Designers Creating For You

Hi Girlfriends,

Are your summer catalogs beginning to arrive in your mailbox?  Yesterday, another Gump's catalog arrived in mine.  To my surprise, for the first time, I saw this lazy Susan by artist, Annie Modica.  I bought mine with pears and figs, at least six years ago, at Past Basket, while staying at The American Club, Kohler, WI.  

A lazy Susan is a perfect answer to serving hor'd at your next outdoor gathering.  Simply place the lazy Susan in the middle of the table and consider serving 3 different kinds of cheeses: Huntsman, Brie and Spain's Drunken Goat, along with fig preserves and crackers.  So easy to have your guests just turn the lazy Susan to help themselves.

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Another line of items in this same catolog was Martha Study with her own furniture  and accessories.  This artist first began as a sculptor and now brings her 'eye' to each item she designs in furniture. What makes her items so unique is using a simple technique of sandblasting and transforms strong resin table tops, vases, etc, into luminous textures reminiscent of honed stone.  Her bright colors remind me of a rainbow of popsicles.  Each item is an accent in any room.

Talk again,

Denise

Antique Compacts

 1933 Chicago World Fair compacts

Girlfriends, 

One of our girlfriends, Nancy, requested I do a close up of my 1920 - 30s compacts.  Over a period of time, my compact collection grew to 54.  By process of elimination, these are the ones I selected.

My collection began when I would visit my elderly mother in Pekin, Illinois.  As she took her afternoon naps, I would visit the antique shops in the downtown area.  My limit was buying nothing over $25.  I increased my limit when I was in the UK and I "had to have"......so I paid more.  

In selecting for my wall, I choose a little bit of everything from the past.  

For those who come to my house for parties and they guess my favorite, they get a "Compact Prize."

This is a very handsome compact with the original protective cover.  I call it the "Tree of Thank You."  A high school alumni was asking around if anyone had a hand held Garmin GPS he could buy.  I had one, never used.  We already had one in our car. I  sent him mine.  In return, he knew about my compact collection and went shopping-!!  Very thoughtful and a very welcomed gift.  This compact being  special, I leave it on a small easel in the powder room  when entertaining.

This is  Gwen's favorite-!!

This is the only compact I have ever seen with a watch and it works.  My daughter thought it was a Birth Control case-!!

Talk again,

Denise & Gwen

discountdesignerfabricsonline.com

Marilyn Monroe 1995 Stamp Poster

Hi Girlfriends,  Not all of us live in a McMansion.  I live in a white Cape Cod house with a white picket fence. Curb appeal abounds.  So how does a Marilyn Monroe 1995 stamp poster fit in?  Now for the inside..........

Last year, we put on the smallest addition Winnetka Zoning Board has seen in the last 20 years. Pretty embarrassing to be in the same room at our Zoning Board meeting, with a very beautiful, but, very pregnant woman, looking flabbergasted for such a request. We were asking for  100 sq. feet and she was insisting on a 4 -car garage with additions on top of it-!!  

The compromise with my husband: He would get his "always wanted a wet bar" in the old coat closet, and Denise would have total say for the powder room.  LOL.

Please take a long look into my "Jewel Box". Barbara Berry mirror, Kohler Escale products, my final selection of 1920s compacts attached to black satin fabric as backing (Gwen's suggestion) in 5" x 5" silver brushed shadow boxes (- glass), the antique nickel plated sconces with the original carnival glass shades -- bought from a San Francisco movie theater before demolition, the 8" dia. crystal chandelier.........

Lastly, the one item that was never in this decorator's plans, became the focal point of the whole room. A Marilyn Monroe 1995 Stamp poster.

Back in 1995, I was mailing some packages at my Winnetka Postal Office. It was the year for the 32 cent Marilyn Monroe stamp.  While waiting in line, there she was, featured in a glass case, 20 x 24 poster.  By the time I reached the counter for service, I asked if her poster was available to buy.....anywhere.  I was given the Postmaster, who in a spiral notebook, started a page with my name being first and inform me, I would receive a call when they took down MM.  About 6 months later--  I had long forgotten my inquiry-- the phone rang.  My Postmaster didn't forget.......and if I didn't want it, they had a list of over 200 names who did want it.  I never moved so fast that day, as I made a bee line to my post office.  The Postmaster signed and stamped with an official postal stamp the date I picked it up too.

When we entertained, I would put MM in a hall bathroom tub with the curtain drawn.  It never failed.....someone would use the bathroom, peek behind the curtain and make a comment.  I would ring a bell and give them a fun wrapped gift.  For their 'sin' for peeking, the person would have to open the present before us all.

I thought for sure my husband would yip about this post office poster in the new powder room, but, like every man, he loves her.  For sure, the United States Postal Service could never have dreamed their slogan for the MM stamp would end up in a Powder room for all MANkind.

What I did hear, over and over, in the beginning was: "I banged my head on the chandelier again."  My response: "Then duck-!!" 

I love this room and I wouldn't change a thing...........

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Talk again,

Denise & Gwen