what's in your pocket by Grace Bonney 42

what’s in your pocket(book): jamie beck


Today I’m excited to introduce a short mini-series of posts wherein we’ll peek into the pockets (and pocketbooks) of some of my favorite bloggers.

When Art House Co-Op advertised their Sketchbook Project on Design*Sponge last month, our readers instantly connected with their mission. Many of you expressed your excitement to see them on the site, so when they invited us to team up for their newest project, I was all ears. The Pockets Project is about celebrating the excess baggage we carry every day: keys, candy wrappers, pens, paper and those little odds and ends that pile up in your pockets. The Pockets Project is asking people to empty their pockets (and free up some mental and physical space) and mail the contents to their “International Association for Empty Pockets,” which will transform pocket clutter into a communal art piece in Brooklyn, New York. I manage to keep my pocket clutter to a minimum, but my purses are jam-packed with obscene amounts of gobbledygook that are equal parts inspiring and infuriating. In the spirit of celebrating pocked-sized inspiration (and avoiding my own mess), I thought I’d get a look inside the pockets of the people closest to me: my blogging colleagues!

Over the next few weeks, you’ll find out what these bloggers keep on-hand out of necessity and creativity. Today we’re kicking off the series with Jamie Beck of From Me To You, whose blog has been at the top of my favorites list for the past few months. Stay tuned for a new installment next week with a different blogger. Until then, I hope you’ll enjoy a peek inside Jamie’s painfully beautiful pocketbook! xo, grace

PS — Feel free to request bloggers that you’d like to hear from in the comments section below!

Name: Jamie Beck
Location: New York, New York, but born and raised Texan
Blog: From Me To You
Pocket/Pocketbook Essentials: I never leave home without my camera! Regardless of where I’m going or what I’m doing or how I look, there could always be a moment to photograph. The camera I take with me is the camera I took my first photograph with when I was 13 — it’s an extension of my arm and how I see the world.
What is your favorite piece of pocket-sized inspiration and why? I once saw a beautiful, small vintage monogrammed silver NYC subway token holder for a women from the 1940s. I like to think of the independent, stylish lady who used it and where she was going — that’s what I find very inspiring about it.

*Jamie added a beautiful note in her email to me that I had to share because it sums up this project perfectly: “There is something beautiful in the everyday life we decide to create for ourselves and the tools we carry tell a story about who we are. I’m glad to capture that simplicity.”

What’s In Your Pocket is brought to you by:

Pin It

42 Comments

iHanna

Jamies photo of her stuff and the notes on it is just beautiful! I’m all into everyday photography and documenting what we see and have around us all the time – the things that kind of become invisible to us after a while. It will be fun to read these posts!

porter

Oh this is just fantastic . . . Great to see some people are still using film. It never goes out of style.

Heather

Can anyone tell me what those hair clips are called? I don’t think I’ve ever seen them at the drug store, and I want some!

LaToya

I really enjoyed this post-great idea for a mini-series! Grace can you show us what’s in your pocketbook?

Alexis

I have a pentax like that!! I want to use it but I need to have it fixed first as the sprocket doesn’t hold the film well. :(

Great first installment of the series, I love Jamie’s blog. :)

Emily

Love love LOVE Jamie’s blog and her words about the contents of our bags! Hers is so classic and pretty!

Irene

Love this column…only wish my bag was as charming as hers, makes me realize the small things matter too! Looking forward seeing other bags :)

The Art of Doing Stuff

When I first started reading this post I thought “Oh! I’d be fun to be in one of those posts!”. And then I saw what was in Jamie’s bag.

Everything is beautiful. Very lady-like with a hint of masculine. Very Katherine Hepburn! Very unlike the contents of my purse!

Beautiful items Jamie! Love it.

Shannon

OK, I know the post is about “What’s in Your Bag,” but I’m just dying over that blazer in the photo! Where can I get my hands on one?!

EmmyLou

Yes, please tell us where you got that gorgeous blazer and the adorable plaid purse!

Terry Clarkson Farrell

Just checked out your website last night ( Art of Doing Stuff- Karen reccomened it) Just lovely and interesting- as are the contents of your pockets! Been a participant of Art House Co-op for over a year. They are great and the whole concept is wonderful (and successful)- looking forward to more posts.

Lauren

Kate Spade did this 5 or 10 years ago. Published a book with the contents of people’s purses, all itemized with descriptions.

Saltina

Jamie is exquisite! Her photographs and presentation of her work and self is always just perfect. So glad to see her recognized on Design Sponge!

Erin

This is such a brilliant idea! And after meeting Jamie this weekend I’m not suprised to see her pockets are as lovely as she is!

lauren o'neill

What a fun idea for a mini-series! It’s really interesting to see how the items someone totes around tell so much about him/her! Can’t wait for the next installment!

Adrianne

Thanks for this great post!

I’m actually wondering what kind of lens that is on the Pentax? Would love to know–have been looking for something similar!

Heather

I would never include my drivers license photo in one of these things because I look like I’m in a mugshot after a fight with a drunk raccoon…but you are the essence of spectacular. For reals.

fameandfrippery

Cute! This reminds me of this book kate spade put out in 2000 called Contents, shifting the focus from the handbag exterior to the interior contents. Was a pretty neat visual documentation.

Pierreb

this way of making contents was abandonned by glossy women magazines 10 years ago, as disrespectfull and rather vulgar and ordinair… that its coming back on a website i was so admirative and feeling really myself make me lots of sorrow.

I have no interest on personal stuff of people, esp. showing like that…

Am’I the only one here ?

a really disappointed (and regular) user.

Jackie

Hey there,
My name is Jackie and I wanted to ask you if you would help me with something. I am currently working on a coffee table book on what women keep in there pocketbooks. I would love to include your photo’s and info if your willing and also if you want to have a “spot light” in the book I would ask to have a small bio about you, what you do for a living, ect and a pick if your game and then the photo’s and info about what you keep in your bag. Please shoot me an e-mail at [email protected]

I hope to hear from you soon and thank you for your time!
-J

Leave a Comment

Design*Sponge reserves the right to restrict comments that do not contribute constructively to the conversation at hand, contain profanity, personal attacks or seek to promote a personal or unrelated business.