Hannukah

Happy Hannukah, it begins at sundown tonight!



To all my Jewish friends: Happy holidays and Mazel Tov!


XX
Victoria

Basmati rice pillow

A few days ago I happen to be at one of my favorite eateries. Run by Pamela Schulz: 'True Food' in Nyack, NY.



True to it's name, she sells and prepares the most delicious foods, home cooked lunches, mostly organic and locally grown. They have breads and sweets, coffee and teas, and from African lentil soup to rice dishes there is a lot to choose from.
As I ordered I watched her prepare a large pot of Basmati rice, pouring it from one of those colorful sacks, used for shipping the goods from exotic origins.
After inquiring what she would do with the packaging afterwards, she told me they simply throw it away....Uohhhh! I was only too happy to ask for it.

Now it graces my chair, in which I do most of my thinking, apart from sitting at my computer...and I feel its rough, yet cushy material and I always have to smile seeing it! I have to think from where it came from, the many hands working with it and the food I receive from so far away...well, I feel a grateful connection!




It's perfect, it came even with a zipper build in, I had nothing more to do then to stuff a cushion inside and be done with it!
To be sure, I will get more then this one and have already some ideas as what to do with it!
In this case not only from the foothills of the Himalayas to my table, but to my chair as well!

And I will enjoy many more meals at 'True Food'! Thank you, Pamela!

Wishing you an inspirational weekend!

XX
Victoria


Pictures by V.Zlotkowski

Honestly...an award

Tricia from Avolli was so sweet to pass the Honest Scrap Award to me, thank you so much! I feel touched and happy, that my blog makes friends....
I found her beautiful blog many month ago and love her Swedish antiques and she has such wonderful way of presenting them. It shows her passion for it and her lovely style!
I had been given the same award only about 4 weeks ago by Maria Killam of the blog
Colour me Happy. Therefore I will take the easy way out and ask you to look at my post from November 15TH, 2009 and what I had then to say about myself...! I do not know how to link my own post back here, like some of you do.... I have to admit, I do not know, how...I tried, but it did not work. Well, that is something about me!



I simply could not come up with something new and meaningful! I hope you do not think I am cheating....I am just trying to be graceful, in all honesty ...

I hand the award to:

Simpilified Bee

Reverie

Odi et Amo

Living It At Home

Oliveaux

Weekend Host

Les Voyageuses

Let's here it from you!

XX
Victoria


Picture via Anthropology!

Something new

Today I ventured out to look at new holiday decorations and two beautiful lanterns caught my eye and I decided to buy them. I found them at Pier 1, I love that place, they often have some interesting things. I usually do not buy furniture there, but accessories and candles.



Aren't they pretty? They give a lovely glow and transform the room into a little bit of a Moroccan fantasy holiday...

While in this room, I'll show you my mantle, which changes all the time, but for a while now some special books lay there:




Steve Augarde's Various trilogy: "The Various" and "Celandine", not yet complete, resides there, I just ordered the last of the three: "Winter Wood" and can't wait to receive this book. I am having it shipped from England, the author is British and I've got a signed copy! His illustrations are beautiful and the story so rich in fantasy and language. Read more here!
Just to let you know, I did not buy it at eBay for thousands of Dollars, but at a small bookstore in England...all possible through the Internet! Such miracle!
The first two I bought at Barnes and Noble, they sold them at one point. I always fall for beautiful book covers! But I digress...

I love this room in the wintertime. We use it not so often during the summer - apart from playing piano - but it has become our reading and music room from autumn through spring. And the dog sleeps there. He has a knack for finding the most comfortable places, the ottoman in front of the fireplace is one of them...



This scene repeats itself daily....a dog's life!

We all love to spend time here.
Do you have a favorite spot in your house, a place special to a season?
Maybe a corner, dedicated to reading or writing? A place to have a cup of tea or coffee?
A sofa with a tartan plaid? An ottoman with dog?
Books lining the walls?


XX
Victoria


Pictures by V.Zlotkowski and via eBay seller signedbookaddict!

Simple pleasures

When I am working on new projects I do enjoy the process of planning and selecting, making plans for the new place and fill in the blanks.
One way of getting inspired is to look through my large library of design books, books I have collected over the years.
One of them is Kathryn M.Ireland's 'Creating A Home'.



I love the vibrancy of her colors, the playfulness of her interiors and her obvious joy in creating a home!
She has designed fabrics and wallpapers and her patterns are so uplifting!







She has a touch bohemian spirit, which I adore and love myself to incorporate within my own dream spaces!






Checking fabrics at one of the stores I have been working with I saw these fabrics and I immediately thought of her:




The fabric on the bedding is very similar to the one draped over the back of the sofa in the third picture above. Possibly available in yellow too.
And the chair fabric has a very pretty and fun pattern too!

She mixes fabrics and materials from Northern Africa, Suzanis, Indian hand embroidered pieces.
Do you like to mix and match materials? Try, it's fun!



For beginners: In a more traditional environment try to stick to the color family you are working with, modern rooms can handle a dose of contrast well. Try and see if you like it! Well, if you are brave, you go with the flow...



Another easy way to play - especially now in the cold season: sheepskins or pillows made of sheepskin.




I enjoy those simple pleasures, while I am working! A feast for the eyes!

XX
Victoria


Interior pictures snatched from Kathryn M. Ireland's book Creating A Home, my own at the ABC store, Anthropolgy and Ethan Allen!

First snowy night

Oh, there is nothing prettier then the first snow every year, quietly falling, still a bit wet, most likely gone tomorrow, but welcomed nevertheless!



I love the evenings, white branches, lit by moon light or the glow of windows on the snow!



And standing outside I can smell the aromatic fire, I am grateful for this warm nest!


Found this early artwork of mine, when I was in my teens, I did this from a window into the garden at first snow...




Good night!

XX
Victoria

Friday post

I am stuck, yesterday my computer gave up after days of probing and trying...
Today's post from my daughter's computer without access to my pictures! Ughh!

Anyway, do you remember the disaster with the sofa for one of my clients? My post from October 13Th will enlighten you...In short: The sofa had been delivered with the wrong fabric. This was back in October!
The saga continues, since we've gotten last week the impossibly bad news, that the fabric we selected, is now discontinued... And we had to find out by calling in repeatedly to ask for the status of the order. We were told for weeks it is in production!!!
We finally decided to go custom elsewhere. Now with an all new sofa, new fabric choice, pillows and trim cross your fingers for end of February! By which time it will mark the year, since I started this project.
We are done with everything else and it turned out really comfortable and nice. I will take pictures as soon as the sofa is in and show you the outcome!

Hope to be back very soon!
Wishing you all a relaxing weekend!

XX
Victoria,
who with extra time will cozy up and read her new design book by Charlotte Moss - A Flair for Living! Courtesy of Cristin from Simplified Bee!