sfgirlbybay

2009-06-16T22:00:00.000-07:00

Sfgirlbybay has up and moved to a brand new home.

Please find me at my new location
and bookmark the new page here at
http://www.sfgirlbybay.com/.

Sfgirlbybay Has a New Home!

2009-06-14T10:00:00.000-07:00

Sfgirlbybay has up and moved to a brand new home.

Please find me at my new location
and bookmark the new page here at
http://www.sfgirlbybay.com/.
NOTE: Please do not subscribe until next week
when work out some final edits. Thanks!

Oh, and happy, happy Friday.

2009-06-12T14:00:00.000-07:00

Okay kids...it's finally launch time! If you haven't heard, sfgirlbybay is getting a brand new look and feel! I do hope you like it! We've worked long and hard on it, and it should make browsing the blog a whole lot easier, and well, much more intuitive and user-friendly.

On the new sfgirlbybay you'll be able to search by keywords, and there's a whole page dedicated to different categories, so say you're looking for a post about Etsy products or DIY, or Artwork - it'll be there under the Categories page - just click on the appropriate category and it'll take you to every post I've ever written on that subject. Also, that endless stream of resources on the left side of the blog...it has it's own page now, too - just click on Resource Links. And the blogroll? You'll find that under the Friends page. I'll explain more as we get there, but suffice it to say sfgirlbybay has a brand new home and it's simply www.sfgirlbybay.com. Bye-bye blogspot, you've been good to us, but it's time to move on! Hope to see you there on Monday, everyone!

Friday Flickr Faves.

2009-06-12T10:30:00.000-07:00

I've decided I really like posting my set of Flickr Favorites on Fridays, so I'm going to post them each week. A little bit of inspiration going into the weekend, with my camera aimed and ready to shoot! This set reminds me of summer...to see the original photograph, click here, and then click on the individual images for a better view, and to see more of these talented photographer's work. Many thanks, as aways to the inspiring group of photographers on Flickr for the amazing photographs you take and for sharing them with us all.

For the Love of Letterpress.

2009-06-12T09:00:00.000-07:00

Fellow blogger Jordan Ferney of Oh Happy Day, alerted me to some new summer letterpress classes she's teaching here in San Francisco. This sounds like great fun! Students send in a design themselves or choose one of the designs from here a week before the class and she makes you a plate. Then, the day of the class you can print 250 of your very own letterpress cards! The class costs $125 and is held in Jordan's art studio on Valencia Street in San Francisco. Attached are a couple of cards other students have printed. The classes are: Saturday, June 27th, Saturday, July 18th, and Saturday, August 8th. More information can be found right here.

Friday Food Files With Molly Watson: Cole Slaw.

2009-06-12T06:00:00.000-07:00

I recently went strawberry picking and came home with an ungodly number of the bright red fruits. I saw my neighbor - who has done a lot to make our little San Francisco street a better place to live - in her backyard and went out to hand a pint of my bounty over the fence. She was grateful and wanted to give me something in return. She wondered if I might like a cabbage.

I'm sure is says a lot about me that I was super-duper psyched to get that cabbage, but look at it - it was gorgeous. The cool weather of San Francisco may be the bane of backyard tomato-growers, but it does wonders for the density and quality of cabbage.

I took it up the stairs to my kitchen, took this picture, and promptly trimmed and sliced it into shreds. Then I mixed some cream and malt vinegar in a large bowl, seasoned it with salt, pepper, and celery seed to make a dressing, tossed in the cabbage, added a grated carrot, and we had the best Classic Creamy Cole Slaw you can imagine.

Did you think creamy cole slaw has mayonnaise in it? That's okay. It’s what I thought until I was 29 and visiting my friend in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. We made cole slaw and I learned that the good stuff - that creamy, luscious kind that reminds me of the little container that would come with my Kentucky Fried dinner as a kid - is actually creamy. As in, it has cream in it.

I’ll let you take a moment to recover - this comes as big news to many people who never make cole slaw. Of course, I’m sure there are plenty of mayonnaise-laden versions out there, but the good stuff? Cream. Heavy cream.

You see, the acid in the vinegar thickens the cream into a dressing-like, some may say mayonnaise-like, consistency. You can also add some sugar to the whole thing if you’re one of those people who like sweet cole slaw. This cole slaw only gets better if it sits in the fridge for a bit and it could serve you very well this summer if you get invited to many potlucks or barbecues or, if you live in the 1960s, “patio parties.”

See how I served it over at The Dinner Files, or just check out the recipe at Local Foods.

P.S. Looking for fabulous summer reading? Even remotely interested in food? Check out a few book recommendations from yours truly.

***

Each week, the Friday Food Files are deliciously brought to you by Molly Watson. For more on Molly and her delicious recipes, you can visit her in one of many wonderful places:
Writer: mollywatsonwrites.com
Blogger: thedinnerfiles.com
Recipe Wizard: localfoods.about.com
Radio Girl: eatthatradio.wordpress.com
tweeter: twitter.com/mollywatson
teacher: mediabistro.com/courses/cache/instr404.asp

*Photos courtesy of Molly Watson.

blissful inspiration

2009-06-11T09:50:00.000-07:00

welcome to my blissful inspiration post for today. my name is mrs. french. lately most of my thursday posts have had a definite theme. this morning I chose them simply because I find them just so pretty...oh and the melony, pink color is nice too...

~as always, please tap the stars...you will be happy you did...

****

thank you for stopping by...I am hoping to see you over at my bliss too...see you next week!

xo mrs. french

Bespoken For.

2009-06-11T09:00:00.000-07:00

That wonderful Mrs. French has gotten me all bicycle crazy, and now Jessica Hall Burns of Minneapolis-based design group Red Black Brown goes and taunts me with some more bike-love. It's a poster commission she did for Handsome Cycles (whose bikes I also think you would love, very cycle chic). It's a two-color limited edition screen print Jessica printed featuring the Twin Cities' skyline, dotted with flower-like gears. It's sort of an homage to the cities where we live and ride with a vintage modern feel. You can find this poster, and this other one I really love (below) also from Bill Burns of Red Black Brown, available at Handsome Cycles. Be warned, you make come away with a really cool bicycle, too!

Dialogue: It's All About Community.

2009-06-11T06:00:00.000-07:00

I love Erin Loechner of Design for Mankind's Dialogue series, perhaps because as a blogger it touches on many day to day issues I confront working from home. And guess what? Today’s episode of Dialogue is sponsored by sfgirlbybay (hint, hint...and there's a sneak peek at my new site banner - look for the launch very, very soon!). This episode is all about community - virtual and real life communities and then that part that crosses over - which for me has been great. I love when the wonderful people I've met online become part of my real world, and I've met some really wonderful friends via this blog. So today's episode of Dialogue really resonated with me, and may with you too if you spend a lot of time online.

In addition to Erin's regular Dialogue contributors, Blanket Magazine’s editor Bec Brown is joining photographer Jen Gotch and artist Kelly Lynn Jones to weigh in on the topic of community. You can watch the video series here on Design for Mankind.

Vintage Finds for a Modern World: Shopping Etsy.

2009-06-10T10:00:00.000-07:00

I seem to be on a vintage tangent these days...well, maybe most days. But, I feel like I need to refresh things around here. Out with the old, and in with some brand new "old". I'd like to replace some of my older accessories with some new vintage pieces, just to keep things interesting. But it's a few weeks away until the next big flea market here in San Francisco (I just missed the Alameda flea because I was out of town), so I went to my back-up source for vintage finds - Etsy. There's a whole lot of great vintage sellers on Etsy and sometimes a whole lot simpler and sometimes more affordable than shopping and bidding on Ebay. I just had to have this beautiful camera (above). Here's a look at what else I found shopping around on Etsy.

Shiny Chrome Kitchen Cannister Set from Rarae Aves.

Vintage Wire Storage Basket from Extra Virgin Home.

Antique Folk Art Wooden Bust from DomestiKate.

Wireware Wall Clock from The Vintage Supply Co.

Vintage Letters from Vintage Embellishment.

Turquoise Smith Corona Typewriter from Junk Culture.

French Bottle Carrier from Extra Virgin Home.

Franciscan Earthenware Serving Platter from Sparker.

Wonderful White Twig.

2009-06-10T09:00:00.000-07:00

I stumbled upon these great looking pillows whilst perusing Etsy today, and yum! I love the really stylish designs, utilizing simple linen and mattress ticking fabrics. Trés chic, no? Karen at White Twig learned her sewing skills by watching her mother sew, as she would patiently explain to her what she was doing and why. Karen started White Twig as a way to express what has always inspired her, despite the trends, always inspired by nature and natural materials, modern and fresh design and simple country living. If you love these lovely pillows as much as I do, you can find more designs at the White Twig Etsy shop.

Time Out With Erin: Sew What.

2009-06-10T06:00:00.000-07:00

I have no idea how to sew. I remember practicing as a child with the shoelaces and cardboard tools [you know the kind, right?], but nonetheless, I still couldn't wrap my head [or nimble fingers] around the concept.

