Editing

Sometimes I panic because I have too much stuff. I love objects, but I also love minimalism. I grow weary of the work things are.

I decided to spring clean this weekend. And I was ruthless. Why do I have so much stuff? I just don't need so much. Once I edit something, I don't look back. I thank it for serving me, but out it goes. So yesterday, I packed up some vintage vases and headed to a cute store in Lakewood called Deja Vu.

How compelling is this? There are treasures everywhere! I couldn't stop looking! The shop owner is a dear, and she totally gets me. That doesn't happen too often. By that, I mean she is a fellow creative. We can talk about art, decor, color, lamps, pottery, etc. for hours!

Her shop is divine, she is skilled at the art of display.

This is a hoop skirt with Christmas lights hanging from the ceiling. How cute is that? Behind that are a few examples of the wonderful hook rugs she makes.

She uses lamps for display. On this one she has cleverly displayed clip earrings.

And a doily on this one.


I saw this cute original painting. Only $14.00. I love her, I may go back for her.

How sick is this? I'm trying to get rid of stuff and I keep looking at stuff! These things are tempting me. I've been thinking of doing more pink and blue in my apartment. I adore the ceramic swans. I could kick myself. My mother had a set of these when I was a child, I wish I'd kept them. I didn't like them then. I love the blue chair. She painted the pink table herself and embellished it with vintage beads.

She bought some of my vintage pieces, and what she didn't buy I donated to the Salvation Army, after all the Salvation Army has been very, very good to me.

My creative juices were flowing as I left the store, I just couldn't wait to get home. I'm definitely going more minimal. Stay tuned.

Perspective in Online Shopping

I adore the convenience of online shopping. Funny, I've only been shopping online for the past year. Like everyone, I guess I'm getting a little more techie every day and I wonder how I ever lived without the internet. Online shopping saves time and gas, although I do get concerned about the amount of waste generated by the packaging. Oh well, this is not intended to be a post on green thinking (that will come later).

This is intended to be a post on perspective and dimensional reality. As my readers know, I adore pottery. I have been wanting to order these beautiful glory vases from Z Gallerie for a while. I have a problem with perspective, though. Even though they give the dimensions, I can never figure out how big something is, and am sometimes disappointed because something is too small or too large.

The other day I was walking at an outdoor mall admiring Christmas lights. I was not shopping, but I stumbled upon Z Gallerie! I was stunned. Here was a store I knew only by its online presence, so I went in. It's strange to see a real store after only having shopped online. Much like the time I saw the New York subway. It didn't seem real to me, the movie version seemed real because it was what I was accustomed to.

Well, let me tell you. The glory vases are HUGE! I was glad I didn't order. Oversized vases are all the rage right now and are very cool done correctly. But they have to be in a minimal, organic environment with almost nothing else to compete with their kingly presence. And my place is way too small for these.

I adore the simple shape and the matte finish, though. Man. Wish they were about half this size. I tried to picture a home these would work in. Then today I discovered the totally-enviable home of flickr user hibbardjennifer via the marvelous blog Bijou Kaleidoscope. Warning: if you suffer from home-envy disease do not click Jennifer's link. Her home is gorgeous!

My gosh, look what's on top of her gorgeous mantel! The glory vases! She has really rocked those vases. Proving they do work in the right environment. I must say that is one groovy lamp. Like the glory vases this lamp requires exactly the right environment. Jennifer's decorating is a stunning achievement, but Jessie - so is your home! I mean no one rocks a kitchen the way you do! Don't hate your home! :)

Here are some more beautiful vases from Z Gallerie. Priced very affordably and with more economic footprints than the glory vases.

They also had some cool (very large) Buddhas.





I love this white Buddha fountain.

I stumbled into Secret Closet, another store I only knew by its online presence. I had been thinking about ordering the gallery vase online. I have been looking for a cheap alternative to the Pietra bowl that I wrote about here. I adore the Pietra, but it's just out of reach right now.

It was interesting to see the gallery vase in person. The vase in this shot looks solid. It's not. It's hollow. It is gorgeous, and the shape very elemental which I love. It's $50.00 which is still a little high, but much more manageable. Problem is it's not white and matte like it appears. It's off-white and shiny. Maybe that's okay since the shape is so wonderful.

Sometimes it is difficult to have a very specific aesthetic and a small budget. Wish I were a potter. But I am sure it takes many years to attain the skill that is required for the beautiful vases that I crave.

Shop Local. Shop Independent.

Last week I wrote quite a bit about display as art. See previous posts, here and here. Today I'd like to share with you a local store that really rocks display. The Clothing Brigade. Upon entering the store, I was greeted warmly and treated patiently as I gushed about the the explosion of art and display and the interplay between the two. The staff are are sweeties! How wonderful it must be to work with creative people!

The first thing I noticed upon entering was this gorgeous display by men's clothing designer, Dana Hardy.

I've been wanting to spray paint branches. Dana explained that the secret to the high gloss is enamel spray paint for appliances. Cool. I adore this, and can imagine how fun it would be to change the objects in the branches.

Next I noticed this fab light fixture. I want it for my dining room! Dana told me that her boyfriend made it. Awesome.

Creative display was everywhere. Vintage military suitcases and branches held shirts and hats.

Continuing the military theme is this amazing stencil work done by artist Brandon Vondrek.

Here's more of Brandon's work:

Creation is a necessity. Damn straight.

Coffee table with detail. Who doesn't want a brawny man on their table?

Brandon's work is obviously influenced by street art, but it's so much more than just that. His art is deep, thoughtful and tempered by local inspiration. He turns the inconographic image of the blue collar worker into art, much like the hip Communist propaganda currently being reinterpreted by Chinese artists. In addition, it is fascinating to note that Brandon uses metal as his medium. In a nod to his home town, Brandon has honored the tradition of the blue collar worker in what used to be a booming steel town.

This amazing screen print of Huey Newton of the Black Panther Party is by Sheppard Fairy of Obey Clothing. Images of revolutionaries are a staple in popular culture. In an earlier post, I wrote about a young man who was wearing a Che Guevera t-shirt. He explained to me that revolutionaries are motivated by great love for their people.

Okay, I probably need to add some yin to all this yang. They have cute girl stuff too. This cute little face was on a t-shirt, but I'd like to have her on a poster. As if the place isn't hip enough, here is some manga influence.

If you like pop culture, the Clothing Brigade has all the bases covered.