Skirts from sheets by Seam Sew Swell.

So I normally do housewares, but I couldn't pass up the opportunity to write up Seam Sew Swell, a delightful online shop run by the intrepid and wise beyond her 21 years (21!!!) Victoria Martin. Victoria sells vintage apparel, accessories, and jewelry, as well as clothing and pillows made by her very own talented self. This girl is amazing!
Here are six sweet skirts (available here for $16-22) she's refashioned from thrifted recycled sheets and fabric. If you're just the teeniest bit crafty yourself, take a clue from the precocious Victoria - skip the fabric store and head to your nearest thrift shop. With any luck, you just might encounter adorable vintage textiles like these! If you'd rather peruse online, etsy seller Retro Age offers a great selection of vintage fabrics here.

Kaj Franck for Arabia.

I just bought this bowl (well, not this bowl in particular) off etsy yesterday. It's an enamel bowl with a mushroom design designed by the great Finnish designer Kaj Franck for Arabia, Finland's oldest ceramics manufacturer, where he was the head of the model design department from 1946 to 1961. You can read more about Kaj Franck here and here. Below is a collection of Arabia ceramics and enamelware compiled by Meet Me at Mike's. And below that is a letterpress mushroom coaster from Wiley Valentine via design*sponge.



[photos from (top to bottom): flickr user lafemmededada; flickr user meetmeatmikes; and design*sponge]

Blue and white dishware.

It's not Flotsam Friday, but I was so inspired by Mackenzie Sala's blue and white dishware post today over at the design*sponge guest blog that I had to cobble together a collection of my own, all vintage, all from etsy.

Top row (L to R):

1. Pyrex Horizon Blue 2.5 quart bowl, $16 from Jolly Polly Pickins
2. 4 polka dot cups and saucers, $12 from Vero Vintage
3. Pyrex New Dot bowl, $12 from junkculture
   

Middle row (L to R):

1. 4 teacups, Lakeview pattern by Nasco, $17 from RetroCycle
   
2. 4 dinner plates, $30 from lucky stone vintage
   
3. mug, $6 from Peacock Modern
   

Bottom row (L to R):

1. 3 plates, Wild Rose pattern by Homer Laughlin, $9.50 from Vintage Junque
   
2. 2 sets of teacups, saucers, and dessert plates, $45 from Tea For All Reasons
   
3. 2 plates, Willow design from Johnson Bros., $6 from My Sunshine Vintage

Be sure to read her guest blog here. And check out Mackenzie's blog on all things weddings at Something Old, Something New!

Spotted: porcelain glove mold.

Joe and I had brunch on Saturday at the cutest restaurant in Emory Village called Rise 'N Dine, and I couldn't help but notice the cheerful vintage decor, especially the vases and that porcelain glove mold (used for making rubber gloves!). Here in Atlanta, I think I've seen those vases at Providence Antiques in Virginia-Highland, and I'm guessing that porcelain glove mold comes from Decatur's Victory Vintage ($30). If you're not in Atlanta, you can also find a few molds at blue bell bazaar's etsy shop ($28). By the way, Rise 'N Dine's sweet potato pancakes are simply top-notch! Check out my other pictures of Rise 'N Dine here (sorry, I scarfed down my yummy pancakes before realizing I'd left my camera in the car!).

Flotsam Friday: Flowers!

I just made myself a dress with some floral fabric I bought last year, when florals were actually big. I'll post a pic when I take a flattering one. In the meantime, here are some floral patterned housewares for your flower-happy Friday!

Top row (L to R):

1. 4 mugs and metal stand, $18 from etsy seller 2pear
2. tin canister, $18 from Ladies & Gentlemen
   
3. 4 coffee cups, $18 from thirteen leaf clover
   

Middle row (L to R):

1. 3 coffee cups, $8 from Jen's Closet
   
2. crochet doily, $12.99 from What Would Marilyn Wear
   
3. Better Homes & Gardens New Garden Book, $19.50 from Surrender Dorothy
   

Bottom row (L to R):

1. creamer and sugar set, $28 from Fab Pad
2. 4 stoneware mugs, $22 from Molly Moo Vintage
   
3. Noritake sugar bowl with lid, $12 from Simple Vintage
   

Vintage pillow covers.

