nicomade

2012-02-09T18:17:00.000-08:00

etsy interview with illustrator sophie blackall via miss moss. it's always such a treat to see how people work and create, but i especially love seeing blackall build that subway illustration. the black and white underpainting is a thing of beauty.

2012-02-08T10:36:00.000-08:00

/ / dipsea trail: muir woods > stinson beach roundtrip (10 miles)
/ / from redwoods to beach with ocean views throughout the hike... the best super bowl sunday yet

2012-02-03T09:00:00.000-08:00

still trying to make sense of this cryptic chalk drawing on the sidewalk.

2012-02-01T07:00:00.000-08:00

hello foggy morning.

2012-01-29T23:50:00.000-08:00

/ 1 - 3 / lunch at arbor cafe feat. delicious sandwich + home brewed mango kombucha

/ 4 - 5 / a hike in tilden park to take advantage of the 65 degree weather. hard to believe it's winter.

2012-01-26T14:18:00.000-08:00

craft night continues! a drawing from last night wherein facebook photos served as the main form of inspiration.

2012-01-25T10:36:00.000-08:00

dear steven alan,
i will take one of each.
hugs,
nic

2012-01-17T06:00:00.000-08:00

a really great sunday consists of a day-long adventure with friends... farmers market, dim sum, coffee, and beer. we happened upon piper + john general goods (a part of oakland's popup hood) where we came across artist nicole buffett's small books. feeling particularly inspired, we decided to make our own. mine is called "burger".

// a great video about popup hood. here's to placing #5 oakland!

2012-01-14T22:31:00.000-08:00

i would love to see this film.

2012-01-12T14:44:00.000-08:00

i've been wearing this necklace by odette nonstop since getting it. jennifer makes the most incredible jewelry - her pieces are simple enough to wear everyday but are still so special and unique.

2012-01-11T13:30:00.001-08:00

been working on some things

2012-01-10T09:58:00.000-08:00

latte and quiche at remedy - where the drinks are delicious and the coffeegoers are uber hipster. what's not hipster? when m sat downwind of a man eating a very flakey croissant.

2012-01-08T22:22:00.000-08:00

as beauty and the beast makes it's 3d debut in a week, i can't help but recall a beloved scene from my childhood. love love LOVE this scene in sleeping beauty. they just don't make 'em like they used to.

2012-01-05T10:07:00.000-08:00

more beautiful quilts available at apc. "q24 plantation" is my favorite without question.

2012-01-03T22:43:00.000-08:00

sun setting at my parents house in sonoma. californian holidays still take some getting used to for my east coast self, but i'll take the sunsets any day of the week.

2011-12-20T22:17:00.000-08:00

it's non-stop knitting here in oakland. i'm planning on giving my hand knit socks as gifts, but i realize it's cutting it pretty close with xmas just 5 days away.

2011-12-20T14:59:00.000-08:00

Todd Selby x Christine Sun Kim on Nowness.com.

i love this selby video of artist christine sun kim featured on nowness.
via sixth floor walk-up

2011-12-15T23:59:00.000-08:00

december is kicking my butt. i've been working late nights for the past couple of weeks while trying to wrap my head around all of the gifts i'd like to give. as you can tell, i take the whole gift-giving thing pretty seriously. in my mind, the perfect present would be 10 hours of uninterrupted sleep... or a day off.

2011-11-28T21:43:00.001-08:00

hope everyone had a terrific thanksgiving! i still seem to be dreaming of my mom's homemade pecan and pumpkin pies...

2011-11-21T20:03:00.001-08:00

fall weather means sweaters and eating outside at homeroom for mac n cheese.

2011-11-15T11:30:00.000-08:00

great packaging from totokaelo

2011-11-14T21:23:00.000-08:00

the best birthday present i discovered on saturday morning.
thanks m :)

2011-11-09T21:35:00.000-08:00

honey - the cure for an itchy throat these days.

also - i'm in need of a camera since mine's on the brink. my criteria consists of something that doesn't rob me blind and that's not too cumbersome to carry around with me. i was thinking of this one but i'm unsure. any suggestions?

2011-11-07T15:46:00.000-08:00

contemplating buying a pair (or two) of happy socks. does anyone out there own a pair? are they worthwhile at $10-15 a pair?

2011-11-05T23:43:00.000-07:00

if only every lecture we attended included a beautiful spread of family-style munchies - in this case, spring rolls and organic, local coute de te.

bi-rite was across the street from the lecture, hosted by 18 reasons. i'd love to stop and peruse the market sometime.

2011-11-04T16:34:00.000-07:00

kinfolk magazine - my reading for the weekend.

2011-11-02T21:44:00.000-07:00

oh, it has been a busy past couple of weeks! where to start? i've been nursing a cold and cough with a lot of home cooking and knitting projects (above). the holidays are just around the corner and i'm beginning to wonder if i can complete all of the gifts i initially set out to make. i'm not feeling the stress... yet.

by the way, have you listened to this interview featuring alice waters? last night, m and i attended a talk she hosted with robert reich at UC berkeley and found her to be a little frustrating. she seems to sidestep a lot of the questions. but still, it was a worthwhile lecture overall.

2011-10-31T01:00:00.000-07:00

happy halloween!

2011-10-13T21:02:00.000-07:00

80s and not complaining. indian summer - yes please.

2011-10-10T22:20:00.000-07:00

taking a cue from ashley and adding greens (in my case, some rainbow chard) and a poached egg to my lentil and kielbasa soup.

(happy thanksgiving m! and happy anniversary c + j!)

2011-10-06T23:45:00.000-07:00

remember this? i'm only now just getting around to working with it. if i were in new york, i would love to take this workshop with shabd.

2011-10-05T00:25:00.000-07:00

i love the rain we're getting here in northern california. sometimes the dark and moody weather is a nice change, although i might feel differently when it's consistently like this in january. for right now, it's keeping me happily indoors.

2011-09-29T14:30:00.000-07:00

lately, i've been listening to a lot of geographer.

2011-09-27T20:16:00.000-07:00

i've been walking / jogging after work to soak in the warm weather we've been getting here in northern california and gosh, it finally feels like the summer i haven't had! not hot, not cold, just perfect t-shirt temperatures.

it's always good to know you're going in the right direction...

until you're going in the wrong direction...

so we stop...

pause...

and then go.

2011-09-24T16:16:00.000-07:00

:: an order ::

for a friend // for his wife // for her birthday // for keeping her feet toasty

2011-09-23T11:48:00.000-07:00

mmm, sometimes the unveiling of leftovers (in this case, ina garten's scalloped tomatoes with croutons ) is the best thing to come home to. have you read smitten kitchen's rendition of the recipe?

2011-09-22T00:37:00.000-07:00

i was inspired by popcorn plays to make some end of summer ratatouille. lots of chopping as evidenced in the above pic (hello herb stems), but super easy and completely worthwhile.

2011-09-15T06:30:00.000-07:00

saturday, september 23, 2011
alex + erica's wedding
congratulations a + e!!

highlights: tank, the four legged ring-bearer (with m as his wrangler) / the location, aka my favorite local restaurant / spending quality time with dearly missed friends and m (who flew in for the weekend from his gig at the farm) / sweet talking the waitstaff which results in second helpings for our table / taking home extra slices of both wedding cake s (don't judge) / dancing.

2011-09-12T00:50:00.000-07:00

the perfect spoonful of homemade cantaloupe sorbet - made by my dad.

2011-09-08T12:37:00.000-07:00

this video makes me excited for fall, overcast days, and steven alan... and then i'm reminded that my clothing budget is nil. ha!

2011-09-06T22:38:00.000-07:00

i tried out this recipe from my new cookbook plenty by yotam ottolenghi. perfect end-of-summer fare.

2011-09-03T19:52:00.000-07:00

bocconcino mozaarella

+

cherry tomatoes

dressed in red wine vinegar, salt, and pepper w/ crushed garlic

2011-09-01T00:27:00.000-07:00

i am not a morning person (above), but the flowering tree outside the bedroom window (below) is a pretty nice view to wake up to. however, i'd really prefer a cup of coffee over the view. with some eggs... and sausage too.

2011-08-26T15:04:00.000-07:00

walking from work to the coffee shop for a quick break. there's nothing more overwhelming than coming back from vacation only to find 150+ emails in your inbox. back to the daily grind.

have a great weekend!
(and hope everyone's stays dry + safe in ny from the oncoming hurricane)

2011-08-25T11:56:00.001-07:00

new york...

/ 1 / central park / 2 / high line / 3-4 / west village with mikey, kenne, and natalie / 5 / five leaves / 6-7 / wagener estate breakfast with russ / 8 / sam at seneca lake / 9 / adrienne's parents' house on keuka lake / 10-12 / hastings-on-hudson, my hometown.

2011-08-24T23:42:00.000-07:00

i just got back from a week in new york. it seemed far too hectic to jump on the blog with my bridesmaid duties, but i'm catching up now. i have few photos to share since i stuffed my face for much of the trip and let's face it - you need two hands to securely hold a hefty burger. more often than not, burger beats camera.

above, the lovely table setting at adrienne + shaun's country wedding with local jars of honey for guests to take home. below, the lady of the hour looking lovely as ever.

congratulations a + s!

2011-08-08T19:27:00.000-07:00

a love affair with half n half ice cream from ici
1/2 walnut noyaux 1/2 burnt caramel

2011-08-04T22:20:00.000-07:00

trying out some new yarn. while i don't wear a lot of color, it's so nice to knit something bright.

2011-08-02T18:41:00.000-07:00

a drawing of my mama, or "mims" as i like to call her.

2011-07-26T22:43:00.000-07:00

my figs were safely secured with a hairnet + my eggs came with great graphics. i love good packaging.

2011-07-24T21:35:00.000-07:00

above, the key elements to making this recipe. i highly recommend.

2011-07-20T23:12:00.000-07:00

i have talented friends. this is the truth. above, a wedding invitation completely designed, crafted, and pieced together by alex and erica. i can't even tell you how much work they put into this - let's just say there was riveting involved. yes, riveting. beyond it being the most unique item of snail mail i've received to date, the stickers were a pretty sweet surprise.

2011-07-19T11:26:00.000-07:00

enamelware normally isn't my thing, but everything about falcon enamelware would make me reconsider.

2011-07-18T00:14:00.000-07:00

eating these

while planning this

lately, i've been avoiding the computer big time and consequently, that means the blog as well. i was at work on the computer per usual when my neck muscles froze up and made all activities nearly impossible. i blame excessive computer time, hence my absence. on the plus, slight incapacitation means lying on the couch all day planning the next project... and also watching episodes of my so called life nonstop... you know, for research... or something.

also - just so you know, this site is not me... but gosh, people have been thinking it is. what to do?

2011-07-12T22:46:00.000-07:00

grey + black + blue.
once again, it looks like i match my office surroundings. this time, it's the garbage can.

2011-07-08T02:16:00.001-07:00

thanks to la casita (check out her blog!) for tagging me in "tell me seven things about how you dress". so here goes...

/ 1 / this is my "go to" outfit: striped shirt, jeans, mocs and sunglasses. throw in a cardigan of some sort and i'm set. and if there's a cookie in the cardigan pocket - all the better to snack on later.

/ 2 / i think cosabella bras are the best for the petite (such as myself). yes, they're a little pricey but sometimes a good bra is hard to find. my thoughts? stick with a good thing.

/ 3 / i definitely wear a lot of black, white and grey. i wish i wore more color - especially in the summer! i can't seem to break out of the habit of buying and wearing such a limited color range...

/ 4 / i don't usually wear a lot of jewelry - usually it's just my watch and something simple. but lately, i've been wearing my mom's thin coil ring on the left middle finger and a pinky ring that my dad received as a child on my right hand. odette's fox necklace has also been an everyday staple as of late.

/ 5 / my denim jacket (purchased from a favorite noho thrift store ages ago) is a prized possession. while it's starting to fray at the edges, it seems to only get better with age.

/ 6 / i generally don't like to wear socks, but i make an exception when it comes to nicomade socks :)

/ 7 / i really like simple, unfussy bags like clare vivier's la trop. it's the best because it has clean lines without being boring and it's large enough to hold all of my stuff (yarn and knitting needles included).

i tag stephanie renee, angela, jodi, cara, and kelli ann.

have a great weekend!

2011-07-05T13:56:00.000-07:00

i love a long weekend, don't you? i'm back from a quick jaunt in vancouver visiting m where i had the pleasure of eating my way through the beautiful city. i came prepared with a long list of restaurants and spent more time eating than taking photographs. currently, i'm still feeling stuffed (food baby anyone?). if you're ever in vancouver, eat here...

