LA's Spring Show a Blast!

Thank You LA!

Our 5th Annual Spring Show was another great success, thanks to the amazing and talented vendors and to the 14,000+ shoppers that came to buy local and enjoy community! Spending Mother's Day weekend with such a great group of people never gets old, and we all feel blessed to be part of such a positive and energetic community. We'd love to hear from y'all - make a comment below and tell us what you're favorite finds were or which vendors you are now obsessed with! :) Did you get snapped? We've posted our pictures of the weekend on our Flickr page for you to enjoy, including many of the fabulous Richard Simmons who came to buy local! If you posed for a wacky picture with Oh Snap Studios, you'll find your unique photos on their website here. If you want to find a vendor that you loved, you can browse our online listing of Participants by category - shop from them online and continue to buy local. :)

Because of your support we were able to donate $3000 to our great non-profit partner the Downtown Women's Center who have been a vital part of the community for over 35 years. In 2011 they opened MADE by DWC, an amazing cafe and boutique in downtown LA that sells products created locally by homeless and low-income women at the Downtown Women’s Center, and they just opened a new re-sale store nearby! I hope you'll visit their website to learn more about the organization and how you can get involved and help.

UNIQUE LA shows could not be possible without the great support, enthusiasm and energy from our Sponsors! Like us, they believe in community and 'quality over quantity'. If you enjoyed a free drink or discovered a tasty new treat, please show them love by visiting their websites. You'll find them all here. :)

Thank you again for an amazing show, we hope to see you at our Summer Show held in Santa Monica’s Barker Hangar on July 13 & 14!

The Modern Craft Project

I was recently invited to an intimate dinner at the Marvimon to learn about and celebrate Ketel One's Modern Craft Project. Friends from The Fox is Black, LA I'm Yours, Refinery 29 and Flavorpill were all there, making it quite a fun night! The superb three-course meal (by Animal!!!) and delicious cocktails were quite a treat, but the most interesting thing was hearing about the Modern Craft Project and realizing what a cool opportunity it is for all the amazing Makers I know!

Partnering with the global creative magazine Wallpaper*, Ketel One is on a quest to find contemporary craftsmen who bring traditional skills into the modern day. They're looking for people who want to take their work, their careers and themselves further. They are looking for great people who make great things, so whether you're a furniture maker, an illustrator or a leather accessories designer, all you have to do is apply online by March 20th. Unlike so many of these online talent searches, the Modern Craft Project's application is short and sweet - they mainly want to see your work and let it speak for itself. No need to enter 10 email addresses of friends, sign your life away or any other gimmicks. This is a pure celebration of great modern craft!

Oh wait, I didn't tell what winner get! Well I saved the best for last... Up for grabs is the chance to be featured in a unique Modern Craft Directory plus winners get coverage in Wallpaper*, and the extraordinary levels of international exposure that go with it. Seriously people, I really hope loads of you out there will apply since it takes no more then a few minutes! Ketel One will also be helping selected craftsmen to take their work to the next level and to an even wider audience by giving them the chance to win a share of the Ketel One Legacy prize fund.

Being with everyone at the dinner, talking about the city and our friends and our projects, I became truly appreciative of all the amazing artists and makers that I know. I'm surrounded by creative, forward-thinking, risk-taking Doers, who produce wonderful work! I hope may of you are reading this and really hope that you will apply to the Modern Craft Project. Getting the type of press coverage and prestige that Wallpaper* brings is such a dream! Let's turn it into reality...

The Lost Art of the Ashtray

I was asked by the Museum of Contemporary Craft in Portland, Oregon to contribute an essay for their current exhibition Object Focus: The Bowl. I chose these Heath ashtrays, which I never really thought of as bowls before (but they are, they’re bowls of FIRE!). You can read all the essays here or on display at the museum.

Artist: Heath Ceramics Title: Ashtrays Dimensions: Various Date: Unknown Media: Ceramic

I don’t remember my grandparents ever smoking in front of me. I imagine I must have encountered the crinkle of a cellophane-covered pack on a countertop or heard the metallic snap of a lighter in a distant room; I likely wondered aloud why their couch cushions had a distinctly different scent than the ones in our cigarette-free house. Whether they meant to or not, all evidence of my elders participating in their evening ritual was always kept far from my inquisitive toddler brain.

But I always knew they smoked. I knew because of the ashtrays.

A decade before I would consider putting a cigarette to my own lips, I thought smoking was cool because of these tiny receptacles that were stashed throughout my grandparents’ home. I coveted these ashtrays, wanted to take them home and collect them on my bookshelf. They were beautiful in a way my porcelain tea set was not: unadorned ceramic vessels and clean-lined glass orbs, carved with dramatic indentations and hidden crevices for cradling and collecting the smoldering white cylinders. By nature of the danger they accompanied, they were near-mythical objects in themselves—like miniature, portable campfires I was not allowed to touch.

