Just last week a cold rain lashed at the phlox and daffodils bravely poking their heads out of the ground.   Sleet pelted us in sideways sheets for good measure.   I was longing for warm weather, and at last it’s here.   Every living creature is feeling restored by sun and blooms.  My horses turned their noses up at their hay this morning to seek out bright green shoots of grass in the paddock.  Pepper, our Jack Russell, has dirt up to his eyes from digging out mysterious creatures as they emerge from the softening earth.

Spring brings changes, and this year I’m making a big one.  I’m closing my retail shop to focus on selling at various antique shows and horse shows.  I’ll continue selling online at www.antiquesetcetera.net, and I’m available for interior decorating projects large or small.  While I’ve loved owning a store, I’ve decided to redirect my energies in a way that allows my schedule more freedom to ride my horses, garden, and enjoy my family.

Life is full of unexpected twists and turns, isn’t it?  At this point in life, I resist change.  It’s inconvenient at the least, and downright frightening at its worst.  Yet each major detour is an opportunity to edit, refocus and maybe try something new.   I’m making a list of what’s most important to me and tossing out what’s not on the list.  On the list: spending more weekends with family, playing my guitar, teaching my young horse to jump a coop, taking time to be still.   Most things on my list cost little or no money.   What purchases I do plan to make (such as an antique French bed) I’ll purchase thoughtfully.  I’ll buy antiques, locally grown food, and as few things made in China as possible.

For the first time in years, my husband and I are putting in a vegetable garden.  Besides some economic benefits, I know we’ll get so much satisfaction from growing our own produce.  There’s nothing like a real, homegrown-tomato sandwich or pesto made from my own basil.    The garden will be the only big project I take on this summer; while there are dozens of things I really should do around the house (repaint the living room, repair the hole in the wall my son made with a lacrosse ball, reorganize the laundry area, clean out the attic) I think I’ll put those off till fall.  The last item on my list, “taking time to be still” is more important right now.  Like a fresh picked salad, time is delicious.

A beautiful day for a drive!

Happy Thanksgiving!  Here is the scene outside the shop today.  What a joyful way to start the holiday season.  My own mare, Betty, is a Belgian just like the handsome boys in the photo; I must teach Betty to drive.  There’s nothing prettier than a horse-drawn carriage, is there?

It feels like winter here today, and I’m ready for it.  I love cold weather; I love cold weather clothes and food.  For Thanksgiving I made a flourless chocolate cake from the new Nigella Lawson cookbook we’re selling at the shop.  It was devine.  I can’t wait to try more of her recipes.  They’re easy, comforting, and delicious.  Even the men in my family like these dishes, and that’s not an easy trick.

We have a large selection of newly released interior design books available by such great designers as David Easton, Chris Madden and Alexa Hampton.   One of my favorites is a compilation of articles featured in Town and Country magazine entitled At Home with Town and Country.  This photo sums up the true spirit of English country style:

Here is the Duchess of Devonshire (now Dowager Duchess of Devonshire) feeding her beloved chickens — in a gorgeous designer suit!  This book is such an inspiration for creating a meaningful, authentic home; what a great gift it will make.  Our library is full of such books, so come and browse to your heart’s content.

Once again we have handmade Austrian ornaments for sale.  The handpainted eggs start at just $9.50 and make wonderful hostess gifts.  The handpainted glass balls start at around $25.00 and are a truly special addition to the family Christmas tree.  We had one design made just for us this year, Mr. Fox in a snowy scene ($32.00).

Things do sell out quickly in our small shop, so please visit or call us with product inquiries or special orders.  As always, gift wrapping is free!  We also ship directly from the shop to any location in the U.S. 

Take care, and we hope to see you soon!

Welcome to Antiques, Etc.!

Early summer is glorious here in Virginia.  The gardens are brimming with flowers and early vegetables.  We’ve already had our first major heatwave, and we could use some rain.  But mornings and evenings are still cool.  It’s the time of year we should be out of doors as much as possible.

