Boneflowers

Claimed by the vortex . . .

2009-12-10T15:29:00.013-07:00

that is Facebook. Sorry chums and chumettes! I've put the links to my other sites (you know, the ones I, uh, actually update) on my blogroll so you can drool over my pretty pictures and see what I'm up to Every. Single. Minute. Or so. (Thanks, Twitter. Oversharing is so IN right now.)

I've also linked to some other blogs that I've been reading lately that have really excellent posts and update all frequently-like, in the manner which your truly cannot seem to accustom herself. I am planning to update with a few more blogs that have consistently wonderful photos that I check when I'm feeling blah and uninspired and yet really REALLY need to get some work done.

In other news, my SHOP! (Boneflowers is at 1747 Polk St in San Francisco, for those of you who have just gotten into the theater and are even now settling in with your popcorn and fizzy drink. I think you may have just spilled some on the lady sitting in front of you. Hopefully she won't notice.) Where was I? Oh yes, the SHOP! is having a holiday special -- spend $250 and get a free $50 gift certificate. It's like two presents in one! Or one for someone on your list and one for you. Or both for you -- come on, we all know how gift shopping works.

I have many MANY pretty dresses and coats and hats and suits and fiddly handmade necklaces for your purchasing pleasure. Go here for the whole shebang.

Long time no see!

2009-08-17T13:35:00.004-06:00

Hallo, friends. It's been a while, no? Well, I've been a busy, busy bee with my new shop (also called Boneflowers -- I'm all about branding) at 1747 Polk Street at Washington. I don't know if you guessed, but setting up shop is a fair load of work! It was giving me the droop for a bit there, but my naturally springy disposition has reasserted itself at last. The big hurdles are out of the way, and you can pop by anytime you feel like sipping some champagne and trying on some fabulous vintage clothing. Luxury at low prices, that's my motto. Well, actually it's 'If you can't have morals, you can at least have standards,' but that's not the point.

So, anyway, as a conciliatory nugget, here is my version of the top secret recipe for Vietnamese garlic noodles as prepared by the loving hands at Thanh Long and Crustacean.

Ingredients:
4 oz. thick egg noodles, chow mien style (try Auntie Chungs)
4 cups chicken stock
4 tbsp butter
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 tbsp brown sugar
1 tbsp nam pla (fish sauce)
salt
fresh grated Parmesan

Image from gogonoodles
Boil the chicken stock, then add noodles and cook according to package directions. Drain and set aside. While the noodles are boiling, melt the butter in a sauce pan over medium-low heat. After it melts, keep cooking and shaking the pan from time to time until the butter is foamy with golden brown flecks at the bottom. Remove from heat immediately and add the garlic. Let the garlic sizzle in the hot butter for a minute, then add the sugar and nam pla. Toss in the drained noodles and taste. Add salt and/or sugar to taste. Top with Parmesan and serve warm.

Do not eat the entire thing, though I am sure you will be tempted. This is a good dish to serve with a light salad and grilled seafood, to people you wish to impress.

Have fun, dahlings!

Through the Magic of Technology. . .

2009-02-11T15:59:00.006-07:00

We all know that science never rests in its pursuit of excellence, innovation, and (most importantly) life-altering consumer goods. Thus, my dear friends, we come to today's topic: the spreadable biscuit. Known as cookies to Americans, lab techs have been working tirelessly to create a substance retaining all flavor properties of said comestible whilst translating the texture to something not unadjacent to pate. Impossible you say? Not so! In fact, a team in Belgium has already slung to market gallons of this exact product! See the leading experts discuss this phenomenal discovery here. I am positive that with this landmark achievement, curing cancer can only be moments away.

NABISCO! You lazy slackers! What's wrong with you? Surely spreadable Oreos is not too much of a stretch for a massive conglommerate such as yourself. You have obviously lost touch with your target market. Your adoring public has been waiting patiently for jugs of that white goop, and they have been spurned for their continued patronage! You have been scooped by a European bakery that doesn't even DO focus groups in America. For shame. Watch yourself, R&D. Your executive shareholders are circling like sharks around chum.

For those of you who wish to distance yourself from this disgraceful spectacle, a recipe for making your own Oreos can be found here.

Rolling It Old-School

2009-01-05T20:46:00.005-07:00

Have you seen those knobby brown beads used as prayer beads or on rosaries? Those are imitation rose petal beads. Hence ROSArie -- get it? Yeah, well, you didn't need much of a sense of humor in the Middle Ages, ok? So if you are feeling at a loose end, or just want to fulfill your New Year's Day resolution of being more crafty or spiritual or something, here is a very simple recipe for making these beads. They smell lovely, and look fabulous. Much nicer than the imitations. These will be black, because we are using a cast iron pot and the magic of ferrous oxide. Aren't you glad you didn't skip chemistry now?

Remove outer petals from a dozen roses, and put the rest of the petals into a food processor, blender, or mortar and pestle. Add some water and grind into a paste You should end up with grains about the size of couscous.

Put the paste and add water to cover in a cast iron pot over low heat. Don't let it boil or the scent will evaporate. If you use another type of pot, like steel or enamel, the beads will be brownish instead of black.

Simmer for about 3 1/2 hours, adding water as necessary so it doesn't get dry. Dump the petal mush into a wire mesh sieve over a bowl and press down on the mush with a spatula to squeeze as much water out as possible. It will take on the consistency of clay.

Put on some latex gloves. Then hold a paper towel in one hand and squish a pinch of the petal mush into it, and form into a ball. The more water the towel absorbs, the easier it is to shape the bead. Beads will shrink by half when fully dry, so make the bead twice as large as you want.

Thread the bead onto a hat pin or wire and hang in a 200 degree oven until they are as hard as a dried bean. Twist the beads on the wire every half hour so they don't stick. Store dried beads in a soft cloth scented with rose oil.

The Power of Greyskull

2009-01-04T18:28:00.004-07:00

Man, I feel like I've been sick for ages. Two months is a long time. BUT. I have not been idle lo these many empty weeks. I have been designing (and modeling for) some trading cards for my art group, WAM. That's the Women's Art Movement for the uninitiated. Behold the wonders of my new project!

Arrrrrr!

Peace and Quiet. . .

2008-11-18T10:38:00.007-07:00

I live about two miles away from a really beautiful cemetery. I like to go for walks there -- it's quiet, there are no other people to bug you when you're lost in thought, and it has really nice landscaping and architecture. All of this may sound a bit disingenuous, but I am serious. There is no better place to collect your thoughts if you live in a city.

I was lucky enough to live near one of the most beautiful cemeteries in the country while I was in college, the Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond, VA. You can take a virtual tour and read about the local legends here. It's just a few blocks away from the campus, and a lot of art students would go there to sketch the stone angels.

It really sparked my interest, and every city I visit, I try to find a beautiful or famous cemetery. I didn't even know about the one near my house until I had been here a month, but I'm very glad I've found it now!

Ahhhh! Cute Monsters!

2008-11-15T14:38:00.008-07:00

That's right, folk! The long-awaited time is here: I have unveiled the first in my series "Cute Monsters" to thunderous applause. (OK, so it's mostly mine, but applause is applause). Please step right up and grab yourself a few!
www.boneflowersprints.etsy.com

Haven't started your Christmas shopping yet, have you? Well, let me be your good fairy and provide you with a flurry of $15 prints to give the adorable weirdos in your life.

I will be adding several prints a week to this shop, so be sure to check back often! I will be posting the newest additions here, so you can preview the menagerie. Enjoy!

A Better Mousetrap

2008-10-27T11:57:00.002-06:00

As you might have guessed by now if you have been taking notes, I like to cook. I always make a huge Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner for my friends, and I have had several people ask me "How do you do it so fast?!" I have developed a routine to make a large holiday meal for up to 8 people (more if guests bring additional sides) in just a couple of hours. The trick is to know what you can make the day before, plus a little secret to get really good, juicy turkey in just a few hours. I end up redrawing this schedule every year, and have been wanting to keep a record of it somewhere. so this post is as much for me as it is for you. So I won't be posting recipes right now, just timing. If there is a particular recipe you want, though, please email me!

