8. Jonathan Adler Helix Rug

I thought it would be nice to make it through this list of things that make me happy without getting all materialistic, but I like things and some things make me happy. And I think things with triangles and varying hues of blue and gray are pretty awesome.

8. Jonathan Adler Helix Rug
This Jonathan Adler Helix Rug makes me smile, although I would be grinning from ear to ear if it was actually on my floor (if someone could also rip out our lame carpet and replace it with hardwood floors, I'd be eternally grateful). The $1,050 price tag...not so much.


Ten Things That Make Me Happy:
10. San Francisco History.
9. Japanese Kid Playing the Ukulele.

Cheers!

Four years ago...ah, young love.

I was looking through recent posts and realized the majority of them involve me basically bragging about my husband's art career. I hope that's not what it's perceived as because it's really truly sheer pride and excitement. This is all very new to us and I'm just incredibly proud of him.

I met Chris in San Diego about five years ago. Now, San Diego is a near perfect place to live...lovely weather, beautiful people and gorgeous beaches. But because of this, it's easy to become complacent. I mean, what more do you need when you can work and then head to the beach and surf til the sun sets. Still, I wanted more for myself and Chris wanted more, too. His passion for his art and self-assurance that one day he would make it really drew me to him. Granted, it's also been known to drive me nuts, but that's another post ;)

So here we are, five years after we met and a short six months after he received his MFA and he's truly making it. Chris finally feels like he can say that he is indeed an artist. I mean, just yesterday he was featured in a New York Times article and last week he found out he's taking part in San Jose's ZERO1 Biennial next fall. And I'm telling you all this because Chris wants to make sure everyone (meaning my family, especially my brother) knows that he will be able to take care of me and support me one day doing what he loves. Translation: Don't worry...she's not wasting her time married to a slacker wannabe artist.

Anyway, thanks for reading about my journey these past few months. It's been quite a whirlwind adventure and having this online source of support has been pretty amazing. So much has been happening and I'm slowly learning how to balance it all (it all being two posts a day at AT). My posts here will most likely be a little less frequent int he new year, but I won't disappear again like these past two weeks (pinkie swear!).

This has been a pretty amazing year! I can't wait to see what 2010 holds! And I am so excited to read what great things all of you out in the blogosphere do!

xoxo,
Jess

The Dream Team.

Image from Dr Curry.

Chris and I often talk of becoming the next power art husband and wife team. Okay, we delude ourselves over margaritas, but it's still a fun conversation.

Last week, the world lost one half of the world's most prolific art couples, Jeanne-Claude, the woman with the orange-dyed hair and Christo's wife. The duo, having worked together for nearly 50 years, was most well known for their environmental works. From wrapping the coast of Little Bay in Australia to creating a 24 mile fabric fence that spanned from Sonoma County to the Pacific Ocean to wrapping the Reichstag in Berlin, their work is unique in that it lasts only for a brief period of time. Of this Christo said:

Do you know that I don't have any artworks that exist? They all go away when they're finished. Only the preparatory drawings, and collages are left, giving my works an almost legendary character. I think it takes much greater courage to create things to be gone than to create things that will remain.

Chicago's Museum of Contemporary Art (1968-69)


Running Fence, California (1972-76)


Reichstag, Berlin (1971-95)


Rifle, Colorado (1970-72)


Little Bay, Australia (1968-69)
Images from the New York Times.

There has been much controversy about their work. Critics equally lauded and denounced The Gates in Central Park. But regardless of its aesthetic value, there is something about their work that does indeed represent courage. Artists aren't great because they make things that are particularly hard to make. Artists are great because they make things that are hard to think. They don't know the word can't.

An artist's mind constantly astounds me. There is nothing that Chris thinks is impossible. Any time he presents me with an idea, my mind starts a running list of the logistics required to make it work. This is why I'm not an artist. I instantly see the hurdles. Chris just sees the finish line. But who knows, maybe together we will make something great.

Legs Sold Separately.

Distrito Capital Hotel by Joseph Dirand via Contemporist.

Sure, the Distrito Capital Hotel in the Santa Fe District of Mexico City is gorgeous, but the real question is: where do I find those shoes? Meow.

Hello Love.

The Young Credenza by Kenneth Nilson via Contemporist.