I enjoy waking early to watch the hummingbirds drink their homemade nectar while I sip my coffee.  (I’m really still in a coma until my second cup!)   Then it’s on to my barn and garden chores.  The routine is easy this time of year; the horses are turned out in a paddock with plenty of shade.  They get hay and a minimal amount of grain.  No stalls to muck!

I’m a big fan of container gardening, so I water my plants every morning.  Though I dream of an expansive flower garden, I’m satisfied for now with the perennial beds and many pots surrounding the patio.  They’re easy to maintain, and I get instant gratification from bursts of color by growing annuals in containers.  I confess I don’t have a landscape plan; I tend to shove plants in wherever they’ll fit!  I do try to have plants of varying height, texture and color.  I also stagger bloom times so that I have color all season long, right into the first hard frost.

There’s no color I don’t want in my garden.  I hear people say, “I don’t like yellow”, or “I only want shades of blue and white“.  How can you not love them all?  Come August, it seems that the yellow and orange-blooming plants are the only ones who can really tolerate the heat.  I say, if it survives it’s welcome in my flower beds.

I own a haphazard collection of pots and urns that I fill with everything from pansies to basil.  The urn (below) is so beautiful, I haven’t wanted to put anything in it.  I have a pair on the front porch, on either side of my front door.

This is another fabulous garden piece by Orlandi, the company whose statuaries and urns I’ve been carrying for several years now.  They have a large catalog, so let me know if you’re looking for a special focal point or piece for your home.  Their prices are quite reasonable, and their designs are out of the ordinary.

This time of year I entertain outdoors whenever possible.  I can’t stand paper plates, and who needs them with such beautiful options like these new introductions from Gien:

This is Ronde d’Orient, featuring the dessert (or salad) plate.

And this is the Sultana dinner plate.   These patterns are a slightly new directions for Gien — a nod to influences from around the world.  There are dozens of patterns, so peruse the website www.gien.com.  I can order and ship any pattern you choose.  Gien  china is still made in the village of Gien, France.  It’s dishwasher safe, so make your guests feel special around a gorgeous dinner table while making life easy on yourself.   I also offer a bridal registry, so let me know if I can help you, a friend or daughter pick a pattern you’ll treasure.

Antiques, Etc. will have a vendor booth at the Old Dominion Horse Show near Richmond, Virginia from July 21 through July 25.  If you’re in the neighborhood, please visit me there.  For more information on the show and for directions, go to www.olddominionhorseshow.com.  Enjoy summer!

I just returned from my first big buying trip of the new year.  My sister and I attended the New York International Gift Fair, a yearly event for us.  I always find the most wonderful assortment of handmade and remarkable gifts for the shop at this show, from American and European artists.  This year I went a little crazy on handbags — a personal weakness!  I picked up three new lines ranging from equestrian-inspired designs to city chic.  Take a look: 

Betsy bag with rosette detail

Cub shopper, made in Germany

Pony bag, made in Germany

  And how about this cutie, made in America: 

The Kimberly

I also found handmade accessories for the home, like this rustic handcrafted bowl made in western Massachusetts from local wood. 

Spaulted maple bowl

In my search for American made products, I’m finding there are still many great craftspeople in this country, many of whom exhibited at the New York Gift Show.   My new stock will be arriving at the shop in a couple weeks. 

New York City is so fashionable that I always have to allow myself at least one day to shop for clothes.  Everybody was wearing puffy down coats and jeans tucked into high, sleek boots.  Since it was bitterly cold up there, I had no choice but to buy a new coat and boots to match all those smart-looking city people.  

After a day of shopping, we stopped into the Bull and Bear at the Waldorf Astoria for a proper drink.   We treated ourselves to dinner that night at the China Grill on West 53rd Street, where the atmosphere is full of energy and the food is nothing short of art.  Try a pink halo champagne cocktail ( just be careful climbing the circular staircase to the ladies’ lounge afterwards). 

The groundhog saw his shadow while I was away, so we’ve got six more weeks of winter.   But shopping always eases the winter blues!

The Christmas Corner at Antiques, Etc.

The holiday season has arrived, ready or not!  It always takes me by surprise.  Each year I vow to make this Christmas season simpler than the last.   I do enjoy making the house festive without going overboard.  Thoughtful ornaments and natural decorations add just the right touch of warmth and holiday cheer.

