Friday, February 26, 2010

EMU - An Egg of a Different Color






With the newest snowfall, today seemed like just the right day to crack open that EMU egg sitting in the fridge - if I could find the right tool. Attracted to the EMU egg due to its blueish green color ( a bit darker than the pantone color of the year), I paid the $10 for an egg that holds the near equivalent to 8-10 hen eggs (tad higher ratio of yolk to egg white than the average hen egg). It is about the size of a mango.

It was suggested to me that I use a hacksaw or blow it open thru a hole on each end. That sounds pretty disgusting to me so I did NOT opt for that method. In the end, a big old kitchen knife did the job - but I did "chop with intention!" The yolk is a bit lighter in color than the hen egg, it fluffed up a bit more than a traditional egg and it really was good (perhaps the butter). While the shell has an awesome color, I realize it might sound unappealing to the first timer. However, I can assure you that the taste is basically the same as a fresh hen egg. Next snowfall we do quail eggs - their shells have a really nice spotted design.

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Window Shopping at Moore College of Art and Design





Photos by Jackie, Window/Design as credited below - Virgil Marti



First, I must have that ottoman! Second, how cool is this wallpaper? I think it would be perfect in a powder room - I didn't even notice the skulls at first - very Alexander McQueenesque! This window display is currently up at Moore College of Art and Design in Philadelphia. Love it!

Friday, February 19, 2010

Are you Smitten yet?


Which mittens do you prefer - bestseller from Vancouver above (sold out) or these seen in New York this past week at Thuy's runway show? Wait for the load from Swarovski TV - it's worth it.

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Thoughts on Vancouver Frocks







Olympics! I love watching the Olympics. I love the Opening Ceremonies with all the pageantry, the excitement, the fanfare and the elaborate productions. I like to see all the smiles from around the world in one place; I find it contagious. And yes, I like to check out the outfits of the Olympians - I usually get most excited by the hats. One of my favorite hats this year is the one from Iceland - looks like mine above and one of the best hats ever is the hat worn by US Athletes in the 2002 Salt Lake Olympics - a blue beret by Roots.

Take a look at 50 or so different Opening Ceremony outfits from Vancouver - my favorite is Azerbaijan's - wild color palette and pattern. Is this a paisley or a fish? (You just might see something similar to this in an envelope liner very soon.) Also love the Bermuda shorts.

Query: what's up with those very puffy white skirts worn by the skater ladies on the sidelines in the stadium??!! (You can see the skater girls via the link above - go to Lithuania.)

Friday, February 12, 2010

Touching and Feeling






When thinking of bamboo, it is not likely that snow covered stalks rising 50 feet up into the cold air of Pennsylvania sky is the first thought that comes to mind. But it does exist. I took these photographs this past week while trekking through the snow in New Hope, PA. Serene, peaceful, calm, elegant - nice moment quickly Gone with the Wind as snow blows off the stalks and directly onto my face!

Of course, when I think of bamboo my thoughts are drawn to its uses as paper - what else! One of Orrganics' beautiful letterpress lines - Smock - uses bamboo paper from bamboo harvested in Thailand by local growers. Not only is the paper beautiful, luxurious, thick and soft but it also has environmental benefits. To hear it directly from Smock:

"We consider bamboo to be a true wonder plant. In addition to not requiring pesticides or fertilizer to grow, bamboo reaches its mature harvestable height in 3 to 5 years (versus 10-20 years for most softwoods). Bamboo generates up to 35% more oxygen than hardwood trees, and absorbs four times as much carbon as hardwood. Bamboo can detoxify wastewater (due to its high nitrogen consumption) and improve soil quality. If that wasn't enough, bamboo also has natural anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties too.

The bamboo for Smocks paper is harvested in Thailand without use of pesticides or fertilizer. The bamboo used in our paper is not genetically modified. Our bamboo is supplied by local farmers and is not harvested from areas where traditional or civil rights are violated, nor does it come from natural forests that have been converted to plantations."

Orrganics has used bamboo letterpress for bar mitzvah invitations (see one above) and for personal/social stationery. And, as we are approaching Valentine's Day, I am thinking there might be some touching and feeling going on in the days to come... with Smock's bamboo wedding invitations of course!

Smock bamboo paper letterpress invite featured above in InStyle Weddings magazine.

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

oh joy!




What do you love? What gives you joy?Is the snow storm too much trouble?
Ugghh, 24 more inches, school is out, can't get to work, yoga is cancelled, it is too cold, too icy, got to let the dogs out... it can go on and on. But beyond the "inconvenience" there really is pure joy! It is simple, it is there for the taking. Go get it!

Friday, February 5, 2010

How Do I Love Thee? Get a Pen...


February. A month singled out to celebrate love. Chocolates, flowers, little love notes and valentines abound. There are those with short notes like -" I love you!" or those with more suggestive undertones such as "You are so Hot!" (not so subtle). But true romantic love poems? Where do they fit in these days? By twitter? IM? Email? Hallmark perhaps? I really don't know. They are not in the drug store or market boxes of valentines that have Miley Cyrus all over them.

On occasion we hear public declarations of love, usually directed at a particular person - a spouse, parent and or child.. Weddings, anniversaries and other milestone parties and/or events are times when we are not surprised to hear or receive remarks of gratitude, praise and of love. ( Doug, that was so beautiful last week to your wife Marcie). Who wouldn't love to hear fabulous, loving things said to them or just within earshot. And, to watch someone take it all in - well, priceless, as they say.

But what about more private declarations? For centuries, love poems have been written to create romance and to inspire. Pen to actual paper. They often express passion and deepest yearnings. They will never go out of style. Do you dare author a love poem this year for your Valentine? (That would really be HOT).

Here is a famous love poem by e.e. cummings (note that he used an unorthodox manner of grammar and spacing but it definitely creates mood):

I carry your heart with me
by e.e. cummings

I carry your heart with me (I carry it in
my heart) i am never without it (anywhere
i go you go, my dear; and whatever is done
by only me is your doing, my darling)
i fear
no fate (for you are my fate, my sweet) i want
no world (for beautiful you are my world, my true)
and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant
and whatever a sun will always sing is you

here is the deepest secret nobody knows
(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud
and the sky of the sky of a tree called life; which grows
higher than would can hope or mind can hide)
and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart

i carry your heart (i carry it in my heart)




iconic LOVE sculpture featured above by Robert Indiana

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Pillow Talk Jack







Yesterday I met with Jan Constantine, former London fashion designer, successful interior designer and sometimes ad/magazine stylist (such as: Italian vogue and W Magazine). She works with high quality natural fabrics and iconic images to create POP ART that is hand embroidered, fashion forward, striking and fun. Lucky me (and you) as I am now importing these unique pieces so no need to travel to Harrods to get them.
Sample selections above seem perfect for this month of Valentines when a card or a note just might not say enough!
Pricing ranges from $66 to $544.