Halaman

Quaker Exchange 14

En camino va esta bolsita con unos caramelos para endulzar esas boquillas golosas que están deseando disfrutar de unas golosinas. La tela es tintada aunque no se distinga mucho . Es una muestra que pedí hace tiempo a Silkweaver en el color " chocolate" . Los hilos son de Needle Neccesities en naranja , dos tonos de morado y el negro de DMC. El modelo bordado pertenece al libro Pattern Book de Ackworth School. Me gusta tener este libro a mano porque es una buena base para elegir algún motivo quaker , en este caso para el intercambio convocado en Legacy Embroiderers.
El tema era Halloween, poco usual en los motivos quakers. Asi elegí esos colores y unos gatos a los lados. Coloqué unas cintas y una tela de las de pach que entonaba con los hilos.
QQX14

Espero que llegue a tiempo para celebrar esta fiesta que cada vez va más calando más aquí , especialmente en la juventud y sobre todo en las fiestas nocturnas o en los paseos de los niños pidiendo chuches por las casas de los vecinos cuando ya ha caído la tarde.
Read More

Kelly Wearstler at Bergdorf Goodman

Do you ever get the feeling that it's Kelly Wearstler's world and we just live in it? I had the opportunity to attend her product launch and boutique opening at Bergdorf Goodman Friday night and the party was so hot that it set off the fire alarm! I knew it wasn't going to be a typical Bergdorf's party since some people paid to attend through House and Garden's Design Week. I don't pay to attend parties unless they are a benefit and you could tell those who paid because they hung around the perimeter staring at Ms. Wearster in star struck wonder. My friend and I on the other hand had no problem introducing ourselves to the woman of the hour and she was even gracious enough to pose for a photo. I have to say that she whippet-thin and unbelievably beautiful in real life and her new collection is beyond chic. It's also beyond expensive. I wish I had asked her if a lower priced line was in the works but it was so busy and crowded I totally forgot. If there isn't one, I may have to call up Tar-jay myself and suggest one so I can afford a little piece of chic from the most stylish woman in the design world!

If you've ever been to the 7th Floor of Bergdorf's, then you'll know that it has very low ceilings and is a maze of little rooms. Not exactly conducive to a party so the place was packed and hotter than Hades as summer doesn't want to seem to let autumn take over in New York. So I apologize for the following photos. They're definitely not the best I've ever taken but I wanted you to get a peak inside the Kelly Wearstler boutique.

The room couldn't be any bigger than 12 feet by about 6 feet. It's a tiny little jewel box of a space with niches on the back and side wall that frame little vignettes of merchandise while the middle table displays all sorts of objects d'art.
I think the mix of silver and gold is fun especially since I don't think it's someone would think to do at home. You usually pick one or the other.

Everyone was loving the hands that come in gold and silver. I picked up one to find that it was over $1400 and I think that was just for one, not even the pair. But then again, what would you expect at Bergdorf's. It's a store devoted to fantasy and luxury.

There were quite a few Roman inspired pieces like the foot above and a few busts like the small one below. While the metal spiked orbs were inspired by vintage pieces in Kelly's personal collection and are available in chrome and brass and three different sizes.

I know I look forward to seeing what Kelly Wearster comes up with next and I'll keep my fingers crossed that I'll be able to afford it! Until then, I'll continue to visit her boutique and drool. Oh, and in case you haven't had enough, the designer also graces the cover of A Fashionable Life, a special issue of Harper's Bazaar. See, I told you it's Kelly Wearstler's world and we're just living in it!

Read More

Have You Heard of Willy Rizzo?

I've been asked before how I come up with some of my post topics. I usually just write about what piques my interest. Sometimes, it's a magazine article or sometimes, this being New York, a special event or exhibition. Such was the case when I received an invitation to attend the Willy Rizzo exhibition of photographs and furniture at Mallett sponsored by Mallett and Paul Smith. Too bad the Post Office decided to deliver the invitation two days after the event had taken place. But it was too intriguing to just throw away so I decided to do some investigating and luckily I found the catalog in the office.

