While in Georgetown yesterday, I came across these 2 rather unusual cars stuck in traffic; SHOES!! I guess you call that foot traffic? I hope you are having a great weekend!
Showing posts with label just for fun. Show all posts
Showing posts with label just for fun. Show all posts
While in Georgetown yesterday, I came across these 2 rather unusual cars stuck in traffic; SHOES!! I guess you call that foot traffic? I hope you are having a great weekend!
Where do you stand on playing with architecture; Akin to playing with fire? I don't mean quite the level of playfulness of Disney, but more like this little townhouse I came across in San Francisco.
A plain white stucco house but with some amazingly FUN grillwork; I love the use of color and playful shapes here. You know whoever lives here is definitely a character (in a good way!). Even these little dormers above the door, which I doubt are functional as they're so small, bring a lot of personality to the house. 
Playing with architecture has a fruitful history. Across the street from this very house is an example: Egyptian Revival, probably from the early 1920s. Don't tell me they weren't being playful! If you can't be playful with your own house, where can you?
Many thanks to the Midwest Bonsai Society for choosing a photograph (with permission) from my post on the National Bonsai Museum back in April. It was so exciting for me to see this photograph in use! Who said blogging wasn't fun......If you're in the Chicago area, stop by to see the 33rd annual exhibit at the Chicago Botanic Garden later this month, August 20-22nd.
In the recent NYT magazine, did you notice the little piece on Ji Lee's parallel worlds? The very talented graduate of Parsons is currently the creative director of the google lab but his other passion is the 'empty' space all around us.
You know what I mean by that? Well -the pictures probably make it pretty clear -but ceilings and backs of business cards are 2 things he mentioned in the article. He sees these areas in our modern world as yet another great place to express yourself. 
In one of these miniature rooms for instance, he has placed a tiny guitar and Jimi Hendrix posters to express the inner rockstar of the client. What a charming idea, don't you think? The idea of anything in miniature generally will gain my support: so cute!
His idea of this parallel universe going on amongst our daily lives is also a pretty interesting one. Remember the children's book, the borrowers, by Mary Norton: Tiny little people stealing small items from us all and living their lives behind our very walls? That notion always intrigued me. If not behind our walls, why not on our blank white gypsum board ceilings which no one seems to notice in our modern age.
I remember years ago seeing an article about an older woman who collected miniatures (or doll house furniture, whichever you prefer to call it) and arranged rooms on her bookshelves in her living room: LOVE that idea. I think we all like to play god on some level and be the master of a smaller universe. Why not take after Ji Lee and place them on your ceiling?
All photos from BOOOOOOOOM
I decided last minute to stay in town and because of the hot weather have been nesting. Lilies from the Dupont farmers market.
Yesterday Catherine from The Shiny Pebble tagged me in her Bag tagging post. I feel so guilty that over the past 3 years (and change!) I have been tagged quite a bit and have never played along; Bad blogger! I thought it might be interesting to compare my workbag to a woman's purse as all of the other nominees were ladies. However -my messenger bag is basically a 'manbag' as you can see - so purselike it's embarrassing! Lets dig through this mess, shall we? Don't judge!
-Reading materials for the bus - check! Vanity Fair and Veranda today.-Sketchpad (courtesy of Little Augury) and drawing pens.
-Ipod, flashdrive and camera (obviously not pictured) with associated cords
-Wallet and keys. Yes -my keychain is a measuring tape, I am an architect after all!
-Library card, work access card, extra business and blogging cards and a random coupon.
-2 burts bees chapsticks (I'm addicted to these but still not sure why I have 2), powder paper (to 'clean' my face if i'm going somewhere after work), gum, random old allergy medication tablets, a mint and some hand lotion stolen from a hotel (don't make fun -I get VERY dry skin in the winter - ouch!).
-Ordinarily I carry lunch and a snack to work and papers and drawing sets home as needed. Neither of these were in my bag at the time so they're not pictured!
The bag is a hard canvas messenger bag with leather trim by Jack Georges which I love and always get compliments on! Simple, practical but still attractive; I've been using it for about 3 years now. Thanks Catherine for thinking of me! On with our regularly scheduled programming tomorrow.
Since everyone seemed to enjoy my dinner party post last week, I decided to photograph breakfast this past weekend to include in this week's Tabletop Thursday!
