Getting Frank...with Chic Textiles

I met Christina Bryant at one of the first dinner parties I attended in San Francisco close to three years ago. We swapped life stories over vino and hors d'oeuvres as I quickly developed my "girl crush".  I was immediately enamored by Christina’s views on international development, her tales from her travels in Africa and the surrounding globe, her graduate work at Stanford, her entrepreneurial spirit, and overall grace and gumption. This girl had it all happening. There is nothing more inspiring than seeing your friends and peers pursue their dreams and it gives me a great deal of pleasure to introduce you to Christina's remarkable company, St. Frank. St. Frank launched in October of 2013 as the only retailer of framed textiles. All of St. Frank's pieces are handmade by artisans around the world in low and middle-income countries, each one showcasing a traditional craft with rich stories. Central to the company's model is what they define as a two-fold mission: supporting economic empowerment for artisans, while preserving and cultivating the traditional craft. Each unique item is truly a conversation piece, and a chic compliment to any space.

Above, you'll find an assortment of pieces from St. Frank's vintage collection. In addition to these pieces, I encourage you to view their newest collection: Coffee & Chocolate. Impressively, St. Frank has received a multitude of praise from Harper's Bazaar, Traditional Home, C Magazine, Lonny Magazine and the like. C&C wishes Christina and the St. Frank team continued success!

PRIVATE via Instagram

    One of my favorite subjects on Instagram is Giancarlo Giammetti. Giancarlo is known by many across the globe and perhaps most well-known for his long-time relationship with partner Valentino Garavani, the man behind the Italian powerhouse that is Valentino.  Giancarlo, who has been quoted saying that his life truly didn't start until meeting Valentino, (they met by a chance encounter in a Parisian nightclub in the 60's), is equally responsible for much of the fashion house's success.  Although the duo sold the brand in 1998 to Italian conglomerate HdP, Giancarlo and Valentino continue to reign over the kingdom of high fashion and the colorful social circles that follow. You can find the duo in an array of fabulous locales, surrounded by what they refer to as their "tribe" a group of beautiful, well decorated (famous) friends who join on their travel adventures (typically à la Valentino's yacht T.M. Blue One), from the Adriatic Sea, to beach clubs in Southern Greece, to couture fashion shows in Paris, and then some. In the past year, Giancarlo was the particular interest of the international press when he changed his Instagram account from private to public while subsequently releasing his book “Private: Giancarlo Giammetti”, a remarkable 12 pound memoir with a look into the fanciful world that is his own reality.

Ali

Love this photograph of Ali Macgraw from the 60's...

The Chase

There's no question I inherited this trait from my Mother, however I love a good thrift store hunt. Yesterday, I found this oyster platter in a neighborhood thrift store. There is something about collecting treasures that have been cherished in past lives that brings me a great deal of satisfaction. It's a re-birth of sorts. I find thrift stores to be excellent places particularly for sourcing sterling silver and furniture. See my favorite San Francisco go-to's below and do email us if you care to share your most coveted locales! (citrusandcedars@gmail.com)

Past Perfect

2246 Lombard St, San Francisco, CA 94123 / p: (415) 929-2288

(This store formerly had an additional location on Union Street as well. They specialize in Mid-Century Modern pieces. I've scored a great gilded mirror here).

Town School Clothes Closet

1850 Polk St, San Francisco, CA 94109 / p: (415) 929-8019

(Typically a decent selection of housewares, including fine silver and fine china. They almost always have a sale on these pieces).

Leftovers

1350 Van Ness Ave, San Francisco, CA 94109 / p: (415) 409-0088

(Their well merchandised window vignettes always entice me inside. A good go-to for furniture pieces).

Bathing Beauties

Laura, Lee, Caroline, Charlotte, Catherine & Brigitte. The gang's all here! Enjoy some gray-scale of these beauties bathing.

We Are The Millennials

Millennials. AKA, Generation Y. Most experts define the Millennial Generation as anyone born in the early 1980s to early 2000s. We are a pretty powerful group and the subject of many cultural and economic debates and strategies. Books have been written about how our generation could "upend Wall Street and Corporate America", some of us graduated at the peak of the Great Recession (like moi), and we've been bombarded with media coverage from the tragedies of September 11 attacks, ongoing wars in the Middle East, school shootings and the like. We've pioneered the selfie, shaped Silicon Valley at impressive ages, dominated Kickstarter Campaigns and changed the fashion industry via the blogosphere and a modern form of liberal expressionism. I find our generation at times perplexing, yet fascinating. If you do too, I encourage you to read this article in the NYTimes from the weekend - one of many reminders of what we represent to the world.

She's a 10

I've posted on the Sea as a Cure before, and I'll say it again: it does marvelous things for the soul. One of my most favorite aspects of living in San Francisco is the access to beautiful landscapes. I love weekend adventures and this past weekend didn't fall short of that fondness. It wasn't my first trip to Pt. Reyes, but it certainly took the cake for being the most impactful. Point Reyes is located in Marin County just shy of 30 miles west-northwest of San Francisco. The region is bounded by Tomales Bay on the northeast (home to some of our country's best oysters), and Bolinas Lagoon (a popular surf spot) on the other side, southeast. A majority of the land is protected as part of Point Reyes National Seashore and interestingly, bounded to the east by the San Andreas Fault. The landscape will captivate even the most discerning discoverer.

I spent my Saturday grinning ear to ear on Pt. Reyes' South Beach dodging the powerful waves, a product of the seriously dangerous rip current the beach is notorious for. It was my first daring swim in the Pacific since moving west and as I sit here writing this post, I wish I could teleport back to that moment. Nothing makes me happier than salty hair, sunshine and being with the ocean. Post-swim, My Mother and I basked in the sun with wine and sandy newspapers, with the alluring landscape around us....Heaven!

The Ultimate Luxury

  This weekend certainly had me thinking. I spent it with my two best friends, soaking up the sunshine across the Golden Gate bridge at a dear friend's home. Early mornings were spent with refreshing swims in the pool, followed by coffee on the terrace while listening to the birds hum their morning tune and watching the sun fill the yard with its warmth. We hunted for fresh cherry tomatoes and scallions in the garden for omelet ingredients, and later poured ourselves into books and magazines by the dark-bottomed pool. I found myself reflecting on how simple our days were, yet how happy they made me. Perhaps this is the definition of summer to many, however that definition changes when you live in San Francisco. Just the vision of lush shrubs and greenery and the act of sourcing our breakfast ingredients from the garden filled my soul with delight. A joyful garden, in my opinion, is an ultimate luxury. I am devoting this post to the simplicities of life and the beauty and luxury they often bestow. Images above are from Mark D. Sikes' curated collection via Pinterest. Be sure to follow his blog, also, a C&C favorite!

Delish!

I love beets and this recipe looks like a fun one to try at home - perhaps even an excellent menu item when hosting brunch. See more simple toast recipes here.

Chef

I just saw 'Chef' the delightful feel-good flick meets culinary comedy about a chef who in the depth of his career, takes a risk to follow his passion for cooking, ultimately bringing him close to the things that matter most in his life, namely, his son. Thematically, we've all seen films of this sort, however I found it refreshing as a new-age, lighthearted reminder of the things dear to our personal joy. The film is accompanied by a fun cast, snappy soundtrack, and a road trip to some good old-fashioned cuisine capitals. View the trailer, here.