if not now, then when
photo by meredith mullins
hi guys! it’s morning but i’m trying something different today, blogging first instead of waiting til i’m burnt out and so much happened that i can’t remember it all. so i’ll back track before anything happens today. i haven’t even checked my email.
photo by linda donahue
yesterday was a busy and wonderful day. i met kindred spirit linda donahue who happens to live right across the bay. she started a site called parisien salon. i’ve been obsessed with salons for years and probably romanticize them but hers is a thoroughly moderne platform with writers, guest bloggers, stories, photos and, well anything she wants to explore in order to make it a completely comprehensive site on all things parisian. i love her concept and will do my first guest blog on the maison et objet in september. in the meantime i thought i’d share her photos fantastique de paris.
photo by meredith mullins
well there are more on her site. many more. but i better get crackin’ or at least have breakfast. i’m leaving tomorrow for 3 weeks in nyc…quitting miami is so hard and now i have to get into city mode. thinking of paris seems so far out this time of year. i’m obsessed with the beach. the top photo is giving me inspiration to segue into it all.
the good news is i’ll see the family. my goddaughter has been a counselor in training at horse camp this summer. i sent her letters and goodies and just discovered their spruceland.blogspot.com. if you have a horse lover teen, check out this camp. it’s a beautiful place. i wish i went!
ok, à plus tard!
Hey again, i’m back with an afternoon update: i got a couple new vanity shots and wanted to get them up. it’s kind of nice being able to add throughout the day instead of rushing at the end of a hard one. enjoy these!
these beauties are in from catherine golden of mill valley.
and thank you mary kaiser of www.marykaiserltd.com for sending this one in below:
und last mais not least is tiffany nichols from tifftastic.wordpress.com. she’s also promoting the cause and i love her header!
ok last bit then back to work. more fun stuff came in for the show, these cashmere samples from nepal. they feel like you’re wrapped up in a cocoon! i’m a cashmere lover and it’s so amazing how many weaves, colors and weights there are.
it’s all i can do not to throw this on my bed even though it’s july, they nailed the edges, finishing them with silk charmeuse and mitering the edges with extreme precision. ok this time i mean it. glad you stopped by and i’ll be over to visit too.
what the days bring
hi guys! thought i’d take a minute and share some new goodies that came to my inbox. for the life of me i can’t get a good shot but maybe that’s better since they’re rough drafts. my dream of working with other bloggers is starting to come true. as you may (or not) recall i’m trying to fill my boutique with treasures made by bloggers, either especially for tpa or from their/your current collection. i met heather of realcardstudio.com awhile ago. i sent her a couple images and i love what she sent back! (above)
it hits the spot too cause i love collaborating and it’s a natural since we’re on these contraptions all day anyway! of course she’s uber talented. these are from her site above an below and her blog is exceptionallyinviting.blogspot.com.
needless to say her creativity is totally inspiring and this is a new avenue of fun.
on another note i wanted to send a thank you to mandy from a-la-parisienne.blogspot.com. she wrote about the vanity project on her site and took shots of her own for it. a magnificent post, as always!
another of my femmes parisienne is, coincidentally, parisienne farmgirl.blogspot.com, who just finished her chambre, complete with vanity and all the trimmings. she was inspired by an old shot of mine so i was very proud :)
thank you for another great submission by claire at alltheprettythingsuk.wordpress.com.
finally i’d like to welcome melissa from reverie-daydream.com to our list of sponsors. she travels the world with her husband and daughter sourcing beautiful artisan products from small businesses. they’re eco-conscious too and they use recycled items for everything from paper to shipping material.
not to mention her products are exquisite.
well i better run cause what the day brought is only about half of what’s here and i have to tend to it the rest, like now. have a great nuit!
for the love of furniture
hello guys! i’m running in and out once again (my boy’s back in town). but i had to post these pretty presents. ok they’re not really presents but they’re so delicious they may as well be laudree!
