Change

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcz2BDf0NCnrk4py2A3yTC1mXSNFGNttSXhNHmg2PKE7d4yqnqjLgQ58LHg1p-n6x-M8We74ai7eFtbmj-CC4Nuh-gD0Xh1y6m9JGHyi6pnDvC_27Mff-i_h8fhxABBSie2CHOK1mMWyp3/s1600/gold+sacagawea.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcz2BDf0NCnrk4py2A3yTC1mXSNFGNttSXhNHmg2PKE7d4yqnqjLgQ58LHg1p-n6x-M8We74ai7eFtbmj-CC4Nuh-gD0Xh1y6m9JGHyi6pnDvC_27Mff-i_h8fhxABBSie2CHOK1mMWyp3/s800/gold+sacagawea.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Earlier this month, <a href="http://gatheringchangeinc.org/">Gathering Change, Inc.,</a> a charity formed four years ago by friends of mine (I serve on the board as Creative Director), was invited to attend the <a href="http://www.maconferenceforwomen.org/">Massachusetts Conference for Women</a> as one of the benefitting charities in their Community Corner.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">This was the first year that the <a href="http://www.maconferenceforwomen.org/new-this-year-community-corner/">Community Corner</a> was present at this all day conference in Boston that attracts some pretty amazing movers and shakers (around 8,000 women – plus some very brave men – attended on December 6th, the 8th year since its inception in 2005).</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">The theme of the day was “</span><span style="font-size: large;">Imagine: Find Your Purpose and Make a Difference.</span><span style="font-size: large;">” </span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br />Along with a couple of other charitable organizations presenting volunteer opportunities, we were able to share information with conference attendees who stopped by to visit our table in between scheduled lectures presented throughout the day by an inspiring roster of formidable guest speakers.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/arianna-huffington/">Arianna Huffington,</a> <a href="http://www.brenebrown.com/">Dr. Brene Brown,</a> <a href="http://www.deepakchopra.com/">Deepak Chopra</a> and other thought leaders and social influencers were there to encourage and challenge women to step forward and make their mark on the world. They even had a Bloggers’ Lounge and a number of social media roundtables with notable bloggers like <a href="http://womenandwork.org/about-me/">Morra Aarons-Mele,</a> author of “Women and Leadership in the Digital Age” and one of my local design favorites, <a href="http://www.elementsofstyleblog.com/">Erin Gates of Elements of Style</a> whose “I’ve got to be honest” conversational tone on her daily blog completely translated in real life. </span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">I attended as many of the presentations as I could, while still spending some time in the Community Corner with the founder and President of Gathering Change, Dorothy Goodwin. While listening to the positive messages, moving stories, and words of wisdom from <a href="http://www.maconferenceforwomen.org/speakers/">keynote speakers and others,</a> I scribbled notes that I planned to pull together later for a motivational post or article. I did not realize at the time that many of the words I jotted down would speak so clearly to me after the emotional roller coaster that I, like so many of us, have been on since Friday’</span><span style="font-size: large;">s tragedy in Newtown, Connecticut.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Below are just my scribbled notes – tidbits really (hopefully I am attributing the right comments to the right speakers). Perhaps some of the messages will speak to you as well. They are in the order that I heard them.  </span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Charlotte Beers, </span><span style="font-size: large;">hailed as the most powerful woman in advertising and </span><span style="font-size: large;">current board member at Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia: </span><span style="font-size: large;">Be leaderly. Step outside your comfort zone. Influence others. Be in charge. Be memorable. Be persuasive. Know yourself and deliver your message with personal clarity.