February 5, 2008
A lot of you uwishunu readers are stopping in from places outside of Philadelphia, and sadly, you guys aren’t able to check out the sales we feature on here every now and again. Well luckily for you, you’ll be able to buy stuff for your sweetie on Mew Gallery’s website as a part of their Valentine’s Day sale… with free shipping on orders over $60.
We like Mew. We post about their trunk shows and talked about the owners. Now’s your chance to shop their without even entering the store, though we highly recommend paying a visit first hand.
Mew Gallery
906 Christian Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147
http://www.mewgallery.org/
January 30, 2008
Haven’t been to Café Estelle yet? Here is your chance!
The new and well-received Café Estelle in NoLibs is hosting a February art show featuring some of the best local artists around.
Some of my friends (and amazing artists) are showing, so I’m especially excited!
Check out Manuel Dominguez and Katie Henry’s work”"both on display, and stop by Café Estelle for some delicious food and heart-warming art.
The show will be displayed February 1 through March 5″”just in time for a Valentine date night!
Opening night wine and cheese reception: February 1, 2008, from 6pm to 9pm
Café Estelle
444 North 4th St, Philadelphia, PA 19123
(Between Spring Garden and Callowhill)
http://www.cafeestelle.com/
Full flyer for the show:
January 29, 2008
This Friday, February 1st, a unique fundraiser for the Linda Creed Breast Cancer Foundation will launch with an online auction and public exhibition of eighteen handmade corsets created by artists and designers, several from the Philadelphia area. The fundraiser will run from 7PM til 10PM at the Tower Gallery, and is free and open to the public.
Delicious Corsets in Northern Liberties donated eighteen blank garments to local and national artists, and the results… well, you can see eight of them in the windows of the Art Institute of Philadelphia building in Center City. If you’ve happened across the window front, you might have seen the image pictured above. One of the corsets, entitled like Lets Put Philly on the Map, has a 19th century map of Philadelphia painted on it.
Artists include native Philadelphians like Sandra Benhaim, Bird, Raymond Ercoli, Heather Fenton, Troy Pimpell, and more!
Bidding on the corsets begins in February and will last throughout the month at the official Corsets For A Cure website, ending on February 29th. The proceeds will go to the Linda Creed Breast Cancer foundation, a Philadelphia non-profit.
The fundraiser itself will feature DJ Glitz spinning beats, a performance by the Bawdy Girls, and a raffle.
Linda Creed Breast Cancer Foundation
www.lindacreed.org
Corsets For A Cure
www.corsetsforacure.com
Auction & Exhibition @ Tower Gallery
969 N 2nd Street, Philadelphia PA 19123
January 28, 2008
Post by Sara Selepouchin
I haven’t bought a pair of pants in at least eight or nine years because I find almost everything about pants to be trying. Buying them is a pain and finding a pair that fits in all the ways that pants are supposed to fit… who can be bothered with that?
At last week’s Alterations class of the Philly Sewing Collective, we started the class by going around the room, giving our name and something about clothing that’s bothersome to us. So we went over a laundry list of how some pants can fit in the hips but not the waist, how the waist may be fine, but the length might be off, how the rise can determine how well the hips fit, etc., etc. And I felt little less crazy for avoiding pants issues altogether for almost a decade.
The class was really informative, as we covered how-to’s of hemming of men’s and women’s pants, altering length in garments, darting skirts and pants, and a host of other simple techniques for even the least skilled alterer. A great mix of hands on demonstrations and discussion (with a quick overview of why the garment industry sizes as it does), I left motivated to attack my wardrobe to rid it of all its ill-fittedness and almost tempted to take on the daunting prospect of wearing pants again in the near future. Or maybe not. But I did leave intrigued by the very being of the Sewing Collective, and completely excited about their upcoming four session class on zippers…
Learn more about the Philly Sewing Collective on their official website! Spring and summer workshops are held at the Old Pine Community Center on 4th and Lombard.
Philly Sewing Collective
www.phillysewing.org
January 24, 2008
I’m so excited to welcome Sweet Jane into my neighborhood! Down East Passyunk, just past Marra’s, is Sweet Jane Vintage. Jen Zimmerman (DJ Jem) and Mike Trombley (one of my pals!) have opened this haven for discriminating vintage shoppers and vinyl connoisseurs.
Hand-stocked by DJs Jem and Mike Tee, you’re sure to find something fun. I dropped over a $100 on Italo records and vintage clothes when I stopped in”"I can’t let myself go there too often!
Open seven days a week, and equipped with record players for listening, Sweet Jane is a great place to chill out and explore the past.
EXTRA: Catch famed DJs Andrew Lovefingers and Ron Morelli at Sweet Jane this Saturday (Jan. 26th, 2008) at 5pm!
Sweet Jane Vintage
1742 E. Passyunk Ave, Philadelphia, PA
(215) 339-0882
January 23, 2008
Rummage is a new installation by Susie Brandt, the acclaimed textile artist. You can check it out over at the Philadelphia University’s Design Center. The exhibition begins tomorrow, Thursday, January 24th, and will run until April 9th.
Though she’s based in Baltimore, Brandt graduated from Philadelphia’s College of Art with a BFA in 1984, and has been featured in hundreds of solo and group exhibitions through out the states, Canada, and overseas in Europe and Japan. She returned to Philadelphia in the 90s to teach at the college.
