miss mo darling

this blog is moving

2011-03-22T21:22:00.006-04:00

I am going to move these little blog*bits over to tumblr, see you there.

Essential things

2011-03-21T17:28:00.005-04:00

Traveling is a brutality. It forces you to trust strangers and to lose sight of all that familiar comfort of home and friends. You are constantly off balance. Nothing is yours except the essential things - air, sleep, dreams, the sea, the sky - all things tending towards the eternal or what we imagine of it. - Cesare Pavese

I don't know when the voice of your true self may speak to you, but when it does, listen. Take the un-traveled road,the one that may seem to lead toward crookedness and death, to giving everything up. If and when your heart demands it, throw your life away. You never know what lovely and delicious life you're going to get in return.
-no idea

(Suha, thank you.)

sparkle shadow

2011-02-16T21:47:00.002-05:00

be

2011-01-13T22:00:00.002-05:00

zebra style

2011-01-11T12:28:00.009-05:00

worn fashion journal

follow your bliss

2011-01-05T11:21:00.001-05:00

and, sing.
thanks eddie.

Such is the way of the world
You can never know
Just where to put all your faith
And how will it grow

Gonna rise up
Burning black holes in dark memories
Gonna rise up
Turning mistakes into gold

Such is the passage of time
Too fast to fold
Suddenly swallowed by signs
Low and behold

Gonna rise up
Find my direction magnetically
Gonna rise up
Throw down my ace in the hole

just be happy

2010-11-04T22:08:00.001-04:00

exactly

2010-10-07T15:27:00.002-04:00

found: here.

Rumi

2010-09-30T23:12:00.003-04:00

What I most want

is to spring out of this personality,

then to sit apart from that leaping.

I've lived too long where I can be reached.

Hard to give, hard to get

2010-09-22T23:04:00.001-04:00

water

2010-09-01T22:44:00.002-04:00

Teagan White

things i love this week

2010-08-25T20:56:00.002-04:00

my life.
my friends.
laughter.
words and images.
random hugs.
Little Lad's popcorn - yum.
cloudy beach time.
Maine.
rain,
sunshine.
Cape Porpoise.
...meeting sweet baby Enzo, even though he spit up all over me and down my dress...
more laughter.
random quotes from friends...
on communication: black and white with a shade of pink.
on reality: she was buried in the outfit she wore to your wedding.
on inspiration: why do you deny your true nature?

timing

2010-08-24T10:10:00.003-04:00

learn

2010-08-18T22:41:00.016-04:00

I took a week off this summer to learn some new techniques, can't wait to get into studio this fall and play more with what I learned. I know, I know...I should be in studio now, right? But it's summer and Brooklyn is muggy. Forgive me while I go soak up beautiful Maine until this city cools off a bit more.

The class I took was a week long jewelry intensive focused on ring-making. Learning hollow form was the most fun, and definitely a process. I learned so much making this one ring, finished image above, some of the steps pictured below. Sharon Portelance, who taught the class (and chair of MECA metals dept), started us off with a great slideshow about the history of the ring. So much was focused on rings being a symbol of attachment, memory, love and remembrance. I somehow ended up making myself one crazy huge brass marry yourself ring. It's almost comical, I think it's only right to name it: hunk-a-hunk-a-burning-love.

step one, score and bend

Sharon's teaching style was helpful as well as inspiring and empowering. After being back in studio for a week straight, 40 plus hours...I truly felt like all opportunities were endless. Sometimes in the push of life we forget. It was good to remember; thanks Sharon. Read a bit more about her below.

Preserving Memory and Desire

A “wiggly path” is how Sharon Portelance describes her career as an artist and metalsmith up to this moment in time. Since graduating from the Portland School of Art in 1982, Portelance has followed a somewhat circuitous route in her artistic endeavors, yet a strong aesthetic vision combined with a love of teaching has led her to a place of critical notice and engaging relevance. “To be able to question yourself takes time,” Portelance points out. She has learned to make art and then step back and evaluate it without suppressing the creative juices. She teaches her own students that they sometimes have to let go of the class critiques and just work. “If you’re constantly evaluating,” she explains, “you’re never going to allow those doors to open that you’re not even sure are going to open because you’re so constantly honest.” Ornament Magazine

song obsession

2010-07-22T11:15:00.002-04:00

...and as sharp as i sting, as sharp i sing
it just soothes you,
doesn't it?
like a lick of ice cream...

darling inspiration

2010-07-16T12:21:00.010-04:00

coming soon

2010-07-16T12:19:00.004-04:00

p l a c e

2010-07-02T12:08:00.007-04:00

"(Be) true to (your) place, (your) people, their story.... (T)he local, fully imagined, becomes universal.

...(T)here is now a widespread effort toward local economy, local self-determination, and local adaptation. In this there is the potential of a new growth of imagination, and at last an authentic settlement (...belonging fully & truly where we live...) of our own country."

- Wendell Berry, Imagination in Place

happy, barefoot, & dancing

2010-06-28T12:18:00.002-04:00

Michael Franti loves you.

Now sing. Now dance.

dear everyone...

2010-06-18T16:47:00.003-04:00

Memories in color

2010-05-12T16:07:00.008-04:00

Double digits, love and laughs

2010-05-04T14:53:00.011-04:00

My very sweet, and even sillier, nephew Owen turns ten today. I love this picture of him and I taken just a few months after he was born. The time, oh how it flies. A decade of life. To him, maybe no big deal? But for me, ten years makes me think of all the people and places I have fallen in love with along the way to today. Life is good.

I really didn't intend on this being so sappy, I just love him lots. He has turned into a t-o-t-a-l ham just like my oldest bro, Petey, whose birthday is tomorrow. Some comic relief within a family is a very good thing. After all, as any good darling (and technically Victor Borge) would say:

Laughter is the shortest distance between two people.

Happy Birthday Owen!

Getting back in the flow

2010-01-30T00:15:00.003-05:00

2008-09-09T16:56:00.001-04:00

Smashing Darling: Featured Independent, Kate Boggiano

We know you will oooh and ahhh over these blouses and jackets by Chicago based designer Kate Boggiano, just like all of us Darlings do. Whether you are heading to the office, or out the door to a party her designs are just the right amount of sass and function, made with high quality materials, in the USA, and built to last. "When you buy a Kate Boggiano blouse, you are buying an item of clothing that will be a part of your wardrobe for years to come."

Kate Coxworth left Polo Ralph Lauren in NYC and headed home to Chicago, welcomed not only by the familiarity of her hometown, but also to the amazing support for indie/emerging designers in the Chicago fashion community. Mayor Richard Daley aims to help keep young designers in Chicago with the Chicago Fashion Incubator at Macy's on State street, which is designed to help 6 emerging Chicago-based designers further launch their careers in fashion.

If you find yourself in Chicago you can find Kate Boggiano's work at the incubator, OR you can always peruse her store on Smashing Darling; even contact her if you like by clicking the contact button inside her online boutique. I'm sure she would love to hear from you.

Happy Birthday BUST!

2008-08-13T23:34:00.001-04:00

TrishDarling in heaven, dancing with the stilt people at the BUST mag 15th anniversary party. BUST really knows how to throw a party: Amy Sedaris on the microphone, silly photo booth fun, hammock seats and cabanas to gaze out at the nyc skyline, and the amazing Lady Circus.

Darling - Venuszine Giveaway

2008-06-05T10:42:00.000-04:00

Read TrishDarling's full blogpost here.

Subscribe for a chance to win!

Venuszine is pairing up with Smashing Darling. You subscribe to the magazine and you will be automatically entered into a drawing to win a $25 gift certificate to Smashing Darling. There will be 25 lucky winners for the gift certificates. Some lucky winners will also receive Necklaces from Rock Love & Albums from Santagold, Atmosphere, Free Kitten, and many others. Plenty of good stuff to go around.

Show your support for this creative, emerging, indie lifestyle by subscribing, you will be glad you did.

SMASH UP XIII - Butterflies in the Mass

2008-06-05T09:49:00.001-04:00

JulieDarling, flitting about in the grass, in her new summer SMASH UP! Love this organic cotton tee for summer, printed down in Philly, read more here.

KRELwear interview

2008-05-20T13:56:00.001-04:00

A few months back, in hot Miami, I was the lucky Darling that was able to go check out the studio of fashion designer Karelle Levy. It was pretty dreamy!

