Living The Chez Panisse Life: Road Trip Vacation

Back home and settling in, (always takes a week to really BE back), calling the week and a half vacation/road trip, 'living the Chez Panisse life'.  Got in the car and drove to the Bay Area.  Takes one day, a beautiful drive down 101 listening to a book on tape.  Under the pretext of doing a series of fabric buys for the website, I've really been on vacation, visiting old friends, revisiting old haunts (and finding new ones), eating some incredible meals in great restaurants....and, yes, buying some fabulous fabrics.  Calling it the Chez Panisse life after eating dinner in the cafe, where the food was simple (beet and avocado salad with lightly gingery dressing, done just lightly salmon, and perfectly imperfect plum galette).  Not too big, not too small, just right....qualities I want in all aspects of my life. Including my creative projects and closet.

Perfect Salad Chez Panisse: a metaphor for simple, understated, unfussy.  I like that!

First, a long weekend in Healdsburg, with Andie  and Jerry, dear friends and design gurus.  We cooked from the garden, we hit the Saturday farmer's market, and then we went for a ride out the Bohemian Highway toward the coast to the Freestone Bakery , where they serve some of the best bread in the world.  Andie and I shopped at 101 Healdsburg, one of my favorite clothing stores where they were happily having a sale.

Andie's Book

Spent a couple of nights in a hotel in downtown San Francisco where I shopped to see what is happening for fall.  On Sutter Street, stepped into Wilkes Bashford for the first time in years.  They used to set a certain fashion standard, but I was underwhelmed. Better choice, go next door to Babette where you'll find a small but choice collection of this renowned SF designer.   Also on Sutter Street, I always have to go to Kati Koos for the clothes and the jewelry.  Be sure to sign up for Kati's great newsletter, and take note that they are moving from the street level location to 500 Sutter up on the 6th floor.  Another favorite, over on Fillmore street, a favorite area for relaxed shopping is Mio.

Taking a walk up on Russian Hill, I found a jewel box shop called Elle Meme....literally, a stunning vintage jewelry store with the pieces displayed like the treasures they are.

One of the many things I love about the Bay Area is shopping in stores that are unique, inspiring and operated by passionate owners.  Out in the Richmond, I visited Satin Moon Fabrics, not to be missed if you are in SF.  No website, (at 32 Clement between Arguello and 2nd Avenue), short hours, no website, but, as always, a fabulous collection of fabrics for clothing and for the home.  Owners and sisters, Susan and Alice tell me this is their 40th year in business, and I've been a customer there for at least 36, I remember discovering it back in 1975.

In between eating and visiting and shopping, I scored some wonderful fabrics.  Usually the fabric comes via UPS or FEDEX, but this time I hauled one batch back in the car.  All week we have been checking it in and I've started to photograph and post.  Two more shipments are coming:  fabulous knits from another well known SF designer, and a grouping of rainwear fabrics.  I am back home, inspired by being in the city, by being in the company of creative people and by the meditative time spent driving through beautiful country.

The Labor Day holiday weekend signals the real start of fall and of the fall sewing season.  I'm in the studio this weekend working on an upcoming Vogue pattern for summer 2013, but am also planning my own fall sewing...simple pieces I can wear now and later:  at home, then Taos and Paris.  Starting with little thin knit T's.  Stay tuned!

We are celebrating Labor day by NOT working.  If you shop with us over this weekend, shipments will go out the week of September 10...however,  if you have a fabric emergency and need to go to the head of the line, put that info in the message box when you place your order.