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Funky Find Of The Week: NEWD Adhesive Jewelry





NEWD of Italy is a company who designs and sells 'skin jewels' or 'wireless jewelry'. Gems and crystals set in precious and non-precious metals you can apply directly to the skin via an adhesive backing. They carry five collections and the prices vary depending upon the collection.

The 5 collections consist of The GOLDEN and SILVER Collections (some solid, some plated) , The MY STONES collection (with real gemstones or colored Swarovski crystals), the FASHION collection (wings embellished with Swarovski crystals, buffalo heads with real horse fur, and skulls with cubic zircons) and finally the exoskeletal My BONES collection (rhodium plated silver with your choice of colored Swarovski crystals in a vertebrae-like shape).





While the simple silver and gold flat iconographic pieces look like interesting shiny tattoos on the skin, the 'My Stones' and 'My Bones' collection designed by Italian journalist, politician and tv personality, Irene Pivetti, are certainly far creepier.

The 'My Stones' collection looks eerily as if one has broken out in bejeweled lesions and the 'My Bones' collection makes the wearer look like a Borg.

However, I commend them for a unique approach to the long hardly unchanged tradition of jewelry. See what you think.


Various Skin jewels from the Golden and Silver Collections:







Irene Pivetti's 'My Stones':






Irene Pivetti's 'My Bones':




The Fashion Collection:





The innovative adhesive film, Skin Touch was developed by the company’s internal research center. The results are a non-toxic-anallergic-waterproof film.

SKIN TOUCH is naturally an exclusive patented invention of Newd which guarantees maximum versatility for every type of jewel designed and created by the company.

How to apply Skin Touch
:



•Clean your skin with soap or methylated spirits, and dry well.
•Detach the Skin Touch from its transparent film.
•Attach the Skin Touch to the back of the jewel, pressing well.
•Remove the protective film trying to avoid touching the adhesive part that will come in contact •with your skin.



•Apply the jewel to the clean part of your skin.
•A new Skin Touch must be applied every time the jewel is detached and then re-attached to your skin.


Visit the site and shop for the items here.

Storyopolis: The Kind Of Bookstore & Art Gallery You Find In Fairy Tales



If you read a lot of "Best of Los Angeles" lists, you may already know that Storyopolis, once located on Robertson in Los Angeles and now located on Ventura Blvd. in Sherman Oaks, is one of the greatest children's bookstores ever. What you may not know, is that the Gallery at Storyopolis is home to several fine art pieces as well... and not only fantastic original illustrations from children’s books by world-renowned artists.


Above: an original John Marciano (illustrator of the original Madeline books)


Above: an original Geral McDermott

While a large selection of their artwork lifts the stories off the pages and onto the walls of children’s rooms or those of the nostalgic adult who never wants to grow up, they also have works by several of todays' hottest lowbrow artists and hippest illustrators. And several you can purchase online.


Above: Ana Juan's Leo DiCaprio, available to buy here


Above: Gary Baseman originals can be purchased online at their site
buy them here


.... as can sculptures by Jim Bauer, buy them here.

Their editorial art includes such amazing portraits of rock icons by Sterling Hundley, fashion illustrations by Chesley McLaren and the surreal images of Joe Sorren. In addition, they have an extensive selection of lithographs and serigraphs bound to appeal to both the beginning and experienced art collector.


Above: Sterling Hundley's painting for William Henry Harrison


Above: fashion illustrations by Chesley McLaren


Above: Nicoletta Ceccoli's beautiful, ethereal illustrations

Their artists work in various mediums including oils, watercolor, gouache, pastels, ink, etc. The collection includes many different dimensions and styles that will compliment a range of decors and personal preferences.


above: Eric Joyner's The Usual Suspects is one of their many original lithographs

Decorators, designers and style consultants find them a wonderful resource for their clients looking for traditional fine art or for those seeking out the hottest, most edgy pieces not found anywhere else.


above: two of several original New Yorker cartoons in their gallery

And they carry one of my longtime beloved items, vintage Odille Ousley book pages, featuring the work of the well-recognized illustrator for the Dick and Jane books:

Buy them here

Between their books and their art, there's something for everyone.

They have a wonderful selection of well designed and compiled gift baskets of all types. Never again will your kids whine "books for christmas?...yuck".


Above: the 'Things That Go' Basket, available in 3 sizes


Above: the Hanukkah basket available in various sizes

They even have baskets that feature award winning books like the Caldecott and Newbery shown below.



Shop for their gift baskets here.


Every Thursday at 12:30, they have their own storytime readers regale the children with fabulous tales and sometimes even a surprise guest.



Above: Actress Hayden Panetierre gives a reading at Storyopolis


The gallery is open seven days a week 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. Sunday.

Visit their website at www.Storyopolis.com to see and shop from their huge selection of fine art, original illustratons, lithographs, scultpures, gift baskets and more. Or take yourself and the kids there for an equally enjoyable experience for all.



14945 Ventura Blvd
Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
U.S.A.
(818) 990-7600

The Hippest Gingerbread Houses Ever! April Reed's Farnsworth House & More



This gingerbread version of Farnsworth House — Mies van der Rohe’s modern masterpiece in Plano, Ill. — is a (deep-pocketed) design lover’s dream. It took the elves at April Reed Cake Design several days of photo research and about 25 hours to construct the fondant-covered walls, poured-sugar ‘‘glass’’ windows and sugar-paste I-beams and staircases.

Please donate

C'mon people, it's only a dollar.