field guide 35

STOCKINGS!

2011-12-23T10:31:00.003-05:00

Check out this major stocking upgrade. I made them myself. And it was super simple. No knitting required. Just some awesomely bad 80s sweaters and a little bit if sewing.

DIY PAPER ORNAMENTS

2011-12-01T22:00:00.009-05:00

New in my etsy store: cut-and-fold paper polyhedra ornaments!

I have gotten deep into folding crazy geometric shapes out of paper. Nerdy? Kinda. I mean...I have been cruising MATH sites on the internet. But now that I've done all the footwork I thought I'd share the love. I put together a set of templates in 8 awesome colors which make super sweet 3-D shapes when you fold them together. Perfect for tree trimming. Or just general hanging around looking cute. And you can tell your friends you know how to make a tetragonal trapezohedron. Sounds pretty darn impressive...right?

TRADITIONS

2011-11-29T10:33:00.007-05:00

Justin and I got our tree on Sunday! We went back to Saltsman Christmas Tree Farm since our experience there last year was so awesome. (We scoped out another place in the name of research, and can confidently say that the vibe at Saltsman's is unbeatable. If you live in the area it is TOTALLY where you should be getting your tree.)

Last year we got a blue spruce...which wins hands-down in the looks department...but MAN, that thing was prickly. We had to wear GLOVES to put the lights on...and had battle wounds after hanging the ornaments. So we changed it up and went with a Fraser fir this year. It doesn't have the dreamy blue-green color that the spruce did, but it is still a VERY handsome tree. And it smells amazing. And it doesn't try to bite you when you touch it.

GREETINGS FROM THE STUDIO

2011-10-31T22:16:00.003-04:00

We managed to throw together some last minute costumes. I made an Indian headdress and Justin got some Dracula gear. Recording in weird outfits rules. Back to the attic. xx

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

2011-10-31T11:49:00.007-04:00

I kinda can't believe it's Halloween. Partially because it's 33 degrees outside and it just SNOWED. And partially because Justin and I have been so busy recording that we haven't had any time to make costumes or carve pumpkins or go to any parties.

I did, however, manage to get some decorations up last week. I went with a Mexican style Diá de los Muertos vibe, and crafted up a storm. I made tissue paper flowers, papier-mâché skulls, papel picado votives, and then threw in anything glittery, and some pumpkins for good measure.

CARAMEL APPLES

2011-10-12T08:45:00.002-04:00

I make caramel apples every fall...but this year's batch is definitely my best. The difference? I usually go all budget style and make them from a kit...or melt a bag of pre-wrapped caramels and dip away. But not this year. This year I made my caramel from scratch. And it made a serious difference. It turned out super creamy and buttery and fresh. And it was the PERFECT consistency! Not too hard...not too soft.

I found a bunch of different recipes for making caramel...but they are all just variations on a theme. Some use sweetened condensed milk instead of heavy cream...some use brown sugar instead of white...some add molasses. I went with this recipe because I happened to have all of the ingredients for it. I think the most important thing is to get the ingredients to the right temperature and then take them off the heat. A candy thermometer definitely helps.

Note: If you're gonna make your own just use a non-stick cookie sheet. They come right off when they cool. No parchment necessary. And the best part? I had leftover caramel. So I portioned that out onto another cookie sheet...

And when that cooled I dipped the discs in dark chocolate and sprinkled them with sea salt. SO GOOD! Like...maybe even better than the apples! Long story short: I've been indulging in sticky sweet deliciousness all week. And I think I'm gonna make another batch. Yum.

WHAT WE'RE WATCHING

2011-09-20T15:31:00.005-04:00

I forgot to tell you guys. Justin and I shared some of our favorite web videos over at Portable.tv for their weekly What We're Watching feature.

The stills above are from one of my picks -- Basic Black from 1967. Shot by William Claxton and starring Miss Peggy Moffitt.

Here's the link. Go check 'em out!

HEMLOCK HALL

2011-09-15T08:32:00.030-04:00

In celebration of our two year anniversary, Justin and I took a 24 hour jaunt up to the Adirondacks and stayed in a little cabin on Blue Mountain Lake. In classic Darbie and Justin style, we made these plans sometime around 7 o'clock Sunday evening, packed, and left the next morning.

We stayed at Hemlock Hall...which we found after sifting through random google results and Adirondack hotel reviews on trip advisor. We knew we wanted to be in the woods...in a cabin...on a lake...with a fireplace. Hemlock Hall seemed to fit the bill. We also came across some unbelievably grand, picture-perfect places like The Point and The Lake Placid Lodge. But they were WAY out of our price range. I stress WAY.

Luckily, the budget vacation gods were shining down on us...and besides being incredibly affordable, Hemlock Hall turned out to be EXACTLY what we were looking for. The main lodge is a big old Victorian beauty built in 1890 (same year as our house!). It's got all of the rustic charm you expect from an Adirondack hotel. Beautiful old pine and cedar paneling, impressive stone fireplaces, and a wraparound porch with incredible views.

We stayed in a sweet one bedroom cabin, tucked in the pines on a hill overlooking the lake.

We went canoeing in the afternoon.

And spent the evening in the cabin listening to records, hanging by the fireplace, and toasting our anniversary.

The next morning we stopped by Buttermilk Falls on our way out of town. A perfect end to our Adirindack adventure.

RECIPE: CARROT GINGER SOUP

2011-09-11T20:29:00.006-04:00

My new favorite food? Carrot ginger soup. It's all I crave anymore. Seriously. Justin and I have made two giant batches in the past couple weeks and I'm already starting to panic because I finished the last of it about an hour ago.

We didn't follow any one recipe. We kinda just winged it. I'm sure you could use the same ingredients in different proportions and it would probably still taste good. And I'm sure you could use this same technique with other vegetables to make all kinds of velvety pureed deliciousness.

Here's what we did:

Ingredients:

2 lbs carrots sliced

1-2 onions diced

1-2 potatoes diced

2 tbsp fresh ginger grated

1/2 tbsp cumin

2 tbsp olive oil

6 cups stock

salt and pepper to taste

You're gonna need a big pot for this. Preferably one with a thick bottom that cooks nice and evenly. We used our Le Cruset French oven (yay for wedding registries). First you are going to saute the vegetables. Justin and I like to add a little bit of salt as we go. Coat the bottom of the pot with the olive oil and add the onions. Cook them until they are golden. Add the potatoes and cook them for a few minutes until they start to soften up a little bit. Then add the carrots and cook for 8-10 minutes.

Next add the 6 cups of stock, the ginger, and the cumin. Cover partially and bring to a boil. Then bring the heat down and simmer until the carrots are tender when pierced with a fork. About 15 minutes maybe?

Next you are going to puree all of this in a blender. This obviously has to be done in batches. Unless you have a REALLY big blender. Put it back into the pot and salt and pepper to taste. YUM.

This recipe makes a lot of soup...but it makes awesome leftovers. I swear it gets even spicier and more delicious.

