Dressing and interiors ...

<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifc-86fAegPZ6sVIewECj5oKJcZ-HPLNzjDXuxtU__dQqQMqa976swp-WNMTIeA9xkC1fWYO4CH2v2kffONs0Elp8OEgafkJcE7jw8983CCpISTwxf4ybyBwTJZLZhmJjtEpAYVld5GZM/s1600-h/PEMpursebooklamp.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411772026778120018" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifc-86fAegPZ6sVIewECj5oKJcZ-HPLNzjDXuxtU__dQqQMqa976swp-WNMTIeA9xkC1fWYO4CH2v2kffONs0Elp8OEgafkJcE7jw8983CCpISTwxf4ybyBwTJZLZhmJjtEpAYVld5GZM/s400/PEMpursebooklamp.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">A side table vignette from <a href="http://www.pemshop.com/">the shop</a> at<br />the <a href="http://www.pem.org/collections/">Peabody Essex Museum</a>.</span></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Last night I attended the <a href="http://www.pem.org/exhibitions/21-rare_bird_of_fashion_the_irreverent_iris_apfel">The Irreverent Iris Apfel: Rare Bird of Fashion</a> exhibit at the Peabody Essex Museum. It included a special Iris inspired fashion show presented by the Salem vintage clothing boutique <a href="http://modernmillieshop.com/">Modern Millie</a>. I met some very stylish attendees after the event, who I will post about early next week. In the meantime, check out these behind-the-scenes images from the <a href="http://milliegirl.tumblr.com/">Modern Millie blog.</a><br /><br />And if you are looking for something fun to do today with a girlfriend-daughter-or-mother, the museum is hosting </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><a href="http://www.pem.org/exhibitions/21-rare_bird_of_fashion_the_irreverent_iris_apfel#Atrium%20Alive:%20The%20Art%20of%20Fashion%20with%20Iris%20Apfel">Atrium Alive: the Art of Fashion</a><br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;">(December 5th from 11am to 5pm). </span><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVF0iNP5iq38KEfrCERKNcV-VZndGUGC6udKSv3DtjqXoZa7XlVffBiAFtsZ07hvThlnmRo4Kjs-1ZeVPNuLp61Y21TjhqEbx-aSTBsxKGuaOJ_YqUU6QAhlMNMWdpxukblx1DCDsc3sc/s1600-h/HolidayWindowPEM.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411792670290746610" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVF0iNP5iq38KEfrCERKNcV-VZndGUGC6udKSv3DtjqXoZa7XlVffBiAFtsZ07hvThlnmRo4Kjs-1ZeVPNuLp61Y21TjhqEbx-aSTBsxKGuaOJ_YqUU6QAhlMNMWdpxukblx1DCDsc3sc/s400/HolidayWindowPEM.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 280px; height: 400px;" /></a><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Holiday window dressing at PEM.</span></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />If you can’t make it to the North Shore, here is a great example of over-the-top dressing of the interior kind as posted by New York designer Heather Clawson, of the design blog <a href="http://habituallychic.blogspot.com/">Habitually Chic</a>. Today she posted images from <a href="http://www.holidayhouse2009.com/www.holidayhouse2009.com/Home.html"><span>Holiday House 2</span><span>009</span></a> featuring designer table settings inspired by a year of holidays (not just those in December). Plumage in many forms seemed to be a recurring design theme ... see how many birds-of-a-feather you can spot. Enjoy!</span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><a href="http://habituallychic.blogspot.com/2009/12/holiday-house-2009.html#links">Habitually Chic™: Holiday House 2009</a></span><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhypkCICX6ZNYLwCgzcTKU1LpPab4J7PrQBJ2jqd4WJmQJLXQ6r7SmGYeVX2MS_nVceoo6qYW4EFdwMVeRqnFse7pPLZzdWIxqbdxb1K_UE97VrFgdG_bA-gLaz-Na9ED633YzPEGdqDgg/s1600-h/feathervignetteYB.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411802404104556642" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhypkCICX6ZNYLwCgzcTKU1LpPab4J7PrQBJ2jqd4WJmQJLXQ6r7SmGYeVX2MS_nVceoo6qYW4EFdwMVeRqnFse7pPLZzdWIxqbdxb1K_UE97VrFgdG_bA-gLaz-Na9ED633YzPEGdqDgg/s320/feathervignetteYB.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 268px;" /></a><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">A small feathery vignette of my own currently on</span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br />display at</span><a href="http://www.bethhylan.com/Guest_Designers.html" style="font-style: italic;"> the Studio</a><span style="font-style: italic;">. Felted acorns by </span><a href="http://truluxe.blogspot.com/" style="font-style: italic;">TruLuxe</a><span style="font-style: italic;">.</span></span><br /><br /></div>

Dressing and interiors ...

