Now That's A Couch???

I absolutely love reading design blogs I love HG TV as well I love the( designers?) I agree with, and absolutely love to watch the ones I think don’t have a clue. Like the other day I watched the Latest winner of Design Star. She was doing a kitchen with a Deco flair that I failed to see BUT the best was when she put a cook top in an island, it didn’t appear to be a particularly deep island maybe 30 inches. She then built a banquet on the other side so the cook top would be behind a persons head…I’m not even sure that would pass code. Can you imagine a pot boiling over and getting the boiling mess down you neck?  I often wonder where the producers of these shows are? They must spend quite a bit of time out to lunch. I was reading a blog yesterday about Pastel rooms and the writer showed photos of rooms that didn’t look pastel to me, a dark blue sofa white chairs? I love the way the commenter’s always gush fantastic over the bloggers words. Of course when I comment they are rarely if ever posted. I am probably flagged by the bloggers I follow…DON”T post that loud mouth jerks words…I commented about the pastel rooms not looking so pastel to me, maybe the color correction on my laptop was off, and said that the term is drapery not curtains, I saw a sofa but didn’t see a couch…My words were not posted I’m still Looking but comments were posted after mine so I guess my words of wisdom will not reach her readers…

Something To Think About

Right now, on Change.org, there is a video of a gay teen being attacked by another teen while the whole classroom watches. This is one of the most horrific things I have seen in quite a while. It is right up there with the girl being raped while the others cheered on the rapist… What the HELL kind of families do these kids come from? Is there so much violence in there own households that these things seem normal, is the attacker so afraid of his own sexuality that he must lash out at anyone perceived to be gay? Where was the teacher? Why didn’t any one of those kids try to stop the beating? I’m sure there had to enough to have been enough kids in the class who just thought this was wrong to have stopped this. Is defending a gay kid so scary to the others that they are just willing to let the GAY one get the hell beat out of him just because he may be GAY? I had an older brother who would smack first and ask questions later, and he had lots of friends. Had anything like this of happened to me the attacker would not have just walked out of school with a three day suspension. But in today’s world that isn’t the answer either. Why are these kids still so afraid of each others differences? Haven’t we all seen the anti bulling videos made by countless celebrities and why aren’t these videos working ? When I was growing up my family had dinner together EVERY night no excuses, we used Knives and Forks and ate off plates that were pottery never paper. The table was set and we all had our place at the table. This is when and where my parents found out about our lives we spilled our guts at the dinner table, my parents acted like parents, asked questions gave opinions and said things like young man I don’t ever want to hear about you doing something like that… One might wonder what kind of parents does  the ATTACKER have? I don’t believe I’ve seen any comment from them. Something is very wrong here…..  

http://www.change.org/petitions/bully-beats-up-gay-student-on-video-tell-ohio-school-district-to-protect-lgbt-students-from-assault

                                                                                                                                                                                                          

         AFTER THOUGHT :

I can remember when my family moved to Hazel Street I was about 5, we hadn’t even moved in yet . I was standing looking out the screen door when a kid from around the corner walked by I yelled HEY FAT ASS and turned to slam the door I ran right into my dad’s legs OMG. He grabbed me and took me around the block to find that kid and apologize to him. The kid became one of my best friends growing up and has been a lifelong friend to my parents ,he still sees my dad to this day…Maybe the attacker should be forced to apologize and spend some time with the Gay kid, his fears may subside if he gets to know him…..

Halloween Was Very Different Then...

 I’m a bit late writing about this, but anyway I’ve been kinda late doing a lot of things lately. So anyway I was home alone on Halloween evening when the door knocker struck. I wondered how the hell a trick or treater could possibly reach the door knocker? Well it was of course a parent; I’m still amazed by this. When I was a kid there were no parents out trick or treating. Hell the streets in Kalamazoo were full of neighborhood kids and we all had a blast trying to out do each other in candy collected, as well as costumes and NO one had a store bought costume absolutely NO one …The less creative kids wore sheets as ghosts, or black face and ripped jeans, I’m not exactly sure what they were supposed to be bums probably. To day these are the homeless and NO one would dress up as a homeless person. I of course being the creative one that I am would spend weeks figuring out what I was going to be and changing my mind over and over…I remember one Halloween in particular. I was probably 7 or so I decided to be a pack of cigarettes. I got this big box and cut holes in it for my head and arms to fit through and painted it red and white with a big L&M on the front. I was L&M’s Live Modern was there slogan. I loved the look of those cigarette packages and a 7 year old could paint L&M on a red & white box pretty easily. I made a Hat out of the pieces I cut from the arm holes; I had a blond wig I got somewhere. I have no idea today why the wig, but I was sure the whole look was terrific. Never giving a thought to how uncomfortable a cardboard box was going to be walking down the street. My neck was rubbed raw by the end of the night and my arms ached from being held out straight as the box was wider than I was. I don’t remember what my pal Ernie was that year, but remember that terrific costume….

IT'S ABOUT TIME.....

