So, a friend and colleague turned me on to Apolis Activism. I'm sure I'm a late comer, but nevertheless, I'm glad I've discovered it. It's for men, but the accessories can be rocked by ladies, too. At least I think so! Read more about the company and the brother trio who created Apolis.
All images from Apolis Activism. A few of my favorites.
Sometime ago, a writer who was interviewing me for the SF Chronicle asked me what was my most favorite object. That was a tough question to answer. In fact, I don't think I ever responded. But, if asked again, my answer would be my Gerstner tool box. It was a Christmas gift [my only gift as I recall] from Doc years ago.
I have a serious love for tools and tool boxes, both new and old. By far, my favorite is my walnut Gerstner tool chest. The utilitarian design coupled with beautiful craftsmanship make them a true design classic. Beauty aside, they are practical and have so many storage uses beyond tools. Mine stores my minimal jewelry collection, small treasured objects, cards and love notes from Doc and D, and any other sentimental, personal things I don't want on display.
Doc also has his own, but in oak and much smaller. Fortunately, they live in separate rooms, otherwise, I would have to insist both boxes be identical. His box contents are in constant rotation including fly fishing gear, antique tools, receipts, etc. I've recently noticed with his new found hobby, that more and more tools are finding a home inside the green felt lined drawers. While I watch him tinker away, I find myself thinking "I could use one of those at my desk." Hmm…
I do, however, look forward to giving D his own box one day. He's always loved to explore inside the tiny little drawers, and at various times, Doc and I have allowed him to have his own drawer in our respective chests. Perhaps thirteen is a good age, maybe even sooner. Although the price tag is steep, he will have it forever. And hopefully his children will have mine and so on.
Tooling around,
F&N
Four days and counting until Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland opens! As much as I would love to attend on opening day, I won't. In fact, I probably won't see the movie until it's available on iTunes. Doc and I aren't movie-goers. We never have been.
But I'll attend in spirit. Do you think people will go in costume? Will there be pathetic, middle-aged woman like myself wishing they were thirteen again and wearing pinafores, stockings and ribbons in their hair? Perhaps we'll have a little Alice themed evening. The chances are slim of that happening. I will, for sure, wear my Alice apron all day! I'll embarrass my child and my husband, but WTF, you only live once!
Maybe I'll even carry this lovely book around while I wear the apron. I love this cover; it makes me want to dive right into the book.
We're all mad here.
F&N
Shelving is such a necessary evil. I couldn't live without it. Let's face it, who can? But honestly, most off-the-shelf shelving systems, I find, are over designed, self-aware, and poorly fabricated. I'm also not a fan of built-ins as they tend to look heavy and over scale for the contents that they house. So what's a designer gal to do? Look to the industrial…or at least to her industrial designer husband.
About 15 years ago Doc discovered a shelving system intended for industrial freezers, E-Z Shelving Systems. He used it in his Manhattan loft during his bachelor days. Once he moved to San Francisco, he began using it for some of his clients' projects, and now, the love affair continues. It's fantastic! It's robust, strong, minimal and infinitely adjustable. You can mix different depth shelves to create cantilevered worksurfaces with shelving above or even a baby changing station like we did when D was a baby.
Anyhow, we love this stuff. It's hard to beat. But, when we moved from our loft into our old Victorian, the E-Z shelving in EVERY room just didn't seem to jive. Of course, it's still pratical in our craft room and D's room, but not so much in the more "refined" rooms of the house like the living and dining rooms.
So, after searching high and low for a comparable system in functionality, we decided upon Vitsoe shelving. I've always loved this system but price and availability have kept it on my wish list until now.
I'm sure all you design aficionados know this wonderful timeless system designed by Dieter Rams has been around since 1960, but I'm betting you're in the minority. For those of you who aren't familiar with Mr. Rams or his 606 shelving, I hope this won't send you into a fit of despair for wanting.
The wonderful design details that Vitsoe executed for the support material and accessories, including a level, was what impressed me the most.
