One of my favorite San Francisco boutiques, Eden and Eden recently launched their online shop just in time for someone’s birthday hint, hint. They have lots of goodies for your home or to wear but I’m focused on their unique jewelry collection. I love the laser cut collar necklace, the colorful baubles made of acrylic by UK designer Tatty Devine and the gunmetal bird designs from Alice Eden. If I wasn’t sure what to get me for my birthday I would start here.

It’s coming! The Bazaar Bizarre will be back in San Francisco on Sunday November 30th from 10:00am-5:00pm at the San Francisco County Fair building in Golden Gate Park. Both Haley and I completed all of our Christmas shopping at the BB last year, sadly I’ll miss it this year but you shouldn’t! Check out some of these fine vendors who will be showcasing their wears at this years show. Thanks Shamila for the heads up! Follow the links below to purchase online if you aren’t a local either.

Honeylux, Shamila, Cara Lyndon, Rock Scissor Paper, 3 Fish Studios, Ezme Designs

I spotted these exotic looking jewels by GS Lillian in the November Domino. I am loving bold statement jewelry these days and these bright baubles definitely fit the bill. Plus they are reasonably priced at about $125 a necklace. Check out the cuff bracelets and brooches too.

I should be embarrassed to admit this but I loved the Rachel Zoe Project on Bravo! The hubs was dumbfounded by my obsession, asking me who is Rachel Zoe? Why would a stylist have her own show? And who the hell talks that way without getting punched? Yes she is totally over the top, or as she would say “bananas”, but that’s what I love about her.  Her bohemian/70’s style is right up my alley. I love watching her put an outfit together and I especially love all of her crazy big jewelry. Here are a few cocktail rings I spotted at the glamorous online shop Vivre that are very Rachel Zoe. Most of these are up over $200 so if you’re shooting for the Rachel Zoe look it will cost you. Enjoy.

Here’s a little reality check for you today in the form of a roller skate bookend by Harry Allen and a golden dipped saltine cracker necklace from Emily Elizabeth Jewelry. I’ll take both please!

KEP are the initials of Kerris Ely Parkington, the cutest 10 month old this side of the Missa-sip, but it’s also the name of jewelry designer Kelley Pillman’s KEP Designs. Her bold KEP Classics are perfect for a wedding on Nantucket with their preppy pink and green color combinations and exaggerated beads. But it’s her delicate filigree earrings that caught my eye ($150 a pair). Kelley uses semi-precious or precious stones with 14k gold to create elegant baubles that are simple, stylish and work for most budgets. Prices start at $30.

Hello Beautiful People! Just sitting here on a sunny Thursday listening to the soothing tune-age of folk rocker Josh Ritter and classical violinist Hilary Hahn and peeping these Etsy items that struck my fancy this week and hopefully will strike yours too:

I wish I’d seen this Deco Sun banner earlier - it would have been perfect for the hubs birthday barbeque this weekend. Etsy seller Earmark Paperie creates their line of clever invites and personalized stationary from their beach view bungalow in San Diego:

I love this gorgeous, atmospheric photography from Under the Sugar, there is something very Summer of 1973 about them that I like (prints start at $35):

Fun Summer jewelry from Wiyomu, affordable too ($20 for these necklaces)!

I love the feather shape of these bird earrings by Lauren Elgee. Using illustrations out of vintage books she makes these lightweight one-of-kind earrings. I like the dipped in gold tips on the graphic black and white earrings. $55 from her Etsy store

Summer is here! It’s 88 degrees in San Francisco today. It always feels so good to finally be able to break out your happy summer skirts and dresses. These stunning pieces from London based stylist and artist Emma Cassi are the perfect jewelry designs to complete your summer look. I love the delicate tulle bracelets embroidered with vintage glass beads and stones, they are so incredibly feminine. Check out her website to purchase one of these beauties and visit her blog to spy some of her inspirations.

I love bead shops. I love the millions of colors and the various textures and shapes of beads. I like the shiny glass beads, the smooth stones and the exotic names like amazonite, carnellian and tourmaline.

