Over and Out

Photo: Lindsay Isola

Have a lovely weekend!

Etsy Find of the Day: New Jenn Ski Prints

Brand-new giclee prints from Etsy favorite Jenn Ski: Left: P-2007-44; right: P-2007-43.

Each signed and numbered 10-by-13-inch print is $59.

See all of Jenn Ski's wildly colorful and super-groovy Etsy offerings right here.

Cool Stuff: Rolly Table

I really like the simple lines and sassy, retro-modern style of this walnut Rolly Table from Umbra's U+ Collection. It has tambour-style doors that slide closed to hide the storage compartment within.

The table is $315 right here.

Cool Stuff: Crocheted Pendant Lights

I am officially in love with these crocheted pendant lights, $238 each, from brand-new online store Rian Rae.

Each delicate cotton pendant is crocheted by hand before being starched to retain its shape. They're a generous size, too -- ranging from 16 to 24 inches in diameter and from 17 to 28 inches in height.

Take a closer look at the pendants here. And be sure to check out all of Rian Rae's beautiful offerings right here.

eBay Find of the Day: Danish Modern Lounge Chair and Ottoman

One of the headaches that often goes along with buying vintage furniture is having to refinish or reupholster it. A piece may have great lines and be a real deal when you find it -- but by the time you've stripped paint, sanded and stained wood, and had new cushions made or the whole thing covered in new fabric, it's eaten up a lot of time and not a little bit of cash.

Or you could let someone else do the work for you. This Danish Modern lounge chair and matching ottoman, for instance, has been refinished in ebony and reupholstered in ivory-hued microsuede.

In other words, it's all ready for you to sit back, put your feet up, and enjoy your evening highball -- no weekend fix-it work required.

Current bid: $128

Trendspotting: Subway Signs

New York City subway roller signs have been all over the design landscape during the last year or so.

Now that Pottery Barn has joined in with its own version (above, $79), I think it's pretty safe to say that the "subway signs as wall art" thing has officially jumped the shark.

Still, if you're hankering for an authentic vintage model, there are a few options. (But be warned -- they'll cost you.)

eBay seller JR's Framed Subway Signs has several restored New York City MTA signs listed for $225 to $1,000 each.

This circa-1940s Chicago streetcar version is $450 from Urban Remains.

1stdibs merchant Metropolis Modern is selling this framed beaut for a mere $1,800.

I don't know about you, but with prices like that, I think I'll just stick with my memories of riding the F train ...

Things I Hella Love About Oakland: Point Isabel

OK, I should clarify: One of the things I hella love about Oakland is that, sans traffic, it's 10 minutes from Point Isabel, which is actually in Richmond. But let's not split hairs.

We took Bonnie for a long walk there on New Year's Day and I swear, you have never seen a happier little pooch.

This 23-acre bayside park is the largest public off-leash area for dogs in the United States. There are grassy hills to chase balls across and paved, level walking paths and bike trails for their humans.

And let's not forget Mudpuppy's, a "doggie spa" and retail shop, and the Sit & Stay Cafe, the dog-friendly eatery on the grounds. From a canine point of view, Point Isabel is pretty much heaven on earth.

It wasn't the brightest or clearest afternoon, but on a crisp, sunny day, I'm sure the views that sweep from the Bay Bridge and across San Francisco to the Golden Gate and the Marin headlands would make me weep.

Of course, the actual shoreline was off-limits due to the 58,000-gallon oil spill in the Bay in November. (Nice going there, Cosco Busan.)

Anyway, I'm glad that three years after adopting the dang dog, we finally got our act together to put her in the car and explore Point Isabel.

Now that we have, I know we'll be back often.

P.S. Someone please tell me that 13 is easier than 12 has been. Please.

Double Take: Abaca and Random Lights

I've been harboring a thing for Dutch designer Bertjan Pot's Random Light forever. I want one for our dining room so bad it hurts, but the price -- more than $1,500 for the large size -- has stopped me.

So last night while I was leafing through the latest West Elm catalog (I know I said no more chain stores, but I was only looking ... ), my heart skipped a beat when I saw the company's new Abaca Pendant. It's a little bit similar, no? (And West Elm is certainly no stranger to design knockoffs.)

