The Lone Cypress

The winter tree against December's sky

Has never stood more poignantly than now;

There is no leaf to soothe its tragic lines.

But far beyond the landscape of the eye,

Within the core, within the barren bough,

Faith lies with life, inseparably entwined.

Poem by Dora Hagemeyer (1891-1989)

A Poet of Nature, the late Dora Hagemeyer was a fixture of the Carmel, California literary scene. For fifteen years, her column the "Poetry Corner" appeared in the local newspaper, The Pine Cone.

Spending this December on the California Central Coast, not far from the scene in this painting.

Marjorie

Design Chameleon

Are you a design chameleon? I am. Just as a chameleon changes color to adapt to a new environment, I can change my style, or design aesthetic at the drop of a hat, or at a glimpse of a decorating magazine or a film set.

My personal design career began at age five, in an attic garret of the family home at 109 Maxwell Ave in Geneva New York. As kids, my younger brother and I were each given a room to decorate, and full reign of an attic loaded with miraculous clutter from many generations: tattered overstuffed chairs, framed prints, damasked curtains and other treasures.

Breaking early with tradition, (all the women in my family were partial to Williamsburg green interiors), my first one-room studio apartment was considered very Boho, with its white walls, purple and orange accents, and a Rya shag rug. Early on, I experimented with fashioning curtains from paisley Madras bedspreads and linen bed sheets. In one house I exposed all the brick of the walls, and in another I enthusiastically papered everything in sight.

Our ugly duckling wreck of a house in Massachusetts, became a sweet country farmhouse with the help of many gallons of Laura Ashley sage green paint. A more difficult decorating challenge presented itself in the form of a fifties retro ranch house in Geneva Switzerland. It was beautifully situated on “Chemin des Muguets”, in the shadow of the Salève Mountain, and with a magnificent Magnolia tree out front. But a few quirky bits made this the house that no one wanted. We instantly fell in love with it, especially wall-to-wall French doors throughout, which gave way to the gardens. Eventually, we also made peace with the dreaded shiny black ceramic tiles in the master bath by hanging some colorful framed fish posters from the Monterey Aquarium.

Over the five years that we lived in Europe, we enjoyed filling our homes with brocante finds. When we returned back to the States, these souvenirs gave a French twist to our 1800 New England clapboard home.

Later, while living on the 18th floor of a modern high rise in Beijing, we created a little corner of Old China: a Chinese wedding bed doubled as a sofa in the living room, and the kitchen was entered through an ornate antique lattice door.

From Shabby Chic, to French Country, to China Retro I’ve dabbled in it all. My most recent decorating incarnation might be described as Rough Luxe.

Our tiny cottage in Carmel-by-the-Sea sheltered a hodge podge of family pieces and flea market treasure.

Here is a section of the living room. I may have pushed the decorating envelope a tad too far, when I broke one of the main rules of "Decorating 101", and centered a framed picture above the fireplace. Another decorating violation was buying the faux seascape oil painting in the first place.

Next to the fireplace is a Scandinavian style chair. It was purchased at my favorite Australian op shop (charity resale shop). This was the same day that I met my soon-to-be good mate Linley, who was minding the store. As she helped me load the chair in the boot of my car, I asked her what she thought of my purchase. “Not much!” she quickly replied. It reminded her too much of family holidays at the beach. “But that’s exactly why I love it!” I remarked, trying not to act too disappointed. In spite of our aesthetic differences, we have remained dear friends. I love my chair with its squishy cushions covered in a faded retro patterned fabric. When I settle in it, and rub its bleached worn arms, I am transported back to happy times in our Flinders "bach".

On the move again, we’re leaving behind the tranquility of Carmel-by-the-Sea for the rugged landscape between the dunes and mountains on the other side of Monterey California.

Channeling the design chameleon within,
Marjorie

The Succulents are in Bloom

Don’t you just love the word ‘Succulent’? It’s so juicy and delicious!

My earliest memory of succulent plants is of a monstrous pre-historic jade plant which lurked in the upstairs hall window of an elderly family friend. Over the years, I have learned to appreciate succulents, and am delighted that they are again in fashion. Today’s succulents have gone modern, recognized for their versatile, decorative and sustainable qualities.

On California’s Central Coast succulents are in bloom.

