Getting close to nature.

<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-size:180%;" ><br />I am inspired this week by<br />the world outside my window ...<br />enjoy the view and bring some of<br />the outdoors-in for yourself.</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipe_6OS-cQaeEV6ICXjxS81-jfFRpMjQCZGfsQy4ele4ZmZjiRnTly_z82ZWaUugshw95OUXVqPIrIbfjrgHGQ8InaoHorV1nUUd0x91bpsfltckZjS7JRWeKtsJINv8Q7nn9QiMqcgHM/s1600-h/greenbuds.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329167306571196018" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipe_6OS-cQaeEV6ICXjxS81-jfFRpMjQCZGfsQy4ele4ZmZjiRnTly_z82ZWaUugshw95OUXVqPIrIbfjrgHGQ8InaoHorV1nUUd0x91bpsfltckZjS7JRWeKtsJINv8Q7nn9QiMqcgHM/s400/greenbuds.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">The budding of the trees. My favorite green.</span><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.bookhou.com/homedecor-sprig-storage-box.htm"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329569200684115170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidUbQ514y_i3SXPhftL6puDaaFWPcXhNI2AdsqJzgBACapfcI7_hf8Je6-zi57EyvR49UYvsEfD0uVfUgF5ZYtf8uuVqQGCM7v-MnZ1s5q2MCVn1oPNQFl93WG9FZWcjE0AlsVMq5k1wY/s400/sprig-storage-container_000.gif" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 290px; height: 350px;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Hand printed <span style="font-weight: bold;">Sprig Storage Box</span> from <a href="http://www.bookhou.com/homedecor-sprig-storage-box.htm">bookhou.com</a></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Organic. Practical. Beautiful.</span></span><br /></div><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >Narcissus gone wild ...</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span>my deer friends obviously don</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">’</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span>t care for the taste of these scented beauties, because they are everywhere in my yard, yet I have only a couple of surviving tulips.</span><br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9mW5Et6-VHg2kCzA7bldtxS1eUWPiBbOmNzaBimk_0ypRXZ3IjOE4HoiPlNzIWRT2dkljfl9KaO2X6kls2z57_668of_aseo4Kq-w1gj0zcdzcCdgGI9fgBJZRsbuEFGhvDTu3vztYv8/s1600-h/orange:white.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329169781005169202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9mW5Et6-VHg2kCzA7bldtxS1eUWPiBbOmNzaBimk_0ypRXZ3IjOE4HoiPlNzIWRT2dkljfl9KaO2X6kls2z57_668of_aseo4Kq-w1gj0zcdzcCdgGI9fgBJZRsbuEFGhvDTu3vztYv8/s400/orange:white.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.art.com/products/p10035665-sa-i826461/georgia-okeeffe-white-flower-1929.htm?sorig=cat&sorigid=0&dimvals=0&ui=c26e3dcd83aa4f68a0a08a99591ff7bd"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329932887220670386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpK4Jyp76xSFPZ_iriYdA5VqBWmfHgO96XWdLlTilIkSZRzLzteQDd9_3F2HNIMsntouom-XxmyRQHkQT9Ceqtan0OhyphenhyphenZ1MCJe7gpNp9c-qMk86dym1s58Zc47cCG_YYLYhX172yq4JwI/s400/OkeefeFramed.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 398px; height: 338px;" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">“White Flower, 1929</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">”</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;">fine art print by Georgia O’Keefe</span><br /><br />Pair an unusual frame with a contemporary print to make it unique. I am quite pleased with this classic design combination of “floral with stripes</span><span style="font-size:130%;">”</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> that I created using the Frame Studio feature at </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><a href="http://www.art.com/products/p10035665-sa-i826461/georgia-okeeffe-white-flower-1929.htm?sorig=cat&sorigid=0&dimvals=0&ui=c26e3dcd83aa4f68a0a08a99591ff7bd">art.com</a></span><span style="font-size:130%;">. The warm gold frame (</span><span style="font-size:130%;">Cosmo Metallic) </span><span style="font-size:130%;">is a nice complement to the cool blue and white of the print.</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:180%;">Bringing colors indoors ...</span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAhSEeDzSO0OYr9S24qkovwmsQRfOA-Ch90YExF_ThNuniwm7P1QqybuWiJNpHQ4a7BA8ZHb_LpYknafW9M4FTAw9489L_ZP89bxok7kzYhKAF4GF35wQQ2mrPH3mQIZDeUFQ1J2zXshw/s1600-h/rhodode:forsyth.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329167576891733442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAhSEeDzSO0OYr9S24qkovwmsQRfOA-Ch90YExF_ThNuniwm7P1QqybuWiJNpHQ4a7BA8ZHb_LpYknafW9M4FTAw9489L_ZP89bxok7kzYhKAF4GF35wQQ2mrPH3mQIZDeUFQ1J2zXshw/s400/rhodode:forsyth.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 355px; height: 400px;" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaeUoDPF3wpZ_WejeHG_WuxVMfRg8Hc4c6PvYwTZRbviZDvzYUPmPOCKQzaSbg10M62VF9JGPkkkoAZF39QjdD-R-bRhDq9bxXIsMA9Uqt45lamkPBNWZ88lm3Pg9omonJlreTIf_Ncrw/s1600-h/HC-4+BM.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330206896457575970" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaeUoDPF3wpZ_WejeHG_WuxVMfRg8Hc4c6PvYwTZRbviZDvzYUPmPOCKQzaSbg10M62VF9JGPkkkoAZF39QjdD-R-bRhDq9bxXIsMA9Uqt45lamkPBNWZ88lm3Pg9omonJlreTIf_Ncrw/s400/HC-4+BM.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 321px; height: 400px;" /></a><div style="text-align: right;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;">If you love the sunny yellow of a forsythia, try painting a room with </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >Benjamin Moore Hawthorne Yellow HC-4</span><span style="font-size:130%;">. It is subtle in tone, almost buttery, and will avoid the “highlighter yellow</span><span style="font-size:130%;">”</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> that would result if you match to the flowers true color. Add linens in soft greens with pops of bright rhododendron pink, plus dark woods as an accent, for a fresh first-weeks-of-spring palette.</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> Try plugging in your favorite colors as I did here compliments of<a href="http://benjaminmoore.com/bmpsweb/portals/bmps.portal?_nfpb=true&_windowLabel=portletInstance_2&portletInstance_2_actionOverride=%2Fbm%2Fcms%2FContentRenderer%2FrenderContent&portletInstance_2cnp=public_site%2Farticles%2Fmain_page_articles%2Ffh_home&portletInstance_2np=public_site%2Farticles%2Fapplication_article%2Fapp_personal_color_viewer&_pageLabel=fh_home"> Benjamin Moore <span style="font-style: italic;">Personal Color Viewer</span></a></span><br /></div></div></div><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjew3-luPFUJC_hEQaA1pn8q-OwcKyHuJ261PhTgcwlBX3YYvDsP_gVJBSlISFZ8WbvcvViXUPMC-y6YsYZYhgfc3iJ_93NdCHRqzte_vB2Xouq0-SO6PG9fMwCUaIFeB4RkCDWPewL3Co/s1600-h/daffodil.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329167580640175506" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjew3-luPFUJC_hEQaA1pn8q-OwcKyHuJ261PhTgcwlBX3YYvDsP_gVJBSlISFZ8WbvcvViXUPMC-y6YsYZYhgfc3iJ_93NdCHRqzte_vB2Xouq0-SO6PG9fMwCUaIFeB4RkCDWPewL3Co/s400/daffodil.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqyNbj8to2LN0YjwkIphyphenhyphenbg9zp0L6eMVoNg_YxWpS5HEjXeV2WkE4cb313rKS2MwUVe_m8V6Qm1KhFag0phNnG8xRimVDqKnXge9BCilB0ECCa4PISLIr_W2PMVF5QiXaruECKLSd2_88/s1600-h/det_Hatteras_Daffodil_Swatch.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329957222715466338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqyNbj8to2LN0YjwkIphyphenhyphenbg9zp0L6eMVoNg_YxWpS5HEjXeV2WkE4cb313rKS2MwUVe_m8V6Qm1KhFag0phNnG8xRimVDqKnXge9BCilB0ECCa4PISLIr_W2PMVF5QiXaruECKLSd2_88/s400/det_Hatteras_Daffodil_Swatch.jpg" style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 253px; height: 249px;" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">This print says floral in a subtle way. </span><span style="font-size:130%;">Put a couple of pillows made in this fabric on a khaki colored sofa, and all of a sudden it looks fresh and modern.</span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" > <span>Hatteras Daffodil Fabric $50 per yard</span></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" >, a</span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" >vailable through <a href="http://companyc.com/html/fabricspatterned_sku91113_ccDAFF.htm">Company C</a>. </span></div><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:130%;">A tree trunk left bare of it’s bark ...</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" >(deers devour bark like some of us<br />humans devour salty snacks!) </span></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJjcab1BsYl9z8BZ4AHuCV6Vq8iP0asI373SOGoQ5sK8SXngFkGjQc0goAKZetHSSshONJNaFos-WjsSQeGFdL60QgpnnfL8il1OiESst4wNmKD1yxUh8EaOLXIkWPrQQONH-2ZT6Y56U/s1600-h/tree.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329167581256407106" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJjcab1BsYl9z8BZ4AHuCV6Vq8iP0asI373SOGoQ5sK8SXngFkGjQc0goAKZetHSSshONJNaFos-WjsSQeGFdL60QgpnnfL8il1OiESst4wNmKD1yxUh8EaOLXIkWPrQQONH-2ZT6Y56U/s400/tree.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.potterybarn.com/products/p10308/index.cfm?clg=12&bnrid=3380801&cm_ven=Google%20Base&cm_cat=Shopping&cm_pla=Feed&cm_ite=Google%20Base"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329569201856635330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVqfBS2v_nnEmQ6WFEE-c7KjKRvUuNhcREwdX7yC6faLnVk1rAEjQnXLdhNn6QrsES8Q0ETKQ0KlESHuglmLTa4YG6LT7lY0g42GgYvJ4DXYxshO7W6pidRKw8NbtKUVpZKG6DpG-xgjE/s400/treetablesPB" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 383px; height: 344px;" /></a><span style="font-size:100%;">Tables made from reclaimed wood available through <a href="http://www.potterybarn.com/products/p10308/index.cfm?pkey=xsrd0m1%7C20%7C%7C%7C0%7C%7C%7C%7C%7C%7C%7Cwood%20accent%20table&cm_src=SCH">Pottery Barn</a> ...<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Rustic Wood Accent Table</span> $199.00 - $249.00</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Take a shot at making your own if you happen to have some dead trees hanging around and a decent saw-z-all. My husband was inspired to make this pair of rustic chairs. I was impressed.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIVqO9aKsDbl9QfwnGiJS7Lw7cjqvG5o7GcN_z-xV4KJlG3ciA4UGPX6HFKmhZJA0SgaYp7Dm5ji0sEk8KlcyNd51DpVktWce429QDQdEKMCmADkVeOvADt5QZGfCIaxBmvaj4yXvnX8o/s1600-h/2chairs.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330178685826853346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIVqO9aKsDbl9QfwnGiJS7Lw7cjqvG5o7GcN_z-xV4KJlG3ciA4UGPX6HFKmhZJA0SgaYp7Dm5ji0sEk8KlcyNd51DpVktWce429QDQdEKMCmADkVeOvADt5QZGfCIaxBmvaj4yXvnX8o/s320/2chairs.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 296px;" /></a><span style="text-decoration: underline;font-size:130%;" ><br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;">Perhaps if I keep feeding the neighborhood deers, they might be so kind as to drop a couple dozen antlers as a thank you?<br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.antlerartinc.com/specials.php"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330180394311766098" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn0LQbPsmKWfQ6mmkvuAh2eQVSajWf-CwjpHxANECjDhkm9VNJcLV7F3INbb9KFl6CKtTikhhxg-nOgnRy2wsppVwyJ39qedG2U6o7mh8hvY5AcnmaubU4S8MQ778sbMbTaoYOQKp4i_4/s400/L_productID_118_1063751249.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 391px; height: 400px;" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Paul Bunyan, Large Chandelier: 6 feet high, 6 1/2 feet wide, 24 lights</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">These antlers – shed naturally – would look stunning hanging in my barn/future function hall (my husband and I both come from large families, every gathering is like a small catering event!). I’</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:130%;">ll</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> have to wait to collect deer gratuities, however, because this amazing creature is sale priced at an impressive $5,990.oo</span> </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" > </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><a href="http://www.antlerartinc.com/specials.php">antlerartinc.com</a></span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"></span><br /></div>

