karen’s fabric

I am extremely fortunate to have a sister who is a brilliant textile designer! She has been creating textiles for over 30 years and brings a wealth of experience to every collection she designs…the fabric in today’s post is from her recent Antiquities Collection for Microfibres and features a lovely gryphon pattern…I absolutely love this fabric! The citron color works beautifully with the art and textiles in my home and I adore the linen for its texture and neutral background…I have just enough from this sample to have two pillows made…the front will be in Karen’s fabric and the back in the mohair I used for my dining room chairs (luckily I have some left over!) I promise to post photos of the pillows when they are complete…please enjoy this look at textile designer Karen Nehlsen’s Gryphon fabric in Citron!

below ~ the gryphon and mohair fabrics side by side!

below ~ photos taken by Karen at the April High Point Furniture Market…the 4 hanging fabrics are from her Antiquities Collection and the photo of the chair was taken at the Highland House Showroom, they are part of Century Furniture, the pattern is Gryphon and the color is Indigo

Read Full Post »

edward weston ~ charis wilson

I just had to share with you another day of Edward Weston discoveries…the incredible images in today’s post are of his model, muse and wife Charis Wilson…theirs is an inspiring story of two people bound by artistic love and creative drive…she understood how to pose for him, creating sculpture-like forms that transcend her figure into works of art…the absence of her face further focuses attention on the exquisite abstract beauty and resilience of the human form…fortunate for us, there is a film by Ian McCluskey capturing the essence of the relationship between photographer, Edward Weston, and poet, writer, and model, Charis Wilson…the film is titled Eloquent Nude, The Love and Legacy of Edward Weston & Charis Wilson…you may also be interested in knowing about the book Through Another Lens: My Years With Edward Weston authored by Charis Wilson…Charis recounts her candid memories of Weston’s artistic movement, influences, working habits, and temperament…she was his fourth (and last) long-term lover…they were together from 1934 – 1946

photos of Charis Wilson by Edward Weston

Read Full Post »

edward weston

Today’s post features another wonderful discovery from my trip to the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, the work of photographer Edward Weston…my favorite piece is the photograph above, Pepper 1930 (30P)…curvaceous and sensual, I was hypnotized by its undulating shape…”between 1927 and 1930, Weston made a series of monumental close-ups of seashells, peppers, and halved cabbages, bringing out the rich textures of their sculpture-like forms.”

The Modernist Photography 1910-1950 exhibit is now on display, Level 3 gallery in the new Art of the Americas Wing…it features approximately 40 American modernist photographs representing highlights from the Museum’s own collection as well as The Lane Collection…this extraordinary exhibition focuses on the concept of the camera as a modernist tool…as an aspiring photographer myself, I found this exhibit truly inspiring for its groud-breaking innovations and timeless beauty…please enjoy a few of Edward Weston’s photographs from his Natural Studies Collection

“The camera should be used for a recording of life, for rendering the very substance and quintessence of the thing itself, whether it be polished steel or palpitating flesh.” ~ Edward Weston

photos from Edward Weston

Read Full Post »

museum of fine arts boston ~ dale chihuly

Last Friday, I had the extreme pleasure of attending the Dale Chihuly exhibition,”Through the Looking Glass” at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston…joining me were my sister Karen (in Boston for a brief visit) and my mom…we started the afternoon with a lovely lunch in the Shapiro Courtyard, part of the new wing, followed by the Chihuly exhibit and the Art of the Americas Wing…it was a perfect afternoon filled with art, beauty and stimulating conversation…to experience new discoveries with the people you love is one of life’s greatest gifts…I hope, the next time you are in the Boston area, you have a chance to enjoy this beautiful museum with the important people in your life…

above and below, Lime Green Icicle Tower installed in the Shapiro Courtyard

“Over the course of his career, Dale Chihuly has revolutionized the art of blown glass, moving it into the realm of large-scale sculpture and establishing the use of glass—inherently a fragile but also magical material—as a vehicle for installation and environmental art. This exhibition of new and archival works represents the breadth and scope of the artist’s creative vision over the last four decades. The exhibition will include installations such as Lime Green Icicle Tower, to be installed in the Shapiro Courtyard; a Persian Wall; a Chandelier room with six examples, including the Chiostro di Sant’Apollonia Chandelier; and a room containing a magnificent Mille Fiori installation that is nearly sixty feet long. By 1965, Dale Chihuly was already captivated by the process of glassblowing. Influenced by an environment that fostered the blurring of boundaries separating the various arts, as early as 1967 Chihuly was using neon, argon, and blown glass forms to create room-sized installations of his glass. Although his work ranges from the single vessel to indoor and outdoor site-specific installations, he is best known for his multipart blown compositions. Based in Seattle, Washington, Chihuly works with a team of glassblowers, a process that allows him to work on a grand scale and to explore and experiment with color, design, and assemblage. “Chihuly: Through the Looking Glass” provides an opportunity to see and explore the full range of his artistic achievements by immersing visitors in the beautiful and enchanting environments created through his extraordinary vision.”

