Vena Cava

BOOKS FROM THE LIBRARY

Fri, 18 May 2012 13:59:40 -0400

Found at the downtown LA Public Library

VINTAGE MATCHBOOKS

Tue, 15 May 2012 01:25:51 -0400

(via ebay)

(via: imgfave)

(source unknown)

(Florsheim)

(Moda)

(Troncos)

(source unknown)

It’s great no one smokes anymore… but it’s sad that cool matchbooks are becoming extinct.

VENA CAVA GARDEN

Tue, 01 May 2012 17:03:00 -0400

After moving to Los Angeles from New York, I quickly planted a garden.

It’s been one of the best things about living in California. Someday, one day, it would be amazing to do a Vena Cava gardening line. The line would consist of amazing metal sheers, elegant shovels, straw visors, canvas gloves, and wire baskets.

Until we make that line, here is some inspiration…

(via: remodelista)

(via: Svpply)

(via: fine tools)

(via: Svpply)

(via: terrain)

(via: anthropologie)

(source unknown)

(via: city farmer)

(source unknown)

(via: gardens without soil)

(via: Svpply)

(via: etsy)

(via: garden people)

VENA CAVA FRIENDS

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 22:31:57 -0400

Meet our friend Lillian Gallay.

Lilly lives with her husband Charley, and their dog Roosevelt in Los Angeles.

Currently Lilly is studying Psychology and writing her dissertation on where Artist’s Block comes from. We can’t wait to read it…

Lilly is an amazing painter, gardener, wife, and friend. When we started Vena Cava eight years ago Lilly would spend all of her money at our first sample sales. She has been a VC patron for a long time, and has a serious Vena Cava archive that dates back to the early 2000’s.

I Still Love You, Fiona Apple

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 02:27:00 -0400

We were both obsessed with Fiona Apple in high school.

When we designed our 90’s collection a few season ago, what we were actually doing was designing our “Fiona Apple” collection.

I think anyone that was remotely depressed in high school loves her.

And the best thing about her, is that she still wears baby tees and too much eyeliner.

Somethings should never change. Can’t wait to get her new album.

(All images via: FuckYeahFionaApple)

Peter Shire is the Man

Tue, 17 Apr 2012 20:23:00 -0400

Cubist Steam, 1980

Marbleized Teapot

Tea Service, 1978

Teapot with Lid, 1978

Teapot, 1983

(via: I’m Revolting)

Teapot, 1984

I stumbled upon Peter Shire’s LA studio in Echo Park one day after Yoga. He was born in Echo Park in 1947 and still lives and works there. He is associated with a group of postmodern designers called the The Memphis Group. They were known for designing intentionally bright, colorful, shocking and futuristic products in the 1980’s as a response to the humorless minimalism of the 70’s. Memphis reminds us of Esprit and sophisticated Saved By The Bell!

FROM THE VAULT: EXTERIORS

Tue, 27 Mar 2012 21:09:42 -0400

(source unknown)

(via: vanityfair)

(source unknown)

(via: Wary Meyers)

(source unknown)

(via: Horst P Horst)

(source unknown)

Louise Bourgeois... Avant Garde Quilter

Tue, 27 Mar 2012 02:02:34 -0400

Louise Bourgeois did some amazing quilting. Any one of these would make an amazing print. The images below were made between 2002 and 2008. This was the period when she did most of her two-dimensional works with fabric. She is quoted as saying…”I always had the fear of being separated and abandoned. The sewing is my attempt to keep things together and make things whole”

Untitled, 2005

Untitled 2002

Untitled, 2002

Untitled, 2005

Untitled, 2006

Untitled, 2007

(All images and quote via: Hauser & Wirth)

Helmut Newton Color

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 14:19:56 -0400

Recently we have been obsessed with Neo Noir. Our bulletin board is filled with old Helmet Newton shots. Newton is known mostly for his black and white work, but we are really attracted to his color photography. Such great saturated images….and butts.