Getting close to nature.

I am inspired this week bythe world outside my window ...enjoy the view and bring some ofthe outdoors-in for yourself.The budding of the trees. My favorite green.Hand printed Sprig Storage Box from bookhou.comOrganic. Practical. Beautiful.Narcissus gone wild ... my deer friends obviously don’t care …

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Shopping for antiques in Lynnfield

<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghY56i3Z3qGOWBPvBIyXMtdOOGE-_POLVH6y7FJO_L8_YqXOpsVWH0Muv2mEZ8f9aC6-pzziA1rA3yG57Md3tR2QgxC8N-p65OhcAVQn1Fd0xXnK8VvGmGjQVxKSeRl1NyaojAhFFDVZ4/s1600-h/pinkchair.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326990631563366866" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghY56i3Z3qGOWBPvBIyXMtdOOGE-_POLVH6y7FJO_L8_YqXOpsVWH0Muv2mEZ8f9aC6-pzziA1rA3yG57Md3tR2QgxC8N-p65OhcAVQn1Fd0xXnK8VvGmGjQVxKSeRl1NyaojAhFFDVZ4/s400/pinkchair.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 364px; height: 390px;" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Photo courtesy of vintagesteph</span></span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDxUS4pobyew4Mi3oqIbrU3b-Najx4xXbb_O5XqZElc9J6UBmHgoygKQdH5cioIfSLaM7PahxwXiQxeumqeeW2jENDsjPLCHHkkDSR9EgscphHdJFUf8PPcRbi9lR28NJ-1Ivbt99wvVo/s1600-h/urnwithgreens.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327012401791278514" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDxUS4pobyew4Mi3oqIbrU3b-Najx4xXbb_O5XqZElc9J6UBmHgoygKQdH5cioIfSLaM7PahxwXiQxeumqeeW2jENDsjPLCHHkkDSR9EgscphHdJFUf8PPcRbi9lR28NJ-1Ivbt99wvVo/s320/urnwithgreens.jpg" style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">I have been looking for stylish items for one of my current design projects, the renovation of <a href="http://www.stevensestate.com/about.html">The Stevens Estate</a> in North Andover.</span> This architecturally romantic 1886 mansion designed by Boston architects Hartwell & Richardson, and former home to the family of Moses and Charlotte Stevens, is now owned by the town of North Andover. It is host to weddings, conferences and functions ... I actually celebrated my 30th birthday there with family and friends <span style="font-style: italic;">(seems like yesterday)</span>. We had such a great time partying on the rolling green lawn and exploring the many floors of this estate <span style="font-style: italic;">(upstairs rooms offer accommodations for overnight guests)</span> that I am honored to be a part of the team of talented designers that will be bringing this mansion back to it’s former glory. <span style="font-style: italic;">Check back soon for images of the newly decorated “Inglenook.”</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigRf-Rv2evo2H1yP0SYo6SK8irjUshDonWm_eiDXQjHjPZdi0VTPiTanPN18PNgXL8HuCEhr8Vb7hBP0hYOUaGNBc5X_Jrv4E58MVz_rA27J-kTVDQsLV3TMVzRA5_rQvqaHZ7KqlMpc4/s1600-h/crystalchandi.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326953890059665074" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigRf-Rv2evo2H1yP0SYo6SK8irjUshDonWm_eiDXQjHjPZdi0VTPiTanPN18PNgXL8HuCEhr8Vb7hBP0hYOUaGNBc5X_Jrv4E58MVz_rA27J-kTVDQsLV3TMVzRA5_rQvqaHZ7KqlMpc4/s400/crystalchandi.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />In my hunt for unique items to add sparkle to this gorgeous estate, I have made my way to a favorite local antique shop ... </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" ><a href="http://www.vintagesteph.com/">vintagesteph</a> </span><span style="font-size:130%;">located on 347 Essex Street in Lynnfield, Massachusetts. Some of shop owner, Stephanie Pernice’s pieces seemed perfect to set the stage for romance at this stately manor. Check out some of the vintage goodies that Stephanie has in her collection plus see new items gathered from recent trips to New York at her upcoming </span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 51, 0);font-size:130%;" >April Barn Sale</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 51, 0);">, Monday 4/27/09 and Tuesday 4/28/09, open both days from 12 noon till 5 pm</span>.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 102);font-size:130%;" >“Our mission is to find excellent quality furnishings for home, garden and table of enduring style and function. Vintage is finally being recognized as the original ‘green</span><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 102);font-size:130%;" >’</span><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 102);font-size:130%;" > design element. Recycling the past adds character to your home.</span><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 102);font-size:130%;" >”</span><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 102);"> </span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(255, 102, 102);">- Stephanie Pernice</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSl8Wp_9y2kjogT7R1-ZFi4OVPmOomv0iAehleQRKNSPQLqr9EVcUBQuTQc2PbwGN7S18MeTKSJQOLPa9K9l1Ysf-j8WhjYPHFyeq643e5MMDPaNwEZML-w-Onkq9YsTynwR2Zf-xMBqQ/s1600-h/whitechair.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327737450587785586" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSl8Wp_9y2kjogT7R1-ZFi4OVPmOomv0iAehleQRKNSPQLqr9EVcUBQuTQc2PbwGN7S18MeTKSJQOLPa9K9l1Ysf-j8WhjYPHFyeq643e5MMDPaNwEZML-w-Onkq9YsTynwR2Zf-xMBqQ/s200/whitechair.jpg" style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 149px; height: 200px;" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Photo courtesy of vintagesteph</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Here are some of the items you will discover on a trip to this local destination for fabulous vintage finds ...</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> chandeliers, sconces and lighting</span><span style="font-style: italic;">; various bistro, sunroom and wrought iron sets</span><span style="font-style: italic;">; garden antiques, textiles, jewelry and small antiques</span><span style="font-style: italic;">; custom-made furnishings including </span><span style="font-style: italic;">bookcases,</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> dvd cabinets,</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> and farm tables</span><br /></div><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Here are some of my favorite “fab finds” from<br />past shopping trips to Stephanie’s carriage house ...<br /></span></div></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyKaYUZ317jUv20UyI51kM3ihBIi21wmYWsFqTgJNeYx4OIlbBwJBqMh8o1GFnNlpnP0NaHDchfXiSPi9J8gYw4Xwo-xnFMKOGfDsX1XNWYhN49zANmnKiE-PkYw_ipqIv8UUwuYVFHjw/s1600-h/cherub.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326954417213134194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyKaYUZ317jUv20UyI51kM3ihBIi21wmYWsFqTgJNeYx4OIlbBwJBqMh8o1GFnNlpnP0NaHDchfXiSPi9J8gYw4Xwo-xnFMKOGfDsX1XNWYhN49zANmnKiE-PkYw_ipqIv8UUwuYVFHjw/s400/cherub.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">This delightful creature was adorned with a<br />rhinestone necklace</span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" > (and not much else!)</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz4Z6bIh8Zhi1IkTxeBJ0U3zncFFUSVC9PwqZQPW9pyvGL_6SMoEkWRPEerGQmhr5tmIXr_ZR43O3EANNwXWtgFH99loIFONpMwjoJt2oywg7N56fUIGfy4l9wQ5tFkI9YnGr9Sav1k94/s1600-h/birdcage.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326954418608847890" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz4Z6bIh8Zhi1IkTxeBJ0U3zncFFUSVC9PwqZQPW9pyvGL_6SMoEkWRPEerGQmhr5tmIXr_ZR43O3EANNwXWtgFH99loIFONpMwjoJt2oywg7N56fUIGfy4l9wQ5tFkI9YnGr9Sav1k94/s400/birdcage.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;">This could be lovely filled with a feathery plant.</span><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2hdZT966PlY5EJynQgcaqxu0mv3azDQeJRNsE7Q3j5rzH9M9hueGWxavfUv9MiuaJIcyBVu-mXH7URp60Q8QPaDHk3H35uzEoNlytB3ZcSb8Y8Cjh5Qh1N4AH0gm8XjtbQbjwBqOxITc/s1600-h/wallsconce.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326954406012277490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2hdZT966PlY5EJynQgcaqxu0mv3azDQeJRNsE7Q3j5rzH9M9hueGWxavfUv9MiuaJIcyBVu-mXH7URp60Q8QPaDHk3H35uzEoNlytB3ZcSb8Y8Cjh5Qh1N4AH0gm8XjtbQbjwBqOxITc/s400/wallsconce.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 329px; height: 400px;" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">How cute is the boy dressed in blue?</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span><br />This sconce is one of a pair. And so is this hook ...<br /></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoF4VDMKCyDCIj4b9MRG-PSKNjUvjhnvJICXmPvJVdneqy__g_kVbHbqUqMLE_sAs8_cPakGTWtqmHwYhAuWC2jrR_VbL2e9NCRKkIa1RPj3sDSWZAjWYmSs6Xl0zNWfm0NpI2qQ_g984/s1600-h/rosehook.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326954410974821858" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoF4VDMKCyDCIj4b9MRG-PSKNjUvjhnvJICXmPvJVdneqy__g_kVbHbqUqMLE_sAs8_cPakGTWtqmHwYhAuWC2jrR_VbL2e9NCRKkIa1RPj3sDSWZAjWYmSs6Xl0zNWfm0NpI2qQ_g984/s400/rosehook.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 302px; height: 400px;" /></a><br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7hmkVRhgawz7Lhroohz_dWiju8CQs_D0e0IiNR3MOuy2TBZTl0uXlFhALC2c-AVT_rGfK2PtJMYQLmYM5dh-HtGsdfhEfh4Sv7Ue-lkGK5ZV2u2MMD9ZmqZ7eut-PuZr-nxMzfBYSvts/s1600-h/treeart.