Yet since then, the ashtray has been stripped of its coffee table stature. Once a required grade school art class assignment, it has become a taboo accoutrement. And as smoking has been banished from American interiors, the tradition of ashtray design has also been extinguished. These three Heath Ceramics ashtrays are relics of not only another era, but another culture entirely.

Production of Heath’s ashtrays began in the late 1950?s at the company’s Sausalito factory. In fact, the notched ashtray design—soon to be the industry standard—was reportedly invented by Edith Heath (a smoker) who devised a method to slice the slim slots into the sides of erstwhile bowls. As part of their Coupe line, known for its earthy tones and unglazed edges, the ashtrays were, for a time, a popular extension of the brand’s growing houseware empire.

But when the company was purchased in 2003 by Robin Petravic and Catherine Bailey, the young couple who have revitalized and modernized Heath, the ashtrays were slowly phased out, deemed inappropriate for inclusion in the permanent collection. They’re not gone forever: Petravic and Bailey recognize that they’re representative of a moment in time, however fleeting, and Heath has preserved the molds to produce them on special request. But one can imagine even those requests are declining as time goes on.

Last year, only 19% of Americans claimed they had smoked a cigarette in the past week, down from 42% in 1965. If this trend continues, smoking may be all but a hazy memory a few decades from now, an antiquated spectacle best witnessed through Mad Men reruns. Once a fixture of cocktail parties and coffee shops, the ashtray—that stylish symbol of ceramic innovation, the handsome centerpiece of conversation—will be invited to the table only if it’s parading as a candy dish.

Alissa Walker is a writer, a gelato-eater, and a walker in LA. Follow her at @gelatobaby and read more at awalkerinla.com

UNIQUE LA Tomorrow!

In just 12 hours we'll open doors to the biggest made-in-America shopping event of the year - UNIQUE LA. Not only that, its also our 5th Anniversary so prepare to see a heftier directory, an exclusive totebag by Brian Rea, UPPERCASE magazine giveaways, an amazing open bar, and tons more! We'll have the event recap photos up sometime next week but if you want live coverage of the event, follow us on Instagram at @UniqueUSA.

Holiday Show Map

We know that our Holiday Show can be a little overwhelming sometimes: 350+ designers and artists, open bar, snack station, free drinks, photobooth, and a DIY den is a lot to process once you get to the show. So we're making things easy on you by releasing our map + list of vendors early. Plan your visit in advance and WIN this Holiday Season! Click images for full resolution.

Holiday Show 2012 Lookbook

Our 5th Anniversary Holiday Show is this weekend and to get you even more excited about shopping from 350+ hand-selected designers and artists we put together a lookbook in order to show you some of the great things that you'll be able to get at UNIQUE LA this December 1st and 2nd. For those of you that won't be able to make it to the show (bummer!) or simply can't wait to shop made-in-America, we linked all of the products in the lookbook to each of the designers' online stores. For those of you that ARE coming to our Holiday Show this weekend... See you there!!!

Open publication - Free publishing - More art

Caroline Hurley is Rad

As soon as I saw Caroline Zucchero Hurley's jewelry I developed a big crush. Then I saw her hand-printed linens and I coveted each and every one. Then I discovered her colorful, modern, playful oil paintings and I thought, "Really? One girl with all this talent?!" Yep. Turns out the multi-talented artist has quite a cast of admirers including Lucky, Design*Sponge and Wax Magazine. The admiration is well-deserved – some of Caroline's achievements include an Anderson Ranch Residency, an Artist Grant from Brown University and a VCCA residency. So how does a girl who grew up in Memphis and did everything from being a personal assistant to working in PR and finance to working as a tutor become such a successful fine artist, who also has a chic product line? For starters it helps that her entire family is creative ("My mom teaches creativity, one of my sisters is an architect and the other is a graphic designer.") and that they traveled around the world while she was growing-up. One thing I found interesting after talking with her is that at a very young age she was a natural entrepreneur, making her own rules and hustling for herself — as a girl she would sell puffy-paint adorned clothing and lemonade to her neighbors That entrepreneurial spirit has done well for her! I hope you too will fall for Caroline's work… I asked her to share her experience, insight and advice as an artist and an entrepreneur. Enjoy!

Name: Caroline Zucchero Hurley

Age: 30

Occupation: Artist/Designer

Home: New York

Website: www.carolinezhurley.com

Best part of your job:

I love that I get to play every day and do what I love.  I really do try to bring that sense of fun in to studio and everything I make.