Get to know Karelle a little bit better in the Darling blog today (click on image), and while you are there leave a comment to congratulate her on her Style Wars win!

Home Star

2008-05-12T21:41:00.000-04:00

First night in the Brooklyn apartment, with a star right out front to help me find my way home.

Antigua, West Indies

2008-05-06T17:52:00.000-04:00

I am just now realizing as I type this that it had been three years since I left the country. Not good! Life moves so fast and we take so much for granted, even if you consider yourself someone who tries not to...we really do. Get on a plane, explore a new country, shake up the way you look at the world, and all the beautiful people in it.

2008-05-01T12:18:00.000-04:00

Ella Romero, student at SUNY Purchase created this month's SMASH UP - Rock on. The fabulous Timmy Brown took some pics for me, his son Morgan modeling.

Not sure if he wanted to kick Dad in the butt during the process...his look reminds me very much of the look I gave my parents when I was about his age, very funny.

Critique with us

2008-04-28T12:35:00.000-04:00

Click here for the full blogpost.

Here’s our plan to help get every store on our homepage at least once.

• What are we going to do:
Critique one store’s images each week.

• What we need from you:
1. Comments and constructive criticism about the store’s photos. Would the images hinder or help you in making a purchasing decision? What could this designer do to improve photo quality (and get on the homepage more often)?
2. Suggestions! Suggest someone’s store (or volunteer your own) to be critiqued by emailing me at: julie[at]smashingdarling[dot]com

Next week we will start this post, so send in your suggestions today to help someone (or yourself) snag that homepage spot ASAP!

Thanks for your help!
-The darlings

my hairdresser is a god

2008-04-23T10:53:00.000-04:00

I love that I can sit in my hairdresser's chair and say, "Do whatever you want."
I desperately needed a change in the hair department, and that is exactly what I got.
Lovely copper highlights...and wow, short hair. The tresses haven't been this short in years.

bikinis and bombs

2008-04-04T11:10:00.000-04:00

“The bikini is the most important thing since the atom bomb."

Click on that quote
Tell the Darling's who said it
Win your choice tee
Easy as pie

Let's get Wrecked

2008-04-03T15:13:00.001-04:00

T-Wrecked that is!

I love the new student SMASH UP for April. Dave Maggio from Northeastern had some fun with his crew and sent the Darling's these great images.
This is Dave below, to see more head to Smashing Darling!

Smashing Spree

2008-04-02T09:25:00.000-04:00

Go enter to win a Darling shopping spree!

Shadows

2008-03-05T13:27:00.000-05:00

Wow, it has been an entire month since I posted over here? Hmmm.
Bad darling! I love this pic I took with my phone while in La Jolla drinking really amazing coffee with a best gal pal, Jen. These are the most comfortable fishnets I will ever own!

Birthday SALE - 20% off SMASH UPs

2008-02-04T15:20:00.000-05:00

We are proud to announce that Smashing Darling - Your House for Indie Fashion - is going to be a year old Feb. 20th 2008! We cannot believe that it has only been a year! The site is over 300 indie designers strong and getting stronger every moment!

We want to celebrate our first year with you with 20% off any and all items in the Student Smash Up Store. We have some beautiful and FUN screen printed items in the store. All screen prints on these items were designed by different students from various art schools across the country. Stay tuned for a special edition birthday SMASH UP that will go up for sale on our big day!

Here is your unique promo code: DRSZVL. It will be active from Feb. 1st - Feb. 29th 2008 use this code to receive 20% off any item in Student Smash Up Store only. There will be a place at check out to enter the code to get your 20% off!

Stitch Lounge interview

2008-01-29T10:29:00.000-05:00

Head on over to the Smashing Darling blog to learn more about Stitch Lounge in San Francisco!

Interview: Melissa Alvarado of Stitch Lounge

Todays interview is with Melissa Alvarado one of the girls that started the Stitch Lounge in San Francisco. A very unique business that encourages customers to pick a project and just get started! We love that because that is what Smashing Darling is all about, letting your indie OUT! She also co-authored, with her friends and partners, Melissa and Hope, Sew Subversive and then Subversive Seamster. So if you are in the neighborhood, pop in and experience the lounge! These girls are always up to something fun!