below, these extraordinary pieces greet visitors at the entry of the exhibit

below, Ikebana Boat

below, I fell in love with his glass baskets inspired by the textures, colors, and forms of Native American baskets…absolutely breathtaking in person!

below, Chihuly’s vast collection of Native wool trade blankets

below, Mille Fiori

below, Persian Ceiling

below, Dale Chihuly chandelier

below, Neodymium Reeds on Logs

photos by danielle boudrot, 6/24/11

Read Full Post »

robert a.m. stern ~ buzzards bay

Let us end the week with a dreamy Robert A.M. Stern designed home on Buzzards Bay…”this house stands at the tip of a peninsula that extends two-and-a-half miles into Buzzards Bay, with incomparable views in all directions-in fact the bunker of a World War II U.S. Navy surveillance station remains buried on the site”

My favorite architectural detail is the lighthouse-like tower that houses the round library…”the tower features a floor-to-celing beachstone and driftwood chimney breast under a beamed and vaulted ceiling…it has its own dedicated mahogany staircase-with a native fieldstone wall by local mason-artist Lew French-that connects the library to the lighthouse-lookout study above and the octagonal wine cellar below”

Another breathtaking feature is the infinity pool with its expansive views of the ocean…after a refreshing swim, the pergola and screened porch offer plenty of shaded seating for hours of idyllic contemplation…wishing you a wonderful weekend!

photos from Robert A.M. Stern

Read Full Post »

robert a.m. stern ~ british columbia, canada

We are stuck in a rainy weather pattern for the next few days…great for the farms, gardens and birds, not so great for human outdoor activity…when I came across this Robert A.M. Stern designed home, I thought about how wonderful it would be to watch a rain storm from inside this beautiful cocoon, maybe looking out from the arched windows of the library (seventh photo) or from the master bedroom (eighth photo)…how romantic! This extraordinary home is located on Salt Spring Island, British Columbia, Canada at the southern tip of a narrow peninsula overlooking both Ganges and Long Harbours and the neighboring islands…although built in 2005, this home feels like an old soul filled with interesting surprises and masterful craftsmanship…I’m absolutely head over heels for the windows! Each and every one has its own personality ~ round, arched, grand or petite, they all work together in perfect harmony…please enjoy this incredible work of art!

photos from Robert A.M. Stern

Read Full Post »

robert a.m. stern ~ westport, connecticut

A long winding path of blue hydrangea echo the sky-blue stained shingles and the sea…large windows and doors take in the extraordinary views of Long Island Sound and Sherwood Island…the L shaped house, with its gambrel roof and charming gables and dormers, is a masterful example of Robert A.M. Stern‘s work…”classical detailing, hand-scraped oak floors, beadboard paneling, and cork ceilings bring the simple charm indoors”

photos from Robert A.M. Stern

Read Full Post »

robert a.m. stern ~ seal harbor, maine

For me, nothing says summer like a sea side home built by Robert A.M. Stern! Today’s post features a magnificent Seal Harbor home perched on a granite bluff overlooking Bear Island…the structures were strategically placed to take full advantage of the ocean view, rocky shoreline, and pine tree scented woods…from the natural shingles to the curved open porch, this home exudes summer…imagine taking a dip in the pool overlooking the mouth of Northeast Harbor…heavenly!

photos from Robert A.M. Stern Architects

Read Full Post »

aquiesse

I recently discovered Aquiesse Candles while on my trip to P-town…the candle I purchased is from their Portfolio collection and the fragrance is called “Shoreline” ~ ocean air, coastal flowers, precious woods, green leaves, and citrus…I’m looking forward to enjoying many hours of this incredible summer scent! What is your favorite candle/scent? I’d love to hear from you!

Read Full Post »

the colors of the farm

My husband and I are fortunate enough to live within walking distance of a beautiful working farm…yesterday, while shopping for dinner, I decided to take some photographs of the purple cabbage…I can’t even begin to describe to you how gorgeous this was in person…and to think, mother nature created this extraordinary color combination of purple, green and pink for us…how can we not be in awe of this miracle!

Wishing you a very happy weekend filled with colorful surprises!

photos by danielle boudrot, 6/16/11

Read Full Post »