Bohemian Raphsody...

Sweedeedee

2011-12-31T16:24:00.000-08:00

by Michael Hurley

First of all, if you're not checking out Cabin Porn, you're missing out! Epic amazingness...

And second, 2011 was the blurriest year of my life -- it just flew on by before I could even properly get acquainted with it! I am so grateful for all the new experiences I had this year in particular. I nabbed a new job (eh.), found myself with the sudden chance to rekindle an old passion (horses) and even randomly became utterly obsessed with something that I previously woulda said was thoroughly inconceivable for me...a baseball team (The Giants)!

All this has taught me that sometimes life really, truly hands us the unexpected and that it can be an awesome thing! Responding to how you feel deep in your heart, to what moves you, even if it's inexplicable, silly, or something you're unsure of (and even if it doesn't turn out as you'd hoped), is one large part of what makes life worth living. This year for me included major movement forward, lots of joy and then some frustrations too, but I'm ready for what's coming next and appreciate what I have. Thoughts for 2012:

1. More patience when it comes to life and where it's headed.

2. More listening, less talking. (Didn't I say something similar last year?! Still something to focus on. ;)

3. Find a job that is meaningful and pays the bills. (Isn't this everyone's quandry?)

4. Tidy up more often, continue to get ridda stuff and bring in only the essential.

5. Get my money outta that big, bad bank and into a proper credit union asap. One tiny way to give the govt the middle finger and I'm all for it!

6. As much horsemanship as the year will allow!

Happy 2012! Looking forward to all the astonishing, unexpected things that it will bring.

You Got To Walk That Lonesome Valley

2011-12-01T20:34:00.000-08:00

Aside from mooning over Inuit art lately, I also HAD to have this sweater from the lovely Sasha of Astral Boutique. It was too good to pass up...angora, plus all angles, plus harvesty colors, plus triangle buttons!? I mean, come on! A girl can always use another cardigan!

Ain't That Enough

2011-11-30T16:20:00.000-08:00

by Teenage Fanclub

Aside from riding, I have become more obsessed with Inuit art lately, especially stone prints from the Cape Dorset area. It's really hard to find prints of any kind from these makers, but there's an amazing one on ebay right now that I wish I had the dough for. I am lost in those owl eyeballs! The above piece is by Lucy Quinnuayuak.

More affordably, Pomegranate Press is offering some cards and ephemera by Cape Dorset artists, so I settled on a little card with this image by Kenojuak Ashevak:

Also into these embossed cards:

Go here to see 'em larger.

Simple, beautiful...this kind of work hits on all levels. I wish I could hang all of it all 'round my apt and be surrounded by sublimely rendered and fantastical birds!

To Live's To Fly

2011-11-30T15:37:00.000-08:00

by Townes Van Zandt

Been out riding Reno multiple times a week, and have fallen more and more in love with riding again. Being outside and hanging with such a gentlemanly creature, learning new things, galloping and spinning and climbing ridgelines -- it's all so much fun.

I think I wanna be a cowgirl when I grow up!

On a related note, if you have not seen the documentary Buck yet, about the stellar horseman, I highly recommend it. Natural Horsemanship has totally absorbed my mind the last few months, and Buck is one of its premier statesmen. Learning to foster partnership instead of brutally imposing one's will on a horse is a relatively new philosophy in the equestrian world, one long overdue.

Grinnin' in Your Face

2011-10-19T22:18:00.000-07:00

Well, these days that ol' fall fashion bug has bitten me hard and I'm utterly failing in my attempts to hold back from shopping too much...

Had to get this necklace to brighten up my fall colored outfits...

While I'm at it, I also am obsessing over this here necklace...

Oh etsy, you are my downfall tonight and always...

High, Low and In Between

2011-10-12T21:36:00.000-07:00

by TVZ

Native American porcupine quill pieces are beyond gorgeous and often complex, but I found these simple quill earrings that are equally fab...Striking, no?

Salvador Sanchez

2011-10-11T20:38:00.000-07:00

by Sun Kil Moon

Total omg.

On a more personal note...I've been drawn to pre-Columbian Latin American history and tradition ever since I first learned about it in high school.

Back then, when I was a naive and fully sheltered teenager, I went to the Yucatan to climb Chichen Itza, which itself was a completely magical experience I have never forgotten. I must say though, what struck me most on the trip was the poverty and chaos I witnessed around the area, and it broke my young heart, leaving a deep impact on me. It seems odd to say, but I haven't been back since, despite my only growing interest over the years in Mexican folk art and history. I have felt in the passing years that it's beyond time for me to go back and see the country and all its infinite realities with adult eyes.

Apeman

2011-10-07T21:34:00.000-07:00

by The Kinks

My favorite present day artist, Lis Timpone. To see the images larger, visit her website. If I could buy her prints they would cover my walls. Her stuff doesn't appear to be available anywhere for purchase, unfortunately.

I'll Fly Away

2011-10-05T19:54:00.000-07:00

(Still in the Gillian Welch mood...)

Saw a coworker wearing this necklace and was immediately obsessed! And look, there's lots of other hidden-knife necklaces too! I dunno, there's something intriguing and pleasing about carrying a clandestine blade around one's neck...

Six White Horses

2011-10-04T20:56:00.000-07:00

or, how I spent my summer....

First of all, I saw my heroes Gillian Welch and David Rawlings perform this song in person this weekend at the Bluegrass Festival and it was may-jor.

But anyway, this summer was momentous for me on many levels, chief among them due to the fact that I strapped on my Justin roper boots and started horseback riding again after a 20 (!) year hiatus.

Meet my new besties, Reno and Z. (Dirtier than I've ever seen them thanks to the rain yesterday and their favorite past time...)

Reno is a red dun Quarter Horse and I adore him. Total sweetsie. He is my main guy. I'm just riding for the sheer pleasure of it, starting basically from zero in a western saddle and bitless bridle and hoping to be mainly a trail rider once I am back in tip top shape. So much has changed in the horse world since I was a kid riding, and now there's something wonderful called Natural Horsemanship that I am a rapturous student of.

Life in the saddle is something I hope to never give up again! It's the perfect combination of so many things I love and it's also an unparalleled opportunity to build a relationship with a gorgeous, strong willed creature. Being able to feel to your bones the fact that an animal is giving its all and that you are communicating and moving together is incredible, exhilarating, and simply everything.

Oh! Sweet Nuthin'

2011-09-02T21:04:00.000-07:00

by Velvet Underground

omg.omg.omg.

Blame It On the Sun

2011-08-12T18:50:00.000-07:00

by Stevie Wonder

Erie Basin consistently has the most beautiful vintage jewelry around...not that I've even been to the Brooklyn shop in person! But I am always impressed and obsessed with the pieces, like this incredible necklace.

Gypsy

2011-08-09T15:01:00.001-07:00

Whew! This summer has been absolutely crazy, chock full of great things, some tougher things, lots of life.

Along with much of my free time, shopping and internet time have both gone out the window, for the most part! Though I have to go to a wedding in a little over a week and I had to have this dress:

Fantastical dress for a fantastical summer. Will try to post pics of the finished look once I have it in my hot little hands!

Lion Lair

2011-06-03T22:05:00.000-07:00

by Bonnie

I have a strong feeling I will become a clog-gal as I grow older and even find it odd I don't own a pair already. Wooden shoes are the best, are they not? These are particular faves, though I am not convinced they would work on my big feet...

Dia Del Deco

2011-05-26T18:54:00.000-07:00

The other night the bf had to go to a fancy event at City Club, an old SF meeting place downtown. I was extremely short on the details, and basically just going along to support him.

Me, with more lipstick than I've ever worn in my life:

Dress: thrifted
Belt: hand me down from a friend
Shoes: Seychelles
Bracelets: on sale at Cost Plus!

I had no idea what I was in for. Little did I know, we were stepping back in time into a Deco paradise. Below, an original Diego Rivera mural painted in the stairwell from 1931. It's one of the few on the West Coast and his first American mural, representing California.

Notice that the staircase is made up of little worker dudes...

Then there were these incredible stone carvings in the walls.

Each of the three elevators had different copper etchings. I only managed to photograph one set of doors, but each was spectacular!

And my favorite piece, the fireplace. One side is unfortunately covered for a screen used at the event, but the animals going down the right side are an eagle, foxes and a jaguar. Unbelievably gorgeous in person and so elegant. I know it doesn't look as incredible here, what with my super amateur photography skills, but such care was taken to decorate this place.

Needless to say, my jaw was open the whole time and I could not have been more wow-ed. I'm so glad places like this still exist in San Francisco! I gaped throughout the entire evening...

Cigarettes and Coffee

2011-05-16T09:36:00.001-07:00

by Otis Redding

Heavy case of the Mondays today, and you? Major insomnia last night. Was up 'near all night thinking about all the things you think about all through the night. But in the light of day, aside from exhaustion, all's well. One thing that did NOT keep me awake...

I must admit I broke all my rules to buy a pair of shoes yesterday that are gonna bring me through summer and fall:

I justified this purchase by telling myself I can wear these with dang near everything I got. A good pair of shoes for this gal is hard to find!

[Shoes spotted via the oddly and amazingly simpatico Compai...]

Cave of Forgotten Dreams

2011-05-11T14:55:00.000-07:00

Werner Herzog has a new film out called Cave of Forgotten Dreams and I can't recommend it enough. It's a documentary about the 35,000 year old paintings in the Chauvet Cave in France, a place so protected only a small group of scientists are allowed to enter once a year for about a week under strict rules.

I went without having seen any of the paintings or reading anything about the cave probably since it was in the news when they were rediscovered in 1994, which made it extra mind bending. Don't watch the preview -- just go and be completely awestruck by what came so long before us. Truly wonder-ful. You can even see it in 3-D! And as per usual in a Herzog doc, there are a few laughs too, and a touch of German- toned hyperbole.

I found the images staggering and couldn't get them out of my head for days after watching the film. Haunting.

Help Me Make It Through the Night

2011-05-11T12:05:00.000-07:00

First of all, can we all agree that this performance is so dang sexy? And Rita's outfit?? YES!

Second, and totally changing the subject, my mom has had one of these little chalet music/jewelry boxes out on her dresser since she was a little girl. I was always fascinated by it when I was a kid. It seemed like it could be magical and I loved the little rocks on the roof. It's kinda funny that I still dream my house someday will look just like this!

Bridges and Balloons

2011-05-08T14:09:00.000-07:00

Happy Mother's Day to the mamas!

Yesterday, in celebration of a mom-to-be, I went to a baby shower for my beloved cousin, who is due in late July, and I managed to convince that man o' mine take my first ever outfit shots (in a particularly unphotogenic corner of my apt -- something to work on) before heading to the blessed event...!

Dress: thrifted from Hot Couture in Santa Rosa years back
Belt: Community Thrift
Locket: vintage, gifted to me by a dear friend
Shoes: Steven by Steve Madden (it can be tough to thrift shoes when you got big ol' clompers like me! :)

And here's one of me with my exquisitely flat-faced kitty! His non-profile amuses me to no end. He is obsessed with licking faces.

I had forgotten I had this lovely frock, and it was missing a button down the center. My bf is my seamstress, thank goodness, so while I ran around getting ready he whipped up a fix by using a cuff button. Yes, my man is much craftier than me! :)

Sea Song

2011-04-30T13:45:00.000-07:00

by Robert Wyatt (live)

Ever since I made this post about a collection of Native American art, I have become interested in Inuit block and stone printing, something they learned from the Japanese in more modern times. This art catalog on ebay's cover really struck me. I've always been a big fan of this kind of printing in general and the primitive look of it, but I particularly like the Inuit focus on aspects of nature and abstraction. The stark quality of the style seems to lend itself especially well to what I imagine is a fairly stark life on the frozen tundra.

by Joe Talirunili

by Davidialuk Alasua Amittu

by Annie Kilabuk

Lonesome Road

2011-04-29T14:45:00.000-07:00

In my ever-continuing quest to turn my plain & lifeless 60s era apartment into a log cabin, we have:

He has a sweet little face, no? And just look at those purty wings!

Remember the Mountain Bed

2011-04-26T18:11:00.000-07:00

by Billy Bragg and Wilco, lyrics by Woody Guthrie

Love the little clouds in the centers of the links on this bracelet! What a beauty. I love copper's warmth.

Heaven

2011-04-22T14:29:00.000-07:00

Well, trawling the internets today I found Lauren Manoogian's unique and amazing leather jewelry. I am so into the freshness of these pieces, the fact that they would look great with pretty much everything, and heck, I just love a good bracelet...

Find this one here.

It would be so fun to stack a few of these on my wrists! So many of the styles I found were out of stock. They must be flying off the shelves at fancy stores! There's tons of color variations, too. I wish I had found out about these sooner. They probably don't fit my wrists anyway since, as previously noted, they are maddeningly a bit larger than most...and also, oh yeah... I'm on a buying moratorium for the moment...

Let's Dance

2011-04-20T14:34:00.000-07:00

cover by M. Ward

Oops, I did it again...No, I haven't been listening to Britney Spears (god forbid). I bought another Navajo rug. (Here's the first one I got.) I really wasn't supposed to spend any money...but it was pretty cheap and I couldn't resist. I really want a house chock full o' these suckers someday, and seeing as our apt is super tiny, I have pretty much have achieved that goal till we move somewhere bigger eventually!

And, to be honest, I broke my spending rule because the more I continue to decorate the space around me and my family with things that I love and that speak to me (and the bf and his son), the more I (and hopefully they) enjoy each day and time spent in our apt! It brightens my days and cozy-s up my nights! It seems so silly but it's absolutely true. Thinking back, I didn't really experience that in my childhood home, so this is a relatively new revelation for me.

