In bed

after 7 years i decided it was time for new bedding. I feel like recently my tastes have been moving in a different directions and i know they are different (though not drastically so) than they were 7 years ago.

since i live in a tiny studio the bed becomes a huge focal point. i decided to go with pretty neutral colors and load up on texture.

I went with this duvet in white from west elm and these shams.

for a bit of fun i recovered my big pillow with this ikea fabric -

what do you think? now im just on the search for a charcoal bed skirt - yes im a bed skirt person - but the tailored straight lined kind.

simple sundays

my week has been a crazy one. I worked so many 15hour days in a row that i can barely move - but the wedding looked so beautiful in the end it was worth it.

im also getting ready for the fabulous Indie Craft Fundraiser. my apartment has little grouping of things here and there that im considering bringing to the show.

Im headed back east to see my family for thanksgiving. Im so excited to visit with my gram.

And...im restless. I want to change many things all at the same time but i know i cant so im patiently working one step at a time.

i love this image, though im terrible and cant remember where i found it, the lines of the chair and the simply little conversion of the dresser. so pretty.

Happy Sunday everyone! and cheers for a great new week.

Past Present Future

I love vintage, like really really love it. I will wake up at ungodly hours excited to look for it, walk miles to get to it (anyone whos been to the alameda flea market knows what im talking about) and there is nothing more exciting that catching just a glimpse of something out of the corner of your eye digging through a pile and finding its better than you could have imagined now matter how dusty, ratty or neglected it may look to others. And then there's the stories that the pieces are able to tell. might i be romanticizing this a tad, perhaps but then again....

while all this is wonderful and motivates me most days there is something else that i probably dont think about often enough until its right in front of me -

the other day i opened my email to this lovely little note from a customer who had purchased the above leather attache case

I love the folder. I googled the company (salz) and made an interesting discovery that the site where they had operated until 2001 underwent a soil and water remediation in 2006. It reminded me in vivid terms how buying vintage makes a lighter footprint on our little planet. Thanks for being part of that in such an elegant way.

i just wanted to take a minute to think about how truly important buying vintage is. It reduces many harmful pressures on our world and reintroduces beautiful parts of our past into our lives.

a quick history of the salz tannery, if your interested. its really very interesting. Ansel Adams was hired to document the company through photographs.

interlude

im off setting up a wedding today. so i though i would just post a few kitchen photos that ive been ogling on my desktop

hope you are enjoying your weekends. Im very excited for my madmen party tonight and to finally wear my outfit.

be back soon!

**my apologies but except for the last photo from sacramento street these images have been on my desktop a while and i dont remember where they are from~

Indie Craft Fundraiser

im so excited to be participating in the Indie Craft Fundraiser. Samantha at Noteify has put together an amazing lineup of bay area artists, crafters and vintage-ers. And the part im most excited about is that its a fundraiser for the writing center at 826 Valencia. This program is fantastic, and as i was a lit major in college, something i think is incredibly important for kids to get into. The center helps students with their writing skills and gets the excited about the literary arts.

the event has great sponsors and so many beautiful vendors. I hope you'll stop in and say hello. Its Dec. 2nd from 6-9 and promises to be a very fun filled evening.

see you there!

Ikeas greatest hits

went to ikea yesterday. Big mistake. I havent been there for ages and im not sure if it changed or i have but i wanted E.V.E.R.Y.THING!

here is my greatest hits list.

what do you love from this mega store?

fruits of labor. Irish Brown Bread

the fall season is well upon us here in San Francisco. With chilly temps and driving rains you can be sure to find me in the kitchen most days. Nothing fills a house better than the smell of baking bread.

Inspired by these lovely photographs via eastsidebride by Susanna Howe. im sharing a very special recipe- for irish brown bread. The recipe came to me via SOS's mom and what i love about it is that it has been worked on and adapted over the years by her and her 8 sisters to reach its current state.

below is the recipe. enjoy and let me know if you have any questions I would be happy to help!

This recipe makes 2 loafs and I use 8 x 4" loaf pans. see them here.

wholefood bulk section is a great place to find many of these ingredients.

