Shop Friend: Muscari Design

I absolutely melted when I saw these charming, exquisite ring bearer pillows and boutonnieres by Muscari Design. Designer Easter Yu has such an eye for detail and placement of those precious little pops of color. Just perfection! Click here to see her work.







And speaking of pillows...stay tuned for tomorrow's post!

The Flipside of Things

There is something so clever and refreshing in the design of these pieces and their play on the conventional: a wood chandelier and "upholstery patterned" wood chair....or this amazing graffiti art table that you can juxtapose with smashed up Wedgwood plate pieces glued to a canvas and hung on the diningroom wall.

above: chandelier by Courtney Skott. Inkywood Table by Zenvironments and Kinkyform.
Mosaic Wedgwood bits. Chair by Courtney Skott.

Happy Cupcake Friday

by Sin Desserts

Well what can I say...it's hip to be square!
Have a happy Cupcake Friday and weekend everyone!

Anne Kimball

Everything about local fashion designer Anne Kimball's work is quintessential San Francisco to me. The women who wear her clothing are the women I see all over the city whether it's riding bikes down Duboce, nibbling sandwiches at Tartine or strolling down Polk...

Burnt Orange Wedding and Nest

It's the start of Fall and I am hearing back from all of my lovely Fall brides who chose beautiful shades of burnt orange for their wedding colors and invitations. Now that they are all basking in their newlywed glow, I've included some burnt orange decor for the nest that I've been eyeing for myself (like Dwell Studio anything!).

Above, clockwise: Vanessa Cavaco Designs,Marks Garden,Enchanted Weddings Cakes

Above, clockwise: Dwell Studio bedding, Sunny Sunglasses, Greenwich Chair,

Agraria Candle, Dwell Studio linens.

Alternative Wedding Invitations

Are you looking for edgy Save the Dates or Wedding Invitations that are truly unique and different? These funky "poster" style invitations by Unless Someone Like You are designed to give your guests one of a kind renditions of you and your loved one...so very cool! Just one question...can anyone tell me what that couple below is tugging on?

Mock Croc

"Mock Croc" is the latest trend in the October issue of Elle Decor. I actually prefer this texture in a white or soft neutral. Below are some of my favorites from their picks (I would love to tile a bathroom with those croc tiles!).

above, clockwise: Walker Zanger tiles, Jim Thompson croc printed silk,
Cote D'azur tables, Macy Hotel Collection towels

above, clockwise: Nancy Gonzalez clutch, Armani patented croc trench,
"crocodile tears" necklace made of Russian Serpentine

...and I had to add in the Armani patent crocodile trench. A bit spendy at $1925...but the $150 crocodile tears necklace would make a beautiful budget friendly alternative to wear!

Happy Cupcake Friday

by Le Cupcake

If you can put a sleeve on your Starbucks coffee, then I need a little kraft paper wrapper like this one for my cupcakes!
Happy Friday and Bon apetit everyone!

Hold Me Zac Posen, Hold Me

Oh the stock market has got me in a mood for escape... I'll take Zac Posen and cubic zirconia parrot rings over the perils of credit default swaps and sub-prime mortgages anyday!

above, clockwise: Zac Posen dress, birds of a feather pin, parrot ring, Ferragamo clutch,
Alyssa invitation by Wiley Valentine, Valentino heels

Thought this might be nice for an intimate destination wedding (somewhere chic and tropical), bridesmaid ensemble or worn to a special event.

The Designers' Co-op

A perfect compliment to the vibrant and intimate affair at Pure Food and Wine would be New York floral designers, The Designers' Co-op. I am in love with that posie and feather bouquet!

Pure Food & Wine=Raw Weddings

I met with a client recently who told me there were two words she had for the vision of her wedding: raw and organic. And since not all of their guests are vegans, she thought an elegant and wonderful way to introduce them to a "raw" reception would be Pure Food & Wine in New York City. She swears by their One Lucky Duck brand of ice cream and plans to convert even the most skeptical of her guests!