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326955036630117362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7hmkVRhgawz7Lhroohz_dWiju8CQs_D0e0IiNR3MOuy2TBZTl0uXlFhALC2c-AVT_rGfK2PtJMYQLmYM5dh-HtGsdfhEfh4Sv7Ue-lkGK5ZV2u2MMD9ZmqZ7eut-PuZr-nxMzfBYSvts/s400/treeart.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 367px; height: 400px;" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Hand-tinted vintage photograph</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">I loved this framed print for it’s colors,<br />flowering trees and the charm of the<br />meandering dirt walkway. It reminds me<br />a little of the path that winds around<br />Lake Quannapowitt in Wakefield.</span><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFDCgtXelq_UHUx2SwpPctheWZF9ReWCyDVO71z18K2BnknWyAH0oF__psrykUyojPYgYAELZpbDe16eNuu6T007x0TliqD7y8avZIjgslX5nEiUZlCoeXc_i7VI8l2cP6WT0-1JOXP2g/s1600-h/small+picture+on+stand.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326954914160767698" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFDCgtXelq_UHUx2SwpPctheWZF9ReWCyDVO71z18K2BnknWyAH0oF__psrykUyojPYgYAELZpbDe16eNuu6T007x0TliqD7y8avZIjgslX5nEiUZlCoeXc_i7VI8l2cP6WT0-1JOXP2g/s400/small+picture+on+stand.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 321px; height: 400px;" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;">Something about the scene in this<br />tiny framed print caught my eye.<br /><br /><br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;">Fabrics aplenty for this textile lover!</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm_ruqK8Jj6bdTaPq3tfvakmEhrILovrnZxdDBvatmprXbLQoKxFlYpflHDAskiIH6zsYnMueAT9Z15hrSvirTD_mICxLzxeA5JkWWZvlesbrbcdQENkTATRSCHsByfNSK81C4dvqHdzc/s1600-h/chenilles.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326961270116832242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm_ruqK8Jj6bdTaPq3tfvakmEhrILovrnZxdDBvatmprXbLQoKxFlYpflHDAskiIH6zsYnMueAT9Z15hrSvirTD_mICxLzxeA5JkWWZvlesbrbcdQENkTATRSCHsByfNSK81C4dvqHdzc/s400/chenilles.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 298px; height: 400px;" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Photo courtesy of vintagesteph</span></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Stephanie and I both love a good chenille, a vintage pattern and a romantic print from yesteryear. I have taken home numerous fabrics from her collection and have combined them with modern materials to create pillows for </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >my</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> collections. Here are a few ...<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-size:85%;">These are available with or without down-inserts ...<br />email me at yblacker@verizon.net for more information.</span><br /><br /></span></span></span></span><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbIXW0TcEKo-luWmxh3Cdxa9cUYxKuDabNDfP6SP4Y_yRZXFpevneot4NZQGIObqnzEqJYsI_FMvNXTs4ik-D6ZIpEyf0X5wemAK0LgPyNxiF13Oj9-S4Or_PAjx88ptakgloLUHR8El0/s1600-h/rosepillows.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327724653829402498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbIXW0TcEKo-luWmxh3Cdxa9cUYxKuDabNDfP6SP4Y_yRZXFpevneot4NZQGIObqnzEqJYsI_FMvNXTs4ik-D6ZIpEyf0X5wemAK0LgPyNxiF13Oj9-S4Or_PAjx88ptakgloLUHR8El0/s320/rosepillows.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >Garden Gate ... made with a vintage<br />tea towel and backed with chenille</span><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtTq89qeHkQKVyQztTuy69XQGGhmn9wgSk2SLczHWnzAr78PfKdFW0urfEmSfB-NUDkVL1UCA9eLX19SvYTNOd0KpcnnRvNRMgQJS4OyQ3lyWpSDaTL2lDA3jbeIamqUKyt2cdriCfruY/s1600-h/BirdPillows2.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327729157290403634" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtTq89qeHkQKVyQztTuy69XQGGhmn9wgSk2SLczHWnzAr78PfKdFW0urfEmSfB-NUDkVL1UCA9eLX19SvYTNOd0KpcnnRvNRMgQJS4OyQ3lyWpSDaTL2lDA3jbeIamqUKyt2cdriCfruY/s320/BirdPillows2.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 234px;" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >Back view and front: Birds in Paradise</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;">(One of Stephanie’s favorites)</span><br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8qY7sbU5xHv1fKuthjq6QovLWQ7NyC9q7PkTVzVDa_fEA0UwJRhS4ErKPTvdKanxQG4WG5VwxLIBVJloDKDeCkn3sEQU5JW3KXXB5iv93D_KAJ2e6JzpsxViRe8g2wbzSu1lDmRdjzCI/s1600-h/VintageTrellis.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326954905864741762" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8qY7sbU5xHv1fKuthjq6QovLWQ7NyC9q7PkTVzVDa_fEA0UwJRhS4ErKPTvdKanxQG4WG5VwxLIBVJloDKDeCkn3sEQU5JW3KXXB5iv93D_KAJ2e6JzpsxViRe8g2wbzSu1lDmRdjzCI/s400/VintageTrellis.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 289px; height: 187px;" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >Vintage Trellis Collection ... pairs available<br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;">(I love the combination </span><span style="font-size:100%;">of aqua and coral</span><span style="font-size:100%;">)</span><br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Along with antiques, you will find some great hand-crafted items at <a href="http://www.vintagesteph.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5&Itemid=31">vintagesteph</a>.</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVGlkdKTi6rW4EtYc73Tx87xjcEZO4wJcFpXGxLE84umoJZdidVOsHmTLWE2TBw-H5KM9I6SYeKnSwfW7DgPJYn6pOG6MpkjnvRSkRmQqv__gVRLiyHlFA-3vAdf4nSLmN2om2-HaKtXk/s1600-h/birdhouses.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326954422240715746" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVGlkdKTi6rW4EtYc73Tx87xjcEZO4wJcFpXGxLE84umoJZdidVOsHmTLWE2TBw-H5KM9I6SYeKnSwfW7DgPJYn6pOG6MpkjnvRSkRmQqv__gVRLiyHlFA-3vAdf4nSLmN2om2-HaKtXk/s400/birdhouses.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 299px;" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Photo courtesy of vintagesteph</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">These birdhouses, created by John Warren, are so sweet and beautifully crafted! Each one is completely unique and tells a different story. They make a great gift for a bird-watcher or gardener </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >(they were a huge hit last year for Father’s Day ... stock up now!)</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /><br />Another custom piece by John Warren created out of vintage elements and re-purposed to solve today’s decorating dilemmas ... love the leaded glass door combined with the embossed tin.</span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDsLandUGQJeyX3whODOxaJ2LSbAH1_gVReLVt2Pc9NFDV3YHLu7-uUdq-6L0mikWvSrnwqblq-r-OSq_bQfbjnxBjBQVl27auXLLSjmm9TQGxR1EFKAX28-rVNtBb5TNFoL0BqujEsHc/s1600-h/cabinet.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326995858354617554" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDsLandUGQJeyX3whODOxaJ2LSbAH1_gVReLVt2Pc9NFDV3YHLu7-uUdq-6L0mikWvSrnwqblq-r-OSq_bQfbjnxBjBQVl27auXLLSjmm9TQGxR1EFKAX28-rVNtBb5TNFoL0BqujEsHc/s400/cabinet.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 298px; height: 400px;" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Photo courtesy of vintagesteph</span></span><br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;">If you can’t make it to Lynnfield,<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span><a href="http://www.vintagesteph.com/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >vintagesteph</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"> can often be found at:<br /><br />the <a href="http://www.brimfield.com/">Brimfield</a> Antique Show, Brimfield, MA<br />May 12-17; July 14-19; and Sept. 8-13, 2009<br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-size:85%;"><br />(Check with Stephanie for exact dates and locations.)</span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">You may also add your name to her <a href="http://www.vintagesteph.com/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1">email list</a> to be notified of upcoming events,</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> or give Stephanie a call at 617-921-4773 to set up an appointment to shop. </span><br /></div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9DXvHXP7FuBvbmiQbT4DQ8N9FlIKfCSrUtxLAbhDRfI6mhNG1AHKO5T57yqd55s6KNMRznhE_i6xVXZ7AW3EMIE1tUoN-CUppO9h0FoLod7ttYvfr4A_pMBuWEDm9Dnb2-8eoEU_eoMQ/s1600-h/gardenbench.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326956428130661378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9DXvHXP7FuBvbmiQbT4DQ8N9FlIKfCSrUtxLAbhDRfI6mhNG1AHKO5T57yqd55s6KNMRznhE_i6xVXZ7AW3EMIE1tUoN-CUppO9h0FoLod7ttYvfr4A_pMBuWEDm9Dnb2-8eoEU_eoMQ/s400/gardenbench.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><a href="http://www.vintagesteph.com/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">vintagesteph</span></a></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />Located at 347 Essex Street, Lynnfield, Massachusetts<br />For inquiries, call Stephanie Pernice at 617-921-4773<br /><span style="font-style: italic;"> {by </span><span style="font-style: italic;">appointment and special events</span><span style="font-style: italic;">}</span><br />email steph@vintagesteph.com<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >Happy hunting!</span><br /></div>

