Jen Bowles Design

Vintage Typewriter Love at Cambridge Typewriter in Arlington, MA

A few years ago my mom bought me a vintage typewriter at a yard sale.  $5 for a 1960s era Smith-Corona Galaxie 12...not a bad score.  The ribbon was clearly on it's last legs, though it seemed to be in fairly good working order otherwise.  After a quick Google search, I saw that I could get a ribbon locally, at Cambridge Typewriter in Arlington.  I am a visual learner so I figured I could take my typewriter to Cambridge Typewriter and not only buy a new ribbon, but learn how to replace it as well.

Why it took me almost two years to actually drive the 35 miles to Cambridge Typewriter, I'm not sure.  I mean, people literally come from all over the country to visit this place, one of the few remaining typewriter repair shops anywhere.

It was definitely worth the ride!  This place is first and foremost a repair shop, they also do sales and typewriter rentals as well (how cool!).  The variety of typewriters they have on display and awaiting repair makes it more like a small museum.  Prepare to feast your eyes on some vintage typewriter goodness...

 

The front corner of the shop:

 

How about a closer look at a few of the machines...

 

Antique Oliver "bat wing" typewriter:

 

I couldn't get enough of this typewriter and its semi-circular keyboard...

 

The keys were the coolest ~ they have both letters and fractions!

 

Another antique beauty by Hammond:

 

And a Remington...

 

The typewriters were like pieces of art.  The vintage typography was the icing on the visual overload cake!

 

I can't say enough good things about this gem of a shop.  The gentleman who was working, the brother-in-law of the owner, not only showed me how to replace the ribbon in my Galaxie Twelve, but for a very reasonable price, while I waited, oiled and cleaned my typewriter, unstuck keys and generally buffed it up so it's ready to type! If you live in or near the Boston area and you love vintage typewriters, put a visit to Cambridge Typewriter on your list.  Definitely worth the trip...and there's free on-street parking right out front on Mass. Ave.!  If you aren't in the area, they do sell supplies and typewriters online :-).  

Such a fun and nostalgic trip ~ took me right back to Jr. High typing class!  

Thanks for stopping by,

 

 

It's Just Another Book in the Wall

Whilst in NYC, I of course made time for a visit to Anthropologie at Rockefeller Center.  I mentioned previously that I saw a  display there that warranted its own post.  And here we are...

Yes, that's an entire (faux) wall made out of thrifted books.  It was awesome.   I didn't even realize there was a pattern until I stepped back.  Seriously, how cool is that??  The piece that really puts it over the top for me is the fab chandelier.

Those visual display peeps at Anthropologie really know what they're doing, don't they...

I didn't take the time to count the books, but how many did they use?  1,000? 842?  Suffice to say, a lot.

I must've stared at this installation for at least 5 minutes, moving around the store to view it from different angles.

Lots of great titles in the mix...

Books, not just for reading anymore!

Thanks for stopping by,

 

Beacon Hill Art Walk

On Sunday I treated myself to a day out in Boston.  Alone.

I invited my family to join me, but they all said no.

Bubbe wanted to come, but had other obligations.

No matter, I took Bobby Law's T pass and was on my way.

Frrrrreeeedom!!

My destination:

The Beacon Hill Art Walk is "is an annual event that takes place on the first Sunday in June, throughout the nooks and crannies of Beacon Hill. Residents open up their private gardens, alleyways, and courtyards and allow artists to display and sell their artwork."  

Once upon a time, when I was getting my Master's degree in Education and was pregnant with Ebby, I worked on Beacon Hill at the Beacon Hill Nursery School.  I was there as an assistant teacher for just one school year but it was one of my favorite jobs.  Somehow though, I never did much exploring around Beacon Hill.  The whole grad school/pregnant/commuting thing might have had something to do with it.  At any rate, the Beacon Hill Art Walk sounded like a lovely way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

And it was...

There was a great variety of work represented

 

Landscape painting on display in a border garden

 

 

Unique photograph of the Golden Gate Bridge

 

{Links:  Rose Bryant, Karen Kemp, Constance Bacon, Maggie Carberry}

If I had to pick favorites, Juleen Jones was definitely one of them.

She had a great variety of work on display but my favorites were definitely these oversized abstract panels.  Very Flora-esque with lots of layering, textures, small details, and bright colors. 

