The greatest trip I've never taken.

I'm terribly bored, and yearning for a trip. As I write this I'm held up in my small studio surrounded by an extremely lazy cat, Ella, and an equally lethargic dog, Louie. The District has been struck, yet again, by a monstrous snow storm which has rendered her completely unable to host any events, such as work, but has encouraged a noticeably lackadaisical shift in her residents. The novelty of idle weekdays filled with late brunch dates that bled into early cocktails has faded. Not that it hasn't been grand and almost overwhelmingly hedonistic, but one does eventually tire of the "easy life". Plus, with the lack of work, which equates to lack of pay, my shiftless animals and I are about to become homeless!

While sifting through the internet on one such slothful afternoon I came across the Hotel Particulier. Discretely located at the end of a small alley in Montmartre, 23 Avenue Junot, Hotel Particulier is exactly what I, Ella, and Louie need. It's a shame that I have no money for the trip. For now I will simply have to be satisfied with looking at the pictures and sipping some cheap champagne while one of my Edith Piaf records plays in the background.

Style Inspiration: Spring 2010

{Michael Bastian}

{Alexander McQueen}

{Alexander McQueen}

{Louis Vuitton}

{Band of Outsiders}

{Thom Browne}

{Ralph Lauren}

{Michael Bastian}

{Moncler Gamme Bleu}

{Moncler Gamme Bleu}

{Moncler Gamme Bleu}

{Moncler Gamme Bleu}

{John Galliano}

{Michael Bastian}

{Louis Vuitton}

{Louis Vuitton}

{Hermes}

{Etro}

{John Varvatos}

{Emporio Armani}

{Emporio Armani}

{Ralph Lauren}

{Ralph Lauren}

{Junya Watanabe}

{Junya Watanabe}

{Salvatore Ferragamo}

{Salvatore Ferragamo}

{Salvatore Ferragamo}

{John Galliano}

Craft Hope for Haiti

ABODEWELL, blogger and crafter extraordinaire, has introduced me to Craft Hope, a division of Etsy that sells beautifully handmade crafts to help support worthy causes.

Craft Hope has compiled a group (74 items and counting) of crafts specifically meant to support relief efforts in Haiti. According to Craft Hope's site: "All proceeds of Craft Hope Etsy shop will benefit Doctors Without Borders in Haiti. All items have been generously donated by the crafting community."

They do have some pretty terrific items for sale. Seeing as Valentines Day is just around the corner (shudders as he types that), why don't you buy something special, thoughtful, and original for a loved one, and help support Haiti.

Here are a few cute Valentines Day gift ideas from Craft Hope. Please visit the site for many more.

Hand crocheted red heart on bobby pin -adorable!:


"Hearts" 4x8 photo:


Red Valentine Needle Felted Birdie Brooch. I'd proudly wear this on my lapel!:


Set the mood with the Twilight Candleholder:


How can anyone resist this Brown Striped Sock Monkey?!:


And, finally nothing I can think of no better way to let a loved one know just how much he/she is cared for like giving the gift of this pillow sporting the likeness of the fine mustache wearing Tom Selleck. The mustache is a furry applique for added texture and realness.:


**Please take a moment to check out the site. Even if none of the items shown above tickle your fancy, although I don't know how that's possible, remember there are many more items to choose from.

Tuxedo Park, N.Y.

In 1885-86 Pierre Lorillard IV, the dapper gentleman shown below, along with land planner Ernest Bowditch, architect Bruce Price, and about 1,800 immigrant laborers created a resort for the thick cream of American society.

Located just 40 miles outside of New York City, Tuxedo Park, became a playground for great social, financial, and political leaders of the day ; Dorothy Draper, J.P. Morgan, Alferd Loomis, and William Waldorf Astor to name a few.

Word spread quickly encouraging New York's 400, give or take a few, to establish themselves in this newly fashionable enclave.

Soon, massive mansions began to spring up within the "naturally" planned landscape inside of the gilded walls. The new residents commissioned the best architects of the day, among them; McKim, Mead & White, James Renwick, John Russell Pope, and William Lescaze.
(Lorillard Residence)
(Henry Whitney Munroe Residence)


Shortly after the Great Depression many of the Tuxedo Park socialites began to move, leaving behind an architecturally significant piece of American history. Today, Tuxedo Park is considered a National Landmark, and the homes that were built by social giants remain filled with the most prominent members of modern society.


Fun Facts about Tuxedo Park:

Emily Post's father, Bruce Price, was the original architect to work on the development of the resort. It was at Tuxedo Park during Emily Post's impressionable years that she collected the information for her famous book "Etiquette: The Blue Book of Social Usage".

Pierre Lorillard is rumored to have designed the tailless evening jacket, or Tuxedo as he called it, for a grand ball held at Tuxedo Park in October of 1886.

Thank you

A special thank you to uber talented Rachael Grad for highlighting my post about tabletop lighters on Apartment Therapy.

s.a.t.c.

Am I the only one who is pee-my-pants excited about this?!?

Table Lighters

(my small collection of table lighters)

I'm a self-proclaimed classic movie junkie. I grew up in a very small / very modest town in Appalachia, which never seemed to fit me properly. I would watch these films, or rather study them, and somehow feel right. I wanted to be Paul Varjak, C.K. Dexter Haven, Caleb 'Cal' Trask, Brad Allen (Rex Stetson), and sometimes (or, rather too often) Schatze Page. They were cool. They dressed with such amazing style, spoke with elegant and witty candor, they drank scotch, smoked, drove beautiful cars, always got the girl (or guy), and were all around awesome.... in my opinion. These movies have been such an influence in my life, not just in the way that I design, but in the way that I live.

One prop, in general, stands out to me as a symbol of chicness unparalleled in today's films -the table lighter. Smoking, although I'm not a fan of, was not only standard in film, but in life. I don't smoke. I can't stand the smell of it. But, there is something somewhat intriguing about it. It's a sort of classic ritual, and when performed properly and with appropriate accoutrement; a silver cartier cigarette case, a tiffany lighter, etc. can be quite dashing.













***images provided by: google image search, and table-lighters, with the exception of first photo of my collection provided by my phone.