papernstitch: Favorite Things
A few of my favorite things: papernstitch
Hello everyone, I’m Brittni from papernstitch. I’m visiting you today to share a few favorite things around my house. I live with my husband and our two animals in a small (less than 1,000 square feet) bungalow in Florida. Because of the size of our home, we try to keep clutter to a minimum by featuring only the things we love most. But there are still plenty of little trinkets and nooks in our house that inspire me everyday.
One thing in particular that I absolutely adore is my vintage typewriter. It’s my favorite color, light blue, and in great working condition. So, whenever I have something really important to say (and my computer simply won’t do), I spend a little time in this writing corner collecting my thoughts.
I feel it’s important to surround yourself with things you love, and being an artist myself, the thing I love most is art. I really enjoy collecting pieces from other artists, whether it be photographs, paintings, drawings, or even prints. This wall is in my home office, where I spend most of my time, so I am able to stare at some of the pieces I love most everyday. I decided to create a cluster that was more color focused here, and mixed an Ashley G postcard with a Selflesh mixed-media drawing and a local artist’s photograph. The photo is by an old friend of mine’s brother, who I have lost touch with. But every time I look at it, I am reminded of that time in my life, and it brings back a warm feeling inside.
Since I spend much of my time sitting at a desk, its only natural that one of my favorite things is an office accessory. It’s my antique, cork pencil holder that I use for storing odds and ins, and one of my most prized possessions: a picture of my grandmother. Whenever I visit her and my grandfather in California, I raid their photo albums for pictures I can bring home and display. This picture was taken when my grandma was my age, so it’s extra special. I love her hair!
After a long day, this hand-cut chihuahua woodblock print always brings a smile to my face. I picked it up at an art opening a couple of years ago, and it greets visitors as they walk in our front door. It has certainly become a conversation piece amongst friends.
And finally, my last favorite thing: the third shelf of our bookcase, which houses no books at all. Just a couple more family photos, a Viceroy automatic super 8, and my old Polaroid land camera.
Obviously, my affinity for vintage pieces has, in part, guided the way I decorate my home; but I am also influenced and inspired by the combination of clean, modern lines and more organic shapes and forms. Individually, I am inspired by many things… patterns and repetition in nature, bold color, and mid-century design to name a few. Which, I think, is reflected in my home.
To wrap up my favorite things, I thought I would share something that I try to live by when searching for art for my home, since it is something that I am so passionate about. Often when people are just starting to buy artwork, it can be intimidating. I remember when I bought my first “real” piece of art, I was unsure…Where do I start? What should I buy? Buy what you love. It doesn’t matter if it’s an original or a print, a well-known artist or someone you have just discovered, paper or canvas, small or large. Just buy what you love and you can never go wrong. I have heard this so many times, and it couldn’t be more true. -Brittni
(images from papernstitch)
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August 12th, 2009 at 2:06pm
Brittni, Thanks so much for the peek at your home! Love your advice to buy what you love! :)
.-= Tricia McKellar´s last blog ..Pastoral with Tree (2451), 16×20 Fine Art Photograph by Tricia McKellar =-.
August 12th, 2009 at 2:09pm
Oh I’m simply in LOVE with your typewriter and in my favorite shade as well!!! Thank you for sharing your favorite things, all very lovely!
xoxo
.-= Jennifer´s last blog ..If you thought Kate Spade was only for accessories……… =-.
August 12th, 2009 at 3:23pm
Thank you so, so much Holly for inviting me to share my favorite things. I had so much fun putting this together.
-Brittni
.-= brittni: papernstitch´s last blog ..Wednesday Workstations (an introduction) =-.
August 12th, 2009 at 3:51pm
Gorgeous, Brittni! Thanks for sharing!
Janelle
.-= Janelle´s last blog ..Collages =-.
August 12th, 2009 at 4:46pm
I adore your typewriter! So pretty and fun to use I bet! Thanks for sharing your favorites with us!
August 12th, 2009 at 4:59pm
oooh, thanks Brittni for showing off my little collage next to your gorgeous blue typewriter. the chihuahua is fantastic! great to see some of your favourite things :)
.-= gretchenmist/belinda´s last blog ..a new mixed media piece by our young artist =-.
