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Año Nuevo , cambios nuevos

Aires nuevos llegan a este blog.
Gracias por tu paciencia hasta que acaben las obras.
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Six Degrees

I had a bunch of fun stuff to write about and couldn't wait to post about them all separately so I've compiled them all here. I couldn't think what to name it though until I realized that they could probably all be linked in some way like Six Degrees of Separation. No matter what it's named, I hope you enjoy it.

Speaking of names, how could I not love a band above named Chester French after the famous sculptor Daniel Chester French. You may have already heard one of their most popular songs, She Loves Everybody, on Entourage. They also happen to be 21-year old Harvard educated rockers. Not something you hear everyday. They remind me of every cute preppy I ever dated and although I fear that maybe I'm a bit too old to have a crush on them and their music, I'll play Demi to their Ashton any day. I might also like them just because of their cheekily titled song The Jimmy Choo's. I guarantee you're going to be hearing more from these boys now that they graduated and signed with Pharrell Williams's record label.

Pharrell Williams also happens to be friends with Marc Jacobs who is the subject of a somewhat new documentary, Marc Jacobs & Louis Vuitton, by Loic Prigent who was granted unprecedented access to one of the world's hottest and busiest designers. You can also play spot the celebrity as you watch it as many of Marc's famous friends like Sophia Coppola, Victoria Beckham, Catherine Deneuve, and many others make appearances. The DVD has been on sale at Collette in Paris but will be released in the US on February 26th. It will also be broadcast on the Sundance Channel in February. I'll keep you posted as to the exact date.

I'm not exactly sure if Marc Jacobs is friends with Sohie Dahl but I can imagine it's possible since she used to model. They were also both featured in the book Rare Birds but in April, Ms. Dahl will have her own book published entitled Playing with the Grown-ups. Vogue calls the book “A poetic love story…part Love in a Cold Climate, part Edith Sitwell and part any one of her grandfather Roald Dahl’s books.” With a pedigree like hers, I think we can safely assume that it might be worth checking out.

Now this one is harder. Best I can come up with is that everyone's favorite artist, Elliott Puckette is married to the artist Hugo Guinness who is British just like Sophie Dahl. If anyone can make a better connection, feel free to let me know. Anyway, Ms. Puckette/Mrs. Guinness is having an exhibition at the Paul Kasmin Gallery beginning January 24th, that I for one am definitely excited to check out. The images aren't up on the site yet so it will be interesting to see what she's been up to and if she's been experimenting with her style at all.

This one is much easier. Elliott Puckette is also represented by Danziger Projects and so is Scott Schuman, otherwise known as The Sartorialist who will be having his own exhibition this month at Danziger. The Sartorialist has to be one of the most popular blogs of all time and it will be fun to see his images printed out and displayed instead of on the computer monitor.

On a funny note, Danziger Gallery was founded by James Danziger who is married to Lucy Danziger, the editor-in-chief of Self magazine and their summer home was featured in the May 2007 issue of Domino magazine where their Elliott Puckette painting was on display on the mantle. I think my work here is done.
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Martyn Lawrence-Bullard

Palm Springs, California: The Colony Palms



Those wishing to spend the night with the debonair and extremely handsome L.A. designer, Martyn Lawrence-Bullard, can now do so at the Colony Palms Hotel in Palm Springs, California that he recently decorated. Lawrence-Bullard, co owner of the interior design firm Martinys-Tripp was born in London but came to America to become an actor. That career soon fizzled, but Martyn remains connected to the big screen by designing interiors for many of Hollywood's biggest stars. Though not quite a household name, he has achieved some recognition in America and is currently named to Architectural Digest's famed list of Top 100 Designers. Lawrence-Bullard's style includes lots of ethnic touches from Morocco, Italy, Spain, and the Near East. He favors red paisleys and uses this design motif often. One of his signature looks is a heavily carved, wooden, four poster bed. Why would anyone choose Martyn to design a hotel in Palm Springs - home to the mid century design revival and all things hip from the era of Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin?


