A few of my favorite things: Sarah Ahearn
Hello! Thanks for having me Holly! I’m Sarah Ahearn and I’m a mixed media painter from New England. I’m thrilled to be here to share some of my favorite things with you about HOME. I confess, that like Holly, I am smack dab in the middle of a move too! Needless to say, this was a fun (yet tricky, ahem, no internet yet) post to put together. AND, since our current apartment is beautiful, (tin ceilings & hardwood floors) but completely empty except for our new bed and the coffee pot, I’ve done this post all about our old apartment. All of this being said, it was enjoyable to think about my favorite things about HOME when I’m just moving into a new one like Holly and Thorsten. Anyway, we’re off this weekend to get the rest of our stuff which has been in storage for 7 months, and I can’t wait to rediscover it all and set up our new place. that’s the BEST part about moving, isn’t it!? All of this said, I thought I’d share some of my favorite bits from our previous apartment with you while we are in this transition. Here it goes!
For the past 6 years, we’ve lived on the second floor of an old house in Ithaca, New York where my husband was in graduate school. I especially loved the back porch because it felt like you were high up in a tree house when the leaves were out on the trees. I spent many lazy summer days relaxing out on the screened in porch reading and (confession…) napping! Our guests were the lucky ones who got to spend the night in full view of the stars and wake up with the birds and morning sunshine.
One of my favorite things to do when I’m out and about is to look for vintage bargains to display. I scored these paperback books at a library book sale on $1. day, which meant as many books as you can fit in your shopping bag for $1! I loaded up a grocery bag with these colorful paged books and planned to display them horizontally, but when I stacked them up like this i just loved how they looked! The little red star was a surprise bonus! I added the little bird and block and it was just one of those things that worked together. That little bit of whimsy and color made me so happy to see when I walked in the door.
One of my first “vintage finds” was this old typewriter. It works well and I use it all the time in my own mixed media artwork. But, one day I decided to stick these Polaroids on it just to get them out of the way as I was organizing my desk. It was a happy accident and I loved how they looked together! I had just rediscovered my Polaroid camera and took some of my favorite snapshots while on vacation on the Cape Cod.
I love my little collections of inspirations are all over our house. I have to say that these collected little bits are some of my favorite things! I love to find new ways to display my collection of found photos, ticket stubs, drawings, vintage ephemera, buttons, fabric bits and paint chips. I especially like to have my old family photos (that’s me in the green chair & in the strawberry shortcake dress!) out on display for all to see rather than tucked away in an album. In addition to familiar faces, I love seeing long forgotten photographs (look at the two lovely ladies!) of strangers from a day gone by that I’ve found by digging through boxes at antique shops and flea markets.
See the above photo of the paper on the chalkboard? It is one of my absolute favorite finds when I found this old French receipt that was tucked inside a book that i had bought at an antique shop. I typed this Hunderwasser quote on it (with that aforementioned typewriter) and have it hanging by my desk to look at each and everyday. It reminds me that artistic inspiration is everywhere….
More inspirations:
My inspirations tend to be bits from my everyday life… in no particular order, here are some examples: smiling dogs, farm fresh tomatoes, vintage children’s books, salty evening air, crinkly old maps, lemon yellow, zinnias & marigolds, tiny coffee cups, dinner parties, heavy round cups of tea, anything having to do with Paris and the idea of living there someday, wanderlust, summer starlight, finally filled up sketchbooks, mexican sunflowers, pink champagne, bring green grass, fading polaroid pictures, warm rain, handwritten alphabets…
And people… my dashing husband who supports and pushes me to be my best everyday. The lovely and amazing blogger friends and artists I’ve met online (such as Holly!), and a handful of artists~ Joseph Cornell, Robert Rauschenberg, Cy Twombly, and the poetry of e.e. cummings.
My favorite book: The Day-to-Day Life of Albert Hastings. Susannah Conway had a wonderful interview with this author in her post here: Ink on my fingers.
And music… Feist
As for advice: Just be yourself. Be kind. (Pretty simple thoughts, but extremely important in everyday life…)
A funnier bit of advice: When I was little, one of the things my mom always told us was to be sure to say something nice when we were at someone else’s house for dinner. but, since I was a picky eater, she told me to say “what a pretty tablecloth!” if I could not find anything nice to say about the food. But, if things were really bad all around I could say “so how about those Red Sox?!” : ) moms are funny.
Holly thanks so much for asking me to be a part of the favorite things, and best of luck with your new & exciting adventure! So looking forward to seeing what you have in store for us AND possibly visiting you in Europe when we go on a sabbatic year and live there in a few years!!! (Academia sure has it’s perks!) lots of love, -*sarah
(images: sarah ahearn)
Tags: favorite things
August 13th, 2009 at 2:19 pm
Sarah! I love your bed it looks so cozy!! what kind of bed frame did you get? It’s exactly what i am looking for. Charming!
August 13th, 2009 at 2:19 pm
Oh just love this post. The porch made me exhale and wish it was mine. How lovely!
Deborah
Design Cracker´s last blog ..Some soft places to lay your head.
August 13th, 2009 at 2:19 pm
Love the polaroid photos and the typewriter!
Marit´s last blog ..Treståkk 08
August 13th, 2009 at 2:20 pm
Living in Arizona, you don’t see very many porches like that. I love windows surrounding this porch…and how they help bring the outdoors in. Thanks for sharing.
~Camberley
August 13th, 2009 at 2:24 pm
Hi! Looove the beautiful photos!!
Have a nice day!
