Let's Move To The Country

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.