Yes, this is where I am headed tomorrow, Thursday.
Off to Aix-en-Provence via Miami, Paris and Marseille. Long day and night. But at the end I get to spend five (much too short) days in the land of lavender, wine, sunshine, and friends!
I will try to post on the blog, but the iPad is NOT user friendly for posting. So, we will see.
Some random shots taken several years ago. But you get the idea!
I saw them at the farmer's market last Saturday and absolutely had to buy them.
Ornamental Peppers! These peppers are part of the Capsicum family meaning they have pod-like fruit. They're really grown for their ornamental value, but can be eaten... although the taste, so they say, is not very strong. No matter: for me their value is in the color and shape!
In honor of the first day of fall... and being a blog about c o l o r .... I couldn't resist posting these pictures.
Six days later and they are beginning to shrivel and pucker. Ah well, they've been fun for a while!
I've been blogging now in a really serious way for about two years.
I want to tell you what blogging has meant to me and what it has done for me.
More than anything else it is a community. I never, ever imagined that there were so many people out there who liked the same kind of things and who were as design and color and detail oriented as I am. We really, truly speak the same language.
I work at home, alone. Many of us do. Through blogging I have come to feel part of
a large community. I have made so many new and wonderful friends from all over the world. Occasionally I get to meet a new friend, in person, and I have yet to be disappointed. That moment of face to face meeting never fails to exceed my expectations. These are women to whom I feel a very deep connection.
I know other bloggers out there who are reading this feel just the same way. We read and comment on each other's blogs. Then we may take it a step further: we begin a dialogue through email. We become friends.
Along the way we discover we have this shared passion.
I have blogger friends who have helped me in so many ways; I would love to name each and every one of you but the list would be too long. My "blogroll" over there on the right contains some of my new friends' names and blogs. That list is dynamic: I'm always adding more as I make new friends and discover blogs that teach me, that inspire me and that connect me to the blog community and beyond.
What is it that happens when you blog? How is a post created you may wonder. From where do we all get our inspiration? It's different for everyone, naturally. I am always on the lookout for new "whatevers": products, ideas, people, ways of using color, details of any kind, something quirky and unusual. I read other blogs voraciously, I follow links right and left, I use Evernote, Pinterest, Facebook, and Twitter, and I have Google alerts coming into my email. I am fascinated by it all.
How do I narrow it all down and decide what to talk/blog about? I have certain subjects I love to show and talk about: flowers and gardening are an all time favorite as are my house, travel, and new products, to name a few. Sometimes I will have a marathon post-writing-day and do maybe three or four posts. It all takes time: the research, looking up the links for visuals, and putting it all together. But there are also other weeks where it's tough going and nothing seems right; when there is no new news (or so it seems), or I am busy or I am tired.
But the most important part of blogging is the connection.
For all of you reading this who are bloggers: you know just what I mean. And for all others I simply want to say: blogging is the best use of my time that I can think of!
Well, well, well......... look what the gift fairy brought me!
Direct from Helsinki, Finland and the Marimekko store there!
You know what's REALLY nice about this mug? It's size. It holds just 6 ounces of my favorite tea. I can't stand the large mugs you see everywhere... no, no latte mugs for me.
This one is perfect. And, you can buy it here in the States from this store in Minneapolis.
Take your pick from six different colors.
And while you're there, how about a cosmetic case?
Maybe not award winning photographs...but enough to make me dream of Paris! It was just this week last year.
In case you missed it, you can read about our apartment by the Seine here
or
our Sunday lunch in the Bois de Boulogne at La Bagatelle restaurant
or
go shopping at BHV
Guess what? I'm about to go back over to France: this time it will be to Provence for a quick trip of just six days. I'm actually going to W O R K! Can you believe it? I will reveal all details very soon and you will LOVE what I have to show and tell you.
Let me introduce Randi Chervitz of Uncommon Threads Jewelry. I first read about Randi when her work was reviewed for the upcoming New York Gift Show. But before that show took place, she was off to the Atlanta Mart earlier in January. Which is where we met up.
Randi's work is gorgeous!
"Transforming the very fabric of our lives... handmade jewelry in silver and gold."
These are pieces from her on-line store:
Not only is the work beautiful, so are the photographs.
I asked Randi what her favorite part of the business is:
"My favorite part of the business is, of course, designing new work. But another very important part, especially right now, is the great joy I take in employing two other women metalsmiths in my studio. We create an amazingly positive synergy together that helps us all grow as makers, and as people."
And of course the question: from where and how does she find her inspiration?
"Because I function in the "art" genre, I can allow myself to create new designs according to when the Muse visits. In other words, I do challenge myself to design based on which of my collections has been getting the strongest customer response, but sometimes new ideas just pop into my head. In my experience, for some customers, "too far out" just does not exist. Right now, of course, price is a big consideration, as well. I am finding customers want everything in one package- a powerful statement piece with great cratsmanship for a great price. It's a tall order, but I think I've hit the mark with several new items! (Gemstone/Chain items, all under $29 wholesale; Branching Twig Pin (first photo, above), Oxidized Sterling with Freshwater Pearls, $78 wholesale.)"
