Offbeat Aesthete

My Friend Flickr

2007-04-04T19:17:00.000-07:00

I don't spend nearly enough time on Flickr. Whenever I do, I'm truly amazed at the vast amount of really quality work there. Here are a few of my current favorites.

Horse by Createsimona

Nunhead Cemetery by Greatwich

Rangoli for Festival by Kamala L

Dogs at Play by Andrew Morrell

Color My World

2007-03-25T13:10:00.000-07:00

Heavens to Etsy!

2007-03-16T20:14:00.000-07:00

I think Etsy is heaven on Earth. To me, it is a wonderfully complex and magical maze...with delightful surprises around every corner. My left brain wishes there was a logical place to start and that I could get through the whole site systematically, but my right brain is happy to just wander aimlessly and see where my whims take me.

Tonight, they've taken me to what may be the most stunning and evocative jewelry I've ever seen. It was impossible to narrow down which images to show here, as each one was more gorgeous than the last. I just can't say enough about it. I am enchanted by 1ofmykind and can't wait to buy my first piece!

The Thrill of the Hunt

2007-03-15T17:28:00.000-07:00

I am an avid bargain hunter. As a lower-middle class kid, I was forced to do most of my back-to-school clothes shopping at thrift stores, which I loathed. Soon, I developed an eye for funky, vintage pieces and created my own, unique "look." Eventually, I learned to enjoy shopping at thrift stores and came to love the hunt for fabulous finds at bargain prices.

Today, I still love the hunt. I have more money than my family did then, but I'm certainly not rich. With a professor husband and me in publishing (not too terribly well-paid careers), I'm always on the lookout for a good deal. And now that we're beginning to spend thousands of dollars on trying to start a family, my hunting skills are in even higher demand.

So, on the chance that there may be some other bargain hunters out there, I've decided to start what will hopefully become a semi-regular post topic: The Thrill of the Hunt. With these posts, I'll share my latest killer bargain finds.

This week I found this cute little Moroccan Plant Stand from Collections Etc. It reminds me of the Moroccan Tables at Garnet Hill. The Garnet Hill tables cost $128, which isn't too bad, and they're probably made with higher quality materials. But if you're on a tight budget, the Collections Etc. table might be more your speed since it will only put you out by $14.99! Ah, I love a good bargain.
Happy Hunting!

Yellow

2007-02-22T18:53:00.000-08:00

The ever-fabulous Maryam at My Marrakesh recently posted this wonderful Moroccan inspired rug by Bev Hisey. Such a great find, Maryam! If I had my druthers, I'd get this rug and pair it with either one of these lamps from Inside Avenue: the aptly named Hollywood Regency Lamp (which is also available in black with black shade or in white with white shade) or the Versaille Lamp in black and white.

And speaking of great lamps, Inside Avenue has a ton of 'em! A few of my favorites: the Florentine, the Mayfair, and the Zanzibar.

Alhambra Lantern

2007-02-19T11:42:00.000-08:00

I found this Moroccan inspired Alhambra Lantern by Currey & Company at Inside Avenue. I absolutely love it! (More beautiful things from Inside Avenue to be posted sometime soon.)

New Painting

2007-02-17T20:39:00.000-08:00

I've just finished my latest painting, entitled Promise. This one's for my dear friend Shawna (whose feminist musings can be read HERE).

Ring in the Spring

2007-02-17T19:47:00.000-08:00

Okay, so I know it's not officially spring yet, but today in California, we had a gorgeous, spring-like day, so I am itching to get my spring on! It's time to start planning for those outdoor dinner parties and backyard barbecues. In addition to the Mad Mats that I posted previously, I'm eyeing these really cool Moroccan-inspired melamine dishes from Home Infatuation. Love these colors and patterns, and I think they'd look great with a Mad Mat.

I want them all!

AND... even though I have no place to put this (since I have a covered deck), I really want this bright, hand-painted paisley patio umbrella (also from Home Infatuation). Now, off to find the perfect outdoor, non-glass glassware!

Light Up My Life

2007-02-15T19:15:00.000-08:00

Okay, so I just discovered the Home Port today (as you can see from the post immediately preceding this one), and I am so happy I've found them! They have some really beautiful items at really reasonable prices!

These recycled sheet metal lanterns are blowing my mind! And these dainty Venetian votives remind me of the Graham+Graham Moroccan tea lights I recently spotted at Athena Says.

Cleanliness is Next to Godliness

2007-02-15T18:50:00.000-08:00

I think I am in love with these exquisite little, diaphanous Soap Leaves from the Home Port. Aren't they lovely? I think they'd make a really unique gift.

They would look nice in a powder room along with this Lanta Waste Can (also from the Home Port), hand-carved of sustainably harvested mango wood. It's so rich and chocolatey; I love it!

The Power of Paisley

2007-02-13T18:33:00.000-08:00

I must confess: I have a thing for paisleys, and you'll probably wind up seeing a lot of them posted here over time.

As Wikipedia will tell you, paisleys are Persian in origin, but their name comes from the Scottish town of Paisley. To many, it is an ancient symbol of fertility. To a few, it is a conduit for demons. To most of us, though, it's a curvy, versatile motif, at once funky and elegant.

