verhext

2008-09-02T20:42:00.001-07:00

Now at verhext.com! See you there!

2008-09-02T12:43:00.001-07:00

Anxiously awaiting a preview of this. Holy holy.

2008-08-28T11:22:00.000-07:00

+ Vosges Pandan Leaf Belgian Dark Chocolate ice cream

I think I just consumed 400% of my daily fat intake.

2008-08-26T13:04:00.000-07:00

I haven't been posting ~ inbetweens and oddly homesick for Vermont and a simple life. Waking up, dressing in these clothes, making a fire in the crisp fall air. Ah, in my dreams. Instead, I start a new office job next week and still haven't settled into Oakland in any real way. What time am I upon and where do I belong? I'm too old for these questions. Time to make some lists, look at my life, find my passions again. Compass.

Sometimes I can't believe that this is a real place, and that I "own" it.

2008-08-11T10:47:00.000-07:00

+ di rosa nature preserve
+ sweet potato pie, bacon, & grits for breakfast
+ lazy boats on lake merritt
+ cocktails at flora

2008-08-04T10:03:00.000-07:00

Ah! I love my new peacock headband from Charm School Design. Perfect for a touch of fanciness on a foggy day like today.

2008-07-30T23:56:00.001-07:00

I never really want new Things.

But I want these.

Scenes from the kitchen.

2008-07-28T13:46:00.000-07:00

It's been a hectic work-time for the last few days, and now I'm updating my portfolio to start looking for work again! Phew! I like the work-from-home aspect of freelancing, but not the hustle.

Anyway, some tiny peeks into the kitchen!

thrifted industrial stools - painted the seats black.

cup snagged from a give away pile, handblown orange vase thrifted in VT for $1, enamel teapot thrifted, sanna annukka print (massive new house splurge.)

2008-07-22T13:50:00.000-07:00

Yay! Design*Sponge liked my before and after chairs, as did a number of readers, judging by the nice comments.

Here's a before and after with a funny story.

This wee cabinet was left in my apartment by the last tenant. I loved the crazy woodgrain doors and the modern shape. However, it was dirty and stained, the finish was chipping, and I did not like the door color.

On the way to the shop to sand it down and paint the doors that same BM Black paint, one door FLEW OUT OF THE TRUCK (!??!) on the freeway. I had a small tantrum because many other things had been going wrong, and then got out the sander and went to work. I cut a piece of plywood the size of the door, sanded the whole piece, put a clear satin finish on it, and painted the remaining door. I really love the outcome, though the plywood finish is a little lighter. Before I polyurethaned the piece, they matched exactly! Oh well.

2008-07-21T13:25:00.001-07:00

As part of the birthday celebration, we spent the day in Point Reyes with K's family. They have a stunning house overlooking the bay, with this charming guest cottage for rent. It's so sweet, and there are few things more relaxing and amazing than soaking in a hot tub while the fog comes in, tiny flickering lights on the hillside through the mist like fairy lanterns.

2008-07-21T12:35:00.000-07:00

I made this recipe again (invented for a family gathering last year) for K's birthday this weekend, and again it was met with accolades.

Cake:
1 cup all purpose flour
1 cup brown rice flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon sea salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 dash cardamom
1 dash freshly grated nutmeg
2 tbsp. orange juice
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 drop orange flavor
1 cup sucanat
1/4 cup maple syrup
1/2 cup crushed pineapple
1/2 cup walnut oil
3 large eggs
3 cups grated peeled carrots
1 cup coarsely chopped walnuts
1/2 cup shredded coconut
2 tablespoons grated fresh ginger

Icing:
16 ounces cream cheese, soft
powdered sugar to taste/consistency (about 1 1/2 cups)
1/4 cup pure maple syrup

2008-07-18T18:11:00.000-07:00

+ noa babayof
+ london red currant black tea
+ bike rides to bakesale betty
+ spiky red stalks of amaranth in the backyard garden

Reincarnate.

2008-07-18T15:23:00.000-07:00

Holy cow. Now that I know how easy and deeply satisfying re-vamping chairs like this is, I'm going to just do it for fun. These were found at the Alameda Flea Market - really sturdy and solid with great lines and detail, but the fabric was just gross and the paint flaking off.

before.

after.

Benjamin Moore Low Lustre Wood and Metal Enamel (Latex) in Black, fabric by Joel Dewberry for Westminster. New padding was created by layering organic wool quilt batting - comfy and breathable.

Jazz Baby Blues.

2008-07-16T20:56:00.000-07:00

My new house must be wearing off on me, because I found this (mostly) 50's jazz station on iTunes (you can listen from the site as well) and it makes being home like being in Funny Face. I'm currently listening to a show called "Divaville" & oh, it is. Now, where did I leave Fred Astaire?

http://www.kmhd.org

Bedtime Cocoa.

2008-07-15T19:16:00.000-07:00

When I went to pick up my new sofa (found via craigslist,) the charming artist who sold it threw in this adorable vintage sauce pan.

It's become my perfect cocoa pan, and last night I added a pinch of grey sea salt and a dash of lavender to the milk and chocolate as it heated - strained out the lavender & enjoyed an amazing bedtime treat.

Fabrics.

2008-07-14T18:12:00.000-07:00

While I usually buy fabrics from thrift shops, sometimes I need something specific. I had a great time yesterday perusing Stone Mountain & Daughter in Berkeley, and found a few things from these textile houses:

Free Spirit

Westminster

Also, a Japanese company named Mameyakko, with just gorgeous Arts & Crafts inspired prints, and I also found really cheap bolts of Marimekko at the Crate & Barrel outlet. Don't tell.

2008-07-11T08:49:00.000-07:00

tea party thursday ran 3pm until 10:30pm unexpectedly. surprise visits from rachie. sitting in the garden, talking from serious to laughing, tea + rose lemonade + elderflower soda, cookies + tiny sandwiches + scones and clotted cream. visits from kittens. magic.

thrifted treats.

eating treats.

Roanoakland.

2008-07-06T20:50:00.000-07:00

5 days into my new life as an Oakland resident. Panic over no furniture, fewer friends on this side of the Transberlin Wall, and a general sense of "What have I done?" tempered by typing this in front of a door open to a lush garden, and friends promising to visit very soon.

Plotting my new apartment, I've decided to go for themes; the bedroom - oldtimey-trainhopping-depressionera-tarnishedglamour, the kitchen - black-white-modern-finnish-with a dash of hippie, the living room - technicolor mexicana bruja. I'm a little bothered by the cream walls. A lot bothered, but it seems unlikely I will be allowed to paint. I'll have to work with wall coverings & curtain color to change the feel of the light. My attempt at painting all the kitchen furniture black has thus far been a disaster - wrong paint, wrong color, wrong application. Let's see if I can take what I've learned and turn it around. Strip, sand, thin coats of a latex based wood enamel. That's what I'd recommend now.

+ secret visits from cats
+ late night ship watching adventures
+ the sound of the train whistle
+ the smell of cypress
+ hummingbirds in the garden
+ fat red teapots

starting fresh!

2008-06-24T23:27:00.000-07:00

Welcome! Working toward combining all my interests into one, this is the start to the creation of the new Verhext website - my blog (after 7 years on Livejournal,) flickr collection of travels, and my clothing line, formerly dainty & dirty.