I love to learn about interesting and fascinating people and Willy Rizzo doesn't disappoint. I also really love how the exhibition came about because when I think of Mallett, I certainly don't think about photography or furniture from the 1960's and 70's. For those of you who don't know, Mallett is a very well known and well respected purveyors of rare English and Continental antiques and object d’arte. Nearly a year ago Thomas Woodham-Smith, a Director of Mallet and Nicholas Chandor, Head of Interiors for Paul Smith were having a discussion about who in the world of design and period furniture they really admired but who was also not as famous as they should be. Apparently they both immediately thought of Willy Rizzo.

Willy Rizzo is well known to the 20th century dealing fraternity but outside that world he has been woefully neglected. He is a superb portrait photographer working for many years for Paris Match and a designer whose imagination and severe neo-classical style defines the Italian style between 1965 and 1980. The range and quality of his work is truly outstanding and has and will stand the test of time. His legacy is a body of work which is both pleasing to the eye and stimulating to the intellect.

They were able to source many items that have never been on the market before as they have come from the Rizzo’s themselves. There are two experimental designs from the 1970’s that were never produced commercially and the furniture is accompanied by a selection of some of Willy Rizzo’s finest portraits displayed in frames exclusively designed for the exhibition by Rizzo, something he has never done before. Both these frames and the images are being produced in a limited edition of eight.

Yves Saint-Laurent and Pierre Cardin, 1965, Paris
‘I invited them to my studio without making them aware of each other's presence, as they were not then on very friendly terms. They mellowed later.’



Salvador Dali, 1950
‘When I arrived at his place, I searched the apartment to find the best angle for the shot, but his face was so spectacular that when he asked me, ‘What are we going to do?’ I picked up the magnifying glass from the desk and just photographed him.’


The reason behind Willy Rizzo's decision to start designing furniture came about after he bought a commercial space in Rome in which he planned to make an apartment and decided instead of decorating with antiques, he would start from scratch. He had never intended to become a furniture designer but of course his friends wanted him to design for them as well. His style is mostly clean with simple lines and incorporating chrome and brass that suited a leisurely lifestyle, hence the built in basins, perfect for holding champagne bottles, that are seen in many of his tables. It's completely unconventional but somehow works. I love the juxtaposition of the sectional sofa and modern coffee table against the antique chinoiserie screen.

I hope you'll check out more of his designs online because they really are original and very chic. Many thanks to Mallet and Paul Smith for introducing this interesting and innovative photographer and designer to a whole new audience. I must say I was very impressed and I look forward to the next designer they choose to exhibit.

"It was never about recreating classic styles in modern furniture, that wasn't the point. It was about creating something new for a traditional setting."


Read More

Thank you!

I want to thank everyone who reads my blog for your wonderful support and kind words today. I'm sorry I have been out of touch and not responding but I lost my internet connection while in the middle of writing a really great post about a fabulous designer you've never heard of. I hope I'm not being sabotaged after what happened! Just kidding! I hope to finish my post tonight but right now, I'm off to meet Ronda from All the Best at her friend Courtney Cochran's book launch party for Hip Tastes: The Fresh Guide to Wine at the Hollywould store in Nolita. Bye for now!
Read More

Operacion: un hogar mas agradable

Aquí estoy este segundo miércoles con otra propuesta para hacer mi hogar más agradable. Ya sabéis , la que quiera puede dedicar este día a compartir algún detalle de su hogar. Por cierto, gracias por las que os unísteis a esta iniciativa y las que dísteis alguna idea. Todo es ponerse.

Pues bien, el fin de semana pasado por fín mi querido marido me preparó la barra para colgar alguna de las colchas de patch. El objetivo final será tener aquí el quilt de Leanne´s House ,porque con lo bonito que es , no es para tenerlo guardado ,sino a la vista para disfrutarlo.
Busqué un grosor de barra que no fuera ni muy fino , que no aguantara el peso, ni muy separado de la pared como ocurre con las barras más comunes. Estaba claro que llevaría pinzas para sostener la colcha y unos terminales sencillos que no distrajesen la atención.

De momento he colgado el que he terminado con más acolchado. Seguramente algunas lo recordarán. Tengo pendiente terminar de acolchar el amarillo de estrellas verdes. Ese sí que lleva más trabajo y no queda mucho ,pero me cuesta un montón ponerme con él.

