Thingy Thursday: Artist and Collector, Greg Irvine

Image Eve Wilson Photography

I can’t think of a better Thingy Thursday post to begin 2015 than the amazingly creative and collected space of artist Greg Irvine. I was wowed by this collaboration between filmmaker Paris Thomson of SIRAP, and Editor Lucy Feagins of The Design Files. Together they made a short video documenting Greg’s remarkable home, his collections and his paintings. 

Greg's collection of tortoise shell objects is stunning!

He has a large collection of vintage fabrics which he uses in his painting. TITLE: View to the Garden with Blue • MEDIUM: oil on canvas • DIMENSIONS: 4ft x 5ft

Greg believes in surrounding himself with a lot of beautiful things. . . a practice I'm more than a little familiar with, but I think you call mine hoarding!

His sketch books are jaw-droppingly stunning!  He has hundreds of them full of sketches/paintings like the ones above.

TITLE: Clarice Cliff & Flowering Gum • Limited Edition Print 1/100 • DIMENSIONS: 91cms x 84cms

Australian Homes · Greg Irvine from The Design Files on Vimeo.

Images are courtesy of Greg Irvine and Eve Wilson Photography and the film is by Paris Thomson / SIRAP and Produced by The Design Files with music by Digging Holes

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City Wide Weekend!

I always get excited at the prospect of selling and shopping at City Wide Garage Sale, on account that it's the most fantastically amazing thing ever created.

Whenever I started shopping and then eventually selling at the City Wide, I felt a little bit like Markie Post or Meredith Baxter Birney in one of those Lifetime movies about the perils of addiction - "Unraveled: The LeAnn Stephenson Story" - in which I rob from the kids' chore money and pawn my pancreas to get one more shopping fix. 

The way I figure it, everyone has a vice of some sort or another.  I probably will never have a drug addiction, or gamble my inheritance away, or take up a smoking habit in which I smoke so much that I spontaneously combust. 

My vice is vintage and antique shopping.

The first time I experienced this particular show, my eyes immediately caught fire and my heart raced when I saw booth after booth of vintage goodies awaiting me.  In my opinion it's the finest example of vintage shopping porn in central Texas.  I recall having to catch my breath, sit down, and put my head between my knees so I wouldn't pass out the first time I visited.

I always find amazingly groovy junk, I mean treasures, from the many vendors at City Wide.  And because I had specific request from a faithful stalker, I mean reader, I want to show you some of the goodies I picked up at this fall's Antique's Week that I plan on bringing to this weekend's sale.

Lots of beautiful needlepoint . . . .

. . . . . tons of new vintage frocks . . . .

. . . . . rainbow colors of vintage crystal inventory . . . .

. . . . . and of course piles of vintage textiles, napkins and damask tablecloths.

The sale is at the Palmer Events Center here in Austin.  I'll be set up near the red skirted info desk. There is a $7 charge to park in the garage or there is a free parking lot at One Texas Center on the Southwest corner of So. First and Barton Springs Road, as well.

Saturday morning between 8:30 a.m. - 10 a.m., City Wide offers early shopper passes for $10 each.  This allows those who so choose to have early access to the show and get first dibs on vendors' merchandise before the general admission customers enter at 10 a.m.

I hope you get a chance to come and see me, cuz I have some really marvelous goodies this show!

Have a great weekend and I'll see every back here Monday!

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I Don't Think That's a Thing: Dude!

OK, so, I have a story . . . . Not just any story . . . . . But an "I Don't Think That's a Thing" story. And I would like to extend my sincerest thanks to the eighty-something year old little lady that was an essential part of making my day last Friday.

To begin with, I should share some pertinent information prior to relaying the details of the story. Just a few blocks from my house is this great car wash that will wash and dry your car by hand while you wait out on a patio and lounge in one those humongous cedar rocking chairs and watch them detail everything on your car, down to buffing the rims of your tires and hubcaps.

"Well, . . . . I don't know what to tell you, that's what the guy said," the lady sitting next to me hissed defensively into her cell phone. "Yeah," she continued "a 'HAND JOB' . . . . a-a-a-a-and he even said he'd throw in a 'RIM JOB' for free since it was Senior Day!"

