Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Production is gearing up.
Here is a custom board.
28 x 38

Monday, March 29, 2010


Last week I did a post about macaroons

and told you all about the delicious St Julien Macaroons
that I have enjoyed for the last 25 years.
James Price,
owner of St Julien's and baker extraordinaire,
sent me a tub of delicious macaroons as a thank you,
which was certainly generous and totally unexpected.
Love them James - thanks.
I enjoy them daily with a cup of Lady Grey Tea.

Almond macaroons are prefect present for Easter.
Why not bring a tub to you Easter dinner hostess?

Thursday, March 25, 2010


This winter I did a series on the artists in my family:
here and here and here and here

and now for the latest installment

TA-DA
the work of the one and only
miss is,
my lovely daughter,

who is 18 today.
Happy Birthday Sweetie!

We have a tradition of making our own cards for birthdays
and Valentine's Day.
And for the last few years miss is created special artwork
as Christmas presents.

Last year I received the charming vignettes above
to illustrate our monthly activities.
I love it.
This happy piece hangs proudly in my day-office cube.
Gotta spice that place up!


Below is the Christmas present from 2008.
I made a little book with the watercolor sketches.
It is a work in progress...
I plan to add rings or ribbon to hold the book together.

We campaigned for Obama as a family.
Here I am making calls to Pennsylvania voters
miss is and dh canvassing in Rhode Island
Campaign headquarters - downtown Philly


Voter registration in Philly on Easter weekend
We hung out on a street corner in North Philly
trying to get people to register to vote in the primary.


and our invitation to the inauguration
(along with millions of other people)
We watched from the comfort of our cozy cottage in Connecticut

Wednesday, March 24, 2010


Lately I have created a lot of memento boards for teenage girls.
This one belongs to my 16 year old niece.
She has it loaded up with all her memories.
Fun

Monday, March 22, 2010

two days of fun
summer-like temps
back to work
latest batch of fabrics

Sunday, March 21, 2010


UPDATE

The Artist Is Present
at MOMA

Two days ago that Miss Is and I visited MOMA
We did not have any one exhibit in mind
and stumbled upon The Artist Is Present
Miss Is remembered a New Yorker article on the exhibit
We viewed the performance
then went on to other galleries.
Miss Is questioned me -
"aren't we going to the 6th floor for the rest of the exhibit?"
I was not terribly interested but said ok.
The exhibit was disturbing and challenging, yet engaging and interesting.
I am glad we viewed it.
The New York Times had a front page blurb
on the exhibit yesterday - click here
Excuse me I'd Like to See More
and so did we.
I am glad that Miss Is prompted me to see more.
Miss Is is glad we walked between the reperformance artists:

Saturday, March 20, 2010

Macarons have always been a favorite treat.
Beginning with coconut macaroons in early girlhood,
supplanted by the delicious almond St. Julien Macaroons
followed by my Laduree macaron discovery in 2001.

If you are in NYC today, find a macaron purveyor and enjoy.
Heavenly.

originally baked in brick ovens in Sherborn, MA, now baked in Sandown, NH.
My family discovered these delicious confections in our village market.
I send these treats to special folks at Christmas,
always buying a few extra tubs for our freezer.

And for an extra treat, pop over to Paris Breakfasts
Paris Breakfasts is one of my daily must reads.
I think you will like it too!

Friday, March 19, 2010

Creative mannequins at Bendel's in NYC:
dresses of curlers, rock candy, cupcake and candy wrappers,
and hard candy wrappers.
More dresses of cards, felt roll-ups, and feathers.
We could not ascend the stairs;
top floors "closed for renovations" - hmmm
that is code for ...
did some research...
Bendel's gave up its clothing.
They only sell accessories, make-up and bags now.
Who knew?
For a ribbon aficionado like me, these mannequins were fabulous
these spiffy numbers are constructed with just ribbons.
beautiful 70°
our perch for lunch in Central Park
study in contrasts
sneakers - boots
white - black
hot-cold
a new discovery
Francois Chocolate Bar
we perched next to the large open window
on the 4th floor above Madison and 64th
enjoyed iced coffee and a delicous macaron

another view from our perch
blue sky sparkling day
final stop
MOMA
Saw two interesting exhibits
William Kentridge
and performance artist
Marina Abramovic
"The Artist is Present"

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

free-form clover

Happy St. Patrick's day
May the luck of the Irish be with you.
Amen.

Sunday, March 14, 2010

pi day

Read about Google's Doodle today
in the New York Times
Men's Fashions Magazine
article by Alice Rawsthorn
(link not yet available)

I love checking out the doodle.
It is fun, creative and gives me a little nugget of info to think about
when I do a search.

The apple falling from the tree is one of my favorites.

A couple of years ago I did a post
on the google doodle contents

Friday, March 12, 2010

The earth was squishy this morning
and the snow drops were a delight to the eye.

Spring is coming.
I have had the nesting instinct;
got the studio all tidied up last weekend


and then took a look at the faded carpet.
Remember my post about use it up, make it do, do without

Well this rug has seen better days,
but we are not in the position to replace it just yet,
so the next best thing; turn it over!

See below to see what it looked like before.

I am not in bad company with this faded oriental;
check out Jenna Lyons own faded rug on the cover of domino.

Monday, March 8, 2010

MARLIN
Fun new frame

created with a Southern Proper signature fabric

Check out Southern Proper's wonderful selection of

ties, bowties
&
so much more

Saturday, March 6, 2010

Sugaring Season

Illustration by Heather Ross

Read Heather Ross's wonderful story here
about the Vermont's Sugaring Season.

Heather is one of my fabric fabric designers.

It is sugaring season in my neck of the woods right now.
Ambler Farm with the sap buckets.

You can buy the syrup at the farm.
It tastes delicious on weekend pancakes.

gotta love local

Ambler Farm is where my family and I go
to walk the dog,
to clear our minds,
to buy our veggies and flowers and syrup
and just to feel the beauty and breadth of nature -
We love Ambler
and
are renewed by the place.
One of Heather Ross's whimsical fabrics
that I used for my frames.

Enjoy a walk this weekend. You can smell spring right around the corner.

Friday, March 5, 2010

another goodie package
so tidy

Just got word that I have been invited to participate
in the
Azalea Garden Festival
in Bethesda, Maryland
April 30, May 1 & 2

Excited

Monday, March 1, 2010

The Spring 2010 spring fabrics
are arriving daily.

I am very excited.
Gotta get the studio back in shape.

It is still a little chilly and damp.
May have to buy another space heater or two
or bring the whole operation inside the house.
Remember the studio also contains the automobiles...
Have you noticed a theme
graphic stripes
flowers
dots

bubbles
buttons
bubbles
bubbles and stripes
stars and stripes
ditto
and more stripes
I couldn't contain myself
I know
too many fabrics
bee's knees
fruit is good for you
plants in snow
blue and white beauty
a V&A reproduction
due from England
later in March
yup - fabric imitating graph paper
this is for a new project

and I love these big, bold
graphic stripes
do you have a favorite?