A look to the future ...

<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6T6csiA9dLPgt95B0un63DS3fJNCq-MLtgi6p7nPWETWgjj72sTPoyoeVHKsDiAO-mBIChvVmk5JmAvP_a23eUNhzesjvLjCMxyslETM6dry8I5PzCS-UCxQAzdGAeuW9tTi71CzQLbS-/s1600/2011icesculpture.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556686249800316866" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6T6csiA9dLPgt95B0un63DS3fJNCq-MLtgi6p7nPWETWgjj72sTPoyoeVHKsDiAO-mBIChvVmk5JmAvP_a23eUNhzesjvLjCMxyslETM6dry8I5PzCS-UCxQAzdGAeuW9tTi71CzQLbS-/s400/2011icesculpture.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 323px;" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Yesterday we discovered this large ice sculpture set up on the common in the center of our town. We have never had an ice sculpture greeting us on our way to and fro before. Who put it there? Will there be more? After seeing it, I could picture a whole common full of sculptures much like<a href="http://www1.whdh.com/news/articles/local/12003144940829/preparations-underway-for-first-night-in-boston/"> First Night in Boston</a>. I will let you know if I see any more pop up before midnight ...</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /></span><br /></div>

A look to the future ...

Yesterday we discovered this large ice sculpture set up on the common in the center of our town. We have never had an ice sculpture greeting us on our way to and fro before. Who put it there? Will there be more? After seeing it, I could picture a whole common full of sculptures much like First Night…

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A holiday angel ...

<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOy_TRxLTB-LuJq-Y3kOF1dYemq8N9L57i6yGP6Mlpvw6decBpCH13HOj2L1rE691X3rpGTXbpCVk9DPE0ZLFGnRNY-Nb3EvqNooASoccMq8asTxuMqUlbLl0GfyRCO-uj8C4VFvTIldD2/s1600/angel%253Aharp%253Atree.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554632109675629362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOy_TRxLTB-LuJq-Y3kOF1dYemq8N9L57i6yGP6Mlpvw6decBpCH13HOj2L1rE691X3rpGTXbpCVk9DPE0ZLFGnRNY-Nb3EvqNooASoccMq8asTxuMqUlbLl0GfyRCO-uj8C4VFvTIldD2/s400/angel%253Aharp%253Atree.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 328px; height: 400px;" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />Last Wednesday, I received the news that a friend of mine had passed away suddenly and unexpectedly from a brain aneurysm. Stacee was 41 and has left behind her husband, four young children, a large extended family and many close friends. Her passing brought together our community and put meaning behind the holiday spirit of celebrating the people who share our lives. It is still hard to imagine that she will not be with us any longer. Stacee was always extending herself to others, coordinating community events, laughing out loud at the funny day-to-day experiences that fill a life. She will be missed and remembered. </span><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqVeaALYwHF3cjbKrt5qfWh2Fm_X0EvXkiKelNcRXdRLW8KzkZ0ynoiZ6q403E1BVYO6-uvLj_fNzpQQqnN8Ke3M2rSXQ6gQRwIGS8p6w586bAt0Pp38CVwoun9akX43Wc9VXaIkShDLbP/s1600/yvonne%253Astacee.jpg"><span><span></span></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRvYjoJ1FjQ-KVTJXStnbhlQkf1Y8vSpmNnXDQHQSGRF-12tpgMJFvDvy0U4hVQoIg4eeH7kCtVTREiF9dwZ6og07nd2hLDcrr4ZyLqr8BHbvbcPiq8jRzrM9QPjMmZZfptenIpGLEYd1G/s1600/yvonne%253Astacee.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555514346904730946" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRvYjoJ1FjQ-KVTJXStnbhlQkf1Y8vSpmNnXDQHQSGRF-12tpgMJFvDvy0U4hVQoIg4eeH7kCtVTREiF9dwZ6og07nd2hLDcrr4ZyLqr8BHbvbcPiq8jRzrM9QPjMmZZfptenIpGLEYd1G/s200/yvonne%253Astacee.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 179px;" /></a><br /><br /></div>

A holiday angel ...

Last Wednesday, I received the news that a friend of mine had passed away suddenly and unexpectedly from a brain aneurysm. Stacee was 41 and has left behind her husband, four young children, a large extended family and many close friends. Her passing brought together our community and put meaning be…

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Secret Santa gifts ...

