Thursday, October 30, 2008

the sale at Mary's house will be moved to next week due to Halloween
see entry below if you do not know what I am talking about

Wilton, Connecticut


Home of estate/tag sale/flea market treasure hunter and maven 
Mary T 


Mary scours all sorts of sales all year long to gather items for 
her famous tent sales that she organizes once or twice a year.

Mary's sale starts on Friday, Oct 31st
Location:  123 Hurlbutt Street, Wilton, CT
9:30 - 3 ish 
The sale will be continued next week
Hours to be determined

You can find terrific smalls, lamps or furniture

an artfully arranged group of decorative tins

I just love all of these tins and really wanted to buy one or two, 
but I am running out of space.
Collections have a way of growing before you even realize you are collecting.
I already have a tin like the ones pictured above.  
Mine has images of greek heroines around its angled sides.
 

Look at the cute green dachshund 
on the top shelf of the rod iron plant stand above.
In its prior life the dachshund sported the street number of a house.
Imagine what how great it would look in a hallway as a 
key board or leash holder


Not only does Mary have a great eye for finding treasures,
but she has a great design sense too.
Her staging for her tent sales is wonderful.
My pictures do not capture her talent.

Her work has been showcased in two magazine articles,
one in Connecticut Cottages & Gardens a couple of years ago

and 

 in the current issue of House Beautiful Christmas Ideas
(pictured above)
my favorite color green

I did find one treasure:
a handsome blue pitcher to add to my collection.

If you live in the vicinity, stop by, you will be glad you did.

Wilton is 60 miles from NYC
A nice day trip 
jump in the car with a friend
explore
find a treasure
grab a sandwich
we have a great new french eatery in town
Bon Appetit
(the croque monsiour is devine!)
fast and delicious

Tell Mary that Marnie sent you!

more on Mary's magazine articles in a later post...

Tuesday, October 28, 2008


Working away in the studio 
still busy as a bee

the weather will soon be 
chilly
I will need tea and my mini heater and will unroll
 the fleece curtain over the window to block the cold wind from the north.
 A new addition this season
 will be my fingerless gloves


My daughter says I look like I stepped out of Oliver Twist or La Bohème.
I also wear a fleece pull-over with a fleece vest
remember, the studio is in the garage!

Books on tape or NPR complete the setting.
Currently listening to The Years by Virginia Wolff
and enjoying it very much.


Other books I have listened to while working this autumn:
The Great Fire 
by Shirley Hazzard
set at the end of 
WWII in the far east
written from a male perspective
history and a little love story - perfect


The Tipping Point 
by Malcolm Gladwell
fascinating
how little things tip and become big things


I love to cook and enjoyed this book
about Julia Child and her husband and their life together in France.
I was disappointed when I discovered that the audio version was abridged.
I listened anyway.
I have the book on my library shelf waiting for the long cold winter.

I have listened to two other books this season
Martha's Rules
informative
with a great story about the creator of purlsoho, 
the wonderful yarn and fabric store in soho, of course.
Joelle Hoverson started out at Martha Stewart Living.

And I listened to a chic lit story by Jane Green for something light.
It was set in a Connecticut town, modeled after a town not too far away.  

Sunday, October 26, 2008

a room with a view
the studio aka garage
getting ready for the season...

the leaves are turning and falling
you can see the bright colors through the window
luckily I haven't had to rake yet
left that to d.h. last weekend

the trunk shows and boutiques are fast approaching... 
...first one is this week

IF YOU LIVE ANYWHERE NEAR 
WESTON, MASSACHUSETTS
STOP BY AND SAY HELLO

HERE IS THE INVITE
looks like I am taking a snooze - spent 6 hours toiling away in the studio on Sunday
here is a better picture, even if I blinked as the shutter clicked 

Saturday, October 25, 2008


Sign of the Times
in Darien, Connecticut
sorry for the poor image
shop name:  Pink & Green

hmmmmm.... see below 
in case you cannot read:
So What Your Husband Says no Shopping
20% off

Friday, October 24, 2008


I am not sure where I found this.
It has been in my blogfodder file for awhile.
Enjoy the weekend.

Tuesday, October 21, 2008


Lovely cover - looks like a perfect book for me.
Written by jane brocket,
who also writes a wonderful blog called yarnstorm  

back cover - just as pretty

yummy close-up


The photo above was a runner-up cover for the American edition.
Both covers were created by graphic designer, Allisa Faden.
Which cover do you like best?

photos courtesy of purlsoho and Melanie Falick

Monday, October 20, 2008


CONGRATULATIONS
TRICIA & CHARLOTTE
WINNERS OF COUNTRY LIVING'S 
PITCH YOUR PRODUCT 

Country Living Magazine
November issue, page 88
Tricia Lowenfield top right
Charlotte Smith bottom right

Many  long-time readers will remember
that the Women Entrepreneurs Event was the catalyst 
for the creation of this blog.
(yes, I realize that the blog is not that old, only eight months, 
but it seems like a long time to me).
I was selected as one of 75 or so entrepreneurs
to pitch my product to editors of Country Living magazine.
I met Charlotte and Tricia at the event
and featured them in my early blogs posts.
Cheers to you both - well done.
Hope sales are great as a result of all this press, even in this dismal economy.

Friday, October 17, 2008


GIRLS IN THE WINDOWS
by Ormond Gigli
photographed in 1960
read more about it here

CLOSE - UP

a fun take on window shopping

As seen on
September 26, 2008


Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Christie's catalogue
via Paris Breakfasts on 8 October 2008

just like the memento boards
beautiful trompe l'oeil console
also from Christies
via Paris Breakfasts

Monday, October 13, 2008

Custom memento board
in situ
It looks great on the delicious chocolate wall.
Thanks again Pam for the order.

Saturday, October 11, 2008


I saw this on swissmiss and loved it.
Coat tree wall sticker, Ferm Living via nesting

Thursday, October 9, 2008


Just finished several custom memento boards
for a terrific repeat customer/friend.
Thanks Pam.
What is notable is that I made this
 memento board about 10 years ago,
and I was asked to remake it to match the renovated kitchen. 
here is the before version
large size 42" x 42"

Deconstructed and reconstructed
to the after version.
Hard to see the definition of the faux bois fabric:
maple with brown suede ribbon, but trust me, it is very cool.

You can see the detail in the frames below.

The board will hang on chocolate brown walls.  Delish.
I will post an in situ picture later.
Second part of the order was two "green/brown" boards
constructed from the recycled burlap bags with marlin twine.
Remember the post inspired by Earth Day.

Fair Trade  
Sustainable Harvest
one side of the sack
size 32" x 22"
the other side of the sack
32 x 22

I found coffee beans in the bottom of the sack.
The real deal. 
The coffee fragrance was delicous.

Tuesday, October 7, 2008


Ready for the debate tonight?
I am .
I am ready for OBAMA to CRUSH McCain.


Isn't about time that America moved forward.
Just look at the photograph below.

A friend of my husband's took this photograph two days ago
on Mickle Hill Road in Warren County, Pennsylvania.
Feel free to forward.




how about this for a fridge magnet
as seen on Georgina Manghi
find it on etsy

Monday, October 6, 2008

Many of my friends walked in the 
Avon Breast Cancer Walk in New York City this past weekend
to raise funds for research and to build more awareness.

Another way you can help is to learn about 
Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation.
She says:
 "the key to ending breast cancer is to learn how to stop it before it starts."

You can volunteer with the army of women right by clicking here

think pink
hit the link

Wednesday, October 1, 2008




click on pink and find all sorts of pink blogs
October 
Breast cancer awareness month
I attended a breast cancer fundraiser recently where
10 women from this small circle of friends and acquaintances
 have been treated for breast cancer.
Are you a woman?
Have you had your mammogram this year?