Growing up, neither of my parents was into decorating for the simple sake of beauty or even personality (they still aren't). We just had what had been inherited or was plainly useful (and they kept everything forever). I have a complicated or maybe just odd relationship with "things" perhaps as a result, something that has been changing in positive ways over the past several years. Anyway, beauty and connection make such a real difference, not just when it comes to ethereal things in life like relationships (as I was taught when I was young), but also when it comes to "things." They really do. I realize that most people probably knew that all along! Ever since my bf and I moved in together 5 yrs ago, I feel like I am creating a real HOME for the first time, and home is extremely important to me. (My sign is Cancer.)

Now I will be on a for-reals shopping moratorium for a while, but that won't stop me from looking around...hard not to since I spend so much time online for/during my 2 jobs...and it's almost just as fun to look anyway!

For the Sake of the Song

2011-04-18T19:32:00.000-07:00

by Townes Van Zandt

Dudes, this is probably my dream dress. Truly wearable art. (Just don't look at the price...wah.)

Precious Things

2011-04-14T18:57:00.000-07:00

Oh, let's have a jewelry moment, shall we?

This necklace is awe-inducing.

Key necklace by sadie. Simple beauty.

Back when I ventured to the mall a few weeks ago, I saw an older lady rocking effing amazing snake earrings! They totally worked, too. Loved it, and haven't forgotten. These cobra earrings are not really similar to what she had, but they're still bad ass.

I can't have a post without some turquoise somewhere, can I?

Or something that comes from Mexico!

Laughing

2011-04-11T11:40:00.000-07:00

by Crosby

I give my parents a lot of credit -- they got my brother and I out and into the wilderness, even in cold and foggy weather, almost every weekend growing up, even when we were teeny tiny. They are huge hikers, and even spent their honeymoon partially in Yosemite (other part in Carmel Valley), the site of some of their first times spent together in high school, camping and backpacking, naturally.

Anyway, we were always at play in West Marin, whether it was at one of many beaches collecting shells and driftwood or in the woods collecting pinecones and feathers. My family is intricately involved in the nature that surrounds our particular part of the world and there is nowhere that feels more like home to me than out in Inverness, Bolinas, Lagunitas, Woodacre, Pt. Reyes, Bear Valley, etc.

As a result of those by-gone days, I have a serious soft spot for the 70s-era hiking gear my parents gleefully sported, and it's coming back into vogue lately it seems, at ridiculous prices. But it's fun to look, isn't it?

These items all from the most beautiful menswear store 'round the corner from me, Unionmade.

Grandma's Hands

2011-04-10T20:01:00.000-07:00

Ah, domestic life. My typically mellow bf actively hates our shoe "storage area" (if it could be called that -- more like where they are tossed chaotically by the door), and called on me to find some sort of basket that can contain them.

And I found these Portuguese reed baskets to obsess over.

They come in a gigantor size that would be perfect for sweetening the normally banal task of door-side shoe storage! And just look at 'em, so cute! It has been established that I love texture, color, and anything rustic and handmade and this hits on all levels, plus it's flexible for a tight space and goes with my Ghanian baskets. Pricey, to be sure, but being part Portuguese myself, I kinda can't resist.

Winterlong

2011-04-08T15:07:00.000-07:00

By Neil Young

This winter just keeps rolling along, even here in SF, and even though it's April already! It's freezing yet again today and I find myself nursing a cold, drinking hot chocolate, wishing I could curl up in bed and mulling over this cozy looking sweater from the always awesome Violet Folklore. This is the kind of simple get up I would wear, oh, every day!

Surf's Up

2011-04-06T10:44:00.000-07:00

by Brian Wilson

While on our recent trip to LA, we stayed in lovely Venice Beach, and of course that means we took a bike ride over to Abbot-Kinney, one of the main shopping streets there. Surfing Cowboys was far and away the most amazing spot along that drag. Truly to die for vintage furniture, and -- sparking my interest, of course -- an exceptional collection of vintage Native American jewelry. So exceptional, mind you, that I had to be dragged away and am still thinking about the pieces, most too small for my larger-than-average wrists and fingers. I was informed by the staff that Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall's daughter is the one who selects and brings in their incredible Native American pieces. Like her parents, gal's got taste for days!

All these pics are from Surfing Cowboys' website -- I didn't take any pics inside myself...too shy!

Their stuff is the real deal, folks.

The Enchanted Tiki Room

2011-04-01T17:50:00.000-07:00

It's very possible that I've gone too far this time, but bear with me here...

We took a little jaunt to LA this past week to see some friends and family, and while there, the bf and I went to a place called Olvera Street, where you can find an array of Mexican crafts, mostly of not super-great quality; I still had a fantastic time there (and came away with two pairs of awesome leather shoes!), and one of the sudden visions I had involved getting this ceramic toucan you can hang from your ceiling, imagining it in our bedroom...

Maybe I spent too much time in the Tiki Room at Disneyland as a kid, but this little guy seemed like such a fun thing to have in a bedroom! Now that he's home though, I am realizing that one side of my room, above our bed, is decorated like this mostly, fairly subdued and going for a lodge-y feel. Fitting the toucan in is a bit head scratching.

The other side of the bedroom wall, the one we face from the bed and clearly where the toucan would end up, has a super brightly colored Otomi embroidery (kind of like the one above, only much better), several witchy Huichol yarn pieces and other assorted ephemera. So you see, the two halves of the room don't exactly, er...go together, though both make me extremely happy (luckily, the bf goes along with it!). I've been trying to bridge the gap, not make it greater...Would the vibrant and sorta silly Mr. Toucan just take it too far over the top? I'm mulling it over.

After all, if we don't use the poor guy in our room, I'm sure he'll have a happy home in my stepson's bedroom!

Withered and Died

2011-03-21T15:59:00.000-07:00

by Richard and Linda Thompson

As promised, here are some selections from the Elkus Family's jewelry...

Sewee Sewee

2011-03-21T15:05:00.000-07:00

by Mountain Man

Over the past few days, I've still been slowly going through the Elkus Family archive online and I can't resist sharing more here...the artwork is incredibly inspiring and from many different tribes from all across North America and all pre-1960! I'm obsessed...it's totally timeless and transporting stuff. This is just a sampling of the collection, and I haven't even gotten to the jewelry yet! Jawdropping.

Ain't No Way

2011-03-21T11:02:00.000-07:00

by Aretha Franklin

Such perfect little arrow earrings! As seen on Oh Joy!

Rudy Foolish

2011-03-16T15:31:00.001-07:00

by Superwolf

This weekend I got free passes to the California Academy of Sciences in Golden Gate Park. As a child, this was the most magical place of all to my brother and I and we spent countless hours lost in its labyrinthine exhibits. Truly, a huge, huge influence on my life.

