Tasty Cake

Fake Museums Rock

2011-07-26T18:53:00.000-07:00

I recently went to see my friend Mary Anne Kluth's amazing show at Frey Norris Gallery in San Francisco that includes watercolors, ceramic rocks, detailed dioramas, and photographs in the style of a museum exhibit. Everything is so thoughtfully done, beautifully crafted with painstaking detail, and with a little bit of quirk. Just a few of the many, many pieces on view:

Iceland a Raindrop of Lava
C-print on aluminum

I really love these painted ceramic wood stumps!

Chunk of Wood Shaped, a Cross Section Out of a Tree, with Crystals Inside, Different Colors 1 and 2
glazed ceramic, cone 06

And this is just a really awesome looking rock!

Because of These Reaction Rings
Watercolor and graphite on paper

I really do hope you will check out the show - it is up until August 27th, so scurry yourself over there before it closes!! :)

San Diego Bicycle Fashion Showcase

2011-04-30T21:05:00.000-07:00

The San Diego Custom Bicycle Show has come and gone - It was a fun, hectic, chaotic weekend. We set up our booth on Thursday night, with the show open through the weekend.
The bike and fashion showcase took place on Saturday.

Fittings for the models (mostly bike builders) took place in B.Spoke Tailor's booth

Penny farthing! The original fixie.

I attempted to take photos of the actual show, but my camera really doesn't do action shots, but you can check out some show photos by Jeff Thrasher on Flickr, and photos of some of the bikes at the show on VeloCult's site (thanks to them for hosting the afterparty!).

Bike and Fashion Showcase

2011-04-02T14:46:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the hiatus everyone! It's been a busy year and I can't believe it's already April! I've been helping organize the Bike and Fashion Showcase, taking place at the San Diego Custom Bicycle Show next weekend.

All you bike enthusiasts should definitely check it out if you're in the area! The fashion show takes place on Friday night at 5pm and will feature a variety of custom bicycles and bike fashions by mostly independent designers. Should be a fun time!

Red Cake at Oakland Art Murmur

2011-01-29T10:46:00.000-08:00

Happy new year everyone! Visit us at Red Cake's first event of 2011 during Oakland Art Murmur next Friday!

477 25th St, Oakland, CA (between Broadway + Telegraph)

Friday, February 4, 2011, 6 to 9 pm

We will have a selection of art, jewelry, and other small goods for sale, like Maureen Shield's Untitled collage below (at only $50!)

The event takes place at new 25th St. Collective space in thriving downtown Oakland, with many other local artisans and designers hawking their wares. We can accept cash and checks only at this event.

Hope to see you there!

Design Made Easy

2010-12-16T16:46:00.000-08:00

I just learned about a pretty awesome company, Garmz - fashion designers submit their sketches, users vote on the designs, and if you garner enough votes, they produce the garment to sell on their site! It's like Threadless, but goes way beyond tees. I am totally addicted to the site!

This tailcoat was one of the designs that will be produced. The price is 109 euros (about $145) - which is pretty reasonable. I am excited to see more from Garmz...I think it's a great idea and hope that they stick around.

Vietnamese Handicrafts

2010-12-12T21:25:00.000-08:00

As mentioned earlier, I recently returned from a trip to Vietnam and Hong Kong. We did a 2-day hike through the Northern Vietnam highlands in Sapa , through villages of Hmong ethnic minorities, who make some very lovely crafts - especially intricate embroidery.

Hmong women in traditional clothing

Detail of Hmong embroidery

They make their own fabric (from the harvesting the hemp, weaving the fabric, and dying it with indigo) - and make clothes, bags, and scarves. We went to the Ethnology Museum in Hanoi, which had extensive exhibits of the many ethnic minorities, their culture, and their crafts. I highly recommend this museum - if it's the only one you go to in Hanoi, this is it. We spent over 4 hours here, and they have an excellent gift shop with a great selection of crafts and good prices (without haggling!). Woot.

Postcard Show

2010-12-09T20:11:00.000-08:00

Howdy everyone! Sorry for the long hiatus - still recovering from jet lag from a trip to Hong Kong and Vietnam..but more on that later...

For those of you in the SF Bay Area, please check out The Lab's Postcard Show this Saturday - lots of small format art, wearables and cool stuff made by local artists and crafters - and the best part, nothing costs over $30! And for the first time this year, there will be a Mini Market, with small format edibles, of which I am participating with my baby caramel apples.

Knickerbockers!

2010-08-31T21:06:00.000-07:00

I only found out recently that the New York Knicks are named after knickerbockers - you know, those dapper knee length trousers. Not only do I love saying the word 'knickerbockers' - I've been apprenticing for a fashion designer. B. Spoke Tailor, who specializes in tailored wool knickers for bicyclists. She makes fabulously dapper and functional knickers so you may ride in style - the anti-spandex gear. And each pair is cut and sewn right here in Oakland, California.

She also makes custom knickers to get you that perfect fit, as well as accessories including recycled wool arm warmers, top tube covers for your bike.

So what are you waiting for? Grab some knickers and get on yer bike!!

Very Obedient Felines

2010-08-13T18:41:00.000-07:00

For all of you kitty lovers out there, you just *might* enjoy pics from a cat fashion show held at the Algonquin Hotel in New York City. This show was part of a birthday party for Matilda, the Algonquin Hotel's official cat.


Raggedy Ann! Though she looks like she might cut someone in a second.


My personal favorite...no words needed!


The angry king. Doesn't quite seem to enjoy the attention.

Happy Friday everyone! :)

You Can Do Lots With Bodypaint

2010-07-21T20:01:00.000-07:00

Did you know that the World Bodypainting Festival just took place in Austria? Yes, I don't know how I lived this long not even knowing about its existence.....check out some of the bizarre and creepy bodypaint that you missed out on.....(some are slightly NSFW)...

Poor sad Raggedy Ann on LSD, are you frowning because your clothes aren't keeping you warm enough?

