12/22/2007

good night.


jack's had a long month. ok, maybe i mean me. but it's so much more fun to project my feelings on my cat. i probably won't be posting a whole lot until after Christmas. but i'll be in Jersey so chances are i'll get inspired by something i see and have to tell you about it. in any case i hope you have a safe, happy and warm holiday. xo

12/20/2007

tell it like it is.


These gift tags from Amy Karol are awesome. Now if I can just remember to print them out on the color printer at work before I leave town. Just click on the image below, print out on card stock and stick them to your gifts. And add Amy's blog to your list if you're not already a reader!

I'm dreaming of a Jersey Christmas.


I stayed in San Francisco two years ago for Christmas. It was the saddest xmas of my adult life. Maybe the bad boyfriend who didn't get into the holiday spirit and was a total grump the whole day was partly to blame. I don't care so much about gifts, I just love spending time with my kick-ass family in the tri-state area. I'll be in Jersey soon, hope you have some awesome plans for the holiday season. xo x

12/16/2007

some sunday morning animation


This is from a BBC show called Creature Comforts it reminded me of something Pixar would create. Animals talking about art, mimicking humans, you can't beat that.
Saw this first over at SF Girl By Bay.

And here's a shorter, more serious one on politics, pretty awesome too. Looks like this one was re-dubbed using actual politician's voices.

12/13/2007

figgy pudding.

I posted a little holiday craft round-up on SFist yesterday. You can read it here. Ornaments and wreaths anyone?

12/12/2007

it's the most craziest time of the year...


Things in my world are a little topsy turvy right about now. Which explains why I am awake at 5 in the morning writing this. You know it's all the usual and I know it's crazy for everyone this time of year so I'm not going to bore you with my list of excuses for being a not so attentive blogger this month. I have oh so many blogging ideas that pop into my head daily, it's just, you know, actually finding the time to post about them. It'll all get in here eventually, just maybe not all in this month!

I have an unexpected craft fair on Saturday at Secession Gallery in the Mission from 2-7pm. Designer Taxi CDC from LA will also be there, she alters unwanted clothing into adorable sweaters, dresses, and tops and I may just have to take one home with me. There's also some great art up in the gallery right now. I know there are many events on Saturday but I'm hoping some folks will drop in for some last minute holiday shopping. So if you're in the neighborhood please do come by, sip on some wine, and tell me all about your hectic month.

You can make that awesome gingerbread house above from Red Envelope. (via Whipup)

12/09/2007

Let Your Curiosity Shop


The Curiosity Shoppe is one of my favorite new spots on Valencia, owners Derek and Lauren are just great-- I love their aesthetic, and the well edited clean looking set-up of their shop. They have a fun blog and have also been posting every Wednesday over at Design Sponge, sharing clever project ideas for fixing up any space. And now they've teamed up with Todd Oldham to host a holiday crafting challenge on You Tube. Or at least that's Todd up there in their shop asking people to send in videos of their favorite holiday crafts and DIY projects. The winners will be posted on the You Tube homepage. If you're not in SF you can still shop their store online. Here are some things from their shop I wouldn't mind getting for Christmas.

ReadyMade had instructions for making these book bookshelves a while back, one of those projects I always wanted to do but knew I would never get around to.

I like that Fluffyco is local and I love her new designs. This would be great for my craft room where I can never have enough places to hang things.


I can't help it, I'll never stop liking birds. Owls especially have a spot in my heart.


I've been admiring these porcelain dishes cast from aluminum takeout containers by artist Lorena Barrezueta for a while. What a clever idea, and the perfect gift for someone like me who eats out so much more than they cook at home.

12/07/2007

holiday shopping madness


well, i'm at home with a pile of tissues and blankets, still in my pj's (wasn't i in them last time i posted? i see a pattern here) watching reruns of the Cosby show and Roseanne but there's a heck of a lot going on this weekend if you're in SF and feeling well, so i've listed some events below. You know I also got caught in the time suck that is You Tube today which is where that Silver Spoons clip came from. Question- do you think any of the actors in this scene are embarrassed or is embarrasment just a casualty of acting in sitcoms during the 80's?

