V is for Victory!

Oh thank you blog gods. I am reunited with my wi-fi and it feels so good! Darn, two days without the internet makes for one crazy girl! Thank you for your patience while I was down and out. I am back up again and am catching up like a mad woman. I hope to have some new content up for you tomorrow!

TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES!!

It's Tuesday and I am STILL having major internet problems - like as in no network!! This is very frustrating, so please forgive my lack of posts while I get this fixed and can post new content again. And, If I don't answer your emails right away, it's because I can't. I am so sorry! I hope to be back up very soon!!! Where is the IT guy when you need him (mine's in Seattle but is back tonight!!!) Argh!

*Image courtesy of SqueakyMarmot.

Bliss, Part Deux.

As I posted last week, Mrs. French of the blog Bliss, has gone and done it! Her fabulous photography shop, Blissful Images is already up and running on etsy! And not surprisingly, her beautiful fine art prints are flying off the virtual etsy shelves. Take a long, leisurely look at Blissful Images. But, maybe not too leisurely, or they'll all be gone!

Save The Date: Camilla Engman Calendar.

I received an email from Twig this morning, with some exciting news! The new 2009 Camilla Engman Calendar is available for pre-order (arriving in early October) in the Twig shop. I love Camilla's artwork, and look forward to keeping track of my busy days with her artwork gracing my walls. And, I'll bet as the months pass by, the beautiful images might be suitable for framing afterwards.

Sunday in the City.

It was a crisp Fall Sunday, so I felt compelled to take a nice long walk over to North Beach, San Francisco's Italian-American neighborhood. As always, the breeze in Little Italy held wafts of rich roast coffee, spicy garlic and freshly baked focaccia, all tempting me with every step. I love this compact, cosmopolitan and very European neighborhood with its abundant sidewalk cafes and kitschy coffee bars. Here's a look...

Tony's Italian.


Fancy Ford.

Bakery Chef.

Boy's Club.

Caffé Chair.

Red, White & Blue.

Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head.

I grew up with a poster of Paul Newman's Butch Cassidy on my wall.
I was so sad to hear he passed away today. He was one of the good guys.

*Photo courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox Films.

Oh, and happy, happy Friday.

Just because this made me smile.
Be happy you live where you live. And never forget to spell check.

*Photo courtesy of chez shoes.

Flickr Curator: Bueller Designs.

Today's amazing collection of flickr favorites is curated by one of my very favorite etsy shops and talented photographers, Bueller Designs. If you'd like to see some of Bueller's beautiful photography, you can visit her 2andFro flickr photostream, or shop for her images in her etsy shop. Bueller Designs has also recently created some eco-friendly grocery bags you can find at Cafe Press, and a beautiful Blurb photography book, The Sea.

Bueller tells me this about her beautiful collection of flickr faves: "Lately I have been fascinated by images that capture an emotional moment. Whether it's a new discovery, growth, curiosity, happiness, bliss, pleasure, etc. I think it comes from that nostalgia that summer is coming to an end and fall is approaching. It always makes me wistful and long for great storytelling. All these images tug at my heart strings, tell a story, express a deep emotion and that is what moves me. They inspire me to keep growing, discovering, being curious, etc.and remind me that there is an infinite amount of beautiful moments to capture."

Photo credits (to see any of these images larger, click on each link): 1. Untitled, 2. Beach Bike, 3. one of my fav things at the beach, 4. Soccer, 5. she took her own picture, 6. *Soap Bubble, 7. Two, 8. For Angel, 9. The little things, 10. jump, 11. The number you have dialed is currently unavailable. Please try again later., 12. vie de chat, 13. Untitled, 14. Untitled, 15. Untitled, 16. Untitled, 17. Rejoice!, 18. Untitled, 19. Time :: Everyday Things, 20. tiptoe in the morning, 21. un ptit coin d'paradis, 22. 266.269.anime, 23. Cuba, 24. mobil 1, 25. With Love From A German Hotel Room, 26. See the world!, 27. Hunters 15, 28. the reader, 29. evening, 30. stop the world..., 31. in desperate need of more coffee, 32. *Horse, 33. Girl With Bunny, 34. shoreline tracks, 35. Lullabye, 36. Untitled

Friends & Neighbors: Heart Fish.