Day before:
Make pie
Make cucumber salad
Make rolls
Brine and prep turkey
Make giblet gravy
Make cranberry sauce
Prep veggies for stuffing

Day of:
2:00 - Preheat oven to 425
2:15 -Prep green bean casserole (yes, I am an unrepentant canned soup user. Don't hate.)
2:30 - Put turkey in oven, left side up
3:00 - Flip turkey to right side
3:30 - Flip turkey to left side, peel potatoes
4:00 - Flip turkey to right side, boil potatoes
4:30 - Flip turkey breast up, mash potatoes, make stuffing
5:00 - Remove turkey, turn oven down to 350, put green bean casserole and rolls in oven, make pan gravy
5:15 - Remove rolls
5:30 - Remove casserole, carve turkey, EAT

See? Not so hard. Everything I do on the day before takes 1 to 2 hours, tops. That's actually the most labor intensive part. On the day of your party, you have minimal work to do. Everything is ready to go, and just requires a little maintenance from time to time. It sure beats slaving for 8 hours and being so exhausted by the time it's done that you don't enjoy yourself.

If you are persuasive, or have friends who like to cook, they can take care of a lot of the "day before" things. Assign people to bring a salad or dessert or bread, which cuts your time down even more. Hurray for planning!

PS - My mashed potatoes are usually gone in seconds, and people rave about them. Here's why: I put in a whole block of melted cream cheese and whip the crap out of them. So good! Diets are for the the New year anyway.

How To Win Friends and Influence People

2008-10-23T11:00:00.001-06:00

Ah, you might think, this is where she talks about the importance of a firm handshake and attention to body language. And you would be so sadly wrong.

The best way to win friends is with baklava. Why baklava? It's ridiculously simple to make, yet looks very complicated and impressive. And it tastes so incredible that you will have people following you around looking for more. They will probably not ask for the recipe, because it looks so hard. See? Your illusion stays intact. This is potluck season, people. Be prepared.

The secret to this is that you don't have to mess with individual paper thin sheets of phyllo. You do them in stacks, and it actually works better because the sheets don't turn into glue from all the butter between the layers. This little trick turns a one hour prep into something under 10 minutes. (I know, I know, you can send fan mail to me if you must.) The other trick is keeping it crisp. You do that by making sure your honey syrup is really, really hot before you pour. That way it will caramelize and make a nice moisture shield so your phyllo doesn't get soggy.

So, off we go.

Armenian Baklava
16 oz walnuts, chopped fine
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
1 pound of phyllo dough
2 sticks of butter, melted
16 oz honey
1/4 tsp ground cardamom
1cinnamon stick

Preheat oven to 300 and grease a 13" x 9" baking dish very well with butter. Make sure your phyllo is thawed according to the package directions. Cut all the layers at once into 13" x 9" rectangles and cover lightly with plastic wrap, then put a damp dishcloth on top. Dump the diced walnuts in a bowl and mix in the cinnamon and sugar. (If you can't find diced walnuts, you can chop them in a food processor, just don't overdo it.)

Now for the simple-yet-impressive part. Take 5 sheets of phyllo and place into the baking dish. Brush well with butter (don't skip the corners). Sprinkle 1 cup of the walnut mixture on this. Now repeat that twice more, using all the walnut mixture. Now place the remaining phyllo sheets on top and brush with the last of the butter. Cut halfway through the layers with a sharp knife into 12 sections, then split each square into 2 triangles (don't skip the cutting). See, that wasn't so bad, was it?

Bake it for 1 hr and 25 minutes. The last 5 minutes, heat the honey, cardamom and cinnamon stick in a small pot over med-high heat. Keep it at a simmer, but don't let it boil.

Now when you take out the baklava from the oven, pour the simmering honey (minus the cinnamon stick) over the whole thing right away, making sure it gets down the sides of all the pieces. It will boil furiously for a minute, then subside. Cool for 1 hour, then finish the cuts all the way through. Do not refrigerate this or the caramel will break down and it will get mushy. If kept covered at room temperature it will last a week. (Yeah, right. It will all get eaten before then, trust me.)

Take it to your next potluck and watch the influencing begin.

Variations: Greek and Turkish versions use pistachios and almonds instead of just walnuts. You can flavor the nut mixture with cardamom or other masala spices. Also, you can flavor the honey with a few drops of rose, jasmine, or orangeflower water.

Restructuring of Priorities. . .

2008-10-07T16:33:00.004-06:00

(a.k.a. more work for the Boy.)
After having a bash at working in a tiny, cramped space I decided to do a little modification to my original room layouts. Since I moved all the way out here at semi-great expense and trouble to focus on my career as an artist, I thought my space should reflect that mindset.

So I rotated the rooms counter-clockwise. (That's where the grunt work came in for the Boy.) The studio is now our sleeping alcove, the living room is now my studio, and the bedroom is now the office/living room.

Ah, moving all that furniture around our cramped space was a joy, let me tell you. But we're done now, and I am very pleased with the results. Lots of room to work, no knocking over my sewing machine when I get out of my chair at the drawing table, plus I can open all the file drawers all the way. Pretty snazzy, eh? I also moved the cat tree next to my table, because what's the point of having a cat in a studio if it can't dash through your palette and track paint all over the house from time to time?

Hurrah, let joy be unconfined, etc.

Tea for Two

2008-10-02T13:41:00.007-06:00

So, yesterday I went out to afternoon tea with a friend. We tried to go to the Sheri dan Palace at first, but the website I found their hours on was off a bit. Saturday only (sigh). It has a beautiful lobby, though, don't you think?

So, troopers that we are, we regrouped and headed over to Samovar, which is lovely if you want Japanese style Russian tea. Or Russian style Japanese tea, I wasn't quite clear. The English Tea Service was a bizarre combination of Asian and British styling that didn't quite make it all the way to endearing. Not quite in the spirit of Her Maj, in my opinion. The quiche was good, though. So, to prevent future mishaps I sat down and made a Google map of all the tea shops I found in San Francisco so far, with (correct) hours. Good job, Jenna.

I would also like to clear up a misconception about low tea and high tea. All these places are serving low tea, not high tea. "High" does not refer to the fanciness of the occasion, but to the height of the table it is traditionally served on. Low tea, or afternoon tea, features little cakes and fiddly things on toast. It was developed in the 1800s as a way for the wealthy classes to pass the time with friends. The lady of the house poured, and the servants were sent away so that guests could talk without being overheard. It is traditionally served on low tables in a parlor, hence the name "low" tea.

High tea was the working classes' dinner, and was usually served around 5 in the evening. It consists of meat pies, treacle tarts and other knife-and-fork dishes and was served at the family dining table, hence "high" tea.

Are we quite clear? Good. Moving on.

Afterwards I went to Britex Fabrics. I can't believe I have waited this long to go, because it's four floors of awesome. The prices can't touch the fabric districts of New York or LA, but who can? It's less expensive than some places I've been to, and the selection of gorgeous fabrics is staggering. Ah. Drool. Can't wait to make some new clothes!

Why I Need More Closet Space

2008-09-04T15:06:00.009-06:00

Ok, you wanted to know about all the amazing shops in San Francisco, so here you go. These are more area guides than shop guides, but I will point out a few of my favorites along the way.

The Haight:
Most of the best shops (a.k.a. the ones I like) are in the Upper Haight. Be warned: The window displays on Haight are all done by an outside agency and none of the displayed items are for sale. They are a ruse to get you to come into the store. Fortunately, most of the stores actually have nice things on offer, just don't be annoyed when you can't buy the fur-lined spats or the baroque jackets in the window.

The Lower Haight is mostly restaurants and studios. Except for Doe, a very cute shop with boutique label clothes and independent artists' work.

