Be Inspired No. 33 - Chanel No. 5

"'Where should one use perfume?' a young woman asked. 

            'Wherever one wants to be kissed,' I said."

                                                                                                                                         

                                                        Coco Chanel

I love stories of inspiration. It confirms over and over that inspiration can come from anywhere and reap rewards beyond your imagination. The story of Chanel No. 5 is no exception.

As the story goes, at the age of twelve, Coco Chanel was handed over to the care of nuns, and for the next six years spent a stark, disciplined existence in a convent orphanage, Aubazine, founded in the twelfth century. From her earliest days at Aubazine, the number five had potent associations for Chanel. Aubazine had been founded by Cistercians, a Catholic order who placed great emphasis on numerology. 

The number five was especially esteemed as signifying the pure embodiment of a thing, its spirit, its mystic meaning. The paths that led Chanel to the cathedral for daily prayer were laid out in circular patterns repeating the number five.

In 1920, when presented with small glass vials of scent numbered 1-5 and 20-24, for her assessment, she chose the sample composition contained in the fifth vial. Chanel told her master perfumer, Ernest Beaux, whom she had commissioned to develop a fragrance with modern innovations:

"I present my dress collections on the fifth of May, the fifth month of the year and so we will let this sample number five keep the name it has already, it will bring good luck."

History of Chanel No. 5's iconic bottle.

It is also said that the composition of the fifth vial was a mistake because an assistant used an unheard of amount of that the concoction was actually a laboratory mistake. Beaux's assistant added a dose of aldehyde in a quantity never used before.

Don't ever miss something great because it seems like a mistake! Be inspired!

Image and Content Sources: Touten Parfum, Wikipedia, BBC News

Quilts - Be Inspired

In the transitional phases of this thing called life, we need to remind ourselves that somethings are acquired to be enjoyed by us for a period of time. Then it is up to us to move forward and offer those things to another to find pleasure in them.

My in-laws are in a transition period of downsizing to one of the most beautiful locations I have ever visited. You honestly feel like you have been transported to a place in Europe that exudes such history and quiet solitude that you just don't want to venture back out into the "big bad world" of hustle and bustle.

As with any move, we part with things. I'd like to share the opportunity with my readers to acquire some amazingly stitched Amish quilts that are over 20 years old.

For further information you may click on the links below each photo for details.

(Reverse side of above quilt)

http://harrisburg.craigslist.org/atq/2981384847.html

http://harrisburg.craigslist.org/atq/2981350467.html

Detail of above quilt.

Detail of above quilts.

http://harrisburg.craigslist.org/atq/2981360590.html

http://harrisburg.craigslist.org/atq/2981353993.html

Well Dressed Home No. 13 - Ralph Lauren Desert Modern

His newest collection is called Desert Modern but there is a lot of vintage notes in this modern collection. Many pieces are made by hand, using techniques from the American Studio Craft movement of the 1940s. In this collection is a bench almost five-feet in length that is carved from a single teak log that will be limited to 25 being produced, because the process is so labor-intensive.

A tiered bookshelf's design is drawn from a French 40's example.

While developing ideas for new home-furnishings designs, Ralph Lauren found his biggest inspiration in something that was, in fact, quite small: a simple bowl made of hand-hewn teak. 

Architectural Digest describes it as "elegantly rustic, but also luxuriously chic.

All this from a bowl!

Image Sources: Architectural Digest, Ralph Lauren

Garden Design No. 10 - Moss Gardens

My Dad was big on Sunday afternoon drives. Some times planned, some times spontaneous. One of my favorites was the planned drive when we would head to a particular State Park that we frequented often. So often that we knew most of the trails like the back of our hand.

It was a delight to experience nature's gifts, along with Mom's picnic lunch. How amazing it was to us that the Park was 20 degrees cooler then the hot Summer day outside it. Seriously, we would build a fire  in the massive stone fireplaces built by hand that still exist today in this park, to keep warm while eating lunch. And the water from the natural spring was the freshest you will ever taste.

But one of the most memorable "finds" was what I like to call "nature's carpet". Finding those massive patches of moss to go barefoot in was so much fun. This was our equivalent to a kid's bouncy house.

To this day I find Moss Gardens to be so soothing and relaxing and invitingly tranquil.