Sorry I haven’t written in so long but, I’m really busy there is so much to tell, but I won’t  right now. I want to talk about Mrs. Jones. I have been trying to become employed as an Interior Designer for almost 3 years now. No matter what I seem to do I just don’t seem to get very far. I’m told to leave a resume or send one, or they tell me they don’t need anyone right now. There is NO one to interview anyone, absolutely no personnel director in any of the places I have checked it’s either some 24 year old sales person or no one at all to speak to. Once again I’m feeling left behind. It’s been so long since I have worked for someone else I have no idea how it’s done. While I worked for Mrs. Blow at the Vogue Shoppe, I was approached on the telephone by Mrs. Jones the Personnel Director at Jacobson’s Mrs. Jones called me set up an interview and saw me in person that was her job. She was a very flamboyant woman quite thin with ridiculous dyed black hair. I’m sure she dyed herself, probably in the kitchen sink . She was never without a PallMall100 constantly flipping that thing around left hand up in the air cigarette all over the place. Seems like she wore lots of red and she often wore full skirts. Remember Jacobson’s  was first and foremost a woman’s fashion store , so most of the women there had beautiful clothing, as they got huge discounts even on top of any sale price offered to the public. Mrs. Jones flew through the stores with her constant cigarette whirling and swirling and talking to each and everyone she came in contact with. She was a most gregarious person and everyone loved her I cannot imagine anyone feeling unfriendly toward her. She would stop and chat with this person and the other and one could hear her loud Ha Ha Ha laughter throughout the store. She was an artist in her field she got most of her hires as referrals from those who already worked there. I myself brought several people to the store including my Aunt who eventually outsold ME. She was a real master and they loved her she made lots of money for them. She found wonderful employees and actually met them each and everyone. I wonder if there are any companies out there today who have people like Mrs. Jones or have they all been sent to the pasture…..

I just love Jose, why I honestly think....

The other day I was writing about the photo of me in front of the white and pink wall, when all of a sudden it just posted.  I was saving it and must have hit the wrong key so I’m back to writing on the original format Yahen taught me to use. I never finished what I wanted to say about the wall, but can’t really remember my thoughts, so I guess it really doesn’t matter. I read this morning that today is the 50th anniversary of the release of the movie Breakfast At Tiffany’s.  WOW now that’s something to think about, how many of us can remember seeing that movie in some big movie house maybe a matinee and possibly sitting through it twice? I probably went with my friend Sally or Sharon or maybe both. I’m sure we had no idea what it was about. I know we never thought the movie would still be talked about all these years later, and they would both be long dead both by there own hands. My mother used to refer to them as Brenda and Copina names she said, of two girls in a comic strip that reminded her of them. But back to the movie have any of you ever noticed the subtle use of the Tiffany Blue color through out the movie? I had to watch it over and over 2 years ago while I was dreaming up a table setting I was doing for a charity. I used the movie as my theme  so I needed to see the movie a few times to get myself into the VIBE…

I found it extremely difficult to obtain the boxes I needed, so I had the color matched in latex and painted a bunch of boxes and tied white satin bows around them no one knew the difference. I piled the boxes in the middle of the table and crashed a chandelier into them to signify the party at the apartment. Pretty clever! anyway it turned out pretty cool. I had one place set as if Holly had just walked away. Cigarette holder in the water glass along with the cigarette stubbed out on the dinner plate. Sunglasses, gloves and necklace scattered about. People didn’t get it I was floored, The older people understood the table but many of the younger just did not. Oh well life goes on and so must I …until later,  Jak  

Yahen took this beautiful photo while we were in Cancun last week I just saw it yesterday. It of course took me back to Thelma blow and Mrs. Riggins Living room. The colors in this photo are extremely appealing to me I cannot even imagine anyone not going Gaga over this combination of colors. Combination of the blue and PINK and then the white to sort of tone the whole thing down. It takes me right back to 1963 and VO and water Old Gold filter cigarettes and of course those great cocktail parties. I remember being downstairs and watching the color TV probably some Supremes Special or something like that.

Rekindled....

I must tell you I have rekindled a friendship with a beautiful woman (Persian) here in Austin. I first meet her and her Beautiful husband about 2 years ago and saw them a couple times and kind of lost touch. I caught up with her about 3 weeks ago at a Neimans event, and have seen her two or three times since. I’m not sure why I let this woman out of my sight we are so much fun together …you would all love us. Kind of, but not quite like Rebecca and myself. I cooked her dinner last week and made her a Mexican chocolate cake for desert. She loved it all, she brought her new man along we all had very nice evening. She has since left the husband in a corner somewhere and has an adorable boyfriend who is also very intelligent and quite nice to be around. I went out with her last night and I’m going to tell you she was the shining star in the room. Her clothing was beautiful. She wore an ivory pant suit, along with a leopard sheer sleeveless top. Her face was flawless, the makeup beautiful, and the hair is the dream of all17 year olds, and she aint 17. We met a very attractive man Andre’s from somewhere, I can’t remember. But this guy was good looking and had beautiful clothing as well. I thought he was gay at first, but then realized he was European. He walked up to me and asked where I was from” certainly not here” and we three struck up a quick little friend ship. He has something to do with European and fleet cars Hell I wasn’t really listening. I was more interested in the inter action between he and my friend. Good but no real chemistry however she liked him and said she would introduce him around if he emails her. I would like to keep in touch with him as well as he has connections in Houston, and Houston is my new dream home. ….

It's Time To Sell This House...

I’m not at all sure what I am going to write about. For the last few days I’ve been trying to get my head around getting this house ready for the realtor to look at. I have to kind of undecorate, as more than likely the person or persons who buy this will not be decorators and will look at this and go OMG…The living room and dining rooms are pretty good maybe just take down about half the art and remove a few accessories. But the family room has way to much furniture and needs to be weeded out. There is a house three down from us that has just dropped the price almost 30,000.00. Down to more what we were told to list this house  at in the first place. I am very concerned about the yard and think the house doesn’t have much curb appeal especially since early in the summer it looked so good the grass was beautiful before the drought became so severe. I finished the tiny bath and it looks really good, of course it’s painted white. I would have painted the walls with some kind of stripes, maybe what I did in VA. But there is a vessel sink and granite vanity top with a cabinet behind the vanity with a granite top as well. There is a lot of storage and that is what people really want. I replaced all the hardware and the shower door as well. I spent about a thousand dollars, still more than the realtor wanted me to spend BUT I just couldn’t let anyone see it the way it was. There will be a storage unit delivered on the 7^th and I’ll take a few days to fill it and then paint the inside of the garage and power wash the drive and then get it on the market… OH please let this place sell fast I just have to move …

