gigegy

garden lunchin'

2010-08-18T11:40:00.000-07:00

Wow, it's been a while since I've written anything here huh? I'll have baby updates for you (I am due any day now!) but for today's post I want to quickly write about the wonderful Algarden lunch that my friend, Alex, invited me to last week.

Click on the pictures for a bigger view.

The menu and the spread. Everything was yummy, I had to go back for seconds!

Here's the premise, Patricia Algara found a good sized piece of land in Berkeley. The land owner lets her grow fruits and vegetables and she also has a few beehives. A few times a month, she hosts a lunch in the garden, showcasing the bounty that she grows. The lunch crowd then eats the delicious food right there - where the produce is grown. How much more local and fresh can you get? Last week's lunch was on a Friday and the fruits and vegetables were picked the Thursday afternoon before!

A little piece of the garden

Learn more about Patricia and Algarden on her blog, Foodscaping.

Here are a few more pictures of the garden and the food:

Very serene setting. Very cool table as well!

One of the centerpieces. Love the colors!

Tomatoes!

Beehives!

Squash blossoms

Apples

oh baby, baby!

2010-03-04T11:15:00.000-08:00

I've been so eager to share this news with the world since the moment we found out. But of course, we kept it to ourselves and our loved ones for the first few months. I'm so happy that I can finally shout it out!

The first trimester wasn't fun for me. Although compared to other women it sounds like I've had an easier time, and for that I am grateful. I am now in my second trimester and things are looking up - except for the fact that I have been getting more frequent headaches lately. However, I do feel that my energy is back and I'm beginning to be myself again!

We're going to find out at our next appointment in a few weeks if it is a boy or a girl. People are asking me what I prefer. Honestly I can really go either way. I don't have a strong preference for the gender. The first baby dream I had was about a boy, the second was a girl so who knows? We don't have boy names lined up though so if we're having a boy we're definitely going to have to think on it a lot.

I've started looking through baby clothes and I'm dying over how cute they are! OMG. I'm going to have to stop myself from buying everything I can get my hands on. I am also placing baby clothes orders for doe so I'm even more exposed to this ridiculous cuteness.

Clockwise: Speesees, Polarn O. Pyret, Kate Quinn & Kate Quinn. Most of them will be available at doe in a few weeks!

busy, busy

2010-02-21T18:55:00.000-08:00

This blog has been quiet for a long time. There's a (few) good reasons for it, I promise! I'll reveal one piece of news today and will reveal another one in a week or so.

I have been doing some work for the doe website. I've been helping out with website maintenance, blog updates and the thing I’m most excited about, picking out inventory! I've placed a bunch of orders for products that we've never carried before, they will start trickling in next week. Of course we're still going to continue to carry items that doe regulars know and love.

These days, I'll be blogging more on the doe blog than on this one but there will be some cross-blogging happening for sure. I hope you check out our store! We've been adding more stock every week so check often!

Come back to this space in about a week for my second bit of fantastic news.

spring is here?!

2010-02-13T23:05:00.001-08:00

Neighborhood cherry blossoms are in bloom! This is also my first posterous post. Let's see what happens!

Posted via web from gigegy's posterous

the painting, my side of the story

2010-01-05T21:27:00.001-08:00

Like my husband says in this blog post, we have been hungry for original art in our home since we moved here in 2007. I was turning 30 at the end of 2009 and had been thinking of throwing a NYE party to celebrate. I was pretty set on that idea for months. However, 2 months before my birthday I had a sudden thought - instead of throwing a party, why don't we just invest in original art - it will be something that we'll have forever and something that we will cherish together. Brilliant!

So I began the search. I have bookmarked dozens of artist's websites that I've admired over the years. I looked through their work, went to many galleries, open studios and even trolled Etsy for a while. Nothing struck my fancy. Then one day, Lisa Congdon tweeted that she has a big birch forest painting for sale. I fell in love with Lisa's birch paintings the day she first blogged about it a few years ago, I even bought a print. I mulled over it for a few days and decided to send Lisa an email to ask if we can look at it in person. She obliged and said that she'll gladly come over to our house to show it to us. I was a little scared and star struck - Lisa at our house?

She came over that weekend with the painting. Of course we fell in love with it. What else was I expecting? We started talking about which wall the painting would go on and Phurba casually mentioned that in his dreams, we would like to put a painting up on our main living room wall. Yes, the huge wall behind the couch. One thing led to another and next thing we knew we had taken out the tape measure and started measuring. OMG this is really happening! Lisa said she's never painted anything this big but she's just waiting for someone to ask her to do so! Phurba and I didn't even have to talk it over. We looked each other in the eye and gave a nod. Yes! Yes! We'll do it!

So it's now happily up on our big wall. We stared at it a whole lot the first few days. We still stare at it today. It is absolutely wonderful. Momo is in it. We love it. Thank you, Lisa!

Momo detail

Lisa Congdon's studio

2010-01-05T20:33:00.000-08:00

We had the pleasure of visiting Lisa Congdon's studio a few weeks ago when we picked up our painting (more on that in the next post). As expected it is full of color and inspiration. Thanks for sharing, Lisa!

Click on the images for a bigger view

This is my favorite corner.

Holiday Wishlist 2009

2009-12-20T21:22:00.000-08:00

Happy Holidays everyone! I can't believe how quickly this year flew by. This year has been full of ups and downs for me, but in the end I really have a lot to be grateful for. I am also turning 30 at the end of this year so lots more to celebrate! Here's my wish list for this year.

A subscription to Uppercase Mag. This magazine is just full of visual delight and inspiration.

I really love the old world look of these brown apothecary jars from DWR.

18 Reasons is a unique combination of local art, community and food. Those are 3 things that really just ring my bell.

I still haven't seen this movie! Shame on me! The thing that kills me is that I heard that they were selling this at Renegade this past weekend but I got so wrapped up in other things, that I forgot. Good thing I can still buy it online.

I would buy this just to be a part of the dinner club, however this membership comes with so much more.

And of course, there's always room for shoes. I've been eyeing these for months and have tried them on. They are oh so comfortable and pretty at the same time. I just can't bring myself to fork up $200 for them. Sigh.

a first

2009-11-15T21:24:00.000-08:00

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

2009-11-08T21:53:00.000-08:00

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

2009-10-11T21:49:00.000-07:00

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

2009-10-04T21:59:00.000-07:00

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

2009-09-27T22:13:00.000-07:00

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

2009-09-07T14:13:00.000-07:00

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

2009-08-30T21:48:00.001-07:00

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

2009-08-02T21:48:00.000-07:00

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

2009-07-27T23:08:00.000-07:00

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

2009-07-24T23:49:00.000-07:00

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

2009-07-20T20:01:00.000-07:00

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

2009-07-19T20:11:00.000-07:00

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

2009-07-12T16:28:00.000-07:00

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

2009-06-27T21:03:00.000-07:00

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

2009-06-24T21:56:00.000-07:00

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

Our trip down undah: Street Art

2009-06-14T18:37:00.000-07:00

There's a multitude of street art in Melbourne and Sydney. I took a bunch of pictures of these colorful murals and thought that I'd share them here with you.

University of Sydney

A-Space on Cleveland Art Gallery

the silver (gold) lining

2009-05-31T21:48:00.000-07:00

I just came back from the Union Design Festival (formerly Capsule) in Hayes Valley. There were lots of goods from independent artists, designers and crafters to be had. I will do a proper post for the festival but I just wanted to share the news that there is a new store opening in San Francisco in a few days.