Let's compare:

West Elm Abaca Pendant, $79 to $129

Moooi Random Light: small, $660, and medium, $860, at Design Within Reach; large, $1,505, at YLighting

To my eye, the ethereal, delicate, and almost-translucent epoxy and fiberglass Random Light has much more drama and presence. West Elm's banana-fiber version is earthier, chunkier, and not nearly as graceful. The smaller size (the West Elm pendants range from about 9 to 16 inches in diameter, compared to the Random Light's 20 to 43 inches) also creates far less impact.

But when you consider the savings -- almost $600 to more than $1,350 -- the trade-offs might not be so hard to swallow.

What do you think?

Etsy Find of the Day: Nina Clough Prints

I really like these colorful streetscapes by Hampshire, England illustrator Nina Clough (aka Etsy seller artquirk).

Clough employs a variety of mediums in her work: Pen and ink, charcoal, collage, digital coloring, watercolor, and gouache. As the artist herself says, the mood of her creations alternates between "dark and miserable and bright and childish."

Some of my favorites: Above: Rooftops in Prague, $25

A Bit of Paris, $25

Fire Escape, $25

Collage Street, $25

Street in Riga, $25

Three Houses, $25

And the darker, more perverse, Angela Carter-loving side of me digs this triptych, too:

Set of three Little Red Riding Hood Illustrations, $50

Bonus: Delivery is always free, and orders placed until January 31 will come with an extra surprise print by the artist.

See all of Clough's Etsy offerings right here.

Object of Lust: The Motherlamp

How amazing would this gigantic, wood-veneer pendant light look hung in a voluminous open loft, or over a circular table in a high-ceilinged dining room?

You'd have to have a lot of decorating confidence -- not to mention a lot of cash ($2,800, to be exact) -- to pull it off. But boy, talk about a bold statement.

Take a gander at the Motherlamp on ModernTots.

(Via the Dwell Modern Market.)

Cool Stuff: Buggin' Out

Photo by Jonny Valiant for Blueprint

Did you see the feature on Binth co-owner Suzanna Bierwirth's Chicago townhouse in the latest (and, sadly, last) issue of Blueprint magazine? What an absolutely gorgeous home -- I died a little bit just looking at it.

One of the first things that jumped out at me was the awesome vintage entomology poster on Bierwirth's mantel (above). I love the way it complements the light-colored stone of the fireplace and how it pops against the deep, gray-brown wall. But mostly, I just love the wonderful ookiness of it.

(Which reminds me of the very prim and proper, pearls- and twinset-sporting New England lockjaw type in the childbirth class that Nick and I took many moons ago. At an after-baby class reunion at her apartment, I was utterly shocked and fascinated to discover a series of gross but totally cool framed insect etchings lining the hallway. It was like, "Wait -- is this the right address?" And though I'd previously written her off as your typical uptight, moneyed, and boring WASP, I realized then that even tightly chignoned chicks who wear pearls and twinsets nine months into their pregnancies can have layers of weirdness that make them -- at least in my opinion -- worth getting to know. But I digress ... )

Anyway, Blueprint lists German antiquarian printseller Philographikon as a source for similar insect images, so I logged on to check it out.

Some of my Philographikon buggy faves:

Circa-1824 Neuoptera lithograph by Georg August Goldfuss, $1,050

Circa-1820 Grasshopper copper etching, $180

Circa-1751 "Histoire Naturelle" copper etching, $210

While I was there, I also wandered over to the botanical prints section, where I was besotted with this funky fungi lithograph:

Agaricaceae, $55

Check out all of Philographikon's offerings right here.

Double Take: Urban Outfitters and Clarence House

Gee, this Flowering Branch Bedspread, $34 at Urban Outfitters, looks a little familiar, eh?

Photo: Gemma Comas for Domino

Hmmm ... does it maybe remind you a tiny bit of Kazumi Yoshida's Flowering Quince wallpaper for Clarence House?

I'm just sayin'.

Cool Stuff: Ceramic X-Wall

This X-Wall from Italian company Naxox is so versatile: The ceramic blocks can be configured any way you want, and serve as beautiful and functional architectural elements, space dividers, and storage.

Check 'em out right here.

eBay Find of the Day: Ceramic Horse

Does Santa or Hanukkah Harry still owe you a little something? After all that gifting, maybe it's time to treat yourself to a small bauble.

This jaunty circa-1966 ceramic horse figurine features intricate and oh-so-groovy detailing and measures a pert six and a half inches from hooves to mane.

C'mon -- you know you want it.

Current bid: $12

That's Random: Resolutions

Photo by flickr member yoshiko314

I'm not really a "New Year's Resolutions" kind of person. (I mean, I figure I'll just break them all around January 3rd, so what's the point?) So when my blogging buddy Holly from decor8 recently asked what my goals were for 2008, I wasn't quite sure how to answer her.

That's because I'm not really a "big-picture goals" kind of person, either. First of all, it reminds me a bit too much of those heinous annual reviews I had to undergo at my last corporate job. (Like, should I make an Excel spreadsheet to track my progress?)

Plus, as anal as I can be about certain things, I also just like to see where life takes me. I guess I'm afraid that if I plan things out too carefully, I might overlook some intriguing little alleyway that puts itself in my path as I blindly rush to get to the destination I'd previously mapped out for myself.

But Holly's question got me thinking, and I realized that there are some things I want to strive for in 2008. I also decided that setting a few goals for myself and making some changes in my day-to-day routines doesn't mean I can't also be open to exploring whatever surprises life may spring on me in the coming year.

Image by flickr member Tifty Art

So here goes:

I want to live more mindfully.
I know it sounds terribly "Berkeley" (hey, you can't live right next door to the place without at least a little bit of Berkeleyness rubbing off on you). But as squishily New Age as it seems, the term simply means to me to be more thoughtful about my life: To truly be in the moment -- especially with my kids -- rather than always letting my mind race ahead to the next item on my never-ending to-do list. To appreciate the gifts I have rather than spending so much energy coveting more. To really consider the choices I make and their impact on the people I love and on the world around me.

Photo by flickr member Russ Morris

I want to be less wasteful.
I'm not a die-hard greenie by any stretch, but I've been thinking more and more lately about how much waste I'm a party to, and what I can do to change that. Not just recycling more, buying "greener" products, and avoiding extraneous packaging (though all of those things will certainly help) -- but living a less disposable life. I want to bring fewer things into my home that are meant to be used and then tossed. That means choosing one item that can be put to use over and over again instead of many things designed to be used only once (so goodbye paper towels and plastic shopping bags). It means getting a better handle on my urges for quick-and-cheap decorating makeovers and curtailing the resulting purchases of particleboard crap from IKEA. It means buying less, but investing in things of quality and substance that will stand the test of time.

I want to support local businesses and artisans.
Getting to know -- mostly via this blog -- some of the wonderfully talented and creative small-business owners, artists, and craftspeople in this area has strengthened my resolve to put my money where my mouth is. So I'll be skipping the chains in favor of local independent stores and continuing to explore and collect the work of this incredible creative community.

Handmade porcelain bowl with woven rock from White Forest Pottery

I want to seek out wares made by humans.
I am a sucker for a bargain, and am just as likely as the next gal to be wooed by the cheap and increasingly chic bling on offer from stores like West Elm, CB2, IKEA, and even Target. But as I've become better-acquainted with the handmade movement, I've come to realize that buying cheap, mass-produced, sometimes shoddily made stuff isn't necessarily such a good deal -- either financially or from a human point of view. So as my budget allows, I've vowed to seek out handcrafted items whenever possible. They just have so much more soul.

I want to make stuff.
I knitted six scarves for Christmas, and even got a handle on purling and making fringe -- woo hoo for me! Now it's time to step it up: I'm currently attempting a knitted pillow cover, and next I'll try knitting and then felting some bowls. Nick and I also bought our daughter the sewing machine she'd been begging for, and I'm going to take a sewing class with her. Who knows what may follow? By the end of the year, I might even feel worthy of subscribing to ReadyMade.

