The Sock Monkey

The sock monkey's most direct predecessors originated in the Victorian era. when the craze for imitation stuffed animals swept from Europe into North America and met the burgeoning Arts and Crafts Movement. Craft makers began sewing stuffed animals as toys to comfort children, and, as tales of the scramble for Africa increased the public's familiarity with exotic species, monkey toys soon became a fixture of American nurseries. However, these early stuffed monkeys were not necessarily made from socks, and also lacked the characteristic red lips of the sock monkeys popular today.
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John Nelson, a Swedish immigrant to the United States patented the sock-knitting machine in 1869, and began manufacturing work socks in Rockford, Illinois in 1890. The iconic sock monkeys made from red-heeled socks emerged at the earliest in 1932, the year the Nelson Knitting Company added the trademarked red heel to its product. In the early years, the red-heeled sock was marketed as "De-Tec-Tip". Nelson Knitting was an innovator in the mass market work sock field, creating a loom that enabled socks to be manufactured without seams in the heel. These seamless work socks were so popular that the market was soon flooded with imitators, and socks of this type were known under the generic term "Rockfords". Nelson Knitting added the red heel "de-tec-tip" to assure its customers that they were buying "original Rockfords". This red heel gave the monkeys their distinctive mouth. During the Great Depression American crafters first made sock monkeys out of worn-out Rockford Red Heel Socks.
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The Nelson Knitting Company was acquired in 1992 by Fox River Mills and the original brown heather, Red Heel monkey sock is still in production by Fox River Mills. A distinctive change in the red-heeled sock design distinguishes monkeys made with Fox River Mills socks from Nelson Knitting Company socks. Fox River heels are more uniformly ovular, without the end points that gave Nelson Knitting-made sock monkeys their smiles or frowns.
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In the 21st century, efforts by crafters, writers, photographers, and artists to immortalize the sock monkey doll beyond soft sculptured socks has intensified. Today, sock monkey images can be found adorning books, greeting cards, journals, calendars, book marks, paintings, playing cards, quilts, clothing, jewellery and bakery goods like cakes and cookies to name but a few. Sock monkeys have also been immortalized in polymer clay, fiberglass, and in commercials. They have been themes for weddings, graduations, birthdays, and baby showers. They continue to make their way into our homes and hearts..
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Love & Light.
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Jayden.
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Scritti Politti - Absolute

Vito

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This post comes from my two good friends Mason and Paul. Tho they live far away, we keep in dailey contact. I was heart broken to learn they had lost their baby 'Vito' of 13 years. I had met Vito while on a trip for work. He was a great little guy filled with love and joy. RIP Vito. You will be greatly missed.
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Never to be forgotten!

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You would have to know little Vito to understand these words completely but this amazing Jack Russell was truly a gift from god to us. Our son.

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Not a mean bone in his body to be found he loved everyone so much that the minute someone met him they were hooked. He truly believed he was one of us and not a dog at all.. He only wanted people as his friends. Many variations of Jacks are around, Vito was the dwarf leg, smooth coat, brown and white full mask with his own special personality of 1 ear up 1 ear down.

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One rare occasions when something really exciting was going on it would be 2 ears at attention! He was not a licker but would show love and appreciation in his own special way with his comforting stares, his warm body resting against us and his playful young mind always ready to jump in the car, walk the beach, or just chill all night.

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Whatever we wanted he was cool with it as long as he was included! He was smart as any dog could be and knew how to get what he wanted. He never asked for much but lots of love ( sugar and spice) a nice hot meal. He loved to travel and had a beautiful life of leisure visiting many cities and states during his time here.

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He loved a hot bath and a nice brush out and always smelled like a fresh baby. Impossible not to love , he became a very important part of both of our families enjoying every holiday with everyone together.

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He was young at heart until the end and at age 13 his body begin to fail but his mind and soul was still a 6 month old puppy. He fought a long 2 year battle with an enlarged heart that eventually became too weak to go on and he passed in our arms. We told him to go... We kissed him and his heart stopped, the sparkle in his eyes faded and he jumped and kicked as his soul left to a new place.

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He knows the secret now and is once again healthy and young . Free from his ailing body his soul lives on... If ever there was a doubt that dogs don't have souls he showed us that night that they do indeed have big souls

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He is in our hearts forever. He taught us many valuable things we will never forget and made us better individuals in many ways. We have no doubt now that we will see him again one day. Although we hurt and miss him we are so grateful for 13 years of crazy happiness he brought to our lives. It was such a pleasure to love him and have him in our life. He was and will always be our little boy,. our family.

