hey all!

kati kim here. this year’s spring break was a good one at doe-sf (okay, maybe for me!), as spring vacation turned into a two-week journey that involved criss-crossing the nation.

it all started with a roadtrip to new mexico with doe girl mariele and my two children, penelope and sabine.

in anticipation of our great adventure, and true to doe’s love of botanical themes, we filled the shops with succulents, plucked fresh from our favorite wholesale nursery in half moon bay:

why new mexico?

couple of reasons: new mexico is my home state. my family still lives there and i hadn’t been back in five years. the idea of traveling alone with two small children is intimidating. mariele was excited about the opportunity to collect raw materials for her jewelry making; and, lucky for me, she is great with kids. perfect!

so yeah – it happened. sabine (my youngest) finally visited new mexico, and penelope found out that my parents don’t actually live in hotels; mariele collected treasures and ideas for making jewelry.

i chronicled our adventures real-time via my iphone and personal facebook page. early on, mariele and i came to realize that, with our red hair, similar statures, and matching doe wardrobes, it’s sometimes difficult to us apart in pictures. even my parents were perplexed. this led to an awesome facebook game we named “who’s the baby mama?”

guess who’s who in the following pics:

breakfast in bed. bakersfield, california
filly, misha, and cotton caboodle. california/arizona border
prairie underground tank and zoe chicco horn necklace

we visited new mexico by way of bakersfield and barstow and passed through flagstaff. we hung our hats in winslow, arizona before finally stopping at my parents’ home in gallup, new mexico.

roadside tourist stand between winslow and gallup.
black hoodie by prairie underground.

next: collecting raw materials in gallup and bartering for finished goods in albuquerque

hello, giselle here.

this week, i am happy to introduce you to doe’s very own artist-in-residence, mariele williams. here at doe, it’s always been important that we support local artists. what better way to do so that than to carry goods designed by one of our own?

mariele in anne kimball’s thistle dress, in front of lower hater’s pigeon mural

mariele works at doe and also has a small studio in san francisco. as the daughter of a boat builder and a gardener, her works have always been inspired by the symbiosis of humans and their environment. after growing up in a tipi in montana, mariele now produces one-of-a-kind jewelry made with antler, feather, fossil, wood, and leather.

mariele’s chicken feather earrings

the natural items included in her designs have been sourced from family and friends in and around montana. her materials around her change according to availability and season, as do her designs – ensuring that no two pieces are exactly alike. mariele’s connection to her environment is evident in her many projects, illustrations, and installations.

mariele in a woo marley blouse and her own rosewood prong earrings

if you’re familiar with our blog, you may have noticed some of mariele’s work featured here. i recently purchased a set of her wooden earrings and I am so in love with them that I wear them nearly everyday.

in addition to doe, mariele’s work can also be found at betty’s divine in missoula, as well as other stores in san francisco – including 1767 church street and wasteland. she also runs her own etsy shop and currently has a gallery show at the perish trust.

If you are in san francisco, stop by to view her collection in person and to say “hello!”

spring is almost here! besides losing an hour of sleep this past weekend, we all know what that means: it’s dress season! doe and 1767 church street will never disappoint in that department.

we’ve got loads of new dresses from modaspia, la made and Turk+Taylor. to further put you in spring mode, we’ve also got floral blouses from vancouver based label lily + jae.

ici is wearing the ever-popular fiji dress from modaspia while posing amongst the flowers at 1767 church street:

boss lady kati kim fights a mighty wind in the turk+taylor anchor bend dress:

under the doe sign in a turk+taylor chevron dress

Unfortunately this dress is sold out – but check out the cleat hitch jacket and prusik skirt, also by homegrown sf label turk+taylor.

hi all,

giselle here.

good things come in small packages, right? this week i’ve examined the tiny details at 1767 church street & doe and, not surprisingly, found plenty of sweet little things to gaga over.

let’s start with the tillandsia (air plants!). i have several plants that i’ve managed to keep alive for several years – but i don’t have a green thumb. i do love plants, though, and I think these air plants are perfect for me. they are so pretty, alone or in a group, and they are very easy to take care of! they don’t even need soil! just put them in a humid environment (like your bathroom) or soak them in water regularly and – voila! you can make your own little garden in a nice dish or beautiful jar.

tillandsia 1

tillandsia 2

potted air plants

gnomes and snails are the perfect addition to your garden. they even look great just hanging out on a shelf. they definitely make me laugh, so i think i will grab a few of these to decorate my desk at work – instant stress relief!