This year I chose hand painted ornaments from Austria for my shop and home.  They range from small painted eggs to large glass balls, each painted individually with scenes of horses and hounds, horse-draws sleighs, country churches, and singing angels.   Starting at under $10.00, they make delightful gifts with an authenticity that can be lacking in the giant malls.

Austrian handpainted egg ornament

Another great gift idea is a Trapp Holiday Candle or Diffuser.  Trapp offers the most luscious Christmas scents: White Fir, Holiday, and (my favorite) Orange Clove.   They are a wonderful way to fill the house with the aromas of an old-fashioned Christmas. 

Trapp Holiday Candles and Diffusers

If somebody on your list has been very, very good and deserves a luxurious gift, consider one of our lambswool throws from Scotland.   They come in a variety of reversible tartan patterns.   Even my teenage son says that our Scottish throw is the softest blanket he’s ever had.

Another fabulous gift is a lambswool or cashmere scarf by Sonia Mackintosh.  I like the “Sabrina” ruffle edge scarf.  Sonia’s color combinations are absolutely yummy: raspberry and espresso, nasturtium and copper, jade and basil.  They’re warm, soft, and very sophisticated.   Don’t buy a new winter coat; spruce up last year’s with a new scarf!

Sabrina lambswool scarf by Sonia Mackintosh

After all the decorating and shopping is done, I’m looking forward to relaxing by the Christmas tree with a good cup of coffee and a thick piece of stollen.  My biggest holiday weakness is that sweet German cake dusted in powdered sugar.  It’s simple, and it’s my favorite ritual of the holidays.  May you indulge in your favorite ritual soon.

I just started carrying this line of garden ornaments from Orlandi Statuary, and they add so much personality to the landscape.   A pair of classic urns on either side of the front door  instantly creates structure and balance, like punctuation marks in a paragraph.  A figurine, such as a woodland animal, adds a bit of whimsy and tells visitors that we don’t take ourselves too seriously here.

Remnant of a Greek goddess

This reproduction of a remnant is fantastic peeking out from under the boxwoods.  She would look just as good resting beneath my enormous hostas at home.

Wee, wee, wee all the way home!

This little stone pig greets customers at my front door and makes them feel welcome.

Pansies on the front steps

Simple pots and containers add charm to the front porch.  It’s easy to change the plants seasonally.

Winged urn

Grumpy little gargoyle

There is no city in the South — possibly in the country — with such distinct and inspiring style as New Orleans.  It’s given me dozens of ideas for my home and garden.  Every morning I took a long walk through the Garden District, which comprises block after city block of gorgeous homes representing every architectural era since the mid 1700′s.  

 The style, while elegant, has a certain amount of theater.  It’s not uncommon to see heaps of mardi gras beads hanging like Spanish moss from live oak trees in the yards of the mansions on St. Charles Avenue.   The elephant ears and palm trees add a touch of drama.  Gaslights still flicker along every little street, and it’s easy to forget what year this really is.

Commander's Palace

A Garden District mansion

Wrought iron skull fence

Garden District Victorian

Folks in New Orleans enjoy mixing tradition and grace with humor and whimsy.  The wrought iron skull fence is a good example.  Bawdy Bourbon Street is just a block away from refined Royal Street.  The saints and the sinners live side by side…

French Quarter taxi

A quiet street in the French Quarter

French Quarter residence

My favorite antique shop is Royal Antiques located on Royal Street in the French Quarter.   Established in 1899, it holds the loveliest collection of French and English pieces I’ve seen in years.  The walnut French wine taster’s table stood out, as did several painted wardrobes (they make excellent bars!), and a pair of antique gilded bergeres (armchairs) in an outrageous melon-colored fabric. 

New Orleans is a great example of how to marry the 18th century with the 21st.  The trick is to not be shy about mixing color and texture, old and new, serious and fun.

