Blogger's Favorites -- Caitlin of Sacramento Street

(image collage via Sacramento Street: office via Convoy, tray via Jayson Home and Garden, notebook via Brook Farm General Store, tote via Clare Vivier, maryjanes via Marais, pillow via Oriental Creations)

I'm just going to cut to the chase here, I love Caitlin's blog. Love it.

It's immensely lovely and inspiring and stylish. Pretty much, well...a total reflection of her. Spending time with her at Alt was by far a highlight. She's incredibly funny and smart (she's also supermodel tall and stunning...seriously what is it with all the tall/stunning design bloggers???).

Truly I was awfully tempted to just "steal" that collage above and all her picks below and just say it was my list today...I like it all that much. But I decided not to, bad juju and all ;-)

So without further ado, herewith my friend Caitlin's fantastic list... Enjoy and have a splendid weekend!

I've fallen head-over-heels in love with The Closet Visit - penned by artist Jeana Sohn, who visits creative and stylish ladies closets. It's full of inspiration. My brain is on outfit inspiration overload with each new post she uploads.

Sky high ceilings are something I look for in every home. It makes a home feel twice as big. On another note, tea time. You'll always find me with a cup of tea - morning, noon and night.

Jewelry - over the past year I've acquired a lot of jewels. They add a little bling to every outfit.

Inspiring Workspaces

Steven Alan's Spring 2011 collection is effortless and chic. Doesn't it make you crave balmy summer days?

A beautiful kitchen - a girl can dream, right?

Last but not least, waking up early every morning for a leisurely breakfast. It's the best indulgence!

Blogger's Favorites -- Alix and Dottie of Modern Kiddo...

image by Etsy seller Multer via Modern Kiddo

Do you ever meet someone and they just, well...instantly make you smile? You know, there's sort of an immediate feeling of happiness that overcomes you just by the simple act of making their acquaintance?

That's what happened to me the first time I met Alix and Dottie. They were lovely and magical and warm. I walked away from that first meeting instantly smitten...and happy. A full year passed and I encountered them again, and the exact same thing happened. It wasn't a fluke; they were genuine happy-makers.

We need more happy-makers in the world, don't you think?

I'm so excited to share their picks with you guys this week. Without further ado, herewith Dottie and Alix's favorites, Enjoy and have a splendid weekend!

DOTTIE'S PICKS...

PRETTY KNITTIES. As a knitter, there is nothing I love more than seeing babies and children in handknits. Don’t you just want to kiss that widdle footie? (image: Vintage Knits for Modern Babies)

70s SASS. I’ve been totally crushing on vintage prep. I call it Ice Storm chic and the epitome of that look is Bargello needlepoint (image: Cathy of California)

BEAUTIFUL AFTERNOON. Is there nothing better than curling up with a good book? I think not! I found this image through Amy Turn Sharp and it is now one of my favorite images of all time. (image: Jolie Marie)

WIDDLE DRESSES. I just love a little vintage on a little girl. Swoon. (image: Flour Clothing)

SONG & DANCE. I can turn a frown upside down by just pressing play on an MGM musical. One of my faves? An American in Paris!



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ALIX'S PICKS...

HAPPIEST PLACE ON EARTH. Trips to Disneyland are among my favorite childhood memories. And vintage Disneyland photos? Fuggetaboutit! This photo is one of my favorites because it features so many things I love—including my mama! That's me in the strollie. (image: my family album)

POP ON POINT. Megan Whitmarsh crafts impossibly cool embroidered pop artwork on a teensy 4.5 inch canvas. Her subjects range from breakdancing big foots to groovy mod girls. Me likey! (image: Megan Whitmarsh)

FLOWER POWER. I'm a vintage junkie and collect all kinds of jewelry. These colorful little enamel 60s flower pins are among my favorites. (image: Jennski)

LOUNGING LOVELY. I am sooooo craving a vacation in the sun and this poolside in Kauai is exactly where I want to be! (image: Hyatt Kauai)

TWO BELOW. Vintage shoes + brightly colored tights= a recipe for awesome. (image: Shan Shan)

Blogger's Favorites -- Erin of Apartment #34

images via Apartment #34 (here and here)

When I first spotted Erin in the bar of the Grand America during Alt, I'm not going to lie, I was intimidated.

First there was the matter of her height. She's tall...like goddess/supermodel tall. She's also incredibly stylish, and lovely and blond. Yep, she scared me. Is that bad to admit??

But then we hung out a bit, and chatted (and chatted some more) and shared a meal, and all of the sudden all that crazy intimidating (tall) loveliness was totally eclipsed by how funny and smart and kind she was. She's good people that Erin.

And as soon as I asked her to do a favorites list for us, I know it would be all kinds of cool (given her editorial prowess over on her blog), and it is. She's just got such an amazing eye...I'm smitten with every single image she sent over.

So without further ado, herewith Erin's 2011 favorites. Enjoy and have a splendid weekend!

Mid calf skirts

Unique scarves

Big baubles

Brilliant bangs

Mad height

Going back to basics

Spring corals

Sweet seats

Fresh flowers

Blogger's Favorites -- Kelly of Make Grow Gather

image by Kelly via Make Grow Gather

This week's blogger's favorites list started because of a pair of shoes...

I was sitting on the floor in a jam-packed room for the Dooce panel at Alt, and I glanced over a couple of inches away at the "shoes" sitting next to me. They were so good that I couldn't pay attention to Heather...and she's really funny, so that's saying something.