They tore down the old building about 5 years ago (it wasn't earthquake-safe, so they said) and built a new, thoroughly modern museum. Though I've been several times now, it doesn't hold the same majesty the old one held, and I don't think it's because I am older now. Simply put, it both holds less stuff, and modernity has stripped the soul of the place.

That said, it's not all bad, of course, and one of the major highlights of this latest visit for me was the unexpected discovery of a small exhibit called Evolving Traditions: Southwest Native Pottery and Silver, which produced much "ooh-ing" and "aaaaah-ing" from me.

Here I learned of the Elkus family, who collected thousands of artifacts while being legal advocates for Indians. Their collection is now owned by the Academy and is incredible, as you can see from the images included here (though some of the images are of objects not on display at this exhibit)! Glad to see the Academy highlight subject matter such as this.

Always See Your Face

2011-03-15T18:44:00.000-07:00

by Love

I got a gorgeous vintage woven rug from Venezuela for Christmas from my amazing and thoughtful friend Kelly, and of course, my cat took to it immediately, as cats do with delicate and precious things that lie on the floor...

Despite hooking several threads in his over-eager claws and the laborious process of fixing the poor rug, I couldn't adore this little bugger more. And the rug is super fab too, now decorating the floor next to our bed! Love waking up to its super cheery colors!

Save Me a Place

2011-03-09T17:59:00.000-08:00

performed by Vetiver

I die for this rug. Seriously? Seriously.

Get Up

2011-03-07T08:46:00.000-08:00

by Sleater-Kinney

Going to the mall is a rare occasion for me, and when I go, it's kind of a mind-bender. I think because I am not surrounded by mall culture, living in the big city, I find it interesting, and due to my limited exposure I always have a good time there taking it all in. It's very weird to me that some people shop only the mall. 'Most everything there feels like such a waste to me, except the frozen yogurt, of course!

Anyway, I went so I could hit up JCrew to check out this shirt, which was not good in person. So glad I went and saw it for real! But I ended up quenching my thirst for stripey goodness with these tanks instead in navy and red -- the fit is incredible and I feel like I should be headed to Rockaway Beach with the Ramones in 'em! I don't buy brand new clothing much, but I highly recommend them!

I'm gonna pair the red tank with my old brass u.s. navy locket, some cutoffs, maybe black espadrilles and ride my bike along the shore! Sunny season, here we come!

Hey, That's No Way To Say Goodbye

2011-03-02T13:45:00.000-08:00

sung by Roberta Flack

This alabaster lamp has haunted me for a couple of months now. I think it is the most beautiful I have ever seen. It's almost too elegant for my humble apartment, but maybe that's why I love it so much -- it could add a touch of class where it is needed! ;)

It was sold already when I first laid eyes on it, so from time to time I've been searching for something similar...to no avail. It seems a lamp like this of such high quality is tough to come by, but I am willing to be patient! Here's one that's for sale now that's not bad:

Still, I think I'm gonna just sit back and look around for a while before I spring on anything...

My Love Will Never Die

2011-02-25T14:58:00.000-08:00

by Otis Rush (best vocal ever, right?)

Would absolutely love to have an incredible Kuba textile like this one decorating a wall in my home someday!

Drain You

2011-02-23T13:53:00.000-08:00

by Nirvana

My grandpa was a construction worker and I remember him coming home after his long days with his beautifully dented lunchbox, similar to the one below, and Stanley thermos, much like the one pictured below that.

For my bf's birthday this past year, I asked my grandma and grandpa to root out the old thermos and give it to my man, and they did! It now sits proudly atop our fridge, but I am hoping he will use it for his new job sooner or later. My grandpa said he ran over it with his truck at least once, but it still survived! They don't make 'em like they used to, that's for sure. It's a little piece of family history in our home.

White as Diamonds

2011-02-19T21:28:00.000-08:00

by the gorgeous and talented Alela Diane

Feather mobiles are so sweet! Love that the stick has lichen on it.

Evangeline

2011-02-18T20:41:00.000-08:00

So thrilled -- after passing on this Navajo rug due to the high price, I scored this rug tonight on ebay for a lot cheaper, and it's exactly the sawtooth pattern I wanted in the first place! Glad I held out. So I guess my collection really starts here.

I also received and hung this pinecone garland over our bed tonight. Our apt is getting lodge-ier by the second and I'm loving it! (A busy Friday night, no? ;)

Waters of March

2011-02-18T15:23:00.000-08:00

I'm so addicted to pillows...agh! What is it with us gals and our pillow fixation? My bf is always wondering why! I don't have a good explanation, but I nonetheless wish I had unlimited dough to fund my obsession and pile our house with 'em. Found these Uzbek beauties today...

Angel in the Snow

2011-02-16T12:18:00.000-08:00

by Elliott Smith

It's fa-fa-freezing again here in SF! Hail, even -- as close to snow as we get!

Warming things up, it's also pretty much a given that if it's Latin American, a textile, and embroidered, I'm gonna love it. Here's another example of this in effect:

A gorgeous bag from Spool 72...

Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground

2011-02-14T12:14:00.000-08:00

(One of my favorite videos ever! Creative to the max!)

Happy Valentine's Day! We're not up to much this year -- the boyfriend is starting a new job today, which waaaay trumps any Hallmark holiday! But I am going to make his favorite cake in Valentine colors as a surprise when he comes home from work. Do you have fun plans?

Even though this year's vday may not be the most romantic personally, romance was still on my mind when I saw this beautiful, intricate locket...

It's the jewelry version of this drawing...!

found via Hey, We Made It!

Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters

2011-02-09T13:36:00.000-08:00

by Elton John

If it's possible to die from boredom I must report I am near death at this point here at work...thus, shopping! Or, at least, looking...

This jcrew top is tres chic! And the buttons down the back! Can you even imagine? How fun! The olive colored option is my fave.

He War

2011-02-08T16:36:00.000-08:00

Just finished reading a tragical Cat Power tell-all book my brother gave me for Christmas and have had this song stuck in my head for days...

Also, didn't get the job I interviewed for the other day, but things are looking up because the boyfriend scored a mid-year replacement teaching job -- starting Monday! Awright!

Moving on...

Saipua and Martha Stewart have finally gotten to me on the urn side of things. I wanna see this piled high with bright spring and summer fruit on my counter!

(Wah! Just saw it got sold out from under me! Will be on the lookout for something similar.)

Littlest Birds

2011-02-05T10:07:00.000-08:00

by Jolie Holland

Saw this and thought of Clover instantly, Missa! Of course there are kid-sized teepees on etsy -- why didn't I think about it before?

Glen Tipton

2011-01-27T17:45:00.001-08:00

by Sun Kil Moon

I am quite the nervous nell tonight...I have a job interview tomorrow and I want it to go perfectly!

To calm my nerves (and procrastinate about prepping myself) I spent some time finding some beautiful jet pieces on etsy!

I have a real thing for Victorian hand pieces right now. Not that I own any, but I am thinking of someday starting a collection. As this brooch demonstrates, they are graceful and mysterious.