French Quarter balcony

Garden District residence

A private garden

Bar hopping

In my first year of college, I became so depressed in the big Southern city far from the countryside I loved that I never went back.  I needed mountains, and I drove to Wyoming to find them.  I stayed in Jackson for ten years, poor as a churchmouse but awed everyday by the Tetons in the backyard of my yurt.  No matter what difficulty I was facing (six feet of snow outside the walls of my canvas house), I only had to look around me to be uplifted.

I’ve been back in Virginia now for many years, enjoying life on a few acres with my family and animals.  Our house isn’t grand; it’s a cottage-scale clapboard two-story my husband built.  After eight years it’s still a work in progess.  I’m trying to learn to enjoy the process.

It’s hard sometimes to accept the fact that my surroundings aren’t exactly the way I want them yet.  My husband, it seems, could live in a cardboard box.  Clutter and chaos don’t bother him, and he thinks I should care much less.  This drives me crazy.  When my house is cluttered, my mind feels cluttered.  I love 18th century style; my husband loves the functionality of modern style.  We both agree that compromise is not an option.

I don’t think I’m materialistic, but the things I do have I treasure.  My aim is  to surround myself with only the things I love.  Each of them should mean something to me, remind me of a special person or time in my life.  I prefer antique and unique or handmade, whether it’s a sideboard, a serving bowl or a silver bracelet.  To have a home filled with these types of items takes years; and that’s the beauty.  Eventually those treasures I’ve collected over time will tell the story of my life and my family’s life together.  As I’m gathering and collecting the fabrics, furniture and objects for my home, I’m painting a picture.  It’s important to me that when I walk into my house at the end of the day the picture I see is pleasing.  Inviting.  Relaxing, as when you meet an old friend for a drink and you can be utterly yourself.

Home should not only reflect us.  It should bring out the best in us, as individuals and as families.   Creating that kind of environment is a journey.  Enjoy the scenery!

K. Hall Diffusers, Soap and Candles

I recently discovered this line of body, bath and home products by K. Hall.  This is a family-run business from St. Louis.  They use natural ingredients and essential oils to create the most pure, elegant scents.  The packaging is recycled and reusable — very eco-conscious — and their products are made in the USA.  I’ve used these myself and now carry them in my shop.   Flax Linen and Milk are my favorite scents so far.

I know most of these projects won’t get done this year, but some of them will.  In the meantime, I’ll get the bug to do something else that will add a pleasing effect to my surroundings.  Some projects are big (building the barn), some are small.  If you can’t afford to build an entirely new structure, try rearranging the furniture.  It’s amazing what a big difference moving things around can have on a room.

Last year I repainted the kitchen and had the window treatments made.  Painting brings instant gratification.  Color has such an impact one’s mood, and I’m not afraid to use it.  The worst that can happen is that your new color isn’t what you hoped, and you paint over it.   On bare walls, a new color can be alarming.  I painted my kitchen in Benjamin Moore’s “Lemon Drops”.  Yellow is tricky anyway, garish and alarming if it’s not just right, and Lemon Drops is a bold yellow.  But once I hung the window treatments and moved the furniture back in the room, I loved it.   Everytime I walk into the kitchen I feel good.  That’s how you know it’s the right color!

 Add this book to your Sunday reading:

Houses by Michael S. Smith

I’ve become a huge fan of this designer.  Michael Smith is decorating the White House for the Obamas, and I wanted to get to know his style.  This book is a beautiful, inspiring view into his work.  It’s also a great read; he describes his thought process and methods in an easy, entertaining voice.  This is the next best thing to actually having a conversation with him.  His style reflects the way his clients really live, not some caricature  of their lives.  I can’t wait to see what he does with 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

Every spring I have this on my list:

My dream garden

 My yard and garden look nothing like this.   My yard is really quite a disaster.  But as long as I have horses, dogs, boys with lacrosse sticks, and my husband Jethro, this picture is as close as I’ll get to my dream garden.

Walnut barley twist bed

Another task on my list is to find an antique barley twist bed this year.  Barley twist is such an English element, and there are many variations.   Barley twist poster beds are elegant.  The one pictured here is quite ornamental, and I love the honey-colored wood.   Hopefully I’ll find one at an estate sale or auction.  I’m obsessed with this!