One of my very favorite places is Lost and Found Props, located in Chelsea, NY. I happened to be there today picking up a few decorative ramequins for a photoshoot scheduled tomorrow. To me, the most impressive thing about their array of shabby-chic items is the seemingly endless rows of shelves upon shelves (as far as the eye can see) of tabletop items, all organized by color and type of vessel. (I’m also very fond of their taxidermy collection..)

I am always drawn to the barely-there pastel hues of MUD Australia’s porcelain collection, and wowwed by the paper thin quality of the pieces…literally they feel as delicate as eggshells, and have this quirky misshapen quality, as all items are handmade, and made to order. I like to awkwardly handle them while I’m musing about L&FP.

I’m secretly fawning over eight 4-piece place settings in various shades of green for my imaginary wedding registry. I’d chalk these up to “fine china” although MUD touts they are dishwasher, microwave, and even oven safe. 

Beautiful. Items can be purchased in the United States from HORNE. And to be honest, these images don’t really do the pieces justice in terms of their ultra-thinness.

// Photo Credits: All images courtesy of MUD Australia

Who doesn’t love a giant oversized bows? Happy Monday (and November too!)

{above} 1. Thread Social Bow Knit Top- charcoal, $150 (I just scored this top on Gilt over the weekend!!) also available (full price) HERE, 2. Lowie Bow Tie, $63.79 available at ASOS

{above, clockwise} 1. Red Valentino Bow-detailed Jersey T-Shirt, $165; available HERE 2. Valentino Lace and Jersey Tunic with Leather Shoulder Bow, $1,580; available HERE, 3. See by Chloé Printed Silk-Twill Dress, $495; available HERE, 4. Above All Else Sweater by PepaLove, $72.99; available at ModCloth

{above} Studio Mona Coat by Kate Spade, $745 (I love big collars!)

{above} J by Heart by Ban.do, $50; Checkout this and the rest of Ban.do’s wares HERE. (Swooning over that rainbow headband…)

I’ve been dreaming of crushed blue velvet…and oddly having major visual déjà vu, spotting one blue velvet party dress after the next:

{above} Navy Velvet Blouse Dress by Gar-de, $412. Available for purchase at Oak.

{above} D Vallens Velvet Dress (Cobalt) by local Greenpoint-Brooklynite Shenan Fraguadas, $188. Available for purchase at Hayden Harnett. 

{above} Stretch Velveteen Party Dress (Navy) by Built by Wendy, $214.

{above} Velvet Peter Pan Collar Dress (Navy Blue), $190. Available for purchase at Topshop. 

{above} Velvet Burnout Bow Neck Dress in Navy, $112.06. Available for purchase at ASOS.

Which one is your favorite??

I’m totally digging performance artist Nick Cave’s entrance into September Vogue’s fashion-folio. On a surface level, these are spot-on for Halloween musings (I’ve been holding on to these clippings for a month!)…and remind me of my college obsessions with the Providence, Rhode Island based performance collective, Forcefield.

I kind personally kind of glossed over the handbags and shoes…oops. Apparently, faux fur is all the rage this season, which is great for news for PETA anti-fur campaigns…although I’m not such a fan of their marketing tactics, refresh anyone?

{above} Scans from September 2010 Issue of Vogue.

// Photography by Raymond Mier, Costumes (Soundsuits) by Nick Cave*

(*Note: Not the same Nick Cave from Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds…)

I have a major thing for big rings. Actually I have a thing for big jewelry in general; a collection of the likes of Dinosaur Designs and Alexis Bittar gracing my dressing table. I also love bold geometric forms and neon colors…evident by a failed attempt at a F+F’s neonderthal jewelry collection a few years ago (with hopes to resurface again this upcoming winter in resin!)

I stumbled upon two designers this weekend at Brooklyn Flea that really piqued my interest: enter Molly Rose Post and Helveta Vyotlag. 

Molly Rose Post is a Brooklyn-based designer who incorporates all manners of metals and findings into her jewelry. If there’s any girl that can pull off wearing 20 bangles on each arm with an onslaught of rings on every finger, it’s Molly. Just looking at her personal adornment gives me major accessory envy. Loving those giant brass diamond-shaped cocktail rings above…

Her designs are incredible; this particular piece come from her Galactic collection. I instantly fell in love with the moon-rock necklace as it reminded me partly of fool’s gold and partly of the everlasting gobstopper from Willy Wonka…..I treated myself to a little post-birthday gift. 

//Photo credit: bottom left image from Molly Rose Post

Helveta Vyotlag is a brooklyn-based label specializing in wood and silver pieces, falling into the Whittle and Slag collections respectively. I was personally wowwed by the huge wooden rings (especially the giant pink one above, bigger in real life.) The wooden pieces come from recycled scraps, and have this almost velvety quality. Jocelyn from Helveta Vyotlag takes custom orders at her etsy site, and prices are all under fifty bones. I’ll add a couple of these to my wishlist please!

The autumnal feel is slowly moving over New York City. I found these photographs independent of the other, and had one of those memory (game) moments. 

{above} A lovely snap from stylist Paul Lowe’s second issue e-mag, Sweet Paul Magazine. I was introduced to the Sweet Paul creative empire by my gal pal over at Craven Maven.  Sweet Paul originated as a blog and has since expanded into a drool-worthy creative mecca with beautiful food-styling, visionary craft projects and photography. This LV pumpkin struck my fancy. 

//Photography by Colin Cooke, styling by Paul Lowe. 

{below} Scan from the September 2010 issue of W Magazine. I was struck by model Georgia May Jagger’s red socks! (Yes, the dazzling love child of Mick Jagger and Jerry Hall.) I love socks with heels. I am also completely loving her chignon. How many bumpits does it take to do that hairdo?

//Photography by Craig McDean, styling by Alex White. 

There’s nothing I like more than a good book. I’m a hoarder of books, ardently afraid of purchasing one of those fandangled i-readers. I love the exchange of books, the gifting and receiving of a recommended novel. I love even more books that are picked out by friends, just for me.

A little mid-week plug for some novels in my queue (two, birthday gifts from friends):

1. The Keep by Jennifer Egan: This was gifted to me by my lovely friend Kate. She is one of the sole reasons I’ve become such a book junkie over the past few years, recommending a plethora of titles I’ve flown through, and loved. This year, she suggested we start a mini book club, of just me and her for starters…so we’re reading The Keep in tandem. I’m hooked. 

2. The Ice Storm by Rick Moody: I actually intercepted this one from G-Train prior to her departure to Europe. It originally heralded from another friend and I was entrusted to return it, but was told I could hang onto it until I read it, as it’s one of those knockyoursocksoff kinds of reads.

3. Neither Here Nor There (Travels in Europe) by Bill Bryson: This was gifted to me by my flower farmer pal, Vas. Maybe because I’m one of those unfortunate saps that still hasn’t visited Europe, and I can now live vicariously through Bryson’s prose? Haha.