So it was easy for me to fall in love with Keri Starker’s Kayla Designs, a sophisticated collection of one-of-a-kind hand-beaded necklaces. With an elegant boho vibe Keri’s designs combine rare and unusual beads and stones that she has collected over the last fifteens years of traveling the world. Her passion for travel and individuality clearly inspire her chic designs. You can email Keri directly to purchase any one of her designs or for custom orders. If you live in the NY area she is also available for an intimate trunk show where you and your girlfriends can try on her designs and shop in your own living room.

Back to blogging, good causes and Mother’s Day. The always delightful jewelry designer Amy Bengtson is donating a portion of her jewelry sales to the Breast Cancer Three Day Walk during the month of May. In honor of Mother’s Day buy your Mom a sweet piece from Amy and a generous 20% will go towards the fight against breast cancer. Or treat yourself anytime this month!

Beadiful jewelry designer Catherine Howe has succeeded in making beautiful and substantial looking designs using luminous Swarovski crystals and brightly colored gem stones. I really like the combo of the thick gold chain with chunky rose quartz on this necklace, its sweet but strong at the same time. Also don’t miss the Beadiful bracelets, earrings and her Swarovski crystal blingy rings wrapped in 14k gold or silver. All her of jewelry is available customized. If you live in the Boston area look out for her Trunk Show at Splash Spa located in The Sports Club LA on April 29th from 5-8PM.

Feminine and sweet ceramics from Laura Blumenthal:

Sigh* I love these dainty letterpress cards from Satsuma Press:

Banana? Nope, a necklace with vintage beads rescued from a 1950’s broach by PetitOiseau:

Three crafty ladies make up The Cupcake Girls. These fabric covered acorn key rings are their latest creation:

Aren’t these fun necklaces by jewelry designer Donna Macayza!? Inspired by the shells and stones she collected on the beaches of Lima as a child, Donna has created a colorful and bold jewelry collection. Now living in NYC, the multi-lingual designer hand crafts each piece using vintage lucite beads, semi-precious stones, sterling silver and vintage gold chain. My faves are these large wire wrapped blue quartz necklaces. This is most likely because my sweets addicted self thinks they look like blueberry flavored lollipops!

One of the things I miss the most about our years living in San Francisco was meandering home from work, up and over the hills, to our apartment below Russian Hill. I loved the discovery of a new boutique on Polk, taking a peek at the menu for the latest hipster restaurant on Hayes or stopping into a little sweet shop on Union for a before dinner treat. So last week I came up with a plan. The hubs and I commute home together, so instead of waiting around for him I decided to get a head start and walk in the general direction of the Golden Gate Bridge and he could pick me up wherever I ended up.

This plan led to the best SF discovery I’ve had in awhile, the design boutique Eden & Eden! As soon as I turned the enormous antique doorknob to enter I felt a wave of awe fill my soul. I was like a kid in a candy store, oohing and awing over the ferm Living wallpaper, the stunning Ivana Helsinki clothing and bags, colorful Antoni & Alison cashmere sweaters and my new favorite, People Will Always Need Plates witty mugs and of course plates. The shop has a real international vibe, due to owner Rachel’s British beginnings. There are items from Denmark, Finland and the UK all displayed with the sophisticated eye of a curator. On the Eden & Eden website they have made a select few goodies available for purchase which gives a sense of the diversity and the quirky personality of the shop. Rachel could not have been more kind or easy to talk to, in fact I think I talked her ear off!

If you like what you see at the shop, Rachel and Christiane from ferm Living have joined forces to offer design consulting. I would love to hire an interior designer but have often been intimidated by the thought that a designers taste might take over and my home wouldn’t feel like mine anymore. I was happy to hear Rachel talk about their low-key design services, often reusing items you already own to revise a room or an entire house. It is truly a pleasure to visit this unique boutique, if you live in San Francisco or come visit don’t miss Eden & Eden! Located at 560 Jackson Street at the base of Columbus Ave in North Beach.

Here are some snaps Rachel graciously allowed me to take on my last visit.