A side table vignette from the shop at the Peabody Essex Museum . Last night I attended the The Irreverent Iris Apfel: Rare Bird of Fashion...

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A fairy-tale event ...

<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDOW_7R6t1QOXLW7dftTKYLlGi6vosyQ0LNf1Qk4F184hJTKK_ieo9yHt2J4at98ODWcwxTsn-t8QO4dJYAA4soLarO2ZrNWFGZMfSXaij4gvNltqw836fs7mcKQOMYmgSvUhS-FWibe0/s1600-h/previewparty.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337362995454611938" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDOW_7R6t1QOXLW7dftTKYLlGi6vosyQ0LNf1Qk4F184hJTKK_ieo9yHt2J4at98ODWcwxTsn-t8QO4dJYAA4soLarO2ZrNWFGZMfSXaij4gvNltqw836fs7mcKQOMYmgSvUhS-FWibe0/s400/previewparty.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 304px; height: 400px;" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Photo courtesy of Linda Encarnacao<br /><br /></span></span><span style="font-style: italic;">Enjoying the Gala Preview Cocktail Party,</span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;">Friday, May 15th at the <a href="http://www.wenhammuseum.org/index.html">Wenham Museum</a></span><br /><br />Last weekend, Friday, May 15th through Sunday, May 17th, was the <span style="font-weight: bold;">North Shore Design Show: Tablescapes</span> held at the Wenham Museum. Each of the design participants was asked to come up with a tablescape setting that either relates to life on the North Shore or honors the mission of the museum and it’s extensive collections highlighting the “<a href="http://www.wenhammuseum.org/galleries.html">treasures of childhood and how we lived, worked, dressed and played from the 17th century to today</a>” in New England. Each of us was given an 8' x 8' space in which to tell our “story.” Below are some pictures from my design vignette entitled<span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >“</span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >Tea for Fairy & Me.</span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >”</span><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtFFFjM3tUifK-iSVoIhi471TB83jraOfjLStn0JCRXRVUJUldIHQi7KIXbddIwIti0pI6xYKBDihlzoAXj_blJ27TozNZepn5PGdYyxHyiTw2DIWZ4n-5IJuL4nrX-PQpgjkh3_JggjA/s1600-h/bird.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337364242701644994" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtFFFjM3tUifK-iSVoIhi471TB83jraOfjLStn0JCRXRVUJUldIHQi7KIXbddIwIti0pI6xYKBDihlzoAXj_blJ27TozNZepn5PGdYyxHyiTw2DIWZ4n-5IJuL4nrX-PQpgjkh3_JggjA/s400/bird.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Look closely ... you are about to get a bird’s eye view of a miniature shade garden and table setting for two designed to entice a visit from a woodland fairy. </span></span><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWEK1d8A3p4V03ZBJcTqkzVVHaJK7OpxLQRcAyTpQgTN6Es-wIA2EZmyek9Wa78NJ3vFgRJaRHffo37X75nymv-W1Pcmf3-2MZ5XgcgXFNd0MWAId20TUu4okz2j1lRgIMhkPbzffq6Jo/s1600-h/tablecloth.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337363510978885218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWEK1d8A3p4V03ZBJcTqkzVVHaJK7OpxLQRcAyTpQgTN6Es-wIA2EZmyek9Wa78NJ3vFgRJaRHffo37X75nymv-W1Pcmf3-2MZ5XgcgXFNd0MWAId20TUu4okz2j1lRgIMhkPbzffq6Jo/s400/tablecloth.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" /></a><br />A round, earthy green shag carpet anchors a cafe table clothed in a combination of mossy green velvet, elegant white birch bark/faux bois-like fabric, and edged in nubby brown linen – a design that is repeated in the miniature table set for our guest of honor ...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1385mvun4K6vIY7FAXk3jieEfgoFaIAzn8xfwk8i2FwlS9SeOjfPVbofin29J2hxwcqqhAbsUCoo7RF-u0BwEZCEI5PHlMMz6jxoeygiipsZx1FeMsz6J_7lD4FkRFepuvgorUXa1EIU/s1600-h/fairyhouse.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337364249569111698" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1385mvun4K6vIY7FAXk3jieEfgoFaIAzn8xfwk8i2FwlS9SeOjfPVbofin29J2hxwcqqhAbsUCoo7RF-u0BwEZCEI5PHlMMz6jxoeygiipsZx1FeMsz6J_7lD4FkRFepuvgorUXa1EIU/s400/fairyhouse.