Butterfly Rug

Butterfly Rug
$3,100

December Arts + Crafts Markets {Boston + Providence}

Found on the Decor8 blog.

Shop Indie Boston! I really look forward to all the fun summer and winter craft events that spring up each year. Last season I selected the best of the best events happening in Boston + Providence and this year is no different, another round-up! And yes baby, I know it's cold outside - but neither snow nor sleet prevents Boston locals from a few good sales. Here's a quick view of events going on (starting tomorrow!) around town. Please feel free to print this handy guide so you'll have it on you during the month. Have fun!

Not in New England? See the last paragraph of this post for a GREAT link just for you.




Crafts at the Castle
11/30, 10-8
12/1, 10-6
12/2, 10-5
Hynes Convention Center, Exhibit Hall B, 900 Boylston St. (1st floor), Boston.
Rain or shine. $18.00 for adults. $15.00 for seniors. Children under 12 are free.

Holiday Artisian Fair at The Eliot School
12/1, 11-5
The Eliot School, 24 Eliot Street, Jamaica Plain.
Free Admission.

NEW! Paper & Chocolate Event with Albertine Press & Taza Chocolate
12/2, 1-6
561 Windsor Street, Somerville.
Tastings, factory tours, letterpress demonstrations, artisan chocolates,
handmade books, holiday cards and more.

Celebrate Newton! Arts + Crafts Festival
12/2, 10-4
Newton South H.S., 140 Brandeis Rd, Newton Center.
Free Admission.

MassArt Annual Sale
12/3-8, 10-7
MassArt, Tower Building (lobby), 621 Huntington Ave. (corner of Huntington Ave. and Evans Way), Boston.
Rain or shine. Free admission.

The Arsenal on the Charles Vendor Fair
12/4, 10-2
3 Kingsbury Avenue, Watertown.
Free Admission.

School of the Museum of Fine Arts December Sale
12/5-6, 12–8
12/7-9, 12–6
SMFA, 230 The Fenway, Boston.
Free Admission.

NEW! Design Nearby at the pinkcomma Gallery
12/7, 5-10
Pinkcomma, 81b Wareham Street (South End), Boston.

MIT Sloan Craft Fair (sorry no link)
12/7, 9-6
Lobby of the Tang Center, 50 Memorial Drive, Cambridge, MA (entrance on Wadsworth Street).

Fort Point Holiday Sale
12/7, 4-7
12/8-9, 11-5
Midway Studios, 15 Channel Center Street, Boston with additional studios open throughout the neighborhood.
Rain or shine. Free admission. Free Parking.
{NEW! They also have a brick and mortar holiday store open for the season on weekdays until 1/4/08.}

RISD Alumni Art Sale
12/8, 10-5
RI Convention Center, One Sabin Street, Providence.
Rain or shine. Admission is $7; children under 14 or current RISD students (with ID) get in free.

Sowa Holiday Market
12/8, 10-8
12/9, 10-6
Cathedral High School Gym, 74 Union Park Street (South End), Boston.
Rain or shine. $5 admission. Free Parking at 500 & 540 Harrison Ave.

Bazaar Bizarre
12/9, 12-5
Cyclorama (Boston Center for the Arts) at 539 Tremont Street (South End), Boston.
Rain or shine. $1.00 Admission.
{Tip: Arrive early for the best selection. The line wraps around the block and booths are known to sell out fast.}

Month Long Markets

Craftland Show
12/1-12/22 - daily
Wednesday 11-6, Thursday 11-8, Friday 11-6, Saturday 11-8, and Sunday 11-6.
235 Westminster Street, Providence.
Psst: There's a meet the artists free event on December 13, 6-8 PM.
Rain or shine. Free admission.

The Harvard Square Holiday Craft Fair
12/9-11, M-F 10-7, S 12-6, Su 11-7
12/16-18
12/20-24
First Parish Unitarian Church, on the corner of Mass Ave and Church in Harvard Square.
Free Admission.

Psst: Not in Boston or Providence and feeling a bit left out? No worries! For a complete list of indie markets taking place all over the world visit the Indie Craft Fair Guide. If you are a market owner, don't forget to list your event on their website because I see this site as only growing and becoming THE source for indie markets in the future. I'm spreading the word the best that I can - it's a great site - so tell all of your friends!


(image from the SOWA website)

Apt for sale!

The Olsen twins have put their New York apartment in the West Village on the market. They are asking for $12 million!

Click here to take a virtual tour of the property.

diy: modern paper ornaments

Now this is my kind of diy! I found this great project at Design Sponge.

