you should stop in at the curiosity shoppe this friday evening, january 7th from 6 to 9pm for the launch party of Chris’s Schmidt’s new book, Print Workshop. have a drink or two, and make your own DIY printed book plates using rubber stamps — projects included in the book!

chris is the designer behind Yellow Owl Workshop and she’s taken over the curiosity shoppe gallery space for the week with an installation of projects from the Print Workshop book and products from her line of stationery, stamp sets, prints, and ceramic objects. i hope to see y’all there! and, if you can’t make it to the party, you can still get a copy of the book from the curiosity shoppe.

the curiosity shoppe
launch party: january 7th from 6 to 9pm
855 Valencia Street
San Francisco • 94110
415.671.5384

oooh, guess who’s coming to san francisco? something’s hiding in here is coming — to the curiosity shoppe for a show on the evening of Friday, July 23rd, from 6-9pm! the curiosity shoppe announces the launch of ‘FORAGE’, a new line of handmade bow ties by the very talented Shauna Alterio and Stephen Loidolt. The geniuses behind Something’s Hiding in Here have created this amazing collection of neckwear based on the sartorial habits of a few of their favorite designers (such as Charles Eames, Louis Kahn, and Le Corbusier).

the duo has come all the way from Philadelphia to install a bow tie shop in the curiosity shoppe gallery space, so drop in on Friday for the opening reception, where you can meet Shauna and Stephen and pick up a tie of your own. There will be drinks, snacks, good people and good times. And for those of you who don’t know your way around a bow tie, have no fear — Barrett and Mike from Taylor Stitch will be on hand to demonstrate how to properly tie one on.

and, if you can’t make the show – don’t worry your pretty little neck! the bow ties will be available online beginning at 9am PST on Tuesday the 27th! get your tie on!

WHAT: Forage Opening Reception
WHEN: Friday, July 23rd, 6-9pm
WHERE: the curiosity shoppe, 855 Valencia St. (between 19th & 20th), San Francisco

if your in san francisco area, be sure and join the curiosity shoppe tomorrow for a super fun workshop with author and crafter extraordinaire Kayte Terry. She’s got a great new book out called Appliqué Your Way and will be on hand signing books and demonstrating how to make an adorable felt ornaments. The event is free at the curiosity shoppe, and no reservation is necessary. Just head on over! And if you’re not in the area, visit the curiosity shoppe online for best in unique and clever holiday gifts!

the curiosity shoppe
Appliqué Workshop with Kayte Terry
Saturday November 21st, 1-4pm
855 Valencia Street (between 19th & 20th)

San Francisco’s Curiosity Shoppe made it on Daily Candy Deals today. woohoo! So even if you’re not in the bay area, you can still get great deals on everything online from art books, crafty accessories, eclectic home goods, and more — all 25% off. Head over to Daily Candy to sign up if you’re not already a subscriber (subscribe to your town — it’s a wealth of great finds!) and enter the daily candy discount code to get 25% off Curiosity Shoppe cuteness!

If you’re lucky enough to be in what currently seems to look like it’s going to be a very sunny San Francisco weekend, The Curiosity Shoppe is hosting a Saturate Back to School sale this Saturday, September 26th from 12-5pm. You can stock up on Saturate’s gorgeous hand-silkscreened goods: cards, note sets, calendars, prints, and ephemera - and all of it will be up to 75% off – loads of great stationery as low as $5 bucks!

Saturate is a local Berkeley-based silkscreened paper goods company, started by designer/architect Kate Lydon in 2004. Saturate’s cheery, witty, elegant designs are sold in stores from Kate’s Paperie (NYC) to Terrain (Philly) to San Francisco’s very own Curiosity Shoppe in the heart of Mission’s fun shopping district, Valencia Street. Saturate’s cards and custom work have been featured in Martha Stewart Weddings, Lucky, Real Simple, and a slew of now-defunct home decor magazines.  Please drop in at The Curiosity Shoppe for the Saturate Back to School sale on Saturday, September 26th from 12-5pm. Hope to see you there!

The Curiosity Shoppe
855 Valencia Street • San Francisco 94110
415.671.5384

Little Pink Houses is a collaboration between two very talented San Francisco artists and friends, Mati McDonough and Lisa Congdon. They conceived of the show by discovering their mutual love for John Cougar Mellencamp’s famous melody. Little Pink Houses is an homage to many of the pair’s mutual loves, including the color pink and all things of the forest. The installation includes eight 8×8 paintings (four by each artist), eight hand painted birdhouses (four by each artist) and two collaborative paintings. Fabric designed by each of the artists is also on display.

Already on display at San Francisco’s Curiosity Shoppe, the Little Pink Houses show opens this Friday, July 10th, from 6-10, with both artists in attendance for the opening, and the work will be up in the gallery until July 31st. If you aren’t in the bay area and can’t make this wonderful show, all artwork is also for sale online at The Curiosity Shoppe.

Big news! The summer issue of Uppercase magazine is due out July 2nd – woohoo! 100 pages of glorious print on paper, and all perfect-bound and just waiting to get your hands all over it. It will be mailed out in early July, so it’s time or order, or subscribe now. I am extra excited to receive my copy, because I was invited to write an article and shoot photographs for this issue on the lovely Curiosity Shoppe DIY duo, Lauren Smith and Derek Fagertrom! It’s the first magazine article I’ve ever written (if you don’t count zines) and I am very proud and happy I was able to do it. The article features a wonderful interview with Lauren and Derek, and loads of great pictures of their inspiring apartment and their shop. I can’t tell you how much I love Uppercase magazine – and not just because I am contributing this issue. I just find it full of wonderful creativity and inspiration, and with so many magazines going under these days, it’s great to have a brand new design magazine to soak in and savor. Smashing job, Uppercase! Click here for more information on upcoming issues and ordering and subscribing.

my favorite diy duo, lauren & derek of the curiosity shoppe, have done it again over on design*sponge. if you haven’t checked it out before, lauren & derek post amazing diy ideas on design*sponge every wednesday, and this week i was so jazzed to see this beautiful camera strap cover made from a fabric scrap! i am making this pronto-like, and i was thinking it could work well made from an old vintage necktie, too. and i do believe i have just the perfect vintage tie to do it with! for all the details on how to make this clever camera strap visit diy wednesday at design*sponge, and thanks for the constant inspiration over there, y’all!

Our first winner is Vera Devera with her DIY Wedding projects. Vera said, “I would use the wallpaper to make my DIY wedding invitations, including: Double-pasting to the back of the invitation, Belly bands and Envelope liners. If I find enough of it, I’d also consider using “vintage” style wallpaper as inexpensive table runners (stitched together).” All, really wonderful ideas for re-purposing wallpaper.

The second winner is Kelsey Klassen. Kelsey had these great ideas: “I would wallpaper my phone books because there always seems to be three laying around, and I can never bring myself to get rid of them just in case. I would also line the inside of old glass jars with vintage wallpaper to create pretty ways to store bathroom supplies like cotton balls and q-tips. I am also planning to wallpaper the section under our breakfast bar because it is a sadly neglected stretch of vertical space.” I am so with her on the phone book idea – I can’t stand the way they look, but always think I’ll need one!

Congratulations to the winners, and many thanks to everyone who wrote in such great ideas! To read any of these excellent DIY ideas, check the comments section on this post. And, for more about Wallpaper Projects and how to order, click here, and to keep up with Lauren & Derek – check out their blog, Smarts & Crafts.