And I don't want to overload you with recipes here...but I've been super into frying up breaded goat cheese medallions and throwing them onto an arugula salad. It tastes pretty darn good with the soup...and it's a super easy way to class up some greens. Here's the recipe from the Barefoot Contessa.

THE CAT SCAN

2011-08-16T09:45:00.004-04:00

My new favorite place on the internet? thecatscan.tumblr.com

It's a collection of photos of cats on flatbed scanners...and it is seriously fascinating.

And look! My beautiful boys were featured.

Steve...

And Julian...

So, clearly, if you have a cat...go scan it! And if you don't have a cat...get one! They're awesome.

NEW THINGS

2011-08-10T08:48:00.004-04:00

Justin and I spent last weekend in Brooklyn and we ended up coming home with more than a few new things.

For instance, my NEW HAIRCUT!

This might not seem that dramatic because I had been wearing it up in a bun so much...but it was CRAZY long. Like, down to my butt long. Remember this post? That was last November...and I hadn't cut it since then. It was pretty impressive. But not that cute. And I was definitely ready for a change. Sometimes you need a total look overhaul to keep things interesting. You know?

I felt like my new hairdo was demanding a new hemline. Not maxi. Not mini. But something mid-calf. So I got this cute vintage number from Antoinette...

And these leopard print flats from Mini Mini Market...

And Justin and I couldn't resist this old-school Wurlitzer combo organ from Main Drag...which just so happens to match my new skirt perfectly...

And we obviously NEEDED this adorable futuristic pocket piano...which also kinda matches my new stuff...

And then I found this scripty gold D ring at Artists and Fleas...

And Justin got these sweet boots from In God We Trust...

Quite a haul for a mere two days! And then we had to cart all of this stuff on the train back home. Which was kinda ridiculous...but TOTALLY worth it.

FIELD TRIP: ROUND TOP, NY

2011-08-04T20:30:00.003-04:00

At 3 o'clock on Sunday afternoon Justin and I decided it would be fun to take an impromptu overnight field trip. By 4 o'clock the car was packed and we were on our way to Round Top, NY, a forgotten oasis just 45 minutes north of Kingston. The whole town is basically a big old-school German Catskills resort area. So...you know...there is a lot of this going on...

And this...

Basically, the whole place is like a portal to some awesome 1960s vacationland.

We ended up staying at the Winter Clove Inn which looks more 1860s than 1960s...but I'm pretty sure it has the nicest accommodations in town.

The rooms have a vaguely Victorian thing going on. Vintage floral wallpaper, dark wood four post-bed, lacy curtains. A little on the granny side...but the original wide board floors are pretty amazing and so is the view out the windows.

And you don't feel like you are on the set of Vacancy. Which is nice.

But don't worry...It also has a rec hall with wood panelling, a ping pong table, a juke box...and this...

Yes, that is indeed a straight-up vintage bowling alley. Paper score cards and all. So the Winter Clove is pretty much bringing 19th and 20th century awesomeness to the table.

And it's perched right at the foot of a state forrest...

So there is a lot of sweet wilderness to explore...including a postcard-worthy swimming hole with a waterfall AND a covered bridge.

So all of this is pretty awesome...right? And I haven't even told you about the best part! The Mountain Brauhaus.

As far as I'm concerned this is Round Top's shining gem. I mean...look at it...

I LOVE it! Deer heads and paint-by-numbers hung without a hint of irony! And as if this place could get any more amazing...just wait until the regulars start showing up. Unfortunately I was too busy drinking delicious hefeweissens and getting dance lessons from little old German men to take pictures of it in full swing. But trust me. It's the beer hall of your dreams.

STAINED GLASS TERRARIUM

2011-06-29T16:54:00.008-04:00

My love for terrariums runs deep...but lately I've been a little terrariumed out. Don't get me wrong. Plants under glass always look magical...but once everyone and their mom jumped on the bandwagon it was all terrariums all the time. Plants in jars...plants under domes...plants in hanging orbs. There's only so much a girl can take!

But my love has been reignited. When I spotted this vintage stained glass terrarium at the Saugerties Antique Center I knew it had to come home with me.

I'm super into all things geometric and faceted right now (water prisms, anyone?)...so this cut glass version is really speaking to my interests. And it's a welcome change from all of the blown glass varieties I see all over the place.

I got this sweet little potted succulent arrangement to put in it...

And here's the terrarium in its new home above the desk in my studio...

KING'S INN

2011-06-11T10:33:00.002-04:00

If you live in Kingston, you are probably familiar with the eyesore that is the King's Inn. It's that defunct motel on Broadway in midtown. It was probably pretty sweet when it was built in 1964...but the years have not been kind. Now it stands there...abandoned...just giving off bad vibes.

The city owns the property...and everyone and their mom wants to tear it down. But I guess there is some sort of big deal asbestos removal that has to happen first. So we're probably going to be looking at this thing for a while.

Our friend Tom Cingel contacted us about possibly getting in on some guerrilla beautifying and we were happy to lend a hand. His friend Adam Chalom designed and painted a mural for the site, and Justin and I were part of the rag-tag group of locals that helped to hang it.

Note: If you ever plan on putting artwork where you are not authorized to be putting artwork bring scaffolding and reflective vests. NOBODY will question you.

ROPE SWING

2011-06-01T19:00:00.003-04:00

Anybody in the New York area can attest to the fact that it was hot as blazes last weekend. And while I wasn't quite prepared for the sweltering temperatures (I mean...what happened to SPRING?)...I was definitely excited to kick off swimming hole season. On Monday our friend Eddie took Justin and I to a spot under the Eddyville Bridge with a big old rope swing. As far as swimming spots go, it isn't as serene as some of our other haunts...and the water definitely isn't quite as clear. (And full disclosure: it may or may not be vaguely contaminated depending on the amount of recent rainfall.) But the rope swing part? SUPER FUN. So c'est la vie.

TONITE!

2011-05-27T08:00:00.000-04:00

IN AND OUT OF BLOOM

2011-05-26T08:50:00.010-04:00

Last year I was caught off guard by how fleeting the blooming periods were for all the different flowers in our yard. But this year I'm prepared. And I am making every effort to thoroughly enjoy them before they disappear. Like clockwork, the lilac has faded and the rhododendron has opened up in its place. And sadly, it too will be flowerless before I know it. But in the meantime I'm going to soak up all this loveliness streaming through the living room window.

FREE BISHOP ALLEN SHOW

2011-05-24T19:40:00.007-04:00

We're playing a show on Friday with our friends, Yellow Ostrich. It's free. And it's right here in Kingston!

Here's the deets: Friday, May 27th at Keegan Ales. Show starts at 9:00pm.

I made some sweet hand stenciled posters for the occasion. And Justin and I have been hanging them around town. So...tell your friends and come join us for some upstate funtimes!

BEIGNETS

2011-05-23T11:56:00.007-04:00

Homemade beignets have been on my list of things to try for a while now. We had a couple of friends over for brunch on Sunday and I finally had an excuse to make them. (Brunch is my favorite meal to go overboard with. There are so many yummy options...and I like to serve them ALL.)