Bacon and eggs (fried and runny), wheat toast, english breakfast tea with milk and OJ were on the menu. While the bacon fried (and then eggs done in the same pan afterwards), I took a few pictures. Daisies were snipped from a larger bunch ($4 at trader joes) elsewhere in my apartment and put into a bud vase to brighten up the winter gloom. Daisies are the most cheerful flower in my opinion and really last a long time (up to 2 weeks if you change the water frequently!).
The china is Harebell by Radford Fenton (made in England) and from the 1930s is my best guess. The linens are all from potterybarn and I liked how the green napkin brought out the green in the plates. The teapot is the one I use everyday, Martha for Macys, the juice glass is italian glassware from TJmaxx and the creamer is antique crystal from my great-grandmother: just typical old victorian glass. 
NPR was on and featured the listener's favorite top 10 soprano solos which was a wonderful backdrop. Renee Fleming singing o mio babino caro by Puccini was #1. I hope you are all finding ways to brighten up your winter as well!
This past weekend I had a few friends over for dinner and they were nice enough to let me interrupt the party to photograph the table settings for the weekly Tablescape Thursdays!
I took the first picture before plating the salad course - caprese salad with a nice rose wine.
Plates are Decre Freres, Theodore Haviland Limoges, silver is freshly polished Prelude for International Silver, crystal is Waterford. Alabaster table lamp is a touch that makes it feel like an old supper club to me (from restoration hardware) and candlesticks are venetian glass from Aero in NY. I didn't get any flowers because they seem a bit much for a casual winter dinner.
For the entree course, I used my favorite cuckoo pattern dinner plates from Wedgwood. S&P shaker are mother of pearl from pottery barn. Napkins are antique irish linen from ebay (the best Christmas gift ever!). 
Here is what we had (ignore the lamp cord!) - roast beef with carrots, potatoes and celery -a hearty winter meal on a snowy day. 
For dessert (lemon pound cake with fresh whipped cream) I used the bread plates for Wedgwood 'Cuckoo', the small coffee service is antique Austrian by Ernst Wahliss, the teacups are antique Minton and the sugarbowl is cobalt jasperware by Wedgwood.
Just a close up. After all of the wine we needed some sparkling water!
The tea (violet from Laduree) was served on my sideboard from my wedgwood 'cuckoo' teapot. The sterling tea strainer was NOT fun to polish after a few years of not being used! Crystal candlesticks I brought back from my trip to Paris in the fall.
Thanks for bringing the champagne! Champagne flutes by Baccarat.
The evening had some ups and downs -the foil from the champagne gave me a nasty cut which would NOT stop bleeding! The rest of the rose was the best medicine......
I love simple meals like this with very little mess (especially in a tiny apt). The huge roast beef (which i'll be eating for a week!) was accompanied by roasted carrots, celery and potatoes cooked with butter, garlic and sage. I LOVE the pattern on my potholders -the chickens always make me smile (from william sonoma)! 
I hope you enjoyed the meal as much as we did! 
I'm loving this image from the kitchen of Safia Bendali, as captured by Marie-Pierre Morel for the Oct. 2009 issue of Elle Decoration. Her collection of beautiful china (i spy wedgwood jasperware!) is elegantly housed alongside of cookbooks in a practical but beautiful storage application. If I could only have shelves like that! The table from Astier de Villatte is unusual and I'm not sure what I feel about it -what do you think? Too bulky or just right? I can't help but think it looks like a flat topped pool table!
The sad news is that my old camera (2002 canon powershot sds) finally died yesterday and I'm in the market for a new one. The good news is that I get to take advantage of updated technologies, mainly size! My old camera was small for the time (basically pocketsize) and has performed really well, but as the years progressed smaller versions were being released. As I like to carry my camera around with me all the time, size is so important -it must fit in my pocket! 
I'm thinking of replacing it with the same model, unless anyone has any other suggestions, the Canon PowerShot SD780 IS. Is anyone familiar with this version of camera?
It also comes in 4 colors and I'm having a difficult time deciding which I want to go with . I value your opinion: what color would you chose? Silver, black, red or gold? I'm leaning towards gold (shown)..... and shying away from red which I feel is a target when traveling. Thoughts?
After all of the hoopla from the weatherman, my area of NC only saw the liquid version of precipitation. (And I say this with the utmost empathy and respect for my friends, in northern parts, who experienced blizzard conditions.) I just can’t help it - there is something about a little dusting of the crystalline white stuff which sends my heart aflutter at the holidays.
You can imagine, then, when I trekked a little further up I-77, to one of my favorite shopping spots and witnessed this vision as I walked to the front porch . . . . well, be still my heart . . . a snow sighting!!!
