Saturday, October 28, 2006

Janine Marie

We've got a few handbags in from a Northern California designer, Janine Marie - they are handsewn from ultrasuede and other fabrics that feel wonderful under the hand. The belted bag comes with a bright contrasting belt that can also be worn on the hips - this style is fun as you can change the look of the bag by adding a different belt or scarf. Yes, there's an adjustable shoulder strap too. If you are not really a big leather bag kind of person, come check these out.

Today is very warm and breezy - an odd October day. The leaves are rapidly dropping and people are in a strolling mood. It's nice!

Friday, October 27, 2006

Lumen

I tried to post earlier but Blogger was foiling me. Anyway, here is the scoop of what's new at the shop:

- Lumen oil lamp projectors - a sweet housewarming present perhaps, the stainless steel oil lamp throws a softly waving shadow of an etched panel on a wall. If you love the mystery of a flickering candle, you must have one of these.

- Donna Brady's A-light got some great press on design*sponge today. We have these on pre-order at the webshop. Donna says there are glossy black bases as well, email if you'd like a picture of that.

- We've got the 'Vintage Fabric from the States' book back in stock, and added a few new books too, plus a DVD/book collection called VisualRocks, with behind the scenes looks at music videos, great if you want to break into the biz.

I added 10 products to the webshop yesterday so be sure to take a peek. And don't forget - the last day for Jill Bliss' show is Sunday, and then we'll reopen on Wednesday with the Deadly Squire show. The reception is on the 9th, see you there!

Wednesday, October 25, 2006

Vynil and More

FedEx kindly released our box from France and now Vynil wall stickers are back in stock! We have more of the Ich & Kar Jungle pods in pink, plus a new design from them. We have Potato Queen II and the Poppies from Maison Georgette. All looks great.

The fingerless glove/mittens from Crowded Teeth are back in stock, we have all three styles for fall, plus some matching scarves cuz why not? We have more of their charming button sets also. People sift throw the button bowls like candy...

Brand-new are ceramic coasters from Alyssa Ettinger, who lives in the nabe. They have imprints of different knitted fabrics and are unglazed or in lovely muted colors. I'm working to get these online for you ASAP.

Pamela Barsky's mid-century piggy banks are back in stock, this time in the pea green (or maybe green tea) color.

Also on the way - an upgraded version of Donna Brady's Re-Surface lamps. She's switched the bases from wood to ceramic and they look super sharp. These will be up in Rare Picks for purchase soon too, they are so great with their Brooklyn urban landscape lampshades.

Tuesday, October 24, 2006

The Outside World

Now that I have decided to largely relinquish webshop products to the Rare Picks blog, I feel this one can be devoted a little more to the store, and even non-store things that may be of interest to you. Today we are closed so this post is just a little rambly.

STORE: we love to bring you things from outside the U.S. but sometimes they...get stuck. we have new Vynil wall stickers from France that still seem to be in customs. i need to do more investigations. anyway, they are almost here. and we have some art/design books from Napa Books that were sent from Finland and alas, nobody knows where they are right now. we're working on that too!

we're restocked on razorblade neckaces, and soon the cloud necklaces will be in also. the crowded teeth mittens will be in any day now, and we're adding just a few new products to the holiday line-up - like Lumen oil lamps and Set Editions cards.

even further in the future, we are plotting a new window display for the spring, courtesy of the lovely Lisa Congdon from San Francisco who has a cult following, it seems! we're really pleased to have a brand-new show by Lisa, theme TBA. Lisa is friends with Maria of Port 2 Port so expect fun printed collaborative items made for the show!

NON-STORE: everyone can still apply for Post-Postcard 10, operated by The LAB in San Francisco. this is a venerable indie affordable art show, 10 years strong, and some of my most favorite pieces of art at home are from past editions of this show. anyone can enter, you just need to make small art and send it to them. i think i'm going to bribe my San Franciscan readers to pick me up some treats from this (and maybe half a pound of Blue Bottle Coffee beans) in exchange for lovely treats from the shop...also, looks like there will be a Post-Postcard in LA this year too.

if you are in Portland OR, you are lucky and you get to attend the studio craft sale next weekend. this is just one of many, many events and sales by independent designers around the holidays. yep i said it, we're nearly in the holiday season! i am going to put my holiday cards and a few ornaments out in november!

other than that...i'm reading the great greenjeans blog about the ongoing discussion of "craft" in America, and dreaming of living on the first floor so that i can get a jorg & olif bike, which just looks a wee bit heavy to lug up the stairs. or maybe one of these gorgeous vanilla bikes - if i win the lottery. a hand-built bike is a thing of beauty, and curiously straddles art, craft, science and function. it's fun to think of all the things that do...

LAST WORD: prospective designers, i am really pretty well done with reviewing products for this year. i love you all but i get 3-5 calls and/or emails a day and i can't get back to you all. trust me, i look at everything and if something fits, i will contact you! it might be months down the line but i have a pretty good memory :) thanks for your interest in our little shop.

Monday, October 23, 2006

I Heart Technology

As always, on my days off I find myself working late into the night, trying to improve the experience for those interested in keeping up with goings-on at Rare Device. I'm starting up the newest feature, which is called 'Rare Picks' after the shopping part of the website. Rare Picks is our new blog that just has the latest products on it, purchasable online. This should help those who are tired of sifting through this store blog, looking at pictures of store-only goods which you can't click and buy. The new blog is just the facts, ma'am!

The best part is that you'll be able to keep up to date in two ways. Those of you who must see the latest products ASAP can subscribe to the RSS feed, and those who want to check in periodically can sign up for an e-mail newsletter that will be sent whenever there are, say, half a dozen new products on the site. (Sign up now in the little green box on the Rare Picks blog, if you like.) The choice is up to you.