eye candy {peony pink and warm slate}

Pink is not a color that I think of or like ofter for interiors. I definitely enjoy the feminine end of of the color wheel but think that pinks so often make a room look saccharine and one dimensional. There are sometimes rooms filled with pink that surprise me, and this one from Alessandra Branca is one of them. The peony pink mixed is tempered well by the warm slate shades, layered patterns and texture of the ottoman and the rug,

Lovely, right? I think I will be thinking about that ottoman all day actually.

Breathe Deep, Talk Slow

Breathe deep,

Talk slow...



Give big,

Take less...



Don't count,

Just guess...



Touch kind,

Act fair...



Plan bold,

Try prayer...



Do peace,

Dream far...



Feel loved,

You are!



My friend Pat sent me a sweet note and this little poem was included...
...thought I would share it with you!

Thank you Pat!

I hope you are having a good weekend!
:)

Browsing about early this Sunday I came across Tracey's Words to Live By post on her blog Notes from a Cottage Industry. Click on over to see what others are sharing!

loving {pattern + pink}

Happy Monday! I thought that a dose of playful pink and fanciful pattern was the perfect way to start what is going to be another hectic week.

(via calypso celle, pucci, marc jacobs and oscar de le renta)

Pink Hollyhocks and Other Old Fashioned Things

While I'm here at my parents home packing up some of my mothers things to drive north...I have been poking around and thought I would share a few pretty and well loved family antiques...

I have always loved this pretty hand painted sugar bowl that I first remember seeing in my Grandmother's china cupboard...She acquired it from her sisters in law...my three great aunts...Nani, Fifi and Mimi. They volunteered at a thrift store in White Plains, outside of New York City back in the 1940's and 50's and brought home many treasures back then that eventually became some of my grandmother's most prized possessions.



This mother of pearl and tortoise calling card case belonged to my great grandfather...
William B. Huff ...



The calligraphy was his own...



The base of this old kerosene lamp was in the farmhouse when my grandparents moved in as a young couple in 1924. The brass was refinished in the 60's and the globe was replaced.



And isn't this the sweetest little mustard pot with blue forget me nots?
Oh, how I remember loving to use this tiny porcelain pot as my Nana always set a pretty table.



This old wooden box was handmade by my Grandfather in 1910 when he was in high school in Brooklyn, NY. He hand carved the decoration on top and today, one hundred years later, it sits proudly on my Dad's dresser.
I just love that!



This metal pin was in my Mom's jewelry box...tiny pearls are wired on it.
I don't know where it came from and don't think it is particularly precious but...
... I like it.



And here are the pretty pink Hollyhocks as promised.
They were on the side of an old barn in the Adirondacks last week and I stopped to snap a picture or two.



My grandmothers both grew hollyhocks in their gardens...



So pretty! So old fashioned!

Still traveling ...
I have scheduled to link up to Pink Saturday this week...
To see more pink pretties visit Beverly at How Sweet the Sound!

Have a wonderful weekend!
:)

feminine + formal

Yesterday I was pushing my design comfort zone in a masculine and moody direction. Today I decided to push the other end of the spectrum with this lovely feminine and formal home. Again, not exactly my personal style but I think it is always important to explore and appreciate different ones.

(images scanned from April issue of House and Garden)
Would love to have woken up to those sweet peas by my bedside instead of the snow falling from the sky.

ravishing in rose

I spent the first weekend of spring in the sun and it has left my cheeks quite rosy! Hoping that if I incorporate a little more pink in my life that no one will notice. Wishful thinking but worth a try, as you can never go wrong with a hint of rosy pink!

(via barneys new york, calypso celle, hable construction, virginia johnson, see be chloe, madelineweinrib and crumpet)

Valentine/Blogversary Lunch!

I won't keep you waiting another minute!
The girls were all in a dither....
...so excited to be getting ready for Evi's special Valentine luncheon...



I had my goody bags all packed and ready.....bits and bobs of pretty papers...sheet music, buttons, lace and copies of vintage postcards, chocolate kisses and candy in a little wire bird's nest...etc., etc.....basically, lots of goodies to craft or make your own Valentine with....



