The mecca to Nate and back

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUPMyKpdUfDJaO3NeRNKPbQ23K3Iop-6fmEG6wf-rXhOB_hbCUUzf5U8ctnPvR-4YwarnCjLp3kaFROzwcpiCSrr_KOpsFCUewWcCKdpv9BSsLVr_A5TUvrqPl_KUFdueG0ssn0KCe1g3Z/s1600/joy:janetNY.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519785540546933890" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUPMyKpdUfDJaO3NeRNKPbQ23K3Iop-6fmEG6wf-rXhOB_hbCUUzf5U8ctnPvR-4YwarnCjLp3kaFROzwcpiCSrr_KOpsFCUewWcCKdpv9BSsLVr_A5TUvrqPl_KUFdueG0ssn0KCe1g3Z/s400/joy:janetNY.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 338px; height: 400px;" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIAW19oxHMSp5qtGa9K_0QRm9yBuUnR22Md2ZRP3KB-IpLRlqEWZBPDQ3zqLwBFSYsBCH6vR-NpelfgZAwVhDIFyoYr0aJCBPzMjmcguHfmWk4IJDnx3sCp6uCGml40zzi1NrfDL8wBFHS/s1600/NYsouvenirs.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><br /></a></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Thanks to the <a href="http://www.moggit.com/">Moggit Girls</a> (lifelong friends Joy and Janet were behind me in line and are seen in picture above) Boston designer Julieann Covino of the blog <a href="http://creategirl.blogspot.com/">CreateGirl</a> (not pictured here but I did get a chance to finally talk to her in person but my camera was all the way across the room!) and the power of <a href="https://twitter.com/yblacker"><span style="font-weight: bold;">twitter</span></a>, I had the opportunity to be an audience member at a taping of <a href="http://www.nateberkus.com/">The Nate Berkus Show</a> yesterday. And it wasn’t just any old audience that walked in off the streets of New York to be there. Just about everyone there was invited because we share a love for Nate, inspired design, and a hard-to-put-into-words passion for social media. Big time gratitude goes to everyone behind the scenes at the Nate Show for hosting with stylish grace and<br />lots of humor (that would be <a href="http://denablizzard.brinkster.net/blog/?p=1025">Dena</a>), and for<br />sharing Nate with us for the day!<br /><br />Bloggers traveled from both near and far, leaving work/school/families/and their computers behind to be a part of this special <a href="http://www.abcddesign.com/archives/2010/06/14/its-nate-day-thanks-to-the-moggitgirls/">Nate Day</a> </span><span style="font-size:130%;"> audience. Having the opportunity to meet so many fun, creative (and well-dressed!) personalities from the same industry *in person* was well up there on the list<br />of highlights from this trip.<br /></span></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNRa9D1BwT9X7MdB6Nb6EjYCnK1MF7QHfyZ7q3y2-V_hcK_Up5xa03UwXy3WQ41yQcr46UEu5u76kvpj9NsZSZtkqklmlYMmCeFS08dqu90nSOLNdyIbd_DberCvLTWisfhNDPqZ0gfUTY/s1600/NYsouvenirs.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><br /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcL5kL9Xk913HfaphlWnKZO9JKdzfy5kZoYqAu74Czg_csr7OOO285sAMpj_5UtTpgkJFNLu8CP4V8IkVlCPtfOMTBVhMnGBos5JAxYRiu6ShlGGjy0l5Bhfs0WLHfSL1LnL5PVx7yFTnN/s1600/withmoggitgirlsNY.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519786999875786898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcL5kL9Xk913HfaphlWnKZO9JKdzfy5kZoYqAu74Czg_csr7OOO285sAMpj_5UtTpgkJFNLu8CP4V8IkVlCPtfOMTBVhMnGBos5JAxYRiu6ShlGGjy0l5Bhfs0WLHfSL1LnL5PVx7yFTnN/s400/withmoggitgirlsNY.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 325px;" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">I chose my outfit based on a recent post collaboration with <a href="http://www.agreatnewlook.com/about.php">Fashion Coach</a> Susan Kanoff that featured <a href="http://designvignettes.blogspot.com/2010/09/fall-color-trends.html">the color purple</a>. The silver rose pin from <a href="http://www.stelladot.com/sites/brendacataldo/productcatalog?page=productlisting.category&categoryId=1003">Stella & Dot</a> is my favorite way to dress up a strand of pearls.