One of these things is not like the other...

So a wonderful reader of mine from retroroadmap.com wanted to know if I would give her tea set a new home (pictured on left). I saw a picture, but didn't pay much attention, all I said was YESS! I assumed it was from my set that I had purchased on Etsy some time ago. Hooray right? Turns out the set she sent me was made in Germany and mine was made Japan. Interesting... Since Japan was heavy into making cheap ceramics in the 60's, I'm assuming the German Thomas set came first since it feels heavier and just overall better quality, but who knows.

New at West Elm

Ooo so pretty! Hive vases

A bright buzz. Hand-painted terracotta vases are patterned in textural honeycombs and gazed in brilliant hues—a perfect venue for fresh bouquets or flowering branches. $24.00 – $34.00

The Architectural Pottery Collection

San Diego native Michael Stephenson has a passion for modern industrial design, from Bauhaus architecture to 20th century classics. He founded Vessel USA Inc. in 1998 and he makes modern planters & containers, ceramic sculpture and garden accessories. Check out more on Etsy.

Adding to the collection!

I'm a sucker for vintage orange/red tea cups and serving sets, and when I saw the set above on Etsy I pounced! Last year I found two cups from this same collection and I'm so happy that I can add to it. Below are pictures of others I have collected.

Unloved, Thrown Out and Abandoned Creations by Angela

Etsy shop Beat Up Creations uses orphaned and unloved antique plates and transforms them into new Modern Portrait Plates.

I need a plate with a Floyd head!

All Modern Giveaway

All Modern wants to give one lucky reader the chance to win a notNeutral coffee serving set!

To enter this giveaway, simply send your contest entry email before March, 1 2010 to jennski_giveaway at yahoo dot com. Then leave a comment on this blog post saying which design you like the most. You have to both e-mail me and comment in order to enter! I will post the name of the randomly selected winner on Tuesday (3/2/10). *Please note that this giveaway is open only to United States & Canada residents.

Who will be the lucky winner? There are many designs to choose from, so head on over to All Modern now, to see which set you love the best!

Interview: Nina van de Goor

Name: Nina van de Goor
Occupation: student and designer
Location: the Netherlands
Etsy shop: www.etsy.com/shop/ninainvorm

1. What kind of art do you make?
My favorite medium is ceramics/dinnerware, I make my own as well as redecorate beautiful vintage items with my screenprints. I really love screenprinting, and I also make collages and other kinds of prints. Photography is another thing I really love.

You can read all about it on my blog or see flickr for ceramics
and prints.


2. What do you enjoy most about working in this medium?
I really like the functionality of ceramics and dinnerware, I like to make something that's both useful and beautiful. Also, I like to work with bright colors and graphic shapes, screenprinting is a really good medium for that. In my ceramics, I like to combine beautiful vintage pieces with my own designs, I love how they combine and become something new.



3. What challenges have you found in your work?
Oh, many! ;) First of all there are all kinds of technical challenges: how to create what you have in mind? Making ceramics is pretty challenging, cause the firing process can always come with all kinds of unexpected surprises, and not always good ones! Of course there are also my own limitations: I'm self-taught in some of the things I do so I often have to find out how things work. I also find the business side of this all pretty challenging: how to generate a proper income, how to 'produce' without losing the fun and originality...



4. Where do you find inspiration?
Mainly in everyday life, in the streets, in all kinds of graphics and typography, in books and magazines and while reading blogs...



5. What are your favorite artists, designer or blogs.

Oh I have so many, I don't know where to start...
I love Elisabeth Dunker and Sandra Juto and their blogs... I like reading blogs such as Bloesem, Oh Joy, Door Sixteen and Decor8. When it comes to designers, I have a huge love for mid-century modern, so designers such as Arne Jacobsen, Stig Lindberg, Eva Zeisel, Finn Juhl and Charles and Ray Eames are still my favorites.

Etsy find of the day

Vintage Mid Century Modern Espresso Set $39.99

The perfect gift: Jonathan Adler Ceramics (under $50)

whale salt and pepper $48.00

muse votive holder $28.00

utopia williamsburg vase $38.00

vidalia bud vase $28.00

The perfect gift: Sara Paloma Pottery

So cute! This is the perfect gift for me, I would love one of these rotund stoneware bottles, I sooo need one :P (Hint hint Al!)
On sale! $25 each!

New Etsy Purchase

Feast your eyes on my new mod tea pot! It just came in the mail today, I already have it sitting in my collection. Today is an awesome day!

Plates

Have you ever collected so many plates that you don't know what to do with them all? Well, you just might want to try hanging them up on your walls.

I love, love, love Lisa Congdon's hanging plate display! (pictured above) The idea of hanging plates isn't a new one, but I love her fresh and colorful approach. I've been wanting to do something like this in my home with all the odd plates that I pick up at flea markets. I still need to go and find a bit more but I do have some cute ones that I can play around with for now.

For anyone who is interested I found a helpful page on ehow called how to hang plates and also some info at marthastewart.com. I can't wait to start this project, I love arranging things! Check out more plate arrangements below.

Image via Apartment TherapyFlickrFlickrAntique Plate DisplayFlickr

White: textures and patterns

It's called the georgia lamp but I call it the booby lamp.
Jonathan Adler $150
Textured white vessels from West Elm $29-$59
Blomster from Ikea $24

New at Urban Outfitters

Urban Outfitters always has beautiful accessories, here are some of my favorites:

Tiny Ceramic Basket by Perch

Radial Bloom Pillow by Three Sheets

Acacia Mushroom Box

Double Wire Basket

Glass coral by Heather Palmer

Heather Palmer is a glass artist from San Fransisco. Her coral pieces are so beautifully intricate and look like they take hours time to make. I want the small red one on my coffee table. Heather is also on Etsy.

porcelain wall bud vases

These sculptures are amazing! Each piece is one of a kind based on how it is glazed and constructed. Check out more on Ryan Takaba's Etsy shop.

Mod ceramics

When it comes to orange/red 1960's/70's mod ceramics I can't seem to hold myself back! I just snagged the top three cups on Etsy. I will add them to my collection.

Oh and on a sad note, I broke on of my cute tea cups the other day... waaa

Recent Etsy goodies

I just bought an amazing vase on Etsy! I LOVE it!! The color combo is just electrifying. I also picked up a pair of metal flower candle holders in mustard. I'm in love!