It is time to move along

We have decided to sell our house in Austin; we want to be in a town house, or some other kind of condo. We have never been in the living room, and have used the dining room only once. After all the time, effort, and money, that has been put into this house: it feels like the parts we do use are just to small. Too much of the house goes unused. The kitchen and family room are where we live. I would like them to be larger and all open. I don’t think I want a living room at all, unless it is just a very large room, it must open into the kitchen. We do not have sit down dinners any longer, we are still having people to dinner at least twice a month, but it is all very laid back casual. Last week we had people to dinner twice and both were very simple serve yourself and eat where you may kind of affairs both great, but the dining room goes unused just collecting dust. We don’t have holidays at our house so none of this is needed any longer. And we definitely do NOT want a yard, the water is just too expensive and precious to use on a lawn. I want a balcony and a pot, just big enough for four chairs and a table nothing else. I must have been crazy in VA. To have all that outdoor space and the upkeep, WOW what was I thinking? We hardly ever went out there, and when we did we crowded around the patio doors and never went to the other seating and dining areas on that huge patio. I even had it made twice as large as it was to begin with. I must have been crazy. I certainly did not go that way in the North Austin house it actually has remained quite like it was upon my arrival. Except for adding floor to ceiling windows in the living room, 2 sliders in the family room, adding a third back door, creating a laundry room, moving the kitchen, redoing both bathrooms’ new windows, and of course the new front door and those Interior fixtures used as outside lighting on the front of the house. A few other things like changing all the closet doors, and replacing most all the flooring, and adding MIRRORS yes mirrors. But any way it’s time to stop and just move along…and maybe simplify. Anyway I’ve never met a house I didn’t want to decorate…

In A World Long Ago...

When I was a kid one could go from door to door selling things and make 2-3 dollars a week. And believe me I did. I had a wagon I ask for one Christmas, I kept it filled with all kinds of things to sell. I was a general store on wheels. I would set out in the morning and get back home around 3:30 in the afternoon. I would do this 2 or so times a week I had a regular route. Sometimes I would go into a new neighborhood, this was usually a wise move as the women in these houses had not seen my wears before so they were easy sells. I had 3 women and a man that made things for me to sell I got to keep 25 or 50 cents on each item and this added up pretty fast. Mrs. Brenninger made aprons, pillow cases and trimmed hand towels. While her husband made corner shelves he had designed out of ply wood, and little oak leaf shelves as well. Their daughter Shirley also sewed and made things to sell. But it was Mrs. Luther, who made toss pillows. Beautiful toss pillows there were clover shapes, and triangles, round, and square all boxed with zippers, all had welt cords, and some with buttons. I guess this is why to this very day I cannot stand pillows without welt cords and I like boxed pillows rather than knife edge. To me toss pillows that are not welted are simply not finished, just 2 pieces of fabric sewn together. Mrs. Luther made other beautiful things as well she made draperies and even all her own cloths. She covered the chair in my bed room, I mowed her lawn. She taught me how draperies and toss pillows are made. Although I have never made either I have a basic understanding of how these things are done because of her. I have made some of her designs over and over and sold them for a lot more than the 2or 3 dollars we sold them for in those days. Her clover leaf pillow boxed, welted, and with a centre button is still one of my all time favorites. Her boxed and welted rectangle with rows of buttons is also a favorite of mine. This particular pillow was really expensive, it was at 4.50 out of the reach of many. Mrs. Luther was a great story teller as well. She told how Mr. Luther had accidentally killed her first husband and married her so she couldn’t collect insurance. How he used to knock her son over at the dinner table, how she eventually just got up and took her son away. She had a glass eye too, and would tell me how her brother accidentally poked her eye out. So be careful…  She and I would eat dinner together occasionally. Thick steaks rare, with lots of butter, on thick pieces of bread to soak up the blood, baked potatoes, and red tomatoes from her yard. She would refer to something’s being” hard as a brickbat” I have never heard anyone else use this term other than myself. Imagine how hard a brick bat is… She lived in little aqua house at the end of our street, a miniature of her son’s rather lavish house around the corner. Hers had mums all around it that in the fall would be “white as the driven snow”. Never heard that again either…But my all time favorite “she had a face that would stop an 8 day clock” now that’s a very telling comment…

Saturday Around Here

I received a magazine the other day with a woman on the cover that reminded me of Mr.s Young the lady down the street , So I added it to yesterdays blog …in My mind that’s what she looked like (in the early years),so I thought you might like to see…I spent a few hours yesterday creating the Chanel chairs you see at the beginning of this blog. Aren’t they cool? They are really two old Adirondack chairs thrown out by my unfriendly neighbors. They were bright yellow with stupid Daisies painted all over them and kind of in rough shape. I will never sit in these chairs they are only for the cool factor, and the ridiculous Chanel Item of the moment. The fact they really don’t look as good as the photo doesn’t matter a bit. I needed something to replace the expensive vintage Woodard chairs, as there have been several instances of theft from yards and porches in this neighborhood lately. I bought the dollar spray paint on the bottom shelf at Lowes, it only comes in black or white so of course BLACK has to be the choice. My Mother was right when she told me if It’s  junk paint it black, it will most likely clean up to be something good looking. Had I painted them white they would have just looked sweet and charming NOT ME…any way I love the look, kinda goofy but in a cool way and they will certainly impress guests as they are hard to miss on that little tiny porch. I just hope no one decides to sit in them…

When I was just a boy

When I was a  boy of  5, we moved from Walnut St. to 2389 Hazel. (My Dad still lives on Hazel to this day). He still mows the lawn himself, and will get around to fixing that any day now. He still takes long rides in the back yard with His brother Cleave. The have a boat motor in a barrel of water in the back, and have been testing it out for as long as I can remember. They never get very far, but that’s okay: my dad doesn’t like staying anywhere too long any way.