The current owner of the Colony Palms Hotel, Steven Orhen, states he hired Martyn to oversee the $15 million renovation after seeing his home in a magazine. He admits that Martyn is not the typical contemporary designer that Palm Springs attracts. Martyn's home, which captured Orhen's attention, was built for the legendary Rudolph Valentino and is furnished in an eclectic style with liberal Italian and Spanish influences. Orhen could see a connection between Martyn's home and the Spanish influenced architecture of his once popular Palm Springs hotel. The hacienda styled hotel was built in the 30's as a gambling den by a reputed mobster. Later it was purchased by the Howard family, famous for owning the racehorse Seabiscuit. Ohren, the current owner, is a Palm Springs resident who was intrigued by the hotel's architecture. He bought the crumbling relic hoping to turn it into a first class boutique hotel.


Today, open for just a few months, the renovation is complete. Lawrence-Bullard's design plays up the Mediterranean feel of the architecture. He infused the hotel with warm colors such as olive greens, ochre yellows and terra cotta oranges. Some rooms are housed in individual casitas with Spanish tiled roofs. Trend worthy suzanis turn up in the bedrooms along with Moroccan styled mirrors and tables. There's a spa and a highly touted restaurant for guests, along with swimming pools, both public and private. Martyn Lawrence-Bullard, whom no one would claim is shy, has no self-promoting web site and his appeal is still somewhat limited to the Californian area. But, with the opening of the Colony Palms Hotel, along with all the publicity it is receiving, Martyn seems poised on the brink of super stardom.


Colony Palms bedroom by Martyn Lawrence-Bullard. Suzanis hang behind beds, floors are tiled and covered with seagrass matting, black and white ticking bolsters and drapes, Moroccan frames are to the side of the bed. Notice the ruffled hem detail on the desk chair.


Close up of another guest room. Here the suzani is different, as are the side tables.


A third room with a Moroccan styled banquette in the patio.

Close up of bathroom sink. Note the "rug" of french tiles and the mother-of-pearl chair holding towels.


Ticking covered chair with nailhead detailing, Moroccan table and frame. Suzani pillow.

The hotel pool and bar at dusk.


Colony Palms Restaurant with banquette and hanging pendant lights.

Picture of Lawrence-Bullard's home that attracted the owner of the Colony Palms. Built for Valentino - this picture features the red, white and black that Martyn used throughout his house. Red paisleys decorate the sofa's skirt. Here Martyn uses the same black and white ticking and suzanis (in chair) just as he does in the hotel.




Californian home designed by Martyn. Note the turned wood, four poster bed. Antique red paisleys cover the bed and the chair. Both the bed and paisleys are trademarks.


Family room in the same house as above.



Breakfast room with oriental rug, red paisley, and french lantern.


Living room that shows the eclectic mix that Lawrence-Bullard prefers: eastern and Spanish antiques mixed with contemporary art.



Martyn Lawrence-Bullard modeling at the hotel. Too bad he's so unattractive! ha!

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While I darn Sewing set. SAL Objetivo 7

Nuestra entrega para estos días festivos era hacer esta parte .



Reconozco que me costó hacer el pespunte con el segundo color , dentro del recuadro. Pero una vez que le cogí el truquillo , sólo fue repetir.
Así vamos hasta ahora.




El siguiente Ojetivo 7 será terminar con la frase bordada sobre 1 y con 1 hebra.Como volvemos a la programación habitual tendremos listo este objetivo el próximo 15 de enero .
Después empezaremos a bordar la parte interior porque ¡ el exterior estará acabado !
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Chic in Chicago

Thanks to a recommendation from Decorno, I checked out the wonderful blog Brown Turtleneck Sweater who recently profiled the assistants to Nate Berkus. The duo were featured in the new issue of Chicago Home + Garden which led me to the website where that story wasn't up yet but where I did find the super chic Chicago condo of architect David Ries.

