Brimfield

Going to Brimfield Thursday...so exited So I am rushing to get my work done, there will be no blog tonight.

I am so thrilled! In all my years going to Brimfield this will be the first time I am going in the fall. The sun is supposed to shine and the temperatures will be perfect! May was raw , rainy and cold so I am looking forward to the change! How to make this an even greater day? I am going with my dear friend Kathie. She was awesome to antique with this Spring... this will be great day away from the office!

Seacology

One of my favorite charity is Seacology http://www.seacology.org/. This organization is small but really strong and gets a lot done.
Its main goal is to preserve small islands around the world, the land, the animals but also the people restoring or maintaining the fragile balance.
I know there are a lot of charities and this is not the only one I support but it is definitely one of my favorites.
Spread the word.

1st dibs

I always look for things that are unique and different. Not to be different for the sake of being different. No I guess my attractions are such that I have to often search long and hard to get what I want, And off course when I do it costs an arm and a leg. My friends always tell me that I have a luxurious taste but my wallet cannot support my attractions.

No complaints (not too much that is) I am still one of the lucky ones when I look at what is happening in the world. What it means is that sometime the searches are ling to find what I want. Last night I was searching for Mercury Glass pendant shades for my kitchen island. I still have not found what I am looking for but I fell upon this website that totally stole my heart http://www.1stdibs.com/. They call it the place where you find " The most beautiful things on earth". Yep I agree this is a great place.

I found Mantique Modern in New York, with fabulous unique objects:
A 1930 over sized Hermes bag and the skeleton head of a crocodile mounted on a fabulous stand

Then there is the Splendid Pleasant with weather vanes that make me drool (yes they do)

And then there is Tara Shaw with this fabulous Zinc mirror and Schorr and Dobinsky with this amazing (but sold) zinc top French table.

I could go on and on but there is something for everyone, trust me.

September

September brings back to school, yellow school buses and a crisp air letting us know that fall is right around the corner.

Kids dread the return of homework, after school activities and early alarm clocks. As a parent school brings back stressed kids, long study night and the end of the care free days of summer.

But it also brings back great look for kids, so here are some of my favorites:

Jacadi (http://www.jacadi.fr/) reflects my chilhood fashion growing up in France, the studious look, the tights and the Marie Janes for girls , and this great well put together brown look for boys.


On the American Side my favorite store Jcrew, http://www.jcrew.com/ now also does kids clothes. a bit less formal the looks for the fall are still preppy.

So I guess back to school is not that bad if you are dressed like this...

Etsy...Etsy

I cannot remember how but somehow I have found Etsy , http://www.etsy.com/, and I love it. Everything and anything creative people make and want to sell is on the site.
Some people have so much talent it makes my creative mind overflow...take something as simple this bag, I love it!

Then there are all of these vintage items! You can find them on ebay if you are lucky and at a very high price? Here? Not yet all of this is very affordable...

So here are a few of my items Du jour!

Moose Sheds

As we enter fall some of the more earthy tones and objects start coming back into the opened in the house. Over the summer shells take over many table tops and containers. But as September arrives and a crisp smell of fall arrives shells look a bit out of place and beg to be sent away until the warm days return.

Moose sheds are the key replacement for me. They have a majestic and warm tone to them. Their size and shades of white set the tone in every and any room. I love having them around the house in the fall and in the winter.

How you use them is really up to you. For some (like me) it is a piece of art a sculpture that should be showcased by itself. But for other like in this cozy country bedroom this shed is just an accessory amongst other things.

Rick Owens takes a completely different and modern approach to showcasing a moose shed by incorporating one in his furniture. I don't know how comfortable this is but from an aesthetic point if view this is simply gorgeous!

Whatever your taste is, if you come across a moose shed buy it and bring it home, it will find a place in your house, it will surprise you.

miniature portrait

I am no expert but I love miniature portrait from teh 1800's. There are moments frozen in time that represent moments frozen in time from a life gone by. They are in a way what digitals are for us today with one big difference, they are not perfect and the style and personaluty of teh painter come through very clearly.






Some are very primitive in nature like this baby girl. Others tell the story of lives that had some impact like this portrait of Juliet Toussaint hanging in New York. She is one of the few African American portrait I have ever come across.








I have a couple at the house but always look for more. The ones I like are the ones with the deep black frame. The portrait has to be interesting but no necessarily good looking. The portrait below for example makes me smile and sometimes that is enough.








Gaining in popularity unfortunately the prices are going up but if you can snatch one up and you fall in love grab it. These miniature portrait are great. Did I mention that mine are hung in a big shadow box? It gives them a brand new personality!