But last week when I posted my party pic a few folks referred to me as elusive and mysterious. I wasn’t being coy; I wasn’t hiding. It’s just not about me. I’m a middle-aged, medium height, middle income wife and mother of three living in middle America. I didn’t go to design school, am not a designer or a design historian.

I’m curious. I’m interested, but not interesting. Men talk around me at dinner parties all the time. Or ask, “How are the boys?” Fairly indistinguishable, there are thousands of women just like me everywhere. There are a dozen in your building or neighborhood. Still, after the comments I thought maybe it’s odd to hear the voice but not see the speaker.

I was 4’10” in eighth grade. Paul Steiner deemed me president of the Itty Bitty Titty Committee. Right before my freshman year I received a tragic Dorothy Hamill haircut. The only date I had in high school was to my senior prom and that was with a friend. You are welcome to comment away on how I look, but believe me, I’ve heard it all before.

Per Richard Hamilton’s suggestion, I re-hung the botanicals over the sofa.  I used an old Martha Stewart trick that works like a charm.  Cut templates for the pieces, place them on the wall, nail right through the paper once you determine where it should go.

Works like a charm.  If you use newspaper, as I did, do make sure the bothersome “enhancement” ad is to the wall to avoid awkward questions from any loitering children.

Why, oh why, did I not buy six of these when I had the chance?

p.s.  Joni suggested this a while ago, but I was too lazy to measure it out.  A dinner party this weekend spurred action as they always tend to do.

I had posted in January that change was afoot.  The elder Mr. Blandings had made me the generous gift of three prints that had hung in his sitting room at college.  (In addition to these I also have the hand monogrammed linen hand towels that his mother packed into his trunk.  It was another era.)

I had tried to lay out a gallery wall myself but it all seemed a jumble, so I brought in help.  Richard Hamilton is an art consultant; he can help build or define a collection, authenticate pieces and provide expertise on framing and conservation.  He’s also terrific with placement and worked his magic here.

He also suggested “flipping” the room which has turned out to be a great idea.  After that, the wall over the sofa provided a better space for the art.  Richard started by asking me a long list of questions including which pieces were personal, which ones would I want nearest to me and, were there any other items that might be floundering around the house that could be added to the wall.

Over the last year and a half, Patricia von Essche has forwarded the wonderful art work she has done for Mrs. Blandings.  They had waited, patiently, unframed for just the right spot.  Richard suggested finding old frames, dings and nicks preferred, for these pieces.  

I treasure these pieces and found his advice to be spot on.  He hung them right by my desk so I have the joy of looking at them all day long.  

The project has changed so many aspects of the house.  The view from the entry is richer and more detailed.  

I just couldn’t be more pleased.  This was an excellent exercise in re-purposing with focus that provided results in spades.

Just as the ribbon and wrapping were cleared, just as the house began to absorb all the new stuff, I turned to Mr. Blandings and said, “I think we need to flip the office.”  Sofa to this end, desk to the other.  No more looking into my piles and stacks upon entering the house.

Actually, I wasn’t sure, but a very savvy guy had suggested it and wanted to give it a try.  

Mr. Blandings is used to this sort of thing and he knew that I would do most of the lifting and toting myself.

But the desk is very, very heavy.  I simply couldn’t move it on my own.  So he help even though it was not his priority over his few days off over the holidays.  Well.  Then, of course, there was the sorting out of the cords and connections and hook-ups and ports.  Bother.

And why the shift?  The elder Mr. Blandings dropped these prints by just before Thanksgiving.  They had hung in his sitting room at college and had been out of use for quite a while.

We’d visited them a couple of time over the last ten years or so.  We’d amble in and admire them.  He’d ask me if I wanted them.  I’d gush.  He’d nod.  Then the click of the light and the close of the door would tell me, “No.  Not yet.”

And then with no fanfare he dropped by on a very cold day and said, “Didn’t you want these?”  Indeed.  So now, what is in the planning stages is a gallery wall.  Maybe not so grand as what you will find here, but a collection of stuff personal and dear.

Somewhere, oh, somewhere, there is an vintage image of birds decoupaged on a wall that was the premise of today’s post.  Somewhere.  Hopefully I’ll find it today and we will be back on track.  The boys are still(!) out of school and indifferent to my lapse in posting.