La medida de la barra va en función del Leanne ´s dejando un poquito de espacio en los laterales para que no quede agobiado.Pero hasta que llegue su momento , he cubierto estos espacios con dos de mis muñecas favoritas, y que también aparecieron hace tiempo en este blog, así como un corazón que hice con retales de esta colcha.
Quilt colgado


Una idea de cómo va quedando este rincón de mi casa....

Escalera
La idea es colocar otra barra en la pared de la izquierda con otro que haga pareja con el de Leanne´s.... por supuesto de la misma diseñadora.

Tenemos una cita sobre nuestra casita de chocolate el próximo miércoles.
Read More

Oh No They Didn't!

So, a certain magazine made me take down a certain post about a certain video. I guess I'm never working there. Oh well. I guess there's always ELLE Decor and Domino.
Read More

The Art of Josie Natori

Last night, Pamela Fiori of Town and Country magazine hosted a cocktail party at Bergdorf Goodman to celebrate the release of The Art of Natori by fashion designer Josie Natori. I know there are a million books coming out this month but if you like Asian art, this might be one for you or perhaps a great gift to give at the holidays. I could see Courtney over at Style Court loving this book too.

"Natori stands for luxury, high fashion and femininity. Since Josie Natori started out thirty years ago, her company has become a powerful international force. Now The Art of Natori lets us see the ancient paintings, antique shoes, beautiful porcelain, and more that inspire Natori's east meets west ethos. By juxtaposing Natori's gorgeous creations with the priceless Eastern objects that inspire her, The Art of Natori is sure to bring out the inner artist in everyone. "

You can also check out her recently renovated apartment in the October 2007 issue of Elle Decor magazine and at my old post Chic Chinoiserie.
Read More

Living with Art: Part Deux

Marc Jacobs is a testament to what kind of art collection you can amass in a short amount of time. You would never know it from his front row that he was intimidated by the art world and didn't even start collecting until five years ago. I have a friend who works for the designer and I can atest that not only has the collecting bug bit him hard but he really has become a true patron of the arts.

It began innocently enough, with a little oil painting by Karen Kilimnik which he saw in a Christie's catalog and bought for $31,000. "Within weeks he also acquired three Mike Kelly prints from Skarstedt gallery in New York, rationalizing the purchase because it was his birthday. Soon he was traveling to international art fairs, befriending dealers and artists, and in some instances asking his LVMH bosses for salary advances to cover paintings he couldn't really afford, such as Ed Ruscha's Birds, Pencils (1965), which he spotted at Art Basel."

The November 2007 Art Issue of W magazine takes a moody look inside his apartment in Paris that was designed by Paul Fortune. In the top photo, Jacobs sits in his library with Ed Ruscha's Heaven, 1986, and a Sixties Dominique table. While in the living room, Ed Ruscha's Peach, 1964, John Currin's The Go-See, 1999, hang near a Lalanne sheep sculpture.

Of course it's W magazine so there are the ubiquitous shirtless designer photos, a la Tom Ford and Dolce and Gabanna. Or perhaps, the newly svelte designer just wanted to show off his rock hard abs. Either way, he's sitting in the den on a leather Arne Jacobsen Egg chair next to a credenza on which sits Sean Landers's Mr. Rabbit, 2003.

Damien Hirst's Paracetamol, 2004-05, and Richard Prince's Island Nurse, 2002, dominate the upstairs landing.

One of my favorite contemporary artists is Elizabeth Peyton and Marc Jacobs has been a huge supporter of her work. Among his paintings by her in the sitting room is a portrait of Jacobs. He also commissioned her to paint Sophia Coppola for his fragrance advertising. John Currin's Bra Shop, 1997, is one of several portraits in the master bedroom. John and his wife, Rachel Feinstein, also an artist, have become very good friends with the designer and often sit in the front row of his fashion shows. She also happens to look a lot like the women in his paintings which was why there were introduced.

Above the bed in the downstairs guest room, hangs Richard Prince's Richard and Linda, 2005. Richard Prince also designed the multiple covers for W's Art Issue. You also have to wonder who that is under the covers. His new boyfriend perhaps? Below, Jacobs plays in the courtyard off the garden-level office with his two dogs, Alfred and Daisy, and two Lalanne frog chairs.