So, if you start up by Golden Gate park and work your way down, there are several excellent record shops (although I prefer to buy music directly from the artist if I can). Then there are several lovely consignment shops, including Wasteland, the best kind of vintage/consignment shop, where it smells decent and the clothes are skillfully curated. This is also in the midst of a number of other vintage shops in the Haight area, so if your shopping list includes an orange pillbox hat or a heavily beaded vintage gown you will not go away disappointed. Also stop in at Dollhouse Bettie, and check out their beautiful boutique lingerie. After you have had your fill, stop in at Indian Oven for dinner -- they have the most amazing curries!

Also nearby is Hayes Street, which has some lovely little boutiques and some really expensive shoe shops, like Bulo and Paolo. They are mostly between Octavia and Franklin. At Gough St. is the Absinthe Bar & Grill. Not to be missed. Seriously.

Want more? Go here. You should go there anyway, because Grace's blog is awesome.

Next time: mission The Mission. Have fun!

. . .And Now for Something Completely Different

2008-08-20T13:06:00.008-06:00

I bet you are all wondering if I have found any fantastic treasures so far in this city that is packed so full of treasures you have to stamp them down to close the lid. Well, I have. Many. So many, in fact, that I have a whole post that I am still working on. For now, let me introduce you to the newest staples of my wardrobe: Luna Luz skirts (no, that is not me, and I would not wear this skirt with sandals):

They are so floaty and comfortable. The perfect balance of bohemian and victorian. It's all in the accessories, really. I have one in brown, and I just ordered a short charcoal and a long olive. I am also considering getting one in white and antiquing it with tea.

And my new Palladium boots:

Yes, I thought nothing could top my dKodes, (warning, their site has weirdly looping music) and truthfully, these don't quite do it. But they are really, really close. I am still waiting with baited credit card for dKode's fall/winter line to come out.

And the best part? They both go perfectly with the new Camp corsets I got on eBay (yay fan lacing!)

How the Other Half Lives

2008-08-20T13:00:00.003-06:00

I thought I would post a few quick pictures that the Boy took from his office window. Ah, almost a view of the Bay. You can see a teeny bit between the buildings. San Francisco has such a pretty downtown!

The Rest of the Place

2008-08-19T11:25:00.005-06:00

Here are some shots of the living room, looking towards the kitchen, and looking away from the kitchen.

And from in the kitchen itself. Not too bad, eh?

And Everything In It's Place. . .

2008-08-18T10:26:00.011-06:00

So I finally managed to squeeze all my things into my new apartment. I will not even tell you what I spent at Ikea on storage furniture to supplement my two tiny closets, because I am in denial. ANYWAY. Here are some photos:
There are three windows in the bedroom, which is nice. Except when the granite shop across the road starts cutting their new shipment with a wet saw at 7 in the morning. The three ceramic hands on my dresser are antique glove molds I picked up at the Alameda Flea Market, which is the coolest flea market I have ever been to.

And this is my way-too-cramped studio that I managed to be surprisingly productive in:

As you can see, it's tight, but not unbearably so, although I suspect that by the time my lease is up I will be more than ready to get into a larger space, possibly with more than 10 square feet of closet space. I'll be back with more pictures soon!

A Farewell to Concrete

2008-07-16T15:09:00.002-06:00

You know, it's not as easy as I hoped to find a converted warehouse in San Francisco, or even Oakland. We found a place in a old electroplating shop that has been completely gutted and redone. The unit has a huge, amazing window, which makes up for the Berber carpet and weird room layout. Sort of.

I'm on the hunt for something more industrial for next year so I can hack open clocks and spread metal shavings and sawdust with impunity. Performing vivisection on a gear box is not something I like doing on carpet, if only because cog shafts and gear teeth are not something you want embedded in your flooring.

But anyway, here is a shot of my new, gorgeous view of the Berkeley hills, with the Boy in for scale. Not bad. eh?

Is This a Marathon?

2008-07-10T09:37:00.003-06:00

Jeez, I turn my back for one minute and whole months have gone by. Well, the Boy and I spent the whole of May jouncing between coasts like a rubber ball, and ended up in Wyoming to photograph my friend's wedding. Aren't they cute?

Then we went back to San Francisco. And rented an apartment. So we're moving in two weeks. Hah!

Ah, the Sweet Scent of Publicity

2008-03-26T21:53:00.001-06:00

Good news! My new Fairy Lights were spotted on Apartment Therapy for their Etsy Scavenger today. This is the best birthday present ever. Yay!

Fairy Lights Available on Etsy!

2008-03-19T18:44:00.005-06:00

After working out some kinks, Fairy Lights are now for sale at my Etsy shop! I have many colors to choose from, in two sizes. The large version is 22" x 12", and the mini is 14" x 12".

I am also considering a table top version, a cylindar luminary. I would need to order some lamp parts, so please let me know if you would like one and I will add it to my Etsy shop as an exclusive. Thanks everyone!

Back in the Dawn of the Intarweb. . .

2008-03-17T23:17:00.003-06:00

Do you remember this? I love the Skeleton Hootenanny. I wish I knew what the song was, though. First person to post the correct answer gets free Steampunk jewelry!

Mortar Combat

2008-03-14T22:48:00.002-06:00

I admit it. I am an avid cook, but I do not own a pepper mill. I've bought several over the years, and they were each as flimsy a piece of equipment as I have ever seen. Most broke within a month, the most memorable being my last purchase, which cracked on the third use. Needless to say, I have grown rather disenchanted with pepper mills and have lately resorted to grinding pepper in my massive granite mortar and pestle. I have yet to meet the spice that could stand up to that. I swear I could grind quartz into a fine powder in this thing. Not that I would, but you know what I mean. Anyway, this is not an ideal situation. I have been seeking a solution.

Yesterday, I was bouncing back and forth between the Bliss UK and Bliss US sites, wondering why America deserved only Nigella's cookware line (lovely and orbular though it is. Salt Pig - mmm.) yet the British have things like this:

I saw the ceramic hand on a design site a few days ago (Apartment Therapy? I can't remember. It was in a bathroom, for holding bracelets), and was trying to source it, though I'm not sure that the $60+ it would cost to get it here is ready to leap from my wallet just yet. But I did find this: Oliver Hemming's Spice Boy. And, as it happens, Unica Home has sweetly provided an American distribution point, so that I can ignore the dollar's pathetic slouch next to the British pound. And they have it in blue!

A Quick Brown Fox. . .

2008-03-12T14:26:00.004-06:00

I was looking out my window the other day and was more than a little surprised to see a huge fox sitting near the sidewalk. I've seen both grey and red foxes south of here, closer to the Cherry Creek canal, but never this far north. We don't exactly back up to a wooded area, unless you count the fenced construction lot or the small adjoining park that has, I think, eight trees. I grabbed my camera, and got a few shots before it trotted off. They came out fairly fuzzy, due in large part to the screens in my windows, but I am glad I was able to record the moment.

It's Blue!

2008-03-10T11:12:00.003-06:00

I love my Kitchen Aid stand mixer. The Boy bought it for me with a gift certificate for Best Buy he had wrangled from his office. Best Buy had red, yellow, blue, and black in stock. I got black.

Why? Um, I'm not too sure. I think I had grown so used to kitchen things being white, black, or chrome that my mind shut down in the presence of alternatives. I also knew I wasn't going to redo my light blue and green kitchen around a primary color, so black it was. Coordinating kitchen appliances to tea towels and wall color was not in my price range. (Now, of course, I am eyeballing the Smeg refrigerators and the Elmira line. Which are still out of my price range.)

But I am not tossing a perfectly good mixer for the sake of my color sense. Besides, Kitchen Aid stopped making the baby blue color, drat them. Sooooooo . . . I traipsed off to the hardware store and bought enamel spray paint in a pretty blue color and whipped out my masking tape. Ta da! It went so well that I even snapped up a retro bread box (which only seems to come in pink or red) and painted it as well. Now I have a lovely matching kitchen and I can feel my microwave getting nervous every time I walk by with a paint can.

