etsy artist: suuskeramiek

I stumbled on some beautiful pottery work by an artist named Suuskeramiek from the Netherlands on etsy today and loved some of her pieces. Her colors are really lovely, the shapes and styles quite modern and since they're made out of stoneware clay, you can put these pottery pieces in the dishwasher and microwave. And her descriptions of each piece are so charming:

"This is a tapas set. To serve all kind of nice little snacks and tapas when you have guests."



"This is a very happy chocolate fondue set for two persons. To have a romantic & sweet dessert put some of your favorite chocolate and a little bit of creme or milk in the fondue bowl and put a tea light in the holder it will melt slowly if you want it to melt faster just put it in the microwave for a few seconds."


"This is a collection of little tapas dishes out of my Flow collection. They are made out of stoneware and come in four color sceams (schemes): orange/red, cream/indian yellow, light mint/medium mint, lilac/purple."


"This is a set of two espresso cups and saucers in stoneware color sceam (scheme): light orange with red. A very colorful set and if you have some other colors you prefer just let me know."










Suuskeramiek says "There is lots more where this comes from. I love to make functional art to enjoy. By looking and using it. Bring a visit to my website. " I think we should take her up on that. She seems so happy to make these things, it's the least we can do to oggle and admire them. Very endearing, indeed.

Swallowtail: Idol Worship

Can a store be considered a personal hero? An idol at the alter of design and good taste? Well, if so, Russian Hill's Swallowtail is definitely what I worship. I have loved this shop from the day I walked in, and have often contemplated how to be Swallowtail when I grow up. It's quirky, eclectic and full of beautiful objects that I love to dawdle over when I visit.






It's a bit like an art museum of the odd, classical and collectible. And no matter what your taste, I think everyone could find something special here to take home and make their own - their very own pièce de résistance. A show-stopper and showcase signature piece that everyone will be asking about. The store is jam-packed with an overwhelming amount of great finds, you almost have to watch your every step, lest you run into Omar, the resident ram. Every shop needs a large, friendly ram.


Where else would you find a life-size geisha along side antique anatomy charts, vintage chandeliers, contemporary Noguchi lamps and lucite chairs?



































































Look at this amazing 'wine jacket' handcarved by James Jin. Is that not uniquely fabulous?
















In addition to all the other wonderful, one of a kind collectibles, Swallowtail's owner, Sheri Sheridan and her partner Nathan Brown of Disfigure Design are recreating old Louis XV-style chairs with a modern twist. Recovering them in fresh, modern fabrics, including an unconventional camouflage print and bright graphic designs like this one, which pretty much screams 'statement!'






Swallowtail is open Mon-Sun noon-6pm
2217 Polk Street @ Vallejo Street
San Francisco
415.567.1555

Also located in Rockridge @ 5332 College Avenue, 510.595.1240

Presto-Change - Part Deux

As was discussed with some of you on Apartment Therapy San Francisco, even though I scored these great chairs at a real bargain on craigslist, I was presented with the dilemma of a bit of a chair-overdose. The living room was just too crowded with chairs and not quite working. So with some helpful suggestions from fellow AT commenters and tossing and turning with some late night strategies, I came up with a new arrangement that I'm happy with. Take a look - and comment away. I'm also contemplating paint on the walls above the fireplace, and behind the chairs - the color is still a quandary. I'm considering a charcoal blue/gray or a dark gray/green with a lighter contrasting green on the opposite gallery and dining room walls...we'll soon see. I've added a few paint chips I'm thinking about. As the room turns...

Dear Urbanistas, Wishes Do Come True.

Somebody's been blowing dandelions into the skies and making all our wishes come true. Urban Outfitters is having a pretty big end of summer blowout sale so I thought I'd pass along some items perhaps you may have been hoping might hit the sale bin. Like most sales, you gotta pick through the simply 'untouchable' to get to the quality stuff, so here's what caught my eye:

Japanese Design Paper Lantern - just $5 bucks! Lovely light!


Patchwork Striped Boudoir Pillow - $9.99 (was $30). Very bohemian, indeed.

Deer Head Wall Art Canvas, 30" x 24" - $14.99 (was $40). I like bringing the great outdoors in.












Sketch Flower Printed Satin Pillow w/contrasting polka-dot backing - another $9.99 special. Trés disco-chic.

And lastly, because perhaps someone was wishing big, this lovely Cage Chandelier is on sale - still a tad pricey, but a significant savings. Now $349.99 (was $548.00!).

Animals As Art. Not Food.

