Simple, exquisite perfection.
No
stories, no hype, no address sticker.
I plan on framing my March
2012 BAZZAR cover.
Perhaps, this might just be the most
beautiful tree in the entire world... or at least on our block.
I've
been making a daily pilgrimage to this “feast for the eyes” spot
in our neighborhood.
It just had to be documented so you can
understand why I packed my Schiaparelli pink butter leather gloves
and a pair of ever so NOW glitzy Deco cuffs for a mini photo shoot.
Magnolias are magnificently
magnificent.
That's why I couldn't resist buying this Lucille Ball
era magnolia enamel on metal wall hanging.
We delicately placed it
above the dining room table and then strategically
hung “too much
was not enough” antique crystals on the the branches.
The dripping
effect is : simply marvelous dahling.
A few years ago, I bought these resin
roses... for a song.
They sat on the back burner singing: “when are
you going to make something out of us?”
This week, inspired
by Miucca Prada's “just off the drawing board” rose jewelry
collection,
I whipped up a batch of my own.
Prada is a pied
piper...from rose jewelry to cuffs with heft, everyone...including
me, follows her.
If you happen to be in NYC mid-May,
you MUST see the joint Schiaparelli and Prada show at the Met. She
keeps me on my toes. Here is just a hint of Prada's “way ahead of
the crowd” geometric look for Fall 2012.
We're right between Ground Hog Day and
The First Day of Spring...and the sun is shining. Who would have
guessed that: ” movie star-hide behind ginormous sunglasses”
would ever become a fashion statement again. Well... they are “THEEE”
ONLY sunglasses to wear this season.
For an oversized: “I don't
know why” reason, I've saved this pair of Gucci Glasses for 15
years.
“Cover up your face/hide behind your
sun glasses” can take up an entire drawer.
I put mine where the sun
doesn't shine: in a drawer full of “taped together” plastic
glasses.
A “ducks in a row” plan that really works.
Last month, Peter had a show of the
photographs he took in Brazil in the 60s.
The mural-like images stuck
on the wall and could be repositioned.
From post card to wall size,
it's a terrific way to display paintings and photographs.
I built a
crystal necklace for the opening (600 guests) and displayed
the
ENTIRE show on my new tiny Nano...like a movie.
Next party... new
images will be glowing on my neck.
The bad news: a few years ago, I fell
in love with this white (actually woven with strips of paper) hat in
Italy. It wouldn't bend or travel.
The good news: last winter, I found another one
in Oaxaca Mexico. It traveled home on my head.
Talk about good
timing...upon our return...
my son had a white party. My hat and I
attended.
Hats hidden in hat boxes become: “Out
of sight: out of mind” accessories.
With only a box of push pins,
I've turned all the walls in this room into a hat rack.
Now days,
they are seen and.... worn.
Years ago, there were many porcelain
doll factories in Dresden Germany.
If a doll came out of the kiln
with any imperfections, it had to be smashed to pieces.
As legend
has it, the workers couldn't smash the tiny heads,
so they buried them
alongside the walls of the buildings.
Most of these factories were
totally destroyed in WWII.
Years later, the precious heads were
unearthed .
Not having the slightest idea what I would ever do with
them,
I bought a pocket full of these tattered little heads at our
monthly antique fair here in Alameda.
I crowned plastic sticks with
the bisque and porcelain heads
and glued them onto clear pedestals.
You
can read deep, profound stories on each face.
They command respect
and deserve a place of honor.
I love Mai Ties! I lined this four foot
long canoe with 3 plastic boxes. Pineapple spears and glasses
slipped into the small containers. Gallons of Mai Ties awaited our
thirsty friends in center spot. What a party maker this little boat
has become! “Summer on our dock...here we come”
Now this is a simple, healthy dinner:
roasted vegetables, grilled peaches, quick fried talapia, and a
salad of toasted pecans, pears, butter lettuce and chunks of creamy blue
cheese. Even if I do say so myself, people go nuts for my salad
dressing of almond butter, dijon mustard, olive oil, honey &
balsamic vinegar. I mix batch fulls to taste and store them in the
frig. Best part..this concoction never separates and keeps fresh
forever.