One of my last stops of my Art Walk was to visit Danny O.

I've been an admirer of Danny O's art for many years now.  I'm not sure where I first saw his vintage-vibe, fun collages, but I want to say in a catalog, maybe Land of Nod or Pottery Barn Kids.

 

Pink Car poster by Danny O

 I even (still) have some of his scrapbooking products from K&Company.  When I saw that he was going to be at the BHAW I was excited to finally see some of his collage work up close.

I played around with the focus on this one

 

Surprise!

Yes, he had several collage pieces on display, and they were very cool.  But mostly he had paintings.  I had the good fortune to be able to speak to him at length and he said he was a bit burnt out on collage after 20 years or so.  His wife encouraged him to begin painting again and well, he did.

This one is totally my favorite.

Danny made the scrap wood frame and it looks awesome in person.

This woodcut print of Fenway Park caught my eye as well.  It was reasonably priced at $60 but I'm too upset with the Red Sox to buy it.  If it had been a Bruins Stanley Cup scene on the other hand...

I was so glad to get the chance to chat with him about his process and his art--and a shared affection for the dump swap pile!

Despite the cloudy, cool weather, it was a wonderful, artful afternoon.

Thanks for stopping by,

{Artful} Road Trip: Saratoga Springs, NY, Part 3

The drive from Schuyler Pond to downtown Saratoga Springs was a pretty one.  We drove past several lovely Victorian homes and an impressive looking brick building with a turret that turned out to be a military museum. 

Our first stop was a  at a florist/garden statuary shop called Hidden Gardens.  A giant pig, a metal tulip, 3 sheet metal sheep??  How could I resist??

Things here were a bit overwhelming and  pricey but worth the quick peek that I gave them.  I really did like those metal sheep...

After a drive down the Saratoga Springs main drag, we circled back to a restaurant Bubbe had eaten at the last time she was in town:  Scallions.

All I have to say is it's a good thing this restaurant isn't located close to my house--because I would go broke going there all the time!

As the tagline says, "Where good friends, food and art meet".  Yes, indeed. 

We managed to beat the post-Skidmore College graduation crowd and were seated right away.  We spotted a number of fellow Spring Fling patrons--maybe there was an inside tip? 

The food was delicious.  I had a mango-beet-quinoa salad over baby spinach and we split a piece of carrot cake for dessert.

As good as the food was, and as friendly as the staff was, the number one attraction for me at Scallions was all the artwork.  The entire space is full of custom pieces from Sticks.  Sticks handcrafts furniture, accessories and object art and each wooden piece is full of colorful imagery and handcarved words.  Amazing.  And Scallions is full of Sticks pieces.

Every dining table, the bar stools, the custom hostess stand, an incredible black and white carved countertop...

Over the top eye candy!

Just when you think you've noticed all the Sticks pieces, there are the accessories.
So fun!

But wait, it's not just Sticks items here.  There were a number of mixed media assemblage pieces sprinkled in as well, namely Fobots  by Amy Flynn and assemblage dolls by Bill Fink of Primitive Twig.

Even the lighting was beautiful. More Sticks, this time an amazing lamp:

No wonder it took me 15 minutes to use the ladies room (I was touring around the restaurant ooohing and aaahhing).

If you ever find yourself in Saratoga Springs, Scallions is another must-see for the artful wanderer!

Thanks for stopping by,

{Artful} Road Trip: Saratoga Springs, NY, Part 2

Today I'm going to share a peek inside Schuyler Pond Home and Garden.

Schuyler Pond (the shop)  is housed inside a charming restored barn.  Their wares and vibe  were the perfect complement to the Earth Angels Spring Fling sale going on outside. 

Fun and eclectic mix of home and gift items creatively displayed with vintage finds and architectural salvage...

Upstairs featured fully developed room vignettes in a style that I would characterize as ABC Home meets Anthropologie.  Oh. yes.

My favorite piece...

Schulyler Pond is a definite must-see if you're in the Saratoga Springs area!  The one thing they didn't have there was food (we did not attend the luncheon with Jo Packham, maybe next time...) so we finalized our purchases and headed downtown in search of sustenance.

Check back tomorrow for the final installment and to see the amazing restaurant where we had lunch--with a tagline of 'where good friends, food, and art meet', how could we go wrong??

