Saturday Indulgence

The weather in Tucson will (hopefully) be cooling off soon, clients will start to filter back into town, Saturday kid schedules will  overwhelm my free time-so I decided to sneak off to Gerson Demolition Saturday for a little self indulgent junking.                                                                                                                                        Gerson Used Building Materials is a Tucson institution. It has been around since the sixties and offers the home remodeler, artist, designer and thrifty shopper a resource for all things recycled and reclaimed. They offer a wide selection of doors, windows, plumbing items, cabinets, lighting fixtures, tile, hardware and the occasional antique. All items are priced well and with a little imagination there is a treasure around every corner. Be prepared to get a little dirty, and think twice before you do what I did and stroll around in sandals. Ouch. 

Table base. With a coat of paint and a marble top, great for outdoors

Clean it up, add a  butcher block top and a shelf and its a kitchen island! Just the right height.

$5 Funky pendant light, sorry, its sold. To me. 

Sturdy, high quality metal storage cabinet, with casters and  a coat of bright yellow automobile paint, very cool.

Stacks of brass lanterns with great patina. In a group with single, old style cord or chain , fabulous

Oversized, cast metal hardware. So WRONG!

But so RIGHT!

6' wheels with a blue-rust finish, great to hang on a wall.

Giant irrigation(?) wheels, great to hang on a very tall wall.

Finally, these 22" hairpin style table legs, which I will use with a perfect piece of white marble my neighbor gave me..
can't wait to put it on our porch.

Go soon! The inventory is constantly changing. 

Put a fork in it...

  We are headed into a blazing hot weekend here in Tucson, but it doesn't keep us from having a barbeque. I am not hosting this evening, but when I do I am always pressed into a dilemma. Plastic forks and knives? Its hard to bring myself to buy these one- use wonders that don't wash easily (although the half melted ones are pretty interesting when they come out of the dishwasher), don't store well, are expensive and likely to spend a lifetime in the landfill. Finally, while shopping in Los Angeles I found a solution! Wafer-thin wood utensils that wash well,  stack neatly for storage and won't spend eternity decomposing. Besides, they are just cool to use. Follow this link to Tortoise General Store where I bought them for about $10 for 100 pieces.  Have a great weekend!

A little color goes a long way....

 I am working with a new client who feels like her house is missing something, she just can't quite put her finger, or eye, on it. Lovely taste, lots of nice pieces, but the overall appearance of the house is hampered by too many wood and beige tones. It just needs a little punch! While looking for dining chairs for her today, I discovered some great painted pieces that will break up all that wood and provide some interest in the room. This is a good starting point.

FromCottage Furniture, it comes in lots of
colors, and there is an arm chair!With a seat
cushion, perfect.

Spicy red armchair

A classic, and the sage green will mix in beautifully with the desert landscape displayed by the enormous windows in the dining room.

                    

I could look at these all day.....

I am consistently amazed, awed, distracted--you name it--- by the folks over at Lost at E Minor and the wide variety of creative sources they find. These Ink Portraits by Paco Montanes  made my stomach drop. There are more in the post by Ricardo Gonzalez Garcia. Definitely worth a click!

Saltillo Serapes

When I first visited  the Southwest, I took very little interest in art and folk art from the region. Deep in my own artistic pursuits, it all seemed tacky to me. When we moved here in '94 I had more time to take a longer look. A collector friend introduced me to the beauty of  Mexican Saltillo  Serapes and Native American Blankets -- and I discovered my parents had one hanging in their guest room! It now hangs in my hallway and is one of my prized possessions. Last week while thumbing through the new Crate and Barrel catalog I spied some Saltillo inspired pillows and thought about how the bold geometric patterns  mix well with modern and traditional interiors that are not specifically Southwestern.

First, a few beauties from The Alfred I Barton Collection of Southwestern Textiles .

Serrated Design Blanket
ca. 1880-1890, 63" x 40", Mexico

Third Phase Chief's Blanket, Native American
ca. 1870, 56" x 45"

Saltillo, Indigo Blanket
ca. 1870, 100" x 54"

And mine....

Saltillo Blanket, ca. 1900.
 These bold patterns provide  much character in a room; they add a masculine feel to a room that has soft edges and an organic sentiment to a room that seems too stark and modern. Below, some ideas for mixing in bold Saltillo-inspired patterns.

