sfgirlbybay

Tuesday, June 9

To Serve & Display.

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.

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!

Monday, June 8

Inspiration in Many Forms.

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.

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.

Friday, June 5

Oh, and happy, happy Friday!

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

Flickr Faves.

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.

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.

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.

***

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

*Photos courtesy of Molly Watson and nature55.

Thursday, June 4

blissful inspiration

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...