<br /><br /><br /></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAlxSF8OJOw5rORBhnQvZq2HIYm2qj0vLWOTciAHi1p2nSHaGM4_3x2Pl8qhASgccjuJQ0TBV8h1UEO_m_OSlbo2QLbhDLrwwGc1woWNBEKYdtePx29rhRCR3fpRWmNEBMJrSGL9MqLivm/s1600/rosanne:yvonneNY.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519786992656056290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAlxSF8OJOw5rORBhnQvZq2HIYm2qj0vLWOTciAHi1p2nSHaGM4_3x2Pl8qhASgccjuJQ0TBV8h1UEO_m_OSlbo2QLbhDLrwwGc1woWNBEKYdtePx29rhRCR3fpRWmNEBMJrSGL9MqLivm/s400/rosanne:yvonneNY.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 311px;" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">New York native and design blog author of <a href="http://thefocusondesign.blogspot.com/">Focus on Design</a>, Rosanne Palazola, was the perfect traveling companion. She kept me entertained on the 4 hour journey with stories about <a href="http://www.tuttleandco.com/about.html">her career in design</a>, her <a href="http://thefocusondesign.blogspot.com/2010/09/berkus-and-bloggers.html">close encounter with Nate</a> this summer, and life in general. We also talked about our joint venture at the new lifestyle boutique <a href="http://www.newenglandfineliving.com/">New England Fine Living</a> which will open in Middleton on October 1st. She also knew exactly how to get where we had to go in the city in the shortest amount of time, which certainly came in handy with all of the traffic in NY this week!<br /></span></div><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYlgfOlhQzDwa7LZ8wotQErqu-fvvxFwBCBqLvi4KF2W0EDBx2JYiqWyhfg-NMdG7s5UkJ3_FEWkZCopc0tTRIHIX7DGpC8I_DOa1et4VVyFShQi5Mo7mj9NHwqIaS_JL-Tzx0HYhSKxQP/s1600/sara+harold.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519786996540768514" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYlgfOlhQzDwa7LZ8wotQErqu-fvvxFwBCBqLvi4KF2W0EDBx2JYiqWyhfg-NMdG7s5UkJ3_FEWkZCopc0tTRIHIX7DGpC8I_DOa1et4VVyFShQi5Mo7mj9NHwqIaS_JL-Tzx0HYhSKxQP/s400/sara+harold.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 397px;" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Friends <a href="http://dwellinganddesign.wordpress.com/">Sara</a> and <a href="http://thirdtimedesign.wordpress.com/">Harold</a> were behind us in line at CBS studios where the show is taped. Both were quite charming and appear to have bright futures in design.<br /></span><br /></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUPMyKpdUfDJaO3NeRNKPbQ23K3Iop-6fmEG6wf-rXhOB_hbCUUzf5U8ctnPvR-4YwarnCjLp3kaFROzwcpiCSrr_KOpsFCUewWcCKdpv9BSsLVr_A5TUvrqPl_KUFdueG0ssn0KCe1g3Z/s1600/joy:janetNY.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><span><span></span></span></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPvo6F9IYDNNqjQoxM2KXzXeJvx9Agt4Y8D6Ja0dBly8gBHD21SeiNbZjNaCKZYDK1-TbffOb8VApFtmAYU_TgMzG3ZN0Xo4SVJIkawLHguHGtqoyOtSwosdkZ2i_hFKyoTKAI4sNgnFut/s1600/yvonne:marcyNY.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519785534999344706" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPvo6F9IYDNNqjQoxM2KXzXeJvx9Agt4Y8D6Ja0dBly8gBHD21SeiNbZjNaCKZYDK1-TbffOb8VApFtmAYU_TgMzG3ZN0Xo4SVJIkawLHguHGtqoyOtSwosdkZ2i_hFKyoTKAI4sNgnFut/s400/yvonne:marcyNY.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 346px;" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Met through the blogs: Marcy of <a href="http://www.pinecreekcottage.blogspot.com/">Pine Creek Cottage</a> lives in Connecticut now, but loved my posts and pictures from the <a href="http://designvignettes.blogspot.com/2010/07/weekend-update-design-show-sneak-peek.html">historical design show in Danvers</a><br />(which happens to be her hometown).