The good news about both systems is they are both modular and can be reassembled into many configurations. They also travel well should you move. The down side is cost. Both are pricey, and the Vitsoe has at least six week lead time, at best, but it's a one time investment that you can own and use forever.
Enjoy,
F&N
I spotted these in the fall/winter issue New York Times Style magazine. These wood blocks are wonderful and a refreshing departure from unit blocks. Don't get me wrong, unit blocks are still the toy of choice in our house, but PlayShapes are, as the name says, playful.
Some of my favorite configurations by the creators and designers of PlayShapes, MillerGoodman. 
Make sure to visit their Flickr group for more amazing ensembles.
I cannot wait to get these under the tree for D!
Happy Building,
F&N
I picked this up at Arch, the best art & drafting supply store in town! It's too cute to use.
F&N
So I'm pleased to report that my letterpress class was wonderful! I learned the basics about letterpress and its history thanks to a short "lesson" and handout prepared by Jordan. After our intro, Jordan gave us a demo on the machine, and then each of us cranked out - literally - forty proofs of all of our cards.
With Jordan's permission, I snapped a few shots of her studio.
Thanks to a generous classmate, I was FINALLY able to taste Tartine's morning bun! WOW, WOW, WOW!!
I was pleased that my thumbnail sketch took to the process nicely, but I was disappointed in my selection of typography. I think with a few adjustments, it'll get to a place where I'll be happy. But I had a great time anyhow!
F&N
Three days and counting until my letterpress class with Jordan Ferney of Oh Happy Day! Yes, like the rest of you, I love letterpress. One day, my business card will be letterpress. But in the meantime, I will be making calling cards for Fiddlesticks & Nonsense. Here's a peek at the art work…
I had several other layouts, but after some input from Doc and friends, I landed on these. Typography is soo hard and challenging. I'm not cut out for the nuances and finesse it requires. I'm really hoping the sketch comes through; keep your fingers crossed! I'll share the results!
Thanks for checking in!
F&N
I saw these gorgeous block and tackle, hooks and trucks at the Alemany flea market the week before, and I could not stop thinking about them. I was determined to have them. We have a small collection of measuring and marking tools, and I thought these would be a nice addition.
So, after searching two flea markets and crossing the Bay Bridge I found them at the Alameda Market! Again, overpriced, but with some bargaining, I scooped them up at a fair price. Now the tricky part is to figure out how to display them.
D also found a box full of dice. He loves dice. I hope it's not indicative of a future spent at the craps table. We fished through the pile and walked away with these.
And how could I pass up these adorable vintage Valentines?
Enjoy,
F&N
The sunny, warm weather inspired us to head out to the flea market on Sunday in search of treasure. With an open mind and wide eyes, we rummaged our way through our small but abundant flea market. Here are the goods that came home.
Some adorable vintage toy cars that were still overpriced even though I bargained them down to half price. These caught my eye because of their graphics and color. Check out the typography on the cement mixer… just don't make `em like that anymore.
These precious puppet heads in a box full of doll parts were spotted by Doc. D calls them Lolo & Lola.
Now that Spring has arrived, I look forward to hitting the flea market on a regular basis and scooping up overpriced ephemera!
F&N
Doc came across this wonderful picture in I.D. magazine of designer Christien Meindertsma knitting a panel for a rug. Doesn't that look like so much fun? I'm curious about those "needles"…did she make those? She must have.
Christien's work is inspiring on many levels, and it makes me wish I could redo college art school all over again. I think she has found that rare intersection of craft, design and art, and her ability to execute bringing these three elements together is fascinating. Make sure you visit her site and peruse her other projects, like Pig. Do a google search and read some of her on-line interviews, too.
More photos [from her site] for your viewing pleasure!
Now, I must convince Doc that D really needs one of these stools!
