To the Love of My Life

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Church Living

Enjoying this fabulous converted church in the  Kensal Green area of London.

With the floor to ceiling windows, the rooms are filled with amazing light. It would make a perfect studio.

The arched windows, ceilings and columns add to its charm.

The colours prevent it from being too sterile.

Looks like the choir loft is an office / study.

OK- I could really get used to this.
Would you consider transforming a church like this?


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Home Front

Starting off the weekend with the calm and cool of blue and green. I believe the word is serenity,

 

complemented by the hope for the quick arrival of spring with tulips and scented hyacinths. Mmmm- can you smell them?

What are you doing this weekend?

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Peacock Elegance

Last fall I was asked to create a tablecloth for an intimate wedding dinner at a table for forty guests. The clients had extremely discerning taste that leaned toward clean and classically contemporary. The dinner took place in a tent, following the ceremony outside under a chuppa created with branches and garden roses.

The table gradually evolved into the boat shape, beautifully curved and tapered toward each end.

To continue with the clean look, I felt that the fabric needed to hug the table curves and have interest on the table top. A patterned fabric was decided against. We chose to use silk dupioni in a gorgeous peacock color. The silk is a dream to work with, holds folds and curves perfectly to the table shape.  

I decided to provide interest by creating a basket weave pattern with the silk. A sewing machine was not even used! I cut strips of fabric, measured to coordinate with the changing table size, and wove the strips right on the table. The strips sides were folded under and ironed before the weaving.

After the basket weave was completed, I attached the full width of the fabric to the woven section and skirted the entire table to the floor. To insure that the guests wouldn't pick at and "undo" the weave, I "tacked" (with a small piece of double-sided tape for fabric)) each intersection of fabric strips. Thank goodness I did; as soon as I had finished, the client came out and test pulled at the strips to see what would happen. They stayed. 

Of course, the setting was amazing, the flowers were dazzling and the weather held out! It was one of those magical nights...

Images courtesy of New Image Photography

Floral decor and event design by Pieter Bouterse Studio

Thank you to Cindy at My Romantic Home!

Ice Branches

Enjoying nature's beauty!

Thank you to Cindy at My Romantic Home!

Sketches

Sometimes I find the process is just as interesting as the finished product.

Guess who did this beautiful sketch?

Such is the case with Hermes's first earthenware collection, Les Maisons Enchantees. Given carte blanche, artist Francois Houtin put his training as a landscape artist to good use in his highly detailed sketches.

Nice studio!

 A radiograph pen was used to create the studies and then they were reproduced with pen and wash.

 Mr. Houtin is on the right.

Love looking at the details.

The tableware collection numbers twenty-one pieces with a cream background and ox-blood designs. They are made in Gien, France.

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Brought to you by...

Peruvian Connection!

I am excited when each issue of the Peruvian Connection catalog arrives. Not necessarily because of the clothes, although I agree they are beautiful, but because I love to check out the photo shoot locations.

Most of the photos here are from their shoot in Prague, which is definitely on my list of places to visit. A few are from Sicily.

  They have great examples of textures, stone, 
sculptures and peeling paint.

Loving that soft blue and natural plaster...

Rust patina...

Anthroplogie is another fun catalog to check out the latest. What other catalogs inspire you?

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