:: guu / izakaya (japanese tapas)
:: epicurean caffe bistro / italian breakfast and lunch
:: nuba / lebanese - vegetarian friendly
:: paul's place omelettery / delish breakfast omelettes
:: vij's / deemed one of the "finest indian restaurants in the world" by the new york times

also, great people watching at jericho or kitsilano beaches. and thanks to angela for the recs :)

2011-06-24T00:04:00.000-07:00

summah summah

2011-06-20T23:02:00.000-07:00

adrienne and shaun's reversible quilt throw (a wedding gift)
machine-pieced and hand-quilted liberty of london cotton print, linen, and all natural cotton batting
50" x 64 3/8"

the quilt is finally done! i'm patting myself on the back since i can be a procrastinator, but not this time! the wedding is a little over a month away, so i've got plenty of time to excitedly think about my july 4 in vancouver (how unpatriotic of me to leave the states) and a trip to new york for the wedding festivities. but i wouldn't be my restless self if i didn't start delving into my next quilt. i've had some ideas stewing for some time now and i can't wait to get going on something new.

2011-06-13T00:18:00.000-07:00

i've noticed that i'm really into white peaches and nectarines. they're not so in-your-face and they seem less tart than the more common yellow peaches. above, "polar light" peach variety and "yen yen" nectarine from the sunday farmer's market.

2011-06-12T23:44:00.000-07:00

i took a little break from the blog to finish this bad boy, and guess what? finished!! it's such a nice feeling to see something through to absolute completion - especially if you've got some other quilt designs in mind. pics to come. in the meantime, i introduce you to my cousins curly-haired cat, b.v. we spent some quality time this weekend, as i did some last minute cat sitting. i find b.v. fascinating because she's unlike most cats. she's not particularly graceful and she's so deadpan. i've never met a more serious looking kitty, though she is definitely the sweetest. i also think she's the funniest - whether she means to be or not.

[above: b.v. gets her portrait done by her owner]

2011-06-03T15:48:00.000-07:00

hoping i ditch the winterwear sometime soon... seaming as it's june and all.

2011-05-31T22:36:00.000-07:00

i've been eating a ton of greens lately because in my mind, it's definitely summer. the sad reality is that it's cold and rainy here in oakland, and it would probably be more suitable for me to eat soup. now you know why i'm knitting socks... because my feet are actually cold.

2011-05-29T18:24:00.000-07:00

been working...

2011-05-26T12:42:00.001-07:00

i need a pick-me-up, how bout you?
"second chance" by peter bjorn and john

2011-05-23T21:16:00.000-07:00

i received a small weaving in the mail from jaime, and was encouraged to hang it on a plant or tree, like so. thank you so much jaime!

2011-05-19T23:14:00.000-07:00

the components of my dinner...

roasted peppers marinated in balsamic vinaigrette with capers + herbed goat cheese on sliced country bread (though best with ciabatta) topped with fresh basil

2011-05-16T21:09:00.001-07:00

snack time: blue chair early girl tomato marmalade on rustic country loaf from feel good bakery with strawberries... more like, strawberry. all from the east bay!

2011-05-11T02:04:00.000-07:00

more of the quilt as of yesterday / 1 / the back / 2 - 3 / the front / 4 / the edge

2011-05-10T01:14:00.000-07:00

the talented elizabeth of primoeza (from whom i purchased my favorite sweater) tagged me in...

seven things...

as in seven things you don't know about me

1. my nickname among family members and close friends is "coco". it was given to me as a baby by my cousin who was, at the time, very fond of hot cocoa.

2. i deny drinking coffee despite my daily latte fix that i cannot, for the life of me, shake. my denial has also caused me to abstain from learning how to make coffee because, why would i make it if i don't drink it?

3. my favorite condiment is ketchup. i'll even go so far as to order something purely because it goes with ketchup.

4. i drink boiled water like it's tea... but without the tea.

5. i'm a night owl who longs to be a morning person.

6. i knit obsessively because my hands are always restless. if i don't occupy my hands, i pick at my fingers incessantly.

7. i'm the type of sister who tells her brother that his hair smells, because i know it bothers him.

i tag jennifer, schorlemaedchen, and erik.

2011-05-10T00:00:00.000-07:00

i've been working on this lately after taking a hiatus for a couple of months.

