t0ybreaker

Cyberoptix to join Austin Fashion Week

2009-07-17T13:13:00.003-04:00

Sadly Blogger didn't seem to be working for me yesterday, so instead of being an announcement, this is a little more of an archive instead. Meh! Anyway, I was honored to be brought in among some really fantastic designers and hopefully some of you had the opportunity to attend!

Austin’s hottest lingerie designer debuts her new intimates’ line with exciting guests for Austin Fashion Week.

[Austin], [TX],[7/15/09] – Megan Summerville, Texas Next Top Designer 2009, will share an intimate evening featuring the her lingerie line and new menswear collection at Qua of Austin at 11 pm CST (213 W 4th St # 100). Special guests include; benson of Mange la Mode, Bethany Shorb of the Cyberoptix Tie Lab and a few other surprises!

Megan Summerville lingerie is an evolving refinement of foundation wear. From silk bras and firm compression wear, Megan shows the soft elegance of true underpinnings. Fresh from her Win at Dallas' Texas Next Top Designer; this is Megan's first show in her hometown since winning the award. Ms. Summerville will be joined by Mange la Mode Principal Designer, benson. Mange la Mode designed the gowns used in Swarovski Crystals international advertising campaign and has been featured in Harper’s Bazaar and French Vogue. Bethany Shorb’s Tie Lab (eco friendly designer ties) is often featured in editorials all over the globe.

New double-printed series: 7 Deadly Sins and 7 Holy Virtues

2009-02-05T12:05:00.002-05:00

A long time in the making, we're proud to finally release the first and second pieces in our new double printed series! Lust and Chastity are the first counterpoint in our Seven Deadly Sins and Seven Holy Virtues line. Although they take a lot longer to actually make, the double printed ties are always exciting to design.

Intertwined snakes, conjoined Venus-like ladies, a celestial background - sure to get you hot and bothered.

Looking for a little more restraint? The padlock on the front is marked with the word "Castus" meaning "chaste" in Latin.

Be extra reminded of your favorite sin or virtue as the words "Lust" or "Chastity" are also printed inside a regal banner on the back tail of the tie.

Shop Local: Los Angeles [A+R]

2009-02-01T12:09:00.007-05:00

This is the second in our "Shop Local" series of posts, our first was the Detroit edition - today we're heading west! Last week we proudly shipped two huge boxes of brand new silk and microfiber ties in both standard, narrow and skinny widths (and some super special ones for Valentine's Day!) to one of our favorite shops, A+R in Los Angeles.

Michael and I were fortunate enough to be able to personally make a visit to A+R on Abbott Kinney when we were out there last September for a friend's wedding. (And our friends got some really sweet gifts as a result!) A+R was our lifesaver...and we sure wish it was more local to us...but fear not, they have a fantastic website stocked with all sorts of wonderful wares if you're not in the area...but if you are, by all means check them out. You won't be sorry! P.S. I want one of everything in there.

A+R - "Global design. Edited." is British ex-pat Andy Griffith, a former film editor and self-avowed design junkie, and Rose Apodaca, a pop culture and style journalist. A+R obsessively seeks out the newest products, aiming to offer them first.

"We love talking about the designers we find locally and from afar, because it only goes to show that this brilliant and bold community is not so much distinguished by geographic or cultural boundaries but bound by the pursuit of aesthetics and innovative ideas."

Don't feel like waiting by the post for online orders? Support these nifty shops local to you in the Los Angeles area:

A+R West 1121 Abbot Kinney Blvd, Venice, CA 90291 Tuesday-Sunday 11 a.m.-7 p.m.

Rose Apodaca is a pop culture and style journalist and the co-owner of A+R, the design retail lab in Los Angeles. She contributes to Harper's Bazaar, Elle, Glamour, Paper, The Los Angeles Times Magazine, Style.com, Preen and other publications, and consulted on the launch of Image, The Los Angeles Times newest style section. Her first book, Style A to Zoe: The Art of Fashion, Beauty & Everything Glamour, an all-encompassing lifestyle guide written for celeb stylist Rachel Zoe, is now in paperback and hit The New York Times bestseller list in September 2008. She is currently wrapping up a biography on Fred Hayman, co-founder of Giorgio Beverly Hills and marketing architect of Rodeo Drive, as well as co-authoring a beauty book with neo-burlesque queen and style icon, Dita Von Teese. photo: PAPER Mag

Not only is shopping locally fun, it helps to protect local character and prosperity. Locally owned businesses build strong neighborhoods by sustaining communities, linking neighbors, and by contributing more to local causes. Your dollars spent in locally-owned businesses have three times the impact on your community as dollars spent at national chains. When shopping locally, you simultaneously create jobs, fund more city services through sales tax, invest in neighborhood improvement and promote community development.