Most challenging aspect of your job:

The most challenging part for me is the organization part; I am realizing more and more that to run and operate your own business you have to be super organized (which does not come naturally to me!!). I've really had to work on filling orders/invoices, collecting receipts, keeping a catalogue of what has sold, etc. Like many entrepreneurs, aside from actually making my art and products I do everything myself: website design and maintenance, logo design, photography, etc. so it's a lot of work. My dream is that someday I will be able to have a team of people working with me so that I can focus all my energy on the creative part, but for now this works. I think its good to know how to do everything yourself, it builds confidence.

Did you go to school or get formal training for what you do now?

Yes, I went to RISD as a Painting major.

What advice would you give someone just graduating from art school?

Be open minded! Don't take yourself too seriously, travel a lot and stay in close contact with your artist/designer pals. It's really nice to have a network of people in the same field.

You're a fine artist who has also started making your own product line on the side. Most artists don't like the actual 'selling' aspect and leave it to their gallery reps or agents to do that part, but with your line you sell direct to the public or trade yourself. What prompted you to do that?

For me, both my fine art and products are part of the same thing. I grew up in a really creative household and my siblings and I would make art projects constantly. We created neighborhood productions where we would write a play, make all the sets and costumes and charge admission (my old neighbors still remember the events). I remember setting up a stand on my street and selling puff-painted and stenciled t-shirts, lemonade, and repurposed toys that I would paint all pink and sell as sculptures.   In high school I was making bags and I carried it through to RISD. I actually had a little business going, I was selling in a bunch of cities and was featured in Lucky mag and Shop mag and a couple other places. What I am doing now is an extension of that, only now I feel more confident about my designs, who I am, and what kinds of things I want to make.

Do you work in your own studio or a shared space? 

I work in my studio in Dumbo however recently my work has spread to my apartment in Manhattan too. It's great because it means my business is really expanding but I am feeling the need for more space and am sort of dreaming of a beach house where I can make things by the ocean… Maybe someday! There is rarely a time these days where I am not working either on an order to be shipped out or a new idea for a product or painting.

Have you been able to "make a living" as a fine artist in our current economy?

For me a part-time teaching job balances things out and actually helps my process (it's nice to know you have a paycheck coming every two weeks). That's the scariest part about being an artist, you really don't know if you'll sell a painting or get a big order that month or if you'll be able to pay your rent - but in a way I think that's also what makes the process so cool. You have to figure out a way to make it viable and to make it your own and for each artist that is different, you have to try out a couple different combinations; sometimes it's a part-time job, sometimes it's selling online, sometimes it's applying for grants and residencies. It's all a process and you have to just be open to it and also willing to let it change.

What does a typical work day look like?

Before I head to studio at 1pm, I teach preschool art part-time which I have realized has helped my art making process immensely. I basically go into work and act like a clown, throw glitter everywhere and make cool projects with kids from 9am - 1pm. Then I head straight to studio. It's cool because I get to design the curriculum and do what ever I want, so lots of times I will bring projects that I play with in studio to the school and vise versa. The necklaces I make are an inspiration from my class: we made pasta necklaces and the kids were SO cool - supper drippy and painty with these rad colors - so I tried them out in my studio. I really didn't expect for much to come of the jewelry to be honest, I started wearing them and making them for friends and walked in to JF and Son (a cool store in NYC) and the owner saw my necklace and asked to sell it! So from there I got press and people asked for orders, and then more stores approached me, etc.

What inspires you?

I LOVE the beach and I love to play! (I sound like a kid, ha!)  I guess I am most inspired by color which is why I try to take one big trip a year to gather inspiration. It's amazing how traveling can open you up. Sometimes my eye gets so used to the colors of NYC that I forget to really look at things, so traveling jolts me out of that. Last year I traveled to Bali with some pals from RISD and it was the main reason for my exploration into textiles. The Balinese have the best sense of pattern and I was really blown away by the colors there, it was unlike anything I had ever seen, I swear the air had a golden blue tint to it. This year I am planning to go to India to explore more textiles. I am venturing into home products now too so I am really looking forward to seeing that part of the world.

Any advice to future entrepreneurs?

Believe in yourself and keep at it. It's hard sometimes but doubt can really get in the way of productivity.

What is the most important thing you've learned about starting and maintaining your own business?

Pace yourself and try to keep organized. And travel often!

To see more pictures of Caroline Hurley's studio and other design spaces, visit our Studio Snapshots board on Pinterest!

