We reflect those who surround us ...

<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiJV6GYW5a5zUxXOhGO6oo30ZX79QDeToT9xdwjomDNW6iztPLHQw0kTAMmHwRBQm5Y5H1GG9RAb5ELSs4rqBlEjfq-90hvqDma-Q3OphvyCXoW_2xLWPvscilqkRy5zz1l1FNk3PpKZQ/s1600-h/orchidonblackYB.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437221971090078786" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiJV6GYW5a5zUxXOhGO6oo30ZX79QDeToT9xdwjomDNW6iztPLHQw0kTAMmHwRBQm5Y5H1GG9RAb5ELSs4rqBlEjfq-90hvqDma-Q3OphvyCXoW_2xLWPvscilqkRy5zz1l1FNk3PpKZQ/s400/orchidonblackYB.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><br />I picked up another orchid on Thursday. I didn’t plan for this shot to come out as dramatic as it did, but I love when something unexpectedly good happens! Another good thing that happened yesterday was that I was mentioned by Boston designer/blogger Linda Merrill during <a href="http://skirtedroundtable.blogspot.com/2010/02/blog-contests-giveaways-and-promotions.html">yesterday’s Skirted Roundtable podcast</a>! Linda, Joni and Megan discuss the pros and cons of blog giveaways (be sure <a href="http://designvignettes.blogspot.com/2010/02/bloggers-valentine-giveaway.html">to enter mine</a> which ends at 11:59 pm EST on Feb. 14th and theirs which ends on Thursday, Feb. 18th ;) I was happy to be one of the lucky winners of their <a href="http://designvignettes.blogspot.com/2010/01/thanks-skirted-roundtable.html">last giveaway</a>. Who doesn’t like to win a prize??? I must admit, I have not outgrown my love of receiving a good present!<br /><br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR-E0FVgi2PTC_VowhJjIX5TnDYHXVCNY2i22mRrzvgPYOZkKiLApYhf9Rh0rMxCjsUbkPhDY_km5jflJ9E1UWHYZd2xvK5s5U9JFo7GsDKTa4-4EBqNYmJBbtr2nAauKfwXoVnopcUf8/s1600-h/queencard.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437228161877661474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR-E0FVgi2PTC_VowhJjIX5TnDYHXVCNY2i22mRrzvgPYOZkKiLApYhf9Rh0rMxCjsUbkPhDY_km5jflJ9E1UWHYZd2xvK5s5U9JFo7GsDKTa4-4EBqNYmJBbtr2nAauKfwXoVnopcUf8/s400/queencard.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 263px; height: 400px;" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;"><br />A card that I found at Pier 1 that I had to have ...</span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br />I always say that I am the Queen in this house of all boys,<br />although most days I feel more like the maid!</span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Valentine’s Day is the perfect time to think about who we love to spend time our time with (and then reward them with chocolates, flowers and sparkly items!) When you like to be around someone, they bring out the best in you and right back at them. I love that I am “meeting</span><span style="font-size:130%;">”</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> new people in the blog world that are inspiring me with their posts. I especially love when someone posts about a topic I have been thinking about. And a lot of the time I find myself writing a post that has been influenced by the posts of others that I have been </span><span style="font-size:130%;">cyber-absorbing.</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> Thank you to everyone out there who has been sharing their talents and their stories. It is nice to be “surrounded</span><span style="font-size:130%;">”</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> by so many sparkling individuals!<br /><br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzugPVxd-ZbOTF-VuZFruDtMJkWL7G9Xx6i5IHT9hrxS60eZzamdfZfeEg82wsFKwtPtFdizXfXjWbjENnUCf6yWmjcBXUuhfSbLntyTQrqFS3wxJZFIJsE702ggQZaw3aLliQpQTKFLs/s1600-h/heartandstars.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437236435024576098" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzugPVxd-ZbOTF-VuZFruDtMJkWL7G9Xx6i5IHT9hrxS60eZzamdfZfeEg82wsFKwtPtFdizXfXjWbjENnUCf6yWmjcBXUuhfSbLntyTQrqFS3wxJZFIJsE702ggQZaw3aLliQpQTKFLs/s320/heartandstars.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 312px;" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div>

We reflect those who surround us ...

I picked up another orchid on Thursday. I didn’t plan for this shot to come out as dramatic as it did, but I love when something unexpectedl...