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Marla Capozzi, knowledge management specialist and member of the Massachusetts Counsel for Innovation: </span><span style="font-size: large;">We are all connected to each other. Reach out and make changes.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Dr. Brene Brown, research professional and author focusing on shame, vulnerability, worthiness, and courage: </span><span style="font-size: large;">Ask for what you need. Most of us are afraid and brave at the same time. Show up and be seen. Dare greatly. </span><span style="font-size: large;">A leader will find potential in others.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Deepak Chopra, M.D., renowned physician and author on topics of mind-body health, spirituality and peace: </span><span style="font-size: large;">Our global identity is influenced by technology and connection. Our survival depends on a new identity. We need a wisdom based society that is peaceful, just, and sustainable. A great leader is symbolic of the collective consciousness, an agent for change and transformation. Ask, what kind of world do I want to live in? Be aware, dream, and do. Use social media to harness the power of the collective consciousness to change consciousness.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Arianna Huffington of Huffington Post: How we feel depends on what we focus on. Don’t wait for Washington to solve our problems. Do something. Use communication platforms. We all have the opportunity to reach others. Service and giving back are the zeitgeist – the spirit of our times. Finding meaning in our lives is coming to the forefront right not. It will change the world. (Of note: Arianna’s dedicated <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/good-news/">Good News</a> section on Huffington Post is designed to provide a sense of optimism by highlighting positive stories that often get overlooked by the media’</span><span style="font-size: large;">s traditional approach of report-the-worst-first. She was also quite adamant that we should all get enough rest.) </span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Barbara Bradley Baekgaard, co-founder of Vera Bradley: </span><span style="font-size: large;">Form happiness committees. Giving to others provides the most joy.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Connie Smith, Creative Expressions Coordinator at the Women’s Lunch Place, Boston: </span><span style="font-size: large;">I never realized how powerful art could be. Meditative work and creating art can save lives.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Kristin Chenoweth, singer, actor, author: </span><span style="font-size: large;">What is your next purpose? What is your inner voice saying? Listen. How do you want to leave your mark and say “</span><span style="font-size: large;">I was here?</span><span style="font-size: large;">”</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjouHOSvlFDpuUY-yTh2i1n2LBDg24nwnaafyT1Syt52gfjiA46yrJApMFH2txqSPgpR1fBVcmLWsbAWDftQ_K8GbHlYPhnjgKOd79KGMzQnrsRJnLNhZZxHHexEkFCoHqMjRvK3GUbB1bQ/s1600/Screen+shot+2012-12-18+at+12.21.31+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjouHOSvlFDpuUY-yTh2i1n2LBDg24nwnaafyT1Syt52gfjiA46yrJApMFH2txqSPgpR1fBVcmLWsbAWDftQ_K8GbHlYPhnjgKOd79KGMzQnrsRJnLNhZZxHHexEkFCoHqMjRvK3GUbB1bQ/s800/Screen+shot+2012-12-18+at+12.21.31+AM.png" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YGn2LX-bKFA"><i>Listen here.</i></a></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><br /><div style="background-color: #f8f7f7; color: #3d393e; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">  </span>

Change

Earlier this month, Gathering Change, Inc., a charity formed four years ago by friends of mine (I serve on the board as Creative Director),...