I want to get back to gardening.
Nick and I created the garden above from scratch at our old house. At the new house, we've done exactly nothing horticultural -- partly because the house already has mature and reasonably attractive landscaping, and partly because we've been focusing on the inside of the house and waiting for gardening inspiration to strike. This year, we're going to get our hands in the dirt again.

Photo by flickr member catch & release

I want to cook more often, and eat better.
Truth be told, cooking isn't really my thing. Eating is more my thing. But I hereby vow to plan more home-cooked meals, and (again at the risk of going all Berkeley on you) to "eat closer to the earth." That means logging off the computer and thinking about dinner before my stomach starts growling and the kids start whining. It also means planting the vegetable garden we've been talking about and logging more time at our local farmer's market and less in the frozen-food aisle. (OK, I did just have some of last night's leftover pizza for breakfast -- but starting now, things will change. I swear.)

I want to be more social.
Just this past weekend, Nick and I skipped three parties we'd been invited to for no good reason other than it was cold outside, we were feeling lazy and antisocial, and staying home and watching DVDs in our pajamas was a lure we found hard to resist. This has got to stop, or the people we know will simply stop inviting us to their gatherings. Also, we finally have a dining room -- it's high time to start inviting friends over ourselves.

Photo by flickr member Jack of Nothing

I want to refocus on my freelance writing.
This past year was wonderful from a creative standpoint: Starting this blog and shifting my focus away from the health writing and service journalism I've done for years and toward more design and lifestyle subjects were two of the high points. But it wasn't such a good year from an income standpoint. During the next 12 months, I'm hoping to do a better job of writing about the things I'm passionate about and making a living doing it. So starting now, I'm putting my freelance career back on full-throttle. (Any assigning editors out there? Call me ... ;-)

I want to take more risks.
Personally, professionally, creatively -- I'm done playing it safe. From now on, I'm going to take more chances and do a better job of putting myself out there.

I want to fill my life with creativity.
I'm going to continue to explore creativity this year -- my own and others', via this blog, through my work, and in real life. I want to get to know more creative people, take time to appreciate creative things, foster a creative atmosphere in my home, a spend more energy on creative pursuits.

In short, I'm going to do my best to live a more authentic and creative life in 2008. Now that's a resolution I'm pretty sure I can follow through on.

What about you?

A New Year, and a New Look

Happy 2008! I hope you all enjoyed a restful and joyous holiday.

I used some of the downtime to pimp the blog a bit, and to add some cool new bells and whistles. Please let me know what you think. (Don'tcha just love how my avatar got skinny all of the sudden? If only that were true in real life ... )

Anyway, please take a minute to check out some of the new stuff I've added:

* At right, there are expanded Bay Area shopping listings, plus new sections on great stores to visit if you find yourself in L.A. or Portland, Oregon; I'm going to include other cities soon as well.

* I've added Etsy (at left) and eBay (below) widgets to show off more of the great things I'm eying.

* At left again, check out the funky real-time world map showing where blog visitors are hailing from.

* You can now get More Ways to Waste Time as an email digest. Just enter your email address in the subscription form at left.

* Finally, I'm accepting ads from stores and companies with products or services that I think will be of interest to my readers. Email me for info and ad rates.

That's about it for now, though I'll continue tweaking, experimenting, and (hopefully) improving this blog throughout the year.

Speaking of improvements, two things that you asked for via the More Ways to Waste Time reader survey -- and a big thanks to everyone who took time to share their thoughts -- are more House Voyeur visits, and more How Tos.

I'll do my best to bring those to you, but need your help: If you're interested in giving readers a virtual tour of your home (or even sharing a single room or a completed project you're proud of) -- or if you know someone whose home shows a lot of creative flair and whom you'd like to nominate for a tour -- please let me know.

And if you've tackled a simple craft or decorating project and are keen to share a snapshot or two of the finished product along with instructions (or again, want to nominate a friend who might be), drop me a line and tell me about it.

Thanks so much, and here's to all the design inspiration to be discovered together in 2008!