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Design tip ... orchid

<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1iRuFUeQT1L9yoF6_GOGtjSJlH13j-2ti9g15YQUxLvsjm_HpYNcLnmE-kxzRr-ouLolOBc22uot0HtB2s_vfuQcyipIjAoT3xnKqoA2UtsCVb9zjB_7p8RP4ENg0v8xxUOmc4eTvnx8/s1600-h/orchidonbookcase.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425290599010990050" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1iRuFUeQT1L9yoF6_GOGtjSJlH13j-2ti9g15YQUxLvsjm_HpYNcLnmE-kxzRr-ouLolOBc22uot0HtB2s_vfuQcyipIjAoT3xnKqoA2UtsCVb9zjB_7p8RP4ENg0v8xxUOmc4eTvnx8/s400/orchidonbookcase.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">A deep cranberry colored shawl warms up a</span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br />bookcase in the corner of our dining room.</span></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />Now that the holidays are a distant memory, I figured it was time to freshen up my interiors with a new indoor plant. I’ve <a href="http://designvignettes.blogspot.com/2009/10/inspired-by-barclay-butera.html">mentioned before</a> how much I appreciate the orchid as a quick design statement. They’re simple and elegant, the perfect antidote to the decorating over-indulgences of the past few months.<br /><br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7NemZ7VPKGPIjkCmP5k_CaNyEaYUE_WZ7-88GBB0LUz104NmyB-A9gB-wHnA67JXyXpWk2X4KRnLmg1I7gQn_8LNarvYEBxPcazgSSXtcVUSQi6_fUK_laCgF4nyt_c_T7MMHrMtUcNQ/s1600-h/brazillianteak.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425311238686245698" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7NemZ7VPKGPIjkCmP5k_CaNyEaYUE_WZ7-88GBB0LUz104NmyB-A9gB-wHnA67JXyXpWk2X4KRnLmg1I7gQn_8LNarvYEBxPcazgSSXtcVUSQi6_fUK_laCgF4nyt_c_T7MMHrMtUcNQ/s320/brazillianteak.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 315px; height: 320px;" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Brazilian Teak</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHmFM2VQyKMrattmcVG60_8CVUO-xh2sgp8qYMaQwA21hli9xdEx06ZOQ_8L3aE5oIlFXqzNjZY1MEVqMcJOEz_Y5OYemECRBYH7TOH9QLpE96VCZPtrbE9zHONGHZ-V0pOBgHYdd4VG8/s1600-h/orchidokeefelike.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425290527433254322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHmFM2VQyKMrattmcVG60_8CVUO-xh2sgp8qYMaQwA21hli9xdEx06ZOQ_8L3aE5oIlFXqzNjZY1MEVqMcJOEz_Y5OYemECRBYH7TOH9QLpE96VCZPtrbE9zHONGHZ-V0pOBgHYdd4VG8/s400/orchidokeefelike.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">A <a href="http://www.georgiaokeefe.com/art.shtml">Georgia O’Keefe</a>-inspired close-up</span></div><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">My husband and I made a trip to our local home improvement store on Friday night after a nice dinner out with friends. We were in search of some pre-finished flooring options for the new bedroom. I brought home a sample of Brazilian Teak – which is not so dark that it will show every speck of dust, but still deep enough in tone to offset what will be creamy white walls. I also picked up this lovely orchid for a mere $15 (they often go for around $40). It was sold in a 4-inch clay pot which I then popped into my blue urn that most recently held <a href="http://designvignettes.blogspot.com/2009/12/deck-halls-preview.html">a large spray of evergreens</a>.<br /><br /></span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEXN2CQXCAeYXWcGXVxYj-wu6KcbmKv6oRrh0CxK58ibWvMxQCMuic3xJ9ntytqjNCgIZk7VeQblME-gDJvWQF8YMk_eD3XlaywXew9v9Ugq1ddEwCUhVKWUELArpl-NoBslOyZuLghoc/s1600-h/mossinorchidpot.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425290519308123794" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEXN2CQXCAeYXWcGXVxYj-wu6KcbmKv6oRrh0CxK58ibWvMxQCMuic3xJ9ntytqjNCgIZk7VeQblME-gDJvWQF8YMk_eD3XlaywXew9v9Ugq1ddEwCUhVKWUELArpl-NoBslOyZuLghoc/s400/mossinorchidpot.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">I had to build up the bottom of the urn with some crumpled tinfoil to set the smaller pot at the right height. Then I used moss around the base of the orchid to hide the gap between the small 4-inch pot and the larger width of the urn. </span><span style="font-size:130%;">I happened to have still-very-green moss that I had transplanted to pots from my backyard in mid-October to use for visual merchandising at <a href="http://www.bethhylan.com/Home_Page.html">Beth’s shop</a>. When dried, it forms a soft and natural carpet that is easy to move. </span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_tEOkT2uBn2yBO5VDC4oJbCiuI3aq0YiWyneXNxRjJgkpca7MnXg8tqNSsFuNxYmM8amflMSwF86PYV5Rru8WMm4f1uIkV2ADxtRAyCC6-gxFm1GGA0UQ-q1xU7zC74nUKQV0D6YqUdM/s1600-h/nestart.