Tiny and Nellie, Mr and Mrs. Smith lived on the right of us while the Nelsons lived on the left. We knew every one on the street and while most never came to our door, let alone through it: they all knew us as well. In those days one could send there kid out doors to blow the stink off,  and be almost sure they were coming back without brain damage or some other terrible trauma several hours later. Across the street, and down half a block, in the oldest, biggest, and most imposing house on the street, lived the Young’s. They were Catholic, and according to Mrs. Bailey “surely going to HELL”. I was scared to death of them, and very interested at the same time.  Since my Mother had informed me only murderers went to hell, if there even was such a place. I decided to put on my blue and white (mine were always blue and white, while Steve’s were brown and white) elastic waist crinkle crape shorts, barefoot sandals, and go down the block to see for myself. Kit, Jayne and I were sitting on the front porch discussing fashion, (remember I’m 5) when suddenly she appeared, the biggest Catholic on the street: Mrs. Young. She was absolutely beautiful, a secretary just like Ann Southern on TV. She had very dark hair and very white skin, wore a pale blue sailor dress with a big tie, and red spike heel shoes.( I later learned she had several clip on things to change the overall look of these shoes. I thought this to be extremely sophisticated). She had very long very RED fingernails that were pointed. and hyper extended thumbs (how did she type). She got out of her beige 1949 Chevrolet holding her tiny little Old Gold cigarette. Suddenly I just knew she was NOT going to HELL. She was going to open lots of doors for me. Over the next 15 years or so Kit, Jayne, Mrs. Young, and I traveled lots of miles together. I had my first taste of spaghetti at her kitchen table, and my first pizza too (both Chief Boyardee) I learned about Toile de Jouy and Schumacher fabrics. She talked about her life in New York with her cultivated New England accent; both Jayne and I couldn’t wait to go:  

Jayne off to school, to study fashion and illustration at the Fashion Institute. Me years later off to shop, run around Broadway, the Village and any where a cab could take me …One more woman who taught me very important things….   

Good morning, I thought I would take a few minutes this AM and tell you all about a site new I have found, called Hooked on Houses. I stumbled across this the other day when I was looking for information for my friend Jayne on the No. 3 Beekman Place residence of Mame Dennis. I couldn't believe what I found. Stills of all the sets of my all time favorite movie Auntie Mame. As you all know this is my all time favorite house as well. Followed by the real life residence of Mrs. Riggin 3456 Glen Harbor Drive. Of course the Glen Harbor drive house is not on any website. And only lives on in my memory, larger than it probaly ever was in real life. There are also stills of the fantastic ranch house used in the 60's movie The Parent Trap, with Haley Mills. This house was actually a facade built on a corner of Walt Disneys property and the interior shots were all done on a sound stage . If one takes a moment to look at it ,you will see an absolutely beautiful living room shot from seveal angles. It does not try to become a recreation of a Spanish Villa from a century ago but is actually a modern liviable combination of what was then new and modern, and what was old. I could move into any of these 3 houses today and be happy and at home. The site shows you Gwyneth Paltro's house as well. A beautifl light and airy looking place with a black kitchen. As some of you know I love black cabinetry and would use it all the time if I thougt I could. Black will make a kitchen feel glamourous when nothing eles can. Add a crystal chandelier and you really have a LOOK. I of course would never suggest it unless the client is  in the house for the long haul ,as it has limited appeal. And most likely does not add to the value of a house the way a medium wood tone would. I also love chandeliers in kitchens either over an island ,peninsula, or in the centre of the ceiling . A kitchen like this will make you want to break out the sterling every day...

Hooked on Houses

Please check out one of my favorite new sites: Hooked on Houses

An Evening At Neiman's

So, this evening I went to a Soiree at Neiman Marcus to meet my friend Janis. She had a conflict and  couldn’t make it. But of course I met several people and chatted them up, so no problem …Lots of wine and a few vegetarian snacks, I’m ready to talk ,something I have absolutely NO problem doing. This party’s crowd was exceptionally well dressed for Austin, and was good looking too.  I asked where these people were from, and was told many were friends of Lance the editor of Society a new magazine about lifestyle, fashion etc. He was there so I guess it was kind of a joint venture …a good deal for Neimans, there were lots of buyers this evening. These little parties are usually not to well attended, not at all like they would be in metro DC. Neimans is still new to Austin, and getting its footing.  I’m sure this evening was a big success. There were several models wandering around, but no one knew who they were as they were not identified in any way, not to bright in my opinion, but what the hell who am I? I ran into an old acquaintance Adeline I met her about two years ago and have only seen her a few times, WOW did she look beautiful, I had forgotten what and exotic beautiful woman she is, she really is a show stopper. We reconnected and I chatted with her and her friends for about half an hour. They were all lots of fun; I kind of invited them all over to dinner next week. So I’ll have to get out my cooking utensils and get to work. The star of the evening was a very handsome young guy doing makeup. He was really chatty and extremely good-looking; all the women wanted him to do them. Of course all he was gonna do was their make up…