Love Friday’s. I am drinking the most amazing coffee from the little Italian coffee window that just opened up two doors down from my office, browsing Etsy and listening to Bon Iver’s album “For Emma, Forever Ago”. I can’t get enough of his song “Skinny Love. It’s the perfect morning album to ease into the day. Here are some pretty Etsy items to brighten your day.

Sketchbook springtime handbags, hand crafted from wool, linen, cotton and leather:

From her cottage in England Alice Apple crafts sweet treats like these stuffed dogs and pigs made with vintage fabrics:

Loveage these shrinky dink rings from Broken Fingers Art, outta Vermont:

GORGEOUS pebble rings from Australian jewelry designer Djurdjica Kesic. He says: “This ring series reflects interest in exploring the notion of preciousness within the seemingly non-valuable. The rarity of the material is not any longer the defining aspect that renders the object precious.” Contact Djurdjica for information on how to purchase.

I’m not really a leather cuff wearing kind of gal but there is something really delicate about these leather studded wristbands by Tracey Tanner that have changed my mind. Tracey started her leather accessories biz with the idea of making items she would like for herself and luckily others want them now too. Check out her line of distressed leather bags and wallets all hand made in her Los Angeles studio.

Ana Ventura is a talented illustrator, jewelry designer, craft maker from Lisbon, Portugal.  I love her whimsical little people. Visit her online shop here.

I think I will make this a tradition and post some of my weekly Etsy favorites every Friday. Enjoy the loveliness!!

Mirabel and her sweet prints inspired by Japanese folk art dolls (I had to post her Madonna print, it is after all Good Friday!):

Spring time wrapping paper and cards from Riff Raff:

Julie Lake stainless steel earrings, airy and light:

Handmade bags from The Wren, all the way in Cape Town South Africa!

I was recently hired as a freelance blogger for a new eco-blog called EcoSalon.com. At EcoSalon I will be covering artisan, decor and fashion items, similar to the things you find here at Little Willow but with an eco-edge. The thing that sets EcoSalon apart is its authenticity. It’s real people sharing how to live an eco-friendly lifestyle without being preachy or crunchy. For example you can find out how to properly wash a pillow (which I am doing as I write this), where to buy stunning recycled glass carafes made from broken windshields or how to get a healthy high from herbal espresso. I am really excited for this opportunity to contribute to the rainbow of “green” knowledge available to women! Feel free to send me suggestions and if my Editor approves, (yes people I have an Editor now, it’s the big time), we’ll write about it!

Thought I’d send some love out to a few of my favorite Etsy sellers today. Somebody’s sister has a birthday coming up and that lucky sister will be receiving a gift from one of these talented folks.

Felt and sterling silver jewelry from Colleen Baran:

Suezybees felt iPod covers:

Limited Edition Screen Prints by artist Anna Cote:

Lovely jewels from Second Sister:

(Rebecca Overmann Jewelry)

I was wowed by the jewels at the Oscar’s this year. I loved Jennifer Garner and Keri Russell’s necklaces and Heidi Klum’s stunning earrings. Nicole Kidman’s dress was boring for her, but the layered diamond necklace was incredible.

In honor of these jewels I am sharing two talented local Bay Area jewelry designers, whose pieces are relatively affordable for us real people. Rebecca Overmann and Genevieve Yang’s pieces are glamorous, fluid and sculptural. Both women use a combination of diamonds, gold and sterling silver to mold their modern pieces. Rebecca Overmann, uses traditional metalsmith techniques, often oxidizing the silver of her hand-forged pieces to give them a sculptural elegance. Genevieve Yang is a master goldsmith who uses an ancient Korea gilding technique called Keum-boo to join 24k gold with sterling silver to make her timeless pieces. Thanks to Mom and Sara for sharing these gems with me.

(Genevieve Yang Jewelry)

For my pretend Oscar gown I think I might need one of these beauties from Bellissima. Denver jewelry designer Sarah Bridger creates one of kind jewelry with an assortment of baubles and stones. They have a very romantic and bohemian feel. My fashion forward co-worker was just mocking me for my eclectic taste in clothing, but we were both able to agree that these jewels could be worn anywhere by anyone, especially by someone like me, who never matches her shoes with her purse.

Some loveliness from Etsy seller Marie Fly Fly.