Designers Adrienne Wiley of Frolick Jewelry and Liza Anongchanya of Ofina Jewelry have teamed up to open Covet, a boutique and design studio in the Inner Richmond. This is really great news and is a silver lining to all the not-so-great news we've been hearing lately about beloved independently owned stores and boutiques closing up shop in the city.

Today, I snapped up a necklace from Ofina. Her pieces are very simple and classic and priced very reasonably. I also own one of her lariats which I bought at last year's indie mart.

The 14k gold filled and bone necklace in the center is now mine :)

Please support local shops and designers, they play a huge part in making San Francisco the great city that it is.

Covet Grand Opening

Thursday, June 4 5-9PM

391 Arguello Blvd @ Clement St.

RSVP to covetsf@gmail.com

or call 415.751.1158

More information at covetsf.com

Our trip down undah: Sydney Markets and beaches

2009-05-27T21:01:00.000-07:00

We spent a full week in Sydney. I really wanted to be there during the weekend so that we can experience the markets that Sydney is known for. We managed to visit 2 of them, the Glebe Markets and the sightly more posh Paddington Market.

I loved the Glebe Markets where there were a lot of independent designers and crafters. One thing that I noticed was that booth owners did not want anyone to take pictures of their wares. This was obviously a letdown for me. One person even asked us to delete any pictures we just took. Even though I was able to sneak a few pictures here and there, I don't think it's right for me to post them here so images for this post will be few and a bit generic.

I want to say though that I bought a very pretty necklace from lime lily. If you go to their site, you'll find a few images of their line.

One more thing that Sydney's not short of are beaches. I was amazed at how clean the beaches are. The water is almost always crystal clear and the sand so fine and white. We visited Bondi, Manly and Watsons Bay. It was so nice to just hang out at the beach for a few hours to relax. That's something that we rarely do here in Northern California.

Click on the image for a bigger view:

From Watsons Bay with a view of Sydney

A surfer at Manly Beach

A rock pool on the way to Manly from The Spit

Swimmers at Bondi

Our trip down undah: Melbourne

2009-05-24T13:56:00.001-07:00

We just came back from a holiday in Australia. We spent most of our time in Sydney but we also took trips to both Melbourne and Tasmania.

One thing we loved about Australia in general is their very vibrant cafe culture. My husband and I each had our fair share of flat whites and cappuccinos, sometimes even having 2-3 cups a day.We couldn't help it! The coffee was so good and the cafes were too irresistible.

Having a flat white at Degraves

We were in Melbourne for only 2 days so we didn't really get to see too many things but one neighborhood we made sure to spend our time in was Fitzroy. Our Aussie friends told us that we'd definitely enjoy it there and they were right.

Brunswick street is lined with cafes, galleries, restaurants and shops. It was easy to spend the greater part of our day in this area. There were also a good number of shops that sold items by local Melbourne designers and artists.

Pillows by Bird Textiles

We also paid a visit to the Queen Victoria Market. There was an abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables. We also loved walking around the wet market where they sold meats, seafood, cheeses and more. We also made it a point to make a stop at the American Doughnut bus!

Yep, these 2 San Fransiscans traveled around the world to get american doughnuts. It was was really good!

ceramics class report + finished products

2009-05-23T11:40:00.000-07:00

I took a ceramics wheel class in April and May at Ruby's Clay studio in Noe Valley in San Francisco. I'm trying out several creative outputs and since I never took any arts and crafts class in school (besides embroidery), I figure now's the time.

At the beginning of the class, I was being hard on myself. I couldn't figure out how to center on the wheel and could not remember the steps to make a bowl. I started talking to my classmate who have taken several ceramics classes before. She said that I shouldn't get frustrated, that I was doing well and that it's important to practice a lot. This made me feel a bit better. I started coming into the studio during drop in hours to practice.

I placed a tea cup beside it for size comparison.

I put too much glaze on this one so it ran.

Unfortunately, my instructor was not particularly instructive. I learned mostly by asking her questions (sometimes she was helpful, sometimes not), talking to my classmates, watching videos on you tube and practicing on my own time.

My husband says this one is his favorite, because it was one of a kind. This was supposed to be a taller cylinder but I had to cut the top off because it became too wobbly.

In the end, I enjoyed ceramics and have decided to take another class later in the year. I think this is something I can grow to love and enjoy over time.

terrariums by kat geiger

2009-04-26T21:43:00.000-07:00

We went to the Glen Park festival today. Honestly, I was expecting a few food related booths, maybe some community services, some jewelry and not much else. Much to my surprise, I saw this wonderful booth full of terrariums by Kat Geiger.

I fell in love with the containers that she uses. I also love the little white houses that she placed in each of these containers. Some of these terrariums don't need any care. Like Kat said, they are enclosed in their own eco-system. Some of them just need to be misted every now and then. Isn't that fantastic? We bought a hanging tear drop shaped one.

Kat was recently featured on Apartment Therapy. She also sells her terrariums in several Bay Area stores like Urban Indigo, Fleurty and Apartment 46.

spring is here!

2009-04-19T09:12:00.000-07:00

The weather has been so nice here the last few days. I took some pictures while walking around the city so I thought I'd share them with you.

left brain vs right brain

2009-04-01T16:17:00.000-07:00

Here's the new Dialogue episode from Design For Mankind. It's refreshing to know that artists can also be list makers and that it's not strictly a left brain vs right brain thing. I am a project manager by trade and a list maker by heart so I definitely appreciate this.

I am also a very big procrastinator. I've only worked in an office, and I honestly cannot imagine how I will be if I end up working for my self or working from home. I don't think I will get anything done. Focus, focus, focus! I definitely relate to what Kelly Lynn Jones says that all things end once I turn the TV on.

Design For Mankind - Dialogue Episode 4 from Design For Mankind on Vimeo.

I Know What You're Thinking

2009-03-18T20:45:00.000-07:00

3 wonderful artists have (had) their opening of their "I Know What You're Thinking" show tonight at Sloan Fine Art in New York City. I have been a fan of Caroline Hwang since I saw her show at Giant Robot here in San Francisco a couple of years ago. We were looking to buy one of her pieces but it was sold at a previous show so that was a bummer.

I have not heard of Seonna Hong prior to learning about this show but looking through her work, it looks like it is right up my alley. I am loving the little girls in her Viscery Loves Company series.

And of course, I am already a fan of Saelee Oh ever since I bought the Jill Bliss/Saelee Oh calendar in 2007. Look at the painting she did on her dad's laundry mat. I think it's lovely! Maybe this'll make me do more laundry. Maybe.

If you're in the area, this is definitely a must see!

'I Know What You're Thinking'
Seonna Hong, Caroline Hwang and Saelee Oh

Sloan Fine Art
128 Rivington Street
(corner of Norfolk)
New York, NY 10002
212.477.1140

Opening Reception: March 18th 7-9 pm
Show runs from March 18th - April 11th

Happy St. Paddy's Day!

2009-03-16T21:52:00.000-07:00

Wear green, be green and drink some beer! Here's some green from a few of my favorite etsy sellers. Cheers!

Crocheted Dog Scarf, $18

Apple Martini Millinery, $725

All Natural Laundry Detergent, $9

Evil Apple, $18 necklace

The Gardner Print, $18

Green Guilmore Heels, $22

friday favorite!