This guy is pretty super fierce, like a liger...

And walkin' like an Egyptian! Check out more pics here by Geoff Gebler. Happy Hump Day ya'll!

Fun With Glass

2010-06-29T15:41:00.000-07:00

I was reading an old article in Craft magazine (which is unfortunately no longer being published - but their online presence lives on) about making your own stained glass, which looks really intriguing. Definitely on my list of stuff I want to do one day! Until then, feast your eyes on some of these creations by Timothy Miller....

Yes, this is indeed a Transformers stained glass, and of course, your living room is not complete without a Deceptacon stained glass lamp!!

And last but not least, here is Autobot.

Pie or Die!

2010-06-29T15:27:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the hiatus the last few weeks...been sooo busy, but that is a lame excuse, I know.... We had a fun Red Cake event on the 19th, featuring Vanessa Marsh's new work- some of which is now available on our site. I've continued to be super busy with homework for my patternmaking classes at Apparel Arts (which I am LOVING!).
And, I just found out that I will be competing in the upcoming SF Food Wars PIE OR DIE
competition! I will be one of twenty competitors baking pies for this super fun event. My entry is Super Fierce Pecan Buttermilk Pie - one of the pies I baked for my wedding reception. Check out the NY Times article about the event, too. Tickets for the event go on sale tomorrow at noon - and they sell out fast, so act quick if you want to go!

I Love Metal

2010-05-20T22:02:00.000-07:00

We're super excited to introduce another new addition to Red Cake - Queens Metal jewelry!
As you may have guessed, she's based out of Queens, New York. And I love, love her Lollipop earrings - I have my own pair and have been wearing them all week (and they're only $25!!):

I also love her Chrysler Ring - it's just really chic and modern!

You can check out more of her creations at Red Cake or on her Etsy shop. Have a great weekend!

Red Cake Sponsors The Lab's Thread Bare

2010-05-19T15:50:00.001-07:00

Red Cake is a proud sponsor of The Lab's 5th Annual Thread Bare, a super fun fashion fundraiser - it takes place on June 11 in San Francisco. A variety of local designers have donated clothes to the runway show, and they will have their wares available at the trunk show, including Miss Velvet Cream, below. Hope you will check it out!!

An Apple (or two) a Day

2010-05-10T23:15:00.000-07:00

We're super excited to welcome some new additions to the Red Cake family! Check out Bay Area jewelry designer Sugar City Silver and her sweet sterling creations, like these adorable brass and silver apples. We discovered her on Etsy, so you can check out more of her goodies at her shop.
We'll be highlighting other new artists throughout the next couple weeks, so stay tuned!

Not into fruit? How about kittens instead? A resin kitty ring will surely brighten up your day.

These super chic stacking rings will make a welcome addition to any collection - and only $40 for the set!

2010-04-21T13:34:00.000-07:00

I was researching the web about how to make gum paste flowers for cake decorating - and of course, digressed and ended up on a blog about messed up cakes (with typos, ugly decorations, etc.- thank you to Cake Wrecks for the lovely finds below) - and just some fabulously creative cakes, too.....

First, a very cool cake that I LOVE:

I have no freaking clue what this cake below is supposed to be...it's a bit phallic, but the color and long lashed eyes kind of throw me off. A butterfly without wings? Tampon lady? If anyone knows, let me know...

And I love a chocolate cupcake as much as the next person, but when it looks like a poop crusted monkey, I'm not such a big fan...

Whoa, hopefully this cake was for a baby shower for an expecting belly dancer?!!

Ear Candy

2010-04-09T12:02:00.001-07:00

Once again, as I was trollilng Etsy (this time, I was scouting for new items to sell in our shop, I swear!) I came across some super cool candy earrings - made of real candy! And they're only $3.50 a pair - so affordable. Love it.

Prefer not to wear candy? You can pick up this candy business card holder instead:

Ok kids...gotta get back to work of scouting artists! Have a great Friday!!

Fabric and More Fabric

2010-03-25T13:44:00.000-07:00

I've always loved looking at fabrics even before I learned how to sew, but now that I can actually sew - it's dangerous to step into a fabric store - more often than not, I end up leaving with fabric that I didn't even know I needed! Reprodepot is a great online source of cool, funky textiles and some great vintage ones too. Locally, I like Stone Mountain Daughters, especially their selection of 50% wools. Local designer Erica Tanov also sells fabric leftover from their collections, and some of her own design. Every Thursday from 1 to 3pm, they open up their Berkeley studio for a fabric sale, and the one time I went, I spent nearly $100, including on some $5/yard silk - they have some great deals- you should definitely check it out!
Here are some fabrics I'm currently drooling about....this vibrant retro cotton from Reprodepot is perfect for that little mod dress you've been wanting to make.

This swirly retro rubber band print is highly covetable, and it's on sale for less than $15 a yard....

This adorable puppy and kitten fabric can be found on Etsy - which is a great place for supplies of all sorts, not just handmade goodies!

Endtimes Gear

2010-03-04T11:22:00.000-08:00

Not to be paranoid, but if the end times do arrive, wouldn't you still want to look stylish while fending off those bio-terrorists? My brief research turned up quite a few options for hip gas masks- first, Diddo Velema's versions below - they're so hip, you may want to wear them before the end times, maybe to cover up an untimely pimple?

....then, the Urban Security Suit by Dutch designer Tim Smit. Gotta love the Dutch, they are always thinking ahead - as an aside, they were the first country in the world to legalize same sex marraige, nearly 20 years ago - who knew?

With this uber cool gas mask necklace by Ball and Chain via Etsy - your outfit will be complete. I have this necklace and it's definitely an eye-catcher!