Sunbathing

(source: unknown)

Gold Watch, Beverly Hills 1996

Untitled, St. Tropez, 1995

(via: stalkingthepublic)

Vogue Paris, June/July 1973

Helmut Newton (1920-2004)

SAND

Fri, 09 Mar 2012 11:52:18 -0500

Psychedelia has been with us all along.. This isnt your grandma’s beige granules- this is what sand really looks like up close. Magical

(sandgrains.com)

FROM THE VAULT: SUNSPOTS

Tue, 06 Mar 2012 20:49:38 -0500

(via: Hana Tucker)

(via: M O O D)

(via: old lawrence)

(source unknown)

FEMALE MUGSHOTS

Tue, 06 Mar 2012 00:30:20 -0500

Jane Farrell - 12 years old

Stole 2 boots and sentenced to 10 days hard labor

Isabella Dodds - 17 years old

Sentenced 4 months for stealing a watch

Isabella Smith - 60 years old

Sentenced to 6 weeks for stealing poultry

Catherine Flyn - 34 years old

Sentenced to 6 months for stealing money

Mary Ann McCasfrey - 41 years old

Sentenced to 4 months for stealing a watch

(via: Dangerous Minds)

BELATED RIP:

Thu, 01 Mar 2012 00:20:57 -0500

Joe Yamanaka of Vena Cava favorite: Flower Travellin’ Band.

(The Japanese Black Sabbath)

FROM THE VAULT: INTERIORS

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 19:46:23 -0500

(source unknown)

(via: AM on the Present Tense)

(via: weheartit)

(source unknown)

(via: Charlie Bennett)

(via: theuglyearring)

(source unknown)

Floriography

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 19:41:27 -0500

Floriography, the use of using flowers or floral arrangements to send messages in code, was wildly popular in the Victorian Era. In 1884 The Language of Flowers was published and became the standard source for Victorian flower meanings. Here are a few interesting floral meanings…..

Acacia - Secret Love

Amaryllis - Pride

Bird of Paradise - Liberty, Magnificence, Good Persepctive

Coriander (or Cilantro) - Lust

Fungus - Resilience, loneliness, solitude. disgust

Houseleek - Domestic Economy

Lichen - Solitude

Mint - Suspicion

Primrose - Eternal Love

Witch Hazel - A Magic Spell

FROM THE VAULT: FINGERTIPS

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 16:59:26 -0500

(via: francisca pageo)

(via: darkshapes)

(via: ihawk)

(via: uuiuu)

(via: Aplace)

DVD OF THE WEEK: EAMES: THE ARCHITECT AND THE PAINTER

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 22:56:33 -0500

Check out the amazing documentary Eames: The Architect and the Painter, about Charles and Ray Eames. Its a fascinating look into the evolution of their designs and the process behind their collaboration. It’s streaming now on Netflix, don’t miss it.

FROM THE VAULT: OBJECTS

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 17:11:00 -0500

We’ll be posting random photos from our image library every week. For the past three years we have been pulling images we love off of our favorite blogs and websites. The files are overwhelming. We thought it might be fun to share some of the imagery that inspires us.

Here’s the first installment…

(via: weird friends)

(source unknown)

(source: unknown)

(via: jewels collecting dust)

(via: an ambitious project collapsing)

(via: weird friends)

(source: unknown)

(via: excavation by spoonfuls)

(source: unknown)

DREAM HOUSE

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 17:10:59 -0500

Atwater Bungalows Elysian Park, Los Angeles.

Robert Stacey-Judd designed these bungalows for H. Gale Atwater, a prominent Los Angeles dentist. Dr. Atwater, described as “a Socialist and a peacenik” had a fascination with Native American culture, particularly the Hopi. Built between 1922 and 1931 they notably contributed the Mayan Revival architectural movement, which was popular in Los Angeles in the 20s and 30s.

I found a listing for one of the houses on Craigslist and have been obsessed ever since. People still have horses and chickens in some back hills of LA, this would be a perfect place for that.

Avant Garde #5 1968 Cover by Tom Wesselmann. (via: Ebay)

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 23:37:19 -0500

Avant Garde #5 1968

Cover by Tom Wesselmann.

(via: Ebay)