2009-03-16T10:37:00.000-07:00

Yay! Just a quick post cuz I'm at work ;)

Mixed Plate blog Friday Favorite - flowery yoga mat bag.

2009-03-09T22:39:00.001-07:00

I'm writing this on Monday March 9. My staycation actually ended last week, I just haven't had time to wrap up this series of posts. I had a great time exploring the city I call home. I've lived in San Francisco for about 12 years and I am still not done exploring this lovely city. I don't think I'll ever be done. There are always shops to look at, restaurants to try, trails to hike, food to eat, markets to explore and people to meet.

I {heart} San Francisco.

Staycation Day 4: Bernal Heights

2009-03-09T20:36:00.000-07:00

It's only appropriate that I spend the last day of my staycation in my wonderful neighborhood of Bernal Heights.

Cortland street is a vibrant little strip lined with fabulous restaurants, a grocery store, a library (which is under construction), a pet store, a yoga studio, a butcher, a couple of cafes and a few shops. There's Heartfelt and Venus Gallery and of course there's the newest of the bunch, Ladita. Ladita focuses on green and organic merchandise. They carry labels such as Stewart+Brown, Sophia Costas and Dagg and Stacey. They have a good selection of jeans, lingerie, kids clothes, lotions, jewelry and cards. They also just started taking consignment, I brought a Diane von Furstenberg dress there and it sold in a week!

Staycation Day 3, Part 3: Fleur*t

2009-03-07T16:43:00.000-08:00

The other store on this street that I definitely had to visit was Fleur*t. It is mainly a floral design shop but they also sell handpicked housewares and antiques at the Inner Richmond store front. I really love the aesthetic of this store. Aside from the gorgeous flowers and plant trimmings, there seems to be a lot of lovely unexpected items in every tiny nook from glass bottles to art to body lotions, they even sell chocolates - it just never ends.

Click on images for a bigger view.

Staycation Day 3, Part 2: The Richmond

2009-03-06T21:41:00.000-08:00

I lived in the Richmond for years. The thing I miss the most about this neighborhood is the food. It was hard to decide what to eat but in the end, I had to go with Mandalay, I just could not get the Mandalay Noodles out of my mind, the craving needed to be satiated.

After lunch, I walked along Clement street to look at the cute shops between 3rd and Arguello. My first stop was the store and art gallery called Park Life. They have a huge selection of books, thy even have books that they publish themselves, the latest one being a book about Brendan Monroe. They also have some of Brendan's work up in the store and they are gorgeous.

They also have a great selection of cards, art, t-shirts and other home accessories.

Click on the images for a bigger view

Staycation Day 3, Part 1: California Academy of Sciences once again

2009-03-03T16:13:00.000-08:00

I wanted to visit the academy again because we didn't get into the planetarium the last time. Good thing we decided to buy membership so we can go back anytime we want. I planned to get there early-ish so that I can make sure I get a seat and also to still have time to explore the Richmond afterwards. I also planned to stop by Arizmendi on my way to the Museum to grab their cheese bread. To my disappointment, Arizmendi is closed on Mondays. Bummer! Super bummer! Anyway, I sorta got over it and proceeded to CAS. I got a planetarium pass for 11:30, nice that leaves me time to grab a quick breakfast at the cafe.

Click on the images for a bigger view

The empty cafe with it's red Eames chairs

After eating I still had some time to kill so I went around to see the exhibits. Interestingly, I noticed a lot things that I didn't see the first time around. I ended up snapping a ton of photos again. I'm quite disappointed though that Claude still wasn't around. Will I ever see you Claude? Hope you feel better soon.

Stomach contents of a tiger shark

I am absolutely taken by these dioramas. I just had to post all the pics here.

The planetarium was awesome, I haven't been to one since grade school and it is truly fascinating. I also took the opportunity to see the Bugs 3D movie. That was fun too and I watched it with a bunch of kids!

I spent more time here than I thought I would but I had a blast! All this walking around has gotten be hungry so I'm off to the Richmond.

Staycation Day 2: Spring on Polk

2009-03-01T18:28:00.000-08:00

I've been to Spring once before, maybe a year ago and I remember being amazed by the layout of the store. They have really high ceilings and they definitely take advantage of this. I also love the uncluttered but not unfriendly feel.

Spring focuses in eco friendly products for the home, body and the kids. There was so much to look at so I took my time. The manager, Victor, was very kind and answered any questions that I had.

Do you see ceramics by Sarah Paloma on the upper left corner? :)

Someday, I wil treat myself to one of these bamboo or Coyuchi blankets. They were so soft and felt so warm. Sigh.

Staycation Day 2: Yoga, doe and Polk Street

2009-02-28T20:03:00.000-08:00

I started my day with a vinyasa class at Yoga Tree. I haven't done yoga in months and this class kicked my butt. I felt really good afterwards though so it was all worth it. I went back home to eat lunch and then made a bee line for doe.

I have some store credit to spend so I dove head first into the merch. I tried on about half a dozen clothes and finally settled on the Joe's Myrtle dress. I also bought these rosewood earrings that Mariele made, these Maya Brenner falling leaf earrings (which I've been lusting after for months) and of course I couldn't resist a bar of Vosges enchanted mushroom chocolates.

I am in love with these earrings. I think I will wear them everyday!

Now that the shopping itch has been scratched, it felt safe to head to Polk street to do some window shopping. I was hungry so my first stop was Crave. I ordered the mac and cheese which was good.

Now that I have my energy back, it's time do do more shopping at the Candy Store. Like the name suggests, this shop is chockfull of candy! They specialize in the hard to find nostalgic variety. Liana suggested that I try the chocolate covered pistachio and chocolate caramel candy. They were both so yum, but I am always partial to caramel so there you go.

The licorice shelf

It took a lot of willpower not to get these

Staycation Day 1, Part 4: It's time for some ice cream

2009-02-27T22:10:00.000-08:00

At this point, I've walked around for a few hours and I'm famished and tired. I decided it was time to head home after one final stop. I was craving ice cream. I was only a few blocks away from Bi-Rite Creamery so on I went.

But then I remembered that there was a cute little store beside it so of course I had to make a detour at Stem.

I ended my day with the yummiest salted caramel ice cream from Bi-Rite. Oh I love San Francisco!

Staycation Day 1, Part 3: I'm still in the Mission

2009-02-27T21:05:00.000-08:00

A few blocks away from Curiosity Shoppe is Paxton Gate Kids. This store was so magical it deserves it's own post. I fell in love with it the moment I walked in, I felt like I was in fairy tale land. These pictures don't do it any justice.

I also appreciate that fact that the store encourages creativity among children. You really must stop by if you are in the neighborhood.

Where's letter Z?

Children's play and craft area

Wonderful puppets by Niki Ulehla

Staycation Day 1, Part 2: The Mission

2009-02-27T20:06:00.000-08:00

I've only explored this part of the city recently. We used to live the the Richmond and Mission just seemed too far at that time. Now that we live closer to this funky, vibrant neighborhood I've finally gotten to know and love it.

I emerged from the 24th Street BART station and made my way to Mission Pie. I bought pies from here before to take to parties at friend's houses, and everyone always loves them. I bought a slice for the pear and cranberry pie and a glass of iced tea. If I had room in my stomach, I would've ordered a second slice.

After I left Mission Pie, I wandered down Valencia Street to mosey about the shops there. I stopped at the Curiosity Shoppe to look at the oddities that they have in store.