New designs, sneak peek valentine!

2009-01-29T10:38:00.003-05:00

A happy early Valentine's to everyone! We're in the throes of shooting a few new designs here at the 'Lab and hope to have them properly up for grabs on the site tomorrow. We're about to debut "Lust" and "Chastity" - the first in the Seven Deadly Sins/7 Holy Virtues series for 2009. Here's a sneak peek, we like tickling your fancy.

Chastity - black pearl on black narrow.

Lust - gold on burgundy narrow.

This one came out this past fall, but is appropriate given the season - who isn't a little cuckoo over an object of his or her affection?

Cuckoo - copper on olive narrow.

We've also re-released an old anatomical favorite:

Heart Attack - copper on olive narrow.

Ties are always very useful to have about the bedroom or boardroom.

Stay naughty,
xox
bethany

A fond farewell to the holiday rush...

2009-01-04T21:39:00.002-05:00

Happy new year to all from the TieLab! We made it through the holidays once again, every last parcel was shipped by X-mas Eve. The studio has been cleaned of all the little clippings, ink splotches and doo-dads strewn about everywhere (and mountains of take-away boxes) tons of new materials have been ordered, and cheeky new designs are in the works.

Here are a few photos of one of our last shipping days.

Normally there are no sad pouty faces in the 'Lab, but it was about 30 below with the windchill and I was making the poor thing suffer while fumbling for my camera - this was at nearly 4am. I am truly evil and sadistic.

If I can remember correctly, this was from the very last day after the last drop was made, and celebratory stickers went on noses!

So now I'm making up some new designs for you all to give your sweet things on Valentine's day, as always, they'll be subtly (or woefully) inappropriate. Hope to have 'em on out in the next few weeks.

Thank you all for a most fantastic holiday season.

Much love, health and prosperity.

xox

CORE77: 77 Design Gifts Under $77

2008-12-14T01:19:00.003-05:00

Venerable design blog CORE77 picks out this year's 77 under $77 most coveted/best design objects/books/and causes to donate your loot to. Hugest thanks in the universe to the editors for including the TieLab!

Cyberoptix Tie Lab: Ties That Don't Suck!
$40 microfiber (w/ wood box), $50 silk, (w/ wood box)

The original Ties That Don't Suck. Hand-screenprinted neckwear in a premium wood gift-packaging that's Forest Stewardship Council certified. The TieLab manufactured a maligned accessory in a maligned city, quietly hoping to turn around the perception of both to one of subversive enjoyment.

With the economy being rather crap right now, we sure can use tips on where to find the good, clever stuff in exchange for comparatively few duckets. People always comment that my prices are too low, but I'm a stickler for not raising them just because there's some obtuse need for design objects to cost a lot. I call BS! (And it's my initials, I can't wear it out...)

If anyone is looking to send the TieLab presents, look to this list. We especially like the throwing star magnets.

Detroit By Design 4 Year, in pictures

2008-12-14T00:47:00.001-05:00

Cyberoptix Tie Lab founder and designer Bethany Shorb ties on one with the boys. - oh WDIV/Angela's Eye, you are teh fuuuunnny! ;) Soooo true....

Thanks so much to the hordes of people that made it to a magnificent show, Detroit By Design's 4 Year Anniversary was our first runway show in a long time. How do you make showing a tiny little accessory into something that people will bother taking a look at? Super interesting models and photographers sure don't hurt. ;) Binding them with hundreds of ties (and tape) is a good start too. Special thanks to my main photographers Amy Hubbarth, Josh (grimindistries.com) and Christos (detroitartist.org) for capturing all the brou-haha and my models...of course. Without them, neckties just really aren't all that exciting.

Sample/debut from a forthcoming line of latex dresses crafted from re-purposed, cold-war era weather balloons. Yes, this means "something other than ties" is in the works. *gasp*!

Such patient, tolerant and loyal models let me half-blind them and wrap their pretty little heads in tape!

