not much of a WATCH person

I'm not usually a luxury brand name person... or a watch person... but if one of my beloved family members or friends or an adoring fan wants to get me this Michael Kors watch for Christmas, I won't complain. After all, I'm not totally set in my ways.

HOMAKO makes me smile

Homako is filled with beautiful and inventive fabric necklaces and other little tidbits. I can just imagine this sweet girl smiling at her sewing machine in Japan as she creates each item. And as her Etsy shop says:

To create stuff make me so Happy..

I want my friends(=my creations) makes you happy too!!!!!!

If you have any question,free to ask me!(even if you just say HI! to me I will be happy!)Iwould love to talk to you!!hehehe

See? Now hasn't she already made you happy?

a PET for your finger

UO Gold Bunny Ring - Anthropologie Gastropoda Ring - Anthropologie Owl's Evening Ring

 - UO Coiled Serpant Ring

If you live in a rental where you aren't allowed to have pets, consider adopting one for your finger. Animal rings cost nothing to feed, don't have to be potty-trained, and are ridiculously chic. I'm waiting for the day when I can justify spending $198 on a snail ring... after all, snails are my favorite insect- the non-jeweled kind.

sf renegade craft fair: MY LAST ATTEMPT

Surely I have given you a big enough taste of the San Francisco Renegade Craft Fair in the last few days. I am confident that if you live in the Bay Area, I will see you there unless you have a good excuse. I don't have to start calling you out by name, do I? Kristen? Alison? Just kidding. I love you guys. Here is my very last attempt and then it is up to you what you will do this weekend...

oh, hello friend

Danni sells adorable jewelry, hair pins, and lots of other sweet things. Her blog is absolute eye candy. The poor dear is sick with a sinus infection right now, so I hope she can still make it. Send her some love.

Orange Slice

Gorgeous laser cut wood jewelry, adorable pillows and bags. There is something for everyone. Check them out.

Old Tom Foolery

I love a card that can make me laugh out loud. Tom Foolery is full of them. If you can't read it, the note on the bottom of the card above is "Which just means I'm standing up, if you really think about it." Yeah. I just laughed out loud.

Rag Trader

I love the charm of Rag Trader's jewelry made with antique molds and vintage findings. I absolutely love this spinner necklace. I'd have no use for it though, because I know it's "yes". :)

Sara Paloma Pottery

Her pottery is just gorgeous. I love the colors and simple, elegant shapes. These mini bottles are my favorite. I'll take 5, please.

Treat Zone

Filled with art, notecards, banners, light boxes, and all sorts of little treats, Treat Zone is inspired by the every day overlooked things and uses vintage and repurposed materials to create their goodies.

Okay. PLEASE tell me you are convinced now. I know that did the trick. See you there! And don't forget to check the blog next week for a ("a" meaning "one") post on the actual San Francisco Renegade Craft Fair experience.

And now we will return to our regularly scheduled (entirely sporadic) programming.

sf renegade craft fair: MOLLY M DESIGNS

Molly McGrath of Molly M Designs makes gorgeous laser cut jewelry. I am newly acquainted with her work and must say that when I first visited her site, I was an instant fan. Her jewelry is made with sustainable materials whenever possible and the designs are all works of art. I could see them all translated into amazing wallpaper. (Let me know when that happens.) Do yourself a favor, take a look at her pieces and visit her booth at the San Francisco Renegade Craft Fair!

sf renegade craft fair: MAMA'S LITTLE BABIES

Mama's Little Babies is full of whimsical necklaces, earrings, and bracelets inspired by Victorian Era illustrations. I can see the necklaces with a simple tee or a Lover Boy bracelet with your little black dress to add a little quirkiness. The possibilities are endless. Check out all of the Victorian goodies in Mama's Little Babies' Etsy shop, and while you are there, remind yourself that there is free shipping worldwide! And if you want more free shipping opportunities, stop by the San Francisco Renegade Craft Fair for all the free shipping you can handle.