I decided at that point that it would be an opportune time to put on my sunglasses and turn my head so that she wouldn't see me bite my bottom lip in an effort not to laugh. As I turned, I caught a glimpse of the little high school guy sitting on the other side of me. His jaw had dropped and his gaze was fixed on the little old lady - he leaned slightly my direction, without taking his eyes off the lady and loudly whispered, "Dude! I can't wait to get old!"

Image courtesy IMDB, Alcon Entertainment and Twentieth Century Fox

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Simply Brilliant: Hoxton Street Monster Supplies

I had to post about this amazing establishment in London called Hoxton Street Monster Supplies, and their work through The Ministry of Stories.  Being this close to Halloween I also couldn't resist posting some of these images!

The Ministry of Stories was founded by Nick Hornby and co-directors Lucy Macnab and Ben Payne. Hidden away at the back of The Monster Shop, the Ministry of Stories provides a free space for young people to write. Mentoring is provided by volunteers, local writers, artists and teachers, all giving their time and talent for free.

The aim of the The Ministry of Stories is to inspire young people and to help transform their lives through writing. They believe that unleashing a young person's imagination can build confidence and self-respect.  All forms of writing are encouraged - from song lyrics to play scripts, screenplays to journalism, blogging to games, poems to graphic novels.  In short, they strives to inspire a nation of storytellers.

	Love these rules written on the front doors!

	Too funny!

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Photos courtesy The Ministry of Stories, Hoxton Street Monster Supplies and Mark Wu

Simply Brilliant: Vintage Scarf Dress

A dear friend sent me this thinking that I might like it . . . . . Uhm . . . yeah!!!

Now if I only had $3450.00 and that model's body.

Photos courtesy Comme Des Garcons


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Madam Secretary

At The Vintage Laundry we believe in being aggressively pink and this marvelous Louis XV Style Secretary/Roll Top Desk meets our manifesto.

It would be just the thing for "A Room of One's Own." I'm thinking Virginia Woolf herself would have put this secretary on her wish list! It has 3 small drawers above the interior cubbies and one large drawer below the writing surface. Patina-d brass drawer pulls and a retractable roll top all perched on 4 elegant cabriole legs. Painted a glossy black with The Vintage Laundry signature pink covering the interiors of all of the drawers and the cubbies.

Check it out in our new bricks and mortar store, on our site or our Etsy.  And don't forget our 20% Off promotion we have on our entire inventory.  Offer valid through August 10, 2011.

 

Don't forget to like our Facebook fan page and join our mailing list to receive coupons and other info about events, workshops, book signings, etc.

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You Can Do It!

Are you familiar with that saying, "Taking the world by storm?" Well, that's what I had imagined would happen when I officially opened the doors of The Vintage Laundry shop last week. Well . . . it seems that storm I was anticipating has been downgraded by weather experts to the equivalent of having someone spit out of their car window as they drive past my shop.

We opened our doors on Tuesday, July 19, 2011, at 11:00 A.M. and were an instant hit - like meatloaf at a vegan potluck or the Santa Dreidel. We brought a spoon to a knife fight, basically.

We were not a hit.

But yesterday was a different day because we had customers who must have seen something of value in my quirky little shop (20% off coupon) because they decided for some reason (20% off coupon) to come in and shop and make actual purchases. "This is it," I thought. "Here comes my storm!" I don't know why I'm so confident (20% off coupon,) I just am. So, I'll just keep on keepin' on in my usual overwhelmed state, reacting to these little traffic hiccups with grace (20% off coupon) and optimism (larger discounts coming soon.)

Like our Facebook fan page or join our mailing list to receive your coupons and other info about events, workshops, book signings, etc.

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First Liar Doesn't Have a Chance

 "You name it."

These are the three words that leave my mouth when the subject of what I carry in the shop arises.  Which it does, and quite often, and not without a twinge of self-promotion and most often with a little competitiveness thrown in for good measure.  I find myself thinking, when listening to what a customer collects, "I'll see your salt and pepper collection and raise you a mess of printed tablecloths from the 1950s.  I'll see your Eames lounge and ottoman and raise you a Louis XV armchair.  And I'll see your Vera Neumann scarves and buy 'em."  These conversations have no end and no goal, and frankly I have no idea why I carry on so, except maybe I'm just one more vintage find away from starring in the next episode of A&E's Hoarders . . . . check your TV listings, I may already be there.