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Inspired by ... celebrity designers

<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_zLupYa9ifKCkuXH_rQXp28xoesIBwGLm-DwWbcdL1qtxx2AuaxnYWdtsviyKGvAsWaie-Y1ZIGGobTc-rPe222W-f1-yTee1XiG3GfMgSvIGpnVjQSmOO5QfRrSkA0MDMr_fnrrZJ7E/s1600-h/bed&mirror.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399950783490974674" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_zLupYa9ifKCkuXH_rQXp28xoesIBwGLm-DwWbcdL1qtxx2AuaxnYWdtsviyKGvAsWaie-Y1ZIGGobTc-rPe222W-f1-yTee1XiG3GfMgSvIGpnVjQSmOO5QfRrSkA0MDMr_fnrrZJ7E/s400/bed&mirror.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;"> I love this color combination of a strong red with a grayish blue background (see flower arrangement in <a href="http://designvignettes.blogspot.com/2009/11/inspired-by-beth-hylan.html">my last post</a>). I took this photo at <a href="http://www2.bostondesign.com/showrooms/studio-534/overview/">Studio 534</a> in the Boston Design Center</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> which was host to Kathryn M. Ireland for her book signing on Tuesday, November 3rd.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">While some people are fascinated with sports figures or high-profile celebrities, I find myself getting giddy over seeing “design stars</span><span style="font-size:130%;">”</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> in person. I really respect what it takes to make it as an accomplished designer in this business, whether one is designing for big movie-star type budgets or for homes that are more modest in comparison. For me, being able to design for others is like being commissioned to create a work of art. My client’s home becomes the canvas, and I get to play artist. It is an honor (and pleasure) to be invited to make someone’s house “a home.</span><span style="font-size:130%;">”</span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />Today at the <a href="http://www2.bostondesign.com/about-us/">Boston Design Center</a>, <a href="http://www.kathrynireland.com/">Kathryn M. Ireland</a> spoke on <a href="http://www2.bostondesign.com/tss/110309/">Easy Elegance and Comfortable Living</a>, The Art of Creating a Home. She was there to promote her new book titled <span style="font-weight: bold;">Creating a Home, </span><span>which</span> is also available <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Creating-Home-Kathryn-Ireland/dp/1423605950/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1257302338&sr=8-1">online</a>. Check it out (and definitely visit <a href="http://www.kathrynireland.com/">her website</a>) to see some of her amazing work with textiles, patterns, color and scale.<br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0JbZZjhnL4ViP1AdyCwaG6gq9hmK7JqGG1oAiLtWpWSpyQ2L5kHgm8rg6pX3G7vItaOruFZgbktOyVRSoWK4zkQj7y5s2CjlK2WK_P3ie0mourcbRzaHrgQMNCKxF8RxM1yy2D7Cz6-4/s1600-h/KMIrelandLR-veranda.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399975251141220562" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0JbZZjhnL4ViP1AdyCwaG6gq9hmK7JqGG1oAiLtWpWSpyQ2L5kHgm8rg6pX3G7vItaOruFZgbktOyVRSoWK4zkQj7y5s2CjlK2WK_P3ie0mourcbRzaHrgQMNCKxF8RxM1yy2D7Cz6-4/s400/KMIrelandLR-veranda.png" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 288px; height: 400px;" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Interior design by Kathryn M. Ireland</span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;">photographed by Miguel Flores-Vianna</span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;">as seen in </span><a href="http://www.veranda.com/room-decorating/kathryn-ireland-california-color-design"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Veranda</span></a><span style="font-style: italic;"> magazine, Sept. ’09</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Ireland’s visual language is well studied and appeals to the artist in me who loves bold patterns and vivid colors. She is known for her Bohemian chic approach that combines </span><span style="font-size:130%;">California’s easy living with the grandeur of world-traveled influences. </span><span style="font-size:130%;">Although she is a huge fan of saturated color combinations, she is also able to achieve the same richly varied look in a more subdued color palette (when asked!).