This is nostalgic, it reminds me of the games we played when I was a wee one.

Work by Christina Empedocles

I love tea cups and candles, this one incorporates both. How creative!

Staycation Day 1: Glen Park

2009-02-26T22:49:00.000-08:00

I paid a visit to the Glen Park neighborhood of San Francisco today. My first stop was Perch on Chenery Street. This cute little neighborhood store was right up my alley. They had a great selection of cards, candles, kids toys and clothes, jewelry and home decor items. I had a chat with owner Zoel, and he said that Perch just had their first year anniversary. I personally think that they are a great asset to the neighborhood. I ended up buying a t-shirt for my husband and a soy candle from the sale table for me.

I also checked out Perch's neighbor Modernpast. They are redecorating/renovating the space right now so I didn't take any pictures. I'll go back when they're done and will post pictures here. I've always loved this store since they have such a great selection of mid century modern furniture. I also love the terrariums that they put together and then sell.

All this shopping made me hungry so I walked around to find some food. Based on Perch's Zoel's recommendation, I went to the deli counter at Canyon Market and ordered a sandwich. It was yum.

The deli counter at Canyon Market

We definitely have to go back to Glen Park for dinner. There are some promising restaurants here that we must try like Gialina Pizzeria, Le P'tit Laurent, Sangha and Chenery Park.

After eating, I hopped on BART and made my way to the Mission and spent a few hours at Mission Pie. More on it in the next post.

recent finds

2009-02-26T14:20:00.001-08:00

You know the saying good things come when you least expect them? Well that's happened to us twice within the last few weeks. In terms of furniture, of course.

The hubby found this Nelson lamp on craigslist. We have been waiting to find the perfect lighting fixture for our living room and here it is now! I'll post another pic here once we get it installed.

The other unexpected thing that came our way were these Herman Miller shell chairs. We were just loafing around the Mission last weekend. Our friend Ruk wanted to go into the Community Thrift store and so we did. We saw these chairs and decided within a minute that we should get it. It was such a good price! All it needs is a little cleaning. The husband is talking about getting a new base though, so we'll see how that pans out. Again, if we make any changes to this, I will post the finished product here.

mini holiday in napa valley

2009-02-21T00:48:00.000-08:00

We spent the President's Day weekend in the lovely town of Calistoga. We both needed an R&R and this little town provided he perfect spot. It rained all weekend but that didn't damper our spirits one bit. We stayed at a nice 5 room B&B that's situated on top of a hill overlooking several vineyards. We primarily picked this place because they allow dogs, but it turned out to be a real charmer. We definitely have to go back in the summer when it's not soggy, it'll be a nice place to go hiking.

Lots of mustard growing in the valley. It's all very lovely.

On our way to Calistoga, we stopped by downtown Napa to visit Oxbow Market. I've heard so much about it and was looking forward to checking it out. We bought apples, cheeses and a bottle of wine. Most importantly, we had lunch at Hog Island Oyster Farm. The clam chowder deserves to be on this list. It was so good! The clams are so fresh and tasty.

While there we were lucky enough to be able to watch the Amgen Tour of California. It wasn't entirely pleasant cuz we had to wait for them in the freezing rain for about 45 minutes, but hey it was fun in the end.

This photo was taken by my husband. I think it looks great.

A trip to this region will not be complete without spending a few hours at a spa and the requisite winery hopping. I have to that St. Supéry is fast becoming my favorite.

For our last dinner of the weekend, we were lucky enough to score seats at Jole. The food was extremely good. The quail was definitely the star of the night.

The view from the B&B

Old Faithful Geyser

We even saw a rainbow!

creatures of land and sea

2009-02-21T00:21:00.001-08:00

We finally made it to the newly re-modeled California Academy of Sciences at San Francisco's Golden Gate Park. I was very excited about this trip, the hubby and I blocked out our entire day and devoted a good amount of time exploring the museum.

Upside down Jellyfish

I love the colors and contrast of this diorama. I wish I had taken a better picture. It looks like it came out of fairytale land.

The rain forest exhibit.

The living roof with the Sutro tower in the background.

There's also a planetarium but we didn't get to go because the tickets were sold out. We also missed Claude, the albino alligator. He was being treated for this swollen toe. We bought a 1 year membership so we will definitely be back.

PS. How can I forget? We ran into Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher at the rain forest exhibit. Of course I went into paparazzi mode and took some shots!

flea market in sunny february

2009-02-02T21:37:00.000-08:00

I was very excited to go to the flea market this month. I haven't been there in a very long time so this trip was special. It was also a very uncharacteristically 70 degree summer-like day which made the whole thing very pleasant. The hubby and I hopped on BART and met a couple of friends at the station. Our friend M graciously drove the bunch of us to the market.

Here's a smattering of things that caught my eye:
click on the images for a closer look

dearlenny was particularly in love with these panels

Of course, we managed to buy a few things for ourselves. The hubby and I took these treasures home with us:

Another teacup to add to my collection

This of course was the find of the day. The hubby bargained hard and got it for the price that we wanted.
This is pretty huge, about 3.5 foot tall and almost 4 foot wide.

are parasols making a comeback?

2009-02-01T23:10:00.000-08:00

One recurring theme that I noticed at the flea market yesterday were parasols. I remember as a child who grew up in a tropical country, we used to use umbrellas all the time to shade ourselves from the powerful sun.

Yesterday, I spotted a few people who were sporting them. I probably missed a ton more cuz I was too distracted by all the things to look at. Here are images of a few women and one man!

Here are some umbrellas and umbrella themes items from etsy:

Green and Gold Umbrella

Black and Ivory Umbrella

Yellow Umbrella pendant

Umbrella tee

Vintage Floral Umbrella

can't buy me love

2009-02-01T23:07:00.000-08:00

It's the season of love. Who said vday is for couples only? Take this time to tell your favorite peeps how much you care. Here's a gift guide for everyone on the list:

Remind Mom and Dad to rekindle their romance by getting them these custom couple portraits.

Tell your spouse how perfect you are for each other, at the same time you can fill that empty space on the wall that you've been staring at for months.

Since your boyfriend is always late to your dates, why not give him this clock? It's a subtle hint and I'm sure he won't mind adding something retro to his decor.

If you're a dude, why don't you surprise your girlfriend by giving her a key to your place and this key rack to go with it?

Girls, for your BFF tell her how much you love her by giving her hugs and kisses, vintage style.

Send your sis a recent snapshot of yours with this magnet so that she can put it up on her fridge.

For your brother who is getting no action, give him this mouse for all those hours that he spends online instead of meeting girls at the bar.

oh no, no, no!

2009-01-28T17:41:00.000-08:00

Domino Magazine is kaput. This is very sad news!

I just renewed my subscription too! Sigh.

gigegy for doe and 1767 church street

2009-01-27T19:17:00.000-08:00

Here's my news! I started blogging for local San Francisco sister stores doe and 1767 Church Street! I've been visiting both stores regularly, taking photos, interacting with the customers and trying on the clothes and wares. Here are some images from my blog posts:

I hope you'll check the doe blog regularly to keep up to date on all the happenings!

shoes galore

2009-01-24T20:20:00.000-08:00

As promised, I added a bunch of vintage shoes in the shop. I have a big shoe collection myself so this is especially exciting for me.

