Objects of Obsession: Branch outSFBG's Laura Peach rounds up local items and experiences to die for. See her last installment here.
As a girl, I would spend summers wandering through island woods at my grandparent’s house. I always loved the birch tree bark, and would peel pieces off the trees to make little dresses of white and pale pink for my dolls, always wishing that there was a big enough section of bark to create a skirt my size.
Although I was never able to wear the wood of my childhood, recently I’ve been on the lookout for ways to bring the forest alive in my everyday urban home life. Here are a few of my favorite finds, wooden through and through. They just may bring out a different type of tree hugger in you.
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1. Wooden Wallet
A real slab of wood is not the best thing to have in your pocket. No one wants slivers in their behind. But the thoughtful, science geek designers at San Francisco’s Hlaska were enamored by the beauty and grace of wood grain. They reproduced the patterns found in a real pine tree onto Italian leather for their Evergreen wallet ($125).
Hlaska, 2033 Fillmore, SF. (415) 440-1999, www.hlaska.com
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2. Log Life
This watering can ($16) is the sweetest stump I’ve ever seen. Hydrate thirsty plants using the log pitcher and they may be inspired to grow grander and greener. Made from recycled plastic, so no trees were harmed and you can hold the branch handle guilt free. Oh, it also makes for a nifty vase.
Doe SF, 629 A Haight, SF. (415) 558-8588, www.doe-sf.com
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3. Pink Poison
The bright, bold berries bursting off the black branch on this t-shirt ($28) are supposedly poisonous. But such a pretty pink color makes them hard to resist. I might be tempted to pop one in my mouth.
Designed by San Francisco contemporary art golden boyTucker Nichols exclusively for Richmond’s hippest object/art/book shop Park Life, this berried branch shirt is a catchy closet addition for sure.
Park Life, 220 Clement, SF. (415) 386-7275, www.parklifestore.com
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4. Table-Top Tree
The wonderful woodworkers at Woodshanti, our favorite eco-conscious craftsman co-op, salvaged a Bishop pine tree from a forest fire at Point Reyes over a decade ago. They then cut it into thick slabs and looked to visionary furniture designer George Nakashima for inspiration for this low table with raw edges. The gorgeous piece is 18 inches high, so pair with a layer of floor pillows to create sophisticated, sustainable seating with a sense of lumberjack luxury.
Made to order at Woodshanti, 909 Paulo, SF. (415) 822-8100, www.woodshanti.com
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5. Arbor Mail
Send your next hello to a far-away friend on a lightweight wooden postcard ($4) from Night Owl Papergoods. The cutesy graphics on this lovely yellow birch—which is sustainably harvested, by the way—will make your message a keeper. A frame is more fitting than the recycle pile for this postcard.
Avant Card, 2580 Bancroft, Berk. (510) 845-2227; 338 Grant, SF. (415) 433-4405
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