The desktops are looking pretty good:

street plan of Paris

and

the naturalist's Butterflies (butterflies are so IN this season)

and

happy Sis Boom

to match the Sis Boom memento board I posted earlier this week

If you are near Richmond, Virginia

come on by and check out my wares in person.

Daisy Days at St. Catherine's School

Working, working, working after my winter hibernation, trying to get ready for my next boutique in Richmond, Virginia. My terrific monogrammer just embroidered 40 ribbons to get me ready for the spring graduation season. More photos after I finish a weekend of work in the studio. Can't wait to show you the 2011 spring line.

A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about Pam Scott of Catch All.

We both participated in a Christmas boutique at the

Convent of the Sacred Heart

on East 91st in NYC.

It was called Christmas from the Heart.

There is also a gigantic

Christmas Tree Sale at the school.

Each vendor contributed a percentage of her sales to

Christmas from the Heart.

Together with all the money raised at the Christmas Tree sale,

the school was able to give back to the community

through various outreach projects.

The students learned the value of giving

to those in need

as they prepared and organized the sale.

I loved everything about this boutique.

The people, the charity, the venue,

the students.

And to top it off, I am a Sacred Heart girl myself.

as are others in my family.

I remember that the organizers asked me to bring some items

for the young girls to buy.

So I made marbled pencils.

I spent many evenings

cutting and wrapping and glueing

beautiful marble paper around pencils,

and on notebooks.

I still have a few left.

Makes me smile still.

I think I charged $1 for 3 pencils.

But back to the beginning...my first show in December of 1991

at Convent of the Sacred Heart

on East 91st street, NYC

Christmas at the Heart.

I was still working

at a large NYC bank

and expecting Miss Is.

My plan was to build a business that I could operate from home

while being a mother.

It did not work out exactly that way

because I ended up working part-time for 17 years at another

big NYC bank

and running my business at the same time

while being a mother.

I was busy.

Still am.

But back to the story again...

It is boutique season again.

Next one on the docket is

Church of the Redeemer in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts

on December 3 and 4th

'Tis the boutique season...

off I go to DC

Here are the directions if you live in the DC area

Connelly School of the Holy Child

on November 19th and 20th

and I double-booked

this weekend.

My sister Jeanne is helping me in the northeast.

Stop by the Wellesley Marketplace

on Saturday,

November 19

Marisa Marcantonio, author of the terrific blog, Stylebeat, and former style editor of House Beautiful and O at home, wrote a wonderful

post on Albert Hadley's Rooms with a View,

the miniature showhouse in Southport, Connecticut.

Mr Hadley, founder of Rooms with a View and honorary chairman each year, is retiring this year, and closing his design firm, so I urge you, as does Marisa,

to visit Rooms with a View this week.

November 4, 5, and 6.

The vignettes will be wonderful, given the star line-up of designers.

And don't forget to visit the marketplace boutiques;

I was a marketplace vendor many years ago and loved it.

And to top it all off, Rooms with a View is located in beautiful

Southport, Connecticut.

You will have such a delightful time at the show

and wandering around the village.

While you are there, you must visit the Fairfield Women's Exchange,

a short walk away, where you will find a lovely assortment of gifts,

everything from beautiful hand knit baby sweaters and hats,

to handsome, well constructed wooden toys,

to objects for the house

and antiques.

And mrr design's wonderful pictures frames and memento boards.

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 3^rd – 5^th, 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. 6^th

from 10 AM – 2 PM.

and the wonderful mrr design picture frames and memento boards!

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

Just Madras,

online boutique

'

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

getting ready for next boutique

Forgot to mention that the boutique

is at the Far Hills Country Day School

in Far Hills, New Jersey

If you live in the vicinity of Far Hills, New Jersey

stop by La Belle Boutique.

click here for a list of all the fabulous vendors

including moi!

Saturday, November 7th 10:00 am – 5:00 pm

Sunday, November 8th 11:00 am – 4:00 pm

Monday, November 9th 9:00 am – 3:00 pm

next show

gearing up

so much to do

so little time

but as maira kalman says

we have to learn how to live

i say - make each day matter.

look up - look around -

I am back and still recovering from the long journey.

Here is my boutique space.

I had a lot of inventory, just in case.

A successful weekend.

Columbus School for Girls runs a wonderful boutique.

This is one of the most hospitable groups that I have encountered during my

many years on the charitable boutique circuit.

Met lots of new people and saw old friends

and visited with family.

Now for a rest.

I am off and will not be able to check in for a few days.

First boutique of the season

at Columbus School For Girls in Columbus, Ohio, on Columbus Day weekend.

Rented a larger vehicle so that I could bring plenty of inventory to Ohio!

Stop by and say hello if you are in the neighborhood.

I have been burning the candle at both ends lately and I do not even have time

to come up with a few posts to schedule during my absence.

Until next week, I bid you adieu.

click here for a list of all the vendors,

from near and far

selling everything from

clothes to jewelry to picture frames by moi!

(silly me and my rhymes again)

i am off to the cod

to do a little selling

and hope the ladies will do a little buying

and after a long day trying to sell my stuff

maybe I will see a view like this

I wouldn't mind a sail on this nifty red skiff

and then I will visit

with three sisters

and relax for just a bit

before I head back to boutique

at the Wianno Club

and try again the selling shtick

So even if the economy

wreaks havoc on my sales

I will have my sisters to put wind into my sails.

silly little poem

but...I was having a little fun

If you happen to be on the Cape and near Osterville

please stop by the boutique

Lots of great shops and goodies

and don't forget to

Say hi

Summer Boutique

in one week.

If you going to be on the Cape

near Wianno

do stop by

more details next week

oh goody

Any equestrians out there?

Look at these beautiful saddle pads

created by Nancy Geaney of Dark Horse Farm Designs

Imagine this saddle pad on the back of a beautiful chestnut Morgan horse

Such a contrast:

big, strong horse; beautiful, feminine saddle pad

and check out this amazing quilt 

with a vintage horse show ribbon

from 1952

Nancy, Jennifer (as in Sis Boom) and I are all represented in this new shop. 

You can see some of the clothing by Sis Boom in the first photo.

And you all know my frames.  

THE GOODY SHOP

WESTPORT, CONNECTIUCT

Jennifer, Nancy and I have all used Sis Boom fabric in different ways.

Great examples of how versatile Sis Boom fabric designs are.

pictures courtesy of Nancy Gaeney

winter wonderland

inside too

sis boom show

look and behold all of these vibrant colors

too bad my pics aren't better

sparkly banners

tropical cottons for the winter escape

happiness everywhere in the color and whimsy

of all things sis boom

for all you readers who LOVE color

this stuff is for you

imagine greeting every morning with this quilt on your bed

hello sunshine!!!

last but not least my Christmas Card boards with Sis Boom fabric

Jennifer is having a big sale on Friday, December 12th

quilts and clothing 50% off

Christmas ornaments 20% off

go to her blog for details