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archives |
Thursday 04.29.10
good reads: the selby.
the selby is right up there on my top ten list of favorite websites. i love todd selby’s candid photography and the personal glimpses into his subjects’ eccentric and eclectic homes and studios. who doesn’t love a chance to snoop into creative thinkers’ homes?
now, the selby has a fantastic new coffee table book out, aptly entitled, the selby. i could pour over this book for days and days, and have a good feeling i’ll be coming back to the selby time after time for little nuggets of grand inspiration. here’s a look at the selby.
Wednesday 04.14.10
unexpected guests: lisa solomon.
oh indeed, this is one great unexpected guest, if i do say so myself! i’ve been in love with bay area artist lisa solomon’s work since i discovered her back in 2007, so it’s an honor to share lisa’s beautiful home, and refreshing and inspiring outlook on life with you today. Lisa is wonderfully tactile artist, and you can find many of her pieces available at the beholder, and view more of her lovely work on her website.
so, today we’re heading just across the bay bridge to visit lisa’s eclectic and vintage-inspired home in North Oakland, just on the boarder of Berkeley and Emeryville, which is just 20 minutes from San Francisco. Lisa likes to think of Oakland as the Brooklyn to SF’s Manhattan, and I would have to agree. let’s go!
What is your idea of a perfect day in oakland?
There are a couple of possibilities. There’s always going to museums [both here in the East Bay or in SF], there’s parks — Tilden Park and Lake Temescal are a couple of favs. There’s good eating — so many cute cafes and up and coming restaurants. Plus farmer’s markets. And there’s good shopping too! These last few weeks it’s been lovely just walking around and seeing all the spring blooms.
What’s your favorite feature in your home?
I love the mantle over our fake coal burning stove. That was a GREAT find from porch light antiques before she moved to portland. I also love the archways between our living room/dining room/office. The rooms aren’t very big, but the archways make them feel bigger than they are.
What don’t you leave home without?
These days diapers and crackers :). But in general — My iphone — especially since it doubles as a camera.
What are a few of your favorite local shops?
Tale of the Yak, Berkeley Bowl, and I just discovered Pretty Penny vintage clothing.
What’s on your wish list?
Japanese Sugar cake molds; A stash messenger bag, and the entire set of petite pattern books [I have two].
What’s your favorite bargain find or product?
I don’t have one particular favorite. I’m all about the hunt – finding the perfect thing at the perfect price; trolling flea markets, thrift stores, etc. is fun for me. If I can find something for a great deal? That only makes it better!!
What is your biggest interior design nightmare?
Clutter. How to hide it, prevent it, organize it.
Who are some of your favorite artists?
This is SUCH a hard question for me. I have so many favorites and art crushes. People I’ve admired FOREVER [eva hesse, agnes martin] and people who I discover and get added to the favorites list [lauren dicioccio, victoria may]. I try to document them on my blog under the label artists. You can take a gander to see who I’m looking at and inspired by.
Where do you find inspiration?
where do I NOT find inspiration. Seriously. I will often trip over my own feet because I’m looking up at some piece of string hanging from a tree thinking it’s beautiful. I think our lives are filled with so many small inspiration moments. You just have to allow yourself to see/smell/taste/feel them.
Do you collect anything?
Too many things. Glass beakers, vintage fans, bento boxes, sewing machines, vintage office accouterments. If it’s old and colorful and or useful or well designed I probably want it.
Who would you like to sit down to drinks with?
Audrey Hepburn.
Do you have a guilty pleasure?
Lately I’ve been allowing myself apple croissants and morning buns from La Farine about once a week.
What is your most treasured belonging?
This is a hard one too. I have a lot of things I treasure. Art from friends and people I admire. Things that are from my grandmother’s home. I have an antique locket that holds the photos of all the pets and loved ones I’ve lost — that’s a pretty special item.
What souvenir did you bring back from your last trip?
My last big trip was to Japan, so I brought back a LOT of good stuff. But one of my favorite things is this little buddha with a red cap from nihon-jibuddha daibutsu, the biggest buddha in japan. People buy them and leave them as offerings there. There are thousands of them piled around. Mine sits in my office.
What are some of your favorites websites and blogs?
Besides yours? :) soooo many. How bout I list five places that always inspire me: poppytalk, habit [full disclosure : I'm a guest on habit this month -- but I've loved this blog since it's inception], of paper and things, dear ada, and the clutter.
Wednesday 03.17.10
unexpected guests: johnny & stacie.
this week we’re dropping in on a super creative couple, artists and of johnny&stacie. johnny and stacie love to make things, and share them with us in their etsy shop by, well, the same name johnny&stacie! the couple met in college over drinks while discussing art, and four and half years later the two were married. johnny and stacie live in Saint Paul, Minnesota with their adorable and much beloved dog Ruby. Stacie is an art teacher by day, and Johnny likes power tools and is a freelance designer by day. let’s take a look at the stylish artist co-op they live and run their studio from. you can also see more of their ‘a poster a day’ project here on flickr. thanks for the tour, guys!
What city/neighborhood do you live in?