Tonight
Post-Postcard 11
The 11th Annual Small Format Art Sale
The LAB
2948 16th Street
@ Capp
1-7pm
Free
Originally starting out as a postcard show, the LAB now invites artists to sell anything they can fit in a small box provided by them. Original pieces range in price from $1-$30.

Saturday 12/8
Nest Craft Show
The Hardware Store Gallery
3824 Mission Street
12-5pm
$5 at the door all proceeds go to Nest
Support a very cool non-profit that provides funding to women in developing countries to create their own craft-based businesses.

Sunday 12/9
SF Indie Mart
12 Galaxies
2565 Mission Street @ 22nd
12-5pm
Free
Sip on bloody marys and buy goods from over 40 tragically hip vendors.

me, i'm just hoping i can make it to the two holiday parties i have tomorrow.

12/05/2007

Ti-Ti


That's what Sarah says when she's tired and that's how I feel after the craft fair yesterday and a long day of work.. I'm pretty beat. Right now I'm in my pajamas on the couch with my roommates hoping I don't fall asleep before Project Runway starts. I just uploaded a few of those billboard clutches onto my Etsy shop. Anything ordered out of my shop the next two weeks will get to you in time for Christmas! I'll be adding a lot more in there soon, I'll let you know as I add more.


Yesterday was a lovely long day in Mill Valley. The best part was getting to spend so much time with Molly and Danica. Danica's sweet little guys were the hit of the show and I'm so happy for her. Just look at them and tell me you don't want one right now! Molly also had some amazing cards, as always. My favorite are her state ones, which she has pictures of on her blog. Be sure to look at Apartment Therapy tomorrow to see a feature on Molly and her amazing house!



(as you can see up there jack's pretty ti-ti too!)

12/01/2007

new flock.


I brought a new flock of bird earrings by Candy Store yesterday, so if you're in SF you should stop and say hi to them. They look really sweet on a little bird cage near the register. Candy Store has all sorts of juicy things right now, it was hard to be in there and not buy things for me! I bought my dad a cute little porcelain playing card, since he was the one that taught me how to play Texas Hold'em and he's a card playing fanatic these days.

11/27/2007

you can't see it but it's there!

this morning when i walked out to the bus stop at a bright and early 7:30 i looked up at the morning sky and saw a rainbow. i was surprised because it hasn't rained for days, but i guess the fog can play tricks with the light in the sky. anyway it made me happy. and i looked around to see if anyone else waiting for the bus noticed. it was a perfect semi-circle of a rainbow and i knew my phone wouldn't do the stunning light justice but i snapped up two pictures anyway. here they are. if you look really hard you can sort of make out the rainbow i saw, just trust me that it was a lot prettier than that.



for everyone i love who is having a hard time these pictures are for you, maybe you can't make out the rainbow right now, but i promise it's there. i'm not sure what's going on with so many bad things happening all at once but i'd like the universe to work out this kink and make it stop.

i attempted to make the rainbow more noticeable in photoshop and failed, but i thought they still looked pretty neat.

prettiest flyer ever


it's pretty isn't it? designed by the talented Ashley Rose Helvey for the craft fair i'll be selling all those things i've been posting about this past month. Ambatalia is a sweet little fabric store worth the trip to Mill Valley alone, and next tuesday there will be a whole bunch of talented people selling handmade goods there. i suggest you call in sick to work and drive on up there. or come by for some wine after your long day, we'll there until 8.

