The Parisian Sky

I want to go to Paris...the sky is apparently tourquoise there.

Tip-Toe Through the Tulips

If only all farms looked like the technicolor patchwork of these tulip farms in the Netherlands.

 

 

Fashion: 3.1 Phillip Lim Dress

I know it's a ways off, but since I mentioned New Years Eve in an earlier post I can't stop thinking of sequins and champagne. I admit that's not such a horrible thing to have on your mind. If I were made of money, I'd have no problem purchasing this sparkly little number from the 3.1 Phillip Lim collection.

 

Art: Mark Weaver

Granted there's a lot of crap on Flickr, but ever so often I stumble upon someone's photostream that sparks my attention. I'm currently digging artist Mark Weaver's designs below. I love the simplistic nature of combining solid colored geometric shapes on top of saturated vintage mix-matched landscapes. There's somewhat of a low-tech-sci-fi quality to them that I really like.

 

 

 

 

Fashion: Lorick

Super excited about wearing this silk dress by Lorick (whose website is pretty fun as well) to a festive New Years Eve wedding in Santa Barbara. I love the design of the silk print, the belted waist, and especially the dramatic back.

 

 

Fashion/Love: Band of Outsiders & Jason Schwartzman

My Friday moment of Zen comes from fashion label  Band of Outsiders  and their swoon-worthy photo montage of my favorite, Jason Schwartzman.

 

 

Fashion: Shwood

Thinking about purchasing these awesome "Canby" sunglasses in Zebrawood from Portland-based Shwood, who takes fashion eye-ware inspiration from nature.

Art: Gerhard Richter

Often referred to as a painter in a photographic age, the work of influential twentieth and twenty-first century artist Gerhard Richter is one whose work still resonates today. I'm particularly fond of his photography based paintings, especially the Firenze series, whereas he smears multi-colored paint over photographs and found images to create these dreamy abstracted landscapes. Enjoy!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Art: Alexis Mackenzie

I'm surprised I haven't posted something about San Francisco-based artist Alexis Mackenzie yet, but better now then never! Ever since I moved to the City, i've been a fan of her work that has been exhibited at local galleries like Park Life and Whitewalls. I love her aesthetic and her perfect balance between the beautiful and the bizarre, obviously a running theme with the art I am drawn to! Her delicate collages, although her end result is much more refined than a typical hodge-podge collage, are created through detailed cut outs from old books she's collected over the years and then combined to create something much more interesting and transcendent than what the images where originally intended to depict.

Art: Michael Zavros

I'd like to rock this rock.

Friday Moment of Zen

Art: [hu] Man vs Machine

I love these laser beam-style string installations by artist [hu] Man vs Machine.

Feelin' Girly

I love these tissue paper decorations. They're so frilly and delicate and girly. With these as decorations and a bottle of pink champagne, who could refuse a champagne party?! Take note.

Culinary Creations: Macaroons!

It's becoming increasingly apparent that the bite-sized French macaroon will soon replace cupcakes as the latest sweet culinary trend in San Francisco. It seems people are tired of all the trendy boutique cupcake dispensaries popping up charging $4 a pop. I love this old poster with it's pastel array of the light as air, melt in your mouth morsels!

My September

Design: The Smoke Font

Design: Alright Class

Some possible T-Shirt designs for the Oakland-based band Alright Class.

Design: Julie and Colin's Wedding

Although I designed these a while ago, it seems like just yesterday I was designing the wedding odds and ends for two of my best friends, Julie and Colin. Their wedding festivities unfolded at the enchanting Estancia Hotel and Resort in La Jolla amongst the lush succulents, flowers, and misty evening dew of early summer in San Diego. The wine and sangria cocktails flowed, delicious food was consumed, and a heavy sweat was broken on a dance floor filled with giddy friends.

Design: Zeloot

Ever since I first saw the Beautiful/Decay Magazine cover designed by Zeloot a few years ago, it immediately reminded me of the aesthetic of one of my favorite designers Jim Phillips, best known for the Santa Cruz Skateboards screaming hand (last image). Growing up in Santa Cruz in the 80's during the hugely popular emergence of skate and hard core surf culture had a huge influence on the type of aesthetics I gravitate toward today. Overall, if the design is bold, graphic, and uses bizarre imagery i'm usually a fan. Enjoy!