I Hope You Missed Me

Hello,

I must tell you all what has been going on in my life and why I have been remiss about writing.  I flew to Washington DC,where I visited several clients and attended an extremely important event. ( I was there 9 days thanks to my friend Ali) Unfortunately, the weather the day of the event was horrible. At noon on the dot as predicted it began to rain and it rained like HELL.  One of my favorite client’s middle daughters was being batmizvahed. Even with a hurricane it was a fabulous affair, on one terrible evening weather wise. Many of the guests simply could not make the drive to the hotel in such awful weather. But the party did go on, and it was beautiful. I had an absolutely wonderful time, I wish there was a photo of the outfit I wore. I’ll see if any are available, if so I’ll add it later. But for now you’ll just have to imagine me, in a Hugo Boss skinny leg tuxedo with a long sleeve horizontal stripe T shirt in black and white under, black suede tassel loafers NO socks. I’ll tell you it was a good look. The decorations for this event were wonderful as was the food music and mood. The tables had fantastic floral arrangements with wire musical instruments in the centre and another floral at the top so they were definitely a statement, but one that could be looked through so not to inhibit conversation. It was a wonderful evening. I really didn’t do as much business as I had planned while there as one of my biggest clients had an emergency. Those things happen. But I did see a few clients and perhaps accomplished a bit of business. As I have told you all before this can be a very unpredictable business, one never knows what is around the next corner. I’m missing a cocktail table from a room redo on Capitol Hill. This has become a nightmare, the rest of the room is coming along very well and I’m pleased about that. My client is being very understanding and I hope to get the problem resolved sooner than later. Another had an apartment purchase fall through. There were several people wanting it . I was really hoping to be able to decorate this tiny little 1850 sq ft on one floor residence for my client but it looks like they will be staying put for the near future. So life goes on, and still NO rain in Austin, AHH to be in Houston…

Some times all this new technology is almost more than I want to deal with. Yet when I don't have it even for a moment or two I can hardly stand that either. Is this a sign of getting old ? Sometimes I wonder if I'll just end up a grumpy crazy old man. I once knew a woman, I actually met her when she was 90 she had been a psychiatrist, she was the tiniest woman I have ever met. She told me the only good thing about being old is you can say what ever you want, to whom ever you want , "they just think your crazy"...I guess that is kind of a small reward. But people are more rude today than they were in the 90's. Maybe they would knock you down and then think you CRAZY. Look at the way people walk around shouting into cell phones. They don't give a thought to whether or not someone else may not want to hear all this. I think when this happens one should start to sing at the top of ones lungs, I once started whistling and the person said they couldn't hear. I answered REALLY.....(I'm not sure if this man is whistling but he looks good what ever he is doing)

I Loved The Help....It got me thinking.

Well I finally got to see the Help. And I was really impressed, of course I was so happy to see how they worked Leslie Jordan ( Brother Boy ) into this. I never thought of the editor of the paper the way the casting director did, but I am really glad he did. I am also glad that it was not turned into a light hearted comedy or a horrible tragedy. But the story was told as the truly serious story it is. And yet the characters saw humor in there sometimes tragic lives. I also liked the NEW ending with Skeeters Mother turning a corner in her own understanding of the tragedy of theses black women’s lives. I wanted this Mother to turn out to be good. I didn’t dislike her the way I did the same character in the book. Although I liked Abeline, I loved Minnie, her eyes popping out of her head, I thought she was a perfect choice for the character. Another was Miss Celia Foot I loved her ,especially in the red dress. The reaction of every woman at the event no matter her color was wonderful. And of course Sissy Spacek was a brilliant choice. While I was reading the book (actually listening) on my AM walks, I began to feel a real lack of knowledge of this world . Hell I lived in Kalamazoo, although my Mother knew lots of colored people, I really didn’t. She even had two friends with black husbands. Something that even in Kalamazoo was very unusual.  I went to school where there were none, and I was in school long before bussing. There were only 2 or 3 black kids in my whole school career. I began to think. I have no idea how my Grandmother thought about black people or if she even knew any. I wonder how my Great-grandmother thought about them, and if she ever came in contact with any. Did these women ever give a thought to these people who lived across town? An entire world away, I loved these women, so I want them to have been sweet and caring all the way to there core. I hope they were not like horrible woman at the dining table toward the end of the movie, it would be hard to imagine either of them being like that , but then her grandson probably loved her too……..

Just A Thought To Ponder

 

Yesterday when I was walking my Sat. 10, I was listening to one of my favorite singers from the mid 60’s Petula Clark.  I love her voice and I can still see her “all the way from London England” on Ed Sullivan. I think she will be 80 in Nov.  I still of course see her in my mind as a young woman of 32 or so. She was actually much older than most pop stars of her time. I was around 15, Mary Riggin and I loved this “old woman” singer from England. Some where we had never been. I was on line watching “ Pet”. And began to wonder if Tori Birch is perhaps a fan as well. If one takes the time, as I often do. And look at old photos ,videos and the such you will see a real correlation between Tori’s  designs and the Givenchy influenced wardrobe  Ms Clark sports all through the late 60’s and early 70’s . In fact if one is to take a moment to look at the Givenchy logo you may see a great similarity between both designers’ logos. I wonder how it is possible to be sitting at ones desk and suddenly come up with such similarities with out looking at or studying the designer one is emulating. Now there is nothing wrong with being strongly influenced by the world around you, I know I certainly am. But what exactly is the design process how does one go about designing a sofa for example? I kind of think there all ready are sofas. There doesn’t seem to be a lot of difference between ones seen on the floor of one well known designer’s boutique in SF and the American of Martinsville wood frame styles of the late 60’s early 70’s. If one can get hold of some footage of an old Hullabaloo TV dance show they could design an entire collection from about 5 minutes of footage. If I sound a bit bitter perhaps I am. I kind of wonder where the fashion and design world is headed. HG TV would have you believe an interior can be done single handedly in no more than 3 days. Design is a creative process, so does sitting down looking a photos and studying the designs of others and then “drawing up” a product that looks almost Identical to it mean you designed something or did you simply” draw it up” ? Don’t know exactly, but I kinda think I’m leaning in one direction….

Just So You Know...

