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Mustard

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Can you believe it, my color boost is on schedule? Lets talk about mustard.  Its the perfect in-between color that looks great with gray, chocolate, black, blue, orange, and plum.  I like to throw it with coral jewelry or midnight blue pieces--but usually as an accent piece. There is a depth to the color that is so appealing; jewel tones are my favorite.  Do you find yourself wearing it? Or, does it scream 1960 in all the wrong ways?   

Japanese luster ware tea set - 1950's - 5gardenia's Etsy Shop

2 Vintage Velvety Floral Pillows - Tawnillia's Etsy Shop

Hello Sunshine Corsage - bpoetic's Etsy Shop

 Mark Shaw - Portrait of Lee Radziwill #1 - London, 1962 - Svenska Mobler - 1st Dibs

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Flower Arrangements

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I've always had a small obsession with flowers.  Flower arranging was what I wanted to do before I went to law school, and, sometimes, I'm not so sure its not still what I want to do.  But, for today, I merely enjoy tending to my plants and occassionally getting the opportunity to make a few arrangements.  

Update on our "Hotel Luxury" transformation:  The flower arrangements to rest on the bed side tables are complete.  We chose mercury glass (actually, a really good fake) to house our white peonies.  The mercury glass is nice because it is reflective and light, but can also be very formal and traditional.  It is quite the chamelion.  Our furniture, especially our bed, is particularly heavy and formal, so, I think these will add a nice soft touch.  Like them?  Making arrangements such as these is so easy, you only need the right materials!

P.S. The glass containers were only $4.95 each at ZGallerie; an insanely good deal.  I'm tempted to update my African Violets and hide their clay pots in these.

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Laura Kirar

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Laura Kirar, a Manhattan based furniture and interior designer, was recently featured in New York Social Diary's "DecoratorSeries".  Her apartment on the Upper East Side, where she lives with her husband and cat, is very different.  There is a feeling of restraint and ease to her space; perfect for a small apartment.  Thought I would give you a peek!  I love her dining room table!

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Hotel Luxury

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One of my sisters, who has fantastic taste, has decided to redo her master bedroom and enlisted my help in the transformation.  I think it is fair to entitle our project "Hotel Luxury."  My sister, not unlike most others, enjoys nice things and loves to spend time in her bedroom.  So, we are aiming for hotel luxury with a aire of formality, a rich pallette and indulgent linens.  The framed piece below currently hangs in another room in her home; it established our design trajectory. 

I'm hoping after we are finished, you won't know if the 'hotel room' is by the ocean, or, in a hidden up-scale boutique hotel in the Upper West Side.  The walls will be a muddy gray.  Our "60%" color is gray, "30%" color is gold, and our "10%" color is rust pink (See my Games in Color Post).  I will have a little sketch for you soon, but in the meantime, here is our digital inspiration board. 

I'll keep you abreast of our progress and, of course, the finished product in less than 2 weeks!

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Private Collections

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I recently read an article about 3 private collections of art and I began to wonder, what is your philosophy on museums versus private collections?  Have you ever thought about it?  Are you of the mind that an original Vermeer, lets say, is wasted in a private collection?  Do you think there is an unspoken social contract that insists on art being enjoyed by the public?  Maybe, we have an obligation to the artist to allow the public to enjoy the work?  I'm torn.  It would be sad to never realize the intricasy of a Suerat or the eccentricity of a Dali in person.  Even a Van Gogh, which is often over-saturated with exposure in prints and stationary, is a remarkable thing in person.  Oftentimes, however, the public has the opportunity to enjoy those paintings that are owned privately. 

For example, there is, to the extent it is known, only one original Vermeer privately held.  All others are housed in the RijksMuseum in Amsterdam or in the permanent collections of other museums.  The Chrysler Museum  of Art recently had the privilege of showing this concealed piece of art. Thankfully, art collectors have an appreciation for art, as well as generally a desire to see it preseved and admired, which often allows museums, not unlike the Chrysler, to borrow their collections temporarily.  The "Young Woman Seated at a Virginal" is beautiful and a treasure to be sure--thankfully, for both the public and the private art collector to see.  

                                                 

Other such private collections include those of Steven Spielberg and George Lucas.  Interestingly enough, both moviemakers have an appreciation for Norman Rockwell originals.  Recently, they have partnered with the Smithsonian American Art Museum in a new exhibition that opened July 2nd.  "Telling Stories: Norman Rockwell from the Collections of George Lucas and Steven Spielberg" showcases 57 Rockwell originals and higlights the significance and interplay of Rockwell's subjects and the movie industry.  It is refreshing to see such a long exhibit, I might just get a chance to see it!  The exhibit closes January 2, 2011.  Below are some of the originals that, I can only imagine, are usually hung in Lucas' or Spielberg's homes.