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgsusD04akfHtVryk1r0DfXZO6T7faxVvRAHCE73vA5zssbLA84vM4CDOLU4qIXfMrCSX_VxmiOe3DOhVyh5HOHGTf7GTYyl3e4m7ZsyUKu7_xLYypSyWpBH9GspJXZ1d58-wQNn1Mq8_9/s1600/holidayflowersSS.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553364864361864034" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgsusD04akfHtVryk1r0DfXZO6T7faxVvRAHCE73vA5zssbLA84vM4CDOLU4qIXfMrCSX_VxmiOe3DOhVyh5HOHGTf7GTYyl3e4m7ZsyUKu7_xLYypSyWpBH9GspJXZ1d58-wQNn1Mq8_9/s400/holidayflowersSS.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Uy1TI9YPsKgZGoK1mXRYIsgZwuO9z0AyVzy0Vn5rvYRuAKmc3xLA5Mjxks2nR7xj2e6PQ9t6kQ2eQlI2CDT8wtQHb5TgqivXGIAyprNO8-dsnd2hLBmJ92bsWXSLxzG3Az8p1UHpiMW9/s1600/FullCircleSpa%2540NEFL.jpg"></a><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgsusD04akfHtVryk1r0DfXZO6T7faxVvRAHCE73vA5zssbLA84vM4CDOLU4qIXfMrCSX_VxmiOe3DOhVyh5HOHGTf7GTYyl3e4m7ZsyUKu7_xLYypSyWpBH9GspJXZ1d58-wQNn1Mq8_9/s1600/holidayflowersSS.jpg"><br /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">After spending an afternoon running around doing holiday errands last weekend, I returned home to discover a Secret Santa had left a gorgeous arrangement of red flowers and winter greenery on our front porch. The boys were actually the first to discover the red velvet wrapped vase (so pretty!) Along with this surprise bouquet was a family of decorated ginger bread cookies (four boys, a mom and a dad) that we promptly devoured. Thank you, SS (and cookie decorating elves) for brightening our day!<br /><br />If you are looking for some last minute surprises for the people on your list, may I suggest a few? (Consider leaving flowers and treats as suggestion number one : )<br /><br /><br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkbyBDalpSDIwlDcYAEs78pEc3mTM_nbMKk4AEkiyE6hBoEDyAsx-4BowKlO5teFI7U2apuyRplcO4Ad9sCFpQ8ymTn-oRShoffIxTrpPdq4BWPWjKR6VtqLwQyW6CMXcyqiV1bVmhlSwJ/s1600/GiftBaskets%2540NEFL.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553365071745449394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkbyBDalpSDIwlDcYAEs78pEc3mTM_nbMKk4AEkiyE6hBoEDyAsx-4BowKlO5teFI7U2apuyRplcO4Ad9sCFpQ8ymTn-oRShoffIxTrpPdq4BWPWjKR6VtqLwQyW6CMXcyqiV1bVmhlSwJ/s400/GiftBaskets%2540NEFL.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">How about a basket of goodies?</span><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbTal01uJn0_OvwCIzW5Y_myg8sgynnETG3L6rRPt-1zunp1hKdDLkCkSijgFlnFF2BwErV-nDzWhOqQ2XMjsLsqyLRncT-66Hc72J2wEPoUrAwJDaqBsKzmp3X5rBhf6PFg74oB5OQ5vD/s1600/Sweaters%253ASoap%2540NEFL.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553365078390875554" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbTal01uJn0_OvwCIzW5Y_myg8sgynnETG3L6rRPt-1zunp1hKdDLkCkSijgFlnFF2BwErV-nDzWhOqQ2XMjsLsqyLRncT-66Hc72J2wEPoUrAwJDaqBsKzmp3X5rBhf6PFg74oB5OQ5vD/s400/Sweaters%253ASoap%2540NEFL.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Or something luxurious?</span><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXRzDzL-SrmEWVFPe7W4nyDUCSdmI57JqAr9N7uNu42vBXawZGX-jX3wtMcpqnS2uoXYKK0Ugl_0fgWcif4qUX9enUWJ1amlKJD4hDfa3po60tPxY2PkEn6GxPDonj6xh-ulu-fX_IrtyI/s1600/HandBags%2540NEFL.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553364874729032082" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXRzDzL-SrmEWVFPe7W4nyDUCSdmI57JqAr9N7uNu42vBXawZGX-jX3wtMcpqnS2uoXYKK0Ugl_0fgWcif4qUX9enUWJ1amlKJD4hDfa3po60tPxY2PkEn6GxPDonj6xh-ulu-fX_IrtyI/s400/HandBags%2540NEFL.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 305px;" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Perhaps something bold?</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/AVvXsEgLP7HTSxj8zNyiQRTC8Qvgg4HaHBAEBLXj0mHFmwc1jvUzPJ719GWaXVzBoa9TEBgxyJKA9RQm0NfXDScwzZGDcg4CLHVOnRsvMoBcgf4ZWT4CH84TPZYcb4RV0462Xsy_OdvErYd5eaOJ/s1600/Ceramics%2540NEFL.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553365284563180178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLP7HTSxj8zNyiQRTC8Qvgg4HaHBAEBLXj0mHFmwc1jvUzPJ719GWaXVzBoa9TEBgxyJKA9RQm0NfXDScwzZGDcg4CLHVOnRsvMoBcgf4ZWT4CH84TPZYcb4RV0462Xsy_OdvErYd5eaOJ/s400/Ceramics%2540NEFL.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Or maybe something personalized?</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/AVvXsEhxlvJJ51Q0LqrNV-Zy9WxzLv1obqoMwDQeVxG05paM5bnqMk1I1jqNldZ45ZSjZOdJS5UCAk2zsoFPun_0bxP7XQerjCHQiaCsCfFE6Tr5BtOuLNGWG4m59eLOqUgKH5E2xdBNxFMUYWIL/s1600/UniqueAntiques%2540NEFL.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553365074732146306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxlvJJ51Q0LqrNV-Zy9WxzLv1obqoMwDQeVxG05paM5bnqMk1I1jqNldZ45ZSjZOdJS5UCAk2zsoFPun_0bxP7XQerjCHQiaCsCfFE6Tr5BtOuLNGWG4m59eLOqUgKH5E2xdBNxFMUYWIL/s400/UniqueAntiques%2540NEFL.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 347px;" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Are you looking for something unexpected?</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/AVvXsEgVUQOXKMn_eN_ZwIC1WumdLqo973JzHWBHGDeMTnXujWb5GWiXZhBI87aG8mw-L6Yf4psyB8xw7gijl1FodZqH0NCkrGmNGbqkfbyQlsxg_trRYD7f2YUJrPXagw7bOyITaZvMmiV8YoDx/s1600/WallSconce%2540NEFL.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553365069244323474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVUQOXKMn_eN_ZwIC1WumdLqo973JzHWBHGDeMTnXujWb5GWiXZhBI87aG8mw-L6Yf4psyB8xw7gijl1FodZqH0NCkrGmNGbqkfbyQlsxg_trRYD7f2YUJrPXagw7bOyITaZvMmiV8YoDx/s400/WallSconce%2540NEFL.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 355px; height: 400px;" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Or would something bright and sparkly do the trick?</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/AVvXsEjchpF8mtEx7in5SA8mj_UyC2hbgy6Xs65xnPe8TsAz2zii5jtYBTezNFwaUnFMXCISBvTYPLJwTKIlmc5k2cchM2v6TCGDg5ny2QuMR2p4whyV5r87Tx7VsSLrlyHJVVZ4OETcEroyR9fS/s1600/DogRog%2540NEFL.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553365065715176402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjchpF8mtEx7in5SA8mj_UyC2hbgy6Xs65xnPe8TsAz2zii5jtYBTezNFwaUnFMXCISBvTYPLJwTKIlmc5k2cchM2v6TCGDg5ny2QuMR2p4whyV5r87Tx7VsSLrlyHJVVZ4OETcEroyR9fS/s400/DogRog%2540NEFL.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 356px;" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Something cute <span style="font-style: italic;">and</span> practical?</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/AVvXsEjwb-miNUzZP6kCpbPlfxp-n1lhKFqX2dpWaLrnQ1eRVQuhfei9SYnObL_xkR0xYkZZKaDwfpFhyphenhyphenpXDjIYM-B0yWwCs4ZAV0tUzeAlu0pLVUTlyoq-zShEfWV4Cc2xSwn40Ad9u4dqtcOPv/s1600/FlowerPins%2540NEFL.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553364879184237538" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwb-miNUzZP6kCpbPlfxp-n1lhKFqX2dpWaLrnQ1eRVQuhfei9SYnObL_xkR0xYkZZKaDwfpFhyphenhyphenpXDjIYM-B0yWwCs4ZAV0tUzeAlu0pLVUTlyoq-zShEfWV4Cc2xSwn40Ad9u4dqtcOPv/s400/FlowerPins%2540NEFL.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 333px; height: 400px;" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Or maybe just “a little something?”</span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXRzDzL-SrmEWVFPe7W4nyDUCSdmI57JqAr9N7uNu42vBXawZGX-jX3wtMcpqnS2uoXYKK0Ugl_0fgWcif4qUX9enUWJ1amlKJD4hDfa3po60tPxY2PkEn6GxPDonj6xh-ulu-fX_IrtyI/s1600/HandBags%2540NEFL.jpg"><br /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaKX20YNcfifoFbwxUqIyeiVaNEkcKewUmaPqAM7WYTDX0w8rJEfWFHVQbZqr1ZD6gHZT4hzE13dF1m1yDt8uhWxLdi6BSi2G_Pfl98JRp8wlhisWVxAmK1qkXZuEAswTSm_flo9Q-YG6F/s1600/CocktailAttire%2540NEFL.jpg"><span><span></span></span></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSCkC0NpN2c9sj7aXaLo0rvNT7-EX2K1vcsOUG7TUROYQyhoXk6JzLrtmKzvQqpiqwI4z1vXsxnKZeNv-OmTsDTsLInKzh99i1poQLYBQvRuNDlqKrjknNljRnhg5-POwLXJ0N9sy2ITTz/s1600/yvonnebdesigns%2540NEFL.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553364865449942082" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSCkC0NpN2c9sj7aXaLo0rvNT7-EX2K1vcsOUG7TUROYQyhoXk6JzLrtmKzvQqpiqwI4z1vXsxnKZeNv-OmTsDTsLInKzh99i1poQLYBQvRuNDlqKrjknNljRnhg5-POwLXJ0N9sy2ITTz/s400/yvonnebdesigns%2540NEFL.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">All of these items can be found at <span style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.newenglandfineliving.com/retailstore.html">New England Fine Living</a> </span>along with some one-of-a-kind items from my design collections (while supplies last ; )</span><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN9EfzIaRyzwA1rT_zmI1R1UFiWBtuOO3BOwpI71gIGP7sdRQE7VOEkNsr4glSuJtRNCbQMraruWbDH8a7hvcR6IOAIPYBRln-OWgkpSV5xBcZXXQP-KOeFEkNm7pr1JEl5wOqwu8aC3hO/s1600/Perfume%2540NEFL.jpg"><span><span></span></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf4HsSuxgd8UTEaoKzgYXGzhJ1AwvnrAn5UDXl_N8p_PVtYjfKHe4pJeLpY1oUoArSsWGyNuj1IDIwn4nSK5VxY8qOBJ569Zmk1wn9wv0Xn55A_xyDbTh79d9uFKXdDh-d0tnb8adcRuEP/s1600/AngDynasty%2540NEFL.jpg"><span><span></span></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWXVH1hoJoEhUKirkPhSQJksUX7ISufLP6IGqoYJBt59h3cJp4Z-haLpAQKyAFdtmipfGxEQ6_8oG0G8FuFkcHA-75rCdUI4plTmSsruaag5RQB2Baxp8EIZ82QLNmPzTpJvLO8FojSMse/s1600/Accessories%2540NEFL.jpg"><br /></a>

Secret Santa gifts ...

