home colors. Olympic fashion ranges from super-cool, to significantly ugly. Usually, bright colors are left behind for a more subdued look, but since you and I are probably not Olympians, we can be in the Olympic spirit without such constraints! Lime green and hot pink here we come!

Click on the images above or the links below to see some of my favorite blog-finds this week! Remember to right click to open in a new window! Have a wonderful weekend!

1. I don’t know why, but I totally love this Oh Deer print from Print a Day. I would love to use this design as ironic wrapping paper!
2. A Binder Clip Typeface?! Creative & cute! (via Swiss Miss, via I Love Typography)
3. Hello! You There! is a web-page that allows you to send anonymous complaints and suggestions to whoever is out there bothering you in real-life. Totally cool project! I can think of a few notes I might want to send… (via Veer)
4. OMG! I am so excited about this movie, Gentlemen Broncos, about a sci-fi author who steals some kid’s writing camp piece for his novel. I’m excited not only because it stars a large-eyed Flight of the Conchords member, and not only because it’s directed by Jared Hess of Napoleon Dynamite, but because it has its own fake sci-fi web-page which copies the creepy / poor design of many sci-fi web-pages out there. (thanks again Veer!)
5. A texting pattern from illustrator John Coulter. So cute and doodley and fun!
6. Okay, so Veer struck gold this week and posted yet another cool thing — a free, online 3D drawing program. You can’t really make anything too detailed, and your need your own 3D glasses, but the idea just seems so cool to me!
7. After my Book Week post on book crafts, I was super-excited to see these cut-out books on Swiss Miss from designer Kelly Blair (who has tons of other cool and colorful things in her portfolio).
8. Love this letterpress print, Gravity’s Rainbow (a rainbow made of sharp objects) from I Am Still Alive posted today on +KN.
9. As I’ve mentioned, I studied ASL (American Sign Language) a few semesters, so I really love these “manual alphabet” necklaces from Lorena Barrezueta posted this week on Design*Sponge.

Instead of tying a string around their finger, the forgetful among us can wear this calendar ring (shown on Open! Design & Concepts). (Okay, so tying a string around your finger won’t help you actually remember the date, but this ring actually will!)

“Gold. For the forgetfuls. The date is set up with three rings which are rotated independently. If you don’t forget to set it up” (Open! Design & Concepts)

(Swissmiss posted this cool band-aid ring yesterday.)

Although many of the accessories at the Renegade Craft Fair this past weekend were fabulous, a lot of them were typical: chain, string, charm. This is not a bad thing, but it just made the bracelets, collars (collars? what?), headbands, and hats at The Candy Thief booth stand out even more.

Above: Candy Thief bracelets made of felt at the Renegade Craft Fair. Look at the pretty stitching & details, like the dark fabric lining.

These accessories all use the same detailed technique of layering brightly colored felt “leaves,” attached with contrasting stitching. Special details include little flowers, buttons, and beads, and a layer of dark fabric inside the bracelets (presumably for beauty and comfort, since felt seems like it might be itchy).

Despite (and because of!) the jagged leafy edges, and a material that some believe is reserved for elementary school art class, these accessories are beautiful & elegant.

Above: We questioned how one of these crazy bracelets would look when worn, so we put one on. And we liked it!

The Candy Thief Etsy Shop allows custom orders on headbands (you can choose your colors and give your measurements) for about $35. There is also a whole slew of already-made headbands for you to look at if you need some Candy Thief eye candy.

Above: Image of a Candy Thief collar. Image from The Candy Thief Etsy store.

The collars, though a bit more daring, would be the kind of accessory to stir conversation and turn heads (in a good way) and look most suitable for a trendy night on the town (though we all know I don’t look down on wearing anything anywhere!). These guys can be custom ordered, too (about $45).

And lastly, but not leastly: I love these adorable bonnet-hats that I am kicking myself for not looking into further, because I don’t see them in the Candy Thief Etsy Shop. With four coordinating fabrics, a little brim, and a tie for your neck, these vintage-feel hats seem perfect for a sunny day on the beach.

Entire coverage of 2008 Renegade Craft Fair in Brooklyn.

Nervous System

Above: Radiolaria necklace ($75). Image from Nervous System web-site.

Geometric necklaces made of silicone rubber. Other cool silver geometric necklaces on the web-site!

Twigs & Heather

Above: Image from the Twig & Heather web-site

Beautiful, simple nature-loving necklaces, like the twig above. These guys are “cast in sterling silver using the lost wax method.”

Entire coverage of 2008 Renegade Craft Fair in Brooklyn.

Jewelery Part I here.

Today I’ll be rounding up the best jewelry I found at the Renegade Craft Fair in Brooklyn this weekend.

For all my Renegade posts, click here.

To start: the cartoon-y jewelry!

Brookadelphia

Above: Images from the Brookadelphia Etsy Shop. Click on images for item’s etsy page.

Shop the Brookadelphia Esty store for shiny, ironic jewels. Prices range from $30-50. (more…)

I love these cute necklaces which are light, 2D versions of other things you might be carrying or wearing (a bow, a heart, a camera). (more…)

Lady Luck Rules Ok carries tons of bright & cute necklaces for your fashion consumption (esp in the Fun Rocker Necklaces Section). Yum.

Welcome to my first YouTube video from the new Stickers & Donuts YouTube Channel. Our first video (by Maria) is a bottle cap jewelry & magnet do-it-yourself tutorial. This how to should provide some basic instructions, tips, and tricks on how to start creating fun crafts out of bottle caps!

Here are two photos from the depths of my own Bottle Cap Craft Lab: (more…)