From Spielberg's Collection:

                                                 

From Lucas' Collection:

Suerat, Georges. Bath at Asnieres. c.1883-84. National Gallery, London. Dali, Salvador. Woman at the Window (Muchacha en la Ventana). oil on board. 1925.
Vermeer, Johannes. A Young Woman Seated At a Virginal. c.1670-1672. Oil on Canvas. Private Collection, New York.
Rockwell, Norman. Let Nothing You Dismay. Ladies Home Journal. July 1941. oil on canvas. Collection of Steven Spielberg.
Rockwell, Norman. The Connossieur. The Saturday Evening Post. January 13, 1962. oil on canvasmounted on board. Collection of Steven Spielberg
Rockwell, Norman. First Trip to a Beauty Shop. Top Value trading stamp catalogue. 1972. oil on canvas. Collection of George Lucas.
Rockwell, Norman. Shadow Artist. The Country Gentleman. February 7, 1920. oil on canvas. Collection of George Lucas.
Rockwell, Norman. Can't Wait. Boy Scouts of America Calendar. 1972. charcoal on paper. Collection of George Lucas.
Rockwell, Norman. The Flirt. The Saturday Evening Post. July 26, 1941. oil on canvas. Collection of Steven Spielberg.

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Collages: The Work and Pleasure
Part 2

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Did you find the tips from Shelley Myers helpful?  I hope so.  But, to continue, I've read that it is good to couple strong expressions of color, fabric, and form with simple touches that structurally stand up to your "umph" piece.  Collages or "montages" are perfect supporting actors.  Below, you'll find that the collages don't encompass the strongest pieces in the room--nor do they have to include too much variation of color or texture.  Accentuation is often unnecessary in a collage.  Do you have a favorite from below? 

Bill Brockschmidt & Richard Dragisic's Home - New York Social Diary

Angie Hranowsky

David Kaihoi     

Pottery Barn 

So what is the take-away?  Don't let your bare walls scare you and don't insist on buying the framed oversized poster to occupy the space!  Play with frames, composition, and negative white spaces.  You have a little work in the meantime, but, in the end, the wall will be well worth the effort!

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Turquoise

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Has anyone ever told you that turquoise or teal is the color which everyone can wear?  I certainly don't know if that is true, but it is a pleasing palette for the eye, is it not?  I like it in accents, jewelry, vases,  and throw pillows.  Check out the goods below.

Ginseng Pine Sage Pillows - Ruby Stella's Etsy Shop

Turquoise and Gold Vintage Bottle - Shorely Chic's Etsy Shop

Teal Park Slope Jute Weekender - drikab.'s Etsy Shop

Gold, Turquoise, and Red Coral Queen Earrings - Yifat Bareket's Etsy Shop

Find something you are passionate about and keep tremendously interested in it.

- Julia Child

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Collages: The Work and Pleasure
Part 1

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I never tire of a wall of nicely matted personal effects and photographs. Traveling, and life's big events, generally result in momentos--the movie stub, crinkled street map, photograph, or flea market find.  I have a few such keepsakes.  Like the recipe card I snatched from my mom's kitchen drawer; one given to her by her mom.  It is written in my grandmother's hand and explains the steps to a treat which will ever remind me of her.  Or, the 2009-2010 Calendar for the MET; it lists the exhibitions and events that occurred during my stay in Manhattan.  Clipped to the side are a collection of admission pins.  They are in an array of colors and remind me of the nights my girlfriends and I would hop on the train and visit the Museum before close when few tourists were around (This is such an enjoyable time to tour the MET).  These memories deserve a simple frame, a large mat, and a spot on one of my walls!

I always look forward to the airline terminal magazine purchase.  You know, the one you keep yourself from indulging in as you wait, until you are restfully in your not so roomy seat on the plane.  The following helpful hints about creating a collage or "montage" were on one of the pages I viewed from 35,000 feet.  As included in Small Room Decorating, Shelley Myers, an architect, discussed her tips on creating a wall of well-matted frames:

(1) Test it Out     Mock up a sample display before finalizing the layout.  Tape up car-board forms, ct to the size of your frames, or use blue painter's tape to outline the placement of shapes on the wall.  Rearrange as needed.  The goal should be a display that is dynamic but not cluttered.

