I got two turntables and a microphone.

A mind is like a parachute.

It doesn't work if it's not open. 

- Frank Zappa

The following accessories, songs, and random musings are the love child mash-up of my brain on the beautiful designs of Iain Macarthur. 

Born in 1986 this self-taught artist draws much of his inspiration from comic books and cartoons. He often uses words like "surreal", "bizarre" and "explosion" to describe his works and surroundings.

Funny, so do we.

Kanpai!

Kawaii Miso Ramen Ring

@ Octopus Stew

                  

      Natto Sushi & Chopsticks                    Coffee & Donut To-Go

  @ SouZou Creations                                             

                                                              

                           

       Coffee with Cream                         Turkish Ice Cream Ring/Dondurma

                     

    Floating Spaghetti with Basil                   Floating Japanese Ramen Ring

Boombox - The Pump - Lipstick 

@ GoodWood NYC

          

Antique Silver Filigree Sugar Skull Cocktail Ring 

@ Moon Raven Designs

Bronze Wild Cat Skull 

Antique Silver Anatomical Heart 

Handmade Jellyfish Necklace

@ kimberly danielle

                                 

Peacock Feather Lockets

&lockets&lockets&lockets&lockets&heartS!&;zOMGLOCKETS!!  

@ Mint Designs

Paper Airplanes Necklace

@ Fred Flare

Bizness - tUnE yArDs

Dance Hall - Modest Mouse

Unpretty - TLC/Regina Spektor [TGIK Remix]

Where It's At - Beck  

Sleepyhead - Passion Pit

Prove My Love - Violent Femmes

Heartbearts - Jose Gonzalez

Mushaboom - Feist [Postal Service Remix]

Within/Without - Lake

Vacuum Boots - Brian Jonestown Massacre

Infinity Guitars - Sleigh Bells

So What Cha Want - Beastie Boys

Come on Petunia - The Blow

Eet - Regina Spektor

Golden Slumbers - Ben Folds

They teach you there's a boundary line to music.

But, man, there's no boundary line to art.

- Charlie Parker 

"To him whose elastic and vigorous thought keeps pace with the sun, the day is a perpetual morning." 

- Henry David Thoreau 


To see more of Iain's work check his blog, portfolio and Facebook. 

One and one and one is three.

Jeffrey Campbell Rainbow Platforms

Second Chance - Peter, Bjorn & John : Florescent Adolescent - Kate Nash : Stars 4-Ever - Robyn : Take Your Mama - Scissor Sisters : Her Morning Elegance - Oren Lavie : Listen to the Darkside - Charlie Mars : Poppies - Marcy Playground : Lovefool - The Cardigans : Silver Lining - Rilo Kiley : Heart of Glass - Blondie : Girl Inform Me - The Shins : Sentimental Heart - She & Him : Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want - The Smiths : Riders on the Storm - The Doors : Daydream - Smashing Pumpkins : Us - Regina Spektor : Maneater (Hall & Oates Cover) - The Bird & the Bee featuring Shirley Manson : September - Pomplamoose

Because Cosmo doesn't count.

The Colossus - Sylvia Plath
Sweet Sylvia. Her poems the windows to her soul and countless freshman females since. She's nestled herself securely into the hearts of many men in my life. Wanting and waiting for the slightly insane fresh-faced wonder to come breezing through the coffee house door. He wants to show off his record collection and keep her pretty head out of the oven. Seriously. It's like that. It is called The Colossus, after all.

Fifty Shoes That Changed the World

The Most Beautiful Woman in Town - Charles Bukowski
I've been questioned countless times over why someone who would have the  female reproductive organs to throw about Gloria Steinem quotes would be so careless as to plug a Bukowski book in the same e-breath. The thing is if I'm going to be quick to shout "Keep your laws off my body!" I'm sure as hell not going to tell a dead man to watch his language. I don't need to tell you how celebrated he is or why. That bit you can do on your own if you're so inclined. Just read it. Does it move you? Are you angry? Turned on? Afraid someone saw you crying in the corner of the bookstore? Then he did his job. 

