Mystery House: Week 13

Okay, this picture was actually taken on Christmas Day but I forgot to post it.

Oh what a year it has been!

My discovery of Apartment Therapy this year has amplified my "home ec itis," and about half way through our home in it, was prime motivator for this blog. The other motivator was to try and figure out why I like what I like..."Mom did you actually frame an IKEA napkin?"

'Be it ever so humble, there is no place like home.'

Douglas Harbour at Dusk

Douglas Harbour at Dusk
Originally uploaded by IMAGES FROM MAN.

Hi Dad, Thanks for cooking a superb Christmas dinner!

Love, Emma

Didi Dunphy: Modern Convenience

Didi Dunphy wants us to have some fun with Mondrian.

Didi showed her Upholstrey at our POSTwilshire space in 1999.

Check out her Modern Convenience website. You ain't seen nothin' yet!

Thanks May...

Each Christmas we are blessed with a special package all the way from Canada. Homemade Christmas cake, Dundee cake, and last, but not least Christmas pudding!

Thank you May for making our Christmas a happy one! XOXO

Toys on the Table

Christmas is all about nostalgia for the old days, so why not put it on the table.

I love my napkin ring/placecard holders from Crate & Barrel. I could even hang them on the tree for a laugh! Oh, I do love to laugh!

Musical snowmen, nutcracker dolls, and matryoshka dolls, painted pine cones, pom poms and sequins...

Here's to the year ahead!

The photo (amoung other fabulous photos) was taken by Ray Collister.

"This is my daughter's winning entry in a Peace not war competition, on the Isle of Man. We decided to use the candles peace symbol for some more effect. We believe this is the extreme of contrasts which the split in the collage indicates quite clearly. At Christmas many people really want peace not war." Thanks "Daughter" and Ray for sharing this special message!

5 and Dime Golden Memories

Santa and pinetree4 invite you to enjoy some old time holiday magic. Pinetree4 contributes to the tea towel group and has lots of retro pics to enjoy on her flickr. Via pinetree4 I found suzysputnik and her Woolies treat to whip up some holiday nostalgia! Thanks for the memories...

Tah Dah! The Future Architect in the Family!

That's what dad Alan is thinking as Samatha 'vannas' her gingerbread house. Royal icing can be a real lesson for developing patience, but the praise and rewards that follow are worth it.

Mystery House: Week 12

Sorry, I have missed two weeks, but now I am back!

The Arts and Crafts of Greene & Greene at the Huntington Library

After Christmas I will be ready for a long stroll of the grounds at the Huntington Library. And I do not want to miss the Greene & Greene exhibition A New and Native Beauty through

January 26, 2009 at the Boone Gallery.

A greating for the season from HK Zamani

Tea Towel of the Month: December

What I love about these American vintage tea towels is that the images are mirrored so you can see the entire image when it is hung over the oven rail. If one side becomes stained then there is always the other side to display.

Our first morning at home for a long time began with my daughter popping in Little Women. A great classic to remind all of us what the holiday season should be about. We decorated the tree, I made Christmas cards, and, I made steel cut oatmeal with golden raisins, apple, banana, cinnamon, nutmeg and orange peel. Yum! Yum!

The Rat has been found!

Just in Time for the Thanksgiving Clean Up

When I saw this tea towel, I nearly fell off of the couch! We have a "Lamb" who has actually becoming quite domestic as of late ;). This tea towel is featured at Vintage Screened Tea Towels . Thanks to the Vintage Laundress for posting this tea towel to our group.

Mystery House: Week 9

This is late because I was in NYC last weekend.

Brussel Sprout Bouquet at Union Square Market

My mum and I loved these "flowers" so much that we wanted to take them home with us.

Mystery House: Week 8

No it's not fog, but unfortunately smoke from the fires.

HK Zamani at University by the Sea, Long Beach, CA

HK Zamani

Vehicle in Collusion with Vesicle

2008

"University by the Sea attracted 8,000 people on Sunday, October 5th for a 12-hour day of classes, music, live arts and food. Many thanks to everyone who helped make this day a success - from our 250+ volunteers to the instructors, exhibitors, businesses and performers - University by the Sea is made possible by the generous time and talents of hundreds people. "

Isle of Man...another towel

Isle of Man...another towel
Originally uploaded by Green Wellies

I just had to blog this tea towel. My Dad lived on the island during the Blitz in London. Thanks, Green Wellies

Mystery House: Week 7

To see the progress from the begining visit http://flickr.com/photos/emmajay/sets/72157607976658243/

USS Cupcake Carrier at Crate and Barrel

Oh, this is on my wish list big time. Check it out at http://crateandbarrel.com .

