My un-shopping blog

Sandals at Twig

2008-06-06T19:20:00.000-07:00

I've never bought anything from the online store Twig, but I have often wanted to. Most recently, I have been coveting their adorable selection of sandals. These items are triply impractical for me because in addition to the fact that they're really expensive (though all on sale), I already have too many sandals and I live in a place where we have real sandal weather maybe 20 days a year.

So anyway, enough talk, let's look at some shoe porn!

First up is a pair by my recent favorite shoe designer Chie Mihara. These look so soft and comfortable!

They're an obscene $276.75 (though marked down from $325!). Next are several pairs of Cydwoq sandals. I've always thought Cydwoq shoes were kind of ugly and looked like the sort of thing rich middle-aged arty pseudo-hipsters would wear, but it turns out they make really cute sandals. Like these "Bare" sandals:

Which are $184, plus there's a 10% discount right now on all the Cydwoqs. I am also quite fond of these "Hook" sandals:

They are $248 minus the 10% discount. And finally, I really love these unfortunately named "Sprinkle" sandals, which have a cute little wooden heel:

And they are also $248 minus the discount.

Perfection Champagne glass

2008-06-05T20:15:00.000-07:00

I normally don't get very excited by glassware. It's made out of glass, it holds liquid, and hopefully, when you drink from it, you won't dribble something down the front of your dress. But for some reason, I am in awe of the perfect shape of these appropriately named "Perfection Champagne" glasses by Holmegaard:

They're $24 each at Heath Ceramics.

Chilewich "Bamboo" Floormats

2008-06-05T19:39:00.000-07:00

My house, it has bare floors. I would love to have something down there to protect my pretty wood floors which I always seem to somehow scratch, but man, rugs are expensive! Even this plastic rug, which I covet for my dining room (a plastic rug is a brilliant idea for a dining area, in that you don't have to worry about how many glasses of red wine your guests have had) is out of my financial reach. Unfortunately, this rug is not very photogenic, it seems, because I can't find a good picture of it online, but in person it's lovely. Bamboo always looks kind of fake and plasticky anyway, so fake plastic bamboo is an inspired idea:

It's $500 for the extra large size (5'10" x 9') that would look soooo perfect in my dining room.

Utility Canvas

2008-06-05T19:32:00.000-07:00

I have always thought that mover's blankets were really visually appealing, although usually actual mover's blankets are greasy and stained and they're probably scratchy and not something you would want to put next to your skin. But voila! Now Utility Canvas makes a more civilized version perfect for a civilized picnic (along with many other lovely things that I can't afford)! And there are many fabulous colors from which to choose:

Slate

Black

Porcelain Blue, and many others. This throw version is $125, but they also make bedspread versions in twin, queen and king sizes. But those are even more expensive!

OK, I'm back again

2008-06-05T19:25:00.000-07:00

Yes, this blog is on again!

I have been coveting many things in my absence, such as the beautiful clothing made by etsy seller gaiaconceptions.

My favorite item of hers is this "Tiny Dancer Tank":

It is $55 and available in many beautiful hand-dyed colors of organic cotton.

This "Tie Strap Dress" is also fabulous, although a little cleavage-tastic for my own comfort level (which is just as well, as I can't afford it anyway, sigh.)

The dress is $130.

Not even nail polish!

2008-04-24T05:51:00.000-07:00

This is a rough year, wallet-wise. I'm remodeling my house and getting married, so I've decided that I can't afford to make any frivolous purchases. Not even nail polish!

So no pretty dark gray shiny Lippman Collection polish designed by Pat Benetar.

No lovely, glossy dark magenta by Rescue Beauty Lounge.

And of course no perfect tomato-red by Nars, either. Sigh.

Bad thoughts

2008-04-09T05:58:00.000-07:00

I kind of wish my refrigerator would die so I could get a Big Chill. Even though it totally wouldn't go with my kitchen.

Virginia Johnson

2008-04-09T05:20:00.000-07:00

I read about Virginia Johnson in a magazine a while back, but never checked out her website until she was recently featured on Oh Joy. She's a textile designer, but she also sells products made from textiles, including, you know, clothes:

Like this t-shirt dress with crocodiles on it which is fabulous, but also $198. For a t-shirt dress. Thankfully, they don't have it in my size.

Luckily, her website has a pretty extensive sale section with stuff like this blouse. Unfortunately, I still can't justify its purchase, as it is $85 and living in San Francisco as I do I am virtually never warm enough to wear a short-sleeved blouse.

You know, I'm just not a scarf person, but if I were, I would totally want this one. It's $98. And I kind of want it anyway!

One-pieces

2008-03-24T06:55:00.000-07:00

For a long time, it seemed like designers were only interested in making bikini swimsuits, but now everyone is making cute one-pieces. It's sort of like how it used to be impossible to find nice flat shoes, and now it is harder to find anything with a heel. But anyway, check these out:

I love the fabric and the shirring in this Tyler Rose "Cartier" suit. Unfortunately, I don't think I could ever wear it even if I could afford it because of side-boob issues. It's $192 at shopbop.com.

You know that one-pieces are popular when even the queen of bikinis, Malia Mills, is making them! I love this "Vixen" suit with the little ribbon tie in the back but it's $300! Until now, it was a non-issue as this one was also intended solely for the smaller-chested girls, but now I see that it is available as a special order for C/D cups! For probably even more money!

This Malia Mills "Dionne" suit is also pretty awesome. I love the purple. This one is $325, but also has to be special ordered if you're a C/D cup. Looks like I will be sticking to my old bikinis this year...

Built by Wendy boatneck dress

2008-03-24T06:46:00.000-07:00

Dresses are the best. You only have to put on one garment and then your clothes are on! Unfortunately, I rarely wear dresses because 1. I'm always cold when I wear one and 2. If I wear one everyone always asks me why I am dressed up.

But this one from the new Built by Wendy collection is just so awesome:

But I want the purple one (and also the sunglasses the model is wearing in that first picture):

Tragically, it is $292, but if nobody buys one, it'll go on sale in a few months. Keep your fingers crossed!

Urban Outfitters shoes

2008-03-16T17:41:00.000-07:00

Urban Outfitters is a reliable source of cute but crappily made shoes that will last you for one season. In that sense, they may be thought of as extravagant, but I like to indulge myself from time to time.

Sure these flats appear to have no arch support whatsoever and would probably shrivel up and die if you ever got caught in them in the rain, but they'd look good with lots of things and are probably pretty comfortable and only $58.

These shoes are sort of trendy and silly, but I like them. I guess I'm kind of a sucker for the '80s. These are also $58.

I was in an actual Urban Outfitters store yesterday and saw these and they are far better looking in person than on the website. And only $29.99! Of course, they don't have them in my size online, but they did in the store. But I didn't get them because the last thing I need is another pair of silver flats.

...speaking of which, the above are a great $19.99 version of the gorgeous Lanvin ballet flats which I also saw in person yesterday. The Lanvin flats...of my god, that photo also doesn't do them justice, but they are spectacular in person. And also $460, sadly.

