No More Pencils.....

This was the last day of school for my youngest - technically speaking she has 2 more days but they are half days and exams are scheduled for both mornings, so today was really the last day.

It was so different, no end of the year parties when you're in high school. 

I remember making special autograph tee shirts for the whole class, organizing water balloon fights for the end of the year party,

agonizing over the perfect gift for the extra special teacher who really made my child feel extra special,

writing notes to express my true appreciation for those teachers who went above and beyond

and when they were finally released we (the children and I) had a celebratory restaurant lunch!

So yeah it's kind of a let down for me. We'll still go out for lunch but...

I think I'm the only one who doesn't feel this way.

Ikea Faux Dotted Swiss

Some girls like faux fur, faux bois, faux tans, faux boo.. well, you get the drift - as for me - I like a good faux dotted swiss......  

Well, truthfully, I like dotted swiss curtains, but what I like even more is saving money.   A love of fabrics and fiscal prudence are gifts from my mom - she had a true love of design and I have yet to meet someone who loves finding a great bargain more than she did. She especially loved window treatments and changed them more than some people change their shoes.

So, when our the last new window was finally installed, trimmed and painted in the back bedroom of our second floor, it was time for me to call upon the skills my mother cultivated in me.  

Our new old house is an early 1920's hybrid of craftsman meets colonial, which we completely gutted and have restored into a rather respectable cozy home - and while we have allowed the hard details of the house to lean to the more masculine side of things, the soft details are all girl... well, mostly, so far as my husband will endure.  To me it's really just about balance of design - which speaks to me across the board - I like balance - like a vanilla and chocolate twist, bacon and eggs, peanut butter and jelly, circles and squares, stripes and checks, etc, etc.  So to balance the masculine details, I settled on the idea of feminine dotted swiss cafe curtains.  I wanted these throughout the second floor of our house for continuity both inside and out.  As for the dotted swiss, I didn't want the curtains to be silky or formal - I wanted them to suit the casual nature of the architecture. 

 

bad old windows & aluminum siding         beautiful new windows & cedar siding    

 To my great surprise, dotted swiss cafe curtains are not as readily available in the stores as they were when I was a kid.  So I did an online search and was further shocked by the fact that for the smallest window on my second floor it was going to be $35/per window for one pair of 72"w cafe curtains - that is just barely more than double the 32" width of the window - not lush by any measure.  My mom was all about making something look like more than it actually was and, ideally, doing it for the least amount of money possible.   I couldn't bear to think that it was going to cost me nearly $400 for 9 pairs of   cafe curtains that weren't even going to look lush. Undeterred, I continued to search, until one day I when was walking through Ikea with my sister and came across these...

Matilda sheer panels from Ikea.  Take a look at those dimensions - that's right, that 55"w is PER PANEL - or 110"w per pair.  For $19.99!!  Wait, because this gets better... the 98"l made it possible for me to get three - count 'em, three - pairs of cafe length curtains from each package.  Now, I am a girl who knows how to operate a sewing machine (I have 4 of them), knows what she likes, is rarely deterred and loves to find a bargain - so this deal hit all the bells for me.  Cutting these panels into three sets of curtains meant I was getting nearly quadruple the width of each window for $6.50 PER WINDOW!  To get this kind of "lushness" it would have cost me $70 per window online and it would have been four separate panels per window instead of two.  Of course, I did have to cut and sew them, and they aren't exactly dotted swiss, but look below - now tell me that isn't some cute fabric....

It's what I like to call "faux" dotted swiss... and it's machine washable and 100% cotton!-

I bought three pairs for a grand total of $60 and couldn't wait to get home to spike the bargain in the end-zone.  I measured all the windows and went to work.  

It was ridiculously easy.  

The sides were already finished and from every package the last pair cut from the bottom of the panel were technically already hemmed-

Just pin the hem and the head of the curtain, iron, sew and iron again.  

This fabric irons BEAUTIFULLY.

Last pair of 9 complete...

All that's left to do is put them in place, stand back, and

know that my mom is somewhere up there beaming with pride!

  

                       tv/sitting room                            guest bedroom                            master bedroom

As I mentioned, I grew up with a mom who loved curtains - like L-O-V-E-D - curtains.  When I was 5, she would persuade me into a trip to her favorite linen shop with the chance of having lunch across the street at the Woolworth's lunch counter with one of the older sales ladies from the linen shop while she shopped for curtains.  Before you draw any rash conclusions about my mom letting her 5 year old go off with "strangers" so she could "shop", it bears noting, that times were definitely different back in 1974 - and my mom had been going to that linen store, dealing with that same sweet sales lady, for the better part of 15 years.  It was a win-win as far as I was concerned - I must confess, curtain bargains didn't hold the same charm for me back then and I was VERY happy to sit at the counter of Woolworth's with a sweet old sales lady who was clearly charmed by my 5 year old nature.  Given my later need for a special diet for hyperactivity, I suspect the owner of the linen shop probably happily picked up the tab for that grilled cheese and coke to keep my mom in the store and me, well, not.  See, everybody wins... 

