CHANGE OF HEART

We have had the most glorious cool and fresh few days--the forecast was for hot and steamy--but we have had the gift of sweet breezes and slightly overcast skies. I hadn't really noticed until this morning.......

So to honor this sweet August gift, this morning I took stock of what would truly give me joy today. And it is not going to Auction Thursday! Do I need another object, piece of furniture or whatever? No. Yes, I'll miss connecting with friends, but they will be there next week. Today I intend to treasure.

Jones and I will make the trip to LA to visit Carlos

  

and hopefully resolved the abattant key issue. I love connecting with Carlos who has been a faithful friend for many years.

Perhaps we will pay a visit to Pam

to take her fabric for more Scalamandre "Le Tigre" silk velvet pillows and silk backing for another pair of Fortuny pillows. I love spending time with Pam whose sweet yet strong spirit always seems to nudge me in just the right creative direction.

Maybe Jones and I will stop off at Dao's (just around the corner from Pam) to visit with THE GIRLS

who are having a sleep over with Auntie Dao. I can't believe how much they have grown (and how many things we are all grateful for since this photo was taken last year)--Ethan is now a sophomore and in all AP classes....Lauren has many new teeth and Ms. Kaia has lost one tooth! Of course, Mia is our little miracle.

Yep, taking time to intentionally be just me for today.

Thanks for bearing with me.

Here's to a glorious end-of-summer August Day for all of us.

Mary & Jones & Cole

NEW (OLD) FORTUNY PILLOWS

Here are three pillows created with the antique Fortuny panel that I bought a couple of months ago. These sections of the panel were taken from areas that were not exposed to sunlight; so the color is more or less true to the original. This Fortuny is about 100 years old; so even these colors have muted somewhat. I detailed the pillows with antique 19th c. French metallic caterpillar (early 19th c.) fringe,  19th c. French silver fringe, and 19th c. metallic braid. Pam did an excellent job. Two pillows measure about 12" x 22" and one measures 9"/10" by 22". The smaller pillows is trimmed with antique braid only. Pretty decadent....

NEXT UP:

  

These are two individual pillows fabricated with a c. 1960-70 Fortuny "Moresco" pattern fragment. These guys are backed with a very high-end heavy silk and a tiny welt. The deep gold tone of the silk perfectly matches the gold of the Fortuny. The fabric is so beautifully stamped that not much is needed to make them perfect. The larger pillow measures about 18 x 22 and the smaller pillow is about 12 x 22 (I'll have to check the measurements when I get back to the shop. 

NEXT UP:

  

     

This is a cute pair of ethnic-inspired, "Moresco" pattern c. 1960-70 vintage Fortuny pillows. These guys would be perfect for a mid-century inspired room. They are backed with a top quality linen and tiny tiny welt. I think that they measure 20" x 22" (I needed to check).

AND FINALLY:

   

Another pair of Scalamandre Silk Velvet "Le Tigre" pillows. I love Scalamandre--"Le Tigre" and "Il Leopardo" are woven in Venice and have the most amazing "hand"; the velvet seems to shimmer. These "Le Tigre" pillows are backed in a luxurious high-end gold with black shot silk faille (my photo doesn't show the detail accurately). An even larger pair of "Il Leopardo" pillows  is in the works. This "Le Tigre" pair measures approximately 18" x 22" and the "Il Leopardo" pair will measure a huge 24" x 24" and are backed in a gorgeous gold Venetian silk velvet. Unfortunately, my cost for the Scalamandre silk velvet has increased; so I have had to increase the cost (slightly) of the pillows. I can't wait to see the "Il Leopardo" pillows. There is another pair of vintage Fortuny coming--these are in tones of rusty red and renaissance gold.

And now for Thanksgiving cooking and baking.....

We are celebrating twice because my daughter and her family are going up north for Thanksgiving Day. Today I'm baking at her house where all of us will meet up for family time. Of course, I'm baking pumpkin and pecan pies and my cranberry chutney which works for turkey, ham, lamb or whatever--even over cream cheese for appetizers.

CRANBERRY CHUTNEY

1 large package fresh cranberries

1 can jellied cranberry sauce

2 cups Granny Smith Apples peeled & diced

1/2 cup raisins

2 tangy navel oranges peeled and chopped

zest of 1/2 orange

1/4 cup vinegar

1.5 T. very finely julienned fresh ginger (or more)

1/2 t. powdered ginger

5 whole cloves

1/4 t. powdered cloves

1 T cinnamon

1/2 cup sugar (or to taste)

Put everything in large sauce pan and simmer until the apple are soft and the cranberries have popped.

Store in glass container(s) in frige or freeze.

This is best made a couple of days ahead so that the spices can blend and mature in flavor.

Have a blessed Thanksgiving surrounded by love and gratitude.

Jones stole David's chocolate donut yesterday and he still looks guilty whenever I mention the donut, but grateful. What a dog.

Be well.

Mary & Jones (& Cole)