Change is Good

Every 5 years or so, I become restless, anxious, unsettled. I start to re-examine my life, my goals, my work, my locale. It's happening again, and I have the strong sense a fork in the road is just around the corner.

"They always say time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself." {Andy Warhol}

The September Issue

To see it is to love it...

Edward Moore Kennedy, 1932 - 2009

The work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives,
and the dream shall never die

Roger Vivier

champagne & shoes. be happy...

Remembering JFK Jr. & CBK

Hello Summer

bicycles strapped to back of the Ford

Brant Point leaving from the pier in the Sound

shingled cottage with a sea-blue door

lobster rolls on the deck at the dock

braided rope bracelets from the shop on the wharf

Hello Summer, we're ready

Pouf-Crazy

Do you love poufs as much as the next person (and by 'next person,' I mean Candace Bushnell, Kelly Wearstler or Ali Wentworth)?

{Candace Bushnell's Village apartment}

{Ali Wentworth and George Stephanopoulos' living room}

{Kelly Wearstler's son's bedroom}

I do. And I think I like them best in silver. Like a pair of Jack Rogers sandals for the living room.

Happy Returns

Yesterday, for the first time since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, Americans were allowed to clamber up the steep steps and enter Lady Liberty's crown.

You go girl.

Happy 4th

Go out there and have some fun

Calypso St. Barth

This gauzy wrap from Calypso is perfect Summer party-wear... and check out Calypso Home in East Hampton for beachy-fun home furnishings.

The Charlie

Having spent 4 months of my dot-com work-life living out of a so-so hotel on the Beverly Hills / West Hollywood border, I get very excited when I learn of an amazing new place to stay on the Left Coast. West Hollywood's The Charlie is getting loads of attention right now, and with good reason.  Check out the living space of the bungalow named, appropriately, Charlie...

I could be particularly partial because I've got the same Mitchell Gold sofa, but I think the kitchen spaces are what really won me over.

By the month ($7,500).

Swap-tastic

And now for something completely fabulous...

all of the wonderful things in my Kitchen Swap 2009 package from Robin. I'm completely overwhelmed by her talent and thoughtfulness! Really perfect... the colors are fantastic and everything is so practical & useful. I especially love my squirrel cosy -- can't believe she found the link on my blog and made it for me... so nice!

This was my first swap and I joined primarily because I love pulling things together for others, and didn't have many expectations about what I might receive in return. Thanks to Robin, I'm totally hooked!

Almost forgot -- here's what I sent Robin.  I think she liked it, which makes me happy too.

sneak peek: Kitchen Swap 2009

Here's a peek at the Kitchen Swap 2009 package (hostess = Sew Fantastic) I'm sending to my swap partner, Robin.  After she receives the post I'll reveal the goodies inside...

The Little Garden

The stories in this sweet series of books -- The Little Garden collection -- originally appeared in House Beautiful and McCall's in the early 1920's. While each is wonderful, I especially love Peonies in The Little Garden. 

Sloane in Bloom

It's that time of year again, and Sloane Street is in full bloom in honor of the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.  Some of my favorite London shops go all out to win the coveted Sloane in Bloom prize with their completely inspired floral displays.  Jo Malone has won for 2 years running and this year's large & lovely rose-covered bottles are likely to garner the shop its 3rd grand prize.

a whole lotta happy

Southern Living voted North Carolina's State Fair second only to that of the great state of Texas. Come check it out this October, y'hear?

Outdoor Living

I'm thinking of turning the tiny little 1940's dutch colonial garden shed/garage out back into a summer atelier.

A few of these cots from Hable Construction with some huge patchwork down filled pillows might be just thing to make the new place habitable...

patchwork (1) done

and freshly laundered in Mrs. Meyer's Geranium detergent.  It's hardly perfect, but I love everything about it.

1st of the season

... from my kitchen garden

And while this looks tempting,

[via Tartelette}

I'll probably just slice the berries, whip the cream, split some biscuits, and eat.