Amid clumps of low growing succulents, these lush giant yellow flowering spears stand sentinel at the entrance to the old Homestead Inn in Carmel.

Window boxes and pots of assorted succulents abound.

These greet visitors to Tancredi and Morgen, a charming shop in Carmel Valley.

Succulent heaven may be the sale held by the Monterey Bay Cactus and Succulent Society in San Juan Bautista, CA. The next one is April 24th and 25th.

Denise Fasanello, a New York florist who blogs as Little Pheasant, has enthusiastically embraced the use of succulents in her 'delectable' designs. (Thank you Denise for the use of these two lovely images!)

Imagine boutonnieres for the bridegroom and groomsmen fashioned from succulents!

(Photograph by Lance Iversen/The Chronicale)

Bay area Organic Mechanics have long been proponents of the use of succulents in their award-winning garden installations. For this year’s San Francisco Flower and Garden Show they created “The Living Room” a 12’ X 12’ cube whose exterior walls were covered with 19,000 aeoniums, sedums and other succulents in 20 inch flats. These were sourced from Robin Stockwell’s Succulent Gardens Castroville, CA.

In Australia, designer Daniela Moore has magnified the basic forms of the leaves, stems and branches of various members of the succulent family, and adapted these into motifs for her popular silk-screened textiles available at Tree in Flinders.

If there was a Tulip mania in 17th century Holland; and a Victorian fern craze in the 19th century, then we must be in the midst of a Succulent mania now.

Succulently yours,
Marjorie

Winter Season ~ Paris 1939/Carmel 2009

Now, that the entire US seems headed for a coat-ing of snow, I figured it was time to take cover. I come from the land down under. During my six years in Australia, (also known to some as the homeland of Ugg boots), I hardly wore a jacket, much less a coat. I love vintage couture, and while dreaming of a White Christmas, I found these winter coats gracing the pages of a Parisian fashion magazine from 1939.

How perfectly they illustrate the adage that “everything old is new again”. Wrapped up in one of these, I would be quite comfortable promenading the boulevards of Paris, the streets of San Francisco, or even Carmel.

The jury, however, is still out on the turban and the cone hats.

But I do like the fur touches. They remind me of Willow’s famous fur hat.

I still have fond memories of a rock-star of a Canadian sheepskin coat, that I once owned. It cost the earth, but wearing it, I made quite a statement, and it was so warm to boot. Once, when we lived in Europe, an overzealous salesperson talked me into buying a lined Burberry coat, in a size too small for me. I never felt comfortable wearing it, feeling more a Viennese sausage, than a Sloane Ranger.

Living in Beijing, I became a devotee of China prêt-à-porter. I went all out for jackets with mandarin collars and knotted buttons.

During the day, my uniform was a simple Red Army green cotton jacket (from the touristy Silk Market),

or a Shanghai Tang green wool felt jacket.

Evenings, I went dramatic, with a glamorous black silk padded jacket in the Ming-style. I remember the pride I felt as I walked around the Chinese capitol city, as locals would give me a thumbs up of costume approval.

Many of the above garments returned with me. There have, however, been a few recent additions, such as a $25. Ralph Lauren trench coat (from a Carmel re-sale shop), and a classic Pendleton green wool tweed coat, with a B. Forman label (from my mother’s closet). I guess you know by now I am partial to the color green!

These chilly Carmel morns, I slip into my old friend, the black padded Chinese jacket, and walk to town. Just the other day, I got a fashion thumbs up from the owner of an Ocean Avenue boutique.

Now that’s a wrap,
Marjorie

New Head Florist at White House

It has recently been announced that Laura Dowling, a floral designer from Alexandria, Virginia, is to be the new White House Head Florist. Of course, those of us who were fortunate enough to be at her September 29th seminar at Pierre Deux in Carmel, knew weeks before that she was a finalist. We were, however, under a gag order until it was made public.

Our good mates Robert and Michelle were visiting from Australia, so we girls, and our official photographer, MQA, decided to attend the event.


It was standing room only, but those of us who arrived early got to sit right up front on some of the shop’s luxurious chairs.

Laura is absolutely charming, very accessible and passionate about her craft. She made her first trip to Paris ten years ago, and since then has studied under such floral masters as Christian Tortu and Catherine Muller.

