a beautiful kilims & kilim pillows collection with alex keller

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i just love seeing what folks are collecting. i guess i kind of feel it tells us just a little bit about what inspires them, what they love, and what they choose to surround themselves with in their home. today, i'm delighted to present the next in the rikrak studio's collections series:  quick questions with a wonderful artist on what they're collecting, (apart from their art supplies! ) you can also check out my  *the collectors* series on Etsy, based on these posts! hope you'll just love alex keller's gorgeous kilim collection.

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Bold geometrics. Rich hues. Textured layers. Patterned prints.

All hot hot trends this season that combine to create this most fabulous handmade & vintage home décor collection. Don't you just LOVE alex keller's gorgeous kilim collection?!

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Who (are you) : Alex Keller  & ( vintage by alex keller ) 

What (are you collecting) : kilims and kilim pillows 

When (did you start) : several years ago

How (many do you have): about 18

Where (do you find them) : thifting, on line, a few from my Mom, and a few from a wholesale show

Where (do you keep them) : on the floor, on the walls, on chairs, a sofa, the bed, and everything else in a large vintage Chicago opera trunk

What (‘s a crazy/interesting story behind one) : one of the rugs at a thrift store was marked only $12! but the craziest story is about the opera trunk .... a friend and i went to the warehouse sale in October 2004 & driving there we got stuck in traffic in the middle of a parade. I believe it was the Double Ten Parade, celebrating Chinese Independence, a la Seinfeld & the Puerto Rican Day parade in NYC. the trunk would not fit into my car, so we had to borrow a friend's SUV to go a couple of days later. And then we had trouble getting to the opera warehouse because of the Chicago Marathon that year! So after two trips to the warehouse, and hours and hours in a car, i had my trunk!

What (piece would you like to add): i could always get more pillows and i'm looking for some new runners for our bedroom.

Why (do you love them) : i love that they are handmade, that they have such a wonderful history, and that they add color, texture and warmth to the surfaces of my home.

Which (one is your favourite) & why : the Tree of Life kilim that my mom bought for me when we first moved to Tucson.

What (else do you collect) : another textile i collect is Ukrainian embroidery. i'm first generation Ukrainian and learned to cross stitch from my mom. i have a few scraps i have framed, some pieces i made as a child, a few placemats, blouses, a wool jacket, a sheepskin coat, and a beautiful towel from an aunt. my mom has quite a collection of pillows, towels, tablecloths and blouses, too.

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Gorgeous! Thanks so much, Alex.

I'm a great fan of the wonderful alex keller & her beautiful shops! Both of her shops explore her love of reclaiming beautiful trends from other eras, too. Be sure to visit her jewelry recycled boutique, filled with gorgeous goodies, and her vintage finds store – where she rediscovers great treasures! LOVELY!

alex keller

jewelry shop | vintage shop | twitter | blog

what do you collect? 

i'd love to hear!

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