I used Paula Deen's recipe and I think they turned out pretty tasty. (I figured if I'm gonna make something deep fried and Southern...Paula Deen is probably my go-to gal.) And I'm pretty sure it's virtually impossible to mess them up. Or ANY kind of fried dough for that matter. It's just inherently DELICIOUS. So...yay for beignets...a pleasure to both cook AND eat. I have a feeling they are going to be a brunch staple around here.

COCKTAIL AREA**

2011-05-22T18:07:00.001-04:00

Remember that cocktail area I said I was working on? Well, it's finished! It's actually been finished for a while. But I'm REALLY behind on posting. And I hate that. And so does my mom. So I'm gonna try to be better about it. Let me start by finally posting a picture of this...

I found all of the crates and the wooden wine rack at Zaborski's Emporium (A must-see if you are ever in the Kingston area. Four floors of salvaged junk piled ceiling-high. One of my FAVORITE places to get lost for an afternoon.)

Weathered wood! Chipped paint! Rusty Metal! LOVE. IT. ALL.

And look! I found a home for some of my new prize ribbons.

The table came from a local yard sale ($7!).

I dressed it up with a coat of dark paint, a little bit of sanding, and a custom cut beveled mirror for the top. (Fancy!)

The makeshift artwork is a couple of vintage tea towels that I stretched on boards and framed with some old moulding I picked up at a barn sale.

More chipped paint. YESSSS!

Here's the wide angle...and a teeny, tiny sneak peek at what's been happening in the living room. That's our new couch! More pictures soon.

** I keep calling this a cocktail area. Is that weird? I'd call it a bar...but that doesn't seem right. I mean...there is no bar...or real table...or a place to sit. It's kinda just like a deconstructed liquor cabinet. Hmm...maybe that's what I should call it. Deconstructed liquor cabinet. Sounds avant garde.

MORE PICTURES OF FLOWERS

2011-05-17T20:43:00.001-04:00

Ugh. I seriously forgot how rainy spring can be. I really want to share some pictures of my recent home improvements with you...I swear. But the weather isn't cooperating. Gray days are no good for taking photos indoors. So I'm holding out for the sun to break through these clouds.

In the meantime, I'm trying to remind myself that rain isn't ALL bad. Sure, it ruins hiking plans, and canoe trips, and picnics (in other words EVERYTHING I planned on doing last weekend). But it does make flowers grow. So I'm not gonna hold a grudge.

Instead, I'm going to stare at these pictures of the tulip fields in Holland. It's like the ultimate rainy day therapy. I mean...how crazy is it that this cuckoo bananas technicolor dreamcoat of flowers exists? On planet earth. I love it! It's like a giant, living abstract color field painting! Eat your heart out, Mark Rothko.

HELLO AGAIN

2011-05-10T20:03:00.011-04:00

I haven't posted anything in a SHAMEFULLY long time. After my long winter's nap, the sunny days inspired me to take on a zillion new house projects. Some that are now completed...some that are well underway...and some that have just begun. I plan to share all of them with you in the coming weeks.

Here's the teaser:

My dream of wall-to-wall, over-the-door bookcases in the living room has become a reality.

We're almost done rearranging the studio and putting up those shelves in the attic.

We got a new couch and some artwork.

The bar area is completed and fully functional. (Margarita anyone?)

We have been attempting to make our yard a little less Grey Gardens.

We leveled out our patio and had some stonework done.

And I've started tackling the upstairs bathroom.

I will post about all of this in detail soon. Until then, here are some pictures of our big beautiful lilac bush. It's a little gangly and untamed, but it has the most beautiful deep purple blooms. And our neighbor, who is basically the plant whisperer, assured me that with a little bit of seasonal trimming it will grow out instead of up and will be even more breathtaking.

YARD SALING

2011-04-17T12:48:00.002-04:00

Spring is here. The weather is getting warmer. And yard sale season is finally upon us. Here are some of my new acquisitions from the past couple of weekends:

Some beautiful hand-carved antique frames...

A slew of covered glass vessels. (Terrarium crafternoon, anyone?)...

A rather impressive shell collection...

Some old prize ribbons...

A pair of wicker handbags. (Perfect for summertime outfits!)...

And a set of seriously adorable vintage childrens books...

NEW LISTING!

2011-04-11T07:55:00.001-04:00

When Justin and I decided we were going to move upstate, we fantasized about getting a little cabin in the woods. You know...something tiny and rustic with a stone fireplace and maybe a stream in the back? Sadly, I am WAY too much of a hoarder to ever pull it off...but I know there are plenty of people out there who can totally do it.

So can one of you please buy this guy that just came on the market? It's exactly what I used to dream about. A sweet little cottage nestled in the woods. Trees out every window. Stone fireplace. On almost 2 acres. With a creek running through the backyard. And this one has a guest house! Which ALSO has a fireplace. And it's in a really sweet little area in Woodstock. Where you will be surrounded by good vibes and good restaurants. It's listed at $199,000. Details are here.

P.S. The street name? MOONLIGHT WAY. Magical. Right?

TWO SHOWS

2011-04-03T18:53:00.021-04:00

I went down to NYC on Friday to spend some time with my bestie of a zillion years, Tina, and see a couple shows I didn't want to miss: Sonia Delaunay at the Cooper-Hewitt and Maira Kalman at the Jewish Museum. Both were fantastic.

I'm super into pattern, color theory, and textile design right now and Sonia Delaunay has been a recurring source of inspiration. I admire how confident her work is...and the fact that her textile designs are just as painterly and kinetic as her larger abstracts.

And Maira Kalman? LOVE her. She is basically my mom's spirit guide. And I totally support that. She's smart, observant, funny, and completely unpretentious. And she makes art look FUN. Seeing all of her illustrations in person really made me want to break out my gouache and paint again. I haven't felt that way in a long time. Since I've got decorating on the brain I'm currently finding her renderings of interiors particularly inspiring. Here's a few from her NY Times blog turned book: And the Pursuit of Happiness:

EASEL AS TV STAND

2011-03-28T10:04:00.011-04:00

I have completely fallen in love with this easel-as-tv-stand idea that I spotted in my February issue of The World of Interiors.

When Justin and I moved, we kinda wanted to get a sweet flat screen tv...but we realized there was really no good place to put one in our bedroom OR living room. There are so many windows and doors...and the way the furniture was oriented would make any of the available wall space a really awkward spot for a tv. So we stuck our hideous old one in the guest room and hid it behind a folding screen. Which meant we NEVER watched it. We eventually canceled our cable subscription and the tv got relocated to the attic. Now we exclusively watch things on Justin's laptop while lounging in bed (yay for hulu, netflix, and itunes!). This works well until you have guests over. Three people trying to watch something on a small computer screen is NOT ideal. And forget foreign films. Reading those tiny subtitles is headache inducing.