We live in the Tilsner Artist Cooperative in lowertown Saint Paul, Minnesota. The Tilsner is a renovated warehouse from the 1800’s that is currently a residential artist community located right next to the Mississippi river and Saint Paul farmers market.
What is your idea of a perfect day in Saint Paul?
The morning would be a good cup of coffee followed by a dog walk with Ruby, our little terrier, in the bird sanctuary we live near. We would spend the afternoon perusing various thrift stores and maybe take in a movie. Sushi, drinks, and live music with friends would be the perfect evening.
What don’t you leave home without?
Our iphones and a sketchbook or two.
What are some of your favorite local shops?
The Axman surplus store is fun, quirky, and filled with so many wonderful items you don’t really need but can easily talk yourself into spending a quarter on. We also love Swank Retro, a little vintage shop with everything from modern to kitsch. Hunt and Gather is another favorite thrift store with an awesome and inspiring collection. Last is Wet Paint, a locally owned art store with a nice variety of supplies and knowledgeable and friendly staff.
What’s on your wish list?
We have been on the look-out for a letterpress for awhile, and we definitely would love to be able to travel more. Eventually we hope to own a home too.
What’s your favorite bargain find or product?
Our blue dot furniture that we scored for super cheap at their factory sale in Minneapolis and the Eames shell chair that johnny got for a very low price and refinished for my (Stacie’s) birthday.
What is your biggest interior design nightmare?
Too much carpet, fake flowers, bad massed-produced “hotel art” that matches the sofa.
Who is your favorite artist? And why?
We both feel like we are inundated with too many talented and brilliant artists on a daily basis to choose one or two that are favorites. Honestly, I (Stacie) teach elementary art and my favorite artists are my students. They are honest, uninhibited, hardworking, and they have wonderful imaginations.
Where do you find inspiration?
Everywhere! As corny as it may sound, we keep our senses engaged, because inspiration can often be where you least expect it. The internet is a phenomenal tool for finding inspiration, but you also have to go out a live life.
Do you collect anything?
We have amassed quite a collection of mid-century furniture and also have and assortment of vintage globes.
What’s your favorite feature in your home?
Wood floors, ceiling height, and old beams are the best parts of our space.
Who would you like to sit down to drinks with?
Our family–with love them so much and don’t see them often enough.
Do you have a guilty pleasure?
Feel too guilty to share them! Probably related to some deliciously awful food we shouldn’t be eating.
What is your most treasured belonging?
Is a dog considered a belonging? This is a tough question. We really try not to look at our belongings too preciously. But our dog ruby is perfect!
What’s souvenir did you bring back from your last trip?
A fuzzy, flocked jackalope coin bank from the great state of South Dakota.
What’s your greatest indulgence?
art and design books.
What is your idea of living hell?
Not having a supportive and loving family or being stuck in a relationship with someone you don’t love or who doesn’t love and respect you.
What are some of your favorites websites/blogs to visit?
ffffound, all the mountains, FOR ME, FOR YOU, Fine Little Day, design*sponge, the house of milk, Design for Mankind, 2 or 3 things i know, aaaahhhh! way too many to choose from!
*some photos courtesy of james ramsay photography.
Wednesday 03.10.10
unexpected guests: jasna janekovic.
today on unexpected guests we’re headed all the way to Germany, specifically, we’re dropping in on cologne-based graphic designer jasna janekovic. jasna has a sweet little home that she decorates with lots of love, and plenty of charm. she’s also incredibly creative, and multi-talented, with a wonderful line of accessories she sells in her dawanda shop. for more from jasna, follow her on flickr. for now, let’s take a hop over to visit to jasna’s home and studio in germany.
What city/neighborhood do you live in?
I live in Cologne in a part of the city where a lot of young families are living. I love the big park at the end of my street and the organic supermarket close to my home.
What is your idea of a perfect day in your city?
A perfect day is a sunny summer day with a light breeze (very rare in Cologne). The trees in my garden are whispering and rustling. And I listen to the birds of heaven. I am sewing a dress or a patchwork pillow after my morning meditation.
Then I ride my bike to the farmers market to buy some flowers, vegetable and raspberries. Back at home I cook a macrobiotic meal and read a sewing book in my garden or in the park. I order some new fabrics at some internet shops and paint new ideas in my sketchbook. I smell a summer lilac flower, while I m thinking about new projects. In the afternoon some women are coming over and I m giving a sewing lesson. We are sewing a big bag and having fun.
What don’t you leave home without?
I don’t leave home without my big patchwork bag (not made by me) and in wintertime without my hippie coat with brown fake fur. This coat is like a mother bear in the deep forest sleeping in a den.
What are a few of your favorite local shops?
My favorite local shop is a thrift store. Love the atmosphere there (it’s very tidy) and the smell of old things. Most of the things in my home are from there. I always find some beautiful kitchen stuff there. Lillyed für dich is one of a few shops in Cologne that sells products from House Doctor and other danish labels.
What’s on your wish list?
At first fabrics, fabrics and fabrics (Liberty fabrics!). I am always thinking about fabrics, pattern and colours. And I spend the most of my time looking for new fabrics in Internet shops. I am a Graphic Designer and my future plans are to design patterns for a fabric collections. I’m looking for a vintage school map at flea markets (for my future balcony) and for one of those wonderful botanical flower maps, Moroccan lamps, Afghanistan jewelry (I love ethnic jewelry), vintage suitcases, a funny, colourful cabinet from india, and enamel dishes.
