like surprises? or want to give one as a valentines gift? well jen from indiefixx has started an art print of the month club at her shop where each month you receive a top secret art print from one of her super talented select artists out of her shop. what a wonderful thing to look forward to each month! click here for more details!
readymade and anthropologie are hosting hands-on workshops this valentine season on the art of creating personal and unique love notes. it's a space limited series of events being held in cities across the us. send an email to rsvpATreadyymademag.com and indicate your desired city in the subject line. (choose from: berkeley, edina, boston, los angeles, chicago, nyc, dallas and seattle - dates and times vary between feb 5 - 7/08).
i seem to be running into a lot of "love" posters lately, every time i turn around another one pops. and with valentines just around the corner, how timely! (above) we are so good together, reform school rules
all you need is love, doug wilson at keep-calm
you + me, village
blue love from identity5
for like ever poster, from village
i love you from identity5
all you need is love, doug wilson at keep-calm
you + me, village
blue love from identity5
for like ever poster, from village
i love you from identity5
when you look at cindy jaswal's art, which concentrates on environmental issues, working with pen and ink, you will also understand her collection of natural history and botanical reference books. i loved reading her reasons and passion behind these collections and i'm sure you will too.
why you collect these items and how your collection started?
Along with being an artist and mummy to two little boys I'm studying to be a herbalist and eventually a midwife. A major part of my herbalist training is getting out into the woods and seashores and identifying and harvesting samples. These little books help me and are very precious to me, my husband collects them whenever he finds one as well. They are natural history and botanical reference books specific to British Columbia. I love the pocket-size of them. I am crazy over the line drawings as well.
how do you display them or would like to display them?
I look at them everyday. For now they are just in a bookshelf, but I would love to find a lovely piece of bark and have them all sitting up on it.
what are your favorite pieces in the collection, is there anything unique?
The Food Plants of BC Coastal Peoples is a favourite. A lot of this information is being lost as younger people have other priorities. Story-telling is a major way of keeping traditions alive, it's nice to have a lot of info in a tiny little format.
what piece are you most looking for, and what piece would complete your collection?
There are a lot of these books all made between the 1960's and 1970's, I have about twelve, I have a feeling there are a lot more to get.
loving these rotary phone calling cards ana cote of modern printed matter has designed. she'll personalize them for you $18 for a set of 24. available here.
i loved reading victoria's take on her portrait paintings collection when she sent it over. i know i read the story before about rico, but seeing it all together here in this setting, is just endearing in an sfgirlbybay way. victoria has one of those californian apartments we all dreamed about growing up. bay windows, white fluffy carpet and lots of cool art. here's her words on her portraits and check back soon for a few other collections she's got coming our way!
why you collect these items and how your collection started?
I started collecting portrait paintings, when I found Rico Suave at the flea market one day. I've always been a fan of those whole walls you see, filled with portraits, so I'm attempting that for myself. I just started collecting them a few years ago, so I'm just in the beginning phase! I like the irony I find in them, and I like to concoct stories about the people in my portraits.
how do you display them or would like to display them?
I have them mostly in groupings, together, as if they are a family. Ultimately, I will have one whole wall of them grouped together.
what are your favorite pieces in the collection, is there anything unique?
I suppose I love Rico the most, since he was my 'first'. I did a post about the relationship between Rico and Emma Lou awhile back: read here
"The story goes that Rico was doing odd jobs to make ends meet around Atlanta, Georgia, by way of Florida, by way of the Keys, by way of Havana. Anyway, one warm, humid night at a steamy, Atlanta dive bar, Past Perfect, Rico's working his night gig, playing a mean set of bongos in a local Rumba band, when in walks Emma Lou and her very blond sorority sisters. Tipsy, snickering and pointing out Rico's fine rhythm on the bongos, Rico couldn't help but notice in comparison, Emma Lou's refined manners, shiny brunette locks, and the secret smile behind her ruby painted lips. She obviously dug his beat. He sent over a Cuba Libre. And the rest is history. Hanging on my walls. Together at last. The end."
I now imagine that the older woman is Rico's mother, Senorita Suave, the matriarch of the family. She and Emma Lou clash at times and vie for Rico's affections.
what piece are you most looking for, and what piece would complete your collection?
I'm not sure, but I'll know it when I see it. Perhaps Rico and Emma Lou's childrens' portraits.
besides this collection, if you could collect anything in the world, what would it be?
