mrr design

2011-05-29T21:09:00.003-04:00

Taking a break...

Two roads diverged in a wood...and I shall take the one less traveled by...

and hope that makes all the difference.

Robert Frost

2011-05-08T19:19:00.000-04:00

2011-05-03T06:20:00.001-04:00

More Press today.

When it rains, it pours.

Full article here

Thanks Fenella for the terrific article!

2011-05-01T04:21:00.007-04:00

Very exciting news - my work has been published...in Sis Boom's new book: Girl's World.

Run out to your favorite book store and get a copy or buy through Sis Boom's website.

Here is a quick peak

voila

The book is chock full of great sewing projects for girls with patterns included and the most beautiful photographs.

Each year MRR DESIGN grows a little more; publication of my work is another notch on the pole. It makes me so happy and proud and is testament to slow and steady wins the race. My race anyway. As I pass the three year mark of the blog, I note that the blog is the tool that ratcheted up the business. The blog allows me to showcase my work, and to communicate with other folks about what inspires me. It motivates me to plow ahead...to stay focused and informed. And to have fun.

Over the years I have done a lot of work with Jennifer Paganelli of Sis Boom fame. This is Jennifer's first book and I am delighted to be part of it. It is full of how-to projects for all you crafty folks and seamstresses or just plain creative folks. You can see some of the other projects that I did for Jennifer here and here. And while my business is bumping along, Jennifer's is on the speed way. When I first met Jennifer she had two or three sales a year at her house; she got some great press in Country Living and then she got the dream of a lifetime: to design fabric. I think Jennifer has about 8 different fabric collections so far - check out her website. You will recognize many of Jennifer's fabrics on my frames.

My piece is on how-to make a quilted memento board - go to pages 158 - 163 -

and then read the rest of the book.

2011-04-30T06:50:00.000-04:00

Spring is my favorite season in NYC. I especially love the trees all over the city with the white blossoms. I am not sure what kind of trees they are, but they are everywhere. This is the East Side; photo taken from the Kips Bay Showhouse. My last apartment in NYC had a wonderful view of flowering trees like this.

And you cannot forget the magnificent tulips on Park Avenue every spring.

2011-04-29T03:00:00.000-04:00

This cracked me up!

Or as the newspaper article claimed: "it will have you in stitches"

Photograph credit, KG, fellow Wilton Knitwit, part-time London resident.

My fellow knit wit friend KG, has the knack of tracking down the most interesting knitting, crafting, needlework books and events and such. Just a few weeks ago KG attended the Stitch and Craft show in London where she came across the lovely author Fiona Goble who wrote a Knit Your Own Royal Wedding. The author and her talk were both delightful with amazing knitted royals in attendance as well. The Today Show was shooting a segment with the author and asked Kris if she would be interviewed too - because they heard she was an American - I have not found the interview yet but I am on the hunt and will air right here when and if I find it.

Click on the Daily Mail to see all the pics of the Knitted Royal Wedding - a hoot -

I did not quite get what Kris was talking about until I saw the pictures.

Enjoy your day at the wedding via the tube. I did not watch Diana's but I will be up early today in Virginia, where I am working at a boutique, Daisy Days in Richmond. Thank goodness the time zones are in my favor so that I can catch a good portion of the wedding before the boutique opens.

Rococo Chocolates designed a special chocolate box in honour of

the wedding.

The painting inspired by an imagined proposal by Prince William to Miss Kate.

By the way, Rococo has the most amazing chocolates,

located on the King's Road in London.

It was a haunt of mine when I lived there;

I limited my purchase to three truffles at a time

and savored every morsel.

Pastel Royal Wedding Map via JCB

2011-04-28T06:36:00.000-04:00

The desktops are looking pretty good:

street plan of Paris

and

the naturalist's Butterflies (butterflies are so IN this season)

and

happy Sis Boom

to match the Sis Boom memento board I posted earlier this week

If you are near Richmond, Virginia

come on by and check out my wares in person.

Daisy Days at St. Catherine's School

2011-04-27T05:38:00.001-04:00

Spring 2011

Watercolor Swirl in aqua and pink

front: Sea Glass

back left: Central Park Walk

back right: Clover in aqua

Blue Daisy

Fleur-de-lis

Mocha Hide

Moroccan window

front - olive

back left - white with brown

back right - brown with white

Naturalist

butterflies and bees

What difference a ribbon makes.

I prefer the black with white topstitching - how about you?

For the cabin

the friend who owns the cabin that you are visiting

2011-04-26T19:16:00.002-04:00

Car is packed; ready to go; books on tape: Sarah's Key and Freedom. Trip will be 389 miles each way. I am looking forward to driving into spring. We still have lots of bare branches in the Northeast. Will post from the show, if I have the energy.

2011-04-26T06:12:00.001-04:00

Graduation Season is upon us.

How about a custom frame to remember the big event!

Spoonflower fabric created

by a Wilton friend of mine

specifically for the Wilton high school market.

I think these frames will FLY off the shelf.

Perennial favorites:

seersucker with monograms.

If you are interested, scroll down the left side to see monogram options,

then e-mail me.

Two week turn around time.

For the LAX nut, a frame for the the action photo.

and some frames from last year.

2011-04-25T08:22:00.002-04:00

Spring, finally some fair weather.

Custom board for Sophie

to match her

desktop memento board.

2011-04-21T05:03:00.000-04:00

Is that not the cutest picture of a baby checking out the action?

The March 24, 2011 Boston Globe Sunday magazize featured a terrific article on the resurgence of knitting, sewing and handcrafts. The photos of the shops were bright and vibrant. I misplaced my copy of the article and had to make due with this photo, which is not nearly as bright and colorful as the original, but the sweet baby makes up for the lack of intense color. The article reported on the growing trend of do-it-yourself handicraft boutiques and interest in all things hand-made and the shift of today's generation away from the 70's anti-hand-craft woman's work to the pride of home/hand made.

People are beginning to realize the importance of creating for yourself as our world becomes increasingly high-tech, digital and faster and faster and faster. The slow movement is a terrific counterpart to the fast-paced 24-7 world we live in today. I love the slow, methodical work of knitting and stitching; it is relaxing and satisfying. Hurrah for hand work. A fitting sentiment for earth day - getting back to basics - do it yourself kind of activities - slowing down - enjoying today as it is - keeping our world alive.

If you are in the Boston area, check out the knitting shops below.

J. P. Knit & Stitch - Jamaica Plain

Gather Here - Cambridge "stitch lounge"

Stitch House - Dorchester

Hipstitch - Newtonville

Craftland School of Craft - Providence

Post Script:

Here is part of an interesting interview with Lisa Borgnes Giramonti of A Bloomsbury Life - this excerpt dovetails with my comments on the hand-craft arts or "home-arts". I did a post on Lisa last year and featured her wonderful needlepoint tapestries that are very funny and creative - click here.

Full interview with Lisa Borgnes Giramonti on Yell Softly - here

You create modern, witty needlepoint art (a phrase many, who haven’t seen your work, may consider an oxymoron.) What drew you to this medium? I particularly love your piece “Perky Boobies;” do you think that we are returning to an appreciation of the “home arts” like entertaining, embroidery and gardening?

Oh, Sariah, I hope so. I think this recession has forced us all to turn inward and to realize that the It bag we all had to have five years ago is a hollow substitute for the pleasures of a meaningful life. In the last year, I have been much more conscious of living large on a small scale. Friends come over, we cook, we entertain, we talk, we laugh and we have a deep appreciation for each other’s company.

In terms of my textile work, my embroideries and postmodern samplers are a compulsion; I can’t not create them. My mother and grandmother both embroidered, and I grew up watching them, but they always worked from kits and that never appealed to me. When I saw the Bayeux Tapestry, I had a sudden epiphany that I needed to embroider MY life and my words instead of someone else’s. And that’s what I’ve done.

"Purly Wurly Takes a Picture," 1998

2011-04-20T05:59:00.001-04:00

Redmond Aldrich

Design

Another example of how a designer uses an inspiration board; this photo is from the website of Redmond Aldrich Design and is a shot of her "design-kit". The kit is fitted out for an individual according to their design requirements; it allows an individual to use the firm's services without having the designer present - e-mail and telephone and this packet. Voila.

Inspiration boards and their uses grow...

