Luca Luca Spring 07'

Yes, I said Spring 07' for those paying attention. New York's fashion week is in full swing. I haven't had a chance to post anything because of travels but this one is especially yummy. Thinking of getting out the sewing machine and see if I can copy that silver, high waisted skirt for myself. a little wife beater and cheap jewlery from Target. I'm so all over it.

SUPPORT THE ARTS

It's support the arts around richie's home these days. I finally got organized enought to photograph and post all of my work for the past 7-8 months on-line. it's all available for sale starting at $20-and going up to $150+.

Unfortuntely, fine printing is an expensive and time consuming art form, I've kept pricing low because I just want to recoup my costs [and have a latte to keep me going] so that I can continue to work in this medium and grow as an artist. There is a bunch to choose from. I hope you find something you like.

Everything shown on the site was hand carved on linoleum blocks and hand printed at the Otis College Print Lab in the past 9 months.

I'll be taking some time off this semester to recover physically from the carving... my shoulder and hand have rebelled! stay tuned for more art in early 2007. Unless I just can't stand it any more and cave to the pain. Art=Pain right? not in my house.

ART FOR SALE HERE

The Belamar Hotel * Great Graphics

The Belamar Hotel in Manhattan Beach gets it. A wall that could have been very forgotten, facing a parking lot, got a really lovely graphic treatment. I've been wanting to photograph it for some time...finally remembered my camera today. *Gold Star* for them for thinking outside the box. I didn't get a chance to go in but based on the exterior, their renovations a year + ago are on the money. I thought I was over the whole blue and brown color trend, but they changed my mind.

DWR's Vega Sofa

I received my new DWR catalog in the mail today. Sometimes I think they send me a copy just so that I can dream of the life I don't have. I could spend 10k in that store in a matter of minutes - no questions asked.

I've been obsessed with sectional couches since the seventies when my good friend Sherri [really her parents] had the most amazing L shaped burnt orange/brown sofa. Sherri and I use to move the pieces around to build forts, giant beds to watch tv or to jump on them. Thinking back on it, the sofa was in the Ligne Roset quality that I'm not even allowed to breathe around these days at my income. Sherri's mom has amazing taste, and I recall many situations that I promised myself I would have as equally as nice things as an adult. What a wacky kid to want a couch, fluffy towels & good toilet paper [I kid you not] at 11!

The Vega Sofa is reasonably priced [for DWR] $1898/$1298 and has a main with a chaise and ottoman. The coolest part is that the edges fold down to make a extended bed for company, or watching TV with your sweetheart. I think I would add two ottomans to my order [we're dreaming here right?] I might possibly be talked into all Moss Green if we're really getting crazy here.

Skin Care Whore

Here's another random leak of personal information. I'M A SKIN CARE WHORE. I admit it, I am....have been since my early 20's when I became petrified of the possibility of wrinkles. You already know that I subscribe to every fashion magazine on the planet. I routinely cut out articles and research skin care products [and for the past few years plastic surgeons for when the day comes] that they review. I also worked in hair salons for over 9 years which is the Mecca of narcissm and a "cream for every part" mentality- which I have, and use every day.

I have been loyal to Clarins [still am] since introduced to the line while living in London. The pollution was so bad in the city that my acne free teenage years decided to rebel. I gave my lunch money to a woman down the street who cured me of my "spots". since then, I have skipped grocery shopping, omitted clothes shopping and other credit card abuses to keep my regimen up. I think it's worked... At 37, I still get carded buying alcohol, have boys in the 20's say hello [sweet, but no-thanks], and for the most part haven't had too many "oh-my-gawd-where-did-that-come-from" moments [although I can't say the same about my ass].

I recently got sucked into another product though which I think I might buy by the case now. SKII a line available in Japan for 20+ yrs before this. Developed by all people, a monk, who according to the site, "He was surprised to discover that the brewery workers [from a Sake brewery] had extraordinary soft and youthful hands. Even an elderly man with pronounced wrinkles on his face possessed the silky smooth hands of a young boy."

I've used the eye patches and most recently the facial masks and the facial treatment serum. All I can say is run, don't walk to your nearest Saks 5th Ave for it. Skip a few Lattes if you need to pay for it. it's worth it. I've tried A LOT of products this stuff is amazing!

