TwoFriendsTwoCitiesOneVision

Black is really in now.  I have seen so many items restored in black lately.  The Rose Bowl Flea Market was loaded with vendors selling black items – all matte smokey black with tan wood peaking out. There was lots of of stuff but here are some of the best things I found.

Click here to see more Rose Bowl Flea Market finds.

Yellow!  Bam!

My new favorite color. Bright, uplifting – what’s not to love? I have wanted to create something in yellow for quite some time but thought it was a hard fit. And honestly, I was a little scared.

Only so many things will look great in yellow. Or do they? After seeing these items at the flea market, yellow just might be the perfect fit for a lot of things.

I’ll have to get out of my comfort zone and make something in yellow soon!

Click here to see more Rose Bowl Flea Market finds.

Yesterday I went to the Rose Bowl Flea Market and was amazed at all the new stuff there! I had previously been once which was several months ago.  After going again I vowed to try to never to miss any again!  So many great finds and ideas!

As I was fixated on shopping my husband notified me that  Antonio Ballatore was standing next to me. Antonio Ballatore was the season four winner of HGTV’s Design Star.  Antonio refers to himself as the Lady Gaga of interior design and now has his own show “The Antonio Treatment”.  I don’t know what was more surprising…that Antonio was shopping next to me or that my husband knew who who he was — probably the latter.

I would have taken a picture but by the time I realized what my husband was saying, Antonio had moved and I was too lazy to run after him in the heat.  And most importantly…I didn’t want to look like a stalker.

I found so many things and took a million pictures.  I will sort them out and start sharing them this week. I’ll have to break them up in groups because there is really just that much stuff!

I’ll start you off with this cute sign one of the vendors had posted up in their booth.  Hilarious!

This is another great item discovered at the Rose Bowl Flea Market.  I don’t know if I have room in my house but I really want to make one.  I’ve never worked with wood in this manner but it does not look that difficult.    To make each panel, it appears as if they joined six 2×6′s. You can see from the back of the rear panel they supported the panels with strips of wood. I would imagine the top is attached with hinges.  Seems simple?  However, I don’t have a saw and need to figure out how to make the circles.  I love the dark brown stain but think bright colored stain might be a great option!

Click here to see more Rose Bowl Flea Market finds.

I found these at the Rose Bowl Flea Market. I will admit they aren’t really my style but I admire the creativity.  This artist has taken old tires and made them into planters.  Great ingenuity.

Click here to see more Rose Bowl Flea Market finds.

I have referenced the Rose Bowl Flea Market in my prior posts and am looking forward to the Rose Bowl Flea Market will be held next weekend.  I have only been once before and it was an extraordinary experience.  I found so much inspiration there!!

Here are some pictures of my favorite things I discovered when I went a few months ago.

The Rose Bowl Flea Market is held once a month. To view schedule and more information:

http://www.rosebowlstadium.com/

You can also see more Rose Bowl Flea Mark finds here.

I know it sounds like a craft project gone wrong but I have come across many elegant items made with coffee bags. The great thing about them is that you are repurposing material and…how can you not love the history of each bag carries. Each bag has traveled so far…most places are a mystery but there are some stamps for dates and different cities and countries on each one.

My first pursuit will be to create pillows, specifically pillows for my outdoor furniture. I might also create some indoor throw pillows. Later when I am feeling extremely adventurous I want to reupholster a chair. I have never upholstered a chair before so that will be a big accomplishment and one I am little scared to tackle.

My first inspiration for creating things with coffee bags came from a vendor I found at the Rose Bowl Flea Market. I don’t know if you have ever heard of this particular flea market but it has to be like no other. Located in the beautiful city of Pasadena, it is held at the Rose Bowl Stadium once a month – it is huge with over 2,500 vendors and loaded with so many unique items. I came across pillows and a chair and ottoman and was blown away.

Then a few weeks ago while traveling in Newport Beach I discovered an amazing store called Juxtaposition. If you are ever in the area, you have to check it out. Their logo is “Where vintage industrial, crisp linen, and found objects are not strange bed fellows.” When I read that phrase, I thought…hey, that’s me!!! The store was loaded with pillows, chairs and comforters made from coffee bags and other jute and burlap type industrial materials. (You can view more of their things on their website at: http://www.juxtapositionhome.com). I found these pillows and adore the way they mixed the coffee bag pillow with the striped chair. After seeing how they mixed the fabrics, I realized there are limitless possibilities with what can be done coffee bags!
I can’t wait to score some of these bags myself and start making things.

At this point I am still trying to figure out where to find them. I looked online and couldn’t find much that didn’t have outrageous shipping prices. I think I might ask some local coffee shops and coffee roasters next…