But putting a tv on a moveable easel opens up a whole new realm of possibilities. And it does a lot to warm up the look of cold, cold technology. So, I'm in. I want a tv again.

via Unplggd

via House Beautiful

via Remodelista

CHANDELIER ADDENDUM

2011-03-26T13:00:00.001-04:00

I gussied up our dining room chandelier with some new accessories: patterned fabric shades and colorful candelabra sleeves.

I'm going to go ahead and assume that the fabric I chose is going to fall in to that "not everyone's cup of tea" category. But I love it in that "so bad it's good" kinda way. I picked it up at a church rummage sale along with some other awesomely bad fabrics. It's some kind of weirdo 80's ikat-inspired super-graphic print in a seriously schizophrenic color scheme.

Anyway, I figured if I'm bothering to cover my own shades I might as well do it in a statement fabric. So I went for it. I bought some plain white shades on the cheap from Lowes and went to town. Justin was kind enough to document the process. So for those of you who are interested in a step-by-step how-to on recovering chandelier shades...here you go:

Materials:

plain shades

fabric

kraft paper

double stick fusible web sheets

stitchless sewing glue

double fold bias tape

scissors

pins

iron

First make a pattern by wrapping kraft paper around the shade and cutting it to size. Make sure to leave enough room to fold one edge and have it overlap the other.

Then iron the fabric that you are going to use to cover the lampshades...

pin down the pattern...

and cut it out.

Remove the kraft paper and fold one edge of the fabric over...

and tack it down with a piece of fusible web.

Peel the paper off one side of the double stick fusible sheet...

press the fabric onto it...

and cut it out.

Peel the backing paper off, and starting at the existing seam, wrap the fabric around the shade unfolded side first.

Next, iron the fabric onto the shade using the steam function in order to make the bond permanent.

Steam one small area at a time and then press it out and smooth it down with your fingers between turns.

Trim any excess fabric off the edges.

Next, estimate how much trim you will need for the top and bottom of your shades, and cut it to size.

Apply the stitchless sewing adhesive to the top (or bottom) edge...

and spread it out with your finger.

Then apply the bias tape. Starting at the seam, wrap it around the edge, letting about a quarter inch show on the outside.

Pulling tight, guide the tape around the circumference of the shade until it just overlaps the other side.

Add a drop of glue at the overlap to secure the end...

and press and hold it to make sure it sticks.

Repeat these last few steps with the bias tape on the opposite side of the shade. And you're done!

DINING ROOM LIGHTING REDO

2011-03-21T08:10:00.017-04:00

I am delighted to report that we finally switched out the fixture in our dining room. When we moved in there was just a ceiling fan in the middle of the room and no light. We temporarily hung a big paper lantern from our old apartment above the dining room table...which was serviceable, but FAR from ideal. The cord was an eyesore and so was the fan...

But we finally had someone come put this chandelier up instead...

MUCH better. And the new fixture was hand-me-down from my parents...which means it was FREE.

I love free.

Next post: Hand covered chandelier shades and a candelabra sleeve spruce up!

SIDEBOARD MAKEOVER

2011-03-09T20:15:00.003-05:00

Justin and I had been searching for the perfect sideboard for the dining room for months. I had a vision of what I wanted: a big old farmhouse style piece with lots of drawers and antique hardware. Something with chipped paint and a well worn wooden top and pretty old bin pulls. I wanted it to be as long as possible but not too deep...and the proper height for buffet style serving...so it couldn't be too tall or too short.

Obviously shopping trips are almost always disappointing when you have SUCH a specific picture in your head. I mean...we definitely came across some cool pieces in our travels but none of them were perfect. I had just about given up the search when I found this old thing posted on craigslist...

Sure, it was hideous in its current state. It was beat up. The hardware was ugly and/or broken. It was stained a dated and depressingly dark brown. And to top it all off it was covered with a thick layer of shiny varnish.

But it was the PERFECT size. And the price was right. And under all that aforementioned yuckiness I could see my rustic dream sideboard.

After days of sanding and painting and sanding again we finally ended up with this...

I'm really glad I didn't end up comprimising and spending a bundle on a finished piece that was almost right...because this is SO much better than anything we saw.

Here's the nutshell version of what we did to refinish it:

-First we removed all the hardware and sanded the front, sides, drawers and cabinets. We didn't go too crazy. We just roughed it up enough for the paint to adhere properly.

-Then we thoroughly sanded the top. We made sure to take this part down to the bare wood since we planned on staining the top...not painting it.

- Then I gave the entire piece a generous coat of paint (except for the top!). I used Martha Stewart latex paint in Sea Glass.

-After that was dry I wiped a little bit of light-gray paint into the corners and edges of the drawers and the cabinets.

-Then I used medium and coarse sandpaper to distress the whole piece...concentrating on corners, edges, and raised areas where wear would naturally occur. I learned pretty quickly that there is a very delicate line between too much sanding and not enough. There was a lot of trial and error involved. And it definitely took a little bit of practice to get it to look natural. Luckily, you can paint over areas you don't like and start again.

-Then I put on the new hardware. The bin pulls are from Atlas Homewares. I got them in an oil rubbed bronze finish...but I ended up going over each one with a little bit of steel wool to bring out some of the silver underneath and give them a more time-worn, less consistent finish. The knobs are from the Home Depot.

-The last thing I did was stain the top. I used Behr semi-transparent weatherproofing wood stain in charcoal. Normally this particular stain is for use on decks and whatnot but there are way more colors available than the indoor variety. And the salesperson assured me that it didn't have any crazy fumes and it should work fine for my tabletop. And it did! It was super easy to control how dark it got and how much wood grain showed through. And it turned out a fantastic gray brown that looks PERFECT with the new hardware.

CHALKBOARD DECANTER TAGS

2011-03-07T13:47:00.003-05:00

We are still in the midst of fixing up the dining room. There's been lots of painting and sanding and patching and staining and drilling and repurposing going on. One of the many projects in progress is creating an area designated for cocktail preparation and liquor storage. We've never been one of those houses that has a fully stocked bar but I do love the idea of being able to offer guests a legitimate cocktail. Particularly old-timey ones like Sidecars and Manhattans. So we bought the ingredients necessary to make a few such drinks...and while Justin is brushing up on his bar tending skills I am busy making him a place to put his wares.

First step: whip up some labels for these cute old decanters I picked up at a yard sale last sumer.

Materials:

thin sheet of plywood and/or precut plywood shapes

pencil

scissor

craft knife

sandpaper

chalkboard paint

sponge brush

white charcoal pencil

small link chain

hot glue gun

I'm sure you can imagine exactly what I did with these materials...but just in case:

I sketched the basic shapes I wanted for my labels onto the plywood and cut them out using scissors where possible and a craft knife for any small curves. Then I sanded down the edges. (You can also skip these steps and use precut plywood shapes. Nobody will judge you. Promise.)

I applied two coats of chalkboard paint to the front, back, and sides with a small sponge brush, letting the pieces dry thoroughly between coats.

When the chalkboard paint was completely dry I used a well sharpened white charcoal pencil to write the names on each tag.

Then I decided how long I wanted the chain to be for each bottle, cut it, and attached it to the back of each chalkboard piece with two small drops of hot glue. Voilà!