This skirt is beyond gorgeous!
I was thrilled to find it for $75.00 at the flea market. Hand
made in Florence and never worn, it was missing a zipper & waist
band. A stitch in time and a nine inch zipper and I was ready to
twirl!
The painted velvet and Italian gold ribbon trim is not to be
believed.
These green suede shoes are a gentle
accessory to my “to nearly die for” skirt. . I replaced the bows
on the toes with a bit of glitz and glued them on the heels. The
green pearl necklace (made by me..thank you very much) was almost as
much of a show stopper as the skirt. It will be my favorite skirt
forever.
Now this makes perfect cents.
Just in
at your local bank: shiny copper 2011 pennies.. Kids love'em. At 50
cents a roll...
I have lots of “cents able” love to share.
In about ten minutes, I painted a white headband and braided a yard
of gold rick-rack and one of sequins into a strip of mink. Next: I
hot glue gunned the braid into place.
Now I have a “keep the hair
off my face” pretty chic looking head band.
About twenty years ago, one of my best friends painted a
heaven full of cherubs on this moire silk skirt. I'm embarrassed to
say that in those twenty years, I only wore this beauty once.
This year for my birthday, this same
BF painted a 10'X6' portrait of Marie Antoinette.
Getting it upstairs
was close to impossible.
Before delicately cutting her magnificent
skirt up into pillow shapes and a headboard,
I “chalk wigged” my
hair and “vogued” a final 18th century pose.
O.M.G. Who would have ever thought
that religious medals
would ever hit runways, showcases and magazine
covers?
Well, say a Hail Mary because they are not only healing to
wear but in style as well.
It's not that my husband doesn’t like
what I buy for our house, it's more of a: “we've run out of room”
concern. So last month, I came home from the antique fair with...12
for $75.00 “had to have” luncheon plates.As I was trying my best
to shuffle other plates around to make room for them,
Peter said: “I
thought I suggested: “NO MORE CHINA” this morning.
With a
wink in my eye, I replied: “I thought you said: “nothing more
from China!”
Truly, fairy princesses would adore dining on these
handkerchief patterned plates.
I couldn't get gravy stains out of
this pink necktie. So I made these three flowers, glued them on to a
green clutch and twisted the remaining silk into a pocket square
looking pin. Oh and why are ALL spots labeled: gravy stains? No one
eats and spills that much gravy.
As a teenager... wishes echoed in my
mind: “I wish I could sing”. “If only I could dance on stage”.
“I'd love to be a movie star.” “ I've always wanted to …”
you can finish this one. Then I realized: like a hand full of my
little brother's priceless marbles, we all have our gifts and our
talents. One of my brother's marbles was found in our grandfather's
mine in Montana, a friend brought another one to him from China, he
found two others on a dirt road near our summer house. My brother would not EVER trade
one of his prized marbles...NEVER EVER. Then I thought, what special
talent or gift would I trade in order to sing, dance or be a star?
“Humm, I guess... not one”. So like my brother's marbles... I'm
holding on to what I have, nurturing my talents and appreciating my
gifts. The grass isn't always greener.
Although I've been making jewelry for
more than most of my life, I still love buying unique pieces.
I
drilled these '60s gold leafed lacquer bangles and wired beads on to
them.
I spotted and scored these two other bracelets...
made out of
watch slides and tux studs.... in a local treasure trove.
“Supplements” seems to be the
latest word for vitamins.
Every 28 days, I organize my daily intake.Who knows, I might be taking more than my share.
I'm
not sure which ones make be feel terrific....but, hey I'm going to keep
reading up on supplements... adding and eliminating
whatever...whenever. Here's to your health and humor!
I leave you with one of my favorite Yves Saint Laurent quotes:
" I have learned that what is important in a dress is the woman who is wearing it".