I've often thought about collecting glass paperweights like Collette.
a great little set off flickr from onpaperwings where springfield, missouri graphic designer/instructor, douglas wilson gave his students in his advanced typography class a field notes book to fill with whatever their heart desired. here's the slideshow version.
a little on the busy side today gathering all the new submisions for the feburary market, but hope to have more collecting posts up this afternoon. in the meantime, a few things i'm loving from the current phm:
1. knock on wood, wonting, $18
2. cupid tag, diana fayt, $16
3. patterned hearts, elfrida, $5
amy at angry chicken posted about a book she just got published out of japan all about altering existing clothes and i just have to have it. although it's all in japanese (of course), she says it's full of illustrations with generic ideas. i love the doily on the tote bag (or wouldn't it even look so nice on the blouse)? click here to get the details.
if you happen to be in san francisco area this friday night or for the next month, be sure to head down to rare device for what looks like to be a nice little show from philly's own, shauna alterio and stephen loidolt of somethings hiding in here. their three-dimensional installation will occupy the gallery portion of the store and the front left window and can be viewed from february 1, 2008 - march 4, 2008. a reception for the artists will be held friday, february 1 from 6 - 9 pm.
could there be anything sweeter than receiving this from the one you love? i say not. yay for three potato four for finding this 1969 olivetti valentine restored typewriter! eek!
i've seen little hints of lisa solomon's collections from time to time visiting her blog where she has posted nooks and crannies of her san francisco home from time to time. she's another one of those people i think of when i think of collecting. she has an amazing knack for placement that makes things look unstaged and natural. here are her thoughts on her "stuff". (another place i could linger in for hours, i'm sure).
why you collect these items and how your
collection started?
I’ve been collecting “Stuff” since I was a kid. There isn’t really any rhyme or reason to what I collect. I just start on something and then go until I find the next thing. I guess there’s always an aesthetic component to what I collect. Whatever it may be, I’m visually drawn to it. I also just love old things. I love old type and design. I also like when things have been used – or if they have some kind of history. I like the idea of something that can be considered “ordinary” can be used and loved and cared for by several generations of people.
Some collections stop at 2 items. Some just keep going forever. Sometimes people get wind of what you are collecting and then things get donated.... If I had an endless supply of money and time I would love to just compile things. I think a fantasy job would be to collect for other people. Sometimes the hunt is just as fun or as rewarding as the actual objects themselves.
how do you display them or would like to display
them?
I try to place things around my home where I can see them. I tend to group things similar together. I also tend to group by color and shape. It’s just my nature.
I think one of the things I’m always struggling with is where to keep everything. I’m always out of room. I always swear that I’m going to put stuff away and then rotate what gets put out – but that never really seems to manifest. Plus I do like seeing my “stuff”. It makes it feel like home to me.
what are your favorite pieces in the collection, is there anything unique?
It’s hard to pick a favorite. And I’m only showing you a very small portion of all the collections I have. There’s also an array of vintage kitchen items, there’s art, there’s rings, there’s shoes, polaroid cameras.... I think it’s safe to say that I have a slight problem. In terms of anything unique? I’ll let you be the judge of that!
what piece are you most looking for, and what
piece would complete your collection?
I’m always looking. I think for me there is no one piece that would do it. Sometimes I feel that if you are looking for something specific, you don’t find it. I have to go to thrift stores and flea markets and just look. I use ebay when I’m jonezing for something specific - like vintage glass beakers.
besides this collection, if you could collect
anything in the world, what would it be?
Ha! Maybe I should list what I don’t collect. It might be shorter? OK. If money wasn’t an option I’d seriously collect art by both blue chip and emerging artists. And some key furniture. I’d love some George Nakashima pieces [ www.nakashimawoodworker.com]. And maybe some Eames’ storage units. [ www.dwr.com]. I’d better stop now or this list will just get insanely long.
i can't believe it's been a year since i started etsy pick of the day. it's interesting how it evolved and subsequently how in turn we started poppytalk handmade because of it. it has been an interesting experience picking something out from etsy each day (mon to fri) and somewhat took a form of discipline i haven't been used to in a while. (what was interesting to see was how quickly the things picked sold)! in recognition of the year i thought i'd do a little list (getting my idea from a great listmaker), of some of my favorites. i've also decided to take a break from daily etsy picking for a while (a hiatus let's say), however will continually be bringing my finds of handmade goodness through regular posting until the urge returns.
