On Tuesday, my sweetheart and my grandfather and I
are going to San Francisco for a week!
It’s strange to think that it has been nearly a year
since I visited San Francisco!
So much has happened in that time, and I’ve been
so busy that I never even got around to writing more
about the people, places and things that I encountered
on that wondrous voyage!

I had never seen the redwoods before,
so sweet Melissa took us on an adventure to Muir Woods..

My fierce and distinguished Grampa loved it there-
he looks like a mighty gnome-king! Sovereign of the forest!

I finally got to make a pilgrimage to Dark Garden
to drool over their delicious corsets- I loved going behind the scenes
to their workshop to see the construction of all sorts of cinchers and such.

I also got to visit with beauteous Lara Eventide
and her sweetheart, Chad. They are such an incredibly sweet and lovely pair.
I’m looking forward to visiting with them again this time!

The Princess Plants (Tibouchina urvilleana) were in bloom!
this picture doesn’t do it justice, really- the purple was so vivid
it almost made your eyes water.. Also, they are huge!

I could have stared at this fabric forever.

Nebula, The Powdered Sugar Princess (Tamara Toumanova) – Joseph Cornell
The Joseph Cornell exhibit at The Museum of Modern Art
was the pinnacle of joy for me- he is my favorite artist,
and someone I feel a deep resonance with.
I spent over 4 hours wandering through the exhibit,
swooning and taking copious notes.
I got prints of Nebula and one of her counter-parts,
two pieces I had never seen before
and fell instantly in love with..

Tail of the Yak is my favorite shop, ever
(besides Uncommon Objects, bien sûr!)

It is such an incredibly magical environment,
filled with santos, olive leaf garlands, french silk ribbon..

Beetle wings, mourning jewelry, ebon fetiches..

All sorts of writing paraphernalia, scented inks and fine papers..

Perfume, taxidermy, treasure galore!

In short, everything I adore!

Another favorite place was Lacis Museum of Lace & Textiles, also in Berkeley..
This lace demon made me so happy..

Fancy faceless lace people!

I returned home bursting with inspiration,
and reading material.. Stack of books from City Lights Bookstore,
and gifts from sweet friends and family..
♥ Edward Gorey’s Fantod Pack
♥ The Maid of Orleans Deck
♥ St. Lucy’s Home for Girls Raised by Wolves
♥ The Tenant
♥ Joseph Cornell’s Dreams
♥ The Golden Apples
♥ Pilgrim at Tinker Creek
♥ Joseph Cornell’s Vision of Spiritual Order
♥ Tin House – Fantastic Women
These are places I didn’t get to see last time:
(Thank you, Tamera!)
✸ Wave Organ
✸ Sutro Baths
✸ Botanical Gardens
✸ Rowboats in Stow Lake
✸ Conservatory of Flowers
✸ Bell’occhio
✸ Gypsy Honeymoon
✸ Aria Antiques
✸ Stairways
✸ Martuni’s
✸ Clarion Music
✸ Japantown
✸ Lovejoy’s
✸ Toy Boat Dessert Cafe
✸ Kan Zaman
✸ Asian Art Museum
✸ Cartoon Art Museum
✸ Italian Cemetery
✸ Waziema
✸ Muir Beach
✸ Pelican Inn
✸ Adobe Books
✸ Love at First Bite
✸ Tilden Park
What else? Do tell.