Fun on Etsy

2010-02-14T12:39:00.000-08:00

If you ever need to kill some time, trot on over to Etsy and you'll whittle away the hours perusing the endless array of handmade arts and crafts. Not only does Etsy have tons of unique items by independent designers and artists, they also have a lot of supplies to make the aforementioned stuff, like vintage fabric, beads, etc. It does sometimes take awhile to search to find exactly what you need/wantdidn't know you wanted, but it's usually worth the wait. Here, I've culled some of my favorite finds that have caught my eye.

BerkeleyIllustration has lots of quirky animal prints, like this little Squirrel Lady above, and the well dressed Raccoon below. They're a little bit Alice in Wonderland and Peter Rabbit. And these are only $10 - perfectly recession friendly!

Now on to some wearable goodies...these fried egg earrings by Inedible Jewelry are just adorable!

This very cute ruffle sleeve top by Econica is so versatile and looks so comfy, I would totally wear it everywhere.

And this pleated blouse by Modaspia is simple, elegant and looks wonderfully made - I am definitely putting this on my birthday wish list!

Speaking of Cake

2010-01-19T13:47:00.000-08:00

If I can scrounge up the time, I just might enter this erotic cake contest at The LAB, coming up next month......And digressing to non-erotic cakes.... did you know that Marshmallow Peeps come in chocolate mousse teddy bears!

I love this kitty cake from Culinary Delight Catering! I'd love one for my birthday!

Spandex!

2010-01-11T19:37:00.000-08:00

Happy new year, folks! What better way to start 2010 than with SPANDEX? I recently learned about Spandex World through a classmate in my patternmaking class. As the name implies - it's a vast world of all of the stretchy delights you could ever imagine! The actual store is located in New York, but thanks to the miracle of the interwebs, you can have yards of stretch sequins shipped right to your door. The inventory ranges from simple solids, vinyl, wild prints, and of course sequins:

This eye catching spandex would make a lovely catsuit, no? I imagine that many ice skating costumes are created from Spandex World's wares...

In case you don't think the neon animal print is flashy enough, it's also holographic!

And my fave of the day is this peacock sequin print - perhaps some leggings in this would spice up your wardrobe for the new year? :)

Be Green

2009-12-30T11:05:00.000-08:00

I recently started taking courses in patternmaking, and just finished a textiles course, so I've been much more aware of how clothing is constructed and what kind of materials are used. Like, did you know that 50% of all wool used for textiles is recycled from wool garments and unused fabric? I never knew! And, the textile industry has been known to contribute to a lot of pollution and water contamination, so I'm trying to be more environmentally aware when buying new clothes.

So, I decided that from now on, I will try very hard to buy natural fibers, and organic ones when possible, though that is still not very mainstream. There are some stylish options though, and I've culled a few of them to share. Happy early new year everyone! :)

This cute dress by Loomstate is made from 100% organic cotton, and will easily blend in to match your existing wardrobe. I'd wear it with black tights and knee high boots.

I love this EDUN hexagaon dress, made of 100% organic cotton. It's has super cool unusual graphic detailing and is versatile enough for work or for play. Plus it looks really comfy and could take accessories really well - a wide belt or long necklaces would work great.

This 100% organic cotton dress by EDUN is quite chic, and would look great over leggings or skinny jeans. And it's on sale at 50% off to boot- I think it's time for some post-holiday shopping!

Real Luxe

2009-12-21T13:46:00.000-08:00

I really love The Opulent Project's latest jewelry creations like their sterling silver Cocktail Ring, below. As you might know, Red Cake sells some of their fab laser cut earrings.

Is it too late to add this silver ring to my Christmas list? It's certainly more affordable than the "real" thing in gold or titanium....And while cubic zirconia may get a bad rap as being a shoddy imitation of diamonds, these resin dipped CZ earrings may change your mind. Happy holidays everyone!!

Cute n Creepy

2009-11-25T12:00:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving Eve everyone! I discovered Deryk Thomas' cute but creepy art today - I'd say Deryk's work is a slightly sunnier version of Mark Ryden's style, I thought I'd share these darling and naughty works with you. This well dressed puppy below, in the giclee print Happy Birthday Puppy, is enjoying a solo birthday picnic at what appears to be a gravesite, with a rather disturbingly large human looking bone in his paw...

In No Use Crying, I sense that this kitty cop is about to go all Chris Brown on that bird's ass and incite a riot.

In Consolation, this kitty girl appears pretty guilty of disturbing the peace of those adorable little chicks - thought not sure why she's hankering after that lollipop when there's some tasty chicken morsels at her feet?

More Small Art

2009-11-11T14:15:00.001-08:00

In my last post, I mentioned The Lab's Annual Postcard Show, which features a plethora of small format art. They are partnering with the Museum of Pocket Art, affecionados of even smaller art...yes, art that fits in your pocket! Founded by graduates of the San Francisco Art Institute, the MOPA features art from new and emerging artists, and for the most part, the works are business card sized to fit snugly in your wallet.

Works by Jean Reece Wilkey and Julie Nelson. Many more interesting works are found on their site. Check it out!

Smaller is Better

2009-11-01T14:40:00.001-08:00

Sometimes smaller is better, especially when it comes to art - easier to display and transport, and often lighter on your wallet. And of course while Red Cake has lots of small art, you must check out The Lab's annual Postcard Show on Dec. 4- 6, for heaps of the most amazing small format art, handmade jewelry, and collectibles.

There is still time to participate - if you want to take part, just fill out the entry form and start creating! Tons of folks come to shop and it's an awesome way to show off your arty goods, as well as support a worthy non-profit organization.

And if you're on Facebook (who isn't these days?) - won't you please become a fan of Red Cake? We know you want to! :) Hope everyone had a great weekend :)

Kiwi Art

2009-10-12T12:37:00.000-07:00

I just returned from vacation in New Zealand and we saw some cool art at the Center of Contemporary Art (COCA) in Christchurch. Aside from the cool art, NZ was everything we expected and more- beautiful scenery, super friendly people, sheep everywhere you look, and to my surprise, lots of great fashion! That'll be another post....Here are some art highlights...