It’ s Saturday AM and I find myself sitting here wondering why I haven’t written in so long. Thinking I have so much to say so much to get out …I thought one way to get some stuff out there is to answer the questions asked by an interviewer to some semi famous person, so here goes…What is your idea of perfect happiness? Christmas morning for a 7 year old, every thing seemed so wonderful. What is your greatest fear? Living to long, ?being to old, and not being able to care for myself.  Which historical figure do you most identify with?  T hats a tuffy, I would have to say a fictional one, Mame Dennis. Which living person do you most admire? Barrack Obama, he knew he could!!! What is the trait you most deplore in yourself? Talking to much, and saying to little.  What is the trait you most deplore in others? Not letting me talk enough…What is your greatest extravagance? Decorating. What is your favorite journey? Any ride on the Paris subway. I don’t care where I’m going. On what occasion do you lie? Sometimes to keep from hurting some ones feelings, but not usually. What do you dislike most about your appearance? My neck. Which words or phrases do you most overuse? Well Ya KNOW. If ya know why am I telling you? What is your greatest regret?  Not spending more time with my MOM. Who is the greatest love of your life? Clara, she taught me how to be in LOVE, told me there were lots of people out there we can fall in LOVE with, then set me free to find them. When and where were you happiest? The Kendall School of Design. What is your current state of mind? Interested, what will happen next? If you could change on thing about your family what would it be? We’d be French and I’d have grown up in Paris. What do you consider you greatest achievement? Staying close to Clara, she’s one of my best friends, I’ve known her LONGEST. What is your most treasured possession? A candid photo of my mother talking to me. I was about 20 so she was about 43. She is wearing a dress my Aunt Sunny made her for Christmas from me. She is buried in the dress. What would you regard as the lowest depth of misery? The death of someone you LOVE. What is your favorite occupation. Decorating a blank canvas with an unlimited budget. It has yet to happen…What is your most marked characteristic? Unfortunately my balding head. What do you most value in your friends? The ability to forgive, I never hold a grudge. Who are your favorite writers? Patrick Dennis, Truman Capote, and Harper Lee. Who are your heros in real life? Barrock Obama, Billie, and my Mother. What is it that you most dislike. Chair rails all over the house. How would you like to die? Hanging pictures in a clients Living Room. If you could choose to come back as someone or something what would it be? Fred Astaire, I’d be the best dance at the party and I’d have the best cloths…HEAVEN… What is your motto?

What would Mrs. Riggin do?  Now I think these kind of things are very interesting But they left out a VERY important Question ,one of my favorites; What kind of tree would be? Hell a Christmas Tree of course……………..

Behaving Badly

I just want to tell you all that my jobette has sadly come to an end I lasted 3 days. It was so much fun for me to be in a store once again. But it was not fun being in a situation where every one is walking around on egg shells trying to keep out of the way of the outrageous and RUDE son of the owner. I really didn’t need the job ,But I did want it. However I don’t need to be treated badly by anyone. Especially some self important jerk who walks around being rude and nasty to literally everyone he comes in contact with. A few years ago I made a life observation “bad behavior gets rewarded” maybe it was when I first opened my store and watched parents and children and how a screaming 3 year old can control a seemingly intelligent parent. Or the fact that some adults on airplanes behave badly and get exactly what they want. If one behaves badly enough others will do just about anything to make nice. I did notice in other countries this is not necessarily the case. It seems more likely in another country that parents control the children, is it because we Americans think our children are so precious that a gob smack is likely to damage them? Hell my parents didn’t put up with anything and my brother and I grew up just fine. The store has two little dogs Peeing and Pooping any where in the store they want. And they sleep all over the merchandise, do people really want to buy pillows these dogs have slept and dragged there buts on? No one dares mention any of this .Hell I put them in the back hall before one ran out the door and got hit by a car.  I watched as the person mentioned above terrorized intelligent adult women. Even his Mother is afraid of him.  I was told he is prone to be quite outrageous. I really had witnessed only his outright rudeness. And the fact that he walked right by me and never said; hello, get out of my way, or how bout a little peck on the cheek. I think he was quite threatened by me. He had all the employees including his mother convinced he is some kind of a temperamental retail genius, well he ain’t …lets leave it there…….

What Me......

Hello, I am kinda back to work…It’s been a long long time since I have worked in the confines of someone else’s business, let’s see how this works. I of course as you all know have not held down a JOB since 1983. So to suddenly be back in this world of the working and to be doing things the way someone else seems to think they should be done is really going to be quite a challenge. I’ll be writing more about this later but for now should probably just keep my mouth shut and stand back and be the sales person I have been hired to be. Evidently NM is not quite in touch and so WE don’t need to be concerned with the fact that they spend Millions on merchandising. But you won’t hear these things from me. The store I am working in  is in a very LA-DE-DA strip mall. Well more of a downtown out of a box really, one that Austin is slowly growing to accept. You see it is hotter than HELL here, so there IS a reason the Galleria in Houston is so wildly popular. One is not wandering around sweating bullets with frizzy hair and there underpants stuck up there butt. So they actually can think and shop. I think the concept of these out door malls is great but the reality of them will be tested against some stiff competition. You see; The Vitton gal can walk and shop in climate controlled comfort in Houston or, sweat like a stuck HOAG after having driven her Bently around and around only to have to park at NEIMANS (bless there parking lot) and walking half a mile in this blazing heat in Austin, Now you choose….. ICKY or FRESH…me I choose fresh after all I am the one time owner of a fairly successful, tiny little itty bitty teeny weeny store my self….

That's Entertainment?