(2) Find a Mix     With so many endless variables--frame color, size and style; mat color and size;  color versus black-and-white photos--choose some elements that will remain consistent (a simple or ornate style of frame, for example) and vary other elements (such as color of frame).

(3) Pick a Height    The center of your montage should be at eye level (around  5 1/2 to 6 feet), but other measurements, such as the top of your display, can tie into parts of the built structure, like the height of a door frame.

(4) Balance Yin & Yang     Anchor the overall display by placing similar-size, larger frames at opposite corners and fill in with small groupings in between.

(5) Think in Threes     Unless you want a very formal effect, groupings of threes look more relaxed than twos.

(6) Play with Scale     Photos filled with people can make a display very busy, so experiment with some large mats are much smaller photos, such as a 4 x 4 inch snapshot within a 2 x 2 foot frame.

...

(7) Drill it In     To protect the finish of drywall or plaster walls, use drywall screws instead of picture hooks.  Install them with a handheld electric  drill.

(8) Protect It     Take extra care of your walls by using rubber bumpers or felt pads on the backs of rames to avoid scratching--especially if your walls are covered with wallpaper.

... .

Mara Bragg.  Fall 2010. Small Room Decorating. Living Large. No. 132. 38-45.

Tomorrow, we will discuss collages or "montages" further, and I'll give you a peek of some top-notch examples that, for a bit of work, will give years of pleasure.  See you then.

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The Cloisonne Vase

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So, I went on and on about this and that and cloisonne, and didn't even show you my "happy."  Isn't it beautiful?  I love it.  Thanks Erin, as always, for everything. 

Tomorrow, we will discuss collages--the work and pleasure.  See you then.  Goodnight.

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Cloisonne

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I received a miniature cloinsonne vase from one of my sweet sisters (I have 5 incredible sisters) and found the "happy" the perfect prompt to give us a tutorial on the medium.  Cloisonne is an artform that dates back to the the Yuan Dynasty (1271 to 1368) in China.  Although there were variations of this medium dating back to the 1800 B.C. in Egypt, the cloisonne we often see today is derived from the Chinese.  The smooth design is a result of a process of steps, both labor-intensive and tedious.  Interestly enough, "cloisonne" is a French word with its origins in the late 19th century.  It describes both the process, as well as the finished product, i.e. it is both an adjective and a noun. For example,

                            Q: How was that piece created? A: Cloisonne.  

                            Q: What style is that table? A: Cloisonne. 

The process begins with a copper base which is shaped into the appropriate form: a plate, vase, pot, or piece of jewelry.  The desired pattern is created by arranging thin copper wires which are glued to the copper base.  After the design is completed, the wires are "filled in" with enamel that is then fired in a kiln.  For particular results, the piece may be fired several times.  The finished product is smooth and stunning. 

I particularly like to mix cloisonne pieces amidst both traditional and modern furniture.  Cloisonne pieces are fabulous accents to furniture influenced by other periods and other cultures.  You certainly don't need a room full of Chinese period pieces to incorporate this beautiful motif into your own design! 

Step of Imprinting the Design - Cultural China

Yellow Vase - Linda Horn - 1st Dibs

Cloisonne Vases - Antiques Roadshow

 

Cloisonne Table - Linda Horn & 1st Dibs

Pair of Large Cloisonne Vases - Paul Marra Design & 1st Dibs

As you can see, cloisonne is sophisticated, and I find, very appealing.  The splashes of color and richness would be a welcome addition to any space.

The information in this post was derived from the following sources:

Cloisonne Process. Cultural China. Retrieved July 18, 2010. http://www.cultural-china.com

Cloisonne History. Travel Destinations. Retrieved July 18, 2010.  http://www.khulsey.com/travel/travel_home.html

Huxford, Sharon & Bob. 1997. Schroeder's Antiques Price Guide. Fifteenth Edition. Paducah, Kentucky. Schroeder Publishing Co., Inc.

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My Project Update

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Do you remember the typewriter from the Dan Butler post from May?  Well, the framing is in the works!  I found a great frameshop in College Park, Let Us Frame It, who graciously worked to make my expectations a reality.  You, of course, will see the big reveal.  It is going to be fabulous!  I can't wait to share it with you; the big reveal will come the first week of August.

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Shaping Up Your Tapers!

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I often don't discuss things practical in nature.  Or, if I do, it is the pratical way to approach one design issue or another.  But, today, I must discuss something extremely practical, but ever so handy.  I love taper candles--handdipped, beeswax--however they come.  But, I find that taper sizes and candlestick sizes are not universal.  To slim down the base of a taper I've melted, cut, and forced the taper into the candlestick.  No more.  CB2 carries a "taper it candle shaver" that evenly shaves down the base of a taper.  Genius and only $3.95!  You won't regret it.  Now, if they could just figure out how to add wax... .

