Mark Your Calendar: Modern Economy Sale

If I can manage to sneak away from my coughing, sniffling, feverish, germ-ridden family (no, it's not Swine Flu -- at least I don't think it is) for a couple of hours on Saturday, I am so hitting the Modern Economy Sale in San Francisco.

Meg Mateo Ilasco's annual event features first- and (almost imperceptibly) second-quality bargains from dozens of cool independent artisans and housewares designers. So if you're in the area, stop by and snap up some lovely ceramics, textiles, potted plants and terrariums, and other modern home accents at up to 80 percent off retail.

Participants include:

Cursive Design

Emma Gardner Design

Ferm Living

Henry Road

Jean Pelle

Jefdesigns

Paige Russell

Papaver Vert

Perch!

Rae Dunn

Soft Goods

Tikoli

Xenia Taler

... and many more.

The sale takes place this Saturday, May 2, from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Fort Mason Building A Conference Center. (In my experience, the place gets picked clean fast, so plan to arrive early for the best selection.)

More info here. My blog buddy Anh-Minh Le also had a great article about Modern Economy -- as well as how the modern economy itself is affecting local artisans -- in yesterday's San Francisco Chronicle; read it here.

Etsy Find of the Day: Kate Pugsley

I don't know why (OK, maybe I do: I've lost both of my grandmothers this past year), but I adore Miss Gemelia ($300 from Chicago artist Kate Pugsley) beyond all reason. Plus, I'm so sick of the twee little girl art that's rampant on Etsy. I say, bring on the old lady art.

Still, as far as little girl art goes, I would definitely make an exception for a trio of Pugsley's tongue-in-cheek Paper Bag Head gocco prints ($20 each) in blue, gray, and yellow (above), or for her deadpan Swimmer original cut-paper drawing, $55 (below).

See all of Pugsley's Etsy offerings right here -- and check out more of her work here.

Cool Stuff: Kodu Design Refrigerator Skins

Decorative "skins" for your fridge ($95 to $140): Yea or nay?

Food for Thought: The 3/50 Project

I think we're all spending more time lately thinking about the things that we can do to make a positive impact on the world around us. For me, small, simple, and doable is key -- I'm not a crusader, an organizer, or even much of a joiner. But I have been trying to be more mindful about how the decisions I make on a daily basis impact my community, whether it's the immediate one around me or the larger global community we all share.

I've been distressed to see so many of the small businesses in my area hurting, and several actually closing their doors in recent months. So the 3/50 Project is something that I can feel good about committing to (and that doesn't necessarily cost me anything extra, in terms of my budget or my time). This grassroots campaign aims to support independent brick-and-mortars by raising awareness about the importance of shopping locally and by reminding consumers that more than two-thirds of the money spent at local businesses is funneled right back into their community.

For my family, this means alternating between the big chain supermarket where we pick up our staples and the smaller, mom-and-pop grocery store where we get our produce, health-food items, and gourmet goodies from small, local suppliers (and where the food is better, anyway). It means eating at locally owned and -run restaurants instead of chains (ditto). It means hitting one of our area farmers' markets at least once a month (I'm not much of a cook, but I'm always inspired to make something healthy and tasty with the fresh, organic ingredients we get there). It means catching a flick at our historic hometown theater instead of at the big mall multiplex (somehow, the films are better when viewed in a grand 1920s movie palace). And it means shopping for that Mother's Day gift, household necessity, or occasional treat for myself at one of the many wonderful indie boutiques here in Oakland (and where I'm more likely to find something really unique). Plus, since most of these businesses in turn support homegrown producers, artists, craftspeople, and others, we're essentially getting twice the local bang for our buck.

These are all things we're already doing, of course, albeit in a rather grab-as-grab-can way. But after reading up on the 3/50 Project, I'm inspired to make a commitment to my local economy in a more planned and thoughtful way. So Farmer Joe's, Bakesale Betty, Grand Lake Farmers Market, Grand Lake Theater, Mignonne, Atomic Garden, Urban Indigo, Scout, et al., here I come. Because if any of you went away, my world would get a little dimmer.

(If you live elsewhere -- and I know most of you do -- check out my "Shopping" links in the right-hand column: Arranged by locale, they consist almost entirely of independent home shops and art galleries from the Bay Area to Brooklyn, and even across the pond to the U.K.)

Find out more about the 3/50 Project right here.

Shameless Plug: My "Handmade Modern" Article in Sunset Magazine

Super-excited to see my piece on San Francisco indie boutiques specializing in handmade modern wares (as well as some great product picks from local design maven Meg Mateo Ilasco) in the May issue of Sunset magazine, which just hit newsstands.

Grab your copy today, or click on the images above to read it here.

Cool Stuff: Stitching Postcards

I love the idea of commemorating our family's travels in such a visual and tactile way. These Stitching Postcards come in the form of a map (choose from U.S.A., Europe, or World) and accompanying needle and thread, with which you literally stitch your route from one place to another.

