The Hunter Wellie is the original handmade rubber boot otherwise known as a gum boot in the UK. They are quite comfortable and quite practical (do I sound UK-ish?) and I suggest wearing yours for a walk on a Scottish moor, when hacking weeds in your backyard, taking in the patio furniture in a torrential downpour, wearing them in the mud at the Bonnaroo Music Festival or just out shopping in a cute skirt to make a fashion statement.
The Anna Corinna City Tote is smoking hot and way out of my price range therefore it shall be added to my “bonus items” list. This is the list that I create every year in anticipation of my December bonus. I put some in savings and then I treat myself and purchase one item I have coveted all year. The problem is the list has grown very large this year. So far I have this bag, a pair of Alberto Fermani boots, a new Jonathan Adler piece, plus practical items such as new patio doors for our house and a new coffee table to replace my BusVans for Bargains-early-20’s-first-apartment coffee table. The hubs jokes that the bonus gets bigger and bigger in my imagination every year.
The prices cannot be beat for these adorable lucite, glass and stone rings from $10-$16 on The Carrotbox. If you are a ring collector or just a jewelry lover you will appreciate this cool alternative to the metal ring. Check out the Kimono Ring with real bits of kimono under the lucite and these poufy flower rings, I think the temptation to chew on these rings might be too much for me!
Check out her blog as well for links to many other great ring designers.
My oldest sister Britt was the first one to turn me on to preppy brands starting with her love of Laura Ashley in the 80’s and Lilly Pulitzer in the 90’s so it’s no surprise that she is a big fan of Hadley Pollet belts. Hadley’s most popular belt is her zinnia design and all her belts are reversible so you get 2 belts for the price of one! Or at least that’s what I tell myself to justify a $100 belt.
She also has some cute purses only available from her website.
The rain is back, but lucky for me the rain had a purpose! I re-connected with an old friend, Ramey Griffin Caulkins, who happens to have her own line of rain jackets, Rainy Ramey!
Ramey (isn’t that the coolest name?) was one of the best dressed girls in High School and I was always very impressed by her fashion sense and sophisticated tastes even as a teenager. Lucky for us she is now spreading her great taste throughout the land with her adorable rain coats. They are available short or long in green, blue and black with different color toggles.
As my Mom would say “How stinkin’ cute are these bags!?”. They appeal to my love of vintage fabrics , vintage shapes and their hippy-prep style (or at least that’s what I call it). Made by designer Meleana who was born and raised in Hawaii she uses fabrics found throughout Hawaii, the States and her families collection. You can find them on her website where you can view other fabric choices or on the adorable website Nest.
“If you find out the truth about yourself and discover your own source, this is all that is required.”~Ramana Maharshi 
“Beyond all reason, I have been found,”
“We have circled and circled till we have arrived home again, we two.” - Whitman
My lovely friend Mary Mar Keenan is an accomplished ceramic artist and co-owner of Verdigris Gallery here in San Francisco. Her style is whimsical and colorful and with each piece you get a little bit of Mary Mar’s childlike spirit. You can see her work at Verdigris at the Cannery in SF or order from her website directly. I love her little bud vases and the lovely little teapots.
Verdigris carries many other talented artists as well, don’t miss it!
I mean really, who doesn’t want rainbows and unicorns on their feet?! That is what is so great about Ashley Dearborn’s shoes, they are imaginative, colorful and funky as well as comfortable and stylish. You can buy her shoes on her website, or on the Revolve Clothing website, or if you’re really lucky Bluefly sometimes carries her shoe’s on sale. I think I might need the unicorn shoe for my dress-up box.
I first saw the Worishofer shoe in Lucky magazine last year and they reminded me of something my Grandma Helen would have worn in the 40’s. When I read that they were only $40 I had to get a pair. I quickly told my sister Haley about this great deal and she laughed her head off ,she thought they were one of the uglier shoes out there! At the time designer Charlotte Ronson had a similar style shoe with the cork sole for $150, so ugly or not, I think I scored!
You can find them here: Continental Imports they carry hard to find european shoes with funny German names. They are the nicest people in the world and when you call you will either get Gabe or Ursel on the line. Currently you can’t buy online but when you have nice people to deal with who cares! I have 2 pair and they are so comfortable I wear them like slippers around the house, actually they are getting a bit stinky, might be time for a new pair!
I love these prints! They remind of being a little girl in the 70’s.
Design Sponge turned me on to Etsy which is an online marketplace for all things handmade, which led me to the Dream of Stars shop. Artist Emily St. Clair lives in Portland, OR (that’s another creative soul from Portland, along with queen bee) who uses mixed media ink transfer on cotton which is then stretched over a wooden frame. They come in 8″x8″ for you tiny art work fans, 12″x12″ and a large 3′x3′ size.
My friend Tia shares my love of pretty prints and she turned me on to Kerry Cassill who creates nothing but the prettiest prints! She creates bedding, clothing and upholstery in the softest cotton, I have two of her tops so I can vouch for the quality too. Check out her website for where to buy, she doesn’t have an online shop yet but you can view all her prints online.
Her prints are made to layer, here are a few prints that would look good together.
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