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" /></a><br />Using willow branches, moss, and a hot glue gun, I created my first ever pair of <a href="http://www.bhg.com/gardening/fairy-chair/">fairy chairs</a> (not as difficult as I thought it would be, honest!). Slate from my home’s roof, dislodged during a winter storm, serves as the floor, while a beautifully curved trunk of an old apple tree was removed from my yard to house this enchanted tea party. A fairy globe nestled behind a moss-covered rock catches the light and ignites the imagination. An irresistible-to-the-touch rabbit stands guard. <span style="font-style: italic;">Miniature tea set available through the Wenham Museum gift shop.</span><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjrJSnwwCLVIVap1c2FrRA2BMrx3-65XLRhW04gj7fSWanQqu6Sa-v7b0HxjL-pgIse-iZGNzkRgKfYHlWSkj2kGmHeOGK0n_RRNGnGZLEg5iILO_exav0riTLLZ8i-8_iznhhgCTg5vk/s1600-h/fairy+teapot.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337364946721535666" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjrJSnwwCLVIVap1c2FrRA2BMrx3-65XLRhW04gj7fSWanQqu6Sa-v7b0HxjL-pgIse-iZGNzkRgKfYHlWSkj2kGmHeOGK0n_RRNGnGZLEg5iILO_exav0riTLLZ8i-8_iznhhgCTg5vk/s400/fairy+teapot.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" /></a><br /><br />A punch of color and whimsy is provided by a stunning pink <a href="http://returntothecenter.typepad.com/the_center/2009/04/mun-su-sa-lotus-lanterns---the-home-stretch.html">Lotus Lantern</a> <span style="font-style: italic;">(or for our imaginative tea party, a clover flower)</span>. I am grateful to Roy Goodwin for introducing me to this amazing work of spiritual art in his blog, <a href="http://returntothecenter.typepad.com/the_center/">Return to the Center</a>. If you would like to see what it takes to create these delicate blossoms, visit Roy’s photostream - <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/19139526@N00/sets/72157615770389986/show/">Mun Su Sa Lotus Lanters</a> - on Flick’r. The beautiful photos inspire awe, and show how priceless this gift truly was. Thank you, Roy.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiUM357ULqENO4FKlY66_30WGn-xFqa-mcODEOz-gtVHWhpLqRcyTSl95gxrOTQNvDzuUDQNIjuz8GY_dW736J-AawzUCqyOHJN960q4VgmML9GOPnVk7s2WOCfCbIIHQPYMzWEfhKtkA/s1600-h/mirrors.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337364950972967618" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiUM357ULqENO4FKlY66_30WGn-xFqa-mcODEOz-gtVHWhpLqRcyTSl95gxrOTQNvDzuUDQNIjuz8GY_dW736J-AawzUCqyOHJN960q4VgmML9GOPnVk7s2WOCfCbIIHQPYMzWEfhKtkA/s400/mirrors.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 269px; height: 400px;" /></a><br />Modern sparkle is added with a set of three mirrors imprinted with black graphic illustrations of birds and butterflies that seem to hover over our garden of ferns, lambs-ear, bleeding hearts, and wild violets (all snagged from the woods behind my house). <span style="font-style: italic;">Wall covered with a natural woven window shade in Zen Sage from <a href="http://www.smithandnoble.com/sn/home.jsp">Smith & Noble</a>. Black plant stand with tray is a favorite piece from my home.</span><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE-ByyMhFOO07A4N3T7k3fN9eGBDJBoMCKB4vXq8ZkEG7uWBI2glgnejIJJ9vJrLCZbnRKQUr-5Pc-gap1VRw6oLUo73z9oMghTiSfhgx0taZdZk_CQMp68dse_3YlFCo539K29fWwUEE/s1600-h/acorn+on+moss.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337364234929669346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE-ByyMhFOO07A4N3T7k3fN9eGBDJBoMCKB4vXq8ZkEG7uWBI2glgnejIJJ9vJrLCZbnRKQUr-5Pc-gap1VRw6oLUo73z9oMghTiSfhgx0taZdZk_CQMp68dse_3YlFCo539K29fWwUEE/s400/acorn+on+moss.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 373px;" /></a><br />Hidden within the moss, visitors to the museum discovered these adorable needle felted wool acorns from <a href="http://www.etsy.com/">Etsy</a> artist, <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5826040">truLuxe</a>. I just love them! And meeting the artist in person was a true pleasure.