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architectural artifacts part 2

Here's the second batch of photos from Architectural Artifacts - artsy black and white version.

architectural artifacts part 1

As I mentioned in yesterday's post, we spent numerous hours combing through the treasures at Architectural Artifacts this past weekend. As we walked through the space, I was compulsively photographing, desperate not to miss any of the interesting things that were literally packed into every available square inch.

I often leave my camera behind when I go out as it frustrates me to realize I've spent an entire meaningful event frantically looking through the viewfinder for the best shots. Times like these mean that I come away with nice frameable images, but very little memory of the actual event. In high school I photographed everything, in college next to nothing. Now I am working to find a balance. Consider this post a step towards that goal.

And now I give you...old stuff!

 The walls of the entryway are covered in drafting and architectural drawings. I got so drawn into the lovely minutiae of the work that I almost forgot there was an entire warehouse space left to be explored.

 There was a whole bathtub filled with vintage slides. I love how slide film is literally like a little window into a moment in time.

 Lots of vintage agricultural paraphernalia from Argentina (?!) of all places.

Am I ever a sucker for antique glass doorknobs. It's a good thing that all our doors already have the standard issues don't-change-a-thing-or-you-lose-your-security-deposit door handles or I would have been shelling out some serious cash for door bling.

 Want want want want want.

Old litho printing plate. I've been trying and failing to figure out what and why thousands of firemen needed to be printed.

 Had I been in possession of the thousands of dollars of disposable income which I am sure this sign costs, then I would have had the coolest bathroom in the history of bathrooms. Alas. It was not so.

And of course it could not be a true vintage emporium without selling a plethora of vintage seltzer bottles that cruelly no longer work. Ah well.

Tomorrow I'll share the rest of the photos along with what we were able to affiord bought!

the week in tumblrs 5.23.11

This weekend was spectacular. The weather, which until Friday, had been cold and dreary lightened its mood and we had 2.5 days of warmth and sun and...in other words, spring.

I've lived in Chicago for almost three years now and still love visiting the Bean. The way it captures the skyline is just breathtaking (it's also thebestplace to people watch) The funny thing is that I never think to go unless people are visiting. We made sure to take advantage of this delightful tourist attraction while my sister was here. You can almost see our photo there behind all the handprints.

On Saturday we explored a mecca for lovers of old things. Architectural Artifacts is floors upon floors of  antique goodness. I have a whole post coming up about it later this week, but this photo was taken of a cast iron bathtub filled with vintage slides.

We did get caught in one impromptu rainstorm so we ducked into Spacca Napoli - a little pizzeria in Ravenswood that serves delicious and fresh thin crust pizzas. Everything that we tried was wonderful and we will definitely be going back.

Bookshelves are no joke in our apartment as we (okay, I) may or may not have a (slight) book accruing habit. These are various type specimen books with gorgeous inspiration.

hooray!

My sister (see also: patient photography subject) is on her way to Chicago as I type this. There will be much shopping, eating of pizza, watching of Bridesmaids taking of pictures and catching up of life. It's hard having my only sibling so far away, but these visits make it better. 

color study: duck eggs

  About a week ago, I saw these beautiful duck eggs at the farmer's market. This week we bought some.

It's hard to believe that colors this subtle exist in nature.

Of course, they are delicious as well. Definitely worth it.

struck a chord with me tonight

lovely little thing

Sometimes I fall pretty hard for cosmetic packaging.

This has resulted in the acquisition of an inordinate amount of lip balms and hand lotion. 

Luckily, this being Chicago, one can never have enough lip balm and hand lotion. One for every bag and flat surface is pretty much essential.

Especially when winter feels like extending itself well into May.

Like right now. 45 degrees. ugh.

a week in tumblrs 5.13.11

We took a walk at EXACTLY the right time where the sun makes awesome shadows on the sidewalk. I'm sure there's some tortured artist in New York City doing this exact same thing with the world's rarest camera and film that is handmade by nuns, but I think my iPhone captured the moment quite nicely.