SW by juliad180 on Polyvore.com

Cowhide Rug - Spinneybeck, Black - Design Within Reach
$2,995 - dwr.com

Napa Sofa | Wisteria
$3,200 - wisteria.com

Tasana 18"x12" Pillow | Crate&Barrel
$27 - crateandbarrel.com

Ikea Ikea Stockholm Rand
$199 - ikea.com

Nathan Yong Line Credenza
$2,995 - dwr.com

Charles and Ray Eames Eames® Lounge Chair
$3,579 - dwr.com

Nos Da Blanket
$295 - dwr.com

HL CHALFANT: American Fine Art & Antiques - Oval Wooden Native...
1stdibs.com

Woven Beehive Pendant | west elm
$99 - westelm.com

1STDIBS.COM - Tradesmen - John Dickinson - JOHN DICKINSON (1920-1982)...
1stdibs.com

BeBe Benedict

 Yesterday I moved my one of my smart, gorgeous daughters into a  dormitory to start her freshman year of college.  I am a bit lonely for her so I thought I would share her favorite breakfast with you. Don't be intimidated by poached eggs, if you follow a few simple tricks you will get it right on the first try.


1. Simmer about 5 inches of water in a saucepan. Bring water to a boil, then turn down so it is just below the boiling point,
2. Meanwhile, crack an egg into a small glass dish or measuring cup. If you break the yolk, start over. Set aside.
3. Slice a tomato as though you are putting it on a hamburger, parallel to the top. In this case, I used sliced cherry tomatoes. Drizzle a little olive oil on one slice of tomato and set it aside. Seed, halve and slice an avocado into 8 little wedges. Set aside two slices and store the rest.
4. Using a wooden spoon or a large metal spoon, create a whirlpool in the simmering water. Quickly pick up the glass dish and ease the egg into the center of the whirlpool. Set the timer for 3-4 minutes, depending on egg size and whether you like a runny center. At this point, you may put the bread in the toaster.
5. As soon as the toast is done, put it on a plate and drizzle it lightly with olive oil. Stack the slice of tomato on the toast, followed by the avocado slices, with the skinny side of the wedge facing in so that the slices make a little "o".
6.By this time, your egg should be like a small white package simmering in the water,make sure it has cooked enough to be safe then remove it. Using a slotted spoon, lift the egg out of the water, let it drain for a minute then ease it onto the angled stand you have made out of the avocado. Salt and pepper and yum! The egg mixes nicely with the avocado and tomato and makes a really healthy start to a demanding day at school.
Fortunately, my younger daughter is a big fan of this breakfast as well-- I will still be making it several times a week. Have a great weekend! 

if in Laguna Beach...

Laguna Beach, California is a great place to spend time relaxing along the surf. It also provides a lively community of art galleries, independent boutiques, and well-assorted home stores. We parked our car at our rented beach house and only used it once, to visit several spots in adjoining communities that are worth the drive.


In downtown Laguna:
Tuvalu Home  A fine collection of furniture and upholstery, coastal themed table ware and gifts. A wide selection of books, art, lighting and gifts. It seemed to be open late every evening. Check the website for hours. 295 Forest Ave. Laguna Beach.

Laguna Art Supply-- Huge selection of art, craft, design and drafting materials, books and kits. There is an emphasis on fine supplies and papers, canvases and a full service framing department. I was in heaven poking around the crowded space and finding all sorts of fine art treasures including some vintage pottery pieces reminiscent of my the $10 rule pieces. 376 Ocean Ave., Laguna Beach


Orange Inn A favorite of locals and tourists, the Orange Inn is found just south of downtown Laguna on the corner of the Coast Highway and Cleo street. They open really early with great coffee, espresso and baked goods fresh from their oven. Lunch provides signature sandwiches, smoothies and more baked goods! The brownies are perfect. Orange Inn-703 South Coast Highway, Laguna Beach. 


La La- Just a bit south of downtown, La La is the home of designer Kerry Cassill's inspired textile business. Table linens, bed linens and clothing of the finest quality Indian cotton. New designs every season. Also some great clothing and bags, shoes and beach attire. I am the happy owner of an authentic Ecuadoran Fedora from La La, white with a taupe band, that is pictured later in the post.  La La - 1145 South Coast Highway, Laguna Beach

Laguna Art Museum  A small and inspiring space just north of Main Beach on the Coast Highway. The impressive  permanent collection is housed in the lower floor while two upper floors provide a space for various exhibitions. Check the website for current shows, discount days and entrance fees.307 Cliff Drive, Laguna Beach


Coast Hardware  Everything you need for the beach-- from boogie boards and umbrellas to barbeque supplies and flip flops.  Coast Hardware also provides the usual hardware stuff; paint, tools, garden items and electrical needs. Like big box home improvement, gift shop and department store all packed into a small storefront right across the street from Laguna's Main Beach.240 Broadway Street, Laguna Beach.


