Still Life: The Color Of Hope

Springs Eternal

Everybody around here is getting pretty antsy for some spring like temperatures. We'd like a little more than just one day sandwiched in between never ending polar vortex stretches. It's been a long cold, snowy winter. Which we can usually handle when there are hopeful signs that spring will get here eventually. 

When I went to the store yesterday to get my ingredients for my St. Patrick's Day Shepperd's Pie, I spied what is a true harbinger of spring.  

Daffodils, in all their yellow glory.

We are far from daffodils in bloom here.  So, to be able to grab a bunch to brighten up your home gives you a tiny taste of spring, and confidence that it surely will arrive in the not so distant future (even if today's 26 degrees doesn't support the fact that it supposed to arrive this week!).

 In Ireland at this time of year, the daffodils are everywhere.

They're blooming in the parks..................

 
.............in the fields...............

..............in the middle of the highways............

.....in the middle of the 'roundabouts'.

Everywhere you look.................mass plantings of daffodils. As if a flower fairy sprinkled magic daffodil dust over everything.

It's a beautiful sight.

At least I can have a reminder of that beauty in my home for a the small price of $3.00.  A steal for a little hint of spring to brighten up these last days of winter that just won't seem to release their grip.

I forgot to tell you yesterday, our pal Lucan turned 14! He celebrated St. Patrick's Day and his birthday in grand style.

 

The neighborhoodlums came over for a little St. Patrick's Day cheer and Shepperd's Pie.  A good time had by one and all.

Busy with a ton of design work at the moment.  Doing my best to juggle like I've been on tour with the circus before.

What's happening in your world?

Ciao for now,

 

Design Trends: Let A Little Sunshine In

Mellow (or not so mellow) Yellow

How's it going today peeps? Ah, speaking of peeps (yeah, you know the ones I'm talking about), after yesterday's post of sunshine in Winter and with today's impending snow storm, I needed just a wee bit more. More sunshiny yellow happiness.

Today, we're not leaving it outside because it's just too damn cold. We're bringing it inside with  interiors infused with some of that sunshiny happiness. 

I can be partial to a pop of yellow, or maybe even a little more than a pop. Our living room was three different shades of yellow before the last re-do and I quite liked it.  Some people love it, some people hate it (you know who you are).  For the haters, I say....are you sure? Perhaps you just haven't found the right yellow or the right way to incorporate it so it suits you better. How can you hate a color that exudes such happiness?

Have a look at these ways to let a little sunshine into your life.

sources:
1. dresser via martha stewart
2. yellow stools at the butcher's daughter via  petite passport
3. etarger via farmhouse 38
4. yellow chandelier via the french bedroom
5. wall art via  Bates Mercantile Co.
6. mirror via horchow


Here's the thing about color that I am faced with every single day as a designer: there are so many shades in each color family.

The possibilities are endless.

So tell me, are you a yellow lover or hater (it's ok, I won't hold it against you.....differences are what make the world go 'round)? Would you incorporate any of these pops of yellow into your interior, and if you would....how?


Today I'm at my desk crossing completed projects off the board (yahoo! I love that), revising a logo  and working on initial design for another client.  Busy as a bee..............

Oh yeah, I'm also keeping the home-fire burning to fend off the cold and keep the hound warm in his spot on the futon.  The snow has just begun to fall here. It is sure to make everything pretty and new again.

What's happening in your world today?

Ciao for now,

Hello Sunshine......Don't Miss The Latest Free Printable

The Sun Coming Up

That's the sun coming up through the woods out back.  Big, bright and yellow. The moon looked very similar going down over the field, about an half hour before. 

You have to love waking up and being greeted by the sun shining.

I know this picture isn't exactly what you'd call 'clear', but it still served as inspiration for today's free printable.

Sunshine and bubbles of light.......hello sunshine.

Make somebody's day a little brighter and say hello with this printable note card. They're sure to smile when they find it in their mailbox.  Wouldn't you?

