Tombees du camion

images for their three stores, the third is Clingancourt
collage on their web site
some of the prizes that I bought

While visiting Paris for the first time last year I came across Tombees du Camion at the Clingancourt flea market. It translates as "Fallen from the Truck" and it seemed as if the truck was full of my deepest fantasies! The chaos of the market was so distracting, then I heard faint circus music-- a repeated clicking of a roller coaster and a small band was playing as if inside of a tunnel of time. I followed the sound, and was met with rows and rows of wooden boxes filled with vintage circus prizes. All made from wood and hand painted or the earliest experiments with plastic in the most wonderful faded colors. I still think it was a fantasy but I found their web site where I discovered they have two other stores in the Paris! here is their sight: http://www.tombeesducamion.com/

Made a Mano

Made a Mano makes the most exquisit tile, coutertops, sinks, and ceramics. My favorite lines are the small Japanese decoaration inspired Koman and the alphabet Alfa

http://www.madeamano.com/template/t04.php?menuId=102

Handmade Balloons

I found this post on PingMag, a favorite Japanese blog:http://pingmag.jp/2008/07/03/water-balloon/ that no longer exists unfortunately. They visited Ito Rubber Balloon Factory in Chiba, Japan to watch this family run business hand make balloons. I have forever been in search of handmade balloons and have only found a business in Italy that still makes them. The colors and shapes are always better when handmade, and they often are biodegradable!

here is the post:

http://www.choshikanko.com/tokusyu/balloon/index.html

Petit Pan

strawberry paper balloon


"treasures" paper mobile
space paper mobile
bamboo saw horses/table legs

childrens' plate set

I have always wanted to order the whole lot from Petit Pan http://shop.petitpan.com/accueil.ips
Everything is so fun, well designed, and instantly appealing to kids. Here are some of my favorites.

lamps

Now that it is getting dark earlier, and we must choose how to illuminate our spaces, I have been looking at lamps of all kinds. Here are some of my favorites. Most of them found at my favorite stores!

http://www.labourandwait.co.uk/
www.thisnext.com
http://kioskkiosk.com/
http://www.labourandwait.co.uk/
http://brookfarmgeneralstore.bigcartel.com/

http://www.tse-tse.com/boutique/#

http://www.tobyhouse.org.uk/InflateablesLamps.html

Edward Curtis, Hidden faces

the grizzly bear, 1914
the cowichan mask, 1912
Dog costume, 1914



mythical birds, 1914
Edward Curtis documented the hidden spiritual life of Native North Americans. The book Hidden Faces, 1996 collects some of the magical and strange ritual costumes used in dance, ceremonies,and rites.

Daniel Sporerri

I am inspired by the Swiss artist Daniel Sporerri today. He "snares" objects found in chance positions and disorder by affixing them to the table top and hanging it on the wall like a painting. He calls these assemblages "Snare Pictures". He even snared a dinner he had with Marcel Duchamp. While he left most of his process to chance, his art is personal and clearly guided by a strong sense of color and shape.