BUT. Something tells me I need to face the music, bite the bullet and learn to sew. After all, wouldn't it be fantastic to sew a love letter to my husband a la Twig & Thistle? Or memorize scientific theories on a hankie? And stitch all cast members of The Breakfast Club?

Come on! The possibilities are endless. Off to dust off that Singer my grandmother gifted me years ago...

*And, in case you're unfamiliar, Time Out is another installment of a Wednesday column brought to you by Erin Loechner, Editor of Design for Mankind...dedicated to tearing you away from behind the computer monitor and on to enjoying the simple things in life. Enjoy! As always, thanks so much Erin!

Kitchen Cabinet Makeover: Lori Andrews.

2009-06-09T10:00:00.000-07:00

Lori Andrews is a Calgary-based interior designer, and a favorite photographer of mine. Also known on Flicker as The 10 Cent Designer, Lori's beautiful, and often humorous, photography is admired by literally millions of flickerettes everywhere, including the infamous 'Stand on a Bench' Monday pool. Today, Lori is going to share her amazing kitchen cabinet makeover. Simply stunning!

Here a couple of "before" pics:

I like things done a certain way. When I bought my house it was completely trimmed in MDF (medium-density fiberboard) and even the kitchen cupboards were made of MDF. We liked the warmth but were continually frustrated by the poor finish that the previous owner had applied. My husband and I looked into purchasing all new custom cabinets but we had a very difficult time justifying it since the existing items were new and only had decorative flaws. We discussed painting them in a super glossy white and decided that would be our direction. someday...Well someday finally came!

I hired my favorite painter to paint out all of the wood trim in the house. That included the baseboards, the window casings, the base of the kitchen cabinets, some closets etc. It took him 4 coats and 8 full days to do this! Next, my husband and I researched what paint to use in order to get the super smooth, super hard , super glossy finish we wanted on the cabinet doors. After much debate we chose to go with a product that would do the job the best, and last the longest. Because I wanted an extremely durable surface that would not require repainting within the next decade, we chose a lacquer from Becker, who then matched the lacquer to our paint color for us - Benjamin Moore's, Oxford White. I looked at some water based products but they simply could not give the same quality of surface that we wanted.

The cabinets required a great deal of surface prep and my husband had to build special drying racks to stack them all (the cabinet fronts) out in our garage. He also had to rebuild several parts of the cabinetry that were not made of MDF. The microwave stand is one of the items he rebuilt. It is much smaller than the original, so we also had to buy a new microwave! He used a very powerful compression sprayer to apply the three coat paint system. We estimate it took nearly 40 hours to complete the cabinet fronts.

We loved our home before but now it is even better! My kitchen is easy to clean and my new white on white scheme just glows.

'Stand on a Bench' Monday in my home.

*Editor's note: Have you got a great makeover story? Send it my way!

To Serve & Display.

2009-06-09T08:00:00.000-07:00

The home I stayed at in Glen Ellen this weekend had a lovely collection of pale aqua pottery and white ceramic dinnerware and serving pieces, and it got me to thinking I needed a few more to add to my own collection (above). So I went exploring to see what I might find, both on Flickr, and on Etsy, both newly handcrafted and vintage. Here's a look at some great inspiration for displaying your decorative vases and pottery, and those festive serving pieces too pretty to store away, as well as some Etsy shops that are great for finding new pieces to add to your own collections.

doublewinky.

Vintage coffee cups from Fluffy Flowers.

freshvintagestyle.

Oval bee dish from Rae Dunn.

On Bradstreet.

Sprig cups from Diana Fayt.

Lovebirds vase from Red Hot Pottery.

sunshinesyrie.

Cupcake stand from Whitney Smith.

Lacy teal bowl from Prince Design UK.

Tiny bottles from Sara Paloma.

Glen Ellen Home.

Friends & Neighbors: My Downtown.

2009-06-09T06:00:00.000-07:00

I received an email from a new blogger, Erin Boyle of Reading My Tea Leaves about an idea she had for a series called My Downtown. The idea being that beauty can be found in little details, even in a gritty downtown neighborhood! In a broader sense, Erin started the project as a kind of counter point to the idea that cities are undesirable or ugly or dangerous. I love her post of painted wall advertisements! Even downtown can be beautiful. For more from Erin, check out Reading My Tea Leaves. She's invited me to share downtown San Francisco, so I'll see you there soon!

Inspiration in Many Forms.

2009-06-08T09:00:00.000-07:00

vee*.

I've been feeling the need to for some new inspiration lately, and one of the ways I re-juice is to revamp my inspiration board and freshen it up a bit with a whole new look. So I checked out one of my favorite sources for creativity, the Flickr group, Inspiration Boards. Sometimes just the way you present an idea can give it new life and that alone can set off a creative spark within you. Whether it's fashion, graphic designs, photography, or new plans for around the home, here's a look at some great ideas and new ways to display your own bits of inspiration.

*meestameesta*.

**bc**.

letteria }{ allerliebst.

julochka.

Camilla Engman.

Sunday...Outside the City.

2009-06-08T06:00:00.001-07:00

I left the big city this weekend and headed an hour and a half north of San Francisco to the beautiful town of Glen Ellen, in Sonoma County. Beautiful wine country. It's one of the the things I most love about living in San Francisco, that you can escape the city quite quickly should the desire to be near nature call, and be in one of many beautiful places, including wine country, in a very short time. I stayed in an incredible home, complete with its own small vineyard, and basically floated on my back in a pool all weekend long. Here's a look at a road trip to Northern California.

On the Road.

Roadside Stand.

Oh Deer.

Middle of a Country Road.

Pool House.

Been There, Done That.

Bzzzz.

Always a Stop.

Oasis, Indeed.

Oh, and happy, happy Friday!

2009-06-05T13:00:00.000-07:00

It's cherry season! Yippee!
Have a cherry-filled, happy weekend!

Flickr Faves.

2009-06-05T10:00:00.000-07:00

I love my set of Flickr Favorites this week! Can you tell I had a bit of sub-theme going on? To see the original photograph, click here, and then click on the individual images for a better view, and to see more of these talented photographer's work. I started a photography class this week, and I am so excited! Thank goodness, sans the camera, that digital photography is free, because I have a feeling I'm going to be shooting more than ever! Thanks, as aways to the talented pool of photographers on Flickr for your constant inspiration and guidance.

Another Look at Liberty.

2009-06-05T09:00:00.000-07:00

I shared with you a few weeks ago my visit to Liberty, the beautiful department store in London. Liberty is known for their incredible fabrics, but I wanted to also share these photographs I took of Liberty's amazing and immense wallpaper sample room. I loved how they displayed their beautiful wallpapers in large patchwork panels. Here's another peek at London's lovely Liberty.

Friday Food Files With Molly Watson: Morel Mushrooms.

2009-06-05T06:00:00.000-07:00

I love love love morel mushrooms. They are one of the many mushroom varieties that had, so far, resisted cultivation. They must be foraged in the wild. There haven't been a lot of them about this spring, but I saw some beauties at Far West Fungi last weekend and couldn't resist (even at $28 per pound - but that's cheaper than a drive to the Sierras and a day in the woods looking for my own!).

The gray weather made me crave something comforting, so I cooked up a Morel Mushroom Risotto. It was lovely. If you find yourself in possession of a great many morels, however, I recommend simply rinsing them thoroughly in cool water (rinse out that inside cavity - it can play house to a great variety of unsavory bits!), heat a heavy-bottomed pan over medium-high heat, melt some butter in it, and sauté the morels. When they release their liquid and become as tender as can be, transfer them to a plate and sprinkle with salt.

Note: Any of you have kids? I wrote a bit about my son and how he eats and why I think that may be (luck and genetics seem to be the prime factors, from what I can tell) over at The Dinner Files. I'd love to hear what you think.

***

blissful inspiration

2009-06-04T08:56:00.000-07:00

good morning! it's me, mrs. french....it is hot and humid in Portland. Honestly days like these the only thing I want to wear is cool cotton dresses. Yesterday I stopped by my favorite Portland dress shop and tried on that very thing...which is where the blissful inspiration for today came from....

psst...tap the stars...

****

typically what happens when I put this post together a crazy surge of inspiration comes over me, which is exactly what happened here...

****

I have a funny feeling there will be many cotton dress shots in my future...

I hope you enjoyed our time together today...I am looking forward to next week...I would love to see you at bliss too....

happy thursday, mrs. french

Stylish Sthlm.

2009-06-04T08:00:00.000-07:00

I really love these new thermal mugs from Sthlm, the home of independent Swedish design. These mugs are from designer Lovisa Wattman and are modeled on the shape of a wine glass and are made to be held close, cupped in your hand. They work just as well for cool drinks in the summer as they do for hot coco in the autumn (the mugs have hollow double walls to keep drinks warm without burning your fingers). I really like the simple, yet sophisticated city skylines, and the windmills are wonderful! For more beautiful home accessories from independent Swedish designers, check out Sthlm.

Happenings.