I am having a bit of difficulty with the way a certain man on television, with strange lips, portrays people in my profession. I am positively shocked by the way this man screams and carries on, not only at his employees but the way he talks to the trade’s people as well as other supposed vendors. Let me tell you something, a VERY important something: I learned from Thelma Blow AID a long time ago. “DO NOT make the trade’s people or the vendors, artisans, etc angry at you. Always treat these people with the respect important people in your life deserve.”  These are the wheels of you business your trade. I’m saying; all the beautiful designs in the world make no difference if you cannot sell them, or get them produced. Believe me, it’s the trades people who make your vision come to life. You want these people to love you. To know how important they are to you as a designer. I have seen painters tell designers to “ paint it yourself” and walk off the job. Now try explaining that to the client.  I have seen upholsterers hold unfinished pieces and fabrics hostage for payment because some idiot designer talked to them the way this man talks to just about everyone he comes in contact with. No designer should ever want to be thought of as a nasty person. It is almost more important how your support people talk about you than the way your clients do. Word gets around in the design community and your life can become very difficult. I knew a woman designer who had such a bad reputation at the showrooms that her orders were often times thrown in the trash. She was constantly behind on her projects. Remember these are television shows. Some of these people may not even be real. The program may not be interesting if the main character was a nice guy or gal. So let’s put all this TV design in perspective, as just what much of it is. entertainment…..

Antique or Previously Owned

I have come to realize that given a choice, I will always select furniture ( for my personal use) that has belonged to other people .Some refer these pieces as vintage, or used, some call them antique… 125 years old?

I have only to look around  my own house to see just how many pieces of furniture I own that were previously owned and how few have been purchased off the rack with no story behind them. So is it the chair or the story, the person the mystery,  I don’t know? I also would most likely never buy a new house: it just wouldn’t occur to me to even look at a new house seriously. And yet one of my oldest and wisest friends wouldn’t buy a previously owned house if she could keep from it. So there is something for every one. As an old woman I knew one summer told me “ if everyone wanted the same thing there wouldn’t be enough to go around”. See I’ve told you all the good stuff I know I have learned from women!

Any way I have this collection of furniture in my house that I love and most of the great pieces were previously owned by someone else. Even the cocktail set was made to look like Mrs. Riggins.  Hell maybe I really don’t have an original thought in my head…Yea, I do.

 I have a special place for chairs. Rosemary once told me I wanted the chairs of every one I knew just so I could tell a story about them:  I have Mrs. Joy’s sock arm club chair with cabriole legs. After Mrs. Joy died, I got the chair and had it recovered in Leopard a couple years ago. I covered it in grey flannel for her. Then redid it in white on white patterned chintz. When I first saw it in about 1980 it was pink silk with a cabbage rose slipcover, Mrs. Joy was wonderful a tiny woman with a Minnie Mouse Voice, she liked to talk and I liked to listen she wore grey,taupe, and black, I never saw her in any thing else. I did her house in grey, taupe, and black. She wore a big black diamond on a wide platinum band with gold bands on either side. Her hair was grey and cut like Anna Wintour, long before anyone really knew who Anna was. She had her mink coat dyed to match her hair, and drank diet coke thru a black straw… She taught me to use monogrammed fingertip towels as every day napkins. I still buy them by the dozen although they are harder to find in the USA these days. This works really well; NO iron luxury…Mrs. Joy was just that…..

Falling In Love Again....

Hello, I have fallen in LOVE again with Faux Bamboo Furniture. I can’t stop looking at it, I want to buy another piece or two but of course have absolutely no place to put anything.  I want to sell this house and buy another so I can do some remodeling. This one is almost done and I’ve kind of lost interest. I think a 3 story town house would be nice. Then I could do the bedroom in Vintage Faux Bamboo…Now that would be nice. I would lacquer it all chocolate brown and do the room in aqua and chocolate. I’d like that. .Many years ago I  did a beautiful bedroom in a pink Victorian house owned by a fantastic woman Mrs Nickell. She was a great client and she and I did a beautiful house togather. The Bed room was very large and had huge windows on 2 sides so the bed had to sit in front of a great big window. We had a beautiful Faux Bamboo Bed made in south Carolina it had big pineapple finials and was snow white. The reat of the furniture was Drexel I can’t remember the collection name but it was all Victorian Faux Bamboo and it was snow white as well…The room had Van Luit wall covering in Ice Green on Ivory ground with White leaves, and scalloped drapery in white moiré with damask sheers it was beautiful. There was even a chaise lounge with Scalamandre trim.  Mrs. Nickell was RICH and she lived like it. She was a self made woman she did it on her own. I have a real fondness for this style of furniture, not those Victorian hall trees though. They I can live without. I bought a beautiful ashtray and matchbook cover in Kalamazoo the other day and I love it (hell I haven’t smoked in almost 20 years) it’s very glamorous and it’s gold Faux Bamboo. I also have a  Labarge cocktail table in gold Faux Bamboo that I have owned since 1974 I love this table as well. It’s so Glamorous, and so were we so young, so glamorous. We thought…  

I'm Back Again

WOW . It’s been a long time since I’ve written.  I was just watching a video on color families. He was going on and on about how one could decorate there room around a rock, an apple, or an ugly plaid shirt. I am not sure who this person is, but he has a very successful website on decorating. I am also not sure if he has any training or not. What I am sure of is that I found his color family video almost as irritating as the woman with the hats I wrote about a while ago. He was sitting there in wrinkled clothing talking about the wisdom of color schemes (he called them families) from rocks with crocheted things on them. Don’t most color schemes come from some inspiration if it’s a peacock feather, or a fabric from Scalamandre. That may or may not ever make it into the final cut? I don’t know where he thinks one gets a color scheme? If not from ones surroundings, a page in a magazine, a coat in a store window? He spoke with such wisdom while he scratched himself. When I was very young I did a series of TV interviews the first thing they told me was to be careful of my hands.  Where they go, and what they do.Best to hold something if you think you will wipe your nose or scratch yourself any where. I think my profession is under siege by a lot of people who think” I could do that”. If I were a lawyer or hairdresser I wouldn’t feel that way because they have to be licensed before they are given a TV show. I want to change the subject before I start to sound even more bitter than I already do. Look at the photo of the restaurant I have added to my post isn’t it beautiful? It is in Manhattan and was designed by Benjamin Noriega-ortiz. I would just love to sit and have some good wine and a big shrimp cocktail there. My only criticism is the drapery. It is tied back to tightly looks a bit like the HOOD…..I would consider this a really good example of interior design. I bet there were floor plans done for this job!  