August 12th, 2009 at 6:42pm
I love the typewriter and old cameras! Such lovely vintage items! And its great that you actually use the typewriter!
.-= Kim´s last blog ..What I Would Wear…If I Was An Olsen Twin =-.
August 12th, 2009 at 7:13pm
Ah Brittni, these lovely vignettes around your home are just perfect! Ha, love that chihuahua. Thanks so much for sharing this with us… and thank you Holly for this feature. -Amy
.-= Amy´s last blog ... . Illustrated by Madi. =-.
August 12th, 2009 at 7:38pm
I share your love for vintage items and your typewriter is absolutely the cutest! Thanks for sharing :)
August 12th, 2009 at 8:49pm
i very much enjoyed your post and agree that a home should reflect the things you love and the places you’ve been. based on what you’re saying about the mix of styles you like, i think you might enjoy the pictures in this post of mine from a few weeks ago:
http://honeyliving.blogspot.com/2009/08/gray-matter.html
.-= honey living´s last blog ..tiny treasures…spray away =-.
August 12th, 2009 at 9:52pm
Very nice peek. You sound like someone who tries to live authentically. I have such a nice visual of you sitting at your typewriter, writing a nice note to someone you love or to yourself. I especially adore your vintage cork pencil cup and that you raid your grandmother’s photos. I was just visiting with my kids’ great-grandmother (she’s in her 90s) today and trying to gather the courage to ask whether she could part with a couple of her photos or maybe her coffee table which she bought in the 1940s for $7! (Sigh) Why does vintage have such an appeal?
.-= Minnie´s last blog ..Going organic the easy way =-.
August 12th, 2009 at 10:35pm
the chihuahua is the best!!! I love seeing where people live especially when it’s as cool as that!
August 12th, 2009 at 10:48pm
Hello Brittni,
What a cute collection of lovely corners you have! I loved the dog on the wall so much I straight away looked for an image online and printed our new wall-cat!!! I’m loving it! Every time I walk by it makes me smile! Right now we can’t have pets and as I grew up surrounded by them, it’s something I rather missed- until I saw your post!!! :)
.-= Naomi´s last blog ..Monday Morning Leaves =-.
August 12th, 2009 at 11:09pm
SO many wonderful vintage pieces and a beautiful and well edited home! Thank you so much for sharing Brittni!
xo
Melis
.-= Melissa de la Fuente´s last blog ..For my readers: Bailey doesn’t bark =-.
August 12th, 2009 at 11:25pm
Loved the sneek peek. Thanks for the great art advice.
.-= Megan´s last blog ..Chandeliers for the Faint Hearted =-.
August 12th, 2009 at 11:39pm
fun post! i love the last bookshelf, vintage collections are such fun. thanks for the peek!
.-= lesley´s last blog ..hallowe’en on the brain =-.
August 13th, 2009 at 12:19am
Brittni has to be one of the sweetest people I’ve met through blogging and I loved getting a peek at her favorite things. Thanks for sharing them with us. :)
.-= simply hue´s last blog ..Oh no! =-.
August 13th, 2009 at 2:01am
I miss my old typewriter! How lovely that you share the wonderful things which inspire your days. It always is a lifting experience to visit your blog.
Thanks…
.-= Alpha Shanahan´s last blog .. =-.
August 13th, 2009 at 7:12am
I love the little print next to the typewriter -where is that from?
August 13th, 2009 at 9:42am
It’s so fun to see your place Brittni! It’s as fun and creative as you are. =)
.-= Shanon´s last blog ..It’s another Glory morning =-.
August 13th, 2009 at 10:15am
Oh! Everyone’s comments here just mean the world to me. I love reading through them. Since several of you like the vintage typewriter, I thought I would mention that I actually bought it online from Vixen and Prudence: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=7070642
They have some really great vintage cameras in their shop right now too.
And Martha- the piece next to the typewriter is an original collage by Belinda of Gretchin Mist: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5697669
.-= brittni: papernstitch´s last blog ..Shop of the Day =-.
August 13th, 2009 at 10:55am
Love the chihuahua!
.-= Amy´s last blog ..Real Bloggers: Lisa from Parallel Botany =-.
August 13th, 2009 at 7:10pm
beautiful items!
.-= leni´s last blog ..Short term vs. Long term [Project Me] =-.