Archive * No. 007: FB Shopping Guide and Memory Quilts

This issue features Facebook finds, timeless textiles, and a brunch spot in Venice.

SECOND HAND FINDS

✦ My Guide to FB Marketplace

I spend hours on Facebook Marketplace. It’s probably not great for my screen time, but some of my best finds have come from there. After years of using it to furnish my apartments and now my home, here’s some tips on how to find what you want and get the best stuff for a good price.

Train the algorithm.

I have spent years teaching my algorithm my style. The key is interacting with anything that draws your eye. Even if you’re not buying, save or even just interact with pieces you like, and after awhile it will show you more items that fit your vibe.

Are you selling anything else?

This is actually how I scored most of our living room and den furniture. One guy had listed a single mid-century chair, so I messaged him and casually asked if he was selling anything else. Turns out, he’d just bought a fully intact 1970s time capsule and needed to clear it out. I drove over that same day, got a full tour, and walked away with the entire vintage living room set, solid wood and incredible condition, for $500. And he even included delivery.

Lowball, nicely.

I’m a chronic lowballer - and honestly, it works. Here are my two go-to moves:

“I can come by today and pay $XX all cash.”

Cash talks. If its not a vintage re-seller, most people just want the item gone, and the combo of quick pickup and money in hand can make a deal happen.

“I am interested but can only offer $XX on this piece, if you have trouble selling I am happy to take off your hands.”

This has worked for me surprisingly well, especially for sellers who don’t want to budge initially. There are many listings priced too high, and I’ve had sellers circle back days (sometimes weeks) later and accept my offer once it’s clear no one else is biting.

What I search.

Search terms are everything. My best advice is to keep it broad and focus on styles rather than specific pieces. A few of my favorites:

• Space Age, Postmodern, MCM, Mid-Century

• Italian, Danish, Swedish

• Terracotta

• Primitive, Pine, Teak

• Woven, Cane, Wicker

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SOURCE MATERIAL

✦ Vintage Quilts

Quilts tend to get written off as “grandma-y”, and to be fair it was our grandmas out there making these, but they are works of art. Quilt and patchwork motifs have made a comeback in design and fashion, but the artistry in vintage quilts still doesn’t get the credit it deserves. Look closely, and you’ll find graphic designs, unexpected color combos, and the highest level of craftsmanship. Grandma knew what she was doing.

This weekend, my neighbor handed off a stack of old quilting books and materials, and I spent most of Sunday happily lost in them. The inspiration was endless. There’s something so timeless about quilts and the way they stitch together heritage, craft, and quiet storytelling.

Quilting has always been a largely women-led tradition. At a time when women had limited rights and few outlets for creative expression, quilts offered a space to explore design symbolism. I’m especially drawn to that mix of tradition and experimentation, where historical motifs meet bold geometry. These weren’t just blankets. They were acts of creativity and self-expression.

Here are a few pieces that stood out.

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HOUSE SPECIALS

✦ Fig Tree

We spent the weekend in LA for my sister’s graduation and stopped at Fig Tree, one of my favorite spots in Venice. Fig Tree has been a Venice staple since 1978, sitting right on Ocean Front Walk. It was originally a casual neighborhood café, and in recent years it’s been renovated while keeping its original spirit intact. The vibes are great, relaxed but still with that classic LA charm. If you’re in Venice, I highly recommend it.

figtreevenice.com

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NOTES TO SELF

The day you plant the seed is not the day you eat the fruit.