oh clementine

Clement Street in San Francisco is known for it's rows of restaurants, asian grocery stores and the Green Apple Bookstores. What most people don't know is that the unassuming first 2 blocks of Clement between Arguello and 2nd Avenue, has a charm all it's own. I've lived in the Richmond District for the past 6 years and I've seen these 2 blocks change a lot. The store that's probably been here the longest is Period George. This store has lot of gorgeous antique dinnerware. I have a weakness for tea cups and bowls, so every time I come here I always come out drooling or wishing I can spend my entire day looking over every single thing they have.

One of the newer stores is Marques. They also sell a lot of antique dinnerware, in addition they stock some french soaps, lighting, mirrors, jewelry and lots of other stuff. Love, love, love this store.



Fleur*t is a flower shop slash furnishings store. Not only do they have the variety of flowers that I love, they also sell lots of lovely gift items and home decor. According to their website, their client list includes Marc Jacobs and The Huntington Hotel. Impressive.

Another new store, which I think opened not even a year ago is Peche Mignon. This store has a lot of beautiful linen, ceramics, and soaps. They even have a wedding registry!

The last store that I will feature is called Kumquat (like the fruit). This store has a more colorful and playful atmosphere. I saw a lot of bags, kids toys, and unusual gifts. They feature new and local artists.

My ultimate dream is to open my own store, whether online or brick and mortar so that I can sell items that I love and also items that I make. These stores inspire me and remind me that it is possible!

of babies and cooking

After a few weeks of not crafting, I finally have something new to show you! I took my time while making this apron and I really enjoyed the process. I plan to make more of them. Can you imagine baking a yummy cake while wearing this? I think it'll make the baking process so much more fun. This one is now available in my shop.


I also made these bibs for my good friend's cute little one. I may expand my line into baby stuff. Isn't this just adorable?

a preview of my productive saturday

I spent some (a lot) of time with my sewing machine yesterday. It got dark before I was able to take decent pictures so here's a little preview of my projects

i dream of ...

When it does look like this then how can you not dream about it? I spotted these cakes while walking along Grant Street in North Beach. They look too pretty to eat! As always, I am attracted to the birds. Cakes by I Dream of Cake. (Forgive the pictures, I took them through the window and was the best shot I could get)





I also dream of nice weather! We're BBQ-ing today and I'm hoping that we wont freeze to death at the park. I just checked the weather and it says it should be sunny later today after the fog dissolves. Regardless, there will be good food and good company. Chow time!

more items in the shop

I've just added another yoga mat bag and very cute birdie purse the shop. I actually made these a few weeks ago but didn't get the chance to take good pictures until now. Please visit the shop and tell all your friends.




I am looking forward to the 3 day weekend coming up. I have a few ideas brewing in my head. I think this will be a productive weekend craft-wise. Cross your fingers!

the giant leap

Woo-hoo!!! This is it. I made the giant leap. I've let go of all my fears and opened the shop. I have 3 items listed and am planning to add more. Please visit the shop, tell your friends about it and shop, shop, shop!

around town

I'm back! So we had the perfect sunny weather here in SF this past weekend. I took pictures of some murals that we walked past. Sometimes I forget how many murals there are in the city. I think that I want to do a mural walking tour one day. These were taken around the Lower Haight neighborhood. Click on the image to see bigger pictures.

I love how the garbage can seems to be a part of the mural.

No, it's not a fuzzy picture - it was painted this way, isn't that awesome?

alison's yoga mat bag

Here's the yoga mat bag that I made for Alison a few weeks ago. This is the first multi-fabric yoga mat bag that I've made. I think it turned out pretty well. What do you think?

falling in and out

I am noticing a pattern. I fall in and out of my desire for sewing. I mean I still know that I love to sew but I just go through these phases of about a week or two when I don't feel like going to that corner of the room, and don't feel like looking at my lovely fabrics, or touching my sewing machine. And then I get over it, and I just sew and sew for weeks. As you can tell, I am going through that phase right now, I have not made anything since tax day. I have lots of ideas in my head but it's just not materializing right now.

Also sometimes life just takes over, cuz you know, it's life.
Edit: and that thing about life that's occupying my thoughts and emotions right now, seems to be so eloquently explained here. Change is never easy, but it's not that hard either. This will be my last week at this job. Whew, after 4 years and 8 months. It's time to move on.

See you in a few.

tonight it's all about the glass

Ever since I went to Mignonne, I've been jonesing for glasses. Not the eye kind but the drinking kind. Here's a few that I found while online window shopping.

Table Stories by Tord Boontje from Modern Poverty

(My favorite) Helianthus Goblet from Anthropologie

Pralin from Ikea

Kikatsu Etched Glass Tumbler from Rare Device

Ribbon Old Fashion from notNeutral



Last but not the least (although I wish there was a better picture)
Tiger Glasses from Sprout Home

moleskine

I've been thinking about this for a few months now, ever since I learned that drawing is not necessarily a talent that you're born with. As naive as it may sound, I didn't realize that I can actually pick up a pencil and paper and learn how to draw. True, a lot of people have the creative flair, an eye for it if you may and I'm sure it's easier for some people and not so easy for others. Last week, I finally decided to buy myself a moleskine sketch book. I've only used one page so far, drawing circles. Eventually I will be confident enough to actually show you a page or two from my moleskine.

Scooter Moleskin Journal from Little Paper Planes

gigi chair #3

Yup, found another one. Admittedly I actually googled this one, unlike the other 2 that I found by happenstance. This gigi chair has a high back and looks more like a dining chair. It reminds me a little bit of the Charles Rennie Mackintosh chairs that we sat on while having tea in Glasgow.

weekend update

Yesterday, I made a yoga mat bag for a friend. I wont post the pictures yet cuz I want her to be the first one to see it. I'll put it up later this week after I give it to her. (Hey Alison!) I still have something to show you though, this very simple but colorful book bag. I love the blue bird, do you see it? Edit: This bag is now for sale at my shop!


A few people have asked me when my store will launch. I am hoping that day will come soon, probably about a month from now. I am trying to make more things to sell so that the shop won't look bare when I open. Since I really only have the weekend to devote to making things, it's taking a bit of time.

I purchased a bunch of fabric over the last week from various sources online and in-store. I am so, so happy. As usual, my collection is ever growing but I actually have a few ideas in mind on what to use them for.


I also have a growing stack of unread books by our bed. I took most of the free books that a neighbor left at the lobby of our apartment building. We also stopped by Green Apple after dinner on Friday and couldn't resist buying a few things from the bargain rack. A few of them are for mindless reading, but there are a few gems here and there.

happy easter

It was a very pleasant and slightly productive easter weekend for me. I made this dress from a skirt my mom owned when she was my age. I finished it on Saturday evening and was my easter outfit.



I had originally planned to make a bag today but it was so nice outside, I couldn't resist my husband's invitation to go out to brunch and go for a drive down the coast.




That's it for this weekend. Here's my favorite flower of all time. Flowers make me happy especially when our house smells of lilacs. Happy easter!

gigi chair 2

Another gigi chair! I think I will scour the internet for gigi chairs and then we can vote on which one is the most me. This one is from Design Within Reach. It looks very comfy, I would love to sink in on this while reading a book.