Sunday, October 31, 2010

Today is Sunday.

Like most church-going folks and other non church-going folks, I believe in treating people the way you would like to be treated.

While this is not a political blog, I would like to comment on the current political atmosphere.

I voted for Obama. I campaigned for him. It was the first time that I was so heavily involved in a political election. I am proud of my work and my OBAMA sticker remains on my car.

So here's my beef: my husband was driving the car yesterday, waiting at a stop light, a large SUV pulled up aside with windows open; the father and teenage son started chanting Obama s-----, repeatedly.

First, what are teaching your child and second, let's be more intelligent about the facts.

Then later in the day, I was driving the same car with the OBAMA sticker, waiting at a stop light, a van pulls up with a late middle aged man driving, who stares at me, then uses a vulgar gesture. I was rattled. It was creepy.

"Shrill political rhetoric and a demoralizing election" NYTimes

Most people know more about their local college football team stats than about the issues that will determine the election - they say "Don't bother us with facts, we have got our minds made up" Bill Clinton

"Where is the science, truth, and facts in the discussion?" John Kerry

Do people really know how their vote will affect them? Do they understand what is propelling the fierce political atmosphere - money - estimates are $4 billion - from the concealed corners of special interests. Do voters know who will help them? Something tells me it is not the fat-cats who are donating annoymously to the campaigns all over the country.

Are voters just angry about the state of their job/pension fund/retirement benefits/house value? Who is to blame for the state of the economy? These problems did not happen overnight...deregulation and greed, a toxic mix, were the main reasons the economy has been shattered. And it could have been a lot worse.

Where are we headed with all this belligerence and negativity?

With all the rhetoric, has anyone provided any real solutions or is it just slamming the opponent?

I guess the media is right, 2010 is the year of the angry voter.

Saturday, October 30, 2010



STOP BY AFTER
you visit
ALBERT HADLEY'S
Rooms With A View
at the Southport Congregational Church


THE FAIRFIELD WOMEN’S EXCHANGE

in Southport Village

Invites You to Our Annual Holiday Open House

November 3rd – 5th, 2010

9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

332 Pequot Avenue, Southport, CT 06890

203-259-5138

Featuring

Personalized Gifts:

stockings, frames, baby clothing, ornaments, wooden trains & toys

Decorative Items:

centerpieces, miniature trees, rugs, tableware & ornaments

Antiques and Art:

silver trays, jewelry, accessories & framed paintings

Hostess, Office & Teacher Gifts:

famous See’s Candy, fancy pastas, sauces, dips, candies & cookbooks

A punch and items from the Food Department

will be available for sampling

Wednesday, Nov. 3rd and Saturday Nov. 6th

from 10 AM – 2 PM.


and the wonderful mrr design picture frames and memento boards!



Tuesday, October 26, 2010

So where do you find these terrific frames and memento boards?

Sea Beans Studio, Wilton, Connecticut
Inside the charming Sea Beans Studio in Wilton, Connectiucut
You can see a couple of my frames on the mantelpiece.

Milestones, New Canaan, Connecticut

The Fairfield Women's Exchange, Southport, Connecticut

Stephanie's, Nantucket, Massachusetts

The Wellesley Boutique, Wellesley, Massachusetts

Catch All, Westport, Connecticut


Nest, Dedham, Massachusetts

Kensington Paper, Bronxville, New York

The Preppy Pink Pony, Alexandria, Virginia

The Fine Swine, Kensington, Maryland

All She Wrote, Chicago, Illinois
online boutique
'

Sunday, October 24, 2010

rococo chocolates logo
DARK CHOCOLATECHOCOLATE SCHOOLHAMPERSFRUITS

Dark Chocolate Rose

I went to a fun wedding in

Maine this weekend

and then I was looking

through draft posts and

look what I found.

Rococo is a fabulous

chocolate shop.

I lived in London for

a spell and this delightful

spot was just down the road -

I was a student at the time

and on a limited budget.

Lucky for me the

dollar was trading

at a very favorable rate!

But I still limited myself

to 3 truffles at a time.

Wish I remembered

this post earlier.

I could have brought

a chocolate bar for

my lovely Aunt Brenda,

mother of the groom,

who looked beautiful.

The bride was a

beauty too!

