More Ways to Waste Time

Over and Out

2009-07-03T12:47:00.000-07:00

Have a lovely long holiday weekend, everyone! I'll see you back here on Monday.

P.S. If you're local, don't miss Evan B. Harris and Alisha Wessler's new show, Back Channels, opening tonight at Johansson Projects as part of the monthly Oakland Art Murmur.

eBay Finds

2009-07-02T08:39:00.000-07:00

Vintage Mercury Glass Apothecary Bottle

Hadrill & Horstmann Counterbalance Lamp

Orla Kiely Scribble Stem Cushion Cover

Paul McCobb Room Divider

Antique Demijohn Bottle

Vintage Industrial Stool

Antique Fireside Accent Chairs

Goodform Aluminum Desk Chair

Jack Lenor Larson X Stools

Conran Mac Lamp

Ernst Dragsted Silverplate Elephant

Exit Lamp

Sortie Lamp

Stig Lindberg Spear Dish

Danish Modern Lounge Chairs

Pair Vintage Plaster Lamps

Luxo Drafting Lamp

Milo Baughman Scoop Settee

Vintage Factory Milk Glass Drop Light

Pair Frederick Cooper Turquoise Lamps

Spectacular Hollywood Regency Lounge Chair

Vintage Trouble Light Stand

Vintage School Light Fixture

Vintage Wire Basket

1960s Geovanni Bragolin Crying Boy

Note: These auctions end between Friday morning, July 3 and Monday morning, July 6. Happy bidding!

Cool Stuff: Pandora Deluxe Cutlery

2009-07-02T01:36:00.000-07:00

Are there picnics and barbecues in your future this holiday weekend? Too bad you don't have a set of these uber-fancy plastic utensils. After all, you don't want to dig into that potato salad with just any old supermarket spork, do you?

Next time, be prepared with these chic forks, knives, and spoons from Italy's Pandora Design, which take the form of fine silver cutlery but come in a variety of poppy plastic hues. Bonus: The lightweight utensils are dishwasher safe, so they'll serve you well for many al fresco meals to come.

Right now, they're on sale for $18.90 per four-piece set from Rose and Radish.

Objects of Lust: Victoria Morris Pottery

2009-07-01T10:25:00.000-07:00

Inspired by both Scandinavian and Japanese traditions, Los Angeles ceramic artist Victoria Morris creates beautifully subtle, organic pottery that recalls a midcentury aesthetic and yet feels utterly modern.

Morris's pieces are available through L.A.'s OK Store (where the hand-thrown vases above run $65 to $195 apiece) and Zelen.

Check out more of her work right here.

Etsy Find: Jane Heller Photography

2009-07-01T09:17:00.000-07:00

I adore the quiet, contemplative quality of these images from Montreal-based photographer and Etsy seller Jane Heller. In her work, Heller focuses on "the nuances of everyday life, the small details that go unnoticed, light and shadow, humor and sadness, and everything in between." Above: I Love Thread

A Day at the Museum

Lingerie on the Line

Family Threads II

Free as a Bird

Blue Wedgwood

Sweet Dreams

Thread

Each signed and dated, archival-quality 8-by-12-inch print is $35. Other sizes are available on request. See all of Heller's Etsy offerings right here -- and check out more of her work here.

Cool Stuff: Muralettes Wall Decals

2009-06-30T22:15:00.000-07:00

Genevieve Smith and Anna Conklin -- the women behind San Francisco's Magpie Decorative Painting company -- have just introduced Muralettes. Unlike most other wall decals, Muralettes appear to be hand-painted, showcasing subtle color variations and delicate brush strokes.

Designs include Branch and Bird (top), Garden of Posies (above), and Fishies (below). Though they were designed for kids' rooms, I could definitely see the branches in an adult space, and the posie design in a whimsical, feminine room.

The decals are $85 a set right here.

eBay Finds

2009-06-29T01:01:00.000-07:00

Antique Grain Sack Fabric

Vintage Glass Fishing Float

Knoll Womb Chair

Vintage Scout Stapler

Midcentury Lounge Chair

Zebra Handmalat Cups & Saucers

Wooden Map Cabinet (pick up in Albany, New York)

Milo Baughman Lounge Chair (pick up in Raleigh, North Carolina)

1940 School Map of Europe

Vintage Florence Prolon Melamine Bowl

Original Bertoia Diamond Chair

Midcentury Writing Desk

Dollhouse Miniature Medical Charts

Pair Italian Murano Glass Lamps

Set of Two Giant Clamshells

Norm 69 Large Artichoke Lamp Kit

Syrocco Sunburst Mirror

Danish Modern Magazine Table

Alphabet Letterpress Blocks

Christian Dell Wall-Mounted Lamp

Antique Balance Scales

Kaj Franck Cruet Set

Antique Oak Printers Cabinet

Note: These auctions end between today and Thursday evening, July 2. Happy bidding!