IKAT ATTACK

2011-03-01T09:24:00.015-05:00

My dream textile for the curtains in our living room is one the these amazing handwoven ikats from Madeline Weinrib. Sadly, they cost several hundred dollars per yard...so that's not going to happen.

But I CAN afford some of these sweet ikat pillows from Bali.

They are all handmade with stunning Indonesian ikat fabrics and are available in a slew of different patterns and colors. $40 for two or $160 for a mixed set of nine! Yes, yes, and yes! Check them all out here!

PROGRESS REPORT

2011-02-21T15:34:00.010-05:00

This past weekend Justin and I decided that it was time to tackle the dining room. This may not sound like a gigantic scary project...but it is. The dining room is where we have been hoarding all of our unopened moving boxes, artwork, and scads of mismatched furniture from our old apartment. But we dove in head first and I'm happy to report that we're off to a killer start. We managed to get MORE done than I expected. That NEVER happens.

We're done painting the walls and the ceiling. You can see the colors that we went with in the picture above. I had chosen the wall color a while ago (Minty Green by Glidden)...but I wasn't sure what I wanted to do with the ceiling. Then I saw these images for the new Farrow and Ball colors...

I love the combinations of blues and greens and blue-greens and pea greens. So I went for it. My ceiling is now Marsh Fern by Behr.

We're still busy in the dining room DIYing up a storm. More soon.

NEW LISTING

2011-02-16T10:07:00.010-05:00

I don't know if it's that fewer houses come on the market in the winter months or what...but I haven't gotten a single budget-friendly listing update that I deemed post worthy since September. That is, until now. This pretty little thing showed up in my inbox yesterday. It's in St. Remy (apparently home to all cute-as-a-button gingerbread Victorians) and it's listed at $239,000. Details are here. Come be my neighbor!

YESTERDAY’S NEWS

2011-02-15T15:10:00.011-05:00

Valentine's Day felt especially lovely this year. We spent the afternoon at home preparing a delicious dinner -- rack of lamb, braised fennel, white bean puree, roasted fingerling potatoes -- and a stellar dessert -- creme brulee and chocolate covered strawberries.

Justin gave me a big, beautiful bouquet of flowers.

And in honor of my new year's resolution I wore a bunch of sparkly things on my head.

Sweet but simple. Dressed up but laid back. A perfect night at home with my handsome valentine.

VINTAGE VALENTINES

2011-02-14T14:15:00.011-05:00

I pulled out my embarrassingly large collection of vintage valentines in preparation for today's festivities. (I'm pretty sure only old spinsters with 15 cats are supposed to hoard old love notes like this...but whatever.) I have all kinds: lacy old timey ones, velvet flocked 60s ones, ones with moveable joints, victorian ones that fold out and stand up. But some of my most favorite are the simplest. No bells and whistles...just pretty patterns and pictures of rosy cheeked boys and girls.

These were all made by the Whitney Company in Worcester, Massachusetts in the the 20s and 30s. I LOVE the combination of the graphic deco borders and sweet, soft illustrations. And can we talk about the fashions on these little ones? Vintage dream frocks, peter pan collars, sailor details, perfect bobs, and bows galore. Extra points for the ones with kittens and puppies.

Happy day, Valentines!

THINKING AHEAD

2011-02-05T15:26:00.004-05:00

This is the snowy, icy, wintery wonderland outside our window. Everything in our yard is buried under a deep, deep blanket of snow and there are 5 foot icicles hanging off our roof. I love winter. I do. But I'm OVER it.

Luckily, according to Punxsatawney Phil, spring is near. And summer is near to spring. So, by the transitive property of geometry, summer is near. Right? So it's totally normal that I've been browsing the internet for bathing suits and beach bags and whatnot.

Wanna join me in my escapist fantasy? Great! Let's talk about swimwear.

I am loving this ruffled bandeau from J.Crew.

And I think it would look super cute paired with this high-waisted bikini bottom from Urban Outfitters.

Most places are selling swim tops and bottoms separately these days...so I'm gonna consider that my cue to get creative.

I am IN LOVE with these sunglasses from Cutler and Gross. Sadly, they will never be mine because they cost a bajillion dollars. But they are basically my vintage style cat-eye wayfarer dream come true.

And yes, I've gone so far as to think about what bag I would like to be toting when swimming hole hopping come June.

One of these French market baskets from Brook Farm General Store would be perfect.

Other things on my wish list: a pretty handwoven towel for sunbathing and impromptu picnics.

And a portable radio.

My countdown to summer officially starts now.

BETTER LATE THAN NEVER

2011-02-02T19:47:00.011-05:00

Back in September I posted about the vintage chandelier I was planning on hanging in the bird's room. Well, it took me about 5 months...but I finally got it up. I was waiting until I had a few more fixtures that needed hanging. That way I could have an electrician come and do it all at once. (I replaced one of the fixtures in our old apartment myself...but it was seriously scary and I kinda got electrocuted a few times...hence my decision to leave all future electrical endeavors to the pros.)

The lamp looks great in the room and it gives off a much prettier light than the old one. Unfortunately, I was so excited to see the old lamp go that I forgot to take a 'before' photo...but it looked just like this cheap thing from Home Depot.

Seeing what a difference a new fixture can make is really motivating. Lord knows there are several other rooms in this house that are begging for a lighting makeover. One down...MANY to go.

CRAIGSLIST FIND: ANTIQUE RUG **

2011-01-28T14:03:00.020-05:00

Justin and I picked up this beauty a few days ago. We bought it from a lovely couple who live in an AMAZING house right around the corner from us in Kingston. I've never seen a rug quite like it. I have no idea where it's from...when it was made...or what it's worth. But I know I like it.

The pattern is embroidered on top of a plain woven base. And it definitely looks old. Anybody have any idea what kind of rug it is?

**UPDATE: After some SERIOUS googling I finally figured out that this is called an Arabi...which is a type of tribal kilim made by nomads in Southern Iraq. You can see more here and here. God, I love the internet.

SALVAGED GRACE

2011-01-26T08:06:00.006-05:00

A while back, Erin from Salvaged Grace contacted me about writing a little something for her Sentimental Salvage feature. It's up today! I wrote about finding my dad's hysterically weird art from the 1970s...which is now all over our house. Check it out here.

WATER PRISMS

2011-01-22T17:58:00.007-05:00

Okay, so since writing my last post I have gotten on a serious prism kick. I want MORE. I mean...why not? We have so many rooms that get great sunlight. And great sunlight = great rainbows. And who doesn't like rainbows?

While combing the internet for all available prism options I stumbled upon waterprism.com. I am LOVING the looks of these. Perfectly new-agey and magical-mystical.

I've never seen one in action...but judging from the pictures on the site they seem to make some pretty sweet rainbows.

I think I need one. Or two. Or three.

RAINBOW MAKER

2011-01-21T10:19:00.009-05:00

Okay, so I am currently OBSESSED with this Kikkerland rainbow maker. I bought it last month at Hammertown in Rhinebeck...and it has made every morning since then magical.

