James Michael Howard

I am very fond of placing small pieces of Antique furniture in bathrooms. I think it adds an element of coziness. It also adds interest and personality to a room which we usually don't think about furnishing.

I wanted to tell you something.  I wanted to tell you that we are out of money.  I wanted to tell you that we are limping along, that we are crawling at a snail’s pace, that we’re inching like inch worms.  I wanted to tell you that when the stock market crashed, we crashed, too.  I wanted to tell you that I am not sure when Peacock Pavilions is opening.  But it won’t be March 2009.  It will be sometime, sometime after that.  I wanted to tell you that I don’t know when it will be.  I wanted to tell you that I am disappointed, that I am very disappointed.  But I also wanted to tell you that none of it matters; that it’s just money - it’s not more than that.  I wanted to tell you that I feel lucky for what I have.  I wanted to tell you that I know that there are so many who have nothing, who have had everything taken from them.  Including their dignity.  I wanted to tell you that I think that this was meant to be.  And I am even thankful for it. Because nothing good -- yes, nothing really good -- should ever come too easily.  I wanted to tell you that I am okay.  I wanted to tell you that I am really okay most of the time.  Except for when I am not.  But those times are not so many. 

I wanted to tell you so much.  But (shyly) I didn’t know how.  But now, now you know….what I wanted to tell you.  

PS Many thanks to the gypsygirl for inspiring this post.

Sweet: Kareena and the Corner Store.

DwellStudio was founded by Christiane Lemieux in 1999 in an effort to bring modern textile design to the world of home. The company quickly established itself as a leader and innovator in the bedding market - and expanded to a fuller offering of home furnishings products, including table, baby, and junior. What follows is a guest post by Christiane regarding her new found Thanksgiving traditions. Take it away Christiane…

DwellStudio’s Christiane LemieuxAmerican Thanksgiving is new to me. I’m Canadian (we do have a Thanksgiving of our own—in a different month, with a whole different history) and I’ve always used Thanksgiving as an excuse to take a nice long weekend, nothing more. This year is different, though; I’ve got two little Americans at home. It might not be my tradition, but it’s going to be theirs. Welcome to my first American Thanksgiving.

I decided to do some research (apologies in advance if any of this is inaccurate!). The general consensus is that the first Thanksgiving took place in 1621, on a day the Puritans had set aside to celebrate their first harvest, and to mark their first year in the new world. The Puritans broke bread with their neighbors - depending on who you ask, the Wampanoag or Iriquois tribes. I already feel more connected to this holiday; I’ve got Mohawk Indian blood on my dad’s side.

All I knew about the Puritans (or Pilgrims, whatever you want to call them) was their big black hats. But forget all the complicated political issues of colonization; these people left their homes in search of a better life. Isn’t that what we call the American dream? And this year, of all years, there’s a renewed optimism in the air, an excitement about what it means to be American. I’m ready to celebrate that.

But within reason. Our philosophy at DwellStudio (and my philosophy in life) is to keep things simple. I’ve got two kids and a full-time job; there’s no way I’m going to make a papier-mache cornucopia.

Since I didn’t grow up with all the trappings of an American Thanksgiving, I felt free to create my own tradition. On this holiday, the meal itself will be the center of attention, so you don’t need to do much in the way of decorating. The rich cranberry red, the warm orange of pumpkin and sweet potatoes, the perfect honey brown of a crisp turkey — it’s already a gorgeous color palette.

With that in mind, I decided on a simple, monochromatic backdrop; I plan to use our Sketch place mats and runners, paired with Bodoni napkins - the subtle, graphic black and white are the ideal starting point for any table setting. To warm things up, I’ll add some vintage brass flatware, and serving bowls with a beautiful gold interior. Remember, dinner is the center of attention, so I’ll use a monochromatic centerpiece: a grouping of white vases and vessels I have around the house, plus some gourds, spray painted white.

DwellStudio Place Setting with Sketch place mats, Sketch runners, a fine glass of noir and a tasty dinner roll.

A centerpiece of white spray painted gourds adds an air of modern sophistication while not detracting from the main event - dinner!

Of course, I’ll loosen things up a bit for the kids’ table; after all, if the kids are restless, the adults won’t get to enjoy the impeccably-set table or the lovingly-prepared meal. It is a holiday, after all, so I’ll pull out all the stops, making dinner for the little ones an interactive experience. I will use all our DwellStudio kids’ favorites (a puppet repurposed as a place card holder, a fun kit unfurled and used as a place mat) and plenty of crayons and toys to keep little hands busy.

To me, the results will feel special and festive, a nod to tradition but in keeping with the way we live now. It’s the perfect modern Thanksgiving — and I can’t wait to celebrate this way for years to come. Happy Yankee Thankee, from DwellStudio.