sf renegade craft fair: COO-KOO-RI-KOO

Coo-koo-ri-koo may seem like a strange name for a shop, being that it is what a Russian rooster says, but you have to give a girl credit for giving her shop a name that makes her laugh. Shana's Etsy shop evolved after she made some hand warmers with yo-yos and realized she loved them enough to wear them as necklaces, earrings, and hair accessories. Thank goodness she came to that realization because without her, the rest of us might not have realized how fabulous we can look with yo-yos draped from our necks. Shana also makes the most darling rings and you can become a member of her Ring of the Month Club. That is definitely a club I want to be a part of! Visit Shana at her blog or over at Etsy and visit her booth at the San Francisco Renegade Craft Fair. I read on her blog that her booth is near both The Mincing Mockingbird and The Frantic Meerkat and The Juxtaposed Hippo (I'm kidding... I made that last one up... it would fit though, huh?). That is a fabulous spot to be. See you there!

sf renegade craft fair: CARA LYNDON JEWELRY

As a child, I loved digging through my mom's and grandmas' jewelry boxes and playing with the big, bold vintage beads and delicate florals. Looking through Cara Lyndon's jewelry shop reminds me of that feeling. Her jewelry is made with beautiful vintage pieces. My personal favorites are the floral stud earrings, but the necklaces, bracelets, and rings run a close second. Okay... they are tied for first. You must check out her online shop and stop by her booth at the San Francisco Renegade Craft Fair. I know I'm going to!

michael michaud's SILVER SEASONS

I love nature translated into art. One of my personal favorites is finding nature in jewelry. Two years ago I was walking around a local wine country town and found a lovely little jewelry shop housing work from what would then become a new favorite jewelry designer. Michael Michaud makes the most beautiful nature-inspired earrings, necklaces, and bracelets out of precious metals. His workmanship is flawless and his pieces almost look as if he took the actual plant or flower and bronzed it. The Christmas after I discovered his jewelry, my wonderful husband surprised me with a Wisteria necklace. I was playing with it today (do you ever just look through your jewelry box and play with jewelry like a little girl?) and decided to reacquaint myself with Michael's Silver Seasons jewelry. I am currently loving his peppermint, birch bark, and various leaf collections.

CONFETTI for your neck

I am adoring Blue Moss's Confetti Necklace. It's pretty much like a party around your neck. Throw in some Funfetti cake-- you know the kind, straight out of the box with polka dots-- and you have yourself a confetti party for one. 

...actually... I ate Funfetti cake (and frosting) for a month straight after my little sister's wedding last summer (her wedding cake of choice... of which there were 5 or so cakes left over), so I think I've probably eaten my own weight in Funfetti cake... I don't recommend it. But I do recommend this necklace.

adopt an OUTFIT

I have seen this Sherwood Forest romper on three different sites in the last week. I am pretty sure that must be a sign that it is supposed to come home and live with me. And of course, if I'm going to give the romper a home, I can't leave these poor Sam Edelman sandals out in the cold... 

... and if I'm making a home for rompers and sandals, I shouldn't discriminate against this Buoyant Bib Necklace...

... and a necklace won't feel at home without another piece of jewelry to keep it company, so I just have to adopt this ruby ring...

... and now my good deeds for the day are done-- another outfit has found a loving home. It feels so good to give back.

the EARRINGS of summer '09

I am loving the earrings in OhSoMilla's Etsy shop. The mix of textures and colors are so perfect. Every summer I tend to find one pair of earrings that I wear to death- not because I am lacking others, but simply because they work perfectly with each summer outfit, and better than the rest. I have a feeling that any one of these pairs could be my summer of 2009 earrings. 

the magic of ARIELLE DE PINTO

As I was going through my disgustingly thick collection of magazines dating back to 2004 a couple weeks ago, I was reminded of a jewelry designer that I adore. Arielle de Pinto creates these intricate, web-like necklaces out of precious metals. It's as though she is crocheting with golden thread- much like the fairy tale Rumpelstiltskin. If her skill is some magical gift, I hope it never runs dry.

a pretty home for your PRETTY JEWELRY

I am always in the market for a cute jewelry stand because there is a bit of an overflow problem with my jewelry box. This stand from who made it is just what I am looking for. It would be so cute sitting on top of a dresser in your room or closet. 

Or if you are a handy person (*cough* Barb *cough*), I am sure you could come up with a DIY version using thrifted plates, or mismatched plates from your own kitchen. I have a big 'ol list of things to paint, reupholster, and repurpose for our remodel/redecorating project, but I might just have to tack this to the end of it.

V-DAY GIFT from hubby

I know this is late in posting, but I have to share what hubby got me for Valentine's Day. He went to one of my favorite stores and picked out this necklace, bracelet, and jewelry box for me all by himself. He's pretty much amazing.

Dear hubby, 

XOXO! 

Love, wife