a first

Hi there, this is Phurba; guest blogger and the love-struck husband of Giselle. Anyone that knows me knows me to be very mellow and hard to excite or impress. However, today is one of those rare occasions.

For a while now, we've been looking for the perfect art piece to complement our creative taste and fill the missing decorative gap in our living room. We've been visiting a lot of open studios and galleries during our free time but haven't been too inspired. When Giselle finally showed me an image of Birch Forest Number 5 by one of her favorite local artists, Lisa Congdon, I initially didn't share the excitement she showed for it. It wasn't until today when Lisa came to our home and I got to see the piece up close and personal. I was so taken with the piece as it reflects my pining for natural things (in this case trees and the woods). The intricacy and creativeness pops off the canvas making the piece come to life. I can see why Giselle was so excited. Lisa's awesome.



So taken were we that we commissioned her to do a larger piece for us. One that we wanted to personalize by making Momo, our precious little blind chihuahua mix, a part of the piece. We're so excited to see how it will come out and I'm sure that Giselle will put up pictures of it.

Oh by the way, this is my first blog entry ever. If I get this excited again, I may be inspired to write a second one. Maybe when Apple finally switches to Verizon.

favorite tweets 11/08/09

• RT @indiefixx: watching handmade nation. did u know u could buy a copy from @buyolympia? http://tinyurl.com/yjr3hzv U MUST own this!

I'm ashamed to admit this but I haven't seen Handmade Nation yet! I'm adding this DVD to my holiday wish list.

• RT @pigeon_toe: http://twitpic.com/ojx8j cereal bowl with spoon rest. I'm gigglng with delight.

I've never met a Pigeon Toe ceramic I didn't like.

• RT @soulcocina: Outside In - Street Food Music Art Flamenco Gorditas Adobo Creme Brulee Fries Gumbo Jerk Summer Jams in the Wintertime http://bit.ly/2jGRfg
• RT @ohjoystudio: super fun blog by @psimadethis http://psimadethis.com/

Photo courtesy of P.S. - I made this ...

• RT @SeattleVelocity: Finally a functional family gathering, as chairs at least. In the store today. Come in to see them. http://tinyurl.com/ylfzcfz

My husband can tell you that I have a chair addiction. I would paint these and use them as dining chairs.

• RT @ashleygoldberg: soooooooo good http://bit.ly/2CPQ7C via far out brussel sprout

favorite tweets 10/11/09

• RT @abbytryagain: I'm really liking this blog lately http://www.travelerslunchbox.com/. It's just so darn cute.


• RT @HMSBeekeeper: Wow. Awesome beehive in Reno that hangs off an overhang of a courthouse roof! http://bit.ly/XRwh0

• RT @neawear: Woodland in your Hair http://bit.ly/ApTHq

• RT @jenhewett: Just listed in @etsy - galoshes and skirt notebook! http://bit.ly/r3lT8

• RT @FilipinoFood: Vegetarian CHICKEN adobo! http://bit.ly/vegadobo

It's great that Filpino food is finally getting well deserved recognition and attention in the Bay Area! A vegan Filipino restaurant is going to open in Oakland. It's weird to say vegan and Filipino food in one sentence.

favorite tweets 10/04/09

• RT @inhabitat: Mikal Hameed Uses Trash to Make Music, Inspire Community http://bit.ly/Ob1uN

• RT @_finderskeepers: Publisher textiles featured on indie.com.au http://bit.ly/aydfU

• RT @poketo: Did you know Chris Bettig was one of the guys who built the Where The Wild Things Are dome and Pop Up Shop? http://flic.kr/p/74k59U

I'm loving twigs and branch-like things at the moment. This dome is pretty and looks like it took a while to build. I am also looking forward to seeing Where the Wild Things Are.

• RT @sparkershop: Store leftovers with pizazz! Vintage tupperware in citrus hues: http://bit.ly/gUrDb

My parents packed my lunch in this tupperware when I was a kid. It definitely brings back memories.

• RT @annwoodhandmade chillingworth: http://bit.ly/yIkA5

I love Ann Wood's stuffed animals. Chillingworth is so perfect for Halloween. Wait till you see what he's made of.

favorite tweets of the week

I don't have much time for anything else these days besides work and quality time at home. I really don't want to neglect my blog so I'm going to try this easy-piecey new blog post and I will do my best to post this regularly once a week. It'll be a round up of my favorite tweets for the week.

