Abode

Anna Sui for Target

So excited about the next Go International collection for Target from Anna Sui. Sui says she based her designs on the women of Gossip Girl, however many industry experts have noticed the striking resemblance to numerous Sui designs of the past. Either way I am loving this Serena (above) and this Blair (below!) Must get mine come September!

Blythe

Blythe! Blythe! Beautiful Blythe!

I just LOVE Blythe dolls!

Old is New Again

At the Hell's Kitchen Flea Market, found an old vintage frock while donning a similar dress just picked up on the cheap at Forever 21

Unicorn Necklace

As a new resident of New York City, I have come to realize a creative drawback for myself personally, one I can easily live with, but nonetheless is odd and a bit difficult, is that I have a roommate for the first time in 11 years! The actual roommate is not the problem; she's a doll! What is the drawback is that my craft of decorating and making my space my space, is, at the moment, non-existent.

This is not just because of having a roomie to share space with, but also I am living in an already furnished apartment. It's SO bizarre! Not the furnishings of my new place—luckily I have purple lilac bedroom walls—but the fact that, overall, my little nook is not speaking 'Jolene!'

To counter this lack of creative force in decorating my home full of tchotchkies, chic thrifty finds, and, of course, the occasional Strawberry Shortcake home good, I have been dabbling more into my jewelry making. I have purchased some goods here in the city that I has me coming up with new, creative ideas for necklaces and earrings. Once completed, I hope to be showcasing these goods here on Abode!

One such item I made a few months back that I am proud to share is this pretty unicorn necklace. I made it with my friend Mandy in mind and gave it to her on my last trip to Chicago. Mandy is my type of friend that would definitely wear a unicorn necklace and when someone will comment on it I can just hear her say "Oh this is my unicorn necklace; my friend Jolene made it."

I hope she still wears it. :)

Sunae, Kanzashi, and GiGi

At this years National Stationery Show, held at Javits in NYC, I saw new artists, old friends, and many beautiful, artist-driven work that made my heart sing! Here are just a few of my favs!

Red Cap Cards artist Carrie Gifford introduced new artists to her card company, including this fabulous Japanese artist Naoshi! Naoshi paints in shiny color sand, a process called "SUNAE" in Japanese. Her imagery is smart, quirky, and very funny!

Artist Amy Kwong for her stationery company Smitten Kitten showed pretty stationery as well as her line of beautiful handmade couture necklaces she crafts herself. Similar to Origami, the flowers are called Kanzashi and are made from vintage silk scarfs, and are accented with glass and acrylic beads.

As a HUGE fan of Dare Wright and The Lonely Doll, this company certainly tweaked my fancy! Gigglegraph offers up silly cards with the sneaky GiGi doll everywhere!

Oh Economy

Okay so the economy BLOWS and many things in my personal life have been affected, i.e. family and numerous friends losing their jobs, no one eating at my restaurants, no one wanting to actually pay for writers...and now the final straw, my beloved Domino Magazine has folded.

I credit Domino with SO much; introducing me to the COOLEST, HIPPEST young interior designers; showing me how to have a FABU home that is SO all about my personality, well put-together, and still so affordable; having pages oozing with the color pink, teal, and purple; and being a resource that truly spoke to me about what design could be for me no matter what my bank account was or my style desires! I have never been one to follow rules, and Domino was the first shelter pub to recognize that people's homes can be as individualistic as their personalities.

The Premiere issue in 2005 with Ruthie Sommers on the cover; this cover had me immediately sending in my subscription card and I was a loyal fan ever since. To read more about Domino's folding, go to this good article in The New York Times: A Girl World Closes, and Fans Mourn.

Domino I will so miss you. R.I.P.