weathering the weather

With record-breaking early snows last night (15"/38cm!), following record-breaking floods this past summer, we could use a break. It certainly is beautiful to look at, though.

happy weekend

We woke up to a couple of inches of snow this morning, which has already nearly melted in the bright sunlight, & are expecting more to fall tomorrow. Tomorrow morning we go to the last farmer's market of the season for our traditional aloo gobi & palak paneer breakfast, & to bring home some late-harvest vegetables; in the evening we brave the storm to visit some friends up north whom we haven't seen in a long time  (upwards of 12 inches/30cm of snow is forecast, so alas, travels will have to wait), & otherwise look forward to hunkering down to get some home projects & winterizing done. Hello winter, goodbye autumn - you didn't tarry!

rough linens, sweet dreams

I love the look & feel of rough linen, & Tricia Rose's shop by the same name is heavenly. Inspired by a remarkably intact pillow slip made by her Scottish great-grandmother in 1840 & subsequently used by three generations, Tricia makes handsome duvet covers & bed linens out of the same type of hand-loomed stuff. I love her pairing of raw linen with the more refined white - brilliant. 

our linen-clad bed

A few years ago, before discovering her wares, I made a duvet cover out of unrefined linen with mother-of-pearl button enclosures for our bedroom, to match our Italian linen shams. When tumbled dry it is soft & has a pleasing heft, & has proven sturdy enough to take the claws of a couple of affectionate, kneading cats without showing a sign of wear. Our bedroom yearns for a crisp white rough linen sheet...

visit rough linen

sticks & stones

from here

from here

Natural forms as canvas.

happy weekend

Fall is always the time of year when I recollect & reconsider direction, what I would like to put my energies into, which path to start down or continue on. Chalk it up to new-school-year mentality, or the leaves falling & creatures getting ready to hunker down after the crazy growth & activity of summertime, but September always feels like my new year & a time to reflect & recoup. Anyone planning to make any changes, or start a project they've had on a back burner?

virtual wardrobe

Doing a little window, er, monitor shopping for my fall everyday wardrobe while sipping tea & listening to the wind outside.

 

I love the stone gray & pink hues mixed with creams & caramel from dace
The tassel belt is lovely!

& the rich camel, reds & oranges mixed with slate grey & loden from steven alan

Such great pairings of prints & textures!

sound + image

The Brick + Mortar International Video Art Festival takes place in various historic buildings scattered throughout a small Massachusetts town in the Pioneer Valley. This year's exhibitions, curated by Hampshire College Philosophy Professor & sound art critic/historian Christoph Cox, explored relationships between sound, music & image. Spending the day exploring the city's eclectic architecture while discovering thought-provoking art installations - brilliant.