YOUR PLACE - MY PAINTBRUSH
I just wanted to remind anyone who may be thinking of giving a home portrait commission this holiday season that I am taking orders now for delivery in time for the holidays. This watercolor of a charming Georgetown townhouse is just as sample of how I can work from photos. A custom home, pet or "favorite things" portrait makes a unique gift that will be cherished for years to come! You can even order custom note cards with the commissioned image as well. Take a look at my Flickr site for more ideas and please contact me here for more info and pricing.
BEMZ DOES BEDROOMS!
Remember when you were a child and you had a favorite doll, but sometimes they needed a new outfit to freshen things up? Now the Swedish company Bemz has given us a TON of new options for slipcovering our furniture to match our mood - it's like clothing for our furniture!
They've been offering slipcovers for popular IKEA sofas and chairs for a while now, giving us options other than the banal khaki, white, navy, or red that so many retailers are limited to. They actually have some APPEALING fabric choices, which is nothing short of a novelty in our mass market color-phobic society. They offer Belgian linen, makers such as Designers Guild (yippeee!), Marimekko and more. Now, they are adding something I am very excited about......upholstered bed slipcovers and bed skirts. I love upholstered beds, but haven't been able to work up a heck of a lot of enthusiasm for the blah options that are affordable. Well, Bemz has changed all that - with a fabric range of more than 180 different colors and patterns, the only hard part might be picking a favorite. They are offering 10% off all bed skirts through October 9th.
Check out Bemz here.
Have an outstanding weekend as well!
BRIGHT BOOKS
I have a notebook obsession and these little numbers from Campo Marzio are floating my boat!
Find them here
NEW KEEP CALM PRINTS & SPECIAL PRICE!
Limey
Cloud
Bermuda Pink
Delray Aqua
Mackinac Lilac
Due to the sustained popularity and relevance of the "Keep Calm and Carry On" slogan, I have tweaked and revived my own design and am introducing some brand new colors (as well as ready-framed prints for $58-contact me here to order). Great to keep in mind for gift-giving and the upcoming holiday season.
I AM OFFERING AN INTRODUCTORY SPECIAL JUST THIS WEEK OF 15% off the regular price of all Keep Calm prints with this code at checkout: KEEP15
Also, a new version below for all those of you who still value mom's advice AND an elephant version I designed a couple of years ago to benefit a charity that helps girls in India (these are available in all of the regular Keep Calm colors above). Check them all out here.
"Call Mom" version in Julia's Butter
Indian Elephant version in pink
Indian Elephant version in indigo
BUNK BEDS WITH VERVE
I caught a recent episode of the Home by Novogratz program on HGTV and loved their makeover of a bedroom for triplets in Manhattan's Hell's Kitchen. Cortney Novogratz designed these ingenious bunk beds to save floor space for the active toddlers. Bunk beds are such a smart and popular solution for kids or guest areas where you need to sleep several people. I also loved the photo mural of the adorable triplets that filled up the facing wall. I was impressed with the new show that's now on HGTV and find the energy and enthusiasm of the Novogratz family to be very inspiring. I was happy to hear that they will be back for yet another season!
HOPE YOU ALL HAVE A TERRIFIC WEEKEND!!
MORE ROOT VEG MANIA
I am now officially on a root vegetable kick! I promise this is my last post on root veggies for a long time. Thanks to everyone who left a comment or recipe last week - you inspired me!
I tried roasting beets for the first time and all I can say is that it certainly won't be the last.
These vibrant little jewels are amazing, especially garnished with a little goat cheese. Prep is a cinch - all you do is trim the ends, wash well and throw them in a small baking dish with some olive or vegetable oil (light coating) and a little salt and pepper. Bake for about 1 hour at 350 or until beets can be cut through center with knife and no elbow grease. Truly amazing. But, the fun doesn't stop there.......
After trimming off the beet greens, I washed them thoroughly and then chopped them roughly, adding them to a little vegetable oil and garlic I had going over medium heat in a pan when the beets had approx. 10 minutes left to cook.
Add some kosher salt or sea salt flakes and some freshly ground pepper while gently flipping in the pan and you've got a treat that is definitely addictive! I decided to go with a little sprinkling of goat cheese with the greens as well - yum. Would you try these?
THANK YOU!
Did you have a nice weekend?
