WHAT TO TAKE TO NEW LA CIENEGA (WEST HOLLYWOOD) LOCATION........

I used to know what my customer base would be buying, but over the past few years it has become very difficult to know what "will sell". "Great" used to always be "great" and saleable--but now, it's hard to tell--a super period 18th c. item may languish, while a vintage piece will sell for big bucks. 
So with this in mind, I'm making choices based on 20th century pieces, with a few period pieces thrown in.
I'll take two of my set of four Tomlinson Horseshoe chairs that date to the late 1950's.
  

  

My pillows made from vintage and antique Fortuny fabrics...and the pair of mid-century lacquered chests.
  

  

This wonderful set of c. 1960-70 brass and glass nesting tables.

  

This complete vignette composed of a marble roman style bust, Marbro lamps and a lacquered French demi-lune console (one of a pair)...plus the 17th c. Dutch mirror.

And, of course, my funky French Moderne Chauffeuse and 17th c. French side table.....

I'll add in some mid-20th c. lighting.

I think that will do it for the moment. The space is not large and I do not want to fill it too full--to the point of not being able to see what is available. 
OOPS....forgot about the Dorothy Draper (all original condition) Espana Tables..........
   

MIA UPDATE
Grace and Mia left for Tennessee yesterday. A few tears from Lauren and Kaia--but they are spending time with Auntie Dao and loving it.

Have a super summer week--wish me cool weather for the move--it can go either way here in Los Angeles--either blazing hot or beautifully fresh and cool.

Mary & Jones (and Cole)
    (Luxie is going home this week)

BACK TO BASICS

It seems as if it has been months since I last previewed my favorite auction haunt....so much has happened in the intervening weeks.

But today was free enough to get back on the horse. With my approaching expansion to The Collection on La Cienega Blvd at the end of the month, my creativity factor is ratcheting up a few notches. Here are some of the items that I'm looking at for Thursday's auction --and it's going to be a good one as there are two weeks worth of lots to be sold. What is pulling me in are several different pairs of lighting elements:

  

These guys, at first glance, appear to be simply mid-century desk lamps. But they are in the style of Paavo Tynell whose lamps and ceiling fixtures are really hot at the moment. My guess is that these guys are 40s-50s French and they are in excellent condition considering there age and use. The donut-shaped base is unusual and unexpected. The brass shades are in pretty good shape, with a little patina--but that is normal......I don't think that they will go cheap (one can only hope).

Of course, these beauties are probably my favorites. Monochromatic deep blue in a traditional Chinese Porcelain form. I love the intense blue of the porcelain which is not very old--perhaps 70s or 80s, but still stunning. (The gold rimmed chargers aren't shabby, either)

   

Next up--yep, another pair of lamps. These silver leafed obelisk lamps probably date to the late 1970s (please excuse the photo--they are lying down on the table)--they are in fantastic condition, with just the right amount of patina. And neoclassical in form!! Although the photo doesn't properly represent their size, I think they are over two feet. So, with shades, they will reach about 34-36"--not bad.  I love the sphere that separates the plinth from the actual obelisk. They look like they might be Marbro lamps, but there aren't any identifying stickers....

And last, but definitely not least, is this pair of vintage lamp post lanterns. I love the faceted panes of glass and the deeply patinated brass fittings. I will have to have plinths made and lacquered, but they will be well-worth the effort. Pairs of this type of vintage lantern are not common and the glass in this pair is intact.

  

In addition to the new plinth, the lanterns will be rewired as table top lamps. Perfect for the many old Spanish Revival homes in Los Angeles and new construction, also.

There were a couple of other items that caught my fancy, but I'm sticking to lamps for Thursday. Lighting either makes or breaks a room and all of these four pairs could make spaces sing.

MIA UPDATES

Mia and Grace leave for St. Jude's Children's Hospital, Memphis on Sunday. Things are definitely moving along and I am so immensely grateful.

Luxie goes back to his normal home on Monday--Jones and I will miss him, but the cats will be happy to reclaim the house.

And Mr. shaggy dirty Jones is going to the Spa on Saturday.

Hope that the week is bringing you wonderful summer days.

Be well.

Mary & Jones & Luxie (poor Cole)

MIA AND OTHER UPDATES

Here are my three beauties on a hot summer day. We spent the afternoon together having a tea party with very tiny English porcelain cups and saucers, coloring in the back yard and playing with Jones and Luxie. 

And then we had some very bad news a couple of days later--Mia's brain tumor is growing and it seemed as if the only recourse was to start traditional radiation therapy with the knowledge that the therapy would cause some brain damage.....I started shaking cages and exploring options. But on the following Tuesday we had miraculous news: Mia has been accepted into a study program at the University of Florida that has one of only 10 Proton Radiation Therapy facilities in the US (there are only 12 world wide). There are enormous waiting lists at all of these facilities; so being enrolled in a study seemed to be the only option. It will be a long process: 2 weeks at St. Judes in Tennessee; home for a week; and then 2 months at the University of Florida. And even more miraculous:  everything, including transportation and hotel and meals is paid by the study. My joy has been off the charts. God is, indeed, very good. 