Baby Battallion by Aroha Novak - I'd love to have this knitted tank on my mantel.

Rose-Marie Salmon combines craft and sass in her embroidered pieces, like in Untitled 5 (above) and Untitled - Come sail your ships around me.

One Lady Two, embroidery and paint on canvas.

Nicole Burke had a solo exhibition going on when I visited, with several cut paper pieces like

Pinned Series 7-9 and Pinned Series 4.

Lee Press On Nails Never Looked This Good

2009-09-08T14:16:00.000-07:00

Last Thursday, I went to my friend Mary Anne's artist's reception at Frey Norris Gallery, which I blogged about a couple weeks ago. The show also included work from Laurel Roth, with some amazing pieces made of fake nails, fake eyelashes, nail polish, barrettes and bling-y crystals...
Gosh, Lee Press On Nails take me back to the 80's..I don't believe they make them anymore..but I digress....

These photos don't do justice to this piece, which measures about 50" x 50".

A close-up shot - the most amazingly lovely use of fake nails I've ever seen!

This piece, Beloved, is made of fake fingernails, false eyelashes, barrettes, dimestore jewelry, wood, pewter, swarovski crystal, nail polish and measures 36" x 12" x 12".\

And in case you want to learn more about fake nails, check out Wikipedia's informative article.

Lady Things

2009-09-02T12:43:00.000-07:00

My friend Michael turned me on to Robyn Comming, a talented artist who takes some pretty damn cool, highly stylized photographs. They are reminiscent of fashion photography with vibrant colors and dramatic compositions. My faves are from her "Lady Things" series, a few of which I'll show you here....all are untitled C-prints.

This portrait is my favorite - is she a garden party fashion victim or did she fall prey to her prized rose collection?

This lovely piece is a bit more subtle with a melancholy air...I feel like she's an insomniac desparate for some shut eye yet she just can't achieve it.

Suffocated by pretty, peaceful white doves...ironic isn't it?

Buy Local, Buy Cool

2009-08-19T15:13:00.000-07:00

Some of you may be tired already about hearing 'buy local, buy sustainable blah blah blah'... but there is plenty of very cool local, sustainable goodies to be had! So for all you San Francisco Bay Area folks...here are a few of my fave destinations for cool local wares...

Anti-Factory has very cool, one of a kind clothes made from recycled fabrics- I have a dress from them that I get so many compliments on. This cute dress will certainly make you stand out anywhere you go!

Cara Lyndon is an Oakland based jewelry designer - I discovered her lovely jewels when she submitted them to The Lab's annual Postcard Show a few years back. Her super cute jewelry often uses vintage findings and are very affordable- this lovely ring is just $30:

And this vintage Japanese button necklace will go with just about anything!

How about some edgy butcher knife cufflinks by Spagwerks for the man in your life?

Have a great weekend everyone!!

Hot Stuff

2009-08-13T11:10:00.000-07:00

Mark your calendars to check out the next art opening at Frey Norris Gallery in San Francisco - my friend Mary Anne Kluth will be showing some fabulous new work on September 3rd.

Her work is both explosive yet subtle - her more recent work has been quite large scale, but not overwhelming as many large works can be. The expanses of paper are full of vibrant color and have the inticmacy and coziness of smaller works.

The top photo is the full image of this piece, Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems - and the detail photos are below. This measures 18" x 104". I love the discreetly perched people (firemen?) amidst the chaotic paint flames.

Ornithological Biography, watercolor and acrylic on paper, 40" x 60".

Red Shift, watercolor and acrylic on paper, 29" x 99".

Creepy Cool

2009-07-29T13:41:00.000-07:00

My friend Brianna is the curator of the monthly art shows at Tartine Bakery in San Francisco (for those who don't know...Tartine has the best croissants on the planet, likely even better than the ones I had in France). This month, artist Nadia Moss graces the walls at the bakery in her show Fantomes!, and her work is, well, creepy and cool...

Looks like someone opened the gates of this phantom petting zoo...
Spaghetti dragging zombies are after you!

Nadia's work is up until August 27th, so get your fanny over there and ogle some fab art with your buttery pastry!

Cool Shizz for Baby

2009-07-23T15:34:00.000-07:00

It seems that half of the chicks I know have a bun in the oven right now and that I'm inundated with baby showers. And everyone knows that baby showers can be boring as shizz, especialy when there's no booze (uh, super lame). So even if the shower sucks, at least you can give a cool gift. If you're looking for very hip, anti-Baby Gap baby clothes, check out my friend Andrea's Babywit - you'll find unique, quality gear (no sweatshops here!), and even eco-friendly fabrics and inks.

Get this for your next baby shower gift, guaranteed for a laugh (if the mom-to-be has a good sense of humor) ;-P

I love this delicious burger dress, which I bought for my friend's daughter...kinda want one for myself too.

Now, normally I detest pigeons, but somehow this little toddler tee from Fawn & Forest is pretty damn cute! I am just SO over the forest animal craze that happened a couple years back. While I love all things forest animals, we've been oversaturated - so pigeons are somehow refreshing.

And to finish off...I LOVE this kitty onesie, also by Fawn & Forest- I'd totally wear it if it were my size. Have a great weekend ya'll!!

Godiva is So Boring

2009-07-08T15:33:00.000-07:00

I don't know about you, but don't all of those boxes of chocolates out there seem pretty much the same? You've got caramel filled, cherry cordials, nut covered, blah blah. I wish I could buy

chocolates like these!

They may LOOK like a delicious collage of chocolates, but upon closer inspection, Stephen J. Shanabrook's chocolate art is a melange of disturbing bits and pieces - this one is titled Evisceration of Waited Moments:

And how about these from his Wedding Favors series?

I bet your dentist would love to munch on these sweet teeth.

I need to log off now and find a candy bar!