2011-04-15T22:43:00.001-04:00

Working, working, working after my winter hibernation, trying to get ready for my next boutique in Richmond, Virginia. My terrific monogrammer just embroidered 40 ribbons to get me ready for the spring graduation season. More photos after I finish a weekend of work in the studio. Can't wait to show you the 2011 spring line.

2011-04-15T07:05:00.006-04:00

I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud

by William Wordsworth

I wandered lonely as a cloud

That floats on high o'er vales and hills,

When all at once I saw a crowd,

A host, of golden daffodils;

Beside the lake, beneath the trees,

Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

Continuous as the stars that shine

And twinkle on the milky way,

They stretched in never-ending line

Along the margin of a bay:

Ten thousand saw I at a glance,

Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

The waves beside them danced; but they

Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:

A poet could not but be gay,

In such a jocund company:

I gazed--and gazed--but little thought

What wealth the show to me had brought:

For oft, when on my couch I lie

In vacant or in pensive mood,

They flash upon that inward eye

Which is the bliss of solitude;

And then my heart with pleasure fills,

And dances with the daffodils.

This poem was featured on the Writer's Almanac today; one of my daily reads.

The image of the daffodils "fluttering and dancing in the breeze" is perfect for today.

Years ago, my work commute was a long drive in heavy traffic;

the last leg of the journey was along a street lined with giant suburban houses,

most built a long time ago with good architectural bones;

one of the property owners on this street planted daffodils along the roadside; masses of them.

The first year that I drove down that street in April

and saw all the daffodils in bloom

I gasped aloud at the sheer volume and beauty of the sight.

I was inspired to give my own burst of happiness to travelers

each spring

so I planted clumps of daffodils down on the roadside of my property.

Today, they still look beautiful;

the sand and salt from the winters killed off many clumps,

but for the most part

it is a sunny, happy display of spring.

Happiness can be yours just by looking at nature.

I smile and have a spring in my step each year when the flowers are in full display.

People have stopped and told me how much they like the flowers too.

weekend planting...

2011-04-13T07:10:00.010-04:00

"....break them out of their narrowness."

Harvard professor Laurel Thatcher Ulrich on the use of the tangible in academic study. Here is an exerpt from the Harvard Gazette on Objects of Instruction

While Hamburger and Galison focused on the rare and the remarkable in Harvard’s collections, Laurel Thatcher Ulrich, the 300th Anniversary University Professor, and Ivan Gaskell, Margaret S. Winthrop Curator in theHarvard Art Museums and senior lecturer on history, extolled the virtues of the mundane and the everyday: a toothbrush, a chair, a piece of clothing. “My adventure has been to move into the realm of material objects and use them to study ordinary people in ordinary life,” Ulrich said.

Ulrich, the developer of the popular General Education course and exhibition “Tangible Things,” stood at the front of the classroom and pulled a quilt out of an old bookcase. The quilt, which was made in Missouri during the 1920s, was designed with dark blue hexagons. She said that she had students research the source of the design, which led them back hundreds of years to a study of Islamic decorative art, its migration through Europe and then to America. An examination of the cloth and its manufacture in the American South took students through the history of slavery.

Ulrich said that she wanted her students to work with artifacts to “break them out of their narrowness” and help them make connections between unrelated things like a quilt made in Missouri and an Islamic tile.

Observation is such an important part of learning. Connections: one era to an another. Everything repeats. We are inspired by the past. Read and See. See and Do. Listen. Start each day with the idea of learning something new. When I am in a funk and nothing seems to be working out I remember my mantra: make each day matter. What I mean by this is to use my senses to keenly observe the world around me. I am pleasantly surprised by something I discover. Small joys. All for free. Just open your eyes, your ears, your heart and you too will be amazed by a little nugget of wisdom or joy.

“You see cultural contact and exchange in ways that you cannot see in books and writing,” she said. “Students get really excited when you put them in touch with real stuff.”

2011-04-11T05:12:00.007-04:00

A few weeks back I started to tell you about a woman who designed

perfect little houses

"in scale houses".

Her name was Barbara Garfield.

The houses are all clustered together in a seaside community in Connecticut

called Rowayton.

I was finally able to get some photos

and here is an old article about her work

and another article with more great photos here.

Each summer we attend Shakespeare on the Sound;

the production is staged in on a grassy hill next to the Five Mile River,

across the street from Jo's Way, the cluster of houses

And each year I peak through the hedges to get a better view

of these tiny treasures.

I love the long windows, french doors and compact and efficient size.

Her houses were generally 1600 sq ft.

I am a small house person; my house is 1,500 sq. ft

and it is just right.

My little antique has been home for 20 years.

Finally Americans are learning that big is not always better.

The country seems to be in a downsize mode these days.

The pendulum is swinging.

Barbara was ahead of her time.

She started designing these houses in the 80's

as "a reaction to the McMansions",

soon to be the white elephants of the 21st century.

2011-04-10T11:16:00.005-04:00

Photo caption by Brian Rea for Modern Love column,

New York Times, April 7 , 2011

Being a mother is the best thing about my life.

This morning I read the most amazing story in the Modern Love column of the New York Times.

It is a powerful story of love and anguish.

2011-04-08T07:18:00.009-04:00

The Style Saloniste aka Diane Dorrans Saeks conducted an interview

with photographer Vicki Topaz on her new book: Silent Nests. The interview is interesting and the photographs are beautiful, however, it was the author's description of a book that she is currently working on that captivated me; the book is called Silver: A State of Mind - here is what she says about it.

Diane Dorrans Saeks: What are you working on now?

Vicky Topaz: My current work, entitled ‘Silver: A State of Mind’, is a series of portraits of women who possess one of the most distinctive outward signs of aging--silvering hair. The project deals with the transformative and challenging aspects of aging and aims to reveal the core energy, vitality and allure of these women and how they are moving through this time in their lives. I find the silvering of hair is an entry point to a diversity of thoughts and ideas on the subject. This is a different sort of "landscape"--women who are aging and the vistas they inhabit.

So today, my birthday, I am reflecting on my age. Awhile back I made the decision not to change the color of my hair - I am aging as God intended - silver sparkles in my hair now. I like it and I love the idea that "the silvering of hair is an entry point to a diversity of thoughts and ideas on the subject".

When I turned 50 my dear friend June said to me: "50 allows us to say and think whatever we want - we have earned it". So silver shots in my hair and lots of years, I have earned it. And you know what? All the hairdressers love my shimmery silver - mixed in with my light brown.

And my body thanks me for it - no chemicals. And Mother Earth thanks me too.

Read this NYT piece by Dominque Browning of Slow Love Life blog. It is about long hair on older women but also about graying hair.

2011-04-06T05:55:00.005-04:00

My perch...in case you are curious.

Three years since I took the leap into the blogosphere.

Wish you could join me for a cookie and a cup of tea to celebrate

my 3 year blog day.

image from Paris Breakfasts

Thanks for reading and returning.

A few weeks ago I wrote about this blog and how it has evolved (click here).

Looking up and looking out for inspiration and motivation.

Seeing, listening, feeling, doing. Passing it along to someone else.

Take what you like and leave the rest.

Here is a quote from Eleanor Roosevelt that I read yesterday. On target.

“One’s philosophy is not best expressed in words; it is expressed in the choices one makes. In the long run, we shape our lives, and we shape ourselves. The process never ends until we die. And the choices we make are ultimately our own responsibility.

Other blog day posts: April 6, 2010, April 6, 2009, April 6, 2008

PS - Paris Breakfasts sells her art here.

2011-04-04T05:55:00.000-04:00

Cobblestones randomly placed in a grid

(do not remember where I found this image)

Central Park Cobble

one of the fabrics from the Spring 2011 line

Finally the weather is cooperating.

The chill and damp was not too bad in the studio,

aka garage.

Spent yesterday afternoon in the studio

with my mini space heater.

2011-04-01T22:32:00.003-04:00

A little late in posting about BLOGGERS FIGHTING HUNGER

but hunger does not go away

8.8% of our population is unemployed - that is 13.5 million people

15% is the true percentage of our population that is unemployed which includes those who have given up looking, and those who are still looking for jobs.

Please do something today...or tomorrow...or the next day.

2011-03-30T07:44:00.000-04:00

College acceptances are pouring in...

this is a fun way to celebrate the next phase.

This one is for a soon to be freshman at Middlebury College in VT

e-mail me for details

marnie ruane at g mail dot com

2011-03-28T13:20:00.003-04:00

2011 spring line ready to go.

I will burning the midnight oil pretty soon

to get ready for a show in Virginia

at the end of the month.

