why in the name of all things good am i getting spam from escorts.com? i think it's hilarious. and if you look at the page, i think their disclaimer is hilarious... "Escorts.com is NOT an Escort Agency and does not directly provide any Escort services. We are simply a mode of service to help our Members connect to participating, qualified Escorts, Business Enterprises, and Clients. " sure you're not...you're just the middleman.

drumroll please...
here's the big news you've all been waiting for...
the vanessa jean * duct tape design large clutchin pink and kelly green will be featured in the holiday issue of the uncommon goods catalog. yes ladies and gentlemen, this fine & fun catalog has picked up on the joys of duct tape design and will be selling this colorful custom-esque piece through their mail order and website. that's good news for people who haven't been exposed to too much duct tape yet...and good for me too!
yay yay yay!

our dear friend ben has sent out of work. out of school. out of control. to its final resting spot. that may be because he is no longer out of work or school (well...) but he may still be out of control. thanks for what you gave us dude.

our dear friend ben has sent out of work. out of school. out of control. to its final resting spot. that may be because he is no longer out of work or school (well...) but he may still be out of control. thanks for what you gave us dude.

don't get the wrong idea and think that i am going to be posting regularly now. i just happen to have a free minute while i am still at koffee. so, some exciting news...i will be having 133 pounds of duct tape delivered to the studio in a week. that's a lot of duct tape (that's a lot of yellow tape!). good things good things in the work, and they will be unveiled soon. and i just heard pharell and the neptunes will be in central park soon, ooh la la! i might just have to treat myself. and really, check out vanessajean.com for a new look!

the kitchen cabinet has the sweetest 'quote of the day' for yesterday.

the author of the book 101 female uses for pink duct tape just alerted me to her cool uses of duct tape. i'd suggest checking it out!

news! news! news!

good news. a) light at the end of the internet-less tunnel...in house internet will be returning in less than two weeks (which will seem like an eternity), so look for new posting then. yahooo. the even better news is that the vanessajean.com website is getting a much needed overhaul. well, some perks in fun-ness and some much needed informational info...so check it out in the coming weeks for some new pics, and lots of new info about styles and where to buy in a town near you. alright...i have misguided dreams of getting up at 5 in the rainy weather to go for a run (riiiiiiight.)
sweet dreams little blog readers and duct tape lovers...may you have good nights and even better days.

oh geez. i'm a bit overwhelmed. more big things in the work. must get back internet at home. must sleep. oh joy of joys, so much joy. and rain too, which is great. btw, i like boston, what a nice place. i am clearly not coherent right now, and need to sleep. ahhh, the joys of duct tape are endless. more to come, maybe.

i'm still alive! i swear. so much going on. the best thing is all the great conversations with my roommate, and my new roommate who just moved in. oh, and a surprise visit from ant today, and the promise of dinner tomorrow night...and a great call from green pants last night. oh geez, where is the time going? so much to do, ahhhh! i just finished a nice order of hannas and meris and checkbook holders that are going to a great store called rockstar & rogers in manhattan, kansas. big time, such cute stuff, with lots of two-tone and colorful stripes. yikes, i packed them up before i could even take a picture! and, please keep your fingers crossed that big exciting things are in the works. i'll keep hush-hush until anything is for sure, don't want to jinx anything. the next wholesale order is off to minnesota early next week, and then baltimore the week after, and in between i am going to vermont for a little r & r and camping and paddling. oh, and irony or ironies...in my art room at my new 'real job' (which i am loving in spite of the commute!) we have everything in the world, but there is no duct tape and i keep forgetting to bring some of my own. oh well! so much creativity, i get to spend my days and nights playing in a sandbox of creativity and color and paper and and thought and joy! yay! ok, it's so late already that my trip to urban outfitters and barnes and noble witll have to wait until tomorrow. yay for the glorious last trailing days of summer!

new favorite site of the day. it's going in the right hand menu. mr ming: - the news in type. amazing. read it back a few pages though, cause he is on vacation right now.