Frye Shoes

2008-03-12T06:51:00.000-07:00

The only thing better than pretty shoes is pretty shoes that are actually practical and that you can wear all day long even if you walk a lot. Frye shoes definitely fit the bill. I bought a pair last year and I wear them all the time, even though they have wood soles which kind of makes me sound like a horse when I walk around. But the shoes I am about to show you all have leather or rubber soles anyway:

I think I might actually buy these "Clementine" flats. They are on sale at shopbop for $103.60, but not in my size. Zappos had them in my size at full price, but not in the gold color I most wanted. A lot of the cutest Frye styles sell out fast.

These "Ada" shoes are so cute! Too bad I don't really need any open-toed heels. They're $148.

These "Cameron" shoes are the ones I'm really lusting after, but they are also sold out in my size. I'm hoping that some show up over at zappos soon, possibly in gold? These are also $148.

The cutest bike in all the land

2008-03-07T07:13:00.001-08:00

There are some things where cuteness is a reasonable consideration in making purchasing decisions. Like shoes. And then there are other things where I think it is less reasonable to consider cuteness, like exercise equipment. And yet, I am so very drawn to the Electra Townie bike by virtue of its mere retro cuteness:

Apparently they actually are supposed to be pretty decent bikes. Available in 1-21 speed models from $330-$860.

What I didn't register for

2008-03-05T06:45:00.000-08:00

So I'm getting married in September, and one of the nice things about getting married is that you are allowed, nay expected to ask for gifts, some of them quite extravagant! But the thing is, we've been living together for more than four years already and we already have everything we really need. So, the possibilities are to ask for luxury items we don't really need or to ask for nicer versions of things we already have.

Except I just can't bring myself to do it. I would love a set of dishes from Heath Ceramics, but we already have a set of perfectly good dishes and it seems silly and wasteful to get rid of them just because I want pretty new ones. And so I will ogle them from afar:

My favorite is definitely this Chez Panisse line, named for and used by the restaurant. The "ginger" glaze is so pretty!

I also love the green glaze on the cups (or are they ramekins?) in the background...unfortunately, they don't seem to have that color for sale.

So anyway, if you come to my house, I hope you will drop a few plates or bowls on the floor. Or maybe we'll have a big earthquake, centered directly under my kitchen cabinets but leaving the rest of the house relatively intact.

They're baaaack...

2008-03-04T06:16:00.001-08:00

I am a big fan of hosiery. And in the world of hosiery, trends come and go every few years and you can buy whatever is trendy with no guilt because even the best-made hosiery only lasts a couple of years anyway.

So first there were fishnets, and then other kinds of patterned hose, and then patterned hose got to be kind of passé and the last couple of seasons people were wearing opaque tights. But now, a change is brewing yet again, and what is in right now? Well, WhoWhatWearDaily.com is calling them sheer tights, but you know and I know what these things are. They are pantyhose. The things that women used to wear to work to complement their business suits with bows on them.

The saving grace here, though, is that instead of "suntan" or "nude," these so-called "sheer tights" are available in colors like red and fuschia and smoky gray. See how chic?

That image is from the Shapings.com website, which sells a variety of Fogal pantyhose in a variety of awesome colors. I may have just spent a bunch of money on several pairs.

Rescue Beauty Lounge

2008-03-04T06:08:00.000-08:00

This one is also maybe not the most original, as I am hearing about these everywhere, but I love these two shades of nail polish from Rescue Beauty Lounge:

"Stormy," and

"Concrete Jungle." $18 each.

Don't get me wrong, I will always love black, but gray is subtle, sophisticated, ethereal...now how long until Sephora makes a $5 knockoff?

I'm back! And I'm cold.

2008-03-04T06:01:00.000-08:00

So I admit that I'm totally stealing this link from one of the Lucky shopping blogs, but I really, really want this thing. You see, I'm always cold. And especially at work, where I sit underneath a vent that blows cold air on me all the time. Sometimes I even get so cold (even in the 4 layers of clothes I typically wear to work) that I cannot work for one moment longer and have to go into the lunchroom and drink hot tea to warm up, which makes me less productive, as I am drinking tea instead of working.

So now, voila, the answer to my dreams!

The C2 Climate Control (2007) employs a patented, energy-efficient thermal technology to deliver both heating and cooling from a single, compact unit. Consuming just 1.5 amps of AC current, the C2 uses approximately 90% less energy than a typical space heater. At the optimal distance of 18" from the user, this portable unit can increase air temperature by 32 degrees and decrease it by seven.

Sounds perfect! Except that it costs $280. And our environmental health & safety officer will likely take it away from me.

Oh la la

2007-07-17T17:00:00.000-07:00

It's a cliché, but the French, they put us to shame. Just look at this photo of Frédérick Grasser-Hermé in the New York Times:

I never wear an apron when I cook (what, am I going to get marinara sauce on my t-shirt and sweatpants?), but now I think I need a black vinyl one. Wow.

Fluevog Sale

2007-07-13T11:21:00.000-07:00

A big sale, in fact...

These flats, which are also available in blue and black, are nearly half off at $109:

These fabulous sandals (also available in other colors) are $149 marked down from $215:

But the ones I've been eyeing for a long time now (I even posted about them when they first came out a few months back) are these black Darjeeling pumps. And now they are also $149, marked down from $199.

Hey, you can always use another pair of black pumps, right? They're endlessly versatile. And compared to these similar Eileen Shields shoes, which are $420, they're practically a bargain, right? (I actually like the Eileen Shields ones even better, but $420 is crazy).

It's poppin'

2007-07-12T08:20:00.000-07:00

I seem to have a severe case of lip gloss on the brain these days. First there's the ridiculously infectious Lil' Mama song which has been running through my head for about a week straight. How can it be so catchy when it doesn't even have a melody? I don't understand.

And then there's the real stuff:

I've been ogling this Lancome Color Fever Gloss at Sephora for a while now. It's got a great consistency...and sparkles! And so many great colors: Molten, Volcanic Pink, Aflame, Mercury Rising, On Fire. Unfortunately, at $22 a pop, I can't even justify buying one, much less five.

Woe is me

2007-07-09T17:31:00.001-07:00

After more than a month of looking, I finally find the perfect coffee table...and it costs $1600. This is very, very sad.

Fresh

2007-07-02T15:30:00.000-07:00

This Brown Sugar Body Polish by Fresh is, quite simply, the best-smelling substance on earth:

It is also $62.50 for a 400g jar. It is a true testament to my willpower that I walked into the Fresh store in Union Square today with $500 cash in my pocket and managed to not buy any. (OK, I can only partly credit my willpower, I was also put off by the overagressive saleswoman who introduced me to this temptation in the first place).

This grenadine candle is also pretty fucking incredible:

But $48 for a candle? I can't do it.

Not really so expensive

2007-06-25T10:40:00.001-07:00

But these lights give me the irrational urge to throw a garden party. I don't really need any more stuff taking up space in my house, but I am a sucker for both string lights and things that are colorful:

$19.50 for a 12' strand, at Pearl River.

Bringing schlumpy back

2007-06-22T07:00:00.000-07:00

The other day I was at American Apparel and I fell in love with this baggy sweatshirt:

Actually, it's pretty flattering for something relatively shapeless. They only had them in bright yellow in the store, so I ordered two on their website. Now I will have the perfect thing to wear while sitting around the house eating ice cream from the carton!

