A few weeks ago Eric and I travelled up to one of our favorite towns in California, Paso Robles for some weekend wine tasting with our good friends Bob and Lee Ann from the Decorative Concrete Institute. They had been teaching that week in Santa Barbara and “wino weekend” was the perfect add-on, along with their associate Mark and his darling wife Debbie.

It just so happens that another friend Paul is the winemaker for two great Paso wineries, San Marcos Creek and Hearthstone and we got to go into the storage area at the wine-making facility at Denner Vineyards to taste about 8 different variatels from Hearthstone’s 07 harvest. Although all were delicious, we are all eagerly awaiting the bottling of the fabulous Zin!

The weather was a little chilly, putting the kabosh on our picnicing plans but our hearts and tummies were warm with fun friendships and good times!

Besides red wine, Bob and LeeAnn are also very much into riding their Harleys and they have a very special cross-country trip planned beginning June 8 to help raise money for Breast Cancer research. Their goal is to raise 10K and you can find out more about contributing to this special cause right here! 

Well, yet another year has come where I have skipped the egg dying ritual, BUT I HAVE been looking today at Pysanky egg decorating sites. What an amazing and detailed, classic artform that uses a wax resist and layering method with the dyes. It is actually similar to some of the finishes I do on walls and wood-but without this amazing detail. This is my favorite one, featuring the award-winning art of Patty Wiszuk-de Angelo.

Enjoy a special day!

OK, so I’m a little late to the “I Love Kelly too” party. She’s highly admired by every self-respecting design afficianado and mentioned repeatedly on design blogs everywhere. It wasn’t until I wrote this post, that I ordered her books, though, and now I’m head over heels and desperately seeking a room to decorate in orange and black or somthing.

So much so that I ordered the limited-run version of Domicilium Decoratus. I am the proud owner of number 3,142 of 5,000, thank you very much. This is the exact book “I” would do-if I had her looks, her taste, her talent, her checkbook! Modern Glamour, from 2004, is equally inspiring. Even the writing. I barely read CAPTIONS in most of the design books I own, but I read this cover to cover. Selected photos above. More books in the works. Sign me up!

As I was driving into work yesterday I saw an elderly couple out for their daily walk. They were holding hands in that obviously easy intimate and tender way that couples who have lived through most of their lives together seem to always do. Obviously ”in love” older couples always seem to bring my emotions to the surface. To me, they symbolize acceptance, perserverance, unselfishness, devotion, commitment, and the power of enduring love. Happy Valentines Day!

Blogs are delicate little creatures. They need to be nutured, cared for, coddled, sheperded, caressed and attended to. The truth is, they are high maintenance and they are a lot of work! Like children. If this were real life this blog would be removed for protective custody and I would be jailed for abandonment. Phew! It’s just a blog. But a lovely one and one worth some attention! I have been busy showing favor to my other blog Designamour while this one has languished, but there is a buzz in the air and projects in the works that need to be shared and this is the place to do that!

After a couple of false starts, there is a NEW Art of Living project to be announced. I am not actually here to announce it. I am just here to provide enough information to pique your interest and leave you hanging. Insidious isn’t it?

I can say this. Barb has been working hard to develop this project for us:

• In her current hometown of Greensboro/High Point, NC
• It will be in an “urban” setting (as much as Greensboro allows)
• We will be teaching and designing the spaces with contemporary finishes and yummy textured pattern

Barb is greatly inspired by Kelly Hoppen

My taste leans more towards Kelly Wearstler 

Plus, I would REALLY like to look like THAT in that dress. Is this a reality show in the making? Lord, I hope NOT!

Whenever I am in New York, which isn’t often enough, I try to carve out a few hours to wander the floors of ABC Carpet&Home. It is THE COOLEST place-the building, the location, the smells, the sights, the feel of the fabrics, furniture, accessories. A total sensory experience. LOVE it! When I saw a page in the Sept. House Beautiful mag this morning featurinig a stack of floor pillows make from sumptious sari silks I hit the website almost immediately for a digital shopping experience. Here’s just a sampling of what can be found if you let your fingers do the walking (over your keyboard, that is).

When looking through magazines I seem to be drawn to the ads more than the articles, as the photos and colors are generally dramatic and I enjoy looking at good graphic design. One such ad that I tore out recently was for a company called Natori. They produce beautiful lingerie, clothing and bedding with a lot of embroidered detailing on silk. Now another design magazine I actually READ recently was discussing a debate amongst deisgners on whether beds should have throw pillows on them. The majority said “no”, but when you see beautifully coordinated ensembles such as these, how can you resist?

Personally I’m committed to having a useless collection of pillows on my bed, even though they just get tossed on the floor each night only to be dutifully arranged again in the morning. I just like the whole design aspect of combining patterns and trims and what better place or opportunity to employ that?

They also have some really pretty clothing and it’s always interesting to read the bio of a woman who left corporate succcess to pursue her heart and passion. Click the Profile link on the site to access that. Darn flash sites are cool but limit linking abilities….

  Yummy colors and exotic patterns abound at this website that Lauren in our office found. Papaya has great designs on cards, magnets, journals and art prints.

My favorites are these pretty calendars. Is it really almost 2008 already??

Inspiration saturation! While doing some online research about Jali designs for a post on the designamour website, I came across this website, Paperblanks, that offers amazingly beautiful blank journals, daily planners and address books. Their philosophy is to “combine conscientious bookmaking, elegant designs and careful handwork to produce some of the finest blank journals available.”

Just look at these pretties!! It’s enough to make me want to buy one and fill it with deep thoughts and love poems-or even just lay in on a side table as a pretty accent. Isn’t Christmas just around the corner?

Well I am happy to say that my son Dan has safely completed his cross country bike trip with Bike and Build-raising money and helping to build houses for low income families along the way. He was capping off his journey by cooking on the beach in Canon Beach, OR for 60 or so. Ah, the amazing energy of youth.

His grandmother (Mom to me) flew up to Portland a couple of days ago and met the gang and treated them to root beer floats. This was after a century ride (100 miles over mountains) so that went over, I mean down, really well. Congratulations Dan on a fantastic journey. We love you!