Found Furnishings

Again I ask your pardon after a long absence. Aside from my very active toddler, who makes the entire concept of "free time" laughable, I have been keeping busy with other endeavors. I'm teaching print & digital publications at the local community college, I'm doing a bit more freelance graphic design, and last but not least, I bought a furniture shop.

Wait, what?



Yes, you read that correctly. After 10+ years of what-ifs and lofty dreams, my mother and I, along with my aunt Sari, now co-own the coolest furniture and home decor shop in West Texas.

Souvenirs from New Zealand

Retro Funk Vintage shop in Oamaru

New Zealand and Australia are loaded with souvenir shops. There are good ones and there are bad ones, and my least favorite ones are the ones packed with cheesy, cheaply made imported junk. If I could only bring back one thing from New Zealand, why would it be made somewhere else? Because someone stamped New Zealand on it? Because it's in the shape of a kiwifruit?

My idea of a good souvenir is something made in the country, preferably by an artisan or a local factory. In New Zealand, all sorts of things used to be made domestically, before it was easier and cheaper to import. During many of my thrift store wanderings, I have come across many vintage garments, homewares and toys made in New Zealand. Here are a few of the great things Sam and I have collected in New Zealand.

A Dash of Cuteness

I'm really digging these miniature house spice shakers from Connect Design. They're $8 for a pair (red and green or purple and yellow), or $15 for the set of four.

Inspired: Vintage Photorealism

If you know me, you know how I feel about vintage, classic cars and antiques. Something about the colors and shapes of old things draw me in, along with the patina and charm they have acquired over their long life. On top of that I'm a sucker for photorealism, so when I saw Christopher Stott's oil paintings, I knew I had to share them here.

Los Angeles stopover

We made it to Auckland!

Saying goodbye to Sebastian was hard, but I think he's loving his new home with my grandparents. He was pretty confused at the end, when our apartment was emptying out and he was running out of hidey holes.

A word about walls

I have been packing a lot in the last few days, including my wall hangings: framed drawings, photographs and prints.  It's made me realize what a difference wall decor makes!  Without it, our apartment looks naked, less like a home and more like a dwelling without a personality.



If you want to give your home a bit more personality, try adding something to the walls!  Here are my tips for finding something to spice up your living space: