Entries tagged with 'antiques'


royal related things

Posted by Aprile on 2009.09.14:

I can't believe it's September 14th already! Where does the time go? I'm back at school and am already overwhelmed with all the work I have to do (at school and at work). Oh and at home, too. The good news is that I'm trying—key word "trying"—to schedule everything well, so that I can get everything done. I have even had time for artwork so far, but I'm sure that will change.

I have some great news, too! I just found out I'll be having a solo show at the gallery some friends of mine run (also where I sell my work) called ...industtrees at 1234 College St. I'm going to say (tentatively) that the show will open October 16th. I've got to get to work!

The theme is The Royal Family, which I've told you a bit about already. I have been working hard and scouring antique markets for "Royal" related things. Also horse and world war II related things, not completely the same theme but I have some ideas for display and I think medals and horses are pretty "royal," don't you? I've already arranged a trade for this horseshoe (nobody buy it!) My Etsy shop is emptying out a little, but I will have all the work from the show listed when it's over, unless I sell most of it, which would be nice!

So if you're in Toronto, I hope you'll come! I will post many more details and pictures of my progress later...

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the royal family

Posted by Aprile on 2009.07.22:

Oooh, I have been so so busy. I thought this summer would be a bit more relaxing, but nope. We did have some time on Sunday to go to the St. Lawrence Antique Market for this first time EVER, and I will be going back every Sunday if I can. It was that good. I brought home a few nice things to make art with: some antique keys and a thimble (a little bag for $1), an amazing antique jigsaw puzzle with wooden pieces—we tried putting it together and let me tell you, it is a real puzzle, an old steel Boston pencil sharpener (the one you mount to something), and two matching Elementary school scrapbooks of the Royal family. I almost shelled out some money for a typewriter. That will be next time…

These books are so wonderful, I love everything about them! I have already started to use them in my artwork, carefully dissecting each 1950s newspaper clipping—I know, I know, how terrible am I? But I promise you I will make something amazing out of them.

The best feature of these books is all the little tape marks. You know I am know stranger to tape (who doesn't love tape, really), and every single photo in this book is held with Scotch tape, not glue! This makes it a dream to dissect of course, because the whole thing is quite brittle.



And the backs of the cutouts have little surprises too...

And finally, here is a little preview of some things I have been making. They are sort of in the vein of my Mr. Moustache books, not so perfectly pretty, they have a bit of vintage edge. I love them just the same, and they will look awesome on a white background in a pine frame!

I'm pretty sure I will now be frequenting Antique Markets a little more often now.

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stuck in the past

Posted by Aprile on 2009.04.24:

We didn't really get to do much in Welland (our hometown), but then there really isn't that much to do here. We're so used to Toronto that Welland seems like a barren wasteland—abandoned buildings, derelict houses, etc etc. I spent a few days dreaming about the past, and how it used to be a great factory town that I never got to experience. I feel like I was born at the wrong time—I think many people with a love of history do—would somebody please correctly place me in the industrial era?

We did get a chance to visit our museum, which has moved to the old library (which was my library not too long ago). It's a world of difference from what it looked like before, but what I found most charming was that it still looks like the old library. The shelves are there, the signage is even still there. It's like it was never left alone a day.



And who knew they had so much stuff crammed into their old schoolhouse of a museum. I haven't seen 90% of the items in the new museum, so it was really quite a shock to me. I miss the old museum a bit, we were walking by and saw it was flattened (the old school building it was in) and turned into a park (of all things). Like the world needs more parks. I'm really passionate about architecture of the past, and it makes me cry to see it go.



Toronto has done a few GREAT things with old buildings and mansions, which is build on top of them or keep the face of them, or even combine multiple houses with glass hallways. The only problem is that it's not only expensive to renovate old buildings, but to build condos on top of 1800s mansions is nearly impossible, and costs millions. In Welland, they can't afford to do this and they just tear everything down. Or just leave it there, for years and years. Then tear it down. WHY? Old architecture is the definition of beauty in my eyes.



See more photos here.

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five from the ground

Posted by Aprile on 2009.03.26:

So I really have been a little obsessed with Japanese sites lately, and now it's moved from clothes to furniture and antique stores. I think I'm getting better and better at coming across the good ones (and navigating them, too). I just love this aesthetic, apparently it's called "zakka," but it turns out that word has a million meanings.


Anyway, I had to share these images! They are from a store called Five From the Ground that sells antique furniture, dishware, lamps, books, et cetera. Isn't it beautiful? This style—furniture and clothing—reminds me of a pared down Anthropologie (without all the frills).









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