I Love these...

Underwood Cellars 2010 Pinot Noir

In closing out Oregonian Pinots for the month of March, I have chosen Underwood Cellars. This is a pleasant wine with a nutty, oaky-ness… I detect strong, supple cherry flavors and the smell of earth…

Yet another good drinkable wine…

Overall I find Oregon Pinot’s to possess floral, velvety tones. Some are rich with earthy undertones, others maintain a metallic essence. When it comes to wine, exploration is the key to discovering the potential enjoyment that occurs from opening a bottle of wine.

Antique vs. Vintage

Have you ever wondered what the difference is between Antique and Vintage?

An Antique is qualified by its age; it must be at least 100 years old. It’s typically a collectable and rare to find.

Vintage…in wine terms at least, is the specific year in which the grapes were grown and harvested. In other items such as garments it would be classified as being at least 20 years old.

...So I guess that makes me a good vintage :o)…

 I think antiques are “cool”… though I’ve never been one for collecting things. I can appreciate the beauty in something beyond maturity and uncommon,... I mean there is pleasure to be had in owning a piece of history.

But I am however a huge fan of vintage, not only in wine (hee hee) but clothing as well. There is something so special about clothing made for women in the 30’s, 40’s, and 50’s. I think the clothing from these eras where designed with such care and made to accentuate the best part of a woman’s curves... Fitted bodice with gathered waistlines and falling skirts accentuate the bust and hide the hips. Front pleats and pockets placed in just the right way to hide the tummy, these are just a few of the design aspect of vintage clothing that I love.

1930’s

Think old Hollywood Glam,… Greta Garbo, Vivien Leigh!
Photo Provided by BigStock

1940's

The age of war and Big Band music. (Captain Crunch on Doughnuts anyone?)
Photo Provided by BigStock

1950's

Fantastic era for music!
Frank, Little Richard, Otis, Chuck Berry, and we can’t forget Elvis.
Photo Provided by BigStock

I’m sure most of the online shopping community has heard of Etsy.com by now. It’s a great place to find unique vintage and handmade items... And by far one of my favorite shops on Etsy is StutterenMama’s Roadside Vintage Boutique. If there is anyone who understands the feminine designs of vintage clothing its
Sarah Deaton-Zaayer. I’ve known Sarah for years and she been wearing and collecting vintage clothing for as long as I’ve know her. She is a stylish, savvy buyer and her passion for the vintage life style is one of serious dedication. If you check out her site you’ll find items from the 30’s 40’s 50’s, shoes, accessories and more. Sarah gives each item of clothing a fun descriptive title. And the detail she offers is extremely helpful. There are new garments added daily.

If you enjoy collecting and wearing vintage clothing like I do,  I encourage you to check out her site for a fantastic selection of vintage clothing.
www.esty.com/shop/stuttinMama

I Love Design!!!!!

Forbidden Fruit

If you’re looking for a one of a kind, well designed gift and you live near Provincetown, Mass. then check out the Forbidden Fruit, described as “Sinfully Elegant Eclectic Oddities”. The store is home to some eccentric and beautiful hand selected products... home decor, art, and antiques just to name a few.

Of course you don’t have to live near Provincetown to shop Forbidden Fruit. Their website is divided into general categories ranging from lighting, jewelry, sculpture and even more specific items like Monkeys or Mermaids. They add new items daily so if you can’t find what you need give them a call they’ll be more than happy to help.

http://www.eatmyapple.com/

This weeks wine is....
2009 Erath Pinot Noir

Great wine, classic! It’s light and smooth with a smell of plum… Flavors of raspberry and cherry, Call me crazy, but I think I would pair this with a white, flaky fish or rosemary chicken.

As a designer trying to come up with something fresh and new can be.... challenging. For example, I have decided to design a bathroom around a Steampunk/1930’s 40’s aviation. Seems fairly simple right? But what on earth is Steampunk? Well if you explore the internet you’ll find various opinions of what Steampunk is...

 Steampunk is described as a sci fy, fantasy, alternate history… Alternate history! Who comes up with this stuff? Within Steampunk you’ll find aspects of steam power, Victorian era, Wild West era, mechanical, and advance machinery…Talk about confusing. So, on my “neo Victorian, pre petroleum” quest I’ve jotted down some elements which I think are Key to Steampunk décor…

Design aspects:

Victorian

Dark hues

Skeleton Key

Mechanics (think watch parts)

Compass/Globe/Maps

Magnify glass or Goggles

Absinth

Swallows

Hot air Balloons

I’d love to hear your thoughts about Steampunk…

  Loving what I do!
This week on Shine Lexi Petronis of Glamour magazine posted an interesting article about why loving the arts could benefit your health. Check it out! I'd love to hear your thoughts!
http://shine.yahoo.com/vitality/loving-arts-could-help-health-175200588.html

“Without the depth of darkness you would not see the buoyancy of illumination.”

Contrast in design is very important because it expresses the differences between elements. Contrast can be viewed in harmony or separation and is used in several ways; light and dark, shapes, colors, textures, etc. Contrast is necessary for visual appeal…

Here is a simple but amazing treat that is guaranteed to WOW guest at you're next dinner party. I picked this up from my beautiful new friend Laurie...but of course I added a "little" twist...
So here it is:
Fresh Vanilla Bean Ice Cream (Preferably organic or non GMO)
Flavored Balsamic Vinegar (Blueberry, Peach, Spiced Pear oooooohhh)
Chopped Pecan's (Trader Joe's Spiced Pecans work really well but you could use just about any nut)
Now here comes the twist, I serve in Sake glasses so you can taste multiple flavors of this indulgent  dessert!