Imagine the story that one might eventually tell if you framed and periodically updated it, the crisscrossing strands of thread tracing your journeys across the country or the globe and coalescing to mark the way home.

The postcards are $10 per set from Uncommon Goods.

Cool Stuff: Ink & Spindle Fabric Packs

I'm stockpiling fabric at a ridiculous rate, but despite my endless good intentions, no cushion covers have been sewn. Still, I'm mighty tempted to snap up a couple of these yummy mixed-fabric packs from Melbourne, Australia's Ink & Spindle (aka the studio of textile designers Bianca van Meeuwen, Lara Cameron, and Tegan Rose).

Each of the packs comes with three cotton-linen, eco-screenprinted pieces measuring about 17.5-by-17.5 inches -- perfect for a trio of mix-and-match cushion fronts, don't you think? Above: Hollabee #2

Hollabee #5

Hollabee #8

Hollabee #10

Hollabee #12

Hollabee #14

Hollabee #15

The mix packs are $34 Australian (about $24 U.S.) each right here.

(If you have bigger sewing projects in mind, Ink & Spindle also sells an array of absolutely gorgeous handprinted fabrics by the meter. Check 'em out here. And if sewing isn't your thing, the studio sells cushions made with its fabrics here.)

Objects of Lust: Carved Wood Mushrooms

I started salivating the second I saw these handcarved wooden mushrooms from France at San Francisco's Battersea (aka, the retail showroom for hot SF interior designer Will Wick).

Measuring a substantial 12 to 39 inches, they're available for $685 to $3,000 apiece (I know -- dream on, right?) here.

eBay Finds

Lovely Bastidor Santo

Rare Carl Jacobs Designer Chair

Charles Eames Side Shell Rocker

Two Tufted X-Base Stools

Vintage Architectural Bullet Planter

Mohair Thonet Tub Chair (its mate is here)

Pair Hollywood Regency Iron Benches

Hans Wegner Hansen Y Chair

Midcentury Chair Pair

1960s Orb Lamp Pair

Handwoven Moroccan Kilim Rug

Knoll Vignelli Paperclip Dining Table Black

Architectural Column Base Cloche

Two Rolls Ferm "Branch" Wallpaper

Petite Faux Bamboo Pagoda Chandelier

Modern Woven and Chrome Rocker Chair

Midcentury White Scoop Chair and Ottoman

Charlotte Perriand Stool

Note: These auctions all end between today and Thursday evening, April 30. Happy bidding!

Objects of Lust: Patricia Urquiola Tropicalia Collection

If I had an estate on Santorini, I would buy a few dozen of these Tropicalia Chairs, designed by Patricia Urquiola for Italian company Moroso, to arrange on the all-white pool deck. And then my fabulous, jet-setting friends and I would lounge in them all day, sunning ourselves while the tanned and beautiful houseboy brought us tray after tray of canapés and cocktails.

Oh, to dream ...

Check out the entire collection right here.

Happy Blog Birthday to Me!

Photo by Miel et Soleil

This blog is two years (and 1,359 posts) old today. Thanks so much for coming along with me for the ride!

Cool Stuff: Oceania Vases

Simply lovely handmade ceramic vases from The HomePort.

They're normally $24 to $28 each, or $76 for the set of three, but they're 25 percent off (or $16 to $57) between now and May 15. Check 'em out right here.

Wendy O'Brien ad

Over and Out

Photo by Foto Blitz Color

I'm off to bury my grandmother this weekend; she would have been 98 next week. No sadness, just peace and gratitude.

Etsy Find of the Day: Skinny Laminx Sevilla Rock Fabric

Yummy new yardage for those spring and summer sewing projects from Cape Town's Heather Moore (aka Etsy seller Skinny Laminx). Above: Colts in Goldenrod

Colt Circles in Sand and Seafoam

Herds in Red and Grey

Mongoose in Khaki and Sable

Duikers in Aloe Red and Green

Each of the wonderfully nubby, 100-percent cotton, vegetable-ink-printed fabrics -- inspired by the ancient cave drawings near Moore's South African home -- is $14 per quarter-meter, $27 per half-meter, or $50 per meter right here.

Check out more of Skinny Laminx's gorgeous textile designs here.

Mark Your Calendar: 2nds on 4th Sale

Berkeley's 4th and Clay Studio is holding its annual "2nds on 4th" sale featuring first- and second-quality bargains from ceramic artists Christa Assad, Rae Dunn, Josie Jurczenia, Sara Paloma, Whitney Smith, and Sharon Virtue.