The fabric on the top of the laptop

is a custom fabric created by a friend of mine,

specifically for our local market,

via Spoonflower.

Spoonflower is a great way to have your own designs made into fabric.

This fabric incorporates our local school logo;

it will be perfect for picture frames

to give to

sports team members,

coaches,

graduating seniors,

teachers.

2011-03-25T05:30:00.002-04:00

A post for my darling daughter miss is - happy birthday sweetie pie.

I hope you get to see this film.

It is playing in Central Square in April.

love m xoxo

I cannot wait to see this documentary. Miss Is and I are fans of "On the Street" and this film is all about Bill Cunningham as he is "on the street". If you do not know Bill, he is an 80 year old style photographer for the New York Times and rides around Manhattan on a bicycle to capture the street styles and fashions. I have never actually seen him in action, but if I spent more time around 5th and 57th my chances of a sighting would be greatly improved.

I want to be riding my bicycle at age 80!

The Sunday Styles is one of my favorite sections of the Sunday Times; yes, I do read the other news, and I love the book review, but I devour the style section. Delicious, as Diana Vreeland would say.

Click here to find out more about Bill Cunningham and the documentary

2011-03-23T05:27:00.008-04:00

Maira Kalman:

Various illuminations (of Crazy World)

at the Jewish Museum, NYC

through July 31st

My readers know that I am a huge fan of Maira Kalman's work.

I cannot wait to see this exhibit.

This is Maira Kalman's first museum survey. The viewer will see her

illustrations, photography, embroidery, textiles, and performances.

The pink box that is too perfect to open...

From the exhibit blurb:

"Kalman's work illuminates contemporary life with a profound sense of joy

and a unique sense of humor".

Raincoat above hanging like a T

Back 10 years ago, I saw this raincoat at Kate Spade;

it was designed by Maira Kalman.

I coveted this raincoat - the bright yellow version to be specific,

alas, it was too dear.

It had the price tag of an original piece of art,

which it was,

so I smiled and enjoyed looking at it...

I think of it each spring when it is wet, windy and raw;

what a spring in my step I would have

if that raincoat were keeping me dry.

"Kalman thinks of her work as a form of journalism.

She uses writing and drawing to render an ongoing account of the world as she sees it.

It is a daily discipline of creativity

based upon photography, travel, research, walking, talking, and open observation."

The last statement struck a cord with me;

I now realize why I like Kalman's work so much

and why I like writing this blog so much.

This blog is much more than my business, mrr design;

When I stared the blog three years ago,

its purpose was to write about, showcase and promote my business.

But the blog has evolved, as it should.

It is about creativity and what inspires me

in and out of the studio on a daily basis.

The blog has become an on-line journal of sorts.

I still promote mrr design, but let's face it,

all mrr design would not be very interesting.

The idea of a daily discipline of creativity,

or in my case, three or four times a week discipline of creativity,

reminds me of another well-known designer, Diane Von Furstenberg.

I learned about a lecture that DVF gave at Harvard a few weeks ago

from Elements of Style

and read all about it.

Her subject was female empowerment.

Here are her 10 rules to live by

as published in Elle

Pay atttention to the rule #3: Document your Days.

Just like Maira and Diane,

I am documenting my days.

This blog gives me great joy.

Here I share images, thoughts, ideas with like minded people,

and that makes me happy.

People can read and take what they like and leave the rest.

I hope you enjoy it.

Diane’s 10 Rules to Live by (from Elle Magazine)

Trust yourself. “The secret to feeling attractive, and to being attractive, is the confidence that comes from knowing who you are and what you believe in.”

Accept the passage of time. “The older you get, the more you should learn to love life and appreciate the beauty that comes with age.”

Document your days. “Carry a camera and create an inspiring visual diary of your life.”

Your suitcase symbolizes your life. “The best way to know a woman is to open her luggage. If she knows how to pack well, it means she understands , and cherishes, how to live a simplified life.”

Fashionable friends. “Choose fashions that make you happy. I hope the clothes I design will become my clients’ best friends. That way, when they open their closets, they will always encounter someone special.”

Dress your personality. “Always choose styles that also accentuate your personality. Don’t use fashion to try and project a different persona. Authenticity is key.”

Use your feminine power. “My mother taught me that being a woman is a privilege because the world revolves around us! It is a precious gift, and its power should be used in a subtle and respectful way.”

Your handbag is your guide. “Before leaving home, check your agenda and organize your bag according to what you have to do that day. Keeping everything in order makes life easier.”

Indulge yourself. “If you are like me, and don’t want to resort to Botox, book regular massages. I’m sure it helps to keep everything firm and in it’s place!”

Lead a balanced life. “The best regimen is to keep moving! Never stop working, travelling and seeking adventure. Drink plenty of water, limit alcohol and sugar and get to your yoga class!”

PS. I had one of DVF's wrap dresses back in 1978 - just like the one on the Newsweek cover

in bright green and white

My mother and I each had one!

I loved that dress!

Check out the NYT's review of the Maira Kalman exhibit here:

2011-03-22T05:30:00.000-04:00

glorious, delicious, happy colors

as seen on the March 17th blog post from sis boom

and

look at the background

yes, you got it,

a custom board done by

moi

mrr design.

Big news on the mrr design front in April

2011-03-20T06:00:00.001-04:00

SPRING

Everything will be greening up soon.

Hooray!

I just discovered a wonderful new blog via design*sponge. It is called bbbcraft sisters: three sisters living in three cities who are all creative and have a very creative mother, who must have inspired them along the way.

Here, here to mothers.

I have so many glass jars in my laundry room.

I save them for Christmas presents:

to use as containers for spicy nuts and chocolate sauce.

But here is another idea.

Knit a decorative collar

a glass jar is transformed.

Photos from bbbcraft sisters via design*sponge

2011-03-19T18:27:00.002-04:00

did you hear about the BIG MOON -

credit goes to dh for pointing this out. Camera ready!

Supermoon' Will Occur Saturday Night

Gordon Gillet / ESO

On Saturday afternoon, the moon will be the closest it's been to Earth in more than 18 years. The "supermoon,"as observers have dubbed it, will appear Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m. ET at a distance of 221,565 miles away. It will appear 14 percent larger and 30 percent brighter than your average full moon, weather permitting. The reason why the moon will be so much closer is due to a fluke of orbital mechanics. But don't be alarmed: Although the supermoon will result in a dramatically large range of high and low ocean tides—which could result in flooding problems if combined with a coastal storm at the same time—it won't cause a natural disaster.

2011-03-18T06:00:00.002-04:00

This cabinet was at the NYIGF and featured on Stylebeat's blog.

It reminded me of a post from Pigtown Design - Meg keeps her shoes in a repurposed steel cabinet not unlike this one.

I thought this cabinet would make a fun post, if I could decipher the message on the cabinet in the painted signal flags, but it turned out to be futile.

I tried to read the painted signal flags above using a reference card that was tucked in my needlepoint bag (Why was the reference card in my needlepoint bag? More on that later.)

I think the artist took some artistic license because all I could figure out is below.

row 1: z _ _

row 2: _ _ j

row 3: mix

row 4: l

row 5: p

row 6: z _ n

Is anyone better at translating these signal flags. An atta girl or atta boy if you figure the signals out and maybe a prize.

I know a little bit about signal flags. A couple of years ago I was a needlepoint fantatic creating dozens of signal flag needlepoint coasters for my father and several other family members - Using signal flags, I stitched names and initials on sets of coasters for various family members to use on their desks (Dad's below), summer houses and boats. It was a fun project; I could finish the coasters quickly and derived almost weekly satisfaction in the completion of another coaster. Therefore, a satisfying project... See a couple of the finished projects below. My thanks to my special aunts for their inspiration, instruction and reference card!!!

The coaster on Dad's desk.

Spells the first letter of each town where Dad has lived.

Second one, well used, in the kitchen, coffee stains and all.

Dad's initials with a j for Jr.

2011-03-17T05:37:00.003-04:00

Swatches from Sonia Delaunay

"If you want to understand today, you have to search yesterday."

