Summery Days Around Casa Deluxa

Sunrise Mart

Thank you Sunrise Mart, for the endless inspiration, weirdness, and MSG. And tasty handsome cans of milk coffee.



Looks straight out of a late 50's school book, no?

The New Place

agrees with The Bunnies. And vice versa.

A Girl Can Dream

We've got friends that live in the most lovely house in the Poconos in this very development. While their house takes the cake, this one comes awfully close, with a little imagination, one hundred and twenty five thousand dollars, a car, and some tweaks (such as like tearing out the carpet and office lighting right now, and replacing it with some bamboo eco-friendly something-er-other) what an awesome pad this would be.

Deck and balcony and screened in porch?

Carpet, no, fan, no, couch--can I have it?

George Nelson lamp going here...

High gloss paint for the fire place. No TVs. Style up that mantel something crazy.

Yes, please.

Violet attack! But some salvation, maybe, is that a semi-cute fixture over the bed?

Ack! Office ceilings! But some good windows, room for man cave.

Can you leave the bar stools?

Three bedroom, two bath, walk in closet, two fire places, and what looks like a great view. Full listing here. Maybe I should add this to my Xmas list?

Summer Has Flown By

It's been a fitful summer here, with ups and downs--but looking back, mostly ups. The rough rainy parts were for sure a couple of downers, but the momentum of the Etsy shop, and some great mentions including Apartment Therapy and Abigail Goes Design Scouting, and the acquiring of some major D I Y skills, along with new distribution deals for the record label, and good shows for the band, and even a quick get away weekend has made it all for the better.

Now that its Labor Day though, summer seems to be winding down officially, and the one year anniversary is (unbelievably) coming up quickly in October, bringing with it mums and pumpkins and sweaters. Personally, I can't wait to be back in October, to be able to look back, but mostly to look forward to a new year, a new cycle, and another chance to go through it all again, but this time with more knowledge, more friends, more fans, and more style.

But for now, it's still Labor Day, and while I am sitting here at my desk with the store open, I'm going to be taking it easy and enjoying the moment of right now.

Weekend In The Poconos

As Deluxa is fast approaching its one year anniversary, unbelievably, we've only sneaked away on our own this last weekend for our first get away since this whole thing began.



It doesn't look like August, but it was beautiful, serene, and completely regenerative. We BBQed, went for a drive, swam, saunaed, drank wine, played tennis, pet cute kitties, hung out with good friends over great dinner, listened to good music, slept in comfy beds, all the things normal people do. Relaxing.

Huge thanks to our friends J & K (K of the fantastic Modern Good Life) for letting us stay in their amazing and inspiring home.

Now that we are back though, lots more updates and good news and great vintage to come!

Flickr Pool Exterior Ranch-Style House Photos

Found this Flickr pool Exterior Ranch-Style House Photos and pulled a couple of my favorites to share.

I want to copy these lamps, right now.

I can't tell you how much this photo makes me long for my Oxnard, California neighborhood, where there were quite a few houses just like this, sculpted trees and all. Even that sunlight--so California.

This St. Louis house is still a gem, beneath the vertical blinds. I'd paint the lamp post too, and manicure the yard a bit more.

Although I love my studio and my lovely Brooklyn neighborhood, the coming of my 4 year NYC anniversary, and all of my adult life living in apartments in some form or another--it all has me longing a small bit for house life. Lots of windows, a lawn, a garden, physical space, and space to covet lovely things. But I guess then all the lovely things wouldn't end up in the shop...

Lucky for me, there is a very high possiblity the BF and I will be getting to kitty sit at our dear friend's beautiful midcentury poconos home in a couple weeks, so hopefully that will be some space relief.

Anyhow, check out the Flickr pool and indulge in house dreams with me if you're in the same boat.

Hello Midcentury Modern Kitty

While keeping up with the wonders of the blog Hello Kitty Hell (which awesomely has brought to my attention this, this, and this) their latest post shows a pink house with Hello Kitty on the garage...



