My friends at Halcyon House will be having a trunk show of John Robshaw’s amazing fabrics next Saturday from noon to five. John Robshaw will be attending and talking about his hand-made textiles. His inspirations for these fabrics come from artists whom he has met on his travels through Turkey, India and the Far East. 
For more information on the John Robshaw Trunk Show, please contact Eric at Halcyon House at 410.828.8889.
My mother and sister are headed downtown to meet me and go over to DeBois Textiles to look for some curtains for my mother’s study. I thought I would collect the pillows that I’ve made and display them, so they could see what I’ve been doing over the past few weeks.
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I am really smitten with mixing and matching the different fabrics that I’ve been collecting. Barclay Butera on a pillow with Sister Parish…
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A saffron and red silk check reversing to a Provence-inspired toile…
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Duralee’s Addison reversing to Thibaut’s Surf in brilliant greens…
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A black and white chinoiserie toile reversing to a black and white polka dot…
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It is hard to decide which pillow I like the best. I guess it’s like choosing which of your children is your favourite! Here are few contenders.
Barbara Barry’s Poetic Linen, with red piping.
six seven pillows!
I was looking at the calendar today and realized that we’re almost through the first week of March. How can that be?
I e-mailed Chris, the editor of Easy & Elegant Life, and co-founder of April Food Day, Bloggers Fighting Hunger and strategized about our plan for April Food Day 2010. Last year, we had more than 150 bloggers put something about April Food Day on their blogs and we worked to raise money and awareness of hunger in America.
Please join Chris and me in supporting this very important cause. People you know may be among the hungry in America.
Mitchell Gold, who is one half of Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams, will be in Baltimore next week to announce his new book, The Comfortable Home: How to Invest in Your Nest and Live Well for Less (Clarkson Potter/Melcher Media, 2009, $35.00).
This new book is a reflection on the current economic state, where we have less money to spend, but still want a warm, comfortable and beautiful place to live. 
I am going to make this easy for you to enter: Just leave me a comment and tell me your favourite way to have a comfortable home. As usual, the wicked Connor will be the judge and it will be completely subjective. The deadline to enter is Wednesday, March 10, at 6:00 p.m. We will ship the book to the winner, along with something from the Pigtown collection!
No, this isn’t a story about a dull person, but about a phenomenon called the Severn Bore. During my life, I’ve lived along the Severn River several times, on two continents and in three countries. When I lived in Annapolis, Maryland, it was along the banks of the Severn River. And when we stayed in Tewkesbury, England during a summer, our house was along the upper reaches of the Severn River. When I lived in Wales, Cardiff was on the Severn River, which had broadened to more than five miles wide. By St. Donat’s Castle, the river has turned into the Bristol Channel.
This is the week that the bore arrives. The waves usually come in the morning and evening and it takes a bit more than two hours for the bore to travel up the river. 
"When the boar comes, the stream does not swell by degrees, as at other times, but rolls in with a head...foaming and roaring as though it were enraged by the opposition which it encounters" - Thomas Harrel 1824
I attended the memorial service for my friend, John Gutierrez, last night. He and his family have meant so much to me for many years. It was an evening of old friends, great memories, beautiful music, lots of tears, some laughter and many, many cases of champagne.
Before the memorial started, I had the chance to wander around Clipper Mill and appreciate how integral John has been to the design and overall look of the place. Many of his pieces dot the landscape, which is still buried under a lot of snow.
From the huge old iron industrial pieces 
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from the romanesque swimming pool 
Family members and friends lit 45 candles, one for every year of John’s brief but full life. Memories were shared. Music was played. A brief video was shown. And then the command came: Let’s get this party started! The chairs were pushed back, the rug was rolled up. The bar was opened, dinner was served. And then the band started to rock the house.
I can’t think of a more fitting way to say goodbye to a man who lived life to its very fullest.
This past weekend was the huge American Craft Council show in Baltimore and more than 700 artists participated. I’ve gone for years and years now, and am always awed by 1) the volume of incredible goods on offer; 2) the incredible creativity of people; and 3) how long it actually takes to see each and every booth.
This year, my friend Liz, who writes the blog, The Felted Garden, was a vendor. She participated last year in the Alt. Crafts section, but was accepted into the big show this year! She makes the most beautiful felted scarves in gorgeous colours, patterns and soft cozy wools. I am wearing one of her delicious creations today! Thanks, Liz!!!
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Here are some of the other artists who were showing.
This woman came from Italy to show her felt creations, which look like one of my favourites, Licorice AllSorts! Yum!
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Some of the glasswork was incredible in both size and shape. Pieces looked like corals that you’d see at the bottom of the ocean.
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