gary’s autumn

How wonderful to experience the beauty of autumn through the eyes of a loved one! These expressive photos of Hutchins Farm, in Concord Massachusetts, were taken by my brother Gary while on a shopping trip with my mom…autumn’s warm golden light served him well elevating this humble window shade and orderly row of pumpkins into glowing works of art and in the foreground, bins of aubergine tinted vegetables offered him sculptural forms and textures as only nature could provide…a simple yet soulful composition that speaks so eloquently to fall in New England…so glad I could share this with you today

Gary and mom’s shopping list:

apples

honey nut squash

scallions

cooking onions

tomatoes

raspberries

photography by gary geissler, 9/29/13

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secret garden

Perched high above the Concord River, there exists a secret garden brimming with irises, peonies, columbine and rhododendron…this intricately laid out network of paved stones and steps offered me a beautiful view of the terraced gardens and riverscape below…with every twist and turn, this magical place had a story to tell…a garden with an old soul if you will…I’m so glad I took the time to listen

Wishing you a wonderful summer weekend!

below ~ the Concord River and surrounding landscape, taken on my way down the hill

photography by danielle boudrot for a thoughtful eye

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new acquisition

Saturday was a glorious day in the Northeast…sunny with a touch of spring in the air…I decided to take a drive to Concord and explore some of my favorite shops…my first stop was an antique store called North Bridge Antiques…with over 20 dealers, it is filled with unique treasures and surprises…I took my time and let my eye lead me through the maze of silver, glassware and vintage jewelry…before long I spotted an unusual set of footed glass bowls…simple and beautiful, they each had a small glass cloche placed inside…I read the tag and was surprised to learn they are vintage 1930s and are meant for serving shrimp or caviar…the ice is placed in the bowl with the shrimp or caviar in the cloche, upside down…wow, I had never seen such a unique serving piece! Of course the bowls can be used on their own, maybe for a lovely dessert (I like the idea of berries with cream or sorbet!)…I decided they were too wonderful to pass up, so today, I present you with my newest acquisition…

Happy Monday!

photos by me, 1/30/12

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small business saturday

Tomorrow, Saturday November 26th, is the 2nd annual Small Business Saturday! It is a day dedicated to supporting small businesses on one of the busiest shopping weekends of the year…small businesses create half of the jobs in the private sector, in fact, they have created 65% of the net new jobs over the last 17 years…if we support independently owned small businesses in our community, we can truly make a difference…today’s post is a tribute to twelve of my favorite small businesses in the Boston area…from colorful silk scarves at Artisans Way in Concord to a wooden box of chocolate mice from L.A. Burdick Handmade Chocolates in Cambridge, these lovely shops are filled with unique gift ideas for everyone on your list!

Wishing you a glorious holiday weekend! Happy shopping!

Artisans Way, fine art and contemporary craft ~ Concord, MA

Nesting on Main, antiques, home and garden ~ Concord, MA

West Concord Five and Ten, old fashioned five and ten (perfect for stocking stuffers and wrapping needs!) ~ Concord, MA

Didriks, home accessories, tableware and outdoor furniture ~ Cambridge, MA

L.A. Burdick Handmade Chocolates ~ Cambridge MA, Walpole NH, New York NY

Reside, specializing in vintage mid-century modern furniture and home accessories ~ Cambridge & Boston, MA

Good, jewelry and accessories ~ Boston, MA

Hudson, furniture, home accessories and vintage items ~ Boston & Wellesley, MA

Neil Devlin Antiques, antiques and decorations ~ Wellesley, MA

Lakota Bakery, homemade cookies, brownies and bars ~ Arlington, MA

The Elephant’s Trunk, children’s bookshop ~ Lexington, MA

Andrew Spindler, antiques and decorations ~ Essex, MA

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artisans way

Friday evening, 11/28/11, marked the official grand opening of Artisans Way! Located at 18 Walden Street in historic Concord center, the 2000 square foot space offers a gorgeous collection of fine art, jewelry, wooden crafts, pottery, metal sculpture, textiles, art glass, furniture and more…store owners Liz Stevenson and Jodie Apeseche are a match made in heaven! From the moment you walk through the front door, you can’t help but be lifted up by their wide smiles and sweet laughter…a positive energy that only comes from true happiness…their passion for fine art and contemporary craft is realized in this remarkable store…every piece is carefully chosen with a curated eye and a pure love for what they do…it’s been said time and time again, find what you love and the rest will fall into place…Liz and Jodie have followed their hearts and found what they love…how exciting for us that we can share in their dream come true…

Artisans Way

18 Walden Street

Concord, MA 01742

978-369-4400

above ~ close up of Changing Faces by Jodie Apeseche, acrylic on canvas, 24″ x 36″

above ~ close up of Elvis Rocks the Blues by Jodie Apeseche, acrylic on canvas, 20″ x 20″

above ~ colorful scarves by Pam’s Pashminas

above ~ gorgeous turquoise inlay serving pieces by Tree Stump Woodworking

above ~ autumnal hues by Pam’s Pashminas (I am the proud owner of three of these beauties!)

above ~ a water inspired glass piece by Hudson Beach Glass

above ~ perfect for a fall feast, this clay masterpiece is crafted by Three Wheel Studio

above ~ handcrafted toys as sculpture by Dona Dalton

above ~ floppy bowl by Glass Eye Studio

I may need to purchase this fish on wheels for my desk! For me, it represents the heart and imagination of a free spirit…how inspiring!

photos by me, 11/28/11

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old north bridge

There is something quite magical about Concord’s Old North Bridge. More than just a beautiful landscape drenched in history, it has the power to calm and soothe the senses. Yesterday’s trip to Concord was a perfect day filled with family, beauty and serenity.

The opening stanza from Ralph Waldo Emerson’s legendary Concord Hymn:

By the rude bridge that arched the flood,

Their flag to April’s breeze unfurled,

Here once the embattled farmers stood

And fired the shot heard ’round the world.

(photos by danielle boudrot 10/11/10)

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