Enough screwing around in the portrait area, on to the runway...

So at about 1am, a quick costume change and our dj alter-egos DETHLAB+1 come out to play. I'm not sure what I thought I was doing, but I was hell-bent on making the most ridiculous faces and faux-music-making o-faces on this green earth. We must have been having fun or something. Photos all by Amy...

Broken goat? Here I am apparently quite dismayed at the site of my comparatively flaccid goat. Where is my goat? Where is my mind? who the eff knows.

My goat-throwing can sure use some work, but the fist pumping I have down. Yep. Most certainly do. RAWK. I look constipated, I assure you I wasn't.

Who me? I didn't do it. Dear lord it's a good thing I don't have much in the way of boobs, cuz that would have been a nipslip for sure.

So that's it for now. We had a fantastic show and then dj set after. Not that playing other people's music is particularly difficult, but we sure seem to have a darned fine time doing it. Doing two shows in one night was an extra special bit of fun especially while in the throes of getting holiday orders out the door, but we're masochists and wouldn't have it any other way. More special thanks to Mr. Doyle for help in visually producing the show and modeling, and my assistant David Blunk II for both walking the show as well and keeping my sanity.

xox

Detroit by Design: 4 Year Anniversary

2008-12-05T04:01:00.002-05:00

Model: Chrissy; Photo: Rich Rice; Design + Wardrobe: Bethany Shorb

Saturday, December 6, 2008 (VIP Reception 9-11p / Party 11-3a)
Detroit By Design, 2944 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, MI 48201

Fashion Shows: 10:30pm

Femilia Street Couture
Camilo Pardo
Cyberoptix Tie Lab
PeaceLoveSpandex
Wound

A major event for Detroit By Design commemorating four years of our creative and cultural programs with the Detroit community. We are fortunate to have dozens of our favorite artists, designers, musicians, sponsors and promotional partners participating in this special occasion. We recognize that our success is a product of these positive community relationships and make it a top priority to provide publicity and personalized value for each of our supporters.

-Butler-style cocktails and canapes provided by Four Star Culinaire catering.
-Reception environment designed by Melinda Anderson and Colonial Event Services.
-323 Art installation curated by 323 East. Detroit Fashion Photography exhibition.
-A dozen DJs performing in the Detroit By Design and Art In Development galleries.
-Fashion exhibition by designers including Femilia Street Couture and Camilo Pardo.
-Film short by Andrafilm featuring Detroit By Design’s Green Carpet at BravoBravo!

Shop Local: Metro Detroit

2008-12-01T02:53:00.000-05:00

This is the first in our "Shop Local" series of posts, our first (of course) is the Detroit edition. We've recently brought armloads of new ties to some of our favorite Metro Detroit boutiques and galleries, who also carry a whole host of fantastic wares from local artists. Don't feel like waiting by the post for online orders? Support these nifty shops local to you:

Naka
171 W 9 Mile Rd
Ferndale, MI 48220
(248) 582-9113

323 East Gallery
323 E. 4th St.
Royal Oak, MI
248-246-9544

Design.99
Hamtramck, MI
(313) 576-6941 - please call for hours and directions, they're just about done moving!

16 Hands Gallery
216 S. Main St
Ann Arbor, MI 48104

Not only is shopping locally fun, it helps to protect local character and prosperity. Locally owned businesses build strong neighborhoods by sustaining communities, linking neighbors, and by contributing more to local causes. Your dollars spent in locally-owned businesses have three times the impact on your community as dollars spent at national chains. When shopping locally, you simultaneously create jobs, fund more city services through sales tax, invest in neighborhood improvement and promote community development.

For those in the Detroit area on Saturday, December 6, Detroit by Design will be hosting it's huuuuge 4th Anniversary Party - we'll be doing a runway show during the first half of the party with Dethlab+1 dj's closing out the evening. Oh my, Double Trouble!

Saturday, December 6, 2008 (VIP Reception 9-11p / Party 11-3a) - WDIV's Hank Winchester will Emcee Fashion Show w/ 5 designers
Detroit By Design, 2944 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, MI 48201

Take a peek at some brand new designs, and a favorite new model:

Topographical Error A large area of the tie is printed with distressed remnants of 1900's sea-depth estimates taken in Scandinavian and Arctic waters. These levels are rapidly changing now due to climactic shift.