As for the bargain hunting, I am the youngest of five so my mom not only knew how to find a bargain - it was a financial imperative.  My mom would say - we have champagne tastes and a beer budget, but she made it fun and taught us all a lot about quality and getting the most for your money. My mother's ability to comb through that jamb-packed linen shop for just the right curtain style, impressed me - maybe via osmosis, but just the same... On the way over to 5th Street, my mom would quiz me on fabrics, colors and styles.  Later, when I was a little older, we'd do the math to get the right size for the window opening or maybe the math of how much it was going to cost to furnish the kitchen with new curtains for Easter.  The money math we kept just between us - nobody, sometimes not even my dad,  -needed to know just how good she was at finding a bargain.  

Our house was always tasteful, dignified, but most importantly, cozy.  How my mom did it all with five kids and one man's salary, I don't know, but she passed on the importance of making a house a home, knowing good quality, and virtue of prudent economics - sometimes under the clever guise of new kitchen curtains and the promise of a grilled cheese at Woolworths.... now, who's beaming with pride...

this post is linked to:

http://www.savvysouthernstyle.net/2013/06/wow-us-wednesdays-122.html

Oh Well

I loved this layout so much I couldn't see how my client wouldn't feel the same. Yes, it included some well known fabrics -

 Of course if you have Chiang Mai Dragon then you'll probably want some....

I know everybody and their sister has seen Kelly Wearstler's famous fabric, but in all fairness I haven't seen this all over the place...

or this

or

I have seen this a lot..

Even though we (the client and I) didn't make any decisions today I am sure some Schumacher fabrics will make their way into the final layout.   All fabrics in this post are from the legendary F. Schumacher & Co. I love Schumacher so much, I could stay in their Philadelphia showroom all day pouring over the beautiful textiles. Their collaborations with... 

Mary McDonald

and

Martyn Lawrence Bullard

and

Celerie Kemble

and 

Trina Turk

are so inspiring and feel so current -not to mention I love thinking about those two from Million Dollar Decorators on Bravo working on this project. I wonder why they didn't do a deal with everyone on the show? Maybe Kathryn Ireland was already working with Scalamandre...I can't remember that far back!  Regardless, Schumacher has remained a vital fabric house, which hasn't been that easy in recent years.  It is still privately owned and operated by direct descendants of the founder.  Wouldn't it be wonderful if something you started today was still supporting your family 5 generations from now? That being said, I'd better get back to the drawing board - literally - if I want my great great grandchildren to have a shot at something like the Schumachers!

ps, I guess Chiang Mai Dragon can't be too tired otherwise why do this?

                                                                   .......love

Longwood Gardens: The Accidental Tourist, part two

Last week's floral post was all about the flowers at Longwood Gardens.  Truth be told, I think Longwood Gardens should consider a daily blog be included on their website because there is so much to see every day of each season, they'd never run out of original content.   There's always the argument of why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free, but there is no comparison between looking at a photograph and experiencing the gardens in their full splendor - so there's really no risk of losing visitors.  Visitors who love gardening would only be more inspired to visit and happy to see what they miss in between visits.  Honestly, people all over the world would enjoy a daily dose of Longwood.  Speaking of blogs, today's post will be more about structure than bloom, but - wait - don't be sad - there are blooms everywhere and the structures will blow your mind - my pictures definitely won't do them justice, but they will give you a taste of what you'd see for yourself if you decide to go visit.

Longwood Gardens 

 The photo above is of the whispering bench, which is surrounded by these lovely clipped hedge walkways leading to Pierce's Woods.  Sit on one end of the curve, have a friend sit at the other end of the bench, cup your hands and whisper your secret into your hands and towards the center of the bench and your friend will feel like you are whispering in their ear!!

Longwood Gardens: Italian Water Garden

I took three photos here at the Italian Water Garden - 

trying to show you how the fountains do their thing - 

above is the start...

Longwood Gardens: Italian Water Garden

here it is midway....

Longwood Gardens: Italian Water Garden

and here is full height!

Longwood Gardens:  Large Lake

 The Italian Water Garden fountains are "fed" by the "Large Lake (see above) via the coolest set of "water steps"....

Longwood Gardens:  Start of Water Steps

 Here is the beginning of the water steps...

Longwood Gardens: Water Steps

 There is a walking bridge that crosses over the water steps as they cascade into the fountain reservoir 

Longwood Gardens: Water Steps

...and this is a shot of the reservoir with the fountains in the background

Longwood Gardens: Entrance to Treehouse

Upon leaving the Italian Water Garden, we walked thru Pierce's Park, lingered at a long view of the Meadows (sorry, we were too busy talking to take pictures...) when we found ourselves at this beautiful gate leading to every boy's fantasy tree house!!

Longwood Gardens: Birdhouse Treehouse

 I don't know a boy in my family that wouldn't have considered abandoning the comfort of a pantry full of pbnj for a summer of living in this treehouse!

Longwood Gardens: Birdhouse Treehouse

See that spot of red up there - that's a boy who was debating the virtues of home versus the life of a runaway explorer in the vast expanse that is Longwood - this treehouse would be the perfect hideout!

