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Month: July 2023

Savings on school supplies, clothes begins Friday; three months of tax-free food Tuesday

It’s time to save some money.

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School supplies, computers, clothes and other items are included in Tennessee’s sales tax free weekend July 28-30.

Tennessee’s tax-free weekend for school supplies, computers and clothes began at 12:01 a.m. Friday and ends at 11:59 p.m. Sunday.

Clothing, school supplies and computers may be purchased without the 7% state sales tax, including items sold online July 28-30. Certain restrictions apply. For example, all items purchased must be for personal use and not for business or trade.

Wondering what’s exempt on tax-free weekend and what isn’t?

Clothing

  • Exempt: Clothes costing $100 or less per item.

  • Not exempt: Clothing costing more than $100. Items sold together, such as shoes, cannot be split up to stay beneath the $100 maximum. Items like jewelry, handbags, or sports and recreational equipment.

Computers

  • Exempt: Personal use computers with a purchase price of $1,500 or less. If priced at $1,500 or less, laptops computers may also qualify as well as tablet computers.

  • Not exempt: Storage media, like flash drives and compact discs, individually purchased software, printer supplies and household appliances.

School supplies

  • Exempt : School and art supplies costing $100 or less per item, such as binders, backpacks, crayons, paper, pens, pencils, and rulers, and art supplies such as glazes, clay, paints, drawing pads, and artist paint brushes.

  • Not exempt: School and art supplies costing more than $100. Items that are normally sold together cannot be split up to stay beneath the $100 maximum.

For a full alphabetized list of exempt items, visit tn.gov.

Savings on food begins Tuesday, ends Oct. 31

Our second opportunity to save begins on Tuesday.

Tennessee’s three-month tax savings on food begins Aug. 1 and ends Oct. 31. It covers food

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Art Gallery or Living Space? Maison Lune is Both.

At first glance, Maison Lune, an art gallery in the Venice neighborhood of Los Angeles, looks exactly like a home. Yes, there are paintings and ceramics on display, but there’s also a bed, a full kitchen, a bathtub. And sometimes you can hear the tumble of laundry.

That’s because it is a home.

In early 2022, when Sandrine Abessera and Lubov Azria moved in, they immediately felt it was a space that needed to be shared.

“We thought it would be very selfish of us to live and exist in such a beautiful space without opening it up to people — artists, innovators, all types,” said Ms. Azria, 55, the former chief creative officer for BCBG Max Azria.

It was also about rethinking the typical art-viewing experience — a departure from the white-cube art gallery, said Ms. Abessera, 45, an artist and designer. “We were drawn to this idea of being an art gallery,” she said, but one “where you can sit and it’s not just a blank box.”

The point, she continued, is “to really experience these works, while having the feeling of being in a home and —”

Completing her sentence, Ms. Azria said, “To really live it.”

Every three months, a new collection of works is exhibited in the three-story home and gallery, a charcoal-colored building that sits next to one of the neighborhood’s canals. The most recent show, which was on display in the airy interior through July 20, featured works by Wes Aderhold, a New York-based painter. The gallery’s first show, which opened earlier this year, was a group exhibit curated by Gaia Jacquet-Matisse, Henri Matisse’s great-great-granddaughter.

But nearly every element in the space is also curated, including the houseplants, linens, rugs, vases, sofas and chairs — not just what’s hanging on the

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This ‘slow-fashion’ Seattle designer says there’s enough clothing

Her approach is based in her long history of thrifting, but also in Seattle’s vibrant sustainable-clothing scene. Brands like Girlfriend Collective and Prairie Underground, vintage stores like Indian Summer and Bon Voyage, and designers like Janelle Abbott are among the locals mindfully pushing the dial forward on what sustainable clothing can look like.

In mcLean’s case, that look might be anything from a bucket hat made from a Burberry scarf to patchworked hoodies to hand-dyed denim shorts.

“Seattle is going to be a big place for sustainable fashion,” mcLean declares. Despite our city getting forever blasted for being a paragon of anti-fashion, she believes our penchant for eco-conscious fashion is what makes us unique. “We don’t even second-guess being sustainable, it’s just the way we are,” she says.

