An Eye For Detail

"NESTING NEWBIES MAGAZINE" LAMPSHADE PROJECT

This is one of the newest on-line magazines to hit the screen:

    NESTING NEWBIES

When you click the link above you will go directly to the on-line site: take a look around! I thought this project would be a good introduction to show you. 

But, what do YOU think of on-line magazines? I have trouble with them: you can't skim; you can't flip through the pages (that is, without being at your computer); you can't put stickies on pages to earmark; and some are very awkward to navigate. This one seems easier, but still, I have trouble zooming in and then having to move the page around all the time in order to see it all. And with LONNY, only the latest issue is available for viewing, and that I find a huge problem. We will see what happens with NESTING NEWBIES. Couldn't they have found a better name???

     

     

      

     
 

        

         
  
     One question here: if you don't have a drum shape shade, you have to allow for less fabric at the top,     right?  hmmmm

 

DETAILS: SHAPES AROUND THE HOUSE

    It's winter here, oh yes, it's REALLY winter! The snow is coming down once again. This morning I made it out to the gym before the white stuff started: thank goodness! Have to get the treadmill and weight work in or else I feel...well, what? Lethargic? Lumpy? No, just kind of stuck. Exercise is a very important part of my life and my weekly routine! 

    So, here I am, exercised and showered, with a cup of tea and my NEW (almost) MacBook, in my office at home, ready to work. ( By the time you read this, it will be later in the day, or even the next day....) But I started looking around the kitchen, in the drying rack to be specific, and spied this very wonderful shape!

 

In general, I love jam jars: for their recycl-ability but also for their shape. Some, not all, have great lines. This one is from Le Pain Quotidien in Georgetown. At least, that's the one I go to when I'm down there; there are others, to be sure. 

I really like that restaurant. It has the great "communal" table on the main floor, with small tables around the sides of the room. It has FABULOUS food, good service and oh the pastries to buy on the way out...

 

Then, there is the wall of syrups and jams. All I can say is: buy some next time you go!  

 

Here's the tea service for one:

Then, I began looking further around my kitchen. 

Egg cups: these are wonderful shapes too! So smooth and put together... 

 

And this cutie: it's a gelatto dish from Florence, Italy! Love the shape, love the color, love the usefulness of it...
    

And here, my all time favorite in shape and feel. These salad servers were bought by my mother-in-law in New York in the '50's at George Jensen. My sister in law very, very kindly let us have these a year ago: thank you! They have the most wonderful weight and shine and feel. They are also NOT oversized, as are so many things today...these are small in comparison and suit us just fine

   

 
 What do you have to say about shapes?

 

Glass Lighting

There's something about glass lighting, and pendants in particular, that I find very appealing. They look so neat, and put together, and just....right. Whether one over a table, or several in one room, they add height, dimension and texture to any interior.

Here's a selection: see what you think.

From Pottery Barn:

          

          

From one of my favorites, Simon Pearce:

          

An exotic look:

          

Victorian?

          

Nice and clean and contemporary:

          

From WestElm: 

           

Not necessarily pendants, but very FUN from RougeLiving:

        
 

Or modern lighting from Design Public

 
Surely, there is something for your taste! I'm not really a "modern" person, but I like those lights from Design Public a lot... and that little pink desk light would be fun in my office. We'll see!

ANGELA ADAMS SAILCLOTH TOTES

In an earlier story I told you about Seabags of Portland, Maine. 

They have just partnered with Angela Adams to bring you some very cute, very functional tote bags made from the Seabags' trademark fabric of recycled sails.

  

Another great made-in-the-USA product!.
  

HAVE YOU CHANGED YOUR SPENDING HABITS?

I came across this very interesting article about consumer spending and how it has been affected by the recent recession. The story, reported by Furniture Today, comes from Decitica Marketing Strategy and Research. Without going into the entire study, I will just say that I thought their categories of consumers and their post-recession buying habits are unique and thoughtful.  

The study divides consumers into four distinct categories: 

"Steadfast Frugalists (20 percent of the population), 

Involuntary Penny-Pinchers (29 percent), 

Pragmatic Spenders (29 percent) and 

Apathetic Materialists (22 percent), with the names giving a quick hint at what each is like."

Here's the pie chart:

Perhaps the biggest change in all these categories is that people don't intend to change their newly acquired spending (or non-spending) habits once the economy improves, regardless of their income.

All groups are getting less pleasure from buying things, and all groups do less impulse buying. Brand names are not as important, especially to the steadfast frugalists.

The apathetic materialists, with the highest income, are the least affected psychologically, while the involuntary penny-pinchers are the most affected this way.

I urge you to go to the report. Scroll down through it to get a sense of the state of the economy as seen by consumers...and the challenges ahead for retailers and manufacturers.

What do YOU think? Have your spending habits changed and do you think they will "remain changed" even as the economy improves?

TRAIN RIDE INTO NEW YORK

                If the slideshow doesn't start automatically, just click the arrows...