Here’s what you’ll need:
-Various colors of paper or cardstock, cut into 1″ x 11″ strips. We used 5 colors of cardstock plus silver and gold gift wrap.
-X-acto blade
-Metal ruler
-Cutting Mat
-Stapler
-Thread or monofilament for hanging
Using your X-acto blade and straight edge, cut a few sheets of each color paper into strips that measure 1″ wide by 11″ long.
Lay out your color combinations. We used 3 colors per ornament, repeating the middle color on the outside of each one.
Cut the center strip down to 6″ long. The following concentric layers will consist of 2 pieces, each measuring 7″, 9″ and 11″, respectively.
Make sure the tops of all the strips are flush, and then staple them together. Then line up the bottom edges on the opposite side, so that they are flush, and place a staple on that end. We kept it nice and simple, but there are a bunch of different configurations you can do by playing around with the lengths of the strips and different placement of staples. Now just find a favorite spot to hang them. Ours are clustered above the dining room table.

Kaboom by Pes

Pes is a company that makes small films using all kinds of little bits! You may have seen their work in commercials for Bacardi and Coinstar.

Business Card Cases & Pens

The Acme shop has some great items up on the Velocity website.

Business Card Cases
$31.00


Pens
$62

Vera Wang & Elle now at Khols

Looking for some designer clothes without the high price tag? Well look no further than your local Khols.

Simply Vera

Elle

Sukie notebooks

Rescued Paper Notebooks by Sukie
These books are made entirely from discarded paper which has been collected and assembled by hand in India. Papers are folded and bound in a direct form of recycling which enables the owner to write on the reverse of the printed pages. The books come in three sizes and a variety of colours

I love her notebooks! My favorite is the science book, I showed my husband and he even wanted one!

BLUFF

Bluff pendant light from habitat.

Eames House of Cards

Eames House of Cards
This set of medium-sized cards was designed by Charles Eames in 1952, and contains 32 interlocking pieces featuring delightful and colorful images of what the Eames' referred to as the "good stuff". Pictures of "familiar and nostalgic objects from the animal, mineral and vegetable kingdoms," as well as gorgeous textiles and patterns the couple collected on their world travels. It's a wonderfully fun and inspiring set, and even comes with instructions showing you a few of the many different ways the cards can be stacked, piled, and locked together.

Each card measures 7" x 4.5" and features the Eames starburst logo on the back.

$35.00

Abodeon in Cambridge, MA

So I went on a small field trip yesterday: I hit Urban Outfitters and Black Ink in Harvard Square, and on the way back I went into Abodeon, a hip store that sells all kinds of things for the home - from neat toys, to kitchen tools, to lamps, to furniture.


I love this store! It's packed with both vintage and modern finds, with a healthy dose of mid-century items. I had my eyes on a beautiful vintage fondue pot and some teak salt and pepper shakers.




Abodeon is located on 1731 Massachusetts Avenue in Cambridge, MA, right between Harvard and Porter Squares. If you're anywhere near Cambridge, you should definitely stop by!

SES Design Jewelry

SES Design Jewelry

Singer Sewing Machine Holiday Commercial

Pasternak Art, Antiques & Mid Century Design

I mentioned this antique warehouse before, well now they have a blog! The blog is filled with several videos of their inventory. I'm drooling! They are located in Rockland Maine.

Photography by Sharyn Cairns

I love to see images of other people's homes - it brings me so many ideas and always inspires me. Photographer Sharyn Cairns took the beautiful snapshots pictured above. Check out more lovely photos on her website.

Perch: Frida Desk Lamp

Perch: Frida Desk Lamp
$300.00

Tala Retro Food Kits

Tala Retro Food Kits

These kits are based on the original packaging from the 1950s. These sets will help you make delicious gingerbread cookies, pasty icing and preserves. Yum!

Graphic Mugs

The Curiosity Shoppe has the some beautiful mugs!

White ceramic mug or vase, or pencil caddy... it's up to you! Measures 4.75" high by 3.5" wide.

$6.00 each

Happy Thanksgiving!

Panton lights

Panton lights
Red, black, white gloss, polished or brushed aluminium finish.

So cute. I want them all!

Thrift Store Addict

I totally love his addiction! Check out more of his finds on Flickr.

The art of Andy Carey

Bio:

Andy Carey is a painter, illustrator and graphic designer working in Los Angeles.

Growing up in Greater Boston, Andy demonstrated his artistic sensibilities at an early age while working in everything from clay to pencil to watercolor to acrylic, creating both 2- and 3-dimensional works. One piece would greatly influence Andy’s current work: a recreation of the Beatles Revolver album cover, on foam board, which creates a multi-dimensional impression by layering different parts of the illustration.

Attending Montserrat College of Art, where he studied both fine art and graphic design, Andy received his BFA in Graphic Design, graduating with Honors.