Positively shagadelic pillow covers fashioned from vintage fabric. From etsy seller absoluut. $25 here. Groovy baby.

Textiles from Vera Neumann.

If you've ever wandered through a vintage store, you've probably encountered some brightly colored scarves with the name Vera scrawled in the corner accompanied by a ladybug. The scarves are probably the signature element of the body of work of Vera Neumann (1910-1993), an influential and prolific mid-century artist and designer. I've known about Vera scarves for awhile but only recently discovered the rest of her creations, including fabric, wallpaper, table and bed linens, apparel, and dishware. This Vera sounds like a few other Veras (Vera Wang and Vera Bradley) we know, right? Here are some of her fabulous designs, most of which are available on etsy and ebay.

Above at top: circle of pink tiles tablecloth, buy it now for $45 from ebay store Vickie Jean's Things. Below that is a round tablecloth for $25 from etsy seller fuzzymama.

L to R: pair of linen tea towels, currently $25 from ebay seller somewhereintime2; sunflower tea towel, currently $7 from ebay seller ccc0336.

L to R: pair of yellow rose tea towels, currently $10 from ccc0366; yellow ranunculus tablecloth, buy it now for $30 from Vickie Jean's Things.

The remaining items are not for sale, but I wanted to show you my favorite Vera pattern yet! Pillowcases from flickr user jillbliss; towel from skinnylaminx's photostream. For more cool Vera Neumann patterns, check out the Vera Neumann flickr group here.

Speckles sublime.

These pictures of Scargo Pottery from Lena Corwin's trip to Cape Cod remind me of dishware from Anthropologie and a pitcher I purchased awhile ago at My Favorite Place. Don't all these speckles make you smile?

Top row (L to R):

1. Confetti dinner plate, $14 at Anthropologie
   
2. pitcher, $28 from etsy seller JNpottery
3. Confetti soup bowl, $15.50 at Anthropologie

Middle row (L to R):

1. pitcher by Brusche USA, currently $10 from ebay seller swansonh
2. serving tray, $15 from etsy seller sweetrice
   
3. pitcher (from the Lifestyle line by J & G Meakin, a British pottery manufacturer, and the same one I have!) currently $7 from ebay seller allasantiques716
   

Bottom row (L to R):

1. set of 10 tumblers, $10 from etsy seller caseyjackdogs
2. mini pitcher/creamer, $3 from casualsimplicity
   
3. dinner plate (Lifestyle by J & G Meakin), $9.99 from DC's Attic
   

Found: turquoise creamer.

I got up super early Saturday to hit a round of garage sales. Didn't find much, but I did score a turquoise creamer for a dollar! The one pictured above is from the cutest store ever Three Potato Four. They're sold out there, but you can get one (or two if you like) at Millie and Maggie's etsy shop for 4 bucks. I can't wait to put a few daisies in mine! The color of the creamer reminds me of this With Needle and Thread print from etsy seller Lab Partners, available here for $14. Below that is a yellow version of the same creamer being put to good use as colored pencil holder, from sfgirlbybay.

Flotsam Friday: Yellow.

Every Friday I'll choose a color or category at random and highlight several items that fall within that parameter. I figure no one wants to read a lot of text on Friday, am I right?

Top row (L to R):

1. ceramic bowls with yellow scallop trim in the Royal China Jubilee pattern (set of 6), $16 from etsy seller Edelweiss Vintage
2. napkins with lemon yellow trim (set of 8), $13 from MarcellasExcess
3. covered casserole dish in the Daisy pattern from Pyrex, $15.50 from Jen's Closet

Middle row (L to R):

1. enamel pot, $25 from Nice
2. canister set, $12 from Valerie's Vintage House
   
3. ceramic bowls with center floral design (set of 4), $9 from FunkeyFinds

Bottom row (L to R):

1. floral vinyl placemats (set of 4), $18 from Jess James Jake
2. frosted glasses (set of 4), $16 from Harlow's Closet
3. cream and sugar set, $10 from Olive Vintage