This is winter on the Hudson River! I took these on my way to and from New York on Monday. Quite something, no? The buildings across the river are of West Point; the bridge is the Bear Mountain Bridge in Cold Spring. If you know me at all, you know this is NOT my favorite time of year! But come back in the summer, and yes, it's gorgeous. I'll do another slide show in six months and show you.

If you are ever in this area, Cold Spring is a wonderful town to explore: restaurants, antique shops and lots of fun "knick knack" kinds of shops and a farmer's market in the summer months. One of my favorite restaurants in town is Cathryn's Tuscan Grill: they recently expanded and now have a casual front room, a handsome bar and plenty of seating. The Sunday brunch is lively and fun!

FUN NEW PRODUCT DISCOVERY!

Great discovery today at the Gift Show! (Yes, I WILL be doing an extensive report of the show, but not tonight!) Just for fun, here is a company that was new to me:

                                MYWALIT

Headquarters are in Lucca, Italy but yes, they have an office in the U.S.  They are sold all over the place; hmmm, I've never seen them! Take a look.

Here are some wallets for women. Such great colors, no?

And for men:

Great purse:

 

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LACE CURTAINS

Lace curtains: now there's a tricky subject! They can certainly bring to mind old, yellowed, why-don't-you-take-them-down kind of curtains (usually seen in, dare I say, Grandmother's house?). We were in an antique shop up in Vermont last summer where the owner had hung old, and I mean VERY old, lace curtains at some of the windows, and they were for sale. Well, these were really disgusting. They smelled of mildew; they were yellowed in a not so nice antique sort of way; the seams were totally frayed; and WHY anyone would actually pay for these was beyond me!

Then, we have the wonderful lace curtains you see in France! Ah yes: delicate, airy, often just covering the lower half of the window, held by adorable delicate rods that are often the kind that swing out. These are made in the true "atelier de dentelle" tradition. Does anyone remember the catalog "Rue de France"? I discovered it years back at the start of my Francophile-ness.... it went out of business about five years ago, but they carried a line of real French lace curtains. I had some and, thinking they would  be a available again, had given away two sets when I redid our bay window.

I've been looking ever since! At BHV in Paris last September I saw oh so many ready made styles and bolts of fabric. But translating the meters to inches, and not having the exact measurements with me, was too daunting.....

Fast forward to last week when the catalog arrived from Country Curtains! Yes, Country Curtains of REAL country looks (which doesn't happen to be my style) has these new lace curtains.

I love this "Seaside Lace" trim and am thinking it would be nice on just the valence! 

 

The "Tree of Life" is different...and would do well for flat panels:

The "Bird Song" might be a more traditional look...

 

I've been looking on line for other sources. Most of what you see is either polyester or the more sheer Scottish lace. The French is a thicker cotton that holds up well and just looks a bit more informal. They are also available in a real white which is the look I like! If you know of any other sources (other than going to France) please let me know....

SHED SOME LIGHT ON 2010

Looking for lighting ideas for the New Year?

Here are some suggestions and some of my personal favorites:

                        From Simon Pearce.

I have coveted his glass lamps for years!

 

                        From Pottery Barn.

We actually bought this one in the brushed silver and it is perfect!

                        From Susan Sargent. 

Her lamp bases are now all solid color... too bad, I had liked the vibrant print designs in years past. Still, these are great.

                            From Wisteria.

Do you know this catalog? One of my favorites, both for home and gift ideas.

 

And here, last but NOT least, is THE LAMP I want! I saw they just went on sale, so I  might order tomorrow!   But which color?

                                From Pierre Deux

 

 

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CRAFTED IN THE U.S.A.

More on Holiday gifts, and these all made in the United States! I came across this site, and these products, just the other day. Hand crafted in Maine:  Seabags. 

They actually cut up old sails (!) and sew them into bags.. what a wonderful re-use, no? The design of the bags is actually inspired by the sail itself (no,not all sails are created equal!), each bag has a design imprinted, and all have rope handles. I also like that this company works with several local non-profits such as the Maine Cancer Foundation and the Maine Correctional Institute for Women. They want to "make an impact locally and globally."

Take a look also at their blog entry for Dec. 7. 2009 for a wonderful report from an intern who worked there recently. Very nice writing!

Here is a sail all laid out and ready to cut:

 
   

 

Another local, hand crafted product comes from artist and designer Shaari Horowitz: 

Shaari designs and sells her products both from her studio/website and at high end craft shows (NorthEast and MidAtlantic). See the website for her upcoming schedule of shows, or you can contact her directly from the website.  You can purchase one of her "stock" designs (hardly stock!: each one is individual and very very unique..) or she is happy to work on a made-to-order basis. 

To view a short video of Shaari at work in her studio, explaining HOW she works, click here. As you will see, I have been to Shaari's studio in northwestern Connecticut. It was a journey into the wonderful world of classic handpainting. No hurrying here; no computers here: it's the REAL thing and Shaari does it beautifully. And, in addition to her studio upstairs I was treated to a glimpse of the gorgeous work of her husband, Alistair Jones, wood worker extraordinaire. So, for all you interior designers out there, keep them in mind!