Farm Fresh

You are what you eat, or so they say, and everyone knows the best way to find the exact provenance of your produce is to talk to the person who grew it. But just because winter is nigh doesn't mean the market season is over. There are still plenty of markets that stay open all year. A few choice selections are the Alemany Famers' Market on Alemany Blvd., Crocker Galleria Farmers' Market in Union Square and the Ferry Plaza Farmers' Market at the Ferry Building on the Embarcadero. Happy picking!

~Sata Schramm~

photo:www.flickr.com

Diane Dewey Designs

At her rented workbench inside the Mission’s Scintillant Studio, Diane Dewey designs jewelry that is clean, modern and elegant. After working as a contract designer for other Bay Area designers for many years, she ventured out on her own two years ago and has since focused on her own line.
Her designs can currently be found at the Gallery of Jewels stores in San Francisco, www.galleryofjewels.com, as well as at Studio Collections in Sonoma. Most pieces retail at prices ranging between $150-$1,200.
Diane likes the feeling of movement in her jewelry, and uses hinges and jump rings so that components can move nicely. Her designs are versatile, making you feel comfortable wearing them casually, but at the same time also feel dressy enough for a special occasion.

~Charlotte Gronseth~

Photo: Diane Dewey

Victorian Shopping Scene

Travel back in time as you stroll down Union Street. Cow Hollow's shopping district has a Victorian flare. As you walk, gaze at the classic architectural flavor in buildings and houses. Shops sit on top of one another, so be prepared to take stairs. The lengthy street is home to one of three Gallery of Jewels' locations and offers everything from eateries, bars, jewelry shops, art galleries to trendy boutiques. Just to name some of its residents: Bacchus Wine Bar, Hespe Gallery, Betelnut (Pan-Asian Tapas restaurant), Z Gallerie, Ambiance, Vivo, Three Bags Full and Trendy Moda. The district isn't far from the entrance of the Golden Gate Bridge and just a bus ride away from Downtown San Francisco. Leave with bags full of stylish goodies and an old-fashioned vibe.

~Shaneia Caldwell~

Photo: www.unionstreetshop.com

Mr. Expresso and A loaf of Hearth Go Green!

Live like a true eco-citizen with coffee breaks at Tartine Bakery. The small bakery and café not only serves organic expresso but is notorious for its bread baked with organic flours and sea salt on a hearth. Choose from several versions of the country loaf: walnuts, sesame seeds, hazelnuts, lemon zest, Lucques olives and herbs de province. There are specific days of the week that your favorite bread may be available. Hazelnuts are only available on Thursday and Saturday. All breads are fresh out of the oven at 5p.m. Get a whole loaf for under $7 and a half for under $4.

Aside from a loaf, go all the way with a French tartine- a piece of bread with jam and butter for breakfast or add tomatoes, goat cheese and olive oil for lunch. Tartine Bakery is a couple owned small bakery and café at the corner of 18th and Guerrero in San Francisco’s Mission District neighborhood. For more information visit http://www.tartinebakery.com/ or call (415) 487-2600.

Café Hours

8am - 7pm Monday

7:30am - 7pm Tuesday, Wednesday

7:30am - 8pm Thursday, Friday

8am - 8pm Saturday

9am - 8pm Sunday

~Shaneia Caldwell~

photo: flickr.com/ Vita Arina

KPFA Crafts and Music Fair Turns Eco-friendly

It’s after turkey day and just in time to get you decking the halls. The largest weekend holiday craft event in Northern California is back to celebrate art, music and free speech radio. The 38th Annual KPFA Crafts and Music Fair have taken a new direction. This time around many exhibitors will showcase eco-friendly crafts using recycled materials.

Green designers include jeweler Kelly Morgan who uses recycled ivory from an 1880 antique piano, Ceramic artist Rose Lee who uses recycled clay scraps, newspapers and bags and Mixed Media designer Carol Dede who creates steel knives from recycled sawmills.

Just like every year more than 200 Artists has been selected to participate. Non-stop live performances will include jazz, hip hop, bluegrass, blues and world music musicians along with Youth Poets and artists interviews. Upsurge!, a East-bay poetry- jazz band ensemble voted “Best of the East Bay” in 2003 will take centerstage on Saturday. While enjoying the sounds and exhibitions, sample gourmet cuisine from around the world. So tis' the season with art.

Here goes the details:

Date: 12/13/2008-12/14/08
Time: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Venue: Concourse Exhibition Center
Cost: $7-$10
For more information:

(510) 848-6767

www.kpfa.org/craftsfair

~Shaneia Caldwell~

Photos: Kelly Morgan necklace, Gil Harrison Ceramic

More than a Jewelry Designer

After spending hours with Simma Chester, I had the opportunity to not only learn about the jewelry designer but also take a look into her adventurous life. The exotic artist who calls herself a traveling freak is not your everyday soccer mom.

Q: Who is Simma?
Simma: I’m a mother and a wife. And I’m Curious! I’ve been with my husband, who is a sculptor for 34 years but married for eight years. I have two sons who are also artist.

Q: Any family art projects?
Simma: We did a family painting on a wall when my sons were younger. We each took a part of the wall, expressed ourselves and created a four-wall painting together.

Q: What is your fantasy?
Simma: My fantasy is to live in the country and own a huge barn. I would have a station for everything I like to do - beads, metal, painting, sewing, drawing, and sculpting. I’ll just keep making stuff.

Q: What is your most memorable moment?
Simma: In Ibiza, I lived in a house on the hill for $23 a month. You walk out the door and it's the Mediterranean. I've traveled all over Europe, Africa and Asia. Artifacts from these places inspires my work.

