November 1, 2009
sometimes it's nice to leave notes for people...
embroidered notes...via crust station
October 15, 2009
portrait of a free people girl
one of our free people fans, giovanna, sent us this awesome illustration that was inspired by woodstock and her favorite brand, free people!
giovanna is from peru and she's passionate about art and design. her blog is great too, check it out: http://bohomarket.blogspot.com/
thanks for sharing!
October 8, 2009
grayskymorning
another beautiful collection of images and ideas via tumblr - i'm floating, weightless.
lovely lovely lovely.
if i would make a movie...
cool concept...at a swissmiss meeting recently, folks were asked to finish the sentence "if i would make a documentary it would be about..."
what would yours be about?
October 5, 2009
herbert pfostl
i found herbert pfostl's book "to die no more" about a year ago...somehow i can't help but visit his work every couple weeks...it inspires me beyond belief.
his blog is very intelligent, thoughtful and just plain perfect, too...
October 3, 2009
unicorn diaries
i am in love with this blog - the unicorn diaries.
totally satisfies my sweet tooth...
September 30, 2009
wednes-diy
bleachblack had an awesome diy post last week, which i wanted to share here. especially because one of my friends already did this...
high-tail it to your local craft store and make one! for your purse, your car, your bike, whatever...
September 25, 2009
black spot books
margaux kent lives in philadelphia. she has a beautiful son and endless talent. check out her wares at her etsy site, the black spot books.
September 22, 2009
peace pleace
just saw this on urban's blog, and wanted to share it with you all, too...
promote peace today, even if it's just in a smile. :)
urban outfitters' blog is amazing - check that out, too.
September 20, 2009
drawing for food
kris chau has been on our blog many times, but she and fellow illustrator hawk krall were featured in philly's local city paper...wanted to share it with y'all. they collaborate on a blog - drawing for food - that is awesome and if you want to know about what's good eats in philly it is even more awesome.
eat, drink and be merry. it's sunday!
September 17, 2009
cosmic dust
wow, cosmic dust's tumblr does not disappoint...thanks, courtney, for sharing!!!
September 16, 2009
wednes-diy
fpgirl katie found this on bleachblack...so rad.
and knighttcat had something like this on her blog...
pin-up!!!
September 13, 2009
be your own best critic
having a second, or even third, opinion when you're shopping is sometimes super helpful. that's why we're featuring some of our top product reviewers this week...
if you find a reviewer whose style you like, visit their profile to see what other products they liked and what they put on their wishlist (if they made it public). to access a reviewer's profile, simply click on their nickname!
it's really easy to do...go here to find out how!
September 2, 2009
todd selby
is my hero.
if you haven't seen his blog, you must you must you must! he features pix, paintings and videos of interesting people and their creative spaces. so very inspirational.
samesies
this is the most amazing, clever photo project. ever.
folks look for photos that look like photos they took and post 'em together.
it really is a small, awesome world...
August 26, 2009
david horvitz and his grandma
this is one of the coolest and most clever things i've ever seen...
david horwitz took pictures of all the pictures in his grandma's house and put them in a pdf for you to download as a keepsake for yourself.
summer teeth
missed this somehow, but summer teeth posted about our oxford wedge on monday...
thank you kindly...your blog rocks!
your project for today
everyone should do this to the building they're working/living in today,
but don't tell anyone we told you to... :)
from samuel francois...
August 24, 2009
something elsa
we love our model elsa from the august 09 catalog...
and were super excited that our friend cat posted a pic of her on her blog today...
August 15, 2009
chris butler - smartist
this is chris butler, brother-in-law to our awesome graphic designer lizzy.
he describes himself/his art as "analytical, cheap, collage, fast, geometric, simple."
cool stuff.
August 12, 2009
home sweet home
check out this blog...
if home is where the heart is, where is yours? send them a phrase or a pic about your home...and your submission could end up as a limited edition postcard! sweet.
July 17, 2009
FP is looking for translators (again!)
Are you a native or fluent speaker of Italian, Russian, Portuguese or Dutch? Are you also fluent in English? Are you a savvy online shopper, who loves Free People, and has shopped websites in both English and other languages? If so, Free People needs your help with a very special project! The project will involve a few hours of work, and you will receive a gift for your help! If this sounds like something you would like to be involved in, please click this link to fill out a little form for us! If you seem like a good fit for the project, we will email you in the coming weeks with more information!
We are so excited about this project, and we think you will be too!
xo
Picture via.
June 26, 2009
michael dared to dream
"In a world filled with hate, we must still dare to hope. In a world filled with anger, we must still dare to comfort. In a world filled with despair, we must still dare to dream. And in a world filled with distrust, we must still dare to believe."
I've been really into this blog Artist Quote of the Day. The quotes are typically from visual artists, and the entries feature images of their work and some brief brographical information. But today was Michael.
April 17, 2009
new blog discoveries
I like finding good new blogs more than anything! Maybe not ANYTHING, but it does get me really excited to be able to scroll through months of posts that I have never seen before. Today I was led to foxyman by the above photo posted on knight cat. I love foxyman's dark and grungy rock style!
April 5, 2009
dogs that look like people
If you're looking for a way to while away the afternoon, may I recommend Dogs Looking Like People, a little blog entirely devoted to cute pictures of dogs doing human-like things. Or sometimes just being cute. I got the above pictures from there - they just tickle me pink! Enjoy...
March 24, 2009
wang's t-shirt secrets
I love this quote from Alex Wang. Do you have any tricks to making your t-shirts or anything else (jeans, boots, etc) super comfy and worn looking? I like to wash new t-shirts, and stretch out the neck a bit. How about you???
found via accessory of crime
March 20, 2009
fifi lapin
These adorable fashion illustrations are from the blog Fifi Lapin, which I just discovered and am totally in love with! It's a fashion blog, and it follows Fifi, who is the world's most stylish bunny according to Elle magazine - hehe! Other than the fashion illustrations and cute bunny storyline, Fifi does a nice job of showcasing a lot of current fashion. It's worth scoping out!
March 6, 2009
jeffrey campbell lace up peep toe
Several of my FAVORITE bloggers are talking about our Jeffrey Campbell Lace Up Peep Toes, I thought I'd give you the inside scoop. We are selling out fast! We are totally loving the nude color. You can seriously wear them with ANYTHING.
If we don't have your size we are receiving more in May, but not in the grey. So get them now if you want them!
You can check out the other bloggers that are loving these like Bleach Black, life style dissected, notcouture, and the prism and the pendulum.
February 24, 2009
a visit to bibliodyssey
These gorgeous pictures are from the Collectanea Botanica, a series of monographs by John Lindley issued between 1821 and 1826. I love things like this! I saw them on BibliOdyssey, which is becoming one of my favorite sites to visit lately. The guy who works on it finds pictures from all kinds of old books, ones that have been posted online and ones out in the library, and then posts all the best pictures from them.
January 15, 2009
book cover archive
I had lots of fun flipping through this online gallery of book covers and designers! I love seeing the different versions of the same books and seeing covers I've never seen for books that I have read.
Have you ever bought a book based on the cover? Did the book live up to the art? Leave us a comment with the link to your favorites!