The sale takes place this Saturday and Sunday, April 25 and 26, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 2390 4th St. at Channing. More info here.

eBay Finds

Midcentury Modern Pitcher

Vintage Chrome and Glass Sawhorse Desk

Eames-Era Greek Trojan Horse

Six Japanese Glass Fishing Floats

Herman Miller Burgundy Fabric Shell Rocker

Finn Juhl Walnut Desk

15 Beachcombed Lobster Crab Pot Buoys

Vintage Yellow French Chair (pick up in Pennsylvania)

Vintage Machine age Steel Caged Work Clip Lamp

Shabby Velvet Sofa

Vintage Penn Hanging Scale

Rare Awesome Rams Head Chair

Jacques Adnet Leather Clock

Four Oak and Leather Charlotte Perriand Chairs

Red Tripod Lamp

Riihimaki Eisch Glass Set

Eames-Era Lounge Chair and Ottoman

Vintage Aldo Londi White Elephant

Labarge Hoof Feet Brass Coffee Table

Fifties Spun Aluminum X Lamp

Sixties Gilt Tole Tray Table

Milo Baughman Thayer Coggin Club Lounge Chairs

Antique O.C. White Workshop Lamp

Danish Modern Arm Chair

Danish Modern Secretary Desk

Midcentury Vanity Desk Table

Danish Teak Desk

Jielde French Industrial Lamp

Florence Knoll Marble-Top Credenza

Note: These auctions all end between today and Sunday evening, April 26. Happy bidding!

Wanderlust: Austin's Hotel San José

Austin, Texas ranks pretty high among my favorite places on the planet. There's just something about that city -- I love its laid-back vibe and lack of pretense, incredible music scene, funky vintage shops, fiery Tex-Mex fare and savory barbecue, and its citizens' seemingly universal dedication to having a good time. (Plus, you really haven't lived until you've seen Junior Brown at the Continental Club.)

In fact, Nick and I would pull up stakes and move to Austin in a heartbeat if I wasn't so pathologically averse to the heat. (I get borderline homicidal any time the mercury inches past 70, and verge on psychotic when it crosses 90. Strangely, though, I did just fine during both of our summertime stays in the Texas capitol. I think maybe I psychologically fight the heat at home here in Northern California, but have no choice but to surrender to it in the sultry South.)

Photo by Allison V. Smith

Anyway, I've been daydreaming about our (purely hypothetical) next trip to the Lone Star State -- maybe we could hit SXSW next year? -- and was just reminded of Austin's Hotel San José. We've never stayed there, but know several devotees of the revamped 1939 motor lodge and its utilitarian-chic decor. It's definitely on the "must" list for a future visit, and with rooms starting at $95 a night, it's not a bad deal, either.

Take a gander:

Photo from Southern Living

Photo by LaurAndy

Photo by davisayer

Photo by atxbill

Photo by Allison V. Smith

Photo by Jenni Simmons, The Curator

Photo by Jenni Simmons, The Curator

Photo by Allison V. Smith

Photo by Allison V. Smith

Photo by Allison V. Smith

Photo by emilyj82

Photo by LaurAndy

Have you stayed at the Hotel San José? If so, what did you think? Any other Austin tips? Please share!

(Also on the agenda for our next venture south: A side trip to Marfa. Super-trendy, I know -- but it looks amazing.)

NDS Ad

Nordby Design Studio ad

Etsy Find of the Day: GranSugar's Upcycled Art

Handpainted onto scrap wood and other upcycled materials, Etsy seller GranSugar's sweet, eco- and budget-friendly pieces would bring cheer to a kitchen wall or a neglected corner. Plus, no need for framing! Above: Larkblooms, $10

Green Mod Blossom, $10

Charlie and Lola's House, $30

Piper's Poppies, $20

Valencia Dusk, $10

Dolly's Mushrooms, $20

Amber Skyline, $20

See all of GranSugar's Etsy offerings right here -- and check out the cute bags in her other Etsy shop here.

Cool Stuff: Flake Lamp

Spotted at Supermarket: The Flake Lamp from Tokyo's Tai Design.

Assembled from interlocking pieces of polypropylene and equipped with a 6.5-foot cord, the lamp resembles a cherry blossom or a snow crystal, depending on your perspective.

Available in white, blue, and pink, they're $50 each right here.

The Artful Home: New Walnut Panels from JefDesigns

Arresting new handpainted walnut panels from JefDesigns (aka Portland, Oregon artist and designer Joe Futschik). Above: Bubble 1, $650

Anemone 1, $700

Seaweed 2, $700

Seaweed 1, $550

Anemone 2, $700

Coral 1, $550

Coral 2, $700

Legna Wall Graphic 1.3, $200

Note: Save 15 percent and get free shipping through the end of April when you enter 15% Off in the message box during checkout.

See all of Futschik's new painted panels right here -- and check out more of his work here.

Objects of Lust: Jayson Home & Garden Fantasy Shopping Spree

Sorry I am so, so late with this post today -- I have an awful flu complete with ear infection and ruptured eardrum, the pain of which made childbirth pale in comparison. Nick, bless his heart, got the kids off to school this morning so I could sleep until the absolutely unheard of hour of noon. (He is the best nurse, and his kindness and patience with me makes my crankiness and impatience during his own recent bout with this virus all the more unforgivable.)

Anyway, to distract myself from my clogged head, aching body, and hacking cough, I indulged in a little fantasy shopping spree at Chicago's sublime Jayson Home & Garden, putting together a virtual ladies' salon that's equal parts refined and romantic.

