Roaring the 20's Back Today!

A few weeks ago I sat in the quaint little cafe of RJ Julia in downtown Madison.  I shared a cup of steaming, hot, coffee and a freshly baked scone with my dear friend Ann Nyberg.  As conversations do with Ann, our dialog twisted and turned through a wide variety of topics and brainstorming ideas.  We talked about life, the direction of our respective industries, old fashion department stores, and lifestyles of days gone by. It is rare for me to leave an encounter with Ann and not be inspired in some way.  As I put the car in drive and zipped off to my next meeting, I tucked parts of our discussion into the back of my very busy brain.

Saturday night that little coffee klatch came rushing back as I sat in a movie theater and watched the previews for The Great Gatsby.

 The fashions, the architecture, the cars... Life in the roaring 20's.  Our country exploded with prosperity and was in the height of creativity. Music was fresh, a touch racey and starting to break away from tradition.  Automobiles were no longer for only the wealthy, mass production made these modern day marvels available to the middle class.  Fashion shed the severe, stiff, corsetted, Victorian styling and started to show more skin.

Art Deco also made its grand appearance. Art, architecture and interior design cast off overly ornate and heavily carved traditions for sleek, clean lines. I've often wondered what it would have been like to experience those exciting break throughs.

As I prepare for my trip to High Point Market next week, I'm finding I might not be the only one who is  taken by the The Great Gatsby craze!


I can't wait to check out these inspirational pieces in person......

ART Furniture Harper Sofa 

Sarried Shipping Trunk Chest of Drawers 

John Richard Beaded Elegance Lamp

Bernhardt Barnsley Table 60" round 

.... May 10th, The Great Gatsby premires in theaters .... I'll have a front row seat..

What do you say Ann, want to join me?

Taking Off Like Zingo ..... a tribute to Lilly Pulitzer

Lilly Pulitzer.... A fashion icon and brilliantly creative woman.

It all began with Lilly just trying to keep herself neat and fashionable while juicing oranges.  She designed 'shift dresses' with her seamstress that were fully lined for comfort and made in wildly bright colors that hid orange juice stains.  Her flair for this simple, but eccentric approach to fashion took off, and she began selling more of her shapeless shift dresses than juice!

Lilly quickly grabbed the attention of her dear friend, Jackie Kennedy, who loved the bold, vivacious, and playful designs so much that she was photographed with the family by Life Magazine ...... and well the rest is history!  After all,  Jackie was the trend setter of the 1960's! 

“It was made from kitchen curtain material and people went crazy,” Ms. Pulitzer said.

 “They took off like Zingo.”

Over the years, the Lilly Pulitzer name has been a mild blip on my radar, even though her line now includes handbags, sundresses, bathing suits, and even men's pajamas. Lilly's line expolded into a huge flashing "incoming beam" on that radar when in 2011, Lee Jofa introduced Lilly Pulitzer line of home fabrics...... WOWZA!!!

Check out some of my favorites....even the names are fun!!

Shell We Hotty Pink!

Heritage Floral Multi 

Lilly Lace Tide Blue

Well Connected Aqua Orange

Racey Lacey Lush Green

Lee Jofa did an amazing job capturing Lilly's spirit and flair in these fabrics.  

Yesterday we lost this beautiful, creative icon.  Her splash of personality, style and effervescence will be forever missed.

Here's to forever living life to the fullest, dressing with a purpose, and never, never, ever be afraid of color!

Lilly Pulitzer November 10, 1931 ~ April 7, 2013

Forcing Spring!

It was the perfect Holiday weekend. Warm sunshine kissed my cheeks, I visited my crocuses that smiled up at me, and brushed my hands across my daffodil and tulip sprouts asking for an appearance soon! Besides the crocuses and the spring bulb spouts little green has graced our landscape.  I still see barren trees out my Studio window and litterally not a single sign of springfilled life ready to explode!

For weeks now I have been willing spring.  Today I'm forcing it! Usually I'm doing this in late February or early March, but clearly Mother Nature has had other ideas!  With a little luke warm water and some Forsythia cuttings, Spring will arrive shortly in our studio!

I've forced various cuttings over the years. Forsythia is just about always a sure bloom! I like to dress my cuttings with some filler to give the presentation some dimension.

Other cutting you can force are...

Crabapple

Dogwood

Willow..... although it's a little late for these!

Soon my conference room table will be ablaze with color! Sunshine will pour through the studio and Spring will be demanded to make her appearance.....not just a teaser, but to stay for good.

Happy Monday Folks...... here's to Forcing Spring!