1. linocut antique chair by rainy prints
2. twiggy by reckon
3. high seas by supercapacity
4. photo collage by holajed
5. elephant valentine by papered together
6. vespa mug by circa ceramics
7. keep calm poster from lucaslepola
8. little sack belly by creative thursday
9. knitware by alyssa ettinger
10. vintage face print by dallas shaw
11. songbird cross-stitch pins by redroostercraft
12. vintage child's chair, the goody gallery
13. wooden stones print by small stump
14. faux bois tote by somethings hiding in here
15. birch bark tubes from small stump
16. burden print by cole gerst
17. best wishes + wishbones by somethings hiding in here
18. hello morocco from yellow canoe
19. half nine by aptrick
20. pile of wood print by geninne
21. judy and the dream of horses by the black apple
back and forth project is a new blog that friends, shannon lowry of round robin press and kathie sever of ramonster have started to chronicle their back and forth efforts as they write, illustrate and package and publish a DIY children's book called, ruby and esme.
"friend friday" is a part of this blog where they are inviting all friends to come together for a little fun and submit a project that you and a friend will make and pass back and forth through the mail as you each embellish it. as the weeks go by they will provide suggestions of possible projects and then will select submitted projects which will be posted on fridays. click here for more details!
wendy from greengirlart contacted me a bit ago about her friend andy paiko who is a glassblower out of portland, oregon after a post i did on bell domes recently. he makes these fantastic and pretty amazing ones, some wild ones, like a huge spinning wheel or seismograph (she tells me). she has one she keeps a small nest in and that they are beyond beautiful in real life. now i'm kicking myself for not getting a photo of that, but i've put this post behind way too long to wait anymore. i also loved these assorted pieces in the above photo! thanks wendy!
the mississippi state aiga is inviting all graphic design students to participate in their 3rd annual msu aiga student invitational, {file save as... soiree}! just grab all excellent previous graphic design work, save it as a low res jpg and upload it to their flickr for the first round of judging. more details here!
update: extended to feb 11th!
hello lucky has partnered with pattern designer and brooklyn-based illustrator, julia rothman to create this limited edition collection of letterpressed social stationery. illustrations range from pastel chandeliers to renaissance-inspired silverware. the cards and gift wrap included in the collection are both printed locally on 40% post-consumer waste recycled paper. click here for the direct link.
When I first thought of this series of collecting, Lisa Congdon was one of the first people I thought of from seeing her collections pop up on flickr every once in a while. This girl not only creates beautiful art, she has some amazing collections too and a real talent for displaying them. After seeing these photos, I am craving collecting even more so than before. I think I could spend hours floating about her home, taking it all in. Here are her thoughts:
You have so many collections. Why do you collect? I have been a collector since I was a kid. I have different collections now than I did 30 years ago, but the part of me that yearns innately to gather “like items” and display them has always been pretty active. I didn’t ever become consciously aware of myself as a “collector” until I read Susan Sontag’s The Volcano Lover in 1992 when I was 24. The novel centers on a character called the Cavaliere who is a collector. I remember that when I read this book I realized for the first time that there was such a person as a “collector” and that I might be one of “them.” Once I self-identified, my habit definitely solidified because being a “collector” became a conscious part of my identity, as opposed to a quirky habit.
How do your collections usually start?
I have had about 30-40 different collections since the time I was 8 years old. I have sold many of them as my interests have changed over the years. Portions of my early childhood collections live at my mother’s house in the guest room. For the past 25 years, I’ve typically collected things that are somewhat challenging to acquire but common enough that they are not terribly expensive or completely impossible to find at thrift stores, flea markets or antique malls. The challenge associated with collecting is part of what keeps many of us collectors going. I collect things that appeal to my aesthetic sensibilities and passions. Many have a sense of history or mystery to them. I usually have about 15-20 collections at any one time. I cannot even begin to name all of them. Right now, my main “active” collections are:
-tiny vintage photographic portraits
-vintage ephemera including postage stamps
-three-dimensional typographical E’s previously used for signage
-orange pottery
-vintage mid-century Scandinavian/Japanese/French kitchenware
-vintage (mostly plastic) religious icons
There are many more than this, but sometimes I stop collecting things when I feel that I have enough. So while I have many “collections” in my home, there are several I do not actively add to anymore. My owls and tiny globes are a good example of that.
How do you display them?
I think collections are the most beautiful when they are displayed together. So most of my collections are displayed amongst each other. Some of my collections, like my E’s, are sort of dispersed throughout my house. My stamps, which I also use in my collage work, are organized by color, as is all of my vintage ephemera which is housed at my studio and not in my house.
Where do you find most of what you collect?
Like most avid collectors, I go regularly to thrift stores and flea markets. Occasionally I peruse Ebay, but I find it more enjoyable to find what I collect by physically looking for it. It’s more work, but it really satisfies the “archeologist” in me. When I was a kid, I went through a period of wanting to be an archeologist. The whole notion of digging through the riff raff to find special items has always appealed to me.
What is most satisfying about collecting?
Finding and displaying, of course!
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