Custom Pet Portraits

I think I've found the purrfect gift for those of you who have furry friends, or have friends who are coo-coo for their pets. New York-based Happy Menocal's Pet Portraits are the best! Her illustrations are not only beautiful, intimate and all-around-amazing, they're surprisingly affordable. For just $300 you get an original, one of a kind portrait! I can't wait for her to capture my dog Apollo…

Erik Otto's Studio Tour

We first met Erik Otto in NYC while working on the Re:Form School art show and immediately liked him - not only is he a prolific artist but he is a truly humble person who is very sweet and down to earth. We stopped by his San Francisco studio for a tour last month and were blown away with the space, which even boasts a photo booth. Being in his studio gave us an inside look at how Erik works and the things that he surrounds himself with - getting to see everything from large pieces of art to his little scribblings and notes on scraps of paper was inspiring. He also showed us a few cool items that he sells in his store, such as his RAD geometric tealight candle holders. We loved being there and hope you like seeing his studio too!

The Payoff

There has been a lot of ink (pixels?) spilled lately on this idea that we’re so obsessed with Tweeting, Facebooking, Instagramming the important moments of our lives that we’re not actually living them. NY Times technology reporter Nick Bilton recently wrote about fiddling with his iPhone to capture a gorgeous sunset, then realizing that he couldn’t simply appreciate the sunset without trying to share the experience with his social networks.

Bilton was so distressed by this that he made a 2012 resolution to go without his iPhone for at least 30 minutes a day, a goal that seems so ridiculously attainable I’m frightened for his well-being. He only has to be without his phone for 30 minutes? How about restricting iPhone use to only 30 minutes a day?

I don’t have as much trouble detaching from my phone (although I do take it everywhere), but I’ve been wrestling with this concept that documenting has to come at the expense of enjoying. When I see something incredible, I make a flash decision. I either flick my phone into camera mode or plunge into my purse for my camera, which is sometimes—often—already around my neck. (Sometimes I do both, camera in one hand, phone in the other.) If I’m walking, I definitely have to stop. I admit to dancing around trying to get the best angle. It changes the experience for sure. But do I miss it? Not at all. Having the photographic evidence of that memory is totally worth that second or two I spent deciding how to capture it. And yes, sharing is important, I guess. But I share mostly because I want to work through what the images mean to me. And writing a Tweet or posting it to my blog is how I do that. It’s like processing the moment.

I was trying to put this all in words for the last few weeks. But who would have guessed that Charles Eames said it more beautifully than I ever could have—50 years ago? When, I might add, it took a heck of a lot more time and effort to make a photograph.

You can see this illustrated quote, among others, at Eames Words, a show at the A+D Museum which has just been extended until February 20. Yesterday co-curator Andrew Byrom graciously gave de LaB a tour of the exhibition, and it’s absolutely fantastic. Of course, I took plenty of photos.

Rodarte Exhibit at LACMA

The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) presents the  debut of RODARTE: Fra Angelico Collection. American designers, Kate and Laura Mulleavya gifted 10 fabulous gowns from their Spring|Summer 2012 couture collection to the museum’s renowned Costume and Textiles Department.  At LACMA, the Rodarte gowns are surrounded by classic Renaissance artworks, due to the fact that they were inspired by frescoes painted by the early Italian Renaissance artist, Fra Angelico Rodarte uses a variety of different silk fabrics, sequins, feathers and swarovski elements, breastplates and headpieces to dramatically complete the look of gowns.

Photos: via Lacma.org

Two Rabbits Contest

Are your walls missing a little something something? Enter to win one of these amazing Two Rabbits posters.

Run by two local artists, Bob Motown and Mike Thacker, Two Rabbits Studios is a graphic design and print studio that specializes in fine art printing, graphic design, and illustration. You can watch our studio tour with them HERE

Details & Rules: Contest ends January 31, 2012; one entry per email address; by submitting your entry we'll add you to our bi-weekly newsletter filled with design interviews, studio tours, special discounts and more.

CONTEST CLOSED

Ice Cube Loves LA

I once thought of myself as a special kind of cheerleader for Los Angeles, an eloquent advocate for its evasive beauty. I tried to give a voice to LA’s unique brand of urbanism. But now I don’t have to anymore. I’m going to let Ice Cube speak for LA from now on.

There are even more gems in the New York Times article. Somebody hire this guy as LA’s official spokesperson.

Here’s my story on the other PST videos.

Making the Cut

My friend Amy Flurry has been creating quite a buzz in the fashion and art world over the past year with her uber-cool Paper Cut Project... What started as a crafty hobby between two friends has become an international success! The pair create custom-made paper art installations that have attracted attention from Vogue Italia and Kate Spade, and has resulted in numerous exclusive collections for the likes of Hermes (!) and Cartier.  Are these not stunning?! So inspiring...

1 & 2 from their Animalia Series / 3 for Kate Spade / 4 for The Hudson Bay Company / 5 from their exclusive collection for Cartier

Most recently they debuted at NY Fashion Week, where they collaborated with new womenswear designer Jen Kao.