Shopping for antiques in Lynnfield

Photo courtesy of vintagestephI have been looking for stylish items for one of my current design projects, the renovation of The Stevens Estate in North Andover. This architecturally romantic 1886 mansion designed by Boston architects Hartwell & Richardson, and former home to the family of Moses and…

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Accessorizing for a design show

<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNFpSxUATp7Fkxb3OXmPlA9hRgMoP0TBOD9om4rYt1X1jxw7JQ6ZPWaK9RVZZWnpt4ChuTGzMpB20CdW-loWZ1HGmL9dfW8FK3JAHzXp4jMCs6DOhK2txQtEbr71wMXQM2Ez4Nq07qWu0/s1600-h/silver+outfit.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325850662902282594" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNFpSxUATp7Fkxb3OXmPlA9hRgMoP0TBOD9om4rYt1X1jxw7JQ6ZPWaK9RVZZWnpt4ChuTGzMpB20CdW-loWZ1HGmL9dfW8FK3JAHzXp4jMCs6DOhK2txQtEbr71wMXQM2Ez4Nq07qWu0/s400/silver+outfit.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 399px; height: 400px;" /></a> <div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Pearl bracelet by <a href="http://www.carolee.com/">Carolee</a>; Handbag designed by <a href="http://friendswhodesign.com/Custom_Handbags.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Jane Skelley</span></a>;<br />Dress by <a href="http://www.myshape.com/max-cleo/clothing/designer/maxcleo?gclid=CLqgzdO_-ZkCFZpM5QodzF-cFA">Max and Cleo</a>; Shoes by Tahari; Floral overcoat by Vertigo Paris;<br />Background damask fabric is </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.calicocorners.com/product/designer+fabrics+for+the+home/shop+by+pattern/damask/clayton+ocean.do">Clayton Ocean</a><span style="font-style: italic;"> from Calico Corner</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">With the <a href="http://www.wenhammuseum.org/adults_programs.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tablescape Design Show</span></a> that I will be participating in at the Wenham Museum coming up in less than a month, I am thinking a lot lately about what I will wear to the preview party (isn’t that half the fun?) and what I have worn to shows in the past.</span><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIofO7JG39ZkbsmMo7ZuCaV0M6e11w_AAeNh-NTJHpnV68QcRwI7T_bN7L1gaaW17bxOCweiaSZ4jKaodfBJN4RPYpkJzrNiuHNXr907jWn5f9DQIl9Uor0wiWf4S9J8Yzf3IzfF8g81o/s1600-h/newbury.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325897221501085074" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIofO7JG39ZkbsmMo7ZuCaV0M6e11w_AAeNh-NTJHpnV68QcRwI7T_bN7L1gaaW17bxOCweiaSZ4jKaodfBJN4RPYpkJzrNiuHNXr907jWn5f9DQIl9Uor0wiWf4S9J8Yzf3IzfF8g81o/s320/newbury.jpg" style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" /></a>Last September, I helped my friend, interior designer <a href="http://www.finn-martensdesign.com/biography.html">Patricia Finn</a> with some styling for The Newbury Bath, a room that she designed for <a href="http://www.thecollegeclubofboston.com/newbury_bath.htm">The College Club of Boston</a>. I was able to join her, and the many other talented designers and artisans who revitalized spaces at the Club, for the gala event celebrating the completion of the project. Since Pat had chosen a gray palette for her sophisticated bath renovation, I decided to wear a gun-metal gray cocktail dress that, if it came in any other colors, I surely would have bought them all <span style="font-style: italic;">(it was one of those perfect fit, perfect price moments)!</span><br /><br />After finding this fabulous frock (I am not showing the whole dress because I <span style="font-style: italic;">will</span> wear it again!) and then a perfect pair of pumps, I called my talented friend, handbag designer, <a href="http://friendswhodesign.com/Custom_Handbags.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Jane Skelley</span></a> to see what she had available to complement my ensemble in her custom-made collection. She quickly emailed a few photos from her inventory, and the one shown above was just what I had in mind. Since I always receive so many compliments when I carry one of her bags, I decided I had to share her work on my blog.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Here are some stylish totes from her spring collection ... contact Jane at <span style="font-weight: bold;">sjskelley@comcast.net</span> to snag one for yourself <span style="font-style: italic;">(shipping is available)</span>. Each bag is unique, featuring a different combination of fabrics, trims, handles, shapes and sizes. They are “perfect for any occasion, day or night” and for you girls out there who *adore* fabric as much as I do, they are the ultimate accessory to decorate an outfit! Ask about hosting an at-home handbag party (how I was first introduced to Jane) or visiting her at an upcoming shopping event. The hardest part is deciding which one to pick. Here are some of my designer tips to help you in your quest for the perfect bag ...<br /></div></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">If you are fashion-forward ...</span></span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSNdtWmsdeyrQqqfib6O8rz3LZRPsCbD_6GqgtITNrp-7Q-22pPSDsxVbJS6VKvnVBzxqQXvF4kkZ719RJkfhgY9uNripI6MdxHikYGXQXInBeUe7WN_ug4HllSmNtg_3sryF128AagpI/s1600-h/redstripe-lg-JS.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322100124969781874" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSNdtWmsdeyrQqqfib6O8rz3LZRPsCbD_6GqgtITNrp-7Q-22pPSDsxVbJS6VKvnVBzxqQXvF4kkZ719RJkfhgY9uNripI6MdxHikYGXQXInBeUe7WN_ug4HllSmNtg_3sryF128AagpI/s400/redstripe-lg-JS.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 308px;" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">#524 Red Velvet ... $55.00</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">14 1/2 in. wide x 9 in. high (plus handle)</span></span><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">If you are traditional ...</span></span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha34wTLtL3vE4lRflHw8h4p6jSwtPluq8GYdqU0FCKiWxzB8MRLjenEWalnlr-jvMqaTAC2jwEH9_8D6cDgX1IBBEi_LbCaJimF6YS4WUwI6h7kkvqn9AwDXl5050u8RK1Llngt0gynXE/s1600-h/red-sm-JS.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322099886557908562" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha34wTLtL3vE4lRflHw8h4p6jSwtPluq8GYdqU0FCKiWxzB8MRLjenEWalnlr-jvMqaTAC2jwEH9_8D6cDgX1IBBEi_LbCaJimF6YS4WUwI6h7kkvqn9AwDXl5050u8RK1Llngt0gynXE/s400/red-sm-JS.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 382px; height: 400px;" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">#527 Cranberry & Seafoam Floral ... $28.00</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">6 in. wide x 7 in. high (plus handle)</span></span><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">If you like traditional with a twist ...</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJVqxVImVuC2W_e90610HRpnLXAB08-N1KUuSz-5vFld-PCQaozHmwKtpAv-b9mwMiyXql0pQ8bLHMWm3diChIYLDhYrEgWKf8D7s1gT1rKqNl6OSaSJzD9jGc4HRT033OgJ-8ON2ElW8/s1600-h/redfloral-m-JS.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322099889491494866" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJVqxVImVuC2W_e90610HRpnLXAB08-N1KUuSz-5vFld-PCQaozHmwKtpAv-b9mwMiyXql0pQ8bLHMWm3diChIYLDhYrEgWKf8D7s1gT1rKqNl6OSaSJzD9jGc4HRT033OgJ-8ON2ElW8/s400/redfloral-m-JS.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 345px;" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">#538 Red Floral with Gold Trim ... $45.00</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">10 1/2 in. wide x 7 1/2 in. high (plus handle)</span></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">For the preppy at heart ...</span></span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYfCJ27GTJIcaF_dDSZM9KQyc4ipu75V7IsCsdbsrgHkFHmX10Lru54nvueS6uV51MLCVwK4k40mBplCuHLijQ31qRsvB35eCUYi1uipNlfvmpzI0sDSvn_D5VQmZ2HhwNpT5mKnnuTIU/s1600-h/pinkplaid-m-JS.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322099886194329522" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYfCJ27GTJIcaF_dDSZM9KQyc4ipu75V7IsCsdbsrgHkFHmX10Lru54nvueS6uV51MLCVwK4k40mBplCuHLijQ31qRsvB35eCUYi1uipNlfvmpzI0sDSvn_D5VQmZ2HhwNpT5mKnnuTIU/s400/pinkplaid-m-JS.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">#534 Pretty in Pink Plaid ... <span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);">$50.00</span></span><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);"> </span>*SOLD*<br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">14 in. wide x 8 1/2 in. high (plus handle)</span></span><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >You are “at home in the modern world* ...