In memory.

My 2000th Instagram photograph.

A fond farewell to Steve Jobs. Listening to 'Helplessly Hoping' by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young and wishing you well on your journey. Stay hungry, stay foolish.

Wishlist :: CicLaVia!

In Los Angeles-- arguably the home of some of the world's worst traffic-- the thought of miles and miles of city streets being off-limits to cars is unthinkable. Yet, thanks to the efforts of the organizers of CicLaVia that thought is a reality. On Sunday, October 9th, the people of Southern California can enjoy the colorful city streets on their bikes, skateboards, skates, strollers or any other human-powered mode of transport. This coming Sunday, 10 miles of Los Angeles streets, stretching from Boyle Heights to the Melrose District will be closed to car traffic and open to pedestrian traffic only! I'll be there, taking in the sights and sounds with a group of friends with various levels of city-biking experience. My own bike leaves a little to be desired, so I've built a little wishlist of all of my favorite things bike-related. If only, if only...

The Public C7 women's bike is at the top of my list. Love the styling, the details (oh hello, little rainbow!) and the specs. It's a sturdy, well-priced workhorse of a bike, and it's cute to boot!

While the Leather Wine Rack from Oopsmark in Montreal won't suit the frame of my dream C7 bike, it'll work perfectly on David's more traditional frame. Plus, a bottle of wine for the bike picnic is a must-have!

Now if you're biking in the city, a good helmet is a must have. But when I see these bike caps, handmade in Oakland by Ivy & Otis, I can't help but dream of lazy bike rides in the countryside. C'est la vie!

Of course you'll find some goodies along the way that you need to carry, and what better way to stow them than in this wooden crate from A Basket Full? So when you see me tooling about on the CicLaVia route, my ride won't look anything like this. But, a girl can dream!

Fixation :: Curator by She-Bible

I have a secret. I'm in love. Well, take a look in my closet, and it's not much of a secret. After growing up as a tomboy, there is one label out there that can get me into a dress, and make me feel pretty good about it. It's She-Bible, the San Francisco clothing label that is making its transition into a new name: Curator. Headed by two amazingly hardworking women, Deirdre and Stacy, this little brand has grown from a local San Francisco sensation sold in small boutiques to a fashion force that demands attention.

In the past few years, Deirdre & Stacy opened up their own boutique in San Francisco's Noe Valley-- in a location near & dear to my heart, 1767 Church Street, between Day & 30th. After the small shop that I managed at that location closed its doors and the She-Bible gals took over, I knew that the 300 square foot storefront was in perfect hands. Now, online and in store, you can find a great mix of apparel, apothecary items, jewelry and sundry items for men & women.

But my one true love with always be the dresses. Oh, the dresses!

The Classic Dress. Seen here in the one color I don't own, this is the definition of "The Perfect Dress." Flattering on every figure, easy to wear and easy to care for.

The Beatrice Dress. Sleeves and pockets, oh yes! Loving this teal color, as well.

The Baca Cardigan. I don't know if I'm the girl that can rock this cardigan, but I'd like to think I am. Cozy, oversized, comfy and perfect for SF weather. (Sadly, not so much for Los Angeles weather!)

The Izzy Top. One left? In my size? You don't say....

The Alex Pullover. Another perfectly cozy fall/SF summer piece.

The Gardener Dress. I picked up a jersey version of this dress a while back at a sample sale, and it was the best notverymany dollars I've ever spent! There are only a few of these left in the chambray version, so snap 'em up quick!

And speaking of sample sales, Curator is hosting another one this weekend! See the blog for more details, if you're in the Bay Area, do not miss it!

Fixation :: Wolfum's Folk Patterns

I'm a sucker for a good pattern. I fall in love with housewares all too easily. The cute stuff, it kills me. Lucky for me (unlucky for my pocketbook) I found a brand that hits all three of these targets, in just the right way. Meet Wolfum. Handmade in Los Angeles by Annabel Inganni, who is crafting sustainable products with natural materials.

Love the styles, patterns, colors and material choices. Two thumbs up from this gal!

Fixation :: Izola's Apothecary Style

I'm a sucker for the ephemera from other times. My favorite local watering hole is a subtle tribute to the saloons of the Barbary Coast-- full of old apothecary and seltzer bottles, big and burly wooden counters and cabinets, bartenders with just the right mix of handlebar mustache and punk rock. So it's no surprise that I fell immediately in love with the goods from Izola. Decidedly masculine, but with a unisex appeal. A great way to sneak a little style into your home, without overpowering it.

