Relaxed Reading
… to all of you, our lovely readers, who encourage us every week to keep adding to The Buzz. We started on this journey of saying thank yous on the first Thursday in January and have thanked many throughout the year… but we’re saving the best for last.
Rushed Reading
So this one’s for you… Thank you!
Rover Reading
Photos via Pinterest
Beautiful Blogs
… to Stacey from Quintessence and Ridgely from Ridgely’s Radar for hosting a festive get-together (aptly named #JingleTweet) last week at the amazing showroom of Audiocom in Norwalk.
Tweet, Tweet!
Not only did this dynamic duo deck the halls with Christmas carols and It’s a Wonderful Life, they gift-wrapped 25 presents to be given away as door prizes.
Presents with Presence
Best of all, we got to hob nob with local bloggers like May December and Summer is a Verb and meet darling designers like Sam Allen! For more on this fun event, visit our hostesses with the mostest (see links below.)
P.S. A big thank you to our computer guy, David, who was able to get us a new computer while on vacation in Florida… Now that’s service!
Photos via Quintessence and Ridgely’s Radar
The Medieval Sculpture Hall Transformed
… to Loretta Hines Howard, who along with her daughter and granddaughter, created the largest collection of 18th century Neapolitan creche figurines, now on display at The Met Museum. Every year, we try to visit the Angel Tree, a 20 foot blue spruce decorated with cherubs and angels, which serves as a backdrop to this amazing nativity scene. And every year, we delight in its beauty and artistry…
The Nativity Scene
Angelic Art
Photos via The Metropolitan Museum and ArtDaily
Winter Blues
… to Serena & Lily for not only dressing our beds but now, our tables! We adore the direction Serena and Lily are taking the company and totally agree that “great entertaining is about creating a world where everyone feels warm, welcome, at ease.” Who wouldn’t want to gather around a beautiful table layered with linens, lots of candlelight and pretty platters? “The best parties are usually anything but perfect. It just has to be done with love.”
Marvelous Marbella Collection
Magnificient Mombasa Collection
P.S. Hop on over to Decor Arts Now for a special 20% discount code at Serena & Lily… holiday shopping with a global impact!
Photos via Serena & Lily
Enchanting and Stylish
… to Tina of The Enchanted Home
Eclectic and Unique
and Barbara from Haus Design
Very Versatile
for bestowing on us the Versatile Blogger award. We wear many hats running this business and being versatile is definitely a plus! Needless to say, we’re honored to be part of such a fabulous group of bloggers. Now, we know we’re suppose to write seven things about ourselves in order to accept this award but since we’ve been blogging for quite a while, you probably know enough about us.
Halloween Boys
So here’s one more thing: we’re the proud mothers of five boys (Carolyn has two and Cynthia has three including a set of identical twins!) and we couldn’t resist sharing this picture taken around this time years ago. To all the versatile bloggers out there (and you know who you are!), this one’s for you!
Photos via The Enchanted Home, Haus Design and yours truly
P.S. If you really would like to know more about us, read this post and this one!
Fabulous Flora
… to Flora Grubb, the San Francisco-based garden designer and nurserywoman and her talented staff at the Cutting Garden, for creating the most wonderful plantings and bouquets that require little maintenance (which we love since we’re such black thumbs!) Her unique touch and playful sense of color and texture are perfect for outdoor walls and indoor table settings… and every space in between.
Plant "Painting"
Best of all, Flora’s favorite creations (like spiky succulents in footed aeriums and grape wood tillandsia gardens) are available online through her web store!
Succulent Settings
Photos via County Living and Flora Grubb
Eliane in British Vogue
… to Eliane Fattal for showing us how to repurpose our grandmother’s jewelry in a fun and fashionable way. This “tumble-haired London visionary” has the knack of turning 19th century brooches and tiaras into rings, earring and hair clips and now her “Metamorphosis” collection is available at the venerable S.J. Phillips in London. While we wouldn’t say no to this beautiful butterfly, we’re holding out for the ruby and diamond bee we saw in Vogue!
Ring Redux
Clip Art
Photos via S.J. Phillips
Marvelous Michael
… to Michael Smith for his new book, Kitchens & Baths. We can’t wait to see this devine designer’s style applied to two of the most challenging spaces to decorate (at least we think so since both the kitchen and master bath are due for facelifts soon!)
Coming Soon to a Bookstore Near You!
Have you ordered your copy, yet?
Beautiful High Rise Bath
P.S. Oh, and yours truly made the cover… Yahoo!
Photos via Domino, Amazon and Michael S. Smith
Michelle at the AD Home Design Show
… to Michelle Bergeron for translating her exquisite taste in fashion and interior design into a new eco-friendly furniture collection called SKATEMODERNE. With over 20 customizable pieces, this collection’s signature look is create from a unique “couture shagreen” technology that imitates real stingray skin flawlessly but is infinitely more durable and colorful. And Michelle’s mix of mid-century silhouettes with Asian-inspired florals are so fabulous… we’d be happy with any of these designs in our home!
Lotus Bench
Sakura Bar Cabinet
P.S. Michelle’s just updated her website and added a blog so be sure to stop by!
Photos via SKATEMODERNE
Gone to Heaven!
… to Laduree for coming to 864 Madison Avenue this week. This quintessentially French patisserie filled with delightful gourmandises (macarons, religieuses, chocolates and cakes that would make Marie-Antoinette swoon) has long been a favorite of ours and now we don’t need to book a flight to Paris to indulge in sweet fantasies. If you need any more convincing to visit this gem of a store, click here!
Laduree at 864 Madison Avenue
Mmmm... C'est Ci Bon!
Photos via Laduree