a root glen

today is a sad and contemplative day - and here is a picture of a place that seems to fit it:



i'll be taking a bit of break for a while, but look forward to being back online soon!

megan park

Browsing at Erica Tanov (one day I promise to actually buy something here; I treat this store as though it is a museum with no admission fee), I was really taken with the beauty of the embroidered skirts and dresses by Megan Park.

They are hand-beaded with Japanese glass beads, hand-painted and decked out with sequins, affixed one by one, by hand. Truly works of art.



Here's a detail:


Images courtesy of Browns

Stunning!

there are no words....

... to describe how adorable this kay bojesen toy monkey is.



i came across it on a cup of jo and it made me smile and smile. the designer is also danish - which always inspires some ancestral pride around our household!

have a great friday!

lamps ... in chartreuse!

these lamps, from paris hotel boutique, could not be more fabulous:


Image courtesy of Paris Hotel Boutique

of course, they are sold. the shop has some similar pairs for sale, but nothing quite as luminous and glowy and - well - green as these!

wardrobe spice

if you are like me, you have a lot of black and neutral work clothes. in the interest of not breaking the bank but pursuing my new fixation with color, i've been adding color - on my feet.

my secret weapon: bettye muller flats and heels in her trademark fabulous colors. the other, and most necessary, secret: getting them at 50% off in the sale section at anthropologie. i can't get enough! check out the gold flats as well.

(i've posted about them before, but have gotten so many compliments recently that i thought i'd post again!)

and, as if the above weren't enough, they are super comfortable! i am serious! also, i bought my red/white flats (above) a few months ago when they had a whole range of normal sizes; it looks like they are more limited now, but i totally suggest monitoring the sales at anthropologie!

house of hengst

I just love local SF design shop, House of Hengst on Valencia. Each piece is unique and classic at the same time and each has such wonderful drape and colors. I am happy to see it getting a bunch more press lately!

This is the Hengst Bijou top sold through Anica Boutique in Russian Hill:


Image courtesy of Anica Boutique

So pretty. Looks like House of Hengst is available through stores nationwide - so check it out!

something pretty for monday morning

Image courtesy of Vivre

I am not really a porcelain person, but this Lladro porcelain butterfly chandelier is just stunning.

fireworks!

a blurry but fun pic of the view of fireworks from our house the other night:



fireworks popped up in every corner of the city and went on for a long time after the 'official' ones were over. some especially good ones lit up the sky over dolores park.

so much to celebrate!

yesterday was a big day - it was our first anniversary and a new baby was born to great friends! in honor of everything, we went to dinner at foreign cinema.

we sat outside and it was warm (unusual for sf in the summer at night!). the light was just beautiful and it reminded us of being in france last year.

also, the flower arangements there, by natalie bowen, are just gorgeous. a great end to a fantastic day.

babies on the brain

This is my state of mind today. And so here we go.

A bunny mobile:


Image courtesy of Romp


Dado Cubes:


Image courtesy of SF Moma


Little Twig Washcloths:


Image courtesy of Church Street Apothecary


Alexander Calder Elephant Puzzle:


Image courtesy of SF Moma


Onesies from Belle Epoque:


Image courtesy of Nancy at Belle Epoque


And a super fun decorating project for parents posted by design*sponge.

Happy Fourth of July!

alameda finds

I went to the Alameda Point Antiques and Collectibles Fair for the first time yesterday with Nancy and Natalie and B and Meghan. I've been to lots of fairs which sell a lot of junk, but not this one.

I found gorgeous $2 plastic Japanese platters:



And this luminous green glass vase:



Even if you are not buying, the fair is totally amusing to walk through. There's something entertaining for everyone: my husband was entranced by the antique tools and the dealer selling old watch parts. I found a treasure trove of letterpress type and images and loved the vintage super soft white linens at Euro-Linens. A most excellent iced mocha from a Bay Bridge Coffee stall kept me going!

Also, the view of SF from the fairgrounds is not to be missed!