More Viv & Ingrid

2007-06-22T06:54:00.000-07:00

I first found out about the jewelry designers Viv & Ingrid because this local shop, Behind the Post Office, carries a nice selection of their stuff. So I was in there yesterday, and I fell in love all over again with these earrings:

They have them in a bunch of other colors, too, and they're only $53! Sigh.

They're also selling a small selection of Hayden-Harnett stuff on their website now, like this pretty brocade coin purse. It's only $28, but I never use coin purses.

Pillows

2007-06-22T06:40:00.000-07:00

I need some pillows for my couch. But the problem is that all the ones I like are really expensive, and I know that if I buy a bunch of $80 pillows, I'll never be able to let my friends sit on the couch drinking red wine again, and I'll be one of those people. So what I'll probably end up doing is ripping off some of these designs and making them myself.

I love the color combination in this pillow by Emily Hass Peyton. I do not love the ridiculous $180 price. And come on, dry clean only? Luckily, something like this would not be too hard to make.

This Amy Butler pillow also looks pretty easy to make. It is a more reasonable $64, but I could still make it myself for much less.

OK, this one I couldn't make myself. And it's embroidered silk, so dry clean only. $80 doesn't seem like such a bad price for this Tazi Designs pillow, but I really can't see that thing making it through more than two or three podcasts.

Maybe I'll wallpaper the outside of my house...

2007-06-13T06:37:00.000-07:00

As some of you know, I recently bought a house, which is the main reason for the poverty that brought the blog about in the first place. Anyway, my mom called me last week and told me that I shouldn't put up wallpaper in my house because it will bring down the resale value, but I don't care! The whole reason why I bought a house was so I would be able to hang some Cole & Son wallpaper and nothing's gonna stop me! The hard part was narrowing down which patterns and colors I wanted. And now I find this gorgeous 1960s Osbourne & Little pattern:

Wow. Not sure about the price, probably about $125 a roll, and well worth it I'm sure.

Madeline Weinrib makes furniture!

2007-06-13T06:03:00.000-07:00

As you may recall, I have been lusting after Madeline Weinrib's beautiful rugs for some time now. I recently revisited her website and found that she is now making equally amazing furniture, covered in her beautiful ikat fabric:

I have no idea about the prices. Probably best not to even think about them, really.

She's also now selling her ikat and suzani fabrics to the trade.

And I also love this photo of what appears to be wallpaper (though there's no mention of it on the website) in her "Endless" pattern.

Pare Umbrella

2007-06-13T05:59:00.000-07:00

Wanna spend $65 on something pretty you'll end up leaving under the table at a restaurant and never see again? This is your place:

Tie front peds

2007-06-11T09:29:00.000-07:00

While I really like the idea of peds, I find that in practice, they often just don't look right. It's nigh impossible to find a ped that is big enough to actually stay on your foot but that doesn't peek out from underneath your shoe in a manner reminiscent of an errant exposed bra strap. Then there are those peds that are patterned and that are supposed to be visible, but those tend to be frilly and lacy and I think those just often don't look good either.

Anyway, these peds by Sparkle & Fade at Urban Outfitters look to be the solution to all these problems. They're supposed to stick out, but they're still sleek and fairly unobtrusive, although clearly they wouldn't work with all shoes, but I think this picture of them under the pumps is really cute:

The problem is, though, that according to the website, they're only available in white instead of the pictured black. Tragedy!

Mary Green underthings

2007-06-10T20:42:00.000-07:00

I read about Mary Green's underwear in a magazine, specifically, it was something about how her silk and nylon boy pants were a good alternative to thongs. I am not down with the thong, so this piqued my interest, and then after I'd already bought some stuff there, I realized that they're a local company. They don't have a retail store as far as I know, but I've since seen this stuff in some SF lingerie shops.

They make slips, nightgowns, robes, bras...basically the whole lingerie gamut, but I think their greatest offering is the panties. The only thing that kind of creeps me out about the website is the fact that all the offerings are photographed on weird-looking mannequins.

Eazy bean

2007-06-10T20:32:00.001-07:00

Like most children of the 1970s, I've spent my fair share of time sitting on beanbags. Ours was a big brown naugahyde blob and leaked beans in several spots (I think that may have been the cat's doing). But Eazy Bean makes beanbags that look nothing like that...they're cool and modern and also sadly, kind of expensive.

The 2 tone one above costs $300 and is available in 34 different top colors and 2 different base colors.

And this love bean seats two and is available in velvet, suede, wool or leather in many different color options. Prices are from $250-$480 depending on the material. I want one for my living room!

Acne shoes

2007-06-07T21:32:00.001-07:00

OK, now back to something a little more traditional. When I first started seeing Acne jeans everywhere, I thought it must be an unfortunate typo in the name. But no, there is a company that sells very expensive jeans called Acne, and I'm not really sure why that is the name, but I do know that now they are also selling some very gorgeous and expensive shoes.

I am particularly partial to these "Dianne" shoes. I love the heel shape!

The "Phyllis" shoes are also pretty fabulous, although brown is not my favorite color:

I'm not sure how much the "Phyllis" shoes are, but apparently you can buy the Diannes for $400 from Opening Ceremony (which isn't an e-commerce site, it just has a phone number. Not that it matters, since like most people, I don't have $400 to spend on shoes).

Sarina Brewer's taxidermy

2007-06-07T21:19:00.000-07:00

Vegans might want to look away now, although all of Sarina Brewer's work uses roadkill and discarded/donated animals. She uses these "recycled" animal parts to create some amazing taxidermy artwork, much of it fanciful in nature, like this gryphon:

Or this, the "world's smallest jackalope":

She also sells specimens, like preserved animal hearts, brains and testicles, and does some more explicit pieces involving skinned animals for those who have a truly bold decorating style. As for me, I think this "Der Hand Vom Wofmann" is quite the conversation piece:

Mushroom Logs

2007-06-07T21:12:00.000-07:00

Yes, I am back!

Anyway, I saw these on a blog somewhere, and the photo that blogger had up (I have now of course forgotten where I saw it) was much better than the one on the company's website, but I think this would make a great and unusual gift.

It's a log that sprouts mushrooms! You "shock" it in cold water, and then in 6-10 days you have shiitake mushrooms. And it looks cool, too (although, like I said, not so much in the photo above). From $38.50.

Dolce Vita shoes

2007-03-29T21:27:00.000-07:00

I'd never heard of this company until a few months ago, but now all of a sudden, they're everywhere. And with good reason, it appears. The thing that appeals to me about them is that they have a lot of basic styles in a lot of different colors, including a color that I am rather infatuated with these days, tomato red. I've been looking for a pair of tomato red flats for months now, and they're actually really hard to find, but these are just perfect (and they're also available in black, gold, silver, mahoghany, and sky blue):

Unfortunately, I don't think I can afford the $97 for them at the moment. But I will admire them from afar. These ones, too:

(Also $97 and also available in a number of colors).

Birch bark tubes

2007-03-29T21:23:00.000-07:00

I have seen birch bark vases elsewhere for a lot more money. I guess these really aren't vases, they're just tubes, and you have to stick a vase inside it, but still, they're very reasonably priced at $6.50 for the little ones and $9.50 for the big ones. Of course, they're temporarily out of stock and due to arrive the "week of March 20th." So maybe you can get one sometime soon.