Just wait for the boyfriend/hubby/or roommate to leave before applying the paper mask [soaked in the serum] you look like a total freak...but for great skin I'd stand on my head if they told me to. speaking of...humm wonder if it would help that ass problem?

Cutie Pie Kit™

So, I've had some requests for the Cutie Pie Kit this weekend...[some very bad photos to view. I definitely need to take some lighting classes-- having good equipment wouldn't hurt either.]

Housed in a paint can with 4 tees [long sleeve were requested for a winter baby this round]
$50+ shipping.

contact me [silva_richele [at] yahoo.com] if you're interested in buying... or you work for Target and you can't live without 100,000 units of each piece. I'd be happy to manufacture for you at a wholesale price ;)

Tees in this version:
I'm a little cupcake short and sweet,
Darling, I'm a lady who lunches,
A chic woman is born in high heels,
Grandma's purse

There is a boy version as well called the Little Man Kit™

© all rights reserved Richie Design

steaming with jealousy

Am I mad? Am I jealous? Gawd darn it these are good. Art Bastards! how dare they take my beloved neon and do something so good.

Seriously..... really damn good work—wish I had thought of it first—the digital plates, the three colors, the letterpressing of my favorite, favorite subject matter. Sorry I may need to use this idea. Don’t hate me because I copy.

Athenaeum Press

Stunning New Music

Ray LaMontagne's new Cd Till the Sun Turns Black released Tuesday is a simply stunning. If you like deep bluesy, beautiful guitar work and amazing orchestrating this one is for you. To be warned this isn't the happiest music on the planet, but he is a gifted songwriter very reminiscent of Nick Drake. You can also hear the influences of Ryan Adams' detailed writing and guitar style which he has also worked with.

For it being his second album [better known as the sophomore curse], this is a treat and I can happily recommend both of his CD's. I'm so glad he's getting the attention he deserves now [a track on an upcoming movie The Last Kiss and a recent story on NPR about his music]. I hope I get a chance to see him at a small venue before he really takes off. These are tunes that are meant to be seen in a small club for certain. As for me keeping one cd in the car for months...I think I have a new one already from The Fray.

Behnaz for Target

Target has done it again...snagging Behnaz Sarafpour to do the next limited edition line for them this fall. To say I'm excited about this is an understatement. Behnaz does beautiful classics and I only hope her designs translate as well in person. My name is written all over that black trench, and provided the sizing is a little less Junior [my only complaint with their Go! line] and more womanly...the rest of the pieces will be mine as well.

Why The Post Man Hates Me

This is just a partial pile of my magazines for September..still missing a couple in the delivery. September is the biggest month in fashion publications for the fall preview ect [did you know that?]--it's also the most prestigious month to be on the cover, get coverage of a line or other variables of that. It's sad that they featured Kirsten Dunst on Vogue...one of my least favorite stars. I do have to say the dresses created especially for this issue [featured on Kirsten inside] are some of the most amazing fabrications I've ever seen. hummm I feel a future blog coming on.

For any male readers...who question the heavy fashion coverage as of late. Fashion is wearable art & design for me. I know you think women just frivously buy [and we do] but I actually like the construction and how a good outfit can alter someone's appearance. It can be a transformation and it can also be alot of fun.

I know the Post Man would like to poke my eyes out this month. Sorry for the giant load of reading material you carry around for me. If it's any consolation I do appreciate it!

The Best of Craigs List

If you've never read the Best of Craig's List...here are three of my personal favorites. When you need a little break from your day
there are some funny arse stories to read.

M.C. WITH A BOYFRIEND OR SOMEONE TO KILL A COCKROACH anyone who has dealt with one of these things will understand how incredibly large they really are.


STRIPPER RANT: Adult content of course but well done and hilarious.


I MISS YOU, I LOVE YOU really the best one of them all. so incredibly sweet I've read it half a dozen times.

Doll heads and other random thoughts

Here are some annoyingly random things that happened to me today:

•Had a conference call this morning at 7:30 am--forming thoughts at that hour is annoying.

