Bodhisartva ..... Art/Spirit/Life

IttyBitty Sidewalk Sale

Flea Markets can be overwhelming - too much to see; too many booths to visit.  In fact, I am skipping the Long Beach Flea today (which is my FAVORITE). So, I needed a little fix yesterday.

Every 6-8 weeks, there is a Sidewalk Sale in our neighborhood.  It's organized by some very artsy people and sometimes includes overflow from the studio of Clare Graham.  It's on the sidewalk next to his studio, so that makes it easy.  

My biggest most exciting find.

It's a drawer FULL of little paper packets containing different sizes of watch crystals.  I love using them in my work and now, I will probably never run out!  Crazy.

I love gears.

And the eternal spiral.  Oh...did you think these were just watch springs?

It's hard to explain how yummy these book covers are.  This is an address book/notepad from a lawyer's estate.  It is falling apart, but I can easily see how I can rebind it into a cover for a journal. The embossing is so lovely.

And talk about lovely - how sweet are these two?

And finally, in case I find myself unable to see any of the details...

I feel so fortunate to have this little sale to look forward to every once in awhile.  I could even take the bus there if necessary, it's so close.  Great people; you see all your art friends there; right across the street from a neighborhood coffee shop. I am happy.

 

Expanding the Studio

I hate to state it that way, as I fear my husband is watching me take over the whole house. But, it's true, I have claimed a corner of another room.  I decided to segregate some of my activities, and I do think it will be more efficient.

Went to IKEA and found this really deep birch top and adjustable legs.   It was a wee bit of a challenge getting it up my many, many stairs by myself.I already had two of their rolling flat files.

Once I put it together and added the tools for bookbinding and put the cutting mat on top, voila!  A bookbinding studio -

It has the added advantage of moving my "clean" work out of my very dirty metalworking studio.  A smart move, if I do say so myself.  Now to get to work!

 

 

September Pasadena Flea Market

Holy Schmoly!  It's September.  How did that happen?!  We've been in the midst of a blistering heat wave in Los Angeles. But I jumped into the oven that is outside in order to get to the Pasadena City College Flea Market.  I was traveling in August and missed it, so I truly needed a fix.

 

I found a passel of these.

Some look like this.  They should be good for hanging up necklaces.

I think I'll make some necklaces out of these, too.  What do you think?

I'm not sure if I will ever "pounce" leather...or anything else for that matter.....

...but I might sand something.....

This is the coolest thing I found, I think.  It's about 2 inches high and very thick.  It's hard to figure how I'll set it into a book cover, but I have to use it some way. Very excited.

A tattered old tape measure...

A silver fork for a secret project....

Here's a closer look at the really beat up covers that will be terrific rustic journals.

I must say, I left pretty satisfied with my "fix". And, it was a joy to get back into the airconditioning!  One of the nice things about living in Southern California is that the flea markets go on and on and on all year.  

 

June Brooklyn Flea

Remember back in July when I posted about the Pasadena flea market and said I was working backwards? I never got there, did I?

Here is a long overdue item from June. 

I had the great joy of squeezing in a visit to Katie in Brooklyn in between two business meetings.  She's such a totally cool woman and I miss her. But, we live to see our daughters fly on their own two wings, so I'm happy for her.

I'm also happy that she lives in a city where there is such a plethora (I just had to use that word) of vintage, old, funky...stuff.

Among our several journeys, we visited The Garage in Manhattan. The big find of the day was not mine, but hers.

Is that not a fabulous dress?!  She wore it to a party that night, paired with some great vintage heels and a yellow clutch found at the Pasadena flea market.  She wears vintage so well.  

I have loved the Brooklyn Flea Market but had only been to the Sunday one in Fort Greene.  This time, we went to the Williamsburg site, on the river.  It has a fabulous view of the city.

It has a lot more food booths with some very intriguing dishes.  Also, very wide open spaces and picnic benches.  

I understand it is the same vendors, but it seemed smaller. However, I scored some major finds.

I think those two typewriter platten wheels will make great earrings!  I may even have to keep them for myself.  I'm especially excited about all the old lenses.

 I will be setting them into metal book covers...who knows what they will reveal?

We had so many more adventures, but I can't find the photos. Maybe I'll post the rest of the story later...like next March. Sigh.