Goth candleholder

2007-03-29T06:14:00.000-07:00

This is another one of those "wow, I love it, but I would never pay $80 for a candleholder" kinds of things. The "Little Joseph Candle Holder" by Qubus design:

But yeah, it's $80.

I'm back

2007-03-29T06:06:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the extended holiday hiatus. I am still here and still covet things.

You may have noticed by now that I'm a sucker for pretty, vividly colored stones. So when I saw the jewelry from Verre New York, I was instantly covetous. Another nice thing about it besides the pretty colors (I know, they're glass, not stones) is the fact that everything is available in either sterling or 14k gold. Prices are shown for what's pictured (sterling is significantly cheaper than the gold).

Earrings $65.

"Molecule" earrings $65

"Jann" necklace, $250.

John Derian Company

2007-01-04T20:13:00.000-08:00

John Derian makes beautiful decoupage. I posted some John Derian stuff before when I talked about Auto, but I only just happened upon the company's website. And wow. I pretty much want everything they make.

10" x 16" Frog tray, $185

5-3/4" Skull and crossbones plate, $48

8" bat plate, $95

9" hexagonal starfish plate, $120

God, these are all so fantastic! But yes, expensive. Sigh.

Blast from the past

2007-01-04T20:04:00.000-08:00

Do you guys know about The Vermont Country Store? It's an actual brick and mortar country store (more like a country emporium, actually) in Vermont, but they have a website and a catalog, too. I think this is just about my favorite catalog, mostly for the nostalgia factor. THIS is the place to buy things that you just don't see in stores anymore.

Like Charlie perfume:

Or Lobster Newburg in a can:

How about a Lanz flannel nightgown?

Or an actual typewriter?

Anyway, these are just a few examples. This place is amazing!

Thomas Paul stuff at bluefly.com

2006-12-19T07:57:00.000-08:00

So I knew that a few months ago the discount clothing website bluefly.com started offering some home stuff. At the time, they basically had Dwell and Frette bedding and some god-awful Hermes towels and stuff, but I just discovered that they've expanded their home goods selection and they now have a bunch of great Thomas Paul stuff, all for about half off! They're offering an extra 10% off everything "today only," except they had the same deal yesterday, and they e-mail me promotional codes practically every day for an extra 10% or 20% off, so I'm listing the prices with the extra 10% off.

These sparrow plates are really cute. I almost bought them from elsewares.com a few months ago but then I remembered that we already have too many plates and not enough cabinets. They're $21.60 for four:

Most of their Thomas Paul selection, though, is silk pillows, many of which are really beautiful. The above one here is $48.60 and the one below is $56.16. Which is a pretty great deal if you don't mind having last season's pillows on your couch:

Hummingbird tights

2006-12-16T16:51:00.000-08:00

It's winter, it's probably gloomy outside, why not wear some bright yellow tights? They're $32.

The ultimate black pump

2006-12-16T16:43:00.000-08:00

Turns out it's by Christian Louboutin. I mean, it's just a plain black pump, but the first time I saw it, in the Sienna Miller photo spread in this month's W, just, wow. So pretty. It is shoe perfection. For $510.

Core 77 gift guide

2006-12-09T09:56:00.000-08:00

At this time of year, it's a newfound tradition that every website on earth puts together a holiday gift guide. And in my opinion, most of them are crap. It's the same stuff you already see everywhere and most of it is out of my budget anyway. Not so with the Core 77 77 design gifts under $77 list!

You should check it out for yourself, but here are a few of my favorites:

The power squid! It provides 5 grounded outlets. A necessity for people like me who live in antique buildings but have modern electronic needs. $12.31

The shredder hand looks perfect for anyone who wants to dispose of financial documents safely but feels a little bit ridiculous buying a full-fledged paper shredder. And it's only $15.37.

Carnivorous plant terrarium. Need I say more? $24.99.

Cool jewels ice! $7.99 for the coolest novelty ice cubes I've seen.

Suzanis

2006-12-09T09:46:00.000-08:00

So I kept seeing these gorgeous bedspreads in Domino magazine and it said they were something called a Suzani, but the ones they showed cost hundreds of dollars. Then one day, just out of curiosity, as I do with many things that I like but cannot afford, I typed it into the eBay search engine and bingo! Suzanis are a traditional handstitched craft in Uzbekistan, a former Soviet republic where lucky for us, painstaking labor is apparently dirt cheap. Most of the eBay listings are actually located in Uzbekistan, so you do have to pay $25-50 for shipping, but these things are still a steal even so. Both of the ones below are going for just $99 plus shipping! Follow the links to see close-up photos of the details:

California Christmas

2006-12-09T09:41:00.000-08:00

There is something odd about spending Christmas in a place where the only concessions to winter weather are drizzle and the occasional forty-degree night. That's why when I saw a succulent wreath at Paxton Gate the other day, it just seemed so perfect. Theirs were gorgeous, too, but the cheapest one they had was $110. This one is a little bit less fancy, but also less expensive, and still very cool:

It's $89 at Viva Terra.

Eco friendly edition

2006-11-27T18:27:00.000-08:00

So I've seen An Inconvenient Truth, and I try to do my part. I recycle, drive my car as infrequently as possible, and try to buy ecologically friendly products, but unfortunately, they are often quite expensive. At least I can covet them for free!

First up is the Sun Jar:

You stick it near a window, and it absorbs solar energy all day, which it then emits back in the form of light when it gets dark! Granted, it only provides light for about 5 hours and it's about as bright as a candle, but it's a lot lower maintenance than a candle and the chance of it burning your house down is likely minimal. They're $42 at Elsewares.

And then there are these shoes from the eco-friendly company Terra Plana. The materials they use are recycled or otherwise environmentally friendly, and I like the cute rustic-yet-sophisticated look of the shoes:

The ones above are $198 and the ones below are $180. They're both available in a couple other color combinations.

This one's for Jen Fu!

2006-11-20T18:13:00.000-08:00

Every year, trends come and go. Some of these trends are singled out for derision and scorn by critics such as Cojo, and also by certain friends of mine. This year, some of the most maligned trends include formal shorts, leggings and ankle boots. And OK, formal shorts, I'm with you there. It just looks silly unless you're going on a formal safari or something. But in this post, I would like to stick up for both leggings and ankle boots. I mean, yes, you can go badly wrong with either. For example, leggings do not give you license to go out in public wearing only a shirt. And ankle boots should not be covered in studs unless they're part of your Halloween costume. But look, these are perfectly nice, I think:

They'd be cute with a short skirt! And they're only $58 at Urban Outfitters! Come on, don't let that Cojo guy boss you around!

Holiday catalog lust, Part I: Barneys

2006-11-19T09:51:00.000-08:00

The holiday catalogs are filling my mailbox now, harkening the height of consumer lust season. Most of the catalogs I get are crap, actually, but a few fill me with longing, including, of course, the Barneys catalog.

First up are these cute wool leg warmers. It would seem to me that they would be totally impractical for winter in a place with actual weather like New York, but out here, leg warmers and leggings and whatnot are perfect for the slight chilliness we experience from November through February. Unfortunately, they're $110...a bit steep for hosiery, I think.

