This framed “office sampler” sits on some altered books made into shelves above my desk. It is there to remind me of one of the important things I need to keep in mind when working for tough clients. All of the decorative elements in the image (it’s actually a silkscreen printed on linen) are cleverly made of office supplies. This helpful print is by designer and book artist extraordinaire Jess Rosenkranz. There’s also some other prints perfect for hanging is your cubicle which you get order from Jess’s site right here.

hello hello. thank you Grace for having me this week! I am very excited to be here. Besides introducing you to some cool artists, giving sneak peeks and before and afters of some friends homes, and sharing my favorite new product finds, I thought it would be nice to share some of the things I have learned along the way of being a illustrator/pattern designer.

One of the questions I frequently get emailed is -how do you make a repeat pattern? I thought it would be fun today to do a little tutorial showing you how simple it is even with a very complex drawing. And you don’t even need a computer! (I usually do my repeats on the computer but today I’m doing it the way I was first taught.) Here’s the old fashioned way of making a tile-able design:

On a clean piece of paper draw a design in the middle of your paper without letting any of the drawing touch the edges- this is very important. (I am going to draw lions and vine-y things- an influence from last months visit to the American Folk Art museum in nyc.)

Once you finish the middle space as much as you want you are going to cut your drawing in half- scary I know- but that’s why computers are helpful. Once you have the two pieces flip them and tape your drawing back together. Put the tape on the back of the paper so it doesn’t obstruct your drawing at all later. Also try to tape your drawing back together as perfectly lined up as possible. It’s hard to see that I’ve even taped mine since I’ve lined it up so well.

Next you are going to cut your drawing in half again the other way- (yikes!) and flip those pieces and tape them back together. Now your design should be on all the edges only and you have a big middle white space. Now fill this space with the rest of your design. Remember again- do not draw to any of the edges of the paper.

Once you finish filling in all the parts you want to fill in you now have your repeatable tile. You could color this tile and then xerox it many times and line up your design- plaster it on your walls and make wallpaper. I am going to cheat and do the final coloring steps in the computer to finish up my design. I am going to scan my drawing, take it into Adobe Illustrator, color and repeat it there.

And here’s my finished design:

I just want to take this chance to thank Grace once again for having me as a guest here on design*sponge. I never thought that could happen, nor did I think that my admiration for the excellence Grace has created here would ever lead the way for me to have my own blog, and now leave my job and join the ranks of full time bloggers. I owe heartfelt gratitude to Grace and the many other fantastic design bloggers out there who have helped to guide me, and am so very grateful for our ever growing blog community. I leave you with one last look around San Francisco, my beautiful city by the bay, and hope you will stop in and check in on sfgirlbybay when the mood strikes you, or you just need another glimpse of San Francisco. Thank you Grace, for a wonderful week sharing my favorite city with your amazing readers. And thanks to you readers for the very warm welcome. See you all soon….Victoria, sfgirlbybay.

[Editor’s note: It’s been an honor to have Victoria on the site and an even greater thrill to have her as a blogging colleague and friend.]

We all need a little Therapy now and then. This is kind of like design Therapy, via the Mission’s very own furnishings and home decor shop on the always hip-hopping Valencia Street. Valencia Street is full of great home decor shops, and Therapy is one of the good ones. Their furniture is mostly mid-century modern and designer knock-offs, stylish, quite colorful, and reasonably priced. It’s a good spot to find unique gifts too, as Therapy’s got a wonderful selection of home accessories, too, from cool clocks, to kitschy artwork from local artists, to throw pillows and ceramics. And who needs a shrink when you can get your own darn couch?

Therapy
545 Valencia Street (between 16th St & 17th St)
San Francisco 94110
415.865.0981

I love the neighborhood known as San Francisco’s Russian Hill and it’s main drag for great shopping and delicious cafes, Polk Street. I lived on Polk & Lombard (that crazy crooked street!) for many years and loved the Russian Hill neighborhood. It’s quite pretty and cozy, tucked up among the big hills that take you down into North Beach, once you hike up and over their steep 18% grades! It’s a ‘hood built on the hills to be sure. Big old mansions, including many beautiful Julia Morgan shingled beauties, and jammed packed with apartments, arm in arm with amazing views of the city and the bay. It’s home, as well, to Armistead Maupin’s Tales of the City Macondray Lane - a lovely place to take a stroll. Just wear comfy shoes!

[image above: Russian Hill Pet Grooming, and the infamous Macondray Lane]

[Old Russian Hill Market, and the view at sunset]

[Cherry blossoms in bloom, and Cat Seto’s Paper Studio]

[ Swallowtail - one of my very favorite shops, and an aging old Victorian]

[Apartments in the sky, and old gilded glories]

[Beautiful bay windows, and Atelier de Modistes bridal boutique]

I dropped into the San Francisco location of Rare Device this weekend and had my usual head spinning desire for everything in the shop. Rena Tom and Lisa Congdon are the talented proprietors of Rare Device, both with an exquisite eye for the stupendously cool and crafty. From great local (and not so local) independent artists, to lovely hand crafted works of art, jewelry, clothing and design, I always find something at Rare Device that just needs to come along home with me. It’s true that their Brooklyn shop is sadly closing, but that will just give them more time to devote to us here in San Francisco, and to the Rare Device online shop, as well. Lisa and Rena have done a fantastic job decorating the shop, and I just enjoy being in the unique and art-filled atmosphere they have created. From the amazing mural, and mobile, to the way they display the art gallery work, being at Rare Device is invigorating - and I always leave with something new to enhance my surroundings, or inspire new thoughts and ideas. If you can’t get to San Francisco soon, be sure and drop in on the Rare Device online shop.

Rare Device
1845 Market Street, San Francisco 94103
415.863.3969
Hours: Tue/Wed/Fri/Sat, noon to 7pm; Thu, noon to 9pm; Sun, noon to 6pm

As you may already know if you read sfgirlbybay, I’m a big fan of thrifted accessories, furniture, art etcetera when decorating my apartment. Perhaps I was just born in the wrong era, because I’m a big fan of vintage cars, clothing and architecture as well. They just don’t make ‘em like they used to. And finding eclectic treasures I love makes me happy when I look around my home and remember where I found them. The Alameda Flea Market , held the first Sunday of every month here in the bay area and with over 800 vendor booths, is my very favorite source for these finds. My thrifted finds are usually my favorite finds. I even keep track of them in a little journal; where I found them, what I paid and any other fun tidbit I’d like to remember. Here are just a few of the great items I saw at this last Sunday’s Flea Market.

A lot of folks go at the crack of dawn, but I don’t put rules around my flea marketing experience - it’s just plain fun for me. And if I don’t feel like waking up early, I find that if I go a little later, the vendors are usually keen to unload their merchandise (so they don’t have to pack it back up!) and are eager to give you a great deal. So, I am of the mindset that believes if you’re not one of those folks that can get moving too quickly in the morning, you can always head out a little later and find some pretty great deals towards the end of the day. I never bargain too much though, the vendors have a tough enough job as it is, and I like to be respectful of that. So splurge on the gorgeous sofa in yoru favorite retail shop, but remember, the flea market is a decorator’s best friend.

Alameda Flea Market
First Sunday of Every Month, 6am - 3pm
Directions.