{show & tell} three new things

One of the fun things about moving to a new city or country is discovering new products and stores to shop from. Here are three of my recent finds:

Albarcas (or Menorquinas) - a traditional Spanish leather sandal that I struggled to find while in Spain. At first I thought they were a little funky but then I fell in love with the minimalist styling and durability - you can tell that locals wear theirs out for years! I recently picked up a pair by Little Abarcas who sells in Malaysia and Singapore but you can shop online for USA and international here here and here. With TOMS and J.Crew making the espadrille slip-on style popular with the US market I can totally see these becoming the next summer must have. Handcrafted, classic, and comfortable - that's one fashion craze that I'm happy to support!

Rice plant art object - my heart (and eyes) did a happy dance when I walked into The Jekyll & Hyde Project shop. If design, fun, form and function lived in one happy little accessories heaven then this is it. I wanted to buy everything in there because it was all useful AND crazy cool. But, I kept my wallet in check and just bought the rice plant object that I thought would be a nice zen piece/paperweight for my desk. Check out this product page for an animation of how it moves...it's so nice, even if the "wind" is just my air conditioning.

Embroidered zip pouch - you know that "little Ikea" that I mentioned we found? Well right next to it was a table full of handmade goodies by women refugees from Myanmar. I picked up a leaflet to learn more about their work and after I get a few projects out of the way this month I'm going to learn what I can about it. This part of the world is full of amazing textile heritage and skill - I'm definitely intrigued.

{show & tell} london finds

I haven't done any serious vintage shopping since Margate but here are four pieces that I've recently picked up while out and about in London.

1 - Hand-hammered brass necklace purchased at a charity shop (thrift store in the States). It has the ethnic/tribal feel that I love in jewelry + it's brass (I LOVE brass).

2 - Re-purposed vintage skirt from Pop Boutique in Covent Garden. Skirts are where I tend to like my prints so I couldn't resist this comfy cotton number. It's definitely going to Madrid and Sicily with me!

3 - A social commentary cartoon from 1924 that depicts two women in the "pre-bobbed period" - see damsels in distress - to "and today" where they appear to be liberated, chatting it up in their short skirts and pants while checking out portraits of different men. This was too good to pass (purchased at Portobello Road).

4 - Ceramic vase that has a great sand texture on the top half. I bought it at a charity shop, and am pretty sure that it's not vintage, but since it was thrifted I figured it was still worth sharing.

Do you have any recent show & tells?

{show & tell} margate vintage finds

Our trip to Margate was almost two weeks ago but it's never too late to show & tell! Here's what we got:

1. An old ceramic decorative piece that Joe thinks was a fancy liquor holder (it has a plug hole on the bottom). I fell in love with the shape and metallic center.

2. A WMF Germany steel tray that has a very cool engraved (is that the right word?) pattern. We're currently using it as our "catch-all" for mail, keys, wallet, etc. when we get home.

3. 1950's rolling pin with fun bright handles. Perfect for making flour tortillas!

4. A stainless steel and clear plastic mini-bar set. I literally gasped when I saw these + the brass rivets are really the cherry on top! I have a great complementary ice bucket in storage in LA. One day these pretty things will meet.

More to come after this Sunday at El Rastro, I'm sure! Has anyone been there? What were your favorite finds?

{show & tell} vintage finds from sunbury antiques market

I'm still smiling from my trip to Sunbury Antiques Market yesterday. It was exactly what I was looking for in/around London in terms of market size, merchandise mix, and price points. I'll share more on the market experience later...today I want to give you a peek at what I brought home with me in a new blog feature I'm calling show & tell.

Now, feel free to imagine me standing in front of your second grade classroom holding up my new found treasures...

1. I've desperately been wanting a serving tray to use while lounging on our bed. We don't have a sofa so I spend A LOT more time on there than I normally would (maybe that's why I'm always so sleepy?). This Picquot serving tray is absolutely perfect. I love the texture and color combinations of the sycamore wooden handles, aluminum sides, and etch printed laminate center.   Turns out that the tray is a sibling to a Picquot kettle we bought at Camden Market (as pictured on the manufacturer's home page). I love that kettle just the same.

2. Joe likes his cup of joe (and espresso) so I bought him a swanky espresso cup with saucer by Crown Devon Fieldings of England.  Based on the style of their stamp - and a google search - I learned that this set could be from anywhere between the 1930's to the 1960's. Awesome. I love the matte look of the black paired with the gold...just can't seem to get away from this combo. I've literally been buying black and gold/brass things for years!

3.  With an eye for DIY, these brass buttons made in Paris beckoned me to think "necklace." All I need is some chain and I'll be ready to sport a new baubly accessory :)

4. We don't have many country-esque elements in our decor so I thought that this stoneware jar from Dunragit Creamery of Scottland would be an easy touch - just add some flowers and voila! A bushel of billy balls would look really nice, si?

And with that, ladies and gentlemen and fellow second graders, we wrap up our first show & tell. Did you like? Let me know what you think, your comments always make me smile!

P.S. There were more treasures that came home with me but they aren't for show and tell just yet. I promise that you'll see them soon!