I Heart my Giant Croc...

One of my purchases at the holiday show... Is this giant croc, by OLLIN, not the best? It takes up the whole width of the bed!


A brand new design group, they don't have a website but can be reached at ollinobjects@yahoo.com. :)

Eva Franco Holiday Party & Sale today!

Guess where I'll be at 10am? :)

Krank Press Calendars for 2010

Both the artwork/photography and purpose that a calendar offers makes it a perfect gift for anyone... So why do people go with generic "favorites" such as Wacky Cats, Flower Photography, Marilyn Monroe, etc.?! Because they don't know about these beautiful Made in America calendars by Krank Press.

They are sooooooooo good! Grab them while you can.

Stock up on stockings...

Now that the Holiday Show is over, I actually have time to craft, decorate and shop. :) If I don't have time to make some myself, these Graf & Lantz stockings are perfect! I discovered them at the show and can't stop thinking about them - finally, stockings that are modern, simple and durable.

Robot Workshop Pics

The fabulous Alissa Walker, robot ornament workshop leader, has posted pics of the fun on her blog! The little creations are sew cute...

An amazing Fan Letter...

When I'm working myself to the bone (or you're working yourself to the bone) for the show, it's things like this letter that keep me going. I get many letters like this, but this one is truly special.

I thank all of the UNIQUE LA fans and supporters out there... You've helped to create something really special in a city known for it's strip malls, fallen stars, and sprawling freeways. Rock on.

SNAP - the 2nd Annual Holiday Show pix!

We had another amazing show this weekend. Thank you to the 11,000 people who came to support local art+design and join the UNIQUE LA community. Woot-woot! Check out this first round of pics.

We had an AMAZING Saturday!

Over 6000 of you showed up yesterday, supporting our great designers, artists, sellers! It was amazing to see everyone doing their holiday shopping while smiling. :) Part of what I love about throwing the show is hearing stories from vendors - three of my favorites include:

- There was a cute hipster guy who literally came to get all his shopping done in one day. He had a list with about 15-20 names on it and got it all done!

- One of the vendors had a STUNNING bouquet of flowers behind her. When I asked where she had got them, she told me that her fiance had brought them for her (so sweet!).

- Many of our workshop leaders ran out of supplies because so many people were there to participate! They loved and it so did the crowd, who took home something handmade!

Here is a video that an eco blogger shot yesterday for a little glimpse of the Green Room, where we've got 50 eco designers and YourDailyThread.com. The penthouse level has over 250 designers, 2 cafes, bar, etc.

See you today!!! :)

The Holiday Show Video is here!

Thanks to an amazing crew, and Pabst for supporting our videos, we have launched our brand new holiday video... Sure to bring a smile to your face - especially because of the beautiful song in it by the LA band The Deadly Syndrome. ENJOY!

They love us, they really love us...

The media is buzzing this week. Yaaaaaay!

Flavorpill calls us "famous"!
The LA Times includes us in their holiday gift guide!
Racked LA wants you to shop with us!
Your Daily Thread has us front and center!

Baby on Board!

Need to buy gifts for babies and kids? We've got everything you need! Check out the great selection of Baby/Kids sellers this weekend, Dec 5&6 - peek at who will be there online first. And check out just a few of vendors below!

Super-cool art and design for kids by Modern Pop:


Clothing, critters, shoes and more from Tiny Whales:


Great clothing by Applesauce:

Cute made-in-LA (very rare!) stuffed animals from Moncalin:

Win BIG at the show, Dec 5&6!

Visitors to the 2nd Annual UNIQUE LOS ANGELES Holiday Show will have the chance to enter our Holiday Contest for two amazing prizes...

- Win a one-night stay at the luxurious downtown O Hotel, plus dinner for two! (worth over $250)
- Win a $200 Chronicle Books library of beautiful books, craft kits, journals and more!

FREE WORKSHOPS by Stefan G Bucher of dailymonster.com!!!