shelf gnomes

just in, we have tiny but powerful magnets to use on your fridge or any other magnetic surface. The teensy fish are my fave, but the bunnies are also super cute!

fish and bunny magnets

what would a doe blog be without a little something for the kids?! inspire children’s creativity with sidewalk chalk, colored pencils, and blank puzzles.

colored pencils and sidewalk chalk

these plastic nodder figurines from germany are hilarious! perfect for your child’s growing menagerie. be sure to keep them away from very small children – they are delicate and collectible!

nodders

surprise your favorite kid with a box of french trinkets, or how about a wind-up snail or an old-fashioned silver whistle???

wind-up snails

don’t forget a bit of indulgence for yourself! we’ve got mini candy bars from vosges, lucite heart rings, and adorable, affordable new earrings from adia kaibur.

adia kaibur lucite rings

adia kaibur oval danglers

until next time!

giselle

1767 church street is back! this week we shout out to the lovely girls at our noe valley boutique. these ladies tend shop, nurture our movable garden, and help customers find exactly what they need!

ici is wearing the modaspia strappy fiji dress and the MZ Wallace clara purse

Name: ici
How long have you worked at 1767 Church Street? Since November 2008
Job Description: web producer and shop girl. I update the website, our Facebook page and Twitter. I also upload products, photographs, blog entries and newsletters.
Most memorable shop experience: either when Kati busts out international criminals or anytime I get to help customers pick out gifts!
Current favorite goods in the shop: Ooh, a lot. The Duchess Marden face cleanser, the wild & wolf water bottles and the Kate Endle whale print….
What do you do outside of work? i hang out with my family and friends in the east bay, twitter and blog, abuse my library membership, indulge in sci-fi/action/comedy, and dream about being an animator and filmmaker.

katie is wearing a dress from puella

Name: Katie King
How long have you worked at 1767 Church street? Since May 2008
Job Description: I make sure the store looks adorable, set up window displays, chat with customers and arrange flowers.
Most memorable shop experience: The Grand Re-Opening Weekend! Kati, the girls, Mariele and I worked all weekend to get the new shop in perfect condition. It took us all weekend, but we had so much fun. the shop looked great, and customers were so happy to have us back!
Current favorite goods in the shop: the new MZ Wallace bags, and Debra King hand made dog sweaters. Perfect for the fashionable puppy!
What do you do outside of work? I am a full time college student. I also enjoy listening to music while exploring my hometown, San Francisco.

giselle is wearing the clu dress with ruffles while sampling vosges chocolates

Name: Giselle
How long have you worked at 1767 Church street? Since October 2008
Job Description: I help tidy the stores up, I also play with the merch and write on the blog.
Most memorable shop experience: When people from the neighborhood stop by the store and tell me that they’re so happy that the shop is back.
Current favorite goods in the shop: This is a hard question since there’s so many to pick from but currently I’m really loving Mariele’s prints, the mz wallace kate purse, and the clu dress with ruffles (i own it!). I also just bought a packet of dresdner organic herbal bath, I can’t wait to use it!
What do you do outside of work? I have a 9-5 as a project manager. I also have a blog that I fill with things that I love and that inspire my creative side.

As a Lower Haighter through and through, I rarely take the time to make it out to Noe Valley (or much of anywhere else, for that matter). Since a good portion of my wardrobe is from the Doe in my hood, Kati convinced that it was well worth the effort to make the trek to the 1767 Church Street store to see what they have to offer!

I’m a nut for super-soft clothes and natural fabrics, so that’s always what I gravitate to first. The trapeze dress by modaspia would be perfect for a day in Dolores Park, while the prairie underground long cloak hoodie (which I would definitely pair with leggings for ultimate comfort) is great for running errands in or relaxing around the house.

Wow, I’m pale. I loved this red bow dress by prairie underground, but a little self-tanner goes a long way this time of year (and I think it’s time I invest in some…) On the right is another prairie underground hoodie I could probably live in given the opportunity. Oh, and props to Kati and Penelope for trying to show me what a decent pose looks like!

Spring is almost here! Time to start planting.

If I had my way at home, the entire apartment would be filled with perfect little gems like these bird salt and pepper shakers. “No more cutsey wildlife figures in the house!” he says. Sheesh.

These bags are both perfect in their own way for me. I can fit my netbook in this mz wallace tote (which is also water repellent), and the black one goes with everything.

Finally, the ultimate tank top. Soft, comfortable and cute, you can wear it under a cardigan when it’s chilly out or all by itself when the summer finally hits. James Perse tops are some of my favorite closet staples year round. As for Noe Valley, I think I have a good reason to visit again sometime!