Note: If you are going to try this at home, make sure you tape over the vent on the back of your mixer. You really don't want to get spray paint on the motor. Then, after the second coat of paint is dry and all the masking tape is off, spray some paint onto a paper plate or something and paint the vent grill with a brush. The breadbox was much easier. No moving parts.

All Healed Up!

2008-03-07T21:55:00.001-07:00

Looks like they are both going to pull through with a minimum of trauma. And a consistent diet of wet food has in no way diminished that. Ahhh. Now I get to watch as they try to figure out why their claws are so ineffective on the scratching post. Damn vets and their nailclippers.

Although, as you can see, one of them has already surmounted this problem through her ingenuity and brute strength.

Waiting For the Sun . . .

2008-03-05T17:11:00.004-07:00

I went to my local nursery today and bought new plants! I have very limited choices in this area because 1) If I buy anything spiky, my cat will nibble off the leaves until it's dead and 2) I have only northern facing windows, so if the plant needs more than four minutes of sunlight a day it wilts and then dies. So now I have basil, mint, and catnip on the sill, and a purple oxalis (shamrock) on my desk. Strangely, the cats are not interested in the catnip until it is plucked and placed in front of them. Not that they are lazy or spoiled, or anything. Really.

What, again?

2008-03-03T16:57:00.004-07:00

The mid-century modern fairy must be trying to get me into bed or something. I found these amazing (knock-off, but I don't care!) Saarienen tulip chairs at a vintage shop for $50 a piece. Four of them. And these chairs? They are in. Perfect. Condition. Now, I know, I know. . . I could have saved up and bought a genuine vintage set for $4000. And anyone who is really chaffing at the thought of vintage knock-offs is free to send me said amount and I will rectify the situation immediately. In the meantime, I am going to recover the seat cushions with this fabric. And gloat. Hee!

Bright Green

2008-02-29T17:19:00.000-07:00

Is my new favorite color. It's so gloomy in Denver these days, it feels like a little burst of spring in my living room! I went to Urban Outfitters and bought new pillows for the couch, a new green rug for the entry way, and a bowl for incense. Isn't it cute? I love Japanese-style illustrations.

Fairy Light!

2008-02-27T21:41:00.004-07:00

I thought I would take a moment to share my new prototype! It's a 24" tall lamp for over my desk. I had originally made this with LED christmas lights, but they sort of burned out after a few weeks. So I swapped the broken lights with a compact flourescent bulb (only 15 watts, but quite bright) so no danger of a conflagration. Result? I love it. Especially since the cord no longer has a tail of little lights. I'm thinking of making a few more of these in different colors and putting them up on my Etsy shop. The cool part is that if the light isn't on, it looks like a plain colored box -- then it turns into a viney thicket when it's lit up.

PS - It's actually not super hard to make, although it is a bit fiddly around the corners: just print a design on the back of colored paper and fold the corners into a lid shape. Then mount a low wattage light in a cardboard box and pop the printed "lid" over the top. Make sure you cut a hole for the cord! You can also make a table top version if you make a holder for the bulb. Pretty!

Squid Fans Rejoice!

2008-02-25T11:15:00.003-07:00

This is too cute. I might buy a dozen and create a flotilla. However, I do not agree with the description on the website that it's shaped like a small whale. It looks like a squid to me. Weirdos.

It's Amazing!

2008-02-22T17:47:00.000-07:00

I have been wanting to get a Panton chair for quite some time. So iconic! Would look so fabulous in my bedroom! I have shied away from the price tags, though, because no one really wants to go into debt over a chair. The fiberglass originals can run over $1000, and even the plastic reproductions can set you back $300, not including shipping. But the Mid-Century furniture fairy must have been watching over my eBay search, because I found this. There are lots of colors, so if you have been crushing on this chair, get to it!

Not one, but TWO reproduction Panton chairs (full size, not juniors) for $195. And $49 shipping. I kept thinking there had to be some kind of catch, but apparently this seller is in fact shipping out these chairs for less than half the going price. I think I'm still in shock. I will update this when I receive them and let you know if there is an irate demon or something that comes in the box that explains the low price. Not that I expect one, but you never know.

Ooooh, That Had to Hurt. . .

2008-02-20T21:53:00.003-07:00

Sorry, no post today. I took Thing One and Thing Two to the vet for dental work, and they are drugged out of all recognition and need extra rations of petting. Once everyone has been sufficiently appeased, I will be back. In force.

Confessions of a Recovering Monochrome

2008-02-18T21:40:00.001-07:00

As you may recall if you've been taking notes, I have only recently started to wear colors other than black and grey. It has been a revelation and a chance to apply color theory outside of my studio. I knew that design degree would come in handy eventually! If you want to see some examples of folks who live and breathe fantastic technicolor and cute style, take a look at these style blogs:
StyleBytes yet more proof that the Scandinavians are more stylish than the rest of us, and always will be
Smaggle Style daily updates of Antipodian chic
Some Girls Wander (aka The Black Apple) fabulous DIY style, be sure to check out her artwork too!

Artist Roundup!

2008-02-15T21:52:00.007-07:00

I must say I had a very satisfactory Valentine's Day. The Boy took me to a lovely romantic dinner at a French restaurant and then to the theater for a performance of Cirque du Soleil. I had never seen them live, and it was beautiful. . .although I do think the song lyrics may owe some small debt of inspiration to an overindulgence of cough syrup. I hope all of you had a wonderful time as well, or at least made it through without incident.

I wanted to show you some artists that I have been keeping my eye on. First is Blaine Fontana, who has a very well-designed website and a graffiti-meets-classical-technique style that I love. This is one of my favorites.

You may have seen Irene Suchocki's work already as she has been featured on several design blogs (I wish I could remember exactly where I saw her linked from!) She is absolutely worth a second round of mentions. Her photos are simply amazing -- she has an incredible eye for composition. They remind me of traveling in Germany when I was young.

If you're in the mood for something a little NSFW, check out Symon Chow's burlesque sideshow images. Rrrrrr. He has some very well done image manipulations as well. Either that or he has the world's largest porcupine made into a hat.

I've been watching Jonathan Wayshak for a few years, and his macabre, sketchy style just keeps getting better. He has a massive online portfolio that you can happily spend hours poking around in.

No list of my favorite artists would be complete without Phil Borges and his breathtaking portraiture. I was watching Kundun a few days ago and I was reminded of his work with displaced Tibetans. The personal stories of the monks and nuns caught up in the struggle are truly profound.

Obsess Much?

2008-02-13T14:56:00.007-07:00

I have found more -- yes, more--fabulous white orbular things. First is White Forest Pottery (thank you Apartment Therapy!)
I absolutely love their collection. Small, imperfect, very delicate. These teeny little vases are my favorite. It reminds me of coral and sponges.

If you are in need of something a bit edgier to kick up the tone of your collection, check out Melabo's shop on Etsy. She makes surreal slipcast figurines that, while not orbular, are certainly cool enough to hang out at Studio 54 with the rest of Andy's girls.

I also found out that Crate & Barrel is rerunning Eva Zeisel's Classic Century dinnerware. I first saw her work at a vintage ceramic shop on Polk St. in SF, and have been lusting over her work ever since. Eva rocks my world -- she is truly the queen of all that is white and orbular. People, she can make a sauce boat look sexy. This gal has some serious talent. I feel an upgrade to my dishes coming soon.

A Land of Milk. . .and More Milk

2008-02-11T13:36:00.001-07:00

Everyone in the Home of Bones likes cheese, in the same way that the sun is a little warmish. Last year for Christmas, the Boy bought me a mozzarella making kit, and I (slacker that I am) waited until just yesterday to try it out. I have made my own paneer for years and somehow the idea of adding fussy enzymes and things to my usual method (heat milk - add lemon - remove cheese) seemed unappealing. But after reading blog after blog of newly born cheese addicts, I put my misgivings aside and went for it. Result? Almost too easy. It confirmed my suspicion that all milk secretly wants to be cheese, like all little girls secretly want to be princesses. Fortunately for cheese, a few chemicals will do the trick, while royal succession is usually a bit more work. You can buy everything you need (and then some, seriously) here. And if you do happen across any enzymes that will turn someone into a princess, please let me know because there is a five-year-old of my acquaintance who is willing to donate all her Pop Tarts toward this end.