Pearl S. Buck

Top of the morning to you

Swatch above is from Jennifer Paganelli's new line

Honey Child

I was struck by all the geometric patterns that I am seeing this spring

and then I saw the historic designs from Sonia Delaunay

(see top of blog and below)

on Style Court's blog

[Variation on Design 1355, Designed by Sonia Delaunay (French, born Russia, 1885–1979)

France, 1934, Gouache on paper, Private collection © L & M SERVICES B.V. The Hague 20100623
Photo: © private collection]

This exhibit

Color Moves: Art and Fashion by Sonia Delaunay

opens tomorrow at the Cooper-Hewitt in NYC

click here too

2011-03-16T06:00:00.001-04:00

Earlier this week I showed you some of the fabrics for MRR Design's Spring collection.

I mentioned that geometrics are popular in design circles today - to prove my point, check out the boxes by Jonathan Adler at the 2011 NY Intl Gift Fair below - just like some of the geometric fabrics I will use this spring.

And maps, they have been growing in popularity. I have a wonderful collection of maps; the walls in the room that I call my own are plastered with maps. I did a blog piece last year on the popularity of maps and choose a fun map fabric for the spring line and then I found another popular item from the NY Intl Gift Fair - map table from Oomph...

Good things go around and around.

Images above from Good Bones Great Pieces

and just today

Mrs. Blandings looks at all the geometric pillow designs

at John Robshaw

image below from John Robshaw

2011-03-14T06:00:00.002-04:00

Spring 2011

some of the fabrics that I am thinking of...

I love maps so I could not resist this fabric

lots of geometrics

here is the brick walk

aqua is still a popular color and sells well

still not sure about this one

but I love the two below

these blues and greens are soothing

a little bit of sophistication with the earth green circles

gotta have a little bit of fanciful color and pattern from sis boom

there's that geometric again

and the lollipop trees

what child did not make lollipop trees in school art class?

gotta have some fun with the safety pins

and a little floral, but not to sweet

just plain earthy

and summer ...

2011-03-11T06:58:00.005-05:00

A few weeks ago I visited my father in Massachusetts.

As I walked to his front door I noticed a large tree limb on the ground;

a victim of one of the blizzards.

On my second walk by the fallen limb, I noticed all the buds.

It was 18 degrees outside; I was shivering and thinking about spring.

Looking at the tree limb, I had a sudden impulse to snip branch after branch with my cold, bare hands and stuff the branches into the back of my car.

To some, I probably looked like a madwoman.

My plan was to force them to blossom at my house.

Instant Spring!

Later I wondered whether the branches would ever bloom since

the limb was severed several weeks earlier.

But the tree was in its winter hibernation.

So I recut the branches when I got back home,

smashed the ends with a hammer to help the branches draw in the water,

and just when I was thinking nothing would happen,

I saw a change.

I was not sure what flowers would emerge from the woody stems.

My father has not lived in this apartment for a long time, so I am not familiar with all the trees.

The apartment building is an old school building that dates back to the early 20th century.

It was converted to apartments years ago.

This tree is outside my father's living room window.

I vaguely remembered pretty flowers.

Now these lovely flowers have blossomed in my kitchen.

Check out these beautiful apple blossoms.

A perfect tree to grow outside a school.

In fact, I have always thought

that my father's apartment was the principal's office,

because of the high ceilings, large windows and steps in the apartment.

(I imagine these steps led to the principal's inner sanctum.)

Makes sense that an apple tree would be just outside the principal's window.

These flowers make me smile each morning when I stumble downstairs

to feed the dog before dawn

and

again

each night when I come home

from a long day,

well after sunset.

The beauty of nature and its power to impress, surprise, delight

is amazing.

Spring is coming

as soon as the floods end...

rivers are raging,

roofs are leaking,

basements are wet

but the grass will be green

and the trees will be strong

and the flowers will be abundant.

Patience.

2011-03-09T07:30:00.001-05:00

I was never a fan of the big box book stores. I am not surprised that they are having a hard time.

Some Connecticut book stores that I enjoy are places like Diane's Books in Greenwich and R. J. Julia's in Madison. Other book shops I like are a Bunch of Grapes in Edgartown, Nantucket Bookworks or Concord Bookshop, all in Massachusetts. Whenever I travel, I find a bookshop and explore the shelves. I also explore online, like the Tattered Cover Book store in Colorado.

Just look at the difference in the logos.

I love walking around independent bookstores, reading the labels that the staff place on the shelves, asking for suggestions, looking at the masses of books piled on the floor at Diane's ( a sight to behold). A lot of other people like it too because these book shops are still in business.

At Christmas and birthdays, I always support the independents when buying books as presents. These days I am a heavy user of the library; in fact I always have been a huge library fan, even during my days in NYC. There was a nice library in midtown not far from my office. When I moved to the Connecticut town where I now live, one of the first things I checked out was the library. I couldn't imagine living in a place with a mediocre library. Our library is wonderful. It is a vibrant, busy place with people of all ages using its books and services. It is a happy place. . Reading Jonathan Franzen's Freedom and The Sun Also Rises now.

2011-03-07T17:30:00.000-05:00

holy mackerel...

it rained and rained

so glad it wasn't snow.

Spring will be here soon!

The daffodills are begin to pop through the soil.

I forced a few branches... more pictures to follow.

The brook at the bottom of our hill is raging like a river.

and the daylight at 5:00 o'clock is such a delight

illustration from

2011-03-04T06:15:00.000-05:00

The same morning that I saw the plaque in the sidewalk about the hour of three o'clock, I walked by this guy; it was 6:00AM and I was on the other side of the street. I thought he was real and wondered who on earth he was helping...silly me. After my cup of coffee I walked back, this time on the policeman's side of the street. I had to take a picture. Only reason I am writing about it now is the lack of blog fodder. Ciao.

2011-03-03T07:03:00.001-05:00

Remember the frames that I was doing for Pam Scott, owner of Catch-All, who is selling them in Florida - well, a few of you have asked what shows she is doing - if you happen to be in Florida during March, you must seek out any one of these trunk shows. Pam's offerings are wonderful. She carries beautiful linens and home accessories and a baby line - see my post on her business here.

Here are the Florida boutiques and trunk shows that you should check out if you are in the neighborhood:

St Edwards, Vero Beach, Saturday, March 5 & Sunday, March 6

Colony Hotel, Delray Beach, Tuesday, March 8 through Thursday, March 10

Cottage Cache, Hobe Sound, Tuesday, March 15 and Wednesday, March 16

Hillsborough, Thursday, March 17

Boca Grande, Thursday, March 24 and Friday, March 25

2011-03-01T06:00:00.001-05:00

March and still cold with snow covered ground ... but just a few more months and we will feel the balmy early morning breezes at the flower truck.

2011-02-28T05:30:00.003-05:00

What do you think about three o'clock?

When I am at home in the late winter, I love sitting in my kitchen

at three o'clock.

It is cold outside, but the sun pours in through the windows,

making the kitchen bright and extra warm.

Perfect time for a cup of tea.

It makes me happy even imagining it.

I never seem to be home any more.

Still looking for balance.

I saw this plaque embedded in a sidewalk in Washington DC

last fall. It made me smile.

2011-02-24T05:47:00.001-05:00

Hibernation is ending.

This is how I begin

when a designer asks me to quote material requirements for a memento board.

I know there is some sort of math equation that I could use,

but I am much more visual.

2011-02-23T06:38:00.002-05:00

Another February "off the needles" project.

Neck warmer shipped up north

to keep my little girl warm as she walks around campus.

It arrived just in time for Valentine's Day

I didn't post earlier - didn't want to spoil the surprise.

Delicious cashmere

with a beautiful summer hue and soft, warm texture

i♥u

mmm

still got some stash...

enough for a few more neck warmers

2011-02-22T06:16:00.001-05:00

I emerged from hibernation briefly last week,

working a three night power work session to finish a big order

that is going to Florida.

Finished in the nick of time.

Now back to knitting.

2011-02-21T06:07:00.000-05:00

My fellow knit wit, Kris, found this fun and practical knitting bag on etsy.

Love the new take on the popular WWII poster from London:

from Keep Calm and Carry On to Keep Calm and Carry Yarn.

More projects "off the needles"

I carried my yarn to my home territory near Boston and was able to finish this blanket.

Two and one-half years in the making. Slow and steady wins the race - right?

My Father and I made a trip to see the college student so that I could hand deliver this treasure just in time for another snow storm.

Great picture of Grampa and Miss Is

on a cold and bright winter day.

Still have quite a stash of yarn and projects.

More off the needles later this week.

The momentum is great.

I may even finish putting together a sweater that I started more than 6 years ago!

Knitting is a wonderful way to pass the time during cold winter evenings.

Very relaxing too.

