Bringin' on a holiday smile

Designer Christmas trees are lovely and nice for entertaining,

but you've gotta admit there's something endearing about

the holiday gewgaws....

...go on, I dare you not to crack a smile at these.

Launch: Haiku for the Single Girl!

One of the joys of owning my shop was meeting some wonderfully creative artists.  One such delightful connection came in the form of the brilliant and beautiful Cynthia Vehslage Meyers.  Who knew what illustrative whimsy would pour through her ever-so-talented hands?!  Even better was her collaboration with the oh-so-witty and clever poet, Beth Griffenhagen.  The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum was the venue for the launch of their deliciously hip new book, "Haiku for the Single Girl."

Boisterous crowd, lively readings.

The "it" girls, Beth and Cynthia.

Let's take a peek into some of these pages....

The sweet signing of the books.

Haiku for the Single Girl.

written by Beth Griffenhagen

illustrations by Cynthia Vehslage Meyers

Penguin Books

Available at Books on the Common,

www.booksonthecommon.com

The Writing's on the Wall.

The Ridgefield Guild of Artists gave me a chunk of wall to come up with a clever vignette to showcase some of their merchandise for their upcoming "Festive Home" fundraiser.

And being a lover of vintage books....

...I decided to make wallpaper.

(Not to worry, I only used the books that were already falling apart)

Some good old-fashioned humor in these pages!

Fashioned a book shelf from a branch that was

 a casualty of the most recent Nor'easter storm.

Added a vintage dress-form, and a console 

table my artist friend Judith Randall created

 out of a balcony railing I found in Argentina.

Finally up goes the whimsical artwork of

Ridgefield artist Nancy Moore Hulnick

(and the Guild's holiday merchandise)....

...and voila!

This was a fun installation.  And so easy.  If 

you decide to create your own wall of pages,  I

recommend using a spray adhesive that does not

bleed through, (like Elmer's spray adhesive).  I 

like the loose look of this, but you could always 

give it a good shellacking.

What do Paris and Denver have in common?

Just like in Paris, there is a scrumptious outdoor farmers' market to be found every day of the week in Denver.  On a recent and brief (less than 48 hours) stay there, I happened upon two lively ones.

At the Cherry Creek Farmer's Market they have Cowboy Catering.

Go ahead....try to resist the gluten.

Designer pumpkins.

A 3-foot pan simmering Paella on an open flame??  

Oh baby!

Of course, this is a part of the cleanse.

South Pearl Street is home of the next gem of a market.

First things first.

If I lingered any longer he was going to put me to work.

Color me radish!

Cool spot.

These guys were good! (apologies for not catching their name).

A little chicken satay for breakfast.

Suede and stone, handmade in the Rocky Mountain State.

A great way to spend a Sunday morning.

Sometimes you just gotta give it a try.

At first all you see is an unfortunate building.....

....with a tattered awning.

But go on! step inside.

This was a magical find.

Not only were there 450 beers, as in the deelish Great White below,

but there was "Larry the Bartender Guy," 

and Rose with gorgeous dimples and Winter,

doing a video shoot for a musician friend.

It took awhile to figure out the name of this place

because the sign was around the corner by the Post Office.

(I'm really diggin' the spotlight fashioned from a party cup.)

Had to include a pic of the hotel across the street.

This is a real gem of a tavern.  It's a biker bar, on a dead-end street, far off the beaten path, in a place that appears forgotten (but those in the know know better).  

Port Costa, CA, across the Carquinez Strait from Benicia.  

5 Canyon Lake Dr, Port Costa, CA 94569.

All it takes is a little vision...

....and a deaf ear to the naysayers.

(okay....and a great upholsterer).

These are some of my favorite re-do's over the years.  Couldn't have done it without the skills (and patience....and good humor) of Ewie.  (Ewie's Drapery & Upholstery, Norwalk, CT 203.847.0175)