I'm loving this cover I spotted today. Maybe I'll give it a read...
December 31, 2008
hooray for cakies!
Remember a while back when we featured our blogger friend Rubyellen? She writes the fabulous blog Cakies, where she documents many things, in particular her extremely cute sewing machine creations! If you didn't see our post about her, you should check it out, and her blog too!
At any rate, yesterday we received a little package from Rubyellen - and to our delight, inside were a pair of pretty little felt flower hairclips, handmade by Rubyellen! There was one for myself, and one for Heather, our Direct Operations Manager! We love them so much! Here we are modeling our flowers...
Aren't they adorable? I just can't get over them! Thank you so much Rubyellen! The clips totally made our day!
Yay!
December 29, 2008
fashion156 handpainted winter
I'm loving the latest issue of fashion156 and these handpainted backdrops! I like the different effects the photographer captured zooming in or way out and showing how they're strung up against the true city backdrop.
December 17, 2008
chloe sevigny
Vain and Vapid recommended this interview with Chloe Sevigny on Missbehave, and I have to say, it's a really great interview!
She tells what "pop" celebrity has a girl crush on her, talks about baby names, her view of Hollywood, and some stories her publicist might not like. And her hair looks awesome!
December 16, 2008
i heart daily
We're really excited about this new web site launched by a couple of Brooklyn girls that are involved in all that is cool. I Heart Daily is kind of a hip, more under-the-radar version of Daily Candy, or your other fav daily coolness update. Learn about new musicians, crafters, indie beauty brands, fashion and a bunch more.
I also love their about page! Anne and Melissa seem like a fun team, and I can't wait to see more of their daily recommendations.
December 11, 2008
wow: way of women
I just discovered Way of Women, a site produced by the girls at Sportmax Code featuring cool women doing cool things all over the globe. I love peeking into the worlds of creative people, and love that they've chosen a bunch of women I don't know much about.
New features will be produced every 15 days, so check out all of the inspiring ladies they're featuring now, like Miss Lori and her crew of Art Rebels, or half Polish half Aussie director Kinga Burza.
December 5, 2008
december n.e.e.t. magazine
Need some web browsing for the weekend? Check out the December issue of N.E.E.T. magazine. What I love about this web zine is that even the ads are introducing me to new crafters and web sites and shops I've never seen before, and all the links are clickable. So, it leads to lots of exploration!
December 2, 2008
upside down dogs
Many of you may have already heard about this website, but we at the home office just discovered Upside Down Dogs today, and we love it! It's a blog that only features pictures of dogs upside down, as you might guess. They all look so happy being upside down! It has brightened our day so much, I just had to share it with you!
November 16, 2008
all kinds of adhesive tape!
I love all these different kinds of tape! I was thinking about our post about decorated tape from the other day and did a little search for adhesive tape and found I love sticky tape! It's a blog which is, as you might imagine, devoted entirely to tape, and it has many cute and cool types of tape featured on it! I especially love the tinsel tape - it gets me in the mood for the holidays!
October 28, 2008
nice font
I love this hand-drawn knot font! You can have it for yourself at HandMadeFont.
found via swiss miss
October 21, 2008
nest house
So beautiful with the autumn leaves! This nest house was designed by Gerard Moline for Droog. The concept is that you can construct this shelter and use materials from the natural surroundings to complete it. Create your own experience that relates to how the animals are connected to their natural surroundings and gain a better appreciation of your own.
found via pan-dan
October 15, 2008
the heart of papercuts
Many of you already know what a huge fan I am of Elsa Mora- her wonderful personality, and her artwork! I am a regular reader of her fabulous blog, so you can imagine my delight when she recently introduced her new, additional blog, which is all about paper-cutting! (One of her many skills.) On it, you can find many of her papercuts, all organized by category, as well as all kinds of information about the art of paper-cutting! Of course, as you can see above, my favorite part is browsing all of her paper-cut work... wow! So delicate!
found my animal leashes
A friend of Free People recommended I check out this great company that donates part of their proceeds to the Louis Animal Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to placing animals that have not yet found their humans in loving homes.
Found My Animal sells these beautiful leashes made by New England rope makers, the strong rope being a great alternative to leather. The leashes also feature bronze hardware and brass tags stamped with FOUND, and each is numbered to keep track of the number of animals that have been helped.
Check out their site for more info and pictures of cute doggies!
October 14, 2008
hand drawn map association
The Hand Drawn Map Association is a collection of user submitted maps and diagrams drawn by hand. How amazing are these? I love the idea of archiving something that is typically discarded...
Have some of your own hand drawn maps and diagrams? You can submit them to the archive!
October 10, 2008
girl meets nyc
I want to tell you why I love this blog, Girl Meets NYC. I read lots of blogs (duh), but really, most blogs I'm just looking at the pictures. And if the picture is super amazing, then I'll take a read.
But Girl Meets NYC makes me want to read what she's writing. I love that she's actually talking about something, and that fashion and beautiful imagery can make her think about the world and her surroundings, and issues that affect our everyday lives.
Take her last few posts for example. She examines racism, childhood memories of running through fields, Martin Luther King Jr. and taking ACTION, and the power of honesty. All of this paired with beautiful images.
bobbin bikes
Take a lookie at these bikes! How great is the color on that green one? Find them all at Bobbin Bikes (in the UK).
And what about these lovely vintage riding hats? (also from Bobbin)
found via JC Report
! Best Surprise Ever !!
Many of you may recall these wonderful kitties made by friend of Free People Penguin & Fish! Besides making adorable kitties, she has a fabulous blog, which many of us here at Free People frequent every day! She features all kinds of great art, (including her own!) and more than a few of her posts have ended up being the inspiration for our posts! She has also been sweet enough to feature us on her blog from time to time. In other words, we just love Penguin & Fish!
Today when I returned from lunch I found on my desk a package addressed to me, with a really cute drawing of a kitty on it! You can bet I just tore right into it, and here's what I found inside:
OH MY GOSH! I am still delightfully shocked! My very own Penguin & Fish kitty! I love him so much! I have had my eye on these kitties for a long time, and I am just so grateful to get one as a surprise! It totally made my week! Month even!
The kitty is even more squishy, soft and huggable in person! My dog Trixie and I got together with our new friend for a little photo shoot:
Thank you so very very much Alyssa! This kitty is absolutely wonderful!
If you would like to give a home to one of these cuddly kitties yourself, have a look at Penguin & Fish's Etsy shop, where you can find kitties of all colors!
October 7, 2008
virtual collage
Just a quick note because I can't find an image to illustrate - I found a really fun little virtual collage maker, with seemingly endless clippings! Check it out if you need a little break from whatever you may be doing... :)
October 6, 2008
frankie magazine
I just needed to share how much I love Frankie Magazine. It's an Australian mag for the 20-something crowd, and their blog is really great too. Lots of crafts and pretty things, eco-friendly products, new designers, all that great stuff we like to know about:)
September 26, 2008
Featured Blogger - Rubyellen!
Meet our first ever featured blogger, Rubyellen!