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It will never be a goodbye for us because he is a part of us now and forever.

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Love & Light

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Jayden.

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All materials contained in The Jayden Project are the copyrighted property of Jayden Productions Inc, or affiliated companies and/or third-party licensors. All trademarks, service marks, and trade names are proprietary to Jayden Productions Inc. No material from The Jayden Project may be copied, reproduced, republished, uploaded, posted, transmitted, or distributed in any way.

Pick: Diptyque

United by a passion for creativity and design, three artisans became friends and partners. They open a shop at 34 boulevard Saint-Germain to showcase their avant-garde fabric designs and decorative items from their travels.

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 Founded in 1961 by three friends (painter Desmond Knox-Leet, set designer Yves Coueslant, and Christiane Gautrot, who was working in an architecture firm), Diptyque originally produced printed fabrics, but in 1963 they introduced a line of scented candles which eventually became the main focus of their business. There are now over 50 scented candles in the product line.
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In 1968 Diptyque produced their first perfume, L'Eau, which was later followed by a series of other scented waters, which are also available as home products such as soap. The name Diptyque (from Ancient Greek δίπτυχος / díptykhos) refers to a painting or sculpture composed of two panels or parts.
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Currently Diptyque has six stores, in Paris, London, New York, Doha, Dubai and San Francisco. Diptyque's Boston location closed in 2008. In 2005 this privately held niche perfume house was bought by London based Manzanita Capital.
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Love & Light.
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Jayden.
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All materials contained in The Jayden Project are the copyrighted property of Jayden Productions Inc, or affiliated companies and/or third-party licensors. All trademarks, service marks, and trade names are proprietary to Jayden Productions Inc. No material from The Jayden Project may be copied, reproduced, republished, uploaded, posted, transmitted, or distributed in any way.

Photo Of The Day

Everyone needs an angel piggy bank, no? I saw this in a little store near where I live. A little tacky maybe. But dont be suprised when you catch yourself wishing you had one. Oh sweet tacky little angel. How could I not love you.
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Love & Light.
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Jayden
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All materials contained in The Jayden Project are the copyrighted property of Jayden Productions Inc, or affiliated companies and/or third-party licensors. All trademarks, service marks, and trade names are proprietary to Jayden Productions Inc. No material from The Jayden Project may be copied, reproduced, republished, uploaded, posted, transmitted, or distributed in any way.

The Hermes Birkin Bag

..................................................... Jane Birkin, 1985

The Birkin bag is a handbag by Hermès handmade in leather and named after actress and singer Jane Birkin. The bag is a symbol of wealth due to its high price and elusiveness to the public.
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Its prices range from $9,000 to $150,000. Costs escalate according to the type of materials. The bags are distributed to Hermès boutiques on unpredictable schedules and in limited quantities, creating scarcity and, intended or unintended, exclusivity.
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In 1981, Hermès chief executive Jean-Louis Dumas was seated next to Jane Birkin on a flight from Paris to London. She had just placed her straw bag in the overhead compartment of her seat, but the contents fell to the ground, leaving her to scramble to replace the contents. Birkin explained to Dumas that it had been difficult to find a leather weekend bag she liked. In 1984, he created a black supple leather bag for her, based on an 1892 design. She used the bag for herself then later changed her mind. Nevertheless, the bag has since become an icon.
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Although the Birkin bag is free of logos, it is one of the most recognized bags in the fashion industry and by the public. It is highly coveted and, for several years, was reputed for having a waiting list of up to 6 years – the longest wait for any bag in history. As a result of the strong demand, the Birkin bag has a high reselling value in many countries especially Asia. In April 2010, Hermès announced that the waiting list would no longer exist, implying that it is potentially available to all.
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Love & Light.
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Jayden
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All materials contained in The Jayden Project are the copyrighted property of Jayden Productions Inc, or affiliated companies and/or third-party licensors. All trademarks, service marks, and trade names are proprietary to Jayden Productions Inc. No material from The Jayden Project may be copied, reproduced, republished, uploaded, posted, transmitted, or distributed in any way.