<br /></span></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjCR0IM-QG3W9ce-jquVkmw5K6l4_80G2XaS7gYC7ONUhGIViqgzCkLkYaAaak8ljOHv84AvlEA_NVRWYRxgUQVry6sBSoKihvG8ndv1CREi-hJx5skJ_9u_A5rVp2u9xBAkFG01uVMkIq/s1600/bloggers@nateshowNY.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><br /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhocDzPZgYgmo_7uq2ujCILQ5JwN8VsiOrkJhYy_wYM-dMZUin8pfNXgnAsrQYlfg3_KQtfXfEPKdMdwrEuWf7MRsojcmcXXccRpcezI9cYIudeqVD5cKobCYTK7URtPMWAw-Y0agHkElN4/s1600/nateshowaudience921.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519785516412836754" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhocDzPZgYgmo_7uq2ujCILQ5JwN8VsiOrkJhYy_wYM-dMZUin8pfNXgnAsrQYlfg3_KQtfXfEPKdMdwrEuWf7MRsojcmcXXccRpcezI9cYIudeqVD5cKobCYTK7URtPMWAw-Y0agHkElN4/s400/nateshowaudience921.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">The audience was just as captivating as the host.<br />So many star sightings for us design bloggers! Our collective stories could probably be a design show series in itself (will send memo to HGTV!) which may explain why Nate could not call attention to all of the creative efforts of those gathered in NY to enjoy this amazing opportunity to meet and greet. </span><span style="font-size:130%;">Did I mention <a href="http://blog.hgtv.com/design-star/author/emilyhenderson/">Emily Henderson</a> was there??? Be sure to watch the show to catch her segment on how to showcase the treasures in your home. Oh, and <a href="http://thebrasspetal.blogspot.com/">she blogs, too</a>.</span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNRa9D1BwT9X7MdB6Nb6EjYCnK1MF7QHfyZ7q3y2-V_hcK_Up5xa03UwXy3WQ41yQcr46UEu5u76kvpj9NsZSZtkqklmlYMmCeFS08dqu90nSOLNdyIbd_DberCvLTWisfhNDPqZ0gfUTY/s1600/NYsouvenirs.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519798159918340658" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNRa9D1BwT9X7MdB6Nb6EjYCnK1MF7QHfyZ7q3y2-V_hcK_Up5xa03UwXy3WQ41yQcr46UEu5u76kvpj9NsZSZtkqklmlYMmCeFS08dqu90nSOLNdyIbd_DberCvLTWisfhNDPqZ0gfUTY/s400/NYsouvenirs.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 326px;" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Souvenirs from the trip: my VIP ticket, a gift card to <a href="http://www.payless.com/store/">Payless</a> (perfect for budget-conscious fashionistas), a stunning necklace provided by <a href="http://sendthetrend.com/">Send the Trend</a> and promoted by Project Runway star <a href="http://www.christianvsiriano.com/">Christian Siriano</a> who shared a few of his fashion tips with us. My box of new business cards also came home with me as they were not needed thanks to a new blog friend, <a href="http://melongings.blogspot.com/">Chanee</a>, who went out of her way to create an entire <a href="http://www.scribd.com/full/37689320?access_key=key-ynhl2uzy13eimg3g33r">Who’s Who</a> of faces and contact information for each of the bloggers invited to the show, which was extremely helpful in putting names with faces and blogs!<br /><br /><br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHhXQsDwUop6BDViBh4d3Hok5Ib92pwEhaoyZA1HhTdTCF6n_ir7oJRNQ_mJwIjdT2_wFtgkZ3rkHi7jYkiKhBWo7oM2c9FQSfRik2OZFhfW0eKs0cZLdiW5iFdodS3Eq9gOsIJxvc3vEC/s1600/bloggers@nateshowNY.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519787736909319922" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHhXQsDwUop6BDViBh4d3Hok5Ib92pwEhaoyZA1HhTdTCF6n_ir7oJRNQ_mJwIjdT2_wFtgkZ3rkHi7jYkiKhBWo7oM2c9FQSfRik2OZFhfW0eKs0cZLdiW5iFdodS3Eq9gOsIJxvc3vEC/s400/bloggers@nateshowNY.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 308px;" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">As bloggers, we are a diverse community of many voices, but we all share a passion for design. Almost everyone in this shot lives in the Boston area.