A photo taken outside of Farmhouse Gardeners, located in Statesville, NC. They are really worth the visit - not only for garden items, but they have a lovely shop full of interior accents, antiques & gifts. Fabulous customer care & my purchases were wrapped for me!
A friendly snowman even greeted my husband and me with open arms!
This was one of those last minute side trips. I had to deliver some pillows and florals to a client, at Lake Norman, while we were also heading to visit with my husband’s family, in the same area. As we got a little closer, I mentioned making the “loop” to this favorite shop. Off we went, with our dachshunds in tow, presents packed up, and in a red Ford Explorer. The furry bell collars, which our boys were tolerating so nicely, jingled in unison whenever we hit a bump in the road. While I shopped for a few extra gifts, (and in peaceful surroundings, minus the mall madness), I enjoyed being in the present . . . a true gift to my husband and myself.
As we get closer to the New Year, I’m sure my topics will veer back to the world of interior design. For now, I’m giving myself the gift of enjoying these moments and I hope, in some way, they will be a gift to you.
Merry Christmas to everyone and thank you for sharing your visits with me! Wanda
In a previous post, I shared with you my love for Surcies, and so many of you enjoyed learning about this whimsical phrase for “an unexpected surprise”. In fact, a few of you shared fun factoids about the origin of the word. There is a thought it came from the French - “un souci” – to worry or to care. In other words, like the old Hallmark commercial, “You care enough to send the very best”. Toss in a little southern accent, from the South Carolina low country, and you’ve got a phrase to share, along with a charmin’ anecdote!
As promised, I’m going to share a few more Surcies before the challenge of time has me off and running in further preparation for family Christmas visits. I’ve got a few more of my own gifts to gather and wrap!
Even if the weather outside is frightful, these rain boots from Dylan’s Candy Bar, NYC, would make you want to tromp through rain, sleet and snow!
Are you thinking, “How on earth could ice cream be a Surcie wish list item?” Take a closer look, it’s really a sugar scrub with extra goodies to soften tired winter skin. Also from Dylan’s Candy Bar, NYC.
For the sophisticate in your life - From Etsy – JaLasChic – Pearly Petal Earrings. (You won’t believe the price!) Last day to order is the December 18th for Christmas delivery!
For the members of your coffee club – this ornament from Sur La Table would be the perfect exchange for a cup of espresso.
Even if the recipient of these measuring spoons isn’t a a huge fan of baking, they’ll be tempted to pull these out and channel their inner kitchen goddess. Anthropologie
My favorite present of all? True quality time with family and friends . . . all wrapped up in a big hug!
Sending special Surcie wishes your way! - Wanda
Flickr Tags: Surcies,Dylan's Candy Bar,Anthropology,Sur La Table,Etsy,Interior Concepts by Wanda,Interior Design,Charlotte Interior Design
The first time I heard this term used, I was in the city of Charleston, South Carolina. It’s hard to say the exact origin of the word, but loosely translated, it means: “An unexpected gift or nice little treat.”
Today, upon finishing up a client’s project with my friend and floral designer, Bryan, he said, “Before you go, I have a little surcie for you.”, and he produced a sweet bundle of large cinnamon sticks for me to place in my kitchen for the holidays. Earlier in the week, I received a surprise package from my special Twitter friend, Leslie. It is was a lovely book, filled with sumptuous photos of Christmas decorating! In both cases, I had absolutely no idea or expectation of receiving either of these delightful treats.
(Even my surcie, from Leslie, was full of ideas for more surcies!)
As in all gifts, (surcies especially included), it truly is about the thought counting. While these treasures were very pleasing to have and to hold, the idea of being remembered and the sweet caring, which was included, warmed my heart, added a smile and that’s what a surcie is all about!
Here are some Christmas Surcie ideas for you to share:
This little beeswax spiral candle, from Plow and Hearth, burns for up to 80 hours. (That’s longer than my new cell phone holds its charge!)
A cup of Christmas cheer can arrive from the folks at Tea Forte.
I am a huge fan of Ree Drummond – aka – The Pioneer Woman. Her blogs are full of home-spun humor, even though she is a city girl who married a rancher. Aside from being a “super-blogger”, she has some great recipes and I have to say, this would be a “superior surcie” to receive. (Not hinting too much, am I?)
All you have to do is close your eyes and this Thymes candle will transport you. Can you hear the rustling of the tree branches as the scent of fir wafts by?
To be continued . . . .
Cheer-filled wishes for life’s little surprises! Wanda
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)