Similarly, mcLean’s “bootleg” series brings DIY flair to discarded high-fashion items. She started bootlegging in high school when she flipped a thrifted Juicy Couture keychain into a necklace. Now, mcLean reworks luxury dust bags and metal label emblems from houses like Louis Vuitton, Fendi, Prada and Gucci into necklaces, underwear, bikinis and earrings. 

It’s a practice distinct from duping or knocking off a luxury brand — one closer to “fan art,” mcLean says. Drawing from the long tradition of streetwear-turned-luxury designer Dapper Dan (“My biggest bootleg idol,” says this dan), whose unsanctioned flips of Gucci and Louis Vuitton prints launched him to fame, mcLean sees her remixed items as a tip of the hat to luxury brands.

“It’s not ripping off somebody’s design, but more like, I respect you and I see you and I see that you do these cool things and I wanna be like you but I don’t wanna be you,” explains mcLean. (Her website includes a lengthy disclaimer stating all her designs are “repurposed,

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Yolotli of napa makes handmade art and apparel from fabric

High on the back wall of the newly relocated Napa Bookmine book store is a textile design, the shape reminiscent of birds’ wings. The thick teal fabric is patterned in an intricate design. The piece was designed and fabricated by Napa business Yolotli.

“It’s 100% wool felt,” said textile designer Nicole Kelly, owner of Yolotli. “It’s made by tacking, smocking and folding the material. My designs, such as my embroidered samplers, had always been small, and I’d wanted to go large. Bookmine owner Naomi (Chamblin) had asked me about a 3-D design that would be sound dampening. I’d like to do more pieces like that.”

Perhaps known locally more for her minimalistic clothing line, Kelly said, “I can’t stop making things.”

The name Yolotli means “heart,” and comes from the Nahuatl, a native language of Mexico. Since her first visit to Mexico in 2003, she has felt a deep connection with the country itself and culture. Her work is even carried by the Carla Fernández Flagship Store in Mexico City, Mexico.

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Kelly grew up in the Black Forest region of Germany, playing with Waldorf dolls, a simple cloth doll with minimal facial features, made with only natural fiber such as wool, cotton or linen, from their stuffing to their hair.

“A large part of the German curriculum is crafting,” said Kelly. “My mom also handmade a lot of things. I sewed, knitted and crocheted. I was the only child in school who did knitting homework by myself. The others had their grandmothers or mothers help or do it for them. Mom had a closet full of linens. Textiles and traditional costumes, famous internationally, interested me.”


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“I like everything about hand embroidery. I also do hand pull, a

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At NYC Bodypainting Day, Naked Bodies Become Artists’ Canvases

Across from a Pret a Manger near Union Square Park, Nicolette Barischoff held still as an artist painted an open blue eye across her sternum on Sunday. It was around 88 degrees and a crowd had assembled around them. But the temperature and the audience did not faze Ms. Barischoff. Nor did the fact that she was naked.

“It’s a very Zen experience,” she said, as photographers snapped pictures from behind police barricades. “This is my fishing.”

Ms. Barischoff, 38, a writer in Los Angeles, was among the 60 people who had paid $100 to become mostly nude human canvases for 40 artists during NYC Bodypainting Day, a public art exhibition that has been staged annually since 2014. This year’s installment was the 10th — and the last, according to the event’s founder, Andy Golub, an artist. He said he was ending it to focus on other projects for his organization, Human Connection Arts.

Nije Durdeen, 31, came from Philadelphia to model after learning she might not get another chance. “You get to be nude in public and not get arrested,” she said while standing near a table holding bottles of Gatorade in shades almost as vibrant as the turquoise-colored paint covering the right side of her body.

Ms. Durdeen has been a body-paint model for about seven years. Though she has done some gigs at artists’ studios, she said she preferred to be painted in public so she could observe a broader spectrum of reactions. Some passers-by at this year’s Bodypainting Day blushed and sped past as artists decorated people of all shapes and sizes. Others leered or snapped photos.