</span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgppOgHtXTN36JyKDCVPe2kSY2xcEkp_KFmCKS3b5Y3Z2pmzRO7K9NWOpVvF9IA4oNjz6urcGzCe7zhzhuXq15dMuGpiHG3u2wUp9h7km_z9pecfthArHue4qHqrxk8Na8DPHEHJ8elv7E/s1600-h/Fabrics-KMI.gif" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400031061374166962" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgppOgHtXTN36JyKDCVPe2kSY2xcEkp_KFmCKS3b5Y3Z2pmzRO7K9NWOpVvF9IA4oNjz6urcGzCe7zhzhuXq15dMuGpiHG3u2wUp9h7km_z9pecfthArHue4qHqrxk8Na8DPHEHJ8elv7E/s400/Fabrics-KMI.gif" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 308px;" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Fabrics from her </span><a href="http://www.kathrynireland.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=51&Itemid=3" style="font-style: italic;">newest collections</a><span style="font-style: italic;">.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Despite the fact that I was just a wee bit jealous of her well traveled life (Ireland used to take her three boys on trips and they would ask, “How many planes is it going to take to get there?</span><span style="font-size:130%;">”</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> while my husband and I are basically afraid to plan a long – a.k.a. over 20 minute – car ride with our brood of four boys), I did appreciate her take on fearlessly surrounding oneself with color and beauty. Although after just peeking around the corner into my family room, I think we have achieved the same result as my boys apparently had a battle with a purple feather boa from the Halloween costume bin ... and the boa lost.<br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwltZPS_oGd6_NMeqd3eLvvMMCMpzcSbSA6yWhUmE82dsFPaUicCRhbTLdHyiFR0vZKIfloxz1MhJH6UD4HLky4UQkOyeZF-UJb6ZuC95TQ7nYGaV6h7hDrsocYKiVWgoqj9OTyY4rtkQ/s1600-h/fezpalm_olive_green.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400031932601487394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwltZPS_oGd6_NMeqd3eLvvMMCMpzcSbSA6yWhUmE82dsFPaUicCRhbTLdHyiFR0vZKIfloxz1MhJH6UD4HLky4UQkOyeZF-UJb6ZuC95TQ7nYGaV6h7hDrsocYKiVWgoqj9OTyY4rtkQ/s400/fezpalm_olive_green.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 286px; height: 400px;" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">This pattern </span><a href="http://www.kathrynireland.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=53&Itemid=67" style="font-style: italic;">Fez Palm</a><span style="font-style: italic;"> in Olive Green from Kathryn Ireland’s newest fabric collection would be right at home in one of my boys rooms, which boldly incorporates all of these colors (some day I will post images from it when it is “photo shoot</span><span style="font-style: italic;">”</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> clean ...)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">I am sure I could probably learn a lot from Ireland on how to live a stylish life while surrounded by a bunch of boys, but I did not have the luxury to sit down and chat with her today. She did share some funny stories, however, about making a huge outdoor trampoline that did not jive with her design aesthetic mysteriously disappear while her boys went to school, and I especially liked how she admitted to offering one of her reluctant sons money to participate in a magazine photo shoot since this is a trick I have been known to use around December 1st for holiday photos.<br /><br /></span><a href="http://www.elementsofstyleblog.com/" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400048308141339426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6q-uh8X_6Z6px39umwrsN0gZFW6rf9b5Mv8Xt73qokKiaLHoftaYbNK1oL2ahikVpr4qM_-WBYsj40MOI7DlaMSID2aVez52Z5RyBgpo0CieiRIuUzQsVic2BbRqMkdn5sCOU29lRItE/s400/eofsblog.