Over and Out

2009-06-26T13:17:00.000-07:00

Photo by Crystal.

Have a lovely weekend!

Cool Stuff: Honesty Stamps

2009-06-26T08:47:00.000-07:00

Heartfelt communication is just so ... time-consuming. Enter Honesty Stamps from British artist Dominic Wilcox, which let you express your deepest feelings without any of that pesky soul-searching or tedious word-crafting.

The sentiments range from sweet to snarky, and the wooden stamps come in a pretty white gift box -- making it all that much easier to let that special someone know how you really feel.

They're £15 (about $25) each from London retailer Thorsten van Elten.

Mark Your Calendar: Friday Fun

2009-06-25T18:21:00.000-07:00

A trio of great art events happening in San Francisco Friday night:

* Artists Annie Galvin and Eric Rewitzer, ceramist Diana Fayt, furniture maker Brad Boggie, and jewelry designer Cheryl Freeman showcase new pieces during their Renegade Preview Party from 5 to 9 p.m. at 3 Fish Studios in Dogpatch.

* Alexis Mackenzie's Never Be Sad debuts at Park Life in the Richmond District. The opening reception runs from 7 to 10 p.m., and the show will be up through July 27.

* Battle Royal -- a group show featuring Julian Callos, Anthony Clarkson, Joshua Clay, Patrick Gannon, Gene Guynn, Walt Hall, Martin Hsu, Aaron Jasinski, Marcus Schafer, and Jeremy Tinder -- opens with a reception from 7 to 10 p.m. at Gallery 1988 in Polk Gulch. The show will be up through July 18.

Have fun!

Retail Therapy: L.A.'s Voila!

2009-06-25T09:33:00.000-07:00

I first became acquainted with Los Angeles shop Voila! when I visited their booth at the last SF20 show. It was filled with gorgeously repurposed vintage industrial furnishings and darkly glamorous objets, and it was pretty much love at first sight.

I was excited to visit the Voila! showroom on North La Brea during our last trip to Southern California, but alas, it was closed the day we stopped by.

These new photos of the shop, shot by Sam Frost for a recent feature on 1stdibs, make me more determined than ever to get there.

I'm absolutely mesmerized by store owner Katrien Van der Schueren's inspired mix of dark, weird, and wonderful Belgian antiques and curiosities. And though I'm positive that everything here is way out of my price range, I could definitely kill an hour or two furtively fondling it all -- not to mention taking inspiration for future eBay scouting missions.

Read the 1stdibs article on Voila! here -- and browse the shop's online offerings here.

eBay Finds

2009-06-24T23:10:00.000-07:00

Two Lime Green Eames Shell Chairs

Finel Enameled Mushroom Bowl

Set of Six Vintage Modernist Chairs

1970s Chrome and Glass Chandelier

Retro Burl Walnut Salad Bowl and Servers

Herman Miller Orange Shell Chair

Cathrineholm Enamel Bowls and Teak Tray

Four Plycraft Bentwood Children's Chairs

Vintage Painted Wood Birdcage

Vintage Social Realist Painting

Eames DCW Chair

Vintage Royal Dux Porcelain Owl

Nude in a Pink Dotted Room by Andre Grill

Jielde Blue Modernist Desk Lamp

Vintage Industrial Tripod Flood Lamp

Francis Kughler Nude in Profile Oil 1940s

Industrial Metal Table Lamp

Vintage Shoe Molds

1950s Architectural Drafting Table

Vintage French School Chart Moss

Vintage Tractor Stool

Midcentury Modern Floating Arm Sofa

Atomic Two-Tone Tension Pole Lamp

Pair Knoll Saarinen Side Chairs

Set of Six Kai Kristiansen Solid Teak Dining Chairs

Vintage Leather Toiletry Case, Leather Overnight Case, Black Leather Suitcase, Tweed Striped Suitcase, and Black Leather Train Case

French Vintage School Poster

Note: These auctions all end between Thursday afternoon, June 25, and Sunday evening, June 28. Happy bidding!