2011-05-06T10:16:00.000-07:00

:: i walked to the coffee shop for a midday pick-me-up (aka iced nonfat latte)...

:: and it wasn't till i looked down, once back at the office, that i realized...

:: of all things, i match my mousepad.

2011-05-05T19:24:00.000-07:00

early in the morning when the overcast sky has yet to give way to sun, i spend some time checking out the plants before heading to work. while m is in canada, i've assumed responsibility of his green friends and regularly find myself in a panic about whether they need water... i have no idea! i'm so thankful for cactuses...

2011-05-04T19:07:00.000-07:00

dear 80 degree weather,

your presence is long overdue (just my opinion, here) and more than welcome. feel free to stay a while. you can even have some of this delicious (but overpriced) pistachio sorbet...

xx me

2011-05-03T11:03:00.000-07:00

"tightrope" by yeasayer - on repeat when working.

2011-05-02T22:15:00.000-07:00

alameda flea market - the best.
unfortunately for me, 0 purchases and 1 sunburn.

2011-04-26T23:43:00.000-07:00

my parents came back from new york with all kinds of chinese goodies that i grew up eating. as a kid, these treats didn't seem like anything special, but absence always makes the heart grow fonder. as in, my inability to find anything remotely close to these yummy chinese snacks and dishes has caused me to long for them dearly. in my opinion, east bay's chinatown has nothing on new york. above, "deung" made by my mom's aunt. deung consists of lapcheong (chinese sausage) and peanuts in sticky rice wrapped in a banana leaf. comfort food heaven.

have no idea what i'm talking about? don't worry - i can go so far as to haphazardly order dim sum in barely intelligible cantonese. but with this, maybe there's hope.

2011-04-25T14:32:00.000-07:00

easter weekend... and a little too much fun with instagram

/ 1 / erica + alex's wedding cake samples from my favorite restaurant... all of which were delicious (what a way to start the weekend) / 2-3 / picking out a bouquet / 4-5 / spaghetti con le cozze (not very easter-y, but who cares)

2011-04-20T23:13:00.001-07:00

i spent last weekend recharging in sonoma. my mom's garden proved to be an ideal spot to sit and relax, as everything smelled so good - the citrus blossoms, honeysuckle, jasmine... it was the perfect environment to think about a friend i miss very much.

2011-04-18T22:52:00.000-07:00

this is makaria farm - where m now resides and works. so beautiful, right? you can read about his progress as a first time farm apprentice here.

photo by m.

2011-04-17T22:00:00.001-07:00

who says you have to look like schlump when you cook? thanks for the apron mimsy!

2011-04-14T15:50:00.000-07:00

behind-the-scenes snippets of:

// 1 // steven alan's fall collection 2011 preview

// 2 // j.crew's womens spring 2011 behind the design

it's such a treat to catch a glimpse of a designer's thought processes, no?

2011-04-10T21:45:00.000-07:00

today's farmers market loot... kind of seems like i'm carbo-loading. so i guess my secret is out: i love bread.

dinner: this salad + roasted asparagus done up Alice Waters' way + sandwich of black forest ham, fig jam, and brie.

2011-04-07T12:20:00.000-07:00

something at which to marvel... and maybe the new definition of "handsome".

2011-04-05T22:44:00.000-07:00

a trip in pictures / 1-3 / stumptown coffee at ace hotel. it's pricey for a reason. a little known fact about portland's ace hotel - there are free old school erasers and pencils... not really a selling point, but it's a real perk in my opinion. other portland highlights: frances may, alder + co, clyde common, jam. wish i had time to eat at the farm / 4 / roadtrip means winding skeins of yarn from happy knits for future projects / 5-6 / the ferry from vancouver to nanaimo on vancouver island / 7-9 / granville island's public market / 10-11 / vancouver / 12-13 / a friend

2011-04-03T03:21:00.000-07:00

it's one week later and i'm back in california from my week-long roadtrip to british columbia with m! i had big plans to document the drive and cities we visited. unfortunately, i wasn't particularly diligent about taking photos since it rained pretty much every day. i'll see what i have on the ol' camera at some point. in the meantime, these are some ridiculous photobooth pictures from portland.

