I’ve been feeeeeeling mourning jewelry. I don’t really have any goth in me and I don’t think I could pull off wearing a ring with some dead person’s hair… but maybe. The Victorian way of memorializing the dead; be it photographs of them “sleeping,” photographic portraits on brooches or in lockets, forget me not flowers, woven and knotted hair filled rings is creepy and beautiful.

Here are some images and ebay auctions I liked:

ring

9ct mourning ring with hair

in memory of

photo locket

brooch

hinge bracelet

bow brooch with table-worked hair

enamel brooch

15ct mourning ring

mourning locket with photo and hair

enamel jet black brooch with dangling beads

forget me knot/not

ebay category

I have been looking for some summer bedding and it’s led me into antique quilt research. At first I was convinced I wanted a “mattelassé” or “brides” quilt. They look sort of embossed and are often in white cotton with tons of intricate stitching all over. But I’m starting to think I actually want an antique hand-stitched quilt from the 20′s or 30′s.

The following quilts I could never pull off in my decor, but I find them inspiring, and they might end up referenced in future paintings. Some actually look like something Jonathan Adler or Dwell would produce today. One seems straight out of a Ryan Trecartin video even though it was made in the late 1800′s.

Quilts from the late 1800′s through the early 1930′s:

» Continue Reading…

I’m already mentally beyond Christmas (as I was raised a Jew, this holiday thing to me is logistically annoying and boring). Are there NO native New Yorkers who stick around? How is it possible that all* my friends are from another state?

Anyway. Besides starting a new art project, I’m thinking about the New Year. And getting a 2009 daily planner to fill. I stumbled upon a slew of really amazing Korean agendas on Ebay and some others that do the job.

Fresh Apple
Daily Color
Draw your Tomorrow
Day By Day

Color Diary
Banana Eat Yellow

Hello Lucy

Cocoro
Coco
Panda Schedule

and here are some others I didn’t bother to show the images of:
Agenda
Red Moleskin
Shinzi Katoh
Travel Journal

*Ok, minus Elizabeth

I’ve done a bit of Ebay sleuthing and came up with some rings to watch. I’m feeling black cameos, poison rings (in particular this odd King Tut number), high school and signet rings from the 20s, and anything in rose gold.

One of the things I’ve been into recently, besides old beat up mirrors, blanc de chine and various white ceramics, is glassware. Glass water bottles, old vases in various sizes and colors, seltzer and milk bottles. And as of today, moonshine jugs.

I stumbled into Michelle Varian in Soho this afternoon. Amid all the tempting gift items were a selection of different sized, probably handmade, jugs. They started at $70 so I looked up equivalents on Ebay.

I need more excuses to display hydrangeas in my apartment. No, seriously! This is all Gossip Girl’s fault. “Hydrangeas!” And I think they’d look cool in one of these huge jugs. Also, I like saying how I need some “huge jugs.” Ok maybe not.

I also love these water bottles remixed in glass. I have really no use for one, but I like. They sell them at MV, Moon River Chattel, and Urban Outfitters.

In between finding a new studio to work in and packing up all the contents of my old one, I’ve been snooping on Ebay for presents. This week I’m on the look out for threadbare Oriental and Navajo rugs, white ceramic mixing bowls, vintage Klein tool bags, and milk glass mugs.

Here are some Fire King mugs I particularly liked

I’m digging geometric shapes, pyramids, and surrealist collages these days. The first two modernist sculptures were for sale on Ebay. I’m not sure where the other images came from.

I want a pair of brown vintage loafers or oxfords for fall. Penny loafers. Shoes with tassels. Fringe. Something that maybe Maggie Smith would have worn in The Prime of Jean Brodie. Even saddle shoes have been looking rather appealing after seeing all these photos of Tennessee Thomas traipsing about with Mark Ronson.

I found these 1930′s metal animal doorstops on Ebay. I’m sort of obsessed with the idea of getting some animal (in particular, that bunny) to keep me company.

New apartment means new furniture. I’m subletting my current place and keeping it furnished. The new place is hopefully going to have a feel that’s part Great Gatsby and Lyell lookbook (faded floral wallpaper, silk camisoles) (would that constitute Hollywood Regency?) meets London 1968 + some knotty wood and some of Charley Harper’s color palate. In my mind it all makes sense. I just don’t want it to see too precious (or in need of dried flowers and twenty cats)

I’m looking into installing wainscotting and beadboard, scouring ebay for vintage wallpaper, old cuppboards, and loveseats. Last night I painted half the rooms pale yellow and petal pink. Today it’s finishing up the rest.

I want these

Dug back into the ebay addiction. I haven’t bid on anything yet, but I’ve got my eye on these babies.

Summer aint over yet.

(PIX MISSING — BLAME FLICKR!!)

Kicking into Fall.