Tastemaker and gardener Carolyn Roehm's books are like treasures to me and for fellow flower lovers, her latest one entitled "Flowers" is one to cherish.
Showcasing her own dazzling photography, Ms. Roehm presents the reader with eight varieties of flowers in her gardens in the most luxurious of settings.
Acclaimed interior designer Barbara Barry has published her first book and, boy, is it a treaure.
"Around Beauty" says it all.
I wait with bated breath for all of Los Angeles interior designer Kelly Wearstlers' books and Rhapsody just arrived.
Rhapsody is the fourth book by Ms. Wearstler and it is another gem.
As a calligrapher, I must remind myself of my own dictate that my heroine of etiquette Judith Martin would insist upon- preserve the confidences of your clients and do not brag when you get to address an envelope to a really important/celebrated/cool person. Miss Manners would grant me an exception on occasion, I have no doubt.
I have had the pleasure to work on behalf of clients who are well known to others and some whose backgrounds remain unknown to me. Sometimes I am instructed to not reveal the client with whom I am doing work and sometimes I can relish the tiny connection I have through my work.
Even after several years of being a calligrapher by trade, there is an indescribable thrill to hand letter an envelope to someone I admire.
This is one of the joys of the calligrapher.
My fascination with textile design led me to this book written by Geoffrey Rayner and Richard Chamberlain who run the Target Gallery in London's West End and Annamarie Stapleton, who serves as the editor of the Decorative Arts Society Journal.
What makes this book unique is its focus on a period when internationally renowned painters such as Andy Warhol, Marc Chagall and Salvador Dali were commissioned to contribute their work for the design of industrially-produced textiles for the mass market.
Images from Textile Design
designsgirl on the practice tee on an early Colorado morning warming up for a golf tournament.
I did not know my husband took this photo but, for me, it captured a serene, solitary moment.
As an only child, I have always found equanimity in quietness and solitude. I know that my artistic endeavors are perfectly suited to this inclination.
We all have a need for human connection but, for some of us, being in the company of one and venturing off to renew in nature's beauty are the most salutary elixirs for our solitary souls.
When designsgirl read that a well-known interior designer subscribes to "Garden & Gun" magazine, she had to find out what these strange bedfellows of "garden and gun" were all about.
As a southerner by the grace of God, if not by birth, I felt unallegiant for not having known about this publication.
"garden & gun" is a motley southern farrago: a fabulous feature on southern artisans, designers, painters and architects; a good dog photo contest; articles by one of my favorite southern writers- Julia Reed; a feature on a woman gun engraver; and a profile of Olivia Manning, the first lady of Football.
I know my latent southern accent will flow from my lips after sitting down with this interesting read.
Lately, I have been tinkering with textile design and have become fascinated with wallpaper patterns.
So when I discovered "The Wallpaper Book" by Genevive Brunet, I ran home to explore its contents and found it to be one of the most beautifully enchanting books I have ever held in my hands. This is not your grandmother's wallpaper.
The photographs, the patterns, the colors and the interesting history of wallpaper make this a glorious find.
We are creatures of comfort. It is easy to settle into a ritual of ease and equilibrium in our lives and in our work.
But what I have learned as a new artist is that curiosity and passion (and sometimes ignorance) serve to move me to unfamiliar territory and to projects for which I do not feel ready to accept.
"But wait. I have never done this. I am not ready." is what my mind shouts as I am presented with new endeavors. This is when the artist grows. She accepts the challenge. She takes the leap. Jumps right in. Soars to another level of skill despite the disquieting feeling of doubt.
Once you do it, it no longer seems unconquerable. An empowering spirit fills you with confidence and pride when you are willing to try.
I shall remind myself of this as I begin my education at the Savannah College of Art and Design this winter when I pursue my master of art degree, a daunting and thrilling adventure that I know will satisfy my life-long desire to learn and grow.
As a wedding calligrapher, I serve the role of hand lettering a bride's wedding envelopes as well as serving as etiquette guide, assisting the bride with the proper form of addressing for her wedding envelopes.
With less formal weddings comes the temptation to be less formal in the form of address. I always tell brides that they should not confuse "formal" with "proper". Proper is always the standard by which you address your envelopes.
It is a sign of respect for a recipient to receive an invitation that is properly addressed and this is the perfect occasion in which the bride can show her grace and elegance.
Today, there are many etiquette resources but the definitive rules can be found in Crane's Blue Book of Stationery available at crane.com.
The time-honored words of our leading ladies of etiquette: Emily, Elizabeth and Anna Post, Amy Vanderbilt -and my favorite- Judith Martin aka Miss Manners, who have written a spate of books on the subject, are also worth heeding.
For designsgirl, there is nothing better than a fashion illustration book. "Drawing Fashion: A Century of Fasion Illustration" edited by Joelle Chariau and with essays by Colin McDowell and Holly Brubach confirms my belief that the genre of fashion drawing is art in its own right.
Includes the works of Poiret, Chanel, Balenciaga, Dior, Comme des Garcons, McQueen and Viktor & Rolf.
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