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 107px;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">While my friends and I were waiting to meet with Kathryn, I had the opportunity to say hello to one of my favorite designer-bloggers, Erin Gates from <a href="http://www.elementsofstyleblog.com/">Elements of Style</a>. She was hard to miss as she is model gorgeous and was dressed very stylishly even for the Design Center (sorry, I wasn’t ready with my camera this time, and besides she probably thinks I am stalking her!) Be sure to <a href="http://www.elementsofstyleblog.com/2009/11/design-crush-kathryn-ireland.html">visit her blog</a> to read her take on today’s lecture since she mentioned that she would be posting about it, too. She has a refreshing take on this business of design that I find laugh-out-loud entertaining. She is also great at spotting design trends, and I predict she will soon be setting them, too.<br /><br />Below are a couple of pictures of other designers who have inspired me lately ...<br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9F23kpOqAkv9jly-8wsBgs_uqcDL5PKlPl2NbCOGaFqSwpyQmPD_EILEEatlO9lFBp4L8TPLOuYASZMmoMFaknlVEj4gwiOPxjzxJR2F3Yfo0-Y1AUCpI6SI7RJCRHBynlB8SIYf4_Uc/s1600-h/Nancy&Linda.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400040959718681074" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9F23kpOqAkv9jly-8wsBgs_uqcDL5PKlPl2NbCOGaFqSwpyQmPD_EILEEatlO9lFBp4L8TPLOuYASZMmoMFaknlVEj4gwiOPxjzxJR2F3Yfo0-Y1AUCpI6SI7RJCRHBynlB8SIYf4_Uc/s400/Nancy&Linda.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 303px;" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><a href="http://www.eagletribune.com/pulife/local_story_118010542.html/resources_printstory">Nancy Faye Glass</a> of Glass House Design and </span><span style="font-size:130%;">Linda Hentschel of <a href="http://renaissanceinteriors.com/">Renaissance Interiors</a> who I met through our <a href="http://designvignettes.blogspot.com/2009/09/stevens-estate-receives-design-update.html">design collaboration</a> at The Stevens Estate in North Andover. (I had them pose today in front of the <a href="http://www.nehomemag.com/New-England-Home/Industry-Insider/Hall-of-Fame/index.php">New England Design Hall of Fame</a> Allee of Trees – just for luck). They have both been very generous in sharing their design stories and advice with me (plus we have a great time going to events like this together).<br /><br />Check back tomorrow for my post on last week’s lecture at the BDC presented by <a href="http://www.barclaybutera.com/index.html">Barclay Butera</a></span> ...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcRlPyKypN4Et8IDbrpw2pcxzzVdy3VZThoApk6xxcT_aTIIJEhAVyaCZ2b8zz2S-b8CRlNYBh1UJ6EVd9BRm16KvShTPnrvr90M9O-CKMYH5LwI4faOy5XcTE1_7uhPjFqip_ce6U9xI/s1600-h/MeandBarclay.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400067868730643650" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcRlPyKypN4Et8IDbrpw2pcxzzVdy3VZThoApk6xxcT_aTIIJEhAVyaCZ2b8zz2S-b8CRlNYBh1UJ6EVd9BRm16KvShTPnrvr90M9O-CKMYH5LwI4faOy5XcTE1_7uhPjFqip_ce6U9xI/s400/MeandBarclay.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:100%;" >“Barclay and I” at the <a href="http://www2.bostondesign.com/showrooms/kravet-fabrics/overview/">Kravet</a> showroom</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">or </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" >“</span><span style="font-style: italic;">I love this job!</span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" >”<br /><br /><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:78%;" ><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:78%;">Advertisement </span><br /></div><a href="http://tomwaisnor.nmfn.com/" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399680427524253810" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpWs6eIT19BHpEdbIYWHRkMUdKOVFoBMO-JJ7chBS7VqozroKw0a14CPany8zsvlEwv10kOF_3gj_lcJ9e5veY6KgfHKN1zBsvvRIye9YPKMTNIgsgNHS4ecDz8GKhklVM2FW45xz4eeA/s400/NWMFN_TW.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 64px;" /></a><br /></div>

Inspired by ... celebrity designers

