Modern Chatelaine

Humble Abode Tour: Flashback

2012-01-21T13:47:00.000-08:00

To say i rearrange my apartment often would be an understatement. I do it every week practically. Its a joyous pastime of recycling, revamping, and reinvigorating.The same item, tired and boring in one room, can be re-awoken in another with different light, furniture and placement. Now, question is, how can i make a career out of this habit?

Above are some snapshots of my bedroom and living room over the past year.

Humble Abode Tour: Bedroom

2012-01-20T17:20:00.000-08:00

The afternoon sun is so brilliant this time of year! It hangs low and shines right in my humble Westover Hills apartment. It is some of the only sun i get in this place, since it is a very wooded neighborhood. Needless to say, I cherish the bright rays, and am taking the utmost advantage of it: forcing bulbs on my nightstand and nursing an abandoned orchid and two Boston ferns (radiator) back to life. I can't help but love my bedroom during these rare sunburst moments, so I've taken a few pictures to share the love.

My birthday present paperwhites, thanks to Noel, in bloom on my night stand. They smell intoxicating, and the scent travels all the way to the living room!

The bed cover is a vintage popcorn chenille found in Cville for only $10. In front of the bed lies a vintage clay water pitcher picked up by my grandparents in a Mexican market and a ceramic Chinese style octagonal side table bought at Homegoods for $75.

I've got three rugs in the room, an oriental scored at an online auction for only $58, a vintage Navajo hand-woven rug --another score from my world-traveling Grandparents-- and a modern Turkish Kilim, pulling the red, pinks and oranges from the wall art to the floor.

Across from the bed is the all-important vintage wardrobe, a thrift-store steal at just $61. It contains my collection of vintage and spring/summer dresses, scarves, and shoes. Alternate storage (woven bins, vintage suitcases, picnic baskets) abound in my teeny apartment. It's smart storage: functional and aesthetic.

deck the halls!

2011-12-22T19:06:00.000-08:00

Sir Davis, our Douglas Fir Christmas Tree on the lot of
Hanover Pines Christmas Tree Farm in Beaverdam, Virginia.
(Before the blessings and prayers and sacrificial rites.)
We go every year, on the Sunday before Christmas,
and hike a few acres to find the perfect winter companion.
We liked the curly-Q top ala Dr. Seuss. $75 later, he's happy at home.

I'm decking the halls this winter with all things natural:
pinecones, feathers, berries, moss, twigs, herbs, dried fruit,
and evergreen boughs, wreaths and branches in
Fir, Cedar, Cypress, and Magnolia.
It's a veritable winter woodland wonderland in here!
It smells of the woods, herbs, and rotting fruit.

This awesome bush on my boyfriend's property has a whole lotta these blue berries.
We have no idea what it is, but it is simply brimming with them.
I made sure to leave some for the birdies nesting nearby
and trimmed a box-full for wreath making.
With several bunches left over, i slipped them into vintage apothecary jars
and scattered them throughout the house.

A large driftwood plank is adorned with vintage postcards,
and a treasured vintage pic of a young Shirley Temple-esque girl,
sitting on the lap of St. Nick. Blue lights add some festive cheer.

Inside the wooden dish on the crate coffee table is an aromatic collection:

driftwood
dried lemon slices
sage
rosemary
holly
and a pomegranate

Above: Leftover holly and greens find a festive home
snuggled amid the vines of my handmade wreath
and stacked gourds,
still fresh from All Saints Day,
transform into a jolly snowman
with clove eyes and a bamboo skewer nose.

More European Pics

2009-07-22T17:07:00.000-07:00

E+T Floor Cushion Press!

2009-07-20T15:35:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Kelly over at Tearing Up Houses for giving Ernst and Thistle some props in her latest blog entry about floor cushions (and for giving us a heads up thru etsy!!!) I absolutely love her blog subtitle: "one girl's adventures as a sort-of architect, unlikely landlord, and real estate junkie..."

It's simply amazing how things spread on social networking sights and the internet. These floor cushions were also featured in a spread on Apartment Therapy (check it out!) and I had no idea until i realized we were getting linkage to our storefront from AT (through help of Googleanalytics). I searched our name in google to find the exact article and was flabbergasted/flattered!

Thanks everyone everywhere who likes our goods! If you post a story about us, feature one of our products in your blog, or just mention our name, let us know and we will return the favor!

SUNDAY BRUNCH FOR ONE: Eating Local and In Season.

2009-07-19T10:52:00.001-07:00

Oven ready buttermilk biscuits, topped with Duke's Mayonnaise (the only REAL mayo), farm fresh eggs and thick sliced heirloom tomatoes then dashed with salt and pepper. A side of sliced peaches, watermelon and banana nut bread, all purveyed at my local farmer's market. YUM!

