New York Subway

by Hilda Morley

The beauty of people in the subway
that evening, Saturday, holding the door for whoever
was slower or
left behind
(even withall that Saturday-night
excitement)
& the high-school boys from Queens, boasting,
joking together
proudly in their expectations
& power, young frolicsome
bulls,& the three office-girls
each strangely beautiful, the Indian
with dark skin & the girl with her haircut
very short and fringed, like Joan
at the stake, the corners
of her mouth laughing
& the black girl delicateas a doe, dark-brown in pale-brown clothes
& the tall woman in a long caftan, the other day,
serene & serious & the Puerto Rican
holding the door for more than 3 minutes for
the feeble, crippled, hunched little man who
could not raise his head,
whose hand I held, to
help him into the subway-car—
so we were
joined in helping him & someone,seeing us, gives up his seat,
learning
from us what we had learned from each other.

As seen on

"New York Subway" by Hilda Morley, from To Hold My Hand: Selected Poems 1955-1983. © The Sheep Meadow Press, 1983.

Now go here and read watch this video on the Compassion Project - a wonderful idea, so simple and yet so powerful. Engaging and thought provoking, and it made me smile. This link brought to me by Slow Love Life by Dominque Browning.

Just right for Sunday morning.

'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

I saw this photograph in

The New York Times

last Friday.

An early version of a memento/inspiration board.

This 1703 trompe l'oeil of a letter rack was painted by Edward Collier.

It is part of the recent and wonderful donation to the

National Gallery of Art in

Washington D.C.

by Linda Kaufman.

More on DC tomorrow;

I am on the road again for a round of trunk shows and boutiques.

Here is a photo of my favorite space at the Southport Rooms with A View last weekend . The room is by Libby Cameron, a Parish-Hadley alum. I forgot my camera but luckily I found these photos at StacyStyle blog - click on the link and you can see photos of all the spaces.

The walls were covered in framed drawings by Albert Hadley.

The book shelf on the right held some terrific titles,

including one book I never heard of:

A Decorators Notebook by Derek Patmore

published in 1952

Patmore "intended it to be a decorating primer for the masses" or

rather an English version of Dorothy Draper,

"but more erudite" as stated in the 1st edition comment on Nick Harvill's Libraries

This would be just the book to find at Baltimore's Book Thing.

click here to see all Meg's (of Pigtown Design fame) finds

at the Book Thing

The walls were covered in simple black and white patterned paper

with a touch of red in the grosgrain red ribbon trim at the

ceiling and wall edges.

Then there were other charming details like

the old Maxwell House tin coffee can with paint brushes,

a well worn hooked rug,

and there were lots of

wise old owls.

Pam Scott

(left)

Owner

Catch-All Boutique

at

Time for Lyme Boutique

Greenwich, Connecticut

Also pictured is Libby Tuttle, (right)

another entrepreneur I know from the circuit.

Her business is called Designing Women.

Pam at the

Spring Boutique

at

Doubles, NYC

I met Pam about 20 years ago when I first created my business,

mrr design.

Pam is an inspiration to me.

She may not know it, but I have learned so much from her.

Pam's entrepreneur skills and winning attitude have been a model for me.

Over the years, I would see her at show after show.

And she has the most beautiful smile.

Her customers love coming back to her booth year after year.

She has quite a following along the east coast

from New England to Florida

and

the mid-west.

I do not how she does it year after year.

Pam must do about 20 shows in the fall/holiday season alone!

She has been in business for 31 years.

She is truly a delightful person

with lovely taste.

Here is line up of Pam's amazing assortment of products:

Elegant linens for the bath and tabletop

Beautiful nightgowns for ladies and children

Wonderful wraps for any and all occasions

Handmade decorative accessories

Monogrammed travel accessories

Candles and diffusers

Baby gifts galore

I am proud to report

that Pam is now carrying my monogrammed frames.

Very exciting for me

because

Pam is one of the first people I got to know and admire

on the boutique and trunk show circuit.

Thanks Pam for all I have learned from you about the boutique business.

You are a wonderful example of a successful boutique entrepreneur.

Pam was always ready to share information with me;

not everyone will give out advice or tips.

Often I encountered a survival of the fittest mentality,

but Pam was generous in her conversations with me.

And I am grateful because I have avoided some mistakes.

Pam stays at it year after year.

Her inventory changes a little bit each year

to keep up with the trends.

Charitable groups are continually seeking out Pam's expertise

for the organization of boutiques for their charity events,

like the Time for Lyme benefit in Greenwich, CT

For many years Pam organized the Breast Cancer Holiday Boutique

in Greenwich, Connecticut.

Here are just a few of the places that you will find Pam

this holiday season.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

November 10, Wednesday

Greenwich Womens Exchange

at

Round Hill Country Club

Greenwich, CT 9:30am to 4:30pm

~~~~~~~~~~~~

November 19 and 20

The Twig Fair at the Apawamis Club

Rye, New York

Friday, November 19th: 12 noon to 8:00pm

Saturday, November 20th: 9:00am to 5:00pm

~~~~~~~~~~~~

November 30, Tuesday

Holiday Gift Boutique at the Greenwich Country Club

Greenwich, CT

Tuesday, Nov 30th, 6:00pm to 8:00pm

Wednesday, Dec 1st, 9:00am to 5:00pm

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Stop by, you will be glad that you did.

Pam travels all around the country

up and down the eastern seaboard

to the midwest

and lots of stops in Florida.

If you want to find out where she is next

beyond the Connecticut area,

just e-mail me and I will have Pam get in touch with you.

PS. I have been wearing one of Pam's beautiful nightgowns for years.

Beautiful, soft, and white with exquisite smocking detail.

If you miss these shows,

check in next year

at the Holiday Spree

in early October

at the Shenorock Shore Club

in Rye, New York.

While in NYC a couple of days ago,

I spent a long time in Grand Central,

which is one of my favorite places.

I love the hustle and bustle.

No one ever bumps into each other.

The astronomical ceiling is quite simply amazing.

As I was looking at Grand Central's brilliant turquoise blue ceiling,

I was reminded of the new book by

Emily Evans Erdmans

on

Madeleine Castaing.

Madame Castaing loved NYC:

she said it was the place where the streets smoked.

Madame Castaing also loved the same brilliant turquoise blue

that can be seen in Grand Central.

Looking at the book jacket and Grand Central

I was struck by the similarities:

brilliant blue

and

the seating and ticket booth -

I noticed how they both sit in the

middle of the room

as the focal point.

I also love how this wonderful seat changes over time.

and this perfect monogrammed stool.

Just love it.

Inspiration for my next project maybe.

bottom photograph: Francis Hammond, via Little Augury

other photographs: Emily Evans Erdmans, The World of Madeleine Castaing

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.

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.

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

'

DARK CHOCOLATE CHOCOLATE SCHOOL HAMPERS FRUITS

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 Dark Chocolate Floral Bar With Rose: "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 Gift Set of 3 Rococo Floral Bars? As well as Violetti di Parma, how about some rich delicious chocolate wafers, infused with flavours like Cardamom, Peppered Mint or Earl Grey? Need to say a really big thank you? Then take a look at Rococo's classic The Cat That Got The Cream Ganache box. 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

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

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 -

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