white christmas

Tracey Tanner "Jann" $325.00

Kristen Aronsson "Plait" $325.00

South Moon Under "Deux Lux" $78.o0

This entry is for my friend Amanda Scott who has been in search of a white handbag. This was a trend that started a couple of years ago and like most new trends I was skeptical. That is until my mother-in-law gave me a white handbag with red trim and since it was a gift and therefore free I jumped on the white-bag-bandwagon. Now that I am a full fledged member I wanted to share some cute options for others who may be ready to join the party.

And because he is a fan of my blog I'd like to give a shout out to Amanda's hubs Allen and his people at Another Planet Entertainment (APE is putting on the Gnarls Barkley/Flaming Lips show in SF tomorrow night, can't wait!) and The Independent.

Tracey Tanner "Jenn" $325.00

rare device

For my birthday this year (December Uno) my perceptive sister Haley bought me a little letterpress print from the fantastic online store Rare Device. I am a big fan of letterpress, tiny artwork and birds so I must say Haley did very well this year! (She got me the owl print in the upper right corner)
Rare Device is a great store (located at 453 7th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11215) and online shop showcasing the owner Rena Tom's great taste and beautiful discoveries. I like to check in monthly to see what's new and next time I'm in NYC visiting the in-laws I'm going to make a trip over the Brooklyn Bridge to visit her store in person. Here are a few of my favorite items today.

Japanese Tea Cups_______Etched Cocktail Glass

Initial Pillow__________Fleur Vase Set

janine marie handbags

Lil' Wil's been really busy in her other life so not alot of time to post these days. I don't think I'm alone here when I say I can't wait for 2007!

I hope these bags put a smile on your face as they did mine. Janine Marie is a local (Oakland) designer of these unique handmade bags. I am a big fan of variety and japanese pattern and the neat thing about the belted bag is that you can configure your own design. From her website you can choose the bag color and the kimono fabric and she has good color choices so you can choose a bag for any season. She makes belts and has other bag designs as well with prices ranging from $30-$170.

kozo arts

Are you looking for a beautiful photo album to house your wedding photo's? Look no further than Kozo Arts with their handmade photo albums using the most gorgeous Japanese scene prints. They are located on Union Street in San Francisco and they have a new location at the Westfield Shopping Center near Union Square.

They make excellent wedding or engagement gifts or even a baby shower gift. My friend Mary Ritchey gave me the cherry blossom album for our wedding and I have all my favorite photo's inside.

in the giving mood

I usually wait until December to give donations, I mean to do it all year and I should do it earlier but something about having that extra bonus cash makes it easier to give more, which is a good thing.

One of my favorites is Donors Choose. Teachers from around the country post specific projects, the supplies they need and how much money is needed, there is also a nifty graph that shows the percentage which has been raised so far and you can choose to fund all or part of the project. You can also search by region or subject, for example this PE teacher from a low income area in Louisiana needs $414.00 for bats, balls, jump ropes and other playground equipment for her kindergarten class. The last time I donated to a project through Donors Choose I received handmade cards from all the students, definitely made it all worth it.

Network for Good is another excellent non-profit that makes giving super easy. You can search their site for almost any charity you can imagine and the best part is you just click some buttons and do it all online.

There are so many ways to give, just do it :-)

a little peace

Peace-Out T-shirt (comes in lots of colors)

"There is no way to peace. Peace is the way."

My favorite catalog from Sundance has some peace paraphenalia that would make great last minute gifts.

babs-a-licious

Roseberry Winn tiles

My beautiful friend Christine Light (aka Babs), who is due with her first baby anyday now, just sent me this link for Roseberry Winn pottery and tile. Michael Roseberry and Bruce Winn are two very talented potters out of Rhode Island. Their work has an arts and crafts flavor that reminds me of the Roycroft style which I grew up surrounded by in East Aurora, NY (Go Blue Devils!). If I could afford an Arts & crafts style home in California I would definitely use their tiles in my kitchen. They also have a lovely line of tableware, plates, mugs, platters and vases.

connie pecoraro

Our Wedding Invitation

My co-worker and I were sharing our wedding invitations with eachother and I thought I would share it with the blogesphere and introduce artist Connie Pecoraro from Sausalito who designed our invites. She has an adorable boutique located at 691 Bridgeway in Sausalito called "Isn't That Life?" where she sells her cards, original artwork and prints of her whimsical character she calls "No Name Girl". If you go to the store you can choose from lots of really cute frame styles or buy directly from her website

searching for inspiration

Muir Beach

Crest

Skyline

Wildflower

Sometimes its hard to get inspired to post. I was telling the hubs the other night that the ideas for what I share on my blog just pop into my head at the strangest moments (the most recent while using the loo) but when they hit I have to get to a computer ASAP, not unlike needing to get to the loo ASAP in precarious situations. Anyway I thought I'd just post a couple pics of the place that inspires me the most, Tennessee Valley. These pics are all from my little Canon elph. Enjoy!

wicked sweet

This is completely random but totally awesome! (Thanks to Design Sponge for the great find) Sesame Press teamed up with the Red Sox fan site The Red Seat and came up with this adorable limited edition letterpress print of the mind of a Red Sox Fan, married to one I know it all too well. This year for Christmas instead of another Red Sox t-shirt, calendar or hat why not get him something you might actually like as well. It's available framed ($124.95) or unframed ($64.95).

tschotkes

Toikka glass birds at Finnish Gifts

Paperweights from Iomoi stationary

Custom Paperweights from AnarchyNYC

I admit it, I love tschotkes, you know those little knick knacks that clutter your shelves and are always dusty, that's a tschotke and I love em. It's really no surprise being that I am the granddaughter of Jean Kayser one of the all time best tschotke gift givers ever. I have a snowglobe of the San Francisco skyline to commemorate my move out West, brightly colored, swirly champagne glasses with the stem in the shape of 2-0-0-0 to commemorate that big year and many lovely paperweights. Everytime we move my husband tries to toss them but I won't have it. I hope someday my granddaughter stumbles upon them and can't believe that I was alive in 2000!

Seeing as Christmas is coming here a few tschotke gift ideas.

wellies

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.

"bonus items"

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.

your lovely lady

Men, you cannot go wrong with giving jewelry this Christmas. I don't know a lady out there that would not want a little sparkle in her stocking. These GORGEOUS jewels by Anna Sportun for Sundance would be perfect. So dig deep into that wallet and make your lovely lady's dreams come true.