• RT @inhabitat Urban Infill Strikes Gold in San Francisco http://bit.ly/PSOXZ

• RT @7x7Magazine Snag Jorge Colombo's sweet SF iPhone sketches http://bit.ly/1YQGXz.

I can barely draw with a pencil, Jorge Colombo draws amazing art using the iSketch app on his iPhone. Amazing.

iSketch837 by Jorge Colombo

• RT @skinnylaminx Have you seen the @hisforhome Ercol flickr group? It's Ercol-icious: http://bit.ly/18Tt1R

• RT @lisacongdon Favorite new product at @raredevice http://bit.ly/V0koF

• RT @RenegadeCraft http://twitpic.com/ihue2 - Loving how awesome these new neon "It's Okay" sculptures from Multipolar Projects look all laid out together!

• RT @sfgirlbybay http://twitpic.com/jaga2 - okay, one sneak peek, only 'cause we don't want @zoestagg getting carpal tunnel from refreshing the blog until Monday.

Victoria has rearranged her furniture again! I know I am not alone when I say that I am very excited to see what Victoria concocted over the weekend. She promises to post more pictures on her blog this week. Love the living room so far.

Photo credit: sfgirlbybay

a visit to flora grubb

A couple of my girlfriends and I paid a visit to Flora Grubb nursery a few weeks ago to attend a succulent workshop. I was looking forward to this visit because I've heard so much about how wonderful this nursery is. The other big plus is that they have a Ritual Coffee bar within. It's hard to beat a beautiful scene + good latte + a sunshiny beautiful Saturday morning, camera in tow.

No shopping carts here, just Radio Flyer's litlle red wagon.

I love the various creative displays they had, starting with this gorgeous wall of succulents.




This old car has been used as a planter.



As well as this sink.




They even sell gardening supplies, books and garden furniture. I can literally spend an entire day here just lounging, admiring the plants, the display and sipping my coffee while getting inspiration.

brunch

Today, we had some friends over for a small brunch get together. It was really nice to have a small gathering at our place. Typically, when we have get togethers we invite a whole slew of people. Having a small group allows us to talk and spend quality time with our friends. I think we should do this more often.



Our friend Lenny brought over the main dish (the best kind of guest!). She made croissant french toast and it turned out yum! She also brought berries and grapefruit to go with it.





The hubby was inspired by the movie Julie and Julia and made poached eggs. By the time the eggs made it into the table however, we were all very excited to eat so unfortunately I forgot to take a picture!

Breakfast is not breakfast without bacon!

While we're on the topic of food, I also made my first ever peach cobbler last night. I used whole wheat flour for the biscuits and substituted agave syrup for sugar.



I also went to the farmer's market this weekend and was so happy to discover that a vendor was selling Rambutan. I used to eat this fruit while growing up. I love nostalgic fruit! It brings back so many memories!

It was $9 a lb (!) so I only bought a little.

Renegade: Interview with Kitty Baby Love

Name: Sara, Ben and Baby Micah of Kitty Baby Love
Website: kittybabylove.com and kittybblove.etsy.com

The cutest crayons on the planet

Describe your products: It’s handmade toys and home décor. Most are for little kids like the crayons and the bowling set. But we also have things like cards and candles. We try to make things that have a creative function and a useful function. Like the crayons are good for development for young kids. Also the bowling kitties help with motor skills. We like to make something that has fun, educational and creative values.

What is your favorite item that you’re selling at Renegade SF: Sara: My favorite item are the bowling kitties, they’re brand new. Ben: I think the crayons just because I like to draw and paint.

Bowling kitties!

Name artists that are also here today that you admire: (Sara) I heard the black apple is pretty popular, it’s cute stuff.
Where are you based: Where are in Oakland right now but we are moving to Portland.

My loot from Renegade

I have a few more interviews to share but let's take a break from those so that I can share with you what I bought at the fair.

I have been looking forward to the day when I can finally own one of Emily's dolls. So cute!

Birdhouse Specimen Collection No. 1 by Lisa Congdon

Once Upon a Time Poster by Nora Aoyagi

Our 2 chihuahua's from kg + ab

Renegade: Interview with Jen Hewett

Name: Jen Hewett
Website: jenhewett.etsy.com

Describe your art: Print maker and crafter. It’s slightly girly without being poufy.

What is your favorite item that you’re selling at Renegade SF: That’s hard! It’s either the Michelle Obama paper dolls or the silk screen bags with the shoes on them.

Name artists that are also here today that you admire: Diana Fayt, love her stuff and also Mati Rose.

Where do you find inspiration: Pretty much everywhere. I’m out and about a lot and things catch my eye, colors catch my eye.