<br />Thank you for coming to the show, T!<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Along with museum visitors, our anticipated guests have arrived and are hiding safely in the cover of the birch and white pine branches ...<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUE3cPpzy8YM9QWctVcn2KLR51msjxcc-uNLXciSOpwAqXkJyQ_MQ4PSW4VKPsnM3q50jzwD4kKCu1-2vPrwix7R0Rq4dpKrpFqzeNpXpnSCpw82l1g1nLY-EdKmQavKClXHS_0RfGmRo/s1600-h/greenfairy.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337364946203736626" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUE3cPpzy8YM9QWctVcn2KLR51msjxcc-uNLXciSOpwAqXkJyQ_MQ4PSW4VKPsnM3q50jzwD4kKCu1-2vPrwix7R0Rq4dpKrpFqzeNpXpnSCpw82l1g1nLY-EdKmQavKClXHS_0RfGmRo/s400/greenfairy.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 295px; height: 400px;" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Photo courtesy of Linda Encarnacao</span></span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center; font-style: italic;">Large Porcelain Fairy Dolls available<br />at the Wenham Museum gift shop.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQpkm-EXip7-ONSuWSVAJ4tdhHhOEd-sJk6tn2R85thgk4hx1CvDyR4XoZQLL7FroN660Ooot_H11WyXq_r1ugUy9MtJY6AUUknGz4WaTkktu_vz6sCCLrmq_wncJz5DAFzbmnGeQOQ4A/s1600-h/whitefairy.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337364942827996978" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQpkm-EXip7-ONSuWSVAJ4tdhHhOEd-sJk6tn2R85thgk4hx1CvDyR4XoZQLL7FroN660Ooot_H11WyXq_r1ugUy9MtJY6AUUknGz4WaTkktu_vz6sCCLrmq_wncJz5DAFzbmnGeQOQ4A/s400/whitefairy.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 260px; height: 400px;" /></a><br />As if dressed by fairies, cafe chairs are slip-covered in green flower-covered silk and skirted with golden tulle, while attached willow branches add an organic touch.<br /></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFiuiPiH7pXcJF56kwfqvuyuVwVXQXVp74X9_oxquJ0Ds8IyJZY0b9a1FX_PS55R_T5OrpijCWLvOAr4qlKUynRtqGkmE9EMxWXUOEQzowb-x5vQWcmWWEvcariidz45sa5etbgtSKISg/s1600-h/chair.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337405742333446674" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFiuiPiH7pXcJF56kwfqvuyuVwVXQXVp74X9_oxquJ0Ds8IyJZY0b9a1FX_PS55R_T5OrpijCWLvOAr4qlKUynRtqGkmE9EMxWXUOEQzowb-x5vQWcmWWEvcariidz45sa5etbgtSKISg/s400/chair.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">More design details inspired by and collected<br />from the floor of a New England forest ...<br /></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh25nDkDh_WTr9bDXWGSAHa8fb1gMRzxmRR56TTui57_uFfeSecTPXRVEuQHofirsl0MArtM9_j79jGp84_XS8tRzjaUS3EX7kT3Ga1WdU7sJeV-yCQ6bZzeLLlPWhaunYvm2qHcaTAuoY/s1600-h/nest+and+moss.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337408813761609234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh25nDkDh_WTr9bDXWGSAHa8fb1gMRzxmRR56TTui57_uFfeSecTPXRVEuQHofirsl0MArtM9_j79jGp84_XS8tRzjaUS3EX7kT3Ga1WdU7sJeV-yCQ6bZzeLLlPWhaunYvm2qHcaTAuoY/s400/nest+and+moss.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br />At our life-sized table for two, honey cream and black raspberries<br />are waiting to be served with a tiny golden spoon.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL5EPy0L3tSOPPV-5I-PBOqgzAmgkLwq76P5duKhnL5uOwByFrPTv-cYs92qbEb7c_lWOECtgOT1JKhnkb4qvCv6dcTT0kL3H7b08yI72U_mALat_HZzosUmzbDb_gr7-lXlN0p8LyYl8/s1600-h/berries+%26+cream.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337364238548731010" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL5EPy0L3tSOPPV-5I-PBOqgzAmgkLwq76P5duKhnL5uOwByFrPTv-cYs92qbEb7c_lWOECtgOT1JKhnkb4qvCv6dcTT0kL3H7b08yI72U_mALat_HZzosUmzbDb_gr7-lXlN0p8LyYl8/s400/berries+%26+cream.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" /></a><br />And finally, a delicate white tea pot and glittery pine cone candles are paired with rose adorned teacups, and a set of pink “tutu-like” plates combined with simple white china. More gold spoons are nestled on gold trimmed napkins and wrapped with a thick metallic thread.