I love the monochrome subtlety of this soap dish. Use it in the entryway or bedside to catch keys or coins.

Amusing, straight forward and sturdy. What more do you need from your laundry bag?

I have a tendency to keep on hand an extra toothbrush or two. at $12.50, this set of three spare 'Guest' toothbrushes is an affordable way to greet your guests with something out of the ordinary.

Love the graphic punch of this canvas shower curtain-- I only wish it fit the width of our extra-large tub!

I don't normally go for bar soaps, but maybe that's because all of the good stuff is too cute to use! These Sport Soaps are no exception. They'd be right at home in the vintage setting of the Los Angeles Athletic Club-- squash, anyone?

And probably my favorite part of the collection- the curvy, chrome flasks. The shape evokes the look and feel of a Victorian pocket watch.. but obviously, way more useful!

Snippets of the past.

I take a lot of photos. A lot of photos.

I've done so for most of my life- I think it's my way for balancing my bad memory with my desire to remember everything. Of course most everything is digital now, but once, there was film. So, so much film. Which often leads to mountains of photo paper.

Someday, maybe, these 16" x 20" portraits will find their way to a wall. But for now.. back into the box they go.

A little teal.

Not sure that turquoise is the 'color' of the fall- in fact I'm quite sure it's not. But that doesn't keep me from being completely enamored (enameled? hah.) with this nail color from Essie. I especially like how it matches things in my house.

Recently added to the vintage shop, this amazing Edwardian-style ledger is just the perfect color. Can't you imagine a whole room based off of this color scheme? Pale aqua, black, white and tiny hints of red scattered throughout. Yes please.

Orange.

Orange., a photo by type.wright // charlie wright on Flickr.

This little BMW 2002 has been parked outside of our building for more than a week.. and every time I see it, I'm glad it's still there. Bright, shiny and most of all: orange!

Love it, and I love the way it coordinates with the tiles on the building.

Snippet

NYC., a photo by type.wright // charlie wright on Flickr.

Another snippet from NYC on this most recent trip. I keep thinking about the buildings, there. Just out of frame in this photo, to the right, is a huge construction site. More buildings going up every day- buildings being erected where other buildings once stood, up against buildings that have been there longer than any of the people.

I see buildings like this, with their ornate stone details and those huge glass windows, and wonder what they looked like when they were new. What it was like to live or work inside of these buildings. Now they have the charm and patina of time and history-- but then?

Jet set.

JFK, a photo by type.wright // charlie wright on Flickr.

In the month of August, I've logged more than my usual (or fair share, for that matter) of miles in the sky. Back and forth between LAX and JFK- twice! The second time for work, the first for pleasure- and family.

The first trip: Two nights in Brooklyn (thanks, Meghan & Chris!), one night in Manhattan (see you again soon, Ace Hotel!) and then five nights in Boston. Whew!

It was my first time in Mass., and my first time taking a real train. I grew up around light rail systems, and have always lived somewhere where I could hear the freight trains in the distance, but have never had the occasion to travel by train. It all seemed very East Coast, and a very nice alternative to flying.

The second trip was a quick, four-day jaunt to NYC again, for the New York International Gift Fair. Now, if you've ever seen me in a room full of cool stuff (or follow my Pinterest boards then you know how excited I get about seeing new products! The show did not disappoint.

Our company's booth was in the Studio section of the show, which showcased the best and most well-designed products out there. So much fun, so much to see... and so little time. Definitely made me miss the days of working as a buyer for independent shops.

But for now.. I'm back on the West Coast, and back to normal life. For now. :)

Stop whispering, start shouting.

Strange things happen when you stop thinking, and just start creating. After staring at screen all day, it was nice to bust out the Gocco printer and actually, well, screen. A few dozen small screenprinted cards later, I have these gems.

In a perfect world, every one of these prints will find a new home tomorrow, at Bloomfest-- the Arts District's annual celebration of Joel Bloom, the man that made this neighborhood a neighborhood. I never had the chance to meet him, or step foot in his general store. But his energy and spirit are present on these streets, and I'm happy to be a part of it.

Chillin' out...

Iced Blue Bottle coffee and fresh peaches from @poketo's backyard!!, a photo by type.wright // charlie wright on Flickr.

It must be summer time in Los Angeles-- we've had the AC going full blast, the past week or so.. Evening my morning coffee is over ice, these days.
One great thing about the summer heat? Fresh, delicious, homegrown peaches from a friend's backyard. Now that's summer.

Firehouse.

