I can help with all of that!
Starting now I can certainly help you make your home more homey. It's not too late to get some things done before the end of the year.
On December 5th from 11-5pm I invite you to my holiday open house and craft fair. I'll be baking goodies to be served with hot cocoa so you can enjoy shopping just a bit more. Local artists will have their fine crafts for sale, the store is all decked out and cozy and filled with wonderful gifts, I'll be giving away a beautiful vintage inspired church to display in your home. All of your friends will be here, so you can get a visit in with them as well :)
Let's see, oh, the part about helping others. Five percent of sales from that day will go to my favorite charity.
Happy Holidays!
These fabulous ladies are seasoned experts at dressing and posing.
Our friend Brigit had the brilliant idea to spread straw on the dead grass...
Heres a peek at the beautiful trestle table that lasted exactly one week before someone very smart snatched it up.
Very old collection of Shakespeare's works. The antique box below is a salesman's sample of a trunk. Also something that would look great on a bookcase.
A well loved doll torso with legs, balancing on a flower frog, atop an old wooden mold.
These old print blocks are crying out for a mixed media collage, or pretty enough to just prop up on a bookcase. On the right is a fabulous set of - are you ready? Mousetraps. Numbered. Catch and release. If you have a large bookcase this would be an awesome touch.
I'm afraid my spring fever has turned into the summertime blues...I love it here in my shop but..
I've only been back two months but I am already anticipating a fun trip here...
but here will have to do for now, and here is a perfectly good place to be...happy June! 
The garden party went smashingly, thanks very much!
My new white ceramics looked perfect.
I love my 
I am IN love with Tokyo Milk Parfumerie Curiosite. Made by the same woman who brought you Archive Bath and Lollia, this new line is so delicious. These fun, flirty fragrances are destined to become collector's items. Beautifully packaged in vintage perfume bottles with a typewritten label, totally unique and completely adorable. The names are as exquisite as the fragrance combinations and blends, all crushed and distilled to perfection. I've got the all natural perfumes and lip balms, and patiently waiting for solid perfumes, candles and bubble bath in the same scents. Gin and Rosewater, 'nuff said.
Yet another wonderful line is 
The lotion, bath gel and dry oil spray I use at home is 
Happy spring! Oh, mark your calendars for May 9, my spring sale and open house. Garden party style...
The booth Frank couldn't find...
Alice Riordans vintage costume jewelry was the biggest seller. I think every vendor bought at least one piece from her.
Mini heart topped cupcakes and champagne punch. Can't go very wrong there...
I don't think I'm getting married anytime soon, but you might still have to fight me for these two :)
Katie also made these super awesome lingerie and shoe bags, you really have to see these in person to get how great they are. The rest of the goodies will be here this Saturday, along with the artists. Be sure to visit even if you are not the one getting married, as we will have gifts for the happy couple too. 
I feel like the luckiest girl in the world that these amazing beauties get to live in my shop for a little while until they find new homes. Direct from a doll factory in upstate New York, these copper molds are in untouched verdigris condition and still exactly how they were on the plates when they were pumped with latex for someone's new baby doll. There are only 2 racks, each with 9 heads.
Another great and very unique object d'art, 9 stages of the ovum, from 1941. Little sculptures of joy!
I have a pair of these lovely concrete lions with pedestals. The patina could not be more perfect.
Below is a wonderful collage by Clare Goddard, from Finland. I loved her work so much and she had hundreds of collages to look through. Sadly I had to step back and not take any, because I just couldn't shell out what they really were worth.
Below is a diorama by 
Last but not least another San Francisco artist who makes jewelry from recycled items, like bingo balls, guitar picks, and pocketwatch keys. 
I love this view through the looking glass. The topiaries looked so good that they get to live on the armoire now. Also love love the apple green silk ruffled bedskirts I did. Not my typical style but this room could certainly handle them and so they get to stay in the room too.
This room was very personal to me. I used the homeowners armoire, but I brought in the rest, much of it from my private collection like the teeny tiny antique bibles, family photos and toys. I absolutely love the way it turned out. Might be a bit old-fashioned but the room was titled "A childrens vintage Christmas", after all.
The little photo is my Uncle Craig on Santa's lap, beautiful cookies from the buttery.
My grandmothers gloves from when she was a wee baby. Monogrammed on the buttons, of course. Genevieve Cathleen Abels.
This bunny has a home in the shop for now, but wouldn't you like to give her a forever home?
