Black and Gold

Recently I have found myself increasingly attracted to black and gold.

As accessories – I would never have thought of basing a whole room around the combination. Although … look how well these interiors have been pulled off:

Romofabrics.com, via xjavierx

Living etc, via evergreenhill

Decodesignart.com, via Lilia

It seems the key is not to go overboard – and to mix in a good dose of white or off-white.

Here are some of the black and gold items currently for sale at Century Finds:

… and here is some of the gold:

And this isn’t all… I just can’t help myself! I think black and gold is such a warm, luxurious and attractive combination. Although – ladies! watch out! –  go overboard and the look can be very masculine.

Having stripped much of my house of its early 80s brass fittings I am beginning to think I should have kept them. I can see gold colors coming back strongly. And mixed with black it becomes very bold, very retro. Very glamorous.

I don’t know about you but I feel I need an injection of glam as we face the short winter days…

PS: I had finished this post when I suddenly remembered someone else who seems to be gravitating – just a little – to black and gold. The Brick House , currently one of my favorite reads.

This thrifter extraordinaire has created the most amazing, comfortable, modern interiors on a budget (how does she find these things?) – and look at her latest impulse buy! Personally, I think this would look amazing against a black bedroom wall…

A Package from Japan

The other week some fabric arrived in the mail.

I love receiving packages from Japan – there always seems to have been care put into the wrapping, even for the most simple items.

Many of the little things I have bought from independent sellers on Etsy also arrive beautifully packaged, and this is something I am trying to improve with Century Finds. The main hurdle being that when you are shipping items big and small and often strangely shaped and needing to be swathed in bubble wrap, it is hard to be consistent with the wrapping. But … look out for some changes over the next few months, I am aiming to take things up a level.

One lesson learned from Japanese packaging (and my family has many links with Japan so I have some experience in this) is that it doesn’t have to be flashy or elaborate, just tidy. Plus, the use of Japanese style paper and inserts sure helps. Different is good

This package came from Etsy seller karaku, who I found via this very helpful post on Decor8.

The exterior wrapping was your average brown envelope, and inside was this. Sigh. So simple, yet it gets me every time.

But that’s not all! Inside that was my fabric … and a gift. Two packets of Hello Kitty paper tissues, actually. They sit in my office and my daughter periodically comes and begs for one for her “runny nose”.

Huh. As if I would let anyone’s runny nose touch these! (Yes, I am still 10 years old when it comes to Japanese stuff).*

These two cards were inside the gift packet. A subway map (instructions to brick and mortar stores, perhaps?) and what I assume is a business card.

And finally … my fabric. Exciting!

And now, the finished product. In my kids play area. Yes, once I got over those Hello Kitty tissues I finally got around to doing something constructive

*OK, so I have been sharing the tissues. A little. Really, I am a very, very nice Mommy…

Quick Update and Don’t Forget the Giveaway!

I don’t know where this week went. It has been absolutely crazy, and with the Holiday Season on its way, it doesn’t look like easing up!

I’m just dropping in here with a couple of reminders:

1.Don’t forget to visit Heather’s blog Gathering Spriggs for your chance to win a pair of Doily Glasses and a very cute little painted shot glass. You now have until Sunday to enter so go there!

Now!

Come on, all it takes is a comment!

2. The Fab Pad is now hosting a Holiday Store, with all kinds of little Christmas-themed decorations I have picked up here and there.

Items range from the tasteful to the kitsch, with a few being added every day, so it is always worth checking back! Personally, my children just want garlands, garlands, garlands, but I like to decorate a few corners for myself too

3. Winners of the Teeny Tiny Giveaways have now been contacted and I will be sorting and sending this weekend.

A big Thank You to everybody who played, with a special mention going out to Denise, who really knows the value of small things

4. And don’t forget, we are always adding new vintage items on Century Finds… So if you will excuse me, I’m off to add some now!

Have a great weekend!

Doily Glasses Giveaway Alert!

There is a  Century Finds sponsored giveaway running at Gathering Spriggs this week.

Up for grabs is a pair of Doily Design Rocks Glasses (this modern take on a doily was created exclusively for Century Finds by Bread and Badger) and a little painted vintage shot glass. We decided on a little mix and match as that is what Century Finds is really all about.

So grab all your friends and head over to Gathering Spriggs right now!

(And don’t forget to subscribe to Heather’s lovely, romance-inspired blog while you are there…).