“Art is supposed to be subjective,” Ms. Durdeen said. “Some people may be offended. Some people, this might be right up their alley.”

Mr. Golub, 57, began using

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Mastering the Art of Efficient Carry-On Packing for an Epic Month of Outdoor Travel
Young woman packing clothes into her travel suitcase on the bed - Afro american female getting ready for summer vacations preparing luggage for a journey trip

Young woman packing clothes into her travel suitcase on the bed – Afro american female getting ready for summer vacations preparing luggage for a journey trip

An outdoor adventure is an exhilarating experience. However, packing for such a trip can be a daunting task, especially if you aim to travel with just a carry-on. With careful planning and smart packing, you can maximize space, convenience and flexibility for your outdoor travels.

Follow these carry-on packing tips below for your next adventure.

Research and Prioritize Essentials

Start by researching the weather, terrain and activities at your destination. This will help you determine the essential items you need to pack. Prioritize versatile clothing pieces that can be layered and mixed and matched. Opt for lightweight, quick-drying materials suitable for various weather conditions. Consider packing essentials, such as hiking boots, a waterproof jacket, a hat and a swimsuit, tailored to the specific activities you plan to engage in.

Use Packing Cubes or Compression Bags

Invest in packing cubes or compression bags to maximize space and stay organized. Roll or fold your clothes tightly and place them in these compartments, separating items by category or outfit. Compression bags is the helpful carry-on packing tip perfect for compressing bulky items, such as jackets or sleeping bags. These packing aids not only save space, but also allow easy access to specific items without unpacking your entire bag.

Choose Multi-Purpose Items

Opt for multi-purpose items that serve different functions. For example, pack a sarong that can double as a beach towel, a scarf, or a light blanket. Bring a portable camping stove that can be used for cooking and boiling water. By choosing multi-purpose items, you can reduce the number of individual items you need to pack and save valuable space.

Pack Travel-Sized Toiletries

Toiletries can

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Ed Sheeran, festivals celebrating culture and art among events this weekend

DETROIT (WXYZ) — Several festivals are taking place in metro Detroit this weekend including the African World Festival, the Czech and Slovak Festival and the Wyandotte Art Fair.

Ed Sheeran is performing two nights in metro Detroit. Here’s a list of seven things to do in the D:

African World Festival

  • Friday, Saturday and Sunday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
  • Hart Plaza at 1 Hart Plaza in Detroit
  • The African World Festival is back in Detroit. This year, the festival is celebrating 40 years and is highlighting “the beauty, strength, and spirit of the African Diaspora.” There will be stages with entertainment and more than 125 vendors with food, clothing, health projects, art, live demonstrations and more. This year’s opening night headliner is Parliament-Funkadelic featuring George Clinton.

Art fairs

  • Wyandotte Street Art Fair Wednesday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Midtown Art Fair Sunday 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.
  • Wyandotte City Hall at 3200 Biddle Avenue; Detroit’s Cultural Center area at 111 E. Kirby Street
  • If you’re a fan of the finer things in life, two art festivals are happening — one in Wyandotte and another in Detroit. Wyandotte’s art fair features 200 artists, 25 restaurants and several local merchants. In Detroit, there will be more artists, a performance stage and a diverse lineup of musicians.

Blake’s Lavender Festival

  • Friday, Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Blake’s Apple Barn at 17985 Armada Center Road in Armada
  • The sweet smell of lavender is taking over Blake’s Orchard & Cider Mill in Armada all weekend. You’ll be able to check out handcrafted lavender items, participate in wellness classes and harvest your own lavender.

Czech and Slovak Festival

  • Saturday 1:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday 12:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
  • Sokol Cultural Center at 23600 W. Warren Street in
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No, Painting Your Toddler Boy’s Toenails Doesn’t Make Him ‘Girly’

A parent on Reddit asks how to respond to haters who criticize them for agreeing to the nail polish. Bottom line: let kids be kids.