Is It Spring Yet?

2008-02-08T13:24:00.000-07:00

Well, no. Not around here, anyway. But I can feel it beating it's wings in the air when I go outside. I recently bought a new dress form to replace a very old and decrepit model I have had since college. Which was older than I am. It had started to implode into a body shape that matched no one I had every seen outside of a nightmare. So to begin flexing my sewing muscles, I have been doing a lot of poking around online fabric stores and I will now pass the fruits of this search on to you:

Mendels
Mood Fabrics
Fabric.com
Emma OneSock
Baron Boutique
Pixie Dust Decor
Wish Upon a Quilt
Dakota Cabin
J. Caroline Creative
Glorious Color
Purl Soho
ReproDepot
M&J Trims

Green Fairies

2008-02-06T15:22:00.000-07:00

As some of you may have heard, the EU has recently begun to regulate absinthe production once again. For those of you who have not followed this breaking news story as closely as you could, the upshot is that genuine absinthe is now legal to sell in the US. Hurrah! I have had many, many home-brewed versions of this concoction, and some of them were very good. Some of them were, um, disgusting. The key seems to be in the freshness of the wormwood. Or something.

If you are at all interested in adopting absinthe as a hobby, I highly recommend Fee Verte, which has hundreds of types and lots of reviews. He has written a very interesting article on thujone, the active chemical in wormwood.

The site also sells many different styles of glasses, spoons, and drippers. You can get some very nice spoons and other accoutrement here at POSH. (There is actually quite a lot on that site, well worth a look. Their flea market finds are amazing.)

Get some for Valentine's day and break the red-and-white tradition!

Marsha, Marsha, Marsha!

2008-02-04T14:22:00.000-07:00

Okay, okay. You know how showing that you love one child more than another automatically makes you a crap parent? I am back to tell you I AM GUILTY. If websites were children, this blog has been my redheaded step child for at least a month. Because Flash? It takes a long time. I fully admit to lavishing all my love and attention on my other two websites. "What?" I hear you gasping. "There are more?" Yes, people. I now have my portfolio mostly online at www.manitouart.net and I have my steampunk jewelry shop up at boneflowers.etsy.com. I will be adding more pretty things to my Etsy shop every week so check back to see what fabulousness I have for you!

So I should be back to more regular posts here. Really!

"Yes, sweetie, we'll get you a pony as soon as we finish paying for your sister's dance lessons. We promise."

Ahoy, pilgrims!

2008-01-07T13:41:00.000-07:00

Hi there, staunch readers! I bet you've been wondering where I've been hiding myself over the past six weeks. Well, my friends, I have a surprise for you: I am launching a jewelry line. Gears, cogs, and bones crafted into beautiful adornments. Very steampunk, neh? I have been busy as a little bee in my studio. Being snowed-in has no doubt assisted my laser-like focus.

I also received a kind note from Julie of Virtu, who informed me that Laura Zindel will be coming out with a brand new line of ceramics sometime this year. Her works flies off the shelves, so all of you insect addicts, be warned. Thanks, Julie!!

Also, I wanted to compliment Grace of DesignSponge for her always excellent taste. I fell in love with her Karin Eriksson votives and spent a very productive morning hunting online. Karin's Etsy shop is empty as of this writing, but you can go here for her full sellers list. Lots of great shops here, and many of them have online stores. I found Lille to have a very nice selection, and many other lovely things besides.

Happy New Year!

My Life, It is a Movie. . .

2007-11-05T13:11:00.000-07:00

Wow. What a weird couple of weeks. In a good way. The boy and I have decided to renew our vows on our ten year anniversary. Hah! Some of our friends haven't even figured out that we're married yet. We never had a real wedding or honeymoon (we kind of eloped -- sorry, Mom and Dad!) So we've decided to rectify this and do both. We've done enough events that I don't think a wedding will be too much trouble. (Oooh, I can hear you guys now. . . I'm sure I will look back at this entry in a few years and LAUGH.) I've been hunting around on Etsy to find a nice engagement ring (who wants an icky generic ring?) and I found this:

Isn't it cool? Understated, yet obviously special. It is in my top three for sure. So now I need a dress. Since I just gave mine to Juniper for her wedding in June. I can't think of a better excuse to buy two wedding dresses, can you?

I also wanted to show you this: wallpaper custom tweaked to your wall and decorations. I remember seeing things like this one time at Burning Man (ha ha). I found it on BoingBoing. I am addicted to BoingBoing. Did you know it started in Boulder? Yeah, you probably did.

Here's another BoingBoing find, although the designer I have been watching for a few years:

She has a whole new line out now, but I haven't been able to find the original store where her regular dishes are sold. Anybody know of it? if so, i am definitely registering there for my wedding. That would be some fabulous dinner party-ware.

And guess what else? I quit my full time job! (Like I said...weird couple of weeks.) So now I can put some time into the new Boneflowers online store. I will post details as soon as I can. Let's just say, as a hint, EGGPANTS. Thanks, Andie and Liz!

It's not hitting THIS fan, buddy. . .

2007-10-16T15:01:00.000-06:00

The curse of surrounding yourself with high-end design magazines is that you invariably find things you wish you could afford and are too cool not to drool over for minutes at a time. I think I may have found the first ever Steampunk ceiling fan. So all you Girl Genius fans with surplus cash, hop on over to Matthews Fan Company and buy one.

They also have really cool glass lighting. So pretty!

And for my next trick. . .

2007-10-10T09:51:00.000-06:00

Just so you don't think I spend every spare moment shopping (not that there's anything wrong with that, mind), I thought I would showcase some other things of interest.

Linda Berkvist is, without a doubt, the most talented digital painter I have ever seen. That is some incredible detail. My god.

She has a lovely self portrait on her site as well:

The whole thing is well worth rumaging through; she has her portfolio divided up, rather unusually, by colors. She has also thoughtfully included some tutorials in case you are sufficiently inspired to have a go at this style yourself. I understand she is also working on a book of fairy tales, and is posting the occasional sample from this body of work on her site:

Another artist that I really like is Audrey Kawasaki.

She has the most delicate style of painting on wood. It reminds me of my own favorite ways to work, which is probably why I like it so much. I've always been more

comfortable with gouache, so I tend to use oils like watercolors, building up layers of depth instead of working up towards highlights like you're supposed to.

I actually did a shameless copy of this picture for myself

because I surely can't afford to buy an original, and her prints tend to sell out almost immediately. It hangs in my entry way, where I can look at it everytime I leave the house.:

Audrey has been incorporating skulls and bones, as well as insects and moths, into her recent work. Pretty girls and decay--how can you go wrong? You should check out her blog for upcoming shows as well as peeks at her newest work.

Speaking of bones, take a look at this. Jessica Joslin (I think I saw her on BoingBoing originally) has a fabulous collection of, um, alternative solutions to taxidermy. I have a small prize for the first reader to have their pet preserved by her.

Aren't they cute?

Silver Bells and Cockleshells. . .

2007-10-10T09:07:00.000-06:00

I found a wonderful resource guide to metalsmiths on Etsy. So the next time you are desperately seeking adornments based on cellular structures or internal organs, you need look no further. This is Nanopod's Heart necklace.

She also makes
shirts:

If you're in the mood for something slightly more dangerous looking and you have a few grand burning a hole in your pocket, I suggest you take a look at DiscoMedusa.

If $2500 is not quite in your budget this week, she also has dozens of affordable baubles, like this cell necklace:

I love the different layers in this necklace. The lacey center is a bit of a theme in this shop.

For the unrepentant (but stylish) nerd in your life, Beaujangles has these cufflinks:

Space Invaders! Man, you just can't get away from the inevitable retro-dork reference, can you? No, I didn't think so.

