Three 'Grams: Color of the Year

I've been so busy lately that blogging has taken a major backseat for me, but don't think for a second it means that things are all quiet here in my neck of the woods. I'm working hard to launch the first cohesive and official HCH Collection in the next two weeks. I've spent the better part of the last few months drafting, draping, fitting, sewing, organizing and doing all the other grunt work entailed in apparel design. From costing to hand grading, I've had my hands in dozens of different pots and I've loved all of it! There's so much on the horizon, so for now I wanted to take a quiet moment to throw out a Three 'Grams post.

Emerald was Pantone's color of the year and my recent Instagram shots have seemed to fit the trend pretty well. 

Our Hitchcockian room at The Burlington Hotel in Port Costa

Ribbon Corsets in progress for my trunk show with Dollhouse Bettie

 Chicken soup that helped fix this week's wicked cold

I See London, I See France...

...I see a new stash of HCH Papillon Knickers!

My newest style has been a bit of a hot seller, so while I've been working on my official collection, I made sure to sew up some new colorful pairs for the shop. Check them out and snap up a pair or two for yourself (or your favorite leading lady).

Clockwise from top left: Nea Papillon Knickers ($60), Georgia Papillon Knickers ($50),

Aida Papillon Knickers ($60), Thalie Papillon Knickers ($55)

There are even more new pieces in the Knicker section of the HCH shop than ever before, including larger sizes in beautiful colors and laces. The Papillon style is going to be a staple in the official collection, and I'm so happy it's gotten so much attention so far. My current favorites are these, which feature a gorgeous silver elastic and velvet bow!

Adrienne Papillon Knickers ($65)

Which are your favorites from the new Knicker stash?

Lost in Translation: A Day at Daiso

Last week, the amazing Tammy George (of PuNk rAwK pUrL fame) and I eschewed our sewing machines and decided to take a field trip to Daiso.

Daiso is the stuff of dreams: an emporium of colorful Japanese imports at ridiculously low prices. It's not quite the size of Michael's or Target, but it's certainly big enough that Tammy and I spent a good hour and a half wandering its endless saccharine aisles. If you're anything like me, the Serramonte Shopping Center seems incredibly distant (both in actual distance and in spirit) from my beloved hipster haven that is San Francisco. But I will say this: Daiso is a gem of squee-inducing design and bad translation. Let the tour begin!

What's the appropriate reaction to receiving a gift bag like this? "I have something to tell you" never seems like a good opener.

Snacks! I picked up some Pocky and Chocorooms for my husband and succeeded in holding myself back from the rainbow of assorted sweets.

This bag might have been among the most expensive things in the store (most items are $1.50), but in all fairness Daiso's copywriter DOES deserve a substantial bonus for making me laugh.

Me too, little bear, me too.

I really want to make eclairs now!

I've never felt the need to buy hors d'oeuvres toothpicks, but there's a first time for everything. The cute colors were giving me cavities!

More impossibly precious toothpicks!

Shoulder pads. Please note the English translation of the unsatisfied, and then satisfied, user. Is "It's good enough" really a selling point?

A cornucopia of food erasers!

Tammy carefully considers some uber-cute bowls.

If you haven't been to Daiso, GO for God's sake! After an hour and a half and a full basket of knick-knacks, I wound up spending around $14. Daiso is to shopping what Stevia is to a sweet tooth. Yummy yummy!