Just click the picture and save image file to your computer or copy and paste.

The hello sunshine printable note card can be printed on 8.5x11 paper and has a light dotted line down the middle to make cutting easy.  It is designed to fit in a 4 3/8" x 5 3/4" envelope, which you can pick up at any office supply store.

While we're on the subject of the sun................

Sunset Meadows

Gar was heading across the street to thank neighbor Tom for all his help on his truck this weekend, and yelled back in, "looks like it's going to be a good sunset".
Glad he did or I might have missed it and that would have been a shame.

Another busy day ahead, though my meeting just got moved until tomorrow. So, that makes it a little less crazy.  What's your day looking like?

A quick 'thanks a bunch' for being here and commenting. I just love hearing from all of you. It makes my day.

Rainy Day Flea Market

Copyright SweetMagnoliasFarm, 2011

It's been raining here all morning. Nobody is complaining. It's much needed.  Our lawns are crunchy.  Thought it would be a good day for some 'flea market and antique' browsing, without dodging the rain drops.

Do you love the beautiful pale yellow color of the looking glass above as much as me? So pretty.


Oh the treasures you can find on etsy, like this little sampler box with a present in each compartment.

Copyright TheHouseofOliver, 2011

I just love the delicate lines and the simplicity of this pale blue bowl.

Copyright 22bayroad, 2011

The classic lines of a shirt dress. It never goes out of style.

Copyright FreshDame, 2011

I have a love of teapots. My favorite thing about these is that they look like they've been the stars in many a tea party in a child's room.

Copyright Sushipotparts, 2011

If I had to pick a favorite out of these pretty little dishes, I'd have to go with the poppy, but it would be a hard decision. They're all lovely.

Copyright bonnbonn, 2011

How about vintage linens? These dish towels are so reminiscent of a time gone by, yet completely current at the same time.

Copyright VintageJane, 2011

This pink sugar bowl is so detailed and sweet, with a picture of an open window and a birdcage beyond. It's the newest listing in our own etsy shop, Bates Mercantile Co.

Copyright BatesMercantileCo., 2011

You have to love treasure hunting right from your computer.  As you can see, I am drawn to a variety of vintage things. What I really find interesting about vintage pieces is that it seems they all have a story to tell. Are you drawn to particular things when treasure hunting at flea markets and antique stores? Do tell.

Hey- The sun is out! So much for the rain.

Happy Monday. Hope it's a good one in your part of the world.

Stuff It!

What To Do With All That Zucchini

We don't plant as much squash and zuch as we used to.  Our neighbors Tom and Joan always have prolific plants and can only eat so much. We are the lucky recipients of the extra.  Last night I stuffed one of their lovely zuchs. It's not hard to do and there are no rules. You get to use whatever you have on hand.

Last Night's Stuffed Zuch

1 big zucchini, cut lengthwise down the middle (yay! two sides to stuff!)
handful of baby bella mushrooms sliced thin
1/4 of a leftover onion, chopped
the 'guts' of the zucchini, chopped
cojito cheese- Mexican cheese similar to feta (maybe 1/4 cup), but again, use what cheese you've got
spices ( I used some sun dried tomato spice mix I had on the shelf and some lime pepper spice mix)
sea salt
breadcrumbs
butter about 3 - 4 tbs

Once you slice zucchini carve out around the softer middle and scoop out. Leave enough meat of zucchini around the edge so when it cooks it doesn't flop over and you lose all the stuffing.  Chop the veg, throw into sautee pan and cook for a few minutes. When translucent, add the bread crumbs, the cheese and the butter. Take stuffing and STUFF zucchini. We wrapped ours in a tin foil pouch and grilled for about 20-30 minutes.....one side of grill on med-high, other side on low. Gar started it up top for about 10-15, then moved down to the low temp side.

YUM.