2011-03-24T00:21:00.000-07:00

space dyed left foot meets marled right foot...

i'm trying out yet another toe version on my knitted socks. this one is the short row toe which has a rounder shaped toe (not sure if this holds true) and a smoother feel (definitely true since it's "seamless"). it's quite easy to knit once you get the hang of it, especially if you refer to this incredibly helpful two-part tutorial.

edit / the same tutorial can be found here on ravelry since the original link is no longer active.

2011-03-23T14:07:00.000-07:00

see what i mean? another item of clothing in raw sienna... the color obsession continues. i love this jacket because it reminds me of a man's standard carhart jacket (except it's made by jcrew).

2011-03-22T09:56:00.000-07:00

and on the topic of portland, this is what keeps coming to mind...

i cannot get enough of this show. but really, any portland must-sees?

2011-03-22T00:05:00.000-07:00

m and i leave this weekend for a roadtrip from home (oakland, california) to makaria farm on vancouver island - 3 hours west of vancouver, canada. he'll be starting an 8-month farm apprenticeship where he'll learn the ins and outs of organic farming. big changes for m! as for me? i'll still be in oakland doing my thing... with one less cohabitant :)

so... as we excitedly prep for our roadtrip (see above pics of m jumping around in new overalls for farming adventure), can anyone recommend places to see / visit in portland? so far, our only plan is to stay at the ace hotel, whose decor my boss jokingly described as "army surplus chic"...

2011-03-17T20:03:00.000-07:00

easiest dinner: primavera tamales.
steam for 15 minutes, then devour.

2011-03-15T23:07:00.000-07:00

sometimes i get completely stuck in a particular color and often, i notice when it's too late.

shoes + backpack + ag jeans + socks in progress = too much raw sienna?

2011-03-13T21:34:00.000-07:00

a chai latte to start cooking what is now my new favorite tabbouleh salad. it is by far the fluffiest (and tastiest) way to make quinoa, and really, i should have expected nothing less from my girl martha.

2011-03-11T00:40:00.000-08:00

rainy day things...

:: 1 :: primoeza pocket sweater that i've been wearing nonstop. it has been the only thing i've wanted to wear since i got it in the mail (thank you elizabeth!). i'm even considering this sweater in ochre...

:: 2 :: resilient ranunculus on the kitchen sill. the key to its longevity? cut the stem on an angle for more water intake. they are thirsty flowers.

:: 3 / 4 :: jules' postcard from egypt pre-revolution. only took two months to get to me.

2011-03-09T00:12:00.001-08:00

late day sun around home

2011-03-08T15:32:00.000-08:00

wow, diy braided hex nut bracelet via honestly... wtf via konfettiform. so simple to make! as my little cousin says, "easy peasy, lemon squeezy."

2011-03-03T23:54:00.000-08:00

i cleaned out my closet yesterday and rediscovered my chambray shirt. an old favorite. it always reminds me of the one my mom wears when she gardens.

2011-03-01T18:56:00.000-08:00

dinner at dusk. last night i made my dad's stew thinking that it would take me an easy hour or so and then bam! deliciousness served. not so much. i somehow overlooked the prep time, a 20 minute jog (m and i are trying this running plan), a much needed post-run shower, more prep, then 2+ hrs of "stewing". dinner at 10pm wasn't ideal, but leftovers this evening are just my speed.

(also starring napkins i made from shabd's fabric)

2011-02-23T00:26:00.001-08:00

new sock, new yarn, new opportunities to try something different. i feel like i'm getting closer to a better fitting product as i continue to rework my pattern, but it is an ongoing exercise in patience. lately, i've been researching short heel techniques that jenny passed along to me in hopes of achieving a seamless toe - but maybe i'll apply it to a heel as well. i'd love to find a way to avoid those tricky gusset holes, which drive me nuts. as always, more testing to be done...

2011-02-21T00:07:00.001-08:00

coffee and hazelnut macaroons to satisfy my sweet-tooth. what was i thinking only buying two? on a completely different topic, i've been killing many hours (too many to admit) perusing these sites:

:: an afternoon with

:: where they create

:: the makers

while the selby is huge (did you see the one on tartine? a delish bakery in san francisco if you're ever in the area...), there are so many other sites that also showcase some very interesting artists in their working and/or living environments. it's so rare that we get to take a sneak peek into someone's personal space and learn about their life (albeit through pictures) and creative process. it's such a treat!