I think paisleys look good on everything, and here are a few current examples.

Love this Paisley and Leather Settee from Horchow. In fact, they've got several really cool paisley items currently, like this collection of Paisley Gold Dinnerware and these nifty Paisley Desk Accessories, which I'll never be able to afford.

For more lovely paisley prints, check out this Putu Weekender Bag from Wrapables, these Privo Paisley Thong Sandals from Garnet Hill, Charles Keath Penzance Chair Cushions, and the Bronze Paisley Charlotte Table Lamp from PoshLiving.

Sacred Music

2007-02-12T19:04:00.000-08:00

I recently saw a "good book" flask case online (available at urban outfitters, among many). It's clever, but I'm not a big drinker, so I don't really need a flask case. However, this Hymn Book iPod Case from SUCK UK is something I could see myself using.

Black and White

2007-02-07T20:38:00.000-08:00

I sort of envy people who decorate with black and white predominantly. I've often toyed with the idea of having a black and white room with just a few key pieces of vivid color (fuchsia or peacock blue, for instance), but I don't know if I could do it. I love a room that's a riot of color! But still, if I were to decorate in black and white, here's some pieces I'd seriously consider.

I wish the picture for this was a little better. This is just a run-of-the-mill over-the-door shoe organizer, but WOW, what a great pattern! I am tempted to run to the Home Depot first thing in the morning to pick one up. And right now it's on sale for just $10.50.

Okay, so I'm cheating a bit here, as these Iron Vines wall decals by Blik are actually cocoa colored, but wouldn't it be great if they were black? Look how well they'd match that shoe organizer.

By the way, I'll take Viggo too, if no one objects.

Do you see a pattern emerging here, or is it just me? This Rustic Baroque Coaster Set is available at Target and would look very nice supporting Viggo's glass of wine, don't you think?

Not Your Father's Chocolate Heart Valentine

2007-02-04T22:26:00.000-08:00

Just in time for Valentine's Day, these gorgeous chocolate flaming hearts from Chocolate Deities are sure to delight any chocolate lover. What a wonderful, unique Valentine gift this would be for your special someone...or for yourself! Visit the site, and while you're there, be sure to check out their collection of chocolate gods and goddesses. They're divine!

Mad About Mad Mats

2007-02-04T21:12:00.000-08:00

Spied these in a magazine almost 2 years ago. I LOVE the designs, love the fact they're made from 98% recycled plastic, and love the price: under $100 for a 6x9. They're $90 if you buy them straight from the manufacturer, but if you do a Google search for "mad mats," you can find some places selling them for $75.

I Heart Cost Plus

2007-02-04T19:53:00.000-08:00

Last month, James let me get the buffet and hutch I've been coveting (the Sourav from Cost Plus World Market). Of course, if money were no object and I could have the buffet and hutch of my wildest dreams, it would probably be some glorious antique or some intricately carved piece from Persia or something. But...money is an object, and luckily, Cost Plus has some really cool stuff in a range we can afford. I got the Sourav pieces during their recent 40% off sale. So, with tax and delivery (which we arranged independently), we spent under $800. What a deal! It's really well made too. The sheesham wood is very solid and very heavy. I was pleasantly surprised.

So, now I can move on to coveting the matching Sourav dining table and chairs and the beautiful Safi cabinet and side table. Unfortunately, I think they're phasing out the Safi cabinet, so by the time I've saved up for it, they'll probably be gone. Sigh....

Daydreaming in the Digital Age

2007-02-03T22:45:00.000-08:00

I love surfing the web. And since I've grown tired of all the super catty celebrity blogs (except Go Fug Yourself and Gallery of the Absurd, which are genius), my new obsession is what I refer to as "design blogs," blogs which showcase fabulous design, whether it be fashion, ephemera and stationery, textiles, interior design, or whatever. I can't get enough of them! They bring together two of my favorite pastimes: web surfing and daydreaming about beautiful things I hope to own one day. My two current favorites are My Marrakesh and Athena Says. I love almost everything I've seen on their sites so far.

Anyhoo, since I spend so much time surfing...and reading other people's blogs, my wonderful husband, James, has been suggesting for some time that I start my own blog. And so I am. I have my doubts about whether anyone will ever want to read it, but I figure it will be something fun for me to do -- and at least a bit more productive than just surfing. Now I'll be surfing, posting images, and writing! At least a little bit. So, to begin, here's just a few broad categories of things that I find beautiful:

Folk Art

I am drawn to folk art from all over the world, but particularly from Eastern Europe (must be the Hungarian blood), Turkey, Morocco, and India. I am constantly looking for pieces with a folk-art flare.

Art Nouveau

I love all things Art Nouveau. The sensual curves, the focus on natural beauty. Even the most mundane things (like the letter holder at left) become beautiful objets d'art.

Interior Design

I love interior design. I can't tell you how many waking hours I spend daydreaming about how I'd remodel and decorate my house if I could afford it. I could window shop (online, on the street, or in the pages of home decor magazines and catalogs) all day long. My tastes are, I think, at once quirky and refined. Maybe not. I'm certainly no expert. But I know what I like.

Till next time,
Darlene