"Jacobs doesn't fancy himself a major art collector and is not gunning for some future wing at MoMA. He says he buys what he likes—work that tends toward the figurative, the graphic—and hangs it where he can see it."

In Paris, Jacobs enjoys spending time at home with his art, which is partly what inspired the W photo portfolio. The designer liked the idea of a series that captured his home as a sort of surreal dollhouse, offering a look into "the little compartments of people's lives." When he talks about his existence in Paris, which he used to fantasize about as a teenager, he compares it to a bizarre dream. And whether you like his art or not, I hope you can appreciate his passion for collecting.

Photos by Philip-Lorca diCorcia
Read More

Con paciencia todo llega

Así he titulado una de las páginas del libro diario que estoy haciendo y que podéis ver en AlteradoLa cosa fue que me encontré el paquete de la suscripción de hilos de Needle Necessites devuelto cuando regresé de vacaciones. Lo reclamé a B&B para que me lo volvieran a enviar y no hubo suerte. Ellos no lo tenían devuelta. LLegó el mes de agosto , y dale que te pego ,volví a reclamar mis madejas , precisamente las últimas. Y nada, no hubo suerte.
Pero por fín, y por sorpresa me encontré con que Bobbie , propietaria de la susodicha tienda online, lo había reenviado a casa otra vez... y por supuesto sin gastos de envio para mí.
La verdad es que los daba por perdidos. Sé que algunas habéis tenido algún problemilla con ellos , pero en mi caso , esto ha sido resuelto.
Y aquí os los presento. Los últimos de los últimos.



Y digo los últimos de los últimos porque pareceser que finalmente la empresa a cerrado . Adiós a mi suscripción definitivamente. Creo que casi llevaba la mitad de los cuatrocientos colores, más o menos.

Mayté lo comentó también en su blog, en el artículo del 27 de septiembre, por si queréis saber algo más del tema. En fin, una pena.

Con paciencia todo llega.......casi siempre.
Read More

Living with Art

I have art on the brain this week. Fall in New York is filled to the brim with gallery openings, new exhibitions and huge auctions and since I can't get away from it, I thought I would embrace it with a few more art related posts.

I was checking out The New York Times Magazine online and came across a great article about New York gallery owner Marianne Boesky entitled Living Over the Store. Turns out Ms. Boesky lives above her new gallery on West 22nd Street in a building she commissioned from architect Deborah Berke. While the gallery space is what you would expect, white and modern, the upstairs living quarters are rather ornate and homey. The gallery space is about looking at art, while the apartment is about living with art.

Above the giant honey onyx fireplace, a painting by Yoshitomo Nara hangs on a wall of what looks like striped wallpaper but is really an installation by the artist Daniel Buren.

Adam Helms’s ‘‘4 Untitled Portraits’’ hang above the doorway in the living room while a pink Yves Klein coffee table anchors the seating area.

In her husband's library off the living room, sculptures by Nara and Robert Gober adorn the dark wood bookcases, while Gober’s cast, silk-screened “Rat Bait” stands guard just outside the door. It also reminds me of a great article in the new November Art Issue of W magazine about how sometimes the maids of art collectors mistake art for trash and accidentally throw away priceless objects.

There are traditional chairs in the dining room, but they are two different types that alternate along the custom-made table, which sits under a large butterfly painting by Damien Hirst.

In the powder room, what looks like art, drawings of bare trees, is actually wallpaper from the venerable British firm Cole & Son. I love the way the mirror picks up the tree theme with it's branch frame. While below, a Nara dog guards the roof terrace which also has a garden designed by Paula Hayes.

I have to say that I am impressed and delighted that Marianne Boesky decided to create an apartment that feels like a home and not a gallery. It also just goes to show that living with art can be fun and exciting in a traditional setting not just a big white gallery space.

Photo by Jason Schmidt
Read More

Let's Buy Art!

I stopped by the Domino Bazaar on Saturday and I have to say that I was underwhelmed. I'm not sure what I was expecting but I didn't find anything I wanted to buy and it was set up so that you kept running into people even though it wasn't that crowded.

