Kravet/Lee Jofa and Lilly Does It Again!

First Lady Luncheon 2011 The Congressional Club in Washington, D.C. has hosted a luncheon honoring the First Lady of the United States since 1912. Spouses of Members of Congress, spouses of Supreme Court Justices and spouses of the President’s Cabinet are all in attendance. In recent years, Kravet Inc. has been asked to donate fabric for the tablecloths for the luncheon. The luncheon currently gathers 2,000 guests for this prestigious affair.  

Working closely throughout 2011 with event chairlady Pat Mica of Winter Park, Florida, Pat and Ellen Kravet came up with a Floridian inspired theme for this year’s cloths. It was Pat’s desire to have a Lilly Pulitzer fabric, featuring bright and vibrant colors indicative of the Florida landscape. As Lee Jofa is launching the Lilly Pulitzer fabric collection this month, a Lilly fabric was a perfect fit for the luncheon décor.

Pat and Ellen selected Pattern Bimini and custom-colored the design to work within the theme. Two colorways were chosen for the tablecloths, a bright hot pink and a bright orange. When guests walked into the ballroom, they were ‘wowed’ by the profusion of color. The tablecloths were sold to attendees following the luncheon with the proceeds benefiting local charities. First Lady Michelle Obama told the Kravet Family Members who attended she loved the tablecloths this year. With musical entertainment by Gloria Estefan and Lilly Pulitzer tablecloths adorning the room, the First Lady’s Luncheon was a smashing success! Kravet/Lee Jofa being such American Institutions for textiles and furniture and was honored to participate in this worthwhile and historic American event.

Visiting My friend, Kyle, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

A month or so ago, a wonderful friend of mine invited me to visit him in his home town, Oklahoma City, and without thinking twice I booked my flight.  For those of you in the DC and Baltimore area, Southwest Airlines offers direct flights in and out of Oklahoma City and it is so carefree!  Having never been to Oklahoma I really had no idea what to expect, so I did what all inquisitive parties do today.......I googled, "Oklahoma City" and have to admit I became excited in anticipation of my trip.  As you see from the photo above the skyline of the city is quite impressive and even more so at night!

As a child spending lots of summers and extended holidays with my grandparents on their farm in West Virginia, I always found the old windmill, which stood so stately and proudly above the well,  as tall, as perhaps the Eiffel Tower or maybe even taller or at least, in my early and already creative mind.  So one thing I knew I wanted to see were windmills and windmills I have seen......

Of course, the other preconceived thoughts about Oklahoma for me was seeing Cowboys and Indians walking around.....and I have not been too disappointed, even though, there really aren't any horses or carriages tied up outside the restaurants, etc........you do occasionally see the beauty of the the Native American costume during festivals and the Cowboy at rodeo time and of course as the bottom photo above depicts, the "up and coming" Cowboy or Cowgirl!

Gosh, how in the world could I almost forget "where the buffalo roam" was one more "must see"?  How majestic and magical this wonderful animal is......although they are huge, their aura is so quiet and gentile and they are absolutely handsome!

Now one of the most impressive things, I have to admit, I did not know existed in Oklahoma City, is the Chihuly Glass collection, which is the largest comprehensive Chihuly collection in the world.  Only one word can describe it.....SPECTACULAR.....and worth visiting Oklahoma City for!  The top photo is actually in the entrance of the Oklahoma City Museum of Art and is the tallest work in the world by Chihuly!

Architecturally the city is pretty incredible, as well....the neighborhoods are all pristine and you can see that Mid-western sense of pride of their home and the heartland of the Country.

From the Capitol Dome

To the American Indian and Cowboy Museum

To the wonderful Bricktown Canal and Waterwalk

Along the canal are these great bronze sculptures depicting the Oklahoma Land Rush.....my friend, Kyle gave me a history lesson and now I understand the difference between the "boomers and the "sooners"!

One of the other facts that surprised me about Oklahoma City's Lake Hefner is that it is one of the top sailing lakes in the world.......

And the Phoenix rises.........From this.......

to this......may we never forget!

Before I return to DC on Weds evening I will return to pay my respects again and view the Oklahoma City Bombing Memorial one more time.  As horrific as the crime was, the enormous and overwhelming sense of unity the memorial creates is absolutely breathtaking and beautiful......as I have enjoyed the tranquility and peacefulness of being in this picturesque part of our Country I cannot even imagine an event like that would ever have occured here, or anywhere for that matter.....but then again evil and sick individuals exist everywhere, but as the wonderful people of Oklahoma City have proven "good always outweighs evil" and the memorial they have created exemplifies that!  I am already looking forward to my next visit and want to experience spending time on a ranch.....can you believe it?  

Happy Memorial Day 2011!

As we remember the wonderful men and women who sacrificed their lives for our freedom I would like to say Happy Memorial Day to everyone and thank those who keep our country free! I am so grateful for my freedom and the choices I am given and the luxuries we have in this wonderful country. As Bill Clinton once said, "if we want to invest in the prosperity of our nation, we must invest in the education of our children so that their talents may be fully employed."

