Lucky 13

It's the 13th and 13's my lucky number. To properly honor the date, here's a recycled sail bag from Brooklyn Etsy Seller Reiter 8

Top Design Inspiration

What FUN! Last night on Bravo's Top Design challenge, all the contestants were supposed to design their rooms around a single hanging light fixture! I LOVE hanging lamps! It immediately inspired me to create some fresh collages of my various 1st Dibs vintage virtual shopping hunt finds. Here are the results. Now who wants to do the purchasing so I can design some rooms around these?

Bubbly fixtures are beautiful!

Smooth silhouettes can be elegant.

Spikey is Sassy & Swanky!

Capiz feels boho, beachy and pretty.

If anyone wants links to any of these let me know. For the time being, they are really just here for my own digital scrap booking purposes.

Goji Berries are Good

West Elm Green

Yvette and I got to visit the under construction West Elm Bay street store in Emeryville. The construction guys gave us this rendered image of what it is supposed to look like when it is completed (sorry the scan turned out a little funky but you get the idea). I am excited to see how the live green exterior wall and green roof are going to turn out.

West Coast Green

Cork Re-Use Mural

I just noticed this news story and it made me happy!

Earth Architecture & Morocco Inspiration

I have been doing research on building techniques in Africa for a school project where we are creating a hypothetical resort in Morocco for a construction class. I was excited to stumble on this interesting-looking book called Earth Architecture that is scheduled to come out this fall. It focuses on homes built with earth. This book by Ronald Rael, makes the claim that "one half of the world's population, approximately 3 billion people on six continents, lives or works in building constructed of earth." The image below is of the Tebogo Home.Here's a close-up of the technique used.Here's an image of Moroccan earthen tiles that are just about to get glazed with colors.(image from the St Tropez Boutique of SF)

Here's an image of some inspiration found on Flickr of how Morocco takes the earthen architecture to a new colorful level.

Recycled Ceramic Jewelry

I found more pretty upcycled ceramic plates that are being turned into jewelry. These pieces are made by Raliegh, NC etsy crafter, OpalLight.

Vandalized Vintage Ceramics

These often humorous, sometimes for mature audiences only, up-cycled plates are from New Zealand artist, trixiedelicious. All these pieces are hand painted. She touts her line as "vandalized vintage". See more of her handywork over at her etsy store here.
I was lucky enough to be gifted this pink lilies & lady one. It hangs on my kitchen art wall!

Sarah Cihat

Continuing the recycled ceramics theme for the week, here's a look at one of my favorite ceramics refurbishers, Sarah Cihat.

Repurposed Ceramics & Glassware

Esther Derkx
domesticconstruction

whomadeit?

Pretty Recycled Paper Strands

Esty seller from Seattle, Kate Greiner caught my eye in an etsy showcase. She makes decorative garlands made of recycled paper. Buy them here !Teardrops!
Dots!

Smart Home: Green and Wired

If you are in Chicago at any point before January 4, 2009, you should go see the exhibition at the Museum of Science and Industry which is entitled, Smart Home: Green and Wired. The three story home was designed by local Oakland, CA architect, Michelle Kaufmann and was built by All American Homes. It is located right next to the museum and shows off green building technologies. It looks very interesting!

Boeing Bungalow!

I just saw this on a Yahoo news story, so awesome!

Crafty Cabinet Art

I was cruisin' around flickr looking for some inspiration on "hanging wall art" and came across this piece of inspiration from Thomas Wold. He is a local guy from Berkeley that has had his work featured in ReadyMade magazine. Both of these images are custom pieces made from recycled goods that he did. His design parameter was to use as much recycled material as possible. I love the mid-century modern aesthetic that he has. Read more about him on his blog .

Recycled Magazine Goodies

I've been admiring these recycled magazine pieces this week. Recycled Paper Trivets from arenaturals.com

I think I might acquire this round recycled magazine mirror this weekend for my kitchen. It is hard to resist and is available and waiting for me at the Berkeley Urban Outfitters.

Crazy Craiglist

wacky mid-century modern furniture up 4 sale in Alameda, CA

pizza slice chair
wavy couch