5 for Friday - Sarah Littlefield, Curator of Vintage Wares
I have the great providence of being surrounded by inspiring people. 5 for Friday questions will be asked of artists, farmers, curators, creators, innovators, entrepreneurs etc – all of the people that I find interesting. Everyone gets the same five questions.
Ok, you guys ready for this? Get your bookmarking fingers ready or grab a pen and paper - you're going to want to take notes. Meet the fabulous, cheerful and adorable Sarah Littlefield. I don't have any recollection about how Sarah and I first met. We have many mutual friends and have found each other at parties, dinners and events over the years, always saying hello, but never digging deep. It wasn't until I found Sarah on Instagram & Facebook that I really fell in love. She calls herself a "picker of vintage wares", but "picker" doesn't do her justice. Sarah is a consummate curator, as far as I'm concerned. With her business, Seattle Junk Love, she roves all over the Pacific Northwest (and well beyond) on the hunt for utilitarian items, objects, furniture & lighting from the early 1900's thru the 50's. There is a skill and expertise in her work, regardless of her humility, and she has an incredible eye for gorgeous and well-constructed pieces.
Lest you think she simply a brilliant shopper, she also concepts, designs and constructs interiors - from her own home to businesses near and far. Check out the interior of her house - all hand picked, dirt cheap and stunning. You must also go right now and check out the vet clinic Urban Animal NW. Sarah designed the space and collected the pieces. (I hear this is a rad vet, for all you animal lovers.) She also collected for the ice cream shop Salt & Straw in Portland. (If you haven't heard of them, you should read a food mag once in awhile, ya know.) Sarah explained her involvement with that shop, "I picked furniture and fixtures and vintage wares for Kim's shops. Also designed a wallpaper for the restroom of her Alberta shop. it's a collage of vintage postcards all addressed to the same woman who lived at various addresses around pdx. postmarks date from about 1906 thru the 60's." You guys - she designed one-of-a-kind wallpaper with vintage postcards that she collected. Shut the front door.
Sarah is now selling her wares retail at District, a collective of vendors in Georgetown. There, you'll find a distinctive selection of vintage americana, furniture, lighting, fixtures, blankets, and more. It's a MUST stop on your holiday rounds and (stop yelling at me) it's never a bad idea to get a jump on holiday gift giving.
And for any food lovers, check out these amazing signs. They're bound to go fast. They read "FOOD", "PRODUCE", "FROZEN", etc.
You can find Sarah selling her wares straight off Instagram via SeattleJunkLove (great for any out-of-towners), or at her shop District at 5527 Airport Way.
Finally, if anyone knows Julianne Moore can you connect these two?! Let's hook it up - I'm sure Julianne would be equally THRILLED.
1. What did you eat for breakfast this morning? Coffee. Always coffee (with milk and a little sugar). And, toast with homemade apricot preserves from my dear friend Jason Erickson.
2. What is one thing you do EVERY day, by choice? I keep my eyes open for interesting things to buy or simply for inspiration for projects. Every day. Weekends, holidays, vacations- there really isn't a time when i'm not picking or hunting.
(like This and This.)
3. If you had all the time in the world and no budget restrictions, what one project would you take on just now? (Can be a hobby, business, trip, etc) I would take the longest, open-ended, free-range road trip EVER with my wife Larisa around the country in a 1971 ford truck. We'd hit every flea market, auction, antique mall and out of the way place and ship all of our finds back in containers so we wouldn't have to worry about quantity. I'm not sure a road trip qualifies as a project, but if so, that particular situation would be my dream project. Or, I'd like to design and outfit a rustic ranch home in Montana for Julianne Moore, and then live in the guest house on the back 40.
4. Where is your ‘happy place’? Being first in line at a highly coveted estate sale very early on a cold morning. With a cup of coffee in hand.
5. What is your signature dish – something you make well and consistently? I consistently make a really outstanding Manhattan and a decent Negroni, if booze counts as a dish. If not, I'd say I struggle with dish-making. Do ribs count? I make pretty good rack of ribs when I put my mind to it, I suppose.