Designer Discovery: CUCHARA

image courtesy of CUCHARA

At once edgy and elegant, CUCHARA is the brainchild of Edi Caneda. The young Toronto-based designer names '90s pop, grunge and hip hop among her influences, and all are on display in her colorful collection of jewels.

Pairing both faceted and uncut stones with gunmetal chains and spikes, Caneda's designs call to mind those of Lizzie Fortunato and DANNIJO. Fortunately for us, though, there's a pretty significant difference in price point, with handmade CUCHARA pieces topping out at $250.

The label's recent launch stateside has set my expectations high that we'll be seeing plenty of pieces in stores soon. Until then, you can find the collection at CUCHARA's website and locally at Recess in Winchester.

Desert Steel by Eric Carroll

clockwise from top: Prickly Pear / Blue Agave / Fish Hook Barrel Cactus / Birds of Paradise
[photos via Desert Steel, found via Unica]

You would think even those lacking a green thumb could keep cacti alive, but for the most helpless of gardeners, Eric Carroll's Desert Steel sculptures are a saving grace. The galvanized steel is guaranteed not to corrode, and the verdigris patina is amazingly realistic. Some models incorporate torches (flaming saguaro, anyone?), and if you're willing to shell out the big bucks, you can even plant a steel palm tree.

Written Portraits for Dutch Book Week

top to bottom: Anne Frank / Louis van Gaal / Vincent van Gogh / Kader Abdolah
[via Coroflot and Behance]

Remember those clever posters for the Colsubsido Book Exchange? Well, they have some serious competition.

To promote Dutch Book Week, digital artist Raphael Dahan and Amsterdam advertising firm Van Wanten Etcetera created these posters playing off the theme of the biography. If you speak Dutch, look closely: Each book contains the biography or autobiography of the person depicted.

Wearable Art at MassArt's 'STUDIO 621'

Wearable Art by (top to bottom): Emelie Bergh / Marsha Tiova / Samantah Cruz

Last night saw some bright new talent take the runway for "STUDIO 621," MassArt's annual student fashion show. It's one of the events I look forward to most each spring, but I had to miss out this year due to another commitment.

Thankfully, though, the PR folks sent me some fabulous photos (and they're much clearer than anything I could hope to snap from the audience). I've posted the whole album on Facebook, but above, you'll find looks from what is always my favorite portion of the evening - Wearable Art. Each piece is designed by a MassArt sophomore and constructed out of such materials as computer parts, lottery tickets and window blinds. It's like a Project Runway challenge gone terribly, terribly right.

Check out the rest of the photos here.

Scatter My Ashes At Bergdorf's

[video courtesy of Entertainment One]

You may have already seen the trailer for Scatter My Ashes At Bergdorf's, but have you seen the behind-the-scenes intro to Matthew Miele’s new documentary? Karl is uncomfortable, Manolo feels repulsive, and Robert Verdi calls fashion documentaries a dime a dozen. Amazing.

Maybe it's shallow, but I have a special place in my heart for Bergdorf Goodman. Any store that can suck you in for six hours at a time and make you abandon plans to visit MoMA (it only happened that once, I swear!) is truly something special. So, I'm just a wee bit excited to attend a screening of Scatter My Ashes At Bergdorf's tonight.

While the film is already playing in New York and L.A., it arrives in Boston theaters on Friday. Keep your eye on Twitter, and I'll let you know what I think after tonight's screening.

Macalister Mansion by Ministry of Design

[all photos via Macalister Mansion]

I have a split personal when it come to design. While part of me is enamored with the clean lines of modernity, another is drawn to bling like a magpie. Danish midcentury or Rococo, Italian contemporary or Baroque - there's no way I could choose. The tricky part comes with trying to incorporate both the modern and the ornate in one space, which is why I'm so blown away by Malaysia's Macalister Mansion.

As a member of Design Hotels, the Macalister Mansion stands out for its mix of architectural styles. Along with owners Dato Sean and Datin Karen, Singapore firm Ministry of Design took on the renovation of this 100-year-old colonial mansion, both preserving the original characteristics of the building and creating a thoroughly modern and whimsical boutique hotel.

Take a look inside...

Midweek Covet: Antigona 3D Bag by Givenchy

Medium Antigona 3D Geometric Figures Bag by Givenchy

As if the Antigona wasn't covetable enough, Givenchy had to go and make it in the most perfect shade of blue and add geometric studs. I know I wrote a whole diatribe on "it" bags not long ago, and I stand by my statements, but it's just plain hard not to fall in love with something so beautiful!

Unfortunately, the blue version seems to be sold out everywhere, but the bag is still available in black for a cool $2810.