actually they’re inedible furniture finish samples from the studios kindred spirit, delphine groult. she wrote me a couple weeks ago about her furniture and i loved it right away cause everything about it is special. now that i have the swatches, it’s pure joy to see and touch.
the glossy finishes are like nail polish and the are antiqued look authentic, not overdone. you can tell everything is made by hand.
this trim is so tiny in person
and edges and lines are painted to a tee with exacting precision.
the carvings are so detailed but not fussy or serious
and carvings are made directly on the piece.
mmmh! well anyway just wanted to share, you can check out her website at delphinegroult.com.
i don’t have a lot up yet but am adding her pieces to my site and showing them to galleries. some of her other chests are here. she’s a brilliant artist who’s medium is furniture. a girl after my own heart.
i love this one especially now that i know the carving is authentic.
and like all artists, she has many dimensions. this is some of her artwork
she has this great dark side too that i can’t even show you here. my parents read my blog :)
anyway i have to go but a quick ps: i got a chance to see 6 apartments in the
setai today. this bedroom was enough convincing for me. mas manaña!
it’s a genetic predisposition
(jessica alba)
hey guys, happy saturday! i have about one more minute before checking out tonite but wanted to get these pics off my desktop and into the ether.
(georgina chapman)
are we all born divas?
anyone know who this bombshell is?
(jean harlow)
this piece of furniture brings out something universal in us. thank you bloggers for sending these in for le projet
desiree noga
maybe it’s our playful side, who doesn’t like to play dress up with pretty things?
Cynthia Maniglia
elizabeth moss
and thanks to bonnie i got lost again on flickr
bioemma on flickr
kren on flickr
deisreeh on flickr
flickr, unknown source but i’ll find it!
sjp in the sex and the city movie
this one’s from eloquence, now in the boutique. welp, as you can imagine, this is the tip of the iceberg but i have got to go. sorry there are no links but i’ll fill them out tomorrow. bonne nuit pour maintenant and here to yet another bon weekend!
in with the old
bonjour mes amis! i’ve been at it all day, going through old pics and papers, trying to organize but it’s an endless stack of open ended projects. i thought i’d share some places that were shot for my new book (you’re probably sick of hearing that, i have so many in the works). i’m thinking of using them on my site but my style has changed so much that maybe these are dated. anyway i knew you’d give me your honest opinion!
this started as one of those generic apartments in dallas belonging to tricia, (here’s her before):
geez, these have been sitting in a folder for years, i’m such a slacker…
this is my friend lorraine’s place, she has so many pretty things
and this one was in chicago, a bachelor who wanted something sexy for when his friends came over on sundays for sex in the city parties. tells you how long ago it was! actually we shot this in HD at the time for a pilot that was sold to the travel channel.
here’s his ‘before’
finding this 1930′s mirrored fireplace was the highlight of my career, well, almost! there’s a lot more but this is what i found today, i’ll dig out more over the weekend, have a great night!
hot fun in the summertime
hi everybody! hope all’s well in your world. is the summer flying by for you?
it sure is for me. i haven’t posted lately cause there’s been so much action here in miami beach it’s hard to keep up. my goal was to stay here for a good long time, enough time to get bored to death but it’s just not happening. not only do i have to leave soon for nyc, but i’m not close to being over this place.
i’m sorry’ve been so bad about visiting and responding but i vow to get over to say hi and check on you. i know you know how it is…everything starts to pile up if you take your eye off the ball. even blogging…from answering comments to resizing pics and recapping a full day it can become overwhelming and then you do nothing.
basically i just wanted to check in and send a little south beach your way. it’s truly heaven on earth and i thank god every day for letting me figure out i should live here. i’ve been on a crusade to tackle recycling cause tragically, they just don’t do it and no one enforces the law. it’s really a renegade city in so many ways which on one hand is a relief from the traffic cops and meter maids of nyc, but on the other hand, it’s a kind of a free for all that gets taken advantage of.
