Tag Archives: Product

A Creative Mind

October 29, 2007UncategorizedProductMrs. Blandings

In my past life, I worked at one of the city’s charitable foundations. We did a lot of good. We also spent a lot of time talking about how and what we were doing. This process led to a lot of meetings. In one such meeting, I was called on to record. One of the focuses of the foundation was education, so we had many former teachers working there. In the room. Where I was to record. So, one thing you need to know is, I’m a terrible speller. Truly awful. So, as I went before this room of very bright people I had to say, “I am willing to record, but I am a terrible speller. If you noticed I’ve misspelled something, you must tell me.” One of the women in the room, a former principal, particularly smart, well-respected and gorgeous, said, “Weakness in spelling is a sign of a creative mind.” I don’t know if this is true, but I will be forever grateful.

That is why these appeal to me.

This image was in the Kansas City Star last week, and these dictionaries reminded me of the of that kind and smart woman. If you have a weakness, at least be stylish about it. Graphic Image offers Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary in a variety of hues. But when I logged on to see these gems, look what else I found.

Entertaining journals with place setting information, seating charts, a place for your entertaining resources, as well as pages to record the details of each and every event.

These are also available in a rainbow of colors and textures. These, and most of the other styles, can be personalized. What? Oh, other styles? Yes, lots.

With graph paper.

Spirals with lined paper and perforated pages.

Date books in a number of sizes. They also have wine journals and golf journals and family histories, picture frames and picture albums.

Go ahead, it’s OK to be a little weak.

Bringing a Little Kansas Chic to the Big Apple

October 25, 2007UncategorizedProductMrs. Blandings

In a previous post, I sang the praises of Chuck Comeau and his team at Dessin Fournir. Dedicated to quality furniture, lighting and fabrics, Chuck has built a bit of a design empire on the Kansas plains.

But everyone needs a little town with their country. Dessin Fournir has opened a stunning showroom that encompasses the entire second floor of the Fine Arts Building at 232 East 59th Street in New York.

It’s a fitting spot. The Fine Arts Building is the former stables for Bloomingdales. Seems not only can you not take the stable out of the boy, you can’t even really get the boy out of the stable. If you are in “the” city stop by; if not, you can still visit on-line at www.dessinfournir.com.
The showroom is open 9 – 5, Monday through Friday. While it’s open to the public, you are required to work through a designer for purchase. The showroom features Dessin Fournir’s lines: Dessin Fournir, Classic Cloth, Gérard,Kerry Joyce,Palmer Hargrave,Rose Cumming,and they are representing Watts of Westminster, a historic English fabric and wallpaper company.

Basalt of the Earth

October 16, 2007UncategorizedProductMrs. Blandings

Wedgewood produced its first basalt ware in 1768; it’s still in production today. Some pottery in Thomas O’Brien’s apartment, which was featured in this month’s House and Garden, reminded me of these classic pieces in this dramatic color. These pieces are currently available on eBay.

If you are still with me, I do apologize. I’m a bit weary from the weekend. Apparently, twenty years takes its toll.

Oh, the Candlestick.

October 4, 2007UncategorizedProductMrs. Blandings

If I were going to clobber Mr. Body with a candlestick (I’m still working with my “Clue” theme – see yesterday’s title) it would be this one. I’ve had a crush on Ted Muehling’s silver and bronze candlesticks for E. R. Butler and Co. for a very long time.

Ted Muehling and one of his magnificent bowls for Steuben.
Mr. Muehling as been designing jewelry and table ware since 1976. A graduate of the Pratt Institute, he’s inspired by forms of nature.

My biggest problem has been deciding between the bronze and the silver. The silhouette of the bronze is so striking; perfect for my mantle. But the silver is such a modern twist on a classic theme. And then they did this.

Town and Country’s latest issue has a feature on the appeal of black and gold. And look. Those devils, Mr. Muehling and his cohorts at E. R. Butler added not one, but two gold finishes. Now, in addition to the fabulous bronze and the striking silver, you can have either polished or pumiced gold.

And if you thought I couldn’t tie this one back to Kansas City, you’d be mistaken. On the E.R. Butler web site, the candles they recommend for these works of art? Creative Candle. Do you know them? They are right here “in town.” Home grown. I knew they were great, in fact, they are the only kind I use. Just one more example of how we do things right in the heartland. You don’t have to hit me over the head.

You, You Light Up My Life

September 28, 2007UncategorizedProductMrs. Blandings

I know a lot of you are city dwellers. You might not have garages, or cars for that matter. But here, in Kansas City, we are mostly suburbanites and most of us have a garage. I know the idea is to put your car in there, but mine is mostly stuffed with lawn equipment, bicycles, boxes of stuff to be left out for a needy cause and things that are forever lost because they are in the scary part in the back.

Kansas Citian, Barbara Cosgrove, didn’t use her garage for her car either. Ten years ago she took her art background and turned it into a profitable business making lamps. In her garage.

Needless to say, Cosgrove is standing among dried leaves no more. She currently has two lines of lamps; The Collection offers a variety of styles and choice of shades while the BCL line is less expensive with a pre-determined shade.
Frankly, I think are the lamps are stylish and pretty reasonable priced. The Collection models are $200 – $600, while the BCL line runs $140 – $170.

The lamps are available “in town” at Hall’s, Black Bamboo, High Cotton Home Furnishings and Noel’s.

Those of you not in our fair city can pick them up through Nieman-Marcus, Gump’s and Horchow.

Recently, Cosgrove has expanded into accent pieces and some furniture.

I purchased a tortoise shell a couple of months ago, and while I adore it, it concerns me that demand could create an unfortunate situation. These are very pretty, and resin, so you could sleep easy.

There is a bit of this going around. I think it would be fabulous painted white if you want to channel a little Hadley. I just got a bid for a client to powder coat an old bed. $125. For the headboard and foot board. So something like this would be…I don’t know, but less.

This would be a jazzy little breakfast tray, no? You could lay about in your satin bed jacket having toast and tea, planning a business you could start in your garage.