The illustration work of Monika Melnychuk is wonderfully detailed and beautifully coloured. We interviewed her recently and asked, given her rather nomadic existence, where she is based these days. ‘Right now I live beside Alaska, in Canada — Yukon Territory. The obvious next question would be what am I doing up here? Being an illustrator, I take advantage of the total flexibility and move around often to experience very different lifestyles. So far I have lived in Toronto, LA and here … for now’. Your characters seem to be the fringe dwellers of society. do you relate to them in any way or are you strictly an observer? ‘I do, in a way, relate to the fringe dwellers of society, especially right now living in this place with such a unique, bizarre collection of people. It’s fascinating. In another way, I am just an observer, a curious admirer, drawing strangers in bars and coffee shops. Their lives and faces are far more interesting — not beautiful, not perfect, not glossy — rule breakers. I love imperfection. Everything on the fringes seems to have more substance, emotion and depth’. Anyone out there whose illustration work is making you go weak at the knees? ‘I love so many other illustrators. Hmm, Juliette Borda, recently Jillian Tamaki, and I have this book another illustrator I love, Aaron Leighton, gave to me a few years ago by Juile Doucet called Long Time Relationship. It’s amazing’.

Tagged: Canada, Canadian illustrators
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Free Spirit Sphere tree houses
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Following on from the People of Walmart website, comes People Of Public Transit: ‘The public bus and subway systems are littered with amazing photo opportunities. Many of us have been sitting alone witnessing something amazing and only wishing we could share the experience with our friends. Well now you can!’ Read more

Milk and Honey necklace by Stephanie Simek
Milk and honey, an indubitable pair. In this necklace by Stephanie Simek, a golden honeycomb beeswax pendant is encased in plastic and hangs from an oxidized sterling silver chain. The links are interwoven with a milk protein-based fiber. We have it for sale in our online store.
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I’m very happy to have recently stumbled across the work of French illustrator Gwenola Carerre. It makes me think Russian Constructivism meets children’s books. Throw in Carerre’s fun sense of storytelling and textured sense of design coupled with her glorious type and you’ve got a pretty fun viewing experience. Read more
Listening to Mum’s fourth album — Go Go Smear the Poison Ivy — for the first time, I was awash with sentimentalism. Amidst carnival trumpets and burlesque beats, there’s a sense of this being a bohemian rhapsody. Perhaps it’s the mix of cello and brass with experimental electronica. Or maybe it’s just the soft vocals that cascade over playful, imaginative sounds. Whatever it is, it’s totally brilliant. [see also Sigur Ros' Heima]
Listen to Mum’s track, The Amateur Show.
I love the subtle colour palette and the beautiful, vibrant dynamics in the work of New York-based designer, Adam Chang. His designs are full of character, tiny fragments of otherwordly visions. Read more
Mexican architecture firm Senosiain Arquitectos recently designed a shell-shaped dwelling for a Mexico City couple. The owners are already living in their new abode with their two very happy children. The structure is maintenance-free and earthquake proof, and is full of soothing greenery and smooth, rounded surfaces. Read more
In Japan, when one makes squeezing gestures with both hands at chest level, one is gesturing that one wants candy — soft, round, bouncy candy. At least, that’s what this commercial would have us believe.
Ok, so that’s me up there on the right. Yup, rocking out in the 55DSL tee and feeling a little pleased with how it’s all going down. Well, actually, a disclaimer: it’s not … quite … me. I mean, I’m wearing the same shirt right now as he is, and I’m kinda the same height. But he isn’t the same person. We aren’t one. But I love this 55DSL shirt in the same way that he … ummm … loves himself. So I guess that we’re both damn happy. Read more
Our friends over at the street art and design site, Feed Me Cool Shit have a revealing interview up with UK artist Sickboy, who talks about his earliest days on the streets. Read more
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Trip out with Sparrow Vs Sparrow’s retro illustrations, I love their aesthetic, color use and sense of humor. Read more

Italian-born, New York City-based photographer Paolo Ventura creates fairy-tale like pictures out of amazingly constructed, miniature dioramas that almost trick the eye into thinking he’s a tilt-shift photographer. Read more

T-post: the world’s first wearable magazine
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Wolfmother. Rock n roll. Mystical lyrics. Heavy riffs. They have a new album out, Cosmic Egg, and we have five copies to giveaway, along with their debut album. To enter, tell us your favorite Wolfmother song and the city you live in. Yo! Two fingered salute. Read more
From afar, Jesus stares serenely at those surrounding you. But up close, Islamic crescents cluster together in abstract patterns. Created by fashion label, the-affair, this tee is printed on beautifully soft American Apparel in a limited edition of 200. Purchase now. Read more












