forty, 40, forte....

someone in the household celebrated one of those milestone b-days.... and with it came some crafty gift idea's. one of those milestones you want to mark with memories, laced with a bit of sentiment.

so, we have a "family" friend in seattle who is one of those mind blowing talents. she is an apparel designer, hand bag designer, singer song writer (with several albumns), she is a painter. basically....she is a gift from the heavens.

every year, dawn smithson, sends a hand painted christmas card. a highlight of the season. when i was pulling out the christmas garb this year, and i uncovered her painting from 2010 and when i saw it a birthday idea sparked right out of my head....a dawn smithson commissioned painting of b-mo. i couldn't imagine a better b-day gift for loopy. then when it arrived at work earlier this week....i almost dropped a few tears on my desk. so touching..the soul and spirit of this little stinker couldn't have been captured better. thank you dawn.

so, i have included last years painting of the tree with the mystic own at the top and of course the b-day painting of b-mo.

if you would like a commissioned piece of work by dawn...please let me know and i will be happy to connect you.

luxury.....

in our little cabin on a country road. who would have thunk? during our montauk vaction this summer, we stumbled upon a store that carried the la labo products and that is where the trouble began.

i'm of that age where i do not long or obsess over wanting things...i appreciate fine things, but am able to find practicality and editing more relaxing. but i must say, the la labo fragrances put all practicality aside and the obsession began. i forced myself to pass on the purchase and that is when the angels decended, one in particular..by the name of patti was particularly forceful, and that angel demanded she was sent to gift hillside with this fragrance.

thank you angel....you make life much sweeter and your generosity overwhelms at times. this fragrance is the signature hillside fragrance and i hope it last forever.

notice that this label is custom for hillside. boy do we feel blessed and the cabin smells dreamy...like heaven.

adult christmas

as some of you know, i had a visitor last weekend. one of those friends that you consider family. we had a blast at hillside, along with a few side visits to antique malls, farms and eateries.

as usual, she came with a little bag of treasures from red ticking..and boy was she kind this year. i must have done something right this year :).

this handmade mermaid will have a good life and always carry the memories of december 2011 and she might even get a new blouse for christmas this year.

you too can find this great treasure at red ticking...hurry, time is running out.

more weekend photo's to follow soon.

monday moves

lets just say i am not moving that fast today. the sun is shining, coffee downed, but i cannot seem to get past that.

this image keeps me very focused on keeping that one wall in the "big" bedroom original redwood, no painting, just rustic and raw wood. this old redwood was part of the original 1 room cabin that hillside used to be, build in 1915. i think the original cabin was around 350 square feet, now just a bit bigger..not much.

there was a window on this wall, and our contractor did an amazing job filling in that hole with detailed precision and now all it needs is some staining....i'm working on it, but definitely not in a rush. i kinda have to do it right the first time.

i hope the start to your week is not quite as relaxing as mine.....

table time

running around like my usual "madman" self this weekend, but wanted to post a few images from the turkey day table.

i did my usual last minute scramble for the decor. i snatched up all the leftover herbs from all the cooking (thyme, rosemary, sage), then sent someone out to pick some local "white berries", grabbed some bay leaves from the yard, as well as some baby ferns..... a bit of Eucalyptus and fruit and i was done. Snappy indeed.

i used to spend a few moment's thinking about the table and setting it, but with the out of town company and other distractions, the importance of presentation took a backseat this year...which was perfect for 2011.

lost in the shadows

i hope this finds you all enjoying a bit of a holiday glow....that is if you were able to take some time away from your regular routine and enjoy the great company of friends and family and hopefully something out of the ordinary on the table.

we were lucky enough to have some great friends in town from nyc and had a full cabin all weekend. feel blessed indeed.

well, the images are some shots i have taken over the last year and for some reason they did not make the brock street cut. who knows why? i can actually tell you why..i have great intentions to blog more and then i start looking at photo's and spend hours recounting the memories and the moments the photo's were taken (talking about photo's of friends and family that are woven into my brock street images....so, these guys got lost in the shadows.

all circles too. all images brock street...all items great and meaningful finds.

pushing it

i know, i know...i hate to push the holiday's as it tends to feel forced at times and since i am in the product development world...christmas can feel year round at times as i am approving products in june :). not complaining.

these projects are soooo approachable, that even i feel like i can carve out a little time to fill in that "crafting" void in my life. can you imagine a great bay leaf garland, dripping with glossy white pine cones? i can :)

have a great weekend.

running and hiding

made a quick stop by a secret location to check on the inventory...of course i was a day too late as everything i gravitated toward had a big ole red dot on it....sold to a local french patisserie. shoot.