Move Over Hallmark

2009-07-02T13:06:00.000-07:00

Looking for some unusual greeting cards that are so very un-Hallmark? The good folks at Supermarket have some ideas for you:

This little gem is by designer Portnerness from Los Angeles...though that pee puddle looks a bit like worms or noodles and non-liquidy to me.

Now THAT is a baby shower card that I can agree with. I like Porterness' sense of humor.

This card by Cracked Designs speaks for itself...yum!

And for those of you who think sending stuff in the mail is SO 1995 (kinda like paying for your groceries with a check...hello people, use a CHECK CARD..it's the same thing!!) ....sorry, I digress.....you definitely need to check out Someecards.com. They have the best e-greetings around - snarky, ironic, deadpan...you get the drift. Have a great long holiday weekend everyone!!

Jell-o, Part 2

2009-06-27T14:02:00.000-07:00

As you might know, Jell-o is quite versatile as I mentioned in an earlier post.
And I found out about a Jell-o mold competition that was recently held in Brooklyn. Check out the grand prize winners' gelatin jewels and gum paste settings...very well executed bling!

Watch out McDonald's...this hamburger & fries looks more appetizing to me than a Happy Meal.

Caviar on a budget! And apparently it tasted like it, too.

.

Have a nice weekend ya'll!

Ghetto Fab Nail Art

2009-06-15T11:17:00.000-07:00

I'm not surprised that there is a TON of wacky nail art out there - making your run of the mill French manicure look super duper boring...but wow:

Carmen Miranda would kill for this one! And frankly, I kinda want these for myself.

This gives me the munchies.

I love googly eyes - but this is the first time I've seen them on a manicure!!

This crazy unicorn orgy is probably just for show, but I admire and respect all of the painstaking work to achieve those tiny little creatures...

Hair Art

2009-06-04T14:22:00.000-07:00

I was researching vintage hairstyles for my upcoming wedding reception...and found these lovely dos. I truly think these styles are works of art...

No need to worry about your ears gettin' chilly with this built in earmuff do....

Feeling short? Become a good 6 inches taller with this freakish side sweeping style....

Ah..the classic flip, with a dookie shaped hair accessory and two pounds of hair products. I'm having a really hard time deciding which style I want! :p

It's Nice to Meat You

2009-05-13T22:12:00.001-07:00

My friend Michael alerted me to the fact that you can get business cards made of meat from Meatcards.com...say what!?:

Yup..using lasers, they will print up whatever yo' heart desires on jerky... And if you're ever stranded and need sustainance, you'll be ready. This is certainly one way to make a memorable first impression, no?

Touch Me, It's Velvet

2009-05-13T21:26:00.000-07:00

At one of my favorite bars in San Francisco, Casanova, the walls are covered with lots of velvet paintings of semi-nude ladies with unnaturally prominent nipples. I suspect many of these were procured on Ebay, as I found some pretty awesome ones for sale...

What the hell is up with this buxom brunette's beehive/pig-tail combo?! It's like her stylist couldn't decide if she should look like a 2nd grader or Lisa-Marie Presley. Her left boob appears a full cup size larger than her right and is errantly travelling toward her armpit....

Now this sexy chica has measurements of something like 40-22-46 with the looks of that unusually bubbly back end. You could stack books on that shelf of an ass!

For those of you who would prefer to gaze at some hunky man meat, this Bruce Lee portrait is for you! Just imagine what he could do with those long, hard nunchuks...

Looking for something more, um, cheerful to up on your walls? Then this pair of happy smiley baby eating clowns are for you! Perfect for your child's bedroom, no?

Oh ok, clowns are not your thing, I understand- I'm sure you'd rather have a portrait of a "A Modern American Media Martyr & American Tabloid Hero" ...yes, that's Joe the Plumber, DUH...what other Modern American Media Martyr were you thinking of?!?

Red Cake Exhibiting @ Oakland Indie Awards

2009-05-12T21:30:00.000-07:00

Red Cake Gallery will be exhibiting at the 3rd Annual Oakland Indie Awards on Friday, May 15th at The Crucible in Oakland.

During the awards ceremony, they will announce the winners of several categories including best new business, most green business, and more. You can buy tickets to the event here.

Make sure to stop by the Red Cake table and say hello! I will be serving homemade goodies..most likely mini cupcakes!

Just Say No

2009-05-07T13:59:00.000-07:00

I was perusing MocoLoco today, and discovered artist Lucy Barlow and her darling works like her piece Bears Say No:

And in Pass Me a Biscuit, we are witness to some kind of mysterious rendez-vous...

Neverland, Never Creepier...

2009-04-28T14:00:00.000-07:00

My friend sent me a Flickr photostream by Paul Scheer, who recently had the AMAZING opportunity to view Michael Jackson's auction items at Neverland Ranch. Many of the items are...indescribable- I was not able to repost his photos (which depict the uber creepy stuff) here, but here's a sampling:

Anyone want a bathrobed old lady statue in their bedroom? Anyone?

The little girl is creepy as hell....stuff nightmares are made of...shudder...

The tackiest espresso machine ever....I wonder if I can put this on my wedding registry?

Red Cake Exhibiting @ Oakland Economic Summit

2009-04-22T13:04:00.000-07:00

If you happen to be in downtown Oakland on Friday, May 1st- come check out Red Cake Gallery's table at Mayor Dellums' 3rd Annual Oakland Economic Summit. The summit includes keynote speakers, panel discussions, and a variety of Oakland businesses will be exhibiting to promote their goods and services.

It's great to see the city of Oakland making an effort to support locally owned businesses!

Art Bling

2009-04-21T13:52:00.000-07:00

I've always been a fan of all things sparkly and shiny- and Joseph Barbaccia's art immediately caught my eye. He is a multi-disciplinary artist and makes awesome bling infested sculptures like these:

Euphoria - composed of polystyrene, sequins and pins...detail view below. Bling-tastic!