good stuff is in the works. lots of unsolicited wholesale orders. that's a good thing. it's a good thing. there is just one specifically that i hope goes through. ya-hooo. it seems like everyone is re-distributing and re-settleing this time of year. moving to new york or boston or back to new haven. good luck to everyone who's moving and finding their new places and starting new jobs and looking for a niche. the rest of life here is good, i'm starting to feel calm again...

i'm getting kicked out of koffee at closing time, but i just couldn't resist a post. it's been such a great day, and the sun finally came out. i brought home 2 new babies with me today...a green nalgene and new chacos. i gotta go!

diaper bag!!!!

this is the perfect spill proof, ruin proof, baby-proof diaper bag of all times! a huge, rectangular tote (16x14x4 but variable) with two full size interior pockets and 2 long tote straps. this is the hotteset baby trend of the moment, and every mommy and daddy to be needs them. the featured pictures are from the same bag...just different designs on each side. these bags are just begging for bright colors and stripes and custom designs...so hop get those creative juices flowing. e-mail customorder@vanessajean.com for more info. these bags are destined to be custom ordered by size and pattern, prices range $55-$85.

only in l.a.

i'm back, and better than ever. well, i am tanner than ever, but i don't know how much i am grooving on the relaxed-post-vacation feeling. 14 hours of traveling can do that to you. so, although we still have no internet in the house, i am back to blogging, and i will probably post volumes through this weekend. then, come monday [a great jimmy buffett song btw], i'll be at my new 'real job' from 7-4 everyday. with this new change of lifestyle, blogging is either going to become a standard daily thing, a must have i look forward to all my computer-less day, or a complete nuisance that i quit entirely. we'll see, but i doubt it will be the latter.

so, here's an update from the trip. on thursday night the fam and i enjoyed the best pan-asian-hawaiian-fusion meal we have ever had at this great little place called 'a pacific cafe'. if you are ever in kapaa, i recommend it. deee-licious. other than that we cooked for ourselves a lot, taco, burgers, etc. all great too. wednesday i took an amazing 20 mile hike on the craziest trail i have ever been on. thank goodness for the hawaiian do-as-you-wish policy, because the trail was so unsafe that i couldn't imaging it existing in any other place. but it was up there on the most-beautiful-things-ever-seen list, so i ain't complaining. there were also roosters and goats along the trail, and the best part was that in the 11 mile stretch (it's a hike into a beach, and then backtracking) the terrain ranges from tropical rainforest, to woodland forest, to dry dry desert, amazing! the trail is 11 miles in, but by mile 10 i was exhausted, and put down there for lunch. this is a photo of the destination beach (only one way in) and since i didn't make it, it just means i have to go back and hike and camp there for a bit...a girl's gotta have a dream!

i'm glad that was my parting shot!
and saturday was a 17 mile paddle along the same coastline, so it was great to see it from sea and sky level. the rest of my fam is still there...for another week, yikes. but they deserve it, especially because my little bro got sick and had a 103 fever for a few days, so he needs to stay there a bit longer so he can enjoy it. anyhow, it was a good trip. a little long from ct, but worth it! the other good thing is that i read a lot of good books, i really enjoyed happiness and wicked, the latter of which is really long, and it felt good to get through an entire long book, it had been a while! i think i also read something else along the way, but i can't remember...hmmm. but when i need a new book i can just search for something on whichbook.net which i think will be my new favorite website...i've already played on it a bit and i have my next 10 reads all picked out. too much fun, and so many options. thanks ben for passing that along.
it's nice to be back in new haven. it was a beautiful day yesterday, and i had a sun-glowing and green drive home from the airport with just enough time to get some modern and enjoy it while watching the sunset at east rock. and it was great to be re-united with my roomie since we have both been in-and-out of the house for the past three weeks...we just keep talking about how we don't want to the summer to end...as it indeed has been a grand one...but i think we'll make it.