From the moment that I caught the vintage bug until today, I have lived by the philosophy that it is better to have dumpstered and dived than never to have dumpstered at all.  I have acted as host and restorer to just about every vintage item I could squeeze through the front door.


The other day my son began to question a new friends long term viability, noting that he lived in a house with his mom and dad and no old stuff.

"Not even any vintage knickknacks!"

"Not even," he says like his parents were unfit and smoking crack for lunch.

"But how does that work, exactly?" he asked.

"I don't know, I guess their family just likes a minimal look to their home."  I try to explain.

"Sounds awful."  he says.

So, apparently it's genetic.

I can't think of a smooth segue from there to photos of the shop.  So, here they are,  the "can't-get-no-minimal" shop photos.  Oh! . . . . and don't forget to join The Vintage Laundry on Yelp, Foursquare and check in when you visit and receive a discount on any purchase or you can join us on our Facebook fan page or follow my Tweets to get updates on new merchandise, deals, invitations to exclusive events, workshops and lots more.  Special grand opening specials begin next week and you don't want to miss out!!

Comes see our collection of vintage china, crystal and silver . . .

. . .  or peruse our vintage chandeliers . . .

. . . or linger in our vintage clothing room . . .

. . . . and don't forget about our Grey Gardens Collection, where you can customize and furniture purchase with paint and upholstery of your choosing . . .

 

. . . or maybe you have a wedding, dinner party or event that you're planning . . . . check out our vintage rental inventory . . . .

 . . . and of course there is always our vintage textiles and linens to Ooooh and Aaah over!

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Thingy Thursday

I admit freely, easily, even, to anyone who asks: I'm a collector slash hoarder slash "if-you-don't-want-it-I'll-take-it" kinda chick.  If someone put it in a garage sale, I bought.  If someone trashed it, I dumpster dived it.  There is not a minimalist bone in my body.  I come by this green-recycler-obsessive-compulsive behavior, not because I abhor overflowing landfills (which I do,) but because I'm neurotic - and I'm only sorta kidding here.

So, to make myself feel better about all that, I've decided to add a new weekly post to the blog beginning in May.  It will be called "Thingy Thursday" and as the name suggests, it will serve as a vehicle to showcase collectors and the "thingies" they collect.  The plan is to begin with my own personal collections next Thursday, followed by Lynn Goldfinger-Abram of Paris Boutique Hotel, Stan Williams, author of The Find (aka The Elegant Thrifter) on the following Thursdays.  Others that have agreed to share their "thingys" are Victoria Smith of sfgirlbybay, Diana Durkes of Fine Diving Chicago and Jessica Enig of Such Pretty Things.

If you would like to play and show off your "thingies", just email me and I can send you the profile questions. 

See you next Thursday!

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I'm Off . . . and I'm Leaving, too!

For years , I've fooled myself into believing that I could quit collecting vintage textiles whenever I wanted. I promote the myth that I am in control. Even as my burgeoning collection of linens colonizes on the lounge, the dining table, my desk, and every inch of space in both my linen closet and coat closet, I refuse to admit I have a problem - it's for my business, I keep rationalizing. I feel a little bit like Markie Post or Meredith Baxter Birney in one of those Lifetime movies about the perils of addiction - "Unraveled: The LeAnn Stephenson Story"- in which I rob from the kids chore money fund and pawn my pancreas to get one more shopping fix.

Well, to thin my personal and professional collection of vintage textiles and other vintage goodies, every 6 months I participate in "Antiques Week" in the Round Top/Warrenton area as a dealer/merchant - wink, wink, nudge, nudge. This is the equivalent to taking a compulsive gambler to Vegas or similar to 'make your own pipe night' at the crack house. As I have said before, this event is just an "antique freak's" Mecca. There are fields and fields and dealer after dealer, offering vintage treasures and it's my own little slice of Prozac!

This Spring I will return to Vickie Davis' wonderful venue at "The Texas Rose Antique Show," located across from Marburger Farms, 2075 South State Highway 237. Your can find directions here. The show begins Saturday, March 28th and runs through April 4, 2009.

Perhaps you, some friends, my family, and maybe my accountant could come out and threaten some sort of intervention and help me accept the sobering reality that . . . I actually am a very sick woman!