Gadora is always on the hunt for inspiration in snappy home-design and avant-garde clothing boutiques. My former life as an accessories editor nurtured a persnickety penchant for the finer things, though at present my champagne tastes come with a Pearl-beer budget. Catching wind of HOWL Interiors ~ Fearless Home Fashion, Gadora grabbed some girlfriends for a trip to find it. The tiny bungalow-turned-studio space, tucked just off 6th Street, was unoccupied but we peered inside to find curiosities both teensy and on a grand scale. I’d have to meet Howl’s “mad-scientist” and designer Barry Jelinski another time.

Barry Jelinski's Mirror at ByGeorge

Later that day we found Jelinski’s wildly intricate coquillage mirror at Mercury. Got my noodles churning with all the things I might do with seashells, too, had I a zillion of them and the patience of a Saint. Yesterday Gadora heard word that the amazing Howl Studios Deco-esq Mirror, which has been living at By George boutique—an Austin staple for the fashionably-inclined—IS. FOR. SALE.

Mirror ~ DETAILS

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Gadora is a big fan of Austin’s FreeCycle! And free things in general. While en route to pick-up a second FREE item no longer deemed important to someone else—and this is the bigger story—Gadora was held up at a light. Me…a zillion cars…and one smiley homeless man with a bucket and a squidgy. Austin has MANY homeless folks. In fact on any given day, rain and shine, they are camped out at every major intersection. And, of course, camped in places not so visible.

He approached my car with a snaggletoothed smile and motioned his squidgy to my front window. A window wiping, he pleaded? I left the house without a cent to my name, well, ok, I had like 14 cents. I was rolling with 14 cents, and an empty water bottle. And truth be told, I’m half OK with a filthy car! Pathetic. He passed my car, then swiftly returned. With front windshield quickly engaged in his cleaning, I dropped my window and offered, “I’m sorry Sir, I haven’t a thing to give you. Please, don’t worry about cleaning her.”

He responded, and I specifically remember, “Oh Pretty Lady, Let me DO this for you. With Austin’s f@#in’ roads, you deserve to look good. And it’s free. This is free. “

As he dragged the drying blade across my windshield, I looked him square in the eye. We engaged in snippets of small talk. I could only offer appreciation and a moment of my time. A moment of banter, we could share and in this case, I got more than what I paid for.

Over dinner I shared the story with my BFF. “You gotta post that!” she encouraged. It’s way too easy to dismiss the folks at stoplights who hover around our cars for a few cents. In Austin they are a dime a dozen. This particular gentleman was indeed working hard for his money, and instead of his name… he sent me off with a smile.

• • •

Austin folks who make a difference:

Austin Empty Bowl ~ Works with the Capital Area Food Bank. 3,600 bowls were sold. 250 Gallons of soup was served. More than 2,000 people from Austin came out to support!

Green Doors ~ Founded by a once-homeless young woman, creates affordable, safe, quality housing; providing residents with access to supportive services; and educating about, and advocating for, individuals and families struggling with homelessness and at-risk for homelessness. 

Keep Austin Sheltered ~ The University of Texas at Austin “Community Engagement Collaborative.”

Mobile Loaves and Fishes ~ A social outreach ministry for the homeless and indigent working poor that provides food, clothing, and dignity to our brothers and sisters in need.

*If I’ve missed an organization that is important to you, PLEASE comment. We cannot do enough.

Gadora managed a thorough clean-up yesterday. With a dreary high in the mid-40s it was far from “Spring-Cleaning,” but there was this box, probably in the office, that held this very important stuff. I was thinking. And I was meant to find it. When said box was eventually uncovered, I also discovered a multitude of discs—some in paper sleeves and some in plastic jackets—most of which had been backed up already and were no longer needed.

What to do with those discs? Put them in the curb-side recycle bins? Throw them away? No. They’re sparkly. According to Earth911, “CDs contain three main components: plastic, metals and ink… But when it comes to recycling, only metal and plastic are processed.” So, Gadora has found alternatives… Spanish designer Belen Hermosa received as much press, originally in 2007, for his CD-chair as the number of CDs he used to create it.

http://www.goodcleantech.com/cd-panda-chair.jpg

Back Support Disc Chair

Thanks to Russell A. Jones III for his photo-journal how-to turn a pile of CDs into a snappy tower lamp. While my current collection pales in comparison, had I kept every CD already tossed, I’d have me one of these.

Russell Jones CD lamp

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Gadora has something cooking, folks*. While the Animal Print requests are slowly rolling in, the extra time affords Gadora an opportunity to explore other avenues. Introducing Still Life with Settee series. I love painting furniture. Why not paint paintings of furniture? Rather brilliant, don’t you think?

Pierre Paulin chair ~ DONE

Eames chair ~ Done

Borrowing a few snaps from my Flickr contacts, I must give credit where credit is due.

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Don’t know the Bulldog Billy personally, but Gadora DOES know he’s cute. Nestled on his comfy Dallas sofa, he strikes a triumphant pose. “Billy has the most personality of any dog I have ever owned,” offers his proud Mama.

Billy ~ DONE

“His most favorite thing to do is be out and about entertaining people and making their day brighter, lucky for him we live in a very urban area and we take him out frequently.”

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