I just adore my web designer, Hijiri Shepherd of Heart Fish. Hijiri, who is originally from Japan and now living in Brooklyn, has a wonderful design sense, and is probably like the sweetest person on the planet. And I do not exaggerate. Hijiri and her husband/partner Randy are working on my site redesign and I can't wait to see the results! In the meantime, she has a great post up on her site, Heart Fish, about the online fabric shop Volksfaden. I love their fun, vibrant and funky website - take a look at Volksfaden and some of Hijiri's other great posts here!

Going Global.

Maybe because I listen to NPR all day long while blogging, and global issues are at the forefront of the news. Or, perhaps because my trip to Thailand is coming up in a few weeks and I've been scouring travel guide books, but I find myself reminded that decorating with maps is a favorite of mine. I love old vintage school maps and I adore globes. They just hold such a strong fascination for me - I am intrigued by all the tiny streets, meandering roadways, dots of lakes, those big old continents and tiny little islands. It amazes me still, how people put them all together on a single sheet of paper.

Little globes all in neat rows, from amyla174, and from melt.

Maps and globes add a nice splash of color to decor, too - my favorites are the faded pastel ones in washed out yellows, blues, greens and pinks. You can usually find them at the flea market, or eBay, or if you're lucky, a local etsy vintage shop like some of these. Let's take a trip, shall we?

Fabulousness from girlhula.

The big bad world from Green Wellies, and Poetic Home.

1960's Black Globe from UncommonEye;
and Art Deco Globe from White Elephant Vintage.

Pretty pastel globes from A Touch of Vintage;
and Vintage 3-D Terrain School Globe from The Lovelys.

*Top photo courtesy of abbytriesagain.

Thank You!

Thank you all so much for contributing your bright and thoughtful ideas to the site redesign! It was great to read that you are all very much on the same wave length as I am when it comes to the look and feel of the site. A lot of the comments were directed at some of the technical glitches that have annoyed me as well, and we will fix those. I do plan on keeping the look and layout very clean, so I'm glad you are happy with that as well. I have compiled your thoughts and comments and am passing them along to the web designers, so I can't thank you all enough for taking the time to comment. Feel free to keep them coming! Mercí!

The Brainiac in Portland.

One of my favorite artists, Matte Stephens, has recently moved from Alabama to Portland, Oregon. And the relocation to Portland is quite apparent in Matte's new artwork, as indicated in New Weather Vivienne and Vivienne on Her Bike, which both depict her with an umbrella, no doubt shielding her pretty little head from Portland's notorious rainy days (Vivienne is Matte's wife, and muse, if you were not previously aware).


I also love some of Matte's other new work, including Log, Family Vacation and Krasner Kitty. You can find out more about mid-century Matte on his blog, The Brainiac Art of Matte Stephens, and shop for his fabulous work in his etsy shop. I'm so glad to see the rain hasn't dampened Matte's artistic and prolific spirit!

Get The Dish!

Oooh, oh!! I was trying to take the day to get new posts going and catch up on many emails and an insanely long to-do list, but I just got this update from Amy Butler and had to share! Amy's got a beautiful new line of china out with Mikasa and it couldn't be prettier! Check Amy's new line of china out here. Okay...back to the long list!! See you tomorrow!

The Blog is On, but Nobody is Home.

I must admit, as much fun as it was, after taping the View From the Bay on Monday, and then shooting an advertising campaign (which I can't tell you about...at least not yet) all day today, I am freakin' wiped out! The day started early, and I have just arrived home and I am sitting here staring at the computer screen and have gone completely blank trying to think of something worthwhile to share with you. I know it's out there in the universe, it just won't penetrate my brain right now. I am tapped out, kids! So...let's turn the tables and put the blog in your hands.

I am currently working with designers to update the blog, and give it a fresh new look, create easy to access resources, links and archives, which I hope to launch in November. So, with that in mind - what can I add, subtract, and change to make reading sfgirlbybay a better experience for you? I'd really love to hear your thoughts...but right now, I'm gonna go lay down. I look forward to reading your comments on Wednesday! And I'll be back on Thursday, with a clear head and new content.