There was one high point of the Bazaar however, the Art Gallery! I mentioned in an earlier post that I recently met Scott Drovnig, a fundraiser for ACRIA (AIDS Community Research Initiative of America) so I made it a point to stop by and I'm so glad I did! Many famous and emerging artists donated unframed works of art to be sold at a great price to benefit ACRIA and the selection was amazing! I had trouble deciding what to buy and I must thank Scott for being so patient and helpful while I made my selection. I finally settled on a great little Stephen Ellis piece. But I'm still thinking about another print that I didn't buy! I may have to see if it's still available!

The funny thing is that after I made my purchase Saturday, I noticed a great post on Decorno about women who collect art that she saw in the New York Times Magazine. She also made the point that maybe we should save some of the money we buy on shoes and spend it on art instead. Great idea! I have a small buy growing collection and you really don't have to spend a lot to buy great art. I found a few great piece on eBay and at charity events. The best rule of thumb is to buy what you like!

And the good news for you is that some of the art that didn't sell during the Domino Bazaar is available from ACRIA Store online and much of it is in the $100 - 500 range with only a few piece in the $1000 range! They might have a few of the Ross Bleckner special edition above for sale but I didn't see it on the website, so you could call them to check.

***UPDATE***
The Bleeding Hearts piece by Ross Bleckner above is now only $750! What a bargain for yourself or for a holiday gift!

All works come unframed but for display during the sale, they had a selection framed by City Frames in Chelsea so you could take your art to them for framing. They even have on file how each piece was framed for ACRIA so if you live in New York, you could drop it off and ask them to frame it in the same manner. Below is a sampling of what I saw online in case you want to buy some art instead of shoes this week!


Ross Bleckner, Color Field
C-print on Hahnemuhle paper, 12” x 18”, edition: 25, signed, numbered, dated on verso
$1500



Barbara Takenga, Takenaga1 Blue Paisley (section), 2007
Digital print with archival ink on archival paperImage size: 8 x 6
Paper size 13 x 9.5 inchesEdition of 15,Unframed
$350


Jay Zuckerkorn, Zukerkorn1
Gelatin silver photographs, 8" x 10", edition: 25
(There are 3 photographs in this series. Buy all 3 for $300!)
$100
Read More

Johnson Hartig Revisited

I have a lot of fun things I want to write about this week but until the caffeine kicks in this morning and I can get my thoughts together (it was a long weekend), I thought I would post some more fun shots of Johnson Hartig's home. These photos were published in the LA Times and give you a less "styled" look into his life. It's fun thought to compare back to the Domino photos I posted a while back and check out the difference. Enjoy!




Photos by Ricardo DeAratanha for The LA Times
Read More

While I darn Sewing Set . SAL. Objetivo 2

Chicas, ya hemos situado el margen del bordado. El primer objetivo era bordar la línea exterior con un precioso verde que cambia de tono según lo vas bordando.
Recordad que con los hilos tintados, tanto si son de seda como si son de algodón , deben cerrarse las cruces para que guarde esa tonalidad tintada.

Aquí está mi trabajo. Me ha servido de ayuda marcar con alfileres cada veinte puntos , sobre todo en los laterales más largos. No quería ni pensar en ponerme a contar los doscientos y pico puntos y luego tener que volver a contar y recontar. Cuando hay un bordado en el que hay que cuadrar , es decir , terminar de unir una línea bordada con otra, siempre cruzo los dedos para que todo encaje bien, no falte ningún punto y no me haya desviado. Ufffff!! esta vez fue perfecto.



El segundo objetivo que cumpliresmos para el 1 de Noviembre será BORDAR LA CHICA CON EL BASTIDOR Y EL CORAZÓN CON LA CORONA, que hay al lado de ella.
Anotaciones: el bastidor y la inicial ( que será la vuestra, claro ) van con un hilo sobre un hilo de la trama. Por eso en el esquema la clave aparece tan pequeñita dibujada. Atención también a la aguja, hilo , boca y cara que están hechas con punto atrás ( backstitch )
¿ Qué tal ? ¿ Poco no ? No quiero agobiaros. Dejaremos para otro objetivo toda la vegetación que rodea a la bordadora del bastidor.
Read More