Now that the majority of the parties are attended and thrown, the christmas trees are decorated, and the showcases are over, I feel I can relax a little. Now that winter has finally arrived in Santa Cruz, (only 53 degrees at noon!), this is my current happy place where the mineral water is heated to 102 degrees 
I have many great things for sale and more on the way, so if you want to help the economy and my well being please come on in and see what you can find. I'm thinking about attending the New York International gift fair next month (because somebodys gotta spend some money), so I am gearing up for cold weather like I have never experienced in my life and never thought I would ever have to, or want to. Should be fun and I'm pretty excited about the great things I know I will find. If I can get to my happy place I'm thinking I can soak up enough warmth to get me through New York. I hope you are all keeping warm and cozy with happy holiday thoughts and you are certainly welcome to borrow my happy place.
Back with more gift ideas. My scarf supplier came in today with some fab things. These are all made with wool, or wool and silk, in India. They are hand washable or dry cleanable and super super soft and warm, not itchy I swear. This one above is so much fun, it's two scarves quilted together.
Lightweight sheer-ish striped long scarves
Yummy colors in polka dot scarves
Did you know I carry the Match pewter line? I love the patina and scuffs that come naturally with even the new things. This is definitely a great gift for someone who has everything.
Juliska has a new line of white and burnished dishes. This is one of four designs on the to die for dessert plates.
These paper letters from an old game are great for gift tags.
Yummy Olivina candles and bath products in olive and fig
And just for fun, a super cute googly-eyed salamander that was in my plants outside!
Votivo candles in paperwhite narcissus and newberry holly, many other scents too. $15 and $27
the gosh darn cutest felted fair trade ornaments $11-15
my newest super cute and soft line of sock animals $19
more classics from Munro Leaf $8.95
If you have ever been in the shop than you know I love these juice/wine glasses from Juliska, dishwasher safe yet super delicate looking and such a great gift. 
I found some more fabulous antique medals in Texas and paired them up with these sterling chains to make one of a kind necklaces. Some of them can be monogrammed for a personalized gift. I've already sold some, so hurry in if you don't want to miss out.
a lovely image from an antique lithography stone
old chippy paint
crazy curved dovetails on the swedish armoire
I'm in love with my butcher block, found in Texas by way of Nebraska. Lovingly made and thoroughly used, it's ready for a million meals more. BTW it's not my butcher block, I own it but it resides in the shop until you take it home :) Local delivery is available. 
Couple of fun pics of our trip. Just the first night, because after that we were so sick and all of the pictures are so sad, like we are really trying to fake feeling good. This is the lovely Gary, who lives in Utopia, Texas, and is now single, ladies. I believe my leg was there because I was saving a seat for someone.
This is Caroline, she was hit by a car and lost her leg and eye. We so wanted to take her home. 
Ok, I'm somewhat back with the living. I had some design clients to concentrate on, and now I can show you some things I brought back from Texas. Above is my ghost deer, which I just painted white, I think he looks so handsome. SOLD
A closer look at the awesome map I found. It's plywood, and so intricately cut out. Someone spent a long time putting this together. Sorry, no Alaska or Hawaii. The airplanes are old hood ornaments I had sandblasted and mounted on steel stands. SOLD
My newest exciting purchase. 6 beautifully framed Elizabeth Blackwell original hand colored botanicals from 1755. Matted in linen. Yes, they are for sale.
Last but certainly not least. My freaking amazingly wonderful Swedish Armoire. This has been hiding at my house because I was holding it to use in a showcase house in December. The homeowner does not want to move her current French armoire out (which is fine, I can work with it), so I will be bringing this into the shop very soon.
I hate to show this, because the set of four french iron chairs with custom linen slips went super quick, but isn't it fabulous? SOLD
Above is a vintage hutch I took the doors off of for display space. Below I keep kitchen appliances. These are some of my favorite things, the pencil drawing on top is my mother in '43. Isn't she cute?
This amazing (or, it was and will be again) Pennsylvania chest has been sitting in my living room for a month now. It is early 1800's with original paint. Some numbskull decided he wanted to access it from the front so he CUT the panel willy nilly and put hinges on. The hinges are very old so this was done ages ago. Normally I love when people modify things to suit their purposes but come on, do you SEE the wonderful paint you are cutting into? My wood master will make it beautiful again. If it was not cut this could sell for $3500-$4000.00. I still love it, it will be in the shop soon for much less so you can enjoy it in your home.
The girls, they live alone and like it (see book). I fell in love with these in Texas. The dealer loved them as much as I did. One - Isda - was missing a leg, so she put antique ribbon and flowers on it. The other - Corinna - had a tear over her heart so she made a rhinestone seam to patch her up. She named them. Update, they now have a new home at a fab shop in Carmel Valley.