</span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >”</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDGGChMqNBdXcIaVE7zeQsaQZHMHyKzmwZyS20keM9iqHj7G7l1vwzosGHJdjVyq9jWlZTxcXypQejRQ_2JJy-D7qMACEVCmYbRs8xeTLLLXPu7P3zO-vm5NrAriWlzAF-RXbCO-HtfrM/s1600-h/gold-m-JS.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322099885151753506" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDGGChMqNBdXcIaVE7zeQsaQZHMHyKzmwZyS20keM9iqHj7G7l1vwzosGHJdjVyq9jWlZTxcXypQejRQ_2JJy-D7qMACEVCmYbRs8xeTLLLXPu7P3zO-vm5NrAriWlzAF-RXbCO-HtfrM/s400/gold-m-JS.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 275px;" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">#536 Modern Girl at the Park ... <span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);">$48.00</span></span><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);"></span> *SOLD*</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">16 in. wide x 6 1/2 in. high (plus handle)</span></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1A2ozGLCJfnM5SjqLobGOQh2OSmmpccFYRTkZfSvsKfPnzG9wL3tkAhHjFYmluy2YEt2Da1xNd_7WBvq9PZVzNd-R9tNE3I9nXeFszclSB1hFcCUyysB3thRU6l8qwpANM21rvEsDHE0/s1600-h/fromDwell.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325883165720081666" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1A2ozGLCJfnM5SjqLobGOQh2OSmmpccFYRTkZfSvsKfPnzG9wL3tkAhHjFYmluy2YEt2Da1xNd_7WBvq9PZVzNd-R9tNE3I9nXeFszclSB1hFcCUyysB3thRU6l8qwpANM21rvEsDHE0/s400/fromDwell.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">*Photo featured on </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.dwell.com/articles/friday-finds-41709.html">Dwell.com</a><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">You are wild about animal prints ...</span></span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2uP38kRHpsm4RIwj0-cuEOu1twjh-_lPTnBYarpJPBBQmQnw6n5dyffPuUOAqYSixn1j34NNbLewVUEVde2ZnRFfDgV8eUlHTKyeL5loJ4Eh5CeQv0czB6K5aSAbDPRfEJ1bJmu4CAz4/s1600-h/cheetah-sm-JS.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322099881593619538" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2uP38kRHpsm4RIwj0-cuEOu1twjh-_lPTnBYarpJPBBQmQnw6n5dyffPuUOAqYSixn1j34NNbLewVUEVde2ZnRFfDgV8eUlHTKyeL5loJ4Eh5CeQv0czB6K5aSAbDPRfEJ1bJmu4CAz4/s400/cheetah-sm-JS.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 340px; height: 400px;" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">#491 A little leopard ... $30.00</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">8 in. wide x 6 in. high (plus handle)</span></span><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">You love the classics ...</span></span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj44BJp6OR3RZna_C_cvTfVEom4Gb_vViVAGXof_2mL3RnkGU9_pkofbzAvztuqJN95iCPNvfhnxfwyxb7anBJyfoH4HocznJ-Ji7s0bTSmUV-o9UE_Rn9EMW8XWsExuF7swcdJ26tmYzw/s1600-h/brown-lng-JS.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322099560980180642" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj44BJp6OR3RZna_C_cvTfVEom4Gb_vViVAGXof_2mL3RnkGU9_pkofbzAvztuqJN95iCPNvfhnxfwyxb7anBJyfoH4HocznJ-Ji7s0bTSmUV-o9UE_Rn9EMW8XWsExuF7swcdJ26tmYzw/s400/brown-lng-JS.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 253px;" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">#520 Tootsie ... <span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);">$50.00</span></span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);"></span>*SOLD*<br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">16 in. wide x 6 1/2 in. high (plus handle)</span></span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br /></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">You are an all American girl ...</span></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitLTh4yahW17jwA7IYKFHOzIqxS-i6n3zTTSSCssWY_KehuiEPSWLMyQHvkK7HIbq7cghkzq7Wsfd2rlMqsQwfx9yyDPkLRwjXNJ_khRRw7koV_BKbI-rDCIU-OnPsBmnah_kfsXdiWLw/s1600-h/stars-lg-JS.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322100130138645474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitLTh4yahW17jwA7IYKFHOzIqxS-i6n3zTTSSCssWY_KehuiEPSWLMyQHvkK7HIbq7cghkzq7Wsfd2rlMqsQwfx9yyDPkLRwjXNJ_khRRw7koV_BKbI-rDCIU-OnPsBmnah_kfsXdiWLw/s400/stars-lg-JS.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 307px;" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">#540 Shining Star ... $55.00</span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">14 1/2 in. wide x 9 in. high (plus handle)<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">You are easy-going ...</span></span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFHcl4Yj7mctdwd4HwH6BY0Y52CYzQRahoZI_q7wvcX3Z9vbHTQhUTW1W1LfWztdqQyvqb0ciYCknOD5NCVxpspGuRnIm7Nc5f1QdhoV-7xXb5tpEQaKgQgeiuH8MboDOp3PSjh9q_CjI/s1600-h/bluesuede-m-JS.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322099561735419506" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFHcl4Yj7mctdwd4HwH6BY0Y52CYzQRahoZI_q7wvcX3Z9vbHTQhUTW1W1LfWztdqQyvqb0ciYCknOD5NCVxpspGuRnIm7Nc5f1QdhoV-7xXb5tpEQaKgQgeiuH8MboDOp3PSjh9q_CjI/s400/bluesuede-m-JS.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 349px;" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">#487 Blue<span style="font-style: italic;"> </span><span style="font-style: italic;">ultra</span>Suede Beauty ... $45.00</span><br /></div> <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">10 1/2 in. wide x 8 in. high (plus handle)</span></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">You just want to have fun ...</span></span><br /><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpCkGHSR9Rr67ZiiX3HkTWXGhfB5ncZKU3-eaS72-Jf_0mr4vDS3QNKxKDNmNLwHPneEsKZy6WA_QqjMQUImLFvavKWQqfKOPAhp3EO4LPgfsu0SQSIofKfNSk9b79dtCyiIQWL_QCaCs/s1600-h/bluegreenplaid-sm-JS.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322099562082999042" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpCkGHSR9Rr67ZiiX3HkTWXGhfB5ncZKU3-eaS72-Jf_0mr4vDS3QNKxKDNmNLwHPneEsKZy6WA_QqjMQUImLFvavKWQqfKOPAhp3EO4LPgfsu0SQSIofKfNSk9b79dtCyiIQWL_QCaCs/s400/bluegreenplaid-sm-JS.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 371px;" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">#532 Spring Fling ... $28.00</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">8 in. wide x 6 in. high (plus handle)</span></span><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >And just as one black piece of furniture can add visual balance to a room, here are a couple of wardrobe must-haves that will make any outfit look complete ...</span><br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfIC_P6UvVO_a6tGAzrMJJE6NcCRXpjnu2rwoaLg9ZC-nE4oJnz0irQ06Oc9soO5IokrVcRQxWxOZ8QtQ4UeHT98hpr-ue7eKYJ5sLqEEmGjR0QoqfB1X9IA8EeccQXnnJE5Uljj35NIQ/s1600-h/black-sm-JS.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322099553087583490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfIC_P6UvVO_a6tGAzrMJJE6NcCRXpjnu2rwoaLg9ZC-nE4oJnz0irQ06Oc9soO5IokrVcRQxWxOZ8QtQ4UeHT98hpr-ue7eKYJ5sLqEEmGjR0QoqfB1X9IA8EeccQXnnJE5Uljj35NIQ/s400/black-sm-JS.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 323px;" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">#528 The Little Black Bag ... $30.00</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">8 in. wide x 6 in. high (plus handle)<br /><br /><br /></span></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjOLuTuYKeEQ_Q7cQ1BY52r4vVrxUoIZUBi19mZEKFxyUOeMtA9vl45Lme7Oi5uKKVXQajpON4RWb2yUjapGgRGzqH5mbn0b1KOzlM40096CT_a9HjkRjHFEJmvZ4OGtEBKCdrLqsQrmQ/s1600-h/black-lng-JS.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322099550837516802" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjOLuTuYKeEQ_Q7cQ1BY52r4vVrxUoIZUBi19mZEKFxyUOeMtA9vl45Lme7Oi5uKKVXQajpON4RWb2yUjapGgRGzqH5mbn0b1KOzlM40096CT_a9HjkRjHFEJmvZ4OGtEBKCdrLqsQrmQ/s400/black-lng-JS.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 244px;" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">#537 The Bigger Black Bag ... $50.00</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">16 in. wide x 6 1/2 in. high (plus handle)</span></span></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;">My clients are always saying, “I love this fabric so much I wish I could wear it!” With a beautiful handbag designed by </span><a href="http://friendswhodesign.com/Custom_Handbags.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >Jane Skelley</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;">, now you can!</span><br /></div>

