sara paloma

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.

flair

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.

purdy peony purses

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.

young folks

Super song! Sweet Video!

for the couple with a sense of humor

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:

sunny dresses

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.

where the sidewalk ends

Congratulations to Mike & Leah!
January 20, 2007
Playa del Carmen, Mexico.

call on me

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!

Here are couple options available at Fabulous Stationary. I'm leaning towards Jenna Williams or Kyle Wallace, but I'm tempted by Doris Moris but it could just be the name.

the boots

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.

shabby chic signs

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!).

miranda thomas pottery

My friend Tia has great personal style from her clothes to her house. That is why it was no surprise that when she got married last year instead of your typical registry stuff she chose Miranda Thomas Pottery for her everyday tableware. A group of us went in on a gift card for her and the hubs and I was soooo excited to see it all displayed in her newly remodeled kitchen this past weekend!

Miranda Thomas is a true craftswoman still making each piece by hand in her Bridgewater, Vermont studio. She keeps it simple with just a few patterns inspired by the English countryside: bunny's, stags, birds and flowers. Tia's choice was the peony which is fitting since it is considered "a symbol of beauty itself and brings promise to love, marriage and fertility."

kork-ease

I am completely digging these Kork-Ease sandals for their 70's hippie dippie style and the cork sole platform. I just saw them in the Sundance catalog, did a little online research and was shocked to hear they were the hottest sandal last year! Where was I?

Apparently they were the hipster shoe of the 70's and they even made it into the Met's Costume Institute as the original wedge sandal. After 25 years off the market a big shoe company bought the license and they're back albeit with a 21st century mark-up, they run about $175. You can find all their styles at Zappos (ps. they are on sale there right now!)

small things

I am so A.D.D., I keep meaning to add this post and I get sidetracked by some other fabulous person creating fabulous things and forget to add one of my first internet shopping successes! So here it is: Small Things Designs. A couple of years ago I stumbled upon Teresa Robinson's jewelry and immediately purchased one of her necklaces; I went with the original hummingbird in red. After many compliments I started thinking about creating a place to post these finds, so now 3 years later here it is with Little Willow! So if you like it here, send a silent thank you to Small Things Designs and even better purchase something!

pottery girl

Whitney Smith Pottery is another local potter (Oakland) who's work is so gorgeous I want to eat it! It may have been the chocolate cream layer cake I saw on her cake stand at Miette Patisserie in the Ferry Building that made me drool but either way I am a diehard fan. Whitney's collection includes: bowls, vases, urns, plates and cake stands. This cake stand reminds me of the Wedgewood Jasperware that my grandmother used to collect. It's funny how your tastes mature as you grow up, I used to think her Jasperware was so old fashioned now I kinda want some of my own!

You can purchase her work on her website or my favorite local pottery gallery Verdigris Gallery in San Francisco as well as other locales around the US.