NICE, FRANCE 2003

2009-07-18T12:11:00.000-07:00

Just having some fun editing some of my recently developed pics from my Solo European Adventure in 2003! I've got an urge to travel. I started thinking of France, not because i desire to go back already (I'd rather hit the other hundreds-of-places-I've-never-been-to-but-would-like-to-visit-before-i-die such as Panama, Croatia, The Grand Canyon, Alaska, India...) but because I just got word from my mother that Grandfather Sturgis has had a desire his whole adult life (spawned by his Aunt who was a nurse abroad during the war) to travel to France with an erudite tour guide historically certified in WWI and now is considering taking it. He wants the guide to take him to all the hot spot WWI sights in France, telling a complete history through the places that war has touched. My family is against him traveling alone (he turns 89 in November) and I am volunteering my services as official gran-daddy sitter. I'm a self-professed history buff who doesn't mind (actually yearns) to learn anything and everything! Plus, wouldn't this be the perfect chance to get to know my grandfather, to have an actual conversation before he no longer exists on this mortal plane? I also forsee a good topic for a book here, or at least a short story...anyone know of any French speaking WWI tour guides that wouldn't mind a conservative Yankee grandfather and idealistic twenty-something as clients? We will pay well.

Here are some of my favorites (post-edit) from Nice:

E+T SALE!!!!

2009-07-18T10:36:00.000-07:00

Stay tuned for an Ernst and Thistle SALE!!!!

I am restructuring the business and taking over sole ownership of E+T...Lynalise is busier than ever and moving on to bigger and better things...and I've got some new ideas in the seed stage (possibly pursuing silk screening or an additional vintage/antique finds storefront, etc), but until they come to fruition and sprout, I am having a huge E+T sale on some old goodies that I will no longer be carrying or making...That means it will be your last chance to own these limited edition art pieces, like our Reproduction Treen Clothespins (only 7 left in stock; orig. $32, soon ONLY $25.00) and our copper and brass JOIN OR DIE nameplates (going from $22/$20-$15!).

Come by the storefront and browse until then; see what catches your eye and tickles your fancy.

SALE STARTS SATURDAY AUGUST 1ST!

FIRST HARVEST: a small and simple, but rewarding local salad.

2009-06-18T12:25:00.000-07:00

I know it's a little late in the season to enjoy fresh greens from the garden, especially here in the South, but given the fact that my vegetable garden only gets a paltry (and at a maximum) 3 hours of sunlight, I figured the heat of our summer's would be tempered by the cool shade...therefore, my late in-ground planing of mixed greens have just started flourishing.

I picked a small side salad of arugula, spinach, and mesclun to accompany yesterday's farmer's market fresh roasted beets. Cucumbers and roasted red pepper goat cheese (both from the South of the James Farmers Market) and walnuts shared the plate.

Roasted beets are EASY:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Scrub and wash the beets well.

Cut off the excess greens (which are edible). Chop beets into quarters.

No need to peel; skins are easier to remove once roasted.

Toss beets in a generous amount of olive oil and salt.

Place on aluminum foil, cover with another sheet of aluminum foil and enclose or fold over edges. Place foil on baking sheet and bake for 1hour. Let cool and skins can then be removed.

Enjoy immediately or store in fridge for up to 1 week.

My stomach is satisfied.

Blowing Eggs & Making Pretty

2009-04-12T13:26:00.000-07:00

Easter 09 is here and seriously i haven't done a thing for this holiday since i was a wee youngin. Times are a changin' and I had a serious urge to do something festive, specifically, dye some eggs. I LOVE color and have ever since a third grade "science" class when we mixed primary colored icing together to make the secondary colors and then we ate our newly formed jewel-toned sweetness on graham crackers! (one of my few elementary memories and possibly an unexplored impetus towards my art school yearnings.)

My friend Melody and I planned a mere day in advance, when all the last minute shoppers hurl themselves with gorcery carts full of easter brunch ingredients at the checkout line. (Have i mentioned I abhor grocery shopping, which is such a shame given how much i LOVE food.) We purchased some regular ole white ones (M) and some organic free-range brown eggs (XL) to add some range to our colors but were, alas, still unsatisfied...