This mourning locket is not photographed so well, but I love the image of the downward-flowers on the jet case. Romantic, tragic, haunting...

p.s. My absolute favorite place to drool over vintage jewelry is Erie Basin, a shop one of my best friends introduced me to. I wish they both were in SF closer to me instead of so far across the country!

A Rose for Emily

2011-01-26T13:12:00.000-08:00

by The Zombies

I don't generally like illustrations with people in them to decorate my home, but this French fairy tale beauty really struck me today.

Click here to look at it in more glorious detail. Patterns, patterns, patterns!

Refuse from a Silver Phial

2011-01-22T13:35:00.000-08:00

by Gene Clark

Life has been absolutely flying by lately, faster than ever! I can't believe we're almost through with January already...what!? Anyway, I hate to be such a blatant copycat, but when I saw this necklace at Indian Summer Vintage (an awesome blog, btw!), I fell head over heels at first sight...

Navajo silver beads...incredible! And I managed to find and win (by the skin of my teeth!) a similar one of my own on ebay. I truly couldn't help myself. It hasn't arrived yet but I am thrilled and see it not just as jewelry but also as an inspirational piece of art that will hang on my wall when it's not hanging around my neck!

In the Lost and Found

2011-01-12T13:57:00.000-08:00

by Elliott Smith
This song has been stuck in my head for 2 days straight!

Been eyeing this Navajo rug on ebay the past few days. It's small enough to fit in our apt, which is saying something! And the serrated pattern is pretty great. Still, the price isn't great and I need to try to resist for now. Someday when I have a larger, hardwood floored home I dream of covering it with Navajo rugs, though. Tempting to really start my collection now!

I have a beautiful Native American rug in my bedroom on the wall already, and, as I research Native American textiles more and more, I think it could be a Chimayo rug. And, oh, I got the most gorgeous Venezuelan rug for Christmas from a dear one! Pics (with the cat, who took to it instantly, and unfortunately) to come! It's raining textiles in our home! :)

Simple Man

2011-01-06T11:14:00.000-08:00

Or simple woman, as it were...My fingers are so freezing! There's been a cold snap the past few days and I keep forgetting that gloves are a viable option! We don't need em too often here, you see, so I need to dig around and find em. Anyway, this incredible sweater would help too right about now...

Sorry for the tiny pic -- click here to see it much bigger, along with a beautiful selection of other options. A Cowichan sweater seems like the coziest thing in the world today!

Wasn't Born To Follow

2011-01-05T13:06:00.000-08:00

by The Byrds

The pattern and colors of this sweater are so cheery and appealing! Adorable.

One For the Road

2010-12-30T09:29:00.000-08:00

Actual New Year's Resolutions:

1. Travel more. Try to make it to Santa Fe.

2. Continue to work on fully realizing and appreciating my life right now and not being so worried about the uncertainty of the future.

3. More time in West Marin, contemplating and hiking once the knee is better.

4. Get rid of more stuff and have less stuff. Buy and keep only what I truly love. The real challenge is two collectors living in a small apt and keeping up with this...

5. Continue to work on spending more time with my own little family and establishing our own traditions.

6. Sleep more, talk less!

7. Breathe, deeply and often (it's so easy to forget)!

What are some of your resolutions for 2011?

'81

2010-12-24T16:00:00.001-08:00

It's Christmas Eve and I am supposed to be working but instead I admit I have been trawling etsy for the past half hour or so and I turned up some adorable suede booties! Exhibit A:

Exhibit B:

I'm quite sure these would go with pretttty much everything that I own, but I am also quite sure that I gotta hold off...for now...

Incidentally, I have had these Minnetonka mocs for about 6 years and think they are the greatest!

I had a pair in pink when I was super young and thought the same thing back then! Though my color taste has evolved somewhat since then, some things never change.

When the River Meets the Sea

2010-12-22T11:07:00.001-08:00

Funny how topsy turvy life is. It never ceases to amaze me.

The bf broke his kneecap last week. No insurance. And he graduated from college. And we're prepping for Christmas. And I had to apply for a job opening I'd been waiting for. And we're taking care of the bf's son through Christmas. And I have no days off except Christmas itself and the day after. It's been totally insane. My mind has never been so scrambled! I'm taking each day as it comes and trying to break even that down to moment to moment. It's making all this easier to manage. I do love the Christmas season, even in this whirlwind.

My favorite Christmas song.

Hoping you all have wonderful holidays! Hope we all get a little respite somewhere in there and make the most of it!

Traction in the Rain

2010-12-11T23:37:00.000-08:00

It's too hot in the apt to sleep tonight. Back to Christmas shopping for the bf. It can be difficult, as I mentioned before, but I think I am done at last!

Of interest, perhaps, to you: I bought this book for him tonight, a book of dreams! I can't believe I'd never heard of Lloyd Kahn before somewhere along the line -- he lives in Bolinas and wrote the famous book Shelter in the early 70s. (I'm loving his blog now!) I've picked up Builders of the Pacific Coast multiple times at my favorite shop, Gravel and Gold, and been totally taken -- the houses and spirits shown within are just what make my little heart sing (and the bf will agree)! The images resonate with what I've grown up around and what we hope our future dream home will be someday -- derived from and in harmony with nature, a bit rough edged, and hewn with love. It seems like just the kind of fantastical book we need to have in our home -- utterly inspiring. I have to admit this gift is as much for me as it is for him! I may post more about it once I've read the whole thing.

Other Christmas gifts I'm giving are super man-specific so I won't go into great detail here...Giants tickets for the three of us and a Nitty Gritty vinyl cleaner (we are both huge record collectors), other assorted odds and ends. Last year we had a gift-free Christmas, which was good, and this year I overdid it, maybe to compensate? It's always a bit of a trial, attempting to figure out what will be a hit for the man who claims he doesn't want anything. But the payoff is grand, seeing his surprised and sweet face!

And, thanks to Lloyd's blog, I have spotted yet another book I would love to pick up eventually:

Waterloo Sunset

2010-12-11T17:23:00.000-08:00

The bf and I have planned a bitty one night getaway to Calistoga in the new year! I'm thrilled!

It's the (relatively) cheap time of year to hit up Indian Springs and we've made it a bit of a pilgrimage the past few years. Normally outlandish, between Nov and March you can swim in the gorgeous hot spring fed pool for just $200 a night-- which is really two full days, since you can stay till 5pm after you check out.

I'm not a spa girl at all; in fact, I have never been to any other one or even used any of the actual spa services at IS, but I find laying in the warm water for basically two days straight, watching the fog slowly creeping over the dark, forested ridge lines and the incredible billowing sparrow "clouds" that open and undulate in the sky to be the absolute best kind of refueling a gal can do. It's worth the price of admission, esp when your grandma is treating you for a Christmas present!