And I have so much more time to knit during my hibernation period.

2011-02-18T07:07:00.000-05:00

Do you recognize the lamp shade fabric?

It is my friend Jennifer's design -

Jennifer of Sis Boom fame.

Featured in the Adore Home, British edition

You might remember my Autumn 2010 line.

Jennifer's fabrics always find their way on to my frames

see the below

Sis Boom collection called Poodle

this design is called Marnie

(just like me)

see my blog post about this here

Just last week I saw this rug in Connecticut Cottages and Gardens

February issue

(the blue and green design below)

and to my delight I discovered it was a Sis Boom design

This is a whole new direction for Jennifer.

Love it

Way to Go Jennifer

2011-02-17T06:27:00.004-05:00

An interesting variation on the memento board

This clever "window" opening between the bedrooms of two sisters.

as seen in Connecticut Cottages and Gardens.

It reminds me of the dutch doors that were popular decades ago. The photo below is of Barbara Garfield, a designer of "in scale" properties ... more on this interesting lady next week.

2011-02-14T06:00:00.000-05:00

i ♥ u

2011-02-11T07:03:00.002-05:00

Did anyone follow Stylebeat's contest last year?

Marisa Marcantonio is a former style editor for House Beautiful and O at Home.

Marisa challenged her blog readers to ''submit an example of how you or someone stylish you know turned a page into reality with an idea brought to life from the book’s pages."

Winners received one of five terrific new design books - click here for full details.

I could not resist and submitted two entries:

My Inspiration came from Charlotte Moss's books,

A Passion For Detail, and Creating A Room,

which were both illustrated by the talented James Steinmeyer

whose watercolor illustrations were infinitely more interesting

than photographs.

I loved Steinmeyer's illustrations so much

that I bought the series, printed on card stock,

from Charlotte Moss's first store.

Years later I discovered a stash of artwork by a grand aunt.

I wasn't wild about my grand aunt's pen and ink drawings,

but I loved the frames.

I found five more frames to match,

then framed the James Steinmeyer illustrations,

and hung them in a group

in my living room

to mimic window panes.

Voila

A Room With a View

In fact,

a room with many views

of other interiors;

mini views where the viewer looks in instead of out.

My series of views,

grand rooms, famous in the annals of interior decoration history,

are a fun curiosity in my quirky, antique, Connecticut cottage.

A list of the illustrated rooms

Diana Vreeland's living room, Coco Chanel's living room, Bedroom of Mark Twain, Dining area of Thomas Jefferson, Ogden Codman's sitting room at the Grange, Cecil Beaton's drawing room at Beaton House, Elsie de Wolfe's bathroom; Winston Churchill's drawing room at Chartwell, Duchess of Windor's dressing room and Vita Sackville's writing room at Sissinghurst.

2011-02-09T07:07:00.001-05:00

How am I doing with my new year's resolutions or goals?

1) Less procrastination: improving, but still a long way to go

2) Finish one knitting project per month: look what came off the needles in January

one week ago below and then presto

a cozy neck warmer making it up north for my little miss is

the blanket that I started in September of 2008

all that's left is to seam it together.

February's off the needles feature

3) Get through my stacks of old magazines: not yet

4) Read one book per month: slow, not enough time

5) Work on more happiness every day: yes, I read the happiness project daily

6) And last but not least, develop more MRR Design business: I am still in hibernation mode, but I had a wonderful meeting with two creative friends - we are collaborating on ideas and projects - exciting, inspiring, fun,

~~~

Remember to be grateful.

Trust in my faith.

Trust in myself.

2011-02-07T06:27:00.001-05:00

Monograms are still "in"

see monogrammed tray, table, bag

photo of Lamshop

at the NYIGF

as seen on Stylebeat

Love this booth design too- very creative - painted canvas walls

monogram trend

bodes well for my little frames

2011-02-04T06:50:00.000-05:00

thoughts inspired by

olimpia zagnoli's

wallpaper for an art project -

click here

stream of consciousness as I look at this image:

LOOK AND SEE

SEE AND DO

LOOK UP

LOOK AROUND

life has ebbed and flowed. these days my mood is a tad noir but then I pop back to my happy self when I see a see something or hear something or read something that sparks my interest.

It doesn't take much - the ah ha effect is wonderful.

soon i will be cranking out the spring 2011 line.

that always makes me happy.

i have a big show planned for april/may in richmond, virginia:

daisy days at st catherine's school.

road trips are fun.

new places, new people and my frames will be new to them so i hope they fly off the table.

i love having my display loaded with frames and photographs of my family. customers love looking at the photos in my display too. sometimes they recognize a place or even a person.

today it is freezing; i need a little more zest in my life. i think i will make a lemon confection tonight. that ought to cheer me up. sweets are wonderful for chasing the blues away. just gotta watch the lbs. writing and reading are good ways to chase the blues away too. probably a healthier way and even bike riding could do the trick, if there weren't so much snow on the ground.

look at the little speck of pink in the corner. that spells hope and love.

2011-02-03T05:50:00.002-05:00

New shapes for memento and inspiration boards

Sunny Goode's fun new memento board above

Makes you want to forget the ho-hum square or rectangle

Why not get out your jigsaw and cut out a wonderful shape

like the mirror above?

Photo via Stylebeat - Mr Brown's booth at NYIGF

More fun new shapes

check out Sunny Goode's blog for the how-to

Ideas are percolating in my head

with all the info from the NYIGF scouts

like Marisa at Stylebeat

and my friend Robin from Seabeans Studio

2011-02-01T07:08:00.001-05:00

Old man winter is at it again!

Photo from NYSD

2011-01-31T07:03:00.001-05:00

See Spot Run!

If you are of a certain age you will remember the Dick and Jane books.

Years ago when Miss Is was just a wee girl

we visited Prince Edward Island

and met a very nice mother and daughter.

The mother sang the praises of the Dick and Jane books.

I was surprised because they seemed so repetitive and frankly, boring,

and so backward...

I did not want Isabel learning all about that pre-women's lib behavior;

I am such a child of the 70's.

Long story short, this woman went on and on about how the books helped her

daughter learned to read.

So I searched used book stores and found 7 or 8 books.

We read them together but they were boring, just as I remembered.

It was fun as a flashback,

but wasn't really the thing for me or Miss Is.

So we went back to our daily ritual of reading aloud two or three

wonderful books

with interesting stories

and beautiful illustrations.

And these books sat untouched on the bookshelves

for years and years.

Until the other day.

Miss Is is always buying and selling textbooks on Amazon

What a brilliant idea.

Often I am going to the post office for her

and then the Eureka moment!

Sell those Dick and Janes.

Check out the illustrations below

and see how

Dick and Jane grow

with each revision.

Within 24 hours I had sold one

then another 5 days later

and another 5 days later

The ones that sold were the revised Dick and Janes from the sixties:

the kids are grown up and

and

the vocabulary is a bit more advanced

and

the layout of the books was different.

So I guess that is why these were the first to sell.

Check out the names - just like Madmen!

except this mother seems a little more maternal.

I have four more listed on Amazon.

Bye Bye Dick and Jane

2011-01-29T16:09:00.018-05:00

snow fatigue

even for me, a hardy New Englander

We shovel paths all around the yard

to give our dog Libby some room to run

and to get to grill, the kindling stash, up the back stairs

the front door, the back door

All these paths remind me of a childhood game my sisters, brother and I

created

called Witch

We would spend hours raking leaves in the autumn

to create paths in the back yard and to make houses

then we would play...

it was like tag; you could only run on the paths

and you were only safe in your house

if you were caught at a dead end

off to jail you would go and could only be rescued by being tagged.

Hours of fun...and a little raking too.

this path to the wood pile,

where two roads diverged...which one one to take...

and a few loops for extra fun

the snowy world from Libby's eyes

as she runs down a corridor of snow

that's the garden - you can just see the tops of the fence posts

and more snow next week!

Yikes

2011-01-27T07:41:00.010-05:00

My house on Christmas Day 2010

January 27, 2011

We haven't had snow like this since 1995

beautiful whiteness this morning

blue dawn

sounds muffled

coffee ready

Garden shed today and a month ago

Someone told me recently to look up and look out,

there is beauty all around us.

This morning I saw the lovely meringue cap on the lamppost above

see how the top twirls up to a point.

lovely

I thought it might be fun to chart the snow piles with the weathervane

Early December above - then it all melted

one week ago - January 19, 2011

look in the center of this photo

see the post sticking up out of the snow mound

January 27, 2011

You cannot even see the weathervane

Looking from my perch as I compose this entry;

the lattice has a whole new design.

Look up and look out;

there is beauty all around you.

2011-01-24T06:54:00.000-05:00

The peacock is the ancient symbol of eternal life in Christianity

and the national bird of India.

This particular guy was walking around the grounds of a retreat center

where I enjoyed two peaceful days.

Pickles (yes, that is his name) perched in a tree

watching over us.

His colors were spectacular:

brilliant blue with the shock of white on his head

and vivid iridescent green eyes on the plumage.

I did not witness the fan

and could not capture the beauty of the colors with my camera,

but pickles was a beautiful sight.

Peacock imagery below

via Habitually Chic

Coco Chanel Coromandel Screen Detail

The days were bright and cold.

Rhododendron leaves tightly curled,

sound of crunching snow,

feeling frozen nose hairs,

all signs of temperatures in the single digits.

It was like winter camp for the soul.

I loved every minute.

Contrasts of cold and natural beauty

with

warmth, wisdom, welcome

The theme was balance.

Words of wisdom:

Accepting hardship as the pathway to peace.

2011-01-21T08:03:00.000-05:00

Monogrammed frames

where a big hit again this past Christmas season.

Here are a few...

Enjoying the winter hibernation,

when I am not busy doing my other work.

2011-01-20T06:58:00.008-05:00

The google doodle often sets the tone for my day...I like to figure out what the doodle is about, especially if it is not obvious.

Today is the 50th anniversary of JFK's inaugural address; a speech that I will never tire of listening too.

Yesterday, Sargent Shriver, first director of the Peace Corps, died.

So many good programs have grown out of the Peace Corps, all with the idea:

"Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can for your country" JFK

Peace Corps - " a program that builds peace and friendship by sending Americans to work for human dignity and human welfare in the third world." Peace Corps website

So today, a nod to the spirit of volunteerism.

2011-01-18T11:55:00.005-05:00

pomegranate season is ending.

oh i am sad.

for the last 3 months these delicious seeds have brightened up my cereal in taste and color

i am hoarding them now.

you can keep them in the fridge for a month or more.

and do you know the easiest way to decant the seeds?

cut in half

tap the outside edge with the back of a wooden spoon and presto the seeds tumble out into your bowl - tip courtesy nigella lawson.

and persephone

do you know that story+

6 pomegranates and doomed to hades for 1/2 the year - hence the dark winter -

But the end of pomegranate season means

that spring is on the way.

Another new year resolution, (which has been on my list for years now)

read Edith Hamilton's Mythology.

I read D'Auliers Book of Greek Myths to Miss Is as a little girl

and we read another book, Classic Myths to Read Aloud by William Russell

and we listened to myths on tape...

Perfect background for understanding all the references in her english, history and art history classes - As a student, my knowledge of mythology was sorely lacking...but there is always room to grow.

2011-01-16T08:00:00.001-05:00

Very exciting

close to finishing a project

close up

this is going to the dorm room in Massachusetts

so I better get cracking

I started this throw 2 1/2 years ago

with my knitting friends,

the knit wits.

We all decided to do the same project, click here,

but in our own colors of course.

Most everyone finished.

My progress has been slow and and not so steady.

I hope to finish by month end.

New Year's Resolutions

If I write them down

and

share with the world at large,

then just maybe I will succeed.

Get my projects finished.

One knitting project per month

Get through one magazine per week (I have stacks)

Read one book per month

Hard to read and knit and work and do chores...

but where there is a will there's a way.

Work on more happiness every day.

No more procrastination.

And last but not least,

develop more MRR Design business.