It's a solar powered prism that you stick on a window....and it turns when the sun is shining. Pretty genius! Right? Ours is in the bedroom...which has east facing windows and fantastic light all morning. So now we get to wake up to a parade of rainbows every day. Love love love.

CEILING PAPERS

2011-01-17T19:30:00.012-05:00

I grew up in a house FULL of wallpaper. In just about ever room. On just about every surface. Ceilings included. My mom studied textile design at art school and she does NOT shy away from pattern. Since my parents have a Victorian home she used a lot of beautiful William Morris style papers from Bradbury & Bradbury. I remember it would always take a really long time to get the paper because it was hand printed. But it was definitely worth the wait. You can see and feel the handprinted layers and the pigments are super matte and beautifully saturated.

Some of the Victorian stuff can get a little heavy for my taste but there are a few real gems in there. And some of the ceiling papers are particularly up my alley. Like the Ice Blossom pattern at the top of this post. I love how quirky and modern it feels! And the gold is printed with shimmering metallic ink which is really stunning in person.

And I also love the Stardust pattern -- based on stenciled motifs from New York's deco-era Cloud Club. I want to put this subtle silvery version on the ceiling in our upstairs bathroom. Tub-time with a view!

FAREWELL 2010

2011-01-01T11:08:00.007-05:00

Happy 2011! Justin and I had a low-key New Years celebration at home with a few friends, lots of delicious Indian food, funfetti cupcakes and a slew of champagne.

So, anyone make any resolutions yet? I'm thinking...don more festive headwear. I have so many great old sparkly cocktail hats, flowered headbands, and crazy feathery fascinators...but I almost NEVER wear them. And I should. So, hello 2011! Hopefully the next time you see me I'll have something ridiculous on my head.

LIVING VICARIOUSLY

2010-12-30T12:05:00.000-05:00

So, you know that tipi that I said Justin and I were making for my 3 year old nephew? Well, this is it!

Pretty cute! Right?

It's surprisingly simple...and you don't need much to make one. We used some bamboo from our backyard for the poles and a canvas drop cloth for the cover. And you can decorate it with pretty much anything. I used some stuff I had left over from previous projects like vintage velvet ribbon, mint green acrylic paint, and some metallic leather scraps.

There are a LOT of tipi building tutorials online. After looking through a bunch of them I realized that all you really need to know is that the basic shape of the cover when flat is a semicircle...and the poles for a tipi this small should be about a foot longer than the radius of the semicircle. After that you can kinda just wing it.

All in all it was a hit. My nephew loves it, Julian loves it, and I'm seriously considering building myself a big one next summer.

VERY MERRY

2010-12-25T12:32:00.002-05:00

Happy Christmas Everyone!

Every year during the holiday season I spend way too much time listening to whatever radio station is playing (mostly crappy) Christmas music whenever I am in my car...just hoping and waiting for them to play this song...

CHRISTMAS WRAPPING by THE WAITRESSES

CHRISTMAS CRAFTSTRAVAGANZA

2010-12-24T17:32:00.003-05:00

Here are some of the gifts I have been crafting this season...

Terrarium ornaments...

Materials: clear glass ornaments, twine, spruce clippings from my tree, dried flowers, and paper butterflies. I made the butterflies from old engravings that I scanned and printed. Each one is double sided with wire in the middle (to get the wings to stay in the proper position) and then I added glitter...because, well, as far as I'm concerned EVERYTHING should have glitter on it.

Apple cider, mulling sachets, and ginger spice cookies...

Materials: glass jugs with festive trimmings (juniper, spruce, and pine cones) for the apple cider...and cheesecloth, bakers twine, cinnamon sticks, cardamom pods, allspice, cloves, dried lemon peel, dried orange peel, and candied ginger for the sachets. I found the recipe for the cookies here...and I packaged them in brown paper bags tied with a bakers twine bow. And just for the record, the cookies are extra delicious when dipped in the hot mulled cider. I speak from experience.

Justin and I have also been putting together an epic wedding album for my parents and we are in the finishing stages of building a 6 foot tipi for my youngest nephew. I'll post pictures when it's done!

Okay, back to the Christmas factory. We elves only have a few more hours to finish making our presents.

TRIMMINGS

2010-12-22T20:14:00.012-05:00

Our tree has been up and decorated for a couple of weeks already but I haven't had ANY time to post pictures. I've been BUSY, BUSY, BUSY. Working and shopping and silkscreening and crafting presents. And CELEBRATING! We have a zillion birthdays in my family which happen to fall within the 5 days before Christmas...including MINE. Funtimes.

So, without further ado, our tree...

She's a beauty. Decked out just the way I like it. Big old-fashioned colored Christmas lights, aluminum reflectors, clip-on birds and glittery butterflies, vintage ornaments galore, and as many sparkly glass pine cones as possible.

LOOK!

2010-12-13T10:42:00.000-05:00

My wrapping paper was featured on Design*Sponge! In its very own post! Check it out here. I am beyond flattered.

HAND PRINTED WRAPPING PAPER

2010-12-06T23:31:00.001-05:00

Anyone who has ever received a present from me knows that I'm SUPER into gift presentation. I get really martha stewart about it. And wrapping up a bunch of pretty little packages has become one of my most favorite parts of the holidays. For real. So this year I decided to get next level and hand print my own wrapping paper. Ambitious? Yes. It's definitely turned out to be a labor intensive (and expensive!) project...but I'm glad I followed through with it. The finished product is really lovely.

I used hand carved Indian printing blocks to make the initial pattern. Then I turned the block-printed image into a silkscreen. This way the results would be more consistent but still have the charming imperfections you get from hand printing.

Once I had all of my materials ready to go I set up shop in the attic and printed more wrapping paper than I could ever dream of using. But I plan on sharing the wealth. I will have some for sale at the One Mile Gallery holiday craft fair this Saturday in Kingston. And if you don't reside in the area but decide you can't live without some super sweet hand screened wrapping paper...don't worry...I opened an etsy store yesterday. Field Guide Design. Currently, the wrapping paper is the only item in there...but I'll be adding more soon.

TANNENBAUM DREAMS

2010-11-29T18:33:00.015-05:00

Justin and I figured that it is only right that our first upstate Christmas tree be one that we chop down ourselves. After a bit of internet research (mostly on this site) we decided to go to Saltsman Christmas Tree Farm in Rhinebeck. It's only twenty minutes away, they grow organically, and they have Blue Spruces (also known as MY DREAM TREE. I mean...look at that color!)

After a few rounds in the field and some further inspection we picked out this beauty...

She's a little lopsided...but nothing a little pruning can't fix.

The whole experience was delightfully charming. Pastoral farmland, hot apple cider, rows of tiny baby spruce trees, stacks of firewood, ramshackle barns. They even had chestnuts roasting on an open fire. I mean...SERIOUSLY. This is the way to get your tree people! I'm never going pre-cut again.

