happy new year!

From here.

2008, don't be late (to finish your year long project)

So the real slogan of this year was 2008, get a f*cking date, but since I've had several dates (thanks sweetheart!) I'm changing it to 2008, don't be late, which I made up solely for the sake of this post.

I started the above project close to the beginning of the year because I received the yarn as a 2007 Christmas present. It's now nearly a year later and I'm still not done. I've set a goal for myself to finish by then end of the year, which is looking favorable, however, not absolutely certain. Therefore, I am off to knit.

Stay tuned for the status, as well as the slogan of 2009!

de young: ysl

"Couture is not an art, but a craft. That is to say, its starting point and aim is something concrete. The body of a woman, is not an abstract idea, is of intrinsic value in itself. A dress is not architecture, it's a house: it is not made to be contemplated but to be lived in, and the woman who lives in it must feel herself beautiful and right in it. Everything else is just craziness."
-Yves Saint Laurent (1936 - 2008)




Thru April 5th
De Young Museum, Golden Gate Park

de young: maya lin

One of my Christmas presents included a membership to the de Young Museum (thanks Betsy!) which I immediately took advantage of as soon as possible. One of my favorite exhibits was Maya Lin's Systematic Landscapes, an exploration of ecology expressed through drawings, sculpture and installation.

2 X 4 Landscape, 2006


Caspian Sea

Blue Lake Pass

gutter ball

We went bowling today as part of our work holiday party. My bowling skills are mediocre at best, but it was still a good time.



Photos by me and Anna.

Yerba Buena Bowling Center
750 Folsom Street (at 4th)
San Francisco

secret secular santa success

I'd been eying this cabled hat pattern on Ravelry for awhile now and was eager to try it out. It took me a minute to figure out the chart, but it's an easy-going and quick project (modeled by Alex above).

Originally from Yarn Harlot. Click here for pattern.

bannecker beer

Since I now must seem like an alcoholic, it's as good a time as any to post this lovely beer print from Andrew Bannecker via Grain Edit.

boozy hot chocolate

Khristina made me a cup of hot chocolate with peppermint schnapps on Sunday, and I seriously cannot stop thinking about it. It's only upsetting because I live in the house of booze (don't believe me?), but shockingly, we don't have peppermint schnapps! Santa, are you listening?

not just for scarves anymore.

I often wonder if there is more to knitting than just hats and scarves. And since I'm not the most anal knitter, I often lose interest in taking gauge and blocking, which should explain the outcome of many of my projects. Lately, I've discovered more and more artists that are taking this craft and exploring what else can be done. The above image was taken at Diamond Hill, in Connemara National Park, Ireland (from here). I love the idea of knitting becoming a sort of Andy Goldsworthy installation piece.

Knitted flower in front of the casino at Monaco. From here.

Then there's the idea of knitting as urban graffiti. All images below are from Masquerade, a Swiss group of renegade knitters.



Click here to see more.

all i want for hanukkah...

leah giberson

Leah Giberson is a Boston based art director who paints in her free time. The feeling of emptiness in her paintings is evident in the subject matter - chairs without users, swimming pools without water, and barren suburban landscapes. Her work reminds me of a Richard Misrach photograph, both ethereal and vast.


Limited edition giclee prints are available on her Etsy site here.

cookie swap

Some good friends hosted a long awaited cookie swap this past weekend (hence the recent baking). My photo looks pretty crappy, but the offerings were lovely and delicious. The rules are simple: Guests (about 10 to 15 people, prioritize those that are better bakers) each make about three dozen cookies (no duplicates!). Bring your cookies on a platter, and bring another container to collect other baked goods. Easy, peasy. We had some great treats: caramel brownies, macaroons, cardamom spice cookies, and lots more. Hungry yet?

bright and warm

How I am longing to be somewhere bright and warm! It's near freezing here (ok, I'm exaggerating, but it's cold!). Yes, Californias are wimpy, especially those from the southern part. My mom shot these photos at the Original Farmers Market in LA last week. Looking at their bright colors is warming me up already....


Photos by Kristine Elkins

magic bars

My grandmother used to make Magic Bars and my sister and I would make them magically disappear. Also known as seven layer bars, there are seven ingredients layered one on top of the other. They couldn't be easier or more delicious.

Magic Bars
1 stick butter, melted
1.5 cups graham cracker crumbs
2 cups chocolate chips
2 cups butterscotch chips
1.5 cups shredded or flaked coconut
1 cup slivered almonds
15 oz (1 can) sweetened condensed milk

In above order, layer each ingredient on top of each other evenly in a 9x13 pan. Cover everything with the condensed milk. Bake at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes or until top is lightly browned. Allow to cool before cutting.

one hundred posts

It's my hundredth post! I feel like I should post about something momentous, but instead I'll just pat myself on the back for keeping up with posting. Yea for me!

nox noctis

Of Nox Noctis/Of Night had it's opening reception last night at trendy Mission boutique Candystore Collective. The show, by Yellow Owl Workshop's Christine Schmidt, is a collection of cyanotype prints exploring real and imagined night scenes. Chris began each piece with a pen and ink drawing and then utilized a 19th century photographic printing process that uses sunlight for exposure to create Prussian blue monochrome prints.


On a side note, how cute is this apple container - what a great stocking stuffer!

Candystore Collective
3153 16th Street (between Valencia and Guerrero)
San Francisco, CA 94103

crafting party

Thursday night we hosted a party for Handmade Hellos at the studio. Here are some photos of my friends and coworkers that didn't make the cut for the studio blog. Above, Max and I attempt the fine art of pouring wine without spilling it on guests (we had a 90% success rate).

The ridiculously talented Sarah and Ryan from Lab Partners.

Aaron demonstrates the necessary tools for responsible letterpress printing.

My festive party footwear.

Heather and Mary bringing home the big sales.

James and Alex, guardians of the velvet rope.

All photos were taken by the very talented Anna Hurley (above).