~~~

Remember to be grateful.

Trust in my faith.

Trust in myself.

2011-01-13T06:00:00.000-05:00

Another snowstorm

about 18 or 20"

shoveled the driveway

& off to the office I went

I really wanted to stay home by the fire

and finish my knitting projects

here are a few that are waiting, waiting, waiting to come off the needles

well some haven't even been started yet

fingerless gloves

just lost my pair this weekend

lime green cashmere mittens for my goddaughter

never finished them last year

color much better in person

scarf started in October...

Sweater that has been almost finished for years

gotta make this a priority

lots of yarn for socks

lime green cotton for dish cloths

ends of cashmere for neck warmers

left over from my mother's stash

I think this will make a nice small scarf

reminds me of shoelaces

still not sure what to do with it

made this suede-like wrap

and then tried to take it apart for a long scarf

just figured out I can double it and

it makes a nice neck warmer.

Miss Is will take this back to school

and speaking of Miss Is

here is the baby sweater I started 20 years ago.

I have a thing about not finishing???

I will get this done and save for the grandbabies.

The first thing I see when I get out of bed in the morning

baskets of my stash.

That ought to motivate me.

2011-01-11T06:30:00.002-05:00

I am a camp girl and so is Miss Is.

Camp is a wonderful place to spend a summer.

Both Miss Is and I went to a small all girls camp for the whole summer.

I went to Camp Asquam on Squam Lake in NH, but it closed in the 70's.

I searched long and hard for a similar camp for Miss Is

and I found Camp Onaway which is located on Newfound Lake in NH.

It is all I looked for and more.

Onaway is 100 years old this year.

A testament to a wonderful place

where girls grow to be strong and independent,

and kind, loving and community oriented.

Plus all the fun activities day in and day out.

Here are the oldest girls on a program called OWLES

Outdoor Wilderness Leadership Program

The girls spend 3 weeks in the wilderness hiking, canoeing and rock climbing.

This program is offered to 16 year olds - it is the last step in the camp experience

before becoming an aide and counselor.

Congratulations to Onaway

and to all who have made it what it is today.

P.S. The campers and counselors wear uniforms (so sensible)

and the girls shirts are made out of brown and white seersucker

almost identical to the frame fabric.

Hence the perfect frame

to mark the 100th anniversary.

I am sending it to the Camp Director to mark the occasion.

2011-01-10T06:00:00.001-05:00

What to do with this blazer patch.

This patch has been in my desk drawer for 25 years or more.

Can't imagine putting it on a blazer.

But decorating a box

or designing a needlepoint cushion around it.

A conversation starter, no?

I need to remember this phrase these days.

2011-01-08T12:08:00.004-05:00

wilton winter wonderland

homemade soup & homemade pound cake courtesy miss is

with homemade lemon curd by moi

a cup of lady grey tea

knitting by the fire

movie queued up

enjoy your weekend

2011-01-07T07:38:00.000-05:00

Sorority frames

are my latest big seller.

I heard about lots of girls going back to school for rush.

I, myself, was not a sorority girl,

but if you know one

she just might like one of these fun frames.

lots of seersucker combinations

Now I just have to connect with the sororities directly.

2011-01-06T07:32:00.000-05:00

These are a few of my favorite things

Kaffe Fassett is now creating ribbons.

A terrific addition to his needlepoint and fabric creations.

2011-01-04T06:02:00.003-05:00

This is my mother back in 1985.

She looks so happy and full of sparkle.

She died 25 years ago today.

This photograph makes me smile.

We were fooling around in my Aunt Brenda's pool.

I was taking loads of photos because I wanted to create

a photocollage in the style of

David Hockney.

Look carefully at this photocollage and you will see how Hockney

created this one picture with dozens of photos.

He experimented with these designs between 1982-1987

and he called them joiners.

I was fresh off an art history program in London

1985-1986

where I learned all about David Hockney

and was excited to create my own joiner.

I never made the montage

but I came across these photos when my sister asked me to dig

for old photographs so she could create a

computer photo frame for our father.

Dad loved seeing all the old pics.

Last year I did a wonderful post on my mother

and how she inspired me

and still inspires me - click here.

I think about her often

and

wonder how different life would be if she had lived a long full life.

I am almost the same age as she was when she died.

Hard to believe.

I miss you.

2011-01-01T07:27:00.000-05:00

I saw these posters from lesley and pea of the keep calm gallery

on swissmiss a while back

and

the sentiment is just perfect for today

it's a new year.

2010-12-31T06:17:00.006-05:00

Veni, Vidi, Vici

I came, I saw, I conquered?

2010 was a hard year.

But I pushed hard and kept talking to myself in the mirror.

I can do it. I conquer each day as it comes, task by task, issue by issue.

I am supremely grateful for the good things in my life. I believe that we are all exactly where we are meant to be, but it takes superhuman strength to push through some of the difficulties. And to believe in yourself and to push on. "...accepting hardships as the pathway to peace..."