My great grandparents used to come to this very spot way back in the day to stay in the cottages and get their hot spring on. I love that.

and p.s. There's a great Native American jewelry store on the main drag in town. I often come home with a treasure or two.

Can't You Hear Me Knocking

2010-12-09T17:59:00.001-08:00

by The Rolling Stones

Also having problems not buying this...for my cat. A teepee for cats? Honestly, while I can freely admit I am obsessed with my cat, I truly don't usually get so silly about cat stuff (he is as happy as anything in a plain ol' grocery bag), but the plaid underside of the bearskin rug is the extra kicker. Too much! And my cat lives and dies for cardboard or any paper product, really. He would be delighted. Don't know where we have the room in the apt, though.

And aren't these models just beyond gorgeous? I think they are Burmese. Sweetfaces!

(First saw the teepee on design*sponge.)

I Put A Spell On You

2010-12-09T17:37:00.000-08:00

by Screamin' Jay Hawkins

Oy vey, this freakin' blanket is making me crazy! It's wayyyy the wrong season to buy something so outlandishly expensive and not needed for ones' self...but I am so fully tempted!

Crap.

Wear Your Love Like Heaven

2010-12-06T15:15:00.000-08:00

by Donovan

In the spring, I was on a True Blood bender. Lafayette is my favorite character and his home, with its various religious symbols, plus a prominent Virgin Mary shrine, as well his general attraction to a mutation of magic and mysticism in the sticky South, got me thinking about Voodoo, a mixture of African and Christian religions, which eventually led me to Haitian Vodou Flags.

As seen here in photos from the home of folk art collectors, the flags are hand sequined and each design presents mosaic-style images of different gods that inhabit the Vodou spirit world.

And here's another from the Museum of Craft and Folk Art in LA.

The flags are fascinating to me -- the symbolism, and also the use of sequins! The sparkle adds such an unexpected and reverential quality to them. They can be quite expensive, but another way to have a little Vodou in your home is with these papier mache ornaments. Proceeds go to Haitian relief.

The one on the right represents Papa Legba, guardian of the crossroads. I'm feeling particularly drawn to him these days!

Paths of Victory

2010-12-02T17:45:00.001-08:00

Bob Dylan cover by Cat Power

Lately all I've been doing is dreaming about taking a road trip to Santa Fe via Arizona. Actually, I've been thinking about it for about 2 years straight at this point, but in the past few weeks I've been checking out more books about Navajo weaving, pre Columbian art and adobe decor that have further whetted my already ravenous appetite.

No idea when I will actually make it there, but I have a feeling I will pass out with joy when I finally reach the promised land of the Museum of International Folk Art, Santa Fe Indian Market and cliff dwellings, among a billion other special and sweet things.

I read about something that sounds totally amazing today: The Hubbell Trading Post. It's in northeastern Arizona and is the oldest continuously operating Navajo trading post, now operated by the National Park Services. Definitely will be on my list of stops along the way!

Have I mentioned I am totally over my so-called "career," mostly cause I can't make enough money to actually live, even with 2 jobs? I'm open to suggestions...I don't really know what to do with myself at this point aside from run away to Santa Fe.

Let's Move To The Country

2010-11-27T16:21:00.000-08:00

by Smog

My apartment's decor is something that happened organically, just me gathering things I loved (and that the bf approves of!), until I realized one day finally where all these textiles, rich colors and woodsy influences actually came from! It was a head smacking moment -- of course! I was inadvertently recreating in my own small way the interior of the Ahwahnee Hotel, an important sentimental place for myself and my family.

Anyway, I'm thinking of changing a few things for the better. The bf and I have a Native American rug hung above our bed, sorta like the one above, and two cheap wrought iron sconces with candles on either side. I am thinking of switching up the sconces, replacing them with these rustic beauties from etsy:

I've also had some garlands draped above the rug (from Daiso, my favorite Japanese variety store, originally!) that are tiny pinecones, star anise and cloves twined together with gold thread, but after a few years I've realized they don't stand out enough, and that if you are not close to them, they actually appear to be bits of dirt! So I am considering replacing them with real pinecone garlands, now that they are more readily available since it's almost the holidays. I like this one:

If I lived out in the country I'd probably make my own, but seeing as I'm city bound, without any outings to pinecone country planned any time soon (sob!), I may just purchase one instead.

Above all, I want my bedroom to be as warm and cozy as possible, considering it is a dark, popcorn ceiling-ed cavern. I guess gussying it up to be reminiscent of the Ahwahnee is my small way of making it feel like home.

p.s. Isn't this song so romantic? I love it! Hadn't heard it in a while.

Sleepless Nights

2010-11-24T16:41:00.000-08:00

by The Everly Brothers

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving, though we got a jump on things and celebrated last night with our own at-home Turkey Day, something the boyfriend invented a few years back so that we would be able to have our own leftovers! It was exquisite -- he cooked everything, and perfectly! It was a quiet, fun respite before tomorrow's more frenetic extended family feast. It's a such a maddeningly busy time of year.

This candelabra is my dream table decor for the holidays -- heck, for any time of year! It's by a New York florist, Emily Thompson Flowers, and they also have the most gorgeous menorah I've ever seen, if menorahs are your holiday thing:

Simply stunning. Hanukkah starts the second, I think, but for now, Happy Thanksgiving!

Clouds

2010-11-10T12:31:00.001-08:00

by Quasi

There's a new shop, Big Things, opening in SF on 17th and Capp and I checked out their website today and came across these fab bandannas.

What's with my bandanna obsession lately? It's getting real! And Yosemite, constellations and a cloud diagram?! How's a girl to decide? One of each to decorate a wall, perhaps?

Engine

2010-11-08T15:56:00.000-08:00

I've established here that one of my favorite stores in the city is UnionMade. I pop in there all the time and a few weeks back I saw this beautiful bracelet.

I couldn't get it out of my head.

Nearly all the men in my family are or were carpenters and construction workers of some sort. Before I was born my father inherited a tiny second home overlooking the bay that has been in the family since the '30s but was built long before that. He rents it out and has always done all the work and renovating himself. Long ago I remember my dad tearing up some portion of the house and showing me the square nails he was finding with pride. It meant that the house was even older than we thought, since square nails were last used around the early 1900s. Ever since then I've had a fascination with square nails and their beauty.

The "nail" for this cuff is a railroad spike. So simple -- weighty yet elegant.

Day of the Animals

2010-11-07T16:59:00.000-08:00

Now that Halloween has passed, we are officially at the time of year that inevitably hurtles full force toward the holidays, and with that comes the time when the difficult shopping for my boyfriend begins. He seems like the most laid back guy on earth, and in most ways he is, but at the same time, this is a man who felt the need to buy and iron AND an ironing board for our tiny-ass apt! (Wrinkled clothes are a-ok with me.) I mean to say, he's particular about certain things, gifts included. His usual refrain is, "don't get me anything," which leaves me to my own devices.