David reconfigured the walls as any architect would be want to do and opened the space up to give it a more expansive feel and a view of the lake and Wrigley Field.
The article touts the condo as a small space but compared to New York standards, it's practically a McMansion. I think the best part is the "white space" that gives your eye a place to rest. Judicious editing is the hardest thing to get right in interior design and it's something I'm struggling with right now in my shoebox sized apartment since I have a penchant for collecting.

Lying in bed at night, Ries’s view is of a painting in the living room, “Three Seeds,” by Chicago artist Jenny Miller, a friend. I wish more people took the time to think things through like Reis and how sight lines should be integrated into their design.

"A lover of flea markets, Ries found this painting at the Chicago Antique Market on Randolph Street. Because the canvas is a standard size, he was able to find a perfect frame on the cheap in Artists’ Frame Service’s clearance department." His tablescape reminds me of those of Ron Marvin and are just as perfectly composed.

David reconfigured the apartment so that the living room opens onto the bedroom with French doors, he made two small spaces feel like one big one.

The antique scooter on the kitchen wall can serve as a shelf and adds a bit of whimsy. When extra seating isn’t needed a chair becomes a plant stand and the grasscloth looking wallpaper creates another focal point and defines the kitchen/dining area.

Inexpensively framed mirrors make real impact when hung in a grid pattern above a rustic dining table the folds down to conserve space and out to accommodate a large dinner party.

I love this condo because it's not too cluttered and looks like it would appeal to men and women. I hope Small Spaces, Big Style finds David Reis soon because he certainly has created great style in a so-called small space. And he definitely makes me want to find a bigger apartment soon!

Oh, and kudos to Chicago Home + Garden for their great website. I will definitely be adding them to my list of chic websites and you should too!
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New Year, New You!

Right about now, you might be feeling like something the cat dragged in but it's the perfect time to take stock of 2007 and what you want to accomplish in 2008. For me, 2007 wasn't the worst year but it certainly wasn't the best. On the positive, I started my blog and met many amazing people. On the negative, I dated some not so great guys.

So here are my New Year's Resolutions:

  1. I resolve to date better in 2008. How I managed to date two men with serious drinking problems last year is beyond me but that won't happen again. Oh, and to the one I know who still reads my blog, I have one word for you...karma. And you better hope I don't run into you in the grocery store ever again because I might just run you over with my cart next time.
  2. I resolve to cut back on the diet coke in 2008. I don't do drugs or smoke so in the scheme of things, if diet coke is my worst vice, I think I'm doing okay but I know I should cut back a little.
  3. I resolve to go out more in 2008. I do a lot in New York but when you live alone, it's easy to loose motivation to go out sometimes. This year, I will not let myself get sucked into watching reruns of The Hills when I can be out doing something fantastic!
  4. I resolve to go to yoga more in 2008. I love yoga but I hate my gym so this year, I'm going to cancel my gym membership and find a yoga studio near my apartment so I have no excuse not to go when it's cold and rainy.
  5. I resolve to take a class in 2008. I always say I'm going to do this but never do so this year I will try to take a refresher course in French, finally learn CAD and how to make jewelry. Oh, and maybe a watercolor class too but that might be pushing it.
  6. I resolve to get my tear sheets organized in 2008. I have a million tear sheets sitting in cute little boxes under my couch and bed but when I can never find an article when I go to look for it so I will definitely need to come up with a new system.
  7. I resolve to cut back on the shopping in 2008. I already have a closet stuffed with clothes I don't wear so I'm going to clean it out and sell what I can on eBay and stop buying things I don't need. Good thing I bought those super on sale Christian Louboutin flats at Barney's yesterday when it was still 2007 ;-)
  8. I resolve to finish one book before buying another in 2008. This is probably my worst vice. I am always in the middle of at least two books at once and sometimes I never end up finishing them but this needs to stop. I also need to get rid of some books because I'm running out of space for them! But I did make room for one more, Write It Down, Make It Happen, and you should too!

