old treasures, new accessories...nouveau motley

I'm the biggest sucker for accessories...especially those that stand out. So when I ran across the jewelry line nouveau motley I was captivated. I loved the line's idea of taking old treasures of era's before & presenting them in a functional & creative light. Blame it on the nostalgic sucker in me, but i've always had a minor obsession with antiques such as these & wondering about the stories behind both the objects & the people who owned them before.

"Steam Relic"

a necklace created by transforming parts from old antique pocket watches circa early 1800s...detail & etchings stand out in the simple & clean presentation.

Here ya go fella's...cufflinks that would make me look twice;)

Nude: Affordable & Risque...genius!

Loved this piece & bonus is it'll go great with any vividbraille shirt...

but especially projections...:

more of nouveau motley here

more vividbraille selections here

always,

nic.

erykah badu - Window Seat video music premier

Love the vulnerability. Love the message. Love the crude cinematography & excited to see what else is on her album "New Amerykah" - dropping on the 30th of this month...enjoy the video!

Window Seat - video premier

click here to see video

always,

nic

wanna preorder the album? click here

common - seductively uncompromising

Working in an environment where words behind "successful" hook lines could be mistaken for cartoon jingles, hip hop artist Common deserves props for sticking true to the social & political messages he wants to get out in his music. Unapologetically he delivers his message through dope beats, lyrics & "untraditional" style. Depending on the video, he can be chilling in a felt hat & jeans, or repping old school threads with a white tux & black bowtie. In his music you feel his style, thoughts & meaning in a seductively uncompromising manner - that's why i find his music sexy, sophisticated & intriguing so thought i'd share a couple videos...

drivin' me wild x lily allen

(allen's got her own set of skills u might think is worth checking out)

the lighter side of common... kid cudi collab "make her say"

kid cudi, common & kanye west - ode to Gaga's "poker face"

(personal preference?...guess...:)

always,

nic.

links: mixing fashion, music & foundations - common's blog

khalil gibran - old school inspiration

self portrait & muse: 1911

Each artist, each writer, each designer can single out a handful of individuals that led them or lead them on their own path of creativity; i have a few of my own & Gibran is a constant. As a self taught Lebanese Christian (immigrating to the US in early 1900) Gibran affected humans world wide through the purity of his vision. Listed as the 3rd most read poet & artist, i'm not alone in my admiriation - so i'm throwing props back this time to Gibran, an old school inspiration for artists today & those to come.

The Prophet - Gibran's most recognized literary work - excerpt:

I have found a truth

Say not, "i have found the truth," but rather, "i have found a truth."

Say not, "i have found the path of the soul." say rather,

"i have met the soul walking upon my path."

For the soul walks upon all paths.

The soul walks not upon a line,

neither does it grow like a reed.

The soul unfolds itself, like a lotus of countless petals.

Your Children are not Your Children

They are the sons and daughters of life's longing for itself.

The come through you but not from you,

And though they are with you yet they belong not to you.

You may give them your love but not your thoughts,

For they have their own thoughts.

You may house their bodies but not their souls,

For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow,

which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.

You may strive to be like them, but seek not to make them like you.

For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.

always,

nic.

Scott Jacks (Virtually Everywhere)

kick ass vividbraille site -✔

fresh layout for tunde olaniran’s new site - ✔

bringing access to vividbraille goods to your fingertips - ✔

Scott Jacks has been in the virtual background of Vividbraille since 2003 (the very beginning) props to his invaluable contribution to Vividbraille is long overdue. Scott and I met back when we both worked for AT&T almost 10 years ago. The friendship and working relationship is an odd one at first glance. Jacks (what most of us call him) is as technical as they come able to comprehend things involving numbers, code, computers and anything else seemingly absurd to the average mind. I am the opposite; concerned with the composition, layout and the overall feel of a project. Everything involving Vividbraille online has had Jack's hands and mind all over it, usually taking my visual and functional demands and turning it into a reality. Projects ranging from www.vividbraille.com to complex programs calculating things such as inventory have all been done by Scott. With over 10 years of experience, he’s perfected the skill of translating difficult technical jargon into visually simple & user friendly sites.

It has been exciting getting the opportunity to not only execute Vividbraille projects with him but also receiving jobs by others looking for the same type of aesthetics, branding and execution Vividbraille is known for. All of this with Jacks behind the scenes virtually everywhere!

www.jaxservices.net

brock.

kelly allen x medicine agency solo exhibition "Everything is Everything"

who: Kelly Allen

what: premier solo exhibition

"Everything is Everything"

where: Medicine Agency

1262 Mason Street

San Francisco, CA 94108

+1.415.829.8615

when: 3.19.2010: reception for exhibition @ 8pm

open to public

free admission

3.19-3.31.2010: gallery showing

a star is a seed

a star is a seed - detail

honey please

keep on

why?...

Kelly Allen is an artist to know, understand & admire. With the onset of photoshop's cut & paste ease, you may assume her pieces are prints. Look again. All details are applied directly from Allen's hand to her choice of medium. Even more impressive than her technical skill is the thought behind her work; combining images, symbols & creatures your thoughts & sight would never partner, Allen shoves a new perspective of life & relationships in your face with graceful & enticing execution. In a world where artists are falling victim to cliched marketing schemes, Allen is a refreshing talent whose pieces radiate the essence of art.

click here to visit Kelly Allen's website

If you're in the San Francisco area this Friday clear your calendar & check her work in person - wish i could! Def check out Allen's site for her gallery of work.

always,

nic.

few thoughts on wonderland & fashion...

I hopped on the band wagon & checked out Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland (AW). While it got mixed reviews, i can't hate on a film that embraces imagination so vividly...& costume designer Colleen Atwood kicked ass by portraying AW's message through fashion...

I was already concocting up a pair of fingerless gloves for spring, so loved seeing them repped in the film

dope armband

Toss up for my fave dress, but this red's on top of list

Sidenote (or pic, in this case): a ridiculous amount of fashion marketing piranhas (makeup lines included) have taken the looks of AW & turned it into mass marketing hysteria. So a note of caution - imitation is not always best...

always,

nic.

tunde olaniran x vividbraille website debut

Music artist Tunde Olaniran celebrated a website launch (http:/www.tundeolaniran.com) & video debut of his upcoming single "Cobra" Flint style this past weekend. Few pics from the launch party below, along with the Cobra video. Take a sec to check out tunde's site to grab dates for upcoming events, pics & blog. Tunde x Vividbraille dope collab on the site = kickass images & layout!

Tunde Olaniran's official website

Tunde Olaniran - Cobra on Vimeo

New Shoes!

Its probably trivial to most but finding the perfect pair of shoes is a complicated process for me. I'd been looking for a particalur look for awhile and found it with these clae "rollins". This a line of shoes I'm really feeling right now. For more visit www.clae.com

-brock
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Gavin Smith: using skills behind the lens in fashion, sports, media & charities

You've seen his name before, & you've most definitely seen the sick photo's Gavin Smith (Gavin Smith Photographies) shoots for Vividbraille. What you may not know is that he's also living the sports-addict fantasy life as the Detroit Lions team photographer - & this doesn't begin to mention his list of other clients (TLC, Detroit Red Wings, Crest, ESPN...it's as long as it is expansive). Most recently Gavin was asked to donate his skills to the "When They Come Back...We Give Back" (WTCB) campaign.

Live in Michigan? Hook up with Gavin while he hosts a showing of his work:

Friday, March 19 @ 5 - 9 pm

The Great Frame Up - 248.540.2555

215 Peabody St., Birmingham MI

Gavin's website - check out his services & photography skills

Gavin's blog - peep into his world

click here to read the Oakland Press coverage on Gavin & WTCB

wearing your vividbraille swag in spring - for the ladies

We've put together a couple of looks for those who want to freshen up their spring look for those laid back days & crazy ass nights. Individuality is key, so if you have a favorite look with your tee, take a pic & shoot it on over to us at sales@vividbraille.com! We'd love to see how you represent Vividbraille on the streets!!
for your daytime spring stroll...

top ~ take your favorite Vividbraille tee (shown here: works of art):

bottom ~ i'm liking the bermuda length rock & republic Celsey style:

shoes ~ can't go wrong with flip flops, but if you want to mix it up a bit, these converse are my pick:

accessory ~ gotta grab the shades! I fell in love with these Ralph Vaessen sunglasses on Limited Hype's site, but I'm left dealing with a broken heart since they're just under $1,500.

for your alluring spring nights...

top ~ the low cut v neck on the Vividbraille seen & felt is perfect for night:

spicing it up ~ layer your tee on top of a cami (la perla shown); the hint of the bright red peaking from the edge of your shirt = hot

bottom ~ David Lerner has added details on his line of leggings (don't want to buy a new pair? grab scissors & shred away!)

shoes ~ Chinese Laundry's "Multiple" shoes have a 5" stiletto heel resting on a 1.5" platform. nuf said.

accessory ~ an oversized watch'll do. current crave? Michael Kors's 2010 collection in gold & white:

see a Vividbraille tee that's your current crave? check out our eStore for availability.

Happy Spring!

nic

for you eco.friendly peeps: notebooks made from bamboowe've got the Universal Scarf & now ASUS introduces their Sustainable U Series Notebooks. Huh...wonder if it comes in green...?

click here to read more detail on laptop magazine's site

..::vividbraille::.. seen & felt

what's your favorite? click here to browse through more Vividbraille pieces