Showing posts with label Blogs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Blogs. Show all posts

Tuesday

RALPH LAUREN AND THE BLOGGERS

Bloggers on home design represent an unusually divergent field of faithful - after all, everyone lives in houses, so why not figure out how to live in them better? It's not always the degree that certifies a tastemaker. The resume is incidental - just like Go Remy says:

"I've got an MBA!"
"Ah - business administration?"
"NO! I got a Master's in Be'n Amaz'n!"

Anyway, so I was thrilled with the results of the Ralph Lauren/Bloomingdale's blogger designs and their four great picks to style their products. But, I would have been even MORE thrilled with a few of the lawyers/flamenco dancers/stay-at-home moms from blogger-land to represent. That's the only thing I could find to complain about with this campaign, though - it's fabulous (just scroll and say "ahhh").

Since I'm writing from DC, where introductions don't end with your name but your job title, here's the Ralph Lauren blogger ad campaign, CVs included.

Michelle Adams - formerly of M.A. Belle, now founder and blogger at Lonny (Resume:  Domino, Rubie Green founder)

Marisa Marcantonio of Stylebeat (Resume:  House Beautiful, O at Home)

Jennifer Boles of The Peak of Chic (Resume:  Finance)

Eddie Ross of Eddie Ross - the blog (Resume: Food Network, House Beautiful, Martha Stewart Living, Top Design tv show, online entrepreneur) 
/Images/Bloomingdales/

A FEW OF MY FAVORITE (BLOGGER) THINGS

I hate all this tweeting that just clutters up the internet "tubes" with pointless drivel like "I heart kats" or "spaghetti is yum." But the truth is, I really do "heart" blogging - I even tweeted that the other day, tragically. Every month, I'm excited for the arrival of the latest shelter mags or a new style book; I devour every detail - and then put them on the shelf. But the blogger world is not so static, or so limited (or taking up an unworldly amount of my shelf space). The adage may be that there's nothing new under the sun, but every day, the design blog world tries to prove that wrong.

So here are a few of the blogs that frequently inspire me - and my latest favorite find from each of them. Enjoy!
ANNECHOVIE. Below, Anne's own artwork, "English Roses on Aqua Print," via her blog (and Etsy shop) Annechovie. Anne's talented renderings - from chinoiserie to pets - have a charming, light-hearted touch and a timeless appeal.


ODI ET AMO. Averill at Odi at Amo is a lawyer cum decorator cum all-around great blogger (the law + design combo strikes me as a great way to handle wayward contractors too). She has a decided knack for finding great decor - and for putting it all together. Bench from Jonathan Adler.


GADABOUT. Aside from having an awesome name, Hanna Brooks Nation at Gadabout Blog has an elegant and unique stationary collection, full of monogramed chinese lanterns, zebras, Fifth Avenue ladies, pearls, abstract prints, and flowers. And they make for a great blog game too! Can you find the monograms hidden on these cards?

Hannah also has a marvelous eye, and the inspirational "Look" section of her website has led me to some wonderful finds, including Leontine Linens.



Jennifer Boles over at Peak of Chic is a busy lady; aside from content-rich writing and lovely design work, she's the author of the new book House Beautiful:  Fabrics For Your Home, a marvelous guide to the ins and outs of fabrics. Take it with you to the antique store, Calico Corners, or the yard sale down the street, and you'll know your fabrics. Jennifer says to think of the book as "everything you wanted to know about fabric but were afraid to ask." Or as I like to call it: Fabrics, Fear-Free.


THE DECORISTA. Ashlina is The Decorista - and she deserves the title! Her blog, The Decorista, Secrets of Domestic Bliss is just my style - a bit of decor, a bit of fashion - and a lot of flavor. She's always turning up new trends for me to check out, and new stores for me to surf (Danger Sanity Fair! Danger!). My new Favorite via Decorista is yet another blog Table Tonic, by Aussie designer Louise, and featuring her marvelous ikat and watercolor pillows. I want them all! I need more pillow-friendly surfaces. And a larger house. Much larger.


INGLE TALK. Maureen of charming blog Ingle Talk also just happens to have an even more charming shop, The Inglenook Decor. From alabaster frames to caned-pattern rugs, she puts a lot of lovely in one place (such as these St. Honore ceramic trays, below).


BEACH HOUSE LIVING. I love seaside inspiration, and it's easy to find at lovely blog Beach House Living. BHL has plenty of my favorites - coral and seashells especially - and a charming little shop of ocean-inspired delights.
All images, blogs as attributed above.

Monday

Kreativ Blogger Award

Many thanks to Sarah Klassen at exquisitely beautiful blog, Haute Design, for the KreativBlogger award!

SO... I'd like to thank Sarah, the Academy, my producer, my acting coach, my stylist, my choreographer, the technician that turns my terrible voice into something halfway plausible, and of course, Oscar de la Renta, who designed the haute couture, one-of-a-kind gown I'm wearing (this is a dream of course).

Here's my lovely gown. I look fabulous, but I'm apparently Spanish, and I forgot to put on a slip this morning. Anywho.
The conditions of the award are that I a) tell you 7 things about me, and b) nominate 7 others for the award. And now (envelope please), the Kreativ Blogger awards go to...