...Hence, the small and perfect, bespeckled and azure-insided quail egg, purchased with enthusiasm from our favorite asian mar-ket, Tan-A. I read up that they were extremely fragile so imagine my surprise when the check-out lady literally threw them at the man packing the bag. In a split-second freeze frame, one would have seen Melody reach forth trying to save the little darlings form inevitable splatterdom and my inflamed facial expression almost provoking a violent attack on the gregarious and absent-minded checkout mistress. We bought 4 dozen to be on the safe side and despite the propensity of such an instant to leave a streak of messy yolks in the bottom of the shopping bag, we made it safely home with only one casualty.

We spent the marjority of easter morning blowing the yolks from the eggs while my delectable Meditteranean quiche baked nearby. The latter part of the day was spent dying the tips of our fingers an incalcuable array of colors...simultaneously the eggs as well. As is to be expected, I kept mine in the blue and green family to match my decor. I am soon, but not yet, going to wonder if purhaps there is a chance that one day far far away I may begin to not like these colors anymore.....hmmm....impossible.

Volunteering at the Greenhouse: Tricycle Gardens

2009-03-17T14:39:00.000-07:00

Today I started my first official volunteer day with Tricycle Gardens, a local non-profit whose vision is to create self-sustaining, organic gardens throughout Richmond. Founded in the winter of 2001 by a group of community and eco-conscious neighbors, Tricycle Gardens began as an abandoned-lot-turned-organic-garden and has since grown to 5 large and sustaining community gardens filtered throughout history city.

They offer weekly workshops and seminars (you just missed the cold frame workshop, where each participant learned to build their own frame from only $7 of pre-used and new materials) and they are launching a new service called "kitchen gardens" where volunteers (me included) will come to your backyard....We plan, prepare and plant you a garden and help maintain it until you get the hang of it. We are all working to create a greener more sustainable city, one garden at a time.

I'm beginning my tricycle garden education where sun meets seed + soil and where seedlings are born: The Greenhouse. The Greenhouse for Tricycle Gardens is located in Richmond' s Historic 262 acre Bryan Park located just north of the city. We have a varied assortment of cold weather crops almost ready to be sold (some, in the case of the lettuce, ready to be eaten): arugula, lettuce, leeks, broccoli, cauliflower, spinach.

My job was to mix some potting soil and plant two flats of lemon-lime and green bouquet basil. Easy-Peasy and done. Then i was able to snap some pics and watch Allison Mesnard feed the little darlings a fish emulsion cocktail and some root stimulator.

I was thus inspired to transplant my baby sugar snaps into 4 inch cow pots and I have stealthyly switched out my CFL in my desk lamp for a grow bulb. Unfortunately it is a rather jerry rigged endeavor and my pics do not do the process nor the plants justice. I will not taint the beautiul images of natures abundance in the Greenhouse with my paltry seedlings.

Soothing Images: Photographer Lauren Dukoff

2009-03-12T10:14:00.000-07:00

Ugh...I am sick today for the first time in three years. I'm all soothing warm baths, comfy pjs, gentle curtain breezes today trying to recoop. Of course its freezing outside today after a nice half-week warm weather teaser when temperatures were in the low 80s. I'm nostalgic for yesterday and sun rays and the smell of spring. Here are some warm tea and sunshine happy pics from photographer Lauren Dukoff.

Ernst & Thistle: Fraktur Bird Silhouette Pillow

2009-03-09T08:20:00.000-07:00

I decided to adjust my previous design; the five color design was a little hard to control (and a lot of paint to mix). I've decided to make a two-three color one that is more of a silhouette and I was able to make it with one stencil and some simple tape-offs.

This is my first color palette (my favorite colors). I am taking suggestions on other home decor colors for this application; any ideas?

I am thinking that the piping needs to be one of these colors to tie it all together. Either a small pattern or a solid. Still in progress. (i love this part!)

Southern Snow

2009-03-05T18:14:00.000-08:00

A few pictures from our 8 inches of snow here in Richmond, VA. The trail i hit the day after already had mountain bike tracks on it! Its was a glorious and peaceful hour-long meander through crunching slush and flocked tree branches, scampering sparrows and kissing couples!

March Madness Giveaway at Southern Flair Blog!

2009-03-01T09:08:00.000-08:00

Ernst & Thistle will be giving away a set of our coveted leather luggage tags on Southern Flair's March Madness Giveaway. Mark your calendars: our giveaway date is March 23rd. In order to qualify to win the item, just answer my posted question.

Thanks Allison for this wonderful opportunity for your readers to win free etsy seller items for the whole month of MARCH; an item a day! And thanks for "hearting" E+T and asking us to participate...We are flattered beyond words.

To get hooked into this awesome craziness and win handmade goodies, visit Southern Flair.

