Oh My Cavalier!

I know that a lot of people have been posting about Oh My Cavalier, but you'll forgive me (I hope) for putting in my two cents because of the achingly lovely objects that have been filtering into their etsy shop of late. I'm just not sure if I can do them justice.

These exquisite anthropomorphic-ish prints are strongly reminiscent of 18th century fashion plates, with a surreal and fantastical twist. They encapsulate the sort of eerie romanticism and flights of fantasy that I live for.




And then there are their floral lapel pins. Remember Carrie Bradshaw's iconic corsage? Well, these whimsical versions are much more to my taste:



Find them here on etsy. Just make sure to leave a few for me!

She also has a bunch of other lovely prints available here. If you liked her etsy offerings, it's definitely worth a look.

keep calm and carry on

Come finals week, I tend to get very...anxious. We're talking too much worrying, too much tossing and turning, too much burning of the midnight oil, for two or so weeks at the end of every quarter. It's that time again, and really, this print, with a message popularized during the Blitz in WWII-era London, is just what I need:



Don't you feel better already? Bombs, class presentations, 15-page research papers...everything's just peachy.
I'm just going to work on my French composition now...

Found via poppy.

A Little Slice of the Animal Kingdom... for $40

I just have to say...
how adorable are these prints?



Find them here on etsy.
That is all.

Got Laptop?

Laptops are pretty delicate things. Despite their seemingly iron-clad skin, computers have a tendency to go and break on you. Why tempt fate? All laptops (but especially pretty Macbooks) should be encased in a protective covering. And, as I hate to miss out on an opportunity to plaster the world with style, make it a cute protective covering! There are so many choices out there, from all spectrums of the price range. On the high end, Acme Made bags are beautiful and functional.

I am particularly fond, however, of these less expensive custom laptop bags by etsy seller Flicka. They go for an affordable $40 each. And they even make iPod cases and - get this - fashionable holders for doggie bags! Yes, those doggie bags.

My favorite is this Swedish Pop laptop sleeve. I love the fun and peppy print.


This Marimekko-ish Mod Pod sleeve is also cute, though.


As is Mrs. Yang.


If you prefer a more minimalist look, Club Midnight may be for you. The colors are more somber but the print adds an element of fun.


Aren't these just the worst sort of decisions to make? Visit Flicka now and make your own!

Grey's Anatomy for the Home

Did y'all watch Grey's Anatomy last night?

I swear, that show is becoming soapier by the minute...and I am lapping up the drama! That sizzling mix of humor, suspense, tragedy and romance is just inimitable. Not to mention the amazing soundtrack which has changed my life. I could happily live without a television and just watch movies on my Macbook if it weren't for Grey's.
So what does this have to do with anything, you might ask?
I was totally reminded of my Grey's obsession when walking around the East Village last weekend in Manhattan. It was late on Saturday night and an antiques mall was closing up. I watched as a man loaded an anatomical torso onto a truck. You know, the kind they use to teach med students:

Find it here on ebay.
It's like a car accident. You just can't tear your eyes away.
Talk about subversive decorating! Can you imagine sticking this in some random corner in your home for unsuspecting visitors to happen upon? I was thinking like on top of an armoire in a high-ceilinged room. It's less elegant, perhaps, than a skull (poor Yorick!) but it's also kitschier, and less creepy.

There's just something I find so appealingly quirky about medical imagery, particularly of the vintage strain. These coasters, for example:

Beautiful, right? And I love the mise en scene.

Then there's this pocket mirror. I love the illustration's facility of line and the way the red and blues make it pop:


How about this "In Good Health" wall hanging from John Derian?


Look at this eye diagram tray, also from John Derian. When I visited the store on Saturday, I wanted to carry it away with me.


Finally, why not wear a bit of anatomy, courtesy of Tilly Bloom? I think her jewelry is so much fun.