I love me a good ol' mid-century modern credenza as much as the next gal, but this laser cut bronze patinaed steel paired with a continuous slab of walnut had me at hello.

What a Drag.

On the Street...Somerset House, London via The Sartorialist.

Sometimes, I wish I had the sartorial balls (and the required funds) to wear this much color and pattern in one ensemble. Then again, if I had balls I might not be wearing skirts and heels...unless I decided to be the world's most fashionable cross-dresser! Watch out RuPaul.

The Good Husband.

The other night Chris and I were enjoying some Prosecco at our favorite little enoteca when he asked what that day's blog post was. I answered with, "My exhaustive list of fall clothes I NEED." Since he's a good husband, he obliged and asked what comprised that list. His eyes basically glazed over as I expounded on the importance of the boyfriend blazer and ankle bootie in one's sartorial arsenal. But His ears perked up when I mentioned the leather jacket. This shouldn't have surprised me. He's asked on multiple occasions why I do not own leather pants.

When we got home, he grabbed the computer and told me to show him my favorite so I pulled up the Anthropologie jacket economically priced at $248. He thought it was "nice," but asked about other ones we could peruse. (Note: This is my husband. The one who hates shopping for himself, let alone dressing himself, and he wanted to online shop with me. It was awesome!) This led us to the Barney's website where he found the jacket for me, all $1,100 of it.

A.L.C. Asymmetric Leather Jacket

Please realize that there is no way in hell we could afford this jacket...now. Chris has, well, I won't call them delusions, but aspirations of hitting it big and when that day comes he'd love nothing more than to buy me that jacket. Until then, I'd take this one to hold me over. And Christmas is coming after all...

Lucky Brand Burnett Leather Jacket

Fall, Schmall.

I know I should hop on the "I love fall" bandwagon because it's what all the cool kids are doing, but while I'm incredibly excited by all the fun fashion that comes with it, the price tag associated with said fashion brings me to tears. And yet I've already started my wish list for fall/winter clothes:

• leather booties
• flat knee high (or over the knee if I dare) boots
• leather motorcycle jacket
• boyfriend blazer
• the perfect skinny jean (that also miraculously makes my thighs smaller)
  
• leopard print flats
• girlish ruffle-y blouses
• scarves, scarves and more scarves
• fun tights and knee high socks
• an uber-chic trench coat

Um, hello $1,500 I don't have. Fall, definitely more than summer, is that season where I envy every fashionable woman walking down the street in a coat I don't own paired with boots I can't afford over tights I could never pull off. And while I have boots and skinny jeans and tights and a trench already, I don't have any of those from this season, damnit.

Isn't that basically the same list that's in every single fashion mag about "fall's must have" pieces? There must be subliminal messages telling me what to buy on my iPhone as well (Yep, I had to buy one of those, too. Damn Apple marketing is so effective). Hi, I'm Jessica, and I'm a total sucker and a trend whore.

(Click on any of the images to go purchase these items right now. You can blame me if you are one of those that needs justification to buy things. It's fine.)

Choking Hazard.

Did anyone else see this before and after on the Contemporist? The owner, Tyler Gourley who saw the potential in this house and led the remodel, is a GENIUS. The fireplace!?!...I die (sorry, too much Rachel Zoe).

Exterior before.

Exterior after.

Fireplace before.

Fireplace after.

Bathroom. Does the before even matter?

Photos from the Contemporist.

Um, I almost just choked (this post really is hazardous to my health). It's listed for $699,000. I guess that's what happens when you don't live in the San Francisco. Sometimes I forgot people have homes with yards and three bedrooms and two car garages and swimming pools.

I Guess I'd Take It.

I am going absolutely ga-ga* over the use of wood in this apartment made by combining 3 smaller apartments in the ritzy Metropolitan Tower on West 57th Street in Manhattan. I'm just going to venture a guess and assume all of the built-ins are custom. Oh, and the view's not bad if you're into that whole floor-to-ceiling view of Central Park sort of thing. Also, the chairs and light fixture in the dining room. Um, yeah.

* Not to be confused with Lady Gaga. Don't worry, I am planning on wearing pants when I leave the house today.

Images by Michael Weber from the Behance Network via Kitsune Noir.

I Love Lamp.

P.S. I need this lamp. Now. Actually, I need four.