Cable Tie: (Haha, we made a funny!) Yes, it is a tie full of cables - 1/4" and RCA connectors. A large, bold print - great for dj's, producers, guitarists and all sorts of music nerds. Original illustration.

Our fierce new model for winter: Rick. Woooo! He's got on one of our best selling ties,
Victorian Gears, originally made for Alan and Siouxie's wedding last year, but now released in tons of colors and finishes. They're still cute as ever too.

Epic photo post: what I did on my "summer vacation"

2008-08-31T16:41:00.004-04:00

What better way to spend Labor Day eve? I guess I'm supposed to be not laboring or some such hooha, so let's have a semi-proper Summer wrap-up, with a look at what's been going on inside the TieLab - more on the process end of things rather than product.

Overall, we're pretty product-obsessed, but our new-ish studio space has begun to make a world of difference in terms of what, how, and the quality of production. It's been, for the most part - to quote the internets - full of win.

For those following along at home, in the beginning of March we began our migration down from the sixth floor, a tiny wee spot (ok, super-massive by nyc standards, LOLZ). It was less than one quarter of the whole floor. Our new spot a few levels down is a full half of the floor, clocking in at nearly 3000 sq'! Awesome, right? Well, most certainly, except it was hit and required one serious load of work to transform from a predominantly afterhours raveity-rave spot to a proper studio. (Yes, we had a ~~EPIC SUPER RAVE~~ one small little gathering of friends since then, and no, we won't talk about that now. ;) Thnx!

A few befores and afters (please pardon some of the camera phone shots - they're not the best but at least you can get an idea of what we've been up to. When it's a little more done, hopefully some better pictures will follow):

BEFORE:

Main printing area at brightest time of the day.

AFTER:

Main printing area at brightest time of the day.

A little cheap laminate goes a long way

Of course there were the many requisite trips to Ikea, which is always a good time!

And yes, we had to buy one. Some designer at Ikea is funny.

One of the big Ikea quests was getting some proper lighting - although the studio is well bathed in light during the day, as soon as 8pm hits now, it goes dark pretty darned fast. With 16' ceiling, it turns into a lightless cave.

Being able to actually see what you're printing really rules!

Ikea is great, but it alone gets a little boring, so I've been trolling craigslist to try and find some key pieces that would otherwise be financially implausible.

Hello Saarinen! Painting by Joe Jagos who has since migrated to nyc. bastard.

We've been up to much more than just re-decorating and minor construction. We've had a few school groups through to tour the space, given some talks on running your own shop and studio business and have had some wonderful press opportunities. Our other giganto project was the acquisition of our new packaging. 1000 wood boxes = very heavy!

Of course this happened on one of the hottest days of the summer. We all look...ravishing! ;)

So what did you do on your Summer vacation? At some point, I'd like to actually go on vacation.

Plaid Habit - new design + new silk!

2008-08-27T13:28:00.001-04:00

New design of the week - Plaid Habit! (har har har)

Are you a design addict or fashion victim? Interlocking vintage syringes are reversed and doubled in a kaleidoscopic pattern. Fresh from the prep school underworld! Wahoo.

Finally, I have silk in colors, it's been a few years and a few manufacturers (and one positively terrifying quantity!) in order to allow them able to remain affordable ($40). Of course I still have the microfiber which is even kinder ($30) to the wallets, easier to care for and appropriate for our vegan friends. But silk. Finally. So excited. This new silk has a tight weave, is a bit more matte and as a result, holds the print detail really, really well.

Still all hand-printed right here in our downtown Detroit studio. With love.

Angela's Eye + our new NICE PACKAGE

2008-08-08T10:48:00.002-04:00

Hanging At The House Of 'Ties That Don't Suck' - Angela, of Angelaseye.com/WDIV Channel 4 spent the afternoon in the TieLab last week.

To coincide with our nice little chit-chat, I stayed up all night last night (this morning, ugh!) and was finally able to add our NICE PACKAGE to the necktie offerings. Hopefully I didn't screw anything up too bad. I code only well enough to get myself into trouble. ;)

We also have a brand spankin' new new design I'm more excited about than a can of snakes feigning to be honey roasted peanuts: Fool's Gold.

That's the news. It's a Friday in August and we should be on vacation like everyone else...but we're not, because we love you.

Nice Package!