This just in:
Thanks to our friends at 826LA Stefan G Bucher of dailymonster.com will be teaching free monster drawing workshops both days of the event! Yay for monsters!

AVOID THE MALL, BUY LOCAL DECEMBER 5 + 6

Mini-Market was HOT!

We had a blast at our first outdoor event at Space 15 Twenty/Urban Outfitters! It was hot-hot-hot, so the free Pabst, Honest Tea and IZZE were much appreciated. You discovered great local design and helped to put $ into our economy - muchas gracias!!!! Pics of the event are linked to on the right-hand nav bar...

Mike, from the awesome band The Deadly Syndrome

Shoppers enjoying the day

The couple behind fab label MNKR

Mini-Market music to make you lose control...

This just in... Tyler from HVW8 will be spinning tunes at the Sunday Mini-Market event, along-side Jonathan Sager. Don't forget Aug 23, 10-4 at Space 15 Twenty (details below). Rock on... ;)

More Details for Mini-Market, Aug 23

Take pride LA! Shop from over 60 local brands, designers and artists (plus free Pabst and Honest Tea). Know it. Love it. Spread it. xoxo, see you soon!




p.s. Because the Farmer's Market takes up Ivar and Selma, we recommend parking at the seven-level Arclight lot, located about two blocks down on Ivar (just below Sunset).

UNIQUE LA mini-market is coming to Urban Outfitters, August 23!

I'm excited to announce that I've partnered with Space 15Twenty (Urban Outfitters) to throw a summertime mini UNIQUE LA! The outdoor event will take place August 23, 10am-4pm, in the parking lot (on Ivar, near Sunset), during the same time as the Hollywood Farmers Market -- so mark your calendars! There will be about 50 fabulous designers/artists selling their stuff, DJs, drinks, sunshine and lots of love from the super-cool Space 15Twenty folks.

Come see the great designs and deals, plus get your fresh fruit/veggies/cheeses at the fantastic farmers market at the same time! Make sure to sign-up for our monthly newsletter to get the official invite, plus our fav picks in LA!

Video of the Spring Show

Thanks to the amazing, and might I add sexy, guys at Pabst (who made our videos possible), we've got our first-ever official UNIQUE LOS ANGELES video!

Are you in it? Watch to find out... And please, post it/pass it on/spread the word. :)

A star-studded turnout!

This past weekend's spring edition of UNIQUE LOS ANGELES was a smashing success...
above: Jimmy Kimmel at the Purrr booth
Above: The stars of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
Above: Marguerite Moreau of Mad Men, Cupid, What about Brian


Over 7000 people showed up to support local design and shop from our 275 vendors. The energy was amazing, and the community connections that were formed and fostered were fabulous to see. Even an Oprah magazine editor was in attendance, scouting great products for her 'favorite things'. (OMG!!!)

On top of discovering great designers and shopping, you helped us raise over $11,000 for City-Labs.org, which will go toward creating giant 'community service fairs' in both LA and NYC this September.

Once again I am overwhelmed with the sense of community and encouragement that everyone shows, and am proud to have offered up such a great group of vendors for people to support. I'll see you in December for another UNIQUE, and if you sign up for the newsletter, I'll let you know about everything I do in-between (including a summer event in Hollywood at the Urban Outfitter's Space 15twenty...).

{THANKS FOR A GREAT SHOW}

New Video! Watch as I visit the Two Rabbits studio...

Visit Bob and Mike at UNIQUE in booth 913... Right next to the Bar/Lounge. ;)

Official after party announced...

I don't know whether it's because i love to dance or because I love working with the DimMak crew, but I am super-excited to announce that Dim Mak will be throwing the OFFICIAL UNIQUE LA AFTER PARTY this Sunday night at Bardot, as part of their world-famous Banana Split Sundaes night!!! Uh, that's run by DJ AM and Steve Aoki y'all.