Q: How do you cope with running a business and being creative?
Simma: Being an artist is 10 percent creativity and 90 percent administration. I know great artist that can't get their work out there and some people make crap but are doing good. You don't get what you deserve in business but what you negotiate. I knew nothing about business but somehow I’m doing it.

Q: Any moments of self re-evaluation?
Simma: In an accident, I severed my thumb and my hand turned into a flapper. It was the first time in my life that I couldn’t use my hands to do what I lived for.

Q: Tell me a secret
Simma: I didn’t start using pearls until my now deceased mother-in-law gave me a pearl necklace. I reconstructed it and made it into a necklace. I then fell in love with pearls.

~Shaneia Caldwell~

Photos: George Post

Elie Boutique

Elie Boutique will set you in the right cheers this holiday season, and every season that follows after with there stylish affordable clothing. Lisa Elie, store owner, gives her customer personal attention, she explains that they might not get anywhere else. "Personal relationships are important to me," Lisa says. " I like getting to know my customers by name, and knowing what their style preferences are." The boutique style is very graceful with a vintage edge and high wood-embedded ceilings, this boutique cover many facets of fashion but most importantly every facet of your life. For more information visit www.elieboutique.com.

Elie Boutique

1352 Broadway

Burlingame, CA 9410

(650) 450-Elie (3543)

~Ashley Causey~

 

The Art of Participation

San Francisco Museum of Modern Art celebrates people in this unique exhibition that's been featuring since Nov. 08, 2008 until Feb. 08, 2009. It examines how the public have been involved in different genres of art from sculpture to photography, etc.  The show examines how the art making process is essential with the involvement of the human race, and how early pioneers and artist received there inspiration from THE ART OF PARTICIPATION. For more information go to www.sfmoma.org.

~Ashley Causey~

Photo: Lygia Clark

Hues of the Garden

This spring don’t hesitate to splash your garden with the maximum color effect. It can get tricky when selecting the right plant combinations. But the San Francisco Botanical Garden has a solution for all of your hue worries. The Botanical Garden is offering, The Garden in Color (Color Studies: Plant Combinations Using Colorist Techniques) beginning in January. The class will be taught through lectures, slides and workshops by Instructor Cherie Wetzel.

Here is what you will learn:

· Specific color groups of plants
· Munsell Color system
· Commonly used color combinations of plants and the secrets of their success or failure
· Gain an understanding of the steps, materials, and maintenance necessary for continuing

color in the garden throughout the year
· Analyze cellular structure, tissue transparency, chlorophylla and the effects of light on plant

material

All levels are welcome and class will be in session every Tuesday from Jan. 27 - Mar.17 from 9:30a.m.-12:00p.m. Members cost $150.00 and nonmembers cost $175.00. For more information visit http://www.sfbotanicalgardensociety.org/.

~Shaneia Caldwell~

Photo: flickr.com/dico4

YSL -Pure Genius

The first Yves Saint Laurent retrospective since his death earlier this year is now open at the De Young Museum with more than 130 of the designer's Haute Couture ensembles. The pieces span his 40-plus-year career, from his early days at Dior to his final spring/summer runway collection in 2002, the year he retired.
The exhibit's only U.S. stop is here in San Francisco, and is a unique opportunity to explore and experience his designs. The exhibit is only up until April 5, 2009, so make sure to mark your calendar and pay the De Young Museum a visit before that.
The clothes, displayed in a gallery with low lighting and the feel of a giant walk-in closet, are stunningly beautiful. In addition to the 130 outfits, the show includes sketches by the designer, accessories, audio recordings and video of Saint Laurent's last show in Paris in 2002.

~Charlotte Gronseth~

Photo: www.ysldeyoung.org

I Will Walk 49 SQ. MI.

If you happen to be allergic to "it" bags, then you definitely need to consider 49 SQ. MI. The San Francisco-based designers found a way to make cool yet understated shoulder bags and clutches by combining colorful Italian leather with exposed stitching and subtracting the heavy hardware; their goal is an organic, artisanal feel. The reasonably priced label (the hobo pictured is $650) is available at boutiques across the U.S., including three here in San Francisco (Carrots on Montgomery St. and Muse Ten and Nest on Fillmore St.). To see the collections--Bigmouth Series and Artisan Series--visit www.49sqmi.com.

~Sata Schramm~

photo: www.marissacollections.com  

Everything in Nature Works Well Together

Similiar to nature itself, beauty is to be found in the details. Jewelry designer Betsy Barron’s collections have evolved naturally from her spirit within. Finding inspiration from natural surroundings, the sentimentality of Victoriana as well as loved ones, Barron’s quality, one-of-a-kind, handcrafted pieces are meant to be worn close to your heart.

Barron’s aesthetic is best reflected in both her past and current collections. Tuned in and stirred by the environment Barron utilizes recycled silver and precious metals ranging from darkened silver, to 22K gold to her most favorite metal to work with, rose gold, which only a handful of artists are working with today. She manipulates nature, transforming these elements into twigs that resemble hearts, eucalyptus nuts, leaves, dragonflies, pinecones, seeds and florals on a much more delicate and tinier scale. Mother Nature can often be unpredictable and harsh at times and Barron’s pieces are weathered and hammered with many incorporating precious stones such as rough black diamonds, rubies, sapphires and scraps of diamonds to offset her pieces. Finally, each casting is carefully hand finished and handcrafted elements are added on. Each of Barron’s pieces romantically work well together and more than several can be worn together creating a layered, mixed look.

Barron summarizes her collections best saying that “everything in nature works well together…branches, leaves, blooms…just come together.” Find unique, timeless, collectible pieces that can be cherished for the moment and passed on for generations to come. Barron's pieces can be found at any of the Gallery of Jewels store locations and online at http://www.delamina.com/.

~Erika Lind ~

Photo: thing-sf.com/betsy