2011 Recap

2011 was a year of ups and downs. In many ways it was a year of false starts - of great ideas that just never achieved lift off.  And some that did, but fizzled out all too quickly.  But there were also some wonderful moments . . . and progression often happens through the many small individual moments, that may seem displaced and rare, but eventually all add up to something better.

          

There were fresh starts and new beginnings, weddings and newborns. There was also death and heartbreak, confusion and questioning. There was some travel, to familiar places and ones previously unexplored. New and old friends, people moving to the city and people leaving. Good things happened, but where it gave, something else was taken away. 2011 was the epitome of the ebb and flow of life, and its hard to say whether the positive outweighed the negative . . . thus 2011 was a year in neutral.  A transition year.  A year to preceed something better, something great.

Peeling Paint

There's something fascinating in these haunting interiors.  The peeling paint, the items left lying haphazardly around the room . . . beautiful and lonely all at once.

Dinner Party Decor

There's something about a welcoming table setting, the perfect atmosphere to share a meal, that is so seductive.  Low lighting, flowers and candles, fine linens and glasses . . . the table becomes a shrine at which people gather to celebrate and give thanks for wonderful food, friends and family. 

Without a doubt, my favorite Christmas tradition is my family's Christmas Eve dinner.  We break out the ornate glass goblets from my grandmother for wine and my mothers special Burmese flatware and white linen napkins embroidered with gold and silver. We set up a centerpiece with candles and pine branches, and fill serving platters with the same meal every year - salmon with lemon and dill sauce, rice pilaf, green beans with toasted almonds, and light flaky rolls. After dinner my grandfathers tea cups are filled with coffee, tea, or hot cider. Its the perfect celebration of past and present, of tradition and family. . .

Pretty Packaging

With the Holidays approaching, packaging and gift wrapping are on my mind . . . Look at these beautiful and creative ways that others have wrapped gifts!  The package itself is a gift . . . I love that idea and feel that it resonates with me and how I view the cards I make for Oyster. The entire process of receiving a present –  however large or small, pricey or inexpensive – is turned into a gift of its own because of the pleasure of receiving and opening something so beautiful.   Over the years I have experimented with different styles of gift wrapping, from fancy wrapping to newspaper, ribbon and twine, but haven’t yet experimented with using objects like the beautiful doilies or twigs and berries in some of these examples.  It’s giving me all sorts of ideas for ways to use the overflow of fabric and materials around my apartment . . .

Fabric Inspiration

Mood Fabrics

The above fabrics are inspiring me as I'm preparing to create the first pillows for Oyster. . . while my interior design aesthetic usually tends to be more natural and/or monochrome, there's something about having accessories like pillows in prints that really POP.  I love the idea of working within a color scheme, like the blue and white theme here, but using different fabrics, shades of blue, patterns and textures to create variety.  I'm picturing these fabrics also being used to revamp antique side chairs, ottomans or armchairs. . . .

From top:

Blue Classic Chenille

Azure Ikat

Luna Ikat

Indigo Damask

Inspirational Interiors #2

Photos of the Metropolitan Building, Long Island City, NY

Today's inspirational interior is also taken from photos of the Metropolitan Building in Long Island City, NY. The third floor is full of antiques, dark wood floors and furniture, brick walls and beautifully peeling paint. There are delicate gold accents and elegant chandeliers.  

The mood board derived from these photos sets delicate, faded antique items agains a brick wall with gold frames. Luxurious accents such as a marble bust and chandelier add a victorian feel while the flowers and light brighten the room.

Doleman Sleeves and Delicate Draping

Aren't these photos stunning? I love elegant silky or sheer tops in a simple design, that can be easily accessorized.  Wrap tops and dresses especially have a certain way of hanging at the neckline, loose and soft, that is so feminine. I believe that some of the most sophisticated clothing is not necessarily difficult in construction, but is easily "dressed up" and added to in order to be most versatile and wearable.  I've been draping and playing with fabric recently, coming up with a few designs that I'm very excited to share here and on my Etsy shop soon!  Stay tuned!