back after the holidays....happy new year.

oh i love this pattern from showpony. what a clever idea. a pretty and sweet pattern with a secret life beneath the folds!

super cool disposable paper napkins and tons of other fantastic creations by minale maeda (via studio wellspring)

see more here, here and here.

i finally made it to the de young yesterday to see the gee's bend and the ruth asawa exhibits. I have to say, I think these might be the finest 2 shows that I've seen in a really long time. i especially loved asawa's drawings (photo of one from the show below). hurry hurry if you're in the neighborhood. the quilts depart on the 31st but the asaswa show is around through jan. 28th.

window lace! i saw this in one of those fancy gorgeous design magazines several months ago but it wasn't available for sale yet. thanks to mav for the hygge link where you can buy this beauty of an idea.

the perfect salt cellar and the sweetest mugs from the linen works (via hfha).

2 things today:

- wonderful link on lena's blog via nebo peklo

- maira kalman's latest illustated blog entry is up

lotta jansdotter smycka handbag. used to be a fellow sf resident. now the lucky ducks in brooklyn get to enjoy her holiday trunk shows.

the blue print holiday gift guide has some pretty fabulous ideas for gifts (or for coveting). here's my personal favorite (for coveting, of course):

dots and shadows ring set by brooke medlin (aka gemmafactrix) on etsy.

iittala sarpaneva cast iron pot is another long time favorite. so pretty, so durable...

chickens at a chula vista ranch (ca. 1915) from the california archives

i'm kind of in love with this gorgeous eva zeisel collection that was reissued by crate & barrel a few years back. now they fuel my obsession by adding a new piece. in honor of her 100th birthday, c&b has introduced the coffee pot (for a limited time...).

great idea from the wurst gallery in portland. i love the idea that something so simple makes such a beautiful, easy piece of art. you can even buy your own kit here! (nice gift idea for the upcoming holiday season???)

top image by supermundane
bottom image by jill bliss

minä perhonen wonderfulness

inspired by grace's recent bizbox post on slate about being a girl in business, i'm trying to organize a group of women designers/entrepreneurs. if you're interested, or know anyone in the bay area who'd be interested, send them over to girl design.

more maira! i just love her illustrations. new monthly illustrated column for the ny times.

throws and scarves at wallace sewell. wonderful color combinations and textures.

pretty clothes by carolann wachter via ms. spinach

i admired this piece by maxine sutton in an anthropologie catalog a while back, but i didn't investigate further...too bad, cause i her works are just beautiful. thanks to the treehugger blog on the house & garden website, i got to see these loverlies:

just a reminder that the san francisco day of the dead parade is this coming thursday, november 2.
sugar skulls from the folks at smarts&crafts.

post-it note #2:
- go see girard show!
- heath ceramics factory tour
- sake tasting and tour


Alexander Girard
Matchbook Covers for La Fonda del Sol, Restaurant, New York, ca. 1961

oh boy oh boy! now i just have to figure what to mail...

diane von furstenberg pretty yellow dress

repainted chair by warymeyers. this is such a great link for color inspiration and just for ogling pretty images.
oh, p.s- they also design beautiful winter coats! (links via lena corwin)

pretty pattern + pretty colors = pretty dress

cleaning my desk, notes from a post-it:

alice temperley
nail bracelet by connie verrusio at uncommon goods
lothar meggendorfer

great gocco tutorial here for printing repeats via cake + pie...

ohhhh....such a stunner!
"practice makes perfect clutch" by anthropologie

i was given one of these years ago as a gift. i have the lily (see below) sculpted graphite that's both functional and gorgeous. by asb workshop, found via third drawer down. i'm especially fond of their nautre inspired series...

i've stumbled on third drawer down a few times before, but i always forget to check back in with them. fun dish towels, aprons and miscellany that's equal parts art and function. nice reminder in the ny times home & garden sections today (under currents). click on image for a better view

lunchtime stroll with my camera. life on the sidewalk can be cruel if you're a teeny tiny grasshopper....

beautiful textiles from mairo via frida's guest blog on designsponge

my new markttasche (market bag) from lovely visiting german friends. it comes straight from berlin. they come straight from hamburg.

musee mechanique on friday evening. this is one of my favorite places to spend hours and quarters.

ferris wheel made from toothpicks. great fabric wallpaper too!

i *heart* wallpaper by erica wakerly

mmmm...pretty teacups for fall tea! (via daily candy)

protozoa pillow by suki via designsponge

continuing with the animal theme... i saw this cute little guy at the monthly antiques by the bay show in alameda. he's a vintage steiff. he didn't make it home with me, only his photo.

he has tiny wire legs and beautifully stitched details. i was also fond of his camel friend.

just ran over to the paper source for a some lunch time window-shopping and found these fantastic notecards by eunco. i especially love the sharks...


i also found this by famed children's author eric carle. the hungry hungry caterpillar was a favorite when i was little. i love these illustrations.

the weather is turning and i'm starting to sink in to fall.
i've been drinking an enormous amount of tea, trying in vain to ward of the first cold of the season. here's one of my favorites, for yummy taste and lovely packaging:

this would be so pretty in my bedroom...

i love these photographs by corey arnold. he's a photographer and fisherman, splitting his time between san francisco, norway and alaska.





























click here for a great interview with him.