Green Guilmore Heels $22

White and Navy Two toned pumps $18

Navy pumps $18

Mustard Bandolino Leather Shoes $28

Brown t-strap Andiamo Leather Shoes $14

Happy New Year!

2009-01-19T20:06:00.000-08:00

I know that we're 3 weeks into the year so technically it's not really new anymore. But alas, it's the first time I'm able to post in 2009. I'm super excited about tomorrow's inauguration, if I could Tivo the whole thing, I would!

I also have some news for you guys which I can't talk much about now, but I will definitely tell you all about it in a few days!

Ok, on to some shop news. I've added 3 new yoga mat bags to the shop. Please visit and tell all your friends.

Rosie yoga mat bag

Polka Dot yoga mat bag

Daisies yoga mat bag

I am planning another shop update in about a week or so and that update will involve shoes, shoes, shoes! Exciting!

Indie Holiday Shopping Series 2008: Rare Device

2008-12-21T23:25:00.000-08:00

Talk about last minute shopping. I still have a few presents to buy. A stop at Rare Device will guarantee that I will cross some names from the list.

Here's what I'll buy from them:

Ted Light
This is made from vintage teacups. My love of teacups + lighting makes this a perfect item.

Clocky
Clocky is a great gift for your friend who is always running late.

Radiolarian Shirt
There's a boy version and a girl version. This is by artist Lisa Congdon, who also co-owns Rare Device. This is a Poketo shirt. I love sea creatures plus the colors on this shirt just speaks out to me.

A Year of Mornings
I am a fan of 3191. I was so glad when I heard that they were making it into a book. This is a great gift for anyone who can use a little inspiration from the beauty of everyday things.

Pinky Ring
I've tried this on at the store. I really love how it's so simple and yet it makes such a statement. Maybe I'll go back and buy this as a birthday present for myself. Hmm..

'tis the season

2008-12-09T21:24:00.000-08:00

Our tree is up! I love the smell that has filled up the room.

These are my favorite ornaments.

This reminds me of home.

Bird magnet turned into ornaments. From Anthro.

Acorn from 1767 Church Street

Diana Fayt Studio Sale

2008-12-09T19:46:00.000-08:00

Last Saturday, we made our way to the Bayview neighborhood of San Francisco to pay a visit to Diana Fayt's studio sale. We came around 12:30 so there were still a lot of pieces on display.

Her pieces are even more beautiful up close than I can ever imagine. You can tell how much love and labor went into them.

After being there for a good chunk of time (almost an hour? gasp!), I became overwhelmed with indecision. Should I get the bowl? the plate? the vase? the cup? the glowbowls? the canteen vase? I love them all! How can I turn my back on any of them?

In the end, the hubby helped me out by grabbing the bowl, handing it to Diana telling that we're getting this and the canteen vase that I had in my hand. I said goodbye to Diana feeling happy, I couldn't wait to get home to unwrap the presents that we just bought for ourselves. See more pictures of her studio here.

My very own Diana Fayt Canteen vase

and bowl

Indie Holiday Shopping Series 2008: doe + 1767 Church St.

2008-12-03T19:44:00.000-08:00

Tonight, we're going to visit doe and its sister store, 1767 Church St (formerly known as Church Street Apothecary). Both stores carry clothing, accessories, children's toys, clothes, books, cards, paper products and beauty products. They also carry a lot of San Francisco Bay Area made products.

Here are my picks from these stores:

Modaspia Ojai Black Dress
A very nice versatile LBD, you can dress this up or down. It's also very comfortable on. Perfect dress for all those holiday parties that you will go to. This is made in Oakland, CA by modaspia

Matt Bernson Moto Boots
Oh I love these boots! I would wear them everyday even on a not so cold day. I can probably get away with it here in San Francisco.

Jane Tran Peacock Hair Pin
I've just chopped my hair short but if still had long hair, I would definitely go for this!

Clam Locket
Not your everyday necklace but this one is so pretty and borderline kitchy (in a great way), I love it! The chain is made of links and is long and adjustable which makes it versatile.

Cat LED Flashlight
This is a hand crank light LED flashlight. They actually have a pig version in the store which is super cute. Kids will love this because it's fun to play with. Parents will love it because it's useful at the same time.

Tales from the Brothers Grimm Book
This book is for kids and kids at heart. The illustration is wonderful, this is a book that you will treasure until you're 110.

Fatty by Ashley Goldberg
What else can I say? Super cute! Plus I love AshleyG so this is a no-brainer.

Ceramic Egg Planter in Olive
This would look so good in my dining room. You probably know by now that I love ceramics so of course I instantly fell in love with this.

Wild and Wolf Water Bottle
I own this water bottle and it's fabulous! Stylish and functional. It also comes as a flask and in 3 different patterns.

Molla Space By the Lake Cup and Saucer
I can't help it! It's hard to pass up a gorgeous tea cup and saucer set. There's always a hidden creature on the cup, how cool is that?

Pre de Provence Bar Soap
I don't usually use bar soap but I think I can make an exception for this one. The peony smells so good!

Indie Holiday Shopping Series 2008: Studio Style

2008-11-29T21:56:00.000-08:00

My husband and I had an impromptu day around the bay area yesterday. We found out the night before that Heath Ceramics is having a sale so we decided to reserve a car through City Car Share and hit the road. While in Sausalito, we decided to head over to Fourth and Clay in Berkeley because I know that they are having a open house and that Sara Paloma will be there.

Here's how the day went, we had reserved the car that morning but both of us overslept. We didnt leave the house till 11:30. We got to Heath Ceramics but unfortunately we missed the 11AM factory tour. I was bummed about this but what can we do? We looked around the store for a while and ended up buying some ramekins, bowls, tumblers and Skinny laMinx tea towels (yay, finally!).

Heath Ceramics Store

Skinny laMinx tea towels

We headed out to Berkeley to go to Fourth and Clay. I made a bee line for Sara Paloma's table and was just in love by what I saw. She had votives, bottles, ornaments and vases galore.

Sara Paloma's wares

Deanna Abney of Circadian Studios was also there showing her jewelery. Fourth and Clay is the studio of Rae Dunn, Crista Asaad, and Josie Jurczenia. Their holiday open house is going on till December 21st, with a party on December 11th. Stop by to meet the artists and see their work up close.

The work of Rae Dunn

I was happy to see many more studios on Fourth Street. A lot of them were open so we stopped in to check. We were enticed by the wine tasting sign at A Donkey and Goat. We bought a bottle of Three Thirteen 2006 and a candle holder made from wine barrels.

Candle holders

We also stopped by the studios of Sven, Photosynthesis and June Taylor where I bought jar of her Summer Sweet Peach & Rose Geranium Butter. I can't wait to try it.

After all this walking and shopping and wine tasting, we treated ourselves to lunch at Vik's! Yum!

Indie Holiday Shopping Series 2008: ReForm School

2008-11-26T19:14:00.000-08:00

In the spirit of trying my best to shop indie and/or local for the holidays, I'm going to do a series on virtual shopping at my favorite stores in person and online.

First up is ReForm School. They are based in LA, which is not local for me, but they do support independent artists and crafters by carrying their wares. I always look forward to their Student of the Month series where they have a featured artist who often makes limited edition goods for their shop.

So what would I buy from this shop?

We will start with Student of the Month Sarajo Friedan. Sarajo is a well known LA artist. I was lucky enough to see her show a few months ago here at Rare Device in San Francisco. For ReForm School, Sarajo made these limited edition silk screened handmade Hungarian dolls. Honestly, this is a gift I will buy for myself!