Please visit ALL of these fabulous blogs - you'll be glad you did!

Now, the really hard part (picking fabulous bloggers was easy). 7 things folks may not know about me...

1. I'm addicted to all things cinnamon. For instance: I hate brushing my teeth (just like a little kid) but give me some cinnamon toothpaste and I'm a happy camper. I like cinnamon on my lattes, in my hot chocolate, sprinkled on some yogurt... . For me, it's the salt of sweet stuff.
2. I'm a compulsive picture straightener. It's genetic. My mom straightens pictures wherever she goes, and I likewise can't resist a good nudge to any wayward frame. No place and no person is immune. My friend's paintings get straightened as much as my dentist's.
3. Chinoiserie is my favorite style of decorating. I love Asian influence, and I grew up in a house stuffed with Asian antiques and books like "Japanese Stone Gardens" (not normal in the deep South).
4. I believe that Thomas Kinkade is a terrible person who should be prosecuted for crimes against taste. Kinkade's "art" (oh, how loathe I am to put those two words in the same sentence!) is as uninspired as a velvet Elvis painting and as common as the shopping cart. He has been terrorizing the good people of this country for too long with his pastel monstrosities: saccharine cottages, bizarre land-locked lighthouses, idiotic babbling brooks, and flowers in colors not occurring in nature. And his terror is spreading to every home in the land. If you can't afford thousands of dollars for one of his "exclusive" syndicated, copyright protected, fully licensed prints, you can still wallow in Kinkadia - throws, calendars, porcelain lighthouses, coasters, night lights, CDs, commemorative books, and pillows. What's next? Thomas Kinkade Painter of Light Cheerful Cottage Toilet Paper dispensers? Probably. There will be no picture for this entry.
5. The best cup of tea I've ever had was at the Old Parsonage in Oxford, on Banbury Street (Oxford, UK, for those of you in MS). They make their own exclusive brew, and it's heaven.
6. I despise grocery stores so much it's practically a phobia (Groceriophobia?). If I am ever kidnapped by terrorists, the best place for them to interrogate me would be the produce aisle. For some reason, I can't stand shopping for food, and I very much dislike cooking (but I have absolutely nothing against eating). Oh, and take note National Association of Grocers: it is always FREEZING in your stores. I do not shop in a parka in July, thank you very much.
7. FINALLY... I love blogging. I started this blog (for keeps) just this year, and after many months, much to my surprise, I'm still at it. I never expected all the good things that have come with blogging - meeting amazing people (both online and in person) and finding a world of beauty and style. Blogland is like an IV drip for inspiration. I also never expected the kind souls who leave comments, email me, or stop me in the street to say - YOU inspire ME! So I just want to say: Thank You!!!
Images: style.com, dragonartz.wordpress.com/2009/07/, www.bcacquisitions.com/pages/stand.htm, The Old Parsonage, www.msvu.ca/library/librarynews/2009_03_01_archive.asp.

Wednesday

Blog Award

Big thanks to Averill over at lovely blog Odi et Amo for passing along to me the "Honest Scrap" award. Be sure to check out her recent post on beautiful shades of blue. Now, as part of the award I share "10 honest things" (although, I must say, it would be far more entertaining for my readers if I shared 10 DIShonest things) and pass it along to 7 others. So without further ado...
7 Blogs to whom I would like to pass along this award (and apologies for any duplication - I've been traveling and out of the loop. Just consider it extra blog love!). Here we go:
Sarah of Haute Design
Christina of Down and Out Chic
Anne at Annechovie
Beth at Style Redux

And 10 things. These are going to be 10 STYLE truths about me!

1. I can't wear full-on pink. I can't. I try. It's not my fault! and 2. no cable knit either. Cable knit makes me look like a confused walrus.

3. My secret passion is IKAT. I don't care if it's in style out of style or THE style - it's always gorgeous. Here's a beautiful example from good old Domino.

4. I believe that the originator of the trend in trapeze tops should be prosecuted for crimes against women.

5. I love bamboo furniture, bamboo cutlery, bamboo paintings... it's all wonderful! Kate Spade Pompano Point China.

6. But I detest bamboo floors. Yes, they look very nice, and they are currently the toast of HGTV and Lowe's sales people in their nice smocks, but they can't handle women's heels (pock marks). Floors that don't go with my shoes? No thanks.

7. and 8. My favorite fall trends are BIG jewels and BRIGHT colors. And Anthropologie has both!

9. IKEA is my favorite discount spot. Dishes for $2 and slipcovers for $150. Sure, it may not be around for your grandkids - but it will look great in the meantime!

10. White is my favorite non-color. I can't get enough of it, and "white out" is my biggest risk when decorating. But it goes with everything!
Images: 1. and 2. pink tartan at saksfifthavenue.com. 3. http://poshsurfside.com/ikat-fabrics-ancient-and-modern. 5. http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.asp?order_num=-1&SKU=109157&RN=818. 7. and 8. anthropologie.com. 10. pointclickhome.com.

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