Magnificent Macrame - Marie-Jeanine Solvit

Miss Charming's Cocktail Rings

A liberated woman is one who has sex before marriage and a job after. 
- Gloria Steinem

Tacky is as tacky does.

Think of this leopard print train case as your grown-up Caboodles. 

[They still make those, by the way.]

You better check yourself before you wreck yourself.

Don't worry. They'll wait. 

They always do.

[This is a clock.]

I don't care if it's hip.

I still think brains are delicious.

Because I'm not the only one who loses things around here.

Because I'm not the only one who thinks this is classic.

And because I don't think you read enough.

How to Get Along With Boys

Night of the Living Trekkies

Mary Jane's Hash Brownies

Female Chauvinist Pigs

The Diving Bell & the Butterfly



Train Song - Feist & Ben Gibbard
Creep - The Pretenders
Stroll On - The Yardbirds
Make My Day - Common & Cee-Lo
Whole Lotta Love - Led Zeppelin
Taxi Driver - Gym Class Heroes
Play Crack the Sky - Brand New
Maps - Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Don't Fear - The Honey Trees
Love of my Life - Erykah Badu & Common
Brightly Wound - Eisley
Linger - The Cranberries
By Your Side - Sade


Brian rides bikes. And writes articles.

And another letter to the editor.


"I wouldn't give myself any advice, because advice is kinda bullshit. Take a deep breath and don't take any of it too seriously." - Cher

My "I missed the sunshine." mixtape.

"Across the Universe" - Rufus Wainwright

"I'm Only Sleeping" - The Beatles

"Chinese" - Lily Allen

"The Fear You Won't Fall" - Joshua Radin

"Rootless Tree" (Live from Abbey Road) - Damien Rice

"Ohio" - Over the Rhine

"At Last" (Live from Athens, OH) - Duke Junior & the Smokey Boots

"Mrs. Robinson" - Pomplamoose

"Harvest Moon" - Neil Young

"Parting Gift" - Fiona Apple

"Candy" - Paolo Nutini

Newlydeads Salt & Pepper Shakers

Lowe's is giving away one MILLION trees in honor of Earth Day.

One tough little cookie.

Flipping through the latest issue of some girl magazine I paused upon a page kissed with Nirvana lyrics, tattered jeans and plaid.

Didn't we just do this?

I'll be damned if someone's going to try and make me wear a scrunchie again.

I mean, I get it. Lots of things are cyclical. Fads and trends in pop culture come and go before you can even make it to the mall.

 At some point I stopped caring about keeping up with the catalog crowd and started creating an actual image of myself. I'm sure it won't be long before the rest of the trends I've already had to suffer through will creep back in. 

With all this laid out in front of me my thoughts on grunge soon lead me to punk. Another playlist soon followed. I make no apologies for how musical I feel lately.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you my punk rock childhood.

This list is not limited to "punk" music. I'm not good at classifying things. Keeping certain artists or songs in little boxes. Doesn't seem natural. 


Some of it's just loud.

Some of it my parents didn't like and my friends didn't get.

Call it what you will.

It all falls under the same category for me.

Now, I'll be the first to admit that I was the owner of a Leonardo DiCaprio fan magazine and I thought I knew what it meant to "Spice up your life!", but that quickly segued into something like this...

Shoplifting - The Slits

Beat on the Brat - The Ramones 

Last Caress - The Misfits

Miss Take - Horrorpops

Crack Rock Steady - Choking Victim

Prisoner of Society - The Living End

Big Brat - Phantom Planet

Everything is Alright - Motion City Soundtrack

Tall Cans in the Air - The Transplants

Shut Me Up - Mindless Self Indulgence

Punk Rock Love - The Casualties

It's music like this that lead me to my first pair of fishnet stockings and my favorite tacky red lipstick.


It gave me the courage to be not one of the guys, but a girl among boys.


Made me feel strong enough to walk down the street by myself and open my own damn beer.


And yet, still soft enough to not apologize for my tears after I watch someone I love get kicked in the face.

[I was] One tough little cookie.


For all of my lovely third-shifters and insomniacs out there.
Get your free Nescafe instant coffee pack here. 
You're welcome!


Edit: Looking at this again I think...this is like Diet Punk. Punk Light. Punk with a cherry on top!