And then there's this cute hat. They call it a "medieval biker" hat, which I can kind of see, but it also looks kind of 1930s to me. Anyway, it's fantastically cute but also, alas, wildly expensive, $240. Also, I hate wearing hats anyway.

The last thing I was going to post about is this gorgeous Irene Neuwirth gold and prehnite necklace, but it's not on the website, only in the catalog. Maybe it's because people don't usually order $10365 necklaces over the internet? But hey, this necklace is pretty nice, too, and only $1500!

2 Dresses

2006-11-15T18:36:00.000-08:00

Or, a study in opposites.

Here is dress #1:

Cute, versatile, practical, reasonably priced ($68)!

And dress #2:

What do you mean you don't have anywhere to wear a $390 python-print prom dress?

Campo di Fiori

2006-11-10T17:39:00.000-08:00

Do you know what I find really irritating? Websites that advertise beautiful things, but don't sell them! Instead, they direct you to brick-and-mortar stores, where you have to shop the antiquated way. This is the problem with Campo di Fiori.

Their basic shtick is that they make garden accessories, mostly simple things made from beautiful materials, but a lot of their stuff would be quite at home outside the garden, or are designed for entirely non-garden uses like these bronze "soap dishes" (I put "soap dishes" in quotation marks because the big one is 12" long, which seems excessively large for a soap dish to me):

They also have a number of really beautiful copper plates and trays:

These trays would make a great way to display some Tillandsias.

And Campo di Fiori of course also makes some beautiful aged clay pots:

And there's a bunch more stuff I love from these guys, beautiful carved wooden bowls, wire baskets...too bad I hate going to stores so much.

Built by Wendy

2006-11-05T19:22:00.000-08:00

Built by Wendy originally started as a chick who made fancy guitar straps for hipster indie rocker women. Now it's a full-fledged clothing line for hipsters. Most of the stuff is way too hip for the likes of me to pull off, but there are a few things in most of her collections that I think I might be able to manage. Like this beautiful "fireworks dress," available in both black and ivory:

Unfortunately, it's a whopping $285.

This penguin dress is part of a series of penguin clothes:

And OK, it's more than a little gimmicky. But pretty cute, no? But it's $260.

One way to circumvent those high prices is to DIY...Wendy also offers patterns on her website, like this dress/tunic/top pattern (the dress is cute, but I'm not so sure about the others). The pattern is only $14.95.

Of course, in my case, that would require a little refresher course in the art of sewing...but not to fear, Wendy also has a sewing book out that is apparently pretty good.

All-clad cookware set

2006-11-01T19:35:00.000-08:00

I cook a lot. I eat maybe an average of one meal a week that I didn't prepare with my own hands. So, upgrading from my crappy pans with the peeling nonstick coating that is probably poisoning me has always been a fantasy of mine. Of course, the reason why I have crappy pots and pans in the first place is because fancy ones cost a zillion dollars.

Williams-Sonoma is not a place I ordinarily associate with bargains, but they're selling a set of All-Clad stainless steel cookware that is really a perfect assortment: a 10" fry pan, a 4 quart saucepan with lid, a 3 quart saute pan with lid and a 7 quart stockpot with lid. And they throw in a 12" All-Clad nonstick grill pan if you order the set before January 31, 2007. All for $499.95. Which is still a lot of money, but also a pretty good deal, I think.

Sale at Net a Porter

2006-11-01T19:23:00.000-08:00

Net a Porter is this European high end designer clothing website that just expanded their operations to the U.S. Most of their stuff is insanely expensive, but right now they're having a half off sale on a few items, making them slightly less expensive. Most of it is still insanely expensive, though. But this Munthe Plus Simonsen dress is lovely, and only $145.

They also have a top in the same design for $92.50.

Fjord tank top

2006-11-01T07:10:00.000-08:00

Yes, my last post was about a jacket and this one is about a tank top. Living in San Francisco may have induced a little seasonal confusion. But this top is just very extremely cute, and only slightly expensive (for a tank top) at $38:

I bought something

2006-11-01T07:02:00.000-08:00

Well, I've been needing a jacket, appropriate for our 40 to 50 degree San Francisco fall and winter days, and the other day, I saw this Nicholas K. sweater-jacket thingy at Le Train Bleu:

I love sweater jackets...mostly because regular jackets tend to be too boxy for my frame and they're also less comfortable. So I was lusting after this one, but knew I could never justify the $330 price tag.

But then today, I saw that it's one of Lucky magazine's Lucky Breaks for December. Just enter the word "luckymag" at checkout, and you get 25% off. And so I had to do it. And I did.

Sale stuff at Auto

2006-10-30T08:05:00.000-08:00

Auto just got a bunch of new stuff in (mostly baby stuff, and so not of much interest to me, but maybe you think a $300 cashmere baby sweater sounds like a good idea). But they also have some cool new sale stuff, like this bag, which is now more than half off at $125:

And OK, one baby item did appeal to me, a quilt, but it's actually machine washable. And I like that it's not in stupid baby colors. And it is now a vaguely reasonable $99, marked down from $245!

And finally, even though I don't really live in a climate where you have to wear a hat anymore, this Paul Smith one is kind of cute, although still pretty expensive at $107:

More Marimekko

2006-10-24T08:55:00.000-07:00

Browsing various sites that sell Marimekko products over the weekend, I discovered that a couple of my favorite current Marimekko fabrics are now available as things! Like this Kaiku pattern shower curtain for $59:

And this Tuuli print is now available in shoulder bag form for $64:

And finally, this is actually not a fabric I'd ever seen before, I just liked this cool Sofie skirt. And it's on sale for $85 (marked down from $165!)

Moving sale at Le Train Bleu

2006-10-18T09:00:00.000-07:00

It's 30% off everything except Rebecca Taylor stuff until October 31. So now's a great time to buy a fancy little black dress like this one:

That dress is actually pretty reasonably priced (by LTB standards) at $187, and with the discount, it'd only be $130.90. So if I were willing to go without food for about two weeks, I'd save enough money to buy it, and then my only problem would be that I'd have nowhere to wear it.

The other thing that caught my eye currently at Le Train Bleu is this pair of cute shoes:

And of course they happen to be by Rebecca Taylor, so you have to pay the full $198. Wah-wah.

Another awesome t-shirt from Sailor Jerry

2006-10-18T08:50:00.000-07:00

Enough said. It's $54, which is pricey for a t-shirt, but the print is a bleach-out, and Sailor Jerry's shirts are really good quality. This isn't that godawful Ed Hardy shit.

Hayden-Harnett carryalls

2006-10-18T08:13:00.000-07:00

It's funny, I don't really like anything else that Hayden-Harnett makes, but I love these little carryalls. They're $60. It's a good thing I'm not buying one of these, because then I'd have to make the heartbreaking decision of the black one versus the gold one!

Did you know...

2006-10-18T08:07:00.000-07:00

That Orla Kiely now makes wallpaper? Pretty nice, huh? About $109/roll.

Missoni home collection

2006-10-10T20:25:00.000-07:00

I have a very mixed reaction to Missoni's clothing. I think some of their stuff is fantastic, and some of it looks like Bill Cosby's sweaters from the 1980s. So it's not much of a surprise that I feel the same about their new home line. I love these "ghost" towels (prices $18-$95):

(These towels, on the other hand, are a nightmare.)