All I Have Learned

I truly believe in my lifetime the most important things I’ve learned have always been taught me by the WOMEN  in my life. I can remember from a very early age thinking that women were by far more interesting to me than most men. I’ve  known so many women from whom I have gathered information I deem invaluable. Let’s face it the most important woman in our lives is our mother, I cannot think to begin to tell how many things I learned from her, how to iron a shirt, the difference between nick- nacks and antiques, to always thank people “it’s by far better to thank to much than not at all” no one will forget you did not thank them. As time has gone on and I am getting older and I begin to rethink my career as an Interior Designer I think of a conversation I had with my mom she told me “ don’t forget there will always be some younger, prettier, more talented.” So keeping that in mind, there may come a time to step out and move along to something new, look back and be happy with what you had the opportunity to do. I am thrilled I had the opportunity to get the education I did. Thanks to a mother who was so supportive. I cannot imagine what my life would have been like without all the support I received from her. My aunt Margie taught me “it’s a sick person who eats 1 Oreo” now there was a smart woman. My aunt Sunny (Mrs Nie) taught me to always” look under the rug , things aren’t ever what they seem”…another wise woman...When  I was a little boy I thought I was the luckiest person in the world my MOM and 2 AUNTS were the smartest most beautiful women in the world. When I was 4 my aunt Sunny got married and I was her Ring Barer I had a new pale blue suit and a navy blue clip on bow tie …A lesson in fashion (you decide)…There was a woman Mrs Young. Who lived down the street her house was the largest on the street. She was very sophisticated and spoke with a New England accent. She smoked tiny little unfiltered cigarettes. I learned that Spaghetti was wonderful even out of a can it was so very continental…I had never eaten such an exotic meal, especially Chief Boyardee. She taught me about Schumacher and Toile de Jouy, Her draperies were Toile de Jouy. As I grew up and became more and more obsessed with becoming a decorator, I probably never thought these women were the huge influences on me.  I now know they were, and continue to be every day of my life. I think of all of these women:  and the many more, many now dead, some still very much alive and I have to thank each and every one for the bits of wisdom they gave me…. 

Interesting Thought....

So I just wrote a long letter to Whren. I’m not sure I’ll mail it, but I kind of feel good having written it. I haven’t been able to get his strange reaction to me out of my mind. Maybe he hasn’t had a great life. Maybe he’s one of those people who doesn’t want people from the past to see him, Hell I want all the people from my past to see me. No doubt about that. .It’s interesting how people change and mature. The weirdo next door wasn’t always weird…the mean bitch who yells at all the dogs wasn’t always mean…the cranky guy was probably a handsome young man abut town, always up for a good time . I once knew a woman, a designer I swear the woman never smiled she was always in the dumps. I tried to talk to her and cheer her up. She was comfortable with who she was. She found her spot, and yet most of the world found her nasty and abrasive. When I fired her she had no idea what I was talking about. Yet I couldn’t see for one minute how she could not have known how she was perceived by the rest of the staff and clients. I would have staff meetings where all the staff would talk openly about the goings on in the store. Some one would inevitably bring up smiling acting friendly toward each other, as well as clients of ones own and each others. She had no idea they were speaking of her. I wonder often on the other hand if really nice sane people know how nice they are? When I was a little boy there was a woman 3 houses down she was very old probably at least 60. I cannot think of what she looked like but I can remember how sweet she was all the neighbor hood knew Mrs. Burnham she was the nice lady in the brown house. When our dog got run over by a car she went out and moved her out of the road so the boys wouldn’t come upon her on the way home from school. What a sweet memory of a little old lady. I hope some day some one remembers something sweet about me. Guess I’d better hurry up and do something SWEET…..

Hurry Friday

I just got back from Houston about 9:30 last night. In my opinion (I’ve only been there a few times) it’s a really great place I really would like to go for several days and walk around the city, even the city center and see a lot more of it. To me it has a big city vibe a sophistication that is missing from my current home town. I wandered around the hotel up and down Westheimer,  the shops were full of people buying things. The Galleria was packed late Monday afternoon, AND many of the people were customers. With shopping bags in their hands and on top of there strollers. I saw very few tattooed women and a few tattooed men, just walking aimlessly. But there was a lot of commerce going on.

Yahen wanted to spend a fortune on a cup of cold coffee (actually my IDEA) so we went into Starbucks. It was packed, the lines were long and the people were PRETTY:

They were dressed in nice clothing, some of it even fit. I was excited to be there. I couldn’t get over it. I felt great there,  it was a place doing business. Hell it even rained there and it rained a lot not just for 10 minutes but a couple of hours. I’d forgotten all about rain wasn’t sure what was happening at first. I walked down a strip mall where I saw a beautiful furniture store full of Baker and other high end brands of SUBLIME furniture; and it really is just that ! It was a fantastic store. The furniture was all kind of color coordinated. Shades of black and taupe with a splash of white, and a tiny bit of color thrown here and there. The person who greeted us had on a beautiful black dress, a black and white leopard printed sweater and SHOES…NOT a flip flop in sight. The men had on TIES. I was HOME….I want to work in that store. Hell I want to DIE in that store….I may be over reacting. I guess we shouldn’t sell out and move there tomorrow, maybe Friday!!!