‘The Importance of Being Earnest’ Onstage at RUHS December 8-10

My introduction to Oscar Wilde.

Herald article:‘The Importance of Being Earnest’ Onstage at RUHS December 8-10

And I wasn't the only one who enjoyed it!
Op Ed piece

Costuming "Ernest"

Collages I did as research for the Edwardian Era.

Gentlemen

servents

Gwen and Lady B

actual gowns from the era

"You're a Good Man Charlie Brown"

 October 2011- 1st show of the season
Everyone’s Favorite Five Year-Old Comes to Randolph Union H.S. Stage

Autumn at Longbourn

Though it is the middle of summer, today I'm continuing a series I started a few months ago based on the people and places in Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice".
This board was inspired by Longbourn- the Bennett family home. I see this wedding using the colors and textures of the season and the country local to set a tone that is both traditional and organic. The moss green and brown color of the bridesmaids gowns, added to the russet and bronze tones of the flowers comprise the hues of a farm at harvest time. The glass and silver of the formal table settings for the reception add refined touches. The food would be simple, but rich; much like a traditional harvest feast. This is a cozy home wedding at is most elegant.

Ode to summer vacation, part 1

One of my favorite parts of summer vacation is going to flea markets, yard sales and antique shops. I rarely spend over $20, but I can spend HOURS just looking. The things I do buy are usually of a purely decorative nature. I collect old silver pieces, transferware, chickens and linens. I love looking at old keys, furniture, lighting and glassware too. It's not what a thing is worth to me, or even what condition it's in really (I just bought a vintage Murano glass mirror that is missing most of its trim), it's if I like the looks of it and can at least pretend to have a place for it in my little abode.

Summer 2011

It's been close to a month since I last posted. Sorry about that. I'm actually on vacation now but since I have internet access I'll try to keep in touch. Meanwhile enjoy a small sample of my summer so far.

Discovery

I found this blog by accident while looking for pictures of home libraries. The link to those is below, as is one to a beautiful Georgian house on the same blog.

Rose Villa
home library

Hot Red Lily

Inspired by "Red Lily" by Nora Roberts, this is how I imagine Harper and Haley's wedding. A bright, bold and fun party in the gardens at home.

http://www.theknot.com/inspiration-boards/Gallery/Details/60345

Blue like Jazz

"Blue like Jazz" was inspired by the interests and style of a good friend. She's not planning on getting married anytime soon as far as I know, but this is how I imagine her wedding.

It would be an intimate, but traditional ceremony in a church with her 1-3 bridesmaids wearing classically cut, sapphire blue dresses and carrying white lilies. The blue and white palette would continue at the reception, as well as the subtle touches that reveal her interest in music and the glamour of the 1940’s.

Fire and Ice

This board was inspired by a friend who is a gamer and wanted a casual DIY type wedding. The color palette isn't original, but I think the cute little touches and modern black accents make it fun.

Seraphina

This board was inspired by Seraphina. The wedding would be a semi-formal and intimate evening event with dusty pink flowers and accents of amber brown, in addition to the traditional black and white. There would be vintage touches, velvet ribbons and roast chicken for diner.

Oh, by the way, Seraphina is my cat. The black, brown and white came from her coat and the pink from her nose and ears. The velvet was inspired by the feel of her fur and chicken is her favorite meal.

Memorial Day 2011

Formerly known as Decoration Day, Memorial Day commemorates U.S. soldiers who died while in the military service. First enacted to honor Union soldiers of the American Civil War. It was extended after World War I to honor Americans who have died in all wars.
By the early 20th century, Memorial Day became an occasion for more general expressions of memory, as ordinary people visited the graves of their deceased relatives, whether they had served in the military or not. http://memorialday2011.org/
Thank you and God Bless

The Morrill House

A neat Glog I made, with more information about the Morrill House
http://tiacat5.edu.glogster.com/justin-morrill-house/

Pink and Green Garden Party

I tried a different site for making inspiration boards the other day. The Knot is a well known wedding website with a wide range of applications. Their inspiration board maker is relatively new and still has some kinks to work out. I like that you can search for photos of different elements by color (though the system isn't fully functional yet), and that each photo can link you to the real wedding or magazine shoot that it came from. The drag and drop format is nice as well. As is the ability to upload your own photos (I haven't tried that part yet.) My main complaints about the site (other than it not being completely up and running yet) is that they allow you only half a dozen layout format options. Also, you can not export your finished board into a blog, you can only link to it. There is not the creative freedom Dessy offers.

Here is the Pink and Green Garden Party I designed. This semi-formal wedding could take place on the grounds of an estate, at a botanical garden or public park, or even in someones backyard if they had gorgeous gardens. Flowers are obviously the focus here, especially pink roses and peonies and green hydrangeas.

link to my pink and green inspiration board

Library Themed Wedding

Usually it takes me a few days to put an inspiration board together. This one was done in one sitting. It turns out that library weddings are more popular than I thought and I had a nice variety of images to choose from in arranging my board. While this theme can easily go more academic and/or retro, I decided to keep it intimate and formal. Lofty space, dark polished wood highlighted with simple white flowers and accents of soft green and raspberry.

Spring at Nertherfield

(Please note that the following does not imply that I am getting married anytime in the near future. I simply enjoy the visual feast such occasions include. When I was a child my grandmother worked for a bridal shop and the perusal of wedding gowns has been a hobby of ours as long as I can remember.)

I enjoy www.dessy.com because they allow anyone to post inspiration boards and are constantly updating their catalogue of images, as well as letting you upload your own.

This board was inspired by Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice," which I have been listening to on my mp3 recently. Titled "Spring at Netherfield" I wanted it to encompass the romance of a formal garden party, with a nod to the elegance of the Regency era in which the novel takes place. Designed perhaps for a modern-day Bingley and Jane, this wedding would be light and airy, with gentle greens and pinks for colors and soft, romantic flowers- such as peonies and garden roses, gleaming silver serving pieces and delicate china place settings.

Welcome

A balanced and fulfilled life requires attention to all areas of existence. I feed my creative facet in a variety of ways and this is a place for me to record and assess them. You're welcome to join me.