•The painter that has been working on the exterior of my apartment building for 2 months is STILL freeking here! and is now showering my clean house with schards of [i'm sure of it, lead] paint chips. He's very sweet and is doing a good job but he makes a mess and is as slow as molasses.

•The electrical system in my car decided to quit as I drove down a busy street today. Nice of it to do that before I got on the freeway. Did I mention I've already put close to 2k into my car this summer for general matienance? Trying to do the right thing will get you no where.

•I went to call in my refill on my much needed vicoden [see bad back posting and old lady shoes to prove it] and it requires the doctor to call in since I've used my refills. That means it will take me a week just to get on the phone with someone at Kaiser to ask me 10 times what my name, address, phone numbers, and medical record number is. SERIOUSLY, no one will talk to you without that knowledge repeated every single time.

•I got my carpets cleaned in my car on friday because I was taking lattes to my client and an entire one spilled on the floor of my car...the entire thing. I put the mats back in too early when the carpets were wet. Guess what my car smells like now? Sour milk and moldy floorboards...I drove back there today at lunch and had to pay for them to reclean them. BIG FUN!

•My very sweet boyfriend [he really is] didn't call me or return my calls all day. He just left me a message after I've been plotting to kill him slowly...that his phone never rang all day because of the coverage at his house [which is true, surprisingly enough].

•He wonders why I'm so annoyed with him...but after plotting to tell someone "what the F*ck!" for 1/2 a day it takes a while to calm down.

•My scale is an asshole. Seriously, My girlfriend Pam will vouch for me on this one folks.

Happy Monday!

Your knight and shining armor

No wonder we can't find him girls...he's missing his outfit. How would we ever know if he came knocking?

overprinting

You never know what will happen when you just go for it. Trying to salvage my project gone awry... I decided to over print some more today for the last class...got some nice pieces from it...each slightly different which is cool. As a quad of pics it has a warhol vibe to it that happened by accident. Sometimes art happens when you let go...which is so difficult to do really.

R

Coveting

I have coveted these shoes now for about 3+ years. I don’t know if other women are like this or not but I see something I like and it stays with me until I have it.

I attended a wedding in Malibu approx 3 summers ago. [and here is where it gets sick] I cannot tell you the name of the bride and groom [friend’s of the ex] but I can tell you that the best dressed woman at the event was a casting director, not too much older than myself, she wore a black strapless knee length dress with an oversized pearl choker necklace and she had on a pair of patent leather sling backs that were SO AMAZING I walked across the party to ask here where she got them. Probably sensing my $29.99 Marshall’s shoes and my clearance $19.99 JCrew dress [that too, I can remember], she very sweetly said 'oh, they are Christian Louboutin’s, and you don’t want to get started buying these things they are obnoxiously expensive.' She eluded to them as a bad drug habit.

I am still dreaming of those shoes…that come dangerously close to what I pay in rent. Now, there are other women who wouldn’t think twice about taking the plunge, and I can’t say that I won’t... but I haven’t needed them that desperately yet. I’m still hoping to find them on Ebay and pay 179$ instead of $700. Yes, mom... shoes that cost $700 and that's not even that high for some of his shoes. You might ask, how can a pair of heels be that amazing? All I can say is that you have to see them in person. For someone who is as 'art damaged' as myself I can spot the quality a mile away, even when I don't know what it is that I'm drawn too. It’s a sickness, I hate myself for it…wanting these damn shoes that will most likely hurt my back and my feet. But DAMN!!! I still want em’........... red bottoms and all.

-R

Birthday Wishes

Happy Birthday to my nephew Bryan. He turns 13 this week. The land of teenager-ville is officially here. He is now in the 8th grade and a good student, a good boy [mostly] ;) This photo is a few years old but you can just tell.

I'm so proud of him, this year he was invited to participate with a college prep class with his middle school. He's so creative and a great artist I hope he goes on to pursue that. Personally, I'm voting for an architect in the family to build me my dream home when I'm 75 and can finally afford my own place. Help your Aunt Richie out!

Happy Birthday Bryan. Be good, have fun. My one piece of advice for my new teenage nephew is this...when in doubt on doing something that may or may not be good for you, ask yourself this question...."Will it make me a better person?" and most importantly "If my Mom finds out, would she ground me or kill me?" those are two good markers for questionable behavior, mine being the philosophical vein, Mom's being immediate pain.

