The Weekly Fluff

 












I did quite a bit of "fluffing" today at my spot at Faded Elegance.  First Street in Snohomish will be closed on Saturday for the Antiques and Arts Faire and I'm sure that many people will wander into Faded Elegance as they ramble down the street.

I brought in many vintage linens.  Vintage Tablecloths can add a spark of personality to your spring or summer table. Though many of the old tablecloths have been “well-loved” – meaning that they may be stained, they may be tattered or they may be faded, if you use 2-3 tablecloths, laying each cloth at a 45 degree angle from the cloth underneath, you will find that you can easily disguise these faults – and have a lush canvas for setting a fabulous table!

Vintage Handkerchiefs come in many floral patterns and colors. Their petite size makes them perfect as napkins for a tea party or summer afternoon cocktails.

The intricate details on these vintage linens is astonishing - how did women years ago find the time given all the other duties of the household - and none of today's technology?  It is humbling to me that I have discovered two bloggers who still practice this time-intensive art - 1thread and A Note of Friendship - both fascinating blogs.

I also tied up a few wallpaper rolls with these fabric belts.  Most likely they were from 1950's shirtwaist dresses - I picked them up at the Goodwill outlet in Flagstaff, AZ a couple of years ago.  We went on a family vacation to the Grand Canyon in March (an ideal time to visit the Grand Canyon since no one else was around) and got caught in an early spring blizzard.  Grounded in Flagstaff for an extra day, visiting the Goodwill outlet was the perfect way to spend the afternoon.  I stashed these fabric belts, thinking the best use for them would occur to me someday - I love how the color of the belts complements the wallpaper.

And finally, here's a photo of one of my newest collage notecard designs -these sets of 4 flat cards are great for sending a quick "hello" or "thank you" note - and more personal than an email.

There's lots to see in Downtown Snohomish - this Saturday would be a great time to check it out for yourself.

A green solution

Making do with what's at hand is my forte.
I love the problem-solving aspect of trying to figure out a situation while making the best use of the resources I have at my disposal. 



"substance from a solution" 
Amy Duncan  2009



One recent night I found myself with a big bag of fresh spinach that needed to be eaten sooner rather than later and no other prospects for dinner.  I love pesto but since it is early spring, there is yet no basil growing outside my back door.  Basil is a leaf - spinach is a leaf - couldn't one substitute for another?  I went to work.

I had plenty of spinach leaves and fresh garlic; Patricia Well's pesto recipe in her Trattoria cookbook is my favorite - very simple and easy.  I minced the garlic in the food processor, added the spinach leaves, slowly poured in the olive oil.  By the way, I always have a glass of wine when I am cooking...its usually 5pm...its happy hour...I'm relaxing...and cooking...all is good...

An aside - I am not a big fan of many gadgets - I like to keep it as simple as possible - but I love my Cuisinart.  Got my first one in 1983 - used it 20 years until the plastic housing cracked - now I'm on my second one.  It is a great time saver plus does things (like making pesto) that would just not be the same done by hand.

After the pesto was done, I sauteed some onion and mushrooms to give the final pasta dish a little more substance.

Here is my kitchen helper...whenever anyone is in the kitchen, Calvin is there...you just never know what might fall
on the floor!

I stirred the cooked rotini into the pan with the sauteed onions and mushrooms and then added a healthy amount of the spinach pesto - topped with parmesan cheese - it was the perfect green solution for a quick bistro dinner.

Greens from my garden

I love having fresh flowers in my house - but a trip to the floral market on a regular basis can be expensive!  I often look around my yard and see what interesting combos I can concoct.  My parsley survived the winter - and with the spring weather, it is already overflowing the planter.  I snipped off some of the shoots that had bolted, combined with a just-bloomed dutch iris and a few stems of bee balm.

Happy Mother's Day to moms everywhere!

Fabric + Buttons = Floral Fun

I'm doing another creative workshop at Faded Elegance - Fabric Flowers and Button Blossoms on Thursday, May 27 from 6 - 9 pm.  Using fabric remnants and vintage buttons, you’ll learn to create fun and funky flowers to adorn a lapel, brighten a bag or prettify a present. A little needle & thread with a dash of chic and you’ll have all you need to make a bountiful bouquet of style.  I'll supply all the fixin's but if you have some special treasures you'd like to incorporate, bring 'em along. 

Whether your style is Farm girl...

or Sophisticate...

...there'll be lots of supplies to make as many posies as you desire...while enjoying a nibble of this and a sip of that.  Please RSVP by May 20th by calling Faded Elegance at 360-568-5333.  Class fee is $24.00 and includes all supplies and refreshments plus...
a 10% OFF after-hours shopping discount.
Hope to see you there!

Patience & Perseverance

I spruced up my spot today at Faded Elegance in anticipation of Mother's Day.  I added a few more treasures that might be the perfect trinket for Mom.  I brought in several of these "tramp art" pin cushions made from tin cans...yes, I said tin cans!  The sides of the can are cut into narrow strips and then curled/bent/contorted into these beautiful shapes - each one is a work of art; each one exemplifies what mothers do best - have patience and persevere.

I also brought in these "Remember Mom" collage jars.  Using a small, straight-sided jar, I filled each with a color coordinated collection of threads, buttons and trims and then inserted a vintage photograph.  The assemblage in the jar keeps the photo flush against the glass for viewing.  Don't they look like the sweetest moms?

Don't forget to honor your mother this Sunday.

Ode to Ted

I first met Ted Kennedy Watson in 1999, when I was just starting my company, four corners design.  My first greeting card line were 24 designs that were all handcrafted, encasing different natural elements under a shealth of organza.  Ted had a showroom at the Seattle Gift Center as well as a fabulous shop, Watson Kennedy Fine Living, in Pike Place Market.  Ted represented my line in his showroom and carried my cards in his store.  The first time I visited his shop, I knew that we were simpatico - he treasured the same quirky things that I did - old keys and clocks, vintage papers, birds, Paris/London/Europe, fine soaps and exquisite candles.  He needed additional sales help at the store on weekends so I helped out on a regular basis for a time.  Over the years, I learned alot from Ted that I have put into my business:  Do what you love and your enthusiasm for your product will be infectious to others.  Treat everyone with graciousness.  Quality is the standard.  Life is too short not be enjoyed.

A couple of years ago, I worked with Ted on a special project - he has a small studio adjacent to his weekend cabin and wanted to add interest to the large interior wall.  Armed with my vast numbers of old books/documents/maps and my Elmer's Glue concoction, we covered the wall with torn pages.  The ochre/cream/ecru tones blended seamlessly with the decor.




Yesterday, I was in Seattle so I stopped in to see Ted.  He now has two stores in Seattle - a second shop south of downtown in addition to the Pike Place location.  He has a renown reputation to pinpoint the perfect gift - he is cited in the May issue of House Beautiful magazine.  His ability to display his wares in the most interesting vignettes is a source of fascination...

still love those birds...

and Paris is always popular...

 

































Votivo candles are my favorite - the Rosemary Garden scent is wonderful

Bailey, Ted's canine companion

So if you're in Seattle, stop in at one of the Watson Kennedy shops - or visit the website at www.watsonkennedy.com - it will be a delight for your senses.