gwen | Ofrenda

Renegade Craft Fair San Francisco

Posted by gwen on Aug 6, 2010 in craft, photo | 4 comments

I went to Renegade Craft Fair in San Francisco last weekend and it was *crazy*. Here are a couple photos from my adventure, sorry I didn’t catch most people’s name, if you know who any of them are feel free to leave a comment…

My creative space

Posted by gwen on Aug 4, 2010 in craft, meme | 0 comments

I made a couple of these vintage button necklaces awhile back and am just getting around to photographing them…the warm summery gold and cream of this one is my favorite so far.
Available at gwen.etsy.com

It’s been awhile since I’ve made a nest but I recently sold my favorite nest necklace and it seemed like time to make another.

I scored some antique chandelier crystals at an estate sale recently. They will be added to pretty, sparkly accessories soon!

And here are some of the necklaces I’ve made but haven’t had the time to list yet. One of these days…

[my creative space]

Yewknee Summer Mix Series 2010

Posted by gwen on Aug 3, 2010 in music | 1 comment

You know I love the Yewknee Summer Mix Series, which is a clearing house of user-submitted summer-themed mixes e.g. a whole lot of free new music for you and me!

The 2010 collection is gangbusters, but here are a couple that made the cut and got downloaded at Chez Gwen [I’m still working on listening to them all].

Dreams in Audio: Express Yourself
Starsky: Crack & Weed
Jeremy Okai Davis: I Got A Story To Tell
upbeat sitdown: Run for Cover
Fuzznote: Nightfall
Bret Easton Ellis Summer Edition [1980s club night]
Strawberry Fields are planted [Beatles rarities and 1960s]
Hope is just a waking dream [chillwavey]
For Pops: Taking it old school [1970s-80s R&B]
Savannah High: Nothing Stays the Same [1980s R&B/dance]

Date Day: Part Two — Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk

Posted by gwen on Jul 21, 2010 in travel | 2 comments

After our dazzling adventure in Half Moon Bay Saturday, we headed down Highway 1 to Santa Cruz. We did not stop in Pescadero for artichoke anything, and we did not stop at Pigeon Point to look for whales, and we did not stop to watch the kite surfers — we just wanted to get to the beach.

We tried out Natural Bridges but it was a bit nippy so we ended up at the boardwalk — it’s a bit more inside the bay so more sheltered and warmer. Oddly, this is the first time Chad and I have set up camp on the boardwalk beach together.

We ate, then went for a stroll down the boardwalk. It was insanely crowded and took us ages to get to the far end.

Then we decided to go ahead and walk out to the end of the pier.

We saw a rockabilly beach wedding and battling sea lions and an awesomely cool X-wing kite.

By the time we started walking back, the sun was already setting.

Our beach blankie was practically the only thing left — everyone had packed up and gone home already.

We watched the sun set over the parking lot from the beginning of Lost Boys.

Then we headed downtown.

Date Day: Part Three* — Downtown Santa Cruz

Posted by gwen on Jul 19, 2010 in travel | 1 comment

Things to do in downtown Santa Cruz on a Saturday evening:

Admire the gorgeous lamps at Om Gallery.

Have a tikka kebab and samosas and pomegranate juice for dinner at Khyber Pass, then some Princess Torte for dessert at Hoffman’s Bakery.

Visit with some very hep mannequins at one of the various vintage shops.**

Say hello to my friend Gordon the Cheesemonger author on display at Logo’s bookstore.

Hi Gordon!

* If you are wondering why we skipped from part one to part three, it’s because I have not done the part two photos yet. Life just works out that way sometimes.

** that photo of me is from several weeks ago but I needed something to fill the space. and I wanted to show you that I finally made something out of one of those spectacular vintage glass rings I got at the Alameda Antiques Fair months and months and months ago.

Date Day: Part One — Half Moon Bay

Posted by gwen on Jul 19, 2010 in photo, travel | 2 comments

Saturday we went on a date day down the coast [I know, I know, you’re all shocked]. We used our new Fastrak gadget [a debit thingy that allows you to zip through the toll lines at the bridges here] on the San Mateo Bridge for the first time, then sat in lots of traffic going over the peninsula hills because it was Saturday and gorgeous out and who wouldn’t want to go to the ocean. I mean, really, this is why we all live in California.

