Everything I know about IKAT

The word ‘ikat’ (pronounced ‘ee-KAHT') comes from the Malaysian word ‘mengikat,’ or ‘to tie.’  Loose threads are tied into bundles using grasses or wax-treated cotton to specify where the dye is able to penetrate where it can't. You could say it is a refined type of tie-dye).  The weaver has to figure out where on the loose threads the dye should (and shouldn’t) go in order for it to form the proper pattern when it is woven on the loom. It gets more complicated as you add more colors. Some ikats are made by dyeing the warp threads (the fixed threads that are attached to the loom), some by dyeing the weft threads (the threads that are actually woven in and out of the warp threads), and some by dyeing both, a technique known as double ikat. Now you know how to pronounce the word you understand it a bit better.

Lee Jofa 

Lee Jofa

Lee Jofa 

Lee Jofa

Lee Jofa

Lee Jofa

Thibaut

Room Sloane and Company

A Fabulous Ebay Find

A pair of vintage baby blue Murano Italian glass lamps with NO reserve.
When you hear the term Italian art glass it is usually in reference to decorative glass objects produced in the city of Venice and the adjacent island of Murano, with Murano being the heart of glass making in Italy.  The periods of interest to most collectors of antique and vintage Italian art glass are the years between the 2 World Wars and the decades of the 1950's and 1960's.  
Adding a handmade drum shade these would make an amazing addition to any room.  The Carolina blue color is perfect.

Ode to the Tomato Sandwich

Not only is summer time my favorite season but two of my favorite words!  I want to share my favorite summer meal.......well not literally.

 My secret ingredients -

Duke's mayonaise, McCormick's lemon pepper, fresh from the garden tomato,

bacon, whole grain bread...no deviations...except a lot of the time I will add lettuce. Can you say YUMM?

Breathe in Pink......Breathe out Blue.....Breathe in Pink.....Breathe out Blue....

"Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience." Ralph Waldo Emerson

Have a happy weekend! Hope to see you Monday...

A Magical Table

This ILLUSION TABLE by designer John Brauer is pretty wonderful I think.  It gives the illusion of a round covered table.  

There are 2 styles-

The Clear Velocity @ $240

The white Velocity @ $260

velocity art and design

The Papervore from Pigeontail Design

Here's a novel idea- Shredder/Coffee Table Combo!  Sit down in your den sort your mail, shred the junk with this ingenious piece.  Your shredded mail actually takes on an artist flavor and becomes an interesting design feature.  
Click on the video to see The Papervore in action.


The Papervore from Pigeontail Design on Vimeo.

Burned Furniture

I am often amazed at the beautiful things that talented people are able to create. I love these burned pieces by Pyrography Artist, Cecilia Galluccio.  She has enjoyed burning designs into wood and paper since 2006.  Each piece has been burned with intricate designs drawn on with a wood burning tool. Look at the detail.  Wouldn't the wooden spoons make a great hostess gift? 

Click burnedfurniture.blogspot.com to look at more of Cecilia's artwork.  

Love the title of this new book! A PERFECTLY KEPT HOUSE IS THE SIGN OF A MISSPENT LIFE

I hope that the book, by Mary Randolph Carter, will illustrate that your home should be comfortable, inviting and reflect you. Your style- is "perfect" for only you and how you really live.

Don't rush out and try to buy it because it isn't coming out until October.

  Editorial Reviews

Product Description

For all those who choose to live "imperfectly" with the messy things they love, this book shows how to do so creatively, happily, and with considerable style ideas from leading designers. A beautiful and inspiring volume, A Perfectly Kept House Is the Sign of a Misspent Life focuses on living well with everything that makes a house a home. If you have been influenced by the picturesquely cluttered studios of Pablo Picasso or Alexander Calder, or by the art- and book-filled house of Vanessa Bell, this unique style book will stimulate you with its creative ideas.This volume explores how real-life tastemakers (photographers, textile designers, fashion designers, writers, artists) integrate their life and interiors to live well with their passions, histories, conveniences, and inconveniences. In inspiring essays, Mary Randolph Carter muses on such key housekeeping concerns as clutter versus mess; open windows; and unmade beds. Combining practical tips with liberating philosophy—"Don’t scrub the soul out of your home"; "Make room for what you love"—this volume celebrates living beautifully and happily, not messily. Lavishly illustrated with intimate photographs of different living spaces, Carter exalts in the beauty of imperfection and in living perfectly in our "imperfect" homes. Life isn’t perfect—why should your house be?