The opening reception kicks off at 5:30PM tomorrow and runs til 7. You can also check out Materiality and Meaning, hosted by The University of the Arts, March 7th and 8th. The Design Center will hold an open house with Susie Brandt on Saturday, March 8th from 4PM – 6PM, giving you one busy weekend of art and textiles.
The Design Center at Philadelphia University
Goldie Paley House
4200 Henry Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19144
(215) 951-2860
January 18, 2008
My mother has called my brother a “clothes horse” and has on occasion described my style as “homeless.” If you fall into the former category, you either already know about or will flip out over the SugarHabit Warehouse Sale, Saturday at noon at F.U.E.L.
The seasonal clear-out of Third Street Habit and Sugarcube boutiques features 75 designers plus vintage, discontinued and samples all at 50-90% off with an additional 5% off if you pay cash. I’ll be home reading the paper since I already have my one pair of brown pants for the season, but I know plenty of folks who look way better than I do who’ll be doing their January upkeep here.
The event is at 12pm on Saturday, January 19th. Get there early for the best stuff!
SugarHabit Warehouse Sale
Noon – 7PM
Saturday January 19, 2008
F.U.E.L
3rd and Arch Streets, Philadelphia, PA 19106
January 14, 2008
By Carrie Estok
Israeli-born jewelry designer Ilan Yampolsky is one of those people you can’t help but like. Maybe it’s because she produces amazing handmade pieces that are guaranteed conversation starters. Or maybe it’s because her passion for art is so contagious that just spending time with her makes you feel like you can make your dreams come true, too. I talked to Ilan to find out more about her inspirations as an artist, how she made the decision to become a professional designer and what anyone who is starting their own business needs to know.
How did you get started?
I was always interested in design for as long as I can remember. I’ve been making boxes, stationary and jewelry as a hobby for years but I never thought I could actually make a living by being an artist until my mother-in-law encouraged me to take samples of my jewelry to boutiques in the area. In fact, I was just about to pack my bags and fly home before I started the company.
So what was the response when you made that first visit to a potential customer?
I was so nervous! But the owner loved my work. After that, I really felt like I could do this.
When was that?
About three years ago. It took about two years for the business to really pick up but now it’s great. I’m always working, though, either designing or meeting with clients or thinking about what I’m going to do next. If you want to be successful with your own business you have to be obsessive about it.
Where is your jewelry sold now?
The pieces are available in 10 stores now, and I do trunk shows at Bloomingdale’s King of Prussia, which have been very successful for me. I also do house parties, where I’ll come to people with samples and work with them to design custom pieces. They’ve been really popular with bridal parties. The biggest source of customers, though, is word of mouth…
More after the jump!
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January 8, 2008
Don’t you just love it when a shop’s name takes out all the guesswork? Take “Neat Stuff” for example. That’s exactly what they sell… neat stuff.
The size of a postage stamp “” even the simple act of turning around requires some maneuvering “”this itty-bitty shop is crammed with decades of TV, film and rock’n roll collectibles and memorabilia. Although the original psychedelic posters of the Beatles by Richard Avedon aren’t for sale, the Beatles serving tray, Beatles dolls (with hair you can shake around), pins and lunch boxes are. So is the Elvis perfume. And the GI Joe dolls. And the Happy Days action figures. And there is so much Kiss stuff that if you can name it, they probably have it.
There is also a smaller collection of political memorabilia. But it was the Princess Power Talking Tooth Brush that knocked my socks off. I mean, who wouldn’t want to start their day with a conversation with royalty?
As I mentioned, the shop is so small if you aren’t paying attention, you could miss it. Just look for the windows with life-sized dolls driving a kiddie car.
More photos after the jump!
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December 18, 2007
One my favorite (bi) annual events is the Punk Rock Flea Market. The variety and volume of goods available is staggering. To actually peruse through all the tables is a daunting task. What makes this so great is that it’s a flea Market by sub-cultural hip folk for sub-cultural hip folk, so inherently a good portion of what’s on sale will have some relevance to your life. The goods run the gauntlet from silk screened everything, jewelry, bicycles, laptops, furniture, power tools, books, videos, posters, home made clothing, used clothing, art to records, records! and more records.
R5 Productions, which has been hosting this event for ten years, claims it to be the most popular regularly occurring event R5 hosts with over 2,500 people making their way through the Starlight Ballroom in a single day. One of my favorite things about the event is that so many people bring their children. I meet so many people working the door at R5 events and it’s such a treat to see them in a different kid-friendly context.
The Starlight will provide food service and homemade baked goods will be available as well.
Saturday December 22nd, 10AM to 5PM
$3 Entry Donation / All Ages To Enter / 21+ To Drink /
The Starlight Ballroom
460 North 9th Street (On 9th Street Between Spring Garden and Callowhill Streets), Philadelphia, PA
View Larger Map
December 17, 2007
Quick, listen: do you hear that? The sound of something huge approaching? It’s the holidays. They’re looming on the horizon, giants whose breath smells like baking cookies. They’re coming for you, to fill your social schedule, to force you to visit family, and of course, to make you to buy gifts. The holidays fill shop windows with electronics and sparkling jewelry, with books and the requisite sweaters.
This year, when the holidays grab you by the wallet and take you shopping, make sure to stop by Art Star in Northern Liberties. Filled to the brim with handmade work from artists and crafters, Art Star features tons of super-awesome gifts for everyone from babies (don’t miss Eight3One‘s t-rex onsie) to paper-fetishist friends (the Delphine Letterpress stationery is incredible) to awkward aunts (Penelope Rakov’s hand-blow glass ornaments = perfect).
More cute pictures after the jump!
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