*Anyone with a UNIQUE wristband will get in for free and doesn't have to RSVP* (get your UNIQUE wristband by coming to UNIQUE either Saturday or Sunday) Sorry kids, but the night is for people 21+.


fun times people...

We're on Page 6 of today's LA Times!

What a perfect way to end a weekend... I opened my Sunday LA Times tonight and found UNIQUE on page 6 of the Image section! Thanks to Max Padilla of the LA Times Image section for covering UNIQUE; the piece can be read here or of course seen in the Sunday paper. Rock on!

The Hustle

For those of you who think my life of working with designers and artists is all glitz, glamour, free stuff, and party after party... Ha! Try freezing while outside very late at night/early in the morn to poster spots all over the city! We put up about 300 posters around town, and put UNIQUE postcards on about 3000 cars this weekend (at the UCLA Book Fair, the Grilled Cheese Invitational, in WEHO and Los feliz). My feet are killing me, my knees ache and my fingers are covered in papercuts - and yet I've never been so excited, proud, and invigorated!

Who knew using a hammer-staple-gun and walking for hours through parking structures could be SO satisfying?! It really is an amazing feeling...

This wall we did, in Echo Park/Silverlake on Sunset Blvd., is the sexiest thing ever to me right now! It is a huge wall. HUGE. Enjoy. (gotta go design stickers now. Ohhh, the life of a hustler never ends.......)

Support the 'Community Corner' @ UNIQUE this weekend!

This time we've created a special Community Corner, which happens to be convienently located right next to the Bar/Lounge. You'll find my favorite magazines there (GOOD and Beautiful/Decay), along with Causecast, Narrow Books, and a GREAT community organization 826LA (a non-profit writing/tutoring center in Echo Park).

I encourage you to stop by their booths, subscribe to the magazines/their email list, donate, volunteer... :)

MALO announces POP-UP Eatery at UNIQUE LOS ANGELES!

The rumors are true, Silverlake's staple bar and restaurant, MALO, will be serving up scrumptious salads, tacos and more ALL WEEKEND!!!! Yum...

UNIQUE LA
Saturday May 2, 11-7
Sunday May 3, 11-5

If the boys of Entourage love it...

Our fave indie candy maker, P.O.P. Candy (of Santa Monica), just announced that they are officially one of the treats that is given on the set of HBO's Entourage. Now that is sweet news! And yummy. ;)

You can find their delicious treats, like the butter crunch shown below, at the Spring UNIQUE (May 2 and 3) in booth 3009. They just sent me some of the new flavor combos to try, and trust me, their candy is too hard to resist eating the entire bag at once!

DIM MAK is hot.

Dude! DJ superstar, and all-around genius, Steve Aoki brings his record label and clothing line to UNIQUE as a sponsor. That is very hot indeed... They'll be there with their amazing clothing line, but also music-related stuff (if you're a music-geek like me you already know this means stuff from the hot boys of The Deadly Syndrome and Mstrkrft).

Clay Creations a-Plenty!

I started throwing and hand-building my first clay creations in the 7th grade, and have loved pottery ever since. That is why I am SUPER excited to introduce some great new additions to the Spring Show: pottery and ceramic artists! Here are cool previews:
-nephylsmythe
-Ezme Designs
-R-tista Loca Enterprises
-tARRISON Pottery
-Surly+Ramics

Thanks for Applying!

Wow, it looks like we're going to have 250 vendors at the Spring UNIQUE LOS ANGELES!!!!! Thank you to everyone who applied, we're sifting through everything and will get in touch with everyone on march 31st over email.

Until then, here is a random picture that gives me inspiration... The Daft Punk show a couple of years ago, at Coachella, where I danced until i thought I would collapse. It always makes me smile to look at it. :)

Bling-Bling

"Oh, Hello Friend"

"Good Friday"

"Dust & Co"


I cannot wait to share this Spring's jewelry vendors at UNIQUE LOS ANGELES. We have got a TRULY FABULOUS group of designers in-store for you. Here is just a glimpse!