yes, it's ladies night

Tonight a few ladies will be hosting me to a birthday night celebration.

vintage photo of legs, and fishnets, not the cigarette buts, eehuw.

I came across this vintage photo of a bevy of beautiful vintage legs sporting fancy fishnets!

Time to dress up, gather with the ladies and have an enjoyable evening.

I promise to behave and act like a lady.

We cannot get into too much trouble, after all it is being hosted in a home.

Celebrations like these make me miss my sisters, my aunts and my Mom who all enjoy gathering for a Ladies night!

Happy Weekend!

a gift for

Lavande, Savon de Marseille Soap

Dr.Bronner's "Magic Soap" Citrus Orange

lovely porcelains from Middle Kingdom Porcelain.

A dear friend recently completed a wonderful bathroom renovation and I gave her some "savon de marseille" which she remarked, you always seem to have time to do everything with such ease, such grace and style. You really have such "a gift for" giving.

Question; How do you find time to do it all and to give?

My answer; I keep a cabinet of small gifts so that I am prepared to meet any occasion.

The above porcelains along with the packaging are devine. A small colorful bowl for collecting jewelry, sea glass or dip! A bar of delightful smelling soap is always such a small luxury. Many of the discount shops have them for as low a *three dollars for a box of three. A "hard milled" soap can last a really long time. A jar of good mustard or "cornichon" for the condiment connoisseur in your life. Something from the thrift store, cleaned up, polished and artfully presented. A candle. A bouquet of flowers artfully arranged in a small container or pretty pot. (Just a few ideas for your own secret stash) A wee small sketch or a personalized card accompanies each item to add a personalized touch.

* Mind you nothing is over $20. I try to keep the gifts under $10.

Tell me, do you keep a secret stash of gifts at the ready? It sure is like having my own personal shop. Do you have the perfect gift for giving? Love to know!

dog Ma

artwork of Maira Kalman (an inspiring artist to many!)

There is not a day that goes by, when either myself or a family member quips -I am coming back "as a dog Ma!" All our dog has to worry about are his next meal and walk! Fortunately, our dog does live a nice lifestyle, but I know some dogs are not as lucky to be idolized!

Tell me your opinion, would you like to come back as a dog? What sort of "dogma" or dog would you be and who would your faithful owner be? What do you think your day would be like?

* Winner of $25 gift card to Branch goes to Maureen at The Inglenook decor! Congratulations.

Maureen is hosting March giveaways, so please be sure to pop over for March madness!

easy being green

flap, flap

come fly with me and let's land on a green branch...or blarney stone.

image from verdigris vie

$25 gift certificate -

a give-way for being green

it would be easy landing here....in this hammock, no reservation necessary!

just a bit of calling it "first"

an easy green market tote from branch at the ready

Today is all about being green and flapping my birthday wings.

Ever since I was a wee one, my day (St. Paddy's day) has been celebrated with something green.

My birthday (today) has always been all about green and something lucky.

No wonder green is my favorite color.

David Gauld - 1893 (thank-you little augury)

Consider this your lucky day!

Leave a comment and enter my giveaway for $25 gift certificate from here.

Winner shall be chosen midnight tonight, March 17th and posted in the morning.

Do you find it easy being green? Care to share an easy tip on living green?

got the power

I've got the power restored here. (Cable, internet and phone are back!)

Forgive me while I do a little dance and pump up the volume.

Well it is after all the day before my birthday! I will be back to living a new normal with power -one year older and wiser!

anybody home

photo from Sharon Pruit - Flickr

You may be wondering if I am home. I am home, however I have no internet, no phone and no cable. My inner colonial dame has provided much wit and spirit as my children quip, "What are we going to do?" I retort, "Why, when I was a child, we had no internet and cords on our phones and no plasma televisions, so there!" We survived daily without this sort of instant gratification of communicating with those that you may have never even met, but can relate an entire lifetime to.

I am in hopes to be back soon, in blog land, so be patient with me - my heart aches for those that have no powere at all. I do have electricity and the will to prepare a nice meal.

Guess the universe is telling me to do my art and blog less.

Thanks to my dear friend for the use of her internet cafe!

Anybody home?

rain and rainbows

"Remember, you cannot have rainbows without the rain."

Rene Descartes -1596-1650 (French Philosopher and Mathmetician) -He writes:"Considering that this bow appears not only in the sky, but also in the air near us, whenever there are drops of water illuminated by the sun, as we can see in certain fountains, I readily decided that it arose only from the way in which the rays of light act on these drops and pass from them to our eyes. Further, knowing that the drops are round, as has been formerly proved, and seeing that whether they are larger or smaller, the appearance of the bow is not changed in any way, I had the idea of making a very large one, so that I could examine it better.

This weekend, lots of rain is forecasted and I was reminded by a dear friend that we must remember to look for the rainbows. My friend recently lost a close friend tragically and I think his reminder is in part, that he himself is trying to look for the rainbow. I was touched by his words. Thank-you Michael for your gentle and kind words.

Do you look for and follow rainbows?

gift of art

The gift of art is a special gift, a portrait of a home, a pet or a simple work of art elegantly framed has everlasting appeal. Flowers fade, chocolates melt, art is everlasting.
A framed work of art, perched on display on a buffet adds personality and flair when entertaining.

(Stately home illustration for sale, framed with silk matting and an ornate frame and filet, contact pve if you are interested in this work of art)

corner view - miniature world

These miniature garments were made by artist Jon Coffelt. I am seriously considering having a vintage cocktail coat miniaturized that I found years ago in San Francisco. (really love to have my wedding dress miniaturized too) Jon makes these tender miniatures by hand, fashioned to mimic the original garment. The miniature world travels for viewing. I had the great pleasure of speaking to Jon and the spirit and joy in his voice spoke to my artist heart. I so appreciate other artists finding passion in their work.

“Granny Mae had a lady make her clothes because she has a slight hump in her back. When she bought something from a store it never fit correctly. She gave me this dress in 1970, years after she had it made. I told her at the time if I ever made a dress for her I would put darts in the back at the shoulder area as to accommodate her hump.”

—Jon Coffelt

There is something so charming about having a miniature garment to treasure. One is never too old to play dolls, I always loved the tiny garments, the tiny accessories and the miniature world. What treasured garment would you have transformed into a miniature? If you do decide to have Jon miniaturize a garment, please send a miniature hello from pve.

a snappy dresser

I love snappy dressers that display personal style with flair. It looks easy enough to simply add a mirror, some fresh cut flowers, or a potted orchid, some frames, a shell or a rock, a clock, a lamp or two and voila, all of the sudden, they look so utterly feminine. (Images above and below are for pure inspiration and caught my attention to snap my dresser into shape!)