So Long, Summer

Labor Day Weekend, 2010, Chautauqua, New York

Hope everyone is having a great holiday weekend!

Flowers and Candlight

A friend asked me about the little wood "vase" I used to hold roses earlier last week. Funny they should ask, because it's actually candle packaging that I thought was too pretty to toss. There's a watertight vase tucked inside, but I thought the grainy wood gave my yellow roses a more autumnal feel than the usual glass or silver.

The candle is by Voluspa's James Boyce Collection. I bought mine at Gramercy Fine Linens & Furnishings. In case you are not in Atlanta, they are also available here.

While it is generally considered a faux pas to burn fragrant candles while cooking or eating, this line was designed specifically for that purpose by chef James Boyce. (Sounds like a good Thanksgiving host gift to me!)

And if it makes you feel any better, the boxes are made from sustainable Palownia wood without the use of stain or lacquer. My scent of choice is "Herb Garden", which is very fresh and subtle.

Happy November!

Double Take

I seriously think someone photoshopped my cat into their magazine layout.

(Top photo of imposter cat from from Canada's Style at Home, via Everything LEB. Second photo is the real thing.)

Ok, that's enough with the cat pics. It's not that kind of blog.

Hope everyone has a Happy Halloween!

Jack-O-Antlern II

Inspired by my husband's original Jack-o-Antlern, I decided to give it a try myself this year. I did not have the energy to go all out on the face--carving pumpkins is exhausting!

While I doubt anyone would actually want to emulate this project, I thought I would mention that I bought these hunting antlers at a sporting goods store and spray painted them along with the pumpkin. (My apologies to the environment for having such an un-green pumpkin this year, but hopefully I am keeping one less deer from being lured to his untimely demise).

Happy Halloween!

Sunday Sunflowers

With the thermometer stopping just shy of 90 degrees, cut sunflowers are the closest I am getting to fall this weekend.

Bottom photo by Angela Moore for Domino, October 2005

Jack-O-Antlern

I know this is 10 days late, but here is the ridiculous (but brilliant) jack-o-lantern my husband created while I was out of town. I married a clever man. It looks like what would happen if Martha Stewart invited Tim Burton on her show to carve pumpkins.

Trick or Treat

Growing up with a nutritionist mother, I had very little opportunity to consume large amounts of sugar--with exception to one night each year. I have never had a cavity though. (Thanks Mom)! Anyway, it is time to stock up on Halloween candy, only to need to restock on the 31st after it mysteriously disappears. Here is what I had in mind for round one:

Halloween costume kisses from Hershey's Gifts.


Cool, retro treats can be found at Nostalgic Candy.


Crystal-cut candy from Williams-Sonoma evokes the scary Victorian era.


Chocolate covered Oreos from Dylan's Candy Bar.


A staple at New York corner stores, in Atlanta, I have to buy Morinaga Hi-Chew candy in bulk from veryasia.com.


Nobody's favorite, marshmallow peanuts.


Elegant truffles for big kids from Williams-Sonoma.

Nuts for Squirrels

"Royal Squirrel" letterpress cards (image from Domino Magazine).

Squirrel Key Chain from Kate Spade.

This stuffed squirrel in Domino caused an avalanche of hate mail. (Photo by Roland Bello).

Mercury glass acorns from Wisteria.

"Les Squirrel" design by iomoi.

Autumn is in the air and squirrels are in our homes. Really? Well, it seems every magazine editor, fashion designer and art director is jumping on the woodland creature train. I guess it has to do with fall in that acorny, oak leafy kind of way. I am not sure I get it, but one thing that makes this trend forgivable (for me at least) is that my favorite childhood book, Miss Suzy by Miriam Young was about a squirrel, who was coincidentally an interior designer of sorts. I wonder if other designers were inspired by this tale.

Pumpkins

Is it strange to have a fantasy where I impress the neighborhood with a display of these intricate, lace-carved pumpkins seen in Martha Stewart Living?

In real life, this project is honestly a bit more involved than anything I care to tackle. Instead I have compiled a few alternative projects that satisfy the creative side, while remaining considerably less complicated to execute.

Jack O' Lanterns with drilled holes from Good Housekeeping do not require special attachments or carving tools.

Glittered pumpkins from Martha Stewart look elegant paired with silver stands.

Pumpkins with nail head street numbers (from cottage living) satisfy the neutral palette.

Stacked gourds act as a pedestal for traditionally carved Jack O' Lanterns from Martha Stewart.

Happy October!

Crafty Devil

Just when we think we have Martha's Halloween game plan all figured out (hand-dipped candy apples, intricately carved pumpkins, etc.), she warps our fragile little minds with an offering of "glittered skeletal parts".



Thankfully she stays true to her brand by using "vintage glass glitter" for this project. (Careful kids--it's made of real glass shards). For more traditional decorations and recipes visit Martha Stewart Living.

In other Martha Stewart news, it has been announced that her team is joining E. & J. Gallo Wineries in a new venture, "Martha Stewart Vintage". Good thing? MSNBC has the details.

Harvest Color Redux

Looking more like candy corn than fallen leaves, the addition of white gives traditionally fall hues a fresh look.

From Top:
Autumnal reds and golds get a kick of white from cowhide chairs and a mid century table in the Connecticut home of Bruce Glickman and Wilson Henley (from Elle Decor).

Harvest tones are featured in stationary and desktop accessories from Thomas Paul.

In Atlanta, A John LaHuis painting echos gold, white, and brown (from Atlanta Peach Magazine).