I will conquer.

Bust adorned by baubles - creation of Mary Tucciarone. Mary of this week's previous posts. Photo by Tim Geany.

2010-12-29T22:46:00.000-05:00

There was no time before Christmas for much blogging

but I am ready to go now.

Take a look at my friend Mary's terrific Christmas decorations.

These photos were published

in two magazines:

Christmas Ideas and the Wilton Magazine

Mary has three boys

but they indulge her girly, glittery, decorated look.

Don't you just love the place setting

For all her little princes.

Hard to read but the crown has a banner with Thomas printed

Such fun a fun place card.

What a happy home this must be!

2010-12-28T18:00:00.002-05:00

before and after we finished shoveling...

you can barely see my little white lights

it looks like we live in a swiss village - our stairway is carved out of the snow.

a lovely sight

2010-12-27T21:44:00.009-05:00

the nor'easter blew in

weathervane is now almost covered by a snowbank

three times we shoveled the driveway

a tree came tumbling down

shed unscathed

I said a prayer of gratitude

winds still howling

that's it for the weather report.

2010-12-26T07:59:00.006-05:00

Christmas Greetings again

I donned my Christmas hat for Midnight Mass

This is a Tracey Tooker original dating back to 1992.

I love this hat. A lady on Madison Avenue once told me it was a happy hat.

I agree; it makes me happy every time I wear it.

It has wonderful memories too;

I bought it with the profits of mrr design after my first year of business.

Giant poppies, a velvet ribbon, and navy,

just perfect for me.

While I receive compliments from outsiders,

not too many folks within the family fold are keen on the hat.

but that doesn't deter me.

Here, here for being me!

2010-12-25T08:33:00.005-05:00

Christmas Day 2010 Greetings from my house to yours

I have taken this straight from the Writer's Almanac - because it is spot on:

Novelist Oren Arnold had the following Christmas gift suggestions: "To your enemy, forgiveness. To an opponent, tolerance. To a friend, your heart. To a customer, service. To all, charity. To every child, a good example.
To yourself, respect."

With all my good wishes for a wonderful Christmas and if you do not celebrate this holiday, a peaceful day. Thank you for visiting the blog.

Peace and happiness to everyone who is reading.

xo Marnie

2010-12-24T06:00:00.005-05:00

Christmas Eve 2010

Variations on the

CRÈCHE

Somewhere in Rhode Island. Photographed by Dominique Browning from Slow Love Life

I would have stopped in my tracks too if I drove by this creche.

Makes you think.

Traditional, I have forgotten where I found this image.

Sweet, as seen on Inchmark Journal

Whimsical, as seen on Chance

Simple and beautiful from Switzerland.

A friend gave this creche in a log to me last year.

It is a 3-d puzzle piece - the pieces push out for a wonderful effect.

And finally, the creche from my youth.

I love this not only because it is beautiful but because of the family associations.

It fills me with joy when I set it up each year with Miss Is.

And for an extra treat, you can wind up the music box

and hear lovely Christmas music

Oh Come All Ye Faithful

Silent Night

2010-12-13T22:06:00.003-05:00

I have been swamped this year with work,

both at the day job

and

with mrr design.

A good problem to have

but I am derilict in the Christmas decorating category.

This vase of flowers was all I had until today.

The arrangement is stunning in real life;

my camera doesn't do it justice.

This lovely arrangement was at a wine tasting

that my firm sponsored.

It was a lovely evening

and

I was happy to come home with these beautiful flowers.

Lucky for me because that's all I have had for Christmas decorations.

Today I caught the brief 24 hour mild weather window

and

was able to quickly fill my urns with evergreens.

The soil was frozen solid 48 hours ago

and

it is snowing now.

Just in time.

In a few more days time, I will get the wreaths up

and

the Christmas Card boards,

creche,

and finally the tree.

Before I know it - pouf - Christmas will have come and gone.

2010-12-10T17:48:00.010-05:00

photo above from B Designs website

Here are my neighbors from the boutique last weekend.

Karen and James

B Designs Letterpress

A wonderful photo

with the design duo.

Husband and Wife team

so happy

and such

beautiful letterpress stationary.

Their products were a big hit at the show.

Karen is the artist and James is the letterpress guy.

I enjoyed getting to know them.

Here are a few more shots of their paper

The paper is in boutiques all across the country.

and you can order online

check out the full line of stationary products here

Everyone needs some special paper on which to write their

thank you notes.

Christmas and presents and other holidays are right around the corner.

Everyone loves to receive a hand written note.

A thank you via e-mail, no thanks!

Now is the beginning of the exciting daily mail ritual -

Christmas and holiday cards

and then notes from nieces and nephews...

Each day I scurry to the mailbox

to check out the new cards.

So much more fun than the standard bills and junk.

When you check out the B Designs Letterpress website

be sure to read about their dog, Lucky

2010-12-08T05:30:00.005-05:00

Jardiniere Ltd

A few years back, at one of my many trunk shows, I was positioned next to a booth called Jardiniere; the owner of the shop was a charming and pretty lady about my age. She seemed familiar but I couldn't place her. As the day went on and we chatted, we discovered that we went to college together and dated roommates; my time with the roommate was short-lived - a disaster of a romance - better that it ended quickly, but I liked Kathy.

So almost 25 years later we find ourselves in another phase of life - with children in college and running our respective businesses. We both love the excitement of entrepreneurship. Kathy had a store back in 2007 when we first reconnected. These last two years we met up again at the Church of the Redeemer boutique in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts where Kathy sold her fabulous english toffee. Kathy has been making and selling this scrumptious toffee at Christmas boutiques for the last 10 years or so. When she has an idea, she runs with it; other businesses have been floral design, window box design, and her beautiful home goods store in East Greenwich, Rhode Island which was called Jardiniere. Kathy has a flair - just look at her table at the recent Church of the Redeemer boutique and the candy is delish! It is packaged in tins with giant red grosgrain bows or red toile bags and boxes topped with the same giant red grosgrain bow. And this pretty drawing for the label hidden in plain site on my messy desk below. If you like good toffee she might have some left. I will give you her contact info if you are interested.

We also discovered that we both loved Dominique Browning's book Slow Love: How I Lost My Job, Put on my Pajamas & Found Happiness. Someone you know might enjoy this book for

Christmas.

2010-12-07T06:19:00.007-05:00

Last show of the season under my belt.

I will do a couple of profiles on my boutique neighbors later this week.

You can see the Letterpress folks next to me busy at work.

Right now, old man winter has blown in -

Oh the weather outside is frightful,

But the fire is so delightful,

And since we 've no place to go,

Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! ...

I have lots of orders to finish

and the studio in the garage is just too cold and drafty

so I moved the studio inside the house

a crazy mess

but so cozy

2010-12-06T05:30:00.003-05:00

Just back from a whirlwind trip to Boston. I pulled out of Wilton before the crack of dawn on Friday and returned late Sunday afternoon. My Boutiques are now finished for the season - phew - but I am still delivering product to retail stores. Just dropped another 2 dozen frames and a few memento boards at the Wellesley Boutique, 100 Central Street, Wellesley, Massachusetts.

Stop by if you are in the area. You will find a wonderful assortment of presents etc for the holidays.

A few weeks ago a commenter asked if the economy looked any better from my perspective as I sell at boutiques from Washington DC to Chestnut Hill MA; it is tough going. People are being very careful with their spending this year. So while the economists report that we are technically out of the recession, the buying public is still in the trenches. But today I heard a good piece of news; Pam Lofblad, owner of the Wellesley Boutique, told me that business was very good at her shop. She has a "pop-up shop" in Wellesley, MA. The shop opens seasonally for a couple of months at a time. Pam is a savvy entrepreneur - she has terrific inventory and vendors that change weekly so there is always new merchandise. People keep coming back to see what is new. She only pays rent for two months and works non-stop. But it is worth it. The place was buzzing with people and excitement today. Fifteen people were waiting to get in when the shop opened today at noon. I was thrilled to hear that because I just dropped off more frames. One final push for the season and a few more orders to complete.

I plan to the visit some other stores this week to see if they might want a few more frames for the season. At the other end of the spectrum, two stores that I have sold to for the last few seasons have decided to close. I think it is going to be a long, slow climb out of the deep financial hole in this country and abroad. There are bright spots here and there, but mostly it is hard work. There is not much a robust recovery in sight.

