In the Neighborhood

While poking around Kate Spade's ever inspirational Behind the Curtain, I was intrigued by a video entitled "2009 Spring Shoot, Downtown LA."  The opening scene was instantly familiar - the campaign had been shot in my neighborhood!  Now, living in downtown LA, you see a lot of strange things.  So a couple of months ago when I noticed that several buildings had been doused in candy colors, I didn't bat an eyelash.  Now that the mystery is figured out, I should probably head over there with a camera...

Be sure to check out the Behind the Curtain video, I promise it won't disappoint.  And here's another video featuring scenes from my 'hood:

More eye-candy from Kate Spade's spring '09 ad campaign via here.

If only I looked this chic while walking the dogs!

Easter Weekend

Easter this year was spent out at my parents' house in La Quinta, California with my husband, cousins and of course, my parents.  Saturday found the ladies shopping and the men playing a round of golf.  On Sunday we hung around the house, but it was by no means a slow day!  My mom organized an egg hunt (keep in mind that all of the 'children' are 29+ years old) and we all watched the Masters.  Malvina and I made the bunny cake pictured below using a cake mold from Williams Sonoma (it looks like the ladies at Atlantis Home had the same idea!).  We took advantage of the surrounding citrus trees by adding orange juice and lemon and tangerine zest to our cake batter. Next, we pasted the bunny's two halves together with homemade lemon frosting and finished it off with a dusting of powdered sugar.  Before going home, we all spent the afternoon picking grapefruit from the tress behind my parents' house.  It was a great weekend that went by much too quickly!

Citrus Bunny Cake

Adam taking a turn with the fruit picker.

Robert jumping for fruit.

I couldn't resist... a shot of Mr. B lounging in the grass.

Get the Look at Sparker!

The apartment of sfgirlbybay's Victoria Smith was featured in The Storque's "Spotlight" column today.  Victoria's much admired abode is a trove of flea market and mid century finds.  In addition to her design blog, Victoria has her own Etsy shop which features the iconic "Keep Calm and Carry On" poster in a wide variety of colors.

To achieve her modern bohemian look, several Etsy items were shown including Sparker's Distinguished Gentlemen portrait!  It was quite an honor to be included in the company of the other sellers and to be considered a resource for replicating the chic look found in Victoria's home.

New Items at Sparker

Flintridge China Snack Plates

Several new items at Sparker this week! Some of my favorites are the snack plates pictured above and the pewter vases below. To me, the plates look like something designed by Kate Spade or Amy Butler while their coloring reminds me of a peacock's feathers. Pictured with the plate is some of the hotel silver I picked up a few weeks ago. I had hoped to have the silver in the shop by now, but it's quite tarnished so polishing has been a big task! Perhaps I should host a 'polishing party'... but even with good cocktails I'm not sure I'd have any takers!

Cocktail Glasses and Snack Plates

Pewter Loving Cup and Pewter Horn Vase

A Package Leaving the Shop

Here's a quick shot of this morning's order leaving the shop.  A creamer, salt cellars and a little something extra tied-up with a pretty bow.

Love it. Want it. Need it.

Lately I've skimmed and tossed the Anthropologie catalogue as soon as it arrived.  Yesterday, however, I caught a glimpse of this beauty and immediately ripped the page out and stuck it on the fridge.  A girl can dream, right?

It has beads, leather, rhinestones and can be found here.

Loving New Rubie Green!

All photos Patrick Cline for Ruby Green

I've been following blogger, entrepreneur and former Domino staffer, Michelle Adams of Rubie Green for several months and was thrilled to read about her new bedding collection.

If you are anything like me, you've been dreaming up projects around the house in which you could employ her environmentally friendly fabrics.  My only problem has been deciding which pattern I like best!

Michelle recently rolled out a line of bedding based on some of her most popular patterns.  As our Jonathan Adler sheets are about shot, I think I've found the perfect replacement!  But now to choose which pattern...

A Day of Thrifting with Spicy Salty Sweet

My new friend.

Leah of SpicySaltySweet and I took a much needed mental health day and spent the greater part of today thrifting in Pasadena.  I showed her some of my favorite spots for finding vintage steals and we both came away with some goodies.  Leah nabbed a great vintage cookbook, hankie and a glass and silver tea server and I came away with a cookbook of my own, a fabulous oil portrait and a few other odds and ends for the shop.

We enjoyed lunch at Saladang on Fair Oaks and managed to get a lot of wedding talk in too.

Overall, a great day.

The "Shrimp in Golden Thread" from Saladang.

Recent Finds

Here are my most recent treasures.

I picked up a bag of miscellaneous silverware and a very dusty candelabra on the way home from work yesterday.  To my delight, the bag o' utensils contained several pieces from notable Southern California hotels and the porcelain candelabra is gorgeous underneath all of that dust.

Stay tuned for their 'after' shots.

Welcome!

Welcome to Sparker!

Here you'll find my musings on cooking, inspiring decor and my vintage finds.

You can also follow my thrifting by checking out my store at sparkershop.etsy.com.

Thanks for stopping by!