I also love this bedding, especially the duvet (a mere $475):

And then in the serious sticker shock category, aren't these candles awesome?

Well, they should, because they cost $275 and $325! For candles!

Blanky

2006-10-10T20:20:00.000-07:00

I am always cold, so I love blankets. The problem I find is that so many of the nice ones are made of wool or alpaca or something else that's dry-clean only, which is kind of impractical for a blanket, not to mention that it's probably not too great for you to envelop yourself in something that's been marinated in dry cleaning fluid.

But this fleece blanket from Room & Board is 100% cotton, and comes in a cool "smoke/ink" color combo. It's $199 for the full/queen size, and $239 for king-size.

Barneys

2006-10-06T07:40:00.000-07:00

I know, I've been slacking here this week. But I assure you, I've still been coveting, I've just been too busy to actually post about it.

I think if I had to name one store as my absolute favorite, I would pick Barneys. And yet I can only remember actually ever buying one thing there (a pair of Adidas sneakers on post-Christmas clearance). This is because Barneys is expensive and fancy. But I'd buy all my clothes there if only I were rich and had a job where I didn't face a daily risk of being accidentally spritzed with bleach.

So anyway, I don't really buy things from Barneys, but I like to go visit all the pretty things whenever I'm in New York, and this being 2006, they also have a website where I can ogle their wares online. Like this cute Marc Jacobs sweater:

It's even on sale for $109!

This skirt encapsulates everything I love about Barneys. It's simple, elegant, beautifully tailored...it's also $550, but even if I could afford it, I couldn't wear it, since the long flared skirt is just about absolutely the least flattering thing a short person could wear. But it's very pretty anyway:

And this dress. Wow. It actually seems like it's worth the $595, which is saying something coming from a tightwad like me:

Dreamsacks silk coverlets

2006-09-30T09:26:00.000-07:00

I love silk coverlets in theory, although having just paid $45 to get the one I own dry-cleaned, the reality is slightly less rosy. But hey, this is a fantasy shopping blog, so check these ones out:

Aren't those colors pretty? And they're reversible (the picture shows the color combinations next to one another). Prices range from $110 for a throw up to $260 for a king-size. I especially like the Azure/Turquoise combo.

Perfect chair

2006-09-28T13:18:00.000-07:00

I've always wanted a big wingback chair. They're the best chairs to curl up in with a book, and Restoration Hardware's looks just about perfect to me:

And it's on sale! But it's still $1695 and up, depending on the filling you get. They've got it in a bunch of colors. I'd want mine to be black. Pair it with an RH Library Task Floor Lamp and a pair of sweatpants and you're in bookworm heaven.

New Fluevogs

2006-09-28T13:04:00.000-07:00

Fluevogs are hit or miss for me, but these are awfully cute. This "Darjeeling" shoe is part of the "Teapots" line, supposedly named because the heels look like teapots. I'm not sure I see it, but I like the laces.

They're $185 and also available in green and brown.

Stuff from Clio Home

2006-09-25T06:50:00.000-07:00

Clio home is another housewares store in New York, but in addition to the obligatory Sarah Cihat dishware and sea urchin-shaped whatnots, they have a couple of items that I hadn't seen anywhere else and really liked.

I like the idea of having lots of little vases with flowers in them, it seems less imposing than one big arrangement, and this set of vases would be perfect for that. I love the milky glass and the shapes:

It's $195 for the set, but hey, if you break one you still have six left!

And then I also really liked this teapot, which takes a conventional design idea and then skews it a little bit:

It's $105 and also available with a cardinal or an oriole on it.

Hideo Wakamatsu luggage

2006-09-23T10:21:00.000-07:00

I need a suitcase. I have a tiny one and a huge one, but no medium sized one, and even the ones I do have are problematic because they look exactly like everyone else's suitcase. You know, they're those black ballistic nylon rolly things. This is why I fantasize about buying a Hideo Wakamatsu suitcase:

This picture frame suitcase is cool because you can swap out the picture on the front for anything else you want (I suppose you could do the same with any hard sided suitcase and a protective layer of plastic, but I'm not very handy and also kind of lazy). Sadly, it's $329.

This next suitcase is extremely cute, but it's a little too small for my needs. But I love the colors (it's available in 5 others in addition to the red), and it's a bit cheaper at $210:

New shoes at Anthropologie

2006-09-20T13:01:00.000-07:00

After my last post, these will seem downright reasonable:

I love the crazy heel on these Citrus Pumps. They're $258, and also available in blinding yellow.

The Mirabelle T-Straps are just so pretty. And the 1" heel means they're probably pretty walkable, too. They're $128.

These garter snake flats are not really snakeskin, but they're still cool. $138.

I like the fact that these two-speed ballerinas look like they have scales on them. They're mermaid shoes! They're $138 and also available in "graphite blue" and "tangerine."

Stunning

2006-09-20T12:56:00.000-07:00

A $500 shoe with a 4-1/2" stiletto heel? What's not to love?

(Seriously, I think these are gorgeous but ridiculous!)

Elephant shrew

2006-09-19T05:53:00.000-07:00

I really just want this 1848 Checkered Elephant Shrew lithograph:

It's $59.

Odd Molly

2006-09-15T08:10:00.000-07:00

Today I have a special treat for you: a company that makes fabulous sweaters and other clothes that seem to be available only in Scandianavian countries! Time to buy a plane ticket to Stockholm.

I first discovered Odd Molly when I happened upon this sweater, but was disappointed to find that they only stocked the gray color in a size 2 (if this blog is teaching me anything, it is that I need to lose 15 pounds and become a size 2 if I ever want to wear anything good). So, I went looking for the manufacturer's website and found a treasure trove! Gorgeous sweaters, blouses, dresses, jackets and accessories. So cute, so Swedish! Here are a few of my very favorites:

Yes, I know that was five pictures. Sorry, I couldn't narrow it down any further.

Infuriatingly, while they claim on their website to have a U.S. presence, they don't list any U.S. stores, nor do they sell anything online themselves. An extensive google search revealed only that their clothes seem to be widely available in Scandinavia and the U.K., but not so much here. Oh well, it's good for my goal of not shopping, anyway.

eBay: why do I torture myself?

2006-09-14T07:01:00.000-07:00

This Geren Ford dress is up to $255 now (the auction ends today) and yet I can't bring myself to remove it from my eBay watch list. I guess I just like visiting it online and thinking "you could have been mine...if I only had $300 to spare."

And I'm ashamed to admit that I'm still actually entertaining thoughts about this Anna Sui dress, which is going for $168, but nobody's bid on it yet, which is a good sign. It's a little big for me, but hey, I could always have it taken in and it would still be a bargain, right?

I wish I didn't have a bed...

2006-09-12T17:08:00.000-07:00

Because then I could buy one of these:

I had never heard of this company, Brocade Home, but their catalog showed up in my mailbox today and I was intrigued. The stuff they make is all in the vein of the above, kind of Anthropologie-esque, but at a price point similar to Crate and Barrel and the like. The hand-carved bed above (uppermost left) is $1499 + delivery for a Queen size. And it's made out of mahoghany.

Anyway, they don't really sell stuff through their website, although you can view the print catalog online (I made these images by doing screencaps of that, but as you can see, the image quality is not so great. I recommend ordering the catalog if you're into this stuff).