Laura demonstrates the Bouquet Ronde technique

An arrangement in a miniature Anduze pot

The Vase Bouquet technique



Some of her signature ribbon embellishments

Long slender leaves cut, and folded, origami-style.

In closing, Laura said that a French style bouquet should look as if it comes straight from the garden or the meadow, using nature for inspiration, and mimicking how things grow.

Although, she announced that she was one of three being considered for the position at the White House, she asked me not to write anything on my blog yet. But I see I have already been scooped by many of the major networks!

Bonne chance Laura!
Marjorie

Meanwhile Back at the Ranch...

Whenever company comes to visit us here in Carmel, (and that is quite often these days), we hightail it down to the Ranch - Mission Ranch, that is. Nothing beats sitting out on the deck at sunset, looking out over the meadows and wetlands to Carmel Beach, and Point Lobos beyond.

This charming complex (lodging and restaurant) was purchased in 1986 by local legend Clint Eastwood, who has lovingly restored the property. Let me take you on a tour of the grounds.


Surely the "largest flower planter in the West"


The 1850's Farmhouse

Flowers planted in a tree stump

This must be the honeymoon cottage!


The historic bunkhouse, the oldest structure

The sheep are pets. No lamb on the menu here!

Happy Trails partners!
Marjorie

National Blanket Week: A Bedtime Story

Let me tell you a bedtime story.

Once upon a time, long, long ago, before duvets, comforters, eiderdown, and doonas, there was “National Blanket Week.”

My undercover work has revealed the following information: National Blanket Week was a fall promotion of the Nashua Manufacturing Company, of Nashua, New Hampshire. This company which operated from 1823 to 1945, was once the largest maker of woolen blankets in the world.

Do you have a favorite blanky or blanket story?

Here is my personal list of blanket honorees:

• A baby blanket – one pink for my daughter, and one blue for my son;
• A blanket of leaves – a Technicolor gift from of Mother Nature;
• A beach blanket – packed in the car, always at the ready;
• Beach Blanket Bingo - see Annette and Frankie on this Youtube clip;
• An electric blanket – invented in 1936, comes in handy during Northern winters;
  
  
• A blanket of flowers – à la Carmel Valley style;
• A blanket for flowers – the impoverished 17th century Dutch tulip grower who covered his precious plants with his only blanket;
  
  
• A picnic blanket – ‘thee and me’ alfresco dining anytime and anywhere;
• A horse blanket – a staple of the stable on Mornington Peninsula;
• A doggie blanket – dogs need blankys too;
• A blanket of snow –a fluffy white cover;
• A pig in a blanket- retro kids’ cuisine;
• A security blanket – everyone needs one these days;
• Blanket Bay Lodge in New Zealand – in my dreams;
• A blanket fort - over the clothesline at the cottage;
• A blanket of fog – toujours in Carmel-by-the-Sea;
• A blank(et) check - nice work if you can get it;
  
  
• A tartan blanket - plaids and tartans were a specialty of a great-grandfather, who worked in the mills as a weaver;
• A Native American blanket - the Navajo blanket my grandparents received a as a gift on their wedding day and now hanging on my wall;
• A boy named Blanket – thankfully not named “Blanky.”
  

Never having had my own “blanky”, I have been making up for lost time. From the size of my collection, it would appear that I suffer from princess-in-the-pea – or “a gal can never have too many blankets” syndrome. It all began with blankets of the heavy woolen Scottish plaid stadium variety. My latest additions are vintage plaid woolen blankets, stacks of which I found orphaned in Australian op-shops.

The quality and pastel plaids of these lambs wool or Merino sheep blankets are similar to their Welsh cousins, and less costly at around $10 each.

I recently re-established contact with an old acquaintance from my NYC Pier Antiques Show days. Always very gracious and complimentary when she would visit my booth, Laura Fisher is one of the premier New York antique dealers specializing in exquisite antique textiles, including vintage blankets. You might have read one of her many books on quilts, or seen her on Martha. She has a new space called Fisher Heritage at 305 East 61st street, NYC. Long a blanket collector, her current stock includes antique red plaid and checkerboard patterned woolens, and homespuns. She also handles colorful and whimsical Beacon blankets. Here are a few of my favorites:

(The following three images of Beacon Blankets, Courtesy of Laura Fisher, Fisher Heritage)

Acrobats

Coney Island

Patchwork


Snug as a bug,
Marjorie