Aha! Again and Again, Thanks House Beautiful

Aha!  
I seem to be having a lot of those

 "aha moments" lately.
Or maybe I am just noticing them more
since I began my design blog.

In my so far short, but nevertheless exciting,  enlightening, and very enriching design blogging career, I have been having

 "aha moment" after "aha moment".

I just returned from Blogfest 2012 sponsored by Kravet in New York City.  Blogfest was chock full of  "aha moments", but first just a bit of my design blogging history.

I love stories and sharing.

About a year ago, 
after closing my retail store,
 I decided I wanted to start a design blog. 

A vignette in my retail design studio including my custom leafed and marbleized console and
 my custom match boxes.
Oh, and of course BIRDS!

Fabulous architectural fragments like this
 glazed concrete one always give me an "aha moment".

 I researched and planned. 

 I hired a talented graphic designer

 to design my blog template.

 I made copious lists of blog

 topics and ideas.

I scheduled and publicized my launch date.

Only one thing remained . . .

I had to find my voice.

I tried a little of this, and a little of that, but I wasn't happy with what I was writing until . . .

the September 2011 issue of House Beautiful 
arrived in my mailbox and just in time!

AHA! 

I knew how and why and what 
I was going to write.


It all became crystal clear.

I love Barry Dixon's work, I love birds, and I love pink.  The ideas and the words flowed for my inaugural blog post
Birds of a Feather: Barry, Birds, AND Pink. 

A selection of Barry Dixon's fabrics and trims in peaches and PINKS for Vervain

Not only was that House Beautiful cover an  epiphany for the voice, tone, and content of my first blog, it started me on my path of seemingly unending "aha moments".

As a result of my design blogging,
 I have found new clients.

An outdoor room I designed for Gardens of Madison County.
Lots of custom work was included and the homeowner became a client.

I love designing tabletops and partyscapes as well.

The outdoor room included custom cushions and pillows,
custom sconces, a custom mantle, and a custom piece made of salvage over the mantle, as well as custom florals throughout.

I have renewed old and inspirational friendships.

Me with my lifelong friend the uber talented furniture and furnishings
designer John Lyle of John Lyle Design.

John's studio in New York.

John Lyle console and fireplace screen used as an objet
 in the Kips Bay kitchen.

I have travelled to fun and "aha" filled places.

CA'D'ZAN in Sarasota, Florida
The wonderful Venetian Gothic home of John and Mable Ringling
Blog post coming soon!

 I have met wonderful new people. 

Me with my fellow Mississippi Deltan,
 the charming and debonair editor of House Beautiful Newell Turner

I have broadened and enriched my own knowledge 

Gilded view from my friend and fabric designer
Lucy Rose Singh's New York apartment

I completed my first outdoor gilding project.

and my own designs.

I am using more neutrals and blues,
inspired by my friend interior and furniture and objets
designer Nancy Price

A shell encrusted bust from Nancy Price's line for Design Legacy

I look forward to sharing more of my "aha" filled trip to Blogfest 2012 here in the next few weeks, but here is just a peak . . .


AHA!  
I love this decoupage look 
made of antique lady images in
 Alexa Hampton's bedroom at Kips Bay.
This is something I can easily create for clients from antique prints in my collection. 

Alexa Hampton Bedroom at Kip's Bay Showhouse.

AHA!
 I loved Kravet's design studio tour. 
I really want to design fabric.

This hand blocked print from Lee Jofa
 is indeed gorgeous and a true fabric inspiration.

AHA!
I love MINTY green and
 I want to use it in a project soon.

Katie Leede's minty fresh bedroom at the Modern Life Concept House
 sponsored by Elle Decor.
I use green often, but want to incorporate this minty hue soon.

And thank you for that biggest "AHA" of all, House Beautiful, 
the AHA that got me started!

I am thrilled that House Beautiful is now Pinterest enabled.  AHA!

Are you taking time to notice your 
"aha moments"?


I hope you will.

photos: Marilyn Storey with exception of House Beautiful covers

Resolutions: Silver and Gold, Part II

THE MAVEN'S NEW YEAR'S PARTY TIP:

 Place a tray or two of cheeses or pick up hors d'oeuvres on a console or table in a hallway or other unexpected area.  This will help with the flow of the party and
 effectively utilize more of your space.

Happy New Year again,

my silver and gold friends!

More wonderful guests are arriving at our virtual New Year's party and

 bringing delicious design inspiration.

Mary Douglas Drysdale

Designer and Creative Director, Drysdale, Inc.

Washington, DC

http://www.marydrysdale.com/

DESIGN RESOLUTION

Only work with clients who are sincerely interested in achieving interesting work and who do it for the right reasons.

2012 COLOR

Hmmm . . . 

So many delicious colors.

Lipstick Pink?

Or perhaps Federal Green?

Mary Is Toasting In The New Year With

Fiji water with several slices of a fresh cut peach, a handful of raspberries, and a few slices of Mango with several perfect blue berries for color. Squeeze in a half of a lime into a large pitcher let the water and fruit sit in the refrigerator for a hour or more to allow the fruit juices to be absorbed in the water.