About the Author

Mary Randolph Carter is an author, photographer, designer, and longtime creative director for Ralph Lauren. She is the author of For the Love of Old and the Junk series of books.

Design Star......

..........returns tonight for it's second episode!

HGTV's top rated reality competition comes on @ 10:00 eastern time.

Sorry, I failed to tell you about the first show but I missed it too.

This is the 5th season and the series features 12 contestants including professional designers, architects, contractors, stylist and artist. As a professional designer, I am always fascinated how the contestants choose to navigate through each challenge while I plan what my strategy would be.

While being on a reality show is not my cup of tea, I applaud those that take

the plunge and have known a couple of people that have tried out.

If you decide to follow you will find that one contestant is eliminated

each week until the final 2 compete for their own show on HGTV.

 Go to www.hgtv.com to find out more and watch episodes that you missed.  

The blank white wall is always an interesting challenge.  

Remember Your Daddy-Father's Day Sunday, June 20th

I am lucky enough to still have my dad (and my mom too). 

  Luther Vandross's song, "Dance with my Father" is a perfect way to remember your dad.

Have a nice weekend and if you are lucky enough to be able to spend time

with your dad, give him a hug and tell him you love him.


Happy Father's Day, Daddy!
I love you.

See you on Monday!

Walls Need Love....too

These vinyl stripes are so graphic and really add a simple decorative punch!

What is so nice is that when you get tired of it just pull them off.

I can't imagine that happening though....unless it's really not your house.

Talk about "win-win"!

 Click and see wallsneedlove website.

FUN Lamps

I have used 

Slip lamps (to the trade only) on a customer's screen porch and they look wonderful!  Just haven't had my photographer get pictures yet. What is great is that you can choose the style base...there are many, you can choose the color....there are even more and you can choose the fabric and style shade that you would like to use.  

Customization at it's best.

Let me know if you would like me to order one or two for you.

www.weareslip.com

Home Furnishings Gone GREEN!!

I just spoke with Karl Miller on the Jersey Shore about his incredible stock of goodies.  He specializes in vintage and industrial home furnishings made with recycled glass, wire, wood, and metal.

He has been accused of printing "furniture porn" on his blog.  Since he is able to get right into the city, New York that is, he snaps pictures of whatever he sees that catches his eye and sees amazing things that can really inspire and get your creative juices going. Check out the link to his store below.  

Thank you Karl!

All reclaimed wood including the wheels-perfect coffee table

Fun containers for flowers, paint brushes, to put a gift in....like wrapped cookies.  I could keep going but I bet you have some ideas of your own.

Love this industrial stool... and it turns!

Metal hanging drum shade. I can see suggesting this in several places for some of my clients.

www.hudsongoods.com

Issue 5 of Lonny Magazine ....presented here for your enjoyment.

 I hope that everyone had a relaxing and safe weekend. Lonny came out

 this weekend as I reminded you last week.  For those that don't know about 

 the internet magazine...you are in for a treat. For those of you that know it...

 well, you are in for a treat too.

Click the link below and enjoy each delicious page

www.lonnymag.com

I would love to know what caught your attention!

I Think This Hand Knitted Rug Is Yummy!!

Take a look at the website to see other goodies...

www.christienmeindertsma.com

Have a Happy Weekend!

Next Lonny Magazine June-July Issue Coming Out In A Week

I love this online magazine and posted about them when the April May issue came out.  It never fails to have wonderful things.

Paper Clip Chandeliers

Environmental Art and Design

Check out this interesting lighting at redesigntechnologies

Yes, they really are paper clips! Amazing, don't you think?

What Do Your Favorite Color Choices Say About Your Personality?

Choose from the colors in this testquiz that appeal to you

 and the ones that don't appeal to you.

See what the results reveal about your personality.

Here is a bit about what the test says about me.

"You are a manager and a structured person.  You know how to take into account the needs of each person while leading them to the fixed goals."

Hummmmm.......I like it!

I Make It A Point To Go By This Sweet Episcopal Church Going And Coming From The Beach

I call it a short cut...but it is an excuse to see "my little church".

It just makes me feel better when I see it...it does my heart good.

  The moss covered trees introduce you to the Gothic Revival Style-

 Grace  Episcopal Church.  

It is just as lovely on the inside.

.......... "Two roads diverged in a wood, and I, 

    I took the one less traveled by,

       And that made all the difference."

from Robert Frost- " The Road Not Taken"

Have a peaceful Sunday!