2008-06-20T01:52:00.002-04:00

We're about to introduce some snazzy new packaging - it's all here and finally finished! Hopefully I'll some have time to add it to the site this weekend and rebuild the cart. It's my folks' 35th wedding anniversary (!!!) and there should be the litany of requisite sitting on planes and trains to reach good ol' Connecticut - which means lots on non-printing time where I can attend to much-procrastinated tasks like site updates. :P This is M&D's last hurrah soiree before moving down to sunny Florida, so many congrats to the parental units.

So back to that nice package. Each "gen-U-ine" pine box comfortably holds one necktie or scarf, is screenprinted, velveteen-lined, and varnished for your protection. A perfect ~~coffin~~ keepsake and presentation device for your nifty new neckwear! Each one is somewhat different due to the differences in woodgrain pattern, I've been picking out my favorites all week. And another added bonus - it really protects the tie from wrinkling in transit. I Just did a test-mailing to myself to see how they fared. :)

This upgrade in extreme swankitude should only cost you a mere 10 bones more...still running all the numbers on that but should be in the $10-$12 range for the sweet package upgrade. ANyway, stay tuned to cyberoptix.com for their launch.

Naka trunkshow photos

2008-06-19T01:22:00.003-04:00

A quick report - better late than never? Our recent trunk show at Naka in Ferndale was a huge success! Thanks to the staff at Naka and Stephanie of Phantom Limb for all their help and enthusiasm. It was good to see local folks and bring the cases out of the studio, and who can turn down wine, cheese and conversation?

AWWWWW! Merry studio assistants soooo cute!

More on Kill Devil Hill

2008-06-19T01:13:00.002-04:00

People just can't stop talking about our Cowboy and Kill Devil Hill!

The retail stores on Franklin Street are organically developed; they are creative, unique visions of the shop keepers. Kill Devil Hill is no exception. The exciting part of this general store is that pretty much every time you visit, you will see new things. Cowboy Mark has "a whole barn-full" of unique one-of-a-kind items that will be gradually revealed. Brockman added that they both travel a lot and are always finding new things...

Again, it's great to have a cravat-home in Brooklyn...stop on by for some old-timey goodness!

CPM & S2DIO NIGHT PRESENT CHEMICAL SALVATION, This Saturday!

2008-06-12T09:41:00.001-04:00

As part of the long-running Detroit by Design S2DIO night, this month's installment will have Dethlab and Cyberoptix, all in one! What more could you ask for! I'll have some neckties for sale, especially targeting those last-minute bad-kids who haven't gotten dear-ol-dad a darned thing. I'll also have 3 large photos on display from different editions of the Meat Series, taken over the last few years.

Mad Love, 2006

S2DIO Night is a monthly event for creative types in Detroit featuring art, photography, music, dancing, and more at the legendary Bankle Building/Detroit By Design HQ.

VISUAL FREAKOUT BY:

BRANDON BELKNAP
CYBEROPTIX TIE LAB
LEO HANIFIN
LYNN UPSON
INX
KOOLIK
MYNAMEISSNOW
MATT ABBOTT
ERIC LEISS
+MORE

AUDIO FREAKOUT BY:

DETHLAB
VACUUM-live funk edits
E SPLEECE-live
JOSH DAHLBERG

BANKLE BUILDING: Saturday Jun 14, 10PM
2944 WOODWARD AVE. DETROIT

Kill Devil Hill covered by Refinery 29

2008-06-10T01:48:00.002-04:00

While Kill Devil Hill evokes the feel of an old-timey general store, it couldn't be more of modern day specialty shop. With the bulk of the stocklist shipped from a connection in Montana—an aging mountain man with a penchant for animal bones, 19th-century trading beads, and handmade Native American crafts, owners "Cowboy Mark" Straiton and Mary Brockman have filled in the rest with their own expertise—Industrial American-era home, gift, and clothing collectibles circa 1870-1962..."

Not only does Refinery 29 has some most excellent things to say about the new shop, they provided a lovely photo of the ahem...Cyberoptix ties also finally having a great home in New York!