The rainy season here in South Florida is ending and even though the highs are still in the low to mid 90's, the blue skies are brighter & clearer and it no longer feels like a steambath. I am glad that Fall is on it's way!
I'd like to thank of all these great blogs for their recent posts featuring my work. Please stop by these sites and let them know I sent you. The support shared in this crazy blogging community is priceless!
Thank you all so much and hope your week gets off to a great start.
COFFEE IN COLOR
I never really drank coffee until about 6 years ago, but it's now an integral part of my morning routine. It jump starts my day and sharpens my focus. I recently spotted this new line of coffee makers and appliances from Kmix, carried by DeLonghi here in the states and available here now at Bloomingdales. The line comes in 8 great hues, I just couldn't resist posting the magenta! Kind of a nice departure from the standard black or white to give your kitchen a little burst of color.
HOPE YOUR WEEKEND IS A GREAT ONE!
HOPE YOUR WEEKEND IS A GREAT ONE!
RAVISHING RADISHES
I have to share my latest passion with you, my faithful readers!
Are you ready? It's radishes. Yeah, I know radishes are not something most people get excited about. But, they are a great source of potassium, only 2 calories a piece and have been known to lower blood pressure. Not to mention, their skin is a very attractive color. As you've probably gathered by now, I am a foodie and therefore enjoy sampling new foods and new things with old foods. Radishes raw make an excellent snack, but I had never tried them COOKED before. Oh my goodness, they are delicious! All I did was heat a bit of oil (either light olive oil or canola works best) in a saute pan, trim the ends and chop the radishes in quarters lengthwise. Then sprinkle generously with Kosher salt and coarse ground pepper. Saute' for a couple of minutes and then add a little balsamic glaze until browned (about 6 minutes). Unbelievable! I am on a root vegetable kick, so we'll see what else I can experiment with....any good tips for me?
LUXE-FUMES PAINTING NO. 3
I hope that you had a nice weekend!
Today, I've got the third painting in my new "Luxe-Fumes" series for you. It's a French Creed fragrance - Fleurissimo - and is painted in painstaking detail with acrylic on wood gallery panel. The background is done in a rich periwinkle blue strie. The original is for sale, and prints as well (for large posters by special order - contact me here.) These pieces are great for a bathroom, dressing room, heck, any area. Wouldn't it be great to give a friend a painting or print of their trademark fragrance? Go here to buy or get more details.
ACQUIESSE CANDLE GIVE-AWAY WINNER!
No, I haven't been sleeping on the job!
I apologize for being late in announcing the winner of the Acquiesse Candle Give-Away. Thanks to the sheer inept-ness (is that a word?) of my internet provider, Comcast, I was cut off due to a coding error and then told it was my issue and I needed a new modem.....after buying a new modem and hooking it up, I called to register it and was disconnected after waiting for an extensive period. Back to waiting for several days under the shroud of gross mis-diagnosis just to get a "real" person to deal with my problem, it was discovered that my modem and system was perfectly in order after all, and it was a bug in their system that had randomly cut off my service! The technician that came out was very nice, I think he was almost as frustrated as I was for being sent out on a call that was completely unnecessary and having to wait for ages on his phone to get the "code" to unlock my system again.
4 days down the tubes with no apology, no compensation of any kind. Classy, don't you think? My entire business being web-based, it crippled me. Ok, rant over. I am looking for an alternative ISP at the moment.
Regardless, I am just happy to be up and running again - it's amazing how you can take the basics for granted
and I am just appreciating being able to work efficiently once again!
OK, you had to read all of that just to get to the good part.....
Carrie Waller of Carrie's Creations has won the candle give-away via random.org.
Big thanks to all of you
who entered and a huge thank-you to Acquiesse for their generous sponsorship!
Enjoy your weekend!
NOT YOUR GRANNIE'S STENCILS
How tremendously clever and stylish is this stencil design from Royal Design Studio?
I fell in love with it and am trying to decide which surface I could put it on.....these aren't your Grannie's stencils, kids! Check this design out here.
HARWELL PHOTOGRAPHY
I just wanted to share a few recent shots from my brother's extensive portfolio. He has won numerous awards and specializes in weddings, fashion and lifestyle photography. He is based in Atlanta and has a studio there, but frequently travels on location. These photographs were all taken in and around Rosemary Beach, FL and you can spot my youngest nephew above munching on a donut! Check out Jeremy's website here.