Ooh La La

I'm always on the lookout for cute journals. So I was so excited to find these recovered Moleskine journals from Etsy seller Pauline et Sarah. They're collaged with scavenged fashion-y illustrations from the 1960s. Cute, right? And they're made in France!

Another trend I'm coming late to

I've never really taken any notice of fingerless gloves or arm warmers (which I tend to classify together, for shared impracticality). At their worst, they are simply tacky (sorry, but the Madonna look was never my thing - I guess I'm too young for that).

However, they have been showing up lately in the strangest places. I was finally convinced when a cool indie girl came into one of my classes on Monday (when the low was -9 degrees farenheit) wearing her regular gloves tucked into a bigger pair of arm warmers, with different colored fingertips just sticking out of the top. I suddenly realized the brilliance of it - both the practicality of it which I scoffed at previously (in this case, your hands will be doubly warm) and the potential for cuteness.

If you get the right color gloves and put them together with the right colored arm warmers, you could have a really great look going, and stay warm in the bargain! Here are some pairs I liked.


Teal Fingerless gloves. It's all about that color...and the single huge button.


These pink gloves from the same etsy seller are lovely.


These are on sale at Anthropologie and they actually have removable mittens - how fun is that?


My hands-down favorite pair - I love the beautiful craftsmanship and their aged look, but they're a bit pricey and the color doesn't go with any of my gloves. You should definitely check out the seller's etsy shop - she also makes beautiful crocheted corsages.

Forget diapers.

Seriously?
I want to be the baby that gets to wear this onesie.

Maybe this print could be hanging in my nursery.

Seize the Day!

You know, my dad has always told me to seize the day. Carpe Diem is like his catch phrase, and it used to infuriate me when I would whine to him for 20 minutes about some silly little thing and he would respond with those two words. He still does it...but now, of course, I just grin. Okaaaay Dad. I'm seizing it!

Though I still wonder whether it was drilled into him by the Jesuits through one too many readings of Horace... or whether he picked it up from Robin Williams's classic film, The Dead Poets Society. Or a bit of both. (Are you reading this? Inquring minds want to know!)

So you can, perhaps, imagine my amusement when I found this pillowcase:

Bookplates, anyone?

I love Michelle Caplan's Etsy shop, but her prices are a bit out of range for a humble student like me. She makes beautiful mixed media collages using vintage memorabilia centered around a particular portrait.
This piece, for example, is called Albert.



However, she is now producing adorable bookplates with images of her pieces at a much more affordable price. Bookworms of the world, rejoice!

Fornasetti on the cheap

So I was browsing around Etsy recently and found this very cool shop, Monkeyshines. They specialize "in salvaging one of a kind ephemera from critically damaged vintage books." Anyhow, I just got my hands on this fantastic pocket mirror.



Does it ring a bell?

How about now?



If I had to name my favorite designer...I'd have to say it's Piero Fornasetti. There is something elusive and whimsical about his work which charms me every time I see it. My parents are fans as well and I grew up with some Fornasetti pieces, so I suppose there's a nostalgic aspect to it as well. I've always coveted their Architettura lamp.



Now, of course, I have my very own Fornasetti piece. I sort of collect Swatch watches (I have about 6 and I'm planning on getting more) and last year I found this great Dutch website, where you can buy Swatch editions from all the way back in the eighties. Here's my newest discovery:
Baiser d'Antan from the fall 1992 collection. There's a different Fornasetti design in black and white, called Glance which I will definitely be purchasing at a later date, but the former was more to my taste.


I'm sure you'll be hearing more about my Fornasetti obsession in later posts. If you're interested, there's a lovely little book by Assouline featuring an interview by Philippe Starck of Fornasetti fils, Barnabas, who is carrying the family torch now that Piero has passed away.

I sort of have this dream to collect his Julia plates, which are all variations on a 19th c. portrait of Lina Cavallari, and have a whole wall just covered in them. They sell for $100 and up, so maybe if I win the lottery it will happen.