As penned by Miss Lis Hsu - "admit it. you've been wondering where cowboy mark disappeared to. he's been setting up a store in greenpoint, brooklyn. it's called
KILL DEVIL HILL (i dunno, ask him what it means yourself!) and since he has not yet finished his time machine, he decided the next best thing is to gather stuff that's really old from all over. and it's not just your average "vintage" or "antique" items. he's going WAY back in time... u know, manifest destiny, frontier life,
carpetbaggers, turn of the century, model T, bonnie & clyde, world wars, FDR.

serving as a general store for all your old timey needs, you will be able to buy SKULLS, taxidermy, vintage workwear, military uniforms, western wear, arrows, jars, pots, pans, wax, trade beads from the 1800's, antler art, a jar full of teeth... thousand year old (not an exaggeration) buffalo teeth... and lots of other things that might be obsolete or definitely not alive anymore.

and if they don't got it? they will get it for you!

KILL DEVIL HILL
170 Franklin St. (btwn Kent and Java)
G train to Greenpoint Ave
http://www.myspace.com/killdevilhillny

Rob Corddry wears "Bombs Away" tie at world premiere

2008-06-03T02:32:00.003-04:00

L to R: Actors Lake Bell, Ashton Kutcher, Cameron Diaz, and Rob Corddry arrive at the red carpet world premiere of Twentieth Century Fox's "What Happens In Vegas" - 5/1/2008

photos courtesy of IESB.net
Rob Corddry's necktie: Cyberoptix TieLab

Not only is Rob Corddry funny as hell, but he has great taste in neckties! (Thanks to an observant customer for pointing this out to us!) Get your own "Bombs Away" tie from the Cyberoptix TieLab. Or if you prefer, it lives in Toybreaker's tandem Etsy shop as well.

Corddry is onscreen now in New Line's "Harold & Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay" and "What Happens in Vegas," stealing scenes as he's always done since his getting his start as a correspondent on "The Daily Show." Corddry has recently landed his first starring role with "Project A," a New Line action comedy being produced by Ben Stiller and will be portraying former White House press secretary Ari Fleischer in Oliver Stone's "W," which is currently in production.

Trunk Show at Naka Thursday, May 29

2008-05-28T22:56:00.000-04:00

See new work from:
Cyberoptix TieLab & their new BSD luxe-line
Phantom Limb: The Stuff You're Missing

+ food! drink!
+ brand new designs!
+ door prizes and discounts!
+ friends are welcome.

Naka is located at 9 Mile and Woodward
171 W. 9 Mile, Ferndale, MI.
Thursday, May 29 from 6:00pm - 9:00pm.
248.582.9113

Metro Detroit designers host trunk show at Naka, Ferndale

The work of two Metro Detroit designers will be on view at a special event taking place at Naka in Ferndale. Naka is a boutique featuring the work of both local and internationally based independent designers. Kelly Pettibone, owner of Naka, will be hosting food, drink, door prizes, discounts and brand new designs from both The Cyberoptix TieLab (Bethany Shorb) and Phantom Limb (Stephanie Tardy). For more info, please visit http://www.nakastore.com.

Many of Naka's artists are scouted from the pages of Etsy.com. Both Shorb and Tardy also maintain storefronts on Etsy. Conceived in early 2005, Etsy is an online marketplace for buying and selling all things handmade. It was built for consumers conscious of the true value of handmade goods and their creators, as well as to give all independent artists the technology and information they need to make a living, making things. Etsy's intention is to offer viable alternatives to mass-produced objects in the world marketplace, and to encourage consumers to be aware of the social and environmental implications of their purchases.

ABOUT THE ARTISTS:

Formally trained in sculpture and photography but now focusing on product-based work full-time, Bethany Shorb received her MFA from Cranbrook Academy of Art in 2001 and BFA from Boston University in 1998. She founded the Cyberoptix TieLab in 2006 after noticing a void in creative yet sophisticated neckwear.

Recently featured on The Martha Stewart Show, Shorb designs and hand-screenprints each necktie, selling both to individual clients and filling wholesale accounts to shops across Metro Detroit and over 100 boutiques and museum stores across five continents. Her studio recently expanded to occupy an over 3000 square foot space in an old furniture factory on the edge of Eastern Market in Detroit.

Echoing the core environmental and socially conscious values of Etsy, Cyberoptix strongly believes that a designer's ethics need not inform nor limit the look of the object. "There is always a more reasonable alternative to the historically toxic trade of screen printing - these alternative processes can also perform better on fine fabrics. It may not be as financially viable in the short run, but the long-term effects on workers' health and our surroundings are invaluable," says Shorb. Cyberoptix is committed to being a solvent-free shop and only uses nontoxic, water-based ink, a practice uncommon especially in high-volume workshops.

