smiles

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of meeting my college friend Denise in the city.  We met at the MET and toured ninety percent of the museum, walked miles, had a scrumptious lunch and shopped and smiled.    We chatted, laughed and walked.  It felt so nice to take a break and see a good friend.

Can you believe that we have college kids and both been respectively married to great men for over 20 plus years?  We are both still smiling.  How lucky are we to catch up and spend a great day with one another.  Now I must make plans for our next visit!

friendship

Curious, has anyone read this book?

I love the title and anything having to do with the proper care and maintenance of friendship. Speaking of proper care, today is my dear friend Kwana's special day. I wish her a happy birthday and a wonderful year ahead.

Happy Birthday dear friend!

Cheers to a new year of taking chances and getting out of your comfort zone.

I will be here to make sure you follow your heart and write towards your dreams content!

old flame

I can't help myself. There is something about the glow of a fire that is so inviting.

above image from elle decor

Be it a fire in the fireplace or something simmering on a hot stove - November just seems like a time to light a fire or try a new recipe.
The glow of a fire, the flickr of a candle or the love of an old flame can ignite warmth to a room.

Love this chest and composition of frames hung. This foyer looks like it is ready to greet me with a hug and love me just the way I am. What old flames are igniting your heart? A fire, a recipe, an old heirloom?

old is new

I won this lovely bag and it arrived just in time for the weekend. I had a visitor who commented that it needed to be "cleaned." I replied, no, it is meant to look old explaining that old is new and very in vogue.

Yes, honoring the old is new again. Timeworn seems to be the one word that I spot trending in fashion. From patinated boots, to reclaimed wood floors, things that have a "patina" of age to them look right. Recycling something old and giving it a new twist seems fresh and right for today.

In a time of economic and political challenges, designers are faced with challenges of trying to make something new look familiar. Dyeing a white tablecloth black seems modern and appropriate for a Halloween table.

There is a newfound respect to bring back an element out of your Grandparent's attic or barn and honor that with a nuance to make it suddenly look modern.

This week, I shall be devoting my posts to things that have a timeworn or well loved flair. Please feel free to share with me your most treasured new item that has that old is new again appeal.

make new friends

Emerson Tray from number 411

Have you ever thought of your friends as "ornaments" ...or... "characters"

Helen Keller - Quote on a tray from here.

to create the story of your life.

Well think again.

I do think friends make our life sparkle like ornaments and provide for stories full of plots and twists and turns.

I am thankful for each of my friends.

I may not show it often enough.

"A friend in need is a friend indeed."

"Make new friends"

This week I encourage each of you to help a friend in need or make a new friend!

I dedicate this week to old and new friends!

Thanks to this new friend "moderne mama" for a fab lunch with a bevy of lovely bloggers!

(Chic trays can be found an purchased here!)

my friend with the camera

It is with great pleasure that I announce the work of my dear friend with the camera.  Photographic Artist, Elizabeth Belliveau is participating in the "Rooms with a View" at the Southport Congregation, in Fairfield, Connecticut this evening.  The body of work that she will be showing is titled-

"Le Ballet dans le Jardin"

pve design painting, photograph by photographic artist Elizabeth Belliveau

Our friendship began many years ago, before husbands, before children, even before the camera.  I had saved some magazine tear sheets for my friend, and she began to set up the shoot and we both jumped at the chance to do this.  We only had a few hours to accomplish all this which seemed like an easy thing to do given our fabulous children were at school and the husbands were toiling away.  I keep encouraging her to form her very own web-site or get a blog.  She has an amazing way with the camera.  Trust me her work is incredible,  Please leave her a comment, to add fuel to the fire to motivate her to join the blog world.  I am happy to give her contact to you should you be interested in your very own photographs.  

old friends

Holiday Illustration 2003 from Albert de Monaco - Illustration: Fabrice Monaci

There is nothing better in life than that of old friends.  Above is an illustration, an old Holiday greeting of Monaco from Prince Albert.  My husband grew up in Monaco and has been friends with Prince Albert for many years.  Visiting old friends is like returning to a special place and time.

I saved this illustration of Monaco because I loved the writing superimposed on top along with the images set in a montage format.   The Holidays are coming soon as I gather my inspiration for many commissions for holiday artwork to use as cards.  Sending greetings to new and old friends in far away places is a way to stay in touch, even if it is only once a year.