11/24/2007

making more..

for my sanity this holiday season i've scaled back the amount of craft fairs i'm doing to two! the rest of what i make will be going to a few stores and in my Etsy shop if i have anything left over. the best part of all of it for me, no duct tape! i made the rings above using the vintage buttons i got when Susan was out here in August. a group of us went to an amazing little secret button shop just packed with vintage buttons. i wish i had bought more of that pink one up there. i'm tempted to keep that one but i have a feeling someone else will love it as much as i do.


the rest of the day was spent making more clutches. i'm having a lot of fun with these.


i also settled on a small wallet pattern to make with the vinyl, i'm using some of the fabulous trim Lisa sent me and i think they're turning out so sweet.

too much sleep.


this is what happens when i fall asleep at 9pm, it's almost 4am and i'm wide awake. what better thing to do than lie in bed and catch up on emails and blog reading? hopefully i'll get tired again soon, i've got a full day of crafting ahead of me tomorrow. Molly had sent me this link to her friends new blog a while back and i just caught up now. amazing. a new daily read for me for sure. i'm not even explaining it here just do yourself a favor and click on over. i love that PeeWee!

11/21/2007

count down.


the table is set, food prep is done, sarah is passed out in bed and roger and dave are playing music as i sit on the couch and type this. and i am thankful for my amazing friends.

here's what our thanksgiving table looks like. it's late and i'm tired, but i'm pretty happy with it.





gobble gobble to you and yours.

11/20/2007

thanksgiving crafts

I posted about some of my favorite crafty thanksgiving ideas over at SFist today. You can read it here. If my stupid camera was working I would post a picture of the name tags I made for the table last night. Instead you can look at Linda's pretty ones, and go to her awesome blog to read up on how she made them. Gobble Gobble!

11/16/2007

trim!

Lisa sent me the most amazing, never-ending box full of trim! I opened it and repeated no way out loud to myself over and over. My camera is dead, and these cell phone pictures really don't do the pretty trim justice- but look at all this!! I feel SO lucky and I can't wait to start stitching them onto all the bags and wallets I'm making for the holidays.




Thanks Lisa! (If you're in SF be sure to check out Lisa's awesome new store.)

11/14/2007

Craft On!


Just posted on SFist about the Craft Gym's annual Craft-Off happening this Friday. So. Much. Fun. Read it here.

11/13/2007

heartbreaking, heartbreaking, heartbreaking.

i don't ever cry at the news. people shooting each other, getting busted for stupid things, that doesn't get to me- i mean we're all a big mess. but why we gotta go and fuck with the birds and the fishes? i mean really. i can't believe oil spills still happen. i can't believe how devasting this 58,000 gallon spill in the bay is. last night i cried when they covered the rescue efforts of all the birds in the bay. the poor little things, being washed off and fed with tubes and sick and covered in oil. thank goodness there are so many willing to help recover these helpless little guys. i wanted to share something a co-worker sent today, she has some great info to offer to those who want to help.
****
as you all know by now, on November 7, the Cosco Busan ran into the Bay Bridge and spilled 58,000 gallons of bunker fuel into San Francisco Bay. it's a devastating event for the marine and bird life that inhabit our bay and coastal waters. hundreds of birds have been taken to the International Bird Rescue Center in Fairfield. how many of them will actually survive is yet to be seen.

i spent my weekend rescuing oiled birds in Pacifica. seeing the devastation first hand is as heartbreaking as Friday's Chronicle headline indicates. i'll be spending my anniversary day off at the IBRC helping to keep the rescue efforts afloat. if you have an interest in helping out with laundry, building pens, preparing feeds or anything else that they need, please contact Cindy Murphy at 916-616-4515. she is their volunteer coordinator and this is her cell #. you will receive a call back and anything you can do to help is very much appreciated.

if you can't volunteer, you can still help with a donation. The groups in need are:Baykeeper.org, Oiled wildlife care network, wildlifehealth@ucdavis.edu


11/12/2007

crochet and rain


It was a cozy weekend here in the bay area. Perfect for feeling sick and learning how to crochet. I spent almost my entire weekend with friends in the east bay, loved that rain we got on saturday. Sarah and I took a three hour crochet class at Article Pract saturday morning, and even though I was a little more than groggy at 9am I left knowing how to crochet and continued to do so until sunday night. Mostly I just practiced, starting scarves and than unraveling them when things started to look uneven. I'm so excited I know how to crochet now as I think it's a little more varied than knitting. Saturday was also spent with some good old friends who recently bought a sweet little house in the east bay. I used to live with them and it was great to spend a rainy night in their new cozy home and even better to see their pets who I've missed ever since they moved out. That's Cody up there, cuddling up with my crochet.