Thanks for stopping by,

{Artful} Road Trip: Saratoga Springs, NY, Part 1

On Saturday morning I rose before the sun (hello, 4:40am!) to begin the odyssey that would take me, Bubbe (my mom) and Ebby on a quick trip to upstate New York.

Our destination was two-fold:  to visit our friends and to attend the Earth Angels Spring Fling Art Show!

You know the one, the event that's advertised in all the Somerset publications (there's even a feature on last year's event in the current WWC), the one that features an outstanding collection of handmade art and  artful goods by amazingly talented (and really friendly) artists.  Yep, we went there.

It was a beautiful day for the event held at Schuyler Pond, an equally beautiful shop and setting.

We were enchanted right from the walk down the path into the outdoor sale area.

The display area was split between outdoors, mostly under a tent and in a small barn.  At first glance I thought it was a bit small, but it turns out it was sized just right.  Reminiscent of a boutique Country Living Fair.  Not that I've been to the Country Living Fair...yet. At any rate, there was plenty of eye candy to enjoy and lots of fun display ideas.

We walked around several times, pondering, admiring and chatting, before making our final selections.

I met Jen (O'Connor), the driving force behind Earth Angels and all around ball of energy and enthusiasm--also a great model for the delightful Derby Blooms brooches by Maria Pendley.

One of those came home with Bubbe, it was hard to resist!

  My mom also bought the latest issue of Where Women Create and had it signed by Jo Packham who was stationed under a unique structure that Jen had constructed and dubbed the "Packham Pavilion".

Four poles from tree saplings, an elevated vintage lamp base and a sheet.  So cleverly adorable.

I also introduced myself to the talented and colorful  Shelly Kennedy of Drooz Studios.  Her amazing studio is on the current cover of Where Women Create. 

She was so sweet as I told her about how a photo she had on her blog a few years ago of her basement inspired the beadboard cupboard and shelves I designed for our basement remodel.  It's always fun to meet people you "know" online in real life.  And in my experience, everyone has been totally approachable and friendly.  Hurray for nice people!

Finally, after circling all of the beautiful goods and talking to lots of wonderful folks, it was time to make my final selections.  I bought two things.  The first is a pad of 150 Love Notes from Sugarboo Designs, Bubbe and I agreed they would be great for art journaling.  My next choice was harder. 

Hint:  this is the display I was pondering...

An overflowing tub of soft sculptures by Valerie Weberpal.  On the Earth Angels website, Valerie's work is perfectly described as being "beautifully textured and layered with festive abandon".  Festive abandon??  Love it!  After much deliberation I decided on a cat.

It was the tiny sweater and pearl buttons that put me over the edge.  Too adorable to leave in New York.  If going to the Spring Fling becomes an annual event, I could definitely see my collection of Valerie Weberpal's creations growing...

Check back tomorrow for a peek inside the incredible Schuyler Pond home & garden store!

Thanks for stopping by,

 

 

{Another} Visit to Tinsel Trading

How could I take Ebby to New York City and not take her to Tinsel Trading?  I mean really, what kind of mother would I be?

Ok, fine.  This was my stop and she was along for the ride.  Don't feel too bad for her though-- afterward we spent a solid half hour the Forever 21 in Times Square.

Back to Tinsel Trading.  The shop was decorated for the holidays with lots of glittery Wendy Addison goodness.    

Wonderful nest themed cloches

I loved this display of glittery star and bird wands

Not all of the seasonal treasures were Christmas related.  I love the color of the pumpkins on these Autumn boxes.

Of course no matter what the season, Tinsel Trading is always a feast for the eyes.          

Unfortunately unlike the last time I was here in December 2009, we didn't run into Jenn from Sweet Eye Candy Creations--though I did look around for her :-).  I did see something new though:  this wholesale area chock full of more Wendy Addison creations.

So many amazing and beautiful vintage glass beads and faux jewels.   Love the patina and the packaging.

Inspiration by the yard indeed!

 

Oh. Mary Jo's

On my very long list of places-I-really-really-wanted-to-visit while I was in Charlotte last month, Mary Jo's was right near the top.  Mary Jo's is the kind of place people come from all over to experience.  The full name of the place is Mary Jo's Cloth Store but to say that Mary Jo's is just a fabric store is like saying FAO Schwarz is just a toy store.  Is FAO still in business anywhere?? 