They also have a lot of ornately carved mirrors for very reasonable prices, like this one for $399:

Anyway, I am definitely intrigued, despite their lame self-description: "It's softness meets strength...prettiness with depth...it's the feminine home for the 21st century..[sic]"

Ew.

Anybody wear a size 9-1/2 shoe?

2006-09-12T10:24:00.000-07:00

Because these fantastic Loeffler Randall beauties are on sale for $187 (50% off!) but they only have them in a size 9 and they say they run half a size big:

They are magnificent. And this is the first time I've ever seen Loeffler Randall shoes on sale anywhere, because they always sell out even though they cost a million dollars.

The salad blaster

2006-09-12T06:59:00.000-07:00

As we've already established, I am poor. Thus, I bring my lunch to work every day because I can't afford the $7 sandwiches in the cafeteria. Also, the food there is really not so hot. The only vegetarian sandwich they offer is made with smoked mozzarella, which has an overpowering smoky taste. "Smoke" is one of those flavors that needs to be used sparingly, like dill. But I guess I'm getting off topic.

Back on topic, I was excited to find The Salad Blaster at The Container Store. It's a bowl with a built-in compartment for salad dressing that get applied when you press a button! I never pack salads, because who wants to go to all the trouble to separately carry salad and dressing and worry about the dressing leaking all over your bag (they claim the Salad Blaster is leak-proof)? My only concern is that I wonder how easy it is to clean. But it's a brilliant idea. They're $5.99.

Vena Cava

2006-09-12T06:34:00.000-07:00

Vena Cava is yet another label that I discovered through Le Train Bleu. They make brilliant, yet sadly expensive, 1920s- and 1930s-inspired clothes. Like this gorgeous Bernard dress, which is unfortunately $525:

I love the triangle print. You can also find it on this blouse (a mere $230):

This silk top is also fabulous, although I'm not so sure what's up with that super-long drawstring. I'd be afraid it would get caught in a subway door or something, which is OK because I can't afford it anyway ($178):

Cashmere sale at Bluefly

2006-09-08T21:25:00.000-07:00

Everybody loves cashmere, right? It's so soft! Traditionally, cashmere sweaters have been a little bit boring, but now the trend is for cashmere sweaters to be all edgy, with skulls and stuff on them.

Anyway, the point oI'm trying to make is that Bluefly is having a cashmere sale, and they've got some good prices on things that are somewhere between cable-knit cardigans and skull sweaters (although they also do have these things).

I think the blousy cut of this sweater is very unusual and striking. They've got it in a bunch of colors for $119 (52% off!):

This kimono sweater is also cute, and looks comfortable. It's also available in "henna orange," and they're both $132 marked down from $220.

This funnel neck one is a little wacky, but I like it! They've got a few other colors, and it's $179.

Sale at Re-Mix vintage shoes

2006-09-07T07:29:00.000-07:00

Re-Mix Vintage Shoes is one of my favorite websites to ogle. They make what appear to be beautifully made shoes in vintage styles. But they're kind of expensive. Which is why it's so exciting that several items are on sale there right now, including these tomato red babydoll pumps:

They're $79, marked down from $139! Now if only they had an online ordering system!

More eBay lust

2006-09-07T07:17:00.000-07:00

Oh, this Anna Sui skirt is so pretty:

I'm not a size 2 at the moment, but for this skirt, I think I'd be willing to become one. Sadly, the starting bid is $146, and there are still 5 more days to go...

Auto

2006-09-04T13:13:00.000-07:00

Auto is a fancy-schmancy store in New York that sells many gorgeous but expensive things. Sigh. I had a really hard time narrowing it down to just a few things to post photos of here.

I am particularly fond of their large selection of decoupage plates and trays. This bird tray is $95:

And I really like this beehive vase (but $180 for a vase? No way!)

They've also got gorgeous jewelry, like these two necklaces which are both sold out anyway so you don't have to worry about the price:

They've also got lovely sunglasses, great John Robshaw bedding, and tons of gorgeous but insanely expensive baby clothes, including this most impractical item, a cashmere diaper cover. I think that it is officially the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard of.

Flight 001 website

2006-09-01T19:29:00.000-07:00

There's a Flight 001 brick-and-mortar store in San Francisco, so I'd never checked out their website until today, and while it never seems I can afford anything in the store, their website has some pretty good deals in its sale section, including lots of cosmetic cases, such as this one:

It's only $9.99, marked down from $38!

And here's an Orla Kiely bag for $109.99 marked down from $170:

Of course, their full price stuff is pretty nice, too. I long for this clutch purse (even though I never ever carry a clutch purse. But I could always use it as a wallet!)

It's $115.

Early Jewelry

2006-09-01T09:57:00.000-07:00

Earlier this year, I bought a couple of pairs of Early Jewelry earrings through Elsewares. But I want more! They have a lot of gorgeous new stuff up at their website right now. Like these asymmetrical earrings. I LOVE them.

And they're $50, which is not so bad.

They have lots of pretty bone jewelry, too, like this $80 necklace:

They also make these cool hoop earrings that you put in through the back of your ear for a trompe l'oeil effect. I'm not sure if I'm talented enough to actually put in earrings backwards, but maybe you are:

Those are $60.

The Steve Madden "Bunni" shoe

2006-08-30T10:04:00.000-07:00

I love these because they're simple, but they fill a need that you probably didn't know you had. They're mini-wedges!

For the last year or so, the two big shoe trends have been wedges and flats, and this is the perfect compromise between the two, and as a bonus, it looks far fresher than either. The 1" heel looks comfortable enough that you could wear these as an everyday shoe, even if you walk a lot. And they're available in a variety of colors and finishes (patent, suede, and regular leather). They're $79.95. The only thing not to like is the dumb name!

American Apparel boatneck t-shirt

2006-08-30T09:59:00.000-07:00

OK, I have to admit, this weekend I bought two shirts. But I needed some long-sleeved shirts (it's been cold here) and they were only $24.

So I got two of this boatneck t-shirt from American Apparel. The website says it's a web exclusive, but that is a lie since I bought them at the brick and mortar store. I got them in red (shown) and fuschia. Some American Apparel stuff is not the most flattering, but I liked these a lot. And they were only $24 each! (Still trying to justify purchase to myself).

Silicone rolling pin

2006-08-29T17:11:00.000-07:00

I just learned of the invention of this from my favorite food blog, Sweet Napa, and it is brilliant. A silicone rolling pin! So you don't have to use flour, which is for me certainly the messiest and generally most unpleasant aspect of making cookies or pie crust that have to be rolled out.

The above one from Sur La Table is $49.95, a little expensive, but so worth it, I'm sure. And of course you also need a nonstick surface to roll your dough out on, like, say a silpat, which I also do not own...

$14.95-$19.95.

Restoration Hardware

2006-08-27T22:04:00.000-07:00

Yes, Restoration Hardware. I got their new catalog in the mail last week. And while most of their stuff is not really my style, I have to admit that they make some really well-constructed things at decent prices for the quality. And some of them are pretty nice. I mean, what nerd could resist these Library Task Lamps ($179)?