Enjoy,
F&N
I'm a big fan of the Heath Ceramics. I always have been. It's hard not to be growing up in the Bay Area. After all these years, my dream of dining with Heathware every night has not been realized, but I am enjoying immense vicarious pleasure as I watch D dine with this lovely and sweet set from Heath Ceramic.
This is doggie. He belongs to D and has been his constant companion since day one. As you can see, Doggie has been loved to death. He's threadbare, and I'm at a loss as to how to repair him. Sure, I can fix him up, but that requires altering his appearance and adding material. Will it be the same Doggie? Or will he just be a semblance of Doggie, like Mickey Rourke style? I'm not sure.
Doggie [lovingly named by D] is unassuming and patient. He's organic and natural, and he's the perfect thing to keep D company every night. He's a seasoned traveler, accompanying D on all our travels and vacations. He's a consoler, a good listener and a wonderful guest at tea parties. I'm so thankful for Doggie.
As he rests near my sewing machine, I contemplate "retiring" Doggie and storing him in D's keepsake box. This will allow him to keep his original threads and still be intact…pure. Or do I patch him up and return him to play as usual until D finally outgrows him? Emotionally, I struggle putting Doggie into retirement. You see, Doggie represents D's entire baby and toddler years. As I see the boy in D come into sharp focus and the vestige of his babyhood recede, there are times I wish I could keep D, like he is at this moment, forever. With Doggie still around, I'll always be reminded of my baby boy.
Sniff sniff,
F&N
I thought I'd share one of my small collections…Chinese chops or seals. Husband put one in my Christmas stocking years ago, and every few years I acquire a new one.
Because there is no direct translation of English names to Chinese names, each new chop is unique. What's more interesting, my nickname has somewhere near 30 different meanings!
From left: mom [this was my first one, before I was a mom, perhaps it was prophetic], fast kung fu [or something along the lines of some athletic or skillful prowess] and tree
There is something intriguing about having your name translated and hoping for a more mysterious or romantic meaning. Husband's translation is "tall rice". I'm not sure it's mysterious or romantic, but he's pleased with it.
I think anyone who sees chops is drawn to them because of their graphic boldness and the beauty of the characters. While I was "consulting" with the lovely lady in China Town on my most recent translation, she pulled out her book of many chops to talk about design options. This was a treasure! She allowed me to snap of few pix with the iphone for show 'n' tell.
From my reading, chops are still used as a formal and legal signature in China, Japan and Korea. I like to use them for much more informal purposes, such as stamping the inside of my books or on tags for my handmade goods.
For the Adobe Illustrator savvy, here's a quick tutorial on making your own chop.
Double Happiness,
F&N
I love show and tell!
Here are some recent gifts to myself. Can you guess what the material is?
Stingray! [I guess I supplied the answer in the heading] I've been infatuated with stingray skin for about 2 years now. The first time I saw stingray, it was an embossed pattern on leather. But that imitation just did not do the actual skin justice. The texture is amazing, like hundreds of glass beads. It is also incredibly tough…like armor. Really!
I discovered these items separately. The card case I purchased at Aldea in the Mission, and the bangle at Bettina on Sacramento Street. Of course, my curiosity got to me and I searched on Etsy for "stingray". My favorite result…Unearthed. It's a two woman, sister operation in Los Angeles turning out all sorts of beautiful and exotic bangles and accessories. It appears that my card case could have been made by them. You can also read about their sources for their materials which are all by products [FYI].
I have my finger on the trigger for this beauty. This is is also occupying my thoughts…
Peonies
Sorry to all my animal rights and vegan friends! Perhaps these gems will assuage your shock.
You'd think it was Chinese New Year around here with tangerines and peonies on the table as opposed to Christmas! Peonies are magical to me. I love that they start as a tightly formed orb and exploded into mass of tissue like petals. And they also have such a nice, soft scent. The only down side is limited availability.
Thanks for checking in!
F&N
With so much travel behind us in 2008, we are staying put. Christmas decorations are out, cards are being written, crafts are being crafted and shopping has commenced.