Speaking of garden veg, our garden is coming along, though the weeds have taken over. Except where we were smart enough to lay down our 'always in good supply' leaves, around the tomatoes. The rest of the garden is fighting the proverbial battle. Probably time Gar and I took the garden weasel too it, but it's been so hot (good excuse, don't you think?).

We were late in getting things planted this year, but all is well- the lettuce, green beans, chard, potatoes and yes, squash (only four plants) are looking good. Here's the first tomato trying to make the grade with many more babies on the plants. Never did plant kale this year. It came back on it's own. It grew fast this spring which was a nice surprise, and then I cut it all the way back and have a second round. You gotta love a garden surprise like that. Easy peasy. That's the way we like it here.

Our flower gardens are still surprising us too. We could both see a yellow circle across the yard from the pool area last night, and said 'That must be the St. Patrick Rose'. It's most prolific year (and this damn thing is at least 7 years old) was three roses. That's it. But it is pretty despite it's low numbers. I will admit, it's not the same kind of rose as the pink one by the front door, if I had to guess I'd say this is a long stem variety, perhaps this is the reason for its low output.




It is so bright out, and this flower is right in the sun, and the setting I had the camera on was probably
not the best choice for those conditions. Ah well. You get the picture.

 I came around the side of the house and spied the honeysuckle, completely covered in its red berries. The birds will be quite happy come fall. I'm happy now because it's very pretty. I love plants that give you a two for one- blooms and then pretty berries that the birds are happy to consume.

It's another hot one here so it will be a challenge to stay cool. The will be a pool involved at some point. Probably at more than one point. The dog is sprawled on the floor in front of the fan. He's no dumb bunny.

If you have a zucchini recipe, please share. Everyone is always trying to find new ways to mix up the abundance of squash in the summer.

Have a great day Tuesday in your little corner of the world.

Raindrops on Roses

It’s a gray day here in New Hampshire. I’d prefer sunshine, but at least it means I don’t have to water the vegetable garden or the flower gardens.  And, the way a rose holds raindrops on its petals is one thing to cherish about this kind of gray day in June.

Who can't be happy, despite a gray day, when channeling Julie Andrews in The Sound of Music?

On the subject of gray, I just love it more and more in all sorts of design. How about these dandelion screen printed napkins by Giardino. So lovely-especially paired with bright yellow to balance its muted effects. Just brilliant.



Copyright Giardino

I fell in love with these whimsical cylinder hanging lamps with silvery gray flowers from West Elm- and they were the only ones left. Score one for me. If I remember right they ran me about $25 each. Classic color paired with fun and unexpected floral design. What else could I ask for? I had the perfect spot for them, hanging over our night stands.  I came to love this accent piece even more once they were hung, realizing they gave us a lot more room for books on our bedside tables.



Copyright Pamela J. Bates

Bates Mercantile Co.



One of my own designs is what I would deem ‘elegantly gray’. My ‘96 Step’s design was inspired by the scrolling ironwork on the terrace of the apartment we stayed in while in Rome a few years back. Sitting on that terrace was simply sublime. A dream-come-true.

Copyright Pamela J. Bates

Bates Mercantile Co.

The 96 Steps to get to the ‘penthouse’ apartment, in roasting Rome September weather, perhaps not. I’m lucky Garrett survived coming up those steps after roaming in the Rome heat for close to two hours (I opted to stay put and deadhead the flowers on the terrace, sip espresso and watch our neighbor hang out her laundry). We did learn from his experience however, to leave with all we needed in the morning and not come back until we were done exploring.  My husband's face after that first climb was something similar to this (of course, it may have had something to do with is inability to breathe at that point):

Copyright Pamela J. Bates

Bates Mercantile Co.

But I’ll leave red for another day.

What’s your favorite way to see gray used? Classic style on its own, with another neutral, or with a pop of unexpected color? I’d love to know. I'm not sure I can even pin myself down with a favorite way to use gray, but one of the other reasons I like it is because ‘nothing is black and white’ and gray is the perfect example of that- it’s somewhere in the middle.