Rubyellen writes a wonderful blog called Cakies, which we first stumbled across when she mentioned a Free People–inspired bag that she made! (We get an email showing all the sites that mention us each day.) We went crazy over all the amazing things she makes with her hands and her sewing machine! She is so creative! We knew she was just perfect to be our first featured Blogger!
Aside from agreeing to be interviewed, she also created a wonderful craft project to share with you! Click here to learn how to make an awesome bag inspired by Free People!
Where do you live?
My husband, our two kids, and I live in a suburb of Los Angeles, about one hour from main city of Los Angeles.
Where did you grow up?
I have always lived in southern California.
When did you start sewing and how did you learn?
I started sewing right after I gave birth to my first daughter, True. I wanted something a bit more funky and personal, and since I am a stay-home mom, I couldn’t afford to have a shopping habit, so I turned to sewing.
I learned to sew by taking lessons at a local Joann’s fabric store. It was nice because the teacher let me choose what I wanted to make, then she would show me how to make it! It taught me enough basic skills to figure out the rest of sewing. Then, when I bought my sewing machine, the shop where I bought it offered free sewing classes! That place really helped me learn more tricks of the trade.
What advice would you give to someone who’s never sewn before but would like to start?
Learn how to do a straight stitch and after that you can pretty much learn to do anything!!!
What other crafts do you enjoy?
The first medium of art that I loved was drawing, but I haven’t done that in so long! I also love to crochet, needle felting, and how I wish I could paint! I would also love to learn how to make pottery one day…
What or who inspires you?
My husband, Ben, and my two little girls, Brave and True, are my greatest source of inspiration, but sewing for my little girls is what started all this. Ben is my quality control guy, and he just tells me if something looks cool or not!
Okay, not just because this is Free People, but Free People and Anthropologie catalogs really inspire me too!!! I get so excited and can look at each page over and over again! If you look at my inspiration wall it is nothing but torn pages from the two catalogs.
Also, I have a list of favorite blogs that I often frequent, which include:Black Eiffel, The Black Apple, Sugar City Journal, Soulemama, and so many more! (You can see a link list on the sidebar of my blog.) There is so much talent and creativity out there that I think everyone is learning and growing from one another.
Flea markets are also inspiring. I love that people can take something old and used, but give it new life with a new purpose. It is the same with sewing, taking something outside of the box and making it work. A tablecloth could be used as a dress or bag, doilies could be sewn in for some detail, the possibilities are endless…
What are your favorite projects?
I have to say I enjoy making myself a new bag every season and sewing dresses for my girls (and for me). There are just so many different little things I like to make that it is hard to pick a few!
Where are your favorite places to find hidden treasures for projects?
I love perusing through Etsy because there are so many ideas there that will spark another idea for me.
What are your favorite websites?
I have too many to name! (You’ll see I’m not lying if you look at the favorite websites I list on my blog!)
Where are your favorite places to travel?
I would love to go back to London & Paris, but with two kids, who knows when we will be able to do so!
Being a busy mother, a wife, and working, how do you find the time to balance it all and still make such wonderful, creative stuff?
I have been very blessed that my little girls both still take two 2-hour naps, so that allows me about 4 hours a day of alone time. This is when I try to get as much craft and work time as possible.
Please tell us about your little girls!
My daughter True is 2 years old and is really bashful and playful. She has honestly loved shoes since before she was a year old (scary, I know)… always has been drawn to putting them on. She can sometimes be very opinionated about what she wants to wear.
Brave, my 1 year old little girl, eats anything in sight! She just started walking, so she is keeping me really busy of late.
Their names are very different, but we love them and that is all that matters! When we meet people, I can’t wait for them to ask what our girls’ names are because their reactions make me laugh. You can really tell who likes them and doesn’t by their reaction! True wasn’t named until the day she was born–we fought the whole 9 months! And with Brave, it was worse–she came home from the hospital without a name, and was finally named 4 days later! I am little nervous for when we have more kids because who knows what we will name them!
Tell us about your blog and your Etsy shop.
Cakies is the name of my blog and my Etsy shop because when my girls were each in my belly and nameless, since we couldn’t think a name, we called them both “babycakies” -hence, we have Cakies.
On my blog, I try to document all of the different crafting adventures that go on in our house and other parts of our lives. It is a fun little space and community to learn and grow from one another. In my Etsy shop, I mostly sell hand-crafted hair accessories for babies to adults, though I do plan on adding more items for adults! When True was a baby (I guess she still is), I couldn’t find anything cool to put in her hair, so I experimented and came up with these hair clips. I love them because they had dimension and were different from the bows and flowers you see on all the other little girls, plus they were the only hair accessories that got a thumbs up from Ben to put in their hair, otherwise, he would have them in Mohawks all the time!
Don’t forget to check out the fantastic craft project RubyEllen made for us! You will want to make this bag! And if that isn’t enough, Rubyellen has generously offered to give away the Free People-inspired bag she made! To win her gorgeous bag, (shown here) just go to Cakies and leave Rubyellen a comment on her post about Free People! Be sure to tell her your favorite crafting site, and which items you like best from her Etsy!
Thank you so very much Rubyellen!
Good luck everyone in the give away, and happy crafting!
September 23, 2008
read fashion blogs, learn french!
I've always wanted to learn French, but highschool didn't teach me much. I think I'm learning more from reading these French fashion blogs!
A lot of the entries are translated in English, so you can go back and forth, reading a sentence in French, and then in English. Gradually, you'll pick up the meanings of words, and you're on your way!
Here are two that I have been reading recently.
the cherry blossom girl
le blog de betty
Anybody else have some suggestions??
September 11, 2008
steampunk workshop
Maybe the aesthetics of modern technology just isn't your thing. Do you ever wish your computer looked a little more at home with the rest of your vintage and antique decor? Maybe a Victorian style all-in-one PC would look better. Or a how about a pretty brass LCD frame?
You have to check out the Steampunk Workshop, chronicling one man's adventures of making the new look old, or the old look different. One of the first project he ever did was outfitting an old school bus, and there is also a tutorial for doing tin etchings on old Altoid boxes.
September 9, 2008
n.e.e.t.
I must admit, I haven't checked out N.E.E.T. magazine in a while, but the September issue is out and it looks great! I guarantee you will discover lots of new bloggers, vintage enthusiasts, and crafters you have never seen before!
If you love this zine, and are the creative type yourself, make sure to check out the faq section at the end to find out how you can get involved...
September 8, 2008
LookBook
The sweet shots shown above are all pictures people uploaded of themselves to LookBook! It's kind of like a giant collective "What-I-Wore-Today" site, and it couldn't be more inspiring! You guys should check it out! Meanwhile, I need to think of an incredibly cool outfit to photo myself in so I can post it! :)
lines and shapes
Lines and Shapes has announced the release of their fourth issue. The books are a series of collaborative artist projects, curated by Lena Corwin and Maria Vettese. For this issue, the theme was PAIRS.
Check out the Lines and Shapes website and Lena's blog for more info and subscription information. You're sure to be inspired...
September 2, 2008
boo computer troubles, hurrah stairs!
First off, I would like to apologize for the lack of posts over the weekend, and to those who may have tried to view the blog and saw a blank page! Our server was on the fritz this weekend and even this morning. We've been tinkering with it though, and now everything should be working just fine!
Second, I wanted to show you guys a few of the awesome pictures of stairs I found on Stair Porn! Stair Porn is a blog devoted entirely to pictures of cool and unusual staircases. I never knew I could be so interested and intrigued by a flight of stairs!
vain and vapid
Vain and Vapid is my new absolute favorite blog, making it on my daily list of blogs to peruse. This is why I love V & V: she shares my love of Lula Magazine, she has a great etsy store with handmade clothes, and just likes lots of beautiful things!
August 27, 2008
just a few old photographs...
You'll have to forgive me for this post of a few random pictures, but I couldn't resist. They were so cool that I really wanted to put them up so you could see them!
Smoke & Ochre is very interested in old photographs, and she has a pretty fantastic collection if you graze through her archives.
I love these women! They look like they could be Free People girls from the past.
This one is Bridgitte Bardot.... wow!
I leave you with David Bowie...
August 22, 2008
copenhagen cycle chic
I am loving this blog of fashionable bike riders!!! I can't stand it. Maybe riding my bike in heels is easier than walking around the city all day?? Check out Copenhagen Cycle Chic!
That last photo is by Larry Strung from from a series called Hamilton365.
August 5, 2008
beach bikes
I found this site while I was searching for some cool bike accessories this weekend. I just got a new bike, but this makes me want another one! Beachbikes has a lot of awesome cruisers, and I love their "history of beach cruisers."
Does anyone know a great site for bike accessories? I'm talking bags and baskets. I love velo orange, but want to see what else is out there...
July 19, 2008
DIY with Adrianne Lee!
The picture above is one of Adrianne Lee's awesome fashion illustrations! She posted it on Free People's Facebook profile a while ago, and from there we found her website, NinkyBink Boutique! On her website we found a ton of other cool fashion illustrations, as well as some really cute clothes she has designed! One thing lead to another and we asked Adrianne if she would be willing to do a guest post here on our Free People blog - and she was! So today it is my delight to bring you Adrianne's awesome post, where she teaches us how to easily make a really cute corset tank! (With a lot of her great illustrations too!) Enjoy!
In less than two hours from now, you can have in your possession a corset worthy of envy from Marie Antoinette herself! This corset will defy the idea that corsets are uncomfortable (it’s made of a t-shirt!), it will be adorned with exquisitely quirky pieces of flare, and it will be made by the finest couturier, you! Don’t have a sewing machine? A needle and thread will be fine! I assure you, even if you have never sewn before, this project will be something you can handle with success!
Furthermore, this project was intentionally created to work as a coordinate with your Free People wardrobe! While it’s hot out you might pair it with a skirt and some fun leg wear and as it gets colder layer it with sweaters, jackets, and other tops! I drew a picture to give you a few ideas but I am sure you can come up with more.
This tutorial video will walk you through the steps! Good luck!
Here's a little scrapbook to go along with the project!
I love this! I can't wait to make my very own corset tank! Maybe tomorrow... on a relaxing Sunday? Thank you so much to Adrianne Lee! What an awesome craft project!
Also, if you find yourself wanting a corset tank very badly but not wanting to do the work, you can find other gorgeous tanks at Adrianne's Etsy Shop!
July 11, 2008
image bookmarking
I've been dying to find a great image bookmarking site where I can keep track of all of the amazing images I find, like a delicious for pictures. I haven't found exactly what I want, but there are two pretty great sites out there. One is FFFFound and the other is We Heart It. These are great for browsing for inspirational images. Recently ffffound was Linzie Hunter's Lettering Sketchbook. And a great Hearted image is the balloon girls by Elinkan.
June 13, 2008
the vintage society
A big thanks to The Vintage Society for supporting our design a bag contest! Check out the vintage society for pretty vintage designs, Society Girl of the Week, and instant outfits. They also have a nice collection of videos. This one is their instant outfit feature come to life...
June 4, 2008
young me - now me
We found this awesome collection of pictures on Color Wars. I think it is such a cool idea, and I really find this kind of stuff interesting, progressions and watching people grow and change etc... Plus it's just fun!
You can bet I am looking around for an old picture of myself so I can participate! If you want to participate too, click here for information on how! If you want to see the awesome and huge collection of submissions you can check those out here!
May 30, 2008
RE-found objects
Thanks to emma's design blog for finding this lovely shop in the UK, RE-found objects! Lots of beautiful, quirky home objects shown in artful photos. Above are a few of my favorites.
May 14, 2008
May Flowers!
Observe these wonderful flower girls created by Elsa Mora!
I have been perusing her blog and there is a lot of wonderful and interesting stuff!
You should check it out! She also has an Etsy shop for your pleasure.
May 7, 2008
bird cage
Kime Buzzelli posted some pics on her Moldy Doily blog from a block party/art opening they just had at her shop, Show Pony. If you don't know Kime's artwork, check out her blog and this entry we featured a while back. Anywho, I loved this pic with the giant bird cage drawing!
She also bought some balloons for the party. They look so pretty and festive, I'm definitely going to remember to get some for my next soirée.
April 21, 2008
green house
I love this Greenhouse waste paper basket spotted on siagraphica designed by Jantze Brogard Asshoff. The designers exhibited at design fair Salone Satellite in Milan.
I also love this whimsical key hole cabinet called "Peek" !
April 10, 2008
share fp with friends
Did you know that you can share your favorite Free People products on your facebook, del.icio.us and stumbleupon pages? Check out the “Share” button on the lower right hand corner of any item page. Just click this button to add to your page.
April 3, 2008
Gypsy Vanner Horses
FP President, Meg recently bought a puppy from a lovely young girl in Canada named Sherry. Sherry's other passion happens to be Gypsy Vanner horses, and their story is pretty neat, so we thought we'd share. Sherry explained to Meg that Gypsy Vanner horses were used by the gypsy people to pull their caravans. They are one of the rarest horses in North America. There are only 2 breeders in all of Ontario but they are more popular in the states. Check out this youtube video Sherry made for some more info...
April 2, 2008
uber
Have you heard of uber? It's like a blogging platform or social networking similar to MySpace where you can post photos, write blog entries and stream music. The difference is, it's really customizable and much easier to design your pages without using code or sticking with really basic templates. You can just drag and drop your options in. The result is some really great looking sites. And a new place to find some great design blogs, like Crafty Ideas by Benny and Kelly for instance
March 25, 2008
bike baskets
Coolhunting just did a great entry featuring amazing bike baskets. I had featured this one a while back, so here are some of my new favorites introduced by Coolhunting. The top two are by Basil. They have a huge assortment of both baskets and bags. You can get the one below at Velo Orange. This is the Hershberger Baker's Basket, made by the Amish Hershberger family in rural Minnesota.
March 14, 2008
fp bag turban
One of our designers spotted this photo on flickr and then we found the blogfullofjelly! Here is some more Free People recycling in effect. You have to check out her blog. She makes lots and lots of beautiful things...
March 12, 2008
print liberation
I want to share these bags with you! Designed by some local Philly friends of Free People, the bags are all natural and hand printed at their studio. Reduce-Reuse-Recycle and spread the good news... Check out the Print Liberation website.