Oh, and just in case you are wondering feverishly what on earth to do for Halloween, you can always go as an Amazonian warrior princess:

You can thank me later. With pictures.

By the throat. . .

2007-09-28T13:20:00.000-06:00

I love ephemera, as you may already know if you have been commiting these posts to memory. I have recently found several online vendors with really, really lovely things that I just had to share with you. Behold, Mood Swing Studios:

These little baubles are double-sided and hand soldered. Each has two different pictures from old storybooks. So cute, so versatile!

And for the fancier days, take a look at Erica Weiner Jewelry:

Charming, a little odd, and cute little skulls. My style to a tee. I love that little hummingbird skull.

I like this one too, although the phrase "sucked into a jet engine" keeps going through my head.
.

A Belly Donssah, A Snake Charmah. . .

2007-09-27T22:26:00.000-06:00

Oooo, I'm going to spoil you now. I have a huge backlog of links to show you. Including a new obsession, and an excuse to make more costumes. Because one steamer trunk is just not enough, people. Not enough. That's right. May I present my absolute favorite tribal fusion belly dancer (of course), Rachel Brice. She moves like a snake.
And her costumes are too fabulous.
How can I not love that? Check out her set with my pals the Yard Dogs who are coming to the Fillmore with Devotchka on 10/27 AND I EXPECT TO SEE ALL OF YOU THERE.

The Worl', She Hold Her Breath. . .

2007-09-27T21:47:00.000-06:00

Oh my god. Hi again, friends! That took a bit longer than I thought, but I am pleased to say that it has been conclusively proved that the boy at home will not wither away, but is on the road to mostly mended. Many apologies for those who were desperately awaiting news of life beyond the valley of the odd.

So as a fabulous comeback, I would like to present to you, for your august amusement and distraction, the fabulous Penny Farthing Bicycle! (for the uninitiated who are privately wondering what a farthing is, I suggest you look at the wheel sizes and possibly do some googling. We'll all wait. Okay. Get it now?)

Look at this--it's a Penny Farthing trike! Isn't she cute, folks?

No, that's not me. That is Denver's own Ms. EasyDoesIt, partygirl and gogo dancer. Some of you may remember her from Decomps or Gog parties. She's available for weddings and barmitzvas--what are you waiting for?

Hello again!

2007-08-22T09:24:00.000-06:00

Hi there folks! Sorry for the lack of posties. The boy at home got smacked into on his bike so I have been running around like a mad thing taking care of him and his brokeness. My freak out stage is mostly over, as he seems to be heading towards a state of mending. The Home of Bone is a wreck and I am dilligently working to get all the gears grinding again with a minimum of mashing. So, until I am back with some new pictures and links, go here and amuse yourselves.

Do Not Adjust Your Set. . .

2007-08-01T15:27:00.000-06:00

This is really what the shop looks like. Leave it to Viktor & Rolf. I have been a huge fan of them for years, and this is why.

About ten years ago their pieces were more on the sculpture tip than anything you could actually wear :

(Not even to that outre party where you saw someone. . .well, nevermind)

Their current collections are definitely more clothing-like, which is fabulous for those who can afford to wear it. For those of us with more style than cash, they have perfumes -- FlowerBomb and Antidote.

Out With the Old. . .

2007-07-30T17:46:00.000-06:00

I have never been very fond of the standard icons you get on your computer desktop, but in a sort of subconscious, accepting kind of way. Why? Because until today, I did not even realize that putting up with bland desktop icons is a thing of the past, a pleistocene relic of the sorry days of dot matrix printers and WordPerfect.

I was looking for a new desktop at PixelGirl, which amounts to selecting a new, free, fabulous piece of art to look at every day. It's like buying prints on Etsy without the buying part. This one was done by Andrew Kingsbury.

Anyway, I was suddenly jarred out of my scrolling-induced trance when I noticed a little menu on the left. Icons (Mac) and Icons (XP), right there at the top. What was this? Oh, my friends, a treasure trove of uber-cuteness lies within. Proceed with caution, as a hard drive filled with icons often distracts from getting actual work done.

I luuurve my new custom icons by Jeff Dehut. I may never have to look at another manilla folder icon as long as I live. Ahhhhhh.

My Other Job is a Ninja. . .

2007-07-25T10:20:00.000-06:00

Such was the reaction to the bear bonnet that I have decided to share another of my favorite animal-themed headgear websites: Bunny Warez. Burning Man is getting closer by the minute, so all you playa-ites need to hurry up and get your orders placed. Then we would have an Invisible Camp of ninja bunnies. How cool is that?

I, sadly, am not going to be there this year, as I am saving my pennies for a trip to Noo Yawk. Yes, I can hear all of you gasping in shock. I know. Here are some pictures of my sojourn to the desert from 2005:

I luuurved my costumes, most of which you can't see because I am the one behind the camera. Oops!

Early to Bed. . .

2007-07-20T12:56:00.000-06:00

I am deeply in lust with Modernica's Case Study Bed. It's so simple and pretty! But, of course, I don't want to spend $1500 on a bed frame right now. Solution? DIY! I found a lovely metalworker who will make you a custom Case Study bed kit. All you have to do is buy and assemble the wood bits. After much thinking, I came up with an inexpensive way to put it together.

(This is for a queen size bed. King-sizers, you're on your own with this one. Sorry.)

You will need:

Two hollow core doors (30" wide each)

Three 1" thick boards, 5" wide, cut to 50" long

Three 6" long steel connectors (flat pieces of steel with screw holes)

Washers and screws

Six hairpin legs and three metal brackets

One 1 1/2" x 18" wide board cut to 60" long

Paint/wood stain

So. Lay your doors side by side. See? This is your bed platform. Now take your steel connectors and position one across the middle, and one on each end (at the head and foot of the bed). Set these two in about 10" from the head and foot. secure the doors together to make one 60" wide platform. Then take the 1 x 5s and lay them across the bed over the steel connectors. Now, using plenty of washers and screws, secure the boards to the doors. Make it burly. This is what will keep you from ending up on the floor after, um, excessive movement in your bed.

(Note: if you end up on the floor anyway, don't say I didn't warn you.)

Okay, now that your platform is done, rest the head on a chair or something so you can attach the brackets. This is what holds up the headboard. From the side with the boards on it, screw one bracket into the middle, and one on each side, set in about 8" from the edge of the platform. Take your 60" board and mark where the screw holes will be on the bracket, and drill some guide holes. We'll come back to this in a minute.

Now it's time to attach the legs. Square them with the corners of the boards on the platform. You have 6, so two will go on each board, one at either end. Screw 'em in. Use washers. Now stand the bed up. Are your headboard brackets sticking up, ready to receive the bounty of your pillows? If not, unscrew them and put them on the right way. There you go.

Go ahead and attach the headboard itself. If you took my advice and drilled guide holes, this will be easy. If not, you will have to spend some time in purgatory or find a friend to hold the headboard for you while you mark the screw holes and do it now. Go it all screwed on tight? Great!

Take a step back and really look at the bed. Do you think it will hold your weight? If you have doubts you may want to give it a test run before you start practicing back flips on it. I know a couple people who use doors for platform beds and it seems to work pretty well, but be careful all the same.

You can paint it or stain it, or leave it natural. And you can go to sleep with the lovely, warm feeling that you just saved yourself over a grand. Pleasant dreams!

Home Again, Home Again, Jiggety-Jig. . .

2007-07-19T16:05:00.000-06:00

Wow. Okay, I had some delusion that I was going to be able to post before today. HAH! Well, you may be happy to learn that I did not actually die in a plane crash on the way back from Jackson, although it was a close-run thing. They had to jump start our plane. I am so not kidding. I wish I was.

On a happy note, I just heard from Platypus Dreams that she is shipping my bear bonnet today. Hurrah! I will post a picture of teh awesomeness when it gets here.

