A breath of summer in February...

This was to be our "kid free" weekend and there was talk of a quick trip to some sunny locale. Alas, it was not to be and we are here in snowy Ohio dreaming of warm summer days (seed catalogs by my side.)

And then...my girlfriend sent her favorite Sangria recipe and...suddenly it's feels like summer in February here in our little corner of the world.

I immediately dashed to the store and purchased the necessary ingredients, rushed home, and began chopping fruit.

Voila! It's a sangria party at our house! A fresh breeze of summer to perk up our spirits.

Here is Patti's favorite recipe from Recipezarr.com. Very yummy and delicious. Some guacamole and chips just to round out our impromptu party.

Try it!! Just the thing to get us through the winter dohl drums.

ENJOY!! Thanks Patti - great idea!!!


Traditional Red Wine & Citrus Sangria

1 cup fresh orange juice

1/2 cup fresh lime juice

2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

1/2 cup superfine sugar (I put sugar in the blender)

1/4 cup triple sec

2 oranges, sliced

2 limes, sliced

1 lemon, sliced

1. Combine all ingredients except sliced fruit in a large bowl or pitcher.

2. Cover and refrigerate until well chilled, about 2 hours.

3. Fill a large pitcher with ice; add sliced fruit, then pour in sangria over fruit and ice.

4. Makes 5 cups without ice.

recipezarr.com

I LOVE A GOOD SALE!!!

I am a bargain shopper through and through.

Not that I don't have a knack for selecting the most expensive item out of an array of wall covering, fabric, tile, etc.

Quality shows and my eye is drawn to things of quality or things with a unique design - things of beauty. You know - those items that make your heart sing.

Anthropologie - Antwerpe Chair

pictured right

Count on me to instinctively pick an item that makes you say "Oh..." when you see the price.

My Mother has a million wonderful sayings that play in my mind over and over (the oral teaching tradition at its finest.) This posting brings to mind:

"champagne taste on a beer bottle budget"

okay...growing up I heard this...oh...about a thousand times.

It is a logical progression that I would find the field of interior design and that I would fall in love with working around all the gorgeous things the world has to offer.

But, much of the time I/we are working on a budget and I am trying to stretch our decorating dollars. Shopping for bargains really helps stretch the budget.

Typically I do not find the "anchor" items for a space during a sale, but accessory items are my common treasures.

I thought I would share a few of today's finds with you. I have been perusing the Anthropologie site for a bargain or two.

Here are my lovelies for today:

Anthropologie - Platinum Ombre Martini Glass

Anthropologie - Aviary Castle

Anthropologie - Sunken Flourish Lamp

Those are my favorite sale items for the day...now for a few extras that I found along the way....

Anthropologie - Crystal Votive

Anthropologie - Pencil Skirt, Taper Holder

Anthropologie - Jungle Leaf Tablecloth

See all the Anthropolgie sale items here - anthropologie.com

Year of the Tiger - 2010

Happy Year of the Tiger!!

It is time to usher in the Chinese New Year (actually I'm just a bit late.) 2010 is the third year in the twelve year cycle - the year of the metal Tiger.

In 2010, February 14th ushered in the beginning of the Year of the Tiger, and as is the custom, the Chinese New Year's celebrations will continue for the following 15 days until the next full moon on February 28, 2010.

This last day of the Chinese New Year season is marked by the traditional Lantern Festival. I JUST LOVE LANTERNS!!! In China , the Lantern Festival is considered a day for lovers. Two days in one month - how fun!

What image comes to mind when you imagine a tiger? Ferocious, lightning fast, intense, powerful - all words that are associated with the tiger - all words that have been used to describe this upcoming year.

I just keep thinking that I should fasten my seat belt - the ride might get bumpy.
The negative side to the year of the tiger - conflict and disaster. Nooooo.

On the bright side - it won't be boring. Changes are in store for everyone - lots of movement. Perhaps travel. I love to see new places so I'm looking forward to this side of the tiger - right now I'm imagining sun and a beach - who knows where the journey might take us???

The metal tiger is related to technology, so there may be great advances this year with inventions aplenty. (I'm holding off on that new phone - waiting for just the right one.)

The tiger is quick with great drama - be ready. Be ready to seize those opportunities, in whatever way they may present themselves. Poised and ready to strike - that's the tiger.

