bits and bobbins

some recent thrift finds (if recent means within the past month or so):

i’m obsessed with these funny handmade earrings. they’re made of polymer clay, i believe, and are iridescent teal. i found them just after the holidays in san jose, california at a goodwill while visiting a friend/co-worker who lives in that area.

they were the kind of thing i liked enough to buy, but later i found myself wearing all the time…like had turned to deep, deep love. i’m wearing them in this recent wardrobe_remix photo.

some handmade symmography (string art) in a lovely spattering of purples. handmade in the 1970s (according to the hand-scrawled script on the back).

i have a soft spot in my heart for handmade things that get donated to the thrifts. i feel a compulsion to buy them and love them, knowing how much effort went into making them.

my creative inspiration and creative thought expands far beyond that which is wearable, sometimes (no, often!) venturing into the product design, and interior design realms. fashion is not, by any means, the be-all-end-all.

i want the space that i live in to represent me and feel like my aesthetic just as much as the clothes i choose to put on my back. my creative drive is by no means limited to my person or the human form…it seeps out everywhere and into everything. everything is up for grabs for inspiration and as a target for creative energy.

i often find myself looking at as many or more design and interior design blogs and books than i do fashion. because really, eye candy and inspiration is everywhere, and really, the boundaries between the worlds of design are really, truly permeable.

so on that note, i’ve been starting a little collection of jeu de paumes books. jeu de paumes is a japanese company that publishes little books that peep into the abodes of creatives living in major european cities like paris, london, and stockholm. the books are full of color and whimsy, and are brimming with creative inspiration, especially for those who like things quirky. above all, though, the interiors shown feel very accessible: they are full of flea market and thrifted finds, inspirational uses of IKEA wares, and making do with what one has…and most of the spaces shown aren’t grandiose or ridiculously outsized, in fact, many of the apartments are quite small. great inspiration, then, for those of us elsewhere who are also living in diminutive spaces (most city dwellers the world over, i’d venture!).

a peek inside two of the jeu the paumes books shown above…

from paris love apartments:

i adore the bright bed linens shown here, and placement of the quilt above the bed.

if i didn’t have two cats and a child on the way, i might go for a white couch. but alas…

because i favor such bright colors (all of them at once sometimes!), i keep finding myself attracted to stark white walls and solid, simple hardwood floors: both make a fine blank slate for an abundance of bright hues.

from stockholm’s love apartments:

these shots are from the apartment of cilla ramnek (and her partner), a swedish textile designer i’ve mentioned here before. she’s also the author of knitprovisation, a book i reviewed on bits and bobbins back in february of last year.

the collage above her computer desk is so awesome…i’m in love!

note the granny square blanket and needlepoint pillows. in an alternate universe, this could be MY apartment. seriously.

also from stockholm’s love apartments:

i love how this couple (who’s expecting) just has a simple crib and a few choice toys for their baby-to-be, and it’s in their bedroom. something similar will likely be happening in our household.

a few choice, colorful, things makes more sense for a newborn (and for our space) to me anyway. i like the minimalism of it all.

i found my copies of the paumes books at the kinokuniya here in san francisco (i’d venture to guess the location in NYC has them as well), but they can apparently be ordered online as well, from the paumes website.

bonus: there’s also a jeu de paume inspired community on flickr!

i’m still feeling very under the weather. however, my husband and i managed to get out of the house yesterday to visit a co-worker and his family, who live in the south bay, near san jose, california. our host graciously took us to a few thrift stores. it was lovely of him to do so, as i have been too tired and unmotivated to go thrifting for weeks.

some of my finds, mostly home-related (i did find some clothes, i haven’t had a chance to snap photos of them as yet!):

orange and yellow glass salt and pepper shakers in some of my favorite colors.

the crocheted potholder was from vintage clothing and homewares store, and the orange and green one was from one of the thrifts we stopped at.

a vintage yellow and orange mug that happened to match the salt and pepper shakers, thrifted.

this uten.silo was my christmas gift from the husband! i’ve been wanting one for years, and was really pleased to receive it. for those not in the know, the uten.silo is a design classic that was conceived in 1969 by designer dorothee becker, and is made for making sense of your stuff, whatever that might be. very mid-century mod…the way i like many my things, and perfect for our home with it’s bright lipstick red color. it’s hanging in our hallway, and will be put to used to corral some of our small clutter (keys, wallets, and much, much more). a lasting gift that will remain classic and useful for years.

thank you, baby!