Sighted in the City: Our X and O Cufflinks

Nikki (the smart, very hip redhead who works occasionally at my store) e-mailed us this picture and a funny only-in-San-Francisco-where-it's-such-a-small-world note:

" Hi, Joan! Eric and I went to dinner last night and ran into a guy who was wearing X and O cufflinks! I freaked out and asked, "Hey, where did you get those?" and he said he bought them from a really nice lady at typecon--joan that was you! how exciting. He said he just LOVES the cufflinks!"

Here's a close-up of them. . .

We have them for $54 a pair , and you can custom order any letters you wish. Just a couple of days ago a woman ordered P and C and said they are to be a birthday gift for her Prince Charming.

TYPECON, by the way, is an annual event sponsored by the Society of Typographic Aficionados (SOTA). When they hosted the 2004 conference in SF, I sold old sign letters, cufflinks and necklaces made from vintage typewriter keys, huge rubber stamp sets, old flash cards and more. It was great fun, and they're really nice people. Check out their website at www.typecon.com for details on their 2005 conference in New York.

"You always remember my birthday!"

Nothing cements a friendship like paying attention to the little personal details. Like remembering their birthday, anniversaries, the name of their dog, their favorite chardonnay or chocolate.

If you've ever forgotten the birthday of a good friend (or, worse still, your sweetie pie), we've got just the ticket. . . the Birthday & Anniversary Perpetual Calendar. The San Francisco Chronicle did a charming write-up when it debuted in December. (Click on the link to read all about it.)

Each month has a seasonal photograph taken by Daniel O’Connor along with the dates for recording birthdays and anniversaries. Now, instead of re-copying the information onto your calendar each year, you can do it once. As new kiddies and in-laws join your family, or as you learn the birthdays of friends, you can make additions.

It’s the next best thing to a perfect memory.

The calendar is available for $13.95

Let it Snow!

I am just back from a trip to Boston. It was chilly – as low as 8 degrees—and delightful with all the recent snow brightening the landscape. The lobster roll at Legal Seafood is worth a trip itself. The main reason for the trip was to celebrate my Mom's 95th birthday. She is in fine fettle! Of course I couldn't be there without making a "detour" to Charles Street, Newbury Street and the South End. Those are some of my favorite haunts for shopping for treasures when I am on a tight time schedule. (When time permits, I rather head to New Hampshire, but in winter time it's often impossible.)

Prices are high in Boston, but I was THRILLED to find some elegant glassware. Right away I thought they'd be luscious on a dinner table. Right after we unpacked them at the shop, a customer stopped in looking for a gift. She snapped up one of the sets of etched champagne glasses. Luckily for you, we've got more!