Be BOLD - and comfy - in 2008

2008-01-21T15:55:00.000-05:00

Many thanks to Mallory Whitfield of missmalaprop.com and her indie self for spreading the good word over at styledash.com. Check out her blog about one of our new Smashing Darling designers
CUT-IT-OUT.

Darling's in New Haven's PLAY weekly

2008-01-15T12:56:00.000-05:00

Click here for full story!

With the expansive nature of the internet shrinking the world of commerce and growing it simultaneously, it's seems only natural that we head away from our metropolis and head North to find the masterminds behind the new social shopping website, Smashingdarling.com.

Over the Quinnipiac River Bridge and north on Route 9, you'll come to the quaint artist's community of Chester. Traveling down the windy road of Route 148, reducing your city speed to a more country-friendly pace, you'll find Mergirl, a custom clothing boutique in the stone building on Water Street.

Welcome 2008!

2008-01-02T14:24:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year!

Many thanks to everyone out there who voted for SmashingDarling.com in Mashable.com's Open Web Awards. We came in second - thanks to all of your help - and all of us Darling's are heading out to San Fran for the awards in just a week. Not a bad way to kick in a new year.

Thanks again and cheers!

Calling All Indies!

2007-12-18T10:27:00.000-05:00

Your VOTE for SmashingDarling.com in the Open Web Awards is a common vote for the entire Indie community online!
We made it through the first round and now everyone can VOTE AGAIN!

WHO: Smashing Darling NEEDS YOU!

WHAT: TO GO VOTE!

WHERE: Mashable.com Open Web Awards 2007 FINAL ROUND - Best Social Shopping Network

WHEN: NOW! Voting Ends Thursday December 20th, 9pm PST

WHY: Because the indie design community needs you to:

SHOUT IT OUT - SUPPORT THE MOVEMENT - PASS IT ON

HOW: Click Here.

Scroll down, Look for Category: Social Shopping. Click the circle next to www.smashingdarling.com. Click Cast Your Vote

It is as easy as 1,2,3! So GO VOTE now before you forget! If you aren't familiar with the site and are wondering what it is all about, we have a fabulous manifesto for you to read at your leisure. If you don't have time for that, I have included a few words from some of our fans.

What they are saying:

click here for more!

"You won't ever understand the allure of indie fashions until you buy and wear something distinct, fabulous and hard to find. Then and only then will you get why indie fashion rules the roost...they are on to something....
- Papierdoll

"Smashing Darling, my new favorite site to shop, drool, quiver etc over amazing indie fashion finds."

- PR Couture

SMASH UP VII - Groovy

2007-12-05T18:47:00.000-05:00

Guarantee yourself some holiday cheer

for now and all year long.

SMASH UP VII

the GROOVY tee

is on sale now in the student SMASH UP store.

This time of year can really stress people out, so this SMASH UP tee is perfectly timed! Check it out, you don't have to be a grumpy elf, get your groove on with this Groovy tee by Maine College of Art student, George McGinty. George is stressed too, he spends his days working hard to get his Art Ed certificate from MECA which involves not only classes but student teaching as well. Humor has an important role in his work, and he often focuses on the human face or form. I love the detail of the dancing gal, think I may have that be my holiday outfit....(reminds me of these whosiepie leggings!)

Placed upon the sparkling snow, this tee is the basic ringer from Alternative Apparel, a top seller I believe, super comfy, and 100% cotton. Many thanks to George for helping us all to find our inner, dancing JOY. By the way, he claims this GROOVY tee project was a welcome distraction from the daily school grind. Which is exactly what we want for our SMASH UP project, keep it fresh, try something new, COLLABORATE! The student SMASH UP is an ongoing collaborative project between Smashing Darling and printmaking students from all over, you can find this limited edition SMASH UP and the past six for sale in the student SMASH UP store.

Yet another great gift, right here at Smashing Darling, for your sis, daughter, friend, or whoever it is in your life that really knows how to get their groove on, or maybe, needs a little help in that department! To see more shots of miss molly in her GROOVY tee click here and check us out at Flickr; while you are there, join our group and show off your own groove.

~ Happy Holidays from the Darlings, and as far as SMASH UP goes....we'll see ya in 2008!