Pre heat the oven to 400.

Combine all dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl.

1 3/4 C course ground whole wheat or brown flour.

1/2 C self rising white flour

1/2 C oat bran

1/2 C steel cut oats (not the instant kind)

1/4 C sesame seeds

1/4 C wheat germ

30 hazelnuts halved

2 tbsp. baking soda

1 tsp. salt

1 tbsp brown sugar

mix all of these together gently.

Next begin to add in wet ingredients

1 pint of buttermilk

2 eggs beaten

3/4 C plain yogurt

mix all ingredients together very well and pour into greased loaf pans. batter should be quite wet. like a cake batter almost.

Bake for 45 mins at 400.

After 45 mins remove pans from oven and cover tops with tinfoil.

return pans to oven and continue baking for another 20 minutes.

total cooking time 1h 5m.

remove as soon as possible from pans and let cool.

in with the mcm. Swatches

hoping everyone had a lovely weekend. It poured buckets here yesterday which i would normally love but i got rained out of Alameda - the huge once-a-month flea market and i was really looking forward to going.

I have been working on finding the right fabric for my mcm chair. I got a call from the upholsterer on friday saying they are just waiting on me for the fabrics. gulp. exciting but now i feel under pressure.

So far ive found a variety of light and dark heavy duty cotton/denim twill. I love this fabric. im just not sure its exactly what i want. though i am really loving that faint sort of houndstooth pattern.

Im going to check out another fabric store today.

simple sundays

after the morning storm. a modern pirate ship perhaps.

party time.

some friends are hosting a mad men themed birthday party next weekend! and im so excited for it.

since today is my birthday - i though i would share my birthday party suit ;) with everyone.

the earrings are from my collection of vintage Miriam Haskell jewelry. Her costume jewelry is one of my true indulgences in life.

the dress is from the lovely etsy shop PlanetClaireVintage check it out she has some amazing finds. i can not wait to dress up in this divine 1950's Jean Marchand number.

the stole and gloves are similar to the ones above. borrowed and vintage. i dont mind wearing a little vintage fur now and again -

the bag ill be carrying was my grandmothers. I love when i get to wear or use things that were hers - it makes me feel close to her even though shes been gone for a while now. find the bag above here.

and the shoes ive had forever! but ive always loved their vintage appeal. by seychelles

in with the mcm. To Welt or not to Welt.

So yesterday i found an upholsterer to work on my chair. Its the cutest place. a couple started it in 1968 and they are still hard at work in their little studio. they also got a kick out of me bringing in the chair (i think because its come back around again) but they knew exactly what it should look like. BUT. then the question. what type of fabric and TO WELT OR NOT TO WELT.

the above two photos show chairs with similar frames and without welted pillows. I like the very tailored and clean look of them. I also love the patterned fabric (and the mouiller lamp in the second photo) but its not really my style.

the chairs in this grouping all have welted pillows. I am really digging the blue grey fabric with the teak colored frame. i think it makes a really elegant combination. I have also been thinking about a wheat colored cushion or a cream.

image: apartment therapy, design sponge, last two images doorsixteen

In with the Mid Century Modern.

a little story for your tuesday. I spent my saturday strolling around the Hayes Valley neighborhood of san francisco. darling by all accounts and filled with little shops full of treats and treasures. A particular favorite of mine is a store which sells its own handmade line of soaps and lotions and all manner of potions - but tucked in among these things is a stunning, and i do mean stunning collection of mid-century modern furniture and pottery. drool. it really is the only interaction i can have with these pieces & their very cool price tags of 1200 or more. Fast forward and as i leave the store and round the corner what do i spy in the back of a salvage truck?! this.

plucked from the depths of a dark (and spider filled basement) was this not so ancient but oh so beautiful treasure. and so i loaded it on my back (spiders and all) and carried it to the nearest friends house where i left it for 20minutes so i could go get my car and drive it home. With a little more love (it need to be tightened up in a few places but thats it!!) and a new cushion and strapping (provided by my local upholsterer) I will be the proud new mamma of a MCM chair.

excited? YES YES YES.

suggestions on cushions material/color for me would be appreciated.