Pattern potpourri.

Sometimes I wish I were a textile designer or a printmaker or a letterpress artist, because I've always wanted to take all these patterns and prints I see on vintage housewares and do something magical with them. Maybe one of these days I'll get around to it, but for now, here's an assortment of some particularly pleasing patterns I've seen recently on etsy. Click on the picture to check out each past present.

Vintage TV tray.

My apartment is tiny and the dining area is pretty cramped (it doesn't help that I have a big buffet/china cabinet that takes up a fifth of the space), so it'd be nice to have these lovely TV trays around for when guests overflow into the living room. There are two available for $12 each from etsy seller Rabbit Oh Rabbit.

Found: framed doily.

I picked up this framed doily for 2 dollars at My Favorite Place in Chamblee this weekend. I've had doilies and lace on the brain for a long time (I was married in a lace dress 2 years ago), and I was also inspired by the framed doilies in Holly Waterfield's office at her West Village boutique Camp (see below, as featured in the Spring 2007 issue of the now-defunct Blueprint magazine). Anyway, I probably won't assemble a collection of them (too kitschy!), but lace and doilies are still lovely in small doses. Here are several of my picks for today (all from etsy).

Lace cocktail napkins ($15 for a set of six from Historically Inspired Designs Vintage).

Lace tumblers (set of 8 for $40 from etsy shop Foo Foo Vintage).

A random assortment of 20 stamps, including lacemaking stamps from the USA that were issued in 1986 ($3.50 from Missgaylee). Check out a full sheet here (available on ebay for $5).

Lace glass plate ($5 from The Seasonal Cottage).

Doily cards ($6 for a set of 4 with envelopes from Beau Ideal).

Coral Gables doily notecards ($12 for a set of 6 with envelopes from Beau Ideal).

And do check out Holly Becker's comprehensive compendium of doily love here.

Not bowling alone.

I love this bowling scene from the latest issue of Domino. Necessity Breeds Exuberance is the title of the article featuring events planner Alice Turner's farmhouse in upstate New York. When we finally buy a house (with a huge porch, of course!), I'll be keeping my eyes peeled for a lawn bowling set. You can find one here and here, on ebay. Etsy seller White Elephant Vintage also has several vintage bowling pins for sale individually here.

Past Presents: Gifts for the mid-century maven.

The aim of this blog is to get avid consumers to reevaluate their buying habits and broaden their shopping horizons by providing different options within the vintage and secondhand marketplace. Today's post is for anyone who's ever been confounded by finding a gift for a host (or hostess), a bride (or bridegroom), or for a housewarming party. And particularly if the recipient is partial to mid-century design. Here are some pretty past presents, all from etsy.

A pair of Danish teak candlesticks from california vintage* ($30).

Wooden tray from moxie thrift ($9.89).

Punch bowl from Thrifty Goodness ($22).

Peapod condiment tray from Ms. Betsy's Vintage ($15).

Four stainless steel candle holders from studio AMF ($18).

Cast iron candelabra, designed by Jen Quistgaard for Dansk, from little green frog ($65).

Franciscan pitcher, Del Mar pattern by Gladding McBean & Co., from MidCenturyModern ($75).

Flotsam Friday: Salt and pepper shakers.

Sorry this comes so late in the day, things have been busy around here!! My friend's mother collects salt and pepper shakers. As for myself, I don't even use regular salt and pepper shakers, I just buy the disposable kind from the grocery store. My favorite here is the one smack dab in the middle - it even has a grinder!

Top row (L to R):

1. 5 piece set incl shakers, $13.25 from Goodlookin' Vintage Wares
   
2. melamine plastic set, $8 from Bliss Vintage
3. milk glass set (Sunset pattern by Dithridge), $40 from Designs by Cleo
   

Middle row (L to R):

1. red toile/transferware set, $25 from Vicious Vintage
   
2. Lenox set incl pepper grinder, $24 from Charmings Collectibles
   
3. stainless steel set (by Reed & Barton), $31.25 from Berd and Bee
   

Bottom row (L to R):

1. wood set, $22 from the modern hunter
   
2. red plastic set, $7 from Sirkus Vintage
   
3. ceramic set, $7 from Bald Man Mod

Promise me that you'll shake what your mama gave you at least once this weekend - it'll bring a smile to your face, and to everyone who's watching! Have a great weekend, everyone!

Russel Wright.

