Memorial Day

Memorial Day is a time to be particularly grateful and honor those who have fought for our country, paying the price with their lives. This is what the day means to some of our local veterans and soldiers:
"The first thing you think of is your friends and shipmates that have gone by, that you've lost. What comes to my mind is the Thresher because we had a lot of Albacore shipmates that we knew on there. We even had two shipmates that left our submarine and went to the Thresher just a short time before it went down. One of them I joined the Navy with. That's the first thing you think of. The people that are gone. The heroes that are gone."
— Norman Bower of Kingston, U.S. Navy veteran, served on USS Albacore for nearly 10 years

These dancers are descendants of the Aztecs. They are doing a ceremonial dance at the Taos Pueblos.

They're costumes were fantastic! Love those pheasant feathers and concho belt!

At the end of a Memorial Day weekend and returning home our cherry tree is full of produce. The picking begins...and so does summer.

Juliska Tableware

Juliska is some of the most beautiful tableware around and we are now carrying it at the shop. Elaborate detailing and unusual shapes herald Jardins du Monde – Juliska’s celebration of splendor, artistry and romance of four of the world’s most beautiful gardens. These highly designed and lavishly detailed pieces add depth, exuberance and whimsy to the Berry and Thread collection, and they’re equally beautiful standing alone. The Jardins du Monde Collection pays homage to our favorite gardens in Italy, France, Spain and England. “Landriana” marries the grandeur of the Italian garden with a lush English style. “Villandry” is all about formal patterns, harmony and majesty. “Alcazar” represents an exotic and lavish blend of cultures. And “Heligan” speaks to the romance of a lost, walled garden. All Juliska Ceramics are made of durable, chip-resistant stoneware and are guaranteed dishwasher, microwave, freezer-to-oven safe (up to 500°F).

Here is a collection underneath a wonderul wire mesh dome. We had a discussion the other day what else you could put inside this contraption. Yes Roseanna I think baby chicks or ducks underneath this is a fabulous idea-as a centerpiece!

Juliska Pewter Stoneware has rich, old-world luster that summons up visions of grand European estates. It beautifully showcases our unique “mottling” technique that gives each piece and original, hand-thumbed, hammered design. New for 2009, this ground-breaking metallic glaze is oven (up to 500°F), microwave, dishwasher and freezer safe! Layer it with all of your Juliska stoneware. It has the same restaurant-grade durability – so enjoy it every day!

Juliska designers Capucine Gooding and Elaine McCleary think up unusual shapes and intricate, extravagant detailing overlaid to create a sublime new ceramics collection. The line is extensive with many statement pieces.

Summer Garden Look

These rustic terrariums filled with cherry tomatoes are so interesting. And the tall purple coleus mixed with the purple kale are so pretty. The possibilities of terrariums are endless and the displays you can work up in them can be amazing if you put your head to it!

Love these bright yellow sunflowers, rustic terrariums, french metal buckets, and Vietri wicker pieces mixed together. This just says "summer" to me...

Rocki Gorman's Denim Lapis

Denim Lapis mixed with Kingman turquoise is so fresh for summer this year. These gorgeous new concho drops are hand-stamped and stunning. Lapis is thought to bring the gift of strength.Denim Lapis is an opaque stone ranging in color from a deep blue to pale blue. It is considered a stone and not a mineral, which results in the natural production of a wide variety of shades and striations. Pale blue lapis has become so popular that it has been given its own category: denim lapis.

The charm of a dovecote?

What in the world is a dovecote? A dovecote or dovecot (Scots: Doocot) is a building intended to house pigeons or doves. Dovecotes may be square or circular free-standing structures or built into the end of a house or barn. They generally contain pigeonholes for the birds to nest. Pigeons and doves were an important food source historically in Western Europe and were kept for their eggs and meat. In Scotland the tradition is continued in modern urban areas.
In some cultures, particularly Medieval Europe, the possession of a dovecote was a symbol of status and power and was consequently regulated by law. Only nobles had this special privilege known as droit de colombier. Many ancient manors in France and the United Kingdom have a dovecote (still standing or in ruins) in one section of the manorial enclosure or in nearby fields. Examples include Château de Kerjean in Brittany, France, Houchin, France, Bodysgallen Hall in Wales, and Muchalls Castle and Newark Castle in Scotland.
The oldest dovecotes are thought to have been the fortified dovecotes of Upper Egypt, and the domed dovecotes of Iran.

This is the path that leads to the dovecote and potting shed...the wisteria has gone mad. Can this woman grow vines or what?

Can't think of a more appropriate handle for a potting shed door can you?

Inside the potting shed is basket heaven. This is where all the baskets end up after having a long hard life! They reunite with their loved ones!

And here is Mr. Francis peering out from the snap dragons...perhaps he has blessed this garden!

French Signs

Now hiring! Anyone that's very talented at making pastries? A little bird told us of someone really good! Her turnovers are to die for-love this metal french sign.

Fab French Country Furniture In!!!