Accessorizing for a design show

Pearl bracelet by Carolee; Handbag designed by Jane Skelley;Dress by Max and Cleo; Shoes by Tahari; Floral overcoat by Vertigo Paris;Background damask fabric is Clayton Ocean from Calico CornerWith the Tablescape Design Show that I will be participating in at the Wenham Museum coming up in less t…

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Flowers, books and architecture ...a few of my favorite things

<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH7VEavx-F6L2dF3hAUOF4PCQ6llggP6HFvow5o6j_od6HGzScgpJHuiXJqX7xBbY_XG9tDK0brIPWla9S4P1EhOjujA2-zwqO4lxWyNF8fxo_FePMvHEmkLWcecMsC0t71ZqgsexbT7Q/s1600-h/BlackBeauty.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321407717393457394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH7VEavx-F6L2dF3hAUOF4PCQ6llggP6HFvow5o6j_od6HGzScgpJHuiXJqX7xBbY_XG9tDK0brIPWla9S4P1EhOjujA2-zwqO4lxWyNF8fxo_FePMvHEmkLWcecMsC0t71ZqgsexbT7Q/s400/BlackBeauty.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><a href="http://www.blossomsatbeebe.com/">Blossoms at the Beebe</a> ... </span></span><br /><br />Held the weekend of March 28th, 2009<br />to benefit the <a href="http://www.wakefieldlibrary.org/">Lucius Beebe Memorial Library</a><br />and the Wakefield Chamber of Commerce<br />Wakefield, Massachusetts<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">If you have been following my blog for awhile, it is no surprise that I have a thing for botanicals. Naturally inspiring, flowers add that finishing touch that make a room come alive. Just check out the glossy pages of any great design magazine and you’ll see floral arrangements used to complement most of the interior shots (and exteriors, too). And the best part? Their exquisite beauty is accessible to all. Here is just a handful of the arrangements that were on display. Each composition honors a literary work of art.</span><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI3jmKZKKc9iYOiWMBil6IaliNHQd-t8wYg9Y7uvzhXYXaP0wFLJv49w0VeCnzGhS37rXkZSRCapPMsMI0NCAkX_wuA8IBSP253Yl7XXmwbM1Od2mb2faiAXsDihzgYH-WoUDv78UB9h4/s1600-h/BlackBeauty-Reardon.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321395282261977234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI3jmKZKKc9iYOiWMBil6IaliNHQd-t8wYg9Y7uvzhXYXaP0wFLJv49w0VeCnzGhS37rXkZSRCapPMsMI0NCAkX_wuA8IBSP253Yl7XXmwbM1Od2mb2faiAXsDihzgYH-WoUDv78UB9h4/s400/BlackBeauty-Reardon.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Black Beauty</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"> written by Anna Sewell</span><br /><br />Arrangement by Cynthia Reardon<br />Donated by The Wakefield Garden Club<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3bPEAHRMHarjWpNu9PytHKy2rxuFDVSyDLHpvP4V3-op1Qtp5xNVP4mXonpZCbN13t8kPYh8ls-RMIP7jaaohpet8chkfY8p5hFzUPG75NkjxYY_oRQHSPSrGo4BZHb-N8FOgTz0MyE8/s1600-h/Lace-SnowTaggart.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321395928320790578" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3bPEAHRMHarjWpNu9PytHKy2rxuFDVSyDLHpvP4V3-op1Qtp5xNVP4mXonpZCbN13t8kPYh8ls-RMIP7jaaohpet8chkfY8p5hFzUPG75NkjxYY_oRQHSPSrGo4BZHb-N8FOgTz0MyE8/s400/Lace-SnowTaggart.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">The Lace Reader</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"> by Brunomia Barry</span><br /><br />Arranged and Donated by <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Read ... Eat ... Talk Bookclub</span>:<br />Becky Rohr, <a href="http://www.mariannesnow.com/default.aspx">Marianne Snow</a>, <a href="http://www.friendswhodesign.com/Decorative_Painting.html">Mary Taggart</a>, Cathy Gyurina, Donna Loews, Catherine McDonald, Marty Vatalaro and Kathy Foley<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Meet the author, </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >Brunomia Barry</span><span style="font-size:130%;">, who inspired this collaboration at the <a href="http://www.wenhammuseum.org/index.html">Wenham Museum</a> on May 9th, 2009 at 1 pm. She will be reading and signing books, plus there will be an exhibition on lace making. And be sure to come back to the museum on the weekend of May 16th – 17th between the hours of 10 am and 4 pm for the </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><a href="http://www.wenhammuseum.org/adults_programs.html">North Shore Design Show: TableScapes</a><a href="http://www.wenhammuseum.org/adults_programs.html">.</a> </span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" ><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">**I will be one of the featured designers!**</span></span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Here is an arrangement that I collaborated<br />on for the show at the Beebe...</span><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBNkqIW1cwhY9nD71ZR_S4pdtOkW2uZ-_lLpdhYOOiiNT6h91vOEcbzajPL7DqsKGfM7YHwZcwizgOYWZ9FhZxEt3RFWIf9CKLIo6fZyY6in6ToKgoUQPuqJcoUi_XTh7rg3U-PolU9Mk/s1600-h/3CupsBook.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321394198334394962" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBNkqIW1cwhY9nD71ZR_S4pdtOkW2uZ-_lLpdhYOOiiNT6h91vOEcbzajPL7DqsKGfM7YHwZcwizgOYWZ9FhZxEt3RFWIf9CKLIo6fZyY6in6ToKgoUQPuqJcoUi_XTh7rg3U-PolU9Mk/s400/3CupsBook.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >Three Cups of Tea</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> by Greg Mortenson<br />and David Oliver Relin</span><br /><br />Donated by <a href="http://gatheringchangeinc.org/">Gathering Change, Inc.</a><br />Arranged by <a href="http://gatheringchangeinc.org/html/officers___board.html">Dorothy Goodwin</a> and <a href="http://www.yvonneblacker.com/Home_Page.html">Yvonne Blacker</a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv1WkxLB_ryccG_yrVpzpamTkBq3Vw-SmcYa6ISZ7kw-e35MccLyCYXnWwfdkk8_RxUkUG_65paHb7hG9aWUF7GIy7uSF-f8DUGLqOhoO_QZCz9OKXJtXQ2ZuyY8gnKDr_8b3_7wrM6Qg/s1600-h/3CupsArrangement.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321394191769919122" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv1WkxLB_ryccG_yrVpzpamTkBq3Vw-SmcYa6ISZ7kw-e35MccLyCYXnWwfdkk8_RxUkUG_65paHb7hG9aWUF7GIy7uSF-f8DUGLqOhoO_QZCz9OKXJtXQ2ZuyY8gnKDr_8b3_7wrM6Qg/s400/3CupsArrangement.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 272px; height: 400px;" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:78%;" >Photo courtesy of Dorothy Goodwin</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">As board members of <a href="http://gatheringchangeinc.org/index.html">Gathering Change, Inc.</a>, a non-profit organization that collects spare change from local communities to support our neighbors with their basic needs, we could relate to this humanitarian best seller. Greg Mortenson’s mission to promote peace by building schools and providing education has led to improved conditions for so many, and is a testament that even small changes can make a big difference in the world. Likewise, Gathering Change has donated over $10,000 to date of collected funds to help stock local food pantries in our communities. And to think it all started less than one year ago with “a bowl of spare change.”</span><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg45rY0KVGhjdOlB184xkmmy1hVZRaBXcCyKroO5MluG2uLKdBbrBXZghZ-XvoPGDxrdgjFLEtr2tXLkJ_Sr8TSuh5YFpPnLGZguonFcdkeOdJ3UvCVxm4DHdcBygKXcdda-VUgxkV8JH0/s1600-h/RedRose.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321394193649073042" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg45rY0KVGhjdOlB184xkmmy1hVZRaBXcCyKroO5MluG2uLKdBbrBXZghZ-XvoPGDxrdgjFLEtr2tXLkJ_Sr8TSuh5YFpPnLGZguonFcdkeOdJ3UvCVxm4DHdcBygKXcdda-VUgxkV8JH0/s400/RedRose.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 349px;" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:78%;" >Photo courtesy of Dorothy Goodwin<br /><br /></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >This unique arrangement also<br />pays tribute to change ...</span><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjorzTxBxuYyuyu4g49mcMlgvM-caeeHVBobGh9P1kcLQRNRzpuLFR4GMbg9_15YYEmoMcrT1x0LqHu4JnRZxnQkoVpivkB7O6ISUrX41Q2YQOyHGNy8fBiG8akvpPwRn8FmHWf_IWCOsI/s1600-h/Obama-.