Objects of Lust: Anna Sykora Ceramics

2009-06-24T08:25:00.000-07:00

The minute I saw these, I fell hard. I mean, yum.

Handcrafted by Berlin ceramist Anna Sykora from Limoges porcelain, each piece is covered in a fine layer of earth-based terra sigillata clay that Sykora mixes herself before being inscribed with a delicate pattern and fired at ultra-high temperature.

Available in a variety of colors and patterns, the bowls are 40 to 44 euros (about $56 to $62), the vases are 198 euros ($278), and the platters are 120 to 190 euros ($169 to $267) from Craft2Eu.

See more of Sykora's work here.

Cool Stuff: Graham & Brown Peony Wallpaper

2009-06-23T13:24:00.000-07:00

I really like this Peony Wallpaper from Graham & Brown's new eco-friendly collection.

It's $60 a roll right here.

Etsy Find: Felt Storage Baskets

2009-06-23T07:52:00.000-07:00

Made from high-quality, ultra-thick and sturdy industrial felt, these handy baskets from The Felt Store are great for containing clutter. Use them to hold your bedside or living room reading stash, yarn and other craft supplies, desk accessories, or even bread or fruit on the dinner table. Above: Large Felt Storage Basket With Handles, $90

Gray Felt Table Basket, $15

Lined Felt Table Baskets, $25 each

Medium Storage Baskets, $65 each

Check out all of The Felt Store's Etsy offerings right here.

Cool Stuff: Frou-Frou & Claude Screens

2009-06-22T08:59:00.000-07:00

Dramatic, functional, and versatile folding screens from London designer Shelley McDonald of Frou-Frou & Claude.

Use them to divide a room, to cordon off a dressing area or work space, or to serve as a interesting visual backdrop for a bed or sofa.

They're £425 (about $699), plus the fabric of your choice, right here.

eBay Finds

2009-06-22T05:30:00.000-07:00

Danish Modern Walnut Coffee Table

Parzinger Mirror

Hollywood Regency Tufted Occasional Chairs

Widdicomb Gibbings Magazine Rack

Illum Wikkelso Chair

Vintage Original Oil Painting

'70s Campaign Desk

Vintage Metal Sunburst Wall Sculpture

Baker Midcentury Modern Sofa

Paul McCobb Wine Rack

Pair Jielde French Task Lamps

Goodform Aluminum Side Chair

Vintage Siena Ware Teapot

Note: These auctions end between today and Wednesday evening, June 24. Happy bidding!

Over and Out

2009-06-19T13:20:00.000-07:00

Photo by the cheshire smile

Have a lovely weekend, everyone!

Cool Stuff: Found Paper Journal

2009-06-19T09:14:00.001-07:00

Oakland art gallery and art bookstore Rowan Morrison has just released a third edition of its Found Paper Journal.

The journal features 128 subtly patterned pages assembled from old accounting ledgers, graph paper, legal pads, letterhead stationery, sheet music, grammar-school writing paper, loose leaf, Braille, job application forms, certificates, and other vintage papers. No two journals are entirely alike.

They're $10 apiece right here.

How To: Make a Knitted Pouf

2009-06-18T08:52:00.000-07:00

I am totally going to make one of these.

Go here for step-by-step instructions. If you can knit and purl, it actually looks incredibly easy. And even though it requires 18 skeins of super-fat yarn plus stuffing, it'll still cost a heck of a lot less than the $800-$1,600 Flocks Poufs at DWR.

There's a smaller version, too.

(From Norway's Pickles blog -- don't worry, the instructions are in English -- via Tikoli's Twitter, via Craft, via CasaSugar.)

Etsy Find: Tiny Sparks Design

2009-06-18T04:37:00.000-07:00

I'm crushing on these screenprints on wood from Etsy seller Tiny Sparks Design (aka San Francisco furniture designer and builder Brad Boggie).

Using sustainably (and often locally) harvested lumber, non-toxic inks, old-school woodworking tools, and plenty of elbow grease, Boggie creates each ready-to-hang piece by hand. I especially like his functional items:

Solid Birch Coat Rack, $50

Oak Keyholder With Skeleton Keys, $35

Bird and Trees on Figured Birch, $45

Rain Clouds on Elm, $45

Tree Rings on Oak, $45

Three Stitched Leaves on Birch, $35

See all of Tiny Sparks Design's Etsy offerings right here -- and check out more of Boggie's creations here.