I love this color combination of a strong red with a grayish blue background (see flower arrangement in my last post ). I took this photo a...

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Style at the Stevens Estate

<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie9KksEFNJPGYQEAROlRjujO0UkDvhTFRQRqKaNhQ9m0LNZ51mil_rT2KF7R1lIrh11bw2-UL0pgeyB0aGVM00dHbRoEj7hyx_gVwIa2pXvyJ2hb1xWE7SUe_9XgyWe2mYFssKOr1uxxg/s1600-h/gardenparty.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349035272832439298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie9KksEFNJPGYQEAROlRjujO0UkDvhTFRQRqKaNhQ9m0LNZ51mil_rT2KF7R1lIrh11bw2-UL0pgeyB0aGVM00dHbRoEj7hyx_gVwIa2pXvyJ2hb1xWE7SUe_9XgyWe2mYFssKOr1uxxg/s400/gardenparty.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Garden Party at the Stevens Estate in North Andover<br /></span></span><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">I was just visiting one of my favorite design blogs, </span><a href="http://www.elementsofstyleblog.com/" style="font-style: italic;">Elements of Style</a><span style="font-style: italic;"> which is written</span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"> by the talented (and humorous) Boston-based designer Erin Gates. For today’s <a href="http://www.elementsofstyleblog.com/2009/06/fashion-friday-hot-pink.html">“Fashion Friday</a></span><a href="http://www.elementsofstyleblog.com/2009/06/fashion-friday-hot-pink.html"><span style="font-style: italic;">”</span></a></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><a href="http://www.elementsofstyleblog.com/2009/06/fashion-friday-hot-pink.html"> </a>entry, she notes that hot pink is one of the </span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">“</span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">hottest new trends</span></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" >”</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"> and posts some gorgeous pics to illustrate and inspire. Well I am glad to know that when I pulled out my peony-pink skirt last week </span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">(I bought it 5 years ago, but have always loved the designer-detail of its construction) that I was on the cutting edge of fashion as I attended an old-fashioned garden party ...</span></span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT_5VPq_Cmb6cKw02xICMJ4VmigYvYL3BSq9RgK4nWJh0TW2wvUitKl8JcrV4l_E8moNGRUHj5rRBJHCYPPpJztzp2dTBODq9SdUX78TN_CWF6hZGcMjDlVhPpR-87wiAG98jiaOi8Fw4/s1600-h/SEarch.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349035402029434562" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT_5VPq_Cmb6cKw02xICMJ4VmigYvYL3BSq9RgK4nWJh0TW2wvUitKl8JcrV4l_E8moNGRUHj5rRBJHCYPPpJztzp2dTBODq9SdUX78TN_CWF6hZGcMjDlVhPpR-87wiAG98jiaOi8Fw4/s400/SEarch.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" /></a><br /></div></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzLPQK3QHhxen2dUvx4akQKRlgWN5ts2J_L3XhnvZeKITjmSrUHaVEbw6h2aUJ6OsqadtVgIZImhjzGkSA5xhjZ106eIQlnE_vxXeYGA5NbW7W-hTjlSyT7YRog5O-3EBhisuk7QN1xCY/s1600-h/peonies.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349035799620190962" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzLPQK3QHhxen2dUvx4akQKRlgWN5ts2J_L3XhnvZeKITjmSrUHaVEbw6h2aUJ6OsqadtVgIZImhjzGkSA5xhjZ106eIQlnE_vxXeYGA5NbW7W-hTjlSyT7YRog5O-3EBhisuk7QN1xCY/s400/peonies.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 163px;" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">As this year’s program director for the </span></span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">Village Garden Club of Lynnfield, </span><span style="font-size:130%;">I booked the <a href="http://www.stevensestate.com/index.html">Stevens Estate Special Events & Conference Center</a> in North Andover for our year-end event – a light and delicious catered meal set up outside this historical mansion</span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" > (I am on the team of designers who are </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" ><span>“adding sparkle</span></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >” to this beautiful event property.)