____

veronica belmont is a technology writer, video host and supergeek. you can see more of her on tekzilla and qore.

Giselle here. I know you’ve all heard by now how much fun the doe girls have at the store. Are they working hard or hardly working? it’s time to get to know them better! They’ve happily indulged my request for more deets:

kati is wearing the liberty dress by prairie underground

Name: Kati Kim
How long have you been at doe? Since we opened – May 23, 2004
Job Description: Owner/Boss lady/Visionnaire
Most memorable shop experience: Too numerous to count! Probably the lower Haight Street Fair in October of 2006. I’ve never witnessed so many amplified sound systems in a two-block radius!
Current favorite goods in the shop: I hesitate to say the Vosges chocolates, but I’m completely obsessed. Also, the ferns and other live plants. And the new Zoe Chicco area code necklaces.
What do you do outside of work? Take photo booth pics in Japantown. Admire designer handbags on the Internet. Fantasize about tropical vacations.

Name: Amanda
How long have you been at doe? May 2008
Job Description: cute stuff peddler
Most memorable shop experience: Listening to how many times someone says “Aww! Loook! It’s SOOOO cute!” when they come in, particularly if it’s their first visit.
Current favorite goods in the shop: the elusive Decole Mushroom Mug! & Mariele’s feather earrings!
What do you do outside of work? I cook really amazing food, listen to music, garden & go to thrift stores and junk shops.

annie is sporting one of mariele’s headband creations
and the floral slide necklace by maya brenner

Name: Annie
How long have you been at doe? Since November 2008
Job Description: web producer and shop girl! i split my time photographing new products, adding them to the doe-sf site, changing out front page images, and processing online web orders.
Most memorable shop experience? Working for a month with a fractured foot – everyone was so nice and gave great advice! I <3 doe shoppers.
Current favorite goods in the shop? mmm…chocolate. And the Poketo bottle openers.
What do you do outside of work? Lock myself up in my printing/sewing studio, bake yummy treats, and go running for relaxation and fresh air!

mariele is wearing a dress by modaspia

Name: Mariele
How long have you been at doe? I’ve worked at doe since September 2008, after moving to San Francisco from Montana
Job Description: I make the store look pretty; i make signs, flower arrangements, and window displays. And I love going down to the wholesale flower market in Half Moon Bay!
Most memorable shop experience? Being surprised by an incredibly kind customer around the holidays with my favorite St. Kilda serpent necklace as a gift. Thank you Forever!!
Current favorite goods in the shop? That would be the red flower Japanese peony candle and the Roost branch wall vases.
What do you do outside of work? I keep myself busy by creating feather earrings, headbands and necklaces, drawing little mushroom creatures and using my new band saw to make exotic wood earrings with rose gold wire, all in my little apartment around the corner from doe.

Name: Laura
How long have you been at doe? I started babysitting for Kati in 2007, during my Junior year in high school. I worked at Doe on Sundays for a few months, then started babysitting the kids on Sundays so Kati could work at the shop.
Job Description: Hanging out with kati’s kids.
Most memorable shop experience?: Christmas Eve 2007, working the shop with Kati and Monica. It was a super-busy day and we had tons of fun.
Current favorite goods in the shop?: the Joe’s Jeans French terry leggings – I have these pants and they’re super hot and comfortable. I also like the la made chantal dress and the she-bible Catherine dress.
What do you do outside of work?: I work at a daycare in Noe Valley, study Child Development at City College, and play the piano.

want to know what else the doe girls are up to? fan ‘em on facebook & follow their tweets!

Next week: meet the girls of 1767 Church Street!

Happy Chinese New Year!

Yesterday marked the beginning of lunar year 4707.

San Francisco boasts one of the largest Chinatowns in the us, and the city was abuzz in celebration. locals especially anticipate the illuminated lunar New Year parade – this year’s parade takes place on february 7th. be sure to touch the lucky dragon!

we spread good luck at the shops by handing out traditional red envelopes, filled with surprises:

the chinese zodiac is comprised of 12 animals, and this is the year of the ox. The ox is symbolic of prosperity, fortitude, and longevity. ox gemstones include lapis-lazuli, jade, and emerald.
suitable gifts for ox people: kitchen gadgets, garden tools, and bonzai
famous oxen: johann sebastian bach, charlie chaplin, kate moss, princess diana, and barack obama
previous ox years: 1913 1925 1937 1949 1961 1973 1985 1997

so much excitement in the stores this week!

