Well Dressed Home No. 14 - Buffalo Check

In the 1850s, this fabric design was created and found mostly in workwear. It became the quintessential lumberjack look. Jackets, shirts and hats were made from wool flannel in this pattern and were worn mostly by outdoorsmen. Now the buffalo check pattern can be found in the most sophisticated interiors of our homes.

Image Sources: House Beautiful, Jeffrey Bilhuber, Cooper-Grey, Niagara Novice, Gumps, Emily Ann, Sandra Nunnerley

Garden Design No. 11 - The Garden Walk

There's something about a garden path that beckons you in. We know that this pathway was created to lead us through a story of beauty and a give us a time out from the daily routines of our lives.

The garden pathway is like the red carpet walk through all our hard work. Every garden should have one. It's our reward for a job well done.

So take some time, slow down the pace, and take a garden walk. Life is simpler in a garden.

Image Sources: Brew Notes, Home Design Decorating, Country Living

RSVP Collection No. 34 - Quesadilla Burger

Quesadilla Burger

• 2 (10 inch) flour tortillas
• 2 tablespoons butter, softened
• 1/3 cup shredded monterey jack pepper cheese
• 1/3 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• diced onions
• diced canned jalapenos
• bacon ( cooked and crumbled)
• southwest seasoned hamburger ( recipe follows)

Southwest Seasoning mix for burgers

• 2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 2 tablespoons paprika
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• crushed red pepper flakes ( to taste)
• 1 teaspoon salt ( I didnt measure)
• 1 tablespoon dried oregano
  For burgers: combine all seasoning ingredrients. Use one heaping Tblsp of seasoning mix per pound of hamburger meat. Mix into hamburger meat until well combined. Fry or grill.Assemble: Heat a large frying pan over medium heat. Spread butter on one side of each tortilla. Put one tortilla, butter side down in the hot pan. Sprinkle the cheeses evenly onto the center of the tortilla in the pan- but not all the way to the edges. Put the tomato, onion, bacon and jalapeno over the cheese, add the cooked seasoned burger and cover with the other tortilla butter side up (like a grilled cheese sandwhich). When the bottom is browned, about 45-90 seconds, flip the quesadilla and grill the other side. Remove the quesidilla from the pan and using a pizza cutter, cut throught the middle. Se

Gotta Love No. 22 - Prada 2012 Shoe Collection

Taking styling cues from 1950s hot rods, these shoes are adorned with spoilers, wings, lights, chrome accents and flames. My sister, the ultimate shoe goddess, sent me an e-mail this week sharing the new Prada 2012 Shoe Collection. Turns out Prada, not only introduced shoes inspired by hot rods, but a full clothing line and awesome purses too!

The creative mind of Steven Meisel filmed the story of this collection so well. Check out the video. 

Image Sources: You Tube, Auto Guide, Fashionista, NY Times, PR Web

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