The elements, clockwise from top left: Caravan Chandelier, $1,295; Lotus Flower Dishes, $24 to $48 each; Antique Carved Mirror, $11,995; Barnard Lamp, $575; Vintage French Chair, $1,150; Cerise Pillow, $315; Frank Table, $3,695; Faux Zebra Hide Rug, $1,095; Amalfi Sofa, $2,316; Vintage Wooden Shoes, $295; Petrified Wood Table, $1,495; Moroccan Wedding Blanket, $795; and Factory Light Sculptures, $85 to $225 each

The grand total for my fantasy space? A mere $25,703. Le sigh ...

eBay Finds

Vintage Freeform Driftwood Lamp

Swedish Cased Glass Pendant Light

Rare Allan Gould String Chair

Four Danish Modern Sculptural Teak Dining Chairs

Two Harden Modern Rope Chairs

Pair Vintage Modern Ceramic Table Lamps

Vintage Salix Sugar, Cream, and Coffee Set

Pair C. Jere Sculpture Table Lamps

Teak Bird Salt and Pepper Shakers

Pair Midcentury Modern Ceramic Lamps

Vintage Industrial Factory Cage Lights

Gustavberg Bersa Teapot

Paul McCobb Planner Group Coffee Table

Two Uzbek Ikat Pillow Cases

Note: These auctions all end between today and Thursday evening, April 23. Happy bidding!

Cool Stuff: TapeSwell

Taping boxes closed has never looked so fun.

Started by a stylist who used packing tape daily but was frustrated by its lack of aesthetic appeal, TapeSwell purveys a variety of decorative tapes, mailing labels, and envelope wraparounds in pretty patterns. My faves:

Damask

Pink Twig

Laceful

Scroll

Purple Branch

Emerald Chain

Faux Bois

Leaf Medley

Tulip

The 2-inch-by-30-yard tapes are just $7 a roll right here.

And hey, why stop at boxes? An edging of decorative tape would add color and flair to a lampshade, a picture frame, a drawer-front, or a variety of other surfaces around the house. What would you use it for?

(Via Daily Candy.)

Over and Out

Photo by e*airfully

Are you all doing anything interesting this weekend? Ours involves Little League baseball, baseball, and still more baseball -- three games in the next three days, to be exact. Sunburns (and much knitting on the sidelines) will undoubtedly ensue.

Wherever your weekend takes you, I hope it's a good one!

Mark Your Calendar: Around the Bay This Weekend

Friday, April 17

* Olivia Park's Counting on Numbers at BellJar in San Francisco's Mission District. The opening reception runs from 6 to 9 p.m.

* Eli Geiser and Kelly Lynn Jones at San Francisco's Park Life. The opening reception runs from 7 to 10 p.m., and the show will be up through May 17.

Saturday, April 18

* Trunk Show from 2 to 5 p.m. featuring the magical terrariums of Kat Geiger, at Oakland's Urban Indigo.

* Tea Tasting & Reception from 4 to 6 p.m. at Two For Tea, a new tea-centric boutique in a charming garden cottage behind Sebastopol's FFT Antiques. Proceeds fund Food for Thought, a Sonoma County HIV/AIDS food bank.

* Devon Kelley-Yurdin at Berkeley's Expressions Gallery. The opening reception runs from 6 to 8 p.m., and the show will be up through June 5.

* Tree Show V, featuring tree-centric work from more than three dozen rising artists, at San Francisco's Giant Robot. The opening reception runs from 6:30 to 10 p.m., and the show will be up through May 13.

* And not brand-new, but definitely worth checking out if you're in the area is Daniel Danger and Dan McCarthy's The Watcher in the Woods show at San Francisco's Gallery 1988. It runs through April 25.

Cool Stuff: Iconic Furniture

I've written about B+N's Iconic Panel line before, but the Bay Area company has just expanded its stylish sunken-relief surface concept into a collection of striking modern furniture featuring a variety of subtle textural motifs and warm walnut accents that I couldn't resist sharing.

Screens

Dressers

Credenzas

Beds, Headboards, and Nightstands

Tables

Mirrors

Each piece is available in a choice of materials and surface patterns. See the entire collection right here.

eBay Finds

Antiqued Brass Architect's Lamp

Olivetti Valentine Typewriter by Ettore Sottsass

French Blue Gesso Mirror

Vintage Turquoise Barovier Lamp

Vintage Library Card Catalog

Vintage Turquoise Ginger Jar Lamps

Midcentury Modern Chandelier

Vintage X-Shaped Brass Stool

Pair Midcentury Knoll Saarinen Chairs

Pair Vintage Opaline Glass Lamps

Vintage Green Steel Architect Lamp

Printer's Tray/Drawer/Shadow Box

Danish Modern Architectural Plant Stand

Rosenthal Op Art "Asparagus" Vase

Vintage Large Blue Opaline Vase

Robsjohn Gibbings Widdicomb Lounge Chair

Finn Juhl Teak Coffee Table

Vintage Red Walnut Console Table and Stools

Vintage Industrial Ship Flood Light

Pair Milo Baughman Rosewood Chairs

Vintage Blue Opaline Decanter and Chalice Cups

Yellow Sculptura Donut Phone

Eames Era Task Lamp

1931 World Globe

Note: These auctions all end between today and Monday morning, April 20. Happy bidding!

The Artful Home: Chaos is My Favourite Colour

I saw British artist David Shillinglaw's Chaos is My Favourite Colour the other day on the awesome art blog My Love for You is a Stampede of Horses (report there immediately if you're not already a regular), and I can't get it out of my head. The colors ... the detail ... amazing.

The roughly 12-by-16-inch limited-edition print is £15 (about $22) right here. You can see more of Shillinglaw's work here and here.

(P.S. My Love for You's Meighan O'Toole is curating a group show called You've Got Light in Your Eyes that opens on May 2 at San Francisco's Needles & Pens. The show will feature work from an array of incredible artists, including Know Hope, 1911, Kate Bingaman Burt, Jill Bliss, Will Bryant, John Casey, Lisa Congdon, Maxwell Loren Holyoke-Hirsch, Shannon Rankin, and others. Check it out right here.)

Etsy Find of the Day: LinenMe Textiles

Beautiful, understated bed, bath, and table linens from Etsy seller LinenMe (aka Lithuanian-by-way-of-U.K. textiles designer Inga Lukauskiene). Above: French Linen Tablecloth, $40

Luxury Wool Throw, $50

Satin Linen Bed Set, $100

Linen Cotton Cushion Cover, $12

Linen Basket, $9

Linen Cotton Dish Towel, $9

Blue Striped Linen Cotton Napkins, $15 for four

Soft Linen Huckaback Bath and Beach Towel, $30

Huckaback Bath Towel in Jazz Blue, $16

Linen Guest Towels, $6 each

Handmade Lavender Bags, $8 for two

See all of LinenMe's Etsy offerings right here.

Cool Stuff: "All You Need is Love" Signs

Oooh -- want.

They're £170 (about $255) for the set from Rockett St. George.

(Sorry -- I'm still a monosyllabic mess. Note to self: Bourbon shots + three hours of sleep = not a good combo. OK, I really am taking that nap now ... )

The Artful Home: Lisa Solomon at Tiny Showcase

I think I had a little too much fun last night, and I'm paying the price for it this a.m. (I'm not 22 anymore, though I occasionally forget that.) So I'm not even going to try to say anything remotely articulate here right now.

Anyway: New lovely loveliness from one of my very favorite local artists, Lisa Solomon. The limited-edition "Doily Body: Lungs" print, released yesterday evening, is $20 at Tiny Showcase. They're almost gone, so grab yours quick.

Now, it's a couple of Advil, a handful of Tums, and back to bed for me ... I'll see you back here a little later, if my head doesn't explode first.

Things I Hella Love About Oakland: The Restored Fox Theater

Photo by eeetthaannn

I admit, I've been lagging on my "Hella Love" posts of late. I won't lie: Oakland's had a tough time these last few months, and it hasn't always been easy to work up a lot of enthusiasm about calling it home. But even in down times, it's worth reminding ourselves that the things we love about this city are still here in abundance: An amazingly vibrant art scene, tons of creative energy, great people, friendly (and yes, safe) neighborhoods, beautiful green spaces, gorgeous architecture ...

And despite the sad shuttering of our beloved Parkway Speakeasy Theater last month, one thing that Oakland is certainly not lacking in is incredible Deco-era theaters. The Grand Lake and the exquisite Paramount are longtime faves, of course, but right now Oaklanders are especially proud of the gloriously reborn Fox Theater in Uptown.

* Photos by Nathanael Bennett and Jason Polkinghorn

The Fox -- an over-the-top amalgam of Indian, Moorish, Medieval, and Baghdadian architectural flourishes that's been called "one part Arab and three parts Hollywood hokum" -- was completed in 1928 and operated for decades as one of the Bay Area's premiere movie palaces.

* Photos by Nathanael Bennett and Pete Simmons

It had fallen into decrepitude by the early 1960s, and finally went dark in 1970. But after more than 35 years of neglect and decay, supporters began a two-year, $70 million restoration in 2007, and the Fox triumphantly opened its doors again in February.

* Photo by Josh Miller

Next year, our daughter will be attending an arts charter school in the building that houses the Fox. (How cool is that? She's very excited.) So although I've been onsite a few times now, I hadn't yet seen the inside of the restored theater.

* Photo by Geoffrey Martin

I finally got my chance last night, when Nick and I took our firstborn to see a fledgling hometown band that you've probably never heard of. It was So. Much. Freakin'. Fun. But more than that, the space itself was absolutely breathtaking. Seriously -- words fail when it comes to fabulousity of this magnitude. It's a fantastic venue in which to hear some music and to soak in the glamour of another time.