Anette:)
Anetteshus.com´s last blog ..SOVEROMSINSPIRASJON
August 13th, 2009 at 2:27 pm
hi sarah! i really enjoyed your post. the photos of your apartment are so lovely and fun! we just left our home in VT and are in an apt right now that needs a little love. i picked up some good tips from you, :)
caroline´s last blog ..this is pink chuck (giclee print)
August 13th, 2009 at 2:45 pm
Yay Sarah! I am such a fan of your work and your blog! Thank you for sharing these photographs as they are so thoughtful and I cannot stop staring at the paperback books -such gorgeous colors. Good luck with your move in!
leslie´s last blog ..Jumping at The Getty
August 13th, 2009 at 3:02 pm
What a beautiful collection of beautiful things! I love all of the pockets of inspiration in your home, and I’m sure you will create just the same magic in your new one. Really, I’ve never seen such creative displaying—I especially love the polaroids on the typewriter! I also have a vintage typewriter hanging around—it’s beautiful, although I wish wish wish it worked because I would love to peck away at the keys!
blue bicicletta´s last blog ..Quit Your Day Job Button Celebration: week 3
August 13th, 2009 at 3:09 pm
I am really enjoying the Favorite Things series. I wonder if it could be adapted around Christmas time as well, as in the great holiday song? Thanks, Sarah!
Nicole´s last blog ..Locale Lovelies: Virginia, Part Two
August 13th, 2009 at 3:21 pm
I love all of your vintage finds! Lovely.
Pixie´s last blog ..It’s Wednesday…
August 13th, 2009 at 3:41 pm
oh Sarah, I love the porch, I could live just on the porch. Good luck with the move, thanks for sharing.
Janet´s last blog ..Ok, I Give…
August 13th, 2009 at 4:14 pm
your porch is the most ideal napping spot ever …
have a snooze for me!
prairiegirl
August 13th, 2009 at 5:08 pm
Hi Sarah! So lovely to see you here, and so great to find out a little more about you and your lovely life. Thanks so much for sharing with us,
Steph
Steph Bond @ Bondville´s last blog ..Stylish Kids: Czarque Baby Shoes
August 13th, 2009 at 5:34 pm
Porch beds are the most wonderful place to sleep ever (o:
jess´s last blog ..Cute Alert: Urban Sapling
August 13th, 2009 at 6:19 pm
Sarah, I adore smiling dogs! And I always smile back. I also adore your bird and book stack. I have a floating shelf on a narrow stretch of wall in my hallway that I am inspired to rearrange with the pages facing outward.
Thank you for sharing your treasures with us!
Juliet´s last blog ..Welcome to Virginia: {Locale Lovelies} Series
August 13th, 2009 at 7:23 pm
thanks to everyone for your sweetness! i loved that porch too… wish that we still had one just like it in our new place. it was so perfect for napping! :)
cindy- the bed frame is actually a futon frame, a broken one at that! nothing fancy, but it sure was comfy! perfect for the porch.
but you could find a similar one by looking at platform beds, we actually just replaced it with a new platform frame for our current apt.
a lot of the little vintage finds, like the books, were complete “happy accidents,” it’s fun to discover a simple thing that works so well!
*thanks again to holly for having me! *sarah
sarah*ahearn´s last blog ..more guest blogging!
August 13th, 2009 at 8:38 pm
i love the picture with the bird and the library books! i’m going to be looking out for one of those dollar a bag sales… :)
August 13th, 2009 at 8:45 pm
Sarah, I loved this post! You have such a great way of looking at things. =) I love the advice your mom gave you. I can’t wait to give advice like that someday! And I’m over the moon in love with that 2nd story porch with the bed. That would be an amazing place for a nap. Wow. I’m going to think about that for a long time…
Shanon´s last blog ..It’s another Glory morning
August 13th, 2009 at 9:57 pm
I am the proud owner of one of Sarah’s beautiful pieces, Marichelle gave it to me for my birthday, and now, I see how incredibly sweet and lovely the artist is behind the piece. It makes me treasure it all the more. That sunporch is divine, as are your little books, that wonderful quote typed on the old receipt and your beautiful words of wisdom. Thanks for this Sarah, I love it!
xo
Melis
Melissa de la Fuente´s last blog ..The little things: something unimagined..
August 13th, 2009 at 10:49 pm
Great posting. Thanks so much for sharing. Keep it up. Love reading your posting.
Petergaye Kisielewicz/yahgie´s last blog ..Living in Loft Style
August 13th, 2009 at 11:11 pm
The back porch looks like the perfect place to spend a lazy Saturday morning! A little bit of Heaven on Earth.
Rebecca Ward Design´s last blog ..Experienced Materials
August 14th, 2009 at 9:23 am
melis-
i’m thrilled! i had no idea… (or didn’t connect the dots..) i love YOUR blog AND your amazing work.
what a treat!
thanks for saying hello!
xo, *sarah
sarah ahearn bellemare´s last blog ..more guest blogging!
August 14th, 2009 at 12:18 pm
Great interview of such a wonderful artist. So interesting to hear Sarah’s favorites and get to know her just a little bit better. Thanks!
August 16th, 2009 at 10:12 am
Love the bedroom on the back porch!
Penny Patten´s last blog ..Name My Birds,(Chickens that is…) Contest
August 18th, 2009 at 2:39 pm
oh- what beautiful photos! I am inspired from anything from Paris too :)
August 22nd, 2009 at 3:22 pm
oh, how I love that porch. Great post. Thank you.
malo´s last blog ..friday