March 10, 2008
bunny vase
A friend at FP turned me on to some new blogs this week, and I discovered small stump. Check out this crazy cute bunny vase she made from an old doll head. She says she has a few of the heads and has more ideas, so be sure to check her blog and etsy store for other fun crafts.
March 7, 2008
gocco mania at sfgirlbybay
sfgirlbybay got a case of Gocco Mania! I've heard the word "gocco" but honestly didn't really know what the printing process entailed. She posted some great pics of the process. Check out her blog for the account of her illness.
March 3, 2008
barometer
Wandering through Chinatown this weekend, I was on the hunt for some craft supplies. As I made my way down Walker Street, my eye was captured by this amazing window on the second floor of an industrial building. The sign read Barometer. I rang the bell and went on up to discover the sweetest little shop full of "attic" objects and handmade jewelry. I met Miss Anna Studebaker, who curates the collection of objects. The jewelry is made by her partner, Jenna Wainwright. The shop is a bit like an attic, a bit museum, and a bit girly studio apartment. Check out their website and pay them a visit next time you're in NYC.
February 29, 2008
pizza girl
"Pizza Girl is Physical Phil's colorful and energetic girlfriend. She attends Dufresne College and works as a pizza delivery girl. Fate and a whole lot of pizza brought her and Physical Phil together."
That's Pizza Girl's bio on abc.com for the drama October Road. The zap2it TV Fashion blog did a feature all about Pizza Girl's look and how it was inspired by Free People. Check it out...
February 18, 2008
india blog education
Since we just featured a catalog in India, and it is a place of continual inspiration for Free People, I'd like to point out this blog. Flower Girl's Rural India is a travel blog featuring one girl's journey to-date with interesting facts/customs/traditions from Rural India. I think she has been traveling through India for about a year and this is her last month. It's a great blog to explore and learn more about the art, people and customs of India. Enjoy!
February 5, 2008
dear future me
Ever wished you could write yourself a letter in the future? You could remind yourself of a great moment you want to make sure you don't forget. Or maybe of a lesson learned, a mistake you don't want to repeat again. Or maybe it would just be amusing to see where you thought you would be in the future compared to where you actually are. On futureme.org you can write yourself a letter and post date it for any time in the future. You'll be emailed that letter on the date you choose. Pretty amazing concept. Their philosophy is, emails are more accurate than memory. Check it out.
February 1, 2008
myspace
Free People has set up a MySpace! Be our friend, check out our photos, and connect with other fp girls (or guys, or bands, or photographers, or artists, you know).
check out the Free People MySpace here
January 28, 2008
learning to love you more
Learning to Love You More is a project by artists Miranda July and Harrell Fletcher. I had heard of the project before, but never really knew what it was about until this weekend. Miranda and Harrell have created this list of assignments intended to guide people toward their own experiences. In the book version of the collections, they talked about how, as artists, your life is all about creating. These artists realized that it was precisely in the moments of letting those thoughts of creation go, that they truly had these meaningful experiences.
The other thing I like about this project, is that so many of the assignments relate to childhood. We wouldn't need these kinds of assignments as children, because we thought of this kind of stuff all the time and were just free to do it. As adults I think we forget that we have that freedom. So here are a few of my favorite assignments. Check out the website and the book, and do some of the assignments on your own.
10. Make a flier of your day.
15. Hang a windchime on a tree in a parking lot.
27. Take a picture of the sun.
33. Braid someone's hair.
39. Take a picture of your parents kissing.
January 25, 2008
bigfoot
I spotted these Valentine BigFoot pins on Tokyo Bunnie and had to share. You can buy them on etsy from PearsonMaron. Here's some of the description from their shop...
Now Bigfoot can be sighted whenever you please.
Inspired by The Patterson/Gimlin Bigfoot sighting film from 1967.
Your monsters will come packaged ready for gift giving.
I love them.
January 9, 2008
love stories
Camille from Kissing Knees Craft wants to invite all you creative fp girls to participate in a project she's putting together. Share you love stories. Ya gotta love something! check out her blog for the info...
December 19, 2007
met fashion blog
Yesterday, a special exhibition opened at the Metropolitan Museum of Art called "blog.mode: addressing fashion" Here's a bit about the exhibit...
As a living art form, fashion is open to multiple readings. A vibrant reflection of contemporary culture, fashion especially in its most avant-garde expressions affects us through its intense visual impact. blog.mode: addressing fashion is the first in a series of shows designed to promote critical and creative dialogues about fashion. The exhibition presents some forty costumes and accessories dating from the eighteenth century to the present all recent Metropolitan Museum acquisitions and invites visitors to share their reactions online or from a "blogbar" of computer terminals in the exhibition galleries.
December 13, 2007
holiday crafts
Over on the small object, there are some really great holiday craft ideas. Two of my favorites are made using recycled fabric scraps. If you do any sewing and are a pack rat, I know you have tons of little scraps you're saving "just in case". So here are two awesome ideas to use em up! Check out the stacking fabric trees and chain link garland...
December 11, 2007
all over print
I took the recommendation on love forever and checked out all over print. This blog covers color, design and inspiration of the textile design company. There are some really beautiful inspiring images. I wish some of the entries had more words so you knew what the works in progress and inspirations were related to, but I guess that's part of the fun. Check it out!
November 20, 2007
the creativity patch
Spotted on, true nature, this will do wonders...
It's totally here. Our progressive times allow you to sport a patch on your body to maintain your hormone levels, curb your appetite(s), and cover your boo-boos. Now, thanks to Dunmire Labs, there's no good reason you can't have a slow, steady stream of creativity delivered into your system through the Mirecle33 Creativity Patch.
Try the Mirecle33 Creativity Patch today and see how much it 'miraculously' improves your creative output!
Check out the site to download your own Creativity Patch. The perfect holiday gift!
November 19, 2007
matryoshka @ print & pattern
Print & Pattern just did a long post on matryoshka prints! So cute. Check them out!!
November 16, 2007
etsy fiber art show & sale
Let fiber keep you warm during the Etsy Fiber Art Street Team sale, trunk show, online events … and all year round!
Who: The fabulous independent spinners, knitters, crocheters, weavers, felters, and fiber artists of Etsy.com, your place to buy handmade!
What: A giant event, online and in person, celebrating all things handmade and fiber!
When: Sale in online shops from Nov. 1 - Nov. 16. Trunk show date is Nov. 16, online and at Etsy Labs 6 - 8 p.m. EST.
Where: Etsy Labs, 325 Gold Street, 6th Floor, Brooklyn NY 11201 , and also online at www.etsy.com and www.etsyfast.com
Why: Warm up your November with our great fiber artists! Great sales on items for the holidays, supplies, and more! Interact with our members, learning more about these products and techniques! Buy handmade.
How: RSVP at labs [!at] etsy.com, check www.etsyfast.com for more info, and be sure to visit us during our sale and show Nov. 16!
For more pictures, visit here
October 28, 2007
ed mullen = awesome designer
So I promised to introduce you to the amazing designer responsible for the new look of freepeople.com and the Free People blog, aka the Caravan of Curiosities...
