CasaSugar

Jonathan Adler Shares His Tips For Beginner Art Collectors

Julia Millay Walsh — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 09:00:45 PDT

Yesterday, I shared my interview with Jonathan Adler about his new curated collection of New York Times archive photos. As an interior designer, Jonathan Adler obviously has a lot of experience with curating collections of artwork. That's what designers do, right? Curate things? So I asked him to share his tips for beginning art collectors. I'm sure many of you don't really know where to start when it comes to buying and displaying artwork, so why not learn from the best? Check out my conversation with Jonathan Adler below!

CasaSugar: What tips can you offer for beginner art collectors who just don't know where to start?

Jonathan Adler: God, it's so hard! Actually, I do have tips. The amazing thing is we live in an unbelievably fabulous time for beginning art collectors because you no longer have to do the enslaved-by-gallerists thing. With the web you can go to Etsy, your site, and so many other design blogs profile up-and-coming artists, so I think that my main tip is to get tangled in the web and just hunt and you will find.

CS: So you were able to choose special mats and frames for your collection of New York Times archive photos. Do you have any tips for readers for when it comes to matting and framing photographs or artwork?

JA: Yeah, I do actually! I like to frame photographs sort of importantly. I think that often when people are framing photographs, they default to just a minimal black frame, and I like to put a more bold mat and sort of a more ornate frame, and I think it just makes photographs, and especially black and white ones, feel a little more important.

CS: And in terms of the matting, would you say a larger mat is more important?

JA: Yeah! When in doubt, beef up the mat!

Be sure to also check out my series on How to Collect Art for more information on this topic!

Gear Review: Lotuspad Eco-Friendly Mat and Strap

FitSugar — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 14:30:00 PDT

If you're an avid yoga or Pilates girl, and you want a quality mat that's good for the earth and light on your purse then check out Lotuspad mats ($40). They're made of 100-percent biodegradable TPE (Thermoplastic Elastomer), and even though this mat is 5 millimeters thick, when it's all rolled up, it feels really lightweight so it's easy to carry. It resists bacterial and fungal growth and is reversible, so you can use both sides. They come in three colors: earth brown/forest green, fuchsia/lotus pink, and deep ocean blue/soft blue.

If that wasn't enough, they also make these adorable and unique mat straps. The part that wraps around your mat is made with adjustable velcro, so you'll get a snug fit to keep your mat from unraveling. Lotuspad is running a deal right now where you can get a mat and strap for $49. I have the turquoise and brown-dot strap, but click on the pictures below to see the other cheery choices.

To see the other straps

View 12 Photos ›

Love It or Hate It? Flax Manhole Cover Floor Mats

CasaSugar — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 08:30:38 PDT

These Manhole Cover Floor Mats at Flax Art and Design ($27.95) cleverly echo the designs of city sewer covers, with versions available for London, Paris, and New York. I don't think I'd want one in my house, but the indoor/outdoor rugs would look cute on a porch. What do you think?

4 Ways to Get Your Yoga on - No Mat Required!

Jenny Sugar — Mon, 28 May 2012 14:24:00 PDT

Traditionally yoga is done on the floor, but your mat isn't the only place you can stretch, strengthen, and calm your body and mind. Since yoga's burst in popularity, people have figured out ways to incorporate basic yoga poses into other forms of movement and fitness. If you're a fan of practicing on your mat, check out these four exciting ways to deepen your love affair with yoga.

Paddleboard Yoga
If you love being on the water, try a Paddleboard Yoga class. Instead of Down Dogging on a mat, you're balancing on a board that's drifting along the surface of the water. Sounds tough? Well, it is, but that's what makes it fun. During your first few classes, you'll probably spend more time plummeting into the water than staying upright on your board, but with practice, you'll develop the core strength, stability, and concentration to do an entire practice while staying dry.

Aerial Yoga
Yoga is special on its own, but combine it with a hanging fabric trapeze, and it becomes magical. Doing yoga poses when the weight of your body is supported in the air not only feels freeing, but it helps with correct alignment and enhances the peaceful and calm feeling you love from traditional yoga. This type of yoga is a great way to approach intimidating poses like inversions or back bends, and the power of gravity allows for deeper muscle releases than you can achieve on the ground.

Keep reading to learn about Acro Yoga and Water Yoga.

Inversion Issues: How to Remedy Common Shoulderstand Complaints

Jenny Sugar — Fri, 25 May 2012 00:14:27 PDT

You're loving your yoga class from Half Moon to Pigeon Pose, but as soon as you get to Shoulderstand, you're less than psyched. Although a basic - challenging, but basic - pose, Shoulderstand can put you at risk of strain and injury when done incorrectly. Turn this pose into your favorite by checking out these common complaints and ways to remedy them.

"I Can't Breathe"
If you're well endowed or carry extra weight in your belly, then gravity causes added pressure on the lungs and throat, making it tough to take in a deep breath. A supportive bra and fitted top can help, but if you still have trouble breathing, then changing how you do the pose will make a huge improvement. Instead of stacking your pelvis and feet directly over your shoulders, hinge at your hips slightly, pressing them away from your face so your feet extend slightly behind your head.