alright, time to get down to work (aka, watch for posting in the near future!)

greetings...
i'm doing some good missionary work and bringing duct tape fashion to the island of kauai. ok, well, i've been carrying around my duct tape bag as i kayak, swim, tan, hike and lounge. so that sort of counts. the highlight of the trip so far was the kayak trip on the na pali coast, a good solo (sans family) trip. it's been a challenge computer hopping on the island to get good internet access...the public library (quite an adventure) and now at an incredibly overpriced internet cafe/trip planning center, but some good duct tape stuff is in the works, and i can't wait to share the details if it all pans out. i'll write more and post some incredible pics when i get back to the east coast.
aloha!

for a good time, dial up www.jdate.com - the world's largest jewish singles community. i actually know a few of the people in here.

corn dogs

yes, you heard me, i just mentioned corn dogs the best food of all times. if you have never had a corn dog (a hot dog dipped in corn meal batter and deep fried) you are missing out on one of the best (if not thebest foods in the world. don't eat pork? they make chicken dog versions. vegetarian? they make mini veggie corn dogs you can buy in the frozen section of your supermarket. on a stick or the mini pop-them-in-your-mouth versions are equally good, and there is just something so fantastic about them. if you live in california, i would even recommend traveling to the food cart at your local mall for a taste at 'hot dog on a stick' the creme de la creme of corn dog establishments. plus, they have funny uniforms which include goofy hats, as well as the best lemonade in the world, it's a must make trip. anyhow...i'm going to start a 'eat more corn dogs' campaign that will sweep the united states (and canada about 3 months later) and the whole world will thank me for bringing light to this delicious food. and for those hard core corn doggers out there, you can actually purchase a home corn dog kit which would be like owning a dream machine. it can also whip up deep fried twinkies, which i have never had, but assume are the best sweet ending to a corn dog. back to work.

this ramble has been brought to you by the box of mini chicken corn dog bites i had for breakfast and the high-speed manufacture of 50 belts...my brain stopped working about an hour ago.

hheee heee heejeopardy is coming to yale this fall for the college championship. i am so getting tickets! i'll be there like the enormous dork i am.

i was introduced to this footage of the star wars kid this past weekend. click on the top, original, footage and then scroll through the remixes. it's funny, but in this case i actually feel sorry for this kid (and since i have a cold heart, that's a big deal). thankfully, some people have a consceince about this.
note to self...take the tape out of the camera.

this has been a wicked couple of days. let me just set the scene by saying that i flew home to cali today, and arrived to the pad in the midst of one of my brother's part-ays. right now there is a make-shift beer pong table in the back yard, and i was just roped into a game [yes, we won, the ultimate brother sister team], there is a german kid free-styling in my back yard, and a bunch of really cool (interpret that as you will) 20 year olds being cool and loud. so, it's always great to come home, after a day of traveling to this, it always feels like i have slipped into some sort of alternative universe. the time change isn't helping either, nor is my utter lack of sleep after this weekend and the fact that i pierced my foot on a tetanus-giving piece of rusted metal at full force this morning. luckily (thanks to wireless internet) i have the neptunes on baby (yes, even my computer has a name) and we are chillin' at the kitchen table. ahh, yes, i also got to see brian tonight, and that makes everything in this world worth while. he also brought me (my?) bible from junior year english class (we study the bible as lit) and there are tons of hilarious conversations in the margins...i'll be up for hours reading the bible...yea, you heard me. i'll probably post like crazy tomorrow since there is actually access here...and thursday it's off to the corporate retreat with long and hard days and nights ahead. yes, i am going crazy and i should sleep....wahoooo...