I was happy to see Jen's booth at Renegade. She is actually a friend of a friend, however I was not expecting to see her there. I instantly loved her stuff at first glance. Based on the note on her Etsy shop, it sounds like I wasn't the only one! She sold out of a lot of her prints during the fair. Congratulations Jen!

Renegade: Interview with kg + ab

The next few posts will be interviews from artists and crafters that I met at Renegade.

Name:
Katherine Grandey and Andy Byers of kg + ab

Website:
kgrandey.etsy.com

Describe your art:
It’s porcelain from vintage molds. Porcelain figurines and decal dinnerware.

What is your favorite item that you’re selling at Renegade SF:
I think the dinosaur nerds plate is my favorite.

Name artists that are also here today that you admire:
I love Loyalty & Blood, I also like Ryan Berkeley who does prints and our friend Jocelyn of Nous Savons who is from San Francisco.

Where are you based:
We’re from Brooklyn

I was instantly captured by kg + ab's booth when I walked by it the first time. Being the porcelain lover that I am, of course I had to stop and look around. My husband and I actually stopped by there a few times throughout the day. You know what the crazy thing is? We both bought this Porcelain Chihuahua head from them separately as a surprise to each other. So now we have 2!

Renegade Craft Fair San Francisco

We had a wonderful sun shiny weekend here in San Francisco. I however, spent my Saturday indoors. Why do you ask? Well I didn't mind it one bit because this weekend, you guessed it, the Renegade Craft Fair came to San Francisco. I have been so flippin' excited about this for months!

Setting up booths early in the morning

Last year I was merely a spectator at the fair. I walked around, took pictures and bought a few items. This year I decided to up the ante a wee bit by volunteering to help 2 of my favorite local artist's, Diana Fayt and Lisa Congdon who shared a booth at the fair.

Diana Fayt's lovely wares

So many of my favorite artists were under one roof, it was the happiest place on earth! Mati Rose, Diana Fayt, Lisa Congdon, Emily Martin, 3 Fish Studios, Sarah Paloma and Small Stump.



In addition, I also did something different for myself, I went around and interviewed a few of the artists that were present.

I discovered so many other talented artists, print makers, jewelers and toy makers like the talented Tugboat Printshop husband and wife team, Sourdough handmade, Tiny Sparks Design and a few more that I will profile in upcoming posts. I literally had to walk around at least 5 or 6 times to take it all in because every time I walked by I kept seeing something new that I missed.

I can't wait to share the interviews with you, please check back soon!

Something's Pink

This past Friday, I went to the opening of Mati and Lisa's show at the Curiosity Shoppe. The show is entitled Little Pink Houses. The first thing I noticed while walking towards the store is how many people were hanging out right outside. As we squeezed our way into the store to see the installation, I ran into Mati in her lovely pink dress. By my feet was the ever cute Wilfredo wearing a pink necktie just for the occasion!

Wilfredo and Lisa

I expected lively paintings and cute pink houses. These 2 artists did not disappoint. The show is an explosion of color, whimsy and nature. If you are in San Francisco, you really must see it in person, the show will be up until July 31.


Alternatively, the art work is also available online.

summer florals

I've always been a print kind of girl. I love prints so much that my wardrobe tends to be on the colorful side and lacking the basics. I'm quite excited about this season's floral patterns. I've been seeing it everywhere on dresses, scarves and skirts. Here's a sampling.

I am currently mostly enamored by floral patterns on a black background. I love this Silk floral dress from Built by Wendy.



How can you not love this Orangerie Dress from Mod Cloth? The cut, the colors, the pattern and the price. Just perfect.



I really love this scarf from Anthro. It comes in 3 different colors. I am usually opinionated when it comes to patterns but with this one, it's hard to choose.

A friend of mine owns a pair of Butter shoes and she says they definitely feel like Buttah. Butter shoes are designed in NYC and made in Italy.


Rompers seem to be everywhere these days. Reconstructed Romper from Reconstructed Clothing on Etsy.




Velvet Melodia Skirt from doe.

Craft Day

My friend Ruk and I spent last Saturday afternoon working on various projects that we have been putting off. It was a nice sunny weekend so we were almost tempted to just lay out in the sun and drink some wine. In the end, we got off our butts and crafted. I added doily applique to a lampshade and also managed to make a yoga mat bag. Ruk worked on her cross stitch project.

We used a glue gun to attach the doilies to the lampshade.

I managed to sneak in a yoga mat bag

Ruk's cross stitch in progress