nonetheless, it seemed a bit like christmas with the "loaded" shelves. i was able to run out before i got sucked into the internal conversation of "do i really need this, or do i just want it:)", i guess they were all wants as i came out empty handed.

happy wednesday.

the welcome committee

bmo is definitely our welcome committee in the country, not the warmest, but he is first to the door upon everyone's arrival.

one of the best gifts at hillside is the foliage...its everywhere. the bay leaves, the ferns, the lichen covered branches...and i make sure to utilize them as often as possible.

the little zinc tin also serves on the welcoming committee...:)

japanese editing

some of you may know of my affinity for Japanese sensibility. whenever i travel to asia, i ensure/secure some time at muji..mandatory visit(to be honest the product imported into US is not the same product you get in asia..its just how it is). i will sacrifice sleep, dim sum, foot massage...and everything to stock up on some basics.

well, Hitoshi Uchita, owner of j'antiques in tokyo really blends the flea market find with his minimal approach. everything in his home seems so loved and full of life..and a quite used, yet everything is so organized and clean. just how i like it.

anyway, with the condition of these finds there are never worries of something getting a scratch or stain...and if they do, they are just part of the story.

i hope you enjoy these images as much as i do. found on the selby

seats for three

you know how we can, at times, not even visit the wonderful destinations in our own backyard (when i was in nyc i never got to the statue of liberty or the empire state building) shameful?

well, in sonoma we are in the heart of jack london land. jack had a home in glen ellen..or should i say many homes and there is a state park that we had not visited until last weekend (that is what company does...they embarrass you by saying..."i can't believe this place is only a few miles from hillside and you have never been ..why not?"). hee, hee.

so, last weekend was the first and definitely not the last visit to this breathtaking state park. it was amazing there, quiet, lush and socked full of history.

these photo's were taken in the museum, which used to be one of their homes. the upper level of this grand, stone home had 4 huge window seats and each windows decor was inspired by one of the locations they traveled to. they were the perfect size. one could get totally horizontal with plenty of room to snuggle their favorite pet or friend.

we were only able to explore 1/8 of this state park as we only had an hour, but will return again this weekend.

put this on your list when you come for your visits.

Hillside 10/15/2011

editing away here at hillside....

No time to work as we r blessed with more company, so I thought I would just post some autumn light at 10am in the country.

The chores and projects are stacking up, so please feel free to sign up for a work day soon...just bring your work clothes and an appetite...

no more coulda, woulda...shoulda

when it comes to hillside (also now know as grandpa mo's tree house..ha, ha),i am taking all options into consideration these days. i think there is a reason why we are so behind on schedule with the cabin...because we need more time to think through every detail,.... not at all the money thing :). i am proclaiming this delay to be a "silver lining".

i found this image while hunkered down out east during hurricane irene. thank goodness our friends home was stocked with current periodicals...they kept me distracted for several days. anyway, i think this image is from metropolitan homes or elle decor..and it is also a blurry one. sorry.

i am totally drawn to the banquette bench. the simple built in that covers the seating for half of the table. this is a great solution to utilizing every square inch of the 800 square foot cabin. we could even gain a bit of storage out of it too....

what also drew me to the image was the placement of all the windows in this space..same as hillside. what do you think? i've included a recent image of our hillside dining area...just so you can give me some input if you have time. do you have any experience with built in benches? i don't...but exploring all options.

roughin it

these chairs are MUCH better in person. this image was taken with a phone, so the clarity is not what i wish you could see.

what i wouldn't give to find these at a flea market on my own and take pride in the find and hopefully competitive price.

this pair of twins has an amazing modern/mid-century/metal frame with a rough textured burlap cover. a very versatile pair too...i can imagine them in my home :), on the lawn in "out of africa", fancy camping, in a french country estate or a modern home in the vineyards of chile.

if you are in sag harbor, you must stop by bloom (she does not have website, you have to visit in person) and gaze at these beauties.

they were surprisingly comfortable too.

stuck on you

.....i've got this feelin down deep in my soul that i just can't lose. REST.

peaceful images keep luring me in. this image evokes the most simple of times to me: bed, light, books and casual attire and seemingly no distractions.

hope this finds you after a peaceful weekend. i went up to hillside for the day yesterday with the intention of getting some painting done. well, after some raking, laundry and talk radio, i found myself on the sofa with a quilt in a complete horizontal position. needless to say i will start the painting next weekend. :)

it was dreamy.

image

where to start

i am in the midst of old fashioned exhaustion and you have no idea how much images like this speak to me. i have been browsing images for a half hour and the only thing singing to me are the images with beds and what seem to be cozy and kind linens. ha, ha! actually, the images with beds and little puppies on the beds send me to the moon and back.

this room is one of those rooms that immediately transports you to another place and almost another time. those tiles on the wall are art in its purest form and i think i will stare at them for a long time.