</span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij_g8xxwsRwYKIy5DKNdWlyItScOdL4ydDCmTbqNJ8C2Jp_RMQnbug7IQkwA5Q1KMIIqAfPmOXSZet4VSo_KCdATbYz0oj6zeBdx30MI5lgUdr42Q7NeLB0Imp5m3oqRD8VEaGhTSzm3k/s1600-h/StevensEstateart.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349062601873752002" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij_g8xxwsRwYKIy5DKNdWlyItScOdL4ydDCmTbqNJ8C2Jp_RMQnbug7IQkwA5Q1KMIIqAfPmOXSZet4VSo_KCdATbYz0oj6zeBdx30MI5lgUdr42Q7NeLB0Imp5m3oqRD8VEaGhTSzm3k/s400/StevensEstateart.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 226px;" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" >Original rendering of the Stevens Estate by<br />Boston architects Hartwell & Richardson</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Most of us wore hats </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >(not quite Kentucky Derby, more garden inspired) ...</span><br /><br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1YtjUZvWE8sA6cmAZsBlXyZCsWXurBN2rf3_u6U3BbU_Tn3ACPDdiFb4F5w7t1FjV-jl4Sa68mh8D0O0Bui5iJfiUYt_Pdd65QBXLXEZpkQ-Vq0M01Mx6UTjSUXRzzNCNIu7tSRrxyqY/s1600-h/hat.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349044998997164626" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1YtjUZvWE8sA6cmAZsBlXyZCsWXurBN2rf3_u6U3BbU_Tn3ACPDdiFb4F5w7t1FjV-jl4Sa68mh8D0O0Bui5iJfiUYt_Pdd65QBXLXEZpkQ-Vq0M01Mx6UTjSUXRzzNCNIu7tSRrxyqY/s200/hat.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 182px; height: 200px;" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEN4gFrYMQ-kZmRYgdk3C3DsJ15OW9NmOzwx9ybrtmo4RLW_6DH8JVJGRh_lgmF7UCGCqugZeuu4FSvhKyoeJKDo9VChChrJzhaxVqT97RoYGh-OV4RVUKxxk8bgwn3hkCn6rAN9Dk2bw/s1600-h/pinkrose.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349044646892414690" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEN4gFrYMQ-kZmRYgdk3C3DsJ15OW9NmOzwx9ybrtmo4RLW_6DH8JVJGRh_lgmF7UCGCqugZeuu4FSvhKyoeJKDo9VChChrJzhaxVqT97RoYGh-OV4RVUKxxk8bgwn3hkCn6rAN9Dk2bw/s200/pinkrose.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 178px;" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaKgZybGScPV4c1Q6ws0_SlWB-fdp7Gs5asfaoe_J3vo3m6eqP23sADeyBYTyQJMi6EU4ed5LZFnayXl8vczQT8RKoSyruYNt_DeYfaXXiWWT5LWvBtOCopja-n_9SeeGBTqvjBGG0p0U/s1600-h/greenonblackhat.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349044641905525858" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaKgZybGScPV4c1Q6ws0_SlWB-fdp7Gs5asfaoe_J3vo3m6eqP23sADeyBYTyQJMi6EU4ed5LZFnayXl8vczQT8RKoSyruYNt_DeYfaXXiWWT5LWvBtOCopja-n_9SeeGBTqvjBGG0p0U/s200/greenonblackhat.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 142px; height: 200px;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:130%;">and the 20-or-so members from the club were able to enjoy each other’s company while sitting outside the veranda,</span><br /><br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5HA5G4NwVx8NfdCuiGeAt08LYSPHn2RPZ7mseFX0JB_PckXorUpyhhs5aEWwNI7DDOPrwMwtzCuEnzB1pj5ULS-CF-iRInNTDwtvkoExNPEJMEMlAKVBPTS5Kcl7ntNHXzhdeiWV54oY/s1600-h/SEwalkway.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349035397824586674" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5HA5G4NwVx8NfdCuiGeAt08LYSPHn2RPZ7mseFX0JB_PckXorUpyhhs5aEWwNI7DDOPrwMwtzCuEnzB1pj5ULS-CF-iRInNTDwtvkoExNPEJMEMlAKVBPTS5Kcl7ntNHXzhdeiWV54oY/s400/SEwalkway.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" /></a><span style="font-size:180%;"><br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:130%;">later touring the amazing architecture inside,</span><br /><br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ9RooxMphhw4h8acwmzz21I8If8odP1Wu8uqpIvj1KG3thjdkChlK-pnTHElklzEBAaKRHLXY2ZA73BrlPa6jdiMKjxvJgDVhXMe0BTrFO5IRXUu3RA7Wf61nq3gRjBcaUIJGEgsiURY/s1600-h/SEstainedglass.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349047982093237058" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ9RooxMphhw4h8acwmzz21I8If8odP1Wu8uqpIvj1KG3thjdkChlK-pnTHElklzEBAaKRHLXY2ZA73BrlPa6jdiMKjxvJgDVhXMe0BTrFO5IRXUu3RA7Wf61nq3gRjBcaUIJGEgsiURY/s400/SEstainedglass.