</span><br /><br /><a href="http://sabbespot.blogspot.com/">Sabbespot</a>, <a href="http://everythingleb.blogspot.com/">Everything LEB</a>, <a href="http://www.perfectlyputtogether.blogspot.com/">Perfectly Put Together</a>,<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span><a href="http://deliciouslyorganized.blogspot.com/">Deliciously Organized</a>, <a href="http://havenandhome.blogspot.com/">Haven and Home</a><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhSeqgEuK9-Bu4XvI5gD0JYBT7G09fIITJZTi5XBoRC_8RGLl_k2PMgdkYCP9LO339Wy9KQOJ1ShaC8L1tqa73Bi0Lc7ApqcDLsPp0LiPpAi70aIFTpqro02N8V-dRcPVY8CaHw4J2aYdD/s1600/snapshotNY.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519786984338949426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhSeqgEuK9-Bu4XvI5gD0JYBT7G09fIITJZTi5XBoRC_8RGLl_k2PMgdkYCP9LO339Wy9KQOJ1ShaC8L1tqa73Bi0Lc7ApqcDLsPp0LiPpAi70aIFTpqro02N8V-dRcPVY8CaHw4J2aYdD/s400/snapshotNY.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 385px; height: 400px;" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">The weather was perfect. The city was full of life.<br />I wish we could have stayed longer. Next time!<br /><br /><br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZThcRzUmKu-NxVlI5wmiEe1PjvFdKKCIyCj7Qb_352mVOhGp_8CkUP6EBPKwIFe9WXQCRQieE7AkrNYat7faEq7WxGxJhiDcNk4dR617l7nKRlioGV5rXmhsK6ECqz6pRma0ppLgElVGG/s1600/rosanne@affina.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519787801332386242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZThcRzUmKu-NxVlI5wmiEe1PjvFdKKCIyCj7Qb_352mVOhGp_8CkUP6EBPKwIFe9WXQCRQieE7AkrNYat7faEq7WxGxJhiDcNk4dR617l7nKRlioGV5rXmhsK6ECqz6pRma0ppLgElVGG/s400/rosanne@affina.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 375px; height: 400px;" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Even though “our driver</span><span style="font-size:130%;">”</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> was picking us up at 7pm, we still managed to enjoy some food and beverage at <a href="http://www.affinia.com/New-York-City-Hotel.aspx?name=Affinia-Manhattan&page=Niles">Affina</a> before making the trek back to Boston. And even though we missed a couple of blogger events (please don’t remind me!) that we just could not squeeze into our quick trip to New York, I was happy to spend the day in a different kind of reality!<br /><br />I will post the <a href="http://www.thenateshow.com/videos/detail/279/decor-in-a-day/">air time of this show</a> when I know the details, and will link to <a href="http://thefocusondesign.blogspot.com/2010/09/so-much-design-so-little-time.html">more photos that Rosanne took</a> from her point of view. She may have caught me talking with a few women involved in <a href="http://designvignettes.blogspot.com/2010/09/laid-back-room-to-relax-in.html">ProjectUDesign</a> like social-media extraordinaire <a href="http://lesliecarothers.extendr.com/">Leslie Carothers</a>, <a href="http://froulala.blogspot.com/">Maybelline Te</a> of <a href="http://snugfurniture.com/">Snug Furniture</a>, and Nicole Nachazel from <a href="http://www.bioh.com/">BiOH</a>. I hope she caught me in deep conversation with both <a href="http://www.creategirl.blogspot.com/">CreateGirl</a> and <a href="http://www.jonathanlegate.com/">Jonathan Legate</a> (a rising star in Canadian design) as we amazed at the fact that it took about <a href="http://140it.com/">140 characters</a> to make<br />this dream our reality.<br /><br />And thank you, Nate, for bringing us all together. Some people have the ability to draw a crowd and shine a light on others at the same time. You have that gift along with a generous spirit and big heart! Best of luck with your new show (insert virtual hug here!)<br /><br />xoxo<br />yvonne<br /><br /><br /></span></div>

The mecca to Nate and back

Thanks to the Moggit Girls (lifelong friends Joy and Janet were behind me in line and are seen in picture above) Boston designer Julieann C...

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Kim Smith and Fragrant Gardening

<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfRVkObFocvHjvKtYo22AndxyE6ZJsQWRwbKM0VZU22dKwXTeL8nwX4XaPfCBVcNruFv47fRgmjh2RxexRsCC8icRL2qOX-wbH4rLbirv9AzWfbhSDYNBijLRg5sYvg3NrWn_Ylmnch9U/s1600/yvonnewithkimNSDS.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477780081300721090" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfRVkObFocvHjvKtYo22AndxyE6ZJsQWRwbKM0VZU22dKwXTeL8nwX4XaPfCBVcNruFv47fRgmjh2RxexRsCC8icRL2qOX-wbH4rLbirv9AzWfbhSDYNBijLRg5sYvg3NrWn_Ylmnch9U/s400/yvonnewithkimNSDS.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 387px;" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">At the Wenham Museum with designer Kim Smith</span></span><br /><br />One of the best parts of participating in a local design show is meeting other creative individuals who share the same interests. Last year at the <span style="font-weight: bold;">North Shore Design Show</span> I met Kim Smith, a super talented designer, author, illustrator and photographer who created a lovely space for Willowdale Estate (<a href="http://designvignettes.blogspot.com/2009/06/tablescapes-spotlight-kim-smith-for.html">see it here</a>) where she works her design magic from the bridal suite to the <a href="http://willowdaleestate.com/Garden.cfm">garden landscapes</a>. While at the show, I really enjoyed talking with Kim about flowers and design (a couple of my favorite things ; ) so I asked Kim to share some of her gardening wisdom with my friends at the Village Garden Club of Lynnfield. She visited with us in September, presenting her tips on growing native plants – illustrated with many gorgeous slides – to our group of garden enthusiasts. While Kim did not participate in the <a href="http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=171964&id=73210453062"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Favorite Spaces</span></a> design show this year (her daughter was graduating from college – congrats to you both!) she did host a slide show that highlighted the best flowers to plant when designing a fragrant garden.<br /><br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm_E0Y3HpG6EY5PVJ_n_K0w7h_djwuT8bLtPIA_z6F9KNZMLsRklzyiCYIqA_UdgykQKk0mtbcZcAPjK5avglWhGmHVIi7gIyyVIhRPopivY2Ju_PlW7XLTGBNKzpRiDCs6GHmbqHqoLI/s1600/peony.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477793068290122786" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm_E0Y3HpG6EY5PVJ_n_K0w7h_djwuT8bLtPIA_z6F9KNZMLsRklzyiCYIqA_UdgykQKk0mtbcZcAPjK5avglWhGmHVIi7gIyyVIhRPopivY2Ju_PlW7XLTGBNKzpRiDCs6GHmbqHqoLI/s400/peony.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Peonies I caught in bloom at a local cafe.</span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUd9FK2C1FoqDIii0uWKnBydyAw4MxmnmzhZjQ2qjEzR_7YHk_fE29Cn8SEklQ8QlM5H2yhYhUJ7Qv2WTTsTKHIrPW3p4Xoac3WFynarpWZk3jTZMYTjxLqEF5ruDHNWdHApo0zdy3OjM/s1600/shrubroseYB.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477808797171602322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUd9FK2C1FoqDIii0uWKnBydyAw4MxmnmzhZjQ2qjEzR_7YHk_fE29Cn8SEklQ8QlM5H2yhYhUJ7Qv2WTTsTKHIrPW3p4Xoac3WFynarpWZk3jTZMYTjxLqEF5ruDHNWdHApo0zdy3OjM/s400/shrubroseYB.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 327px;" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">My favorite shrub rose smells heavenly this week.</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Here are just some of <span style="font-weight: bold;">Kim’s fragrant favorites</span><br />(although I think she loves most every flower!) ...