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425306581820005186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_tEOkT2uBn2yBO5VDC4oJbCiuI3aq0YiWyneXNxRjJgkpca7MnXg8tqNSsFuNxYmM8amflMSwF86PYV5Rru8WMm4f1uIkV2ADxtRAyCC6-gxFm1GGA0UQ-q1xU7zC74nUKQV0D6YqUdM/s400/nestart.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Art by <a href="http://www.bethhylan.com/Home_Page.html">Beth Hylan</a></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />I love how moss hides the dirt that is usually exposed with indoor gardening. If you would like to achieve the same results and do not have access to live moss, most garden supply stores sell bags of spagnum moss that will easily take care of several pots. I have even used <a href="http://www.joann.com/joann/catalog/productdetail.jsp?pageName=search&flag=true&PRODID=prd3057">fake moss</a> that comes in sheets at craft stores. The real deal, however, is by far my favorite. Just topping off your existing houseplants with moss (or your outdoor container gardens, if you are in a warm climate) adds designer polish in an instant.<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Give it a try!</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvrQTDWlcf8CqMoRXIcn0QjoYQMJzSuZdtEYPseuHO3CsnmHm5Fmqk35GjxGH8Ff5s6IvXtOEavR7Kj0a2OujSh66J6jH70NLFzbxc6nY6wW0Ok2ZCkQT6i8B95shePrL9Cx8gcV-XkBU/s1600-h/butterflyclip.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425290976799056930" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvrQTDWlcf8CqMoRXIcn0QjoYQMJzSuZdtEYPseuHO3CsnmHm5Fmqk35GjxGH8Ff5s6IvXtOEavR7Kj0a2OujSh66J6jH70NLFzbxc6nY6wW0Ok2ZCkQT6i8B95shePrL9Cx8gcV-XkBU/s200/butterflyclip.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 187px;" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">I thought this butterfly clip used to secure</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> the<br />stem of the new orchid was very clever.</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitqe6Hed1fQxsTTxqCBKuuaFdKiDKDZITOXE64P-n3HPXfOi5HMwL96SPdpJzZDNYcDWXGyvNeS5MRkSgt914eRSQu8FQELkqnUzzJkiMHPe3HOmG2WoSGTLPAf0oXZ54O6eA9PO-t4Lk/s1600-h/kimbouquetnotitle2.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425292318070533026" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitqe6Hed1fQxsTTxqCBKuuaFdKiDKDZITOXE64P-n3HPXfOi5HMwL96SPdpJzZDNYcDWXGyvNeS5MRkSgt914eRSQu8FQELkqnUzzJkiMHPe3HOmG2WoSGTLPAf0oXZ54O6eA9PO-t4Lk/s320/kimbouquetnotitle2.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 274px; height: 320px;" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >Endnote:</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> Congratulations to my friend, Kim Smith, who eloquently wrote and joyfully illustrated <a href="http://kimsmithdesigns.com/book.php">Notes From a Gloucester Garden,</a> which was recently listed by Carol Stocker of the <a href="http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/house/articles/2010/01/07/best_garden_books_of_2009/">Boston Globe</a> as one of the </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >best gardening books of 2009</span><span style="font-size:130%;">. You can almost see my personal copy in the first photo of today’s post (it is to the right of the blue photo album).<br /><br />Now is a great time, especially for New Englander’s like myself, to start researching garden design plans for spring. Kim offers many tips on choosing plants based on scent, color, texture and even desired ambiance. Her stories about creating her garden are a pleasure to read, and the watercolor illustrations make me want to get out a paintbrush!<br /><br />Gardening, whether inside or out, honors the beauty of nature and provides visual joy with little effort (how many things can you stick in the dirt and expect it to get better with time?) If you struggle with a “I-kill-anything-green” attitude, remember, you can always start with moss (no watering required!)</span><br /></div>

Design tip ... orchid

A deep cranberry colored shawl warms up a bookcase in the corner of our dining room. Now that the holidays are a distant memory, I figured i...

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