Weekend Sewing

I'm happy to announce that a single class with sew-inspired has considerably reduced my machine-induced anxiety. And thanks to Pink Chalk and Purl Patchwork, I'm starting to develop a fairly respectable stash of fabrics.

{love this!}

So now my obsession is reading as many fabulous books on the subject as I can {Amy Butler's In Stitches, Joelle Hoverson's Last-Minute Patchwork + Quilted Gifts, and Anna Maria Horner's Seams to Me: 24 new reasons to love sewing, just to name a few}.

My favorite right now is Weekend Sewing by Heather Ross.  Last weekend I made pajamas for everyone in an aqua seersucker gingham.  

I'm addicted. Almost as soon as the 1st pair was done, I started cutting the 2nd.

heaven on earth

About a month ago, I blogged a bit on my favourite room in the house. I love its incredible comfort, minimalist quality, the complete lack of clutter.  When I settle in with my Times and french press on a Sunday morning, I have plenty of space to stretch out and relax.

That said, I adore a hint of color.  And this lush wool crewelwork rug from Anthropologie is heavenly. 

Just the treat my favourite room deserves.

House Paint

I'm trying to convince myself that there is a 'right' color other than white...

But I don't think I can.

Kitchen Garden {week 3}

  

See how they've grown? 

If you look closely, you'll find the first Quinault strawberry in the round pot at the top.

patchwork (1) begun

I finished the top of my first patchwork in class yesterday. 

It's the perfect size for a picnic.

Trader Joe's

There is so much I love about Trader Joe's.  

Tempura Vegetable Nests w/ Cracked Pepper Smoked Salmon & Creme Fraiche. Turkey Chili. Thaw & Bake Chocolate Croissants. Meyer Lemon Cookie Thins. Organic Popcorn w/Olive Oil. Kalamata Olive Hummus & Mini Pita.  

But my favorite thing is the amazing selection of flowers.   

Victoria Hagen

Honestly, what's not to love.

Thrift = Style

Make Do and Mend, the iconic guide to thrift first published in 1943, appeared in the UK at a time when both food & clothing were being rationed. While we don't seem to be headed there, the current economic outlook does appear to have led to a newfound appreciation for the 'home arts'. With an interesting impact on what's in Vogue. Literally.

According to the May issue of British Vogue, Liberty of London has re-opened the doors to its sewing school. Liberty Stitch is offering full day workshops in sewing, knitting, crochet & 'patchwork'. 

And Smythson of Bond Street, a luxury purveyor of leather goods owned by (among others) a banker from Goldman Sachs, has featured a 'Sewing Box'* in its newly launched Peppermint Collection. 

Interesting to note that the pale mint, ostrich-embossed calf leather box will likely retail for > $1,000US  -- a price that's a bit more ironic than iconic.

{*also via Style Court)

Fuss

I uncovered these on etsy from Fuss Jewelry.

There are other lovelies in her shop waiting for you.

Might want to stop by.

Cozy

I've decided to have tea in the afternoon. On a tray, steeped in the pot, with sugar & milk. 

I found the tray in a chest upstairs and went digging in the pantry for my old golf trophy 'sugar' and faux bois pitcher. Then I became fixated on the idea of a pure white porcelain teapot. Which is why I love ebay. Within 10 minutes, I'd found it.

A few days later I was reading one of my favorite blogs and saw Zakka Sewing's squirrel tea cozy (+ a link to the pattern.) Now I just need some embroidery floss & wool felt...

Don't you love the web?

Crazy

In honor of Seleta's Fabulous Friday, I'm sharing the latest addition to my ever-increasing textile stash... 

Mom visited Charlotte a few weeks ago. While she was here we found a lovely shop in the country with this fabulous fabric from Portabellopixie.  I (feeling confident, ambitious even) enrolled in one of their classes to make a quilt for my bedroom called Crazy Curves.  

{Please see earlier post re: sewing here}

Am I crazy?