You are crazy to miss this Sample Sale!

2007-11-29T11:59:00.000-05:00

Don't do it! Don't miss out! Go to SmashingDarling.com right now, and
check out Krelwear's amazing sample sale! I am not kidding you really
have to go NOW, because this sale expires Monday. So perfectly timed
to coordinate your fabulous holiday outfits, or buy that perfect gift. The
best things in life happen fast, so don't think about it just go!

While you are there you should also take some time to peruse
the new, and totally unique additions to the main Krelwear
store....they really are just delicious. Happy shopping!

Check out DIY thing!

2007-11-28T10:32:00.001-05:00

Don't forget, we have all taken the BUY HANDMADE pledge this year,
8,000 of us so far...if you haven't, click above NOW!

If you don't have time to make gifts for everyone on your list, DIY thing
is making it easy to shop handmade right here on the world wide web.
Check out what they have to say about us below, and then go check out
their holiday picks!

What and who is on your holiday list this year? Well today DIYthing brings you
holiday gift ideas from Smashing Darling’s designers. Smashing Darling is the
place to shop handmade this season, you can find clothing, jewelry, accessories,
vintage, textiles and a whole lot more.

Happy Handmade shopping from MoDarling straight to you!

Newsflash: Smashing Darling Gift e-cards!

2007-11-20T15:16:00.000-05:00

Just in time for the Holidays, Gift Cards and Promo Codes

Tell everyone to look for this easy button on the homepage!

All online shoppers should know the two latest and greatest features on Smashing Darling to make holiday shopping a whole lot easier for all. The first is e-gift cards. These new additions to our site make it so easy to support our emerging community during this holiday season. It is paper free, so they are eco-friendly, and the giftee gets to choose from our growing number of designers (260!). There are 4 beautiful styles, and $25, $50, $100, $200 or $500 cards. Trust me, shopping just got a whole lot easier.

Click here for other Smashing news!

The second great feature is designer stores can now create discounts and give out the code for it. So all you die hard darling fans keep your eyes open because this one is like a treasure hunt. You will have to search your favorite blogs and magazines to see who is giving you the scoop on where the latest sale is, or who is giving the deal of a lifetime. I can tell you that one of our designers got a spot in the Seventeen Gift guide so be on the prowl for that. If In Style is your magazine of choice pay attention you just may see a smashing steal in there too. I won't say when. You will just have to keep checking.

http://www.smashingdarling.com
http://www.smashingdarling.com/blog

the good news #9

2007-11-15T12:03:00.000-05:00

Welcome to #9

Maybe you just need a sexy top,

What’s Going On

Oh the darlings are thankful these days, aren’t you? There is so much to be thankful for, like friends. Speaking of which, did you catch the pics from the Polartec Challenge last week in NYC? Click here and take a peek at Trish and Julie enjoying the show. As I buzz around the web all day I also notice lots of indie holiday fairs to be thankful for. Go shop those (we’ll keep you updated in the blog and forums) and make an indie designer thankful too!

What’s New

It is 5pm and here I sit and type…yet in the dark, that is what is new, sigh.
Ahh, but it is just as well as the holiday season is upon us and there is much to do. So I am here to tell you - and I am sorry because I hate to be this girl - there are only 39 days left to get all of your **insert holiday here** shopping done. In order to lift your spirits, glance around this page and see all the lovely items to be found for you to make your entrance to holiday parties in style. Dress yourself first, you’ll feel fabulous and rejuvenated and ready to buy goodies for everbody else! (Just remember to be aware of individual designer shipping policies when shopping for the holidays).

Maybe you just want to throw on a silky red dress

Or stand out in this candycane chevron at your holiday party

Coming Soon

Speaking of everybody else, there is always those few people who are so hard to figure out. With so many great choices here at Smashing Darling, why not just give them what they really want: a Smashing e-card! Buy it, input your joyous greeting, and it is sent straight to that persons email. No paper/plastic involved! Check out the sneak preview at the bottom of the page.The Recommend tool is also a great way to hint to people what you have on your wish list:
To: mydarlinghusband@gmail.com
This silk nighty would be lovely to receive this holiday…
From: yoursmashingwife@gmail.com

Smashing Kudos and tidbits

Call to designers looking to promote their Smashing Darling stores - Wickedly Chic has feature spots open…A bit of cheeky Pantyline Production love in the American Apparel Daily Updat e blog…be on the lookout for the red Valentini Gracie bag in the USA today Gift Guide November 28th…39 = your holiday shopping countdown…oh yeah, you already knew that…260 = the number of Smashing Darling sellers!