Image of Ubuntu Restaurant via The Contemporist.

Pocket Change.

Last night, I needed some escape (also known as shopping). So rather than filling up my shopping cart on Nordstrom or J. Crew with things I could theoretically afford I decided to go to bat with the big boys. I headed straight over to Net-a-Porter for some window shopping, sartorial dreaming and a little bit of hyperventilating. While I love beautiful clothes, I'm not quite sure I'm ready to wear $5,000 worth of fabric and leather on my body. For godsake, that's worth more than my engagement ring and wedding dress combined (remember, wife of an artist). So, just indulge me in my dream clothing today and I'll make a few posts later of what is actually in my price range (assuming I max out a few of my department store credit cards).

The Date Outfit: Loving the mix of feminine and masculine, soft and hard, delicate pastels and strong black. And while I said I could and would never wear a peep toe bootie, these are f-ing hot.

Haute Hippie - Jersey tutu dress ($445), Dacute - Military suede jacket ($720), Lanvin - Glass pearl necklace ($1,220), Christian Louboutin - Loubistuds studded leather clutch ($1,395) and Robot 120 ankle boots ($1,295). Total $5,075. (You know in movies when someone says something that catches someone else off guard while they are drinking a beverage and the spit out all their beverage. Yep...my MacBook hates me right now.)

The Brunch Outfit: the perfect combination of comfort and chicness. I wonder if I could live out of that bag since it does cost more than my rent.

Maje - Pagny striped cotton dress ($180), Otreta - Evil eye chiffon scarf ($205), Halston - Stud-embellished cuff ($995), Valentino - Petal leather hobo bag ($2,395), Chloé - Leather wedge boots ($995). Total $4,770. Now that's a steal! (Look...it's a print! Actually multiple prints although I'm not 100% convinced that stripes count as a print.)

Ankle Biters.

Every time there's a slight chill in the air, I start eagerly planning my fall wardrobe. The reality in SF though is that it's pretty much fall all year round (except in fall when it's summer). Fall always gets me excited for boots (and leggings and scarves and coats), but lately I've been about a year behind the trends. I blame this on the fact that boots are expensive. Ok, maybe not all boots...just the boots I lust after. As I trudged through this past year in knee high vintage boots, everyone and their mother have been wearing ankle booties. And now that I'm finally ready to take the plunge, the new trend is above the knee boots, of course. Is it wrong if I just want some of these?

See by Chloe Ruffled Ankle Booties


Marc by Marc Jacobs Bow Detail Boot


Moschino Patent Leather Ankle Boot


Fendi Platform Stacked Heel Booties

Oh, and while you are delivering my new shoes, could you maybe flatten out my whole neighborhood or at least install one of those moving sidewalk airport thingies? It's no fun walking up and down all these hills in four inch heels.

Chump Change.

The Dimitri Medium Python Hobo by Celine. A bargain at $4,200.

Images from NET-A-PORTER.COM.

If I ever see someone walking down the street carrying this bag, I will probably start to cry. Tears will be shed for the exquisite craftsmanship, the decadence of the python and the smoldering chic-ness of its color. But I'll also be sobbing due to the ridiculousness of the fact that someone could and would pay as much for a purse as we did for our rent...for the past 3 months.

Light My Fire.

I'm basically obsessed with any light fixtures that involve bulbs with visible filaments. I love their turn of the century (meaning 1900-ish) charm. Whenever I eat at Alembic or Town Hall, I stare admiringly at their lighting while I devour their delicious grub.

40W 1890 Bulb from Rejuvenation.

Renting an apartment in the city makes it hard to update our fixtures, but if I could I would take any of these bad boys any day of the week. Although it looks as if the Bubble Chandelier below might not require hard wiring which means I might have to save $300 so I can hang it over our dining table. Ooohh...I get excited just thinking about it.

Artic Pear Chandelier from OCHRE.


Bubble Chandelier by jeanpelle on Etsy.


Firefly Pendant Lamp from CB2.

I Die.

Don't you just adore my future summer home? You are all obviously more than welcome to visit. We like to call it the the Albatross Avenue house. It's located on Australia’s Gold Coast and was designed by the fabulous firm of Bayden Goddard. I simply cannot wait for a soak in the tub. Ta ta!

All photographs by Remco Jansen via the Contemporist.