After spending an afternoon running around doing holiday errands last weekend, I returned home to discover a Secret Santa had left a gorgeous arrangement of red flowers and winter greenery on our front porch. The boys were actually the first to discover the red velvet wrapped vase (so pretty!) Along…

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Setting a holiday table at the BDC

<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNeUL8w6BUyYPgbbxF2K933qAUoByioGpQMYCV9GYIc7JuYsNBL-E5HxTXyY-XDPPPKUZm1JJq4bzJ6extJRdE_YbUPzi-1i3NAPgqNZBk2uT_KMRJ3TN3gQ0B9kXcljUqutiKzcGJwEXX/s1600/BarCart%2540BDC.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552144144650083778" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNeUL8w6BUyYPgbbxF2K933qAUoByioGpQMYCV9GYIc7JuYsNBL-E5HxTXyY-XDPPPKUZm1JJq4bzJ6extJRdE_YbUPzi-1i3NAPgqNZBk2uT_KMRJ3TN3gQ0B9kXcljUqutiKzcGJwEXX/s400/BarCart%2540BDC.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 367px; height: 400px;" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Mix natural elements with a generous serving of shiny objects, add a dash of artistic details along with a shot of traditional touches, and your holiday setting is sure to sparkle!</span> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />Last week I attended a <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.bostondesign.com/">Boston Design Center</a> lecture and presentation featuring holiday table settings as influenced by <a href="http://www.historicnewengland.org/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Historic New England</span></a> properties and collections. The table settings were displayed on the 6th floor of the BDC, where the yearly <span style="font-weight: bold;">Dream Home</span> event takes place (<a href="http://www.bostondesign.com/dreamhome/2008/tour/tour-library.php?id=01#a">click here</a> after reading this post to see views of designed spaces<br />from previous shows).<br /></span></div><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBYetn3kULz9nyl9mS-WqbgRFeAWrHUBQ7sLCjHqIS-8n_XhNh7zEskBLkIqlr17EwWn0M3RMlxUr_1Kn_0rxF3tl-1BBwvYZzz2szvZEx_SM_2hbdGV_uyRjuoajhwxbWzLBSthyphenhyphen3Y6PD/s1600/Neptune1%253AGropius%2540BDC.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552144136945974354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBYetn3kULz9nyl9mS-WqbgRFeAWrHUBQ7sLCjHqIS-8n_XhNh7zEskBLkIqlr17EwWn0M3RMlxUr_1Kn_0rxF3tl-1BBwvYZzz2szvZEx_SM_2hbdGV_uyRjuoajhwxbWzLBSthyphenhyphen3Y6PD/s400/Neptune1%253AGropius%2540BDC.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">One of three tablescapes on display at the BDC</span> </div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.historicnewengland.org/historic-properties/homes/Gropius%20House/photographic-tour-of-gropius-house/Dining%20room/view"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552148814895331010" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo-GX9_Y7VsrioLDyDpLLpT2hDumcc4sAoa5bx-jmTk_h8EYXV4cs_T3DQMi1xZXePL0WthAUqVsI9gDgHbrp4IrLKUrP_9eX9QuA792zo0N4OG5wpGsqAlV2USby6aBme4EZrYnqm5Scj/s400/GropiusDiningRoomHistoricNE.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 308px;" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">A Bauhaus-influenced Dining Room, circa 1938</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">The Gropius House</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> of Lincoln, Massachusetts</span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;">{Photo from </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.historicnewengland.org/historic-properties/homes/Gropius%20House/photographic-tour-of-gropius-house/Dining%20room/view">Historic New England</a><span style="font-style: italic;"> website}</span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><a href="http://www.historicnewengland.org/historic-properties/homes/Gropius%20House"><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Gropius House</span></a> was the inspiration behind one of the three modernly-festive tablecapes.<span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Gropius House</span> was the New England home of Walter Gropius, founder of the German design school known as the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bauhaus"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Bauhaus</span></a>, and his family members from 1938 to 1983. His wife, Ise, willed the property to <span style="font-weight: bold;">Historic New England</span> (at the time it was called <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities</span>) to be used as an historic house museum. Wendy Hubbard of <span style="font-weight: bold;">Historic New England</span> presented numerous images of this unique property including this view of its modern dining room. Note the pair of <a href="http://www.dwr.com/category/designers/v-z/sori-yanagi.do">Sori Yanagi Butterfly Stools</a> by the fireplace, leather and chrome chairs by <a href="http://www.dwr.com/category/designers/a-c/marcel-breuer.do">Marcel Breuer</a>, and the round <a href="http://www.dwr.com/category/designers/r-t/eero+saarinen.do">Eero Saarinen</a> tulip table which were loosely interpretted with modern design pieces from the BDC, along with items from the <a href="http://www.historicnewengland.org/shop/collection-of-reproductions">collection of reproductions</a> offered for purchase through<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Historic New England</span>.</span><br /><br /><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhulejC71Zb88tq7jWUIqQtoIA7DAqfpKzbiu8BGJpZUe8yB_cAV7b2RhcyHcm7CL-NlLTu4Pe1G0X_3N9p5arq-xcXJ1DG4YDkP3bmSeBYaSOFoz-jN_MHlESOTN9acUSGVZ9zwKtMZvvj/s1600/GropiusTableSetting%2540BDC.jpg"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhulejC71Zb88tq7jWUIqQtoIA7DAqfpKzbiu8BGJpZUe8yB_cAV7b2RhcyHcm7CL-NlLTu4Pe1G0X_3N9p5arq-xcXJ1DG4YDkP3bmSeBYaSOFoz-jN_MHlESOTN9acUSGVZ9zwKtMZvvj/s1600/GropiusTableSetting%2540BDC.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552145667344605090" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhulejC71Zb88tq7jWUIqQtoIA7DAqfpKzbiu8BGJpZUe8yB_cAV7b2RhcyHcm7CL-NlLTu4Pe1G0X_3N9p5arq-xcXJ1DG4YDkP3bmSeBYaSOFoz-jN_MHlESOTN9acUSGVZ9zwKtMZvvj/s400/GropiusTableSetting%2540BDC.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Placemats were fashioned out of “Shoot for the Moon” wallpaper reproduced by <a href="http://www.historicnewengland.org/shop/collection-of-reproductions/the-christopher-norman-collection-2013-waterhouse-wallhangings">Christopher Norman</a> for </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Historic New England,</span> </span><span style="font-size:130%;">and the outside was brought in with this table from <a href="http://www.bostondesign.com/showrooms/janus-et-cie/overview/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Janus et Cie</span></a> adorned with fresh cut greens, pine cones and faux bois silver candlesticks. Simple black and white ceramic Japanese place settings, as favored by Gropius, complete this modern winter tablescape. </span><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg266scfyINithMQhhIvAk7jJs0nAMu6F9O-l7GrMIwYAkvx8SSjKNfJ_aZHau1gDdqEy8T-CHJ54c9tCJIlJuM1AJzKfPLF7aj2W-CGd3dEObVPkMB2kashNXCejBUTLGykGHpzGdymixC/s1600/Neptune1%253Afeathertrees%2540BDC.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552144264265330578" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg266scfyINithMQhhIvAk7jJs0nAMu6F9O-l7GrMIwYAkvx8SSjKNfJ_aZHau1gDdqEy8T-CHJ54c9tCJIlJuM1AJzKfPLF7aj2W-CGd3dEObVPkMB2kashNXCejBUTLGykGHpzGdymixC/s400/Neptune1%253Afeathertrees%2540BDC.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 328px; height: 400px;" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />In the second two vignettes, designers <a href="http://www.n1studios.com/about.html">Susan Newberg and Phylllis Tracy</a> of <a href="http://www.n1studios.com/home.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Neptune 1 Studios</span></a> showcased pieces from their collections of decoupaged plates inspired by historical wall-coverings.</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/AVvXsEjrgpnnBDA0Tf5jUd1EIZHnlccXW2Z17WgMWDsz59LPDmZZLaHUEMA1AamteCguGhO60ScdnaInYh96RdvoMld0HYbpRFghFe8g3r4bvqp4Ga1buIwnPt7ES4OFBXPuO478_x3hYPZOFlah/s1600/NavyWallpaper%253ANeptune1%2540BDC.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552144133652712162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrgpnnBDA0Tf5jUd1EIZHnlccXW2Z17WgMWDsz59LPDmZZLaHUEMA1AamteCguGhO60ScdnaInYh96RdvoMld0HYbpRFghFe8g3r4bvqp4Ga1buIwnPt7ES4OFBXPuO478_x3hYPZOFlah/s400/NavyWallpaper%253ANeptune1%2540BDC.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp4PwVjTdSep5589CeiA-mE4DjSvBzb0t0Aam0vHh0_EtVR2cR4Shx3Os_Ooij7JeOhyV1vqF922o7EWbQfx1RTxbCKE7apxuUOqjSjZiHzj75p469LtbOv_4J7QsSzTdtJfyopNpexULR/s1600/LeeMansionCollection%2540BDC.jpg"><br /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">The dark blue colorway of “Shoot the Moon” provides a rich backdrop to this table setting featuring plates designed with scenic images captured from the 18th-century English wallpaper that still adorns the <a href="http://www.marbleheadmuseum.org/LeeMansion.htm">Jerimiah Lee Mansion</a> in Marblehead, Massachusetts.