Here is a very grainy picture of the view at dawn outside my hotel:

We had to drive through a part of Yellowstone to get back to the airport in the morning. I had never been there before. People, it is beautiful.

You should all visit before it explodes.

Orbular Redux. . .

2007-07-16T09:56:00.000-06:00

As you may remember if you are commiting this blog to memory, I did a post a bit ago on ceramic artists. Well, I must admit I didn't tell you about one of my very favorites, because I could not find her vases anywhere that would sell to the public. But now, Sara Paloma of Restoration Hardware cover fame is on Etsy, purchasable by even the least connected to the design industry. (Thank you, Madam Fabulous from Another Shade of Grey!) Aren't they gorgeous? I thought so.

Aaaaand since I cannot seem to visit Etsy without spending the next two hours poking around, I give you Askey:

Ah. I love marionettes.

Look at this beauty by Daniel Villela:

It reminds me of MirrorMask. Dave McKean is my favorite artist, hands down. Watching that movie was like walking into one of his paintings.

Of course, I always have an eye out for new prints. I found a beautiful watercolor print by Gilfling of Nottingham. That sounds like a really romantic place to live, but I understand from my correspondant overseas that it is mostly council flats and no forests. Oh well.

Speaking of forests, I am going to Jackson Hole, Wyoming for a few days, so no post tomorrow. (Okay, I might post. But not till late, so don't wait up for me.)

It's for a work thingy, people. Don't give me that look.

If Alfred Hitchcock Could See Us Now. . .

2007-07-13T14:01:00.000-06:00

Let's face it. We are a nation obsessed with birds on stuff. Like any trend, I am hesitant at first to see just how far people will take it. But, happily, most of these bird-themed items are surprisingly restrained and sophisticated. Like this owl pendant from Petaline:

She has several different iterations on this inlaid wood/engraved wood theme. Just lovely. I would wear this with everthing!

The best part is, all this avian accessorizing fits perfectly with the floral silhouette motif found on just about everything else. Don't pretend you don't know what I mean. I'm looking at you, Etsy.

I really love this bedding at Amenity. And if I ever get to the point where I would spend $400 on a duvet, you all will be the first to know because I will have won the lottery and be updating this blog from the south of France.

Now, if I could only figure out where this cephalopod trend is going. . .

Speaking of Upskirts. . .

2007-07-12T10:33:00.001-06:00

Have you ever noticed how many upskirt shots there are in Miyazaki movies? Not that I dislike it, I'm jusy saying it's odd. Especially for the younger audience they are aimed at . Kiki's Delivery Service has so many, you could turn it into a drinking game. Just a thought.

Aaaaanyway, what I really wanted to tell you about was this:

This belonges on Cute Overload.

It reminded me of Lain's bear pajamas, which is what got me thinking about anime, which led to the whole upskirt thing. . . you can start to see how my mind works. I haven't met a whole lot of people who have seen Lain. It's a 14 part series about the nature of reality and consciousness and how the internet interfaces with both.

Okay, so it's a hard plot to summarize. But it is really fun to watch, even when it gets a little weird, especially at the end. . .but I won't spoil it for you. If the the creation of the intarwebs is even vaguely interesting to you, you will love this. Then you can make your friends watch it with you and have those existential conversations that last until 4am. Or at least until the wine runs out.

Not Quite a Girl's Best Friend. . .

2007-07-11T14:09:00.000-06:00

I meant to post about this earlier, as it is available through Black Chandelier. What do you think, eh? Makes you want to go out and buy a set to use as lapel pins, doesn't it? Yes, I can see you all rushing off. Don't all wear them at once, people will think you guys are in a gang or something.

This House is Clean. . .

2007-07-11T09:23:00.000-06:00

After a week of debauchery with our lovely guests, I think it might be time for a bit of upkeep to the old mortal coil. I will be undertaking a Master Cleanse. What is this strange idea, you may ask? I'm sure you heard of the lemonade diet. It's not actually a diet, but more of a full system flush of toxins (the bane of natural medicine practitioners everywhere) that leaves you feeling like you've just come back from a week at Red Door. Sound nice? I thought so.

It was developed in the 1940s, and the same formula is still followed. It's pretty simple and you do actually lose weight, although the proponents of this would be scandalized if they heard people were using their detox as a way to drop those last five pounds. I have friends who do this once a month, because they are just that hardcore. One of my friends does it every few months for 25 days. That is somewhere beyond hardcore and into the valley of the very focused.

(Caveate: I am not a doctor and this is not medical advice. Fasting can be very hard on your body, so check with your physician before begining any diet, blah blah blah. Don't come crying if you do this and your legs drop off, or whatever.)

Want to follow along? First, go out and buy a bottle of organic lemon juice and a jug of Grade B maple syrup (Whole Foods carries this in the bulk section). You also need powdered cayenne pepper and some distilled water if you don't have a filter on your tap already.

Ready for the fun part? Mix up equal parts of lemon juice and syrup. This is your concentrate. To make the lemonade, pour a few tablespoons of this into a glass of distilled water and mix with a little pinch of cayenne. Okay, so it's not that fun. But it is healthy. You can't have everything.

On the morning of your first day, mix 2 teaspoons of salt into 32 ounces of water. This is the unfun part. Drink it. Yes, all of it. Now, for the rest of the day, drink lemonade (cold or hot) whenever you get hungry. You can also have distilled water or peppermint tea.

Repeat as necessary. Salt water in the morning, lemonade the rest of the day. You don't really stay hungry, since you are taking in quite a few calories.

By the third day, you will be feeling really good. The cravings stop and you feel energetic. By the way, whatever you are craving the most is the food that is the least healthy for your body. I'm not saying stop eating it forever, I'm just saying keep it in mind.

If you feel tired or irritable, go excercise. Do NOT just sit there. You will feel like crap.

You can go for up to 20 days, but I don't recommend doing more than 9 if it's your first time. When you stop fasting, go to juice for a few days before incorporating solids into you diet. Go back slowly. Don't eat pizza your first day off the fast. You will probably find that your craving for seriously unhealthy foods has gone down anyway. And there's always that delicious warm feeling of accomplishment which is why I suspect most people get hooked on this in the first place. It's like running a marathon without all that bothersome training. Or running. Hooray!

Back in the Saddle. . .

2007-07-09T08:50:00.000-06:00

Oy, what a weekend! I have some friends in town from Noo Yawk, and we have been having quite a good time. She is a fabulous photographer, infinitely more so than your truly, as you can see.

These are some of her pictures from a visit to Joshua Tree. So pretty!

We went up to the mountains for a bit of a drive and a few photo ops.

We have had SO MUCH RAIN, so everything is very green up here, which makes a nice change from our usual drought-leached brown that creeps in around this time. I have a new photo style I'm experimenting with: the up-skirt flora:

Thank you, Uncle Sam!

2007-07-04T20:29:00.000-06:00

Happy Fourth of July!

C'est nes pas un Stitch 'n' Bitch

2007-07-03T10:53:00.001-06:00

I love patterned fabrics. Even if I would never wear them, I love looking at them. For too long, the only fabrics available to home sewers have been of the "ducks on broadcloth" type, as my design teacher used to say. Now, we have a whole new generation of accomplished designers making textiles in modern colors and prints.

Due to the recent inescapable popularity of the empire-waist trend, I have been making a lot of my own clothes. My local fabric stores tend to stock fabrics with prints that look like the patterns you get when you rub your eyes to hard. Or floral chintz. I hate chintz. So, as usual, I poked around online until I found what I was looking for. The often blogged-about Amy Butler has, of course, a beautiful collection. I covered my desk chair in the blue and grey seedpod fabric in the bottom right corner. So cute!

Another designer I found is Anna Marie Horner, who I haven't heard much about. (Strangely, because she is fabulous, people. Fabulous.)

These are from her Chocolate Lollipop collections.

I also like Marimekko for skirts, even though it can be hard to find. You can buy most of the line here.