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwZD77JQKP6LRfYxL5xrsOiP7kaELFRdqQ9GJQDZ_edYXPdIfxqWyW427oG4ItcC1wRFYjlnhrGa6PlRXwfLexS6DuSE97m2ktSogTF9tudAra2VB9vHpZvAnOCXmsu9d5XgbLMcBlYkk/s1600-h/placesetting.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337363511279836418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwZD77JQKP6LRfYxL5xrsOiP7kaELFRdqQ9GJQDZ_edYXPdIfxqWyW427oG4ItcC1wRFYjlnhrGa6PlRXwfLexS6DuSE97m2ktSogTF9tudAra2VB9vHpZvAnOCXmsu9d5XgbLMcBlYkk/s400/placesetting.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">As if sprinkled with fairy dust,<br />imagination sets the stage ...</span></span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The Wenham Museum is known for it’s doll, toy and train collections and for being a fun, yet educational place to bring children – as well as a place that can bring out the child in each of us. I was inspired to create my fairy setting after remembering the magical moments spent in the museum with my mom and most likely the Girl Scouts when I was young, and more recently with my husband and sons (we saw a great <a href="http://www.lego.com/en-US/default.aspx">Lego</a> exhibition this past winter that showcased moving train cars, amusement parks, city sky scrapers ... all created out of Legos). The world of miniatures fascinated my boys on our trip, and in coming up with my concept, I was reminded of the New England tradition of building miniature fairy houses in the woods, as written and illustrated by Tracy Kane in the <a href="http://www.fairyhouses.com/fhs.html">Fairy Houses Series</a>.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm-O6cwMwoZo3sfNdFF-42NBxjfI4FAxx4mWSJD-uYSMQktNgQbmWLc1UCMENGalj432WQets7iZB2_3v5iKn1mCQBlR5YCFwcypj7FXCvWjZp2kglSrMmAtiDGd8EgZ_G7N9G1oGs2-A/s1600-h/FHS-group-for-web---3c.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337423583870698338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm-O6cwMwoZo3sfNdFF-42NBxjfI4FAxx4mWSJD-uYSMQktNgQbmWLc1UCMENGalj432WQets7iZB2_3v5iKn1mCQBlR5YCFwcypj7FXCvWjZp2kglSrMmAtiDGd8EgZ_G7N9G1oGs2-A/s400/FHS-group-for-web---3c.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 108px;" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Image from <a href="http://www.fairyhouses.com/home.html">fairyhouses.com</a></span></span><br /><br />This resourceful tradition, paired with a desire to illustrate how creative decorating doesn’t have to rely on expensive items, is the story I wanted to tell. Just step outside your back door, or visit a local forest, garden or park, for the best type of design inspiration.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Thank you to the very gracious Wenham Museum, to everyone who was able to attend the show over the weekend, to those who helped or inspired me during this project (special thanks go to Nancy; Ruthie; Dorothy & Roy; my mother, Ann; my husband, John; and, of course, my very imaginative little guys). And thanks to all of my blog guests for visiting this “virtual design tablescape.</span><span style="font-style: italic;">”</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> I hope you enjoyed the story behind the vignette as much as I enjoyed creating it!</span><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisc9FJZIUeftKGjP2ZNl2JwdfLrVlxJ_618NL9u0YiOjrEM05WFyjkrYOy3gcwDNrzvhaDcfOSqWYitGbNJPaplJAEdavfBJqNQg4Sdr4g4ihP3BnmP3ZMZydSiM4Bub2uIkUOTu9Ocwg/s1600-h/bunny.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337364242834449010" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisc9FJZIUeftKGjP2ZNl2JwdfLrVlxJ_618NL9u0YiOjrEM05WFyjkrYOy3gcwDNrzvhaDcfOSqWYitGbNJPaplJAEdavfBJqNQg4Sdr4g4ihP3BnmP3ZMZydSiM4Bub2uIkUOTu9Ocwg/s400/bunny.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 317px; height: 400px;" /></a><br /></div>

A fairy-tale event ...

Photo courtesy of Linda Encarnacao Enjoying the Gala Preview Cocktail Party, Friday, May 15th at the Wenham Museum Last weekend, Friday, May...

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