happy birthday, indeed

My would-be BFF (I can dream, can't I?) and #1 design icon is Eddie Ross. Not only has he worked for House Beautiful and the Food Network, he was the Senior Style Editor for Martha Stewart Living! He has flea market shopping down to a science, and even leads little groups on tours through flea markets around the country, helping people see how they could use various items in their home.

Part of the challenge of going to thrift stores and flea markets is developing an eye for what you can use and how. Eddie is a master at this, and I am linking to a photo album from his blog that has tons of pictures of flea market items, and each picture has a caption with a suggestion on how it could be used.

Like this strip of pierced brass, for example. Most of us would think it was cool, but then keep walking because we'd have no idea how to actually use it at home. Eddie (that's him in the picture) suggests having it cut to size and used as a mat for a frame. Oo la la! You can click through the pictures and learn from the best about flea market shopping by clicking here.

But here's where I get giddy with excitement. He's coming to the Rose Bowl Flea Market, a HUGE flea market in Pasadena, to do one of his flea market tours on March 14th!!!! MY BIRFDAYYY!!!!!! AHHHH!!!!!

I don't have a picture of myself celebrating when I saw this in his list of events, but if I had ... it would have been similar to this: