holidaze craze

hi all, sorry for my lapse in posting this month -- it's good news though and just means i've been super busy filling all your holiday orders!! and store orders, custom design projects, calligraphy jobs, ANNNND making new gifts to sell at the SF Renegade Craft Fair this weekend.  oh, and i even  designed and printed new 2012 linen calendars (for sale here). ♥♥

find me at booth #116 for awesome deals !

as you may know, i've been looking to move for a while now, so this calendar is my wish for a new home -- and of course my wish for you to enjoy your nesting place, wherever it may be!  it includes materials birds commonly use to make nests (feathers, grasses, twigs, string).  you'll also find homes like igloos, teepees, trees, and mountains.  and last but not least my dream house with my two happy dogs hanging out in their dream yard.  printed on both natural and avocado colored linen.

cyber-sale!

i'm joining the ranks of holiday sales and for one day only (today!!!) everything at my online shop is 25% OFF.  use this coupon code at checkout:  cyberstyle

'tis the season..

i've been filling LINEA CARTA holiday orders (see new cards in person at ABC Carpet & Home, linens and calligraphy kits at Terrain, and of course always online here).

having fun working with brides and grooms on gorgeous 2012 summer wedding invitations.

and printing like crazy for holiday fairs -- mark your calendar!  dec. 10-11 KPFA craft fair (the largest craft fair in northern california) and dec. 17-18 for everyone's favorite:  Renegade Craft Fair.

by the yard

by the yard showcases 25 artists who all had the same instructions:  using fabric create something that can be sold by the yard, at least 5 yards long.  so here's mine, pictured above:  i cut strips of organic cotton flannel, hand-painted each piece with water-based inks (including neons & metallics), braided them to fit as bracelets, then tied each bracelet together to create a colorful garland.  imagine decorating a party with this garland, and as each guest leaves they get to take a bit of the party with them - one of these colorful bracelets.  ti piace?

sketchbook love

i'm still dreaming of a new home..  and henny's dreaming too (the usual position).

like i've said before in my other sketchbook posts, doing what you love everyday can be quick and easy..  i used a thick brush pen for these 10-second-sketches, and if i can find a spare minute so can you!

the ultimate dinner party, part 2

first off, if you haven't already checked out part 1 do it now!  here we continue this spectacular evening for the chez panisse 40th anniversary benefit 'flamenco y paella' dinner at the sueuga's.  

lovely etched commemorative glasses

after dinner guests enjoyed incredible flamenco performances from stephanie narvaez and carola zertuche

followed by the hosts toasting the chez panisse foundation & the many local business who donated to the event (acme bread, tokyo fish market, beaune imports, among others)

holy moly, i think this was my dream dessert (wish i could crinkle my nose like in 'i dream of jeannie' and give you all a taste!)

from the top, a crunchy & light caramelized almond torte, candied orange-peel, tiny shortbread cookie, dark chocolate covered toffee square, homemade ice milk (like ice cream) covered with a fresh peach & blackberry compote..!

{footnote:  my mom always taught me to take a ton of pictures - the more you take, the more good ones you get.  i certainly agree, but the tiny problem with taking so many photos is that then you have to sift through them all! - and worse, choose which to use! ;)}

the ultimate dinner party, part 1

you may have heard about the chez panisse 40th anniversary benefit dinners this fall, and you already know about the sueugas, so now comes the best of both worlds:  daniella & anthony sueuga together with sylvie & michael sullivan (owner of beaune imports) host this incredible spanish themed evening!  you'd think this would suffice - but no, the evening continues!  stay tuned for part 2..

the lovely daniella & anthony sueuga (above)

guests starting the evening with vino, spanish guitar, and tapas

and meanwhile the paella-making begins..

adding the rice and the broth, mussels, clams and calamari

anthony and michael taste and season

deliciosa!

hat envy

okay, i'll admit it:  i watch a LOT of movies.  really.  no, really.  with so many solo hours of printing, packaging, callligraphy, etc., having a movie on keeps me going.  i watch it all, though have a particular soft-spot for anything italian, period films, and the classics.  anyway, last week at sf magazine's fallfest i had some stylin' customers, and this gorgeous girl in her fabulous vintage floppy hat (also perfect for the bright & sunny day) got me thinking..

linea carta customer at fallfest

  sofia lauren in a floppy fedora, yesterday, today, and tomorrow

and here with the dapper marcello mastroianni

marcello (left), gene kelly (right) in singin' in the rain

faye dunaway

and here in bonnie & clyde (not a floppy but she's so cute!)

so i did a little research for ya, and if i had the extra cash i'd go for one or two of these floppies and floppy fedoras:  free people, accessorize, rag & bone or rag & bone.