SALTY SWEET DELICIOUSNESS

2010-11-25T11:52:00.001-05:00

On Tuesday Justin and I went down to Brooklyn for the annual friendsgiving celebration at Christian and Reshma's house. We cooked up two sides for the event: roasted garlic mashed potatoes and acorn squash puree with sage, cinnamon, and nutmeg. And we tried our hand at two new desserts: s'more pie and a chocolate caramel tart with fleur de sel.

I was happy with how everything turned out...but the chocolate caramel tart was DEFINITELY the biggest hit. It was rich and decadent and gooey and crunchy and salty and sweet and quite possibly the best thing we've ever made.

I found the recipe here. It's fairly involved and there's a lot of waiting for things to cool...but it is worth EVERY second.

Now go make one!

VICTORIAN HARDWARE

2010-11-22T11:01:00.001-05:00

One of the things I love most about our house is all of the original hardware.

The door knobs...

The pocket door handles...

The entry bolts...

the mortise locks and strike plates....

The hinges...

The sash locks...

The keyhole covers...

They are all heartbreakingly beautiful. And they are still here. After 120 years.

This is why I am going to make it my mission to replace any cheap, unattractive, modern hardware that managed to sneak in over the decades.

The first thing I'm going to tackle: the slide locks in the bathrooms.

Currently, they look like this...

But how much better would it be if they looked like this...?

This one is a cast iron reproduction of an original Aesthetic Movement slide lock from House of Antique Hardware. I think it would go perfectly with our Eastlake style original stuff. And it's only $13.49! Consider it mine.

**NOTE: The image at the top of this post is a page from the 1895 Montgomery Ward Catalog. And look! One of those keyhole covers is the EXACT same one we have on our front door! I love that.

IMAGES FROM THE HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE

2010-11-18T18:54:00.009-05:00

I am currently OBSESSED with the photo galleries on hubblesite.org.

The images of stars and nebulae and galaxies are all unbelievably magical. I mean...look at that picture above. That's what outer space looks like? Are there wizards and unicorns there too?

Here are some more of my faves.

CAT BATHROOM!

2010-11-15T13:43:00.010-05:00

As promised, here's the scoop on the downstairs bathroom...which is now a pinky-pink wonderland of vintage cat photos.

Eventually, I'd like to do a COMPLETE overhaul. The sink is really dated...and not in a cute way. The toilet is newer...but I hate the style of it. It's too big and modern looking. And the floor? Ugh. Don't get me started on the floor. It's really unattractive vinyl tiling that I think is supposed to look like red clay tiles (maybe?)...but they're not fooling anybody. Trust me.

Unfortunately, it's gonna be a LONG time before we can afford to replace most of that stuff and give the bathroom the proper makeover it deserves. But, in the meantime, I figured I would do as much as I possibly could with a little bit of paint and some things we already own.

Here are a few before photos so you can see what I was working with. (And yes, those are stenciled paw prints.)

And here is what it looks like now.

I figured if you are trying to transform a room with little more than paint you better go for a statement color. So I went SUPER pink. I know it's over the top...but I personally love a kitschy pink bathroom...and I really had nothing to lose.

I painted the sink cabinet and mirror a dark charcoal gray. Still not awesome...but MUCH better.

And then I covered the place with vintage cat photos. That made ALL the difference.

The sweet vintage frames and black and white photos totally work with the pink and charcoal color scheme. And the bathroom certainly has personality now...which is what it was really lacking before.

Sadly, the hideous floor is still there...but I put this rug down so that I don't have to see quite as much of it.

Eventually, I would love to do the floor with the tile pattern below from American Restoration Tile.

And I think the room would look fantastic with a tin ceiling (painted the same shade of dark gray as the sink) and an art deco style light fixture. Maybe something like one of these two from Schoolhouse Electric.

Luckily, those are all manageable updates which would be fairly affordable as far as those things go. But for now I'll just keep adding cat pictures as I find them...because the bathroom's shortcomings and imperfections seem way less noticeable when there are so many cute kitties to stare at!

COLLECTION: VINTAGE CAT PHOTOS

2010-11-13T18:10:00.017-05:00

Here's a sneak peek at one of my most favorite collections: old black and white photos of people with their cats. I get SO excited every time I find one. I mean...I love old photos to begin with. But old photos with CATS in them? I DIE.

I had been hoarding all of these gems in a box until recently...but I finally got down to business and merged them with one of my other collections: little decorative old frames.

(Okay, so the cat in the next photo isn't real...but how could I resist? I mean...look at that bow!)

These are just a few of the ones that I have put together. There are MANY more. And I gave them all a home on the walls of the downstairs bathroom....which I'm gonna show you in my next post. Can't wait!

IT’S HALLOWEEN*

2010-10-31T11:15:00.001-04:00

Happy Halloween everybody!

Justin and I decided we're gonna dress up as Victorian zombies. Or, more accurately, as the ghosts of Lieutenant Roache and his wife...the original owners of our house when it was built in 1890. We are going to stay at home and hope for trick-or-treaters. So if you're in the neighborhood, stop by!

I was REALLY hoping to watch the 1987 masterpiece, “The Worst Witch”...but it's not available instantly on netflix OR on itunes. BUMMER. Maybe we'll go join a video store. Do those still exist?

If you are not familiar with the awesomeness of this seminal film, please see below:

(NOTE: The REALLY next level effects start at the 1 minute mark...so be patient)

* The title of this post was inspired by the Shaggs song. So here it is, for your listening pleasure:

The Shaggs, “It's Halloween”

GETTING FESTIVE

2010-10-25T19:45:00.002-04:00

Justin and I are REALLY hoping we get a few trick-or-treaters this Halloween. Unfortunately, we live on a tiny dead end street that's off the beaten path...so it's definitely possible that no little ones will venture down here. But if they do I want our porch to look welcoming....so I gussied it up in the spirit of the season.

I got some really beautiful pinky purple mums and a couple of ornamental cabbages. I love the purples and minty greens with the bright orange of the pumpkins.

I decided to stick with that color palette for my Picasso inspired jack-o-lanterns.

I ended up painting them with screenprinting ink because I happened to have some lying around the house...but I doubt it's waterproof...so I gave them a good coat of matte varnish. Hopefully, now they will be able to withstand the elements.

The only part I actually carved out are the eyes. I LOVE the way they look all lit up at night.

I took Martha's advice and used a strand of twinkle lights wrapped around a jar to light the inside of the pumpkin. It's much brighter than a candle...and I won't be quite as worried about burning the house down.

We finished off the porch by hanging up some colored globe lights in orange, pinky-purple, and clear.

They make the front of the house look a zillion times happier. Justin and I are kinda tempted to leave them up year round.

WATCHING THE LEAVES CHANGE

2010-10-24T17:15:00.014-04:00

Fall is truly magical upstate. I love waking up each morning and seeing the bright, beautiful leaves out my bedroom windows. And with all of the trees up here it's like every room in the house has a brand new view!

This is what I see when I walk out the front door...

And this amazingness is right around the corner...