And this Venetian Beaded Leaning Mirror is really gorgeous ($699):

I don't own any of their towels, but I've heard they're really nice. They certainly look nice. I really want this bathmat ($29-$99):

eBay corner: Vivienne Westwood

2006-08-27T21:27:00.000-07:00

My shopping restriction seems to be bringing out an unhealthy eBay obsession in me. But man, look at these shoes!

Luckily, these aren't my size (they're approximately a size 8). The starting bid is $56.63, but I estimate they'll sell for about three times that.

More garden stuff

2006-08-25T09:13:00.000-07:00

Following up on the theme established yesterday by new contributor K, I want to talk about Guy Wolff's garden pottery. See, I have this cactus, and unlike every other plant I've ever had, this cactus has actually thrived under my care (as opposed to either merely muddling along or dying). And I needed to re-pot it, but I couldn't find a pot I liked, until I happened upon some of Wolff's pots at a shop in the San Francisco Ferry Building Marketplace. Unfortunately, the ones they had for sale there were all too small for my thriving cactus, but it prompted me to seek out the website where I found that Mr. Wolff makes all kinds of garden pottery in a variety of shapes and finishes:

These pots are rustic-looking, but not in that annoying cutesy way. I am particularly fond of the copper finish:

But they're all really nice and would mix and match well. And they're not too terribly expensive, either: little ones are $5.50 and the most expensive one I saw was $50.

As for myself, I wound up temporarily transferring the cactus to an ugly $1 pot I found at IKEA.

The Urban Garden

2006-08-24T06:44:00.000-07:00

Here are some things I have been wanting for a while now, and they meet all requirements for coveting in that they are kind of pricey and also only available in the UK (but you could have them shipped, of course). I think I need three of these for my front porch! Meet the recycled tyre planter.

Unlike any tire planters I have seen, including the silly but kind of homely ones in my front yard at the moment, these are goregous and have the cute button. Also, these are £15.30 and up while the ones in my front yard were free if you don't think about the price of the house. The Urban Garden also has a ton of other cool stuff, like this beehive composter, which is possibly the cutest composter ever made (at £140.00 it's pricier than most composters):

They also have all sorts of adorable bird boxes, including bird balls (for all sorts of tits!!) which I have never seen before but would be perfect for a modern minimal garden.

If these ever go on sale...

2006-08-23T07:14:00.000-07:00

I'm so there. Because I really like the shoes they have at Free People, but they all seem about 50% overpriced to me. Take these pretty leather ballet flats. I love the colors:

And they'd be great if they were about $35, but they're actually $58. As are these cowhide zebra stitched flats:

Actually, the zebra shoes seem like they're a little more worth $58, but they're only available in size 8 anyway.

Lastly, I covet these boots, but not $388 worth:

I wonder what the chances are that they'll ever be marked down to, say, $170?

Free People actually does have a bunch of shoes on sale right now, but they're all, like, super ugly gladiator sandals.

Sale at Le Train Bleu

2006-08-23T07:05:00.000-07:00

So most of the summer clearance stuff there is sold out, but the other day I got an e-mail from them with the promotional code "bissous," (shouldn't it be "bissoux?") that gives you 30% off everything through September 1st, which is pretty good, too. I am looking longingly at this Black Tulip Cocktail Dress even though it has two of my most hated features: an empire waist and a tulip skirt. But somehow, it doesn't seem like it would make you look like a pregnant poofball, and I love the 1930s details.

Of course, it's not actually available for 1-2 more weeks, but hopefully the promotional code will still be in effect then. It's $296.

Berber trading company

2006-08-22T16:53:00.000-07:00

This place is not always cheap, but it is a treasure trove of unusual Moroccan products, which American-born white people have used for years to decorate their homes in order to seem worldly and "ethnic." If you'd like to jump on that boat, how about starting with this beautiful Sitara bedspread:

It's on sale for $198 marked down from $228, and as the description says, in real life, it "look[s] much better than portrayed in photo." And it looks pretty nice in the photo, if you ask me.

Next up is the Opium side table:

I don't know what it has to do with opium, but it's a pretty nice and unusual table, and only $124. There's also an Opium bed and Opium coffee table, if you want to live the full opium lifestyle.

This Pida chair's seat is only 9" off the ground, and I mostly want it so I can make my tall friends who like to make fun of me for being short sit in it:

And if none of this appeals, they also offer two styles of Fezzes!

Bats are cool.

2006-08-22T11:55:00.000-07:00

I know I'm a little late to the party with the whole eBay thing, but I recently discovered (duh!) that it is a great place to buy art. Specifically, I'm enamored with the large selection of lithographs by the great Victorian anatomical illustrator Ernst Haeckel. His book Art Forms in Nature (also available on eBay, just do a search) was the inspiration for one of my tattoos, and I've always been partial to this page with the vampire bats:

(The above is a detail, as you may have guessed from the fact that it's chopped off at the bottom).

Anyway, right now it's priced at $9.99 plus $8.95 for shipping. That seller has a bunch of other Haeckel prints, too.

De Nada bags

2006-08-20T07:26:00.000-07:00

This is another tip from pinkytime, who saw some of these bags in person and says they're even cuter than they look on the website:

I think my favorite thing about them, though, is the design your own bag feature, where you pick a style and then pick your choice of fabrics for the outside and inside, and it's no more expensive than a premade bag. And it's ready in 7-14 business days.

Special apocalypse edition

2006-08-17T07:51:00.000-07:00

So not too long ago, my friend Shannon and I graduated from the NERT program, which trains civilians to assist first responders in case of a disaster. But you don't have to be a NERT to worry about the fact that if a disaster strikes your town, it could be days or weeks before the enfeebled FEMA shows up, so it's smart to prepare yourself...by shopping!

First of all, you need water. A gallon a day for each person in your household for at least three days and preferably seven. More if you have pets.

Then, you need a radio. Restoration Hardware sells this hand-cranked one for $49.95, which is nice because you don't need batteries:

And then you need light. This lantern from Anthropologie would be useful, and it's cute, AND it's on sale for $29.95:

A good flashlight might also come in handy...Maglite is the kind cops use and has a nice, bright light:

And then last of all, one of the things they rarely tell you is to stash away something non-electronic to entertain yourself. Yes, they still make games you can play without the use of a computer!

Plastica

2006-08-17T07:34:00.000-07:00

Plastica is a great place for window-shopping (or whatever the online equivalent is). Their stuff is all very clever and appealing, but not so practical that I, personally, would ever want to spend the prices they charge for it. And nothing ever seems to go on sale there. But I enjoy ogling their wares from afar, like these cuckooless cuckoo clocks, one of their new items:

Actually, these aren't too badly priced at $50 for the one on the left and $45 for the one on the right. And a cuckooless cuckoo clock is a pretty good idea, because everybody loves a cuckoo clock until it's cuckooed a few times and then you want to smash it with a hammer.

Less reasonably priced is this egg bird feeder:

It's awfully cute, but it's also $135. Too good for the pigeons in my neighborhood, if you ask me. Also, it says that it's only available at their brick and mortar store (in L.A.), although they do have a phone number so maybe you can order it that way.

Last, in keeping with the bird motif (most of the stuff they sell is not actually bird-related) I have long admired these pigeon lamps

I love this thing, although not enough to spend $95 on it. They also have it in white.