But really, that's a great gauge to have; if it doesn't make you a better person...then it's probably not for you. Or at the very least, wait till you're 25 to ask yourself again.

love Aunt Richie

experimental art

Since this all went haywire a couple weeks ago I decided just to experiment with everything and see what would happen. I carved another block "laundryette" and printed in light pink and dark pink. I think the ones I like best are the pieces I had the pink underlay on to begin with-- the multiple overprints work the best. To do another round or not is the question? I'm going to sit on it for a couple days and see how I feel. Last week of class is next saturday so I have to decide one way or another.

-R

seriously WOW stationery

I hardly ever buy note cards from anyone else since I print alot of my own work but I couldn't pass this up. Elum also has limited edition prints to boot from their line up. Highly recommend checking them out. I ended up with the yellow lattice and the yellow mums. Elum's pricing is remarkably reasonable based on the work it takes to print like this. I would hope they post more of their custom work soon. I would love to see what happens when the sky's the limit.


Elum Designs

what would happen if you were famous?

my girlfriend and I had a interesting conversation this morning. What if we were famous and we had paparazzi following us around documenting our every move. what secrets would be revealed? For one thing...I definitely would not make it to the "Scary Thin" cover but would make it to the "healthy Hollywood look" and possibly to "what was she thinking" a few times as well. If I had someone following me around they would see...


• First off if I was in this issue of People, they would see buck teeth, bad hair, total complete geekness that was me in highschool...omg and the catapillar eyebrows that I had before I found out about waxing and arching.
• I go to buy coffee every day, sad but true...it's my morning treat.
• I talk to my girlfriend Pam every morning on the way to the office from coffee.
• I spend alot of time at my chiro's office, and still feel like I'm housed in the body of a 90 yr old person.
• I basically wear the same exact outfit every day. skirt, tank tops, little sweater. it's a sad wardrobe these days.
• At 37 I have officially moved over to old lady shoes--my back is rebelling.
• I sing in the car, and listen to the same CD for months at a time.
• I eat, talk and do way too much while driving...hence running a yellow light this morning and having someone honk at me and gesture for me to get off the phone.
•I purchase a fair amount on line and have it shipped.
• I subscribe to just about every fashion magazine on the planet. My post person will curse my name next month [September is the big daddy issues]
• essentially I'm a total bore and a creature of habit so they could stalk me at multiple locations every day.


• THE UPSIDE TO THE FAMOUS THING IS THAT I WOULD BE AIRBRUSHED TO AN INCH OF MY LIFE AT ANY PLANNED PHOTOSHOOT, AND EVENTUALLY I COULD PAY SOMEONE TO BRING ME INTERESTING CLOTHES. HUUMMM WONDER WHAT THAT WOULD BE LIKE!

I am the bionic woman

belly ring and broken hardware included for free.

apartment therapy posting

new stories: I'm officially posting MWF now so check back often

Room and Board's catalog supplement

Jeannette Architects

this made me laugh out loud

a new tee from the hilarious folks at Threadless....titled I'd Hit It by Robert L Wood

I think I've been working with men too long, I'm getting their sick sense of humor. I'm such a bad feminist right now.
-r

new art

new art created for the other piece below but on it's own it's quite lovely.
test print...but hope to make it an official piece later on down the line.

-R

reduction print week 3

Feels like I've been working on this for months now. Last week was not a good week in the work process. After discovering the linoleum had come loose from the wood at some point, and really effected every single print in registration, I decided to take a detour on the original concept. The second image was added with a one color print. I owe David Zaitz a big ol thanks. Both of these images are from him, and he'll be getting some freebee art from the useage.

Anyhow here it is... there will be a 3rd color/image but haven't decided if it will be text or another carving. I have a tentative plan but we'll see if I can pull it off.

-R

I know you've been waiting for this

THIS JUST IN: RED IS THE NEW BLACK...

BECAUSE BLACK WAS BACK FOR SPRING

AND THAT IS SOOOOO OVER!