2009-06-04T06:00:00.001-07:00

It would appear that there's a whole lot going on in the arts & crafts center of the world this weekend, and not just here in San Francisco! And I don't know about the rest of you, but here in San Francisco, the weekend really kicks off on Thursday evening! Here's a look at some things going on around the country that might just be in your neck of the woods:

Rare Device Presents "Everything You Need Can Grow" • San Francisco: June 4
Lisa Congdon & Rena Tom of Rare Device present "Everything You Need Can Grow", new work by Christopher David Ryan. A fun little cocktail party hosted by two of the cities finest gals. Check out Christopher's new art and book at Rare Device, Thursday, June 4 at 7 - 9pm.

Renegade Craft Fair • Brooklyn: June 6 & 7
The Renegade Craft Fair hits Brooklyn, NY, on June 6 + 7. The fifth annual event will take place from 11am - 7pm in McCarren Park. Over 300 artists are traveling from all over the country and abroad to participate and sell their handmade goods: from clothing and accessories, to stationery and concert posters, with everything from bath products and ceramics in between. The outdoor fair is free to the public!

Studio 3579 Presents New Work From Annie Galvin • San Francisco: June 6
Annie Galvin has done it again, and has painted an entire series of another California icon - this time the flag of our great state of California. These paintings will make their debut at Studio 3579 on Saturday, June 6th, with an opening slated for 6 - 9pm. Light refreshments will be served.

Bay Area Pottery Posse @ MudFire Gallery • North Decatur, GA: June 6
MudFire Gallery will showcase the work of the Bay Area Pottery Posse, a group of of eight talented women potters of the San Francisco Bay area. This gallery show is curated by Diana Fayt, and presents new works from artists Christa Assad, Whitney Smith, Sara Paloma, Rae Dunn, Josie Jurczenia, Sara Kagan and Diana Fayt. The exhibit opens June 6, 2009 with a reception from 5 - 9pm, and continues through July 3, 2009.

POP NOIR, Southern Exposure's Annual Fundraiser + Art Auction • San Francisco: June 6
The Southern Exposure Auction is always a great evening of interesting art, people, food and open bar with amazing (and affordable!) art by the most talented folks around. This year Pop Noir is being held at Electric Works, June 6 with the Preview Event from 6-7:30pm, and the Main Event from 7:30 - 10:30pm. For more information about the auction and directions, visit Southern Exposure.

Summer Lovin'.

2009-06-03T09:00:00.000-07:00

xJavierx.

Okay, as much as I love living in San Francisco, I do not so much enjoy the June Gloom. It arrived early this year, and has been lingering in the city since Memorial Day weekend. The Northern California fog just creeps in under the Golden Gate, and covers the city in a soft gray mist. Don't get me wrong, it's pretty. Sometimes. But days and days of it get me a bit down, so today, here's some fresh, colorful spaces to inspire summer!

O!Rachew!

* d a a n *.

MissKittyKat.

Mundo Flo.

laurasmera.

ninainvorm.

suziebeezie.

kitschcafe.

caterpillars.

ooh_food.

_tris_.

ATLITW.

Chez Larsson.

contentedsparrow.

Friends & Neighbors: Over at Yvestown.

2009-06-03T06:00:00.001-07:00

Just about everyone I know loves a good Paumes book, but sometimes you're not fortunate enough to have a bookstore (like San Francisco's Kinokuniya) that carries the Paumes books. Pames are Japanese interior books by small publishing company édition Paumes. Hard to get, beautiful images, and a must have for interior design lovers. But the lovely Miss Yvonne Eijkenduijn from the blog Yvestown has them for you! She has these fantastic books available to everyone worldwide from her Yvestown shop.

If you haven't visited Yvonne and Yvestown before, you really should. Yvonne lives in Belgium, a world traveler with wonderful taste, and as she explains, "tries live each day like freshly shaven legs under clean sheets." I love that! Pop over to her shop to view her complete list of Paumes book titles, including a brand new one on San Francisco Kitchens, and featuring one of our city's favorite artists, Lisa Congdon.

Running Away and Joining the Loft Life.

2009-06-02T10:00:00.000-07:00

I still have that itch to move into a loft space. Especially after looking at some very tiny apartment spaces over the weekend. Every so often, I head over to LoftLife Magazine a drool a little bit, just for the fun of it. I guess you can call it fun, more like turning green with loft envy! But, I do love the idea of filling up a huge canvas of white space with any furnishings I'd like and creating coziness out of nowhere, without walls and barriers standing in my way. Here's a few favorites I saw over there in LoftLife's Loft Tours section. Oh, be still my beating heart.

Paris in the Springtime.

2009-06-02T08:00:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite photographers, Alicia Bock recently took a birthday trip to Paris. A very happy birthday (albeit a bit belated) to Alicia, and very happy indeed for us, as well! Because Alicia's photographs of the City of Lights are incredibly beautiful, and she's added prints, postcards and fine art notecards of them to her etsy shop, as well as available on her website, so we, too, can share in her Parisian journey. I'll share a few here, and if you'd like to see more of her gorgeous photos of Paris, visit her etsy shop, and Alicia's website. Trés bon!

What's Your Sign?

2009-06-02T06:00:00.001-07:00

One of my favorite local artists, Michael Wertz dropped me a note about his new book, Zoodiac. Zoodiac is a handmade book by Michael Wertz and Carolee Wheeler of the 12 Chinese Zodiac animals. Each book contains 12 two color silkscreens with letterpress by the artists - one for each animal, as well as silkscreened and letterpressed covers. The books were silkscreened locally at Inky Oxnard Studios, in Oakland, and letterpress printed at the San Francisco Center for the Book. This limited edition of 100 books, are all signed and numbered and you can find them in Michael's shop Wertzateria. What a great book!

A Yen For Yurio.

2009-06-01T09:00:00.001-07:00

I was recently seeking out inspiration for the blog redesign (it is coming soon, I swear! Perhaps another couple of weeks and we'll be launching!) so I headed over to the Kinokuniya Bookstore in Japantown. I discovered a great book about Yurio Seki, a Japanese graphic design who draws mellow, brightly colored designs, and whose portfolio of work includes everything from magazine art direction to bookbinding and package design. In 2001 Yurio launched her own brand in Japan, Salvia, which carries her textile, apparel and interior accessories, and book designs.

Update: Thanks to reader Yuko for finding this working website for Salvia. This books covers Yurio's designs, career and portfolio of beautiful and really inspiring work, and is simply called Yurio Seki Japanese Graphic Designer, and you can find it here at Pie Books, but here's a little peek.

Sunday in the City.

2009-06-01T06:00:00.000-07:00

I was out running errands around the city this Sunday, but primarily in the Mission District. I even looked at a few apartment rentals. Call me crazy (everyone else does) but I get this itch every once and a while to move. I like the challenge of something new to decorate, a new neighborhood to explore, and sometimes Pacific Heights, where I live now, just doesn't call to me like some other neighborhoods, like Noe Valley, or parts of the Mission, near Dolores Park. Here's some of what I snapped while out looking for new possibility.

Box Set.

Full Tilt.

Delish.

Spa Day.

Checked Out.

Single or Double?

Thrift Town.

Say A Little Prayer For Me.

Taco Truck.

Look, It's A Bird.

Oh, and happy, happy Friday.

2009-05-29T15:00:00.000-07:00

Have a gloriously sunny and inspiring weekend, everyone!

*Beautiful photograph from mainemomma2007.

Portland's Popina.

2009-05-29T10:00:00.000-07:00

Portland-based Popina Swimwear is inspired by the past and the great women who wore them. Born from a vacation to the Mexican Riviera, one of Popina's first swim suit styles was created because designer Pamela Levenson could not find a fashionable swimsuit that fit and flattered. Pamela has always had a passion for styling of the past (40’s and 50’s in particular) and swimwear was no exception. I've known Pamela forever, and so it's with great pride and excitement that I share her retro swimwear designs with you. And, as a little sfgirlbybay reader thank-you, Popina is offering readers an additional 10% discount, simply by entering the code 'Pamster' (my affectionate nickname for her when we were roommates, many years ago) at check-out. Just in time for Summer!

I am constantly reminded of how small a world it is, because whenever I tell Portland friends about Popina, it seems they've already been there and know all about Pamela's great fitting retro-inspired swimsuits! Reaching back to those fashionable and glamorous eras of the 40's and 50's, Pamela has created styles with the influence of days gone by, but with the modern comfort and convenience of today’s fabrics and bathing suit construction. From Tankini Swimsuits to Boy Short Swimwear, what’s really great about Popina Swimwear is that you can be as active you like, or just relax on the beach in style. You will find Popina Portland Swimwear somewhere between the Copacabana of the 40’s, and Ipanema today. I hope you'll visit Popina if you're in the Portland area, and say hey to Pamela for me, or just simply shop online with the 10% discount code above. Hey Pamster!!

Friday Food Files With Molly Watson: Brandied Cherries & Manhattans.

