I have a friend who says that you find your clothing style in college and never really change it. I’m glad to say that while I was once a fan of jean jackets and stirrup pants they have not reappeared in my wardrobe since graduation. Oh, also no denim mini-skirts, though I did have a doozy back in the day.
But I did love chintz, need chintz, surround myself with chintz and that has never changed. In or out, thumbs up or down, I always seem to have a little (or a lot) hanging around.
You won’t be surprised to know that I adore Nicky Haslam’s new book Folly de Grandeur. It lived in my car for weeks at the ready for any brief or extended idle.
Painted walls, chipped furniture, hand-dotted brackets and needlepoint, needlepoint, needlepoint. I love every page. Haslam’s own words make it a treasure.
You can find Folly de Grandeur here.
Thanks for the heads-up on a book I'll need to get. In the good old days, it was easy to distinguish between good design books and those that were merely well-produced bits of decorator fluff, because if it was the latter, Marilyn Hasbrouck down at the Prairie Avenue Bookshop didn't stock it. If you bought a book from her, you couldn't go wrong. Since she retired, I've had to buy online, and I can't tell you how many worthless books I've bought, where it was all downhill as soon as I opened the handsome cover. And I mean I literally can't tell you how many I bought, because they were so bad–like high school term papers with glossy pictures–that I had to give them away. Otherwise, every time I'd open one to give it one more chance, I'd get angry all over again.
If you say a book's the real deal, that's good enough for me.
Oh I'm dying to get my hands on this book, lucky girl…..I still have so many others sent to me to review that I don't dare buy any because I'll never get the 'work' done!
Hi there!
In my opinion; your friend is wrong about clothes for everyone!!! (Lord have mercy!!) Fortunately; for us! Whew!!
Decorating is a whole different story! I READ (there were few pictures…..just the ones she painted with her words) "The House in Good Taste" by Elsie de Wolfe when I was 12! Chintz was my friend……her words I felt were poured into my heart! Honestly.
My mother (I was gifted with the mother from heaven!!) gave me this book in 1959 (I was 12!!)
I read it non-stop. I did not put it down. I swear. One sitting.
(My first thought on completing it…..was.."Wow! This is a job???) I could do this? and then….I know how to do this!!!"
Don't ask me how I had that confidence…..but I can only think of my mother! She told me!!
It sure has been the most wonderful career!! (There weren't too many in Los Angeles during this time.)
I started completely by "the seat of my pants" after I graduated from USC as an English major…..
the passion has not left me for an hour! Not even 15 minutes!
Then she told me: "you have a photographic memory! few people do! You are so good at rearranging furniture! (most six year-old don't!)
This is something you would love to do!! And you will be good at it!"
What an enormous gift! And here, 43 years later!
I started completely by "the seat of my pants" after I graduated from USC as an English major…..and it has been a lifetime joy and passion!
I am so grateful!
Yikes!
I love your blog; I love your posts!
The "bogosphere" is such a gift to all of us!
Went to bed with it last nite.
And it was driving around in my car to jobs before that !!
Garden & Be Well, XO Tara