i can't believe people are still reading this blog. i'll try to post more pictures, and that will make life more fun for everyone who has to read this non-sense. tomorrow i head off for islands on the other side of the united states, and some much needed vacation. although this last month has been slow business wise (sort of) life has been crazy...and i am much looking forward to a real vacation (although i am sure i will take some work along...i love the looks i get from airline folks when i'm hauling bins of tape behind me). posting will be sparse from here on out because of the vacation and because i have managed to land a real job. yes, mr. squirrel will complain because he thinks what i do now is a real job...and it is...i work all day, i make money that pays the bills...etc, but it's still a little eccentric. however, this morning i committed myself (and maybe i should have committed myself as well) to a position at anthropologie as the visual design coordinator (or something like that) for a ct store. this means i now have a commute, but also a paycheck and benefits...something that duct tape just can't cut in that regular way. but this is also my kick-ass dream job...which means that for at least the next year i will be the luckiest chick on the block holding down two dream jobs...as if life couldn't get any better...and don't you worry duct tape fans, vanessa jean will continue in all its glory thank to the new employee. life is good, and i will be getting paid to design store displays...and for anyone who has been to one of these stores, you know what kind of groovy creativeness i am in for. more to come...have a goodnight out there!

erin at monkeysocks has taken on a funky new look, i suggest a check to it if you haven't visited lately.

it also has a great pic referencing the fantastical (and my favorite) south park underware gnomes.

this is why i like brian and ferrets. i was also happy to learn a few fridays back (yes, a friday watching animal planet is the best kind ever) that when domesticated ferrets play together, they like to run through plastic tubing. yes, deliciously cute.

greetings! by some amazing chance i've been taken to some crazy places lately and the duct tape world has been out of control! a second order to nigeria (who knew), and now the duct tape is being enjoyed by the extended 785 crew on an island. i'm being held against my will to post about robby d and danny b and hydro and spence diggity who are notorious duct tape fans so it's all a-ok. i've also learned how to play croquet (oddly enough by my es master) and sport fish...but back to duct tape life tomorrow...along with big news about my creative future to come!

ahh, this sparse internet time is making posting a different and exciting challenge. thank goodness for koffee and wireless internet. yesterday i worked my little fingers to the bone filling a huge (40 piece) order to be sent to nigeria. yea, explain that. my superhero power is definately duct tape oriented (although i desperately wish it was other things). i took the kayak out for a nice paddle yesterday, but some kids on the bridge threw rocks at me by the handful. luckily, young teen boys just don't have capable throwing abilities these days, and they hardly came close to hitting me. i also got to inspect some beautiful lotus flowers, and i saw three muskrats, 2 herons, and one white bird i couldn't name. today is a 'personal day' as my hands hurt from all my work yesterday. not really much to report from the duct tape front, except that when it rains, it pours! i enjoyed my slow period in july...but it looks like things are heating up again.
ciao!

wow...things are taken off! there is no internet access at home, temporarily, but thanks to j.b. i am internetting strong (temporarily). well, the line sheet is in progress, the website just got a lot of orders (after it was apparently allergic to orders)...the alison is the top hit of the moment. the large wholesale order to nigeria seems to be fer real, and my poor knees seem to be healing, although slowly. the weather here is gorgous and it's hard to work all day. the best part is the nights are cool and windy and stormy. i can also recommend the oscar winning movie spirited away, my only warning is that it is long and really really bizarre. someone said 'only a child could think of this' while someone else said 'only someone doing lots of late 1800's hallucinogens (oooow, sp?) would think of this.' either way, it's good. oh, and let's take a vote...if you adopt a dog from the pound, but it has a few behavior issues after 3 years in your warm and loving house, and you refuse to send it to a trainer, can you send it back to the pound? please, comment on this one, i need to pull a guilt trip/reality check. our apartment also has a spiffy new look, which is exciting. well, it's late, i'm all animated out and now i am off to do a midnight reject furniture run!!! yahoooo. and maybe a grilled cheese sandwich. i'm learning that i still can't type and talk, or type and multi-task anything, wow, someone's hyper. note to self, do not blog when hyper. oh, and today was a day of huge tote bags, the super alice and a diaper bag and a huger version of the liz...pictures to come. ok, really, i'm off now!