Qualm -I'd love to have this lovely, slightly creepy, sequined paw-like sculpture in my living room:

And the aptly titled Bling:

Bacon!

2009-04-10T13:08:00.000-07:00

If you're looking for a delicious, heart-clogging gift, look no further than the Bacon of the Month Club from The Grateful Palate.

Grateful Plate also features other gourmet bacon foodstuffs, like bacon popcorn, which sounds pretty damn tasty:

If you prefer non-edible bacon accessories, their store carries a variety of them- from bacon toilet paper to a bacon butter dish:

Mini Pies

2009-04-03T14:51:00.001-07:00

I was scouring Etsy.com for doll parts, and came across these super cute crochet mini pies and ice creams:

The creator of these, Tilda & Filur, was actually only selling the crochet patterns, not the pies, but they make my mouth water! And of course I got sidetracked, and found lovely miniature dollhouse food from Japan..(not sure exactly what makes the donuts 'healthy':

Yum! I bought $40 worth of mini food (mostly pies and an awesome 'Mexican dinner set', with the intent of making corsages and boutonnieres for my upcoming wedding!

Butter Me Up, Baby

2009-03-29T18:35:00.000-07:00

Did you know that if you win the title of Dairy Princess at the Minnesota State Fair, they will carve your likeness onto a lovely butter bust?

I've never sculpted with butter, but I suspect it would be a challenging medium to work with, and very temperature sensitive...see a butter artist at work below in a refrigerated room:

It takes about 6 to 8 hours to complete each one, and they are carved out of a 90 pound block of Grade A butter. That will butter a CRAPLOAD of toast. My question is, does the winner get to take home their sculpture and watch it slowly melt into an oily puddle of goo?

Germy Rugs & More

2009-03-23T16:41:00.000-07:00

Check out these bacteria rugs by Bev Hisey.....who knew germs could look so cool? The round shapes resemble bacteria in petri dishes as seen in a microscope:

And in a totally unrelated art note, here are some creepy paintings by artist Nouar:

Happy Monday everyone!

Buy Art & Feel Good About It Dammit!

2009-03-14T17:17:00.001-07:00

Yes, we're certainly in a recession and our stocks keep losing their value. And unfortunately, funding for many non-profits has dwindled in response, and the outlook for arts non-profits seem the bleakest. So...you should head on over to The LAB this Saturday, March 21 for their biggest 25th Anniversary Art Auction. Your $10 ticket allows you to see and buy lots of fab artwork (at amazing prices) and did I mention it includes an open bar and snacks???
I'm on their Auction Committee this year (and was their Co-Director for 2.5 years too). Here's a preview of some of the very cool art that will be up for auction (and all proceeds will go to fund their arts programs):

Untitled No. 2928 by Rex Ray

Caught in the Web by Julie Dummermuth

The Magically Disappearing Landscape: Germinations 2.1
by Daniel Ross

A number of Red Cake Gallery's artists have generously donated their work, including Daniel Ross, Brenna Burns, Allen Stickel, Lori Bode, and Lissa Ivy Tiegel. Hope to see you there!!

The World's Largest Pinata?

2009-03-07T12:05:00.000-08:00

Below is apparently what may be the world's largest pinata, standing at 59 feet tall and filled with 8,000 pounds of candy!!! I'd think it would be quite dangerous to be standing too close to it when it's whacked open....

Carnival Cruise Lines sponsored this in Philadelphia, and they apparently brought in a wrecking ball to break this puppy open, however I have yet to see any photos of that online....speaking of p i natas......if you are ever in need of a pinata, check out www.pinatas.com...they seriously have almost any kind of pinata your heart desires including:

Yep, that's a Fidel Castro pinata!

Ever wanted to take that annoying douchebag's cellphone and bash it to bits? Now you can! This cell phone pinata actually RINGS when you smack it....yay!!! And they can make custom order pinatas too, in case you don't find what you're looking for....have a great weekend ya'll.

Pie and More Pie

2009-02-24T19:35:00.000-08:00

As I mentioned in an earlier post, I've been obsessed with pie lately. I met up with some friends at the Rite Spot again the past two Fridays for pie and cocktails.... two Greyhounds and cherry pie constitutes a well balanced dinner, no?

This tasty looking knit pie came off of a blog but did not list a credit for who made this luscious creation...

I do know who created this cherry blueberry pie...I made it this weekend for a girls' day in. I forgot how a pain it is to create a lattice top pie....it does look lovely, but man, does it take patience!!

Um...Why?

2009-02-17T19:45:00.000-08:00

Apparently, Britain's Royal Opera is running out of ideas because they will be presenting an Anna Nicole Smith opera ....wtf....
Clearly, they are scraping the bottom of the artistic barrel...
In other news, if you are looking for a good and quirky piece of entertainment- check out The Lab's upcoming performances of the Case of the Streetwalking Streetwalker, directed by Adam Ansell. When I was still working as the Lab's Co-Director, Adam directed a great play 10 Lanes Pizza Bowl, which I loved. Hope you will check it out!

Eat Your Veggies

2009-02-09T13:23:00.000-08:00

I came across this cool organization, MyFarm - they grow fruits and veggies in urban backyards in San Francisco, and distribute the food via typical CSA (community supported agriculture) style. So, if you have space in your yard but don't have the time/aptitude/energy to grow your own food- just contact MyFarm and their experienced gardeners will plant and tend them for you! In exchange for your space, you will get a box of produce each time there is a harvest. Pretty nifty!

And I guess since we're talking about veggies...I made this scrumptious pumpkin pecan pie this weekend (I've been fairly obsessed with pie lately...). I mostly followed this recipe from 101Cookbooks but used pecans instead of hazelnuts. I even used low fat coconut milk, and it was satisfying but not gut busting. Not a bad way to eat your veggies!

