glamorous life

This, dear readers, is a photo of my feet resting in the bottom drawer of the dresser next to the bed in the smallest hotel room I have ever been in.
This, is my glamorous life.
This is what it takes to bring the fashion to Barefoot Contessa.

It's funny cuz I know people don't realize what really goes into a buying trip.
It's not all cocktails and pretty dresses.

I don't like to spend allot (clearly) on the hotels I stay in as it means less money in my budget for stock (and I'm cheap) but even I know that this room is ridiculous.
I posted on Facebook how "my room is so small...I can sit on the end of the bed, reach over and flush the toilet with my feet in the shower"
Okay...so I exaggerated.
A little.
Cue next photo...




These are my feet in the shower, and you can clearly see the edge of said bed.

This is what you get for $69 a night (breakfast included!) and as I'm very close to my destination, I can simply walk there each day saving a ton on taxi's.
All part and parcel of my buying trips.

I was in Seattle earlier in the week and stayed at the lovely Mayflower Hotel (I do splash out occasionally) So I did have a much more glamorous buying trip whilst there for the Gift Show.
In San Francisco I stay in this ridiculously small hotel (or so I thought) on Powell street, right downtown. Close to all the great restaurants and fabulous stores and within easy walking distance to the Convention Center for the gift show that I usually attend.
My absolute favorite thing about it?
The little Mexican lady who sells fresh gardenia blossoms to pin to my dress!
Makes me so crazy happy and I would never have discovered her had I stayed at a posh place.

I have one more day of shopping ahead of me so I'd best head off to bed...I'll just pull my feet up outta this drawer and lay down.

Can't wait to show you all what I've found for Spring!
I'll take some shots tomorrow and give you all a sneak peak!

Happy New Year!
The Holidays have just been a blur of activity and this year I feel they have passed all too quickly. I am currently in Nashville, TN visiting my cousin Maria - she is our family historian, having dedicated years to researching our genealogy. It's always such a pleasure to be here, to enjoy the hospitality and learn more about our history and share stories.

I hope this Holiday has found you all in the company of loved ones and enjoying the comfort that brings. I love this time of year - so magical, when the entire world seems to slow down, just a little.

Wishing you all good health, happiness and a year filled with possibilities.

birthday greetings

I am old today.
I don't even want to discuss the number as I am having a hard time believing it myself.

I don't feel old.
Not really.
I do have the odd soreness in my back it's true, but I like to think it's directly linked to lugging a seventeen month old baby on my hip all day.
I don't think I look old - the esthetician I visited for my surprise birthday facial yesterday said I had great skin and that she never would have guessed I was...
So I've got that going for me.

But, I am indeed, old.
Today.

Funny thing is I don't feel this number.
I'm not sure what this number is supposed to feel like - but I think I can guarantee it ain't this.

Baby alarm woke me at the usual 7:30am this morning and my day began. We padded thru her Oma and Opa's log house to the kitchen to fix up her favorite toddler breakfast and then some quiet time cuddling on the couch looking at the amazing view of the snowy wilderness around us. I got my camera out to take photos of the sun rising over the tree tops and reminded myself, again, to sign up for some classes to learn how to use this thing.
I think I did okay.
Then outside in her first snow suit to look at her first snow for the first time.

I am older today but I don't feel older - I just feel happy.
And blessed.

Took this photo a couple of weeks ago - It tickled me to see this palm tree growing out of the storm drain on a side street in East L.A.
How does something like this go...unnoticed?
Shouldn't someone take action?
Is this not a structural danger?
I mean, uh...HELLO.... There's a PALM TREE growing out of a STORM DRAIN people!
That can't be good, can it?
These things keep growing don't they? and they get pretty big too.

Once I got over the shock of it, the surreal feeling of seeing this, it made me incredibly happy.

How fantastic!
This palm growing in the most unlikely place, in the most inhospitable conditions.

If this does not teach me to persevere in the face of adversity....well, then, nothing will.

Perhaps I'll make it my mascot.

I'm heading back this week for a quick buying trip and I'm planning on checking in on this fella.

It's a bit of a challenge to think 'winter' and 'Christmas' when I'm in that sunny clime - I find myself dreamily handling the gauze and printed cotton sundresses. Buying for the shops becomes an exercise in restraint some days...

I am not letting the reality of Christmas fast approaching get me down.
I have a million projects for the shops half finished - they won't sell very well half finished. I must make/find the time to complete these things.
I know that I am not alone.
I just feel that way.

It's been a crazy time lately - a quick little buying trip to L.A (it was fantastic - I brought back so much great stuff) the subsequent day spent at Customs dealing with the shipment from my buying trip, and then all the paperwork that has been gathering dust on my desk all month. Not to mention the everyday drama's of being a mom, entrepreneur and uhm...woman.

Busy month indeed.

As some of you are discovering, I am a great horder of things. My Dutch Husband would probably take exception to the 'great' part of that statement but that's another story...
In all the purging and organizing and general simplifying of life that is going on around here lately, I stumbled over a box of broken china - before a collective gasp ensues, it was a horded box of broken china. It was already broken when the hording began.
I have been keeping, and adding to, this box of 'junk' over the years - if you have to ask why then you might wanna skip this post.

I have big plans for this box.
Back when I first opened the store I did an enormous mosaic in the front windows. I also sold a few pieces of furniture that I had worked my broken china magic on.
If you've ever done this kind of work then you will know how time consuming and challenging it can be. Needless to say I burnt out and haven't touched a pair of tile nippers in awhile.
This box of broken yummyness has been waiting for two 'big plan' ideas.

One - a series of stepping stones for my garden, featuring different rose plates broken and then "repaired" as the central motif. These would then be found winding in and out of what is turning out to be a rather wild cottage garden. I have 30 stepping stones.

Two - my masterpiece - the front facings of the cement stairs to my house. Again with the rose plates (did I mention I have a 'thing' for pretty rose plates?) re-assembled in their shattered glory and having the added practicality of the house number nipped out in black tile on the very last top step.
My husband is appalled.
The big plans have been on hold for awhile.

Cut to the other morning when baby and I went for a rainy morning stroll and I discovered this walkway in my neighborhood! It is a mix of tile, pebbles and what I can only guess to be painstaking pottery pieces especially made for this project. Incredible.



I stood there agog.
It was the entire walkway. I don't even remember if they continued up the stairs - I was in such shock by it's brilliance I don't remember looking up. I will have to return to see what they did to the stairs and report back.
It is incredible.
It made me happy.

There is a bright spot in the midst of my dreary studio organizing ....a book signing!

This Thursday, at the Main street location of Barefoot Contessa, we will be hosting a book signing for the fantastic "Handmade Nation" author Faythe Levine.
She is in town promoting the showing of her indie documentary (based on the book) and I'm pretty excited about meeting her and having her in the shop available to sign books and greet her fans.
It's a whirlwind visit for Faythe but she will be available from 3-4:30 this Thursday.

Cupcakes and pink lemonade are in order.
I am completely crazy to attempt to bake cupcakes with my now crawling toddler trying to help at every turn, but I feel the occasion warrants a cupcake or two. ..

Please, do come out and say hello to Faythe and support this great documentary - tickets are still available and you can check out Handmade Nation at her blog - www.indiecraftdocumentary.blogspot.com

We will have books available for purchase at the signing if you don't already own a copy (and really, you should, it's a great source of inspiration)

This is gonna be fun!