Don’t you get such a peaceful, zen-like feeling from Sara Paloma’s stunning pottery? Sara is another local potter with a live/work studio in Emeryville, CA. Check out her website for where to purchase.

From Office Space.

Joanna: You know what, Stan, if you want me to wear 37 pieces of flair, like your pretty boy over there, Brian, why don’t you just make the minimum 37 pieces of flair?
Stan, Chotchkie’s Manager: Well, I thought I remembered you saying that you wanted to express yourself.
Joanna: Yeah. You know what, yeah, I do. I do want to express myself, okay. And I don’t need 37 pieces of flair to do it.

But I do need these fabric belts by Sarah Snyder aka Maxsui to express myself. I bought one at Lavish an excellent Hayes Valley boutique a couple years ago and just purchased another. In my opinion you can never have enough belts or flair! P.S. They are reasonably priced $40-$45 depending on the size, 1″ or 1 1/2″ width and can be pruchased from her website as well.

I was surfing as usual and stumbled upon these lovelies! The creation of two sisters Lindsey Iversen and Kristin Bradley aka Dylan & Dillion, all the fabric used in creating their suede handbags are silk screened from original hand carved relief prints and then professionally sewn in the United States, in case that’s important to you. They ain’t cheap $168-$350 but for something so pretty and unique I’d say it’s worth it.

Here’s an original wedding gift idea, a custom portrait of the happy couple! Another cool idea from the decorative arts duo Wary Meyers. For the couple with a sense of humor of course. The brides look sorta like pin-up girls if you ask me, but maybe that’s what they were going for? If this isn’t your thing, what about a portrait of your pet? I need to figure out a way to afford one of George in this famous pose:

My head is still in Mexico or as my friend Blamp says “I’m riding on happy fumes from the weekend”. I really wish I was still wearing sunny clothes like these lovely dresses by designer Sari Gueron. I spotted them in Harper’s this month and I want them all. You can find her clothes at Susan in San Francisco or Burlingame or Satine in LA.

I think I’m going to order some calling cards. One might consider me sophisticated or worldly and picture me smoking an extra long cigarette if I have calling cards. Or they might think I am a call girl. Either way I win!

So every year when I get my bonus I treat myself to fancy new shoes. This year apparently it will be new black boots since the heel just broke off my 2004 bonus boots.

This Saturday we went to see Garrison Keillor record A Prarie Home Companion in San Francisco with our friends Pappy (short for Shane Papatolicas) and his wife Maglie (short for My Australian Girlfriend Living in England aka Kelly Papatolicas). Afterwards we hit the Toronado in the Haight for beers and burgers. On the way back to the car I stumbled crossing the street and felt like I had a flat tire but being human that’s not possible! It was my heel cracking off my Italian boots, wicked bummer! I’ll probably just take them to a cobbler but here are some snazzy new boots I could buy in the meantime. Which do you like best? I think I’m leaning towards the top 2.

I am still a bit of a novice to Ebay and the whole selling thing but you know I’ve have gotten the hang of buying! One of my favorite features is the “Favorite Sellers” because it’s like having your own antique store, jewelry store or vintage clothing store at your fingertips even if that person is half way around the world. This handmade vintage sign store by Martin Wiscombe is one of my faves. He’s located in England which makes sense since these signs have a shabby chic English vibe to them. I am definitely buying the “Loo” sign (it’s only 4.00 pounds or $7.83 US, gotta love Ebay!).

Lena Corwin is one crafty lady. She has been on my radar for sometime and I just checked back in to her site and noticed these great neckties. Aren’t they fun! I wonder if I can get the hubs to wear one to the wedding we have in Mexico this month? They are a tad preppy so they might be more suitable for the South Carolina wedding of my sister Quinn in May……in any case he has a vibrant tie in his future!