In addition to making resolutions this year, I'm going to take a page out of Patricia Gray's book and write down what I want to happen in 2008. So here goes...

  1. I will find a new job in 2008. I think you already know this one but it's my number one goal for the new year. I've had a few people approach me but now I plan to contact everyone I know and start networking like there's no tomorrow. I know that I will find something this year whether it's working for a great designer or a magazine because I am going to make it happen!
  2. I will find a new boyfriend in 2008. There has got to be one normal single man in New York who appreciates art and design and who isn't gay and I know this is the year I will find him! If anyone knows any who are in the 30-40 year old range, feel free to send them my way! I'm currently accepting applications.
  3. I will spend my birthday in Paris in 2008. This was my plan last year but that never ended up happening so even if I have to go by myself, I'm going. But perhaps my new boyfriend would want to spend a long weekend in Paris this April. Or maybe I should organize a blogger weekend away. If anyone wants to go to Paris, let me know.
  4. I will move downtown in 2008. I really have to stop talking about how much I want to live in the West Village and just do it. Maybe my new job will pay me enough to afford the rent or I'll find a reasonably priced place. Whatever the case, I want to leave the Upper East Side, if for no other reason that to stop running into that wanker in Gristedes.
  5. I will be really happy in 2008! I know it's going to be the best year ever!

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Happy New Year from New York!

I for one am very happy to leave 2007 behind and start fresh in 2008. I'll be back tomorrow with resolutions and inspirations. Until then, Happy New Year!

Should auld acquaintance be forgot and never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot and days of auld lang syne?
For auld lang syne, my dear, for auld lang syne,
we'll take a cup of kindness yet, for auld lang syne.

Should auld acquaintance be forgot and never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot and days of auld lang syne?
And here's a hand, my trusty friend
And gie's a hand o' thine
We'll tak' a cup o' kindness yet
For auld lang syne.
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Cartonage y algo más.Segunda parte



Ya puedes ver el interior de este album de Navidad en Alterado. El resto de las páginas estarán en una tercera parte.
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡FELIZ DIA DE AÑO VIEJO!!!!!!!.En casa es costumbre que los pajes de sus majestades los Reyes Magos de Oriente, dejen algunos regalos para los más pequeños. Así que seguro que pasarán la noche impacientes mirando por una ventana o por otra y pillarlos in fraganti. Pero claro, son tan rápidos que nunca hemos tenido la suerte de verlos. ¿ Los descubriremos esta noche?
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¿Qué empezarás el Día de Año Nuevo ?


Hace tiempo que observé cómo bastantes bordadoras, sobre todo americanas, tienen cierto ritual el primer día del Año. Y es que ese día que se abre con nuevas expectativas para un año de sorpresas, suele empezarse una labor a la que se le tiene capricho y de la que se ha estado preparando material durante algunas semanas antes, para tenerlo listo justo ese día.
Si hay algo seguro, es que el 2008 será para mí , entre muchíiiiiiisimas cosas más, el año de terminar trabajos que tengo empezados. Sí , sí, después de un concienzudo exámen de conciencia , prometeré terminar no sólo bordados sino algún trabajo de patch que todavía está por montar.

¿ Y yo qué haré ? Me encataría empezar uno de los preciosos Blackbird. Les tengo ganas. Hay alguno que no tiene mucho bordado . Ya veremos. Quizá no sean exáctamente los mismos hilos o la misma tela . Me gusta ir dando salida a lo que ya tengo e incluso hacer alguna variación .
¿ Y tú ? ¿ Algo especial en lo que relajarte la mañana de Año Nuevo , o quizá la tarde ?
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Ready for Take Off

I'm traveling back to New York today and not a minute too soon. Remind me next year that seven days with my family is about four days too long ;-) and check back tomorrow with some fun New Year's related posts.
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