His name is Ed. Ed gets Free People, and we had an awesome time working with him. I asked Ed if he wanted to say anything about working with the FP crew, and this is what he said...
"The Free People folks are so great to work with because they embrace the quirky and playful things that others dismiss. The Caravan of Curiosities idea sounds odd to say it out loud, (“Ok, so there is this blue hare that runs through Europe and Tibet and Alaska and Africa, and there’s a moose, and a cow and a monkey and some birds…”) but FP was just like, “Yeah, that sounds fun!” And it was."
Thank you Ed! Above are some of the working drawings Ed did while creating the new blog design. If you want to check out what else he's been up to, check out his site, edmullen.com
October 26, 2007
holy new blog, batman!
The title of this post is, so far, my favorite comment about the new site! What do you think? Make sure you all click on the curtain tassel in the upper right corner to see new places the magical blue bunny can take you. A feature on our fantastic web designer is coming soon!
October 24, 2007
a blog list
I published a post back in June about a blog list, a great collection of blogs on the subjects of creativity and design. Guess who just got added to the list! Woo hoo Free People! Check out the list or download a PDF and get to exploring!
October 19, 2007
new fp website!
We've been working on improving freepeople.com. Check out the new design! We've rearranged some things, and hopefully made it a lot more user friendly and easier to navigate. Click around and tell us what you think!
And the new blog design is coming soon!
October 2, 2007
new online street market
One of my favorite blogs, Poppytalk, has just launched a new project! Poppytalk Handmade is a monthly online street market to showcase, buy and sell handmade goods of emerging design talent from around the world. Click on a designer and see a selection of products plus links to their blogs, websites and etsy stores. Check it out!
September 28, 2007
etsy storque
If you have visited etsy lately, you have seen their new blog/newspaper/ezine called The Storque. It's really cool, covering topics about etsy crafters and all that surrounds the crafting lifestyle. I like that blogs are morphing into these more magazine-like entities are creating such a tight knit community (no pun intended).
September 24, 2007
bubbles while you work
When is the last time you blew bubbles? I spotted this on pan-dan and had to check it out. Designed by Jason Amendolara, this dish scrubber is also a bubble wand! It is silly but the thought of it just makes me smile. Check out the other designs nominated for the Cooper Hewitt People's Design Award. Nominate and vote on your favorites! Here are some of mine...
Good Magazine
Play for Pump, entertaining children and creating clean drinking water
cowboy boots.
September 18, 2007
austin stitch 2007
Fellow FP girl reccomended this event and I thought it highly appropriate now that we have a store in Austin!
Check out Stitch 2007 on November 10th, and get tickets because they sell out! Indie craft fair and fashion show goin on, so go and support the community. The money raised benefits the Stitch Grant awarded for Indie and Craft Upstarts. Woohoo.
I wanted to share this video posted on the Stitch blog. It is a clip from Handmade Nation aka the Indie Craft Documentary...
September 6, 2007
fly
Check out the trailer for the latest issue of Fly, the magazine of fashion on film. I love the auditions! I wish I could rent Fly DVDs at my neighborhood video store...
hack 2 school
You may have seen this around the blogosphere, but I thought I'd give my recommendation as well. Core 77 did this back to school guide with helpful tips for all of you designers and designer wannabes. From key items to invest in to simple photoshop tricks, with some wit and humor thrown in. There's some good advice that translates for those of us that have graduated to business world too. So check it out, because they used hot pink glue guns in the image.
August 27, 2007
craft inc.
Thought I'd pass along this recommendation to all of our crafty readers. I spotted this book on Lena Corwin's blog and it definitely sounds like a must read for all of you small business crafty girls. Check out the website and Lena's review!
August 22, 2007
margo slinger
Thank you to Bloesem for intoducing me to the work of Margo Slinger. You have to check out her website of work. It is so clever and funny and beautiful. All of the buttons on her website are little vintage buttons (an one silly rabbit?). The navigation is a little tricky, and it's easy to get lost in Slingerland, but so much fun...
August 15, 2007
trompe l'oiel
Loveforever posted this photo from our catalog on both her blog and her inspiration board. But, she also questioned, is this lace or lace wallpaper? I had no idea, so I asked the catalog team. They said it was wallpaper, and that it looked so real, it even tricked your eyes when you were standing right in front of it. It was in the bathroom of this amazing house they shot at in London...
August 14, 2007
nightvision
Spotted this over on craftzine.com and had to share. Images above are by Audrey Penven. She sews on film negatives in a darkroom wearing nightvision goggles. Pretty amazing.
July 31, 2007
notcouture launch week!
So I'm sure you've already come across notcouture, fashionable offspring of favorite design site, notcot. Well this week notcouture is celebrating their official launch! Be sure to check out both of the sites, and take notice of special discounts for notcot readers from some of your favorite retailers (hint hint hint). And start submitting some of your favorite items on notcouture!
July 26, 2007
wind bells
PingMag just did this entry featuring Japanese wind bells. Every July in Kanagawa, people visit the Kawasaki Taishi Wind Bell Market. Can you imagine how magical and peaceful it would be to walk through an entire market filled with these bells? These photos are my favorites, but check out PingMag for more pics and info...
Take a listen...
July 25, 2007
you say tomato
Attack of the giant tomato pincushion! No, it's a bean bag chair, and you can make it. Spotted on love forever and find the tutorial on how to make your own at etsy labs. I wanna take a field trip there!
July 11, 2007
sew edible
This is a cake. Yes, a cake. I found this while browsing on desingersblock. How amazing?
June 29, 2007
free people art show
Urban Outfitters Inc. has a building called 543 in the Navy Yard that is the center of employee life. This building is shared by the three brands and is also open to the public. 543 houses our restaurant/cafeteria, gym, yoga studio, coffee shop, and magazine shop among other things. Since it is a space the employees visit so often, we thought it would be a great place to set up an art gallery to display the artwork or collections of the employees. Our company is filled with creative people and we want to showcase all of their hidden talents...
So to kick it off, Free People employee Kris Chau set up a show of her art work with her best friend Brielle. You might recognize Chau's style from a few illustrations that have been posted on the blog. Check out the video of Kris and Brielle and the gallery opening, and Kris Chau's website!!
June 18, 2007
craft catch up
Did you miss the Renegade Craft Fair this weekend? Or maybe you're thinking about checking out the Chicago scene? Poppy Talk did this cool guide to the fair that can catch you up on what you missed... Above image from rock paper scissors
from bang
from woolies
selvedge
Check out this post over on love forever. She has picked up the latest issue of Selvedge and posted these beautiful photos from a spread on the women's clothing of Salvador, Bahia in Brazil. Definitely makes me want to see the rest of the images. (photographs by Fedor Van der Valk)
A little about Selvedge from their website...
"Open a copy of Selvedge and you sense there is a philosophy that Selvedge readers subscribe to. A belief system based on a cerebral and sensual addiction to textiles in all forms. Readers share a belief in the importance of their material surroundings and a passion for the beautiful and beautifully made.
Our aim is simple: to provide a textile publication which fits seamlessly into their creative lifestyle. Directed towards an international, discerning audience, Selvedge covers fine textiles in every context: fine art, interiors, fashion, travel and shopping."