I know Brenda

would have loved

a rose-flavored

chocolate bar.

My mother would have

loved a rose-flavored

chocolate bar too,

especially today because

today would have been

her 57th

wedding anniversary.


A fashion feature called
'Mother of the Bride',
in the Best Scottish Weddings,
said of our

"Couture chocolate is oh-so-now and
we think this dark chocolate bar
with a hint of rose should be given as a
sweet little thank-you
token to Mums-of-the-Bride everywhere."


Here is the full ad and the copy
in case you want to jump the links...

We couldn't agree more!
Why not show your appreciation
even further by giving the
Mother of the Bride a delightful
As well as Violetti di Parma,
how about some rich delicious
chocolate wafers,
infused with flavours like Cardamom,
Need to say a really big thank you?
Then take a look at Rococo's classic

Share the joy of Rococo Chocolate Floral Bars
this year. Great gifts for
Mums of the Bride everywhere -
not just in Scotland...

ps.sorry for the wierd post layout
i could not get the full page
to appear - hence the squishy, lengthy column

Thursday, October 21, 2010

everyone who reads this blog knows that i am a
huge fan of maira kalman, so i am sending you
to design sponge for a wonderful interview:
what's in your toolbox. enjoy. click here

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

my brain feels like this today, frazzled.

sometimes i am a fish out of water.







i try to cut out the bad and focus on good; some call it detachment.but my eyes keep spying all the stuff that makes me crazy.









i am trying to rest, relax and rejoice in all the good things.
and swim happily like a fish in the sea, without a care in the world
i wonder if i can?
cut out the stress, the worry, the line that tethers me. i wonder if i can move on...find a new path...
i wonder...
all images from olimpia Zagnolias seen on swissmiss -

Thursday, October 14, 2010

liked this window display in used book store,
oren ipsum books,
inman square, cambridge, ma
Ta-Da
Autumn 2010
mrr design

1. swirl aqua
2. swirl lime

3. String of pearls
4. Stripe aqua & green

5. Cogs aqua

6. Marnie by Sis Boom - pink or aqua
The designer named this fabric for me!
That's a first!
thanks jennifer

7. Ribbon candy
8. Swirl lime w/pink

9b. Trailing Flowers - pink or aqua

9. Fancy Rail (pink / white)
10. Fancy Rail (lime / pink)

11. Nantucket basket weave

12. Ghost chair

13. Kaffe Fassett wood grain blue

14. Clover - mocha

15. Clover - breeze (front)

coordinating fabric below

16. Ginko on mocha (with brown or aqua ribbon)

17. Kitchen fun

Kitchen fun shown with recipes
Great as a hostess present with a recipe included!

Kitchen fun - multi use recipes, to do, pictures

18. Bike and flower basket
a pleasant reminder of summertime fun

19. Quennie
Last, but not least
Shown here with my favorite Quennie!
Great for a special birthday or celebration.


My newest innovation for the picture frames
monograms

A few friends are selling this monogrammed line at their boutiques
Catch-All from Westport, Connecticut
and
Preppy Pink Pony from McLean, Virginia

Loads more monograms here

and check out the Holiday selection
I think these are fun and festive.
Can you smell the pine,
and hear the bells,
and feel the cold,
and see your breath?
now back to the studio
ciao

Sunday, October 10, 2010

Cranking up the gears

New orders going out every few days

Getting ready for the shows.

Not sure how I will manage this year

by day I push paper...

can't burn the midnight oil in the studio like I used to...

so I push all weekend long,

happily creating as I listen to books and podcasts and npr

still warm enough to go without the heater

cleaned out the space so there is a lot more room

the tag sale did the trick

unloaded stuff, stuff, and more stuff...

felt good to deaccession...

dump is next for all the stuff that did not go...

finis

something good about 10/10/10 at 10
a perfect 10
count to 10
10 fingers and toes
10 little indians
david letterman's top 10
george carlin's 10 words you cannot say on television
10 commandments

Thursday, October 7, 2010

Preppy
is back
and so is madras
Look what i cooked up for my friends
Kimberly and Kim
over at
J U S T M A D R A S

check out their terrific website here

got a little preppy in you

then you just gotta have one of these

just right for the perfect summer pic
Order on-line at
They have lots of other great stuff too!