<br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp4PwVjTdSep5589CeiA-mE4DjSvBzb0t0Aam0vHh0_EtVR2cR4Shx3Os_Ooij7JeOhyV1vqF922o7EWbQfx1RTxbCKE7apxuUOqjSjZiHzj75p469LtbOv_4J7QsSzTdtJfyopNpexULR/s1600/LeeMansionCollection%2540BDC.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552198916975639218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp4PwVjTdSep5589CeiA-mE4DjSvBzb0t0Aam0vHh0_EtVR2cR4Shx3Os_Ooij7JeOhyV1vqF922o7EWbQfx1RTxbCKE7apxuUOqjSjZiHzj75p469LtbOv_4J7QsSzTdtJfyopNpexULR/s400/LeeMansionCollection%2540BDC.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 396px; height: 400px;" /></a><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPNo6HkD1dcjkkSXMZP2try_7Ro3IFtFMRRi0u3lverRw1tnVSmYF3kiOXBnicbr_rciBMkKF199ci5iY-yff9dm9UHUd4F-bUrR4hlpkJ568Wy2KFUNb_r7jyYBfFmJTts_0pNWCAFfQv/s1600/Susan%253ARoseanne.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552144784694319602" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPNo6HkD1dcjkkSXMZP2try_7Ro3IFtFMRRi0u3lverRw1tnVSmYF3kiOXBnicbr_rciBMkKF199ci5iY-yff9dm9UHUd4F-bUrR4hlpkJ568Wy2KFUNb_r7jyYBfFmJTts_0pNWCAFfQv/s320/Susan%253ARoseanne.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 296px;" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />Susan Newberg, whose graphic design expertise has brought new-life to these historic wall-coverings, is pictured here with designer <a href="http://thefocusondesign.blogspot.com/">Rosanne Palazola</a>. All of us have design pieces represented at <a href="http://www.newenglandfineliving.com/retailstore.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">New England Fine Living</span></a> in Middleton, Massachusetts. </span><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNX-vdDrWrWXVvuAg69-1Ou9dxCSygVObqQFt63MDyRwsveLglNLJKppu4u8zCyWijskx23RQQ7V-3WTp4Qh_2wcBoiK20s0a7gCB_4WFe_-Q_P1LYafY5Dq2M_nrnerty-KztRzi1lESm/s1600/NancyFaye%253APhyllis%2540BDC.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552144268266022354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNX-vdDrWrWXVvuAg69-1Ou9dxCSygVObqQFt63MDyRwsveLglNLJKppu4u8zCyWijskx23RQQ7V-3WTp4Qh_2wcBoiK20s0a7gCB_4WFe_-Q_P1LYafY5Dq2M_nrnerty-KztRzi1lESm/s400/NancyFaye%253APhyllis%2540BDC.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Nancy Faye Glass (a design friend of mine that I met while working on <a href="http://designvignettes.blogspot.com/2009/09/stevens-estate-receives-design-update.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Stevens Estate</span></a> in North Andover) and Phyllis Tracy are both wearing designer fashions from the <span style="font-weight: bold;">Peabody Essex Museum</span> <a href="http://www.pemshop.com/">boutique</a>. I recognized Nancy’s black and white wool dress-coat as a piece from the <a href="http://designvignettes.blogspot.com/2009/12/show-of-fashion.html">Iris Apfel</a> collection.</span></div><br /><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO_Mf81ow_pja6eA2NDi0k7ezcqB-FutQ5mpoQOYZBj10Fl3ojf6GNHFMNkjosKT_v6BjacdvbeRNJMFSwPHi6wYwU9eqwyHZdO3Bta3MnwJSE-Hc2MtmJkXT4-SZ2ewCrYsB5HdivGwYA/s1600/Neptune1-holidaysetting%2540BDC.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552144130118601234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO_Mf81ow_pja6eA2NDi0k7ezcqB-FutQ5mpoQOYZBj10Fl3ojf6GNHFMNkjosKT_v6BjacdvbeRNJMFSwPHi6wYwU9eqwyHZdO3Bta3MnwJSE-Hc2MtmJkXT4-SZ2ewCrYsB5HdivGwYA/s400/Neptune1-holidaysetting%2540BDC.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 310px; height: 400px;" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Iris would love this third table setting adorned with birds, feathers, and jewel-toned glassware and botanicals. The plates are designed with sectional representations of the pretty and bright floral paper that graces the walls of one of the glamorous rooms in the <a href="http://www.historicnewengland.org/historic-properties/homes/Beauport">Beauport Sleeper-McCann House</a> in Gloucester, Massachusetts. Interior decorator <a href="http://www.themagazineantiques.com/articles/the-hidden-magic-of-henry-davis-sleepers-beauport/">Henry Davis Sleeper</a> actually designed homes for members of Hollywood’s elite including Joan Crawford. His design sensibility was intelligently whimsical and theatrical.<br /><br />I am putting “visit the <span style="font-weight: bold;">Beauport</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">”</span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">on my 2011 to-do list!<br /><br /><br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhusxQ42YsAS5Y_1bXHFa_bVPQ5MClcJdR-hbDau3qq_oz7fV4Z86NhFt9-2M0Fg4-1vOlpjSqBJ9TTQX3Xc6rugUK7mGp9SX8FhZIQm3xcOdMPim9BR07l71FtAH6WYXEhqfm3tmd7dnMP/s1600/Neptune1%2540MartinGroupBDC.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552144147919907234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhusxQ42YsAS5Y_1bXHFa_bVPQ5MClcJdR-hbDau3qq_oz7fV4Z86NhFt9-2M0Fg4-1vOlpjSqBJ9TTQX3Xc6rugUK7mGp9SX8FhZIQm3xcOdMPim9BR07l71FtAH6WYXEhqfm3tmd7dnMP/s400/Neptune1%2540MartinGroupBDC.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Neptune 1 Studios</span> <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.n1studios.com/bea.html">Decor Chinois Collection</a> is available at <a href="http://www.bostondesign.com/showrooms/the-martin-group-inc/overview/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Martin Group</span></a> at the <span style="font-weight: bold;">Boston Design Center</span> and online through <a href="http://www.historicnewengland.org/shop/collection-of-reproductions/neptune-1-studios"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Historic New England</span></a>. <a href="http://www.n1studios.com/purchase.html">Click here</a> for more retail locations.</span><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFohvsbZg_OOpvnjB3RAti4X4cwA_wcjHgJ-eqRhAXD8wHJn5WpfVEGeIKbQRm2Ly0QQSGoKTh2JBZ61yeAJZSeSnMd8Hfsnke8ZkKqoy1ziyu_8UsASDB3HNX_mRwph_HcjvzGbsJuUR1/s1600/Neptune1%2540NEFL.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552146369888862098" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFohvsbZg_OOpvnjB3RAti4X4cwA_wcjHgJ-eqRhAXD8wHJn5WpfVEGeIKbQRm2Ly0QQSGoKTh2JBZ61yeAJZSeSnMd8Hfsnke8ZkKqoy1ziyu_8UsASDB3HNX_mRwph_HcjvzGbsJuUR1/s400/Neptune1%2540NEFL.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 307px;" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Neptune 1 Studios at New England Fine Living:<br /><a href="http://www.n1studios.com/frost.html">JOJ Frost Collection</a> and <a href="http://www.n1studios.com/mansion.html">The Lee Mansion Collection</a> </span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4HMdIsHZJMO4PHK78zJIociJ3BR4aECxjoaHusOMjHZztXjPeC-omOL-amjCPqB_NY6ZhFSk7dvxZX3Ha0bUT2QnmXyyQyXyGoHdU4pTk6wfI_F8pZnpM5b2mwLlvLDkxsy_VKr9esZ8D/s1600/NEFLneptune1%253Awall.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552146785421883618" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4HMdIsHZJMO4PHK78zJIociJ3BR4aECxjoaHusOMjHZztXjPeC-omOL-amjCPqB_NY6ZhFSk7dvxZX3Ha0bUT2QnmXyyQyXyGoHdU4pTk6wfI_F8pZnpM5b2mwLlvLDkxsy_VKr9esZ8D/s400/NEFLneptune1%253Awall.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Neptune 1 Studio’s <a href="http://www.n1studios.com/bowen.html">Ashley Bowen Collection</a><br />is also available at New England Fine Living</span> </div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span><br /><a href="http://www.n1studios.com/custom.html">Contact <span style="font-weight: bold;">Neptune 1 Studios</span></a> if you are interested in carrying their line or commissioning a piece.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />If you are in the design profession in the New England area and are interested in learning more about <span style="font-weight: bold;">Historic New England</span> and their curated collections, they have a new design group membership that includes visits to the historic properties on their register among other benefits. For more details on the<span style="font-weight: bold;"> Ogden Codman Design Group Membership </span><a href="http://www.historicnewengland.org/membership-support/membership/membershipcategories/ogden-codman-design-group">click here.</a><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a href="http://www.historicnewengland.org/publications/historic-new-england-magazine"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552248476869209890" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAl9A31k2c0Lr5y7rdcMfLPc4RH0322ejFS7uLTHr4ht9rDbQlk4d6Q1XHxqa6U3gn2SxoWtQRyekLJUI3YdhKrVCClqoHb8Vjt9jrF30VZwlNrMEVhPGAUjLU0s1SM-z30CF7oiKWPS10/s400/HistoricNEmagazines.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 258px;" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">{Images from <a href="http://www.historicnewengland.org/publications/historic-new-england-magazine">Historic New England</a> website}</span></span><br /><br />For a wealth of information on historical architecture and design in New England, </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><a href="http://www.historicnewengland.org/publications/historic-new-england-magazine">click here</a> to </span><span style="font-size:130%;">view past issues of <span style="font-weight: bold;">Historic New England Magazine</span> online.<span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span><a href="http://www.historicnewengland.org/publications/historic-new-england-magazine"></a></span><br /><br /><br /></div>