Spent time with the Wishbone folks on Sunday postering in Wicker park for Vigils. In other news, postering is now a legitimate verb-y type word. While Wicker Park may be The Hipster Kingdom of Chicago, it also produces some damn fine coffee. And food. And clothing. And mustaches last seen in photos of turn-of-the-century homesteaders.

Bad judgement calls of the week: 

A) Wearing rain boots because the internet tells me to even though I can see that it is sunny and warm outside

B) Walking two miles round trip to the grocery store in previously mentioned rain boots with no socks in what turned out to be 80 degree weather. Blisters.

Storms have been rolling in and out of Chicago all week making for some pretty unreal sunsets. Last night's appears to have been art directed by someone who really liked My Little Ponies circa 1989.

This is literally a table top in the most depressing food court this earth has ever seen. The tables however, know what's up.

bummer

I had a whole huge post about Vigils and theater in general all typed up and ready to go and then blogger went and crashed. 

This is all my brain can handle at the moment. Raspberries. 

I still don't understand what business the letter 'p' has being in a word like raspberries. In my head I separate it like this: 'rasp (healthy pause) berries.' Like little old-lady berries with raspy voices finely tuned by decades of boozy lascivious behavior.

I do realize that is the most ridiculous statement ever typed. Blame blogger. Back on track tomorrow!

you know what's good?

cucumber + feta + olives + lemon + a little olive oil + ground pepper = good


I can take no credit for making this dish, but I take full credit for eating it.

currently inspired by: vintage cabinet cards

To say that I am in love with this photo is an understatement.

Photo credit

tiny little dots

As in I love them. 

first farmer's market day

Today we took our usual long walk and stumbled upon a great farmer's market. It was skewed to cheese-makers, but there were lots of stalls selling herbs and flowers and produce as well. While it was not the cheapest of markets, we splurged and got ourselves some fresh pork chops and eggs. Because protein is important.

 

Fresh pretzel bread. Taking a photo of it prevented me from doing what I really wanted which was to buy one (or three) of the big loaves to snack on while walking home. I have very little resistance against bread covered in salt.

 

These eggs had the most beautiful colors. Apparently there is a bird that lays eggs the color of avocados?!

This weekend is off to a delicious start.

busy busy

Tonight Wishbone Theatre Collective opens Vigils! So excited to see this show come to life.

The story follows that of a young woman who has lost her husband, a firefighter, two years earlier while he tried to save a baby from a burning house. Unable to accept his passing, she has trapped his soul in a box at the foot of her bed where he ricochets from one memory of his life to the next, as she slowly learns that moving on means letting him go.

It's a very touching play and I could not be prouder of my fellow company members for all the many hours of work they have been putting into it.

current etsy cravings

I like to peruse Etsy when I'm bored. There is such a wealth of items on there that it's fun to troll the pages and see what magical treasures pop up (vintage shoe horns? Why not?). While this can sometimes lead to delightfully impulse purchases, usually it just adds to my trove of visual inspiration.

I stumbled across these adorable little French buildings one day and was totally smitten. The colors are gorgeous and I have a total weakness for tiny things (or clutter as my mom prefers to call them) so these went right to the top of my favorites list.

Ridiculously cute, right?

Clay has never looked so adorable.

Maybe someday I'll have a little clay French village on my desk. But for now I will continue to admire them via the internet.

All photos from ARTISANIEeurope check out her shop, there are so many more lovely things there!

currently inspired by: vivian maier

Vivian Maier's story is incredible. A Chicago nanny, she spent her free time taking photographs of the world around her. The 100,000 negatives that she amassed during her life were kept in a storage locker which was later auctioned off. Now an archive of her work is being created and thanks to the internet, we can enjoy her insight into the world in which she lived. 

I love the composition in her work. Some of the photographs merely capture people in their daily lives - preserving the small moments. Others are more composed. Just about all of them are incredible.

The photo below is one of my favorites. I love the contrast of the small woman and the giant stone columns. Her reflection in the window is just an added bonus.

Ahh...the sleeping man in his car. Awesome.

 How adorable are these little girls skipping rope? I love their coats.

A book of her work is being released in the fall. I can't wait.

I hope you have had a Monday filled with inspiration as well!

All photos via Vivianmaier.com - check it out for a treasure trove of images.