June 15, 2007
etsy & instructables: sew useful contest
Etsy has teamed up with Instructables for this Sew Useful contest. So you know that Etsy is all about supplying a marketplace for the independent artist and crafter, and Instructables is a community created to share the how-to's for useful projects. I love how Instructables encourages the sharing of finds and ideas. I mean, that's what blogging is all about, right? Anyway, combining these two ideas, you get the ultimate way to support the handmade community. And there's prizes...
And they're working with one laptop per child. So check out the contest!
June 13, 2007
creativity blogs
Check out this huge list of blogs on the subject of creativity. They're broken down by categories like industrial design, fashion, technology, etc. There are a million blogs on here I've never seen, so I'm very excited to do some exploring. Have fun! Leave a comment and let us know if you find one that's amazing!
June 6, 2007
jotterblog
My attention has recently been captured by jotterblog, a paper/stationary/craft blog written by one of our avid fp blog fans. As I am new to their site, I went back and checked out the archives, and found a post on these awesome paper dresses.
I'm also loving their love of chickens. Guess what. Chicken Butt. Check out the chicken entries here and here.
May 25, 2007
new crafts, new blogs
The first few images for the travel swap are posted! Check out the details on our flickr page.
Also, on the flickr page, I recommend checking out all of the messages left in our "introductions" stream. Find it under "discuss" or "discussions". Practically all of the swappers participating have listed their blogs, websites, or myspaces. Lots of new blogs and artists out there to be discovered. So get to it!
May 21, 2007
style will save us
I really love this digital mag style will save us, and they love "all things super-stylish, organic, ethical, eco-friendly, vintage, recycled and sustainable." In the current issue, they did an article on re-worked vintage and featured the "post-vintage" work of fashion and art collective Andrea Crews (pictured above). Check out the article here...
May 18, 2007
someecards
I spotted these on coolhunting and had to share. Someecards (or Some Ecards) are for "when you care enough to hit send". I posted some of the cards that are just sarcastic enough for a smile, but check out the site. There are some that are just so ridiculous you will laugh out loud. I can't imagine ever sending some of these, but they make their site that more entertaining.
May 10, 2007
etsy labs
I was browsing through this week's issue of Time Out New York, when I spotted the word "Etsy" under the "recently opened" section. It seems Etsy, our fav DIY web merchant, has opened up their warehouse, or the Etsy Lab, for...
*Workshops on making things
*Advice & help with your Etsy shop
*Meeting other artists
*Getting out of your house
*Creative projects
*Community events
So if you live anywhere near Brooklyn, I would check it out!
May 3, 2007
cloth paper scissors
One of my favorite artist / bloggers, Anahata, is on this month's cover of Cloth Paper Scissors! I picked up this magazine for the first time a few months ago, and it's really great for artistic inspiration, especially collage ideas and techniques. I'll definitely be buying this month's issue to check out the feature on Anahata...
She sent the above F & P tags to Free People as a little present, along with a bunch of other amazing paper goods she designed. Check out her goods and her blog too!
April 5, 2007
the moldy doily
no good for me posted today about Kime Buzelli, an amazing artist and one of my favorite bloggers (check out The Moldy Doily). She makes it sound like she has way too much fun in her Echo Park hood in LA. And through The Moldy Doily today, I discovered the latest issue of Lula is out, and Kime contributed! I'll be at the mag shop after work. I'll be sure to share discoveries over the next few days...
(This is part of Kime's work featured in Lula)
April 4, 2007
matriochka dishcloth
Somebody commented on kate's desk entry about their common love for matriochka dolls. So I thought I'd share these hand made screen printed dishcloths with a matriochka motif. I spotted them in April's issue of Dwell and you can check them out on roseandradish.com. This site has a lot of really clean modern designs, but they occasionally break it up with something cute and whimsical like these towels. I personally fell in love with the one below featuring cutlery and cars.
March 22, 2007
iqons*
Is anyone down with IQONS* yet?? For those of you that haven't heard the buzz, it's a social networking site developed spefically to help connect those in the fashion industry. Whether you're a stylist, photographer, designer, whatever. Check out the about page. I think the idea is really great, connecting serious designers and those just starting out, inspiring further relationships between art and fashion, and hosting competitions to get your name out there. And I guess it's still in it's soft launch phase, so it's hard to tell how effective it is for all you creators out there. But I'm loving the idea. So, should we all get to it and sign up for IQONS???
March 9, 2007
fifi lapin
(Fifi wear Marc Jacobs)
"Hi, I'm Fifi. Fifi Lapin. I was born one of 257 brothers and sisters but sadly there was an outbreak of myxamatosis when I was one year old and I was the only one that survived. My parents are therefore incredibly protective of me and spoil me rotten. I'm an haress to my fathers fortune which he made playing fast and loose with carrot and lettuce shares on the international stock market. There are a lot of rabbits out there so I guess he just struck gold (or orange you might say). Some people think I’m just a socialite but I think there is more to me than just an extremely stylish clotheshorse! "
(Fifi wears Anna Sui)
Check out Fifi's blog. I am in love.
(Fifi wears Chanel)
I think Fifi should wear Free People! Buy an original Fifi at her etsy shop...
Found via love made visible
February 28, 2007
you make stuff?
I know most of you are crafty, some of you even run your own businesses or sell your wares on etsy. In any case, I thought I'd pass along the info about Fred Flare's Next Big Thing contest. They're looking for artists, crafters and designers to submit products to be sold on Fred Flare. Get lots of exposure, new wholesale opportunities, and maybe a $1000 too! check it out...
February 22, 2007
passion for pom poms
Apparently, there are people obsessed with making pom poms. And apparently, they are actually referred to as "pon pons". And apparently, there is a blog about it! And if you share this obsession, maybe you should join in on a ponathon...
Found via fly...
February 14, 2007
culinary observations, questionable taste
A Free People coworker introduced me to this blog Dirty Sugar Cookies (thanks Heather!) and I just think it's hilarious. You may know Ayun Halliday from her monthly columns in Bust or her quarterly zine, East Village Inky. But it turns out she has some culinary skills and a few books under her belt as well. I like that she posts random photos loosely connected to the recipe she's presenting, and her "borscht on tumeric" color scheme truly burns your eyes.
February 8, 2007
wide leg shout out
Our favorite non gossip celebrity blog whowhatweardaily recommends our wide leg jeans! What they didn't mention is that they are made by Goldsign, designed by Adriano Goldschmied, formerly of AG fame as well as for work with Diesel and Replay. Goldsign is famous for his fit as well as his hand wash and hand stitching techniques. Like a lot of Free People products, all that hand touch means each piece is a little different. Check em out...
February 5, 2007
lost?
Clicked onto etsy today and saw this collection of map inspired items. The collection was handpicked by theseawithin. I especially love the origami butterfly. The collection reminded me of our travel theme for the store display and our embellished maps.
February 2, 2007
trouble with futurism
Cathy Horyn, fashion writer for the New York Times, started her own blog about a week ago. She did this really great post on Alber Elbaz of Lanvin, documenting an issue he had with this super futuristic polyester fabric. They made a digital flipbook of his sketches and the construction steps he took in creating a dress from the trouble fabric. It's really interesting to see the problem solving involved. I also really love seeing his sketches and the process of developing an abstract idea. Hopefully sometime soon, I can get some similar information to share from our FP designers!