Mr. Jonathan Adler (my newest Martha)

...I was so blind...we have so much in common, he and I ...

Jonathan says it's okay to put red with brown (made my day). He believes in rustic modernism: Big Sur, A-Frame beach houses, raw beams (hodge podge lodge), and geodesic dome homes (oh we do love our domies). Butterflies and hearts (XOXO Aud) make a happy home. http://www.jonathanadler.com/shop/manifesto.php

Check out the Florida pad of Jonathan Adler and Simon Doonan in the November issue of Metropolitan Home. Look at the physical magazine if you are able to http://www.pointclickhome.com/metropolitan_home. Ana over at http://rearrangeddesign.blogspot.com/ has an eye for the best Adler ceramics. Ceramics, pillows, and rugs are my favorite categories over at http://www.jonathanadler.com/ .

CHANGE

"Man In The Mirror"

by Michael Jackson

"I'm Gonna Make A Change,
For Once In My Life

It's Gonna Feel Real Good,

Gonna Make A Difference

Gonna Make It Right . . .

. . .I'm Starting With The Man In The Mirror

I'm Asking Him To Change His Ways
And No Message Could Have Been Any Clearer
If You Wanna Make The World

A Better Place Take A Look At Yourself,

And Then Make A Change. . ."

complete lyrics at

http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/michaeljackson/maninthemirror.html

Tea Towel Of The Month: November

This is a Save the Children tea towel. We have used it a little bit too much! You can see the hole at the lower left hand corner.

Lambs Ear Propagation

Mum planted these Lambs Ear leaves at the beginning of the summer. They have been really slow to grow, but there are signs of new leaf production.

Recently, Mum picked up these plantlets on the door step where they were dropped by the large mother plant. She is planning to grow these plants for the Daughter's of the British Empire June Faire in Sierra Madre.

Mystery House: Week 6

Panettone it's amore!

I went to Costco. I bought a Gran Panettone. I am taking it to my Dad's for tea tomorrow.
Hi Dad!

Cactus Monster's Foot

Eventhough the top of our hill is known as Devil's Bridge, the only scary thing aroud here this Halloween is the Cactus Monster.

Original Slate Entryway

Umbrella Stand 0795
Originally uploaded by emmajay2008

After scrapping and chipping off old boat varnish inch by inch, I need to seal this slate entryway. You know, just in case it sprinkles. Does anyone have any thoughts on this? I think I'll ask Pam over at Retro Renovation!

Mystery House: Week 5

Anthropologie

I went up to Lake Ave. (Pasadena) to purchase more lawn signs, and to see if the Macy's store had re-opened! Yes on the lawn signs, no on the Macy's! Oh what to do? I still had 40 minutes in my parking spot. Oh yeah! I turned around and there was Anthropologie. I bought a cute retro hen timer there for my kitchen last month. In a Pasadena minute I came out with

a retro butterfly potholder,

a pearl in-lay switch plate

and decorative hook for the bathroom.

Check out their door knobs, pulls and switch plates at http://www.anthropologie.com/

{for your home}.

Mystery House: Week 4

How About Blue ?

The "old" kitchen

The "new" kitchen.

Not a single inch of original paint was harmed in this process.

I was inspired by the Fall Colors Contest over at

http://apartmenttherapy.com/.

What do you think? Yeah or Nay?

"Short Course in Miracles" by Richard Stein (1994)

Persimmons

Possum up a 'simmon tree
Raccoon on the ground

Possum says you son of a gun

Lay my 'simmons down.

- mid to late 1800s, author unknown.

The verse also forms a portion of the traditional song "Bile Dem Cabbage Down", in various permutations in black spirituals, and many other folk songs.

Thanks to http://persimmonpudding.com/ for the song.

My parents have a persimmon tree. As the years have gone by, our family has looked forward to the harvest each fall. Persimmons have replaced pumpkins as my preferred fall home decor and fall fruit. The tree had some magnificently large persimmons on it that we could see from the second story window. Despite the net, some critters shimmied up the trunk and ate most of the fruit! The hubby will hand carry on de plane some to the Lambster for her 20th b-day. I bought these from the market !

Mystery House Week 3