La vida vista con otros ojos

Hace algún tiempo que me tomo las cosas más tranquilamente. Supongo que son etapas.
Posteo cuando quiero y cuando puedo. NO DOY MÁS DE SÍ. Mi vida me pertenece de tal manera que la dirijo hacia el camino que creo que más me conviene. Si paso una semana sin bordar, o sin coser ¿ qué pasa ? No pasa nada, absolutamente nada. Hago otras cosas, cambio de tareas , atiendo a mi familia, me dedico a mi trabajo , que por cierto me encanta. Pero no, no puedo hacer todo. Eso ya lo he comprendido hace tiempo.

Me encanta pasarme por vuestros blogs, y dejar un comentario ..... pero a veces , y como muchas de vosotras porque lo habéis comentado, no puedo entretenerme en dejar uno a cada una. Estaría dedicada a estar delante del ordenador más tiempo del que puedo.
No por eso dejo de visitaros. No por eso dejo de admiraros . No por eso dejo de descubrir cuanta gente " se ha enganchado" a hacer su propio blog.No por eso dejo de sertirme feliz por ver cómo esta comunidad crece y crece y las amigas se conocen, y las amigas comparten...... eso es una maravilla.

Cualquiera que pasa por aquí deja un comentario si le apetece y si no , pues nada. Doy la bienvenida a todas , no excluyo a nadie, A NADIE. Pero es imposible llegar a todo, siempre se escapa algo . Una duda no resuelta, una pregunta no contestada.
Sois muchas las que me preguntáis , y no me importa que lo hagais en mi correo personal e incluso varias veces. Ayudo en la medida de lo que puedo porque mi vida no es sólo estar pegada a un teclado contestado toooodas vuestras dudas.
Si posteo, no coso, si navego ( cosa que hago por puro placer de aprender ) no hago scrap o patchwork, si contesto emails a diario , no puedo visitar otros blogs. El tiempo es el que tengo y no hay más.
Toda esta charla viene un poco a cuento por un comentario que me han dejado y además porque últimamente mi vida gira en torno a otras necesidades.
Tengo pendientes emails desde antes del verano, y sé que están ahí , esperando responderlos , y no se me han olvidado. A alguna ya se lo he dicho. Sólo os pido un poco de paciencia. Bloggeamos por placer y no por obligación.
Hace poco leí en el de una americana que no hacía bordados cómo invitaba a crear un icono en la plantilla del blog donde pusiera " Sin obligación de postear " . Y ví que las mismas sensaciones se repiten allá donde uno esté.

Demandar necesidades de una persona que no trabaja, no tiene familia , me parece hasta cierto punto entendible. Pero no es mi caso. No soy la hada madrina que resuelve todo en todo momento.
Saco tiempo de donde no lo hay para llevar a cabo mis inquietudes y ya está. El día que me propongo algo , como una manitica , no lo dejo hasta que lo consigo . Pero otras, puedo pasar días sin hacer nada porque nada me atrae . ¿ Y qué ? pues nada, que no pasa nada. A las personas nos mueven las ilusiones, las ganas de aprender ,pero también la necesidad de descansar , de dejar esta vida de prisas , acelerones y ansiedad.
Aquí no estoy contratada . Mis artículos son una forma de expresión, una forma de compartir, una foma de mostrar, a mí misma y a los demás que me quieran escuchar.
Por eso quisiera lanzar , no un grito de ayuda, sino de comprensión y aceptación . No hay vuelta de hoja . Estoy es lo que hay . Pero por favor, respetad mi ritmo ,tanto a la hora de contestaros como a la hora de leer artículos nuevos, que no soy una máquina de publicar.....
............Y una vez más si alguna no le ha gustado lo que ha leído , o se ha sentido mencionada o molestada o cualquier otra cosa similar , que me perdone..... y por favor que nadie me cuelgue etiquetas, ni las buenas ni las malas. Es una cosa horrorosa y no me gusta un pelo. Ante todo educación sin herir a los demás. Aquí estamos para compartir y aprender.He dicho.
Read More
DISCLAIMER
If you are the copyright owner of any of these articles or image and don't want me to share them, please, write comments on pages and I will gladly remove them.