A colorful array of all that is old

Accepting a new position for a local online newspaper has a way of eating up my time. That said, I'm harldy one for twiddling my thumbs during extra hours. Somewhere in the mix of my various daily tasks- both big and small- I always manage to fit in quality time for design. Home design, that is.

While I'm certainly no collector, I have long had an appreciation for vintage wares- from furnishings to art, books to jewelry. Something about the smell of a crocheted blanket from 1972 brings a full appreciation of just how extraordinarily talented so many people are. With a newer home that is just about prepped for interior design, I find myself combing through our copies of Dwell, apartmenttherapy.com and just about anywhere else that offers unique ways to revitalize things that have otherwise been long forgotten.

The latest plug must go to etsy, an extraordinary melding pot of all things handmade and vintage. With artists spanning the globe, it was actually quite easy to find our latest vintage addition to our home: a lovingly restored pillow straight out of Norway's mod squad years. There's something about vintage quality that gets me everytime, and carefully choosing each piece rather than rushing to the nearest Target (not that there's anything wrong with that...) leaves a deep sense of satisfaction.

Combing all of the local flea markets and antique shops every month leads to some nifty finds, but admittedly shopping online from my couch is still my preferred method. With that in mind, there are a host of invaluable blogs offering design advice and showcasing some simply amazing work- both new and old. Oh Joy is one such blog that I've only recently been tracking. From design-savvy pencils and yarn to credenza's and scarves, I've been pleasantly delighted at the array of things to consider. Just like the viral nature of the internet itself, I've been led to so many corners of the globe thanks to such blogs that keeping track of the nifty gadgets and ideas becomes a job in and of itself. A recent Oh Joy post led me to discover Sanna Annukka, a Finnish Brit who creates some lovely vintage-inspired designs heavy on Scand-fluence. Her wooden birds are simply stunning with a childlike simplicity that is easy to overlook.

For those like me who spend much of their working and leisurely hours online, Whorange recently featured a fabulous French artist who has ingeniously fused old style illustrative and publishing art with today's headlines- or, erm, websites and social media. Whether your a Twitter-addict or Last.FM fan, there's a piece of art for you.  Another phenomenal little nook online is Hooked On Houses, a one-woman show with splendid ideas. I particularly love her rendezvous with midcentury modern design, of which I am an official addict. Finding old interior design mags like Better Homes & Gardens fresh from 1966 is always a fun way to remind ourselves how ahead of its time the space generation often was.

With too many other retro inspired blogs and sites to list, I'll have to content myself with resuming my life and reluctantly perusing the net for my next piece in my spare hours. Until then, have fun... think ingeniously... and live colorfully.