I'm not that into the earthy palette usually associated with fall---browns, burnt oranges, yellows, maroons---but I REALLY respond to the crazy neon oranges and electric reds that I see on these trees around town. Apparently it's impossible to capture with my camera...but I swear, they look radioactive.

ACCESSORY INSPIRATION

2010-10-11T19:23:00.013-04:00

My accessories game has become really predictable. I pretty much ONLY wear necklaces. Specifically long jangly pendant necklaces. Every once in a blue moon I'll throw on some bracelets or a brooch or two...but thats about it. As far as rings are concerned, I just wear my wedding band. Never anything else. And I haven't worn earrings in like a decade.

But I'm ready for a change. Dare I add STATEMENT EARRINGS into the rotation?!

I'm talking Edie Sedgwick style over-the-top, long, dangly, shoulder-grazing earrings.

Go big or go home. Who's with me?

PUMPKIN, SAGE, and PECORINO RAVIOLI

2010-10-10T21:01:00.002-04:00

I know posting has been spotty around here lately....but we've had LOTS of guests the past few weeks. So much entertaining means we've had a chance to try our hand at cooking some new seasonal dishes. Our latest: pumpkin, sage, and pecorino ravioli.

Justin and I make homemade pasta a lot but this was our first attempt at ravioli. It turned out pretty darn delicious...and now all we can do is talk about all the things we can fill ravioli with. FIGS! KALE! GOAT CHEESE! PROSCIUTTO! So many possibilities!

The recipe we used came from the cookbook In Season, by Sarah Raven. Her recipe isn't available online so I scanned the page from the book with the ingredients and directions in case anyone wants to give it a whirl. It's posted here.

RAINY DAYS and RUMMAGE SALES

2010-09-30T17:20:00.007-04:00

Today is the kind of gray, rainy day that usually makes me want to curl up under the covers and never get out of bed. That is unless the church around the corner is having a rummage sale. Then I'm up and out the door by 9.

I got a few things we have been looking for: fireplace tools, a log holder, and a magazine rack.

And wouldn't you know it, they had a vintage raincoat for each of us! Justin's has tiny yellow and white stripes and mine is red with a plaid interior. Cute, practical, and perfect for the walk home. Now all we need are duck boots.

BOOK VILLAGE and BIBLIOBARN

2010-09-23T08:05:00.003-04:00

Last Sunday, Justin and I drove up to Hobart, NY...the self-proclaimed "book village" of the Catskills. It's a sleepy little town that has several used and antiquarian bookstores on its main street...and not much else. Our favorite stop was Bibliobarn...which is a few miles up the road in South Kortright. It's a treasure trove of old books housed in a converted barn and run by a couple of adorable old hippies. It's a magical place full of good vibes. And guess what. It's for sale! The whole kit and kaboodle -- the barn, the books, and the five sprawling acres of loveliness.

HELLO FALL

2010-09-17T11:46:00.016-04:00

We've been DYING to use the fireplace ever since we moved in back in April...but the weather didn't really call for it. Finally, the evenings are getting cold enough to deem it appropriate...and last night we gave it a whirl.

Justin is quite the little fire builder (thank you Camp La Junta). He had it up and going in no time. We had our fingers crossed, and thank goodness, the smoke was indeed going up and out the chimney and the whole thing seems to work like a charm.

The cats were mesmerized by the whole process. Steve kept a safe distance from the actual fire...but Julian, in his usual fashion, wanted to be as close as possible. You'd think he would have learned his lesson after singeing off half of his whiskers from a too-close encounter with a candle a few weeks ago...but, no.

It's looking like fall is gonna be as dreamy as I'd hoped.

CONCORD GRAPE PICKING

2010-09-16T08:48:00.006-04:00

On Monday Justin and I drove down to DuBois Farms in Highland to pick our own Concord grapes.

In case you don't already know, I'm a HUGE fan of Concord grapes. I basically have a countdown every year until the season starts in September...and proceed to eat as many as humanly possible right through October.

We ended up getting about 12 pounds worth. I plan on taking half of them and attempting to make some sort of grape jelly. I've never done it before...but how hard can it be? Anyone have any tips?

PRETTY PAPER

2010-09-13T20:09:00.001-04:00

Justin and I decided it would be a nice tradition to buy ourselves a joint present each year that follows Emily Post's old-school list of wedding anniversary gifts. First year--paper, second year--cotton; third year--wood...and so on.

For "paper" we decided to splurge and get this lovely tassel garland from Confetti System.

12 feet of bright, cheery, sparkly goodness. It think it's a perfect celebration of our first year together.

ONE YEAR

2010-09-12T20:02:00.004-04:00

Today is our one year anniversary!

Yup...last September 12th we were at a summer camp in Hueguenot, NY having the time of our lives. Lakeside ceremony, dining hall dance party, all night campfire rage-a-thon. It was EPIC.

The whole thing was a real DIY family affair. I handmade all of the invitations, table numbers, seating cards, maps of the campgrounds, and boutonnieres for the boys. My dad made all of the signs and hand-built the chuppah out of branches from the backyard. My mom sewed the tablecloths and a zillion feet of pennant flag bunting. Both of our families got together to decorate the dining hall with all kinds of lights and lanterns and more tissue paper decorations than imaginable. My wedding dress (a stunning 1920's beaded beauty) was from my mom's best friend Susie. Our friends and bandmates played the ceremony music (Chapel of Love, Sea of Love, and Then he kissed me -- on marimba, ukulele, glockenspiel, guitar, drums, alto horn, and kazoos. SO BEST.) My friend Frankie (aka Kid America) deejayed. And Justin's friend Ryan took all the photos. Even the priest was a friend of Justin's family.

We have about a zillion photos from our wedding day (far too many to attempt to upload)...but we did put some on flickr. Here's a link to the slideshow.

And this was our wedding song:

"This Will Be Our Year" by The Zombies

And if I do say so myself...I think it HAS been our year.

VOYAGE OF THE EAGLET

2010-09-10T19:52:00.001-04:00

A couple weeks ago, Justin made the trip from New York City to Kingston BY SAILBOAT!

He sailed with our friend Randy on Randy's boat, the Eaglet. She's a 31-foot wooden boat from 1925.

The 100 mile journey took about 15 hours. They passed under 6 bridges (George Washington, Tappan Zee, Bear Mountain, Newburgh/Beacon, Mid-Hudson, and Walkway Over the Hudson), and went by West Point, the Indian Point nuclear power plant, and Bannerman's Island.

They got here at 1:00 am and docked the boat at the Rondout Creek in Kingston...just a couple blocks from our house. Then a day and a half later they turned around and sailed back to NYC.

Here are some photos from the trip...

Leaving New York City, early morning.

First Mate Nami (which means wave in Japanese).

The boys on their way back to NYC.

The Kingston lighthouse...where the Rondout Creek meets the Hudson River.

See that cabin? That was Randy's "apartment" for 4 years. Renting a slip in NYC is a lot cheaper than renting a studio. And I think living on a boat is pretty darn romantic.

Bright lights. Big city. The end.