A Place to Place.

I recently found a good hallway table at a decent price on Rue La La, and after waiting 2 weeks for it to ship, its here!  I feel slightly guilty that I had to do away with Tobys Man-Nook in order to fit it, but quite frankly, Toby prefers the couch to his dog bed any day, and I was tired of walking into my apartment and immediately looking around for somewhere to throw my keys.  So far it is serving its purpose beautifully, and has afforded some much-needed space to put pictures of friends, family, and me when I was young and looked strange (always important to have a sense of humor about yourself). It’s also Captain Jacks new real estate! I think he’s happy with it, he’s been quite inquisitive checking out his new view.

No. 4651

Last summer on a trip upstate I came across hemp sacks draped over the porch railing.  Upon investigation, these were cocoa sacks from the Cote D’Ivoire (Ivory Coast).  While I don’t know what route they took to migrate to upstate New York, I do know that they were an interesting find, went perfectly with my apartments amalgamatory* theme of safari and nautical, and I wanted to frame one.  I picked out the one with the lot number that most spoke to me (it was an odd process, but felt somehow crucial), and home No. 4651 and I went. 


It wasn’t until Christmas time that I was able to get over my fear of what it would cost to custom-construct a 4.5x3’ frame, and took the sack into our local framers.  I settled on a dark faux olive wood (the real olive wood price left me a bit woozy), and a chocolate linen matting to both allow the khaki of the sack to stand out and to compliment the emblems maroon color.  The result is amazing.  This piece looms in front of me in my bedroom, taking up the perfect amount of space on what was once a painfully empty wall.  I think my favorite thing about it is the idea it exudes of taking something so rustically industrial, so utilitarian in purpose and re-presenting it to the eye as something to take notice of for its simple beauty. I suppose it is as close as I will get to dada.  

The one thing that is bugging me, which was my own fault and choice, was that I asked the framer to not steam out the creases to make the sack flat and show the side-seams.  There is a fold on the left side.  It drives me a bit crazy when I look at it, but it’s an experiment in learning to accept and live with imperfection. I can finally say that my apartments decoration is complete, right in time for me to decide I’m moving to Brooklyn in October.

*I realize that amalgamatory is not quite a word that Webster feels like giving credit to, but sometimes I find it necessary to make words up in the spirit of getting across my true meaning.

Hey You!

         Anyone who comes to my house in New Jersey knows that my mothers’ dog, Floyd (named after Pink Floyd, mums favorite band), loves to jump at the door to display his excitement over their arrival.  Today’s arrival was my uncle; braving the treacherous snowmergency to plow us out.  Here are a few shots I took of Floyd’s enthusiasm.

Is There Anybody Out There?

Signs Of Life

Learning to Fly

The Dogs of War

Evergreens & Feathers

    Of the myriad of reasons to be giddy at Christmas time, the prospect of giving gifts is the singular activity of the season that gets me the most excited and impatient.  I spend a great deal of time contemplating what to get each family member and friend, making sure to get them something they will love, cherish and get some use out of.  It is my most welcomed challenge of the year, though this year added an obvious, though previously overlooked element to that excitement. 
    This holiday season it occurred to me, due to my dearest friends who are unfailingly creative every moment of their lives that if I’m this excited about giving gifts, I should put the effort in making the wrapping just as enticing as what is inside of it!  My idea formed very organically, mum had picked up a few swags to hang on our doors – I love a good swag – and a vision flashed in my head to shrink them down and make a bespoke bow out of the seasons greens and added feathers to mix the media.  Hoping to have these stand out, the usual patterned gift wrap and ribbon was swapped out for simple craft paper and twine.  I love the rustic, Adirondack-y way that they turned out, especially next to the aeriums filled with mosses and succulents and the glass encased feather ornaments.  Incidentally, the bows and string were quickly recycled as stylish necklaces and boutonnières upon being received. Now I have two welcomed challenges of the season, though I cannot guarantee that they will double as accessories each time!

Hue for the Loo

Being someone so vehemently against un-adorned walls (color or frame-age), it’s really a wonder that my bathroom walls stayed white for as long as they did. I suppose I was too busy refreshing and adorning myself to give the space the same attention.  But, eventually the little spots of pepto-pink that the former tenant (a Lilly Pulitzer type, one can only assume) neglected to paint over upon vacation were too much to not wage a war against.  Seeing as my apartment has inadvertently adopted a nautical safari theme, I opted to maintain continuity and go blue, a vibrant contrast to the red coral shower curtain.  Now, I doubt anyone who knows me would do anything but burst into laughter if asked whether I was afraid of color, and seeing as so little time is spent in the bathroom, I don’t see any reason not to go as bold as possible.  Thus, “Nautical Navy” it was, however embarrassingly apropos.  Now that all is said and done -- including but not limited to spilling an entire quart of paint on the floor (I suppose the universe preferred that I have matching grout) -- I must say that I truly love it.  The contrasting white, lime and red against the rich saturation of navy is delightful, and I can’t imagine getting tired of such an amicable color.

In Vino Veritas

A friend recently organized a wine tasting trip along Long Islands North Fork, so, early one saturday morning, we went on a jaunt (I use the term loosely as we dubbed our driver Tommy-tailgate) out along the rich-soiled feilds where the island parts ways with itself. I came away with two bottles of white to thank Mum for watching Toby for the weekend, and a few pictures of the seasons last moments of rich greens before the stark and friendly contrast with the sky turns to a battle of fiery reds.

I stand firm that Chris channeled Tom Ripley today.

Gardener Gone Glam

I have always found such a lovely, quiet playfulness in literal translations.  I believe it stems from my Kindergarten summer reading books of Amelia Bedelia.  I just seem to adore things that have an inherent sense of humor, which is probably why I am entirely smitten with Carolina Hererra’s take on a garden dress, from her Spring 2011 collection, inspired by botanical drawings collected in the eighteenth century. The front panels reminiscence of an old French flower seed packet is such a fantastic way to bring to attention how lovely these packets can often be, and makes me wonder if my grandmother might have any she may have forgotten about.  The taupe skirt offers a lovely ruffled compliment to both the colors of the front panels art and the flatness of the panel, while the cranberry bodice adds the perfect amount of color to remind you that this is a gown, not just a reference to spring activities, while the bow adds a femininity and whimsy that entirely completes the look. The only negative to this dress is that it’s a very specific occasion that you can wear a day-gown with a whimsical nod to gardening, as it’s too formal for a garden party, and too referential to gardening to wear to anything else.  Nonetheless, it is -- contrary to Style.com’s reviews -- my very favorite Spring 2011 piece.