* Photo by Geoffrey Martin

The Fox has lots of great shows booked in the coming weeks, including Franz Ferdinand tonight, Band of Horses on Friday, Fleet Foxes next Tuesday, and the Shins, Ben Folds, and the Decemberists in May.

* Photos by Josh Miller and Geoffrey Martin

The brand-new Den bar and lounge adjoining the theater has been getting positive notices as well, and Flora across the street is incredible. If you're in the area, you could do a lot worse for an evening out. Trust me.

* All photos borrowed from flickr and the Fox's Facebook page and web gallery.

Deal of the Day: Discounts on John Robshaw

Have you heard about One Kings Lane? It's a members-only luxury shopping site that hosts 72-hour sales featuring 50 to 70 percent off on some of the world's leading home decor brands.

Today's super steals include deep, deep discounts on colorful, bohemian pillows and luxe table linens from legendary textiles designer John Robshaw.

My picks, clockwise from top left: Alwar Pillow, $69 (marked down from $215); Ruby Bolster Alwar Pillow, $139 (down from $400); Finch Stitched Bird Pillow, $55 (down from $110); Sage Tablecloth, $35 to $110; Holly Napkins, $29 for four (down from $90); Silver Jewel Runner, $49 (down from $119); and Parakeet Birds of India Pillow, $75 (down from $162)

The John Robshaw sale event at One Kings Lane lasts until 11 a.m. EST on Friday, April 17. (Don't dawdle if you see something you like, as stock is limited.) You can sign up for free entry here.

Cool Stuff: Vintage-Style Utility Lights

Old-school, but so cool. These Vintage-Inspired Utility Lights (an exclusive at online shop Site Design) are super industrial, a bit steampunk, and totally unique.

Fit them with amber-tinged filament-style bulbs and hang a trio over a kitchen island, a pair on either side of the bed in place of bulky lamps, or a single specimen over a lonely wingback chair in a shadowy corner. Then party like it's 1899.

They're $125 each right here.

Deal of the Day: 20% Off at Sweetshorn Vintage

Etsy seller Sweetshorn Vintage (previously blogged here) has a great deal just for More Ways to Waste Time readers: 20 percent off everything through the end of April.

Above, some of my Sweetshorn picks. Clockwise from top left: Colorful Bowling Pins, $28.80 after discount; Vintage Globe, $54.40 after discount; Modern Number Canisters, $25.60 after discount; Decorative Asian Dishes, $11.20 after discount; Globe Bank, $22.40 after discount; Horse Vase, $19.20 after discount

See all of the great vintage finds in the Sweetshorn shop right here, and take advantage of the savings by using coupon code MWTWT at checkout between now and Thursday, April 30. Thanks, Alia!

Cool Stuff: Floral Aluminum Lamp

I'm smitten with this Floral Aluminum Lamp from "eco-tailer" VivaTerra. When lit, its floral cutouts cast a delicate pattern of light and shadow all around.

The pendant lamp with a 12-foot cord is $89, and the shade only is $69 right here.

eBay Finds

Hello again -- I hope you all had a nice week! Thanks so much for standing by while I enjoyed some scheduled downtime. I didn't get nearly as much accomplished during my week off as I'd hoped, but I did work in plenty of relaxation and feel rested and refreshed. So, mission accomplished on one front, at least.

Anyway, let's get the ball rolling again here with a bevvy of fresh eBay finds. Above: Ceramic Trojan Horse Statue

Lightolier Floor Lamp

Vintage Dala Horses

Vintage Dress Form

Rosengren Hansen Teak Dining Table

A. Madsen Teak Chair Set

Porcelain Glove Mold

Midcentury Modern Cased Glass Ceiling Light

Five Vintage Wood Rolling Pins

Jonathan Adler 5-by-7 Wool Rug

Eames Side Shell Rocker

Complete Marx Imagination Modern Dollhouse Set

Scandinavian Midcentury Dish

Antique Steel Foundry Mold

Karlskrona of Sweden Cup/Saucer/Plate

Hollywood Regency Silk Shantung Sofa

Chinese Girl in Red Original Oil Portrait

Rosenthal Netter Art Pottery Vase

Space Age Modern Silver Foil Wallpaper

Midcentury Horse Sculpture

The auctions all end between today and Wednesday evening, April 15. Happy bidding!

Over and Out: Spring Break Edition

Photo by danske

Have a lovely week, everyone, and I'll see you back here on April 13!

Best of: House Voyeur

It's Spring Break for us, so I'm taking off next week to hang out with my family and squeeze in little R&R. I'll be back on Monday, April 13. In the meantime, I'll leave you with my favorite readers' homes that have been featured here, in case you missed them the first time around. Enjoy! Above: Art and Elegance in San Francisco

Art Deco in Oakland

An Artful Mix in Alameda

Bright and Bold in Berkeley

Cozy and Classic in Cambridge

An Eclectic Arizona Abode

Ethnic and Eclectic in Daytona Beach

Family Friendly Modern in Illinois

Fanciful in Florida

A Fresh Start in Baltimore

Guthrie's Bright, Bold, Budget Nursery

Leah S.' Incredible Remodeled Kitchen

Midcentury Cool in Oakland

Photo-Centric in Palm Beach

Refined But Relaxed in Rhode Island

A Reimagined Ranch in the Oakland Hills

Rustic and Retro in Silverlake

Simple and Serene in Sweden

Small Space Living in Vancouver

Terrific in Texas

Viva Glam in Venice Beach

Click here to see all of the House Voyeur tours. (And -- pssst! -- you can check out a design*sponge "Sneak Peek" of my own casa right here.)

