Etcetera Etcetera

I Heart New York

New YorkCollageI just got back last night from a quick and very spontaneous trip to New York. My husband and I decided last Tuesday that we were going to head to the US Open, and were on our way by Friday morning!I have to say that this trip will go down as one of our favorite trips ever. Spontaneity was the key word of the entire trip, and it just made it so much more special.....and because we wanted to be there so bad....we enjoyed and squeezed out every minute that we had.This trip was about great tennis, new experiences, the generosity of friends, meeting new friends from far and near.....and really good food. This little collage of pictures is just a snippet of what we enjoyed....and if you want to see more....go to my Instagram page .Here are a few of my favorite highlights:* Good Fork- This little restaurant in Red Hook Brooklyn has the best pork and chive dumplings + the watermelon salad is delicious.* Bakeri - This sweet and amazing little bakery is a feast for the soul and the belly. Go.* Brooklyn Flea - Always a favorite for me, and the first time to this location. It was fantastic! Grab a hot dog from Asiadog and a donut from Dough.......word.* I really enjoyed Red Hook, Brooklyn. Red Hook was hit hard by hurricane Sandy, and the shops and businesses there are still rebuilding and opening their doors....but these people are fighters and I loved meeting the people in this community..... people like Jane from Foxy + Winston. * US Open tennis. Even with a 4 hour rain delay one day {where I was soaked for the entire rest of the day!} ...we saw some great tennis and had a ball.* Friends Michael and Grace {think Pink Olive genius} who spent an entire day with us driving us around the city and showing us the best time......love them.* Gracious friends who let us stay in their apartment while they were away. If you find yourself in Park Slope Brooklyn, and need a great haircut.... Slope Suds salon is the place to go! Ask for Karla...she will take care of you!I am so glad that we have such memories to hold onto....truly great! Hope you all had a great Labor Day weekend!xo,Barb    

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Quotage Quotage

EnJOY

8cfd4374f5f41e2edeb76b6bb6ad2413image via pinterest

Sometimes I think we forget to just enjoy each day......with both its trials and triumphs.....

....we are living....and breathing...

...we have so much.....and so little ......just enough....

xo,

Barb

 

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FYI FYI

Prize Winning Horses, Foxes + Bunnies

animalheads1 animalheads2 animalheads3My friend Mollie Greene just dropped off another collection of her amazing paper mache' animal heads! These are one of my very favorite things....in the entire world!There is a prize winning horse {complete with ribbon}, a couple foxes, and three little bunnies. Each head is perfectly crafted with newsprint, splashes of gold paint...and gold whiskers to boot!These lovelies range in price from $60 -125 and are available to ship. I will not be listing these on my website. So, please email me if you are interested in purchasing one and I will be happy to assist you in your purchase!Mini. perfect. sculptures.......indeed.xo,Barb

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Introductions Introductions

Meet Amicus + Curiae

Amicus1 Amicus2 Amicus3 Amicus4 amicus5 amicus7 amicus8 amicus9I just finished these two lovely dressers for a client.....who just happens to be a lawyer.....thus their fabulous names. The phrase Amicus Curiae is derived from a Latin term meaning "friend of the court".These two are most definitely friendly....and above reproach. {wink!} Both pieces are painted with milk paint, the drawers are lined with burnt orange toile, and one piece got new knobs... tall Amicus....while the other....sweet Curiae, kept her original hardware. The reason we kept the original hardware on Curiae is because she belonged to the grandmother of my client...and she wanted to keep the original memories associated with this particular hardware.I concur.xo,Barb

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Quotage Quotage

Do good work every day

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I think this quote goes for all of us..... no matter our level of "success". When we become so encumbered + embittered by the thoughts + deeds of others...{good or bad}...... it hinders our ability to see the bigger picture...and we all lose.Try to live each day doing good work.....the best work you know how. Love others, give generously, never apologize for good ethics.... and your mind and heart will be so full you will not have time to worry about other things that do not truly matter in this life.xo,Barb

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#AnthroEvents

Screen shot 2013-08-20 at 8.48.29 AMWell my friends....I am only two days away from my event + book signing at Anthropologie, and I woke up this morning so excited about it that I couldn't go back to sleep.As I worked in the studio yesterday with Kendall....my sweet summer intern....she was  asking me if I was excited....and I tried to explain how I felt....which went something like: " I am so excited....I don't even know how to physically show it! When I think back to 2001/2002 when I first started using Anthropologie knobs in my furniture work, it just all seems too surreal to grasp that I will now be in the store.....which is carrying and selling my book.....doing a question and answer time +book signing!" Not to mention, there will be an area set apart where I have picked all of my favorite new hardware and tools from Anthropologie to use in your own furniture designs!I don't know what to wear..{I mean....really}...I am starting to get butterflies.....and am already praying that I don't ramble too much during the Q + A...........but seriously...this is one of those moments that I had fun dreaming about back in the early 2000's as I painted in my garage....and I am not quite sure I know how to wrap my mind around the fact that this little dream of mine is now very real.This one thing I do know......I am so thankful and grateful for all of the many blessings that have fallen on me, because I know that there are many others with talents far greater than mine......P.S. If you would like to RSVP for the book signing event please be sure to do so herexo,Barb

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Introductions Introductions

Mint Green + Gold = "Zephy"

Zephy1 zephy2 zephy3 zephy5 PicMonkey CollageThis lovely little desk is the second piece in my brand new Bahamas collection! I am recently loving this new mint color and I always love a bit of gold for some shine and jazz. The off center "rays" and dipped legs are my way of describing the beautiful golden sunlight and how it highlights the colors of the Bahamas.The name "Zephy" comes from one of the sweet teenagers that I met in the school day camps that we did. A teenager so full of hope and desire..... with great plans of all the things he wanted to do...and who he wanted to be. He told me he does not like to smile......but I did get him to smile...and I know if he could see this piece it would make him smile again....and that would be cool.Measurements: 42" wide 18 1/4" deep 30 1/4" tallPrice: $625xo,Barb

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