11/09/2007

this will soothe you.

i promise.

Is a Woman by Lambchop.

11/08/2007

see you there!


If you missed the great piece on decor stores that also act as galleries in yesterdays SF Chron be sure to check it out here. Anh-Minh Le does a great job of profiling some unique shops that also support local artists and crafters. And as if shopping in these stores wasn't enough, this weekend presents itself with some great excuses to visit a few of these places with some great show openings.

Folklore: Drawings and Paintings by Diana Fayt
Tonight! 6:30-8:30pm
Candy Store - 3153 16th street

'Untie & Unfold': Collages by Lorena Siminovich
Friday November 9th, 7-10pm
Doe - 629 Haight Street

Musical Chairs: Work by Susie Ghahremani
Saturday November 10th, 6:30-10pm
Giant Robot Giant Robot - 618 Schrader Street

Lovely image above by Diana Fayt

11/06/2007

Feeling Feisty?


I interviewed the lovely Leslie Yang of Feisty Elle for SFist. You can read it here.

11/05/2007

Softies: The Movie!

Andrew did an amazing job editing/making this movie. I just played with toys and moved stuff around.. I'm thrilled with how it turned out.



And while you have that song stuck in your head go on over to Terry's website and vote for your favorite Softie finalist in the Holiday Softie Awards.

11/02/2007

behind the scenes..

i have a pretty fantastic job most days. i get to work on some great crafty books with some very talented people. i do the easy part of opening up my big mouth and telling everyone how great the books are once they are all finished and perfect. but once in a while i find a way to slip some super fun and creative things into my job. today i worked on a movie i hired my friend to make for the Softies book we published this fall. we're doing a stop action short. i should say Andrew's doing most of it, although i'm seriously assisting. and this is stop action the old school way, where we move things a centimeter between each shot. it's labor intensive and hard for an impatient girl like myself, but it's a whole lot of fun. i'll post the finished product here as soon as it's done, but for now- here are some shots from our work today.



those adorable doughnut and ice cream sandwich softies were made by one of my all time favorite softie makers Heidi Kenney of My Paper Crane. Be sure to check out her website.. so many amazing Softies for sale in her shop.

and of course the kitties lounged through it all, as if nothing different was happening in their house today.

10/30/2007

bacon! !


umm. do i need to say anything here? no. JunkYard ClubHouse has said it all and even gives us instructions for making this most wonderful of costumes i've ever laid my eyes upon (ok maybe that's a little over the top- - but it's a bacon costume!!) i will forever remember the first thing i ate after 14 years of being a vegetarian, it was a BLT sandwich from Cafe Mondo, i was very hung over and it was very very good. and ever since that first bite of bacon after so many years without it's true- i haven't been able to shut up about how much i love that salty pork product. Move over Wonder Woman dress.

10/28/2007

sunday's tights..

are blue!

i also have a pair in turquoise. and i love them so.. H&M is where i got them. how much better would the world be if we all walked around in brightly colored tights?

10/27/2007

clutch me


i'm really loving this old vinyl billboard material and i'm thrilled i have so much of it left. here are three clutches i've made this week. i'm using these fantastic wall decals that i think look just perfect against the very man made material.


you like? hopefully i'll have these in stores soon and in my Etsy shop. i'm having so much fun making them. and it's so nice not having to make that duct tape material.

i'm also pretty excited about these orange tights i got this week. and i have to say they were totally inspired by the fabulous color i see daily here and here.

10/26/2007

what i loved this week...

...from the world wide interwebs:


these prints the Sampler posted from Alicia Block, love that saturated look.


these amazing spider cupcakes from Not Martha


these button plates that Craft posted about by Kiki Van Eijk


this rug that Sister Diane posted from the new Crochet Me book

and without even realizing it i see a pattern here. guess i was drawn to circles this week.. happy friday!