KEEP UP FOLKS! DON'T FALL BEHIND

fownd!

in case you were missing your tortoise. it's been fownd.
how much do you love this?

more good neon. Tower Theater, Roseville, CA.

reduction print week 2

step 2 of the 'laundry' reduction print. had some time off for the 4th and the weddings, but back working.
stay tuned for more updates

sean & michele

the happy couple.
congrats!

greetings from Lake Tahoe

Back from the wedding. It was beautiful weather and a great weekend congrats again to Sean and Michele

great old neon

I love old neon. I love the shadows it casts, I love it lit up at night...just everything about it. I became a bit obsessed about it when I saw some paintings 15+ years ago based on old neon, since then I take photos, sometimes use it in my own art, worship other artists that use it as well [Dave Lefner is my hero currently]

This lovely photograph is of Iceland Skating Rink in Sacramento, California. It has a special fondness for me for a few different reasons...the owners of the rink have lived next to my Grandparents since I've been alive, My mom skated in the "ice follies" there as a teenager [have the photo to torture her with] and later I broke my leg there my first time on the ice...hotdoggin' around the rink and probably no more than 30 min into my session. Yep, They call me Grace.

-Richie

new at apartment therapy

my story on the Long Beach Historical Society LBSH

I posted this on my site a couple weeks ago but AT:LA just picked it up.

cheers
R.

hilarious street art

I would love to think that the 10$ reward would bring 'fluffy' back but I suspect some 16 yr old kids took it and probably dragged it down the street on their skateboard or something. It made my day regardless! maybe secret flamingo photos will appear from the kidnapping. I'll keep you posted if anything new developes.

Wedding Week part 1 Anne & Chad

It’s wedding week around my circle of friends this week. Annie and Chad, Michele and Sean are both tying the knot on Saturday.

I had the pleasure of doing both of their invites earlier this year. Anne wanted something classic. She knew she wanted something with flowers, but knowing A. the way I do it wasn't the typical 'cheesy rose' thing. I started with hand illustrations, then scanned them into the computer and traced them into Illustrator to create a clean but delicate flower motif to use. We had about 3-4 images to choose from initially but this one both spoke to us when it came down to decide.

I created an invite housing the day's information, and then mounted it on a chartreuse green card stock. They had two versions, one to a private ceremony for close family and the second to a reception including all of their guests. I'm down with that, you don't want your co-workers watching you blubber like an idiot. Not sure that was their reasoning, but it sounded like a good theory to me.

A hand drawn map to accompany -unmounted. I felt something a little more rustic was appropriate for the initial images that we started with hence the hand drawn map.

The RSVP continued the illustration to the end. The RSVP had a matching chartreuse envelope, all of the pieces were sent in a #10 Chartreuse envelope.

A special Hello and Congrats to Annie and Chad as well, I couldn't be in two places at once this Saturday and I won't be able to attend my dear friend's ceremony. Have a fantastic day you guys. Remember, something will go wrong/blow up/not be as you thought it was, but in the end it doesn't matter, what does matter is your promise to each other and being a good friend to one another.

click on images to enlarge

-All my love
R.

Wedding week part 2 Michele & Sean

Happy wedding week to Michele & Sean. I had the lovely opportunity in designing their wedding invites earlier this year. I woke up one Sunday morning with this really wacky idea of a vintage ski poster for them [based on the Tahoe theme]. Michele and Sean are fairly new friends of mine so I didn't know how they would take this idea, but surprisingly to me, they loved it. I've since learned they are just as funky as I am which makes since why they would be open to something so off the charts.

We designed the poster to just read the basics, knowing that we would need to include travel info and also activities that the bride and groom had planned for the weekend for their out of town guests. We did two sheets, one travel information, one a weekend itinerary to accompany the poster. These sheets are also geared to travel well if guests need to pack the information. A RSVP card was also included with boxes for guest to check their plans...golf? hiking? cocktail boat cruise? these two had planned it all. The RSVP was accompanied by a kraft color envelope to match the shipping tube everything was sent in.

The logo type of their names became the continuing icon throughout the piece, as a header for the second sheets, a return address logo ect...most likely they will use this for thank you cards, and other pieces for the wedding.

This was a blast to design for them and their guests have been really excited about the whole package. Even the men seem to be responding [which we all know never happens] there's a report that one of them took it in to be framed because he liked it so much.

You can click on these images to view larger.

R.