So try and make the best of it... find something good about each day and be grateful for that.

Make each day matter. You never know what tomorrow will bring.

2010-12-01T06:00:00.005-05:00

Get ready for the holidays

Frames

just calling out for your Christmas photo.

Why send all the cards to your family and friends?

Keep a photo on entry hall table

in one of these

festive frames.

or that magical picture of your little one with Santa

You can find the monogrammed frames at

The Christmas Market

Church of the Redeemer

Chestnut Hill, MA

Dec 3rd and 4th

(you can meet me too)

Pam Scott of Catch All

based in Westport, Connecticut

Sea Beans Studio

Wilton, Connecticut

Preppy Pink Pony

McLean, Virginia

The Wellesley Boutique

Central Street

Wellesley, Massachusetts

or contact me directly

I can do any monogram or embroidery

see contact info on blog.

2010-11-30T08:48:00.001-05:00

My next show

Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts

Please stop by if you live in the area

lots of wonderful people and treasures

2010-11-28T06:05:00.001-05:00

A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about Pam Scott of Catch All.

We both participated in a Christmas boutique at the

Convent of the Sacred Heart

on East 91st in NYC.

It was called Christmas from the Heart.

There is also a gigantic

Christmas Tree Sale at the school.

Each vendor contributed a percentage of her sales to

Christmas from the Heart.

Together with all the money raised at the Christmas Tree sale,

the school was able to give back to the community

through various outreach projects.

The students learned the value of giving

to those in need

as they prepared and organized the sale.

I loved everything about this boutique.

The people, the charity, the venue,

the students.

And to top it off, I am a Sacred Heart girl myself.

as are others in my family.

I remember that the organizers asked me to bring some items

for the young girls to buy.

So I made marbled pencils.

I spent many evenings

cutting and wrapping and glueing

beautiful marble paper around pencils,

and on notebooks.

I still have a few left.

Makes me smile still.

I think I charged $1 for 3 pencils.

But back to the beginning...my first show in December of 1991

at Convent of the Sacred Heart

on East 91st street, NYC

Christmas at the Heart.

I was still working

at a large NYC bank

and expecting Miss Is.

My plan was to build a business that I could operate from home

while being a mother.

It did not work out exactly that way

because I ended up working part-time for 17 years at another

big NYC bank

and running my business at the same time

while being a mother.

I was busy.

Still am.

But back to the story again...

It is boutique season again.

Next one on the docket is

Church of the Redeemer in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts

on December 3 and 4th

2010-11-26T09:00:00.001-05:00

Another good poem to read and reflect upon this Thanksgiving weekend.

Thanksgiving

WE walk on starry fields of white
And do not see the daisies;
For blessings common in our sight
We rarely offer praises.
We sigh for some supreme delight
To crown our lives with splendor,
And quite ignore our daily store
Of pleasures sweet and tender.

Our cares are bold and push their way
Upon our thought and feeling.
They hang about us all the day,
Our time from pleasure stealing.
So unobtrusive many a joy
We pass by and forget it,
But worry strives to own our lives
And conquers if we let it.

There's not a day in all the year
But holds some hidden pleasure,
And looking back, joys oft appear
To brim the past's wide measure.
But blessings are like friends, I hold,
Who love and labor near us.
We out to raise our notes of praise
While living hearts can hear us.

Full many a blessing wears the guise
Of worry or of trouble.
Farseeing is the soul and wise
Who knows the mask is double.
But he who has the faith and strength
To thank his God for sorrow
Has found a joy without alloy
To gladden every morrow.

We ought to make the moments notes
Of happy, glad Thanksgiving;
The hours and days a silent phrase
Of music we are living.
And so the theme should swell and grow
As weeks and months pass o'er us,
And rise sublime at this good time,
A grand Thanksgiving chorus.

Ella Wheeler Wilcox

2010-11-24T05:00:00.002-05:00

gratitude

blessings

sharing

loving

mindful

listening

thanksgiving

the old family bird

from the table of my youth. makes me smile every year.

The Pumpkin

OH, greenly and fair in the lands of the sun,
The vines of the gourd and the rich melon run,
And the rock and the tree and the cottage enfold,
With broad leaves all greenness and blossoms all gold,
Like that which o'er Nineveh's prophet once grew,
While he waited to know that his warning was true,
And longed for the storm-cloud, and listened in vain
For the rush of the whirlwind and red fire-rain.

On the banks of the Xenil the dark Spanish maiden
Comes up with the fruit of the tangled vine laden;
And the Creole of Cuba laughs out to behold
Through orange-leaves shining the broad spheres of gold;
Yet with dearer delight from his home in the North,
On the fields of his harvest the Yankee looks forth,
Where crook-necks are coiling and yellow fruit shines,
And the sun of September melts down on his vines.

Ah! on Thanksgiving day, when from East and from West,
From North and from South come the pilgrim and guest,
When the gray-haired New Englander sees round his board
The old broken links of affection restored,
When the care-wearied man seeks his mother once more,
And the worn matron smiles where the girl smiled before,
What moistens the lip and what brightens the eye?
What calls back the past, like the rich Pumpkin pie?

Oh, fruit loved of boyhood! the old days recalling,
When wood-grapes were purpling and brown nuts were falling!
When wild, ugly faces we carved in its skin,
Glaring out through the dark with a candle within!
When we laughed round the corn-heap, with hearts all in tune,
Our chair a broad pumpkin,—our lantern the moon,
Telling tales of the fairy who travelled like steam,
In a pumpkin-shell coach, with two rats for her team!

Then thanks for thy present! none sweeter or better
E'er smoked from an oven or circled a platter!
Fairer hands never wrought at a pastry more fine,
Brighter eyes never watched o'er its baking, than thine!
And the prayer, which my mouth is too full to express,
Swells my heart that thy shadow may never be less,
That the days of thy lot may be lengthened below,
And the fame of thy worth like a pumpkin-vine grow,
And thy life be as sweet, and its last sunset sky
Golden-tinted and fair as thy own Pumpkin pie!

John Greenleaf Whittier

2010-11-23T21:18:00.007-05:00

I have always wanted to do before and after pictures...I arrive at a show with boxes and boxes, then I must transform a new space. Sometimes it looks better than others.

I had to work with a a tight space and a large black grid backdrop next to me...and I was not close to home so I could not run home to pick up extra material to hide the black screen...and I was split between two shows so my regular table covering was in Wellesley, oh well... The show was good and people loved the frames. I was asked to do more shows in the area which is always a goal - gotta keep finding new customers.

The final set-up

not my best

but it worked

catching up on my rest

ready for a peaceful few days ahead

Not great photos...but you get the idea.

2010-11-20T18:00:00.000-05:00

New York Subway

by Hilda Morley

The beauty of people in the subway
that evening, Saturday, holding the door for whoever
was slower or
left behind
(even withall that Saturday-night
excitement)
& the high-school boys from Queens, boasting,
joking together
proudly in their expectations
& power, young frolicsome
bulls,& the three office-girls
each strangely beautiful, the Indian
with dark skin & the girl with her haircut
very short and fringed, like Joan
at the stake, the corners
of her mouth laughing
& the black girl delicateas a doe, dark-brown in pale-brown clothes
& the tall woman in a long caftan, the other day,
serene & serious & the Puerto Rican
holding the door for more than 3 minutes for
the feeble, crippled, hunched little man who
could not raise his head,
whose hand I held, to
help him into the subway-car—
so we were
joined in helping him & someone,seeing us, gives up his seat,
learning
from us what we had learned from each other.

As seen on

Now go here and read watch this video on the Compassion Project - a wonderful idea, so simple and yet so powerful. Engaging and thought provoking, and it made me smile. This link brought to me by Slow Love Life by Dominque Browning.

Just right for Sunday morning.

2010-11-18T05:30:00.001-05:00

'Tis the boutique season...

off I go to DC

Here are the directions if you live in the DC area

Connelly School of the Holy Child

on November 19th and 20th

and I double-booked

this weekend.

My sister Jeanne is helping me in the northeast.

Stop by the Wellesley Marketplace

on Saturday,

November 19

2010-11-16T05:30:00.002-05:00

I saw this photograph in

The New York Times

last Friday.

An early version of a memento/inspiration board.

This 1703 trompe l'oeil of a letter rack was painted by Edward Collier.

It is part of the recent and wonderful donation to the

National Gallery of Art in

Washington D.C.

by Linda Kaufman.