Everything Old is New Again

In the hands of creative souls, even the time-worn and discarded can find new life. I am enjoying the upcycled home fashions of Rosemary Warren at Studio Rabbit Works and Tracy Wolf of Fresh Vintage. Rosemary's vintage collage bottles are a stylist favorite at Brimfield. As are Tracy's vintage sachets (filled with lovely lavender and embroidered with empowering words).

A simple favorite of mine? Buttons! It's almost Fall (sure feels like it here . . . burrrr!) and time to add some pop to that old wool sweater. Look at these beauties! They make me happy! New life for old odds-and-ends. That makes me happy, too!

XOXO

Brimming with Finds!

Hi Darling Kichaas! Finished Day 1 at the Brimfield Antique Show! Okay, so it's cold and rainy. Who said shopping was easy? How do you like my finds so far? Aren't the specs fabulous?!

Raise your hand if you like these!

And the vintage camera collection is growing!  I just love the Tiffany blue 620 below.

And, of course, Fire King always rules!

What are you on the look out for?  More tomorrow . . .

XOXO

Got My Eye on Some Great Stuff!

It's our first morning at the Brimfield Antique Show and I'm already seeing some great stuff! How about these vintage walking sticks! I'm in the market for a lovely dresser and chandelier and whatever else hits me. Forecast shows rain which means more good shopping for me! I'll keep ya posted Kichaas!

XOXO

Style at The Mount

Image from paperolive

Hi Kichaas! Soon I'll be visiting The Mount, the gorgeous estate of Edith Wharton.  Several years ago I went on an Edith Wharton marathon and read nothing but her novels.  I didn't get through them all but I did hit the big ones:  Age of Innocence, House of Mirth, Ethan Frome, Old New York, The Buccaneers.  What's your favorite?

I also read a few of her travel books.  What a life!  Motoring around Italy and Europe each year, mingling with the rich and famous.  She memorialized many of those places and friends in her autobiography, A Backward Glance, which I read right before this trip!

Image from noveldestinations

Edith Wharton was quite the style maven at the turn of the 20th century.  She wrote The Decoration of Houses with architect Ogden Codman.  It was first published in 1897 and it's still in print!  It was the first interior design book to recommend throwing the heavy, frilly, Victorian-style out the window.  Instead it suggested focusing on symmetry and classic design principles.  It's considered one of the most influential decorating books of the past century.  You can still see its influences today.

Image from pbcstyle

"Every house is a mad-house at some time or another." 

— Edith Wharton

Brimfield Here We Come!

Taking off today for my road trip to Brimfield to attend the fabulous antiques show and enjoy a much needed break!  I'll be doing some museum hopping and taking in some jazz at Tanglewood as well.  

To celebrate my trip I just had to post a very appropriate print by Aliette, a wonderful Parisian graphic designer.  I just love all of her artwork!  Full of fun and whimsy, and just plain lovely to look at!  And her jewelry designs are modern and so very feminine (I'm really liking her Violette necklace.  What's your favorite?).  Check out her shop on Etsy.  

More from Brimfield later!  Have a wonderful, long weekend kichaas!

Chasing Pies!

Bang! Bang! Bang! Calling all foodies!  My sneakers are on, I'm on my way in to work and I'm ready to chase the Bang Bang Pies & Coffee food truck for some breakfast (yes, I embrace coffee and pie for breakfast)!  Baked, brewed and piloted by husband and wife team Dave and Megan Miller. He does a bang up job roasting his own beans and serving up the java. She does a bang up job baking pies from her own Aunt Lillian's recipes.  Flavors rotate all the time (but the chocolate is yuuummmy!).  So be on the look out for their circus-themed truck or catch them on Twitter.   Follow that pie!!!

Hello September . . .

Image here

By all these lovely tokens September days are here,

With summer's best of weather

And autumn's best of cheer.

-Helen Hunt Jackson, September