I adore these Pet Portraits by Nicole J. Georges. Nicole is a über talented 25-year old vegan artist from Portland, Oregon who lives and paints with many dogs and two hens at her side. She creates these one of a kind portraits of your favorite pets with loving attention to detail. She works in a variety of mediums - pen & ink, gouache and acrylic and likes to listen to organ music as she works. Whatever the medium, these works of pet art are whimsical and unique - perhaps it's due to the music! They are simply just happy. And somewhat regal, as our pets should be. That's what I take away from them. Nicole has always painted portraits of her own animals and has been drawing them since she could hold a crayon.

She started making them as gifts about three years ago when she painted one as a memorial gift to a friend whose cat had been hit by a car. And although, like many artists, she holds down a day job, when someone suggested she start doing paintings on commission, this wonderful 'sideline' just came together.




Nicole works from photographs, and if you're in Portland, she loves to meet the animals in person before beginning the project. She paints them with crowns, birds, winking - whatever suits the personality of your pet.



Prices range depending on the complexity of the project, but starting at $40 for a pen & ink drawing, I think that's entirely reasonable for an original portrait of your loved one. She has also been note to barter for various trades including, dog treats, coffee drinks and vegan food items. You can reach the very talented Nicole be at nicole@nicolejgeorges.com for more information.

Gracious Host & Hostessing 1.0

You've been working hard decorating your home space, are feeling pretty proud and you're ready to share it and party with your friends. The art of being a gracious host & hostess of the mostest sometimes includes special invitations, announcements or even just an old-fashioned house-warming and, of course, thank you notes. Emma Rose Papery is a perfect resource for just those occasions.

Eszter Rabin started Emma Rose Papery in 2005. Originally an ad girl, Eszter has designed for some of the top agencies and clients in the country, including Adidas, Levi's and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, among others. But being the smart girl she is, she quit the ad biz to follow her real passion and bought a vintage letterpress printer and set up shop in her Potrero Hill garage. Letterpress is the printing process of type or designs cast or engraved in relief and is a bit of a lost art these days. A student of art in both Europe and the United States, Eszter designs and runs the press and her style is simple, elegant, and occasionally full of whimsy. Three printing presses later, the result is a graceful line of custom-designed wedding invitations, stationery and cards that are simply beautiful. And a garage that's getting pretty crowded.

EmmaRose offers five unique wedding packages which can be tailored to suit your occasion. You are welcome to choose your fonts, ink colors, paper and printing method. Or you can have Eszter design your dream invitation, notecards, or stationery - whatever your letterpress printing needs, she will design something to fit your personality and the occasion. Here are just a few examples of her work.

Tosca is part of her Signature Collection - graphics are as you see them here and then customized for your needs:



Custom Invitations & Stationery
































Eszter can be contacted for quotes and more information at: info@emmarosepapery.com

Craigslist-Presto-Chango.

Craigslist makes me so happy. I've found many a treasure there, including my best friend Cooper the wonder dog, but furniture is of a whole different genre of treasure, so I don't pretend to compare the two by any means! So, with that clarified, boy did I score! I found these two mid-century modern chairs (maker unknown) and this lovely 5' x 8' flokati rug all for $150. I had to drive out to Orinda to pick them up, from a lovely couple with a fantastic modernist house, but I'd never been to Orinda before, so it was a pleasant adventure (it's a nice, woodsy town). A tad bit tricky driving them back home in the convertible bug - especially shifting gears on the Bay Bridge. Whew, that was a little nutty, but we made it back all in one happy and very satisfied piece. A good, old-fashioned Woolite scrubbing in the tub with the rug, and we were good to go. One nice fluffy white area rug, and two brand-spanking-new old, white leatherette chairs. And now a whole new twist to my living room, all for pretty much the price of a haircut in this town! Bless you, Craig.

Thoroughly Modern Martha.

Is it just me, or has anyone else taken notice that Martha Stewart Living has gone a touch modernist? There's definitely a little more design diversity for us modernistas. But don't panic traditionalists, she's still got you covered. In the pages of September's issue she takes you on a tour of her newly remodeled kitchen, which looks like it's taken on a more contemporary, and industrial feel. Its color palette is quite sedate, but it does look sleek and modern.











My interest was really piqued though, when I spied an article entitled 'A Modern Mix' featuring a mid-century modern home with a very open style in Santa Monica, California. Designed in 1953 by modernist architect Craig Ellwood, I'm telling you this gorgeous home full of Franco Albini and Paul McCobb could have come straight from the pages of Dwell. I love it! Take a sneak peak in case your issue hasn't arrived. Thanks Martha, well done!