Popcorn Buffet

Above clockwise: dots and jots gift bags, classic popcorn bags, tickets in popcorn box

Since we're on the topic of dessert bars and buffets...
My sister seriously considered popcorn being a major food item in her beautiful Napa wedding. The wedding "slide show" that they debuted for guests over a wide screen was not your typical collection of family photos...it was downright cinematic with scenic shots and hilarious interviews. So deserving of popcorn! "Popcorn Buffets" have been appearing more and more lately. How fun to package them in vintage bags for your guests before they sit back to watch the show!

Shop Friend: Style Me Pretty

My very talented friend, Abby, over at Style Me Pretty posted a series of drool worthy candy bars by event planner Amy Atlas this week. I just couldn't keep my eyes off of the mouth watering displays! Click here to check it out as well as her newly revamped site!

I heart Marni

Marni has made me weak in the knees for many seasons...but I went gaga for the whimsical neckwear the models wore on the the Fall '08 runway!

Happy Cupcake Friday

Oh yes that's right....cupcakes on a stick! Or maybe they should be called Lolli-cakes!

by Bakerella

Wishing safe travels to those who are flying near the hurricane this weekend and blissful, good karma to all.
Happy Friday and weekend everyone!

Remembering September 11

I remember when 9/11 hit, I was speechless and could only sit with friends and family and watch the news all night and day. Weeks later, as I was trying to make sense of it all like everyone else, I felt the only way to even begin was to paint, sketch, build anything to try and express the sense of indescribable loss. Nevertheless, seeing other interpretations of that day has always been comforting.

above: Stoneware vase.

above: Treated Scrabble Tile.

above: "From Silver Lake" etching.

above: Polaroid manipulation.

above: Poster. Close-up shows the drawn name of each lost victim of 9/11.

Sweet Notes!

These Biscuit Cards from P&C are good enough to eat! Debossed stock with "creamy soft paper" in the middle. They come in vanilla or chocolate flavors!

Shop Friend: Hilary Williams

These screen prints by San Francisco artist, Hilary Williams truly capture the city in its special light don't they? They remind me of the muted colors you might catch while riding home on the Muni from work or walking the hills as the fog eats up the last bits of sunlight.

Labor Day Blues...I mean whites

Do any of you still follow the rules of "no whites" after Labor Day? I sure don't! But to ease into Fall I love melding whites and creams with both blush and black tones.


above: Flower ring, Phillip Lim blouse, Generra skirt, Onna Ehrlich clutch, Chanel watch.

Cupcake Friday: TYJD!

To thank Jennifer, aka our studio's "Bride Whisperer" we brought in Kara's cupcakes!
Have a Happy Friday and weekend everyone!

ShopFriend: Onna Ehrlich

Can I channel Barbara Streisand when I say Onna Ehrlich's leather bags are "like butta..." In fact, that's what our little boutique placard said when we carried her beautiful, soft as baby-butta clutches.

Cooties!

If you've been planning a wedding lately, then you may have seen these "cootie catchers" offered as creative wedding favors for your table. I wanted to introduce these to our customers who've been busy planning knockout birthday bashes and kid's parties as of late.

above: customized fortune tellers by KatyKraft

These cootie catchers are such nostalgic conversation pieces...not to mention if you find the person or your date sitting next to you is a bit dull, you can bury yourself in frantic cootie catching!

above: Cootie Catcher favor by Cox & Cox

Succulence...

I love succulent plants. They are my favorite plants to ogle at the nursery and I always end up purchasing way too many to bring back home with me. When I saw this Cactus Wreath I got so excited, especially when I found out that you can pre-order yours from Cactus Jungle!

above: For your wedding and event, I saw this previous How to in Craftzine for a succulent wreath to hang at the doorway of the reception. This Succulent centerpiece blends seamlessly with florals. And who could forget these fall boutonnieres from Martha Stewart?