What’s your favorite bargain find or product?
i have found a black tapiovaara chair at a building lot it was full of bird shit. i took it home and washed it in my garden. love this chair.
What is your biggest interior design nightmare?
I don’t like big flat screen TVs (I don’t have a TV) and big piles of CDs and DVDs. To much dark colours and cold decorations and built in kitchen with wall unit.
Who is your favorite artist? And why?
At the moment I like Rie Elli Larsen because it’s wonderful how she plays with patterns, colours and texture. and Anna Maria Horner — I love her Little Folks and Good Folks fabric collection. the Music artist I like Iron and Wine at the moment — so relaxed and down to earth.
Where do you find inspiration?
I find inspiration everywhere: magazines, blogs, flickr, shops, nature, people, my dreams, flea markets, thrift stores, vintage children books.
Do you collect anything?
vintage buttons, fabrics and ribbon. but I don’t just collect them, I really use them.
What’s your favorite feature in your home?
My apartment is only 32 qm small but it looks much bigger. In spring I will have a balcony. I m sure it will be my favourite place in summertime. Cant wait to look for some furniture for my balcony. I will decorate it like a room with pictures at the wall and piles of pillows and a lot of candles. I love the Goethe poems at my walls.
Who would you like to sit down to drinks with?
I would like to sit with Buddha, Ramana Maharshi, Amma, Mooji or other enlightened people.
What is your most treasured belonging?
Nothing in my home was expensive, everything is from thrift stores, flea markets or Ikea (the furniture, but I have painted it ivory white, so it looks NOT Ikea like). I like every thing but especially things that are really old, like a wooden box with woodworm holes (for my ribbons at my workspace). I love baskets in every sizes and forms, and a Jesus picture from 1925 I found at the flea market some time ago. My mom is crocheting a granny squares blanket for me. I m sure it will be my treasured belonging in future when it will be finished.
What’s souvenir did you bring back from your last trip?
My last trip was in Croatia, my hometown, and I brought back some fabric, ribbon and a cute vintage children’s book.
What is your greatest indulgence?
organic (vegan) and macrobiotic cooked food.
What is your idea of living hell?
working the whole day at a job you hate, living in a dark apartment on a loud street, having no energy and time for being creative.
Wednesday 03.03.10
unexpected guests: elisabeth dunker.
i’m so happy we’re headed to Gothenburg today, the second largest city in Sweden, to the home of photographer and designer elisabeth dunker of the blog fine little day. i have been a huge fan of elisabeth’s work for some time now, so to have her as an unexpected guest is quite a honor. elisabeth shares a studio with artist camilla engman, and together they have created studio violet.
you have no doubt seen their lovely work, and may know that i only use their journals to write my task lists each day. somehow their journals make my tasks seem that much less daunting! for more of elisabeth’s design work, check out her shop and studio voilet. so without further ado, let’s pop into elisabeth’s life in sweden for a bit.
What is your idea of a perfect day in gothenburg?
The sun is shining. Me, the kids and my husband are biking the cycle route along the sea side to Saltholmen, the ocean. We take a dip in the not too cold water and are having a picnic on the rocks. Then we stop by a couple of fleas on the way home.
What don’t you leave home without?
My mobile phone.
What’s your favorite local shop?
Holmens marknad, a big second hand store with furniture, household goods, books and a lot more. I go there as soon as I got a chance. One can find nice things for the kids there as well.
What’s on your wish list?
A summer house. Something like this maybe. Or this. Or this. Or why not like this?
What’s your favorite bargain find or product?
I like rough handmade stuff, toys, paintings, crafting. I also love to re-use objects.
What is your biggest interior design nightmare?
A whole home decorated in nothing but brand new Ikea furniture maybe?
Who is your favorite artist? And why?
For the moment, english ceramic artist Claire Loder. I just love her craziness and playfulness. Not only her ceramic work sparkles, take a look at her web identity.
Where do you find inspiration?
Above all – at flea markets, second hand — and antique stores. But a lot on the web too.
Do you collect anything?
I have several of items which I have more that five of, like sewing boxes, aprons, flower paintings… so yes I believe I do collect even if I don’t always plan to from the beginning.
If you could photograph anyone in the world, who might that be?
My self as a child. I have only a few photos of my self as a kid.
Who would you like to sit down to drinks with?
My mother and my youngest sister, we meet too rarely. But next month we’re going on a trip together to Prague, that will be swell.
Do you have a guilty pleasure?
Berries with a lot of cream. Chocolate, Valrhona or Marabou Schweizernöt for the moment.
What is your most treasured belonging?
My camera and my computer. Boring answer but it’s true.
What’s souvenir did you bring back from your last trip?
Napkins, cones and toe socks.
Greatest indulgence?
That would be books and magazines.
What are some of your favorites websites/blogs to visit?
Mieke Willems, Stork Bites Man, Weird Friends, Lena Sjöberg and many more.