Mona Thompson

Designer and Blogger, Providence Ltd, Design

Little Rock, AR

http://www.providenceltddesign.com/

DESIGN RESOLUTION

Get organized.  I used to be much better with this… but our business is growing so fast.  I've been caught off guard.   

2012 COLOR

Benjamin Moore China White...

it's a warm white that pairs beautifully with grays and blues...

Mona Is Toasting In The New Year With

A yummy chocolate martini

 1   (1-oz.) square semisweet chocolate, melted
          3 tablespoons   vanilla-flavored vodka (Absolut Vanilla)
          3 tablespoons   Irish cream liqueur (Bailey's)

          2 tablespoons  half-and-half 

1/3 cup coffe flavord liqueur (Tia Maria)

        1/3 cup  chocolate-flavored liqueur (Godiva is best )

       Dip rims of 2 martini glasses in melted chocolate on a plate to form a thin layer. Place glasses in refrigerator until chocolate is firm.

       Combine vodka and next 4 ingredients in a martini shaker filled with ice. Cover with lid; shake until thoroughly chilled. Remove lid; strain into chocolate-rimmed martini glasses. Serve immediately.

John Lyle

Designer, John Lyle Design

Manhattan, NY

http://www.johnlyledesign.com/



John, his five year old nephew Gates, and a Rat Pack Manhattan.
Gates does NOT want a sip!



The Gates Andirons from John Lyle Design

DESIGN RESOLUTION

I resolve to reach out to more high end design firms and give them a personal touch. 

In the past I have let my showrooms do this for me, but now I find it beneficial to communicate with the designers directly. This way they see the entire scope of what I can do….that is how something truly creative happens.

John aka Louis XIV with Moliere, working out every detail with many designers

2012 COLOR

Blue Green to Dusty Teal

John Is Toasting In The New Year With

The Rat Pack Manhattan,

a Perfect Manhattan with a

Little French Twist

Created in 2000 by Wayne Collins at

 High Holborn, London England.

Forsooth all members of the Rat Pack (apart from Joey Bishop) were dead by that time.  Probably Wayne liked the Rat Pack and named the cocktail after them.  As Simon Difford supposes, originally Wayne used different whiskies to represent each of the Rat Pack crooners.  The wash of Grand Marnier was for Sammy Davis, the wild card of the bunch.

15 ml Grand Marnier (for washing)
45 ml bourbon
20 ml vermouth sweet
20 ml vermouth dry
3 dash Angostura bitters
Coat a chilled cocktail glass with the liqueur and discard. Stir whiskey, vermouths and bitters with a lot of ice. Strain into the prepared glass and garnish with an orange twist and a maraschino cherry.

Gaye Tapp

Designer and Design Blogger, "Little Augury"

North Carolina

http://littleaugury.blogspot.com/

DESIGN RESOLUTION

Resolutions are so tricky. As a rebel at heart I immediately balk at the thought. A design resolution for me personally is to pare down my possessions. Will I? I’ve accumulated so much “stuff” - good stuff- but too much, none the less. 

Bill Blass Interior

The late fashion designer Bill Blass edited his interiors much like he did his fashion collections - to a razor sharp edge. If only I could create a hint of that clarity in my own interiors as the year moves forward. 

Bill Blass Interior

2012 COLOR

I can’t think of a color I’d rather work with or use in my own home than a celestial blue.

 Think Blue Boy by Gainsborough.

In all shades, it dominates my wardrobe.  As to specifics, Pantone’s Blue Moon or Turkish Sea both do very nicely, paired with soft champagne – like this Monique Lhuillier gown- it is blue heaven.



http://moniquelhuillier.com/



Gaye Is Toasting In The New Year With

A drink of choice for toasting this year will be a hot toddy, but I’ll likely celebrate by sleeping in the New Year.

My hot toddy recipe is from Bon Appetit.

    2 tablespoons honey

    1 cup hot water

    6 tablespoons bourbon or Apple Bourbon

    2 3x1/2" strips lemon peel

    2 cinnamon sticks

Preparations for the toddy are at

 http://www.bonappetit.com/recipes/2011/12/honey-bourbon-toddy

Irene Turner

Designer, Irene Turner at hOMe 

Interior Design Blogger, 

Irene Turner "Little Bits of Beauty" 

Sonoma County, CA

http://www.ireneturner.com/

DESIGN RESOLUTION

My design resolution is to update my video process for my blog,

and to finish my book on Reflective Living! 

2012 COLOR

 My color choice for 2012 is teal.

It DOES pair quite well with tangerine tango from Pantone.

Irene Is Toasting In The New Year With

I love to toast in the NY with my husband and a bottle of Iron Horse Wedding Cuvee...Iron Horse is a local winery with fabulous wines, both sparkly and still.

Cheers until tomorrow, dear silver and gold!