Indie Holiday Shopping Series 2008: Rare Device

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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.