Meow + Art

2009-02-02T11:17:00.000-08:00

I discovered S.O.F.A. a few minutes ago...that stands for Society of Feline Artists.
Who knew such an organization existed? I didn't realize there were THAT MANY artists who are obsessed with painting cats....now don't get me wrong..I'm a cat lover, and an art lover, but I don't often mesh the two together. But to each their own...here is some art by some of S.O.F.A.'s members:
This is Home Comforts by Jacqueline A. Gaylard.....

Lierre by Nicole Jahan...

And they host an exhibition every year featuring loads of cat art. And here's one last bit of, um, interesting cat art (courtesy of Kool-Kats.com)! Meow, everyone....

Pie Fridays!

2009-01-30T21:14:00.001-08:00

Yes, not only is it great that it is Friday and the end of the work week- but I just discovered that every Friday at The Ritespot is
PIE FRIDAY!!

Tonight, they had maple pecan and apple blackberry - since I was with a friend, we tried both, of course. They are made from scratch by the bartender - and we signed up on her e-mail list to get advance notice of what kinds of pie will be on the menu. Score! It was a great follow-up to the very tasty tacos we had earlier at the infamous Tonayense taco truck in the Mission (it was my first time there, and the tacos were very good and I will be back again for sure). I will definitely be stopping by on another Friday very soon for tacos, happy hour AND pie.

Kewpies

2009-01-23T22:00:00.000-08:00

I have always been fascinated with Kewpie dolls (and have collected them for awhile), and just discovered some freaky cell phone dongles...the bottom one is Kewpie in Japanese rope bondage......nice:

This Japanese site, StrapYaWorld, sells ONLY dongles and offers an absolutely overwhelming variety of Kewpie dongles dressed as every anime character you can imagine:

Is this Kewpie sperm?

On that note...have a great weekend everyone!

I Love Livestock Portraits

2009-01-21T17:58:00.000-08:00

I am currently obsessed with 1800's era British Livestock portraits like this one by R. Whitford, Pen of Theaves:

The paintings depict sheep, cows, pig and the like but are just a little bit off in their representation - these sheep, for instance, are pretty oddly shaped, and their asses are unusually rounded (not that I'm an expert on what sheep butts look like). Apparently in the 1800's, livestock painters would go from farm to farm to paint livestock...sort of like traveling salesmen. These artists were not very highly regarded in the art world, either, but I think their works are charming...
I actually found an even better painting by W.H. David in a back issue of Gastronomica- but I haven't been able to find a photo of that one online to share unfortunately... Check out Thomas Weaver's alarmingly rectangular ram...did it swallow a bathtub?:

I would not want to eat a pig that looked like this portrait by W. Gwynn. Engr. W. Wright, Shropshire Pig:

And this bull below....there's...just...something...strange...:

Anyways, I want to cover my kitchen walls with these oddities!! Check out the above works and more at The Museum of English Rural Life.

J-E-L-L-O

2009-01-12T19:45:00.000-08:00

Now you can make a dessert that all your dinner guests will enjoy:This is the Eat Your Face Gelatin Mold Kit - this handy kit will allow you to serve your face as a tasty treat (and apparently, leave an unfortunate stain on your face in the process). The site touts "Family fun for any holiday or special occasion: Dad can take a bite out of Mom's beautiful face, Sis can finally bite off her pesky brothers nose, and Grandma and Grandpa can give each other an instant gelatin face lift." The mold also comes with a money back guarantee...how you can you lose?

Did you know there is a Jell-o Museum, located in LeRoy, New York? Not only can you learn about the history of this very American dessert- you can buy the Jell-O themed golf balls and golf shirts you have always wanted:

While the museum's website describes Jell-O as 'Delicate, Delightful and Dainty', really, if you think about what it's made of it really ain't: Gelatin is a protein produced by partial hydrolysis of collagen extracted from the bones, connective tissues, organs, and some intestines of animals such as domesticated cattle, and horses.
Y-U-M.

The Bitten

2009-01-10T17:49:00.000-08:00

Last night, I went to The Crucible to see a fire ballet, Dracul: The Prince of Fire - which was a spectacle that I highly recommend! The Crucible is a non-profit industrial arts organization located in West Oakland. They teach a variety of classes from welding, blacksmithing, ceramics, neon, to jewelry making.

The set for the ballet was made mostly of metal, and there were lots of pyrotechnics - in fact, there was not much traditional stage lighting and fire was used mostly instead. The aerial acrobatics were most impressive! The performances continue this weekend and next so if you can, check it out!

Oh Shopping Cart, Where Art Thou?

2008-12-31T12:00:00.000-08:00

My current favorite periodical is Gastronomica - a lovely quarterly journal of food and culture, with very few ads. In the current issue, I came across an interesting article about The Stray Shopping Cart Project by artist Julian Montague- he photographs stray shopping carts as they are found, and classifies them as scientists would:

Makes you view shopping carts in a slightly different light, no?

On a similar note...I just discovered another periodical similar to Gastronomica, called Meatpaper.
As the title suggests, it discusses meat and the culture that surrounds it. I haven't read the actual magazine yet but I am totally intrigued by the cover art alone (yes, that is a suit made of meat!!):

I did take a peek at this one article available on their site about MEATY COCKTAILS! Yes folks...like "The Beefytini (on offer at the Circle Bar in New Orleans) is a combination of Beefeater gin, vermouth, and jerky juice (a brine and jerky mixture), a meaty twist on the dirty martini. The Seattle-based Jones Soda Co. sells a “Turkey and Gravy” flavored soda, as well as a holiday season ham variety".

Hmmm ..jerky juice and ham soda!! I think I will have to hunt down this mag and take a peruse...

Make Your Own Fabric!

2008-12-26T20:35:00.000-08:00

I came across this cool company, Spoonflower, where you can design and make your very own fabric! I learned how to sew earlier this year, so I already have a stockpile of fabric that will *one day* be a nifty dress or top....check out some of the designs the crafty inclined have created:

Hope everyone had a great holiday...and the super thing is, the weekend has just barely started! :)

Covet, covet....