Something he loves more than ironing is the movie Day of the Animals from 1977. It's exactly what you think it is: the animals strike back against unsuspecting humans! So over the top! Kitchy horror and Leslie Nielsen flicks are my dude's thing for sure! So I am considering getting him a vintage movie poster. It's kind of bad ass and will even go with our lodge-y decor!

Winter Is Blue

2010-10-29T17:09:00.000-07:00

by the beautiful Vashti Bunyan

I'm having the hardest time getting any real work done today. The air is crisp with scattered drips of rain and I have been crunching fuji apples non-stop and letting time drip past slowly. I am angry my beloved Mondo lost Project Runway and I am frankly weary of my daily grind, even though it's not all that bad when I realllllly think about it.

On to much more important things! I had already decided not to send Christmas cards this year, since I am trying to save money (hah!). I do love Christmas cards so much, though, both giving and receiving! It was with great pride that I sent out my first set 4 years ago. I felt like a proper adult with my own real, live family and a home to call our own! I'd made it! I'm such a paper product fiend.

So today, I saw these adorable Rifle Christmas cards are sold in boxes that come out to $2 a card...hard to resist, though I am for the moment...

I am resolved to get out of this mental rut. Once I am done "working" I will attempt to thoroughly clean my house (hah again!), get rid of the clutter, and set my mind free!

Age Old Blue

2010-10-27T19:33:00.000-07:00

by Alela Diane

These crystals from Little Doe are not messing around -- they are serious chunks of hunky matter! I love them. It's killing me that I can't upload the big sized pics on the site. Just go there and have a look!

Chase Cohl is the lady behind Little Doe and she also designs accessories such as these:

Although there is more than a touch of LA-trust fund hipster to all this, I gotta admit I love her looks. Feathers, crystals, velvet, you say? I'm easy like Sunday morning.

Give Him a Great Big Kiss

2010-10-26T10:58:00.000-07:00

by Astoria's own Shangri-Las

Two of my dearest friends happen to be proud residents of Queens, NY. And one of them will be getting this bandanna for Christmas this year!

You Muses Assist

2010-10-24T00:38:00.000-07:00

by Alasdair Roberts

Ever since I saw this image of the inside of Yves San Laurent's home, I have been captivated by and paid special attention to y-shaped branches and objects.

And so when I saw this shaman's wand, well...I'm into it, even if it seems kinda out there. I do love a quartz crystal and driftwood, so seeing them together...it works.

Landslide

2010-10-20T09:53:00.001-07:00

by Fleetwood Mac

Yosemite looms large in my memory. As a child we made a yearly jaunt every spring and it remains my favorite place on earth, and one of the most evocative of times past. Having breakfast at the Ahwahnee Hotel was always a highlight on our trips. I spent countless hours exploring both the interior and the grounds and its intricacies have been etched in my mind.

The decor in my apartment today is in many ways influenced by its design. I'm always looking for more ways to create the feeling of being in Yosemite in my tiny place (which is hilarious when I think about it -- our apt is so tiny and dark!) and just found out that Pendleton has a special Ahwahnee blanket! Love it.

A Little Bit of Rain

2010-10-18T19:46:00.000-07:00

by the inimitable Karen Dalton

Every house needs some driftwood. Yes, please!

Colorado Girl

2010-10-18T11:00:00.000-07:00

by Townes Van Zandt

I got a new plain ol' Balinese black shell yesterday, and am now looking for the perfect wooden necklace to compliment it. A few options:

Option 1 is gorge!

Option 2 is muy expensivo, but so striking! It reminds me of shark's teeth, which is a good thing!

Option 3 is pretty but a touch too short for my needs.

And then there's option 4!

All My Rowdy Friends Have Settled Down

2010-10-12T17:33:00.000-07:00

cover by Elliott Smith

I have been obsessing all day about this clean, simple and beautiful shirt available in two colors, white and tan, created by Wintercheck Factory. Total perfection!

Lovecats

2010-10-11T14:01:00.001-07:00

Well, here he is! I can't even put into words what my cat means to me! He's the sweetest, most special little guy.

I think he would like one of these cat beds to snuggle in (that's not him in there):

I love how they are woven and resemble a basket. You can get em in any color right here!

Keep On the Sunny Side

2010-10-07T19:11:00.000-07:00

by the Carter Family

Want. Need. Contemplating...

Too Late For Goodbyes

2010-10-05T18:07:00.000-07:00

I'm looking for something a tad classier to carry to work every day and this tote from LL Bean seems to do the trick. May ask for it for Christmas (in olive). Sorry for the tiny-ish pic -- it was the best I could do!

While I was there I noticed LL Bean has some truly beautiful and fairly affordable bags, for the ladies and dudes also!

Thinking about getting this duffle for my man for Christmas as well! LL Bean bags all around!

Into My Arms

2010-10-02T17:41:00.001-07:00

I got some earrings that are remarkably similar to these (a bit smaller and simpler) the other day at Polanco, an amazing store in Hayes Valley.

As far as I can tell, this is a traditional style of jewelry named "pajaritos" (tiny birds) made in Guanajuato, Mexico. It's delicate, sorta Victorian, hand made and absolutely stunning. I saw bracelets, pendants and a mind boggling assortment of these beauties, all different yet all with the same motif. The image here doesn't do these earrings justice. They are very intricate.

Here's a couple more examples:

This is a beautiful ring!

And here's a pendant:

I'll See You Again

2010-09-29T16:04:00.000-07:00

by Roy Harper

This sweet little banner necklace can be personalized however you like!

Watching the River Run

2010-09-28T16:32:00.000-07:00

Gorgeous porcelain feathers...these could be used way beyond Christmas...

Homeless

2010-09-25T21:00:00.000-07:00

Speechless about this sparrow-patterned dress.

On the Way Home

2010-09-23T10:15:00.001-07:00

Now that fall has officially arrived, I've started to think about getting cozy in some plaids (kind of like one of my idols, Neil Young), which makes me think of American heritage brands like Pendleton and Woolrich.

Woolrich jacket.

Pendleton shift dress with chain belt.

Love this hooded Pendleton jacket!

Blues Run the Game

2010-09-22T15:38:00.000-07:00

by Jackson C. Frank

Omg, speaking of shoes, these boots are aaaaamazing! Oh, the places they'd go!

Fight Test

2010-09-22T15:11:00.000-07:00

Love these shoes from Osborn Handcrafted! Such beautiful fabric! This company's products have been making the rounds on the 'net, but now these beauties are on sale.

Silver White Light

2010-09-21T22:04:00.000-07:00

by Terry Reid

Totally obsessing over laurel wreaths lately and this laurel wreath necklace in this month's Lucky knocked me out! This piece is amazing all the way round. In fact, I kinda want all of these to wear at once, perhaps?

Fleur Crest necklace.

Griffin Crest necklace.

Street Spirit

2010-09-13T11:23:00.000-07:00

I'm in the market for some oxford heels to complete my fall looks. As I've stated previously, finding vintage shoes in my size is dang near impossible, so I am checking out online possibilities...

