Holiday open houses this weekend

<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj04xLAhwifvIBMUiPhR_tXKmpkgQg-s1OHOLo4Le3cJi3vyKXrBWb0gyj5nGdzMaDJj_ZibuqIedmOrer_Xyf7sXLjBuvyJWCHU79S0NISZsVbjHHdHfZp9v8_2ZJn5fXWuyAWhUfp0OLk/s1600/treats%2540AcornInteriors.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><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 href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN2sN-_Hn1ekdONruOY9ZY_OZsAqb2rB2HA_IHjX9VaxIRDCwIiLwNAM0y_0gUpe54Vn7wCC4OjItLOdqxfSuV582eDX0N5_2CQ9bP0iMmoh-YOfuZLM8RrXZwnIaGArSfVzubvXKFAn94/s1600/JewelryLGovostesONeill.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><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 href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCrbhayUX6-EwDLHG1riG1DFQswe2BnmscU3TsSDZuJpzrJcUlV0EliXvWwFtHEjwyujTyMbd6lDNrWveL4lJZKxD0y4ajDqZ2FwLR1smS5dH2pWn8TvqVBVbyuo414sYrj7zLq_HqtTnK/s1600/gratitudejournalMSnow.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><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 href="http://www.newenglandfineliving.com/VintageWares.html" style="font-style: italic;"><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 ...

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