Random Objects | botanical buttons

Aren't these pretty? I think they would look so fun on an old jean jacket with something summery. The hummingbirds are beautiful. Available here.

Random Objects | Botanical Filofax

While I was researching botanical prints I came upon these fabby Filofax personal organizers. They are so gorgeous and check out the pretty little button. Do people still use Filofaxs?

Random Object | My new mirror

This is my new mirror. It's very big and heavy. After a bit of a struggle we managed to hang it on the wall yesterday. I really love it and I have to tell you what a good deal it was . . . it is handmade, it is solid wood and it has a beveled mirror. It was reduced from $600 down to $90 at Homesense which is the home wares division of Winners(or TJ Max as it is called in the US). I think it really works with our eclectic style and adds a little bit of pseudo industrial drama to our living room. Homesense really is one of the best places to find fabulous mirrors, rugs and lamps.

Random Objects | Assouline Book Bag

Here's a great accessory for the stylish typophile. This is the book bag from Assouline, designed by Cole Haan. So simple and sophisticated.

FYI, Assouline is a great place to buy art/design books. They carry all the well known style bibles and many other interesting titles in the art, design, fashion, photography and architecture genres.

Designer | Ellen, Bonspiel Creations

Hmmmmmm, looking at that bag from Assouline reminded me of one of my favourite leather crafters, Ellen Box from Bonspiel Creations in Victoria BC. We are lucky enough to have one of her retailers here in Nelson and I love to go in to see what's new from Bonspiel. This bag is a new look for Ellen - this time she has screen printed the large negative space around the line art so that the pale blue is pigment and the tan colour is the natural leather showing through - great idea and great new look. 

Graphic Design | Gardner Studios

I have some beautiful graphic design for you this morning from Gardner Studios in Wichita Kansas. I often see their work in Communication Arts Magazine and other trade mags. I really like what they do - it's simple and honest and often based on vintage type faces, imagery and colour palettes. You can see more of their outstanding work here. I find it very inspiring, do you?

Fan Tan Tastic

I'd like to show you these boxes that I bought at Fan Tan Market at the weekend. They are vintage Chinese and they are so pretty. Fan Tan Market, not to be confused with Fan Tan Gallery, is a rabbit's warren of a store that you enter on Fisgard St and you exit into the dark and spooky narrowness of Fan Tan Alley(below)! They stock every Chinese import you can imagine from cheap little plastic whistles to vintage silk lanterns all piled high in an ancient cave-like space. Anyone who's been there(Hanna?) knows what I am talking about - it's brilliant fun!

Here are a couple of pictures of Fan Tan Alley - it's as creepy and cool as it looks.

The boxes remind me of the 1930s Shanghai posters that we found last summer at that local yard sale. The posters are about 20 years older than my new boxes, I think. I still love these posters - I see them on Ebay now and then but they get snapped up really fast.

Roll Cameras

So you are probably wondering what these pictures all have in common - well this is just a tiny sample of what's available to you next time you wish to shoot a movie. This web site has some simply stunning locations available to you (and your production team) to film in just about any setting you can imagine . . . this place is described as "Napoleonic Chic" - I didn't realize that Monsieur Bonaparte was a Beetles fan!

Window Shopping | Bluebell Bazaar

Very cute vintage bowling pins from Bluebell Bazaar - I'm sure I am  not the only one who collects vintage bowling pins - these are fun because they are small. Going, going . . . gone?

Etsy | Pamela Angus

Yet another great find on Etsy - aren't these so pretty? These little beauties are from glass artist Pamela Angus - luv em! First saw them here.

Flickr Love

I'm just getting the hang of Flickr and I am so amazed at the talented photographers who post their work for all to see. I just fell in love with the following images . They are from the following Flickr members, in order from top to bottom, weeshallmeet,  tanjatiziana, lightlycrazed and plautila. Let me know if you have a Flickr Photostream that you think I might like - I'm not a very good photographer - I'm working on it!

Inspiration | Jennifer Price Studio

A couple of weeks ago Alicia from Hi-Octane Jewelry told me about Jennifer Price Studio during our week of industrial chic - so I had to check it out. Great stuff - recycled, vintage and found objects - Jennifer has a really good eye. Jennifer's studio is located at SOLO at Solana Beach, CA - looks like they have lots of beautiful things there.

Victoria | Fan Tan Gallery

I am so excited to introduce you to one of my favourite stores, Fan Tan Gallery in Victoria BC. This wonderful store has been in this location for at least 25 years and has evolved into a fabulous collection of curious decorative items from around the world and truly gorgeous homewares. The location, in China Town, just adds to the mystery and intrigue and makes it all the more exotic. The wonderful storefront with the floor to ceiling windows is so dramatic - I get so excited when I'm going for a visit. I don't think I have ever left empty handed. It's a big store with 2 main retail areas joined by a "bridge", a back courtyard where the sun shines in and a very cool upstairs that looks like an attic(many of the China Town stores have these elevated gallery areas that are original to the building). The store inside is dark and colourful with old plank floors and brick walls. You can buy everything from furniture and rugs to jewelry and linens - all beautifully displayed in vintage fixtures and baskets.

This is the front area by the front door - you can see the elevated attic space that many of thee  China town stores seem to have.

Above is the front of the other side of the store where most of the furniture is(below)

This is the very back of the store - it's like a porch with a courtyard. There's lots of cool textiles and vintage kitchen wares back here - check out the huge selection of oil cloth - I have never seen so many great patterns. And aren't these aprons so cute!

Fan Tan Gallery is located at 541 Fisgard St in Victoria BC. You must go.