i'm back! this week my roommate and my dsl connection moved out. funny how that can be simultaneous. anyhow, posting has been non-existent. my apologies. really not much to report from the duct tape front. my three most favorite activities duct taping, yoga, and paddling have taken a bit of a toll on my maimed wrist, so i'm relegating myself to a desk job to get some rest for a bit. unless i fill this huge wholesale order that just came in from...nigeria. who knew. the weather is gorgeous here and i've been outside (i mean working...) alot and hence the no posting (ok, and the lack of internet connection). really, not much to report at all, but life is swell and sweet and i wish everyone a fantastic weekend!

fall preview

well, it's that time again...when the sun is shining in full force and the full glory of summer is upon us...but those darn fashion people start pushing those drab fall colors on you...and it's the last thing you want to think of. well, here at vanessa jean we are just giving you a sneak preview of the hot fall line with only the best fall color selection...nothing too drab or dreary...and hopefully it will get your creative juices going to design your own bag as well! enjoy the sampling of what's to come!

hot mini alice

this is possibly the cutest mini alice to date. it's a custom order for (none other than) a vanessa in boston...but i love her idea so much it's going into the collection! camel bag with thick red trim and a red flower. so cute. the bag features an interior pocket and a magnetic snap for keeping your goodies safe. look for lots of camel and color combinations this fall! $45. order through e-mail at customorder@vanessajean.com

nina

ok, so the nina was just introduced last month, but it's already time for a fall make-over. featured here in camel with blue trim and flower, it's such a hot and functional bag! the straps fit over most shoulders and a magnetic snap keeps your goods inside. it's hot! hot! hot! but these muted fall colors are perfect for the change to fall breeze. 11x7x3 inches is just perfect. flower is optional! $40. customorder@vanessajean.com

also available at blush...333 bleecker street, new york, ny

alison

i just can't get enough of the alison bag. i have a red one and a black and white striped one, and i get compliments everywhere i go. i think it's just the cutest thing ever, and i think every person needs at least one, if not two! featured here in navy and white diagonal stripes with a white ribbon closure, nothing can beat it! 5/7x6x2 is the perfect size for a night out on the town or errands during the day. available solid or with diagonal stripes. also available with magnetic snap closure or ribbon tie closure (both are adorable!). deisgn your own, there are just so many possibilities! $35 customorder@vanessajean.com

what? no name yet?!

you got it, this baby is hot off the press and yet unnamed. i need some inspiration! despite it's awry looks, this tote is functional and a bit hip with a multi-color rope strap. the boxy bag measures 11x12x3 with an interior pocket, magnetic snap and those cool ropes for straps (did i say that already)? take my advice, it's a cutie! $50. customorder@vanessajean.com

fall stripes! mini alice and alice

as you can see this fall is all about stripes, and fun fall colors. this mini alice (15x9x2) is the perfect size for small toting, and looks especially cool with the pretty princess pink, camel and brown stripes. it features an interior pocket and a magnetic snap. $45.
this striped alice is fantastic! olive and camel stripes are perfect for fall, and so is the bag! 18x10x3 inches is the perfect size for back to school, back to work or back to the future... features magnetic snap and interior pocket. $55
order at customorder@vanessajean.com
[don't be fooled by my awful photo editing skills, the bag on the left is smaller than the bag on the right...but you're smart, you get the idea).