This Recycled Glass Night Set is a great standby gift for those gift exchange parties you know you're going to get invited to. At $20 it is a very practical yet elegant unisex gift. Plus it is made from recycled glass so bonus green points for you!

These blank nesting dolls are a perfect gift for your crafty friend. Just imagine the fun that they will have with these!

These Lovebird Lavander sachets, made with vintage materials, are the perfect gift for your co-workers. These would also make cute ornaments for your tree. If you want to mix it up for the guys and the gals, you can also get the mice versions.

The Vintage Purse Pouch by Showpony is a great gift for your girlfriends. They can all match but still have individual colors. Perfect as a make up bag.

Last but the not least, this wooden radio is the perfect gift for my husband. It is such a simple well designed and classic item. I know he will love it.

ceramic love

2008-11-23T20:11:00.000-08:00

Those of you who know me know that I have a special place in my heart for ceramics. Here's a collection of things that have caught my eye of late.

These very intricate tiles and bowls from Heather Knight of Element Clay Studio. I love her pear ceramics as well. Heather is from Asheville, NC. Her shop is here and she also blogs here.

Esther Coombs from London hunts for ceramics at flea markets and then gives them a new life. She hand draws images into these old, discarded things and brings them back to life. I always love a great mix of the old and the new.

These old milk bottle replica from Alyssa Ettinger of Brooklyn are so nostalgic. Her shop is wonderful. I also really love this Porcelain Knitwear bowl.

Of course, a ceramic post from me won't be complete unless I mention my favorite ceramic artists of them all, Diana Fayt. The has a few pin and canteen vases at her shop right now. Every aspect of her work is made personally by hand. Not only is she a very talented ceramicists but I personally think that her drawings are spectacular. Love, love, love.

Oh, Sara Paloma. I am in love with your work. I would describe her pieces as romantic and useful at the same time. I own one of her bottles which I got an at indie show in San Francisco. I can't wait to get more.

affordable art for you

2008-11-11T16:02:00.000-08:00

Sandra Juto is a recent discovery for me but I immediately loved her illustrations and softies. She lives in Sweden. You can buy her prints, wrist warmers (! eep !) and pocket calendars at her store on big cartel.

I am in love with this urchin triptych of little blocks by littleput books. I have a thing for sea urchins so that's a plus. I am in awe about how the sea urchin looks so real, as if it's not a photograph.

The bird trend is played out but there's a reason it became a trend in the first place. This petite bird print by Parisian graphic designer aliette is delightful. Who can resist birds and polka dots? This automne 3 print is also one to consider.

Of course I have to include Emily from the black apple. I have been a fan of her for years now. I was introduced to her by my friend Lenny. I have several black apple prints but I have not been lucky enough to snag an original becuase they sell out so darn fast! This Sylvie print is a new favorite of mine.

I am a romantic so these original pinholes from Heather Smith Jones just captures my heart. It seems like a very precise and labor intensive work has gone into these pieces.

2009 calendars are here

2008-11-10T20:09:00.000-08:00

I'm always excited this time of year when my favorite designers come out with next year's calendar. Here are my picks.

Jill Bliss and Saelee Oh are at it again! I didn't think it was possible, but I love 2009 more than 2008. I bought my own copy yesterday from 1767 Church Street!

Rex Ray's 2009 calendar is another one of my favorites. I've always loved his work and this calendar provides a great collection of his work. After the year is over, you can even take the pages and use them as posters.

Mia from story by mia also has a wonderful nature inspired calendar. I love its understated simplicity. She also has an animals version which I think is great for a kids room.

Marisa Haedike of Creative Thursday's calendar is just gleeful. Her story is also an inspiration for those of us who strive to incorporate a little more creativity in our lives.

The Lotta Jandotter 2009 fabric calendar is great too! You can reuse it as artwork, scarf, headband or a tea towel!

Irene Suchocki's poignant photography is showcased in her 2009 TTV Desk Calendar.

I love the artwork and the colors used in Elum's letterpress calendar.

Last but not the least, I think I am not alone when I beg Diana to please, please, please design a 2009 calendar!

Kate Szabone

2008-11-06T22:36:00.000-08:00

I have a co-worker who wears stacking rings everyday. Every time we're in a meeting, I always end up staring at her rings to admire them. I really love the look, she maybe has 8 stacked rings. I think the key to this look is to match different ring textures. I've been looking around for the perfect set of stacking rings but I've never really found any that I like, until I came across Canadian Kate Szabone. I instantly fell in love with her stacking rings. Since she gives you the option to customize or mix and match it makes it more fun to shop! I personally would get the following:

A black diamond 14k rose gold ring

+

A heavy beaded matte ring

+

A set of slim organic stacking rings

The whole combination only costs $175 for 5 rings! One of them even has a stone. That's a great price. Plus you can mix and match anyway you want. If you tend to be on the simpler side, she also has single rings that are simple and elegant.

In addition to rings, she also designs and sells earrings, necklaces and bangles.

Check out her etsy store right here!

*All images are from Kate Szabone's etsy store.

noe valley harvest festival

2008-10-26T09:54:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, the hubby, Momo and I went to the Noe Valley harvest festival. The street fair was very mellow and kid friendly, just like the neighborhood. There were booths that featured local artists and crafters selling their wares as well as local community organizations. There was also a sidewalk chalk drawing contest for kids of all ages. It was a great way to spend a very nice San Francisco day.

rare device

2008-10-24T23:56:00.000-07:00

I went to the Rare Device anniversary party tonight with my friends, R & A. It was their 1 year anniversary in San Francisco and they celebrated it with an Octoberfest party. I bought A Year of Mornings. I've been excited about this book since I was a very loyal fan of the blog.

A bought a t-shirt for her hubby and earrings for herself. R was obsessing about the felt rocks but she didn't end up buying them. They also have the Sarajo Frieden show up. I really really want to buy one (or 3) of his collages but as usual, money is the question. Someday we will be able to afford grown up art.

I took some photos but I didn't have my real camera with me so I had to use my phone camera.

collection

2008-10-23T22:05:00.000-07:00

I am a collector, not a pack rat but a collector. After moving so many times in the last few years, I've learned to periodically purge my closet, donate clothes and shoes that I don't wear anymore. Just a few months ago, we went through our basement, took out what we didn't need anymore and had a garage sale. But I collect. I have a collection of fabrics, buttons, threads, ribbons, hats, cards, teacups and saucers, ceramics, shoes, vintage clothes, magazines, books and so much more. I also have a virtual collection of blogs, photos, bookmarks and emails.

I save these things because I find them beautiful. I also collect them because in the present time, I honesty don't have time to sit down and admire their beauty. Instead, I file them for later use. For that time in the future where I will have countless number of hours to look, touch, explore and appreciate these things. For that time in the future when I will actually do something useful with these things, something that will make me happy and fulfilled. For the time when I follow my dream. I'm starting to think when that time will ever come? For when am I saving these things for? I'm feel more and more like I just keep pushing that future out. Because I'm too busy, because I'm too tired. Because I have lots of excuses.

i'm back + the shop is open

2008-09-28T17:13:00.000-07:00

We're back from our amazing trip in Nepal. I was inspired all that I saw there. We trekked which gave me the chance to be really close to nature. Nature always inspires me with its beauty. I was also really inspired by the city filled with women in their colorful Saris. I also discovered some local designers who either own boutiques or sell them at some of the other local ones.

In other news, my shop at gigegy.etsy.com is open again. Please visit!

Here are some images from our trip:

And here are some of the things that I bought:

on vacation

2008-09-06T04:27:00.000-07:00

I'm on vacation right now, so I will have no new posts on this blog for a few weeks. Here are some pictures from the last few days.

night pictures

2008-08-19T22:35:00.000-07:00

I took some spur of the moment night pictures. You can see the bigger versions on flickr.

a new yoga mat bag

2008-08-18T22:05:00.000-07:00

I miraculously made a yoga mat bag after work last week. I honestly have not made one in months so I was glad for this burst of energy. I was able to finish the whole thing in very little time too. It made me miss sewing. I really like my new sewing machine. Everything is so much easier, the threading, the back stitching, no snags, everything went very smoothly.

The yoga mat bag is in my shop now. This is a fabric that I bought from Purl in New York and is one of my favorites.

neighborhood garage sale

2008-08-18T21:07:00.001-07:00

Our neighborhood had its annual community wide garage sale. This year, we actually participated and sold knick knacks that we had sitting around in the basement. We did pretty well and sold more than half of what we put out. I still made sure that I had time to go around the neighborhood and check out the other garage sales. I found a couple of great stuff.

I bought this from our gentlemen neighbors across the street. They were selling very cool antique china, glass, photos, drawings and paintings. This particular one is called Ami De Personne (nobody's friend) by Honore Daumier and is an original lithograph.

namesake

2008-08-12T14:16:00.001-07:00

I just bought this vase from one of my favorite artists, Diana Fayt. I can't wait to get it in the mail. The vase is called gizella, so it's just appropriate for me to have one, don't you think?

Speaking of namesakes, there's a Gisele chair available at DWR. I just love the shade and shape of the wood. It's interesting to know though that this chair gets it's name from Gisele, the supermodel.

Images courtesy of Diana Fayt and DWR.

unwinding and eating over the weekend

2008-08-03T18:07:00.001-07:00

My weekend was spent unwinding, catching up with friends and of course, eating. I'm actually just realizing that the pictures that I'm about to post are mostly of food. What can I say, I love to eat! After a few exhausting weeks at work, it was really nice to take time off for myself.

I was able to explore the city a little bit. I paid a visit to the Slow Food Nation Victory Garden at San Francisco's Civic Center. I also kept forgetting to bring the SLR camera with me so all of these images were taken with my phone, so forgive the quality.

Steps of the San Francisco City Hall.

The Victory Garden.

I stopped by for a quick bite at Mission Pie. This was the yummy Plum Frangipane pie.

Today, we also went to Samovar and had their Chai Masala and the Tumeric Tea Cake.

back to the home front

2008-06-22T20:37:00.001-07:00

Right after blogging about Willyburg, I have to turn right back around and talk about my hometown. Yesterday, Momo and I took a walk and ventured out onto the southern end of The Mission. I had read about Gravel and Gold in someone's blog (I can't remember which one) and figured that yesterday was a good day to finally check them out. It is a very tiny store but it is packed full of the most awesome stuff! Vintage clothes, bags and lovely jewelry. I tried on a fabulous vintage dress, but it was a wee bit small on me (sad) but I will definitely come back to check out their new stuff.

On my way to G&G, I passed by WhizBang Fabrics, what a pleasant surprise. It is also a small store and they sell mostly cotton prints. It kinda reminds me of Purl Soho of New York. I quickly browsed the store but didn't stay too long 'cuz I just didn't want to be tempted to buy fabric and add to my ever growing collection.

from brooklyn, with love

2008-06-22T20:04:00.000-07:00

I've been wanting to blog about our not so recent trip to New York. After thinking about it, I think I'm going to concentrate on the day that we spent in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Williamsburg seems like a really hip area and it was also very design focused. We really enjoyed the time we spent there.

The only disappointment was that I was really looking forward to going to Domsey's Warehouse Outlet, which was described to me as a huge warehouse with endless racks of vintage things. Sounds like heaven to me. Unfortunately, when we got there, we discovered that it was closed. Bummer. I was still able to check out Beacon's Closet which was good, albeit a very snooty staff. I bought a purple vintage dress for a steal though.

There were lots of cool street art.

There were nice design shops like A & G Merch and The Future Perfect

Time to switch shoes, my feet were killing me.

speaking of beauty in everyday things

2008-06-03T16:42:00.000-07:00

There's Wooster Collective. OK, back to the grind. Happy Tuesday, everyone.

shop update!

2008-06-01T19:57:00.000-07:00

After months and months of procrastination I've finally re-opened my shop. There are a few vintage finds and a couple of handmade things available. I am also giving away small lavender pillows to everyone who buys from the shop. Please take a look!

I have to say that my favorite portion of the "getting the shop ready" process is the picture taking. Hope you enjoy shopping.

sunday walk

2008-05-26T13:31:00.001-07:00

We walked around the city yesterday, it turned out to be a nice day for the most part. There were lots of stuff to see

Mmmm yummy mangoes.

Carnaval.

Little Otsu storefront by Jeremy Tinder. I think I'm going to buy this journal.

Momo with her doggles. It helps protect her eyes cuz she keeps bumping into things and hurting herself. We keep getting chuckles on the street.

i want!

2008-05-20T22:49:00.000-07:00

It's about time to show you what I've been craving lately.

Large Deep Bowl by Diana Fayt. I'm seriously thinking that my next big purchase will be a Diana Fayt ceramic. I can't wait!

I've been watching Alyson Fox for a long time. Love her work. I think I'd rather wait until I can afford an original though. She also recently launched a small clothing line.

Sunny! By blueberry bandit. He's so adorable and oh so very summery.

My list would not be complete without shoes. These Frye's are made for walking and skipping and prancing around.

seattle

2008-05-07T21:36:00.000-07:00

I had a lovely time in Seattle. I went there on a mini-trip with my sister in law for a girls only weekend. We had a blast. I'd been there once before but it was a first for her. We didn't really have a strict itinerary, we just wanted to do some touristy stuff and then also to see some neighborhoods. We managed to go to the market, the space needle and the university and fremont districts. I scored some vintage finds that I'll show here later. In the meantime, here are some photos so show off.

We went to the aquarium and had loads of fun.

I am starting to get more fond of sea urchins. I love their vibrant color. I was able to touch one, spikey!

Rows of tulips at the market. It took a lot of willpower not to go and buy a bunch!

The Seattle Central Library is so amazing. The architecture and design is one to admire.

View of the sunset from the airplane. So long, Seattle!

look what the mailman brought

2008-04-26T12:45:00.000-07:00

I was eagerly awaiting the arrival of this package from Reform School. I ordered a Lisa Congdon collage and the Jill Bliss and Saelee Oh 2008 calendar. I know it's a bit late to buy a 2008 calendar but I don't care! I've been drooling over this particular one since I first spotted it a few months ago. I am also so happy to finally own a Lisa Congdon original, albeit a really small piece, but the time will come when I will finally own a nice big piece or maybe even a commissioned one. I have been a fan of hers for a long while.

Clockwise from top: The package, how cool is that sticker? The calendar opened to the current month, Lisa Congdon Mini Collage #3, the calendar again, the packaging containing the collage. Love it!

more pictures of food

2008-04-22T21:09:00.000-07:00

We had a little BBQ this weekend. I was too busy being a host and I was not able to take too many pictures, but here's 2 that I liked.