Bonus Deal of the Day: Wall Blank Vault Sale

2009-06-17T10:59:00.000-07:00

I love that so many great print-release sites -- places where you can find limited editions of work from emerging and established artists -- are popping up around the internet, because that means it's never been easier to discover new artists and to fill your home with interesting and affordable art. 20x200 and Tiny Showcase are perennial faves, of course, but another that's new to me is Wall Blank.

The site offers one new archival-quality Giclee print each weekday, which is then available for just one week or until it sells out (whichever comes first). And on Fridays, 100 percent of the proceeds from that day's print are donated to a charity of the artist's choice.

Right now, Wall Blank is having a special Vault Sale, during which remaining copies of past prints are available. My picks, top: My Marvelous Flight by Wilmer Murillo, limited edition of 100 8-by-9-inch prints, $14, or 12-by-14-inch prints, $29

I Solemnly Stand by Jarrod Renaud, limited edition of 100 4-by-7-inch prints, $19, or 11-by-20-inch prints, $39

David and Me by Amy Rene, limited edition of 50 6-by-6-inch prints, $14, or 12-by-12-inch prints, $24

Air France by Nolan Webb, limited edition of 100 11-by-11-inch prints, $24

Layers by Gary Burke, limited edition of 75 13-by-16-inch prints, $29

I Would Rather Walk With You by Russell Leng, limited edition of 100 8-by-12-inch prints, $19, or 75 15-by-22-inch prints, $39

Trapeze Swinger by Cari Ann Wayman, limited edition of 15 15-by-20-inch prints, $49

Flower Parade by Brooke McAllister, limited edition of 75 8-by-12-inch prints, $19, or 12-by-18-inch prints, $29

Green Line by Kyle LaMere, limited edition of 100 8-by-12-inch prints, $19, or 12-by-18-inch prints, $29

Bead Strings by Nicky Linzey, limited edition of 50 6-by-8-inch prints, $17, or 13-by-18-inch prints, $29

Empty Park by Joel Childs, limited edition of 100 10-by-12-inch prints, $24

Albino Blue Jay, limited edition of 100 6-by-6-inch prints, $20

Today only (Wednesday, June 17), enter coupon code ONEDAY at checkout for an additional 15 percent off your order. Peruse all of the offerings at Wall Blank right here.

Deal of the Day: Poster List "Frame It" Special

2009-06-17T05:00:00.000-07:00

This month, The Poster List is offering a couple of special deals on their great, graphic prints: For $26, choose any 12-by-18-inch poster and it'll come in your choice of a white, black, or brown wooden frame. Or get two unframed posters for $20.

Some of my faves, clockwise from top left: Pink Radios, Green Butterfly, Red Leaves, High Jinx, Begun to Fight, Don't Blog Me, Rock Song, Fish in the Sea, and Pattern Birdie

Both offers are good through June 30. Click here to check out The Poster List's available prints.

Object of Lust: San Francisco Terrain Sculpture

2009-06-16T10:19:00.000-07:00

Is there a place in the world that's captured your imagination, that inspires you daily, and that holds a place in your heart equal to no other?

For Conor Fennessy, that place is San Francisco. His San Francisco Terrain sculpture depicts the unique topography of his beloved City by the Bay, simply and beautifully, in pure white gypsum.

It's $175 framed and ready to hang, or $275 with its own stand direct from Fennessy or at San Francisco's Jak Home boutique.

Cool Stuff: Rustic Rolling Bins

2009-06-16T04:37:00.000-07:00

I spotted these wooden storage bins on the U.K.'s Rose & Grey, and thought they were great. You could use them to corral kids' toys, stack clean towels in the bathroom, hold files and paperwork in your home office, or put them to use in any number of other household settings.

But at £55 (about $90) a pop? Not so much. Though I'm not crafty in the slightest, even I think it would be simplicity itself -- not to mention a whole lot cheaper -- to make something similar on your own.

A quick eBay search turned up hundreds of vintage wooden crates, for instance, or you can find them at just about any flea market. Heck, you probably have a couple already sitting in your basement.

Then just pick up some screw-on casters at your local hardware store or home center and voila -- a set of handy, utilitarian-chic rolling bins for a few bucks apiece.