Who: Eugene
Where: The Vanity Party (with The Rapture) at La Fabrique
Cutest piece: My Raf Simons patent high-tops!
Photo by: AM

Granny Panties Craft Bazaar is now accepting vendor applications for their Valentine’s event. It’s all going down at the Aalto Lounge on February 9 from 11 am to 4 pm. If you’re interested in selling your wares, be sure to get your application in soon, as the deadline is January 22 (and they’ve already filled some of the spaces). More info, including vendor application, can be found right here.

Once again, First Friday is upon us, meaning that stores up and down E Burnside will be open late—it’s the perfect payday waltz down a stretch of shops, restaurants, and bars. One of my favorites on this beat is Lille Boutique (1007 E Burnside), and this Friday you can get a peek at some of their new merchandise. Though clearly the focus here is lingerie, new items in from the Lake and Stars are actually outerwear: a classic trench coat and a romper with a blousy top to pair with pants or a skirt. Check ‘em below, but these things are always better to see in person.

As a photographer in this digital age, I am finding that many of the pictures that I take just end up as files on my computer. The art of the photo album seems to be lost, even though it’s much nicer flipping through a book rather than scanning through your photos on iPhoto. I recently stumbled upon Blurb, an on-line site that helps you publish your own books at a really reasonable price. The site allows you to create photo books, text books, cookbooks, children’s books, or whatever type of book you wish to make.

The final product looks fantastic and professional. There is even a 10% discount if you order 10 or more, if you think that Powell’s might take a few on consignment.

Post-holidays, keep your eyes peeled for lots of sales, not least of which is the one happening now at Nolita (923 NW 10th). They’re slashing prices store-wide—check out deals on their famously good denim selection for men and women, plus great separates. They have a real knack for finding chic, comfortable pieces that you will want to live in, especially understated tops, jackets and sweaters that pair effortlessly with your brand new jeans. They’re making way for 10 new lines coming into the store—can’t wait to see ‘em!

Tomorrow evening, the Destroy store joins the growing festivities that go down every First Friday on E Burnside with an art show, deals, music, and free booze:

I am no fan of celebrity “designers”—at best I think it’s a tackily transparent window into people’s desperation to emulate Hollywood and pop stars, and at worst I think it does a disservice to the actual designers and makers who deserve respect for learning and practice of real skills. Would you want J.Lo to “design” your next angioplasty? I bet some people would.

Anyhow, that being said, the forthcoming collaboration between Natalie Portman and Té Casan is noteworthy because it is vegan. Given how difficult it is to find hot vegan shoes that aren’t cheap (and/or cheap-looking) (Stella McCartney’s designs being the most obvious exception), anytime there’s a half-decent new line of vegan shoes on the market, people need to know. Pre-ordering of the line starts on the 15th of this month—until then, all we can peep at are the red MJ heels Portman sports on the site.

K.D. Waltner is Adidas’ Global Design Director for Running Apparel, but when he’s not making the big bucks designing gear for the world’s top athletes, he has his own line of bags. This Friday, in a First Friday exhibition at Tilde (7919 SE 13th, 6-9 pm) he will be showing 12 custom versions of the Trapez (German for “trapeze”), each hand painted by Waltner in his basement. Underscoring the functional art aspect of the product, the store will be exhibiting the bags as visual art pieces mounted on the walls, though I think if you wanted to take one home and fill it with stuff that could probably be arranged—the Trapez comes in three different sizes, depending on whether you need a laptop, and if so, what size. Here is #1 of 12:

Here are a couple pieces from local artist, Michelle Ramin, that just might brighten up your day.

Her work can be found on Etsy or on display this month at Amensia Brewing (832 N. Beech).