SHERWIN-WILLIAMS PRINT ADS

 

I'm SURE you've seen these:

if you haven't, where have you been? 

 

 

 

 

These print ads were launched in June, 2010 and have appeared in Architectural Digest, Better Home & Gardens, Real Simple, Good Housekeeping, House Beautiful, and This Old House.  The "color chip" sculptures were created by Matthew Sporzynski for the McKinney Agency (in Raleigh! yay!) You can read all about it here.

For me, it was love at first sight.  They are stunning. They R E A L L Y grab your attention (isn't that what an ad is supposed to do!). 

Surprise Surprise!

I was browsing my latest copy of Country Living  and...it seems there is a brand N E W ad campaign:

I scanned this image from the magazine as there is nothing posted on line... yet.

cute, clever, eye catching

VIBURNUM 'MOHAWK' and more

Meet the newest member of our garden:

It's a Viburnum 'Mohawk':

" A 1993 Gold Medal Plant Award Winner, Viburnum x burkwoodii 'Mohawk' is loaded with clusters of ornamental dark red flower buds for several weeks before opening in mid to late April to exhibit its showy blossoms and strong, spicy scent. A display of beautiful flowers that last for weeks."

It joined another happy resident: our light pink Camellia "Sasanqua"

(I know, it says "park", but it's in our yard!)

I'm pleased to report that all residents are doing well and seem to be quite happy!

Today I'm linking up to:

GIVEAWAY FROM ANNE MAA JEWELRY DESIGNS!

 

 

Are these gorgeous or what?

From AnneMaa Jewelry

Anne has very kindly agreed to GIVE AWAY one of these beautiful "wire wrapped" rings!

I have been a follower and admirer or Anne's jewelry from long, long ago. Anne has been designing jewelry since 2005, after a stint as a fashion designer in Los Angeles. Anne says: "I approach design and merchandising the same way as a fashion designer as far as what pieces go in a collection and how a retail buyer/merchandiser would put together their select pieces for their store and customers."  

 "I am very interested in ancient, primitive jewelry and their simple but modern quality.  There were no extruded wires or sheets of metal but hand pounded lumpy and organic looking things.  No perfect looking soldered joints but irregular and skewed angles and edges.  I see jewelry as an object that changes and progresses with wear, like wood or marble wearing down where traffic is the highest over the years."  

Go to AnneMaaDesigns, click on "Rings" and look at the entire line of rings. It's the "wire wrapped"rings that she is offering in this Giveaway. But while you're there, look at her entire line of gorgeous jewelry.

Here it gets a little tricky...so pay attention! Below is a chart to determine your ring size.

Instructions

things you'll need:

• At least one finger


• Ruler


• Thin strip of paper

1. 
   
   
   
   • 1
     
     
     

     
     

     Cut a thin strip of paper.

     
     

     
     
     
     
   
   
   • 2
     
     
     

     
     

     Wrap it around the finger that you need sized. Make sure it is below the joint of your ringer and close to your knuckle.

     
     

     
     
     
     
   
   
   • 3
     
     
     

     
     

     Mark the spot where the paper meets and measure the distance with your ruler.

     
     

     
     
     
     
   
   
   • 4
     
     
     

     
     

     Size 4 is 1 and 13/16 inches
     Size 5 is 1 and 15/16 inches
     Size 6 is 2 and 1/16 inches
     Size 7 is 2 and 1/8 inches
     Size 8 is 2 and 1/4 inches
     Size 9 is 2 and 5/16 inches
     Size 10 is 2 and 7/16 inches
     Size 11 is 2 and 9/16 inches
     Size 12 is 2 and 5/8 inches
     Size 13 is 2 and 3/4 inches
     Size 14 is 2 and 7/8 inches

     
     

     
     

     
     

     
     
     
     
   
   
   
   

Since some of the rings on Anne's site are only available in certain sizes, you will have to first know your size, then look at what is available in that size. All rings ARE resizable up to 1/4 size.

Now you are ready!

 Here are the "rules" to enter the giveaway:

1. Choose which ring you want!  see above

2. Leave a comment on this blog, telling me which one you would want.

(be sure to leave your email, in case you win!)

3. Tweet, FaceBook or Blog about this, and leave another comment, for an extra chance to win

The giveaway is open to residents of the U.S. and Canada only.

I will choose a winner at the end of the day April 3 (that's a Sunday) and announce the winner the following morning.

BIENVENUE, WELCOME, COME IN!

However you say it, a front door is important!

Actually, today we're talking storm doors.

and this one just was not cutting it...Faux textured plastic, a scrungy handle that had seen many better days, and a tacky doorbell. Something had to be done about this.

A work in progress:

Here you can also see the reflection from the film we had installed on the glass. This door faces West. The wood door and it's handle, just behind here, get SO hot in the afternoon sun that you almost cannot touch them. The film has made SUCH a difference...and, we are assured, will make a huge difference in the interior temperture come summer.

Well, the tacky doorbell is still there...I'm looking, I'm looking. Who knew? There are wired and wireless, there are bells, chimes and buzzers. There are simple, tasteful, and there are t a c k y , y u c k y doorbells.

Here's your basic. Not bad...not great.

moving right along...another fairly basic:

this is ok:

Now THIS is pretty cool. But at $50, compared to the average above of $10, a little pricey. But worth it.

