SF MOMA Bookstore

... is a place that I affectionately call, "The Land of Retinal Delights". Pure visual eye candy is what you will find at the SF Museum of Modern Art's Bookstore. Mon - Fri , I spend countless hours looking at images on the internet for work, but there is just something wonderful about a beautiful book that you can hold in your hand, and I still consider it a great pastime. I spent over 2 hrs there last Sunday and I could have been there longer ! An unbelievable selection of books to peruse not only on art, but on all types of design ... typography, fashion, landscaping, packaging, interiors .... IT'S HEAVEN I TELL YOU !!!

This is a view of about 1/3 of the store

Here's some of my favorite books du 'jour ...

inside Playful Type ...

I just had heard of this book last week through the Paris Hotel Boutique's blog
I was happy to find it ( great photos of a sad situation )


Whoever is the buyer for this store ... hats off to you !!!

Don't forget, there's still a bit of time to sneak into tomorrow's giveaway !
( until midnight tonite PST )

Giveaway ... "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner ?"

Imagine ... if you were to have a dinner party, and could invite ANYONE ( living or not ). Who would you invite ? I love asking new friends this question ... the answers I hear are all so fun and insightful. So curious who would land on the guest list of your soiree !
So here's the giveaway part ... between today and Tues, the 31st, enter your dream-list of up to 6 "guests" in the comments of this post (one entry per person ). After having the the lucky winner chosen via Random.org , I will announce the winner on Wed., the 1st of April. At that point, I will then ask for their shipping address in a private email.

I have made this reverse printed and handsilvered beveled glass sign for the winner !

Here is just one of my guest lists ...

Robert Rauschenberg
( photo courtesy of americanpicturelinks.com )

Alexander Calder
( photo courtesy of worldsbestever.com )

Josephine Baker ( she was good friends with Calder )
( photo courtesy flickr )

Audrey Hepburn
( photo courtesy of flickr)

Philippe Petit ( you must see Man on Wire if you haven't already ! )
( photo courtesy of flickr )

and Abe Lincoln
( photo courtesy of flickr )
How fun would that be !

Good luck to all who enter ! XOL

Giveaway !

I am giving one of my "Reserved" signs away ... details coming tomorrow !

Weekend Whim

Be sure to find your happy place. Once you do, take off your hat and stay awhile !

Fabulous Prizes !!!

Lynn, of Paris Hotel Boutique is having an incredible Spring giveaway ! Just look at all this goodness ....

Here is how the giveaway works. Starting today, you simply enter by leaving a comment on this post. Limited to one entry per person. Help PHB spread the news about the giveaway by mentioning it on your own blog and you'll get a second chance to enter. Simply enter a second comment alerting Lynn of the mention.

The entries can be made until Tuesday, March 30th at 9:00 pm PST. The winners will be picked via Random.org on Wednesday, April 1st and announced on this blog. Lynn will contact the winners for thier mailing addresses. You must provide a valid e-mail address or link to one.

Bonne Chance !!!

Bright Sunshiny Day

It truly is the little things that make life so good.

Too lovely a sunny day to play indoors, so I decided to move the studio out here ...


Turning these goodies into necklaces for the upcoming show...


When along came these dreamy creamy horse show ribbons (thanks baby !) ...



and then comes the pies de resistance ...


This letter was in my email from my 13 yr old son's teacher. You have to understand, up until today, this boy's vocabulary consisted of only "yeah", "sure", "I don't know" and "is there anything to eat ?"

Good day indeed.

Rene Gruau

I have to say, one of the artists that has most inspired me is renowned french fashion illustrator, René Gruau. With nothing more than pens, brushes and paint, his work embodies the feminine universe - one made of luxury, frivolity and glamour - as if it was the most natural thing in the world.His drawings and watercolors captured chicness and grace 50s-60s era women sought in a way photography could not. Rene is most known for his influences and work for friend Christian Dior, where he really made his name, but has done countless pieces (over 80,000 total !) for other designers such as Arden, Balmain, Lanvin, and, his favorite, Balenciaga. Among many french based companies, he has illustrated for Rouge Baiser, Lido, Moulin Rouge, magazines such as Vogue and Harpers Bazaar, even the movie poster for Fellini's La Dolce Vita.

... doesn't she remind you of Amelie ?

.

It amazes me how he could capture every nuance of luxury and refinement with such simplicity and perfect purity of line. No matter what the era of his creation, it seems all are just as relevant today.

Thank you Rene for the seventy years of amazingness !
To purchase prints of his work ( plus many other wonderful french prints ) go here

For a cool 1,250.00 you can buy the book here ( 650.00 used )