Art goes hand in hand with design and decoration and I was so fortunate to have had an art teacher, Mrs. Leone Bowers Hamilton, who saw a small bit of talent in me....we must never let the Art or Music programs be eliminated or suffer in our shools! 
In my blog I will be posting famous artists and some examples of their work on their birthdays. Today we celebrate the birth of Fernando Amorsolo y Cueto!

Fernando Amorsolo y Cueto (May 30, 1892 – April 24, 1972) Fernando is one of the most important artists in the history of painting in the Philippines.^[1] Amorsolo was a portraitist and painter of rural Philippine landscapes. He is popularly known for his craftsmanship and mastery in the use of light. Born in Paco, Manila, he earned a degree from the Liceo de Manila Art School in 1909

As you see from the above examples of Fernando's work he was not only an accomplished artist but one who could capture an incredible still life,  a pastoral scene or the exquisite beauty of the people of the Philippines!

L'Amour Fou

Be sure to treat yourself to the documentary on the selling of YSL's collections "L'Amour Fou" which translates as Crazy Love.......heart warming and visually stimulating!  Great Sunday afternoon "thing to do"!  Enjoy!

Displaying Art Pieces......have your designer/decorator help you choose which pieces and where they should be placed!

Finding and displaying art pieces can be one of the most fun and interesting things a person can do in their homes.  

When searching for pieces to display begin by analyzing the space where they are to be hung.....in a corner of a small entrance can be a fun place to mirror the images and let children in on the fun, pressing leaves from Mother Nature and framing them (be sure you date and add each child's name on the reverse side for later years) can be a wonderful afternoon project and bring a life time of joy each time you pass through your entrance or a visitor inquires about the collection!

Black and White photography and prints can make an incredible statement......be sure to matt the pieces in larger matts making each piece important!

Color coordinated.......

Simple object on a wall bracket.......nothing more elegant!

A play on scale.......3 different framed subjects, with only the largest piece actually hung on the wall and the others standing in front creating a wonderful dimension!

Of course, we all have "important" relatives......some more important than others,  I'm sure!

And what a better place to display one of your favorite pieces than above your bed.......you will see it as the final thing in the evening before "lights out" and you will see it first thing in the morning to bring you joy to start your day!

Q&A: Barbara Barry
Q&A from Inspired Styles
What’s Your Favorite….
Accessory: My Valextra handbag
Artist: Brancusi, Sargent, Sorolla, Egon Schiele
Bar: The Long Bar, designed by John Pawson, Hong Kong International Airport
Book: A General Theory of Love
Car: 1958 Mercedes 220 S Coupe in ivory
Chair: My Bracelet chair in ivory from Barbara Barry, Realized by Henredon Chef: Hiro of Nishimura, Los Angeles
Chocolate: Puccini Bomboni chocolate, Amsterdam City Amsterdam
Color: The color of the water in the bathtub
Country: Italy
Drink: Belvedere Vodka with fresh chopped ginger
Fashion designer: Balenciaga
Flower: Ranunculus & anemones
Gadget: Bose Acoustic Noise Cancelling Headphones
Garden: Jacques Wirtz’s own, Belgium
Guilty pleasure: More than one bath in a day & the NYT crossword puzzle
Hotel: Eichardt’s, Queenstown, New Zealand
Lamp: The Mariano Fortuny Umbrella floor lamp, 1907
Perfume/cologne: L’Heure Bleue by Guerlain
Restaurant: Noma, Copenhagen
Season: Spring
Shoes: Roger Vivier
Singer: Mirella Freni
Sport: Tennis
Barbara Barry is known for her soft, muted color palette and chic simplicity. Herself a modern day Audrey Hepburn in cashmere and pearls, her line of fabrics, wall coverings and trim for Kravet reflect an understated glamour and attention to detail that has become her signature.

Lucky Me!

How lucky can you get.....I work in a wonderful profession where you can live vicariously through others. Designing different lifestyles for my clients is as fulfilling as painting on a canvas is to the artist. The key I find that makes a room a "WOW" room versus a mediocre room is viewing the room as a canvas.....taking in consideration all four corners as you are going through the creative processes How is each additional piece going to relate to the others, how will the negative space be enhanced by an additional piece, and so on and so on, until the masterpiece is complete.
On Friday, I finished accessorizing the first floor of a project I have been working on for a delightful couple out in Virginia. How wonderful it is to see the expressions on the clients' faces when a room comes together, as if by magic! (although the preparation for the finished room has been ongoing for quite a bit of time, the clients just think we pull it together so easily and that is exactly how it is supposed to appear.) I was so happy to see so many blooming flowers in their yard and as they went off to attend errands they needed to do, I raced around and cut fresh flowers from their garden and added the final touches. When they returned they could not believe their eyes and actually the wife said to me, when she first saw the custom throw pillows on the sofas, she just wasn't quite in love with them, as she thought she might be from the small samples I had shown her, but then once I added the other accessories, the room came together just like the final brush strokes finalize a painting!
I left feeling so good and thought how lucky I am to be in such a wonderful field and the pleasure I get by seeing the reaction the clients have.....hopefully, always positive!
IT TRULY IS MAGIC!