2009-05-29T06:00:00.000-07:00

Since 1) it's cherry season and 2) y'all seem to really love it when I post about cocktails, I thought I'd tell you about a little something-something I cooked up last cherry season: Brandied Cherries. They are a bit of work to make, but only if you pit them first (which I do like to do, but I'm funny that way - you don't need to bother if you don't mind having to deal with the pit when you eat them). Otherwise, you just need to make a syrup, add brandy, pour it all over the cherries and then stick them in the back of the fridge *or* hot-water process them and hide them in a cupboard. In any case, let them sit around for a few weeks or months before you use them - the flavors meld and mellow and become absolutely heavenly.

When you pop them open you can simply use them to top ice cream. Or, and here is where things get really fun, you can use a bit of the spiced brandy in a Manhattan and plop one (or two or three) of the cherries in the glass. I can personally attest to the degree to which one of these will really brighten and gray winter night. Think ahead, little squirrels, and store your cherries for the dark days ahead.

***

It's Maker Faire Time!

2009-05-29T05:00:00.000-07:00

The Maker Faire is back! The Bay Area's 4th annual DIY extravaganza and clothing swap returns this year with 600 plus crafters. The Maker Faire is a two-day, event that celebrates the DIY mindset. It's what I would best describe as crafts-meet-burning man-meet-mad science, a strange combo to be sure, but maybe not all that surprising. I see more and more lately the love relationship between science and art and how the too seemingly diverse subjects are drawn to each other. Left brain, meet right brain. Hello! Anyway, the Maker Faire is a fine example of this merging of the minds, and I highly recommend a visit this weekend - it's held at the San Mateo County Fairgrounds. One of my favorites is always Zack the Poem Guy (pictured above). Here's the list of participating artists this year. See ya there!

Maker Faire
May 30th & 31st • Saturday 10am -8pm; Sunday 10am-6pm
San Mateo County Event Center
2495 S. Delaware Street @ East 25th Avenue
San Mateo • 94403

blissful inspiration

2009-05-28T09:50:00.000-07:00

I love that it is Thursday and I get to spend my morning here with all of you. My name is mrs. french and I feel so very honored to post here on sfgirlbybay...the excitement never wears off...

In my opinion, one of the loveliest things about photography is the different interpretation each photographer has of one particular subject. This is how I get lost for hours...it is amazing to me how basically the same subject can be seen in completely different ways...all depending on who is behind the camera....

Which is how I came up with today's post....I am all about pink peonies right now. I love the feathery texture paired with soft colors...almost boa like. I have been completely knocked out by the peony photography this time of year...I am dying to get a bunch of my own and see how they come out...

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completely different, yet equally beautiful. Have a beautiful weekend, see you next thursday and please do stop by bliss...xo mrs. french

London Market Report.

2009-05-28T09:00:00.000-07:00

We visited so many of London's great street markets, I wanted to wrap up my reports on the trip to London with a little 'market report'. From the wonderful and supremely delicious Borough Market, London's oldest food market, to Columbia Road's flower and plant market held every Sunday. We didn't make each and every market in London, but here's a peek at the London marketplaces we did find our way to.

Columbia Road Market is kind of insane. Nowhere on earth have I seen so many people jostling for space to sell, and buy, beautiful plants and flowers. We got a little lost trying to find this spot, tucked away in a somewhat residential neighborhood. I think the best way to find it is to head down Brick Lane and then just ask people with flowers in their hands where to head next, but here's some directions to help you on your way. It's such a wonderful way to spend a Sunday - especially if sunny...and there's a ton of great little shops, bakeries and cute cafes lining Columbia Road, that you'll want to meander into those, too. Columbia Road is certainly not just for plant life.

Bits of Columbia Road.

Borough Market was definitely one of the highlights of our trip, and I'm so glad we made it there. There are just tons of great smelling aromas in this historic location tucked under some railway lines, and Borough Market has occupied its present site for 250 years - since 1756! From sausage makers, to coffee brewers and bakers of about every delicacy you might desire, this is a great way to get fed and enjoy the samples provided by many of the vendors at the same time. We tasted fudge, cheeses, fresh fruits and pastries, and didn't come away a bit hungry. It's truly a don't miss! Here's some directions to help you find Borough Market just across the Tower of London Bridge in Southwark. It's held every Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

The very tasty Borough Market.

Then there's the wacky, crowded and crazy Portobello Road Flea Market which happens every Saturday. Wedged in between vendors selling their antiques and vintage bric-a-brac are fruit and vegetable stalls, with everyone happily squeezing along the hugely crowded Portobello Road. There's great shops all along the road, too and if you end up at the very end you'll hit Golborne Road where you can stop into George's Portobello Fish Bar for a bit of fish 'n chips (it's reportedly one of Jamie Oliver's favorites). Or head back towards the entrance off Chepstow Villas and grab a yummy cupcake at the Hummingbird Bakery.

Hummingbird Bakery and food stalls squeeze in
amongst the antique dealers on Portobello Road.

Lastly, we hit the charming Covent Garden Market with it's pretty arched iron and glass market halls filled with mostly new shops and cafes. On Mondays, antique dealers take over with some new, and sometimes very old vintage trinkets out back in what they call the Jubilee Market. I found some wonderful vintage tins here, but mostly just enjoyed the people watching. Lots of characters here, both buying and selling.

Design Your Life - Book Winner!

2009-05-28T06:00:00.001-07:00

Last week I announced that St. Martins Press had very nicely offered up a copy of the new book, Design Your Life: The Pleasures and Perils of Everyday Things by Ellen and Julia Lupton, for one lucky sfgirlbybay reader! I asked readers to share with us what you think is your worst design nightmare. And the winner is Brittney, who sadly had to break up with her boyfriend due to 'design differences' when he wanted to decorate his very tiny living room with a 30 foot Russian icon of the Virgin Mary. Oooh, pity that! But congratulations, Miss Britt! Thanks to everyone who entered with such entertaining comments! You can find your own copy of this handy, informative book online here.

Sunday in the City - Now on Etsy.

2009-05-27T11:00:00.000-07:00

After a very nice show this month at The Curiosity Shoppe (thanks, you guys!) I've added my Sunday in the City fine art photographic prints to my Etsy shop. You can find most of the favorites (there's a dozen in all right now) in the shop right now, and based on what other requests I may get, I will always be adding more. Once, again, thank you so much for all the kind comments on my photographs over the last year or so. It means more to me than you know, to get back to my photographic love, my roots, and I couldn't be more pleased to share these images with you, and so proud to know they might be hanging in your homes. Thank you, thank you!

Baubles, Wine & Cheese!

2009-05-27T09:20:00.000-07:00

Tonight, Wednesday, May 27 in San Francisco, my friend Lisa Coris, and another talented artist, Antonia Blyth are having a little necklace party in the Richmond from 6p-9p. It'll be fun night with wonderfully unique and affordable jewelry pieces for sale. You can see more of what these artists have to offer in advance at Lisa Coris Designs, and Antonia Blyth Jewelry.

If you'd like to drop over for wine, cheese and baubles, just drop Lisa an email (lisacorisdesigns [at] gmail [dot] com) and she will provide you with the address. Get your necklace on!

Ace is The Place.

2009-05-27T08:00:00.000-07:00

I just love the aesthetic of Ace Hotels. Clean, streamlined and sleek, not overly fussy, just simply elegant. I mean what's worse than a hotel trying to look all posh and doing a really mediocre job of it? Either you are a posh hotel, or who are we kidding, you're a motel. It's like airline food - why try and be all fancy-pants and serve some kind of mystery chicken a la cordon blue...I think I may speak for many of us when I say, I'd just rather have a sandwich. At least, I have a pretty good idea of what I'm eating.

I don't need fancy, just good design. Some hotel rooms make you want to jump out of your skin, but I think if I stayed in an Ace Hotel, there might be fear of me hanging out in my room a bit too much. But hey, that's why they made room service! So I wrote to Ace and asked if I might share some of their room decor with you, and as I suspected, they couldn't have been nicer, and more uncomplicated about it. Just like their lovely rooms. Ace has hotels in Portland, Seattle, Palm Springs and now in New York City. Hey guys, where's the San Francisco hotel? I think we'd be a perfect spot for an Ace. The guys behind Ace had the idea to create a place their friends and acquaintances would want to stay – DJs, artists, magazine creators, graphic designers, musicians – the creative types who have been behind the evolving cultural renaissance of the Pacific Northwest of the last decade, and who aren’t, generally speaking, awash with cash, so the rooms are quite affordable, too. There's even one with called the 'Band Room', with bunk beds should you need to buddy-up.

These are pretty hip hotels...some rooms feature turntables with a hand-picked selection of new and used vinyl for guests to enjoy during their stay. And the Portland Ace Hotel even has a photo booth! Now what grown person doesn't enjoy a good photo booth? See, no reason to even leave this hotel. The lobby's are pretty swanky yet comfy, too, and I love the found and re-purposed 'hotel' sign in the Portland lobby area, too. Pay-per-view TV? No thank-you. Free Wi-Fi internet access? Of course. Yipee! With all this going for it, Ace is definitely my kinda place.

Heck, I kinda just want to move in here!