anyway in my spare time i’ve been checking out the luxe market here, the w just opened last week and i got a grand tour. they don’t like you taking pics but i got a couple. but you know me. i’m one of the renegades!
it was positively stunning from the lobby to the loggia, just wildly plush and every surface was exquisite.
not to mention the views. now if only i could get the 10 mil together for this penthouse. want to all pitch in?
this would be our view! well powerball is up to 75 mil. i don’t normally play but as they say you gotta play to win!
well, i better get back to it. i have lots of visiting to do. thanks for all your incredible comments on the last post. you’re making me want to open up shop again… maybe a very posh coconut stand!
oh and before i go wanted to thank melissa of reverie daydream (reverie-daydream.blogspot.com). she sent me this gorgeous candle as a thank you gift. she’s a fabulous fellow blogger who if you don’t know, now you know. she’s living a dreamy reverie with her beautiful family. thank you mel! have a great night everyone!
getting down to it
hi everyone, hope you’re relaxing tonite and kicking back. guess i’m in full work mode again trying to fatten up my web boutique before the show. in the search for the countless pieces have stashed away, i came across these shots of my old shop.
it’s fun to look at pictures but it seems like light years ago.
it was fun though, my little dollhouse. this is the chateau mirror, i’m putting that back on the site tonite.
funny how many vanities i had back then. guess i took them for granted.
they thrilled me, every one!
i loved creating vignettes.
and the search for the perfect piece at auctions and fleamarkets. they’re everywhere! i found this one at brimfield.
anyway i have to try and look sharp, get the online boutique together and polished.
so these are my new listings as of tonite.(have to prove to myself i’m accomplishing something)! i better get back to it, there’s a hundred more things to add and i’m determined.
(tiara frame)
silk baby quilt (handmade by my mom)!
delphine groult pieces. some serious
and some with a different flavor
more furniture, some from france
and some painted and created here in the us.
theparisapartment.com/boutique
and last but not least are lisa golightly’s pieces. she’s the first of my blogger collaborations and i’m taking a few of her things to the gift show. i want to sell your stuff for you too fellow blogger artist geniuses!
oh geez, i almost forgot noel’s books that are new in the line:
ok one more thing then i’m back to work: i’m trying to get these doors for the booth from eloquence. (the theme is a french hotel suite).
so bon soiree for now and if you’re out have a ball and if you’re in i’m glad you stopped by. i’m sorry i haven’t been over to visit lately but plan to come to see every one over le weekend. have a bon one!
on with the show
hey guys, i was about to sit down with a stack of paperwork but then i thought: you do that all day, why not do something more creative that you actually enjoy? i’m almost guilty, like i have to have all my work done before i can blog which is a bit of RnR for me. it’s weird! so…the paperwork will wait til domani and i can have a little time here.
i’ve been pretty busy, but also reaping the relaxing rewards at the end (or beginning) of the day. it’s such a dream to live on this beach. it is SuPer HoT and i love it!
but as usual, nyc is calling me back right in the middle of the summer. i guess you can’t chill in paradise forever. if it wasn’t for a great reason i just couldn’t do it, but i had an offer i couldn’t refuse. i’ll be there for about 3 weeks in a minute to do the nygif show with leigh from papillion linens.
leigh sent me a set of dreamfit sheets to try out, they’re amazingly soft and organic to boot
i knew her line from past shows and always admired her collection. (she was the first to do smocked top curtains). when i posted a photo of hers we started to chat and became fast blog buds. turns out we had tons in common. when she asked me to use some of my pieces for her booth i about died. the show is impossible to get into and her booth is across from kelly wearstler for Sferra and john robshaw. and that’s just the tip of that iceberg!
she’s such a pro. instead of sweating it she hired id810designgroup.com to help her plan out the booth. (it was their brilliant idea to use lucite, lucky me). i’ll meet the girls when i get to the city and everything comes together. they have great style and i’m excited to see the details they have planned.