This is kind of neat too. Also comes in red, blue, or green.

And, of course, behind all storm doors is the REAL door to the house. In this case it is black. But it is ready and waiting for a new, wonderfully colorful, second life.

as seen from the front hall:

Here are some fun ideas...not all are appropriate for our house.... from Houzz

Oh, the color choices! I've always liked this yellow door from Pamela over at BeColorful:

or, for a more subdued look:

farrow & ball

more green?

or more traditional?

Susan of Between Naps on the Porch has a very good post on painted front doors over on Houzz, called "Your Entry: Mad About Red". If you don't know this site, take a look! It's full of great images and information on almost anything to do with home design.

And so, the search for just the right doorbell continues. And once again, I will be visiting the paint stores in search of that perfect front door color!

BYW = 'BLOGGING YOUR WAY' from Decor8

 

 

Look to the right and you will see a logo titled "Blogging Your Way"

CLICK ON IT AND YOU GO TO DECOR8. Go on up to the tab "E-course" and read all about it.

This is where I have been for almost four weeks!

Holly over at Decor8 offers this blogging mega-course several times a year. And the time was right for me, this time 'round. Fabulous, wonderful, insightful, energizing. I can't say enough good things about it. But if you DO decide to take the course, be sure you can devote some time to it. Holly and Leslie of ACreativeMint, post sessions and homework assignments three times a week. They are always available for questions and comments. Homework is, of course, optional (I mean, we're not in a for-credit-classroom kind of setting!) but well, well, worth doing. 

I have learned so much. I have met so many new friends. I have expanded my world.

Sorry, no visuals or insider tips: you'll have to take the course!

And in June I will be revising my blog layout! Yes, I have had this on my mind for a long....time and now, after taking this course, I can't possibly NOT do it. It's time for a totally new look. But these things take time. I'm getting my new ideas together, making notes, looking around....and will show it all to you mid-June!

Just wanted you to know what was happening around here!

SORREL SOUP

To make sorrel soup first you go to the farmer's market.

In my case, this is in Carrboro, North Carolina. The last few weeks I've bought some amazing lettuce, arugula and watercress. But yesterday I hit the jackpot! Sorrel.

then you take the sorrel home and give it a good wash

add these

and this is what you get!

And, here is the complete recipe. Make note of this, as there are NOT many recipes out there for Cream of Sorrel Soup!

1 1/2 lbs.sorrel (12 cups, packed)

3 1/2 cups chicken broth

4 egg yolks

2 cups heavy cream

Wash the sorrel and discard the stems. Cook in a covered pot, in the water clinging to the leaves, until wilted. Drain and puree in food processor.

In a large saucepan, heat the stock to simmering. Stir together the egg yolks and cream and add a little of the hot stock. Pour this mixture into the rest of the stock and cook, stirring, over medium high heat for 10-15 minutes, or until slightly thickened.

Remove from heat, cool, and whisk in the sorrel puree. Serve chilled. (Chives are a nice addition!)

If you have another great recipe, please do share! Would love to see it....

IT'S THE LITTLE THINGS THAT MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE!

I did a lot of gardening this weekend.

The weather was beautiful; we went to several local nurseries; went to the G R E A T farmer's market up in Carrboro; and spent a lot of time outside organizing, planting, thinking color.

This is one of the new items I bought "Micro Tip Blades". Fabulous! I was so tired of using the bulky pruning scissors, and always having to search for them to bring inside when I was arranging flowers! What do you have? Do you keep a separate pair inside? These are perfect. Small, precise, easy to store. They even come with that little orange, plastic cover for the tips.

Just for fun I went on line to find some other scissors to show you.

Dramm at amazon

Fiskars at amazon

Joyce Chen at white flower farm

Felco at white flower farm

And here is how I used my new purchase:

It's (almost) Monday so time to get out of the garden and back to the office!

LACE CURTAINS: A POPULAR POST!

 

 

This post, from January 2010, is one of my most popular and most "googled"!

Because I've received so many comments, emails and inquiries after I wrote that post,  I thought I would repost and then add some new ideas. Lace curtains have been popular for so many years, both in this country and in Europe. Timeless appeal. But what, exactly, is it that makes them so appealing? They can go almost....anywhere. They will coordinate with all sorts of interior fabrics as they don't necessarily have a "pattern" of their own. They provide privacy without being too opaque and blocking out light. They are pretty! 

 Here's the entire post from over a year ago: 

 

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....

Skip ahead to today, March 16, 2011:

I was at Target last week and saw these:

 

All cotton. Real white. Very nice indeed!

Whereas the above is a fairly solid, medium weight cotton, I've also been impressed by Coopers Cottage Lace Curtains.  While this Arts & Crafts look isn't for everyone, these curtains have an almost contemporary feel, which I like. 

I've saved the best for last! I've been looking on line for the R E A L French lace curtains: not really lace, but panels of soft white cotton with a bit of embroidery or decoration. For weeks it seemed fruitless......until THIS:

 

 

Yes, direct from the factory in Villers-Outreaux! The real thing, just as you would find in stores, and houses, in France!  Take a look here, and go on over to the "Voile Tier Curtains" tab and see for yourself.

If YOU have any great new sources for lace curtains, please do let us all know!