just added to our online boutique: the woo celine dress and Kathy tee. also new – assorted (and affordable!) jewels from in-store fave ashley morgan, including a sterling wishbone necklace and this bold and beautiful lapis ring (perfect for the ox woman in your life!):

Of all the new goods, I’m most elated about the vosges chocolates! Working here certainly has its perks! My favorite flavor (and believe me when i say i’ve tried them all!) is the organic enchanted mushroom bar. This delectable bar contains reishi mushrooms, which play an important role in traditional Chinese medicine. they are rumored to promote longevity, and have analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. Who knew something so healthy could be so delicious?!

patrici keeps it noe valley casual in a james perse tee, joe’s jeans, and our new (uber comfy) Melissa zigzag flats. here, she’s seen sampling the chocolates, washed down with bubbly water in one of our tord boontje’s drinking glasses:

patrici spends much of her day tending to the plants at 1767 church street. this week’s half moon bay selection includes: lucky bamboo stems, flowering bromeliads, ferns and succulents.

new 1767 apothecary offerings include an expanded selection of pre de provence bar soaps and moisturizing shea butter creams. For those who love to indulge in a bath, we’ve added sparkling bath tablets and organic herbal bath packets, both from dresdner.

That’s all for this week.

be sure to send me an e-mail – info@doe-sf.com, attention: Giselle, with any questions. i’d be happy to respond!

next time:
Meet the doe girls!

hello!

giselle here. newly appointed editor-at-large for doe-sf and 1767 church street. what exactly does that mean? it means that i have a cool job!

each week i visit the stores and delight in the wares. i play dress up – try on the clothes, jewelry, handbags, and shoes. i examine botanical treasures and admire charming housewares. i sample delectable chocolates and sip each new tea. i test lotions, potions, and perfumes. i tinker with toys, peruse the papergoods, and browse the latest indie fashion mags – you name it!

why do i do all this? so that each week, i can bring you the latest and greatest from both shops. i also get to chat with our lovely customers and staff. i might even take a customer photo or two and feature them in the blog. for those of you who aren’t local to the bay area, you get to live vicariously through me!

this week, my first stop is 1767 church street in san francisco’s upper noe neighborhood. the weekend weather was gorgeous (70 degrees in january!), so locals were out in droves for weekend brunch at the neighboring cafes – pomelo, toast, and cafe xo. what better way to wait for a spot at the bustling cafes than to browse the adorable array of goods at 1767?

i’m smitten with these these cheerful kate endle collages and this colorful japanese vase – the perfect vessel for early spring foliage!

in addition to art by established west coast artists like kate, we are also proud to showcase works by emerging talent, including in-house artists.

pictured below are brand new prints from our very own mariele williams –

she also creates gorgeous, earthy accessories, like this hand-made owl necklace and feather headband:

during my visit, i had the pleasure of making the aquantaince of marco and his mother rosalia, who tried on joe’s jeans (prized possession of many an upper noe lady!) while marco and i amused ourselves with plan toy’s wooden pull-along snail friend.

here’s some good news for loyal fans of the the former shop: after numerous customer requests, i’m pleased to announce that 1767 church street has begun re-stocking staples from the erstwhile apothecary. by popular demand, our shelves once again include goods from NYC brand malin+goetz, whose scented body products and candles are perfect pampering after a hard day’s work.

we’ve also replenished our selection of organic weleda children’s products, PVC-free baby bottles, and homeopathic teething remedies:

though modern in aesthetic, 1767 church street is a good old-fashioned general store. we sell artwork and housewares, bath goods and clothing, even time-tested folk remedies; but, varied though our stock may be, 1767 church street’s greatest joy is to provide the neighborhood with fresh cut flowers and other botanicals. as upper noe’s only floral boutique, we relish the opportunity to bedeck the block in blooms! we receive weekly floral arrangements, and our employees can often be found down in half moon bay, where they personally select each plant – direct from the growers!

a sample of this week’s foliage:

Next stop – doe. the short but scenic trek to Lower Haight street is a hop, skip, and a jump by way of the J Church street car.

soon as i arrived @ doe, kati and i indulged in a brief pause for lunch at ali baba’s cave – a mediterranean cafe on the 500 block of lower haight. we then stopped by idle hand tattoo parlor, also located on the 500 block, so Kati could make an appointment with lower haight friend and tattoo artist Holly Ellis, who runs the studio.

holly is so highly in-demand that her median wait time is twelve long months! luckily for boss lady, these girls are tight, so expect to see images of kati’s new ink in early february.

in the meantime, here’s a sneak peek at the artwork, which features san francisco’s iconic sutro tower, surrounded by native california poppy flowers:

the drawing is by Ursula Young, whose paintings and illustrations grace many a bay area gallery. in fact, doe’s first art show ever featured ursula’s work.

post-jaunt, I scanned the racks and grilled Annie for deets on the latest arrivals. I was pleased to discover that doe is still having a jewelry sale. In fact, while I was there, Kati and Annie added even more mark-downs to the discounted selection. they needed to make room for newly-landed additions to the Maya Brenner collection.

Sale items include my personal favorite, ashley morgan’s Angel Wing Necklace, and Kati’s favorite zoe chicco piece, a diamond-studded Silver Tear, which hangs from an extra-long 14k chain.

the Maya styles include a gold-plated “gucci” style link Bracelet, which Kati describes as “perfect” for the “thrifty high roller.” I really fell in love with the new Maya Brenner pieces.

Speaking of thrifty, we continue to host a sale on women’s clothing sale. Nearly half our inventory has been reduced, in order to make room for the anticipated spring goods. There’s even a rack hung with items marked down by an additional 50%!

Ladies – you have to check this out! Even the popular prairie underground Liberty Dress has been reduced (finally!). Of course we all broke down and tried it on (temptations are constant in the doe-sf boutiques!). Here, our very own Kati Kim models this organic tie-front style in front of our beloved Jill Bliss wall mural:

notes in hand, it was time to call it a day. but, before heading out, I grabbed a bottle each of red flower’s arctic moonflower scented Hair Wash and Conditioner.

I’ve been on a quest for exciting new hair products, and this duo certainly fits the bill. I gave the goods a whirl, and am mighty impressed! as i sat down to author this blog, my freshly lathered and conditioned locks set the perfect tone for floral-themed musings – i just can’t stop sniffing my hair! it smells soooo good! Plus, it feels soft and shiny. Mmmm….

That’s it for this week. It was a pleasure to introduce myself!

btw –
Feel free send me any questions or special requests, like: “hey G, can one of you girls model the new she-bible dress on your site? I want to buy it but I would like to see it on!” Or, drop me a line just to say “hello!”

I can be reached at: info@doe-sf.com, attention: giselle.

Until next time!

coming soon:
gong xi fa cai!
join us as we celebrate the chinese new year – year of the ox!

hello!

annie here – it’s been a wonderfully sunny week here in california and we san franciscans have been enjoying every minute of it!

now, i have a bit of a confession to make. i’ve been working here at doe since sarah’s departure (p.s. we miss you sarah!) but have only managed to make it down to our church street boutique a handful of times. i have no good excuse – other than being preoccupied by the oodles of fun at doe and playing dress-up with each new shipment of clothes. hey, what can i say. it’s part of my job.

luckily, as i strolled into upper noe valley this week i had the chance to explore the treasure trove that is 1767 church street. here’s a recap of my trip:

upon arrival, i was greeted with a friendly smile from patrici and the fresh smell of flowers out front. i made a beeline for the apothecary and women’s clothing. with patrici’s help, i soon started picking out cute clothes to try on. we both indulged in bit of dress up:

below patrici does a twirl in the velvet laudine dress while i try on a ballet cardigan from prairie underground and check out the new malin+goetz.

many of the apothecary items are web exclusives and aren’t available in our lower haight boutique. as a result, i’m always left lusting after the latest in natural and organic lotions, candles, and skin care from afar. thankfully they are available at church street so i made sure to spent ample time perusing goods from duchess marden, putting on some aftelier, and sampling items from olivina.

here i’m sporting the velvet marnell dress with our ever-popular augie earrings. i let out my inner child by playing with the plan toys snail and petting our sweater wearing dog.

now if i only had tiny feet.. i’d get me some cute little booties and socks.

after some serious fun, i put on a prairie underground bow dress and decided to be mildly productive. i parked myself outside with flowers, some tea, a san francisco moleskine, and critter friends to get some thoughts down and plan the rest of my day.

the sun was shining especially bright so this loyal army cloud umbrella was a perfect solution for avoiding unwanted burns.

alas, before i knew it my time was gone! i took a last look at the flowers, grabbed my prairie underground logo shopper and said my goodbyes in a newly aquired sonoma top by velvet.

i also managed to snag a bag of samples from duchess marden (thanks patrici!). ask nicely, and i’m sure she’ll hook you up too!

’til next time. adieu~