vintage finds for a modern world: swarm.

last evening i watched an episode of the sundance channel’s ‘man shops globe’, a documentary series that follows anthropologie’s buyer at large, keith johnson as he shops for treasures from around the world. nice job if you can get it!

in this episode keith visits artist leslie oschmann, a former anthropologie visual director, at her home studio, swarm, in amsterdam, holland. i knew i recognized leslie’s work immediately, as i had snapped the shot above recently at anthropologie’s union square store, two of her vintage-inspired portraits. i love leslie’s innovative work – re-purposing and giving new life to old canvases and laminating them to mid-century modern furnishings. take a lovely gander!

oh, sugar, sugar!

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Loflife magazine shared this super sweet loft that came to them by way of Uxus Design and the company’s (and the loft’s) owners and directors, George Gottl and Oliver Michell. The two decided to keep the original wooden interior of this 18th century Amsterdam sugar warehouse, built in 1763 and located on the Bloemgracht canal and in the trendy Jordaan district of Amsterdam (the one area I was able to explore on my jam-packed 48-hour journey on business to the city a few years back, and it was fabulous for both shopping and site seeing).

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Uxus Design has this to say about the loft: “In keeping the original open-plan layout we created a series of dramatic curtain walls that could be opened and closed according to the needs of use. Made of luxurious Italian linen, the curtain walls are opaque when lit from the front yet transparent from behind. At night, the space becomes a series of glowing tents, creating the effect of a surreal interior landscape.” For more on this sugar factory turned loft home and virtual candy for the eyes, visit Loftlife magazine.

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bicycle fever.

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have y’all noticed the bicycle fever taking place these days? everywhere i look, there’s some really sweet new bike designs popping up! not to mention the always fabulous 2009 tour de france is on! it’s a pretty great thing – good for the environment, and good for our fitness and health. I fixed up an old, vintage motobecane bicycle and i just love it. i even added cherries to my basket (my friends and i like to call it ‘pimping your ride’). amsterdam is a wonderful example of a city that gets around by bike and i was lucky enough to spend 48 hours there a few years back. even on cobbled stone roads, mums ride around with groceries in their baskets, and one or two children in tow. I was so impressed! here’s a glimpse of some shots i took there, and some great new bikes i’ve been seeing around the web, including mrs. french’s lovely bicycle round-up here on sfgirlbybay. happy cycling!

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my bike – i’ve “pimped my ride”!

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the sweetpea bicycle. so sweet, indeed!

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I love this city road bike from handsome cycles.

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Simple City bike from gary fisher (via apartment therapy newsletter).

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