The Palm Springs pool area, complete with vintage trailer.

The nicest, coolest hotel bathroom...maybe ever.

Beautiful reclaimed wood headboard,
and the bunk beds in the Band Room.

How to Find A Home Away.

2009-05-26T09:30:00.000-07:00

Okay, just a wee bit more about London this week, I promise! A lot of you asked me how we found our London rental flat, and I was so thrilled with our find, that I wanted to share a little bit of my experience researching a holiday rental. We had a great experience with our rental, which we found via Holiday Rentals from Home Away (they are the UK division of Home Away Rentals, which is kind of like the parent company). Holiday Rentals provides you with insurance (up to $5,000) for any holiday rental you book from their site. All the transactions are handled directly between the private owner and yourself, but once you book your holiday, you register it with the Home Away/Holiday Rental site and you are insured should something disastrous happen. I paid my deposit to the owner, who was lovely, via Paypal, and paid cash upon arrival for the balance. Here's a peek at our charming rental, which we rented for £135 per night (and split that two ways). For a week's stay, it was a fairly reasonable rate for our great Notting Hill neighborhood in London, and because we had a kitchen and cozy place to hang out, we ate most breakfasts in , and even stayed in for dinner a couple of times, helping to save money (and our weary souls from running around all day!).

One of the biggest points that I want to make is that you do have to be very careful. I don't want to get too negative here, but I can't express enough the horror and disappointment in the world when I realized how many schemers there are out there on the internet. There were tons, and I kid you not, tons of people attempting to rent units that never existed, or at the very least, didn't belong to them to rent! Go with a reputable company, and do not send money orders, or bank wire transfers. Do look for rentals with a few recommendations and read those carefully. If the wording is strange, or seems a little too glowing, check further. Google the address, or the phone number, or the email address of the renter. You'll be surprised what pops up. One man I researched had at least a dozen warnings out there on Trip Advisor and other travel chat rooms. Just be careful. Use your common sense, and only send money via Paypal, or through a rental agency with your credit card.

We arrived to fresh tulips from the Portobello Road Market
in our rooms, from just around the corner.

Pretty wrought iron dressing table and headboard.

Our pretty little garden off the back bedroom.

Our pink Notting Hill palace.

Our charming Notting Hill neighborhood, with lots of cafes and shops.

A Little Interview on Shiny Squirrel.

2009-05-26T08:00:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite online art gallery's is Jessica Goldfond's Shiny Squirrel, a site dedicated to share emerging artists' work. Jessica's has a blog going now, and has a new series going entitled 'The Little Interview'. And, this week Shiny Squirrel is featuring a little interview with me! To see what the heck I had to say (Jessica asked some interesting questions!) you can check it out here on the Shiny Squirrel blog. Thanks so much for having me, Jessica!

A Little Bit of Brooklyn.

2009-05-26T06:00:00.000-07:00

Palo Samko Cabinet.

This is a little late in coming, since Grace of the always amazing design*sponge sent this to me while I was in London, but it was too good not to share. Grace was one of the judging panelists at this year's Brlyn Designs show, the annual three-day furnishings design event which was held in early May. Grace was so excited by the new work she saw there, she created two inspiring videos of some of her favorites pieces. I completely concur with Grace, and think my very favorite of what Grace shared of the show was the work of Brooklyn-based designer, Palo Samko, a woodworker who designs furniture with humorous hidden, little secrets tucked into his pieces. Palo is from the Czech/Polish border and it's amazing that he is a self taught builder, with no design school training. You can view more images from the Brlyn Designs show on design*sponge, and watch both of Grace's videos full screen here on YouTube. Thanks for sharing, Grace!

Oh, and happy, happy Friday.

2009-05-22T13:00:00.000-07:00

Go on...pimp your ride! You know you want to!
Have a swell weekend everyone! It's great to be back!
Y'all have a fun long weekend,
and I'll see you back here on Tuesday.

Colors of London.

2009-05-22T10:00:00.000-07:00

One of the most charming things about Notting Hill, the neighborhood we rented our flat in (the pink one just below), were the beautiful row houses. We dawdled down the mews every day on our way to the Tube, fantasizing about which one would be ours...in a perfect world. I picked a pretty little aqua colored one with an olive green door that once belonged to George Orwell. My friend Joni chose the eggplant purple one with the charcoal gray door. We'd be neighbors and meet for tea each day. Yep, in a perfect world!

Our Notting Hill flat.

Our street, Portobello Road.

George Orwell lived here.

An eggplant beauty!

Eye candy!

Just like sherbet.

Posh!

Wallpaper Projects Book - The WINNERS!

2009-05-22T09:00:00.001-07:00

Last week, I announced that Chronicle Books had generously offered two lucky sfgirlbybay readers a chance to win one of two copies of Wallpaper Projects - a new DIY book from craft experts Derek Fagerstrom and Lauren Smith of The Curiosity Shoppe. Over a hundred of you wrote in with some fantastic ideas and two of you were selected!

Our first winner is Vera Devera with her DIY Wedding projects. Vera said, "I would use the wallpaper to make my DIY wedding invitations, including: Double-pasting to the back of the invitation, Belly bands and Envelope liners. If I find enough of it, I'd also consider using "vintage" style wallpaper as inexpensive table runners (stitched together)." All, really wonderful ideas for re-purposing wallpaper.

The second winner is Kelsey Klassen. Kelsey had these great ideas: "I would wallpaper my phone books because there always seems to be three laying around, and I can never bring myself to get rid of them just in case. I would also line the inside of old glass jars with vintage wallpaper to create pretty ways to store bathroom supplies like cotton balls and q-tips. I am also planning to wallpaper the section under our breakfast bar because it is a sadly neglected stretch of vertical space." I am so with her on the phone book idea - I can't stand the way they look, but always think I'll need one!

Congratulations to the winners, and many thanks to everyone who wrote in such great ideas! To read any of these excellent DIY ideas, check the comments section on this post. And, for more about Wallpaper Projects and how to order, click here, and to keep up with Lauren & Derek - check out their blog, Smarts & Crafts.

Food Files With Molly Watson: Santa Maria Barbecue.

2009-05-22T06:00:00.001-07:00

Memorial Day Weekend is upon us. My understanding is that, along with honoring those who have died for our country fighting in our name (whether that fighting and dying was such a great idea in retrospect or not), Memorial Day Weekend is also the start of summer. The time to open up summer cabins, mentally check out of class, and fire up the old grill. And while hamburgers and hot dogs have their place - they really do - and more ambitious endeavors like pulled pork or whole smoked turkeys are impressive as hell, sometimes something easy but with just a wee bit of effort (and amazing amounts of rewarding flavor to go along with it) are in order. For grilling occasions such as these may I make a recommendation? Grill yourself up a bit of tri-tip and throw yourself a Santa Maria Barbecue. The centerpiece of this California tradition is a grilled tri-tip (a.k.a. a beef triangle cut if you're not on the West Coast), simply seasoned with salt, pepper, and garlic salt.

With it you serve beans, fresh salsa, a green salad, and garlic bread. It's one of those combinations that is so simple that you can't really believe how perfect it all is together. The savory beef, the tender beans, the spicy salsa, the crunchy salad, and garlic bread to sop it all up. Summer, we welcome you.

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blissful inspiration

2009-05-21T08:55:00.001-07:00

happy thursday morning friends! for those of you who don't know me just yet, my name is mrs. french. I have a blog called bliss and take millions of pictures. I also spend just as much time, if not more time, admiring the work of others.

Recently I have been amazed by the lovely images created by the Holga...a "toy" camera. The charm behind Holga photography is the unpredictable nature of the images produced due to light leaks in this little plastic camera. It's imperfections make it perfect in my eyes.

I have a Holga...I have taken a few photographs, but have yet to develop them....I am both excited and nervous. I am used to much more control. Perhaps that is why Holga photography would be good for a photographer like me...just thinking out loud....

Anyway, here are some of my favorites taken with this magical little camera by folks that relish in imperfect, perfection all wrapped up in a big surprise...

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thank you so much...I look forward to coming back next week...xo mrs. french

Flickr Curator: Me!

2009-05-21T06:00:00.000-07:00

I've been a bit remiss lately about posting my Flickr Curator series, so I felt like posting one of my own today! I love all of these images - flickr has such an amazing pool of talented photographers and they never cease to amaze me with wonderment and awe. I hope one day to really be the kind of photographer who can capture these kinds of images. If you'd like to view any of these photos larger, click on the individual links below and you'll be taken to the original flickr photograph, and to these photographers' flickr photostreams to see more of their amazing work. Or, to see more of my favorites, click here. I hope these lovely images inspire you as much as they do me.

