Stuff You Should Buy Right Now: Roger Ballen at 20x200

I'm never too busy to shop. So despite the fact that we are still cleaning cupcake frosting off the ceiling following Ike's first birthday party, I found a minute or two to sneak in some internet time. And it's a good thing, because 20x200 has been busting out the jamz. If you were Johnny on the spot, you may have snagged some cheap prints by heavy hitters like the Starn Twins and William Wegman, most of which are already sold out. But I am far and away more excited to tell you that Roger Ballen has recently editioned an image, and the small sizes are still available.

A Roger Ballen print for $50! Dudes, that is crazy. Buy it here.

If you've never heard of Roger Ballen, it's ok. He's not as famous as the Starn Twins or William Wegman, but he should be. Since the 1970s, Ballen has been photographing rural villages and their inhabitants in South Africa. Ballen's photos are riddled with metaphors, icons, and wild dreamlike tableaux. Recalling works as disparate as Aaron Siskind and Ralph Eugene Meatyard, the results are often both poetic and disturbing.

Weird? Yes. Awesome? Hell yes.

Ok, friends, I'm off to 20x200 to buy that print, pronto. Oh, and psssssst: the also excellent Eirik Johnson (who I've written about here and here) has a new print coming out this Wednesday, July 14th, so be sure to check it out.

Back Wednesday with an interiors post, I promise...

Buy My $h*t Off Craigslist!

After getting contacted by a professional organizer from the Hoarders show (seriously!), I figured it might be time to confront my "issues" and punch them straight in the face. Ok, and I will sheeplishly admit that I bought yet another couch that we have absolutely no use for, and Ben finally said that enough was bleeping enough. So we spent this past weekend rearranging furniture, photographing stuff for craigslist, and dealing with a fair amount of flaky beeyotches (and some super nice folks, too). I sold half of it, but I thought I might share a few pieces of the hoard with you -- mostly for your entertainment, and also to see if you want any of this crap beautiful furniture for your home. You know you do.

I mean, who would not want this king sized peach taffeta tufted headboard with matching coverlet? Gents, just try to stop yourselves from emailing me RIGHT NOW to reserve this bad boy. This sucker begs for strawberries and fine fine champagne in bed -- not that we would ever mar this baby with our own foodstuffs.

No sir. Just look -- pristine and smooth as a baby's butt. Kind of even looks like one.

How about four vintage Saarinen style captain's chairs? Sure, they are cushionless and could use a good cleaning. Sure, for some inexplicable reason the top lifts completely out of the base when you try to pick them up (anyone out there know how to fix this?). But there are four of them. And they are hard to find. Buy them. Please.

I'm just going to give these vintage lamps to one of my friends if I can't sell them. That's how little I care about them. Oops, I mean, "that will be $60 for the pair, please."

On the other hand, I would like to get approximately one brazillion dollars for my gigantic Italian glass Marbro lamp. I didn't even bother putting it on craigslist because I know some chump would just offer me $25 for it, and that would make me very cranky. Anyone know a good dealer?

Enough with the depressing stuff that didn't sell. Let's talk about my success stories.

I made a tidy little profit off our Danish table and six janky broken chairs, sold to a guy who sweet talked me into holding it for him by bribing me with Momma cookies. He turned out to be a dealer AND I didn't get no cookies. Well, at least I'm 99% sure he was a dealer. He never actually admitted it, but he didn't deny it when I asked him point blank. He did say that it was for his own home, but I think that was a dirty dirty lie.

Should we talk about craigslist ethics, here? I mean, I don't mind working with dealers, but why lie about it? Don't be a shady bastard.

I would have to say the highlight of my weekend was selling our Mulhauser Mr. Chair to a guy who really really likes it. Plus it was his birthday and he was really hungover, which was extertaining. Plus he really liked our house, and is thinking of buying something near our neighborhood... So, in my fantasies I have already sold our house and most of the remaining contents to him and his nice wife, while the hunny and I retire to the country, comforted by the fact that our beloved ex-home is in good hands.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'd like to be alone with my fantasies, please.

Baby's First Clustered Art Wall

As you can imagine, the largest decor undertaking in my house right now is la bambino's room.  In fact, I was more stressed about how to decorate it then I was about whether he'd be a boy or a girl (I figured I had no control over that).  Over the last few months I've already picked up quite a few prints that will eventually form the little dude's first cluster art wall.  Don't you just think he's going to be so excited to come home to all this:

Since he's going to be born in the year of the tiger (as was his father, uncle, grandfather, great grandfather and great grandmother) I thought we should pay homage with a few pieces of tiger art.  Note: THIS ROOM IS NOT TIGER THEMED, just tiger friendly.  This print, rock candy, was found by Erin and purchased by me in approximately 2.2 seconds.

Continuing the tiger non-theme I also grabbed this year of the tiger print from the same shop.

And finally, I picked up Tiger Phone from the Two Rabbits Studios booth at the Renegade Craft Fair.

In fact, all the remaining prints were picked up at renegade.  If you have one happening in your area, I highly suggest you go.

Because I am having a wee little baby, I thought I should get a few little-kid friendly prints too.  Not just a bunch of insane tigers.  I grabbed this beep beep bike print from Tad Carpenter.

This 2-part pink monster is also by Tad Carpenter, but unfortunately, I couldn't find it on his site and I think he's sold out.

And because I bought so much at his booth, Tad threw this tiny bird print in for zero dollars.  Thanks, Tad!

Having stocked up on some baby goodies, I felt like I could return to my crazy art comfort zone.  I bought this Will Bryant print at the Public School booth.

And finally, because babies go goo goo ga ga over black and white prints, stimulating their little brains straight into mensa, I picked up this crazy eye print for the little dude.

Don't be scared if you feel like some of these don't go together, remember we have several walls to work with here.  Anything that doesn't make the baby's room cut will land in my office, but overall I'm feeling good.  I think he's just going to swoon when he comes home!