<br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />White Lilac </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">(Syringa vulgaris </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">‘</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Krasavitsa Moskvy</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">’</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">)</span></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">White Wisteria <span style="font-style: italic;">(W. sinensis v. alba ‘Jako’</span></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >)</span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><a href="http://www.marthastewart.com/plant/rosa-louise-odier">Old Garden Rose</a> <span style="font-style: italic;">(Rosa Louise Odier</span>)<br />Butterfly Bush <span style="font-style: italic;">(Buddleis davidii)</span><br />Nasturium <span style="font-style: italic;">(Tropaeolum majus)<br /></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">Oyama Magnolia <span style="font-style: italic;">(M. sieboldii)</span></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span>Moon Flower <span style="font-style: italic;">(Ipomoea alba)</span><br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;">Mock Orange <span style="font-style: italic;">(Philadelphus)</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span><br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;">Peony <span style="font-style: italic;">(Paeonia lactifolia)<br /></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span><br /></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Her number one tip on choosing <span style="font-weight: bold;">flowers with the most fragrance</span> is to <span style="font-weight: bold;">look for a white variety</span> as scent is in direct proportion to pigmentation. The more showy, colorful flowers may attract your eye, but the subtle shades of white, cream, pale pinks, yellows and purples will release the most scent. And while you are at it, plant those scented species closest to where you are apt to enjoy them, near a window or along a traveled path. I am going to try my hand at <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002ROFNFY/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B000UZFOJM&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=197Q9WDGD36NWEBE52ZC">Moon Flower</a> this year. I love that it opens at night, just around the time that I will be out in <a href="http://designvignettes.blogspot.com/2009/08/my-secret-garden-room.html">my garden room</a>, enjoying a glass of something cold and refreshing!<br /><br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu8jiOJLrLbB5OYXhFelwRIKNB9FfYsf0F0SgQAPPkQlZd49T2S6CVbpSrJzRrH8X5ddCQ-_0zag_DqzjsL8Dd0KK_yQq1ZtIzC2ODdmBIQNiJArPMja8tOOn82bHDRMwIoTJ-VTtmga0/s1600/phloxYB.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477808815838322274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu8jiOJLrLbB5OYXhFelwRIKNB9FfYsf0F0SgQAPPkQlZd49T2S6CVbpSrJzRrH8X5ddCQ-_0zag_DqzjsL8Dd0KK_yQq1ZtIzC2ODdmBIQNiJArPMja8tOOn82bHDRMwIoTJ-VTtmga0/s400/phloxYB.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Vintage biennial phlox from my garden ...<br />they smell like cinnamon!</span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span>To receive Kim’s gardening tips via email, visit her <a href="http://kimsmithdesigns.com/">website</a> and <a href="http://kimsmithdesigns.com/correspond.php">sign up for her eColumn</a> which is always chock full of great photos and information. Her <a href="http://kimsmithdesigns.wordpress.com/">blog</a> is another great resource for gardening inspiration.<br /><br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5DDQruy2G-8DPPUVIRlJwvn50p7ouD_CVjn8uJuSp-glmvrgd-QIfOZh5RcA_OhLFHPm_EkMKcFn9aZeMeCDnQTaVg4yPZ1jeI_qngjypA5hPAKnzUEBuMUdoyBMnIzCf1uVzAwlma2g/s1600/whiteflowerKimSmithOGarden.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477808812653506770" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5DDQruy2G-8DPPUVIRlJwvn50p7ouD_CVjn8uJuSp-glmvrgd-QIfOZh5RcA_OhLFHPm_EkMKcFn9aZeMeCDnQTaVg4yPZ1jeI_qngjypA5hPAKnzUEBuMUdoyBMnIzCf1uVzAwlma2g/s400/whiteflowerKimSmithOGarden.