Wednesday Whim - Designer Crayola

 images via Laughing Squid via InStyle / Photography by Matthew Carasella (ABOVE:  Bittersweet by Torn by Ronny Kobo)

What looks like a Project Runway challenge is part of the spring 2015 Bloomingdales outreach to several iconic designers to create pieces made from Crayola crayons. The pieces are part of a dramatic window display at the Bloomingdales store on 59th Street in New York City. 

Using about 18,000 crayons in total, the pieces showcase not only the color profiles from Crayola but the unique aesthetic from each designer (Torn by Ronny Kobo, Rebecca Minkoff, Clover Canyon, Nanette Lepore, Parker and Rebecca Taylor). The textures and designs created from the crayons are definitely worth the stop to window shop. If you're not in NYC, at least these photos can give you a peek at what's on display.

Midnight Blue by Rebecca Taylor 

Mountain Meadow by Clover Canyon 

Banana Mania by Rebecca Minkoff 

Unmellow Yellow by Nanette Lepore

Jungle Green by Parker

Wednesday Whim - Notice Forest

 all images via Yuken Teruya via Pippy Houldsworth via My Amp Goes to 11

I don't often buy directly from designer brand stores but when I do, I tend to keep the shopping bag my purchase comes in. I don't do this only with designer bags but from other retailers too. My husband thinks it's funny but I just can't help myself.

When I came across this art collection by Japanese artist, Yuken Teruya, I was immediately fascinated at the idea of transforming bags into art in his series Notice Forest. For most people (unlike myself) these shopping bags become trash. Instead of throwing the bags away, Yuken Teruya cuts trees into the bags that are intricate, delicate and insanely beautiful. On the Pippy Houldsworth site, Megan Ratner states that Yuken Teruya uses photos of trees (from his travels or from his home base in New York City) that he transfers to a computer to superimpose on the logo side of the shopping bag. He then carefully cuts out the silhouette and folds/twists the silhouette into the interior of the bag (gluing down the trunk of the tree with a single drop of glue). On the artist's website, he describes that while the bag seems to maintain the structure and integrity of the delicate cut tree, it is actually the tree holding the bag up. 

While this series is a commentary on consumerism and its impact on the environment, one can't help but appreciate the work of art these bags provide. Yuken Teruya truly sees beauty in the mundane. For more on the series, check out Yuken Teruya's site (where he also transforms toilet paper rolls, money and newspapers) or Pippy Houldsworth's site.

Wednesday Whim - Mua Mua

all images via ahalife

I'm not much of a doll collector but if I ever want to start I may have to begin with Mua Mua Dolls. In a very quirky and eclectic manner, these hand-knit dolls are playful and designer worthy. They are made on the island of Bali in a very "Andy Warhol inspired" factory led by designer, Ludovica Virga. The local community of women help knit these dolls and in turn, they receive the chance to obtain a university level education. 

Fashion, education and humor all in one? Awesome.

Coco Chanel

Anna Wintour

Versace, Versace, Versace, Versace

Baby Lady Gaga

Lady Gaga

 

Alexander McQueen

Amy Winehouse

 Angelina Jolie (as Lara Croft) ... Brad Pitt

 Dita Von Teese

Jay Z

Karl Lagerfeld