Photo by Wesley Hargrove

I enjoy discovering more about the connections between Chinese culture and its relationship to the practice of Feng Shui. I will keep you posted as I uncover new ways to incorporate Feng Shui into our modern lives.


For now...I am looking forward to my own Lantern Festival on February 28. I have a lantern collection but I am thinking that I really NEED to add a few new ones. Let's see what I can find. Send me pictures of your favorites - I would love to post them!
See my previous lantern post below - aren't they beautiful???


http://weaveideas.blogspot.com/2009/02/paper-lanterns.html


Happy Year of the Tiger!!!

Click here for more Year of the Tiger information

Feng Shui for 2010

Happy New Year!!

The beginning of a new year is the perfect time to take a step back, reflect, and then create our new blueprint for 2010. How better to make that happen than by utilizing the principals of Feng Shui?

If you are in Cleveland, please join me this Friday, January 8th, for my presentation on Feng Shui and find out how this ancient Chinese art can enhance your life in 2010.

When: January 8, 2010

Where: The Ohio Design Centre
23533 Mercantile Road
Beachwood, OH 44122

Cost: $10.00

Time: 12:00 Noon

RSVP: Please call 216-831-1245.



Hope to see you soon!!! Happy 2010!!!

Holiday Tablesetting

The Holidays are fast approaching and my thoughts are turning to decorating and entertaining.

I recently had the opportunity to create a Holiday Table Setting for an event at the Ohio Design Centre. The event was lovely and the bird snow globes (picture right) were a HUGE hit.

Everyone loved the birds!

As I began my planning for the table, I went shopping. I perused all my favorite places looking for the starting point - my inspiration. I found it in the very cool snow globes that I discovered at...of all places...Pier 1. The beautiful color of the birds referenced the silk on the chairs and the color of fall. Ah...my starting point.


My next decision was whether or not to use my newly acquired set of antique dishes. I had them so it would be nice to use them...but at times I felt that they were a bit limiting. As I shopped I never found a set of dishes that I thought would be a better fit for the elegant table. Gold chargers with richly colored napkins would dress up the place setting and pull it together.

So, it worked out. Wonderful to use what I have - not that I couldn't buy a new set of dishes for every holiday. I have a small dish addiction.

Table for Holiday Table scape at the Baker Knapp & Tubbs showroom at our Cleveland showroom.

The table and chair style is a tad traditional. I decided to reference the traditional style but infuse the scheme with a few modern touches.

I thought a series of table runners would be the best approach for the beautiful wood table that I was using. Place mats felt just too dated and one long runner would not provide enough protection for the table surface...table runners are the answer.

But after many hours of searching for just the right material (I am sooo picky) for something ready made (NOTHING OUT THERE!!) and with the deadline fast approaching, I stumbled upon a beautiful trio of scarves while shopping.

Perfect! I simply modified the scarves with a few quick seams (see my sewing machine pictured above) and I had my table runners. With more time I would have selected fabric from the Design Centre and had custom runners made by a local workroom. Time and money...always a factor.

I think these runners are perfect...beautiful, quick, and readily available.

Pictured above - Holiday Table Scape at the Baker Showroom.

Very pretty and festive!

Large pear and amber glass candlesticks by Baker.

Place Setting

Gold charger with dinner plate, napkin, and decorative beaded leaf.

I found a set of dishes this summer at a local antique shop and fell in love with them. Not to make an impulse buy, I decided to think about the dishes a while before making a final decision. My thoughts returned to the dishes week after week. One Saturday morning I accompanied my hubby on a visit to the antique store to pick up a vintage drafting table and...they were still available - it was a sign - I had to buy them.

The set is Viceroy by Homer Laughlin circa 1941 and it has service for 12 with lots of the accessory pieces. There are a few chips here and there, and over time I may search for replacement pieces, or not. I think that the pattern is somewhat neutral and can be dressed up or down depending upon the occasion. The set is perfect for us as we do not do a great deal of formal entertaining.

Post shopping note: dressing the plates up - not so difficult - dressing them down - very difficult.

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE these bird snow globes!!!





Floral arrangement to add color and sparkle.






What a wonderful warm glow!!

I can't wait to use these ideas for my own Holiday Table.