Not sure about FAO, but Mary Jo's is going strong.  In fact, when Laura and I pulled into the parking lot we were in shock.  When I lived in Charlotte, going to Mary Jo's meant getting off I-85 at the Cox Rd. exit and then turning right into a mall that looked like it last got new tenants in 1983.  The structure and parking lot were dirty, ugly and in disrepair (note the backside of the building in the photo).  Looks like someone got an infusion of cash because it's like a whole new world down there now.  New parking lot, new facade, new landscaping, new stores.  And from what I heard while we were in the store, a new warehouse and manufacturing facility are on the way.  I believe Mary Jo's is going to be printing their own fabric.  Very. Intriguing.

Of course it never really mattered what Mary Jo's looked like on the outside, it's the eye candy and bargains on the inside that count!  Pretty much any kind of fabric or trim you can imagine, they have it.  And don't forget to pick up a cutting slip as you walk in the door, or you can't buy any of it.  As we were on somewhat of a tight schedule with many places to go that day, I concentrated on my two favorite areas: trims and home decor fabric. 

I stocked up on tiny rick rack in lots of fun colors.  Over in the home decor area I really was just taking it all in.  I bought a yard of the yellow and blue dog fabric to make something for the boys. I was looking for coral colored fabric with 1/2" white polka dots in a home decor weight and width.  Alas, none was to be found.  Other than that, too many choices.  All so wonderful.  And so well priced. 

That's all right though, I can always send My Cousin Laura back with a shopping list and a flat rate shipping box!

P.S. Check out this  great article about the history of Mary Jo's

I Want to Ride this Bicycle

I knew it was Bike Week on the Outer Banks but this isn't what I expected...

It's way cuter!

This awesome creation was on display at Lighthouse Garden in Corolla Village, parked outside on the porch.  What a great combination of elements: garden flowers, beachy, and whimsy.

All the little details are so fun.  Ribbon and fabric strips wrapped and tied all over, hand painted chain guard and I absolutely love the bike basket.  How can you resist starfish-on-a-pink-stick and glittered paint sticks?!  There's even a bit of funky costume jewelry in the mix. 

I love this idea and I love this bike.  I'm not sure exactly what you do with one of these if you don't have a quaint storefront to display it at but I do know that the next time I see a bike at the swap pile...watch out!

 

 

Happy Chair at Bebe Gallini's

I saw my first Happy Chair on tumblr.  The bold colors, wonderful texture and sense of whimsy drew me right in.  Soon I was looking through the gallery on the Happy Chair website.  Apparently I was so enchanted by the chairs that I neglected to read any of the info about the company or the woman that behind Happy Chair.

Fast forward to last Saturday.  I was in Charlotte (NC) visiting my old stomping grounds in Lake Norman.  I walked into Bebe Gallini's, one of my favorite local gift/home decor shops, and what to my wondering eyes should appear but Happy Chairs!   Not one or two, but several scattered thoroughout the store.  They are even more fabulous in person.   While I'm sure they are comfortable, I didn't even bother to sit in any of them.  Instead I was admiring the creative skill that goes into making each chair a true work of art.     Swoon.

As we browsed around Bebe's spotting Happy Chairs, I couldn't help but notice several Happy Chair accessories including over-the-top pillows and oversized appliqued draperies.   If I could've fit this pillow in my carry-on bag...

Turns out that Happy Chair is a local Charlotte company created by Shawna Robinson, a former NASCAR driver.  From the Happy Chair website, "Happy Chair finds worn and weathered pieces and gives them new life. My heart, soul and hands personally go into each piece of furniture designed to be a Happy Chair.  I brazenly mix and reconstruct new and vintage fabrics.  Exciting patterns and inspired details bring unique character to life in each original piece.  Once completed each Happy Chair is given a name based on its distinct personality. Yes it takes time, creativity and patience but the end result is magic derived from passion."

And to think, there's a veritable warehouse of Happy Chair designs barely 5 minutes from where we used to live.  While I'm disappointed to no longer be so close, it's likely a relief for my credit card.   Happy Chair may not sell online...but then again, it's not like I've never driven between MA and Charlotte before ☺...

{visit the Happy Chair Facebook page for a peek at Shawna's current projects}