Congrats to Ian, comment number 12 for winning the little yellow clutch. I’ll shoot you an email to get your address. Thanks to everyone for all the lovely comments. I appreciate them!
we have a winner
February 8th, 2010kicking it slope style – happy weekend
February 5th, 2010
All this talk of cabins and playing out in the snow has me excited for the weekend. I just might enjoy some time on the mountain at Beaver Creek or Keystone and maybe a frosty cold one or two. There’s even a little snow in the forecast. Good thing because we seriously need it. Who’s in? What are your fun weekend plans?
This weekend:
If you are in PDX check out the newly opened Woodlands Supply Store. Stocking some of the finest coffee, periodicals, fragrances, leather goods, hankies, soaps, knives and jerky available. They will also be featuring a small collection of vintage goods.
We are dog sitting Max, a chihuahua, for some friends over the weekend. This Chihuahuas post made me smile.
After our shred day we’ll be playing Pitch with friends and then hitting up a Super Bowl Party on Sunday. Hot links anyone?
Don’t forget about the Giveaway I have running for Valentine’s Day. The winner will be selected Monday, February 8! Have a great weekend.
Photo: 1.
colorado cabin – the basics
February 4th, 2010
The cabin posts from earlier this week got me inspired to put together a few necessities for a small cabin in the woods.
1. Every cabin needs a Farmhouse Sink. This one is simple and doesn’t take up too much space. 2. Dale’s Pale Ale, a Colorado essential. 3. Coleman’s classic two mantle lantern for the camping feel. 4. Pendleton has been making blankets for years. This one is a version of the traditional Beaded Strip Blanket worn by the Northern Plains people. 5. 12 piece enamelware set is light, inexpensive and easy to clean. Perfect for packing in and out. 6. A rustic barn wood table that can take a beating and be all the better from it. Made just up the road in Pony, Montana. 7. You’ll need a french press that holds a lot of coffee. When friends get wind of your back country cabin, they will be spending the night. 8. Galvanized bucket. Filled with snow will keep all your beer chilled. 9. No cabin is complete without an Adirondack Chair or two. And these are eco friendly to boot. 
10. All the extra time you will have without TV, email and Internet could be easily occupied by a good book. Why not one that will inspire? 11. Snowshoes are a necessity for getting around in the snow. 12. As is a snow shovel. 13. Art work is key to defining a space. Why not make it functional too, add a Colorado Map to the walls to help you get your bearings. 14. Some hooks to hang all those snow covered clothes. These are about as close to nature as you can get. 15. This outdoor fire pit is made for cooking and will add some warmth and ambiance. 16. I can’t say I love futons but you’re going to need a sofa that does double duty. The back cushion can be removed to make room for two. 17. This rug, inspired by nature is a work horse. Sections can easily be replaced. 18. The Luau Portable Lamp, for when the kerosene in your Coleman runs out, because it inevitably will.
Photo: 1.
cabin fever – a tiny colorado cabin
February 3rd, 2010
Yesterday’s log cabin post reminded me of another little cabin I have a thing for. I came across this cabin in a magazine about 8 years ago, ripped out the article and threw it in my design file. Surprisingly enough, it was still there when I went to look it. I’m happy I kept it because I can’t seem to find anything about it on the Internet.
This little cabin, designed by Jim Smith is a tiny 186 square feet. I’m purely guessing the year but think in 2001, it won the Denver Chapter American Institute of Architects Citation Award. Literally, I can’t find anything about this cabin anywhere. Not even on AIA’s website or via the Architect’s name.
Just 15 miles north of Cotopaxi, Colorado the cabin resides on what used to be an elk ranch. The composition of materials; cedar, ash plywood and galvanized steel were selected for their durability and because they have a connection with the past. The structure’s silhouette is designed to evoke a feeling of a 150 year old settlers’ cabin that is local to the area.
If you know about this cabin, I would love to hear more.
AND, if you haven’t had a chance yet, check out my first ever give away. You can find it here!
blog it foward
February 2nd, 2010
That’s right people, I’m participating. Check back for more updates. The first posts will roll next Monday.
• If you’re interested in joining the chain, email Victoria via her blog.
• We’re going to share a connected stream of blogger posts on ‘what inspires us the most’ on our individual blogs, but link back and forward to the other blogs participating, a bit like a chain letter (but, hopefully a lot less annoying!).
• Ez from creature comforts has graciously created this lovely badge to add to your blog if you are participating.
• Feel free to repost this on your own blog and tweet about it, then link back to this sfgirlbybay.com post URL or a link to Victoria’s email info, so people can get the details, how to participate, the theme, and how to contact her. We’re giving everyone a due date to sign-up via an email to Victoria by end of this week, Friday, February 5th.
• Victoria will then make a list of bloggers who want to participate (perhaps alphabetically) and post it on Monday, February 8th, and everyone will see when their post is due, and the order of the mashup. Then we will post one day at a time, starting with hers and moving on to the next blog, and then the next — you get the idea.
• Victoria will post the first mashup on Wednesday, February 10th and from there link to the next blog and that blogger will post on Thursday, February 11th. Then she’ll link back to Victoria and then to the next blog on the list who will post on Friday, February 12th and link back to her (we’ll skip weekends since they are slow) and so on and so forth.