Alber says...
January 19, 2007
swap inspiration
I was checking out some blogs written by participants in our Valentine Swap when I came across this amazingly creative idea. Amy from inspire co. has made this "eye candy" heart shaped box filled with buttons, trims, charms and embellishments. You can buy one on her site or get inspired and fill your own heart shaped box!
January 18, 2007
fake cake
Has anyone else noticed fake cakes around? Fred Flare is selling fake cakes hand made by Amy Sedaris as part of their Valentine's selection. And ReadyMade magazine featured Amy's instructions for a DIY fake cake in their love issue.
And then I saw this other cake on poppy. A felt cake that comes in a kit with all the embellishments you can arrange as you like. (Actually sold as a toy, but really pretty. Buy it here)
Amy Sedaris suggests making fake cakes and leaving them on your window sill to lure in friends from the street or as Valentine's gifts. I think they'd be a cool centerpiece to leave on the kitchen table. Anyway, that got me thinking a little more outside the box about what I could make for the Free People Valentine's Swap. Only one more day to sign up! Scroll down and send me your info!!!!!
January 16, 2007
strange similarity
A reader commented and pointed us to the strange similarity between Food & Wine's latest issue and a photo we posted about the Free People lunch club. It's really kind of bizarre. I can't believe she made the connection! Check out her blog.
December 29, 2006
antony
Refinery 29 currently features Antony (singer of Antony and the Johnsons) in their "hot for" section. Refinery 29 is the BEST New York shopping guide. They map out every great boutique and are on top of every opening of cool new stores. I highly recommend checking out the site before your next shopping romp through NY.
In addition to shopping and fashion, the site features other cultural info, which brings us back to Antony. Their feature reminded me of this amazing video Nick Knight did a while back. ( The above photo is from the film) The video is posted on Nick's fashion broadcasting site SHOWstudio. The video is sooo beautiful and such a simple concept...
December 28, 2006
philly design
Spotted this on design sponge and had to post in the spirit of Philly pride. These take out cups were designed by Gina Triplett for Last Drop coffeehouse on 13th and Pine. Definitely the best coffee cups I've seen around...
December 27, 2006
bakeshop
What is it about cupcakes that makes them so darn cute? Although we are no longer six years old, there is still this desire to enjoy a tiny frosted cake. It's time we move beyond the can of frosting and sprinkles to a more sophisticated version of cute, however. I recently came across this blog cupcake bakeshop that shows us how to do just that. The little cakes look so yummy and the photography is really beautiful.
December 21, 2006
craftypod
I am obsessed with this pompom rug! I found it on craftypod, a podcast blog written by Sister Diane of the Church of Craft. She posts weekly audio podcasts with craft tutorials and interviews with crafters, authors and such. Check it out, she features some really awesome projects. I really wish these were videos though! Especially for the tutorials.
Found via love forever.
December 20, 2006
diy puff skirt
Check out Susie Bubble's DIY instructions for creating your own "puff" skirt. You'll need a full circle skirt and some ribbons! If you do it just so, the skirt might even look cool both ways, with the puffs and untied with the ribbons just hanging. If you don't know Susie already, check her out. Her blog is definitely one of my favorites for fashion.
December 18, 2006
video blog
Miss the Bust Holiday Craftacular? This weekly video blog, the pink of perfection, has some moving pictures to share featuring interviews with both Bust magazine staff and crafters! I don't know how she managed to film this. It was a total madhouse in there. Any way, check out the site. She also features other fashion craftiness and lots of food too.
FYI, found this site via love forever...
November 27, 2006
doily art & deco
Found these images on what you make it (see below entry) by artist Lisa Solomon. She makes these installations using hand crocheted doilies and detailed drawings. They look so intricate. Pretty amazing.
Lisa's work reminded me of some pieces we used for our Free People store fall display. The display team hand crocheted these enormous doilies from enormous yarn balls (you can see the yarn balls on the floor in the photo). The picture above is in the lobby of the FP home office.
what you make it
Check out this "online art zine of sorts" called What You Make It. This is the second issue and is even better than the first. (The first issue introduced me to wardrobe remix, however) This issue covers some really inspiring artists and crafters and has a cool feature on holiday shopping. It also introduces a book called "By Hand" that looks especially interesting. Before I give it all away, see for yourself!
November 23, 2006
social shopping
Have you ever found the most perfect pair of boots on a website, and then gone back later to find them and spent, like half an hour trying to find that same website. Or maybe you tend to save your choice shopping sites under the "Favorites" column on your toolbar, and now there's about a million and you have no idea why they're there. There are a few tools out there to get your shopping lists in order, and serve as a kind of "social networking" with myspace-like features.
I have found the most basic of these sites to be wists. Here you can save pictures of the things you covet and tag them with categories that will help you find them easily.
This other site that I like is stylehive created with the purpose of "amplifying the buzz factor" of online shoppping. I like searching by what's "popular" for that day, week, month, to see what products are getting some "buzz". Stylehive also has a good blog for discovering what's new on the web.
And my favorites of this breed of sites is thisnext. This site offers the most ways to personalize your lists and have a real identity. On this site it is easy to discover people with similar interests as you, and then learn about new products/websites that they have discovered. Let me know if anyone has any tips for discovering new trends through these sites!
November 14, 2006
whowhatwear
Whowhatweardaily has called out our jewel toned flats as the perfect satin ballet flats if your name is not Kate, Lindsay or Sarah Jessica. The site is actually kind of cool. You can submit questions to find out what celebrities were wearing what and where. And they have a stylist you can question to find more personal fashion advice. I like their tagline..."We don't care about who you're dating or if you eat. We only care about what you wear." I know I , for one, do care IF people eat, but I'm glad there's a celebrity site that's not discussing it constantly...
November 8, 2006
silver & gold
Remember that song in girlscouts? Make new friends, but keep the old. One is silver and the...Anyway, blogging has connected us with some new friends, as well as a few we were already quite fond of. Just wanted to thank all of them for the support. Happy exploring...
anahata
An artist's blog...she says, "Change is only one brush stroke, one word, one painted chair, one cut up magazine away."
oh joy
To find some girlie designer goodness...and she's from Philly.
fly
An inspired lover of fashion and art...and she does really cool illustrations.
notcot
"A visual filtration of ideas + aesthetics + amusement." Yes.
design*sponge
Features home and product design, and she has some real good taste.
seamsters
A good friend of the free people crew. I think the word "seamsters" says enough.
November 7, 2006
in case you didn't know...
Etsy is a really cool website. It's like ebay in that the site can host your business and provide the necessary structure for selling your goods. The difference is Etsy is completely dedicated to promoting hand made craftacular wares. One way I like to find out about great artiists and crafters is to check the featured seller. The site profiles the artist/designer/crafter with a bio and funny interview questions. The current featured seller is cricketpress, a husband and wife screenprinting duo. (Their cards pictured above) Etsy is the perfect place to do some holiday shopping and support small businesses. (Oh, and you can shop the site by color...neat.)