Cleveland Glam

A Quilting We Will Go

2010-01-15T15:21:00.009-05:00

Personally envious of her talent and in love with her work, quilt designer and Cleveland etsy shop owner, JenSpot, creates custom blankets and accessories for the home. A woman who loves playing with fabrics is equally adored by her fan base.

Where Does Your Garden Grow

2010-01-15T14:10:00.004-05:00

I love when designers place unexpected, whimsical elements into their art as Cleveland's own Lillyella does with her creatively playful nod towards vintage with modern appeal.

The City's Natural Elements

2010-01-15T11:28:00.009-05:00

I came across the Cleveland based etsy shop Smashing and instantly loved her work. Such a quiet reflection of the city's architecture and nature.

Think: Environmentally distressed heightened by beautiful pops of color.

Smashing artist Kathy Patton is inspired by her surroundings--whether it's a decayed building with bright spray paint or shiny stones sifted into the debris on a beach.

"I think of my pieces as something you'd find in a mermaid's treasure box." Glimpses and grabs of the city.

Take Care of Yourself...A Broken Heart

2010-01-14T18:59:00.004-05:00

Currently, I'm hugging infamous French artist Sophie Calle's Take Care of Yourself. Here's her story, which led to an internationally renowned installation and an incredible book...

I received an email telling me it was over.
I didn't know how to respond.
It was almost as if it hadn't been meant for me.
It ended with the words, "Take care of yourself."
And so I did. I asked 107 women
(including two made from wood and one with feathers),
chosen for their profession or skills, to interpret this letter.
To analyze it, comment on it, dance it, sing it.
Dissect it. Exhaust it.
Understand it for me.
Answer for me.
It was a way of taking the time to break up.
A way of taking care of myself.

These are the perfect accessories...

A Scene from My Childhood Imagination

2010-01-14T15:52:00.000-05:00

Independently beautiful, collectively entrancing--there's something whimsical yet grounding about this setting.

It evokes the child in me who loved to sit in a room and stare at each painted pinwheel and treasured heirloom for hours and just let my imagination wander....

One of Kathryn M. Ireland's many genius designs

My New Favorite Dinner Party

2010-01-14T02:18:00.000-05:00

Some of us love bulgur while others love burger. Regardless of your nutritional propensity, I highly suggest that this cookbook becomes a staple in your kitchen. The author, Patrick-Goudreau (P.G), offers seasonal menus based on themes...and every recipe sounds amazing.

We recently had a dinner party that quickly became a challenge to our new year resolutions--until we found The Vegan Table and thought--what the heck? (A few of the vegan friends felt quietly victorious). So after a cost-savings trip to our favorite organic stand at the West Market, we divided the courses and got to work.

What we all agreed on throughout the numerous plates was that P.G has found a way to combine natural ingredients into incredibly flavorful, delicious meals. We selected the Indian inspired menu, "Sugar and Spice."

Result: A Vegan Table Success. We're going to get together once a month and cook our way through the seasons. It's healthy livin, amazing home cooked meal with friends...and right now we can't think of a better way to evoke the summer months.

A Beautiful Game

2010-01-14T01:18:00.000-05:00

Who wouldn't want little Charlie Harper squares all over the house?

What was initially the most beautiful twist on my old Memory game has now become a staple whenever guests pop by. After a yummy home cooked meal or a trek back from brunch--this has become one of our favorite ways to past the time during an infamous Cleveland snow day.

Oh, and the absolute very bestest lip balm (and cure for chapped skin) during the cold season (favored by models, makeup artists and a staple for over a century, so we hear) is Rosebud Salve. (We love the original the best...and were desperate to use a parenthetical phrase again;)

C.G

A New Year: A New (Enviable) You

2010-01-14T00:34:00.001-05:00

I Love Your Style was a great holiday gift given by a dear friend who knows how much I adore all conversations related to fashion. But how many of these books do we really need? Em, I would say--just this one. Once I flipped through the nearly-coffee table size book, I instantly got the fashion butterflies that make me want to run to my closet and do a Tim Gunn purge.

Street, classic, bohemian, minimal, eclectic, high fashion, or a clever combination or any two...when I see someone who has mastered their personal style and evokes such a sense of ease in their skin--I, one, can't stop staring with a mix of awe, admiration and respect, but then I instantly want to know--who is this intriguing person?!?!

Far from a prescriptive "must-do" "must-have" point of view attributed to many other style guides, Amanda Brooks, fashion stylist and journalist, breaks down the elements of each style plus how that style has evolved over time, so you can truly understand the nuances between a bohemian and an eclectic look. And once you know the ingredients, you can mix and match to create a look that is entirely your own, whether it's a vintage minimalist or a bohemian street.

My absolute favorite is and may always be Scott Schuman, otherwise known as The Sartorialist. This year he came out with his first collection of his favorite fashion seen on the streets. He has reinvented fashion photography.

To be truly inspired by creative individuals from all over the world, I highly recommend you grab his book, sit with a glass of wine in a cozy chair and take notes. But most of all...enjoy.

C.G

Why We're Feelin Lame

2008-12-09T01:23:00.000-05:00

Because we moved to Cleveland and became work-a-holics
and never got to work on our blog...
and you keep checkin in anyway
and we thank you :)

Because we had great intentions to take in every minute of this city, despite how dull some of you think said minutes may be. ;)

Because we thought the summer was going to last longer than 2 weeks and we anticipated many warm nights on the town.

We were excited And then we started working way to hard for our own good.

We'll get our act together
meditate more
yoga often
find the balance
stop whinging
and get our arses outta the house.

In the meantime...stay warm Cleveland!

xoxoxxo

C.G

ps--if you got something going on and you know without a doubt we need to be there--give the shout! We'll show, we'll cover, we'll promote.

Sunday Morning Glam

2008-09-04T14:12:00.001-04:00

Caught these guys running errands on an early Sunday morning. While most of us are still wearing last night's mascara or those shorts from the bottom of the bed--these cats were properly glammed out. I love the dude's sincere smile before he strikes serious.

2008-08-17T17:32:00.001-04:00

Coventry Street Art Fair

2008-08-17T16:44:00.000-04:00

The Cleveland Jazz Project outside of American Apparel. Search them out and enjoy...

A dog in a bag enjoying the fair

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Signs

2008-08-17T16:22:00.000-04:00

A walk through Little Italy during the feast revealed a few signs

"Slumlord"
This is a first...never saw such honesty in NY
(I think the woman and the car were both looking for places to park for a bit)

"Wave I'll Guess Ur Age"
...currently out enjoying the feast

Another Early Morning Walk...Coventry

2008-08-17T15:47:00.000-04:00

Perhaps it's the New Yorker in me, but I love to watch a city wake up in the morning. In the case of Coventry today, I got there a bit too early to do any proper people watching, but the energy is always there.

A community

Shepard Fairey alive and well in Cleveland

The style on the streets is great, but I miss the Hippies

Please. Because you must. Mac's Books is a legend

Polite graffiti

Ohio City in the Morning

2008-08-17T15:30:00.000-04:00

The West Side Market is a new must every Saturday morning. The most amazing produce--organic and from the farms in Ohio. The most important tip: get there early...earlier than you've ever rolled out of bed. You'll get front row to all the stands and meet incredible people.

Great Lakes Brewing Company getting ready for the day

A woman on a stroll past the local barber shop

An Artist Pad in Coventry

2008-08-17T12:51:00.000-04:00

Went for drinks at a ballet dancer's house in Coventry. Her taste mixes old Hollywood glam with bohemian chic.

Her studio

Travel trinkets

Believes champagne should always be present