So Sylvie

My New Sister, Barb!

I'm overdue in shining a light on Barbara Blair of Knack Studios, the princess of furniture pimp! Happily we discovered each other online, complete with a six degrees of separation twist. Her style is undeniable and her workspace enviable!

From her inspired studio in a flatiron building in Greenville, South Carolina, Barb transforms pieces that had long since hung up their dancing shoes and gives them reason to live again.

She sands and strips tired old pieces, then refinishes them using lovely papers accents, animated knobs, and some commanding, and some subtle paint colors. She calls it "radically resurfaced furniture".

It's thrilling to have a new partner in furniture crime, Barb!

Desingers with Heart

This past week marked the start of the 4th Annual Design on a Dime Benefit for Housing Works, presented by Real Simple Magazine. 30 of the nations top designers donated their time and talent for this charitable event -- co-chaired by Maggie Gyllenhaal (one of my faves!), designer James Huniford and Real Simple’s managing editor Kristin van Ogtrop:

James Huniford, Designer, Sills Huniford; Kristin van Ogtrop, Managing Editor, Real Simple; Charles King, President of Housing Works; Maggie Gyllenhaal, actress; Thom Filica, designer, Thom Filicia inc. (Photo, Demetrius Kambouris)

From the web site: "Housing Works [is] the nation's  largest grassroots AIDS service organization. Since 1990, Housing Works has provided life-saving services to more than 20,000 homeless men, women,  and children living with HIV and AIDS in New York City.
Design on a Dime has  raised over $1 million in support of Housing works programs."

There were room vignettes created by the designers whereby you could purchase items at 70% off retail. The auction part of the event is still happening; through the 22nd. Check out the web site for views of the objects for sale, set up in window vignettes at Housing Works thrift shops in New York City. Below are some objects to tempt you:

Be sure to check out their thrift shops any time you're in New York.

California Home + Design + Sylvie

I received the May issue of California Home+Design in the mail. I am on page 86 in the Designer Watch section. They bungled a lot of the facts of my profile, even though a "fact checker" phoned to make sure this would not happen. Oh well. Put it down to a Gemini personality moving in too many directions to be pinned down. It's like a shell-game trying to interview me..."Which one is she hiding under?" Anyway, here I am, looking very tense, my migraine immortalized...

Spool Queen

I saw Victoria's lovely post about Amy Butler fabrics on sfgirlbybay and it reminded me that I wanted to share the beautiful pouch that Katherine (Spool Queen) gave me...

She embroiders her logo on the inside. She also makes booties, hats and more...

Have a browse in her Etsy shop. Merci beaucoup Katherine (pictured below) for the gift!

Un Petit Oiseau Told Me...

Actually, I discovered Emma Cassi, a French artist living in London, on Design*Sponge, among many places lately. Grace featured her home in D*Sponge's Sneek Peeks. She's an interior stylist and prop maestra...

and jewelry designer, these are beaded lace bracelets...

Check out her beautiful blog. And her beautiful boy, Antonin!

Random Act of Creativity

I had the sweetest surprise the other day. A woman who had been reading my blog drove "over the hill" from Santa Cruz bearing a homemade gift (see above). Her name is Stacey Costello and she is a self-proclaimed paper fanatic. She makes the most delicate and whimsical vintage flavored paper boxes and botanical artwork. Here is a sampling of what you'll find at her Etsy shop, Stacey Costello Studios:

a fanciful fairy box...

a botanical collage...

a princess party hat...

and a donkey decoupage...

Thank you ever so much Stacey for the thoughtful gift. I love it!

 

California Home + Design

We had a visit by an editor and photographer from California Home + Design Magazine at our shop recently. The coverage is due out in the May issue. I had so many projects to finish in time for the visit...embroidered wall art, settee cover, pillows, damask drapery panels, and a lighting fixture, just to name a few!

photo: close-up of one of my embroidered wall panels.

The photo session was a bit rough on me as I was fighting off a migraine, but the photographer, Jennifer, couldn't have been more sweet and understanding.

photo: Jen and my Marcel

Below is a vignette in the shop that includes my embroidery art, an Eastlake settee that I covered in burlap with one of my block print pillows on it, and a pair of silver metallic plaster lamps that came out of the famous Monte Carlo Hotel in Las Vegas:

I would love to have a studio where I can work on all of my projects...large scale textile embroideries and block prints, sculptural lighting, furniture fancies, etc. Must make that happen. It's what feeds me.

Cancer Calling

I got a call from my doctor late last night. He says I have to go back for more surgery. They didn't get all of the cancer. Damn that luck o' the Irish. Just gotta keep moving forward. Springtime is here to help me through. Etta James' song Out of the Rain comes to mind for some reason. It's a powerful song, from a powerful woman; maybe that's why.

Keeping the sun on my face.

Photo: Prayer shop on Jackson Street in San Francisco

Voila le Printemps!

Dare I say, "she has risen"! Grazie mille and merci beaucoup to all of you for your kind words of support. Physically the surgery was a breeze. Emotionally it's been tough. The worst part of my recovery has been that the surgery hastened my period, and hence my menstrual migraine. But at least it kept me in bed for two days solid, otherwise I might have been tempted to get right back to my routine. The silver lining of a migraine, ha!

This is what I look at from my perch on the sofa:

I must say, springtime is a great time to be reborn! Warmest wishes to all of you. xo xo xo

P.S.
My soundtrack right now is Stevie Wonder- A Place in the Sun (1966).

Wish Me Well

Tomorrow is my cancer surgery at Stanford Hospital. I feel good, other than the fact that I have to get up at 4am, ugh. Must be washed, dressed, and have had my coffee (black only) and be out the door by 5am. Let's hope I have the luck o' the Irish.

I love you all !