Still can't breathe? Try the Legs Up the Wall variation; rest your lower back on your mat or, to give your hips a little lift, rest your lower back on a folded-up blanket or flat bolster.

Continue reading to learn how to alleviate neck pain and feelings of imbalance while in Shoulderstand.

5 Eco-Friendly Yoga Mats That Bring Good Intention to Your Practice

Michele Foley — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 04:43:26 PDT

After yoga class it's common practice to clean up after yourself - whether that means picking up your own belongings or putting away props, none of us want to leave behind a mess. But if we buy a standard yoga mat made with PVC, that's exactly what we're doing. Long after our own practice had ended, our yoga mats will be clogging up landfills. I doubt this was anyone's intention with their practice.

Luckily, more mats are being made with eco-friendly materials like natural or recycled rubber, cotton, and jute. Admittedly, an eco-friendly mat may not be as sticky as a PVC mat, but they will recycle and are better for the planet. And don't worry about slipping during Downward Dog, these mats are made using techniques and materials that will ensure you stay put!

Get in Gear: Eco-Friendly Mats

FitSugar — Fri, 10 Aug 2007 02:30:00 PDT

Who wants to do their Downward Facing Dog on PVC (polyvinyl chloride)? It's a toxic plastic that's used to make many sticky mats. According to Greenpeace, PVC products that are being disposed of within a few years of use, are causing serious waste problems since these and other plastics don't biodegrade quickly. In response to this growing PVC crisis, many manufacturers are beginning to make environmentally friendly mats using natural fibers like jute, cotton, and rubber.

Not only are these mats biodegradable, and free of hazardous chemicals, but their makers say they provide more traction. Other mats made of plastic take a few washings and hours of practice to get rid of the chemical sheen, not to mention the stinky smell.

Since practicing yoga and Pilates is doing good for you, why not use a mat that does good for the environment as well? By choosing environmentally friendly products, you are doing your part to support the movement toward a healthier, sustainable planet. Here are some of my favorites:

Saka Studio Eco Yoga Mat	Cotton Rug
The Original Eco Yoga Mat	Jute Yoga Mat
prAna E.C.O. Sticky Mat	Natural Jute and PER Yoga Mat

4 Reasons to Add an Exercise Ball to Your Home Gym

Leta Shy — Tue, 22 May 2012 13:58:44 PDT

The exercise ball may occupy a lot of room in your home gym, but it's one versatile piece of equipment. Find out how to get the most out of your exercise ball below.

A healthier seat: Ditch your normal seat on the couch and sit on an exercise ball instead. Using a ball to sit helps correct your posture, tones your abs, and encourages you to stretch, all of which sounds a lot better than the lower back pain that too much sitting on the couch can cause.

Routine shakeup: Adding an exercise ball to your normal mat routines can shake things up and challenge you. For example, you can plank using an exercise ball at your feet to make holding your pose that much harder, or sit or lay on your exercise ball while you execute arm exercises. Even just practicing your balance by kneeling on the exercise ball can help you tone and whittle. Need some ideas? Try these amazingly effective ab and butt workouts using the exercise ball:

Find out how to do the plank pike and the hamstring curl using an exercise ball with this advanced exercise ball workout video.
Skip boring crunches and do this ball pass ab exercise instead.
Challenge your core and balance with this single-leg squat, done against a wall using an exercise ball.
Lie on the ball and work your arms with this chest press move.

Read on for more reasons to use an exercise ball.

Love It or Hate It? Vertical Table Runners

Julia Millay Walsh — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 11:50:00 PDT

A new trend in table linens is vertical table runners or place mats for two. Instead of running the width of a dining table, the linens run across the table depth-wise, acting as a shared place mat for parties seated across from each other. I've seen the style in a few different homes, but I think it looks best in a modern interior like this luxury, contemporary apartment on the right bank of Geneva. Never say never, but I would also reserve the look for solids or large-scale patterns; I don't think tiny country florals would work here.

If you want to pick some up for yourself, CB2's Duo Linen Placemat For Two ($15) is a simple, affordable option. Or, the Amenity Hand Woven Runner ($100) is a higher-priced option. My suggestion is to have a seamstress divide an existing runner you own into several smaller ones. Or sew some yourself with affordable fabric.

Are you a fan of this style, or is too modern for you?

From the Fit Community: A 10-Minute Standing Abs Workout

Fit Community — Tue, 15 May 2012 02:19:42 PDT

Hate crunches and planks? Work your abs, and then some, off the mat with this 10-minute standing abs workout from FitSugar reader JessicaSmithTV. She posted it in the 10 Pounds Down community group.

Join fitness expert Jessica Smith for this full-length, 10-minute standing abs video workout that will keep your heart rate up as you target your abdominals (and more!) for even faster results.

Share your own workouts in our Fit Community, and we may feature you on our homepage!