be back soon

heading out to asia tonight... and i always have a hard time saying goodbye to b-mo. these darn dogs are just so connected to us and smart. i have stopped skirting around packing in privacy and hiding the suitcase from him because he knows exactly what is going down, so now he just sits and stares and moans and grunts. poor mo.

here are some photo's taken this summer at hillside. b-mo just sits at the front door while we putter on the property. these photo's will definitely keep me grounded while i am away...

will be back in 8 days and hopefully have a chance to capture some moments on film to share with you.

who dinged the door

these doors couldn't get any better. if these doors were mine i might consider sanding them down and then giving them a fresh coat, but right now i love them as they are. ageless to me.

photo found here

i promise...

.....i am still not stuck out east after irene. the playing catch up to being out of the office for a week is insane and i often question if it is worth it. no, i know it is worth it....i'm just being a bit dramatic.

anyway, we did our annual stop at my favorite sag harbor retailer, bloom. she know's how to curate a store like no ones business. i am talking spare in all the right ways. talk about cleansing...well, you must visit to see for yourself.

these are a few photo's taken from the phone, so the clarity is a bit to be desired, but the inspiration is shining bright.

ps...can someone layer on a bit more beach charm to go with the rope door handle.

its for realz....

irene is a comin. we were suppose to wrap up our magical montauk vacation week today...but all flights and transportation out of NYC are cxld....meaning we are stranded in irene's path.

so, we are still in the hamptons, but have moved off the beach to higher ground and hunkering down for our first hurricane. thank goodness we are with our dear friends r & p who are totally calm, cool and collected planning wonderful meals and flowing wine.

here are a few shots of the east hampton village early afternoon. nothings going to hold back these new yorkers...they are still out and about.

for starters

it has been such a hectic summer with work travel, personal travel, out of town guest, cabin work weekends (every weekend we are in town we are work, work, working)....so, the city apt has been neglected.

for starters there has been limited fresh flowers in the house and this is a cardinal crime in my home. so, i troll the back garden for little pieces that have broken off after a wind storm, or just pop off an extra branch to give a little guy a chance to be his own plant. trying to justify of course....

thank goodness succulents thrive in northern california as they are at the top of my favorite list and the easiest to care for and i really enjoy the texture and sculpture they offer.

i wanted to show you some of my prizes...oh and a box of plants i bought on my last journey to see my sister in so cal...she has a secret garden location and i think this whole box was only $30.00.

details, details, details

it has been said many o times...sometimes by me...sometimes by mentors, that attention to detail is key, prime, mas importante (spelling)...you know what i mean.

this little primitive room proves that point in so many ways. the bedding, the lighting and that great little shelf/console/table make this room exactly what it was born to be.

we all know these walls are, or at least meant be, filled with stories of laughter and secrets. i can imagine throwing my backpack on the top bunk to hold the space and jamming out the door feeling like a million bucks and knowing there was fun to be had.

and all that emotion was racked up by the most primitive little room with the "just right" details.

ps..yes, i am still trying to figure out how i would be able to get in that top bunk..i do have long legs, but not that long.

image here

breaking bread

this photo grabbed me at hello. ha, ha. really though, this feel and style is so approachable and so welcoming i want to recreate the emotion of this in my own world.

it totally feels lived in, loved, moderately eclectic with a thoughtful filter. i feel like i have started me weekend already with the ease this image is providing. the wooden spoons, the stacks of dishes, the etching, the simple line of the shelf, the bread...hey, where is the wine?

happy hump day. the work week is officially closer to an end than this morning. :) i'm totally tickled.

photo found on bam bam tumbler.

quick cleanse

i've been helping a few friends with a few interior projects lately and the more i engage and try to help them find their vision and balance for their space, i realize i want less in my life and space (belongings that is).

these images found on trine thorsen's site helped jolt me back into my personal & ideal pallet...a blank one that can be layered and stripped away if needed. very symbolic for 2011 and going forward.

i noticed my friend at the ticking is getting her house in order too....something is in the air and it ain't spring :)

state of mind

i am still not ready for the work week...and i need to be out the door in 7 minutes. shoot.

i hope this finds you all in a relaxed state of mind after a great weekend. i know i am...maybe too relaxed.

image from hillside guest room. collection of lavender sachets (mini pillows). come on over and you can bury your face in these. it never gets old.

mark your calendars

Margaret Kilgallen (1967-2001) will be on exhibit at Ratio 3 Gallery in San Francisco until August 5, 2011.

Margaret Kilgallen was an influential Bay Area artist. Her work was strongly informed by craftsmanship, folk art, signage and letterpress: works that revealed "evidence of the maker's hand."

her work totally inspires me...the folk art that takes my imagination to a different time.