so i’ve been getting my site fattened up and working on making the pieces.
we’ll be using the bookcase for displaying her gorgeous linen linens,
and we’re using semi-precious stone chandeliers to accent each area
between the beds, over the desk
and in the seating area (this one will be hot pinks)
the above are some of the stones the artist, meredith uses to make the chandi’s.
and you may remember these staples from the a.d show. but leigh’s going to show them in linen upholstery, navy and schiaparelli pink! (total non sequitir: schiaparelli.com is fabulous! i just discovered it when i googled the spelling of her name)
anyway there are countless other details but that’s it for tonite. i think i’ve had it and need to kick back, my RnR looks a lot like work, good thing i love my work! have a great night!
vanity for humanity’s taking shape
do you die for this shot from olga of olgagrandascott.blogspot.com? i did!
hey everybody! hope you’re enjoying the quiet evening hours this sunday night. i’m about to call it a day but wanted to share some of the vanity pics that came in and thank you all for sending them. i’m feeling re-inspired.
michelle of theredvelvetshoe.typepad.com
(what a collection of goodies she has)!
cynthia of cyntillatingandjoyful.blogspot.com
it’s been really fascinating to see the variety and flair that every vanity has. i wanted it to be documentary style and love the candid shots. one of my favorite things in the one above is that the pics in the frame are her grandparents.
denise of discountdesignerfabrics.blogspot.com (i didn’t know the stork club made lipsticks. most of these women who sent in the photos have incredible collections, one of denise’s passions is vintage compacts and cosmetics).
as you may know i’m taking it slow these days. it wasn’t till tonight that i had the time to go through them all and this is the first i’m seeing them too and i was really happy to open each one.
this one is from christina’s mom of fabulousfindsandco.blogspot.com. she may have invented the boudoir look!
so what do you think, are you into the project? if so i can still use yours (hint hint)
bonnie of loveyourplace.blogspot.com
i love this one even though it’s out of focus. bonnie has inherited an insane collection. from her mom and grandmother. this is the tip of the iceberg.
and these three are all in from angela may of yourheartsdesires.com
angela may
angela may
and last but not least, thank you to mary of celiajuno.blogspot.com. this was her grandma’s vanity and now one of her prized possessions.
oh and this just in from tracie herman who has a brand new blog, prettyasparis.blogspot.com
well again, it’s not that complicated, a flower, some photos and perfumes….it would seem we all need a place to put these things but lots of us just don’t treat ourselves to it for whatever reason, myself included right now. then again i’ve pared down and a vanity seems like such a luxury. well, i’m determined to set something up and promise tomorrow will have a shot of my own. hope you will too! ~happy sunday~
p.s. you can send yours in (the deadline isn’t till the end of summer) to theparisapartment@yahoo.com. merci!
imagine that
hi everyone! it’s been a while and lots has been going happening. you know how it is when you work so much and nothing ever seems to happen? i am queen of starting projects and some have been on the drawing board for years. so it’s incredible to see something come to life. on one hand i want to write about all of it, but on the other hand i’m learning that multi-tasking is not for me, even in blogging. i try to include everything and end up not writing at all. now with the pressure off, i can enjoy it tonite.
(harlow chair)
these are top secret (except to you :)
they’re a couple of prototypes for my boudoir noir collection inspired by furniture from the 20′s, 30′s and 40′s. some of the other pieces we’re working on are here, and here. well, i thought you’d get a kick out of it, even in the early stages. if all goes well the collection will debut in paris at the maison et objet in (ugg), january 2010.
my friend mike did these divine sketches. to think they went from his mind to reality. i have a feeling he thought it wasn’t going to happen. i hope he’s surprised!
(lombard chair)
i’d love your opinion on how you’d upholster them (if you would even have them in your house. am i crazy)?