Andy completed his first "discs" painting in 2003 titled, Liam (Our Kid). "I incorporate wooden discs into my paintings because I am interested in creating recognizable images with the simplest forms while presenting a multi-dimensional illusion from one perspective." The paintings utilize vivid colors, which orchestrate composition and mood as well as indicate symbolism. Each piece is highly abstract when the viewer is in close proximity and quite recognizable at a distance. Once the viewer is able to visually comprehend the image, it becomes more impressionistic.

A series of portraits that Andy has completed establishes the visual aesthetics he imagines and pursues. In 2005, Andy's work made its first public appearance in the Chiat By Day, Artist By Night show at Harold's Gallery in Los Angeles.


www.andycareyart.com

Modern gingerbread house

Modern gingerbread house

Every bit as edible as the original, this isn't your grandma's gingerbread house. We gave the classic holiday treat a mid-century makeover, complete with garage and rock garden. An unique gift and sure-fire conversation piece, it comes assembled and ready to enjoy. Once unwrapped, it should be eaten within 30 days. Left as decoration, it will keep for up to 12 months. Candies used for embellishment may contain nuts.

MAHHHHHD Chair Pin

Etsy store 976diss has the cutest pin. Only a $1.00!

M is for Modern Alphabet Flashcards

M is for Modern Alphabet Flashcards
A pocketful of genius. Coolness in a box. A Mid-Century Modern education in 26 remarkably easy lessons. Or a way to keep your kids busy on the train to the City or the 101. Forget A is for Apple. B is for Bauhaus is where it's at.

Cards are 2 3/4" x 2 3/4", packaging is 3" x 3" x 3/4 ", info is immeasurable.

$25.00

Art Show

Click here for more info.

Cog Flower Mug (set)

Cog Flower Mug (set) Designed by Nadia Sparham

Vintage Christmas

Etsy is loaded with vintage Christmas finds. I added a bunch to my favorites.


All vintage one of a kind 24 inch Christmas wreath.

New seasonal Angela Adams gifts

So I was taking a gander at Angela's site (Who I love by the way) and I noticed some new seasonal items. The candles look beautiful, her line of jams look delicious! And she also has a small line of soaps and christmas stockings.

Martha decor at Macy's

Martha Stewart has some gorgeous ornaments at Macy's. I would love a few of those pink tear drop ornaments but I think that if I buy any more decorations my tree will fall over :P

Lighting

Experimental and classic lighting forms from Hidden Art Shop.

Etsy seller Dadadreams

Mmm Mmm Good ACEO ATC Original $5.00

Meet My Meat ACEO ATC Original $5.00

Foil Foliage ACEO ATC Original Collage $5.00

Check out more of these cute and funny collage creations by Dadadreames!

Don't Wine, Just Hang Up Your Coat!

RECYCLED BOTTLE COAT RACK

Hang up your coat and have a drink. Or is it hang up your coat on a drink? We don't care what the saying is as long as wine is involved! This fresh and innovative coat rack features the top portions of wine bottles rescued before they went to the landfill. Elegant and interesting, these different colored bottle necks affixed to glass will look stunning hanging on your walls. Don't be surprised if your guests throw their coats on the ground - who would want to cover up this conversation piece? Personalize your reclaimed wine bottle coat rack by putting your own memorable corks in the bottles.

$70.00

I'm so excited, I just can't hide it any longer!

This past Monday I wrote that something exciting was going on, that I would talk about it soon, and that it was somehow related to the Hood Dairy company... Well, here's what's happening (drum roll, please): My artwork is going to be featured in a TV commercial for Hood Eggnog! Hood (a New England dairy company, for those of you outside their area of distribution) is introducing a new line of flavored eggnogs - Cinnamon, Pumpkin, Gingerbread and Sugar Cookie - which they are promoting on TV. I don't know the specifics about the script, but the commercial features a fabulous retro family whose house is decorated with, among other things, a number of pieces by yours truly. The commercial, entitled "Spice Up The Holidays", will air all over New England between Thanksgiving and Christmas. I'm so excited!

So here's how it all came together: I was contacted by Jim Kent on behalf of Airstream Pictures last Friday. He explained that they were shooting a commercial for Hood Eggnog, and they needed to dress up a mid-20th century home in Maine in a retro style. He had seen my work online, and thought it would be a great fit. Naturally, I said yes.

On the tightest of schedules, I had just a couple of days to come up with a ~3'x3' piece to cover a bookcase. Jim was incredibly accomodating, getting me the right size board himself, dropping it off, and then picking up the finished piece two days later - all while coordinating all the minutiae that goes into shooting a TV spot two states away! All in all, they used my new prints (which will be featured at the Design Nearby show), five paintings from my private collection, and the big, square, custom, bookcase-cover thing I made specially for them.



Here is a pano shot of the set. Can you spot my pieces there? (click to enlarge):



Here's a hint:



It looks so pretty! I can't wait for it to air! :-)

Thanks to Jim Kent, the Garrand Agency, and HP Hood.