Our friend George had a gig at a café in Half Moon Bay that we tried to catch but we were late because of the traffic and me screaming STOP HERE!!!! when I spotted the BERRIES 99¢ sign at the honey + produce stand.

99¢ is a third what blackberries and blueberries cost over on our side of the bay and corn was 10/$1 so you’d better believe we stocked up. In case you didn’t hear me, that’s TEN CENTS FOR AN ENTIRE EAR OF CORN.

And there was lots of local honey.

When we got downtown, George was already headed out, so we said hi then picked up some picnic provisions at the deli and did a little window shopping on Main Street. I loved this under the sea wedding cake:

While Chad was picking out cheese, I ran across the street for a fix at The Posh Moon, which is a lovely little boutique run by a seriously francophilic [?] mother and daughter and is wall-to-wall floor-to-ceiling romantic neutral bohemian etc. clothing and accessories and some housewares, many of which are made by locals — I’m just in love with this girl Effie’s line that they carry. Anyway. It is the sweetest place and I just love walking in there. I bought a green silk summer blouse and a tiny pewter blowfish made by an artist in Rhode Island — I’ll try to take a picture of it later because it’s about the cutest little figurine ever.

I snapped a shot of their ribbon flower hair clips as a reminder, there’s an excellent book at our library about making these and it’s something I keep meaning to do. But you should go buy some, they’re very affordable.

I shall return with part two of our day.

Recipe: Celery and Potato Soup

Posted by gwen on Jul 16, 2010 in recipe | 2 comments

The lovely Ms. P. posted some celery and potato soup yesterday and it looked so delicious I made my own. First time! So good!

Celery and potato soup

2 slices bacon
*** or ***
2 T butter or olive oil
1 c. onions, diced
1 heart of celery, chopped
1 bell pepper, diced
4 c. broth
4 c. water
2 large potatoes, cubed
Herbs you enjoy in soup [I used thyme, parsley, and sage from my garden, a big handful of cilantro from the farmer’s market]
Coarse salt
Pepper

In large pan, brown bacon or butter/oil.

Add onions, then celery, then bell pepper. Sauté to brown a little then turn down and cook about 20 minutes til tender. if it starts getting dry, add a little liquid. Puree in blender.

While you’re waiting on that, get out your big stock pot and bring broth, water and potatoes to a boil. Add herbs and salt and pepper to taste. I threw in a handful of coriander seeds, too. Turn down to a simmer and cover.

Add the puree in, too, once that’s ready. Once the potatoes are all tendaroni, use your masher or hand mixer to break them down.

We had ours with sourdough toast.

Roadside attraction: SLO gum wall

Posted by gwen on Jul 15, 2010 in photo, travel | 1 comment

I put up a few more photos from our anniversary trip [here!] and wanted to share one of my favorite attractions anywhere, which is also by far the most disgusting attraction I know of — the San Luis Obispo gum wall. It’s a little walkway between two buildings, the walls of which are completely covered by ABC gum. It’s very cool but very gross.

Apparently there are other gum walls around the world.

Fourth of July friends

Posted by gwen on Jul 8, 2010 in Alameda, holiday, photo | 0 comments

It is so exciting to see people you know in a parade.

Our neighbor Carrie is active with the Alameda Small Dogs organization. They host a doggie costume parade at Halloween that is not to be missed.

The guy who lives down the street is always walking the route with his bagpipe.

Gloria and her family own Acapulco restaurant.

but we really know her and her husband from karaoke at Lemon Tree and Clubhouse. That’s where Chad got started singing.

Rick is in more bands than I can name. You can see the Frisky Frolics, who sing songs from the 1920s-1940s or thereabouts, pretty much every week at Speisekammer or Julie’s.

I didn’t know this guy before, but I waited almost the entire parade for someone to come around handing out miniature American flags.

Dr. Porter, thanks for the flag. You are my newest friend!

Fourth of July bicycles

Posted by gwen on Jul 7, 2010 in Alameda, holiday, photo | 2 comments

The town I live in has a big 4th of July parade every year. It’s fun to watch all the decked-out two- [and sometimes three-]wheeled contraptions cruise by.

Recommendation: Genevieve Motley jewelry

Posted by gwen on Jul 6, 2010 in love, wishlist | 4 comments

South African jewelry designer Genevieve Motley makes the most lovely, unique pieces you can imagine. Very economically priced, too. I won this fantastic necklace and have received many compliments on it over the past few days.