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321578353410704690" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjorzTxBxuYyuyu4g49mcMlgvM-caeeHVBobGh9P1kcLQRNRzpuLFR4GMbg9_15YYEmoMcrT1x0LqHu4JnRZxnQkoVpivkB7O6ISUrX41Q2YQOyHGNy8fBiG8akvpPwRn8FmHWf_IWCOsI/s400/Obama-.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 269px; height: 400px;" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQMXM8d2Q1q0mv0PJOp18lTmsXYX7VdlaGYnNRmTingaVGApD_p1tt7VY4kZLWQJt225ug17bZeXAhSeCsJz0enBKGW10T-ufXmly9RrNTt2ROqrYN7XIUgJ8Av_oCzzTfTjQfs9j9QJQ/s1600-h/Michelle.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321579043900737938" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQMXM8d2Q1q0mv0PJOp18lTmsXYX7VdlaGYnNRmTingaVGApD_p1tt7VY4kZLWQJt225ug17bZeXAhSeCsJz0enBKGW10T-ufXmly9RrNTt2ROqrYN7XIUgJ8Av_oCzzTfTjQfs9j9QJQ/s320/Michelle.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 191px; height: 320px;" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >The Inauguration: </span><span style="font-size:130%;">Based on Michelle Obama’s<br />Inaugural Gown designed by Jason Wu</span><br /><br />Arrangement by Karen Keough<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >Love it!</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> What a great way to personify the confidence and style of our newest First Lady. And quite fitting, too, in the ballroom-like setting of the Beebe library ...</span><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIxeQjCkiNhmAOReA1fo9JtGkckXaXiU7COLQ23QziqBD6DMlQ5AETPbSV0WBD5RXNn58_YyeBm7PdHoswqmumub9yJrzrQDrovu7zbFqtV5RMyAiOZIK-VhBvZ7luiWUSj0CH3QtRFSw/s1600-h/gray:yellow-beebe.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321400041204152402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIxeQjCkiNhmAOReA1fo9JtGkckXaXiU7COLQ23QziqBD6DMlQ5AETPbSV0WBD5RXNn58_YyeBm7PdHoswqmumub9yJrzrQDrovu7zbFqtV5RMyAiOZIK-VhBvZ7luiWUSj0CH3QtRFSw/s400/gray:yellow-beebe.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 297px;" /></a><br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ2RKbmloxq30wvGEwXBUsk45m7M59u-QDWnc19CNj9PrMsjty6Txh_fAZ84Q0fv8a0-_wswQNNnZax-sklCk5P5tG_LylCuR27c0Xz3cTHAVxF1hH93bmkCeZzejws_ioq8Bub8QTlRE/s1600-h/checkerboard-beebe.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321395939242657570" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ2RKbmloxq30wvGEwXBUsk45m7M59u-QDWnc19CNj9PrMsjty6Txh_fAZ84Q0fv8a0-_wswQNNnZax-sklCk5P5tG_LylCuR27c0Xz3cTHAVxF1hH93bmkCeZzejws_ioq8Bub8QTlRE/s400/checkerboard-beebe.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">While I was taking these photos, I was captivated by the beautiful backdrop of this 1922 architectural gem in the heart of Wakefield. With a little research on the Beebe website, I discovered that this Classical Revival structure was designed by the acclaimed Gothic architect Ralph Adams Cram. Other projects of his include several buildings at Princeton University, including the chapel, the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City, and more than one hundred churches and chapels across the country.</span><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_8Yx_YjMnMWxxIeuTfhlu4GHz4A3E0ZHHBKWL02kNOP8pO02JILZf0mBjpGv24oUbnkvYP7nYEsS9EvEtzfr-69B14RVPnrcyTGog-Eaex_ixeBOXrKo1qhzGzVS1wjc2PsQpGR1KkmU/s1600-h/Red-Beebe.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321394204645874354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_8Yx_YjMnMWxxIeuTfhlu4GHz4A3E0ZHHBKWL02kNOP8pO02JILZf0mBjpGv24oUbnkvYP7nYEsS9EvEtzfr-69B14RVPnrcyTGog-Eaex_ixeBOXrKo1qhzGzVS1wjc2PsQpGR1KkmU/s400/Red-Beebe.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 293px; height: 400px;" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">More recently, the Boston architectural firm of Childs Bertman Tseckares was hired to redesign a 1969 addition to the library and to restore the original 1922 structure. Cheryl Webb Scott, a local interior designer, is credited with designing much of the interiors selection of furniture, fabrics, carpets, and color schemes. I was enamored with the ornamental swags that are a recurring motif throughout ...</span><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI9oSvDkQ5LfWoJxdN79ONj19edj8OKRuiIv6U6vb1QhzjdIKvU9svDPrfitHyLVA80CVV1HfxQo8ZtKKnBZDPH4ts6n0tbwW7NjHDw8kJLD5WPGLsHNAML8cg1ANYOsFCH8jx7ToYIE4/s1600-h/Mrs.Jack-Hylan.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321394200001540370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI9oSvDkQ5LfWoJxdN79ONj19edj8OKRuiIv6U6vb1QhzjdIKvU9svDPrfitHyLVA80CVV1HfxQo8ZtKKnBZDPH4ts6n0tbwW7NjHDw8kJLD5WPGLsHNAML8cg1ANYOsFCH8jx7ToYIE4/s400/Mrs.Jack-Hylan.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >“</span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >Mrs. Jack: A Biography of<br /><a href="http://www.gardnermuseum.org/">Isabella Stewart Gardner</a></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >”</span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">by Louise Hall Tharpe</span><br /><br />Donated by The Beebe Library and<br />The Wakefield Chamber of Commerce<br />Arranged by Beth Hylan<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">If you live in Boston and haven’t visited the Isabella Stewart Gardner museum yet, now is a great time to go. Their annual <a href="http://connect.gardnermuseum.org/site/Calendar/536294984?view=Detail&id=101881"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Hanging Nasturiums</span></a> courtyard installation, which features 20-foot long bright orange nasturtium vines cascading from balconies above is now on exhibit through mid-April. You will also discover </span><span class="bodytext" style="font-size:130%;">paintings, sculpture, tapestries, furniture, and decorative arts from cultures spanning thirty centuries.</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> Definitely worth a field trip!</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">More from the Beebe ... and floral designer Beth Hylan</span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br />(She is such a talented artist – she has helped me many times to add the finishing touch to my own design projects. She also creates custom jewelry </span><span style="font-style: italic;"><a href="http://www.friendswhodesign.com/Child.php"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Petals to Keep</span></a> out of pressed flowers.)<br /><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4z4W7qjkH0xPSJ1gtRacdwEnx9GfR_MCyo_BWLzz-L_AOJyFHR8Kk9FfB4vJzSC-wy2GTVuiHLs6pFb2jU2jBKHeYePUWX48JtfvEPUq3Oy1Um_7QJo-6FX5zARyrCdP2NA7EtXtUvlY/s1600-h/Sibleybook.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321707429213733106" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4z4W7qjkH0xPSJ1gtRacdwEnx9GfR_MCyo_BWLzz-L_AOJyFHR8Kk9FfB4vJzSC-wy2GTVuiHLs6pFb2jU2jBKHeYePUWX48JtfvEPUq3Oy1Um_7QJo-6FX5zARyrCdP2NA7EtXtUvlY/s200/Sibleybook.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 134px; height: 200px;" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTsBkQxXyunUp09jhGmp1ETYzPiOtIML3kUVrPLhSuU-rV81eW6GyAQl_w-MJCXIucL-7uEAbh5GoBu8wTS3sbd8iZUCNc2qw2GHeYU4iYGKEx8xnuqnpWO1I9zuUFsHwAZWob8wK_fxk/s1600-h/Sibley-Hylan.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321401907581054226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTsBkQxXyunUp09jhGmp1ETYzPiOtIML3kUVrPLhSuU-rV81eW6GyAQl_w-MJCXIucL-7uEAbh5GoBu8wTS3sbd8iZUCNc2qw2GHeYU4iYGKEx8xnuqnpWO1I9zuUFsHwAZWob8wK_fxk/s400/Sibley-Hylan.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" ><br />The Sibley Guide to Birds</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> by David Allen Sibley</span><br /><br />Donated and arranged by Beth Hylan<br /><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4ECi_F6HIh3dq5GOwUQM580fewGN1dhiW2y2Gx-7HYm0JNZry7EIPS_PifImE3EzK9Tk3qs4JSbKBPF-IhyphenhyphenS5dxcE1lWthpzSL-regAzPjgsHmv_xiysNnTO3laHcx5SpQ6LR-EzeDBM/s1600-h/Eggs-Hylan.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321399762789393938" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4ECi_F6HIh3dq5GOwUQM580fewGN1dhiW2y2Gx-7HYm0JNZry7EIPS_PifImE3EzK9Tk3qs4JSbKBPF-IhyphenhyphenS5dxcE1lWthpzSL-regAzPjgsHmv_xiysNnTO3laHcx5SpQ6LR-EzeDBM/s400/Eggs-Hylan.