&lt;p&gt;Mike Kemp / Getty Images&lt;/p&gt;

Growing up, I remember very vividly the first time I saw boys wearing nail polish. A punk rock cover star on a CD case—and it was really cool! But I also knew that boys “weren’t allowed” to wear nail polish, let alone stars. Indeed, that star was an outlier, precisely because he did things that no one considered normal before. The 90s–and decades before—saw a lot of experimentation and a lot of backlash about gender expression.

In 2023, we know gender expression is multi-faceted and beautiful—and that things like nail polish (or clothing) don’t have a gender. That’s exactly what this Reddit post is about—whether or not a little boy should have his toenails painted.

The toddler boy’s parent explains they’ve gotten strong pushback from family members about the idea—but all they want is for their child to be happy. And, well, painting their son’s toenails makes him happy.

Many commenters agree with the parent’s impulses: it’s not hurting anyone to paint your toddler’s toenails. One even pointed out, “My son has his nails painted all the time. You don’t use nail polish with your vulva, so it is neither a girl nor a boy product.”

Nail polish has no gender.

The poster wants to know what to say to those family members who push back, and for our family, the answer is quite simple, and has to do with the bodily autonomy of our children: My child is free to be whoever they want to be in this world. I will protect their right to authentic, autonomous expression.

If that includes painting their toenails, so be it.

Encouraging Self-Expression and Autonomy in Children

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Painting The Globe Pink – Barbie Movie Marketing Boosts Opening Figures

The movie sizzle says “She’s everything. He’s just Ken.” And it’s also true that ‘she’ is everywhere.

In fact the marketing sizzle supporting the release may help to double the takings. Low end of predictions from the film industry suggested the film could be grossing $55 million on its opening weekend, but new projections show it’s likely to make an impressive $93 million, according to Matthew Belloni of Puck News.

From the brilliant pink movie tour for which Margot Robbie (playing Barbie) has been styled to perfection by Andrew Mukamal and in wearing Valentino, Prada, Schiaparelli Haute Couture and vintage Chanel to emulate iconic Barbie doll outfits, through to pop-up events and merchandising – you can not miss that the movie countdown is on. With perfect timing for the school summer holidays, the Barbie Movie is out on July 21.

Mattel
MAT
, in partnership with Warner Bros. Pictures, has created a range of teasers and downloaded with individual character poster campaigns, a Barbie selfie generator and TikTok lens extension and, of course, an official Twitter emoji.

The latest Barbie teaser welcomes fans everywhere to Barbie Land, giving viewers a peek into the world of Barbie through the lens of renowned director Greta Gerwig and the on-screen power of a star-studded cast.

The merchandise machine is at full pace too with a range of collaborations and limited collection products including a collection from aspirational childrenswear brand, Tutu Du Monde.

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‘Art Of Football’ Launches Collection For Women’s World Cup

Art Of Football, a fashion collective and creative community, today launched its range in line with the upcoming Women’s World Cup as the brand aims to convert football fan culture into a lifestyle and celebrate the women’s game.

Launched in 2013 by brothers Gabe and Luke Cuthbert, AOF is known for capturing football’s best moments, quirks and nuances and celebrating them with original merchandise.

The brand’s Women’s World Cup collection features references to iconic moments from the England women’s team’s recent history, such as Alessia Russo’s cheeky backheel from the Lionessess’ 2022 Euros-winning campaign or ‘Weigman Track Pants’, referring to the team manager Sarina Wiegman.

“It’s probably our most expansive range to date,” Gabe told Forbes in an interview. “We’ve got a bomber jacket, some track pants, and a silk scarf, which you can wear in many different ways and also use as a flag.

“We’ve got a football jersey and then just a range of either cropped fit size tees or unisex tees with sort of classic graphic designs on there. We are also working on other more generic World Cup designs.”

The brand has also planned a hero item in the range, the ‘Button-Down Under’ shirt, which is a unique piece that will be created as the World Cup progresses, with AOF capturing the tournament’s best moments and building them into the garment design in real-time.

“We are really excited about that,” Gabe added. “It will be a short sleeve shirt that will start a tournament blank, but then, after key moments happen throughout the tournament, we will create embroidery designs. We plan to release a super limited amount of

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