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 307px;" /></a>Kim Smith illustration from her book,<br /><a href="http://kimsmithdesigns.com/book.php">“Oh Garden of Fresh Possibilities!”</a></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrVWhjUyAo0Hl547hKdkENERTl4skskRLtlO8INiU26jNWIawK99LWWnL4wR78G1RLHrUbffFSxzipOnunKyFB91OGabaEXaWwfyBOKEiSHVAczGL_T1hlSNNAO_2vIt_-SZJX7-MzcD8/s1600/sashabroochSnD.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeYmI9M2ePs0AHZ3hKOUePkddGVcqr73EBklp0h_BtWjUCwuqzRoW8n_M8MUMw3nwXVLcNsi21rggIO04xXYjV6-e4jV4yt1IpHUqXaT8K7I_3BpIiYVYHQrCSGK37v8sbh0Hmvu7v6AA/s1600/homepage3.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477813369135666946" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeYmI9M2ePs0AHZ3hKOUePkddGVcqr73EBklp0h_BtWjUCwuqzRoW8n_M8MUMw3nwXVLcNsi21rggIO04xXYjV6-e4jV4yt1IpHUqXaT8K7I_3BpIiYVYHQrCSGK37v8sbh0Hmvu7v6AA/s400/homepage3.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 225px; height: 300px;" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Colorful jewels from </span><a href="http://www.stelladot.com/sites/brendacataldo" style="font-style: italic;">stella & dot</a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />And for those of you who like to wear your love of flowers, I am hosting a <span style="font-weight: bold;">stella & dot</span> party online. One of my favorite items (besides the <a href="http://www.stelladot.com/sites/brendacataldo/productcatalog?page=productdetail&sku=N1016I">Sophia Pearl Bib Necklace</a> that I am wearing in the photo with Kim above) is their <a href="http://www.stelladot.com/sites/brendacataldo/productcatalog?page=productdetail&sku=BR1000S">Sasha Flower Brooch</a> ...<br /><br /><br /></span><a href="http://www.stelladot.com/corporate/productcatalog?page=productdetail&selectedLocale=en_US&sku=BR1000S" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477813313473893506" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrVWhjUyAo0Hl547hKdkENERTl4skskRLtlO8INiU26jNWIawK99LWWnL4wR78G1RLHrUbffFSxzipOnunKyFB91OGabaEXaWwfyBOKEiSHVAczGL_T1hlSNNAO_2vIt_-SZJX7-MzcD8/s400/sashabroochSnD.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 278px;" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />These pin-on-flowers are all the rage right now, and are the perfect accessory to a summer top, bag or belt. There are so many pretty items in the <span style="font-weight: bold;">stella & dot Look Book</span> for Spring/Summer 2010. <a href="http://www.stelladot.com/sites/brendacataldo/productcatalog?page=productlisting.category&categoryId=1003">Take a peek at the latest trends</a> and let me know what your favorite is ...<br /><br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMQPUqSMoXtYlP8eKURXfNneb-qLECp2dH277KbV4L6UBkIanVLsjfALvyUzw8fZ4ZWA3WggQ5SMUXGtyKs3Xjdhm-ISEwf3UFqw2thNkRSz4Z3QpKV8qum9-9FaTqJOdzSK9Ial5itLI/s1600/stellandotlookbook.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477817728906610802" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMQPUqSMoXtYlP8eKURXfNneb-qLECp2dH277KbV4L6UBkIanVLsjfALvyUzw8fZ4ZWA3WggQ5SMUXGtyKs3Xjdhm-ISEwf3UFqw2thNkRSz4Z3QpKV8qum9-9FaTqJOdzSK9Ial5itLI/s400/stellandotlookbook.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 295px; height: 400px;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />To purchase a <span style="font-weight: bold;">stella & dot</span> item, click <a href="http://www.stelladot.com/sites/brendacataldo/productcatalog?page=productlisting.category&categoryId=1003">on this link</a> and add my name (Yvonne Blacker : ) as the hostess.<br /><br />Have fun shopping ... and gardening!<br /><br />xo<br />yvonne</span><br /><br /><br /></div>

Kim Smith and Fragrant Gardening

At the Wenham Museum with designer Kim Smith One of the best parts of participating in a local design show is meeting other creative individ...

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