Image Sources: Flicker, Daily Venture, Serenity in the Garden, TLC, Water Daily

Garden Design No. 9 - Play It Cool Outdoors

In the warm summer days, I like the simple life. Slowing down a bit and actually feeling the warm summer sun, the cool breezes, the smells of flowers, suntan lotion, minted iced tea, fresh melons...you get the picture.

So for this Garden Design post I wanted to say yippie to playing it cool outdoors.

PLAYING IT COOL IDEA #1 - The outdoor chalkboard

Okay, so this first idea is supposed to be for kids, but I think it would be cool for playing a game of Hangman or keeping score during a game of horseshoes or an epic game of Pictionary.

Now ordinary chalkboard paint probably won't hold up outdoors so here is a "recipe" I found on Pinterest for chalkboard paint for use outdoors.

Random leftover non-VOC paint in black {one cup}

2 Tbs of unsanded grout

Use any scrap of wood you have and ta da!

PLAYING IT COOL IDEA #2 - Outdoor Movie Night

Setting Up Your Outdoor Screen

What you need:
2 thick, white queen–size ironed flat sheets
Top pole 1.5" diameter x 10' long
Bottom pole 3" diameter x 10' long
Rope — 2 different thicknesses

Step 1. Start with two queen–size ironed flat sheets. Sew them together with white thread so the long sides are joined creating a tube.
Step 2. Insert the 1.5–inch diameter pole and let the fabric hang down.
Step 3. Attach thicker rope to the ends of the top pole so that it can be attached to a tree.
Step 4. Once attached to a tree, slide the thicker pole through the tube created by the sewn sheets so that it creates a weight at the bottom of the screen.
Step 5. Attach thinner rope to the ends of the bottom pole.
Step 6. Insert two tent stakes directly beneath the bottom corners of the screen, tie the thinner rope to both of the tent stakes and pull taught. This will insure that the screen doesn't sway in the wind.

PLAYING IT COOL IDEA #3 - Stargazing

The Summer sky has some of the most amazing stargazing. Take the time to marvel. And if you need a bit of help check out this book for the recreational astronomer.

PLAYING IT COOL IDEA #4 - Outdoor Scrabble

This has got to be the ultimate in outdoor fun. The tiles are made from wood trim and vinyl lettering. And the board is stamped concrete. Ahem...score keeping on the outdoor chalkboard.  A really cool handled woven basket for the letter "bag", a good bottle of wine, paperback dictionary for those challenges, and a few good friends. 

Image Sources: Sunset, Pottery Barn, Amazon, Pinterest

Be Inspired No. 32 - Life.

Source: Paloma81

RSVP Collection No. 33 - The Easter Egg

Yup, chalkboard paint.

No pressure here, just some "blow your mind" decorated Easter eggs. So if you haven't colored your eggs yet, have at it. But be warned, this is not the Q-tip, food coloring, newspaper down on the table coloring of eggs, oh no....these eggs even have Martha Stewart pouting.

Someone has a very delicate hand.

Loving the luster!

Leave it to Roberto Cavallini

It's fabric!

With a Sharpie pen, really?

(who are these people?)

Truly tie-dyed.

And after the Easter egg hunt, here is the best egg salad recipe.

Bella Cucina Egg Salad Sandwich

• Boil the eggs just until the centers are still wet. I put my eggs in boiling water and cook for nine minutes.   The eggs continue cooking once you take the pot off the heat, so by the time they cool off for peeling, they have the perfect golden sun yellow yolk. 
• Chop the eggs with a pastry cutter.  I love the chunky texture. Is this the secret? 
• Mix mayonnaise {homemade best, of course, but Hellman's is my choice} with basil pesto. About 1 cup mayo to 1 Tablespoon pesto.  The "secret" ingredient revealed.  
• While the eggs are still warm, gently fold in the pesto mayo into the chopped eggs. 
• Slather  slices olive bread or Italian country loaf lightly on both sides with olive pesto. 
• Generously spread the egg salad onto the dressed bread. Top with washed baby arugula leaves. 
• Cut in half and enjoy immensely.  

Image Sources: Sharpie, Italia Living, Scribbet, Notcot, La Scala, Tutorial Lounge, Dumage, Bella Cucina