Still Life Fruit Bowl

My parents are conservative, no nonsense people who never encouraged me to take art seriously as they regard it as impractical and self indulgent. As a result, I can't paint or draw my way out of a paper bag. But with the Still Life Fruit Bowl from Show, I can create a masterpiece every time I come home from the supermarket. I still can't draw, but at least I can artfully arrange things.

New Obsession: Melamine Dinnerware

Floral Melamine Mixing Bowls from kitchenkapers.com

I'll be the first to admit I have ADD. I'll get obsessed with a particular product or hobby, indulge in it until I get sick of if, and then get seduced by something else. Right now, I'm going through a melamine dinnerware phase. Like a kid in a candy store, I'm drawn by the bright colors and patterns. It's an affordable way to add punch to my sensible but bland all-white dinnerware set.

I love the classic patterns offered at LAPlates.com. Each plate can be customized with a monogram or personalized text. The tough part is choosing a pattern.

For my next dinner party, I would get the Flora and Fauna plates from Uncommon Goods. I know the woodland creatures trend is so yesterday, but they are the perfect size for appetizers.

These Aviary plates from Tomas Paul are too pretty to use. I'd hang them in my kitchen as decoration.

I just might throw a dinner party as an excuse to buy these plates.

Boho Chic Bags

I always envied Rachel Sacks in high school. She was one of those cool, bohemiem, artistic types way ahead of her time. She had a distinctive style all her own - she would mix a 50's skirt with an embroidered peasant blouse and wear goth makeup and still look fantastic. After college, she lived what I considered a glamorous life, working in places like Bangkok and opening up a night club in India.

A couple of years ago, she returned stateside, but her global lifestyle still burns brightly, reflected in her line of handbags. Handcrafted in India, these bags are boho chic without being granola. They have a luxurious flair to them, which is all Rachel. Here are some of my favorites, available on her website http://www.6362metaforce.net/

The Maharani

The Kerala Sling

Sedona Styler I

Affordable Bling

Given the state of the economy these days, buying bling is out of the question for most people. Fred Flare has a poor man version that makes it affordable with a sense of humor. This 2 carat ceramic cup has a ring shaped handle adorned with a real Swarovski crystal. Makes quite a statement when you drink your cup of joe in the morning.

Wear Your Mood: Threadless T-shirts

I Listen to Bands . . . by Evan Ferstenfeld

I'm normally not an articulate, well spoken person, so I sometimes rely on my clothes to let the world know what I'm feeling. Now that I found Threadless, I have a shirt for every one of my erratic mood swings. Threadless offers designers a community to showcase their designs, which are voted on by customers. The best designs are printed and sold. Winners are released every Monday.

I'd wear this one when I'm feeling insecure . . .

Someday by Lim Heng Swee

I'd wear this one when I'm feeling naughty . . .

Birds and the Bees by Tom Lindsay

I'd wear this one just because I like it.

Byebi by Tan Wei Hau

I seem to have a thing for birds today. I wonder what Freud would say.

Brian Barneclo

I was dining at Nopa the other night with a friend, and we sat next to an amazing mid century inspired mural. I loved the boldness of the illustration, the contrast of the colors and the retro-modern urban energy. It was fun picking out all the Western Addition landmarks in the mural (an aside - since when did we start calling Western Addition Nopa?)

Brian Barneclo is the artist who painted the mural, and it turns out he has quite a few murals in the city. He does custom work on spec, but if you want something a little more affordable, he sells a select few of his designs as silkscreen prints at Fabric8. I'm considering buying a couple and stretching it over some frames for my hallway.

I also found a video of Brian painting the mural at Nopa. I'm surprised how free form and spontaneous the process appears. They always make it look so easy . . .

Inspirational Bedrooms

I posted pictures of my redesigned bedroom on Flickr the other day (see image above), and fellow Flickr member becki3 asked me to join her group Inspirational Bedrooms. I was feeling pretty good about my room until I saw all the amazing bedrooms that made mine look like a generic hotel room. It made me want to gut my room and start over from scratch. What I love about the bedrooms in this group is how the owner's personality shines through their room. I can write a personality profile just based on their bedroom photo alone.

Here are some of my favorites:

Shih Handbags

I usually save up for a new purse. Quality is more important than quantity, so I'm willing to wait and save for a fantastic handbag I will absolutely adore instead of indulging on a trendy but disposable bag. As a result, I expect alot from my purse - not only must it be beautiful, but it needs to endure in terms of design and hold up to my abuse. Luckily, my sister is a handbag desinger and owner of Shih handbags, and I can always find the perfect purse for any occasion in her smartly assorted collection. As her sister, I get a coveted sister discount (ie: free!). The girls at work are green with envy. Here are some of my favorites:

Diego Tote
I adore this bright yellow tote. The yellow adds an unexpected but cheerful pop to my outfits. This is my favorite tote to travel with as it is the perfect size for magazines and reading materials.

Monica Messenger Bag
I like to wear this messenger bag when I'm in a sporty mood. The asymmetrical flap and brass balls give it a slight bohemian twist, but the lines are still sleek and modern.

Bebel Shoulder Bag


This is a great everyday purse. The 2 pockets in front are very handy for frequently accessed items like my lip balm and cell phone. It's also big enough to lug all my everyday crap.

http://www.shihshop.com/