Crystal Cove State Park If you are game, a whole day at Crystal Cove Beach with children is magical. You must park and walk, (parking fee is $15) or take the free shuttle across the coast highway to this wide, beautiful beach. Developed by the Irvine family, Crystal Cove has been home to Japanese farmers who worked the land behind the beach and was used as a film set in the 20's. It is now being refurbished by the State of California to be a community with rental cottages and a historical site. The Beachcomber restaurant is there, with lots of choices from kid food to fancy tropical cocktails served in tiki cups. We spent a lovely afternoon there wandering past the vintage, faded cottages awaiting renovation and enjoying the coastline.

In Newport Beach:


Juxtaposition Home is worth a bit of a venture out of Laguna. Located in a shopping center between Laguna Beach and Corona del Mar, this store is a collection of my favorite things: fine quality furniture, simple and elegant clothing, gorgeous new and vintage accessories, art and a large and well-edited collection of simply beautiful books.  I wanted to move in and stay!7976 E. Coast Hwy. Newport Beach, CA 92657 and on 1st dibs at Juxtaposition Home


Our California trip covered lots of ground, from Thousand Oaks to Pasadena, to Santa Monica and on to Laguna for a slow and comfortable week at the beach.


I didn't spend much time shopping, but found a few great things and had time to paint and draw. An inexpensive but suitable paint set (in a terrific metal box) at Laguna Art Supply helped me produce a few paintings.  Now back home, my beloved fedora from La La and some gorgeous hand-painted wood buttons from the flea market bring a smile and fond memories.
  

All pictures in this post were taken by me.

Tide pools of Laguna

Laguna is fabulous!  These are a few tide pool shots I took for a bit of color inspiration. Note the color palette I pulled from the first photo..More of these next week. Great shopping, dining and sightseeing tomorrow. Enjoy the pictures!

Where it all started...

It is always with great excitement that I visit the Los Angeles area. For a short amount of time I can easily ignore the traffic, the parking nightmares, the smog, and  enjoy the design eye candy that surrounds me in this sprawling metropolis. The flea markets are quite simply the best I have seen ...other than Paris, of course! Below are a few pictures from the Pasadena City College flea market, which has more than quadrupled in size since I lived and worked at a famous Pasadena retailer fifteen years ago. 

Why am I always drawn to a chaise lounge? I think it is my penchant for the old school Arizona resort. I love the slide-out cocktail table and the terrific color. 

Great old storage cabinets, the perfect color, the nice, barn-like construction.  Can we strap them on top of the car?

Tremendous terrarium potential....

What are the trends?  I did see piles and piles of leather belts, woven, tooled, stitched and decorated as well as every type of glass you can imagine. Colored glass, clear glass vintage and new. The nice thing about the flea market is that you can find something everyone loves. Tomorrow, the beach!

Greenhouse Fever

 My family has always had a greenhouse. In Pennsylvania, where I grew up, it was the cold frames lined up outside the ground floor windows  of our house. Vegetables sprouted there in early spring. When my parents moved to Arizona to retire, it was with the condition that there be a swimming  pool and a greenhouse. My brother constructed the latter for my mother out of reclaimed, curiously stacked glass windows from an old house in downtown Tucson.Here are a few greenhouses I would love to own....and all made from windows that might have ended up in a landfill.Maybe I need to send my brother a plane ticket....

This from robojunker.com

From junkmarketstyle


I will be heading to California tomorrow and will be posting from The Pasadena City College antique fair among other things. Have a great weekend!

Primitive Desk organizer.

   
 I picked up this primitive toolbox tray in a local antiques store clearance section. Mostly, I wanted it for organizing art supplies, but liked its patina so much that I decided to bring it out of the studio and put it on the communal desk in our family room. A little rustic, but it suits this desert house and everyone actually uses it.

Felt dots on the bottom to protect the desk surface--the metal is rough! The galvanized pots are Trader Joe's  cachepots. 

                              

Everything in one place!