June 2009

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Cool Stuff: Muralettes Wall Decals

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.

Monday, June 29, 2009

eBay Finds

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!

Friday, June 26, 2009

Over and Out

Photo by Crystal.

Have a lovely weekend!

Cool Stuff: Honesty Stamps

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.

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Mark Your Calendar: Friday Fun

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!

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.