So I of course had to grab the foot of the person sporting said shoes (totally inappropriate to grab someone's foot, I realize) and tell her how much I loved them.

Within seconds, I was more smitten with the girl wearing the shoes than I was the shoes.

Yes, it was Kelly. That took a long time didn't it.

You know I love me a crafty girl...(I have this hope that just being in the presence of someone with DIY skills will somehow impart a bit of their craftiness onto me), and Kelly is that. She's way crafty (check out slew of genius projects for proof), and she's incredibly smart (another girl-crush worthy quality), kind and funny.

I like her. A lot.

So I'm super excited to have her here this week sharing some of her favorite things.

Without further ado, herewith Kelly's list. Enjoy and have a splendid weekend!



Meyer Lemons. Have you ever smelled the blossoms? There is no smell like it in the world. There are two trees in my neighborhood and I left the neighbors little notes asking if they used all their lemons. They were so happy and generous to share with me, so now I have a supply for curd and this special kind of lemonade that is the best thing you ever tasted. (image via here)

Elevenses. My Irish-but-raised-in-London husband taught me this one. A mid-morning break for tea and a small bite around 11 am. On the days we both work at home, we each emerge from our “offices” for a few minutes and sit in the sunny kitchen. It’s even better with my favorite treat in the whole world: canelé from the French bakery down the street.

Sewing. When my trusty machine is chomping along a seam and I’m being productive and creative at the same time, I feel utterly victorious. I just got back from a workshop with my good friend (genius fabric designer and author) Heather Ross and the radiant, so-talented Lotta Jansdotter. So very inspiring.

Cloggy Heels. I love clomping around in my old school Dr Scholls sandals when it’s warm out (not often enough in San Francisco). I love the heavy, wooden sound they make. At Alt, Anna Beth Chao introduced me to these No. 6 clog boots. I am saving up.

Friday Night Lights. Tim Riggins. Need I say more? And I want to be Mrs. Coach when I grow up.

Avoca. My in-laws are in Ireland and so we visit at least once a year. This Irish store is one of my most favorite shops. They’ve been weaving blankets at their mill since 1723 and their line of kitchen and cooking products are always beautiful, cheery and useful.

Jimi Wallets. Okay, this is my husband’s company. So I am biased. But I watched as he single-handedly dreamt up and then willed this product into existence. The persistence it required is still awe-inspiring. And it’s a great little gizmo.

Harvesting Potatoes. Potatoes seem like an un-glamorous thing to grow, but when it’s time to dig them up, it’s like an underground treasure hunt. They smell like dirt and starch, and they taste out of this world steamed with butter and salt.

Fog Horns. Even though I’ve lived in this foggy city for years, I still love that lonely sound.(Photo via here).

Blogger's Favorites -- Laure Joilet

image by Laure Joilet

Happy Friday friends...we're living in a veritable winter wonderland over here. Holy snow. Millie woke up, looked out the window and said, "hey somebody spread frosting all over our yard and trees." And then she giggled.

Serious goodness, that kid.

But enough about the (crazy cool) weather, this is supposed to be a blogger's favorites post, and this week's list is awfully good (but no surprise since it belongs to the lovely and amazing Laure Joilet).

You might say Laure is a bit of a triple threat: she's a extremely talented photographer, a gifted stylist and a fantastic writer + she pens an excellent blog (and, as evident in the final photo on her list, she has a seriously cool grandmother).

Oh and she has, quiet possibly, the prettiest last name of all-time...

So without further ado, herewith Laure's favorites. Enjoy and have a splendid weekend.



Tracy Wilkinson's House that I Shot for At Your Leisure. Her house was one of those houses that you walk into and you love everything. A great mix of earthy, modern, open and light but with a comfort and live-ability that is rare.

Road Trips Out to The Desert. Whether it's Joshua Tree and camping or Palm Springs and staying at the Ace, I love jumping in the car and driving a couple of hours out to the desert. Even if it's just for 24 hours, it totally changes your perspective.

A Studied Mess. There is nothing more beautiful to me than someone's creative work space. It is so intimate and real. It doesn't make sense. It has order, it doesn't have order. It's full or it's empty, and it's endlessly fascinating.

Alaska. Last summer I went to Alaska twice to visit family and had to opportunity to go to a hard to go place. Float planes, the whole thing. We stayed at a lodge in the middle of lake iliamna and it rained every day. We saw bears, we walked on tundra and we saw incredible views of basically untouched wilderness.

The Way that Rocks Look When They're Wet.

Marie's Chocolate Chip Cookies. My aunt Marie bakes these chocolate cookies randomly and it's always a wonderful surprise and a good excuse to go and visit with her.

Plants on The Porch. To welcome you home.

My Insane Cat, Hazel. She is cute and wonderful most of the time and then, sometimes, she gets this look in her eyes and you're not sure what she's going to do.

Fresh Flowers. Whenever I can, I get fresh flowers for the house. I'm excited to have a stove big enough now that I can use the center as a display area.

The View Out the Window of an Airplane. Being on an airplane is the best time to think and reflect. I always get the window seat so I can just stare out and let my thoughts wander.

Fruit Salad with Fresh Herbs. In the summer, a salad made with fresh, ripe peaches and nectarines, sprinkled with a little bit of sugar, a little bit of lemon juice and fresh chopped mint.

My Grandmother's Legacy of Amazing Style. She was a weaver and was married to a modern architect in the 60's. her home was full of her treasures: butterfly chairs, Eames chairs, antique wardrobe, her sister and brother-in law's sculptures. She had a knack for mixing and matching long before eclectic was a look.