Hello Kitty aside, that looks potentially like a cool midcentury modern house (second pic I cropped and enlarged for a larger shot). Clere story windows, looks like a walled off private patio area, nice low wall in the front, one would cross their fingers for walls of windows in the back--I don't even mind the color that much. In all though, let's hope the owners (and that Mickey) get their heads out of their butts and treat this beauty with the style it deserves.

DISCLAIMER: I do own several Hello Kitty items, which I love very much. They are all cute and demure and not on anything so large as a garage door.

Target: Vintage Style, Vintage Price

I was reading this new blog that I found, and came across this post of finds at Target. While I agree that they have some nice home decorating stuff, I couldn't help but be a bit befuddled by this shot of their signage:



Do you see that???

"Vintage style, vintage price"

Now I do love me some Target, but they are moving in on my turf, and even though stuff is cool and cheap at Target, lots of those items are made cheaply by exploited sweatshop workers--not to mention they are part of the gluttony of products that are created as new physical objects destined for a short period on a shelf, and a long period in a landfill. Really, aren't there enough objects to go around as it is? Not to mention the opportunity cost of the heirloom quality pieces that are finding themselves in landfills every day?

Just say no to new conspicuous consumerism (and the "Gotta have it!"). Don't fall for the marketing. Buy real vintage at real vintage prices, keeping not one, but two objects out of the landfills while supporting small, local, un-exploitative business. Let's stay on a real target with that for the future.

PS. On a similar note, am I the only person in the world who kinda hates that Orla Kiely stuff?

I Am Not A Paper Cup

I just got one of these and am pretty happy with it. The folks at Naidre's all seem to like it too. I Am Not A Paper Cups are for sale in lots of online stores, but I found it cheapest at the mother of all internet markets, eBay. It's double walled like a thermos to stay extra warm, and the silicone lid is an extra nice touch. And side by side with a real cup--no diff!

For a Chuckle.

Via Made You Look.

April Window and Six Month Birthday!

I know its not April for a few more hours, but just thought I'd share the April store window with the pic that Amy from Apartment Therapy took (see full post below).

And, it is Deluxa's six month birthday tomorrow. Its been a labor of literal blood, sweat, tears, sparks, paint, more sweat, some cussing, some intense learning curves, some great laughs, some great new friends, and some immense satisfaction in being my own boss--and I must admit, a real sense of overall joy with how the past six months have unfolded, and a real sense of excitement for Deluxa's (and my) future.

Thanks to everyone who's help me get this far--especially my incredibly supportive family, the unending assistance and sacrifices of Andy, my fantastic friends, my adorable regular customers, my unbelievably lovely local community. --Kristen

(Notebook doodle, when it was just a sprout of an idea, sometime last August, a million years ago.)

Dear Blog

I miss you so, and think of you often, and promise to try and write more soon.

Your dearest,
Me

PS Here is my latest favorite LOLBunny:

Some Saturday Etsy-in'

Some fun things I found today...

I love all things bunny. Because of these guys. Silver leather ZAI toy made by a fabulous couple living in one of the most beautiful and unique apartments I've ever seen.

Got a chuckle. Visit Able and Game's Etsy store here. Tons of (self deprecating?) hilarious cards. Also, make sure to catch the asterisk footnote to this card.

Gorgeous vintage plastic beads ($6.75 for 40 assorted! steal!) on Peppermint Soda. They have a huge selection too.

Sorry for the Absence

In the midst of moving...new posts planned soon!

THANK GOD!

Little did I know, until it was saved, that Mother's Cookies filed for bankruptcy in October. Hooray for Kellogg (begrudgingly) for saving this childhood culinary institution of mine. Circus animals here I come! But maybe this is a West Coast thing? I can't remember the last time I saw these in a grocery store in NYC...


I'm having trouble finding any 1st hand news source on this (AP, where you at?) but all the other sites say so, so collective internets info must be true, right? I can has circus animals? Please say I can enjoy delicious cookie coated pastel dipped goodness?

Dear Postal Service

I've been here since 9am. No package. You suck.

NYT Buzzwords of 2008

Full article. Some Phelpsian graphics too.

Two Pictures of Hope Sandoval and David Roback