Sewing for the kiddos? Pixie Dust has some cute pattens that do not include licensed cartoon characters who will suck the soul out of your baby while she's sleeping. Wouldn't that make a cute baby quilt? Why, yes, it would.

I always stop by M&J Trims when I'm in New York to stock up on ribbons and buttons. For those of you whose travel plans do not include Manhattan as often as you'd like, they have an online shop with an enormous stock of trims and baubles for your projects.

Feeling a little more retro than your wardrobe? Follow the stampede to Reprodepot. They have all their reproduction fabrics arranged by decade and by theme, so you'll be able to find that palm tree and hula girl motif quickly. The even have pre-1900 stock, for those Holly Hobbie fantasies you don't like to talk about. Don't worry. I won't tell anyone.

The Little Prince from Outer Space

2007-07-02T23:12:00.000-06:00

Some of you may remember the Little Prince. I used to wish I had my very own planet and could fly around the universe with a bunch of geese on leashes. (Now I wish for my own planet and a rocket ship, as technology has advanced considerably, and my fantasies no longer depend on avian transportation.)

But, alas, it was not to be. At least I can re-live it in Flickr.

Go here for links to tutorials if you'd like to try it yourself. Thank you, Gadl!!

Better Than a Burlap Sack. . .

2007-06-29T09:53:00.000-06:00

If you are anything like me, you are constantly trawling shops to find that perfect place that sells things that are so you. Somewhere that you can always find something you'll love. Well, I haven't found that place in my town, but thanks to the magic of the intarwebs, I found plenty of things to brighten up my wardrobe.

This is Black Chandelier's Key Dress. I love victoriana and ephemera (and dresses!) so this is a perfect fit for me.

And since it pays to be prepared for chilly nights, they also have cute cardigans. (Yes. That's an owl up there. Can you beat it?)

I can never have too many striped socks.

"Really?" you might ask.

I mean it. You should see my sock drawer(s). The secret? I have an army backing me. Ok, well, not really. But every girl can dream! These are my favorite socks. Ever.

Not the traditional horizontal stripe, but stripey nonetheless, the knit pattern (Yep. Not printed. Knitted.) looks like vintage lace and seams. Fabulous with slip dresses, or cute skirts and mary janes.

For those days (or parties) when you need that extra edge, there is always Locher's . They have 16 designs, all guaranteed to shock and/or insult.

Love it.

Needing a less, um, forthright top? Supermaggie's has printed tees featuring some of my favorite things: bugs, plants, and octopi. Ahhhhh. Octopi.

All set? No?

If you need some basics as well, go here. You didn't hear it from me, and if you ask me later I will deny it. Well, I might not, but let's keep this between ourselves, shall we? A lady should always have a few secret weapons. Happy trawling!

Cyberpunk, Steampunk. . .Clockpunk?

2007-06-28T21:23:00.000-06:00

That's right, people. For those of you who have been following boingboing's Steampunk trend, now there is something even more archaicly mechanized. I give you. . . CLOCKPUNK.

Little, White, and Orbular

2007-06-28T09:19:00.000-06:00

I am usually not one for flocks of stuff dotting my interiors. I like simple, uncluttered spaces. But recently, I have noticed what I can only call a collection of white ceramics lurking on my tabletops and shelves. How did this happen? Am I going to wake up in a house filled to bursting with glazed vases? (And would that be such a bad thing? I could open a shop!). But with the fabulous bounty available online, I don't see myself stopping anytime soon. I was, however, able to trace the origin of this pernicious habit back to it's source.

When I was in Berkely a few months ago, I bought one of these --

for ten dollars at ACCI gallery. It was on sale as a second, but it looked perfect to me. (See? It starts with a simple, inexpensive purchase, and then grabs you like a pervert on a subway)

A few weeks later, I stumbled onto the sculptor's website.

I love her birds! She also has bowls and plates for those of you with less need for flower storage. If you already have your credit card out, or even if you don't, you should probably take a look here and here.

Also based in California is Kenneth Wingard Ceramics.

(California will be the death of my bank account. At least when I move there I will be spared shipping charges.)

I'm sure most of you have seen the orb planter at Sprout Home. The entire line is also available at Perch, including this cute Apron Vase:

So many vases, so little room! Having a monkey on your back isn't all bad.

(Down, monkey! Down!)

Something Wicked This Way Comes. . .

2007-06-27T14:49:00.000-06:00

If you were wondering what kind of glowing-eyed savage runs my home, here you go.

Behold, the face of evil:

Also known as "She Who Must Be Obeyed"

. . . and her sidekick:

The Life of a Supermodel

2007-06-27T09:13:00.000-06:00

"So after the photoshoot, we all went to Studio 54 and . . ."

OK, so not really. I did shoot some photos for a friend of mine, who produces a pet magazine. She needed some pictures with her new dog for the magazine bio page. We didn't exactly have a professional set-up, since it was a pretty last-minute request, but I managed to get a few good pictures of them both. Here is one of the test shots: Pythagoras in a rare moment of stillness.

Isn't he cute? He's a four-year-old retired greyhound, and he is huge. His head comes almost to my waist. When he runs full out, he can clear about 15 feet in one stride. Did I mention he won a lot of his races?

Ah, I got him to sit down for 1/500th of a second. I have proof:

When I got home, I thought my cat was going to have a heart attack. She could smell a dog -- a BIG dog. She was, shall we say, less than cheerful. I had to change clothes and bribe her with treats to stop her glaring at me.

The finger of shame points at me, for I am a slave to the disapproval of my kitty.

With Her Red Shoes On

2007-06-26T08:33:00.000-06:00

I am relatively new to a colorful wardrobe, so you can imagine how surprised I was when I decided to buy these shoes:

Pretty snazzy, eh? If you run over here really, really quickly, you can dash off with a pair before they're all gone. These are from last season, so supplies are short. Yes, I know the British pound is kicking the dollar into the gutter and sneering at it these days, but that is no reason to let them have all the cool shoes. I love Irregular Choice -- not every single style, but when they are on, they are fabulous.

And I got them in four days. FOUR DAYS, people. This is serious customer service. I have mailed letters in my own city that haven't gotten to their destination in four days.

Aaaaand as long as we are discussing fashion, I should point you over to Daddy-O's in case you are having a Betty Page moment. They have almost the whole line of Stop Staring dresses and separates. I have one of their creations winging it's way to me in a UPS truck. (A winged UPS truck? Sure, why not?) I will let you know how well it works. Stop staring, indeed.

I Love Mondays. . .

2007-06-25T08:50:00.000-06:00

Ok, well, not as such. But I am addicted to matcha shots first thing in the morning. Weekend days for me tend to start with pottering around fixing breakfast and nursing a cup of PG Tips. But during the week, I require more rapid caffeination. Enter: the matcha shot. Drinking powdered green tea mixed with soy milk is like mainlining sunshine. Or something. (Have I mentioned that mornings are not my best time?)

If you also need a quick boost to get the old synapses firing, here is my recipe:

Matcha Shot

1 tsp. powdered matcha

Ice

4 oz. vanilla soy milk (or plain soy milk with a teaspoon of sugar and a drop of vanilla)

Put the matcha in a cocktail shaker or any other closable container, and add a little of the soymilk. Stir until it forms a paste -- this is very important if drinking chunky matcha is not on your agenda for the morning. Pop in a few ice cubes. Now add the rest of the soymilk and shake until it's mixed. (See? This is easy enough that even I can manage it in the mornings) Strain into a glass and enjoy. Repeat as needed.

Happy Monday!

Update: If you happen to own a submersible blender, ditch the shaker and use the blender instead. Dump all ingedients into an appropriately tall container and zizz away. Handheld zen, at last!

In the Beginning. . .

2007-06-22T08:42:00.000-06:00

Good morning, blogland. This is my new repository for things I like, things I obsessively research, stuff I do, and (because I know my weaknesses) stuff my cats do. The old blog is done and gone, or "lost from a safe" as they say in Washington. Don't worry, you didn't miss much. Mostly me agonizing about my art openings. So, off we go then!