Longwood Gardens:  Outside the Conservatory

 When my husband and I decided to check out the Memorial Day fireworks at Longwood, we both agreed that we were really about the gardens and that the conservatory was probably not where we'd spend a lot of time - we are "garden" people, not "houseplant" people we agreed - so, when at 8:30pm (fireworks starting at 9:15) we found ourselves properly nourished, but running out of daylight we decided to poke our heads in the conservatory to "kill time" until the fireworks started.... for those of you who have been to the conservatory, you know just how idiotic the beginning of this paragraph sounds - to the rest or you who  haven't been, get ready for this weeks shameful admission - we. were. idiots.

Longwood Gardens: Rose House

 We haplessly jumped into the conservatory at a random side door, which just happened to lead to the "rose house".  the scent and the sights were overwhelming - note: at this point my camera battery had bit the dust, so these photos were taken with my ipad (sorry)....

Longwood Gardens: Rose Garden

 There were the most incredible hibiscus plants flanking either end of the rose house - i missed photographing my favorite violet colored hibiscus because I was so intrigued by the roses, but let me tell you, these hibiscus were every bit as impressive as the roses - they were huge!

Longwood Gardens: Rose Garden

 The hibiscus were every bit as impressive as they would be in their native tropical habitat - again, here's my husband's meaty paw for perspective...

Longwood Gardens: Tropical Terrace

The rose house gave way via the hibiscus to the Tropical Terrace.  Being a native northeasterner, tropical plants usually leave me uninspired, but the foliage colors and lushness (is that a word?) were so impressive, I have to admit I am more of a fan than I was prior to walking into this house...

Longwood Gardens: Banana House

 Did you know that banana plants are actually grass - not trees??  We didn't - these plants were enormous - or as my husband likes to say - ginormous!! 

Longwood Gardens: Orchid House

 The banana house led to my most unexpected pleasure of day in terms of color combinations - again, i've looked at orchids mostly as the "hothouse" flowers that they are - and not in the good way.  This orchid house struck me in so many ways - the color, the lighting, the architecture and the most impressive quality of the plant materials.  Just viewing this room, I felt transported to an earlier era, when train station masters had quiet hobbies like cultivating their own roses and naming them after their favorite passengers.... 

Longwood Gardens: Orchid House

 Look at the ornamental iron that curls like fern fronds in the background...

Longwood Gardens: Orchid House

 The photo above is the photo that, while driving home in the cozy darkness, I could not stop looking at - just look at those colors and the lighting and the ornamental iron. L.O.V.E. I.T......

Longwood Gardens: Orchid House

 Once again, my husband, the human yardstick poses for perspective - look at the display of orchids!! (not to mention the cute guy showing one of his best sides - i said ONE of....!)

Longwood Gardens: Orchid House

Seriously, I could not stop taking pictures in the orchid house!!

Longwood Gardens: Orchid House

 We joked that, given the delicate nature of orchids and ferns, that there was probably a superhero called Orchidman, who worked his superpowers to keep all of these orchids constantly blooming - I can't keep one in bloom in the steamy tropics of our bathroom - who IS this guy, Orchidman??

Longwood Gardens: Orchid House

 I know, enough, but look at those colors?!!! 

Longwood Gardens: Palm House

 We were so impressed by the Orchid House that we talked straight thru the Mediterranean House (we'll just have to go back to take another look...!!), when we landed in the Palm House - see above - it was too dark for any great pictures with an ipad, but it was the COOLEST place to be as darkness took over the sky - these palms were so huge that it felt like a dinosaur might just sneak up behind you looking for a snack!!

Longwood Gardens: Waterlily Garden

Have you ever had a moment in your life, when you think to yourself, this is not an accident that i am in this spot at this moment in time?  Here's one of those moments for me.  When I walked out onto the courtyard of the conservatory, the sky was clear, the air was cool and the lighting on the lilyponds was just becoming apparent.  At that moment, I thought, this is the true definition of "divine" - in the religious sense, not just the overused adjective sense.  I felt as though I had just walked onto a movie set and that I should look down to see if I was suddenly dressed in a ballgown... 

Longwood Gardens: Lilypond

 I couldn't get a picture to do the waterlilies or the perfectly placed lighting justice.  You need to see it for yourself - and seriously - try to time your viewing of the lilyponds for night time.  It is breathtaking. 

Longwood Gardens: Main Conservatory

This was one of the interior walkways in the main conservatory.  We were about to miss the start of the fireworks, but I had to stop to photograph the repeating standards - they were surrounded by the most incredible begonias and fushia!! 

Longwood Gardens: Main Conservatory

 Close up of the frilly standards awesomeness!!

Longwood Gardens: Main Conservatory

Close up of the fushia and the begonias!!

And for a final thrill - a bit of fireworks to send you happily on your way!!

As I said at the start, Longwood should develop a daily blog, it wouldn't be a waste of time.  There are so many things we didn't photograph, or even see for that matter.  In order for us to show you the rest of Longwood, we need to go back with a fresh camera battery, and some serious walking shoes, but, honestly, you need to just go see it for yourself - you can thank me later....