Our first shipment of fall bags from Mat & Nat have finally arrived! They are perfect shapes for lugging important documents around and in great vintage styled colors in black, navy, and plum. Also restocked: mini wallets from Fluffy Co and in new designs too.

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We don’t know why we didn’t think of this a long time ago but Rare Device + Sodafine = Rare + Fine! Erin and I are so enamored of this phrase that you might start seeing it cropping up on some postcards and announcements. We like to think that we are bringing you the best gifts, clothing and accessories for you and your home so I think it fits.
(Make sure you are reading the Sodafine blog too – there are some pictures of amazing Chie Mihara shoes that I covet, and many other things too.)

New at the shop – Matt & Nat fall handbags are starting to arrive! They have some super new designs in great fall colors (and metallics) so check them out this weekend. As you know, we only get two of each style in so they go pretty fast.

We did restock Fluffyco mini wallets too. Fluffyco are our new neighbors in SF, their headquarters are a few blocks south, down in the north end of the Mission district. We have the woodgrain and tree and we have a new ten-speed bike graphic as well. There are so many bikes in San Francisco! I live on a biking route, right where “The Wiggle” is (it says it on the street signs) – it’s a short series of left-right turns that weave you on flat roads through the Lower Haight between some pretty steep hills. It’s fab to see so many people on bikes, I am hunting for a wee one for myself.

A sneak peek of the gorgeous porcelain I received from Lauren of White Bike. The little dots are handpainted on!

I think I mentioned that Meg interviewed me for her new book Craft, Inc., right? That book is just out and I think it’s a really good resource if you are figuring out how to break into the biz. Plus the interviews are all really funny! We are getting some copies for the store, of course, since everyone in New York seems to be scheming about a project or second (or third) job…

Sabrina of KnitKnit also has written a book, just out, and there will be a party/signing on September 13 at Greene Naftali Gallery in NYC. Sadly I will not be there but I hope you go! Teva Durham will be there, Wenlan Chia and other knitting luminaries…

Finally, I’m waiting to see what the American Craft Council will cook up when American Craft magazine is resurrected. I missed the ACC show in San Francisco this weekend (what can I say, the movers came and I was unpacking) but there is an interesting little article here about it. I like Andrew Wagner’s acknowledgment that “All the vibrant energy in craft is coming from the street level, not from the top down.” Maybe you disagree but it always makes me happy to hear such vocal cheerleading about this topic.

Right now I am listening to Modest Mouse on iTunes and getting ready to hit Udupi Palace in Berkeley. Oh how I’ve missed you, udupi!

It is so fun to have begun an adventure with Erin and Sodafine in Brooklyn just two weeks ago, and to begin yet another one in San Francisco with new business partner Lisa Congdon today. I feel really lucky.

Folks, we finally found a storefront. It’s getting quite competitive but we did it. Rare Device (in posts I will have to refer to it as RDSF, versus RDNY) will open in October at 1845 Market Street, in what has been nicknamed the “Deco Ghetto” due to the large number of vintage and antique stores. It is also called Mid-Market by some; we are lucky to call it home very shortly! It’s east of the Castro, north of the Mission and south-ish of Hayes Valley, and there are some great gems in this little area. Stay tuned here for more info, and glimpses into the buildout. Everybody likes to peek behind the curtain!

We’ll bring over some favorite product lines from the Brooklyn shop, and add a bunch of new ones in time for the holidays. The men’s and general gift and housewares areas will be expanded too. Clothing will make a limited comeback as well. I will continue to do most of the buying and Lisa will help me out with that and also run the gallery portion. The space is much larger than RDNY so we’ll have room for proper shows every month, and whatever kinds of classes and events we can come up with. The kickoff show is by the lovely Kelly Lynn Jones and she’ll come up for the opening on October 25. This gives us a deadline to get work done, doesn’t it?