I heart these...

hat from little chick knits

hat from lulu and charlie

cozy from knitty vet

image from the knitted cupcake

knitted egg from weaver bird designs

hug and kiss your valentine

happy valentine's day

XOXO

Buy handmade

Tis the season for craft fairs. Seems there is one every weekend.

I went to the Bizare Bizaar last weekend - and actually left my wallet in the car. You see, we decided this year to forgo presents. There are a few little tricks up my sleeve for my husband and a few things for other family members but we have freed ourselves this year from the "oh, my god, what am I going to get for so-and-so" or "I spent more money on her present but its really small in size, so it looks like nothing compared to the cheapo things that so-and-so got that make up a tower of gifts." And can I say - there is an immense freedom in not giving store bought gifts and there is an immense amount of time I have available to do anything else but shop.

This year the gifts are of time, togetherness and craftsmanship - My wish from my husband was to have our music situation figured out - all CD's uploaded, IPOD synched, itunes accounts merged. The whole shabang. We'll see if that actually happens.

So going into last weeks fair, I knew there was nothing I needed. But what happened was that I realized that there was also nothing that I wanted. Perhaps living in less than 700 sq feet makes me more aware of what comes in, or maybe I just feel full - full with all the stuff we already have. Or maybe, I just feel content and happy, and aware that nothing material actually makes the good, content feeling stay for very long.

However, I am always curious who is making what and how and how much. And sometimes, there are little treasures that stand out. So, I take their cards, look them up and save them for the day when in fact a little retail therapy is just what the doctor ordered.
This year's treasures are:

DamestarBaby
I saw them last year. See photo above. I love everything - their website, their photography, their business card. This year, I wanted the moonshine t-shirt for the nugget. But somehow I just couldn't do the $35 pricetag. Next year.

Katy Kristin
Handmade hedgehog. Stuffed. Enough said.

Bird Mafia
New this year. Strange and whimsical felted cubes in the shapes of animals - my favorite was the owl. Nugget seemed to be intrigued.

Applesauce
One of a kind baby and kid clothes made from recycled fabrics. Adorable. Just adorable.

The nugget and I whirled through the crowds, grabbed cards and then slipped right back out the door, as quietly as we had entered. I will go to Renegade tomorrow - because I get inspired that people are creating, making, recycling, reinventing and repurposing. And I get happy when I see people supporting handmade. We'll see if I can leave there empty handed as well.

Picture of the week

The nugget attended his first birthday party - we think he thought the party was for him!
Happy 1st Birthday to Lois!

Thank you Leigh for the cutest most adorable party hat!
Available at A Rabbit in the Hat

pretty + practical

So this is not a discussion on whether pacifiers are good or bad - but if you are like me, and you happen to have a baby that gets a bit of comfort from the little nukie (or whatever you have called it), these are the cutest and best pacifier clips.

Because you have all been there when that thing hits the floor in the middle of Trader Joes...

Available at fawn + finch

before: during : after

Furniture transformation: I have been known to drag home a poor abandoned chair or table from the sidewalk, because I see it's potential. Sadly, I do not have the space to collect my lost furniture, so this past time of mine is slightly on hold.

However, that doesn't keep me from seeing the potential in other pieces that we do have space for. We bought these two storage units at IKEA, knowing that they met our practical needs, but in no way met the pretty component. I spent a whole afternoon covering them in a heavy craft paper - which after time faded and slowly loosened itself - making the whole thing look worse than if I had just left them in their metal gray state.

But a month ago I was inspired to try it again. So I went to Flax and combed through the drawers of flat sheets to find the right shade and material - the paper needed to be malleable enough to cover the edges smoothly and the shade needed to blend with the dark walnut wood of the rest of our desk.

And viola - I am thrilled with the results.

Here are some suggestions for covering furniture with paper:

1. Remove all hardware
2. Start with a clean surface
3. Use a paper that is durable but bendable
4. PVA is my favorite adhesive - buy at Papersource
5. Work efficiently but patiently - smooth edges and flat surfaces to get all bubbles out
6. Measure twice, cut once - and give yourself wiggle room
7. Remember that paper adds depth - so open/close drawers to see how much room you have
8. Use a high-glass polyurethane sealer to make the final project durable

{the Renegade craft fair}

In the end, the only steps that matter are the ones you take all by yourself.

you can't go back now
- the weepies

Today is just a regular Monday. And here in San Francisco, it's actually a cloudy and gray Monday. But today is special - this is my first posting and my first little step.

Gratitude crept into my meditation this morning - gratitude for the wonderful weekend I had. A boisterous dinner with some of my favorite people, a sunday spent on DIY projects at home with my husband and a visit on saturday to SF's first Renegade craft fair.

Full of inspiration + creativity, I left feeling hopeful and happy. With my new found path of simplicity and mindful consumerism , I actually left without buying anything but I made sure to take the information for my favorite things.

The stand out :

Tea lights from domestic construction

Other things worth loving :

pottery by sara paloma : soap dish + vases from mediums to masses : polaroids + art from elizabeth soule : art, posters + calendars from nikki mcclure : covers for moleskin journals from chikabird + randl : vintage book journals from jacob deatherage : letterpress element art by lizzardpress : baby onesies + kid clothes by lali : belt buckle from reclaimed metal by buncombe buckles : recylced sterling bird on a wire necklaces by figs&ginger : collage : art by michelle caplan : ceramic pendants + pieces from olaria studio

I know that buying at the fair would have been the local thing to do. Most of the artists I mentioned are in the Bay Area and sell their wares locally - others are available through Etsy.