Cool Stuff: Artist Series Shoes at Olio United

To help celebrate its first anniversary, Portland eco-boutique Olio United recently asked nine great local artists to customize pairs of TOMS Shoes.

The participating artists -- Amy Ruppel, Jill Bliss, Trish Grantham, Yellena James (those are her contributions, above), Ryan Rubnis, Katie Kulper, Aaron James, Erik Railton, and Max Erdenberger -- have each hand-painted several pairs of TOMS. The resulting wearable pieces of art will be auctioned off at Olio's anniversary party on Friday, August 29, from 7 to 10 p.m. The proceeds are earmarked for Transitions Cambodia, a not-for-profit that helps sex trafficking survivors from the Asian nation.

Click here for more information on the event -- and here to see the shoes for sale in Olio's webshop.

Cool Stuff: Supermarket

Norwegian Wood Woodgrain Owl, $49

I keep seeing references from independent designers to Supermarket, so I decided to head on over to check it out.

Ferm Living Sparrow Wall Sticker, $120

Even after spending a good amount of time surfing around there, though, I'm still a little unclear on what, exactly, the Brooklyn-based Supermarket actually is: An online design collective? An indie-focused e-tailer? An Etsy-like virtual marketplace (and indeed, I have seen many of these items on Etsy) -- but with bigger-name designers like Perch!, Deadly Squire, Ferm Living, and Blissen thrown into the mix? Supermarket bills itself as "a curated collection of awesome design products," so I guess I'll just have to go with that.

Grégoire Ganter B is for Brooklyn Bridge, $125

A look at some of the fresh goods on offer:

Perch! Apron Vases, $48 each; John Pomp Glass Beehive Vase, $209; apmDesign Platter No. 8, $150

Shira Sela Forest, $18; Deadly Squire C Poster, $20; Christina Vantzou The Deer on Moni, $130; Green Chair Press Calmly It Goes, $18

MIO Grid Wall Pockets, $70 each; three sheets 2 the wind Linen Pillow, $70; leal&mabe Creatri Pillow, $40; Grace & Go Heavens to Betsy Tea Towel, $16

Adrift Samara Mobile, $220; Jason Linde Wenge Series 1-C, $110; Everyday Studio Nap Cat Bed and Scratchers, $75 each

things, designs ideas Bent Lamp, $75; Propeller Design Meridian and Galiano pendant lights, $480 and $318; Andrea Claire Rome Pendant Lamp, $540

Browse the aisles at Supermarket right here.

Mark Your Calendar: Califoregon at Office

Yet another art show in Portland I wish I could see: Jill Bliss and Brittany Kate Powell's Califoregon at Office in the Alberta Arts District. The collaborative show features mixed-media shadowboxes with two- and three-dimensional vignettes illustrating the iconography of both California, from which transplanted Portlander Bliss hails, and Powell's home state of Oregon.

If you're in PDX, be sure to check out Califoregon, which opens at Office tonight, Thursday, March 27, and runs through April 26. (And while you're in the neighborhood, pop in to the Together Gallery down the street to see The Color of Nature, another Jill Bliss collaborative show -- this one with Amy Ruppel and Seth Neefus -- also opening this evening.)

If you're elsewhere, you can view and buy Bliss and Powell's shadowboxes via the Office website. Prices for the original works start at $250.