Blythe

Manufactured by Kenner in 1972, the original Blythe (now known as "vintage") was produced for only one year and then was retired because of poor sales.
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For 28 years, Blythe was a curiosity that only doll collectors were interested in.
Then, in late 2000, she made her comeback in Japan when CWC produced a charming TV commercial for Parco department store starring Blythe. After the TV spotlight she became an overnight sensation in Japan and Asia. In June 2001, to meet the popular demand of this new Blythe fanbase, CWC produced an 11 inch neo-Blythe doll, Parco Limited Edition, with the permission of Hasbro and the manufacturing help of Takara.
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 Since that launch, 62 and still counting! editions of neo-Blythe dolls have been produced. A year later, a 4 1/2 inch version of the Neo-Blythe was invented, titled "Petite Blythe" and affectionately called "Pucci". By the spring of 2006, there have been 100 and still counting! editions of the Petite Blythe doll produced. Nowadays, Blythe's photogenic style can also be found gracing countless accessories and stationary goods the world over.
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I always wanted a Blythe. But at the prices they sell for it always seemed a bit silly. I mean what do you do with a doll that costs that much money? And after awhile it ends up on a shelf in the closet. And if theres anything I loathe. It's something beautiful in the closet.
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Love & Light.
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Jayden.
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All materials contained in The Jayden Project are the copyrighted property of Jayden Productions Inc, or affiliated companies and/or third-party licensors. All trademarks, service marks, and trade names are proprietary to Jayden Productions Inc. No material from The Jayden Project may be copied, reproduced, republished, uploaded, posted, transmitted, or distributed in any way.

The Artwork Of Joni Mitchell

Joni Mitchell has pursued her role as a painter unflaggingly throughout her musical career, and has been quoted as saying she thinks of herself as a painter who does music more than the other way around.
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You can find her work on the covers of many of her albums, from the first one on.

Musically, Mitchell was typecast as a “sensitive singer-songwriter”, but she was actually a restless experimenter, gradually moving from folk to rock to jazz and back through, pulling the strands of all of her influences into a new whole. Similarly, she has explored several avenues of visual art over the years. There is a section of her official web site devoted to her endeavors as a painter.

You can also see her copying from painters she admires, as most artists will do as they continue to learn, including some of the “American Impressionists”, members of the Ashcan School and even Bouguereau.

Love & Light.

Jayden.

All materials contained in The Jayden Project are the copyrighted property of Jayden Productions Inc, or affiliated companies and/or third-party licensors. All trademarks, service marks, and trade names are proprietary to Jayden Productions Inc. No material from The Jayden Project may be copied, reproduced, republished, uploaded, posted, transmitted, or distributed in any way.

Laurie Anderson - Walking & Falling

Andy Warhol - Jean Michel Basquiat

”It was like some crazy-art world marriage and they were the odd couple. The relationship was symbiotic. Jean-Michel thought he needed Andy’s fame, and Andy thought he needed Jean-Michel’s new blood. Jean Michel gave Andy a rebellious image again.”

German art dealer Bruno Bischofberger explains how the collaboration came to happen and his own role in setting it up.

In the autumn of 1982 I brought Jean-Michel to Andy Warhol in the Factory and this is how they really got to know each other. I had a firm agreement with Warhol that I could propose younger artists which I found interesting for an article in Interview Magazine, which we had founded together in 1969. Warhol also let me decide which young artists I could bring with me to the Factory to have a portrait done, in exchange for which they could swap one of their works. Warhol trusted my judgement and it was of no consequence that the works that he received in exchange were often worth much less than his portraits. In this way Andy established a relationship with the generation of younger artists. When I told him that I would bring Jean-Michel Basquiat for a portrait session and the usual buffet lunch at the Factory on Union Square the next day he seemed rather surprised and asked me„ Do you really think that Basquiat is such an important artist?“ Warhol was not familiar with Basquiat‘s new work and told me that he remembered having met the artist on one or two occasions, on both of which Warhol had felt him to be too forward. Basquiat had been trying to get to know Warhol and had offered him his street sale art, small drawings on paper that Warhol had been very sceptical of.

Warhol photographed Basquiat with his special Polaroid portrait camera. Jean-Michel asked Warhol whether he could also take a photo of him, took some shots and then asked me to take some photos of him and Warhol together. We then wanted to go next door to have the customary cold buffet lunch. Basquiat did not want to stay and said goodbye. We had hardly finished lunch, one, at most one and half an hour later, when Basquiat‘s assistant appeared with a 150 x 150 cm (60 x 60“) work on canvas, still completely wet, a double portrait depicting Warhol and Basquiat: Andy on the left in his typical pose resting his chin on his hand, and Basquiat on the right with the wild hair that he had at the time. The painting was titled Dos Cabezas. The assistant had run the ten to fifteen blocks from Basquiat‘s studio on Crosby Street to the Factory on Union Square with the painting in his hands because it wouldn‘t fit into a taxi.