When the Typewriter Does Make All the Difference

It was 1994. My husband and I had just arrived in Paris fresh out of college and I was looking for work – any work – at the height of the recession.

In my favor? Fluent english. Against me? Complete and utter lack of any typing prowess. Whatsoever.

I did explain to the lady at the temping office that each of my hands was equipped with 5 thumbs but she insisted that everybody had to take the test.

So I walked into the testing room expecting to use a word processor and found something like this:

(Image via  Mr Martin’s Typewriter Museum)

Needless to say it did my typing speed no good. Especially when the French keyboard was thrown into the equation…

On that day I am sure I would have been very relieved to have been offered the option of using one of these instead:

It still wouldn’t have gained me a job in the typing pool, but I am sure I would have delighted over its italic print and been soothed by its pretty light teal color…

It’s a 1960s semi-portable Olivetti-Underwood typewriter, for sale today on Century Finds.  Are you a fluent typist or a two-finger tapper? Is this a tool or a jewel? I think it’s both!!

New at Century Finds – Jen Renninger

I wanted to take a moment to spotlight one of the newer artists in our Contemporary section. I love the work of Jen Renninger (see her blog for some great inspiration) and I think her Modern Design Deck series fits in so well with the Century Finds vibe.

These stylish prints feature iconic modernist furnishings from the first half of the 20th Century. They are very sympathetically rendered and the style is so versatile, slotting in well with all kinds of decor.

We have a selection of these affordable 11.5″ by 8″ pictures in stock.

Eames RAR Print + Image from booiecanoe

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Eames Lounger Print + Image from May61

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Panton Chair Print + Image from Fran6co

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Nelson Lamp Print + Image by tampatroy727

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Le Corbusier Chair Print + Image by b_fantasti

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You can find our current stock from Jen Renninger here, and if we don’t currently have the print you want,  most are also available by special order . These prints make great gifts – whether you are shopping for others or for yourself – and the best thing is, they will not break the bank .

Can’t decide? For the complete Modern Design Deck experience, we also stock a poster showing all 30 images in the series.

Teeny Tiny Giveaways 22 – Fabric for Repurposing

This is the last of our Teeny Tiny Giveaways!  Thank you for playing!

Winners will be drawn and notified over the next week. Remember, you still have time now to go back and comment on the last week of giveaways for your chance to win further teeny tiny things…

Today’s giveaway is fabric, three 50″ square panels cut from a sheet, and just perfect for small crafts or home decor projects. This very bright green butterfly design is printed on a 50/50 polyester /rayon mix, and I believe is a fairly close copy by JC Penney of a 1970s Vera pattern. It is in great condition and sure to turn heads!

One Person’s Junk… During the month of October, I have been giving away one teeny-tiny item every weekday. This was the last giveaway in the series. For more details, click here. To enter, just leave a comment below.

Teeny Tiny Giveaways 21 – Partial Playing Card Pack

This double pack is missing some crucial cards but it does have some very cool Jokers and the fronts aren’t bad either.

Surely someone can think of a project for these, whether it is wall art, scrapbooking or collage.

One set has a leering Jester, while the other has funky stringed instruments. Did I mention, they are free?

One Person’s Junk… During the month of October, I will be giving away one teeny-tiny item every weekday. For more details, click here. To enter, just leave a comment below.

Teeny Tiny Giveaways 20 – The Country Keeping Room

I know, I know, It looks dire, doesn’t it.

But wait! Picture these projects – tab curtains, chair cushions, a quilted picture, quilted table runners, napkins, casserole cozy, fabric covered lampshades, chandelier sleeve, and fabric covered wainscoting – in modern fabrics! I bet you can find a use for all of them!
OK, maybe not for the casserole cozy. Although stranger things have happened.
There are no patterns in this envelope, just some handy cards with instructions, formulae and measurements for creating the projects above.
(Simplicity, 1979). Today’s teeny tiny giveaway is brought to you courtesy of Fabpatterns.

One Person’s Junk… During the month of October, I will be giving away one teeny-tiny item every weekday. For more details, click here. To enter, just leave a comment below.

Teeny Tiny Giveaways 19 – KM Letter Jacket Cheer Patch

It’s a little grubby, a little old. It was pulled off a high school letter jacket, probably in the late 70s or early 80s.

You don’t get them like this anymore, at least not at this price.

Which, did I mention? Is free.

One Person’s Junk… During the month of October, I will be giving away one teeny-tiny item every weekday. For more details, click here. To enter, just leave a comment below.