LA DOLFINA

To see how your weekend was... (My friend Mary's dog, Benny.  Isn't he handsome?) Ours was epic. Our son arrived home from his internship in New York City and brought back fabulous news...   A JOB! We've been celebrating all weekend!

That is what I've become! Ever since I found my first stapled repair back in February I've been smitten with the art of inventive repair. (This piece was my 2nd acquisition) Last month I accompanied a friend of mine who had never been to The Alameda Point Antiques & Collectibles Fair and decided to follow her lead looking mostly at things that interested her. She had an agenda and was on the hunt for Fostoria glassware which fortunately for me was where I happened upon a make-do motherlode! My heart quickened as I picked up the first piece, turning it over to discover the stapled backside. I then picked up the one underneath it to discover that it too had stapled repairs! I seriously could not believe my eyes when a 3rd matching piece revealed yet another stapled repair! (Wedgwood Imprint/Blue Mark "IRIS")   The gentleman at the booth went on to tell me that they were part of a lot that included a set of ...

I hesitated using the term, " tweaking " as it unfortunately now has a new meaning, but all of us who are design obsessed understand that decorating is an ongoing process made up of constant "tweaks" , until we feel we have achieved the look we are after. Whenever I take on a new room or space, I find it takes me several months of "tweaking" until I'm satisfied with it. Decorating is a work in process that for me evolves into the room or space I envisioned only after several rounds of "tweaking" or "fine tuning." I feel it is important to live in the space for a time to really understand what is and is not working.     Hence... Our new backyard or "garden room." I tried working with what we had and kept the lemon trees in their pots in the same location even though they weren't getting enough sun or producing much fruit. I knew they looked out of p...

My fabulously talented friend Molly, of La Flor Creations , is holding her first ever Summer Sale Event this coming weekend in the backyard of her gorgeous Alameda Gold Coast home. She has been busy sourcing a dizzing array of unique treasures from around the globe to freshen up your home & garden! I popped over this morning for a sneak peek at what we might expect to find... She and her partner Melanie will be busy all week creating beautiful potted gardens in unique planters and pots, orchid arrangements, wreaths and front door baskets. Along with the living treasures, including a selection of tall, full, fabulous, Fiddle Leaf Fig Trees, there will be a wonderful selection of indoor and outdoor pillows, brass candlesticks, beautiful oil paintings, lamps, rugs, table linens from France as well as vintage white linen and napkins. There will also be garden mirrors,...

From my garden I created this simple arrangement in this ironstone tureen with the most unusual faux bois lusterware handles.  Lusterware is a type of pottery or porcelain with a metallic glaze that gives the effect of iridescence. I picked up a bouquet of coordinating flowers from Trader Joes to arrange with the dark pink hydrangeas that fill my front yard. I went out on a limb here as I usually only arrange one type of flower en masse.  What has your garden been gifting you with?