as promised, some treasures i spotted at the Brimfield Flea Market two weeks ago.
as promised, some treasures i spotted at the Brimfield Flea Market two weeks ago.
Bell'ochio (beautiful eye in Italian )is an old world style shop in San Francisco filled with unusual whimsical treasures that you just don't see every day. Here's some of what i find their most unusual offerings available on their website...
absinthe candles...i've seen and smelled just about every type of candle there is, i'm always on the lookout for unusual scents... but absinthe i have yet to run across.
armenian burning papers...famous throughout Europe, these amazing papers, which are exactly as they were in the 16th century, remove odors from any space with their frankincense and myrrh scent. Simply take one paper, fold into an accordion shape and light one end, then, blow out flame. You will see that the paper reacts like incense and because of the accordion fold you should be able to stand it on its side.
mouche packets...(aka beauty marks) a little black dot worn by courtesans, varied according to it's location on a woman's face communicating a secret message....
marie antoinette figurines! need i say any more...
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original and visually interesting from simplymeart
intriqued by these delicate prints from Art and Ghosts
i can't resist anything in miniature... like these earrings from Contrary
Love Beth Quinn's jewelry - particularly these gorgeous cuff bracelets. Visit her etsy shop here.
San Francisco designer Stephen Shubel is a true-blue admirer of all things French, he prizes classical French architecture, adores Louis XVI chairs, and can’t get enough Directoire tables, Napoléon III gilded stools, Limoges porcelain, and Gallic paintings. This continental influence permeates all of Shubel’s interiors for a coterie of devoted clients. French style can be so fresh, relaxed, and cosmopolitan- mixing fine antiques with contemporary art, expensive pieces with flea-market finds. Known for dressing down Louis XVI chairs with durable cotton, Shubel once said a design of his was "like putting Marie Antoinette in a white T-shirt." I could spend hours wandering around these rooms...
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Swedish-born Chris Anthony combines a 4 x 5 camera, a scanner and Photoshop to create a haunting and disconcerting world where violence is forever lurking in the shadows. Working primarily as commercial and music photographer, Anthony made these eerily atmospheric portraits for a personal project. “This was part of a series of 27 images called Victims and Avengers,” says Anthony, “It deals with domestic violence and the repercussions for women and children who have been abused. It also relates to that moment when there is a final straw — when the victims take matters into their own hands.”
A former film and video director, Anthony has shot commercial work for clients including Sony PlayStation 3 and the bands My Chemical Romance and Modest Mouse. He sometimes uses a Mamiya medium-format camera with a digital back, but he prefers to work in large format on film. "I love the slow, methodical approach," he says. "I've been buying really old lenses -- like from the turn of the century -- and using them with my 5x7 and 8x10 cameras. Everything old is new again."
while strolling through mystic, connecticut yesterday i stumbled upon a beautiful and inspiring store called Nest. it is so beautifully laid out with so much attention and love paid to the details of merchandising. it's always about the details i find. i was disappointed to learn they don't have a website or email address, but the lovely ladies were gracious and let me take some pics to post on my blog. I particularly loved the use of chicken wire- they had it suspended from the ceiling and used it to hang votives, ribbons, photos. If you're ever in the southern connecticut area, stop in to Nest, 16 Stonington Rd., Mystic, Ct. (tel: 860.536.5400) for a visual feast of home accessories, gifts, jewelry, clothes, and little bits of french odds and ends.
I've always loved pop-up books- since i was little i loved opening these special books where all the characters and backgrounds instantly pop-up. For me, it was almost as if the world in the book suddenly turned real, surprising me and leading me into a wonderful dream. Imagine my delight when I stumbled upon The Neiman Marcus Pop-Up Book created to celebrate its 100-year anniversary. Described by Neiman Marcus as, " Designed to chronicle a young girl's journey from the first days of the store to today," the book features imagery from renowned fashion photographer Geof Kern; iconic and commemorative gift ideas with J. Peterman-esque descriptions such as artist Matthew Larkin’s 100-foot-long dragon topiary, trimmed from indigenous plants, and an antique rosewood bar trunk stocked with Versace canapé serving plates. Standout pages include a girl wearing a dress made of vintage Neiman Marcus catalogs and a whimsical portrait of another with the company’s trademark butterflies fluttering about her head. Of course it's sold out and of course I have to have this. I need this. (add slight whine)
Collage artist and fellow Rhode Islander Layla Renzi creates gorgeous and what I find somewhat haunting collages that juxtaposes sweet and quaint with a quiet edgines that i adore. She combines traditional (cut and paste) with a digital process to build up her multi-layered backgrounds. Collage, in my opinion has a very strong and laconic language. It is a media where you can experiment with shape, structure, colour and ideas. Check out Lisa's etsy shop for more fabulousness. I want.
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