Speaking of shopping…I'd thought I would share a few of my favorite places in SF for gifts and treats:
Flora Grubb for the person who could use some green in their enviroment.
Miette for all things sweet and lovingly packaged.
Velvet Da Vinci for unique, amazing artist jewelry and metalwork.
De Vera for unusual objects for the person who needs nothing…or has everything!
Tampopo has a gift for EVERYONE on your list. My absolute favorite place for finding last minute gifts and just poking around.
Paxton Gate of course!
My regular on-line resources…
The Wooden Wagon has a great selection of toys for imaginative and educational play. Plus they carry a nice selection of natural, non-toxic art supplies.
Willow Tree Toys for more Waldorf and Montessori inspired toys and costumes. Actually, the costumes are amazing and we just love them in our house.
Quiet Hours Toys is a fantastic resource for artisan crafted toys. The crayon rocks, well, ROCK!
Labour and Wait is a shop in London that has a superb selection of products for kitchen, home and garden. I'm still disappointed that I didn't make it to the store during our London trip!
DWR Tools for Living site offers a similar point of view and product selection as Labour and Wait. But honestly, I can't stand ordering from their site as it's slow and clunky. Plus, I just haven't had good luck with product inventory. I've been to the 2 store locations, New York and Santa Monica respectively, and had a much better experience. Hopefully, they will open a location here in SF.
More Christmas Around Town…
Last Saturday evening we packed a thermos of hot chocolate and headed over to Union Square to see the Christmas tree, do some ice skating and look at the puppies and kittens in the Macy's windows. A fun outing if your up for some chilly weather and crowds.
The Christmas tree in Union Square
Enjoy,
F&N
It's been a long time since I've tended to the blog! Family, work, holidays and back-tack 4 [I'll elaborate more on the back-tack experience once the exchange is over, I must keep things a surprise!] have been my focus the last several weeks. It seems the majority of my obligations and deadlines have been met, and now, I can enjoy the holiday season.
The gift list is shaping up nicely…a good combination of handmade by me, handmade by others and small, overpriced designerly objects.
While my fingers were doing the walking for some early Xmas shopping, I came across these beautiful Japanese craft scissors at dwr.com.
I also came across these at the Met in NYC last month!
Pretty fascinating how a single object has not changed over thousands of years…at least I think so.
Husband if you're reading…HINT, HINT!
Peace,
F&N
Hmm…I think this post combines two topics, Around Town which I've shared and Object Love which is new. Object Love is like show and tell. It's intended to share objects that I find interesting. Perhaps you will too!
Topic #4…Object Love.
Succulents
Over the holiday weekend, my lovely mother and her wonderful boyfriend hauled a pick-up truck full of succulents, soil, pots and tools to our place for planting [or is it potting?] on our barren deck. The survival rate on our deck for the last 10 years has been grim. It never occurred to me that succulents could be the answer until I was admiring them in my mom's garden. And by all accounts, they don't need much, so they should be well matched with my minimal TLC.
I love these plants. They come in so many textures, shades and shapes. I like how they can be randomly combined or just use one type in different sizes for critical mass.
Coincidentally, I've been wanting to visit Flora Grubb Gardens, the namesake of the owner. What a name! Talk about your name reflecting your vocation. Anyhow, I've read articles on the new location and heard great reviews from friends.
So, before we got to planting, we headed over to Flora Grubb's. The design of the gardens and site were amazing. It's an oasis in an industrial part of town. It's modern and simple. The site is propped with an old pick-up truck and car surrounded by plants, great retail strategy. Unfortunately, we didn't get to try the coffee as it was not staffed while we were there.
What I didn't realize was the breadth of succulents and cacti I would find. BEAUTIFUL! They even had bug eating plants…very cool.
I would say it's definitely worth the trip to Flora Grubb, even if you don't intend to buy anything. Get a cup of coffee, wander through the gardens and enjoy touching the plants. Be careful of the cacti though! I got a good piercing that still hurts when I think about it.
Enjoy,
F&N