Unexpected Guests: Rachel Denbow.

I'm sorry that it's been a long while since I've done an Unexpected Guests post, but I've got a few new and exciting ones coming up, and I'm starting off with a great one - with the wonderful blogger Rachel Denbow of Bling On My Sewing Machine. Rachel is a mixed media artist, a wife, a mother to a young son, and a teacher, living in mid-century modern splendor in Springfield, Missouri. She also co-runs with a group of good friends the art blog Red Velvet Art, which features wonderful artist interviews and lots of hand crafted goodness. And in additional to all of that, Rachel also runs a killer vintage shop on etsy, called Pony Party. Let's take a look Rachel's fun family Springfield home...



What is your idea of a perfect day in Springfield?
Out of bed early for something warm at The Coffee Ethic with my husband and son. Then I'd hit Charley's flea market and peruse their vintage furniture and linens before lunch at Nonna's and a few hours of sewing during my son's nap time. We have a fabulous park that covers a city block and has stately shade trees and plenty of people to watch as we play. The day wouldn't be perfect without making big plans at Elsie's loft and laughing hysterically with Katy over more coffee. Then there would be a late dinner with my good-looking husband followed by a sleeping son and an interesting foreign film on the computer. Let's pencil that in for next week.

What don't you leave home without?
Chapstick, diapers and wipes, and a good pen. Sometimes I DO leave home without my wallet.

What's your favorite local shop?
The Council For The Blind thrift store always has something exciting waiting for me but I'm never let down by Good Girl Art when I need some visual stimulation.

What is your greatest indulgence?
My Modernica Rocker from Phorm.

What's on your wish list?
A yellow bike.

What's your favorite bargain find or product?
Recently it has been the metal locker we found on craigslist. It was a headache to refinish but I'm so happy with the outcome. We've been fortunate enough to find the gems on craigslist and in local flea markets. I'm not sure there is much competition for mid-century and quirky pieces in Springfield.


What is your biggest interior design nightmare?
Vertical blinds and very small windows.

Who are your favorite artists? And why?
I've recently enjoyed the work of Ellen Raskin. She uses the best colors in her illustrations and I love vintage children's books. Also, Mary Emma Hawthorne's work really resonates with me. I appreciate someone who uses simple materials that have been found in the recycling bin to make pretty things.


Where do you find inspiration?
It feels like Flickr is an unlimited source of visual inspiration. I've also got a list of design and personal blogs I read daily and weekly because they never fail to get my heart all aflutter. Traveling to a new city always gives me fresh ideas.

Who do you admire and why?
I am lucky enough to have two great friends nearby who remind me to make my dreams come true. Katy and her husband are on their way home from picking up their adopted son after two years of hard work and waiting. Elsie has just moved into a great big space and, without giving away too much, is venturing out into new territory with her work and business.

What's the last great book you read?
'How Does A Dinosaur Say Goodnight?' by Jane Yolen.

What's your favorite film?
My top three most loved films are 'The Namesake' for its love, 'Roman Holiday' for it's spunk, and 'Chocolat' for it's magic.

If you could photograph anyone in the world, who might that be?
The old women of China. Oh, the stories they could share...

Who would you like to sit down to drinks with?
After I got over my shyness, I'd love to visit with Karin Bergquist of Over The Rhine.

Do you have a guilty pleasure?
Nutella and peanut butter sandwiches.

What is your most treasured belonging?
If there were a fire, I'd grab my son. If there were time, I'd grab my computer. This is assuming my husband doesn't already have it.

What souvenir did you bring back from your last trip?
A teal, vintage school chair from a flea market in Southern California. It rode in my lap most of the way to Missouri but I was determined to get it home.

What is your idea of living hell?
Having no money and no friends.

What are some of your favorites websites/blogs to visit?
Design*Sponge, Apartment Therapy, Dooce, Hula Seventy, OhJoy!, Poppytalk, sfgirlbybay(!), and all of my crafty friends' blogs.

Thank you so much for allowing us to drop in on your very lovely home, Rachel! For more about Rachel's inspiring creativity, be sure and visit her blogs, Bling On My Sewing Machine and Red Velvet Art, as well as her fab vintage etsy shop, Pony Party.