Handmade in San Francisco

Multimedia artist Saand Choden, whose one-of-a-kind, collar-like button necklaces are now at Timeless Treasures, likes to say that each one is as individual as the woman who wears it. Dressed up or down, worn either with a t-shirt and jeans or a fancy party dress, Saand's necklaces seem to start conversations for everyone who wears them.

Made in San Francisco from mostly vintage buttons that Saand has accumulated over the years, as well as old buttons her friends score at flea markets and estate sales, each necklace becomes what she calls "a textured collage."

She begins a design by choosing a color palette and layout. Then working with laminated copper wire, Saand crochets three different layers of buttons, binds them together and wires on additional buttons by hand. The result is a piece of wearable art that's comfortable, strong and durable. And definitely one-of-a-kind.

The story of how she came up with this clever, colorful creation began back in Iowa, where young Saand entertained herself for hours with the contents of her grandmother's old sewing box. Then years later, while working at the Museum of Crafts and Folk Art in San Francisco, Saand saw how artisans from other cultures use buttons and shells in art designed to be worn. Soon after, she poured out her own collection of vintage buttons and began experimenting with ways to put them together in "a form to wear, not just to look at as an exhibit."

Our first collection of these unique necklaces, priced from $188 to $225, is now at Timeless Treasures.Come and choose one in autumn tones of brown, copper and orange or a multi-color version that will have your friends asking about your classy new necklace.

If you strolled along our block of Sutter Street over Labor Day weekend, you may have spied a fabulous old wooden sign displayed in our window. It's a one-of-a-kind, antique COCKTAILS sign that was salvaged from an old river resort in Wisconsin. It measures 4 feet by 1 foot. With its shiny black lettering and scrubbed white paint, this marvelous piece of old Americana would add punch to any design style. Come and get it before someone else decides it would be perfect in their kitchen, dining room or design studio.
While we're on the subject of spiffing up your kitchen, we might add that Martha S. would be proud of you for organizing your cooking space. Our good pal, Diane, passed along this tip for clearing up the clutter on your counter: use a cake stand to hold olive oil, salt and pepper and other seasonings you cook with often. We've got vintage pedestal glass stands ($68 to $120) that will encourage your noble efforts at tidying up. (They also look fabulous on a bathroom counter with pretty toiletries, as well as on the table piled with goodies from the Boulangerie on Pine Street for weekend breakfast.)
Speaking of good things to check out, you can see how Victoria Smith of San Francisco described a recent visit to Timeless Treasures at http://www.sfgirlbybay.blogspot.com. She calls it Alphabet City. (We like that!) Be sure and scroll down to her entry for August 19. Here's one of the images you will see. Clever girl!