Photo credits (to see any of these images larger, click on each individual link): 1. aliciabock 2. reflect / refract 3. * cate * 4. aliciabock 5. miss:kovalova 6. FINE TUNING 7. corfu~ 8. ijklee 9. {manda} 10. {manda} 11. e*airfuly 12. honeypieLiving 13. harpy 14. corfu~ 15. sandra juto 16. 6.5st 17. mainemomma2007 18. O!Rachew! 19. happyaccidents 20. rachel.am 21. Dead Slow 22. Di P'anna 23. happyaccidents 24. Ansel Olson 25. sandra juto 26. sandra juto 27. photoworksdave 28. Citrushearts 29. reflect / refract 30. dejvicka 31. daytrips 32. Alisha Henson 33. harpy 34. john curley 35. aliciabock, and 36. Molly | Orangette.

Twig Spring Sale!

2009-05-20T15:00:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite online shops and sponsors, Twig, is having a huge Spring Sale! Twig has made loads of new markdowns all over their site. Chie Mihara (I have a pair of these, and wore them all over London - so comfortable, and beautiful!), Gary Graham, Kristensen du Nord, Orla Kiely bags & notebooks, etc...And what isn’t already marked down is 20% off to sfgirlbybay readers with code MEMORIAL. The Twig discount code is valid through Memorial Day, and you can simply enter the code at check out. Thanks so much for the reader discount Twig!

Take A Caravan Trip.

2009-05-20T08:00:00.000-07:00

While in London we visited a store I've been dying to get to for ages. Emily Chalmer's Caravan is just as lovely as I had imagined it to be. We went way out of our way just to drop in, and I'm so glad we did! In fact, we had to hunt the shop down because Caravan has recently moved to a charming new location, and are no longer inside Spitalfield's Market, and instead are located in a cute little alley nearby. Emily Chalmers is a freelance stylist, self-confessed flea market addict (oh, why does that sound familiar?) and the author of Flea Market Style, one my favorite home design books, as well as Contemporary Country and Table Inspirations, two other very lovely books. Oh, how I love this girl's style!

The Caravan shop is full of fab British flair, and I did a fair amount of damage here, including buying one of those cute little Caravans. Everyone needs a miniature Caravan, right? If I can't have a life-size one, I might as well have a wee one! If you're not hopping across the pond to London anytime soon, you can always shop online, or just enjoy these pretty pictures and save them in your memory banks for your next trip!

Frazier & Wing.

2009-05-20T07:00:00.000-07:00

The fabulous and unique mobile maker Heather Frazier of Frazier & Wing was recently featured in Architectural Digest's article about great design under $100, and quite deservedly so! And, in celebration of Spring and the debut of Heather's lovely new garland collection, Frazier & Wing will be offering FREE shipping on all domestic orders through the end of June! Frazier & Wing also has a brand new website design up and live with all new gorgeous garlands and mobiles, as well as a new shopping cart feature, including a unique gift wrap feature. For more about Frazier & Wing, check out her website, as well as Heather's beautiful blog.

Time Out With Erin: Let's Go Fly A Kite!

2009-05-20T06:00:00.000-07:00

The weather's never been better, so pack up your umbrellas and head to your local park with this kite flying kit. I love the packaging and adorable design; perfect for kids or adults. Before you head to the park, don your favorite picnic skirt and flats, grab a camera and prepare for your photo opp! You'll want to hang onto this image for a loooooong time.

Editor's note: I saw this adorable floral print kite at Cath Kidston in London, too!

*And, in case you're unfamiliar, Time Out is another installment of a new Wednesday column brought to you by Erin Loechner, Editor of Design for Mankind...dedicated to tearing you away from behind the computer monitor and on to enjoying the simple things in life. Enjoy! As always, thanks so much Erin!

Give Me Liberty!

2009-05-19T09:00:00.000-07:00

One of the shopping highlights of my trip to London was a visit to Liberty. Liberty is a gorgeous, one of a kind department store, a beautiful oasis of good design right in the middle of London. Not only is their selection of home accessories, fabrics, wallpapers and furnishings stunning, the staff couldn't have been more friendly, or helpful. While some stores of this calibre you might find snooty sales people, not Liberty! I asked if I might take some photographs and their reply was 'sure!' - I didn't always get such a kind reply when I made this request in other well-known London department stores. Here's a look at some of the beautiful, the mod and the very eclectic things we found, including this charming Bunny Rabbit Lamp I just had to bring hopping across the pond home with me!

Since 1875, Liberty has been synonymous with luxury and great design. In the 1890's Arthur Liberty built strong relationships with many leading English designers. Many of these designers were key figures in the Arts and Crafts and Art Nouveau movements and Arthur Liberty was instrumental in the development of Art Nouveau through his encouragement of such designers. The Liberty store became one of the most prestigious in London. Liberty still stands for integrity, value, quality and above all beautifully designed products. The Liberty vision and spirit continues today within their beautiful iconic Tudor building. Just take a look! And, if you're not planning a trip to London anytime soon, remember, you can shop Liberty online.

Diana Kingsley Sophisticated Mix & Match.

2009-05-19T06:00:00.001-07:00

A very kind reader suggested I take a look at the photography work of Diana Kingsley and her beautiful, and unique pairings. Being a huge fan of the stories a diptych photograph can tell myself, I really loved the way Diana paired her two images. While not exactly diptychs, I admire the way Diana has selected these images to live together on her online portfolio.

Diana's artist statement reads as follows: "In my photographs I'm drawn to situations where control is confounded by dysfunction and formal elegance is poised precariously on the verge of the absurd. Subjects are undone by subtle flaws, minor setbacks, or a sense of impending doom: cherished possessions are lost, composure is fleeting, first prize remains elusive, while honorable mentions abound. Although the subject matter varies, a coherent sensibility emerges wherein human frailty and vulnerability are reflected in the most disparate of everyday things. I'm looking for the blunt and unadorned ambiance of a one-act comedy, where psychological tension and pratfalls set a mood rather than force any particular narrative." For more of Diana Kingsley's beautiful work, please take a look at her website.

Friends & Neighbors: Over on Uppercase.

2009-05-18T11:58:00.000-07:00

The lovely Janine at UpperCase Gallery just informed me that in honor of Canada's Victoria Day, which is today, she has done a post about me! I am so flattered and honored to be included on the Uppercase blog journal! Oh, and be sure and look for an article I'll be contributing to the new Uppercase Magazine in their next issue. Thanks so very much, Janine!

Sunday in the City: London Town.

2009-05-18T06:00:00.000-07:00

I'm just back from London, so today I thought I'd share a few snaps from my our first day there. Our flat was literally around the corner from the entrance to Portobello Road - one of the city's largest flea markets. So, as tired as we were, having just landed at 7am, we popped over for a quick peek and here's what we saw. London was wonderful - we had great weather, and the people were so friendly and fun! And, I'm afraid the shopping was pretty fantastic, too. I'm still pretty jetlagged, so sorry, but I'm plum out of pithy words to accompany the pics...but much more to come on my London finds this week!

Oh, and happy, happy Friday.

2009-05-15T12:00:00.000-07:00

I'm traveling back this weekend from London,
and look forward to sharing my trip with y'all!
In the meantime, have a cheery weekend!

Friday Food File With Molly Watson: Berry Fool.

2009-05-15T06:00:00.000-07:00

My friend Samantha may just kill me for revealing this secret. I introduced her to this dinner-party-perfect dessert a year ago and my sense is that she's been working it ever since. It's easy, you can make it ahead, it looks as pretty as can be, and people LUV it. It's Berry Fool. With strawberries red and ripe everywhere one looks at markets these days, I thought I'd help you find a way to ingest and serve more of them easily.

A fool is an old-school British dessert of mashed or pureed fruit folded into whipped cream. That's it. I'm not even kidding. Sweeten it to taste and add a splash of liqueur or eau-de-vie if you're so inclined, but that is it. But like so many brilliantly simple dishes, most people wouldn't guess - and may not even believe - that that's all there is to it. So feel free to tell them how you made it. Next time they have a dinner party they will call you and say "Remember that berry desert you made? I'm having people over next week and want to make it. I know you told me, but I forgot, how do you make it?" And you will tell them again. Then they will call you the day of the party and say, "I'm sorry, I know you told me, but how do I make it again?"

Be kind. Be patient. Explain again how to make it.

"Is that all?" They'll say, yet again, and you will assure them, yet again, that yes, that is it. Why are the simplest things always the most difficult to remember?

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blissful inspiration

2009-05-14T09:13:00.001-07:00

good morning friend...so the lovely victoria is in london...I am so, so happy for her but "jealous" does not begin to describe how envious I am. I don't know about you, but I do not get the opportunity to travel nearly as much as I would like. I find that my only option is to live vicariously through others. Thank goodness for flickr and dedicated photographer/travelers...I spend so much time perusing other people's holiday photographs. I am particularly drawn to polaroids...a bit more "real" for me somehow. Which leads me into my blissful inspiration post for the day...a polaroid tour of London...

(pssst...don't forget to tap the stars...you just have to know who is responsible for this loveliness...)

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I hope you were able to transport yourself a bit...thank you so much for stopping by, oh and please stop by my bliss for some extra polaroid love (in a completely random way)...xo mrs. french

Design Your Life: Book Giveaway!

