On the Radar -- An Eastern Vibe

We Blackbird girls L-O-V-E Asian design, and it's very visible in our collections.  I know we mention here and there about what we collect (believe me, you've just seen the tip of the iceberg), but we have a genre-crossing collection that we refer to as the Asian collection.  It includes Chinese checkerboards, paint-by-numbers, Asian themed sheet music and labels, tea tins, fortune telling items, and other various tiny tins, like a Buddha incense tin and a French Chinoiserie thread tin.  Also included in this is one of our most favorite things (I know, we say that about everything!) -- our bright yellow Chinese Chippendale mid-century chair.  Here's the chair, but in green.  Mmmm...I want these to add to the collection...

Well, imagine how excited I was when I was browsing Yahoo yesterday and found an article about IKEA's new products, developed with Chinese designers.  I want it all.  And I had to immediately share the link with the other Blackbird.  Look at all these goodies, available at the end of the month at IKEA.

There's lots more amazing items -- you can see the slideshow here.  I love their whimsical take on traditional Chinese design.  All the ping pong balls -- they have one vase with a ping pong paddle, and the lucky cats, are just adorable.  They are tongue in cheek, and so much fun.

I love this brighter, bolder, modern take on Asian design.  It reminds me of my Chinese checkerboards -- they have great patterns and motifs, and the colors are super bright.  Like this one:

Available on Etsy from PassedBy, here.

So in honor of IKEA taking a brief trip from Sweden to China, here's a round up of some of my favorite modern Asian finds on Etsy!

Tray from God Save the Kitsch, here.

From China Tea Ware, here.

Coasters from Cheltenham Road, here.

From Stillwater Art Studio, here.

And of course, my dream table, from one of my favorite furniture companies, Red Egg.  Their designs are stunning, and I lurve the red finish!

Indochine dining table, here.

On the Radar -- Painted Schmainted

The Blackbird girls will paint anything that stands still long enough.  1970s plastic sconces.  Old (ugly) brooches.  Lamps.  Bubble wrap.  Even furniture -- unless the wood is good wood.  Then it's a no-go.  And, yes, somehow, painted furniture is (still) "in" fashion.  But...

Blah, blah, blah.  Painted furniture.  Been there, done that.  BO-RING!

We DEMAND a change.  Shake it up, people!  Welcome pattern and texture and color into your life!  We're presenting these options to you, our readers, today, to inspire you to paint greatness.  Step away from the white paint and sandpaper.  Realize that "Shabby Chic" starts with shabby.  Dive into the paint chips and pick something other than a neutral.  Or a pastel.  Try red or royal blue or canary yellow or kelly green or tangerine or ALL OF THEM AT THE SAME TIME!  Invest in a stencil (or make a stencil).  Buy some painter's tape.  Rub your little creative brain cells together!

Just remember two things -- 

First, pattern:

Chevron

Stripes

Everything!!

Try just accenting the legs with pattern...

 Second, color:

Not so traditional anymore, eh?

NEON!

Just bright tops, hmmm...

Now, put it together and paint EVERYTHING!!

Trunk, headboard, baskets, dresser, frames, vase, keys in the artwork...it's all painted!

On the Radar -- Bright Tribal

I've been finding myself drawn more and more to the look of tribal patterns.  I, of course, love ikat and suzani prints/weaves (who in the world hasn't been in love with them for the past few years?), but this spring, things are getting a little looser.  That's when I really love design -- when something gets trendy for a while (like ikats and suzanis) and then, a few years later, it gets reinterpreted.  Reimagined.  Design takes over an old idea and comes up with super fresh and bold looks. 

We Blackbird girls love our home at Etsy, and we really embrace that culture of handmade/vintage over mass production.  I can also tell you that when in comes to buying for myself -- I am pretty picky.  I fall in love easily, but it has to be TRUE LOVE before I buy it.  I love all the tribal things I've seen, but when I purchase it, then that's a good sign.

I found this designer, Layla Amber Handmade Creations, from England on Etsy, and I HAD TO HAVE her wooden feather necklace.  What does it have?  A fresh take on a tribal pattern...  Here's a similar brooch from her shop:

So I started looking.  Lo and behold, it's happening everywhere for spring!!  Natural leaf bracelets with playful spins on tribal prints:

Mara Hoffman, Spring 2013

Fun, bright prints!

MSGM, Spring 2013

Even for the home!

From City Girls Decor on Etsy

Geometric and graphic!

Coaster from Wanelo.com