A cute little display of some great books for childern and adults.
This dream of an artist's studio came when we saw the back of our lovely painted spring scene. I love how the settee looks so at home there, although it's been sold and is going to an even better spot. This is one of my new reproduction spot lamps. It is so cool!
Teresa Goodall is another line I love. 
Of course I still have my jewelry here too. Right now I have an excellent selection of vintage and antique pieces put on very unique chain. They are all one of a kind, so although you might walk in and see 3 or 4 customers wearing them, there is a different story and look to each one. You might have seen something similar in last months Country Living magazine (they must have copied me). I recently found some really cool medals and vintage chain. Some of my newest creations are here already, and I am constantly playing around at home with new things to make with them.
I have no idea what possesed them to paint the ronald mcdonald rastafari colors. All I know is that it took many coats of paint to cover. The final spray of white was done by a local painter, Bret Carlyle. I did the rest, myself, with a little help from Jove (thats him in the next picture, trying to be positive so I don't lose it) (update on jan 17, Jove helped A LOT)
There were 2 layers of the filthiest carpet you have ever seen. Never ever vacuumed, dead and alive animal traces all over it. Notice the wall on the right does not go all of the way up, a cost saving idea (drywall comes in 8' lengths)
Yes, the tiles were properly removed one at a time and properly disposed of. I have blocked this part out. I also pulled out about 1700 nails and screws from the walls and ceilings. Jove did the baseboards and trim, (update, he also replaced all of the bad plumber patch jobs with nice wood, helped me move a lot of furniture, hung the antique fretwork in front of store - not an easy task - we shared a ladder, and much much more. I blocked most of this out, kind of like childbirth I think, so I heard from him last night that he needs more kudos, well deserved). My good friend Brigit helped me paint the green walls.
This is my new blue hand made very very old cabinet that now proudly holds my fabulous bath products and candles. The duck is for sale.
This is the english table that I thought was a dining table, and of course it certainly can be, but it's actually a library table, probably beechwood. Hey, it had a ton of stuff on it in the booth and it was 125 degrees in that tent. I love it. You could have a dance party on this table. Or a really nice dinner party with plenty of room for your centerpiece, platters, and whatever. Plus, it's got a drawer on both sides for storage. 72 x 41".Update Jan 2008 sold.
This is the unit that Cayce's (from littlest bird, I need to tell you about her great space here) husband Jeramiah built for me. My wonderful boyfriend Jove gave me the antique redwood he salvaged from a garage he just rebuilt. It's beautiful and perfect. My Juliska looks so amazing in it, as you can see. Jer can build things for you too. You have to see this in person, it looks like it has been here forever. Nine feet wide, seven feet tall. Not for sale. Never ever ever.
This is for sale. The color is not right in this picture, the wood and the wall color are much much better in person. This is an antique blanket chest. Pine, American, circa 1810. Fully functional with so much soul. Update Feb 2008 sold.
She is beautiful. 1880ish, from a San Francisco estate. Made of wood, plaster and paper mache. Her hands are a little creepy, mummyish, but the rest of her is so exquisite it does not matter. She is wonderful in my window (hence the refection). Come and visit her anytime.
This is a magnificent antique store counter I've had my eye on for quite a while. It now sits in the shop in all of it's well used glory. Redwood, again, with original paint. Mid 1800's. The drawers measure five feet wide, two feet deep, and almost 10" high. Can you imagine what you could fit in that? It would make an excellent kitchen island. Update - sold
Not a sideboard, but a fabulous antique french desk I bought from Blossom Home, in Los Gatos. See her blog at 
I sell books, organic catnip toys, great writing tablets, local artist's cards and art. If I love it, it makes the very strict cut. I have a new baby gift section including Jellycat stuffed animals, the softest, cutest and very best I have found. Oh, and I have shells, so many shells, at great prices. If you are decorating a room with a beach theme (and who wouldn't) you need shells. I have a faux coral that looks so real, beautiful without the guilt of owning something illegally harvested. The most important thing to know is that you will most likely find something you or someone you love can't live without, and you will smile every time you see or use it. That keeps me going.
BUT, I did pick up some ex-votos in Long Beach that are amazing. They are from Mexico, and each one is a thank you prayer to a saint for saving a loved one. They are beautiful works of art, and truly from the heart.
Above is an item I passed on. It's called "round wee go". Made in 1920, you put an infant in the seat and it spins around. Death trap, but the colors and the style are great!