(not jean’s most graceful pose)
(harlow bench)
alors, c’est tout for ce soir. i have to put out a newsletter for some new news coming tomorrow so better do it while i have will power. (i’m fading just thinking about it). well i’m glad you stopped by and i’ll be putting all the vanities up that you sent in, danke! bonne nuit!
i need help
houseoftempsperdu.blogspot.com
hey guys! the weekend was incredible, i hope your was too. i swear i felt embers burn in my eyes. we were right under the macy’s fireworks! i took pics but haven’t even looked at them yet but will tonite. in the meantime, i just wanted to say heyand share with you the vanities that have been sent in so far for the project (if you don’t know i’m collecting shots of your vanity for a book i’m putting together called ‘vanity for humanity’ with all proceeds going to habitat for humanity. i wanted it to be shot guerilla style, just candids of how we live, sort of voyeur’s look into an area that’s mysterious, sexy and unique for every woman.
so thank you ladies who have sent in these so far
fabulousfindsandco.blogspot.com
but i could really use a hand. if you’re like me you don’t even have a vanity. at least right now. but if you do…
aclassicpearl.blogspot.com/2009/02/me-feel-pretty.html
bonjourmadamestephanie.blogspot.com
soooo, maybe you could set something up? a vignette? i know you can do it. janet, where are you? photogs, can you give us some shooting tips?
snortywart.typepad.com/snortywart
i started searching on flickr for a minute tonite to inspire us and of course got lost over there:
flickr.com/photos/55589578@N00/2843874568
flickr.com/photos/tiffanyjane/865731367
flickr.com/photos/32900586@N03/3071869452/in/set-72157610521086170
flickr.com/photos/leesiebug/3310083463/
flickr.com/photos/amberwalker/1881716797
flickr.com/photos/renaissance/2232149991
flickr.com/photos/33108903@N06/3473762995
flickr.com/photos/33108903@N06/3473763017/in/photostream
ok! as you can see i’m losing my mind and could really use a hand getting straightened out. anyway it’s a fascinating topic so it was fun to get lost on flickr. quel mecca.
now i’m off, still away til tomorrow and a girl’s gotta eat. bon nuit!
ps: please send your shots to theparisaparment@yahoo.com, merci!
checking in before taking off
image via riptheskull on flickr
i know it’s early but i hit publish so what the heck, i’m getting ready to head out soon.
hey guys, just wanted to send good wishes for your holiday. i’m still at it and will keep adding to this post throughout the day with tidbits that are coming across my desk. really a bunch of non sequiturs but sometimes you need to defrag so here i go. anyway, hope you cut out early and have a magical, maniacal weekend where ever you are!
oh and by the by, this just in from fabulous stylist margot austin:
the credit to the top bath on the post from the other day: it’s eva lindh, stylist extraordinaire. check her out!
it’s all happening at once
hi mes amis. it feels good to be back in the saddle tonight but damn if you miss a minute you really miss a lot.and i blinked. i had to start with this pic cause it’s just so simple and sweet. i’m enjoying an uncomplicated life these days and know it will come to an end soon when everyone starts getting. back but for now, it’s pure bliss.
last night judy ebert of jbebert.blogspot.com awarded me the supposedly highly coveted in certain circles, Premio Meme Award!
judy is an incredible artist and jeweler who creates masterpieces we get to wear with semi precious stones. on this one alone there are coin pearls, ametrine and vermeil beads, pink amethysts, apatite, pistachio drops and green aventurine! the central jewel is a slice of glittering Brazilian amethyst stalactite. i mean come on, now! her work can be found on wonderful sites she lists on her blog so if you get a chance please stop over and say hey. as for le award, it entails a little homework. first, i have to list 7 things about myself and pass the award on to 7 blogs. since that’s the good part i’ll start there. these are actually blogs i don’t know but discovered just now through comments they’ve left. blog world is the most infinite and abundant place i’ve ever been. so nice to meet you all and everyone, enjoy!