Just to admire the beauty of tapers, I've included one of my favorite tablescapes below.  Eddie Ross' tablescape below has literally been talked about all over the web!  He bought the plates and some of the brass at GoodWill. Somehow I don't think my Goodwill is graced with such great finds.  Hope you are enjoying a calm weekend.

 Eddie Ross

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The American Woman

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Although I won't likely make it to Manhattan before this exhibition comes to a close, I have to buy the poster; it's fantastic.  The exhibition is the first of its kind with costumes from the newly opened  Brooklyn Museum Costume Collection at the MET. It features the changing fashions of the American woman from 1890 to 1940.  The costumes are amazing; I've included some of my favorites below.

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Throw-Back to Vintage: Prada

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I had the delight of enjoying Harpar Bazaar's most recent issue with Katherine Heigl.  Though it is old news to be sure, my flight to Seattle gave me the opportunity to read, front to back, all about Fall Fashion Week in the four cities that boast the runways: New York, Paris, Milan, and London.

There was much to admire on the runway for fall, but one particular look, that which the Anne Monoky of Bazaar termed "nerd chic," invoked my attention.  "Nerd Chic," as she explained, was "played to the feminine mystique, complete with beehive hair, pointy glasses, and low-cut necklines... ."  I would like to think this is one look that encompasses my wardrobe for work.  The tailored, sophisticated, vintage lines of the 60's are flattering and easy to wear.  Prada's "nerd chic" Fall 2010 Line carried the flair of knits, patterns, patent leather, 60's beehives, and cat-eyed glasses. Next time your out, go for the structured lines and graceful bodices; you'll be right in step with all that is vintage and modern. 

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Back Home.

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I'm back home.  Its always so nice to come home from trip--from somewhere new and different.  Inevitably, I come home with a new idea or two, a perspective for things I hadn't  previously envisioned.  And, so it is I come back to you.  I hope you enjoyed your Tracy G. interview; isn't her stuff great?!  I'm so thankful for her generosity. 

So.  What do I have for you from my trip? Lots and lots.  For tonight, I will leave you with some block prints I purchased in Ballard--a hip neighborhood in northwest Seattle.  Oh, the beautiful city!  And, oh, the hipsters!  

Paul Kidder of Kidder Handmade Graphics makes hand carved blocks of landscapes, florals, faunas, and cityscapes--the ones above are scenes of Seattle.  Each card is original and signed.  In your hands, the originality is evidenced by the uneven paint and imperfect layers of color.  The block print medium reminds me of William Morris of the British Victorian era but with a fresh vintage.  There is a subtle repetition to the design, a sorta simplicity.  Goodnight.  More tomorrow.

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a fellow weekend designer...
Tracy G.

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You may remember in my first Color Boost, I featured a darling fabric wreath from Tied Up Memories.  Well,  I've since purchased that wreath and found myself watching all the beautiful designs created by Tracy G.   She was recently featured on the "Hand Picked Items" on Etsy. [Bella Blue Bracelet just below]   Quite the talent!  Tracy was ever so kind to humor my curiosities and provide us with a glimpse into what makes her tick creatively.  So, without further adeu, in her own words...

                                            
How did you get into jewelry making?  Did you always have an expressive creative side?   Do you have an art or design degree?

I started making jewelry about 3 years ago. I have a creative soul and tend to dabble into everything! I love to design. I worked at a store that had an "Anthroplogie" style setting and I was the visual merchandiser and created the store displays. I could create to my heart's content. That was my passion. I do not have a design or art degree, I  just have a talent to put things together and can come up with something unique and different. I have an eye for color and love to paint too!  Etsy is where my inspiration is now! I'm always inspired by all the awesome artists that I see.

How would you describe your aesthetic?

I love vintage anything! It is in my soul! I love the hunt for vintage jewelry finds and put them in my jewelry to create a piece that is beautiful and unique. 

How do you balance your work life with your family/personal life? Is it a juggle? 

I'm a wife and mother of 3 children and a puppy! I also believe my husband has inspired me with his French culture. He's from Normandy, France. I've been to France many times and it has a positive effect on my creativity. I'm a stay at home mom and make my jewelry in between all the mom and puppy stuff. It's what I love to do! You can see my work at my shop www.tiedupmemories.etsy.com and my blog too at  www.tiedupmemories.blogspot.com. [You'll love her French tunes!]