SNEAK PEEK: E&T New Stencil Pillow

2009-02-11T15:02:00.000-08:00

I am working on some new pillow stencil designs inspired by vintage American quilts, Pennsylvanian Dutch motifs, and Fraktur...Hopefully available in Limited Edition on Etsy soon!

INSPIRATION: The Library of Congress as Historical Resource and Jaw-Dropper

2009-01-10T18:28:00.000-08:00

I am a total histo-bibliophile and wish that I, like JAY WALKER, had a personal museum of human imagination with an outrageous collection of books, reproductions, artifacts and eccentric objet d'art to keep me constantly entertained and inspired. Instead, I have to be content with the world at my fingertips but never enough time to explore all that lay before them... One of my secret (but not so secret anymore) resources for E&T historical research is the fantastic Library of Congress... I especially take note of font usage and letter spacing.

All images borrowed from our nation's great LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. Before reproducing or using any of the images displayed in this post, refer to The Library of Congress's form on copyright and other restrictions.

Honoring The Home: Commemorating Space in Oil

2009-01-01T11:09:00.000-08:00

Before the advent of cameras, those who could afford it hired artists to render their loved ones forever in 2-Dimensions, creating cherished likenesses often hung on walls or kept in lockets. Virginia-born artist, Sarah Dougherty, brings this time-honored tradition to her personal places of interest, taking time to commemorate the interior (and exterior) spaces that have captured her attention and been her numerous homes...

In August at Found Gallery, she did a spacial reconstruction of her Mexican Cottage (where she spent a year being an artist... so jealous! ) and currently has a show at The Green Bean in Greensboro...

She has a book for sale (here)
and for more info, visit her website

I am just wondering whether she will do custom room portraits; I would have loved one of my long-forgotten childhood home.

Cheers to the NEW YEAR : perpetual calendars.

2008-12-22T16:38:00.000-08:00

As the new year (quickly) approaches, I'm thinking of new year's resolutions to stay organized. I can get so wrapped up into product development and design in my studio that sometimes (embarassingly frequently) I forget what day it is...

solution = THE PERPETUAL CALENDAR (the ultimate GREEN date keeper, as long as you can find something you love and won't get tired of... and remember to "wind" each day.)

The following are some of my favorites:

Timor Desk Calendar
by Enzo Mari
$ 149.00 at nova68

Sukie Perpetual Calendar
By Darrell Gibbs and Julia Harding
$ 9.95 from chronicle books

Perpetual Calendar (1959)
by Enzo Mari
$ 160.00 available at hive modern

antique mahogany and brass desktop perpetual calendar
$ 225 at rubylane antiques

Antique Sterling Silver Perpetual Calendar
$ 575.00 at Tudor Rose Antiques

N E W FAVORITES - vestiges

2008-12-22T15:02:00.000-08:00

I collect/save all of my grey hairs just waiting for a moment of high-art inspiration to strike...
I "heart" melanie bilenker: a fantastic jewelry artist with incredible craftsmanship who- inspired by the victorian use of lockets as keepsakes of remembrance-uses fine metals, pigment, resin/epoxy and hair to capture "quiet minutes, the mundane, the domestic, (and) ordinary moments."

A CHATELAINE FOR COLLECTING, RECORDING, AND REMEMBERING: FOR SOPHIE CALLE. (2005) copyright melanie bilenker jewelry

Remembering Childhood Holiday Crafts

2008-12-22T13:15:00.000-08:00

Maya*made has a wonderful quick and easy tutorial over at her Blog on how to make a snowflake garland out of newspapers (because I seriously forgot how to make snowflakes!). I instead used just plain newsprint that I had left over from artschool (the thinner the paper, the easier it is to cut. PS: origami paper also works well: it's already in a square & comes in an endless array of colors and patterns.). After tracing and cutting out my snowflakes, I wanted an additional embellishment of glitter: I ironed, spray adhesived, and then dipped them in Martha Stewarts "carrara marble" fine glitter available at Michael's Craft Stores. ( slightly messy, but worth it.) I hung mine via mini brass safety pins from a vintage french lace garland across my mantel inter-dispersed with my collection of vintage teal and aqua glass ornaments.

HOLIDAY DRESSING

2008-12-22T12:27:00.000-08:00

I am officially on ernst & thistle vacation time and am busy making the house (aka small, teeny-tiny victorian duplexed apartment) wintry & presentable for a few choice guests. Its my first time playing with "snow in a can" and I am not ashamed to say: I HEART it; I sprayed the magnolia branch, and snowflakes silhouettes onto the front door as well as a WELCOME exclamation with 3 inch hardware stencils above the entrance. When you don't get the real thing, all straight & narrow naturalist intentions aside, you make do with the, albeit artificial, alternative.