Give thanks, and Shop Indie

cheers! the Darlings

Cynthia Jones

2007-11-10T12:06:00.000-05:00

Pre-print, and in process

via cameraphone

with Mickey at RISD

SMASH UP VI on sale now in the Student SMASH UP Store. I love this shirt, I just want to put it on and go cause a ruckus. Our November SMASH UP student likes to draw, “antique, cliche monsters (like Cerberus) in a slightly less traditional, more tacky manner.” I like to think this three-headed dog is guarding and supporting all of our indie designers, and when you wear this rockin’ tee, you are too. SPEED, is one of Michaela Zacchilli’s self-proclaimed, major selling points as a human being. Michaela, a.k.a Mickey, lives in Providence, RI and is a senior Printmaking major at Rhode Island School of Design. She draws comics and makes prints, for great justice, see more of her work on her website: http://michaelacolette.com.

Check it out - the barcode is on the body of the big dog, and I am pretty sure that is the dog’s tongue that is sending you to smashingdarling.com? I guess only Mickey can tell us! If it is up to me, I would say this puppy is giving you a smashing SMOOCH!

TEXTURE: For this one-size ¾ sleeve Alternative Apparel baseball tee (50% cotton, 50% poly light knit gauze) Mickey used a rainbow roll and then reprinted the same image in white on top, slightly offset, to spice things up. And spice things up she did, I love the slight scoop neck, don’t you all think Julie should model all of our girlie SMASH UP’s ?!
The student SMASH UP is an ongoing collaborative project between Smashing Darling and printmaking students from all over, you can find this limited edition SMASH UP and the past five in the Smashing Darling Student SMASH UP store. Instead of arriving on the 10th of every month, we will deliver these to you the first Thursday of every month. In case you are new to this SMASHing routine, click on Subscribe right in the store and everytime we post a new student piece it will be delivered right to your email! You can also recommend a SMASH UP to a friend, leave Feedback, and click on the store Profile to learn more details about our project. Go buy one now for you and cause your own ruckus; buy one for your gals too and all of you go cause a ruckus together, after all we could all use a little more power now and again! Get your groove on and give out sloppy smashingdarling kisses - share the indie love!
Have a great day ~ the Darling’s

the good news #8

2007-10-15T13:14:00.000-04:00

What's Going On

Somehow that magical indian summer ended and it seems fall has really decided to arrive. Aaaahhh! What do I wear now? Must go shopping. Thankfully I don't have far to go, since we all know MALLS SUCK, Smashing Darling is here to help us all prepare for those chillier months, no matter where in the country you are. As soon as I feel that chill in the air the first thing I think of is that fabulous basket of scarves in the corner of my room that has been neglected all summer.

click to edit

Anne DePasquale

Hats, scarves, and bags, oh my!

click to edit

Willow Tree Vintage

click to edit

They are everywhere around the site. The best part is there is no guilt to buy more... accessories are necessary, they provide a function...to keep you warm, dry, organized, and whatever else you tell yourself to rationalize! (If you need any help just let me know, I am quite good at it.)

That is not all that is going on though. We have free clothes just for you!

Yes, contests and giveaways, yipppeee! First, we are on the hunt for some serious menswear designers.

click to edit

(No t-shirts please...don't get us wrong, we love and welcome all screen printers for men,women and children, but for this contest we want menswear accessory and clothing designers.) We know you are secretly coveting them from us, but please share! The first 5 of you in our smashing community to get just one menswear designer to open a store will get your choice of one of the student SMASH UP garments from the Smashing Darling store. We have a fabulous community, so that shouldn't take too long.

click to edit

Thistle Downs

Second, keep your eyes on the blog, we will be giving things away weekly there...but that will be a surprise, we can't tell you everything! Designers, if you want to join in and donate giveaway items, just contact our lovely miss trish via email: trish@smashingdarling.com.

click to edit

Hello Fabulous

click to edit

What's New

More new features!

