Dog Show!

Matt Shapoff, "Helper Dog Cyanotype No. 321", 2010

Mascot Studio

Katherine Streeter

I can't think of a better way to spend Valentine's Day, than celebrating our four legged loved ones at Mascot's Studio's annual Dog Show. Dogs don't need a pedigree or agility training to be included in dog artist extraordinaire slash gallery owner Peter McCaffrey's show, just a great image. Attend the opening night reception in Mascot's cozy East Village gallery, or peruse the pup art at your leisure from February 14th to March 31st. With all these talented canine artists, you'll be hard pressed to choose a "Best in Show"!

The 12th Annual Dog Show
Feb 14th - Mar 31st
Opening; Valentine's Day 7-9pm

Mascot Studio
328 East 9th Street
New York, NY 10003
212.228.9090

Bunny Love

Rabbit with color fade, by Perch

White Rabbit Necklace, by Georgia Varidakis Jewelry

Screen Printed Organic Cotton Rabbit Cloth Napkins, by Oh, Little Rabbit

Rabbit Jumps the Laurel Necklace, by Christine Domanic Jewelry

White Rabbit Ring, by Georgia Varidakis Jewelry

It's the Year of the Rabbit, and I just love those little clover mowers! Yesterday, at Artists & Fleas, jewelry designer Georgia Varidakis was babysitting a sweet little black bunny, and I just wanted one right then and there! My two kittehs would probably not approve, so I've assembled a collection of cute bunny inspired designs instead.

Images courtesy of Perch, Georgia Varidakis Jewelry, Oh, Little Rabbit, Christine Domanic Jewelry.

Love Tokens

I'm moving to Brooklyn! Cynthia Rybakoff jewelry debuts today at Artist & Fleas in Williamsburg, with a special selection of modern vintage jewels for Valentine's Day. Shop the entire collection, all winter long, at Artists & Fleas' spacious new location. See more of my Love Tokens, available exclusively at Artist's and Feas.

70 North 7th Street
Between Wythe and Kent
Weekends 12 - 8pm

Big Love

Lavender Heart Valentine at Etsy.

Art print cards on display at Glittering Conscience.

Van Dyke brown botanical print tote at Artists & Fleas.

Cyanotype botanical print at Mascot Studio.

My husband Matt is a true romantic. Recently, he created a heart shaped wreath made of dried lavender from our garden, and made a few test prints. They were a hit, so we've expanded the theme for our Valentine's collection of botanical heart note cards, totes and prints for Handmade On Peconic Bay.

Our Lavender Heart note cards are eco-friendly and come in six amorous colors, perfect for Valentine's Day or any heartfelt occasion! They're available at Etsy and Glittering Conscience, 96 West Houston, in NYC. The one of a kind cyanotype lavender and rosemary heart, pictured above, is available at Mascot Studio. Mascot Studio carries a carefully curated selection of Handmade On Peconic Bay prints and note cards, in a tiny jewel box of a shop, tucked away in Manhattan's East Village.

For those of you in the hood, come visit us in Williamsburg, starting this weekend, when Handmade On Peconic Bay make its debut at Artists & Fleas. Shop our entire hand crafted Valentine's collection of art print note cards, one of a kind cyanotype and Van Dyke brown canvas totes and prints, plus a whole lot more!

Black + Cream

Vive la couture! Jean Paul Gaultier's Victorian vixens have a punk attitude with glam style. These creatures of the night, with feathery mohawks and provacative jet accessories, are most appealing in black with high contrast cream or mocha. The level of rich detailing in the luxe fabrics and tailoring is extraordinary! But of course chéri, this is couture. Some of my favorite ensembles are shown here, juxtaposed with 17th century blackwork prints, which were ornamental designs for enamel jewelry making, produced in Northern Europe between 1580 and 1630.

Images courtesy of Style.com and BibliOdyssey.

Tribal Vibes

Paris. Spring. 2011. Could have fooled me. I thought it was 1973, judging from those chunky African trade bead chokers and bracelets! At second glance, Isabel Marant's spring collection is more fabulous than I thought. Ultra modern easy styling that's preppy chic, and urban bohemian all at once, with a sophisticated mix of texture and color that's soft and feminine. A striking contrast to the heavy glass bead bracelets and chokers that scream hippie. It really works.

I bought tons of African trade beads, when I was first starting out, including the interlocking snake beads, featured heavily in Marant's appealing spring accessories. The jewelry I made back then was rather lumpy, but colorful and full of that 1970's New York City ethnic vibe. Little did I know, my African trade beads were bona fide antiques, made predominately in Venice and Bohemia from the late 1400s through the early 1900s, and traded in Africa and the Americas for goods, services and even slaves.

Today African trade beads have been making somewhat of a comeback. The beads themselves, when authentic, are quite collectible, plus they fetch a pretty penny. I quite adore them right now, for livening up a modern look with an unexpected tribal twist. And won't they be a refreshing change this season from all the fussy glitz, and be-ribboned rhinestones we've grown accustomed to?

Images courtesy of accessoriesmagazine.com.

Grazie! Merci! Arigato!

Here's a handy little cheat sheet for some post holiday etiquette: how to say "thank you" in more than 465 languages. It's always nice to write an actual note to Aunt Clara, for the vintage glass doorknob she gave you for Christmas, on some eye catching stationary. May we suggest some botanical themed blank note cards by Handmade On Peconic Bay, to convey your sentiments, while appealing to her aesthetic nature? And don't forget a pretty stamp. Aunt Clara appreciates the details!

Handmade on Peconic Bay blank notecards are available on IndieShop and Etsy.