All visitors and employees at the Factory flocked around to see the painting, which was admired by all. Most astonished of all was Andy who said: “I‘m really jealous - he is faster than me.“ Soon thereafter Warhol made a portrait of Basquiat on several equally large canvases: Basquiat sporting his wild hairdo, silkscreened on the background of the “oxidation“ type, the same as the Oxidation or Piss Paintings of 1978. Basquiat subsequently painted another two portraits of Warhol. One in 1984 entitled Brown Spots, which depicts Andy as a banana, and the other in 1984-85 which shows Warhol with glasses and large white wig working out with a barbell in each hand.

To get the most spontaneous work into the collaborations I suggested to Basquiat that every artist should, without conferring with the others about iconography, style, size, technique, etc., independently start the paintings, of course in the knowledge that two further artists would be working on the same canvas, and that enough mental and physical space should be left to accommodate them. I further suggested to him that each artist send one half of the started collaborations to each of the other artists and the works then be passed on to the remaining artist whose work was still missing. Basquiat liked my proposal and agreed.

Love & Light.

Jayden.

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Heiress secret gem stash

Christie’s jewelry expert Rahul Kadakia didn’t know what to expect when he opened Huguette Clark’s secret Manhattan bank vault.

After all, the life of the reclusive copper heiress, who died in May at age 104, was a mystery — and the vault hadn’t been opened since the 1940s. Clark removed herself from public life around then and since the 1980s lived in area hospitals instead of her family’s Fifth Avenue mansion. She outlived all her siblings, taking her last breath surrounded by her beloved doll collection.

Her jewels were just as mysterious. When the family asked for an appraisal, Kadakia began opening boxes and was thrilled by what he found — glorious examples of high-end art deco jewelry, including a bubble gum pink 9-carat diamond, valued at up to $8 million.

“With each box I opened up, I thought, ‘This lady … had such great taste,’ ” he says. “It was one thing to have had immense wealth in the early 20th century; it was another thing to go and buy jewelry that had so much class.”

Clark’s gems leave a picture of “regal life in the Golden Age,” says Kadakia of the art deco period from about 1915 to 1935.

“They hadn’t seen the light of day for almost 65 years,” says Kadakia. Now, you can see them up close for yourself. Take a peek before they’re auctioned off Tuesday.

On display, starting tomorrow at 10 a.m., at Christie’s, 20 Rockefeller Plaza; 212-636-2000, christies.com

GALLERY: HEIRESS' SECRET GEM STASH

Love & Light.

Jayden.

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Candy Land The Movie?

Imagine "The Lord of the Rings" -- but set in a world of candy. Yep. That's pretty much what the "Candy Land" writers have in mind. In case you forgot, Candy Land requires no reading and minimal counting skills, making it suitable for young children. That doesn't really scream Mordor to me. Here's what writer Jonathan Aibel told EW in 2011: "We don't see it as a movie based on a board game, although it has characters from that world and takes the idea of people finding themselves in a world that happens to be made entirely of candy where there are huge battles going on." I don't think Gandalf is too happy about this.

Love & Light.

Jayden.

All materials contained in The Jayden Project are the copyrighted property of Jayden Productions Inc, or affiliated companies and/or third-party licensors. All trademarks, service marks, and trade names are proprietary to Jayden Productions Inc. No material from The Jayden Project may be copied, reproduced, republished, uploaded, posted, transmitted, or distributed in any way.

Loves

Just Because: Olsen Twins

They've been in the public eye since they were 6 months old, and at 25, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen have had their fill of the spotlight.

Each sister looks gorgeous on her own cover of Elle UK's April issue telling the magazine they're done with acting.

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"I don't have to be a pretty face. I've done that, but now it's important and liberating to be on the other side of the lens. I don't like to be the center of attention anymore," says Ashley who hasn't appeared on screen since the twins' 2004 movie "New York Minute."

"It doesn't mean I'm not interested in Hollywood," she explains. "I like the way it operates, I like the people who are involved and the sense of possibility. But if I ever get back in, it's not going to be as an actress."