today's mail delivered me the best pick me up of all times, courtesy of the ever thoughtful green pants who is finally back in the states. i was ecstatic to peel the christmas theme (don't ask) wrapping paper from the book Wacky Chicks: Life Lessons from Fearlessly Inappropriate and Fabulously Eccentric Women. i squealed in delight and proceeded to delve in right there (which was luckily in my comfy bed...) i tore through the first chapters and then gracefully drifted off to sleep for a much needed nap! after waking up, and with some leftover eggplant pizza from modern, i headed to the stoop to continue reading, and i have yet to be disappointed by any of it. this is definately taking precidence over the other books of the moment because it is just so wonderfully good. plus it has a pretty pink color which reminds me of duct tape pink as well as the book The Bad Girl's Guide to the Open Road which is a constant bedside read. it even came with a fiery pink 'road sister' bumper sticker which i proudly (idiotically?) adhered to jeepie...but very sadly came off during the last trip through the car wash (along with almost all my other stickers). anyhow, this long post is just an excuse for me not to go to sleep yet, but i'm grateful, because at least i don't have to study for the bar.

controversial duct tape art rumples a few feathers in north carolina.

duct tape and solar cars, neat-o. the stuff really is good for everything. there is also a stricking resemblance between the kid in the second picture on the page (jason nolte works tuesday...) and my brother...hmm...

wasilla, aklaska is named an 'honorary duct tape capital of the world'. a classy title? or anyoher smooth marketing plan from manco/duck brand duct tape, who realize that alaskans buy more duct tape than anyone else.

today the vanessa jean studio had a visitor. yes, indeed, please welcome erika to the production family. she is the new 'employee' and today was her first day on the job. right now she is helping out project to project, and the moment the project is putting together a nice line sheet for the fall/winter 2003 line. cheers to erika!
(and yes, i will only employee folks who i already have bags named after...just kidding!)

to mr. squirrel and the old guy who seem to be suffering from some sort of multiple personality disorder, or at least computer-illiteracy order...
there are two bulkheads for keeping peanuts dry, as would work a dry bag clipped to the top bungees. there is plenty of room for squirrels to come along, but only if they come to new haven or local area for a visit before the water gets too cold. vanessa jean tends to not get too hungry on the water (yet) but my trips have maxed at only 2 hours so far. the threatening thunder storm (cloudy skies all day) prevented me from taking a trip out today, but that's ok, i needed the rest after all my recent adventures. so, visit to new haven = ride in kayak. and after paddling the na pali coast with mr. squirrel last summer, i am excited at a chance to watch him in a boat alone here. ha!

this open letter to the ny times style section photo retoucher is courtesy of b.p.. i don't know where he finds this, but it's good.

this is the thank you link i get for giving to my alma mater. the note in the e-mail from my class officer says 'it has many fabulous campus images and made me wish i were back in college...', to which i say 'i still live here and i don't miss college'.

amy sedaris' apartment. proof that brilliance, genius, and eccentricity run down the family line.

are you ready?
new bag pics to be posted this week, as a special deal for the duct.tales list!

wahoo. this weekend i went on a second date with my new baby! 16.5 feet of pure aquatic joy, sunshine and happiness! if your orders seem a bit delayed, you'll know where to find me.

thirteen looks like the 00's non-documentary verson of KIDS and i really want to see it.

good quote today from the kitchen cabinet.

"if i had twins i would name them Paisly and Dot, after my two favorite fabrics." - robert verdi, surprise by design

i just saw the cutest tv show ad ever. the ad was cute but the show looks fantastic. the show is called animal kidding and it's on animal planet. there is only a schedule online, but it looks like the best show ever. first off, it involves kids and animals, the two of my favorite things. it also includes practical jokes and hidden cameras which are two of my other favorite things. let me just sum it up with this one little piece they showed on the ad (ok, other than the tons of footage of small children trying to wash dogs, which is adorable)...anyhow, there was (what looked to be) a zebra tied to a fench post and these 8 year old looking kids were supposed to give it a wash. the ranger starts them out, but then walks away for a minute. when the kids start scrubbing the zebra with the scrubber, it's stripes start to bleed and come off and the zebra turns into a grey mess. the kids frea out and can't believe it. it was just a painted horse, but it was soo sooooo soooo funny and cute. i will be hooked from now and, and ti am so looking forward to watching the whole first episone tomorrow night at 9pm, yes, i'm so excited about this that i don't even want to go out on a friday night.