2009-05-14T09:00:00.000-07:00

Design Your Life: The Pleasures and Perils of Everyday Things by Ellen and Julia Lupton is new book with a fascinating new look at the world of design and the role it plays in our lives. The twin Lupton sisters are the experts on DYL philosophy, and are very well-known in the design realm. Taking a fresh, funny look at parenthood, housekeeping, entertaining, time management, crafting, and more, Design Your Life from St. Martins Press shows you how to evaluate the things you use, and how to recognize forms of order that secretly inhabit the messes of daily life, be it a cluttered room or a busy schedule.

And the really good news?! St. Martins Press has graciously offered up a copy of Design Your Life for a lucky sfgirlbybay reader! Briefly share with us what you think is your worst design nightmare in the comment section below by Friday May 22nd at midnight, and I'll announce one happy winner the week of May 25th. Be sure to include a way to contact you, either your email, or webpage/blog!

Design Your Life uses humor and insight to explore the practical side of everyday design, looking at how it impacts your life in unexpected ways and what you can do about it. Speaking to the popular interest in design as well as people’s desire to make their own way through a mass-produced world, this thoughtful book takes a fresh and humorous approach to make some serious points about the impact of design on our lives.

Letterpress Love.

2009-05-14T06:00:00.000-07:00

Guest Blogger: Abbey Hendrickson of Aesthetic Outburst.

I am a total sucker for art books and all things letterpress. I work at the Western New York Book Arts Collaborative, so I'm always on the look out for beautiful prints and zines. Today I thought I'd share part of my collection with you. The print above is by an artist named Claire Taylor (her shop is still in the works). A letterpressed Bill Murray?! So fabulous! My dear friend Rachael of Pistachio Press printed the beauty below (designed by Tara Hogan). Rachael is super talented…and is one of the busiest people I know. Take a look at her website and I’m sure you’ll see why.

This last print is also by Claire Taylor. Who could resist a pig named Razzle? Not me.

Thanks so much for taking a peek at my little world and special thanks to Victoria for inviting me to be a guest blogger this week! If you're in Buffalo on May 21st, stop by Western New York Book Arts Collaborative for our grand opening! And be sure to say hello...I'll be the crazed-looking girl hoarding all of the prints and books.

Time Out With Erin: Upholster and Away!

2009-05-13T06:00:00.002-07:00

Okay, this Wednesday does require a bit of skill involved, but hear me out: I love, love, love the work of textile designer Eleanor Young. And if you can afford it, I highly encourage you to take a leap and purchase one of her pieces. And if you can't? Do it yourself.

Take a chair [preferably a chair that you wouldn't mind ruining should the experiment go awry], an iron and these transfers [because everyone needs a bit of Mike Perry in their life]. Then....go to it! Face it - not everyone's a quick study in the sewing machine department [myself included], so fake it! You're sure to have a totally original chair and a whole lot of fun. Enjoy!

*And, in case you're unfamiliar, Time Out is another installment of a new Wednesday column brought to you by Erin Loechner, Editor of Design for Mankind...dedicated to tearing you away from behind the computer monitor and on to enjoying the simple things in life. Enjoy! As always, thanks so much Erin!

Sunny Spring/Summer Style.

2009-05-13T06:00:00.001-07:00

Guest Blogger: Nicolle of Sacred Lotus Photography.

Hello everyone, it's Nicolle again here to share with you some of my favorite Spring/Summer looks. Living in Portland, Oregon I get very antsy in the winter and can't wait for the warm weather to kick in. When the temps reach 70 it's time to throw on a pretty dress and soak up the sun!

Lately I have been inspired by Toast's Spring '09 collection.

I am also really loving Sublet's eco-apparel. Their mission "Built on principles of social and environmental responsibility, new york-based sublet clothing's mission is to design and manufacture sustainable garments for the creative community that inspires their collections. They design simple, refined silhouettes balanced by thoughtful details."

Now before I go let's talk about shoes. I *love* shoes, really what girl doesn't? I don't know any! One of my favorite shoe stores is called Habitat and let me tell you they have some amazing shoes. Check 'em out!

1. coclico orion, 2. frye kelsey, 3. coclico flattery, 4. camper laura

Bravo Bargello Patterns!

2009-05-13T06:00:00.000-07:00

Guest Blogger: Abbey Hendrickson.

A few months ago I started making these small pieces based on Italian Bargello patterns. Mine are made of puff paint and graph paper...perhaps a bit less elegant than the real deal, but I love the patterns. After a quick search the other day, I came across a gorgeous flickr photostream that belongs to Kim from desire to inspire. Isn't her collection of Bargello pillows incredible?!

Going With The Grain.

2009-05-12T09:00:00.000-07:00

I've recently discovered this really cool site called Grain Edit when they ever so kindly included me in their Twitter list of their 50 or so favorite design-related Tweeters. This list isn’t exhaustive, it’s just a little peek at who’s tweeting about design, and I so appreciated being included in such nice company! Based in Oakland, California, Grain Edit is focused on classic design work from the 1950s-1970s and contemporary designers that draw inspiration from that time period. Their site content includes wonderful interviews with graphic designers (like some of these below), articles, designers’ libraries as well as examples of rare design annuals, type specimens, Ephemera, posters and vintage kids books from our bookshelves. Check out Grain edit, and follow them on Twitter, too!

Interview with Frank Chimero.

Interview with House Industries.

Interview with Matte Stephens.

Fikas!

2009-05-12T06:00:00.000-07:00

Guest Blogger: Sandra Juto.

Hello, I'm Sandra Juto! I'm happy to be guest blogging here today, thank you Victoria for inviting me. In Sweden, we have lots of fikas and the other day as I was having mine I saw a couple quarreling over their cappuccino. I think it was something about the man wanting the pastry all to himself. The woman left. I hope she had a better fika some place else.

Outdoor Dining.

2009-05-11T06:00:00.002-07:00

Guest Blogger: Nicolle of Sacred Lotus Photography.

Hello everyone, my name is Nicolle from Sacred Lotus Photography. I am very excited to be one of the guest bloggers here this week on sfgirlbybay.

With the sun finally making an appearance here in rainy Portland, Oregon my mind has been filled with thoughts of eating every meal outside and making fresh squeezed lemonade. There is just something about the warm sun hitting my face while enjoying a good meal that makes me so very happy!

As summer rolls in, so do daydreams of packing up the family and heading to the park to enjoy a lovely sunny picnic.

Want a simple way to pack up a picnic for two? Then check out XXD's Folding Picnic Set. It's eco-friendly, small, and ready anytime for that spontaneous picnic!

*photo credits: countryliving.com, dmagazine.com, craveonline.com, thorsten (tk), michekerr, mwhammer, loungebrigade.com.

Aesthetic Outburst Inspiration.

2009-05-11T06:00:00.001-07:00

Guest Blogger: Abbey Hendrickson.

Hello there! My name is Abbey Hendrickson and I write a little blog called Aesthetic Outburst. I live in Buffalo, New York with my husband and our little boy, so I thought I'd kick off my guest posts by introducing you to our little city and to some of the things that inspire me as an artist.

Oh, and happy, happy Friday.

2009-05-08T13:00:00.000-07:00

Cheerio, Kids!
Have a wonderful week and I'll see you back here on the 18th!

*Beautiful photo courtesy of ccsharry.

Welcome Guest Bloggers!

2009-05-08T10:00:00.000-07:00

So, as I've pounded into your poor heads this week, I'm off to London today. In fact, I'm probably flying over you somewhere in the sky right now! I've exhausted my all my friendships and loved ones, by exclaiming "Blimey, Gov'nor!" all week long to anyone within earshot! Hey, it was fun (albeit obnoxious) at the time! But, I digress, because I'm excited! I have some great guest bloggers lined up for you this week while I'm away. And, I'd love to introduce them to you now...

Sandra's creations.

First off, we have the very prolific and amazing artist Sandra Juto of Smosch. You've probably seen Sandra's wonderful Smosch dolls, and her beautiful wrist worms and artwork around the web. Maybe even her lovely flickr photos. Sandra's all the way from Sweden, so give her a nice, warm welcome.

Artwork from Abbey Hendrickson.

Next up, the very talented artist Abbey Hendrickson of Aesthetic Outburst is also joining in this week. Abbey has amazing taste (you've seen her home here on sfgirlbybay) and she will take very good care of you, sharing some fabulous and arty finds. You might like to also check out her vintage-inspired and art-filled etsy shop How Now Design, too!

Lovely Nicolle.

And last but not at all in the least, we have there's the lovely Nicolle of Sacred Lotus fame on flickr, and master of her lovely Sacred Lotus Photography blog. Trust me, Nicolle's going to make you swoon with some lovely finds and get you all ready for summer!

And to round out this group, there will be regular guest posts from Erin Loechner of Design for Mankind, who every Wednesday graciously gives us great ideas for stepping away from the computer monitor and embracing the simple, but very special things in life. Then there's that wondrous photographer, Mrs. French who every Thursday shares a little bit of Bliss with y'all. And at long last, there's Molly Watson, our resident expert foodie who on Fridays give us all a few inspiring recipes to try out and impress our friends and family! So, as you can see, you're in very good hands, and I'll see you all back here on Monday, May 18th, bleary-eyed and jet lagged, but oh-so-ready to share a good bit of Britain with you. Pip, pip, be jolly good and I'll miss you!