While her sister Mary-Kate stuck out the acting thing a little longer -- guest starring on "Weeds" in 2007 and playing a small role in the 2011 film "Beastly" -- she too tells Elle UK that it "just felt right to move away [from the spotlight]."

The twins are happy to move behind the camera and continue working on their successful and critically lauded clothing lines, Elizabeth & James and The Row. In recent years, the sisters have understandably asked to be seen as individuals rather than a duo -- hence the separate magazine covers -- but Mary-Kate insists "nothing would ever split us up."

"Separate side projects are one thing, but we work better as a team," she said.

Love & Light.

Jayden.

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Scooby Doo Theme Song

Just Because: Zac Efron

If you can’t get enough of Zac Efron’s biceps in the trailer for The Lucky One, here’s something else to tide you over until the Nicholas Sparks adaptation hits theaters on April 20: Efron’s left bicep on the May cover of Men’s Health. You’re welcome. Should you want to read the article as well as ogle more sexy armed forces-inspired photos, you’ll find out just how he got into Marine shape with the help of trainer Logan Hood, a former Navy SEAL. By the time the film wrapped, Efron had gained 18½ pounds. For four months, five days a week, he began his day at 5:30 a.m. with “a shake and, you know, an eight-egg omelet” before working out for an hour on a full stomach. He’d eat six to eight times a day, with shakes between meals, to reach his daily target of 3,500 calories.

Love & Light.

Jayden.

All materials contained in The Jayden Project are the copyrighted property of Jayden Productions Inc, or affiliated companies and/or third-party licensors. All trademarks, service marks, and trade names are proprietary to Jayden Productions Inc. No material from The Jayden Project may be copied, reproduced, republished, uploaded, posted, transmitted, or distributed in any way.

My New Crush: Cookie Monster

Cookie Monster is my new crush. He is best known for his voracious appetite and his famous eating phrases: "Me want cookie!", "Me eat cookie!", and "Om nom nom nom" (said through a mouth full of food). He often eats anything and everything, including danishes, donuts, lettuce, apples, bananas, as well as normally inedible objects. However, as his name suggests, his preferred food is cookies. Chocolate chip cookies are his favorite kind; oatmeal cookies are his second favorite.

Why is it that all the good monsters are taken? Just my luck. I fall for a hunky blue monster and he already has a love. Cookies. Well on that note I think I may go drown my sorrows in cookies. Nom nom nom.

Love & Light.

Jayden.


All materials contained in The Jayden Project are the copyrighted property of Jayden Productions Inc, or affiliated companies and/or third-party licensors. All trademarks, service marks, and trade names are proprietary to Jayden Productions Inc. No material from The Jayden Project may be copied, reproduced, republished, uploaded, posted, transmitted, or distributed in any way.

Christie's London is to hold a Modern Photography auction

Classic picture: Burt Glinn's portrait of Andy Warhol, Edie Sedgwick and Chuck Wein, 1965 has an estimate of £3k to 5k

 Striking: Irving Penn's Harlequin Dress (Lisa Fonssagrives-Penn), New York, 1950, estimate £70k to £90k

They are iconic images that have shaped fashion portraiture, inspired countless photographers and created lasting impressions on every aesthete. And now these famous pictures are up for sale.

Christie's London is to hold a Modern Photography auction selling famous photographs by the likes of Helmut Newton, Irving Penn and David Lachapelle.
Top lots will include Helmut Newton's famous Self Portrait with Wife and Models from 1980, which has an estimated sale price of £70k to £90k, as well as his stunning 10th Floor Hilton, Paris, from 1976, which has an estimated value of between £30k and £50k.

This is an opportunity to acquire some of the most important works of the history of photography, with works by 19th century masters, and a strong focus on post-war and fashion photography, led by the work of Irving Penn, Helmut Newton and Peter Beard,' Christie's said of the sale.

If anyone finds any spare change under the sofa. I'd love the Warhol. And seeing how my birthday is in may 'hint hint'. You may want to get a jump start on your shopping.

Love & Light.

Jayden.


All materials contained in The Jayden Project are the copyrighted property of Jayden Productions Inc, or affiliated companies and/or third-party licensors. All trademarks, service marks, and trade names are proprietary to Jayden Productions Inc. No material from The Jayden Project may be copied, reproduced, republished, uploaded, posted, transmitted, or distributed in any way.

Chanel | Spring Summer 2012

Madonna: Girl Gone Wild