Mega Post // All Good Things Holiday Edition

What do you do when you fall behind on posting?  If you're like me, you don't fret but instead mash everything into one mega-post and take a nice big Sharpie pen to check that off your to-do with total satisfaction.  Okay, so without further ado, I present to you


New Stores in Old Oakland
The corner of 9th and Broadway just burst open with three new stores!

Flora Cultural Society located in the alley in my original location.  Fresh flowers and plants, gifts, and body care with a striking and stripped down aesthetic.

SOBU furniture and home decor for those who like a rustic feel with clean modern lines.

Manifesta Salon at the corner-- these gals hail from Aveda and are experts in cut/color.  Get your hair did in time for your next holiday party.

Crown Nine in The Business Times
Popuphood turns two and welcomes three new businesses-- and the press takes note.  Check out the cool slideshow of all the shops.

Kate Ellen on KGO Radio
I was interviewed about the success of Plaid Friday-- here is the clip (starts at 4:28).

Kate Ellen Metals on Local Eclectic
New curated online boutique launched a collection of my work along with a little interview about my inspiration and process.

Video Installation with Block Gallery
Every Friday and Saturday from 5:30-8:30 9th st between Broadway and Washington is lit up with the amazing video work of six artists as part of a public art installation with Block Gallery.  Do not miss this show, it runs thru the first week of January.

Saturday Night Shop + Hop
Last weekend before the Christmas and the whole neighborhood is staying open late!  Check out the video installation and hop from shop to shop-- we'll be open until 8:30 on Saturday.  Marion and Rose's Workshop, Umamimart, Sobu, and Flora Cultural Society will be open too.  #shoplocal

Trunk Show with Corey Egan
The lovely Corey Egan will be bringing her gorgeous work out this Sunday from 11-5 for a sample sale and trunk show.  Lots of gifts for the gals on your list!

This is Oakland Book
Crown Nine will be featured in this great little coffee table book about retail and food in select neighborhoods of Oakland.  They are self-publishing so get your hands on a pre-order via Kickstarter.

#FavoriteThings
A few more shots from my collaboration with photographer Miranda Wendorf.

Hummingbird and tiny skulls by SF artist Voce Keen.... I love to tuck a little darkness and death into the light of being alive.

Handcut brass bangle by SF designers Kim + Jasper of Ortolan Designs.  #gaaaahhh

Beautiful tourmalene and labradorite by Oakland jeweler Christine Aiko.  She had a fantastic trunk show last weekend, thanks to everyone who came out.

The Trinity Necklace by yours truly.  Nine little flush set diamonds in 14k gold.  Petite and sparkly.

Peter St. Lawrence porcelain crystal.  So pretty, I want to put them in all the planters at my house.

Definitely my #favoritething is making jewelry.  This month has been packed with exciting custom work and some new designs in the making.

Giovanna Torrico Horsehair Hoops.  Like yes.

Collette Ishiyama Crysler Tower earrings.  Total perfection.

Pod by Jo Boyer of SF.  We have a bunch of these little beauties.

Colin Adrian glass feather.  Because I'm kind of a hippy and maybe you are too.

The Pyramid Cuff in silver and bronze by moi.

Boots: check.  Fist full of gold rings: check.  Two finger ring: check check.

L  O V E + M E T A L

S P R E A D T H E L O V E

Plaid Friday // Interview with the Founder

I was listening to the Marketplace on NPR last night and host Ky Ryssdal was talking about some guy in some state who is already camped out in front of Best Buy in a 10 person tent equipped with a generator, microwave, heater and gaming console in anticipation for Black Friday.  And then this morning I saw LL Cool J rapping about how Best Buy is actually now just going to open up on Thanksgiving evening.  I'm gonna hashtag that #heyloverI'mworkingthanksgivingday or maybe #mamasaidknockbestbuyout.

It's this sort of rampant consumerism {as cleverly depicted in this Saturday Night Live clip, seriously watch it} that has some people boycotting the whole day, but a few years ago my dear friend Kerri Johnson came up with a better idea.  She decided to spend the day embracing everything that is going right--namely by supporting vibrant local independent small businesses.  Kerri thought it would we super fun to give people an organized alternative to the mall and box stores, and so Plaid Friday was born!  

This year Oakland is going all out, over 45 local retailers are participating in just downtown/uptown areas, the East Bay Express has published this bodacious map of our city, and Mayor Jean Quan has made it free to park on Plaid Friday and every Saturday in December, #hellafreeparking!  And of course at Crown Nine we'll be serving up a sparkly sample sale with Sarah Swell from 11-8.


I sat down with my neighbor Kerri, owner of Marion and Rose's Workshop, to have her give me the scoop on the event that started right here in Oakland and has spread across the country.

1// Why did you create Plaid Friday?  Why is it a good fit for Oakland?

I created Plaid Friday in 2009 as a response to a movement that was spreading to boycott all shopping on Black Friday.   At the time I owned a small artist run space called Blankspace with my husband and we were turning our gallery into a popup shop for the holidays with local artisan products. Since many of our friends were just hanging out on that day I thought, let's turn this day into a positive experience and give them a relaxing and enjoyable alternative to shopping at the big box stores, while at the same time learning more about their neighborhood small businesses.

The name Plaid Friday was conceived from the idea of weaving the individual threads of small businesses together to create a strong fabric that celebrates the diversity and creativity of independent businesses.  To me this idea embodies Oakland, strong, diverse and independent.

2// How many other cities participate?

I am so excited to say that cities from all over the country now participate including Portland, Boston, Boulder, Somerville, Nashua, and even the city of City of Pembroke in Canada is participating this year! The campaign as received support from many small business advocate sites like AMIBA and BALLE who help spread the word to small businesses all over the country. I am proud of the fact that this is a grassroots effort that has grown purely from word of mouth and the support of small businesses.  It's all about creating community and strengthening small business.

3// What is Marion and Rose's Workshop all about?

The shop features a well-edited collection of uncommon American made fine goods for the home, person and pet.  We stock high quality, well crafted items by a select group of innovative American designers, artisans and craftspeople.  We seek out the perfect heirloom quality goods, from artisans and companies who have small scale, sustainable, and ethical manufacturing processes.

4// What is your personal shopping philosophy?

I love to shop at locally owned businesses and support my community. We have so many great small businesses in the Bay Area, it's really fun to explore.

5// What products are you most nuts about this season?

I am in love with the wool blankets of Faribault Mills who also make super warm wool scarves.  I am also crushing hard on a company called Cuppow, who make these silly lids that turn mason jars into drinking cups and bento boxes.  The simplicity of the idea is wonderful, and the company founders are amazing people who care about every aspect of the product from the minimal packaging to making sure they are using PBA free plastics.  All of their products are made in the USA and often when you purchase one of their products a portion of the profits goes to a worthy cause.

6// What is your holiday tradition?

One of my holiday traditions is making hot chocolate with marshmallows and curling up with my dogs and hubby to watch some of the movies I've been enjoying for years, like Bad Santa, Christmas Vacation and of course A Christmas Story!

L O V E + M E T A L

S P R E A D T H E L O V E