teapot made etsy front page!

love it!!

my first Etsy treasury!

after being in several treasuries curated by others, i've decided to put together my own.

with our own patio-redo on my mind, i created:

Patio Daddy-o

More Treasury Love!

My orange teapot made it to the latest treasury by Benandi.

Ben and Sandi are talented artists with obviously fantastic taste. 

Please check out the other vintage citrus-hued kitchen accessories!

Orange Teapot by Maven Vintage on Etsy

The Modern Kitchen by Benandi on Etsy

Treasury Love!

Fantastic collection by a fellow vintage Etsian! Thanks for including my lock!

Check out the cool assemblage of goodies based on the Emerald City:

Bell out of order please knock by strangersclothing on Etsy

SF Renegade Craft Fair!!

So excited!   

First time that I am not working and I can FINALLY go to this.

Fellow Etsians, see you there.

For more info, click here.

like butter

I purchased these bakelite butter knives on a recent trip to Denmark. I love their butterscotch color.

I don't need these knives, despite my affection.

So they will be posted on the shop soon.

Unless I change my mind...which is often.

What do you think? Keep or sell?

backyardigans.

Note to self - never use live links to photos in your blog...because then the photos go away.  Boo.  Sorry the desk photos and bed photos are gone.  I have now learned my lesson.

However, we have purchased a sander and decided not to get another desk right now.  Too many other projects around the house to contend with - namely our backyard.

We've torn out most things and ready for complete demo next week.  All I've been thinking about is outdoor living.  Scrounging around salvage yards, definitely got some inspiration for our trellis/arbor.

We break ground next week - I'll keep you posted on the progress.

small desk

My husband and I have a lovely office of which we share.  Side by side.  Quite nice.

Except when he is on the phone.

Which is a lot.  It is his job.

So - I've been thinking of getting a small desk for the guest bedroom that can serve multiple purposes - nightstand, a little storage (never can have too much) and back-up work space.

Here is the first one that I found on craigslist that fits the bill:

And it has a pull out shelf:

I want it.  But the seller's want $325.  Completely reasonable for an original danish modern desk in perfect condition.  Just a little more than I wanted to spend.  Okay - so maybe a lot more.  I was thinking $50.

Here's the link if you want to check it out yo'self.

Sigh.   I'll keep looking.

photos - eek.

One of the most important factors to the success of an Etsy store are the photos.

I haven't had the time to dedicate to it and well - posting has lacked lately.  I am incredibly picky about the photos I use and it takes me FOREVER.

This week, I'll be hauling all the goodies out the garage and setting up my little photo shoot.  Should be sunny and nice and let's hope I don't screw it up.

Hopefully - I'll have a ton of fabulous stuff to post next week!

Before & After: Bookshelf Bed Frame

Before & After: Bookshelf Bed Frame

I have to share this post from my new favorite blog - BackGarage.

Makes me want to buy an electric sander.

I mean - look at these pics!

And besides, I have that same tree pillow from Ikea.

alameda flea market. hells yeah.

I seriously cannot contain myself. I FINALLY got the day off to go to the Alameda Flea Market tomorrow. That place is crack to me.

We are looking for a mirror over the fireplace, a (very) small side table for the living room and anything else that I just can't live without.

If I find treasures, which I usually do, I will post pics asap.

made it to the front page!

One of the lovely pairs of shoes that I posted recently was part of a very well curated Etsy Treasury made by caffeinequeenie.

The Treasury made the front page of Etsy.com and my shoes sold in a matter of seconds.

Thank you, caffeinequeenie and Etsy!

blah mood averted!

I woke up on the wrong side of the bed today.

Cloudy outside, might rain again and didn't feel like hitting the treadmill.

Grabbed my cup of coffee, sat down and 'puter and went to my Favorites page on Etsy.

Saw this and it instantly turned me around:

Thank you, Banjo Puppets. Crisis averted. Now on to the treadmill.

Only the Best of Etsy Sample Packages GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

Only the Best of Etsy Sample Packages GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

What a fantastic idea! I love Etsy and when this fabulous stuff is free...couldn't beat that with a stick.

Check it out.

new (old) stuff!

Very excited to start posting all the new (old) fabulous stuff that I've acquired lately!

Just posted a super-sweet tea cup with the "Occupied Japan" mark. Very cool.

And my favorite new section - vintage shoes! I happened upon a few shoes from a lady's estate here in Marin. She had great taste. All have these strange numbers written on the bottom...they aren't prices. I have no idea. But they are adorable shoes and I am pretty bummed that none of them fit me.

I just posted this one:

And here is a sneak peak at what is next:

Two words: Bruno Magli.

bedroom redo

We bought our first home in August 2008. We love our little 1958 California ranch. He is just the right size and luckily required few repairs. Most the stuff we did in the beginning was typical - paint, refinishing the floors, upgrading electrical. We aren't totally done with decor as it is an ever-evolving process (as my husband says, "we are done, right?" No, honey. It will *never* be truly done. )

We just finished round one in our master bedroom, finally making it comfortable and livable.

It is small and tough to place furniture. Our original bed frame didn't fit. Most of our furniture didn't work. It was painted this crazy-person pink - ceilings, walls and all in semi-gloss. Yes, it felt like the inside of a bubble gum bubble. And the walls were dirty. Ick.

Here is a few photos of what it looked at when we first moved in:


We just hated being in there.

Now, after some help from my designer friends (who suggested the furniture layout), here is what we came up with:








What a difference. I took these photos while changing the knobs on the vintage dresser we got on craigslist. We bought two smaller dressers to maximize storage and create a collection of sorts.

Next - tension pole lamp for my side of the bed, actually hang the photos on the wall and change the ceiling light fixture. I hate it.

What do you guys think so far?

New Year!

I have a REALLY good feeling about 2010.

That same feeling that you have when settling in at the movie theater about to watch the next BIG film.

That same feeling you have when standing in line to see your favorite band.

That same feeling that you had when you picked your seat in that large lecture hall for your first class in college.

Excitement, that good kind of anxious.

Here is what I am working on for 2010:

Establish a routine.
With my chaotic work schedule, it is tough to settle into a good routine at home. So I try to squeeze in stuff when I can...and it never works out. I let the stuff I love slide to the back burner when the "absolutely need to do" takes over. I need to make time for the things that matter to me most.

Stop selling myself short. Follow my bliss. Damn the naysayers.
I don't have to be Berenice Abbott. I just need to pick up my camera and shoot.
I don't need to be an American Idol. Singing in car is fine with me.
I don't need to win the marathon. I just need to cross the finish line.

I have this tendency to think that if I am not naturally talented in something, I shouldn't bother. That type of defeatist thinking takes the happiness out of even trying.

Be happy and have fun.
I let too many things get in the way of being happy. Screw 'em.
I'm going to get a massage, have drinks with my friends and watch Glee more often.