LA DOLFINA

There is so much fall inspiration floating around blogland that I was encouraged to dress up my fireplace mantel for the cozy seasons ahead. I have to admit that while I'm a huge fan of the fall season, I'm not especially fond of decorating my home in fall colors. That was until... I attended an auction earlier this week and purchased this pair of lovely large ginger jars. I brought them home immediately placing them on the mantel of my chinoiserie fireplace hoping they'd provide the drama I was looking for. Now I don't know about you but I've always found mantels (and bookshelves) very challenging to decorate.  I stood back to take them in while scanning my inventory to see what I could come up with to create a pleasing vignette. First I grabbed a pierced compote and a large piece of coral and placed it in the center.  Then I remembered I had a stash of my favorite Chinese mushrooms which I then placed among the jars and coral centerpiece. ...

Inspired by The Zhush's recent post, Rock On , I wanted to share this amazing "Bowl of Agates" that my good friend Ron Morgan of LOOT created. (Click on images to enlarge) Recently while in Chinatown I came across these magnificent  mushrooms. I had just had Dim Sum with my lovely neighbor, Helen, who I have dubbed, "The Queen of Chinatown."  She was giving me a tour of her favorite shops when I spied these organic beauties.  She was so surprised at how taken I was with them.  They use them in their cooking, but I saw them as organic art... my favorite kind. I usually keep the bowl of agates on the nightstand in our bedroom... but last week at The Goodwill I found this beautiful Asian art piece that complements it so well. I found the dresser several years ago at The Salvation Army.  I added the hardware and raised it up with a toe kick upholstered in black leather. While moving it my husband found an enve...