This is my favorite news, by far. Now we can all go compliment each other with the feedback feature in each store. Anyone that is signed in can leave good words for their favorite designer even if they haven't shopped yet - so all of you out there can start leaving your mark. We all want to know what you think! Just one more way to really get to know your designers. Check it out

1 -2-3-4 C'mon baby say you love me! (sorry, had to be done) We're counting! If you are one of those designers, in your account go see how many people have stopped by in the last 7 days and how many have stopped by since we started counting about 2 weeks ago at the end of September. A great tool to test out those marketing stategies.

click to edit

Coming Soon

Just so all of those shoppers and bloggers don't feel left out, we have a treat (not a trick) coming for you soon too. How about some witches and goblins for you? Oops, sorry!

I mean badges and widgets, always getting those confused these days!

Soon, when you want to gush about us in your blog or website we will give you the tools you need to do so. We would love for you to help us spread the ghostly good word! You can be like Casper the friendly ghost...

click to edit

Anne DePasquale

Smashing Kudos and tidbits

Well, let's see, we are thrilled to have the Mighty Spork as a contributor in our blog, please help us welcome her with some mighty comments!... 235, what is that you ask? That tidbit of a number would be our designer count!.... Hmmm, how about a little love for us from Portland Picks, they think we are HOT! very cool....and congratulations to Julie Lake whose earrings were one of 10 best in the Stylehive blog last week!

So until next month, don't forget to accessorize, support the movement, and

SHOP INDIE!

and p.s. click that cursor top right to send this good news to a friend.

Happy Monday

~ the Darlings

SMASH UP V - Cloak and Dagger

2007-10-10T12:17:00.000-04:00

Our friend Andrew

in action

printing SMASH UP

at Peregrine Press, Portland, Maine

SMASH UP V on sale now

If you ask printmaker, student, coach, and mixologist Andrew Jaspersohn, where the idea for SMASH UP V - Cloak and Dagger - came from his response may go something like this:

“I was raised in the mountains of Vermont by wolves obsessed with James Bond, who, after much pleading, finally taught me the art of Arnis, Filipino knife and stick fighting…”

Wait, did he mention that before or after those Bond-like Bijou Cocktails he whipped up for my volunteer photographer and I? Hmmm, I can’t remember….Well, okay, maybe he would just tell you that he is pretty much a James Bond (and maybe a comic superhero) geek, and this shirt may just be the first of a series of knife-fighters soon to be purchased in his own store right here on Smashing Darling. I can’t wait, because as you can see, this shirt ROCKS for all you boysand girlsout there.

It is super soft (cotton-poly-rayon blend) and the wide waistband and matching sleeve hem make it unisexily perfect.
Buy one for you and all of your friends, and then celebrate.
If with a cocktail, see recipe at the bottom…oh yeah, did I fail
to mention he makes his own bitters too?

Andrew started printing in college at Colby in Maine, apprenticed for a year at Vermont Studio Center in his hometown of Johnson, Vermont. He moved back to Maine a few years ago and was on the waiting list for Peregrine Press for a year and a half before being accepted. Now, when he isn’t working towards his Art Education certification at MECA, he can be found whipping up cocktails at BarLola, or printing away custom hoodies for friends at Peregrine Press.

You noticed that the design is printed on the lower-right, back corner of the shirt, right? If not you just aren’t paying attention! Regardless, you should really click here and check out the slideshow of Andrew’s print session at our Smashing Darling Flickr page. We had a lot of fun, and I was kidding, no cocktails were enjoyed during this shoot, just coffee…coffee a la bijou. While you are there, join our group and send us some pics of your indie influence, inspiration, or just your favorite indie style. Come play with us!

The bar code and logo makes it official, our SMASH UP V is here, only 48 limited editon pieces made, as always, and ready for the buying frenzy in our Smashing Darling store. Go buy yours today, these babies won’t last long!

Stay tuned for SMASH UP VI November 10th, and until then if you meet any student printmakers, send then my way, email mo@smashingdarling.com!

Bijou Cocktail

1 1/2 oz gin

1/2 oz green chartreuse

1/2 oz sweet vermouth

1 dash Andrew’s orange bitters