Rainbow Brite

Hello, darling readers of Design Crisis!  Your hair looks fantastic today. For those of you who don’t know me, my name is Tula and I’m usually turning tricks on a blog called WHORANGE.  Like many of you, I rely heavily upon my daily Design Crisis fix to get me out of bed and through the day.  Therefore, when Erin and Karly asked me to be a guest blogger, I felt like an addict being given the keys to the crack house Miss America - honored, delighted, and ready to embark upon a glamour-filled journey.

But, before I launch into the talent portion of the competition, I would like to acknowledge the little fellow who made my debut today possible -- Erin’s newborn son.  Welcome to this world, handsome guy.  You’ve got yourself a tremendously talented, witty, and inspiring mom who is admired both internationally and intergalactically.  And that Karly lady she hangs around with ain’t too bad either.

That being said, let’s sparkle, shall we?

Today's inspiration comes to us from a ditty made famous by my hero -- Judy Garland.  Judy was a troubled gal with a million dollar voice and Hollywood at her fingertips.  In other words...she’s just like us. Please sing along if you know the lyrics.

Somewhere over the…

Yep, you got it.

Rainbow Reproduction.  Making rainbows is an arduous task and one that unicorns do not take lightly.  The combination of carnal chemistry and heavenly lighting is key and extremely rare, but the result is pure magic.  Chris Bishop's educational "Afternoon Delight" is the perfect way to say "I love you" and dispel the myth that rainbows are born of raindrops and sunshine.

Rainbow Kicks.  With the long trek ahead of us, let's pick out some sensible shoes, shall we?   Salvatore Ferragamo's colorful collection ranges from practical platforms to fancy flats.  Since comfort is key, I'll slip on the platforms.

Cue music...

Rainbow Rockers.  As we all know, rainbows and rock stars go together like whiskey and rehab.  Jason Munn of The Small Stakes takes a page from the psychedelic 60s and spins it modern with his vibrant screen prints.  Is anybody else getting the munchies?

Rainbow Cravings.  Remember, you are what you eat.  Therefore, eat pretty.  (Macarons by Paulette.)

Rainbow Poop.  And, poop pretty.

Please, take your time.  No rush.  I'll just be in the next room reading my favorite novel...

Rainbow Wisdom:  If only I could remember what color it was.  A wise person once said, "Color-sorting your bookshelf may look pretty as a pony, but it's as practical as a Pinto."

That wise person was me.  Could have sworn that book was leopard print.  Maybe I'll find it in here...

Rainbow reading.  The Kid's Republic Library in Beijing stocks picture books from all over the world and provides plenty of technicolor hideaways and colorful corridors for tiny readers.   However, something tells me the library doesn't supply these...

Rainbow Rings.  Kiddie coloring meets fabulous finger fashion with Timothy Liles crayon rings.  Speaking of art...

Rainbow Post-Modern.  Yves Klein and Jasper Johns once channeled their inner rainbows with "Yves Peintures" and "0-9".  I think I've found the perfect place to hang them, too...

Rainbow Room.  Designer extraordinaire Gio Ponti knew how to craft a colorful crib and even created the design magazine Domus, which ran from 1928-1999, to show us how.  (Thanks for the tip, Mr. Peacock!)

Rainbow Respite.  These Ferragamos are killing me, people.  One moment please as I rest on this bench.

Rainbow Relaxation.  Speaking of rest, I took a trip to Yosemite over the 4th of July and it looked nothing like this.   Perhaps I should go back in the Fall.   (Illustrations by Scott Hansen.)

Okay, I'm back on my feet.  Let's hustle...

Rainbow Enlightenment.  Did you know that if you close your eyes and envision two unicorns humping, a rainbow will shoot from your third eye?  It's true!

Go ahead and try it.  I'll wait.  (Illustration by Brandi Strickland.)

Rainbow Misfire.  But, keep your third eye trajectory away from the cats!

Illustration by nutandbee

We've finally made it -- the end of the rainbow!  Thank you for taking this journey with me, lovely denizens of Design Crisis.  Sorry, there isn't a pot of gold, field of green, or pocket gnome for you to take home.  Sadly, all that's here is the cold, hard reality of what happens when you indulge too much in a good thing.

Stay pretty, darlings!

tula

Top 10 'Artists I'm Loving Right Now'

Greetings fabulous Design Crisis readers! I'm Andrea from House of Slappy and I'm thrilled to be helping out two of my favorite talented design aficionados while Erin is on new mommy duty. When the opportunity arose for me to contribute, you bet your bottom I jumped at the chance and immediately knew what I would be sharing with you all. I have to admit on some (most) days it is very difficult for me to not get zany with all kinds of miscellaneous topics and to limit the content of my Blog to Real Estate/Interior Design related posts, therefore; let's not waste any more time and get down with some bad-ass art! Hope you enjoy...

My Top 10 'Artists I'm Loving Right Now':

1. Stacey Mark

2. Linn Olofsdotter

 

Fauxest

Last time I was in Albuquerque I drove past a lawn that was landscaped entirely in fake plants.  As in: little plastic indoor-sized plants and flowers stuck in the dirt with no rocks or grass (real or fake) in sight.  It was easily the most hideous yard I ever done did see and thinking of it still sends shivers down my spine.  While working overtime to maintain control of my gag reflex I begged the universe at large to please keep such monstrosities out of my sight.  The universe challenged my resolve by presenting me with this:

A bedroom designed by Marjorie Skouras.  I struggled, I fought, I really really wanted to hate it, but, well, aside from the real flowers, I pretty much love it.  It's ridiculous, totally impractical, and those greens are gross together but I can't help but revel in the fantasy of waking up there every morning.  What's a fake branch in the eye every now and then if the trade off is the opportunity to live in an unliving, unbreathing fauxest (fake + forest, huzzah!)

This got my wheels turning so I decided to web sleuth more rooms with fake wilderness.  I have to admit, I didn't find much - go figure - but I was very picky.  The trees (trees only) had to be HUGE and no wallpaper murals allowed.  3D only thankyouverymuch.

HG&P interiors tempted my tummy with this lovely, albeit temporary, event installation with monolithic trees

Here's another view incase one wasn't enough to satisfy your "wedding party I could have had" fantasies. 

Unfortunately, this is the only other example I was able to find.  Here's hoping (fingers crossed extra hard) that the trees in TWBA's offices are fake.  If not, I'm going to let the mossy abstractions on the walls count.  Plus, that grassy shag rug really drives the fauxest vision home.  Let's take another look:

Klein Dytham Architecture converted an old bowling alley into what might be the only office I'd ever be willing to work in.  Ok, it's good, but not that good.