We arrived at Evi's beautiful home dressed in our finest...or our funkiest!
No business suit for me today! Paula was wearing her favorite Anthro sweater....it looked so cute with her altered scarf.



And, as requested... here is a charming picture of a styling Carole.....



We're a rather shy and quiet group of girls...
...chuckle...



So....here is Evi's pretty dining room again.....
beautifully set with heart candies strewn about and...
... a stunning centerpiece of pink, red and white tulips that her handsome hubby Ebbie bought her for Valentine's Day.



click on any picture for a closer look!



Looking into the dining room and beyond from the kitchen ....
...it is hard to see because of the light in this picture, but their home sits high on a hill and the view is beautiful out through these French doors, over the deck out to the snow covered mountains in the distance.



Evi, a gourmet cook and fabulous baker...made us each a packet of decorated sugar cookies!
She baked some very large cookies in the shape of crowns which she used as our place markers...
I told you she treated us royally! :)



Our hostess served a delicious carrot soup with crusty rolls, a tossed salad of mixed greens, cheese and cucumbers, Swiss chicken cutlets with tomatoes and avocado on top and a yummy orzo salad. Evi promised to share the recipes!



There were hearts and touches of red everywhere....
I will share some more details of her home and collections in the next few days....



And just when we didn't think there was room in our tummies for anything else...Evi served these sweet little lemon cakes baked in the shape of hearts!



...and chocolate dipped strawberries....yum!

We had extra strawberries as Deanna brought some to share too!
You can never have too many chocolate dipped strawberries...
...at least in my humble opinion :)



...and that's not all!
...look at this apricot cranberry frangipane...to die for!
....it was all so very delicious!



Then, these creative and artistic girlfriends of mine shared some wonderful handmade gifts!
Paula covered these little heart boxes with vintage sheet music, bird images, bits of lace, ivory buttons and an antique key....
....dreamy....always faithful to her favorite palette of creamy whites...
...inside were caramels...



..and look at that crafty Carole!
She fashioned personal hearts for each of us...(mine was blue of course)
...with lovely fabrics and handmade tags...



She covered tins with vintage papers....the top with lace and filled them with Valentine goodies...
Think of all the time she spent...all this clever talent!
(You can tell that the spring season hasn't begun yet at Maynard Greenhouse...)



Paula wrapped a special gift for me with pretty papers, a crochet shade pull and stamped tag...
(gift to be revealed at a later date!!)



Debbie gifted us with homemade chocolate and almond bark and wrapped each box with special paper and her own heart tags...



She even added ruby jewels as accents to the wrapping paper!
That Debbie is oh, so sophisticated!
...and also a fabulous cook and baker!
...her meringue mushrooms?.....yummmmmm!



And then Carole gave Evi this incredible book box that she created herself with pretty papers, fabric and laces....Can you picture her carving and shaping the insides of this old book?

This was Kathleen and Deanna 's first visit to Evi's home and they were thrilled to take the tour and get an inside look at her amazing studio where all the magic happens and where she creates her unique and highly desirable dolls! Kathleen took home a snow angel and we are all looking forward to Evi's next show at the end of March...

...There was more too...much more...
...but we must save some for another day!



Evening came too soon....more snow was expected...the girls had a two hour drive back to Conneticut...so after many hugs and a tear or two...we said goodbye!

Thank you Evi for hosting this wonderful Valentine luncheon and 52 Flea's first blogversary party! It all started here!

To enter the 52 Flea Give-Back just click HERE to read all about it...
... and leave a comment for a chance to win!

Prowess of Pink

Pink has been dominating the blog world lately and for a very good reason--to promote breast cancer awareness month. I thought that it was the perfect message and color to start this week!





(via lonny magazine, {this is glamrous}, jose villa, katherine slingluff, brabourne farm, and tuleh)
It is a disease that effects too many women and one were being aware of the changes in your body is extremely important. For more information please visit the website for Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Also make sure to check out other pink posts at Two Ellie, Pink Wallpaper and Cote de Texas.