Wishing all of my US friends a great Labor Day Holiday Weekend and
all of the rest a wonderful weekend as well!
ACQUIESSE CANDLE GIVE-AWAY
Luxury brand Acquiesse Candles has generously offered to sponsor a give-away here on Annechovie. The winner will be chosen on September 8th by random.com and will receive a Soy travel tin in Rioja ( red currant, cassis, citrus and French oak). They sent me this elegant mini candle in "Mandarin Tea" fragrance to sample. I couldn't believe how wonderful the scent was when I opened the box. It had a very natural, high-quality and even expensive-smelling aroma that was really soothing.
AQUIESSE has become known as a leader in the home fragrance arena because of the quality and value of their product line and counts many connoisseurs and celebrities among their fans.
At AQUIESSE, the art of creativity is backed by extensive science, research and craftsmanship. The company always stays atop industry trends, yet only uses ingredients that are tried and true. Their candles are poured with the purest natural wax formulations, derived from soy beans and/or coconuts, for a luxuriously creamy texture, long clean burn, and perfectly balanced fragrance throw. Organic and/or renewable resources, including essential oils, are used whenever possible without jeopardizing the effectiveness or
stability of the products. Only lead-free wicks are carefully suited to each size and fragrance… while each and every product is meticulously crafted by true artisans who take pride in their work.
The original scents in the collection were inspired by the rich coastal region of Central California and are available at Bloomingdales, Candles Off Main, Scents and Sprays, Candle Delirium and Zanadia.
Leave a comment below to enter, tweet or post to FB and let me know to earn a second entry. Please be sure that your name is linked to an email address so I can contact you if you're the winner!
JERSEY SHORE SANS THE SLEAZE
all photos by Jonny Valiant
At this juncture in time, hearing the term "Jersey Shore" doesn't exactly conjure up images of refined living thanks to certain TV programs. In the September issue of House Beautiful, decorator Mona Ross Berman turns the tarnished image on its ear with her fabulous "surfer chic with class" style. I love this cottage she lent her colorful touch to.
So many great rooms and no tattoos or hair gel in sight!
I hope all of my friends on the East Coast here in the US have weathered Hurricane Irene ok and are now safe. I wish everyone continued safety with all of the clean-up, repairs and the process of getting on with your lives.
BEARS REPEATING
I found this astute quote on Table Tonic and wanted to pass it on for those who hadn't seen it yet.
Oh so true!
Here's hoping you have a great weekend and thanks for stopping by!
ANNECHOVIE RUGS
How 'bout a great quote for your entry hall or living space? Now my Keep Calm design is available as a rug kit in blue and mustard at Art Needlepoint here!
EILEEN KATHRYN BOYD & HER COLOR CHUTZPAH
Welcome to a new week!
Eileen Kathryn Boyd is quickly becoming one of my favorite designers. Her color sense sets her apart in a world of design pablum. Her work leaves you with the same feeling as hopping a plane from North Dakota in the dead of Winter and jetting off to Palm Beach or St. Barts. To say it's refreshing is putting it mildly.
Eileen has designed a gorgeous line of vibrant fabrics for Duralee
I am a perennial fan of the pink/orange partnership!
Eileen's shop in Huntington, NY
Love how she painted the chair frame an unexpected color
I came across Eileen's site and blog the other day (I am ashamed to say, for the first time! How could I have been so living under a rock??) I had admired her work all over design mags and the internet for a while, but without even "catching" who exactly was behind it. I was thrilled - quite frankly, surprised AND flattered to see she had listed Annechovie as one of her "must-read" blogs. If you're not already hip to it, you've got to get to know her work and be sure to follow her blog here. You'll feel like a kid in a candy store!
Photos courtesy of Duralee, Eileen Kathryn Boyd, Lonny and Decorati
LUXE-FUMES FRAMED
I am organizing/cleaning out my studio and offering these large framed prints from my "Luxe-Fume" series at a special value this week. Print and frame sold separately usually run $72, but each print is available framed for only $50 a piece + shipping right now until both are sold. Contact me here to purchase.
Have a great weekend!
KIWI CAT
A very thoughtful customer of mine from New Zealand sent me this photo of her cat, "Professor Winston" showing me how he was trying to investigate when she opened the shipment from me. She said he showed his approval by promptly lying on the prints. I got a kick out of it. Thanks for the nod of approval, Professor Winston and thanks for passing this along, Robyn!