Setting a holiday table at the BDC

Mix natural elements with a generous serving of shiny objects, add a dash of artistic details along with a shot of traditional touches, and your holiday setting is sure to sparkle! Last week I attended a Boston Design Center lecture and presentation featuring holiday table settings as influenced by …

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Simple holiday containers

<span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrx7q_ThaTCTEtytC-g8_ov1C4FHD7kcu6BDd_8kk_lJiJH1X7zivNTjlQF511kTRx5PjfVZRMvnJMp_OLOiTMfj0XpHgS66cYNp16VwxWC-JbqyqL3OqmW5zS44GboVp2moPQKEVyIz5c/s1600/applesinwoodbowl.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551106815953640226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrx7q_ThaTCTEtytC-g8_ov1C4FHD7kcu6BDd_8kk_lJiJH1X7zivNTjlQF511kTRx5PjfVZRMvnJMp_OLOiTMfj0XpHgS66cYNp16VwxWC-JbqyqL3OqmW5zS44GboVp2moPQKEVyIz5c/s400/applesinwoodbowl.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Shiny red and green apples in a rustic wooden bowl.<br />Design credit goes to a friend of mine from the<br />Village Garden Club who displayed<br />this at our holiday party.<br /><br /></span><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii8_VwnmUJq9_m5VVLqaEYgabVGfPn73pRq7DXl9hSa55158x6V7HzkZY93CBAaU-oo4ZI89mw7KweYvr3cd203JP4pizXYncQ6UhJIZkXmhg1n2kez8Hot05njbY9S9KKqIKJ5ArELl5i/s1600/poinsettia-greenery%253Acropped.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550397057042947490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii8_VwnmUJq9_m5VVLqaEYgabVGfPn73pRq7DXl9hSa55158x6V7HzkZY93CBAaU-oo4ZI89mw7KweYvr3cd203JP4pizXYncQ6UhJIZkXmhg1n2kez8Hot05njbY9S9KKqIKJ5ArELl5i/s400/poinsettia-greenery%253Acropped.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 237px; height: 400px;" /></a></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >An easy arrangement that I created with<br />two small poinsettia plants, some freshly cut<br />evergreens, and twigs spray painted white.</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div> <span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></span>It is a daunting task to undertake holiday decorating while in the midst of house renovations, so I am trying to keep things simple this year. Since late last week, we have had a very good house painter here, taking care of <a href="http://designvignettes.blogspot.com/2010/10/10-weeks-10-projects.html">number 8</a> on my 10 week to-do list. He has been great ... he shows up each morning at 9am and often stays well past 5pm if he is in the middle of finishing up something. So far, he has painted the foyer ceiling, the 2nd floor hallway ceiling, the 3rd floor hall ceiling, 9 doors with trim, baseboard, stair risers and walls. He probably has one or two more days left before finishing up. I have been doing my best to keep the kids out of his way while he works (not always easy as we are down to one bathroom which is right in the middle of his work zone.) After the new year, expect lots of pictures of newly decorated spaces!<br /><br />If you live in my area and know <a href="http://www.friendswhodesign.com/Friends_I_refer_..html">Chris LoConte</a>, I highly recommend him! I will be posting more about his<br />work at a later date (but please don’t try to<br />book him till he is finished here : )<br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKFZ-kh2OWXoZQ3GM62-DZIH-FuTGvd4n3o8LvztIJuCMfChqGOcL812_FxlwagZTSY8IFVVIiLxEt19lb_y8_0vjANRP3Y7yjQBiTbpz57ZZNA2JQY9aYe1-lXO3E18AwKKdqpx4DSyP4/s1600/porchcontainer12.10.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551111555540256354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKFZ-kh2OWXoZQ3GM62-DZIH-FuTGvd4n3o8LvztIJuCMfChqGOcL812_FxlwagZTSY8IFVVIiLxEt19lb_y8_0vjANRP3Y7yjQBiTbpz57ZZNA2JQY9aYe1-lXO3E18AwKKdqpx4DSyP4/s400/porchcontainer12.10.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 302px;" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >My pair of <a href="http://designvignettes.blogspot.com/2010/10/minimalist-fall-planter.html">porch containers</a> got winterized by surrounding the small potted boxwoods with cut greens and rose hips from my garden.</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzCqcju6YVH3g9AVRVFR0d9LnkGfQnzv7OoRE_Vt6MLwSiW0FGVyNe3O4lA-X7T0KzRrN824JQlQAIMTiS9wW_E9Z8MarAyBkQtypk12t8xlLYfb9KZmEJZ27nHLxSBz8S6WAZJgJSAwaD/s1600/xmastree-arrangement.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550399589577687074" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzCqcju6YVH3g9AVRVFR0d9LnkGfQnzv7OoRE_Vt6MLwSiW0FGVyNe3O4lA-X7T0KzRrN824JQlQAIMTiS9wW_E9Z8MarAyBkQtypk12t8xlLYfb9KZmEJZ27nHLxSBz8S6WAZJgJSAwaD/s400/xmastree-arrangement.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 317px; height: 400px;" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >Organic pine cones in a glass hurricane<br />are paired with a brightly colored<br />peacock feather and sparkly lights.</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:180%;"><br /><br />Later this week, check out <a href="http://lynnfield.patch.com/columns/living-in-lynnfield">Patch.com</a><br />for my next column featuring the<br />12 top holiday bargains I found<br />at <a href="http://www.christmastreeshops.com/">The Christmas Tree Shop</a>.<br /></span><br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center; font-style: italic;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm-D4SScD3XS0YznyhhHGgBwZ0RlS5KpRwls9DDs1AOjn8ka60h4jOZGZdOR6qQE7z95fxaEl6Fqa6n9cw2SsJG-9gtd22_GmaeqtloL8LehF6J3vtWB3Zfr5wbJ_ZKvdPMqDdZGUjW0wZ/s1600/ribboncandyinjar.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550399873636119122" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm-D4SScD3XS0YznyhhHGgBwZ0RlS5KpRwls9DDs1AOjn8ka60h4jOZGZdOR6qQE7z95fxaEl6Fqa6n9cw2SsJG-9gtd22_GmaeqtloL8LehF6J3vtWB3Zfr5wbJ_ZKvdPMqDdZGUjW0wZ/s400/ribboncandyinjar.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 294px; height: 400px;" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">If using candy as a decoration,<br />be prepared to refill!<br /></span></div><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgk-tJeMA6lToEhT5vUvbiVkTuDLNMToBVXL27JuG3-QM5gOQ2B121i8uuGCpEdU2Mc_y0E1twLQ_inZunEEYYinYunZ7sxGDgBls4UjGgCPlIhbB1yEkbOjqzKx88Fg-B9VnbVySw8Cof/s1600/danversbooutique-winter.jpg"><br /></a></span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLBk752h0iDFr2-xtzNGRP9wDt_oGrJCZJVg40YVzFi2cfqFhF21cilbUc6FTcCIpCXVM82ZxsI7UHCCjt6noHnTy1EyC45iZBQRGCAbcopR1AEbdsLvw5ESv6zeOorF7DkmIQz-1j20Hr/s1600/bertfordwinterwhite10.jpg"><span><span></span></span></a>

Simple holiday containers

Shiny red and green apples in a rustic wooden bowl.Design credit goes to a friend of mine from theVillage Garden Club who displayedthis at our holiday party.An easy arrangement that I created withtwo small poinsettia plants, some freshly cutevergreens, and twigs spray painted white. It is a daunting…

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A “slow home” gets a new room

<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1dL4rSNQxeXhFFrojT_uxNBRTFeOOHCewpIyQ7pz1ulsyvyzVunaTK6f0QRDMuGbVmXS84tBXzy3VomcFeapAvv0M_yu7MB_CV2owyzLPwlgECJ-481n9RY_HZTKnohzyXru5vIvxhWsX/s1600/grapevine+1st+winter.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548473543557332898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1dL4rSNQxeXhFFrojT_uxNBRTFeOOHCewpIyQ7pz1ulsyvyzVunaTK6f0QRDMuGbVmXS84tBXzy3VomcFeapAvv0M_yu7MB_CV2owyzLPwlgECJ-481n9RY_HZTKnohzyXru5vIvxhWsX/s400/grapevine+1st+winter.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 296px;" /></a><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">2004: First winter in our New England “farmhouse</span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">”</span></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><span style="font-size:130%;">We live in an old house. Built in 1904, it was at one time a dairy farm with a large barn and around 15 acres of land. All but two of these acres were sold to other parties</span><span style="font-size:130%;">, with some deeded to the town as conservation land, a large section was developed and is now a street with a handful of homes, and the last six acres belongs to a neighbor behind me. Those six acres were scheduled to be a development of homes, but many of the acres were determined to be conservation land so the project stopped at just one. Knowing that someone could not build behind us or next to us was one of the main reasons we felt this property would be a worthwhile investment. It can be quite unnerving to buy a home in a neighborhood that you fall in love with, only to look out your window one day and<br />see the landscape change before your eyes!<br /><br /><br /></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIaak73Ws4BD6JnfM2bzCLL9kdOO6hglLtejHV-NMFZ6bPOuOm2Aq_MyAhzeilK4q1uc3UZ8bCeUOILmfBZcypikbGfgIJZ0I5660oWoBAaTTYLMNt2s2lylT51lFDCeuw7H5565FoBkCm/s1600/originalBRwallpaper.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548477714004350562" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIaak73Ws4BD6JnfM2bzCLL9kdOO6hglLtejHV-NMFZ6bPOuOm2Aq_MyAhzeilK4q1uc3UZ8bCeUOILmfBZcypikbGfgIJZ0I5660oWoBAaTTYLMNt2s2lylT51lFDCeuw7H5565FoBkCm/s400/originalBRwallpaper.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0); font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >We bought our current house in spite of<br />room-after-room of dated wallpaper.<br />Today I wish we had saved more<br />of it then just this swatch.</span><br /></div><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">There were other reasons that we fell<br />head-over-heels for </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">this property:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">1.</span> It felt like a “town and country</span><span style="font-size:130%;">”</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> home, located within walking distance to the center of town and most of the schools, yet the backyard felt like a rustic retreat from modern day.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">2.</span> Our house is situated in a way that it gets full sun<br />in the backyard with lots of great interior light throughout the day. Shaded farmer porches in front are a welcome place to sit. Tall evergreens stand at<br />the properties edges, adding both privacy and<br />natural beauty.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">3.</span> This home is bigger than our last house, but still manageable in size, with plenty of room to grow<br />(barn will one day be a family room, over garage will one day be office space ... )<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">4.</span> The dining room probably sold us. We did not have a formal dining room in our last house that was big enough for our young family, let alone for entertaining guests. This dining room is plenty big and is centrally located in the perfect spot to enjoy it every day, not just on holidays.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">5.</span> While we realized some areas could use increased storage and energy-efficiency, we figured we redesigned our last home — how hard would it be<br />to do it again???<br /><br /><br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNuhbq4X9ziBBacnZT2Ie2JoOG7pFlbZjaJwr053ayoYfXn17c5qz9ud533quDBt45IRQCJ7ou_WQBqUzjqukJe3xroMPu3faNXHdzZ-bXGBwv1DPV_xCZ65ZvomM2i40W7rW-hTxz2vUv/s1600/bird+in+nest_YBlacker.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548426702644306786" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNuhbq4X9ziBBacnZT2Ie2JoOG7pFlbZjaJwr053ayoYfXn17c5qz9ud533quDBt45IRQCJ7ou_WQBqUzjqukJe3xroMPu3faNXHdzZ-bXGBwv1DPV_xCZ65ZvomM2i40W7rW-hTxz2vUv/s400/bird+in+nest_YBlacker.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 339px;" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;"> <span style="font-weight: bold;">If only feathering our nest was this easy!</span></span> </div><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />Well of course it has taken us much longer this time around to complete our home renovation projects. When we were working on our last home we raised the roof before we had any children, started our kitchen addition when we were expecting number two, finished new kitchen and bath by the time number three came around, and then finally got around to all the final details just in time to put it on the market and simultaneously find out number four was scheduled to arrive six months after closing on our new home. To say it has been a challenge to renovate with four little ones under foot is to put it mildly! And as our little ones have grown, our visions for our current home have changed at about the same pace. When we were surrounded with babies, we needed to be close at hand, but now we have a bit more breathing room ...<br /><br /><br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRuO9n-9bzXh9ektF86rS8YPJ6DcQRutpwiMS5Otq2dziauYki19IQeMc7JD82SF3afF3rh2A9vYLgypqCLyVwfy5BDLeL680eWhJYnDOlRDTNwXrp72y51RjHvoVwyAj41FJegMN7-LJK/s1600/chair%253Awindow%253AnewBR.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548427930186551634" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRuO9n-9bzXh9ektF86rS8YPJ6DcQRutpwiMS5Otq2dziauYki19IQeMc7JD82SF3afF3rh2A9vYLgypqCLyVwfy5BDLeL680eWhJYnDOlRDTNwXrp72y51RjHvoVwyAj41FJegMN7-LJK/s400/chair%253Awindow%253AnewBR.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 356px;" /></a><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">A sneak peek of our newly completed master bedroom.</span><br /></div><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />Today I am happy to report that as of last night we have officially finished one of the major renovations that has been on our construction “<a href="http://designvignettes.blogspot.com/2010/10/10-weeks-10-projects.html">to-do</a></span><span style="font-size:130%;">”</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> list ... the master bedroom that we built from scratch is a reality! </span><span style="font-size:130%;">What was once an inaccessible attic space is now a brand new room with a new set of stairs, new carpet, freshly painted new walls and it even has the<a href="http://designvignettes.blogspot.com/2010/01/master-bedroom-preview-part-1.html"> newest type of insulation</a>. We slept in it last night for the first time (our twelve-year-old actually helped us move the bed upstairs ... we have come along way!) and it felt like we had traded in “this old house</span><span style="font-size:130%;">”</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> for a new and improved version.</span> <span style="font-size:130%;">I always knew this house had room to grow, I had just imagined it would be laterally not vertically!</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> Some day we may do that addition we dreamed about, but for now, we are happy with this new arrangement which is actually more energy/cost efficient in the long run than a large-scale addition would have been.<br /><br /><br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://slowhomestudio.com/the-slow-home-test/"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548426717300195714" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwVgdy7fSgUauGQPUwIXmHHukv5D_1cxSqy7WyXp6Nwi0BWoEzHxWkyRc1u1oQQ-z1Jh0nEToxgt_zVZH_PKwcsz7FRmKUzfjAK5EaXx9atmo4vBG5EJt99jNj_4rZjVGuzLitZgFy8go_/s400/slowhometest.png" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 317px; height: 400px;" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Find out how your home rates by taking this</span></span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><br />test available online at <a href="http://slowhomestudio.com/the-slow-home-test/">Slow Home Studio</a>.</span><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">While we could tell our home had inherent value, we mainly bought it based on a gut feeling. It felt like the home I had grown up in and it seemed like it could be improved upon without too much effort (okay, we were off just a little bit with that part!) </span><span style="font-size:130%;">What sold you on your home? Are you comfortable living in it or are there areas that could use improvement? There is a great test available that evaluates the quality of a home’s design. It is called <a href="http://slowhomestudio.com/the-slow-home-test/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Slow Home Test</span></a> and it is great if you are looking to solve design issues in your current home or if you are looking to buy a dream-home of your own. I recently mentioned this test in a post on the <span style="font-weight: bold;">Slow Home movement</span> that I wrote for <a href="http://www.alluminare.com/">Alluminare.com</a> (which BTW sells some really great custom designed lighting and home decor pieces). The Slow Home movement is all about creating homes that feel as good as they look. Learn more about it by checking out the following links:<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size:130%;">• <a href="http://blog.alluminare.com/slow-home-101/">Slow Home 101</a></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">• <a href="http://blog.alluminare.com/the-language-of-slow-home/">The Language of Slow Home</a></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">• <a href="http://blog.alluminare.com/slow-home-and-going-green/">Slow Home and Going Green</a></span><br /></div><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;">Later I will post some true “after</span><span style="font-size:130%;">”</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> pics of our new space. I really should be decorating for the holidays about now, but I’d much rather be accessorizing our new room than pulling out boxes of ornaments and wrestling with strings of lights! How long do you think I can put it off without the kids noticing that we don’t have a tree, yet? ; )</span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgRUXW2UceLZoxH2lddJxLS_L1lURasNrJGUYBgrpU6xdGx6lVPj6hIGkSjvyXd3BsDdtVWSs3ryIePMf2P49gCCDFgGHv4Vs1XGLQ2w9mlUYb9os-UC64QevJE_hTrA_2Pn-SHQ_GTVhK/s1600/ph_tvproject_5.jpg"><br /></a><br /></div>