There is something about heading over to the Farmer's Market on a early Sunday morning that lifts up my spirits. It starts off quietly, with my Trader Joe's tote bag in hand heading out the door. I feel the dew still settling and the birds waking. The crisp air touches my face as I get to my car for the five minute drive. I crack the windows and turn on the CD player to Paul Nutini's "Autumn Leaves". Perhaps a but corny, but then again, I am a sentimentalist. I pick up my friend Leanne, and we talk about our daughters and how they are fairing with this thing called "adolescence". Approaching the market, we find the closest spot we can. And then we are there: The bustle of people, (many we know and say an early morning "hello"), the beautiful colors everywhere, and the smells of lavender, basil and onions.

We each have our favorite vendors that we visit. For me it is the ladies who sell the avocados and strawberries. Leanne is looking for blueberries and squash...harder to find now that Fall is here. But the tomatoes....the beautiful heirloom tomatoes, neither of us can resist.

And the mushrooms are plentiful and perfect.

The pears in Fall are one of my passions. We will bake them in an apple pie, or put them in a salad with roasted walnuts and Gorgonzola. The vendor here gives away whole pears to sample. Smart vendor, I bought quite a few: Bartletts, and one I have not tried called the Seckel pear.

Then there were pumpkins...beautiful pumpkins of all sizes and colors. Two very large and perfect pumpkins came home with me to rest on the front porch. And a few of the little one for my table.

The scent of fresh bread wafts deliciously through the air. Coffee and croissants are breakfast for many here.

Gourds are coming in season, and a large Butternut Squash makes it into my bag.

Coming home and unloading all of my bags is always heartwarming. The girls and I decide what we will make for dinner.

Dinner later that night is Potato Leek Soup and a salad of fresh baby greens with avocado, oranges and roasted pine nuts. A day well spent.

For more information about the Sacramento Farmer's Market click here. It is the largest Farmer's Market in the region. As one of the vendors aptly put it, "it is the Grand Daddy of Farmer's Markets". Perhaps, most importantly, it is locally grown....and that is a good thing.

Recipe for Potato Leek Soup

from The Ultimate Soup Bible

by Anne Sheasby

Ingredients:

2 ounces, 1/4 cup butter

2 leeks, washed and thoroughly chopped

1 small onion peeled and finely chopped

12 ounces potatoes, peeled and chopped

3 3/4 cups chicken or vegetable stock

1) Heat 10 oz. (2 tablespoons) butter in large pan over medium heat. Add the leeks and onion, and cook gently for about 7 minutes until softened

2) Add potatoes to the pan and cook for about 2-3 minutes, then add the stock and bring to a boil. Cover and simmer for 30-35 minutes until potatoes are tender.

3) Season to taste and remove from heat. Chop and stir in the remaining butter.

4) (I add this step) Puree mixture in blender or food processor until smooth, then serve!

Got a blank wall? Then, Wall Blank might be able to help you. I can see this site becoming a big problem for my wallet.

Wall Blank is a brand new site in which a new piece of art is posted for sale every weekday, available for one week or until it sells out, whichever comes first. Once an edition is sold out, it will never be available again. The best part about it is “Non-Profit Fridays”. Every Friday, all proceeds go to a selected non-profit cause.

http://www.wallblank.com

We immediately felt our house was “the one” the first time we looked at it with our realtor. Had we known a bit of its history beforehand…oh, we still would have bought it. But I’m kind of glad we didn’t know. Neighbors have filled us in on our home’s colorful past, including its stint as a grow house for a Weeds-style entrepreneur and how for a time it was the center of a small male prostitution ring! If these walls could talk, indeed! What about you — what interesting things do you know about where you live? –Mary T.

Photo by Nate Brelsford

With the help of my favorite area rug distributor, Tufenkians, of Portland, Oregon, I recently filmed a segment for BETTER, with Brooke Carlson, in the home of News Anchor Natalie Marmion. We discussed the do's and don'ts and where to begin when trying to find the best area rug.

- Rugs change color based on which direction you lay them. If it looks too light, try turning it the other direction and watch how the colors in the rug completely change!

- When selecting size for the living room, a good rule of thumb is to have all of the furniture on the rug or off the rug. Obviously the coffee table can stay on the rug, but it's best not to have any of your chairs or sofas halfway on and halfway off the rug.

- When selecting size for the dining room make sure you have a minimum of 2' behind each dining chair on all sides. No teetering chairs at the dinner table allowed!

- Always try out the rug in your home prior to committing to the piece. Tufenkians will deliver your rugs, help you place them and then bring back the pieces you dont want.