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Love this one for the eggs, love the next one for so many reasons (I am a big fan of chartreuse and have always been smitten with Bells of Ireland)</span><br /><br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikIrX8IVzvjyb2TuTZK2BlXfzMHvxadFeYGhd5B9HwXfzbDN5wqlHsYJ91NycKWkOko5jHo1QV4P0c0LIYwUsLI2Qrl-OXS6XJTPisClrjKRkVtjwhyiq0QFvAVRE2YSSVDXYbfqwkj90/s1600-h/Candle-Hylan.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321705707689534322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikIrX8IVzvjyb2TuTZK2BlXfzMHvxadFeYGhd5B9HwXfzbDN5wqlHsYJ91NycKWkOko5jHo1QV4P0c0LIYwUsLI2Qrl-OXS6XJTPisClrjKRkVtjwhyiq0QFvAVRE2YSSVDXYbfqwkj90/s400/Candle-Hylan.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 316px;" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >Light a Penny Candle </span><span style="font-size:130%;">by Maeve Binch</span><span style="font-size:130%;">y<br /><br /></span><span>Donated by The Gaffney Family<br />Arrangement by Beth Hylan</span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg8sXET133QTwugWtZwbMW1AVVGhnbo9F-jeIjuH6gN_XEXIe4YXhXhULnpPkmrqMHgSry2JxiRQL6Cqp6SNCqa4af0yUSygx_ee5BDQeWoeLuCbNXAc1PYIArv0uw-LNlyPWGUzNlm8A/s1600-h/Invitation-Hylan.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321576997041676754" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg8sXET133QTwugWtZwbMW1AVVGhnbo9F-jeIjuH6gN_XEXIe4YXhXhULnpPkmrqMHgSry2JxiRQL6Cqp6SNCqa4af0yUSygx_ee5BDQeWoeLuCbNXAc1PYIArv0uw-LNlyPWGUzNlm8A/s400/Invitation-Hylan.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 230px; height: 400px;" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;"><br />A dramatic display of blossoms</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> float<br />effortlessly in tall cylinders.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" ><a href="http://ncf.idallen.com/the_invitation.html">The Invitation</a></span><span style="font-size:130%;"> by Oriah</span><br /><br />Donated by <a href="http://www.taniasalonspa.com/clientmanager/Live/Sites/1Frame.asp?source=&cid=509&DataID=1&DataCatID=1">Tania, A Unique Salon & Spa</a><br />Arrangement by <a href="http://www.friendswhodesign.com/Child.php">Beth Hylan</a><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">I had never read the poem that weaves throughout this book, but it is now on my list of favorites!</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> An excerpt ...</span><br /></div><br /><p style="font-style: italic; text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;">“</span><span style="font-size:100%;">It doesn't interest me what you do for a living.</span></p><p style="font-style: italic; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;">I want to know what you ache for,</span></p><p style="font-style: italic; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;">and if you dare to dream of meeting your hearts longing. </span></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center; font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:100%;">It doesn't interest me how old you are.</span></p><p style="font-style: italic; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;">I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool for love,</span></p><p style="font-style: italic; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;">for your dreams, for the adventure of being alive.</span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >”</span></p><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">And finally for the kids ... and the young at heart.</span><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi24Ij-VLQDOKFE06O4FNICHDlBFBSWAT05I6yh3kcPRPmHoC3One5F23FlN_pfWq-JOXmCbppa78iXc3S2ixq2A38kjT3mKrQpCiUYjab1VaHA3EQQm8F23viWh1UNPTLgBJXWtGuhto0/s1600-h/Potter-Parker.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321395935818651442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi24Ij-VLQDOKFE06O4FNICHDlBFBSWAT05I6yh3kcPRPmHoC3One5F23FlN_pfWq-JOXmCbppa78iXc3S2ixq2A38kjT3mKrQpCiUYjab1VaHA3EQQm8F23viWh1UNPTLgBJXWtGuhto0/s400/Potter-Parker.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >The Tale of Beatrix Potter:<br />A Biography</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> by Margaret Lane</span><br /><br />Donated and arranged by Parker Florist<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">And another Potter ...</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWOWQGbs7n-aYNBAsfi0sq3-GDoG_ovNzd3FxKBZjf6HYW-D38aPB49Dm3Yx92T6h-JHrRhBBp2MNEb5r0dQbS4lRJw2zMjXo3liMpLAlYTaDDf4lf-tKlA5rp-xcDgzzLv-KRojay4IQ/s1600-h/Potter-Hylan.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321400046581907250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWOWQGbs7n-aYNBAsfi0sq3-GDoG_ovNzd3FxKBZjf6HYW-D38aPB49Dm3Yx92T6h-JHrRhBBp2MNEb5r0dQbS4lRJw2zMjXo3liMpLAlYTaDDf4lf-tKlA5rp-xcDgzzLv-KRojay4IQ/s400/Potter-Hylan.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 359px; height: 400px;" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"> by J.K. Rowling<br /><br /></span>Donated by The Beebe Library and<br />The Wakefield Chamber of Commerce<br />Arrangement by Beth Hylan<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL_eUBvGKB54UcYYeeQbhlMkNHt5wPiXfbxr_gXhBt_phXD4KdA9xW3uG74En8xuMAHAKLMQjiPvhi8wJAgtaZGoBGFpMs9ergD9kG53vy-STJYXo5wn4JYhU08dSPkqToDl-FQQN8dlI/s1600-h/Twilight.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321399755638995074" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL_eUBvGKB54UcYYeeQbhlMkNHt5wPiXfbxr_gXhBt_phXD4KdA9xW3uG74En8xuMAHAKLMQjiPvhi8wJAgtaZGoBGFpMs9ergD9kG53vy-STJYXo5wn4JYhU08dSPkqToDl-FQQN8dlI/s400/Twilight.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 338px; height: 400px;" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Check out these stunning Black Velvet roses<br />that Beth Hylan used to interpret this haunting story<br />of young love,</span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" > Twilight</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> by Stephenie Meyer</span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;">(I admit it ... I read the book </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" >and</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> watched the movie, too!)</span></div><br /><br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEislgPoacgMKBYNt4EdiDUJWw5pl9LSwx8vX3w8R-vrTt0gi4w_gxbO4jdHhv4YhyphenhyphenblmK13vuFeRLkP9iqxRXthQ-QGCaRZqKVdj9I3uDAZ1kgZin8BKKVLg8Vwf12G4alvI37HFnBEjag/s1600-h/Bee+Desk.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321400045397817314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEislgPoacgMKBYNt4EdiDUJWw5pl9LSwx8vX3w8R-vrTt0gi4w_gxbO4jdHhv4YhyphenhyphenblmK13vuFeRLkP9iqxRXthQ-QGCaRZqKVdj9I3uDAZ1kgZin8BKKVLg8Vwf12G4alvI37HFnBEjag/s400/Bee+Desk.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 350px; height: 400px;" /></a> <div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Bee-motif furnishings enchant the youth room<br />along with guests reminiscent of another time ...</span></span><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6uyA7UTG4uaDFSupfR-UJTCq316by57eCSYTcuggrdUybXgU2usEmG9561lmB3vA8rRgsKuAgDPAxw5pzRAr_mI7rzkjonmPFnmhDNz7T7fxl0zLLG-XERb93popXh2Y_N4PGLgKd_XA/s1600-h/Egyptian.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321420340385241234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6uyA7UTG4uaDFSupfR-UJTCq316by57eCSYTcuggrdUybXgU2usEmG9561lmB3vA8rRgsKuAgDPAxw5pzRAr_mI7rzkjonmPFnmhDNz7T7fxl0zLLG-XERb93popXh2Y_N4PGLgKd_XA/s200/Egyptian.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" /></a><br />thx 4 stopiN by...<br />xoxo<br />flwr grl<br /><br /><br /></div>

Flowers, books and architecture ...a few of my favorite things

Blossoms at the Beebe ... Held the weekend of March 28th, 2009to benefit the Lucius Beebe Memorial Libraryand the Wakefield Chamber of CommerceWakefield, MassachusettsIf you have been following my blog for awhile, it is no surprise that I have a thing for botanicals. Naturally inspiring, flowers add…

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