Today I'm featuring Russel Wright (1904-1976), an American industrial designer and 20th century household name. As the creator of the most widely sold American ceramic dishware in history (his American Modern dinnerware line, above at bottom, manufactured by Steubenville Pottery of Steubenville, OH, sold over 250 million pieces between 1939 to 1959!!), he was, according to the New York Times, "Martha Stewart before she was." Working with wood, spun aluminum, stainless steel, paper, plastic, and ceramics, Wright designed modern furniture, dining accessories, and textiles for easy and casual living, and along with his wife/merchandising genius Mary, revolutionized the way Americans lived.

In addition to his American Modern line, Wright designed the "Residential" line of melamine plastic dinnerware (above, at right), manufactured by the Northern Plastic Company of Boston, Mass. It was the first and most popular line of melamine resin plastic dinnerware, better known as "melmac," and received the Good Design Award from the Museum of Modern Art in 1953. Wright also created the "Casual" line of china (above, at left) for the Iroquois China Company of Syracuse, NY, which was more durable than American Modern. Recently many of his designs have been reissued by Oneida. Read more about this modern American master here, here, and here.

Here are several pieces, available on etsy and ebay, designed by Russel Wright.

Top row (L to R):

1. nesting salt and pepper shakers (Casual China, Iroquois), $25 from etsy seller Lavender RickRack
   
2. 24 piece dining set (American Modern, Steubenville), $150 from etsy seller RetroCycle
   
3. brown bowl and 3 plates (Casual China), currently $3.99 from ebay seller lottiesattic
   

Middle row (L to R):

1. 60 piece dining set (Queen Anne's Lace pattern, Knowles China), currently $49.99 from ebay seller acidstamp
   
2. bread plate (American Modern), $6 from etsy seller Uncommon Eye
   
3. creamer (Casual China), currently $5 from ebay seller 1maus
   

Bottom row (L to R):

1. pitcher, buy it now for $32.59 from ebay store The Alabama Pedlar
   
2. 4 cups and saucers (Casual China), $25 from etsy seller Lavender RickRack
   
3. nesting cream and sugar set, $6 from etsy shop Beatgrrrl's Basement

[photos at top from the Russel Wright Design Center]

Shiny happy home.

Here's another home full of lovely little things and splashes of bright color everywhere via desire to inspire.I could totally live here too. The difficulty of decorating with found objects and mismatched vintage housewares is the tendency toward overpowering tackiness and a general sense of clutter. Understatement and balance are key. Here, simple and spare furnishings, a neutral paint color (what's more neutral than white?), and bare walls are punched up with small doses of bold and pastel colors, large patterns (floral, geometric, and ethnic), and whimsical touches like the rainbow flags above the sofa and in the bedroom. What could be happier?

Here are some bright and happy housewares, inspired by the desire to make your home a brighter, happier place! All from etsy.

Top row (L to R):

1. tin canisters (set of 4), $12 from Grey Brocket's Home
   
2. apothecary jars (set of 4), $10 from beatgrrrl's basement
   
3. petal bowls (set of 7), $30 from edelweiss vintage
   

Middle row (L to R):

1. milk glass mug by Hazel Atlas, $6 from Bliss vintage
   
2. tablecloth, $25 from thriftypyg
   
3. mug, $6.95 from Teelady
   

Bottom row (L to R):

1. pitcher by Anchor Hocking, $40 from Callooh Callay
   
2. bowls by Fire King for Anchor Hocking (set of 6), $25 from Vintage Ella
   
3. glass bowl, $8 from Virginia Vintage
   

Vintage vignettes.

I want to live here. Featured in today's design*sponge sneak peek, Abbey Nova's New York apartment beautifully juxtaposes sparing simplicity with the seemingly superfluous. I love the pastoral near-austerity of the bedroom, but I'm particularly enchanted by the vignettes of found objects scattered throughout Abbey's abode. Warmth, character, comfort, and personality (preferably that of the occupant(s)!) are such key ingredients for a home (at least for me), and even if I'm not a huge fan of the foo dogs on the mantel, the beauty of decorating is that it's an outlet for individual expression. So go ahead and express yourself! View more pics of the apartment here.

Today's picks (as inspired by the tray on the table near the entryway, and the figurines above the mantel)!

Two green trays (here and here) with gorgeous detailed handles from etsy seller lorenzstudio ($20 and $8 each).

Brass peacock figurine from We Think We Can ($25).
Pear brass bell ($14) from greenhearts.


[photos from 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
   

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.