A “slow home” gets a new room

2004: First winter in our New England “farmhouse”We live in an old house. Built in 1904, it was at one time a dairy farm with a large barn and around 15 acres of land. All but two of these acres were sold to other parties, with some deeded to the town as conservation land, a large section was develo…

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Decorating with cut greens

<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkxhcjNwH9wZ5XUATZiI99O53YUl_77PjizqhQiRor84syDEedVtBxWI142pfO2etFg6Kx7LGR3U2YCxybVkoske0ny0wX5PAQXkgIRJQ7Aazgor5vvGT0zrPj6CJSNOYdBQponYiW9rXl/s1600/swag+with+bow2.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547755231020153922" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkxhcjNwH9wZ5XUATZiI99O53YUl_77PjizqhQiRor84syDEedVtBxWI142pfO2etFg6Kx7LGR3U2YCxybVkoske0ny0wX5PAQXkgIRJQ7Aazgor5vvGT0zrPj6CJSNOYdBQponYiW9rXl/s400/swag+with+bow2.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" /></a><span style="font-size:180%;">ONE SWAG<br /><br /></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNGDZxVv2QFzEF3Cv38LuOJPFjUmK8adZmDFv7Q6BCh4-W1tQgSUwh_b4Odnx9yeGtE9qC7a8vPB2yEVa9KIXn0boRHgr3xkfX9LsPGeqfVAuT0-ddZ0cTAG2JpWaJEaVM_oANjY-cstfi/s1600/bunches2.jpg"><br /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitcdkn3_DLfChTQKbcwVrK9CV_Zgmy6ZY-cn8OuKskmVO5sf6kvgHJglZuvM0_3WaCVMg-wzCxbCCfYpg0MgXjCJpofTRhjZqJM3zuz9lcWENIJReQoJ3b18Va53SgqeVziHSR4RDnGTWK/s1600/wreaths+on+library+doors2.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547753210397926834" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitcdkn3_DLfChTQKbcwVrK9CV_Zgmy6ZY-cn8OuKskmVO5sf6kvgHJglZuvM0_3WaCVMg-wzCxbCCfYpg0MgXjCJpofTRhjZqJM3zuz9lcWENIJReQoJ3b18Va53SgqeVziHSR4RDnGTWK/s400/wreaths+on+library+doors2.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 352px; height: 400px;" /></a><span style="font-size:180%;">TWO WREATHS</span><br /><span style="font-size:180%;"> </span><br /><span style="font-size:180%;"> </span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaO2532aXcFqqi8_jnVpDAQHhFlKuSIgjhW65H9dP17klp-OrOF1ZD2YSa0XlZewMx6E_pC2wvOA81DtMU5dEwVG3IKLMoHGYvD77azT6SRyNs1MPEkks-dO12V07_7y60AFoCOBBkYdeH/s1600/bunches2.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547756090506100402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaO2532aXcFqqi8_jnVpDAQHhFlKuSIgjhW65H9dP17klp-OrOF1ZD2YSa0XlZewMx6E_pC2wvOA81DtMU5dEwVG3IKLMoHGYvD77azT6SRyNs1MPEkks-dO12V07_7y60AFoCOBBkYdeH/s400/bunches2.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 297px;" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTsBI9KcevflsZGQJOwD9mBa7FBHmHyARIqRA0jkrU5tVkS2ttkfGZUE2XUsmqwuH2z3XG-NmBCuvUPbQcva04qQN1bIFHM7Bf-vj4a7ab-tfziwT_8tMntnH6-MIN1ABzGUmmW-V0kcL2/s1600/bunches2.jpg"><span><span></span></span></a><span style="font-size:180%;">THREE BUNCHES</span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size:180%;"> </span><br /><span style="font-size:180%;"> </span><br /><br /></div> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLsa44_I-puQNG_qOGGvKHS5xR7_EnCCN7yaEJcpIaNtDfY-j6l8z_xwIfwoev8ONMnp7TZievfY3e4emP6AMp71VP9FX-Ium12VLxM4FZ7CsMecQETd4aZ8WyOMMmo_h91fuyBJMxBe_m/s1600/holidaytreats2.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547754976275555298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLsa44_I-puQNG_qOGGvKHS5xR7_EnCCN7yaEJcpIaNtDfY-j6l8z_xwIfwoev8ONMnp7TZievfY3e4emP6AMp71VP9FX-Ium12VLxM4FZ7CsMecQETd4aZ8WyOMMmo_h91fuyBJMxBe_m/s400/holidaytreats2.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><span style="font-size:180%;">Please stop by and visit my<br /><a href="http://lynnfield.patch.com/articles/lynnfield-library-gets-decked-out-for-the-holidays">new decorating column</a><br />4 holiday how-to’s!<br /><br /></span></div><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-size:130%;" >{<a href="http://lynnfield.patch.com/articles/lynnfield-library-gets-decked-out-for-the-holidays">www.Lynnfield.Patch.com</a>}</span><br /></div>

Decorating with cut greens

ONE SWAGTWO WREATHS THREE BUNCHES Please stop by and visit mynew decorating column4 holiday how-to’s!{www.Lynnfield.Patch.com}…

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Holiday open houses this weekend