zelda-domaindesign.blogspot.com (now zelda i do know and admire, she’s actually having some fun instead of working for a change)!
via mydesigndelights.blogspot.com i discovered anaserrano.com/ANA_SERRANO/cartonlandia.html and katie at the top of the page. need i say more?
amigadamoda.blogspot.com i think she makes cookies. anyway she’s obsessed with shoes and there’s some great eye candy. this just in: kinha is up for the top brazilian blog award! if you go to her site please vote for her in the upper right hand corner and thank you from her~
goldsnowdrops.blogspot.com via wide open spaces
ok as for the 7 things about me? let’s see
1. i love blogging and blogs and bloggers and the blogosphere! oh, and mostly, YoU!
2. i am a loner and crave silence. i haven’t turned on the tv or radio yet today.
3. usually i’m reading 6 books at a time and never finish any, this week i finished two.
4. in paring my life down i’m learning about what’s important. i’m not into getting worked up and having a frenzied energy anymore. (unless we’re playing, then it’s on)!
5. i’ve been thinking a lot about listening. the book i’m reading talks about how we all interrupt each other, waiting for our turn to talk. they say ‘listening is a magnificent art that regenerates and stimulates the beneficiary. he feels at peace, because, miraculously, someone is listening without wanting to grab the mircophone, or contest what he’s saying or say something smarter or change the subject. listening gives value to everything that is being said as well as to the person who says it. in true listening, we hear also what’s not patently said.’
6. i hope to foster and adopt dozens of kids
7. sometimes i wonder what it would be like unplug the laptop and do something completely different.
well that’s it. i think i will turn on some reality tv and chow now, bon nuit!
welcome naomi, guest blogger part deux
hi friends, carol told me to snap out of it, that i’ve been m.i.a. for the past couple of days. but they’ve been been filled with friends and summer fun and of course the endless schelping of furniture no matter how much i try to avoid it. liz moved out today and her new house is great. i’ll take some shots tomorrow at sunset when i go for a cocktail. till then, we have another post from guest blogger naomi cooper, so i have the night off which means i can come play at your place :p
Hello, Naomi here. Join me for a cup coffee and a French macaroon from my favorite coffee place, Macaron Cafe macaroncafe.com (an essential part of my Secauci commute-but when not commuting, the Coffee Inn on 1st Avenue has the best coffee. They steam the half and half.)
Thank you for all of your wonderful comments on the last entry. The event was a complete success. SRO, standing room at the party for flower designer Laura Dowling. Her husband hosted a lovely cocktail reception for us after the event. Laura’s talent and inviting demeanor captivated the guests.
Talk about the power of an endorsement! Laura arranged one of the pieces she demonstrated in one of our Anduze vases. She mentioned that the Anduze Vase or Urn was her favorite Pierre Deux item to arrange flowers in and the Anduzes went flying off the shelves, out the French doors, and into the cars of many DC and MD ladies. Can’t you just see the Anduze vase packed so nicely in its own box, and standing proudly in the back seat of the car, placed beside the groceries that are forced to travel en mass? We sold out of every Anduze in the store but you can still find the vases in various colors and styles online: pierredeux.com
I just got a couple of the images from the event and am happy to share them with you.
They were taken by photogapher Kevin Allen.
And this is a “How to” gift to you from Laura:
If you missed it, Pierre Deux will be hosting another event with Laura on July 15, 2009 in our Winnetka location. I’ll have Claudia post this invitation closer to the date for any of you who live in the Chicago and or surrounding area.
I must put down my virtual pen but I will leave you with the links to one of my favorite sites if you’re looking for vintage-inspired French cahiers and some chic and unique greeting cards.
And if your home is as haute as you are, you may let these butterfly pillows fly through your windows from fclstyle.com
Naomi Cooper
Pierre Deux
hey guys, claudia back again. here to say good night and thanks again naomi!