These from Seychelles seem like the safe, easy and versatile bet.

I also wanna point out that Bass has some well priced, awesome fall shoes! I was surprised by how good they are. These won't work for my needs, but they are so sweet.

Unfortunately these Nicole heels don't come in black, but they sure are adorable!

The search continues!

Demolicion

2010-09-10T19:57:00.001-07:00

I assume that my readers (all three of ya!) are mostly women. So much of fashion is focused on the female form, but a store that opened up around the corner from me less than a year ago got me thinking...what would I dress like if I were a boy?

The store, UnionMade, has the most flawlessly curated selection of menswear I have ever seen. Wolverine boots like my dad used to wear, French stripey shirts, ruddy work shirts, impeccably tailored pants, jeans in the perfect wash and cut, bags and backpacks...amazing, timeless stuff. Being in the shop was the first time I have ever even been truly jealous of menswear that I can think of! It ain't cheap, but this is clothing that will last a lifetime and never wear out or go out of style, and you gotta love that!

And then we have Mondo from this season of Project Runway. His entire look and aesthetic is so inspiring to me! It changes quite a bit in each episode, to be sure, but the core of his look and inspirations, from the pompadour and horn rim glasses to the fact that he sleeps with a Pee Wee Herman doll next to his bed -- I am just completely captivated by his style every week! I only wish I had the creativity and balls (!) to cultivate, let alone pull off, such a striking look.

If I were a guy, part of me would want to have a rough and tumble lumberjack look, and part of me would be feeling the rockabilly/skate punk look. What would your look be?

Beechwood Park

2010-09-10T15:56:00.000-07:00

by the Zombies, of course

Imitation is definitely the sincerest form of flattery! Forgive me, but I am still stuck on The Uniform Project and these harlequin socks instantly burned through my brain! I so want to copy this whole outfit...not sure it'd be as cute on a gal with long, wavy brown locks instead of that adorable black bowl cut, but hey, I'm up to try!

The socks come in three color options and I happen to like these best, for fall especially. So freaking sweet!

The Uniform Project

2010-09-09T16:20:00.000-07:00

I don't know if you've already heard about The Uniform Project, since it's kinda been all over the interwebs, but just in case you have not, Sheena Mathiekan decided, with the help of a friend, to design a staple dress and wear it every single day for one entire year, styling it up each morning, as an "excersize in sustainability." Even better, the project was also conceived as a way to raise money for the Akanksha Foundation, which helps educate underprivileged children in India.

The project is over now, and has been for a few months, but over the year I found myself checking in with it every so often to gape at the crazy creativity happening. It's not only captivating but also very inspiring!

Anyway, I just found out you can now get your very own version of the dress she wore -- totally awesome! It's $150, which seems fair for something you could wear the heck out of, and some of the money goes to her charity. I just might ask for one of these for Christmas. Heck, I might want it before Christmas so I can wear it to some of the holiday functions!

The Breeze

2010-09-07T16:07:00.000-07:00

by quix*o*tic

This sweater is an absolute autumn dream to me -- the color, the texture, large buttons, everything! Why, oh why must it be so small (well, really, so short!)? Snap it up for yourself in the Astral Boutique...

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun

2010-09-01T12:49:00.000-07:00

Just ordered these cute booties from Ruche. Perfect fall footwear.

Also, wanna say that my song choices from here on out may or may not have anything to do with what I am posting about...sometimes you just wanna have fun!

Akoko ba

2010-08-28T18:50:00.000-07:00

Just got one of these Ghanian baskets from a corner store to corral my magazine obsession. I'm feeling right proud of myself -- something beautiful that is also storage? Work!

The Whale Has Swallowed Me

2010-08-27T13:06:00.000-07:00

I don't know an avid Mad Men viewer who has emerged untouched by the incredible sets and costuming of the show. I get giddy each Sunday, eagerly anticipating the next episode, its flawless writing and its shot of mid-century goodness. Perhaps in part I like the decor because where I grew up a lot of things had been built in the early 60s and not much had changed. It's a bit like going home. Anyway...

Watercolor dress

Ancient ship necklace

Geometric dress with neck-tie

Am I crazy? I think this cave-paintings dress is aaaamaazing!

Glass bird dish

Abstract line dress

Angel

2010-08-26T16:17:00.000-07:00

Not in the mood to appropriately match the post to music today! More in the mood to just stick what's on my mind there instead...Can you tell I'm tired?

Such a sweet little charm bracelet!

And such a lovely tea towel!

These napkins are pretty fab too!

p.s. where can I watch the Tusk documentary in full?? It's a seemingly lifelong quest.

Cactus Tree

2010-08-25T10:14:00.000-07:00

I'm drawn to things that have handmade qualities, pattern, texture and bright colors, and a sense of mythology too, so it makes sense that I've become interested in Huichol indian crafts. Huichol people live in North Western Mexico, far up in the mountains.

They make impossibly beautiful beaded designs, pressing the beads into beeswax and using patterned symbols to speak of their religion which has three main components: deer, corn and peyote. You can see the deer embedded in the jaguar's cheek and the prayer bowl has deer surrounding a flower center that represents peyote.

They also make yarn drawings, which tell stories about their system of myths, usually having to do with tribal shamans communicating with animals or aspects of nature, or the gods of the sun, moon and fire.

It's fascinating stuff. The pieces I have were found at Scarlet Sage Herb Co. on Valencia and Mixcoatl Arts and Crafts on 24th, both among my favorite stores in the city.

Wild Horses

2010-08-22T20:18:00.000-07:00

cover by Flying Burrito Bros.

I've always been a nostalgic person, and as I continue to decorate my own apartment, I keep looking back to things that I loved as a kid. The most blatant example of this is my using much-adored illustrations from childhood books as art in my home.

Paul Goble's incredible artistry was seared into my brain as a young girl. This illustration is from The Girl Who Loved Wild Horses, one of my favorite books. Each page is more beautiful than the next.

And did you know that Curious George author H.A. Rey was also an astronomer? He wrote and illustrated The Stars, which is full of his own sweetly kitch illustrations of the night sky.

And finally, you can tell I was an avid horse lover and equestrian as a kid, cause the other images from a childhood book that are on my wall are from Marguerite Henry's Album of Horses. I had every page of it memorized when I was growing up.

It adds an extra layer of meaning to my home, having this cherished and carefully selected artwork around every day.

Silver Raven

2010-08-18T09:43:00.000-07:00

Vancouver is one of the few places I have been where I thought, "I could live here." All of the Pacific Northwest, actually, just feels right to me -- the evergreen trees, driftwood-strewn beaches and slate sky and sea. Yesterday's totem pole post reminded me that Haida gear has never gone out of style in my home! I am wearing this beloved scarf today:

And I also got these beautiful raven earrings months ago and wear them all the time:

p.s. This song was written in the PacNW-like mists near Mendocino.