This French country pantry/closet would be so great to organize and fold all of your linens and keep your bed sheets in. Or keep supplies and baskets in it for a kitchen or laundry room. This has about 6-7 shelves in it that are adjustable. The sheen and dark walnut color of it with the carving is so beautiful!

Here is one of the black chairs that goes with the ottoman. I can see myself sitting in this with my feet up in the morning drinking coffee. It just needs a big wonderful script linen pillow in it-euro size of course. This is actually sized for papa bear but mama bear likes to sit in it!

This black washed footstool matches the two French cane-bottomed chairs we have got in as well.

This Welsh cupboard is so beautiful and would be perfect to display in your kitchen. Cupboards are not so easy to come by anymore and this one is not a massive piece. Which is nice-solid dovetailed drawers and solid oak this is a fantastic piece as well!

We have a pair of these which would be meant as either two wonderful nights stands on either side of a bed. Or would be great as a single pantry in a kitchen, in a large bathroom for accessories, etc. They are a petite size which makes them very versatile.

Darling lingerie chest-this would be perfect for a jewelry bug. The carving and quality if these pieces are so good!

Oh this pale blue scrubbed finish on this oak French piece is so good. This low shelving unit is fantastic and will arrive in a black distressed finish soon!

Lemon Curd Ice Cream

Serves: 2

Ingredients
1 jar Stonewall Kitchen Lemon Curd, chilled
1 pint light cream, chilled
Directions
Whisk together the Lemon Curd and the light cream. Process according to your ice cream maker's instructions. Stop when ice cream is thick and creamy.
For Krups Ice Cream makers:
Pour chilled curd and cream mixture into the frozen cylinder. Process for 30-35 minutes until the ice cream is thick and creamy. Can be kept frozen for one week in the freezer.
Recipe Tips: This ice cream is especially nice served with fresh berries.

click here to print recipe

Rocki Gorman Purple Kingman Turquoise/Mojave Turquoise

This is part of our Mariposa Collection and features our Dragon fly drop and earrings in Purple Kingman Turquoise and Mojave Turquoise. The concho belt is all Purple Kingman Turquoise and is slab cut stones. All jewelry is hand made and hand crafted and no casting is done. The shawl Carmen is wearing is a hand woven blend of natural fibers and is handmade exclusively for our Santa Fe gallery by fiber artist Susan Carli.

Rocki Gorman Multi-Stones Collection

This collection is the signature collection and is mutli-stones of bright combinations of turquoises, Mojave turquoise, red coral and orange corals. A creation of a patternized bead necklace in long and short strands. As always all pieces in the collection are handmade, handcrafted using sheets of silver and never cast which makes all of her jewelry truly one of a kind.

French Country Powder Rooms

Never underestimate the beauty that an antique buffet can bring to your bathroom. This Charles Faudree example is so wonderful with the marble top and pewter faucets. Also like the overlapping of the Venetian mirror over the wall mirror...I actually looked for an antique piece for my bathroom after pulling out the old pedestal sink. We found a dark oak mission buffet and dropped two smaller sinks in it. Turned out great! We have access to French buffets similiar to this and have one for sale at the moment.

This cabinet actually looks more built in but the colors and distress on it have made it look like a separate piece of furniture. Love it! Love the greens, creams, and caramels in this french powder room! The lanterns on either sides of the mirror are a great idea! We actually have just got in antiqued cream lanterns in pairs that would work perfectly for this idea!

Creative Is My Name-Decorating Is My Game

What is an English/Texas theme. Do I need a ranch house? No? A Texas cottage....with an English feel. Let's say the style is English Lord meets TX Cowgirl-how romantic...
We had a get together breakfast this morning, and our wonderful host has been working on her new house. Paint colors to decide on-where to hang fantastic deer mounts, brown transferware, and burlap ribbon on everything. We loved it! So inspiring Ms. McClure!
Can French Roast paint be any better-how about Dinner Party mixed with it? This is the master bedroom-love the Hereford hide on the floor with the Spode mixed with the deer mount.

Never underestimate the power of some antlers! And brown china and birds nest!

I must have a cow creamer now-and I love these jars filled with raw sugar and splenda in the kitchen.

Her sea shell collection and jars of sand collected from different oceans-love this too-hope I didn't go overboard on pictures!

English inspired kitchen table...

Table topper is made out of linen grey good with ruffle on edge-fits perfectly and wonderful! Let us help you design one for your table!

Cloche over beautiful peach Bellini short breads in kitchen...delicious!

Jar filled with children's china in little girls bedroom...

Birds egg blue bathroom with touches of brown toile and leopard...loved this!

Collection of brown pitchers hanging from rack above mirror in bathroom...very creative!!!

Close up of baby's clothesline-focus between the two white iron beds.

Little girls room in pale pink-love the clothes line full of baby clothes. One gown was hers when she was a baby.

Where's Ralph? The antiqued American flag draped over the iron headboard-white ruffled sheets mixed with quilts....

So, she compromised by creating an ambiance that combines both English and primitive Texas heritage. English china and cowhides-it's good...A look that goes back to the American West when Englishman would purchase ranches and estates in the 1800's. Texas necessities mixed with the fine goods from England.

Thanks for the inspiration!