Friday Food Files With Molly Watson: Vietnamese Spring Noodle Salad.

2009-05-08T06:00:00.000-07:00

Regular readers may have noticed that I try to eat pretty seasonally. Being a member of a CSA (we're members of Terra Firma, which I really like for the variety and year-long nature of their fruit harvest, among other fine features) sort of forces the issue. I mean, there you are with a whole pile of seasonal fruits and vegetables fresh from the field, what are you going to do, let it rot and go buy Chilean peaches in February? Maybe some people would, but not too many in these recessionary times.

Living in California also makes it easy. My CSA box this week had such a wondrous, seemingly summery variety in it this week that I nearly keeled over in amazement. In fact, it's so easy to eat seasonally in California and never feel deprived that I avoid talking about it with people from other parts of the country for whom eating seasonally involves 6 if not 8 months of root vegetables.

Some of the joy of seasonal eating for me is coming up with new twists on standard dishes. This Vietnamese Spring Noodle Salad is a lot like a regular old, standard-issue Vietnamese noodle salad - except it has spring onions, spring salad mix, and the only herb is springy mint (no basil or cilantro). The out-of-season element was the chile I used in the nuoc cham dressing, but if you wanted to get hard-core you could use red pepper flakes instead of fresh chile.

For me this salad is about the best of eating seasonally - it's not punitive, it's not doctrinaire, it just plain tastes good.

***

blissful inspiration

2009-05-07T09:50:00.000-07:00

I love clothes lines...nostagic, simple, and just so lovely. I will have one...one day...until then, I have images such as these....

****

thank you, thank you...see you in one week. xo mrs. french

There's a New Moleskine In Town.

2009-05-07T06:00:00.000-07:00

I recently picked up a new Moleskine notebook - one of their City Notebooks, and this one's geared particularly for London, including Tube and neighborhood maps to help me find my way around town, and I've been making notes in it to include all of the wonderful tips you readers have given me for the trip! And, Moleskine also has web pages dedicated to major cities around the world, right on their site, with helpful travel information, such as local weather, calendar of events and taxi services.

I've always been a big fan of Moleskine notebooks and the the legendary journal has just relaunched their website, sporting an all-new look with lots of great content, including the new MSK format that lets you print your own pages and add them to personalize your very own Moleskine. You simply set up the page with your image and text, and then print out your MSK page to put into your Moleskine notebook. Choose the image from your desktop and write out or copy and paste the text. You can also download all your contacts from Outlook, Plaxo or your phone and print them out in your Moleskine. You can export your contacts in Vcard format and choose how you want them printed.

Did you know that Moleskine also has a whole virtual world online, where you can upload your sketches and notes to share with a Moleskine community? It's really cool - with loads of inspirational pages from artists and scribblers from all over the world, sharing their wonderful drawings and doodles. Just many more reasons to love Moleskine!

Behind the Scenes in Paris With Pia.

2009-05-06T10:00:00.000-07:00

I've recently been conversing (via email) with the lovely and talented photo stylist Pia Jane Bijkerk. Pia and I have struck up a lovely Internet friendship and she's been sharing with me a little bit of the behind the scenes stories that went into photographing and creating her wonderful new book, Paris: Made By Hand. Can you even imagine how much fun working on a book like this one could have been? Shooting all over magical Paris? I am green with envy, but excited to share a little bit more of Pia's Paris with you.

Pia is an Australian stylist who lives in Amsterdam and Paris, and has worked internationally with renowned photographers and contributes to some of the world's most prominent magazines and advertising agencies. She has a distinctive eye for forecasting lifestyle trends and her taste is just impeccable! Her new book, Paris: Made By Hand features some of Pia's favorite shopping haunts throughout Paris and includes her favorite atelier/boutiques. One of which is a La Galerie Végétal, (Pia tells me this is one her favorite spaces ever to wander through), a ceramicists called le Petit Atelier de Paris, another gorgeous one is a clothing boutique called Marie Louise De Monterey that restores gorgeous Parisian vintage dresses (Pia also once featured it on her blog here), and there's also the very stunning Atelier 154, that sells restored industrial style furniture, and which also has a blog you can follow called l'Atelier(s). There's really too many wonderful shops to list, so Paris: Made By Hand is a wonderful addition to any collection.

I am always fascinated by the outtakes during a shoot - what goes on behind the cameras, and Pia has graciously shared some of her images with us here. Pia spent about two weeks shooting Paris: Made By Hand and took plenty of these lovely personal shots in between each photo shoot. Some of her favorite shots were captured during moments of respite with her partner, who accompanied her for the whole shooting and interviewing process. While shooting boutiques in Montmartre, the two sat by this incredibly beautiful carousel and watched the kids play, and in addition to taking these lovely shots, Pia made a soundscape of it which you can listen to here. Ah, it's like being in Paris in the Springtime!

Another day, they had an afternoon drink in one of the many Parisian bars while in between appointments, and Pia made a soundscape of that too, which you can listen to and transported to lively Paris cafe life here.

Pia has a huge collection of outtake photos of Paris on her beautiful blog, which she took while walking the streets from shop to shop, and these are just but a glimpse behind the scenes of shooting her book Paris: Made By Hand, so visit her blog to see much more of her personal memories of Paris. Thank you so much, or rather mercí, Pia, for sharing your private Parisian world - it's been a wonderful trip!

Wallpaper Projects: Book Giveaway!

2009-05-06T08:00:00.000-07:00

I recently had the distinct pleasure of traveling to Savannah with Derek Fagerstrom and Lauren Smith of The Curiosity Shoppe and creative DIY crafting fame. It was a wonderfully fun trip, and spending time with the two, I realized that they look at the world just a little differently - everything they see can ultimately be re-purposed as a potential craft project. Even a discarded coffee cup became a vessel for a bouquet of pretty flowers on our vanity.

The duo's latest book, published by Chronicle, is a perfect example of their inspiring way of thinking - Wallpaper Projects is full of over 50 different craft projects utilizing wallpaper scraps in ways I'd never dreamed of. Wallpaper...it's not just for walls anymore! From projects for your home like lampshades and a modern cuckoo clock, to window shades and TV trays, and on to stylish accessories like wallet and checkbook covers to playful pinwheels, Lauren & Derek have done all the brainstorming for you. Each of the Wallpaper Projects include a list of materials and tools needed, complete with simple, easy to understand 'How To' steps. Even the inside of the book jacket is a pretty wallpaper print, designed by textile designer Lena Corwin, and when slipped off becomes one of many potential Wallpaper Projects.

And now, Chronicle Books is generously offering two lucky sfgirlbybay readers a chance to win one of two copies of Wallpaper Projects! Simply comment briefly below, giving us your DIY idea using wallpaper in a craft project and we'll pick two winners! Please enter by Friday, May 15th at midnight, and I'll announce a winners the week of May 18th. Be sure to include a way to contact you, either your email, or webpage/blog! For more about Wallpaper Projects and how to order, click here, and follow more of Lauren & Derek's crafty antics on their blog, Smarts & Crafts.

Time Out With Erin: Wall O' Doodles.

2009-05-06T06:00:00.001-07:00

Dry erase your wall! You know you miss the days of algebra algorithms on your teacher's whiteboard [or wait - is that just me?], or maybe even scribing messages of love and hate on your ex-boyfriend's college dorm room door. Either way, dry erase paint calls for an easy and affordable transition in any home.

Not sure what to doodle on your new wall? Try your own take on Andre Jordan's comical series entitled 'Postcards I May Send.' Or perhaps come up with some exciting New Math problems a la Craig Damrauer. The possibilities are endless!

*And, in case you're unfamiliar, Time Out is another installment of a new Wednesday column brought to you by Erin Loechner, Editor of Design for Mankind...dedicated to tearing you away from behind the computer monitor and on to enjoying the simple things in life. Enjoy! As always, thanks so much Erin!

*Photos courtesy of Hannah Beth; and Love, Loren.

A Look At London.

2009-05-05T09:00:00.000-07:00

Emily Chalmers London Flat from good mood factory.

So, since I'm off to London later this week, I'm doing my usual immersion into the culture to get myself excited (and past the thought of the long cross-country, transatlantic flight from California!). I went on Flickr to see what might be seen of London interiors, and found some pretty brilliant stuff! From the chic and sublimely simple, to the mod-modern eclectic, here's a little look at London style.

The London Cushion from decor8.

Ilse Crawford's London Loft from audinou.

London kitchen from * d a a n *.

Nina Campbell fabrics from bossanova.baby☺.

Designer Bambi Sloan from eclectic gipsyland.

Dining room from mattinnewyork.

Lovely white living room from * d a a n *.

Pretty, pink room from thrifting girl.

Working Studio, from Loua.

Paumes London kitchen from thrifting girl.

Emily Chalmers dining room from good mood factory.

London Flat in Vogue from catmil.