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" /></a><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">(Can't you just picture a bride – or the lady of the mansion –<br />floating down these stairs to greet her awaiting guests?)</span><br /></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">then chatting over dessert and coffee while sitting beside original marble fireplaces in the intimate setting of the oak double parlors.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz7Kyzd-jDqcEbcPvhVM6KEryp4VYlmJlkPds-PFiqZnNhIJOLHr7NNK2M12XHYA2cX3EEL35HwzcFVrkItAx2DQkF32GdT_I42AJStYJ0CvpbI5vUj1scxKsw_Ch-gQz7hKw0XYarbW8/s1600-h/dessert.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349046045984102754" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz7Kyzd-jDqcEbcPvhVM6KEryp4VYlmJlkPds-PFiqZnNhIJOLHr7NNK2M12XHYA2cX3EEL35HwzcFVrkItAx2DQkF32GdT_I42AJStYJ0CvpbI5vUj1scxKsw_Ch-gQz7hKw0XYarbW8/s320/dessert.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdN5DShBNXLxkLniR7Qf342hUlo5bbrqhW8GdkDR_seKTeUst7eStHNajVDtsqKimZBN7Qc_Ppx4RXFLWWVEVFZCJEITcEBH07eHiWkfxyfAhKDggbFir5wE_GpOqgvVUVguGOvgVuYws/s1600-h/SEfireplace.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349063937047213554" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdN5DShBNXLxkLniR7Qf342hUlo5bbrqhW8GdkDR_seKTeUst7eStHNajVDtsqKimZBN7Qc_Ppx4RXFLWWVEVFZCJEITcEBH07eHiWkfxyfAhKDggbFir5wE_GpOqgvVUVguGOvgVuYws/s320/SEfireplace.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 258px;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">We had the entire estate to ourselves, and even though it can accommodate much larger parties, it felt cozy in an awe-inspiring way. Whenever I travel up the long, curvy drive that leads to the estate, I feel like I have “arrived</span><span style="font-size:130%;">”</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> ... almost as if I had lived back in the day <span style="font-style: italic;">(the mansion was built in 1886 for Charlotte and Moses Stevens, one of the founding families of North Andover and owners of a </span></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >prosperous </span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >textile mill).</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />Check back for more posts that highlight the design updates we will be making to the estate. To book a tour or to inquire about scheduling your next event, contact the <a href="http://www.stevensestate.com/contact.html">estate manager</a>, Laura Gifford. The Stevens Estate is a hidden historical treasure that brings one back to the times when entertaining at home was grand-scale, dressed-up and high-style.</span><br /><br /></span></span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGs5Oh4cAqKZmagvfRshBNDdcS8ZHWrzbGq7iS2bhoeClIfZcFcIb37-NPUnxDf1xaHNauUr1z8QXQKLQH2_m7g71um48YYvAW6noVtqca6BdfKOX_-MmgZTn-yB1UT2Ae8HF5Lc8sQaM/s1600-h/SElight.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349068238543945970" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGs5Oh4cAqKZmagvfRshBNDdcS8ZHWrzbGq7iS2bhoeClIfZcFcIb37-NPUnxDf1xaHNauUr1z8QXQKLQH2_m7g71um48YYvAW6noVtqca6BdfKOX_-MmgZTn-yB1UT2Ae8HF5Lc8sQaM/s400/SElight.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.stevensestate.com/about.html" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349067638160468882" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtEAM6X__RX1Go-xBEke2cZp9DW_NJCigekJ2UAw-c1YkKR1OEZbVbGCPtZPdPh9WDwrv_GkvFk3H7dKJR2b1Wr0PDAqSrlu4ADzOXi9Qnch_WGLcf6LJeKhyxRgCNF2oeo0KwduZCvy0/s200/StevensEstate.logo.F.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 131px;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Email: <a href="mailto:thestevensestate@verizon.net">thestevensestate@verizon.net</a><br /> 723 Osgood Street<br /> North Andover, MA 01845<br />Phone: 978-682-7072</span><br /></div>

Style at the Stevens Estate

Garden Party at the Stevens Estate in North Andover I was just visiting one of my favorite design blogs, Elements of Style which is writte...

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