2008-12-24T10:51:00.000-08:00

I saw the cutest cat food bowls by Alessi in this shop today:

We haven't gotten our cats holiday gifts, so perhaps this is in order...(but really would just be something cool for us to look at)...meow!

Alessi does have some pretty cool stuff...these juicers are pretty funny:

Marzipan

2008-12-23T10:20:00.000-08:00

So for Christmas dinner this year, I wanted to make a Buche de Noel cake (a roll cake in the shape of a Yule Log) and decorate it with marzipan mushrooms, acorns, and the like. After going to several stores and not finding ANY marzipan, I found a recipe and made some from scratch- which was suprisingly pretty easy. So I thought I'd post some lovely marzipan finds today...first- check out Red Cake artist Elide Endreson's SUPER AWESOME marzipan TEETH! (Sweet tooth...get it??)

The Hungarian parliament, in marzipan...

Super cute marzipan fruit- and love the little fish..

Ok- so these super creepy babies were part of a hoax that claimed they were made from marzipan- but turns out they are not tasty baby candies, but just hella creepy polymer clay sculptures by Camille Allen. Shudder.

On that note....happy holidays and stay healthy and warm!!!

Gifts for Your Pussy...and More!

2008-12-08T12:28:00.001-08:00

OMG...what cat owner wouldn't want this Cat Play House for their little pussy?

The fighter jet is also pretty sweet:

I just discovered Ponoko - a pretty neat site where you can shop as well as make and design all sorts of goodies that are made on demand, like this cool, very affordable light:

I wish I'd known about this site earlier this year, when we were shopping for a new light fixture for our dining room! I found that it was hard to find a unique, cool, non-Ikea but not crazy expensive light fixture....this is the Viso pendant light we ended up in case you're wondering:

And here is one gift that I can't imagine anyone wanting...really...edgy elf??? WTF??

Makes me wonder what an edgy Santa would wear.....?

Shiny Brite - Photos

2008-12-07T21:23:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone- just wanted to share a few photos from last night's event...
Daniel Ross, with his fabulous new works from the series, The Magically Disappearing Landscape.

Lissa Ivy Tiegel's new work, from the Instructional Photograph series.

Sharise, with Nathan- Red Cake's youngest art patron!
Hope everyone had a great weekend :)

New Work by LissaIvy Tiegel + Daniel Ross/Red Cake's 1st Birthday

2008-12-03T10:57:00.000-08:00

Red Cake is hosting another live event this Saturday, December 6th, featuring new work by Lissa Ivy Tiegel and Daniel Ross. We're super excited and hope you can come by to see the show! And it also happens to be Red Cake's very first birthday - yup, we launched one year ago and time has just flown by - I'll be baking up a birthday cake if that's any motivation to swing by :)

Hope to see ya'll on Saturday!

Sherry

Handmade Holiday Shopping

2008-11-27T17:11:00.000-08:00

Just wanted to pass along info on a very cool event, Bazarre Bizarre, taking place this Sunday, Nov. 30th at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco. A bunch of independent crafters, artists, and the like will be hawking their wares just in time for the holidays. Red Cake happens to be one of the sponsors of this event- and if you are one of the lucky first 300 folks to get there, you will receive a free goody bag with lots of cool stuff, including this super cool Red Cake limited edition button!!!:

(The tiny plastic baby figurine is something my friends Alex & Scott gave me, vintage baby shower cake decorations, I think?)
Hope you will check it out and find some unique, non-mass produced goodies :)

Totally Random

2008-11-26T13:07:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving Eve everyone! One of my favorite blogs is http://failblog.org/ - they have some pretty funny and I thought I'd share a some recent faves...:

And coming soon to the frozen food section of your favorite grocery store:

And I've no idea where this illustration came from, but it's great:

Hope everyone has a great long holiday!! More posts to come this weekend.

Tasty!

2008-11-07T20:48:00.000-08:00

I am a huge fan of food- eating as well as cooking and baking- and so today, I wanted to share some food related art and art related food with ya'll...Check out the work of artist Kuniko Maeda...the tablecloth is made of slices of bread, ham, and cheese sewn together...fabulous! And I LOVE the table, which made entirely of cake!!

Check out her work at:
http://www.minale-maeda.com/


Some very meticulous, Japanese anime inspired bento boxes,
complete with carefully carved cleavage...

Again from Japan, these tasty tidbits of sushi are almost too cute to eat:

And to finish, I wanted to share a pic of some Obama cookies I baked for election day..while they pale in comparison to the sushi and bento boxes, they were fun to bake! Have a great weekend everyone :) - Sherry

Sarah Palin + Pancakes = Art?

2008-10-24T13:25:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Red Cake's inaugural blog post! It took us awhile to come up with an appropriate topic to start off with- and well, the election came to mind, since that's all we've been hearing about lately. And being that Red Cake sells art, I scoured the web for some of the interesting, weird, and just plain bad election inspired art. I was surprised to find very few Palin inspired artwork- perhaps there are some masterpieces still in the works?

Not feeling patriotic enough? Hang this in your house to show you're a proud American. The fiery orange background kind of reminds me of hell, no?:

McCain pancake portrait (is it just me, or does he always look constipated?) The white auras emanating from his head provide a somewhat holy sensibility to this piece:

Sarah again, but this time au naturel- unfortunately we can't get a real good close up shot of this one, but perhaps we are just better off that way:

There was a wealth of Obama art from a contest sponsored by Moveon.org, most of it pedestrian, but a couple standouts:
Barack in a box...odd, but well executed:

A very eco-friendly rock and mulch Barack:

Obama on a Unicorn (enough said):

If you have any election inspired art to share with us, please do by sending an email to: info (at) redcakegallery.com... We welcome your comments, questions, and suggestions! Thanks for checking us out come back soon for arty tidbits :)