San Francisco Summers are often untimely, so when the sun comes out, you make the most of what you can. On clear day, my friend Sam had the brilliant idea of biking through Golden Gate Park to Ocean Beach. Off and away....

James showed up with Chica on board.

The Conservatory of Flowers had dahlias in bloom.

and this prehistoric-looking, spidery, spiky lovely...

We made it!

After lunch, Chica-in-a-basket & I took in some sun at perhaps the most awesome parklet ever.

I perused General Store, one of my favorite shops. A bowl of colorful knitted booties with angora vamps --kawaii handicrafts.

I was obsessed with this piece: a giant faceted quartz set in drippy bronze.

General Store's backyard. Check out the little paned house to the right.

and this big, beautifully worn table. Can you imagine morning coffee or sharing a meal here?

The beautiful array of natural and manmade.

An angora-looking cactus. Looky no touchy...

Little worlds and blank kokeshi.

We stopped by Outerlands to check out their menu. I was busy checking out their floor. Layers of history and concrete. On a side note, I picked up these leather sandals at a garage sale for a song! They turned out very beach, bike and adventure worthy.

Wovens, beads, bone and stone. Some lovely things in the shop.

Mineral porn. This ebay seller's collection is turning me on...

images via jewels-fine-minerals

Italian blue

The blue Italian sandals in my shop were recently featured in this lovely Etsy treasury.




Additional photos via sellers included in this Etsy treasury

Reworking horn

My sister gave me a very pretty horn bracelet shaped simply in a round. I loved it, but found the sizing too loose for bundling up with other bracelets --my motto for wrist-wear is "More is more." I decided to do some research on reworking horn, and thought I might turn the bracelet into a cuff instead. During the process, I took another road and reworked it into this design. I'm in love with the end result!

Reworked horn bracelet with rubbed gold-leaf, wrapped in cobalt cotton thread.

Orange you glad

I didn't say banana?









forlorn, naranja, ripe for the picking, African jewelry, gold leaf and clay....

charmed

When I last visited my mother, she gave me a pair of cross/dagger-like earrings, from Palau. They were made of real tortoiseshell. She assured me the turtle was in fact eaten, and the shell was used thereafter. It is illegal, in the US, to bring in tortoiseshell, so I suppose I'm a lawbreaker having these in my possession. For many Pacific cultures (my own included), eating turtle is a traditional food. Although I've never tried it, and not sure if my Western upbringing can go there. As a child, I once saw turtle soup made for a wedding, and I suffered mild culture shock, but have since been over it.....

These tortoiseshell pieces felt very special, and seemed to emit their own power. I combined one of the tortoiseshell pieces with mineral bits, I've collected, and strung it on simple hardware ball chain. I sometimes wear this charm necklace when I crave protection.

// Metal ball chain, tortoiseshell charm, vintage wire wrapped quartz crystal, vintage jasper-like stone with gold edging. Necklace made of mostly found, reused materials. The wood bowl, carved from one piece, was a find on a thrifting jaunt.

A bit of Spring wardrobe inspiration

Some past hits giving me new found inspiration. I've been neutral and monotone this past Fall/Winter. I'm loving color again, especially mixed prints with lots of gold jewelry and textures piled on top. Although I rarely wear pink, a hot version of this color has been catching my eye.


Mwar head garlands of bougainvillea and ylang ylang.


Shells, beads, silk, cotton, crepe, wood... a lovely mess.


A lovely pleated cotton tube with South American belt. I sometimes display this as soft sculpture, but I think I may make this into a dress this year.



Some jewelry and a top I did 3yrs ago. I'm kind of loving pearls and cotton lace again.



A leather hatlet I made. I like the shot of pink with the gilt ribbon, contrasted against dark, black leather. I need to get my hands back into the leather stash.



A gorgeous Korean hanbok found thrifting. I love this piece.


A dewy morning at my mother's house in Saipan.


A few pieces of my growing bangle/cuff collection.


Sometimes kitsch is beautiful.


This shimmers in the barest breeze.

// photos: caramimi

pottery love

Originally uploaded by *caramimi*

On a recent thrift hunt, I totally lucked out and found these gorgeous pieces. I suspect they were donated by a studio, as each one had a semblance of continuity and even finishing. I really love these, and have been using the bigger bowl constantly. They have a reassuring heft in your hands.

Pottery found thrifting, orange tray from OHIO design

isa's geta

on thrifting jaunts, i'll sometimes stumble upon a perfect treasure. this child-sized geta was such a find. it is simultaneously beautiful and cute (being miniature, that is).

the red velvet straps feature a checkerboard pattern in silver thread embroidery -- and the shape?! the shape just kills me. part of set i gifted to my niece isa.