Firehouse., a photo by type.wright // charlie wright on Flickr.

Wouldn't you love to turn this old firehouse into an amazing, open live-work loft at the edge of Downtown LA?
My fantasy renovation would be one big, fluid space with a maker's studio, huge lounge area with tons of cushions and a giant kitchen. I imagine our six-foot-long teak dining table would feel just at home, here.

Prefab..

Santa Fe, a photo by type.wright // charlie wright on Flickr.

Things are 'a changin' in my neighborhood... A few pre-fab concrete slab walls going up along the edge of the L.A. River, soon to be home to a large company's headquarters. It changes the view in a way that I don't love, but I'm just trying to roll with it. Onwards and upwards.

A little mid-week treat...

An unexpected treat today at the office-- we baked up some yummy biscuits, and I brought up some homemade jams to share with the crew. What a nice, yummy way to break up the week!

Homemade by my father, we had a plum jam, a ginger-peach jam and some awesome marmalade. A little butter from my favorite Pyrex dish (Butterprint in turquoise, natch) and we have ourselves a party! And then, well.. back to work!

Friday deliciousness

One of the perks of having a home espresso set up: no need to compromise when it comes to milk choices. I far prefer almond milk to anything else (I'm not allergic, it just tastes better) and most cafes don't serve it. And even if they did, "grabbing a coffee" is realistically a 20-minute ordeal.

So it's quicker, cheaper and tastier to make it myself (isn't that almost always the case?) And after almost two weeks sans-coffee, this was a really nice way to perk up a Friday.

New York, here we come..

Grand Central Station at sunset, a photo by type.wright // charlie wright on Flickr.

David and I just booked our flights for a New York City/Boston trip in late July/early August.. I can't wait!!

Invisible memories.

Lomo., a photo by type.wright // charlie wright on Flickr.

The Lomo LC-A.. one of my oldest and best friends in the world of image-making. I think I bought my first one in 1999, after saving up many a penny-- a price that is literally nothing compared to the price you'll pay now. This tiny 35mm gem has gotten me through many a journey, when carrying something larger wasn't an option. So, naturally, I wanted to take it in my first-ever trip to New York City last summer.

Now, I'm generally slow to get things done so it's no surprised that I've only now started to get that film developed. I'm going to savor a few particular images from those rolls because, well..they're all I have. A shutter malfunction has left me with a total of three film images from the entire trip. Lesson learned? Check your shutter, often.

Fruits of Summer, Tastes of Fall

Every time the weather turns a bit warmer, I start to think of all of the ways I could be using the amazing produce that starts to hit the farmer's market and starts to sprout in my tiny garden (which, now, is nothing but a few planters on a concrete ledge in downtown Los Angeles.) I've experimented with ways of enjoying these flavors-- making herbed syrups, a perfect plum upside down cake, freezing perfect 1 oz cubes of Meyer lemon juice for later use...And I've been lucky enough to grow up with father and grandmother who defined "seasonal, locally produced" jams, jellies and preserves for me.

When my seemly endless supply of family-made jam runs low, I look to other sources. One of the best purchases I've made in the past year was from Lemon Bird Jams, a jar of their onion confit made a great holiday gift for Boyfriend David. We've savored it on pork, with amazing rustic bread and more. A jar of their tangerine and vanilla bean syrup is hiding in my cupboard, and I'm afraid once I open it, it will vanish immediately!

There a couple more goodies from their shop that I'm craving right now..


Pear and Anise with Balsamic Vinegar and Raw Honey

How amazing would this be on some roast pork? Or with grilled veggies? A great fall crop of pears lived to see another season with this combination.


Lime and Hibiscus Syrup

Even a virgin cocktail can't go wrong with this syrup.. A little ice, a splash of sparkling water and a fresh slice of lemon? Perfect!


Merlot Grape Jelly

Even if you're not enjoying this spread on a picnic in the Sonoma wine country, you can dream, right? I imagine it paired with local honey, rosemary Marcona almonds and a firm goat cheese..

Enough flavor daydreaming for now, I suppose. What are you growing, this season?

Protest. Obey.

Protest. Obey., a photo by type.wright // charlie wright on Flickr.

A little snippet from my neighborhood in Downtown L.A... This Shepard Fairey wheatpaste piece has gone up on an otherwise blank wall and remained more or less untouched-- unheard of for this neighborhood. The brick walls of the Arts District are an ever-changing canvas, which is part of the great appeal, for me.

But for now.. This image of a woman in protest will have a little time in the spotlight.