Design: Patricia Urquiola

More inspiration to find a new apartment with a yard!

Culinary Creations: Fresh Fruit Cream Cheese Tart

This was my first attempt at re-creating the delicious fresh fruit cream cheese tart that my Mom makes. I used strawberries, mandarin oranges, and green grapes as well as a tangerine glaze to make it shine. It was pretty tasty, but not as good as my Mom's, or the Farm Bakery in Aptos for that matter!

Random photo of the day

Can someone please tell my what this Ron Artest mugshot is doing in this Michael Jackson Tribute Concert poster, please?

Update: According to Wikipedia, LA Lakers' Artest will wear number 37 in honor of the late Michael Jackson. Jackson's Thriller album was at No. 1 on the charts for 37 straight weeks. But that still doesn't explain the mug shot....

Amazing Photo of the Day

I can't get enough of Awkward Family Photos!

Fashion: Deena & Ozzy Peeptoe Wedge Boot

It's August in San Francisco, but you wouldn't know it by the chilling fogged in days. I'm already looking forward to Fall, or "summer" in the city. I just purchased these amazing suede peeptoe boots by Deena & Ozzy and can't wait to put them into heavy rotation!

Glass Candy

This is the brilliance of white light.
You should check this out.

Photography: Man vs. Nature

Ever since I heard about the website FFFFound.com a few weeks ago i've already spent hours perusing hundreds of inspiring photographs and digital designs, some completely bizarre, some hilarious, all beautiful. I'm completely mesmerized by this photograph above. My mother once told me that a good photograph, or work of art for that matter, was one you wanted to look at for more than 15 seconds. Just looking at this photograph provokes so many ideas and memories within my mind. It's almost as if i've seen this place in a dream, or Italy, or Los Angeles, or another era entirely.

Fashion: Christopher Kane

How gorgeous are these dresses from designer Christopher Kane's Spring '09 line? My love for scalloped edges has transcended the printed page and re-emerged in fabric form. I'm really a fan of the long sleeved mini-dress lately, as it's currently on my "to-buy" list.

Inspiration: Arielle De Pinto

Speaking of inspiration, ever since I discovered Arielle De Pinto's jewelry I haven't been able to stop thinking about her delicately crocheted chains of gold and silver. They remind me of dewy cobwebs and tangles of gold thread - so beautiful.

Culinary Creations: Olallieberry Pie

Behold! My very first hand-picked home-made olallieberry pie! June marks the beginning of Olallieberry season, and there's nothing I love more than the tarte-sweet taste of what I consider to be a cross between a red-raspberry and a blackberry. Fen and I drove down to Santa Cruz to visit the fam, with our friends Greta and Chris in tow, and headed down to Watsonville for some good ole' fashioned berry pickin', "pik-yor-sef" to be exact, at Gizdich Ranch. It was a huge success and we ended up with four massive zip lock bags full of olallieberries in our freezer. My new friend and co-worker at HEAT, Sarah's birthday picnic was the perfect occasion to bust out my new found culinary skillz, along with the help of Mumsy's famous recipe for olallieberry pie. Needless to say, it was deeelish!

Design: Jill of all Trades

I just finished designing the 2009 Jill of all Trades Call for Entries flyer for my friends Kenny and Chris who run the Presidio Motel in Santa Barbara. Jill of all Trades, now in it's third year, is Kenny's creation and the only annual faire that features the handiwares of talented artesiane. Art, fashion, jewelry, culinary creations, DJ's, live bands, you name it, if it's progressive and chic it's featured here. This year's Jill of all Trades will be held on Saturday, September 26th and the entry deadline is September 10th, so if you're a creative lady and you've got the goods, be there or be square.

Design: San Francisco Drawings

I thought I'd start the new "inspiration" blog by showcasing some of my favorite digital drawings of the city that inspires me on a daily basis, San Francisco. One of my favorite things about the foggy city by the bay is it's unique and characteristically San Franciscan architecture. I pass the morning and evening commute from Lower Pacific Heights to Pier 33 by gazing from the bus windows as I pass block upon block of century old apartments admiring the linear silhouettes, ornate moldings, sunny bay windows made of poured glass, and the pastel palate that composes my urban backdrop.