Of course, we are all getting our calendars out to fill in where we are going to be substitue Moms for Lauren and Kaia while Grace and Mia are away. I think that I will getting up very early for the next few months as James leaves for work around 5:15 every day.........

MORE NEWS.........

........I'm expanding MJH DesignArts. I set my sights on returning to West Hollywood and 1stdibs several years ago. And I'm taking the plunge. I'm joining "The Collection" that is located on La Cienega Blvd. on August 1st. I will retain my location in Pasadena where the client base buys mainly "traditional" furnishing; The West Hollywood client base has a broader taste level and is more current with trends in 21st century design.

I'll be back in the swing of blogging this week...life has been a little tumultuous lately....but think that things are settling down.

Luxie has been visiting for the past month--his parents are in Spain--and he will be going home soon, too. Luxie bosses Jones around (Big Dog/Little Dog complex) and the cats are hiding......

Mary & Jones & Luxie (poor Cole)

PESTO--My Way

     

I've been experimenting with different variations of pesto and I think I've come up with a winner...my goal was to come up with a delicious way to add Epigenins to my and my family's diet. Epigenins are the phytonutrients found in (highest quantities) chamomile tea, celery and parsley--Epigenins keep cancer cells, especially breast and  prostrate cancer cells from dividing. My wonderful daughter-in-law, Grace (Mia's mother) is very allergic to celery and I wanted to find a way to incorporate large amounts of parsley (always organic) into an every day food (we Tindukasiris love pesto).

MARY'S HEALTHY PESTO

Put in Food Processor:

  3 med. cloves garlic (adjust to your individual taste)

  1/2 cup walnuts

  1/2 cup pecorino romano cheese

  Pulse these 3 ingredients until coarsely ground

Add:

  2 cups basil leaves lightly packed

  1 1/2 cups Italian parsley leaves lightly packed

  (or 50/50)

  1/4 cup lemon juice (or to taste)

  1/2 to 3/4 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil (Spanish is best)

  Fresh ground black or mixed pepper

Process all of the ingredients until an even paste forms--I like to minimize the oil olive (a little less fattening) add more oil or a bit more lemon juice as needed. Let the pesto sit for an hour or so to blend the flavors before serving.

    

This makes a great starter for a dip when mixed with Greek yogurt or as a seasoning for other recipes....I love it as it is. Mixed with mayonaise and tiny bit of pickle relish for sandwiches or served with salmon??

This makes quite a lot of Pesto (good to give away) and will keep for several days (the lemon juice acts as a natural preservative).

(Jones likes a bit on his eggs, thank you!)

Have a great week-end.

Mary & Jones (& Cole)

One King's Lane--Vintage and Modern Sales

I have been associated (as a dealer) with One King's Lane for more than a year...last year I was able to sell mainly art. But boy, has One King's Lane come up in its offerings on the Vintage and Modern section. I took a break from posting items to the site when I moved to my new location and in just those few months the One King's Lane platform has evolved into a premier tier venue. They have really done their homework and have managed to line up many of the top US designers and shop owners for their Taste Maker Tag Sales--but the same applies to the shops that have been admitted to the regular Vintage and Modern platform--there  are so really great member dealers (including moi).

My French Opaline Lamps are about to be available on OKL (I think tomorrow)

As are my mid-century Marbro lamps...........

And finally, this cute Carved and gilt chinese wall or table lantern.

One King's Lane has become very detail oriented and vets every single item that they offer. The process of simply having the photos meet the OKL specifications is laborious....but I am glad that OKL is making quality its no. 1 priority.

Jones says"hi"--he hates it when I spend my day taking photos, but he never complains about dinner.

Have a wonderful Friday!!

Mary & Jones

HOME--SAFE AND SOUND

Here are the girls taken from the parking structure on the way home from CHOC. Mia is still looking a little tentative.....but look at how things are progressing by the next day:

   

Celebrating Blake's birthday and Mia's coming home!!

And finally:

I think that she's sticking her tongue out at her Dad??

Anyway, all is well. 

Still more mountains to climb, but Mia is a little trooper.

Thank you for all of your prayers.

Jones and I will be back to posting our usual stuff.

I have some new ventures in the works....

Be well,

Mary & Jones (And Cole)

More Mountains For Mia

I must apologize for not posting. My heart just isn't in it. My sweet Mia seems to have more mountains to climb. Her little pituitary seems to sputter to life and then seems to go quiet.

We are now in a quiet phase when our poor baby has to have many shots and many blood tests (every 2-3 hours). She wants to go home to be with her big sisters, but that can't happen until her hormones stabilize. So were are setting up schedules for the long haul to cover all the bases with the big sisters and her parents. Fortunately, both sides of the family are fully involved in making things as smooth as can be.

Please pray for all three of our little girls and their parents who are exhausted.

Thanks.

Mary