• Again, if interested in joining in, drop Victoria an email and she’ll send you detailed instructions. So, are you in or are you out?
[*image via vivienne strauss]
piet hen eek log home
February 2nd, 2010
For as long as I’ve lived in Colorado, I’ve always dreamt of having a tiny little cabin somewhere in the mountains. Ideally, it would be a place to unwind and get away from everyday distractions like email, Internet, TV and phone. Most importantly, it would be near some seriously amazing backcountry action. Because, after all, snowboarding is one of my favorite ways to unwind. Piet Hein Eek’s Log House reminded me of my love for such places.
Via Altelier A+D and Gizmodo
a valentine’s give away
February 1st, 2010
Hi there, I hope you all had a wonderful weekend. I’m starting off February with a big fat THANK YOU. I made a little something over the weekend and I’m giving it away, just for you. What you win is a lemony yellow leather clutch. Perfect for brightening up any winter wardrobe. It’s 7″W x 6″H x 1″D. Inside it’s lined with a white and black print and there’s a small pocket for credit cards or your gloss.
Winning is simple, comment below and be sure to leave an accurate email address so I can get in touch with you. The winner will be chosen at random on Monday, February 8.
Surely there’s a lady in your life that might want a little yellow clutch? Or maybe it’s for you. Either way, I’ll ship out the clutch so you get it in time for Valentines Day. It’s just my way of saying thank you and I truly appreciate you. International readers, I’ll ship to you, but you may not get it by Valentines Day.
If all goes as planned, I hope to have a few pieces up in my etsy shop in the next few months, so stay tuned.
paris – the basics and the showstoppers
January 28th, 2010
You know when you come across something and you can’t stop staring at it? This happened to me when I came across Todd Richardson’s photos. There’s a calmness to them that I can’t quite explain yet enough is happening so that I want to look through them again and again. Each time, I see something new. I love the colors, how they are washed out yet there’s still a lingering pop here and there.
The more I looked, the more I kept thinking how wonderful it would feel to live or work in a space that begins to evoke the feeling I get from looking at the photos. I asked Todd if he would be willing to let me use the photos as inspiration pieces so I could come up with a concept that draws from the vibe they capture, old world charm meets modern day glam, Paris in a nutshell. Neither one of us were completely sure what the end result would become. Scroll down to see more of Todd’s Paris photos and my interpretation.
I began with a restrained palette of beige and stone, pulled from the city’s architecture. Then added natural materials like cotton, leather and wood. These became the basics. 
1. Paris isn’t complete without a bike. Preferably one with a basket. 2. Mormor Dinnerware Set. Reminds me of the blue and white table clothes seen in bistros. 3. 1960’s Leather Chairs. A modern take on the traditional Louis XV Bergere Chair. 4. Jielde Signal Lamp. In mustard will add the bright pop of color you need. 5. Steel Tolix Chair. A Parisian classic since 1934. A cliche for this post, maybe, but I could never tire of this chair. Works great indoors or out. 6. Ordinal Dresser. Looks like it came straight from the Paris Flea. 7. Cabana Midnight Rug. The stripes create a graphic pattern and will add interest to a neutral space. 8. Numbered Edition Napkins. Dress up your dinner table and your dinner with cloth napkins.
9. Murano Glass Chandelier. A Parisian inspired home isn’t complete without a glamorous chandelier. 10. Take those wood floors a step further with a chevron pattern and reclaimed wood. 11. Antoinette Fainting Sofa. Louis XVI would be proud. 12. Zap Rug. Designed by Fionna Curran, this rug will add a literal splash of color to any room and echos French Impressionism. 13. Industrial light. Lighting that’s as glamorous as it is functional. This could be on the set of an old film as easily as it could be on the floor in your office. 14. Reclaimed Lumber Pedestal Dining Table. Big, bold and beautiful. This reclaimed table will take you through years of dinner parties, loads of laundry and piles of office work, all in style.
chalkboard paint
January 26th, 2010
Chalk board paint might just be on my list of ‘things I’ll never do to my home’. Don’t get me wrong, I do love how it looks and the concept of drawing all over the walls is exciting. I just hate the idea of having chalk all over my hands. Maybe this comes from my days of elementary school and having to write I will not… over and over and over again.
If you don’t have this weird affliction with chalk, check out Hudson Paint. I just got a sample pack of all their wonderful colors in the mail and it almost changed my mind about the not liking chalk bit. Not yet though. What do you think?
mjölk – pure scandinavian
January 22nd, 2010
Mjölk, meaning milk, a great new storefront just opened in December. It’s based in Toronto but has Scandinavian roots. My dream shop come true, if you were wondering. Minus the distance of course, but it looks like you can now shop their online store. From what I can tell you may have to call to make a purchase. Just click on Designers in the upper right corner and you can explore till your heart’s content.
I’ve always wanted to take a trip to Toronto and Montreal. It looks like there are a number of great Scandinavian inspired shops in the area. Sigh. Some of my favorite musicians are from there as well. It makes me think there must be some sort of fabulous creative energy going on. Have you been there or are you from there? Please tell me how lovely it is.
If these photos aren’t enough, you can find more here. Nice work to John and Juli for putting together such a great concept.