Box Store Boycott

Now, I have nothing against box stores. In fact, I love Target. Love it. Have-to-keep-myself-out-of-the-store-so-I-don't-spend-away-my-retirement Love it. But...what I don't love about the box store empire is that by tantalizing us with cheap prices and pretty packaging, we've forsaken originality and craftsmanship. Plus, our houses all start to look the same.

So, I thought I would do a little tantalizing today by featuring a few selections from the handmade marketplace, Etsy. Each of these items is either vintage (aka recycled) or handmade. And oh so pretty. For example,


Chakra Pennywhistle is one of my favorite shops. I love the folksy/natural look of this Tulip pillow, and can imagine it sitting neatly on my bed or sofa. I also love the antique moneybag pillows offered in the store, too--they're so charming, and remind me of my days as a banker.


This Smile Letterpress Poster from Roll & Tumble Press is fresh and simple. I love the chunky black frame (not included) and can picture it hanging perfectly in my entryway. And the message is not too cloyingly sweet thanks to the no-nonsense font and retro camera image. You won't find the likes of this letterpress beauty at any box stores, I guarantee!


This is Mrs. B's Yellow Teapot. Hello, Mrs. B. Would you like to come over to my house? Why thank you--you're so kind.
From Modern Nest, this vintage pot is just the shade of yellow I've been craving lately. Check out the rest of the store for other fun retro housewares as well!


I think these Vinyl Kitchen Labels are ingenious. You can customize a set of 6 generic canisters with these stickers in minutes. From Studio JK, they would make a great wedding or housewarming gift for your favorite nester.


Finally, speaking of vinyl stickers, wall decals are quickly becoming all the rage in home design these days. And though I'm still a little torn about them for main living spaces, I do think they're adorable in nurseries. This Safari Animal Stack by Single Stone Studios is so fun, and would make a great baby shower gift for a modern mom.

All together, handmade and vintage stores offer a great way to break out of the cookie-cutter mold and into fresh, fun design. And these five items are just a sampling of the home design alternatives available out there. I hope you're tantalized! Happy browsing!

Hope you all have a great weekend!

Previous Related Posts:
Five Things You Need
Plotting More Patina
From Cookie Cutter to Custom

Favorite Things

So, in preparation for the launch of Retro Summer, I thought I would take an informal survey, and ask my subscribers to name their favorite thing about summer.

Simple Things
And as the answers came in, I could see right away that they were varied. And simple. Conspicuously absent from the list of responses were expensive vacations, luxuries, and the like. Instead, the most common favorite things involved enjoying longer days, warm nights, and the company of friends. Barbecuing was high on the list, probably more for the social enjoyment of it than the food, although one person is quite fond of burnt hot dogs (you know who you are...). And of course, school letting out was popular for both moms and teachers. (Remember those first weeks of no school as a kid? They were the greatest, don't you think?)

The list reinforced what I was suspecting, which is that the things we are fondest of when the days get warm don't involve lots of money or flashy gimmicks. Rather, summer days make us nostalgic for a time when things were really simpler. Like when we were kids.

Nostalgia
And that is why, when I was planning out my summer calendar, I kept coming back to the activities that we appreciate from our youth--or maybe even before then. Hence the theme "Retro Summer." The "retro" doesn't necessarily apply to fashion or culture. Rather, it applies to our affection for community, friends, and low-tech fun (like swimming pools and nature and kick-the-can, for instance).

So, I thank all of the readers who responded to my quick survey, and for their confirmation of my "retro" hunch. And I hope to hear from all of you over the summer, as I indulge in some nostalgia, and invite you to join!

Previous Related Posts:
The Newest Gossip (on joining my newsletter)
A Peek into Retro Summer '09!