Selections from the Cyberoptix TieLab can be found locally at Naka in Ferndale; The Museum of Contemporary Art in Detroit; Design 99 in Hamtramck, and The Store at Cranbrook Art Museum in Bloomfield Hills.

http://cyberoptix.com
http://toybreaker.etsy.com
http://toybreaker.net/blog
http://bsdluxe.com

Stephanie Tardy of Pleasant Ridge makes colorful paper goods under the name Phantom Limb. With the motto "The Stuff You're Missing," many of Phantom Limb's products are made from re-claimed paper culled from unusual sources.

In addition to selling her line of cards and journals, Tardy will debut a 15-piece grouping of playful, mixed media art at the Naka Trunk Show. A new series of Michigan collages, inspired by her popular Michigan mixed-paper notebooks, will also be for sale.

Tardy founded the local indie craft collective Handmade Detroit and the Detroit Urban Craft Fair, now in its third year. In 2007, she was named a "20 in their 20s" by Crain's Detroit.

http://phantomlimb.typepad.com
http://thephantomlimb.etsy.com
http://handmadedetroit.com

DETHLAB + 1 : spring 2008 LIVE mix

2008-04-24T12:28:00.001-04:00

We interrupt the usual tie-chatter to bring you a delicious treat, fresh from the necktie baroness and her two favorite models!

Download new LIVE mix by Dethlab +1
[93mb, .m4a format]

Cocks on Techno Blvd.

Tracklisting:

DETHLAB + 1 : spring 2008 LIVE mix

DETHLAB mashup: The Producers: "Keep it Gay" vs. Homotronic: "U Look Like a Gay"
Rude 66: "The Strings of Death"
Lowfish: "Domination Ver. 2"
Josh Dahlberg: "Interloop"
Kiko: "Slave of My Mind"
Sascha Funke: "Kuschelrock"
Apparat - "Arcadia (Telefon Tel Aviv RMX)"
The Reflecting Skin: "Traffickers"
Das Bierbeben: "Sturm Bricht Los"
Deutsche Amerikanishe Freundschaft: "Tanz Mit Mir"
Adriano Canzian: "You Excites Me So Much!"
The Presets: "My People"
Tomas Andersson: "Washing Up - Ttim Deluxe Mix"
SebastiAn: "Smoking Kills"
Synapse: "Dust-Mite (Edit)"
DETHLAB mashup: Ambivalent: "R U OK" vs. Gershon Kingsley: "Popcorn"
Zoo Brazil: "Face"
Richard Bartz: "Symphonies of Midnight"
DETHLAB mashup outro: "The Producers: "Keep it Gay" vs. Homotronic: "U Look Like a Gay"

AND!

REMEMBER, this SUNDAY night, Apr. 27: DISCO SECRET
Music by Dethlab +1.

Sunday 4/27 at the Detroit Eagle
1501 Holden St, Detroit, MI 48208
$2 drinks, guarded parking, leather.

PRESS: Crain's Detroit Business

2008-04-21T11:13:00.002-04:00

Photo credit: NATHAN SKID/CRAIN'S DETROIT BUSINESS

If you think most ties are boring, you're not alone — designer Bethany Shorb agrees.

Visit the Web site for Cyberoptix TieLab, Shorb's online boutique, and you'll be greeted with a promise in the form of a slogan: “Ties that don't suck.”

Shorb's neckwear venture began as an afterthought back in 2006. Completing a screen-printing project, the Cranbrook Academy of Art-trained artist decided to make a tie for fiance Michael Doyle...

See the full article at Crain's Detroit Business.

On swinging and parachute jumping

2008-04-21T09:24:00.003-04:00

We've been busy here all weekend printing and shooting new designs for Summer - these are hot off the presses and just released today!

Who doesn't like Coney Island? We sure do. Sadly developers will soon have their way with it as a whole, but this iconic Brooklyn structure will thankfully never see the wrecking ball due to it's status on the National Register of Historic Places. Show your love for Brooklyn with our new Coney Island Parachute Jump necktie. Our litigious society will probably prevent it from ever being operational again as an amusement attraction (silly modern safety standards) ... it sure must have been fun in it's day.

Also in a similar vein of jumping, swinging and general tomfoolery is our Swinger tie. (Poo poo on double entendres, we like triple and quadruple entendres around these parts!) We've seen this chandelier glyph adorn just about everything in designed goods over the past year or so - from wall graphics to sketchbooks to t-shirts - we decided to have a little fun with it.

for once, a post other than ties!

2008-04-18T03:12:00.000-04:00

But we all look good in them...

Music by Dethlab +1.

THIS WILL BE FUN. YOU WILL COME

Yes, it is a Sunday, but it takes place in a seriously most awesome bar. Yes, it is technically a gay bar, but be not afraid, Sunday nights are dance nights for all folks bent and not, assless chaps not required. Appreciated...though... :P

PLUS two dollar drinks, who can argue with that?

If you've never been, it's nice and dark with a good sound system, security guard for parking, it's CLEAN and not GROSS like so many other fine establishments in our fair city...so don't be scared.

A special mix for you forthcoming...

xox

Some love for Detroit from Mr. Sterling...

2008-03-25T16:11:00.001-04:00

Beyond the Beyond: Toybreaker: Cyberoptix TieLab

Best review from Bruce Sterling ever:

(((A great tie to wear when you're a Detroit mayor in court for imaginary sex crimes. Or on the Martha Stewart Show, live from the slammer.)))

2008-02-27T02:22:00.000-05:00

February 27, 2008

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Work of Local Detroit Designer to Appear on The Martha Stewart Show: Highlights of Etsy.com

Local Detroit designer Bethany Shorb (aka Toybreaker) is to be featured on The Martha Stewart Show on Friday, February 29th on WXYZ Channel 7. The segment can also be seen at primetime on Fine Living Network Monday, March 3 at 8pm and midnight Eastern Time. The show features movers and shakers as well as everyday people who've accomplished extraordinary things. This entire segment of The Martha Stewart Show highlights the best of Etsy.com, touted as "Your place to buy and sell all things handmade." Shorb's men's accessory line, "The Cyberoptix TieLab" is featured along with the work of fifteen other successful independent designers also part of Etsy.com.

Conceived in early 2005, Etsy is an online marketplace for buying and selling all things handmade. It was built for consumers conscious of the true value of handmade goods and their creators, as well as to give all independent artists the technology and information they need to make a living, making things. Etsy's intention is to offer viable alternatives to mass-produced objects in the world marketplace, and to encourage consumers to be aware of the social and environmental implications of their purchases.

Formally trained in sculpture and photography but now focusing on product-based work full-time, Shorb received her MFA from Cranbrook Academy of Art in 2001 and BFA from Boston University in 1998. She founded the TieLab in 2006 after noticing a void in creative yet sophisticated neckwear. Based in the Eastern Market area of Detroit, Shorb designs and hand-screnprints each necktie, selling both to individual clients and filling wholesale accounts to shops across Metro Detroit and nearly 100 boutiques and museum stores across five continents. Her studio currently occupies a portion of the top-floor of an old furniture factory and will soon be expanding to an over 3000 square foot space on a neighboring floor.

Shorb runs her stand-alone web store, The Cyberoptix TieLab (http://cyberoptix.com) in tandem with her Etsy shop (toybreaker.etsy.com). "The Etsy shop has been a great boon to my business," says Shorb, "it has introduced a much broader customer base than I was unable to reach before. Etsy also supports a strong sense of community among both buyers and sellers - we are all able to collectively learn more about our art and good business practices." Brooklyn-based Etsy now has 48 full-time employees, approximately 650,000 registered users, 60,000 of whom are individual artists selling more than 950,000 of their handmade creations.

Echoing the core environmental and socially conscious values of Etsy, Cyberoptix strongly believes that a designer's ethics need not inform nor limit the look of the object. "There is always a more reasonable alternative to the historically toxic trade of screen printing - these alternative processes can also perform better on fine fabrics. It may not be as financially viable in the short run, but the long-term effects on workers' health and our surroundings are invaluable," says Shorb. Cyberoptix is committed to being a solvent-free shop and only use nontoxic, water-based ink, a practice uncommon especially in high-volume workshops.

Selections from the Cyberoptix TieLab can be found locally at Naka in Ferndale; The Museum of Contemporary Art in Detroit; Design 99 in Hamtramck, and The Store at Cranbrook Art Museum in Bloomfield Hills.