US FLEA MARKET FINDS - SAN FRAN PRINTS

 My trip to San Francisco last year was timed around the monthly Alameda flea market. And it was totally worth it! I had the most wonderful day wandering around the hundreds and hundreds of stalls. I could have brought home a shipping container full of stuff! However instead I bought things I could fit in my relatively small amount of luggage. I couldn't resist these vintage San Fran posters. Apparently they were handed out to customers when they opened an account with a certain local bank in the 1960s. Once I was home, I framed them and have hung them on either side of the doorway in the upstairs landing.

INSPIRATION: JOHN DERIAN

One of my favourite stores in New York was John Derian which was just around the corner from where I was staying. There are two stores - one with the decoupage and other small items and another with furniture and linens - this is where I was blown away by the block prints and linens.I particularly loved the Les Iniennes fabrics.

Les Indiennes at John Derian

They also have some beautiful west African vintage indigo cushions and some cushions made from vintage rag rugs (an idea to action another time!).

Vintage Indigo cushions at John Derian

I found some vintage indigo fabric elsewhere on my travels which I have had made into some throw cushions and also splurged on some John Robshaw blue and white block print cases for our guest room.

INSPIRATION: DENIM NAPKINS

At Bar Agricole in San Francisco they had fabulous napkins made from soft faded denim fabric (just visible if you look closely below). I haven't seen these back home, but an on the look out for some vintage denim which could be re-purposed.

US FLEA MARKET FINDS - KNOBS & PULLS

One of the things I enjoyed the most during my trip to the US were my trips to various flea markets - I found ones in Boston, New York (Chelsea Garage Market) and Monterey (Cannery Row Antique Mall) but these all paled in comparison with the monthly market at Alameda Point just outside San Francisco. It was no coincidence that my trip coincided with this market! But I was blown away with the scale, variety and price. Unfortunately due to luggage constraints I was limited to the types of things I could bring home - glass, crockery and large enamel buckets were all off the list! So I focused on this I frame, linens, and hardware. I came home with this collection of door knobs, drawer pulls and hooks. Can't wait to put them all to good use in various projects in the months to come.

US INSPIRATION: THE BEDDING FLOOR OF ABC

No joke - I spent no less than six hours in ABC Carpet and Home in mid-town New York over two days! Most of this time was spent on the linen and bedding floor - though I did also have a lovely chicken salad in the restaurant for lunch. The Americans are very spoilt for (more) affordable and beautiful linens - Society (an Italian brand) and Matteo are my favourites. After the second hour, the woman who worked for Matteo thought I was mad! As did S.P. when I arrived in LA with a bag crammed full of pillow-cases and hand towels. Here are my new Matteo linen cases in their new home.

PS: The quilt is a pre-US purchase from Maison Montage in Leura.

MORE NEW YORK INSPIRATION

This time more on the food front, from What Katie Ate who also travelled to the US last year. Her beautiful photos have my mouth watering already.....

SAN FRANCISCO GUIDE

Armed with Sibella Court's The Stylists Guide to NY (here), I feel well prepared for my week of girl-time in New York. I am also spending some time in San Francisco, but here S.P. will be with me and so the amount of time I can spend wandering and window shopping with be more limited. I did however recently come across Remodelista's San Francisco City Guide. It looks as though I am going to need to focus.

I have also planned our time in San Fran to co-incide with the Alameda Point flea market which is the largest flea market in northern California. 800 booths!!

I pride myself on being a very efficient packer of luggage, but is now becoming abundantly clear that I am going to have some serious luggage issues on the way home.

NEW YORK NEW YORK

There are a few changes afoot in my work life at the moment. I am liberating myself from responsibilities and challenging myself to make a change. It is all a bit scary but the very non-scary part is a trip I am planning to the US in a couple of months - the itinerary for which includes a week of me-time in New York. In preparation I have purchased Sibella Court's The Stylists Guide to NYC. I have already been through it cover to cover and it is brilliant. In Sydney it has taken me years to develop my lists of favourite spots - this book makes you feel like a local!