Ya, I'm Into High Class Stuff.

This past week a huge tent has been erected in the middle of Union Square down here in San Francisco  for an amazing event: Le Festival des Métiers, A Rendez-Vous with Hermès Craftsmen.

My mind was blown.

Now, I'm a fan of Hermès, but this event really threw them to the top of my list of inspiring métiers. I knew what they did, how they did it, and the general mentality of how they view their craft. But seeing it in person? Amazing. I was honestly taken aback by the artistry and the craftsmanship. And let's just be honest: I know that the brand is expensive and super famous and they're HIGH FASHION, but that isn't what attracts me to it. It's the fact that it's a small company and everything is made using the traditional techniques they've been using for over a hundred years. That tradition is so much more of an allure to me-- I can only hope to aspire to be a part of that sort of legacy!

Each button hole is made by hand by a sharpened tool. It takes 12 minutes to sew EACH button hole by hand. Most of the buttons pictured above are mother of pearl that has been hand dyed. Watching this seamstress work was super interesting. She said she'd been working with Hermès for over 25 years and had been sewing couture for years before she started with the company. The buttons she was sewing on had "H" designs on them... it takes 6 button holes to sew in that design.

To celebrate, my boyfriend stole a Wet Floor sign

2011 New Year celebrations were definitely a stark contrast from last year. While 2010's "party" involved pounding down faderade at the local Motel 6, this year was spent atop an apartment building in downtown San Francisco, shouting at the pedestrians below. There was of course plenty of smooching Kyle passionately at the stroke of midnight.

But it is of course that time of year when everyone promises things for themselves that they may or may not accomplish but I'm being optimistic here and going with it. It's healthy and fun and fuck it, why not?

It's been something of a shock to hear the snarky remarks at a couple of my goals for the year. The negative critisism (or "jokes") do get to me a little bit... not because of the words themselves but because of the automatic rush to put someone down. Yes, there's a lot of negative stigma at New Years Resolutions but it gets a little bit out of control when it turns around and ridicules a person. I don't know. It leaves a bad taste in my mouth hearing some of what people have to say. I don't like it.