So Many Things To See!

 

 

 It all started with a visit to MoMA to see the "Counter Space: Design and the Modern Kitchen" exhibit.

"Counter Space explores the twentieth-century transformation of the kitchen...." 

 

Too many kitchen tools: this could be said today, no?

great looking vacuum cleaner: 

 

After the obligatory, and possibly expensive, visit to the MoMA Shop, it was on to Paper Presentation, which is one of my favorite stores in New York. They have everything ...from all kinds of paper (scrapbook, drawing, wrapping, note cards, invitations etc. etc.) to hundreds of boxes of all kinds and sizes, to stamps, to unusual folded invitations, all customizable, to journals and notebooks, to a wonderful assortment of greeting cards. They're on-line store is extensive, so take a look.

 

 

Next, a total change of place and intent. On to Greensboro, N.C. for an all day gardening symposium. There were over 300 people here! Oh my goodness, when they start using, quite comfortably, the Latin names and cultivars I feel I am in over my head! This entire Southern gardening thing is so new....and I have SO much to learn. But this was a good place to start: the friends who invited me are also avid gardeners. Oh what fun to "talk dirt" all day! I can't begin to say how much I learned.

The three presenters were all from Chanticleer Garden in Wayne, Pa. Have you been there? I grew up very near to Wayne, but at that time the house and land was private.  It was opened to the public in 1993.

I absolutely MUST go there, and SOON! We saw over 400 photographs of the gardens, showing us the particular plants, shrubs and trees that are the "can't live without" variety as well as being adaptable to this more Southern, warmer climate.

And, there were plants for sale, including this Gardenia below. 

I  should M U S T have one of these!

 

 And after a trip to our local garden center earlier today, this is part of what came home with me: 

daphnes, snap dragons, pansies, and some new tools

don't you just love garden shopping?

Now the basket on the front fence is finally finished!

SIGNS OF SPRING

 

 

It's been warm this week!  

and this is what has happened out in the garden

 

 

 My newly discovered Hellebores. They were buried under so many huge, old leaves that you couldn't see any flowers at all. The garden had not been tended in at least five years and yes, I am loving getting my hands on this!

 

 and this little guy! He's a morning glory who snuck down here in the pot with my geranium! You've seen him before here.

BALTIMORE CRAFT SHOW: SHAARI HOROWITZ BOWLS

These are absolutely gorgeous hand painted bowls. They are hardly bowls...no, they are paintings

These, and many more, are from artist Shaari Horowitz. Shaari handpaints many sizes and shapes of bowls in her studio in Sharon, Connecticut.

I had featured Shaari and her work last summer, here, when she showed in Nantucket.

She and I did a short video a year ago, and here are several images from that day in her studio:

Believe me, these are really gorgeous pieces.

Shaari will be exhibiting at the Baltimore Craft Show, aka the American Craft Council Show, February 24-27. Take a look here to see her booth # and to find out more about the the show, and about Shaari's work.

And to whet your appetite, here are some other designers and their crafts:

(click on image to follow link)

The show opens this Thursday, February 24. No snow is predicted, so I hope you will think about attending...

THINGS CHANGE

 

 

You never know what's going to happen, do you?

One of my most favorite blogs, Room Remix, written by 'PK' has been taken off the web.

I can't even show you any visuals at all from her blog; I haven't been able to track down anything  on the web. I had just participated in her "Paint Party" here.

PK announced just a few days ago that she had finally decided to close down the blog. We don't know why: that was her personal decision. But I, for one, just want to say that I miss her and I miss RoomRemix. Funny, this blog thing, you can feel so close to people, waiting to hear their latest news every day, commenting back and forth, doing small favors for each other on line, and sharing experiences. To those of you who follow me but are not bloggers....well, you just have to try and understand.

Anyway, PK if you read this, know that we are missing your presence.

.........AND THEN THERE WAS LIGHT

 

 

Are you creative with your lighting?

I've never really paid that much attention to the lighting in our house(s). Either it worked or it didn't...Floor lamps, table lamps, the occasional sconce, some rather basic track lighting, those awful lights that come with overhead fans, small nothing lights that are stuck to the ceiling and collect dead flies inside. You get the idea.

You've seen some views of the entry hall in our new house:

Above and below is the entry, totally empty and very white. I think these were actually taken before we had even bought the house.

And here, below, it's coming along... Thanks to Kelly at ArteStyling, we have the gray and yellow working together beautifully.

The ceiling in this area is 19 feet high. The previous owner had no lighting at all, although there was an obvious outlet in the ceiling.

What to do? You've seen the post I did on lights.

And here is the final, installed, choice.

Step by step:

By the time they finished the installation, it was late afternoon and the sun was streaming in those high western-facing windows. The walls are actually that pale gray color, but they sure took on a yellow cast here! 

love. love. love.

They are the "Bubble Lamps" from George Nelson!

You can read the history here and buy them here.

I know we made the right choice!

 

OFFICE MEMO BOARDS

 

Remember my office from way back when??

I've been working on it...and in it...for several months and have something to show you.

That blank wall there was just crying out for a 'bulletin board', 'memo board', 'white board', 'inspiration board'. Whatever you call it, I wanted some way to tack up my inspiration pictures, memos, notes etc. In my old studio I had had a huge board made from homasote. I had painted it white and then made a 1" frame all around it.

So, of course, I looked for homasote. No one at the big box stores had ever heard of it...seems I would have to order huge sheets of it from a small store and no, they would not cut it for me. Hmmm. The hunt began. 

And here you have the result: ceiling tiles!

They were a perfect size: 24" square. I like squares. They were a little crumbly...hmmm. To keep them totally intact I spray painted the backs in white.

 

I've had my eye on the spray paints from Maine Cottage. They don't make many colors: but the ones they carry are wonderful and clean and contemporary. I chose "Zinnia"

and went to town spraying: 

 

The final board(s): 

The board has a flat border/edge of half an inch. I could leave it plain...no! What a boring end to this story...

I could paint it a dark brown/gray (Iron Mountain perhaps?) to mimic the carpet color. Still too simple.

Embellish! Of course. Being a good blogger and aspiring  DIY'er, that was the solution! Off to JoAnn's to look for ribbon. And here it is:

I actually used 'Liquid Stitch', which is for fabric. It worked well, but you have to be patient as it does take a while to dry.

 

Do you know these "Command" products? Fabulous!! They're sticky on both sides and REALLY hold. But they also come off the wall easily and leave both surfaces totally clean. They are a great invention! I used four for each board and, believe me, they are solid and secure.

Here's the final shot: yes, it looks washed out..the lighting in here is very tricky. It's either too bright and sunny or very much in shadow.

 

 I'm going to do another post about my office...I have a slide show of the total chaos in here the days after we moved, and then another show of the (almost) complete organization that now reigns! 

 

Today I'm linking to the party at SAS and Green Door: