with all the Christmas preparations in the studio and at home

and all the end of year work at the office

i completely

forgot...

about

Maira Kalman's blog post last week

heavens to morgatroyd

but it the latest installment has been postponed to New Year's Day

PHEW!

Remember these fortune tellers?

I loved making these when i was a girl.

I watched a you-tube video so I could remember how to make them.

I think this would be a fun activity for New Year's eve.

I tried to load the video

but it didn't work

so click on the link above if you don't remember.

As I wrap up my 2009 season,

I would like to acknowledge an important cog in the wheel:

David Lynch of Wilton Woodworking.

David has been cutting my boards and frames for 10 years...

He easy going and reliable.

David's woodworking talents are extraordinary.

The music in the shop reminds me of my college days.

I keep promising him that I will have a

real woodworking project

for him some day.

If you need some woodworking

call this woodworker extraordinaire

Wilton Woodworking 203-762-7999

Wilton, Connecticut

Thanks David

Merry Christmas

photo from Completely Coastal

The wind came roaring down from the north

and the snow flew.

It looks so beautiful now.

Nothing better than a white Christmas.

Christmas greetings from my house to yours.

I have been so busy that I did not get my decorations up until last Saturday.

I knew I had to rush before the storm.

Phew.

This is the kind of business I love to support; a business that gives back. The founder is an artist and an educator. All her knitters are from Peru. Read more here. It is a wonderful story of building a business an helping others.

mollygoggles was at the recent Church of the Redeemer Christmas Market in Chestnut Hill. I was there too and could not resist the beautiful scarf below.

I love my new blue scarf and I have been wearing it every day. It has been very cold in my neck of the woods and we just got a lot of snow. It looks beautiful.

Finally finished my last order and just in the nick of time.

I felt like an elf in the workshop.

Here are some happy helpers (miss is and dh).

This order made me smile as I worked.

A young girl I know will find this 24" x 48" memento board

under the tree on Christmas morning.

It was designed to display her horse show ribbons.

She will be able to hang the ribbons from any square.

No more help from Mama to arrange the ribbons.

I hope to get a photo in situ after Christmas.

Another view to give you some perspective.

Then I began my own orders

of bon-bon tea cakes,

my signature cookie,

to be sent to lots of people I know.

Another custom order...

This one made from Vineyard Vines silk fabric.

A bride and groom ordered custom VV fabric for wedding ties and tote bags for their wedding party.

The pattern is a series of arrows with names of all the places the bride and groom have lived...or something like that.

I made a memento board and before I had time to blink, there was more fabric in my mailbox for a frame. I rushed to get the board done overnight and forgot to take a picture. In the middle of the mad rush, the power in the house went out for 1.5 hours - oh my gosh - what a night - I worked by candlelight! Just like the olden days.

jar of goodies

do you remember the magical thinking jar from my February 2009 post?

click here

the idea came from inchmark

here is another version called:

moments in a jar - click here to see the interactive feature -

it is fun

saw it this morning via swissmiss

which was named one of the best design blogs

by the Times - UK

hooray for #14

i love swissmiss!

more goodies

Orders, orders

and more orders.

Just when I think I am done,

I get another;

not that I am complaining.

The ladies who ordered these frames are really organized!

Check out the graduation dates.

The plaid frames are made from little jumpers;

cut-up school uniforms that the twins outgrew.

It should be a fun present in 2017.

If I ordered something so far ahead, I might not find it again.

I guess you need an old fashioned hope chest.

This lady might have better luck finding this one -

since graduation is only 2.5 years away.

Here is a good article from the New York Times - click here - about reading and life's distractions...the first few paragraphs are spot on...i am always saying: gotta go read that book...but in reality, I will not have time for a book until well into January...then the long-awaited hibernation... mrr design takes a long winter nap... to recharge the batteries...wish i could turn off a few other obligations...

illustration from NYT

Stylebeat reported yesterday that Pantone declared turquoise will be THE color of 2010.

Looking back at my 2009 autumn and 2009 spring line sheets - the turquoise JUMPS off the page - look at the selection below - turquoise was definitely HOT for mrrdesign in 2009 -

oh my gosh is there a pea under there princess?

couldn't resist posting this pic

Tim Walker Photography as seen on

india knight's posterous

I have seen his work before,

in fact, I posted about his work and his recent book here

This photo takes the chandelier in the tree to a whole new level.

Click here to see my tree chandelier post

And I certainly don't have a 'look' -- just a mishmash of everything that somehow, by instinct, usually turns out to be a warm imaginative, 'living room'."
Sister Parish

I think I will enjoy this recently published book...hint, hint, double-clue.

So I did a little research and learned that book events were scheduled in my neck of the woods.

I could not attend the book event, but I discovered a new store called NEST in Dedham, Massachusetts.

So I jumped over to NEST's website, read a bit, then decided to pitch my frames to the five co-owners, thinking, if the owners like Sister Parish's style enough to have a book event, then they just might like my work, which embodies so many of the same characteristics as Sister Parish style: colorful, fun, unique, and handmade.

My instincts were spot on - I just sent an order of brown zebra frames and brown suede desktop memento boards.

If you live in the area, stop by Nest - the photos on the website show a wonderful assortment of goods. I wanted to stop by for a visit after my show last weekend but it was just too busy.

And to top it all off, my neighbor at the show last weekend, Church of the Redeemer Christmas Market, heard me giving my spiel to a potential buyer about how wonderful the frames are..."so easy to change the picture...just slip the photo in between the fabric and ribbon... the frames are in lots of fabulous boutiques... including NEST" - and low and behold, this gal's cousin is one of the co-owners of the store. Just goes to prove the old adage, the older we get, the smaller our world becomes. This same gal and I also went to high school together - imagine that - I ran into a lot of people at the Church of the Redeemer Christmas Market - it was wonderful to see old friends and to be back in the Boston area...

google alerts

are a good way to learn what people are saying about you.

I just received a terrific alert:

all the way from a college student in Georgia,

who actually worked with my daughter in a local Connecticut ice cream shop

and knew nothing about my blog.

She happened by my blog by accident.

I would like to think it was a case of serendipity.

so thanks Claudine for the sweet post.

Crazy Claude

has lots of recommendations for other blog reading

Why the slinky?

It was invented through serendipity.

"The Slinky was invented by US Navy engineer Richard T. James after he accidentally knocked a torsion spring off his work table and observed its unique motion."

from Wikipedia

HAVE YOU HEARD ABOUT POP-UP STORES?

It is the latest entrepreneurial wave in retail.

The press has reported on many NYC POP UP stores

aka

GORILLA BOUTIQUES.

Here this month, gone next month.

Last year these two clever gals and entrepreneurs

noticed one empty storefront after another in Wellesley, Massachusetts.

They missed the fun, specialty stores.

So Pam Lofblad, above, and Jana Peretti, below, took a leap and created

a POP UP store last May.

It was such a success they have opened another

for the holiday shopping season

in downtown Wellesley.

Check out the link above.

You will find my frames there now too!

After a successful show in Chestnut Hill

and a nice weekend visiting family in Wellesley

I popped into the POP UP store to see if they needed any more merchandise.

And they did!!

The store was buzzing with activity - lots of great products

and each week the guest artists change, so keep going back.

Today, a group of carolers came to sing when I was there.

Wonderful.

And there was a snow storm on Saturday night.

Sunday was beautiful with the fresh snow and brilliant blue, sunny skies.

I forgot my camera this weekend so no photos to share.

I did a little research and discovered that one of the earliest POP UPs was in San Francisco in 2003: LOCAL PATRON. Since then, lots of stores appeared and disappeared quickly in NYC, with the idea of generating buzz and excitement. It is also a way for local artists to display their work and for the local community to support the artists and entrepreneurs.

Here is how Pam and Jana describe their POP UP PLACE:

A Unique Boutique

What makes the Wellesley Holiday Boutique so special is our fabulous product lines and our amazing guest artists and designers. Every week we host different artists with exciting new merchandise... it's like a whole new store every week. Be sure to stop by often as you'll see something new every visit!

Support your local artists and become a LOCAL PATRON

sis boom show goes thru today

check out headboard created by mrr design

behind the sweet little girl

lots more to see at the show

The location of the show is
40 East Meadow Road
Wilton, Connecticut 06897
(203) 761-0442
Get Directions to the Show!
See you there!

The Art of the Wreath

cock a doodle doo

charming minutiae

knit by Char of the Knit Wits

with help from other knit wits

(except me)

duck duck goose

this little piggy ...

a favorite pony

little sheep before they are shorn

head butt

garden patch - kale and corn

All together these delicious minutiae

make a wonderful and charming wreath.

And it makes me smile ear to ear.

Well Done Char and all the other ladies.

The wreath will be donated to Ambler Farm, Wilton Connecticut

and

it will be auctioned off to the highest, lucky bidder

at The ART OF THE WREATH on December 4th, at Ambler Farm.

Get out those paddles and raise 'em high!

All to support one of my favorite places in town.

Here is last year's wreath made and donated by the Knit Wits

I am excited; I just got the ok to participate in this show.

Last minute room for a newcomer!

Stop by if you are in this neck of the woods

lots of great items for sale.

Buy a tree or a wreath or just get into the spirit of the season.

I am burning the midnight oil these days

and the candle at both ends.

(sorry for the weird formatting -

I cut &pasted and cannot make it look better)

Christmas Market December 4th, 10 am - 5 pm December 5th, 10am - 4 pm $1 admission a bargain and all these great vendors - come check it out CHURCH OF THE REDEEMER CHRISTMAS MARKET 2009 379 HAMMOND STREET CHESTNUT HILL, MA FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4TH 10:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 5TH 10:00 A.M. - 4:00 P.M. LUNCH 11:30 A.M. - 1:30 P.M. B DESIGNS – Elegant letterpress printed stationery and gifts BALBIANELLO, INC. –Luxurious apparel of the finest natural fibers for men and women BOOK AND TACKLE SHOP – Rare and out of print books CATCH ALL – Unique linens for bed, bath and tabletop, personalized accessories CIRCA DESIGN – Innovative and contemporary natural stone jewelry with a classical persona DEAN’S SWEETS – Extraordinary Maine-made hand-dipped dark chocolate truffles DEDE CADIEUX DESIGNS – Freshwater pearl and semiprecious stone jewelry DESIGNS BY LILLIE – Needlepoint shoes, pillows and more DISCOVERY TOYS – Award winning educational and fun quality toys GALATEA FINE JEWELRY – Fine and fun jewelry and accessories GIGI AND ME – Unique jewelry, accessories and gifts HENLEY AND SLOANE SHIRTMAKERS – Classic, English style shirts, ties and accessories ISABEL HARVEY– Fun, chic and trendy jewelry J. MCLAUGHLIN – Classic clothing and accessories for women and men JACARANDA LIVING – Fine embroidered linens and hand made gifts JARDINIERE – Elegantly wrapped, delicious toffee JAY’S TREEWORK – Turned wood gifts KATE LANDERS EVENTS – Children’s custom clothing, partyware, tableware and gifts LIZA HENNESSEY FINE LEATHER GOODS – Handbags and blankets MOLLYGOGGLES – Hand felted scarves and wraps, luxurious baby wraps and sweaters MADELINE’S HOMEMADE LLC – Homemade fudge sauces MY DESIGN- Handmade decoupaged plates, trays and coasters MY OILCLOTH INC. – Inspiring oilcloth handbags, totes and accessories NOTABLES – Stationery, monogrammed gifts and accessories THE RED PILLAR – Decorative arts, antiques and whimsical watercolors SARA CAMPBELL, LTD. – Festive clothing and accessories for women SARAH MORSE JEWELRY DESIGN – Handcrafted gold and silver jewelry RUSSIAN TREASURES – Handmade Russian Christmas ornaments SMATHERS AND BRANSON – Hand-stitched needlepoint belts and accessories THREE HOUR NAP – Children’s bibs, blankets, shams, loveys and accessories …and other vendors HANDMADE WREATHS, CHRISTMAS TREES, BAKED GOODS AND MUCH MORE! ADMISSION - $1.00

This SIS BOOM extravaganza starts on Friday, Dec 3rd.

Don't miss it if you live in these parts:

40 East Meadow Road

Wilton, Connecticut

In addition to all the fun and whimsical SIS BOOM designs

you will find beautiful bed linens and equestrian riding pads

from GO MAKE YOUR BED

and of course plenty of great stuff by moi

and did you know,

the NYT had an article the other day about

the resurgence of the handcrafted, vintage and local objects...

"holiday gifts with a story to tell.... the human touch rules... merchants and makers of the decorative arts reported that anything that hints of the hand is hot" — “People are taking ‘buy local,’ one step further... what makes gifts in particular special is knowing there’s a person who made it and a story behind it. I think people want to buy things that tell stories, especially in an age when so few store-bought items tell stories.”

I think this article is spot on and points to all the wonderful, creative work that is available.

So here's hoping the local, handcrafted, products will bring joy to a lot of people this year.

ta - da

my latest creation

It is called the DREAM BOARD aka THE PAMELA

because my friend and fellow knit-wit gave me the idea

Thanks PAM

Mattress ticking with letters cut out of SIS BOOM fabric

in bright, fun, smashing colors

and bordered by a happy pink ribbon.

Pin up your Dreams for NOW, SOON & SOMETIME

You can use tacs or slip papers in between the ribbon and fabric

24 x 24

(photo is not the best)

A lot of my work is custom designed:

here the customer requested a large center diamond

to hold larger sheets of paper

like a calendar.

first remote post

so that I can bring you

another installment from my favorite Maira Kalman

go to the New York Times here for the full post

Posting from Ohio

10.5 hours on the road

drove through 4 states

and saw so many fast food places

Slow down

Eat your fruits and veggies

Moderation

Be Happy

10.5 hours to get home

new products to show you all soon.