Over and Out

Photo by burnt_sugar

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!

P.S. If you're local, don't forget:

* Last chance to take advantage of the exclusive discount at Atomic Garden.

* Saturday is the final day at Mignonne Oakland, with 30 percent off almost everything.

* Maker Faire!

Bonus Deal of the Day: Deep Discounts at Henry Road

The deals are hot-and-heavy this week: L.A.-based Henry Road is having a blowout sale to celebrate its brick-and-mortar store's first anniversary as well as Mother's Day.

Every item in textile designer Paula Smail's online shop -- table linens, pillows, bags, fabric yardage, lampshades, and even exuberantly reupholstered vintage furniture -- is a whopping 40 percent off until Sunday.

See all of Henry Road's cheerful wares right here. To get the discount, enter coupon code SALE at checkout between now and May 10.

Deal of the Day: Cinco de Mayo Savings at LAMA

Yet another local, indie e-tailer that's offering tempting savings right now: Oakland-based LAMA (Latin America in the Modern Age), purveyor of colorful textiles, whimsical ceramics, fresh accessories, unique papergoods, and more from traditional Latin American artisans as well as modern-leaning artists and crafters.

Peruse all of LAMA's updated south-of-the-border styles right here. To take advantage of the 15 percent discount, simply enter coupon code CINCODEMAYO at checkout between now and Friday, May 15.

Deal of the Day: Discount at Atomic Garden

Attention, locals: The lovely ladies at Atomic Garden, the beautiful Rockridge eco-boutique, have generously offered More Ways to Waste Time readers 15 percent off all of the shop's gorgeous, earth-friendly housewares through the month of May.

Whether you need to pick up a unique Mother's Day gift, are looking to subtly and beautifully green up your home, or simply owe yourself a small-but-wonderful treat, the shop has an array of handmade and sustainably produced items from which to choose.

Goods include low-impact ceramics; recycled glassware; organic cotton, linen, and hemp textiles from companies such as Plover, Fog, Transylvanian Images, and Flock Home; pretty, reusable shopping bags and lunch sacks; natural beeswax candles; locals Rebecca Stevens's and Nabil Samadani's eco-printed seasonal soup cookbook; recycled-paper notebooks and stationery; and even salvaged-wood birdhouses by Oakland artist and furniture maker Billy Kroft.

To take advantage of the 15 percent savings, just mention More Ways to Waste Time when you bring your purchases to the register between today and May 31.

Atomic Garden is located at 5453 College Ave. near Kales in Oakland's Rockridge district, and is open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays.

Read more about the shop right here, and feel free to pass along the savings to friends in the area!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Mark Your Calendar: Whitney Smith Sample Sale

If you're in the Bay Area this weekend, be sure to stop by ceramic artist Whitney Smith's Spring Sample Sale on Saturday, March 28, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Smith is making space in her studio by clearing out not-quite-perfect items -- which are 10 to 70 percent off regular retail -- prototypes, older pieces, and even some brand-new designs (her organic-modern Lichen Collection, for instance, is a particular fave of mine). The studio is located at 539 Athol Ave. at Cleveland in Oakland.

And if you're not in the area, don't despair -- Smith will be filling the "Sale" section of her Etsy shop with bargains starting on Sunday, March 29.

See more of Smith's gorgeous handmade ceramics right here.

Cool Stuff: LAMA Pillows and Throws on Sale

Good news: From now until March 19, every pillow and throw at the Oakland, California-based LAMA Designs (Latin America in the Modern Age) is 35 percent off.

My faves have got to be artist Tanya Aguiñiga's handmade felt "Animales" series (top), on sale for $78 apiece, and the graphic Caballito Pillow (above) from Argentina's Fauna Perez, on sale for $32.50.

Though these weatherproof Mexican oilcloth pillows (the medium size in yellow is on sale for just $17) are mighty tempting, too.

While you're there, be sure to check out a few other LAMA goodies:

Pop Flower Serving Tray, $70

Blue Guatemalan Hammock, on sale for $57

Knitted Cardón Cactus, $24

Teapot With a Cold, $120

Tiny Fruit Pot With Spoon, $24

Toile Laptop Case, $32

Owlino Tote, $60

Credit Card/Business Card Case, $11

Calco Cortina Paper, $9 per sheet

Corazon Love Birds Card, $3.50

Mariana Bandin Dolls and Softies, $38 to $40 each

See all of LAMA's Latin-flavored modern wares right here.