Read My Pins

My in-laws have an amazing way of finding just the right ensembles for every occasion. This is the way that they live, entertain, decorate, and make decisions. Naturally, they approach gift-giving with the same attention to detail. Recently, when they were in New York, they visited an exhibit of Madeleine Albright’s pin collection. They bought for me a book (Read My Pins; Stories from a Diplomat’s Jewelry Box) detailing the exhibit. Albright’s personal political clout aside, to the uninitiated, an exhibit of pins can seem unremarkable. One might look for the monetary value of the pins, seeking famous jewelry designers or precious metals and stones. While those are there, what is more remarkable is the way in which she wore them throughout her career and utilized the communicative power of jewelry. She collected pins of birds, bees, butterflies, fish, frogs, flowers, hearts, and flags. And the exhibit describes the meetings, summits, and conferences in which she wore them. This is how each pin has a story to tell.

My own collection of pins is severely limited in comparison, but I feel my humble start would do Madeleine proud. I feel a new obsession coming on.

Sphere: Related Content

Merry Christmas!

Helen Keller once said, “The only blind person at Christmastime is he who has not Christmas in his heart.”

Whatever your tradition, this time of year gives us all the opportunity to reflect upon our blessings. It is tenderness for the past, courage for the present, hope for the future. May you laugh out loud every day, and share food and wine with friends and family. May you continue to inspire others, and be inspired by the world around you. May every cup may overflow with rich blessings, and may every path may lead to peace.

Sphere: Related Content

Wrapping Gifts with Pantone

I think that gift wrapping is more fun for me than the recipient. I've used many kinds of wrapping, but keep coming back to my favorite; brown paper. This year I thought I'd dress it up with Pantone's color of the year; turquoise (Pantone 15-5519). Perhaps you remember last year they chose Mimosa? Pantone has a huge influence on color trends and I've noticed that some companies (such as J. Crew) are already presenting their new products in turquoise.

Are you ready for the Year in Turquoise?

Sphere: Related Content

Dreaming of a White Christmas

I've been on vacation and have been taking it easy. REALLY easy, actually. Our cat has been sick, and five years into kidney failure, we can expect these peaks and valleys in his health and have learned how to manage the valleys with a variety of medications. The reward is a resilient creature who still loves life.

We're also getting ready for Christmas, which includes driving to Vermont to see my family. My family is not exchanging Christmas gifts this year. With the economy the way it is, it seemed a nice opportunity for everyone to focus on more important things like spending time together. Instead of exchanging gifts, my sisters and I are having a stylish white elephant exchange, which includes anything we haven't worn in some time and that we deem worthy of a continued life. My offerings? A red embroidered satin dress, an ivory shantung silk mandarin jacket, to name a few. I'm really looking forward to this!

Sphere: Related Content

A Young Artist

Three years ago, a colleague at work approached me about tutoring his daughter in PhotoShop. As an engineer, he didn’t know specifically what that entailed, but his daughter showed artistic promise and he wanted to support and encourage her efforts. She and I spent the summer going through assignments that I designed to develop her skills and establish a comfort level with design software. I was astonished at the pace in which this shy thirteen year old girl acquired and mastered the elements of the software. She soon transferred to a high school that puts prominent focus on the arts.

Just last week, with a mixture of excitement and wistful pride, I wrote a letter of recommendation for her to send to the three art schools she is applying to. She’s lucky to have parents that fully support her dreams. But I was also lucky to have a part in showing her what is possible, and sharing in her enthusiasm.

While part of me wishes she would attend the art school here in town so that I can continue to watch her artistic sensibilities evolve, I also think it would be really cool if she went to New York or Savannah, GA to immerse herself in a different environment. But I wouldn’t be surprised if she got accepted at all three.

Sphere: Related Content

The Unexpected List

When you reflect on the year that is slipping away, it's easy to count the things you didn't accomplish. I didn't run a marathon or remodel the kitchen this year. Or master the art of French cooking. But I did do some things that I didn't expect to that made it rather sweet.

1. Had a yard sale where I sold a lot of stuff for not a lot of money. I’m glad I did it and I never want to do it again.

2. Visited Falling Water. I expected to enjoy it, but didn’t expect to be so moved by the simple country escape built with such a great vision.

3. Went to a lecture by my favorite living author, A.S. Byatt. Her Still Life changed the way I saw contemporary fiction. She probes the inner landscape of the human condition with the gentle precision of a rare artist. Her work belongs in the canon of great literature.

4. Visited Cleveland’s West Side Market and the Cleveland Art Museum, where my husband and I had our first date. When a relationship starts with food and art, you know it’s going to be good.

5. Hosted a few parties. They were not flawless, but sharing food and wine with people I care for is a deeply satisfying experience.

What did you accomplish this year and didn’t expect to?

Sphere: Related Content

Gifts for the Tough Guys

The hardest people for me to shop for are, hands down, men. Particularly the men I’m buying for who already have absolutely everything. It’s tough coming up with something unique every year that isn’t insulting. Gift cards are great in a pinch, but they don’t say ‘you mean the world to me.’ Forget that I think men should be carrying man purses around so we don’t have to carry all their stuff when we go out. Face it ladies, that idea is just never going to take off in North America.

So here are a few things that might be a hit with men.


















The small Mexican spice kit from purpose design … great if you’ve got a grillmaster on your list.


















The Doc Holiday Hat from Moe Sew Co. Millenery. We love a man in a hat, don’t we?

















A Spalted Maple Titanium Nitride Jr Gents pen from moon sky woodworks.















How about a fun vintage sign from Larry’s tin signs.

I’m sure I’m missing some gift ideas … and I welcome yours!

Sphere: Related Content

Reflecting

I was reading an article recently about a woman who had achieved her life's dream of making it big in the fashion industry. Along the way, she picked up a nasty drinking habit and found herself quite alone in the world. One of her last lines struck me; it's important to recognize that the realization of one's dreams does not necessarily equal happiness.

I've always envied people who have had a razor-sharp focus on what they wanted to achieve in life. My own dreams have varied at different life stages. My dreams at eighteen were quite different from what they are now - and I can assure you that my life looks nothing like what I imagined then. Perhaps experience and perspective help us to adjust our dreams to circumstance. But along the way, happiness found me anyway. And for that I am grateful.

Sphere: Related Content

Vintage Gifts

In keeping my promise that my gifts this year will be coming from Etsy shops, I found a few vintage treasures to share.

















This glove mold from blue bell bazaar would look great on a dresser keeping necklaces in order.














These vintage glasses from lucky little dot would also be a nice touch as votives – or to drink from.













And these locker baskets are great for the organizer on your list.

Sphere: Related Content