Shameless Request: Want to Show Off Your Home?

Photo by Johnny Blood

Calling all creative homeowners and renters: Show off your deft decorating, renovation, and garden design skills here!

Your house or apartment doesn't have to have grand architecture or be done to the nines to be considered. Small and modest is great. Budget decorating is great. The key components are creativity and freshness.

Hell, you don't even have to show off your whole place -- I'd love to see a single room, a completed renovation project, or even a small area that you've decorated and are particularly proud of.

If you're interested in offering up your abode for one of my "House Voyeur" tours, please let me know!

Mark Your Calendar: April Art Happenings

Another busy, busy art weekend (and week) ahead:

Friday, April 3

* At San Francisco's Rare Device, Portland artist Mark Warren Jacques' The Optimistic Life & Mind opens with a reception from 7 to 9 p.m. The young painter's colorful, graphic, and highly detailed work is "a testament to Jacques' sense of order within disorder and acute presence of mind." The show will be up through April 29 at Rare Device, 1845 Market St. at Guerrero. (If you're not in the area, you can view and purchase Jacques' pieces for the show here.)

* The Mission's Triple Base Gallery presents Out of the Flat Files II, featuring new work from more than 30 local artists, including Alissa Anderson, Marty Anderson, Chi Birmingham, Michelle Blade, James Bradley, Todd Bura, Michael Cappabianca, Shashana Chittle, Serena Cole, Tara Foley, Bryson Gill, Leonie Guyer, Jason Kalogiros, Melissa Kaseman, Justin Limoges, Isaac Lin, Leigh McCarthy, Jay Nelson, Kelly Ording, Oliver Halsman Rosenberg, Hilary Pecis, Jesse Schlesinger, Orion Shepherd, Christine Shields, Paul Urich, David Wilson, and Edmund Wyss.

* Also at Triple Base, Bryson Gill's Mirror and Mirror, Warm Milk - Still Cream, Degrees of Separation, Shades of Blue and Throwbacks, small works that reinterpret "late 17th century portraits through the lens of advertising-inspired graphic pictorial devices." The shows will be up through May 3 at Triple Base, 3041 24th St. at Treat.

* Hop on the Bay Bridge and head over to Oakland's Swarm Gallery, where John Casey's solo show, Distant Cousins, opens with an artist's reception from 6 to 9 p.m. At first glance, Casey's works "seem to portray a menagerie of deformed creatures. A collective analysis reveals this array of oddball creations to be a series of psychological studies -- self-portraits of the artist's inner psyche in all of its multifaceted incarnations."

* Also opening at Swarm: Nature Boy, a collection of Don Porcella's pipe cleaner sculptures, which "play with our concept of consumerism, reality and our own weird mortality," as well as Regime Change, a group show featuring small works (all priced under $500) celebrating our new representation in Washington and the hopefulness that has inspired. Participating artists include Alfred Steiner, Amanda Williams, Amy Ross, Andy Vogt, Barbara Holmes, Casey Jex Smith, Chris Pew, Chris Sicat, Dan Nelson, David Higgins, David King, Ema Sintamarian, Ernest Concepcion, Fred Muram, Fumiha Tanaka, Gregory Euclide, Jaime Cortez, Jessica Serran, Jim Rosenau, Jordan Essoe, Joshua Hagler, Kathy Aoki, Kevin E. Taylor, Linda Braz, Mayumi Hamanaka, Michael Hall, Narangkar Glover, Pete Glover, Sarah Emerson, Sarah Smith, Terry Furry, Treasure Frey, Vaughn Bell, Vicki Walsh, Zach Houston. The shows will be up through May 10 at Swarm, 560 Second St. near Jack London Square.

* Good battles evil at Rock Paper Scissors Collective's new exhibition, Heroes and Villains, which kicks off with an opening reception from 6 to 9 p.m. The show offers "a new and interesting eye on the classic dichotomy of chivalry and ugliness, portraiture and caricature, love and death." Artists include Arnell Ando, Teppei Ando, Graham Annable, David Ball, Ben Catmull, Mary Cook, Alika Cooper, Matt Hart, Matt Hewitt, Obi Kaufman, An Nguyen, Jonah Olson, Deth P. Sun, Mark Todd, and Derek Wood. Heroes and Villains will be up through April 25 at Rock Paper Scissors, 2278 Telegraph Ave. at 23rd St. in Uptown Oakland.

* Jason Byers and Patricia Wakida will be in attendance for the opening of their join show, [Print] Run, at 21 Grand from 7 p.m. on. The show features new paintings from Byers as well as Wakida's linoleum block prints, and will be up through April 18 at 21 Grand, 416 25th St. at Broadway.


* Smokey's Tangle in Oakland's Temescal District hosts an opening party from 7 to 10 p.m. for Beatlenuts, an "attempt to bridge the gap between fine art and fan art." The show will be up through April 15 at 4709 Telegraph Ave. at 47th St. (hint: that's a few doors down from Lanesplitter Pizza & Pub, if you want to make an evening of it).

Saturday, April 4

* At Oakland's Rowan Morrison, Small Ruins, featuring the photography of Hannah Henry, opens with an artist's reception from 7 to 10 p.m. Henry's large-scale photographs showcase "objects from the bottom of people's hearts and drawers: things with a past but no longer a purpose. The photos depict an individual object set against a blank background, highlighting the object itself, and begging of it a myriad of imaginary narratives." The show will be up through May 9 at Rowan Morrison, 330 40th St. at Broadway.

Thursday, April 9

* Finally, the show I've been anticipating with baited breath for months: Marci Washington's Dark Mirror at San Francisco's Rena Bransten Gallery. Washington's "lush paintings work on several levels to build suspicion and to enhance an ominous sense of discomfort and crisis in viewers. She achieves this by depicting ghosts, haunted houses, vampires, dismembered limbs, bloody scenery, and an assortment of sallow young people who serve as metaphors for serious social ills. Washington’s model for a doomed society was Edwardian England, whose rigid social norms and repressive imperialist vision sparked its decline -- a situation Washington feels is mirrored by a present-day America. Her Edwardian characters and romance novel format allow Washington 'to construct an allegorical tale ... in order to reveal a much darker tale of moral decline, spiritual crisis, and rampant anxiety, all lurking beneath the siren song of material desire.'” I'm not exactly sure what that means, but I do know that Washington's deliciously dark and twisted images give me chills (in the best possible way). Dark Mirror will be up through May 16 at Rena Bransten, 77 Geary St. at Kearny.

Happy arting!

More eBay Finds

Midgard Wall Lamp

Stig Lindberg Gustavsberg Berså Saucepan

Saarinen Womb Chair & Ottoman New Replica

Kaiser Bauhaus Stilnovo Desk Lamp

Charlotte Perriand Barstools Les Arc France 1960s

Ericsson 1951 Rotary Telephone

Tufted Bench

Marimekko Onnen Apila Green White Floral Fabric

Machine Age Theater Spotlight

Antique Blanc de Chine Lamp

Vintage Hollywood Regency Slipper Chair (its mate is listed here)

Camelback Chippendale Sofa

Vintage Raymor Jar With Lid

Pair French Armchairs

Two Hans Wegner Wishbone Y Chairs

Exceptional Uzbek Hand-Embroidered Silk Suzani

Danish Modern Teak Tea Cart

George Nelson Boltabest Tray

50s Modern Expanding Slat Bench 8 Feet

Florence Broadhurst Black-and-White Fabric

"Swimming Vacation" Cuban Movie Poster

The auctions all end between Saturday afternoon, April 4, and Monday evening, April 13. Happy bidding!

Cool Stuff: Flatweave Towels at Toast

While everyone else is slobbering all over the clothes in the new Toast catalog, I'm slobbering all over the towels.

The U.K.-based retailer's bath linens this season are mostly flatweave cottons and linens -- so unlike the fluffy terry towels I'm used to, but with an understated elegance that evokes seaside summer cottages and feels deliciously crisp and cool against sun-warmed skin.

They have a practical allure as well: In addition to looking pretty, imagine how little space they'd take up in the linen closet, and how easy one would be to toss in a weekend bag for a quick warm-weather getaway.

Clockwise from top left: Fringed Hammam Towel, £25 (about $36); Hammam Towel, £18 ($26); Stripe Hammam Towel, £25 ($36); Large Khadi Bath Sheet, £35 ($50); and Linen Sauna Towel, £32 ($46)

Check out all of Toast's tasty new offerings right here.

The Artful Home: Franck Juery

These images from French lensman Franck Juery have a dreamy, nostalgic quality -- but they're brash and sassy, too. I love how they seem to offer a child's-eye view, and thus a different perspective of an oft-photographed setting. They're a little like childhood itself: Full of possibility and adventure, but tinged ever-so-slightly with danger and strangeness. Above: Les Petites Princesses

Erdeven

Marie-Kong

Jonville

Manga

Each photo is available as a limited-edition print from French fine art e-shop L'Affiche Moderne. The 20-by-20-inch prints are 59 euros (about $78), while 12-by-12-inch prints are 29€ ($38).

(This week only, the entire L'Affiche Moderne catalog, which includes more than a hundred photographs, illustrations, and graphic art prints -- is an additional 20 percent off. Just enter coupon code spring2009 at checkout between now and Monday, April 8.)

See more of Juery's work right here.