<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj04xLAhwifvIBMUiPhR_tXKmpkgQg-s1OHOLo4Le3cJi3vyKXrBWb0gyj5nGdzMaDJj_ZibuqIedmOrer_Xyf7sXLjBuvyJWCHU79S0NISZsVbjHHdHfZp9v8_2ZJn5fXWuyAWhUfp0OLk/s1600/treats%2540AcornInteriors.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546664488348435554" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj04xLAhwifvIBMUiPhR_tXKmpkgQg-s1OHOLo4Le3cJi3vyKXrBWb0gyj5nGdzMaDJj_ZibuqIedmOrer_Xyf7sXLjBuvyJWCHU79S0NISZsVbjHHdHfZp9v8_2ZJn5fXWuyAWhUfp0OLk/s400/treats%2540AcornInteriors.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 400px;" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />Last night was the Holiday Stroll in Andover.<br />I stopped by to visit Paula Bakies of <a href="http://www.picturetrail.com/acorninteriors"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Acorn Interiors</span></a> at her new retail location at 10 Essex Street.<br />Lots of people came in to take a look at her new space, have a few treats, and see some of the work that<br />is leaving her showroom ...<br /></span><br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw9NDH_OjZILcvZj_Kq7egS7npiZyoG4eHFjLRbQh9hojN3dvIZcjfaz7lMTPzY9CZBb70DeaPzwdnloxcThRssMZ35wA-gA028oP7Bci6LF6j3YENwSgW-NOCexxfjW05p_C_er-2vHlN/s1600/ottomansAcornInteriors.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546664485793465522" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw9NDH_OjZILcvZj_Kq7egS7npiZyoG4eHFjLRbQh9hojN3dvIZcjfaz7lMTPzY9CZBb70DeaPzwdnloxcThRssMZ35wA-gA028oP7Bci6LF6j3YENwSgW-NOCexxfjW05p_C_er-2vHlN/s400/ottomansAcornInteriors.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 296px;" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />An array of ottomans includes a<br />“before</span><span style="font-size:130%;">”</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> (all white) and three “afters.</span><span style="font-size:130%;">”<br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;">These are available for purchase or can be<br />custom-designed by request. Let me know<br />if you need help choosing fabrics : )<br /></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgggLC7TesRop-1XbHxCOt4yvlmj_D-44wEtIRntSg7ur2oeeXkn_jm6sWC6tkQ-0KSUnPq1JqbKZq9jU1tfU6hlDDbMb-3ph3KJqeea2XjQjWXGyr2rIVrpIj-4n9e3q4K7tFBQD__71bj/s1600/vignetteLPasquale%253AAcornInteriors.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546669641729079330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgggLC7TesRop-1XbHxCOt4yvlmj_D-44wEtIRntSg7ur2oeeXkn_jm6sWC6tkQ-0KSUnPq1JqbKZq9jU1tfU6hlDDbMb-3ph3KJqeea2XjQjWXGyr2rIVrpIj-4n9e3q4K7tFBQD__71bj/s400/vignetteLPasquale%253AAcornInteriors.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Window treatments and ottoman for a girl’s room<br />designed by Lisa Pasquale (who happens to be<br />from my home town and is very talented!)</span><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguNOTCIz77dYzzVCcV76_84SLo8NAQTfNCdFvrknJCpmUtFlPzYfjSTAlUS4GaUBSKAh5biSd5KQdZwkdsxvvKyeJUz4oaIw4UkS9hCi-WGoqoUiK8IC0KID8xHKgQ6YVVMveY-50BCi3x/s1600/pairofchairsAcornInteriors.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546666116130273266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguNOTCIz77dYzzVCcV76_84SLo8NAQTfNCdFvrknJCpmUtFlPzYfjSTAlUS4GaUBSKAh5biSd5KQdZwkdsxvvKyeJUz4oaIw4UkS9hCi-WGoqoUiK8IC0KID8xHKgQ6YVVMveY-50BCi3x/s400/pairofchairsAcornInteriors.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />Paula transformed these vintage<br />chairs into modern beauties.<br /><br /><br /><br />After leaving <span style="font-weight: bold;">Acorn Interiors</span>, I headed over to<br />another holiday open house at <a href="http://www.taggartstudio.com/"><span style="font-weight: bold;"> TaggArt Studio</span></a></span><span style="font-size:130%;"> which<br />is on Salem Street in Wakefield</span><span style="font-size:130%;">. I took some pictures<br />of what you can find there on <span style="font-weight: bold;">Saturday from</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">10am to 4pm</span>, which is the last day<br />of their holiday trunk show ...<br /></span></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN2sN-_Hn1ekdONruOY9ZY_OZsAqb2rB2HA_IHjX9VaxIRDCwIiLwNAM0y_0gUpe54Vn7wCC4OjItLOdqxfSuV582eDX0N5_2CQ9bP0iMmoh-YOfuZLM8RrXZwnIaGArSfVzubvXKFAn94/s1600/JewelryLGovostesONeill.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546664175330033234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN2sN-_Hn1ekdONruOY9ZY_OZsAqb2rB2HA_IHjX9VaxIRDCwIiLwNAM0y_0gUpe54Vn7wCC4OjItLOdqxfSuV582eDX0N5_2CQ9bP0iMmoh-YOfuZLM8RrXZwnIaGArSfVzubvXKFAn94/s400/JewelryLGovostesONeill.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 376px;" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />Some really pretty pieces of inspirational jewelry<br />designed by Linda Govostes-O’Neill<br /><br /><br /></span></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCrbhayUX6-EwDLHG1riG1DFQswe2BnmscU3TsSDZuJpzrJcUlV0EliXvWwFtHEjwyujTyMbd6lDNrWveL4lJZKxD0y4ajDqZ2FwLR1smS5dH2pWn8TvqVBVbyuo414sYrj7zLq_HqtTnK/s1600/gratitudejournalMSnow.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546663298030955106" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCrbhayUX6-EwDLHG1riG1DFQswe2BnmscU3TsSDZuJpzrJcUlV0EliXvWwFtHEjwyujTyMbd6lDNrWveL4lJZKxD0y4ajDqZ2FwLR1smS5dH2pWn8TvqVBVbyuo414sYrj7zLq_HqtTnK/s400/gratitudejournalMSnow.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Gratitude journals and inspirational collage<br />gift items created by <a href="http://mariannesnow.com/about.aspx">Marianne Snow</a><br /><br /></span></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc4JdCRdvQtEEoNfOb2NJa1UqvZQzI4RRoSdyl048FxNaVnoxDuKj_Bn-2HOxu42arFBSrE3_rJwEsMxchQiKxJKMl0Ny0WGMb7uTIeYKBhP-fZ4ris25VY7a8D3AQRxgJKuG2IeZr7JnS/s1600/ANewEnglandChristmas.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546664338280425058" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc4JdCRdvQtEEoNfOb2NJa1UqvZQzI4RRoSdyl048FxNaVnoxDuKj_Bn-2HOxu42arFBSrE3_rJwEsMxchQiKxJKMl0Ny0WGMb7uTIeYKBhP-fZ4ris25VY7a8D3AQRxgJKuG2IeZr7JnS/s400/ANewEnglandChristmas.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 331px;" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />Music to celebrate the holidays<br />by local talent <a href="http://www.amazon.com/New-England-Christmas-Noel/dp/B002VL2MAW">Noel Smith</a><br /><br /><br /></span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr3Ty_lYh7zzh0y309NTLb6UloTuaItcVcnRUiyzG1i4XhbzPK5z0C3bGiKfCjpWkvlfIP20EP3KBGuXQaGN5SpmWpSInC1vvJN9OQY-RepFOao6t0i8tLOHOMD1drBCM92QB3HojAKbfb/s1600/redshoesMTaggart.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546664256306334706" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr3Ty_lYh7zzh0y309NTLb6UloTuaItcVcnRUiyzG1i4XhbzPK5z0C3bGiKfCjpWkvlfIP20EP3KBGuXQaGN5SpmWpSInC1vvJN9OQY-RepFOao6t0i8tLOHOMD1drBCM92QB3HojAKbfb/s400/redshoesMTaggart.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 315px; height: 400px;" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />Mary has a lot of beautiful original works of art available, but this one caught my eye. And remember when I said<span style="font-weight: bold;"> art lessons</span> would make a great gift? Mary <a href="http://www.taggartstudio.com/Schedule_of_Classes.php">offers many classes</a> for children and adults. Contact her for schedule details.</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMcWTnLfw5ENscekvkmM_oew7jOTB-6EYRhd_eo1S-4CLA4JTy_Sdw8gvezlQDlW6EKDEYmjiLNhaM-mFahWwzhbCRCOqQ_d0Heix29Y8CCNj7RDTgOJgjm5PykS55qh3w_8Z_IbC7kgRb/s1600/BethHylanHoliday2010.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546677876203594610" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMcWTnLfw5ENscekvkmM_oew7jOTB-6EYRhd_eo1S-4CLA4JTy_Sdw8gvezlQDlW6EKDEYmjiLNhaM-mFahWwzhbCRCOqQ_d0Heix29Y8CCNj7RDTgOJgjm5PykS55qh3w_8Z_IbC7kgRb/s400/BethHylanHoliday2010.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">And don’t miss Beth Hylan of <a href="http://www.bethhylan.com/Home_Page.php"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Studio B</span></a> who is back in Wakefield just for this show. She has made a new home for herself in Concord, MA at <a href="http://nestingonmain.com/holidays.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Nesting on Main</span></a> so you may also visit her there on Sunday from 12pm to 6pm during their Holiday Open House.<br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO7rkDjLDTTBfGxVOB-HR9RbVn6sD6q909gCNflCnDSLHoebEhZZ3LFs6lLVnCgzvQ3I2kHhWiyclcp_dtN54i1Luv7cg8SR5xFjFEFkDXutNg-JPtu49qUuSyoASNiWCvpyILVJrDbcGn/s1600/velvetpurse%253Aowl.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546683372313513490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO7rkDjLDTTBfGxVOB-HR9RbVn6sD6q909gCNflCnDSLHoebEhZZ3LFs6lLVnCgzvQ3I2kHhWiyclcp_dtN54i1Luv7cg8SR5xFjFEFkDXutNg-JPtu49qUuSyoASNiWCvpyILVJrDbcGn/s400/velvetpurse%253Aowl.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 385px; height: 400px;" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">A gift I bought myself at <span style="font-weight: bold;">New England Fine Living</span>:</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">velvet purse with gold owl clasp from </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.newenglandfineliving.com/VintageWares.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Vintage Wares</span></a><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">It is nice to know that I do not have to resort to mall-shopping this holiday season when there are so many creative shopping venues available locally.<br />If only I had more time to visit them all!<br /><br /></span><br /></div>

Holiday open houses this weekend

Last night was the Holiday Stroll in Andover.I stopped by to visit Paula Bakies of Acorn Interiors at her new retail location at 10 Essex Street.Lots of people came in to take a look at her new space, have a few treats, and see some of the work thatis leaving her showroom ...An array of ottomans inc…

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