A drink made by Lenny and Mai made with rose water, sparkling water, lemons and limes. I love the vibrant colors!

Homemade momos, they were the hit of the day.

This coming weekend, I'm setting aside some time to work in my sewing room to prepare a shop update. It's been a long time since I've had anything in there and I'm excited to fill it up with cool stuff once more.

what great weekend

2008-04-13T20:32:00.000-07:00

We had a rare HOT April weekend in San Francisco. It was great to see all the girls in their pretty dresses.

Hereabouts, there was some laying out in the sun

beautiful flowers

and a little bit of shopping

Dermond Peterson guest towels purchased from the Modern Economy sale

We got more stuff from the Modern Economy sale but the pictures that I took didn't turn out too well. I'll do a re-take and post them here soon.

Alas, like a typical San Francisco summer day the fog rolled in around 6:30PM and covered us all in it's cold embrace. Sigh. Hopefully next weekend will be a gorgeous one too.

more jewelry

2008-04-06T19:23:00.001-07:00

I have been buying a lot of jewelry lately. After spending the morning at Alameda, the hubby and I went to Cortland for a drink and a walk. Somehow, the weather in the city was much nicer than the East Bay today. Weird. I stepped into Venus Gallery to look at the jewelry and art display. I fell in love with this necklace at first sight. I tried it on and decided to buy it, I love it!

This particular piece is by Jenny Jensen. I love the simplicity yet intricacy of her work

We spent some time talking to one of the partners, Lisa. I've walked by Venus a few times for the last couple of months and was always disappointed to find it closed. However, the last few times that I've walked past it lately, the gallery's been open and is showing great pieces of art and jewelry. Lisa said that she just started a partnership with it's original owner. Lisa's goal is to serve the Bernal Heights community and also to feature local artists and their work. I was very pleased to hear this because I think that Bernal definitely needs this vibe in the community. I can't wait to see the other works of art that Lisa has in store for us.

PS. I asked Lisa what kind of stone this is and she told me, but I completely forgot! Ooops. I will ask her again and post it here.

Update: Lisa wrote me back and told me that this stone is a green chalcedony.

flea market finds

2008-04-06T19:03:00.000-07:00

There were a lot of people at Alameda today. This is the first time I've ever lined up for the entrance. The woman in line behind us said that the Chronicle had an article about the market in the paper, so we assumed that that's why the people of SF Bay Area flocked to the market today. The hubby and I were looking for a cabinet to store our china in but alas, we were not lucky. We saw something we liked but at $1400, it was easy to walk away from it. What? $1400?! It was nice but not that nice. I did not leave empty handed, however. With the help of my girlfriends, R and S, I found some very nice stuff.

These scarves were our last purchase of the day and we bought them at a reduced price. This first one is my favorite, it is made in Japan of 100% virgin wool.

Inspired by Lisa C's obsession.

I am VERY into hats right now. My gal pal, R, found this beauty and we bought it together to share. I am contemplating wearing this to a wedding that I'm attending next weekend. Hmm.

I love this blue fascinator. I will eventually put up a better picture, perhaps as part of a complete outfit.

sprucing up

2008-03-26T20:51:00.000-07:00

We're slowly working on sprucing up our bedroom which is just really drab right now. The closet has no doors (and thus exposing my almost embarrassing huge collection of clothes), we only have ugly plastic blinds on the windows and no art on the walls. So I started with the easy part this past weekend, I made curtains! It was really nice to work on my sewing machine again. I've forgotten how much I love making things. Last weekend's project has definitely put me back in the sewing mood again, I even made a tote after I finished the curtains just because I was having so much fun. I hope I can keep this up!

The curtains are up in the sewing room right now, we'll see how long it take for us to move them over to the bedroom.

I made the tote for my flickr friend, hanssolo, to belatedly thank her for sending me her wonderful art .

a sneak peak at my finds

2008-03-17T20:55:00.000-07:00

Here's a sneak peak at some of my vintage finds. Some if not all of these will eventually make their way into my shop. My favorite out of the four pictured here are the shoes. They were such a great find. I wish that they're my size so that I can keep them for myself! Please click on the picture to get a bigger view.

to market, to market

2008-03-03T20:56:00.000-08:00

Nope we didn't go there to buy a fat pig, but we saw some lovely carrots, gorgeous flowers, yummy pastries and cool street art. This past weekend's weather was spectacular, we ended up going to Alemany twice. On Saturday for the weekly farmer's market, and on Sunday for the weekly flea market.

So lately, I've been posting more inspirations than actual things I've made. I think I am in that weird mental space right now, where I don't really know what to make. I'm not really too motivated to sit down for a few hours at a time and make something. So I guess I am just slacking for now and waiting for something to click in my brain. I want to continue posting on this space though, just because this keeps me grounded. All I know right now is that I want to pursue my vintage aspirations. The section of "set aside vintage clothes" in my closet is very slowly growing. I also bought a dress form and have been taking some pictures of my finds, I will post them soon.

For now I am enjoying the weather and some quality time spent with the hubby and Momo.

finally, some time to unwind

2008-02-28T20:09:00.000-08:00

The aforementioned trip to the wine country was fabulous. It was such a nice spring-like day. We drove there with no clear agenda, we just wanted to taste some wine, eat and re-energize. We also brought Momo along for the ride and she loved the trip just as much as we did. We took home 6 bottles of wine and tasted quite a few more. Mmmm..

Click on the picture for a bigger view

The grapes were not growing yet but there are fields of yellow everywhere. I believe this is mustard.

We visited The Cornerstone Place Gardens which was such a lovely treat. Try and go there the next time you are in the area. We took our time and strolled through the gallery-style garden exhibit. I left that place feeling very rejuvenated and inspired.

Garden Play by Topher Delaney

Sonoma Children's Garden by Moore Iocofano Goltsman Inc

no shopping for a month

2008-02-19T16:25:00.001-08:00

I don't know what got into me but I convinced my husband that we should make a pact not to shop for a month starting last Sunday, 2/17. Partly because my closet is overflowing with stuff and I also just want to see if I will feel liberated or if I will feel lost or frustrated. I also want to see how much money we save by not buying unnecessary stuff. Having said all this, what's a girl to do? What else but window shop! Haha, hey I didn't say that I can't look. Here's what I'm wanting today:

Gilded Long Pearl Cluster Necklace by Abigail Percy

I've been thinking about joining a wine club ever since our recent trip to Napa/Sonoma (more on that later). Roshambo wine club

Frye Lisa T-strap

For some reason, I got it in my head that I want a vintage Gucci purse.

chocolate heaven

2008-02-14T22:11:00.000-08:00

I don't normally blog about food but tonight I'm making an exception. We don't really make a big hoopla about Valentines day but the hubby scored a last minute reservation at Blue Plate, which is only about a 5 min walk from our home. This is our second time here and both times we were blown away by the food and the service. I am still coming off my high from the warm chocolate baby cake that literally made my toes curl. Ohhh so yummy! I might just start a food blog. Hmmm...

model no. 2

2008-02-08T08:51:00.000-08:00

Momo is wearing her new harness. I used vintage fabric that I bought in Portland a few months ago. This harness is not only fashionable but easy to take on and off. She tends to get excited when she knows it's time to go out for a walk so this makes it super easy for us to put it on her. What a stylish dog!