Beadboard UpCountry

I WAS in Paris! M&O Riviera Maison!!

2012-01-28T12:29:00.000-08:00

First, the Imaginings of my previous four posts on Paris as you may have guessed, were REAL.

Last time Robes and I were at M&O there was an attempted break in at the house in the back where the gate opens to accomodate a vehicle. So while we were gone we tried to be incognito.

So here is one of my favorite places RIVIERA MAISON!!!!!!!!

I love their summer collection...... This company from Holland is cutting edge FUN. It starts here at the bar with upholstered white tufted leather seats where you can get espresso, water, tea and Proseco

(Champagne Italian Style) Also serving cookies and chocolate truffles.

They should call this Riviera Beach as the white wood floor is covered in sand and shells.

They had two themes that cross over The Lake House and A Floridian Theme.

There is sand in this big glass cylinder in which there are champagne flutes that have pointed bottoms.

I love the "Je ne Sais Quoi" Sofa.. Nice mix of fabric and FUN. Please take note:

See how they matched up the lettering on the two pillows??????? THAT is detail that isn't done

often.........

The coordinating chair.

Love the vespa, remember last time they had theVW beetle with the xmas tree and the suitcases?????

See it HERE.

Also love the Lake House denim pillow.

This was charming..... The pillows are in the shape of speed boats you would see on the lake.

The boats are also on the check pillows.

Now they have a nice selection of bath products. Making their stores a one stop shop.

On to Florida.......The starfish pillows and the Key West crates.

LOVE,LOVE these "Coral Gables" chaises. More Fun!

What would the beach be without surfboards???????

Loved this display of chrome lanterns...... And the wicker boxes with the year # on them.

This was a cadeaux from our friend Baudouin, thank you! A coat hook with RM on the top.

The people here are so nice . Henk, the owner of the company is usually there, and, had his young son serving espresso...... Always a pleasure.....

We look forward to when they make their appearance in the US.......

It 's all in the details...........

Plenty more to come!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!;)

If I was in Paris Parte Quatre

2012-01-21T07:32:00.000-08:00

If I was in Paris the provisioning of the apartment would include fragrant flowers and bougies or candles.

I know the 'New Panetone" color of the year is orange.

Looks like Mother Nature beat them to it with this rose bouquet in a little teapot

with a dragonfly on it.

I think I would love the different shades of pink in this bouquet.

Sooo cheerful.!

I think I would get an orchid branch for the "Zen" bathroom,

no vases left so I would just put in a coffee cup.

It would be the time of year for hyacinths, Love their fragrance and the color...

This would look nice on the secretary.

These would be purchased here, the little shop on Ile St Louis.

Photo from beautybibleblog.blogspot.com

Then over to Durance for bougies....

I would pick the Poudre de Riz or Rice Powder candle. So clean and fresh!

They have body products as well as fragrances. The design of the shops is gorgeous.

The outside in grey and taupes. Pictures of the shop from the website of the talented designer of the

Durance shops in Paris www.charlesdedainville.fr Go there to see other lovely Durance shops in Paris.

If I was in Paris I would have bought some bath things too. If I was in Paris.

I think I can almost smell this!!!!!!

If I was in Paris, Part Trois

2012-01-19T11:42:00.000-08:00

If you EVER buy another cook book and you love bistro food GET THIS!

The authors are the owner of the ever popular Bistro Paul Bert, Bertrand Auboyneau and

the food critique of Le Figaro, Francois Simon, who is always incognito.

Robes and I have eaten here before...... Fabulous steak and frites......

Nice people and nice customers. The last time I was here in Sept with Charlotte the Harlot we had the entrecote...Delicious!. They know beef. The French gentleman next to me was having lunch with his lovely wife and ordered blanquette de veau...(it arrived in a glistening copper pot).with a gratin of fresh morels..... I saw his dish, and just lost it......He noticed and...

He offered to MAKE ME A PLATE!!!!! From His!!!!!! I declined but was tempted.....

SOOOO tempted.....

This is a picture from the book. Don't you love it? THE DOG eats better than me!

So I thought IF I was in Paris and if I was at Paul Bert what would be on the menu this week????

It might be a salade mache with fresh citron vinagrette and grilled quail for Robes.

St Jacques scallops from Brittany topped with sauteed fresh wild mushrooms on a bed of sea salt.

That would look good to me.

In my musings, I would choose a Cote de Rhone from Carienne in Provence.

Robes and I had been there years ago and that little village makes great wines.

A bouteille of Vittel Sans Gas..... No bubbles.

My entree would be sliced veal with golden carrots and turnips and cauliflower bathed in a light sauce.

Robes and I would share everything we order..... He had the Rougons de veau.

Yes kidneys..In a creamy mustard sauce .I would think half the restaurant was ordering these......... Delicious!

Along with the above dish would be this bubbling potato gratin...

Loaded with melted gruyere cheese with an aroma to die for.

For dessert I imagine I would try Paris Brest. No, not BREAST. It is a choux pastry ( like puff pastry) shaped in a bicycle wheel by a pattissier in 1910 in honor of the bicycle race from Paris to Brest and Back. The filling is a praline based butter cream. My favorite dessert there is Baba Au Rhum. I imagine I didn't have that this time but it is in the book. If is obscenely loaded with rhum.

I think Robes would have opted for this lemon sorbet, lemon sorbet like we have never seen.

So light and fluffy!!!!

I imagine since we would be in a taxi I would have the Bas Armagnac.

IF I was in Paris.

Bistro Paul Bert 18 Rue Paul Bert, 75011 Paris

L'Ecallier du Bistrot 22 Rue Paul Bert 75011 Paris

(this is the new seafood version of the original, more sedate)

Pre orders of the book are available on Amazon 34.95 release on Feb 7th,2012

I would imagine I got a copy and Bertrand signed it and I would dream that he told me if I ever came back they would make me a blanquette de veau.....ZZZZZZZ

I imagine I am in heaven.;)

IF I WAS IN PARIS ,PART DEUX

2012-01-17T14:26:00.000-08:00

When you go to Paris, you dream of the first restaurant you go to when you get there.

It sets the tone for the whole Paris experience. If I was in Paris I would want that place to be a bistro like this. DESVOUGES.

Sometimes you discover it on previous trips just walking, and peer in the windows.

You think, how Parisian!!!!!!! How cute, with the lace curtains.....Looks like a REAL Bistro.

The blackboard above the bar would have the list of wines that go with the delicious food they serve....Also a friendly hands on proprieter that greets you at the door and offers a menu on a blackboard and would explain every dish like he cooked it all himself.

Before lunch they would set the tables with checkered napkins and wine glasses.

I imagine appetizers of frog legs for Robes,

and Pate de Campagne with gellee (aspic) and delicious bread that we share.

Robes would have a beef tenderloin steak seared, accompanied by crisp fingerling potatoes sauteed in duckfat to make them so crispy. Red onion in a red wine reduction, would be there too and Belgian endive sauteed with balsamic vinegar would be delicious.

Me, I would have the cassoulet, with the duck and sausages with white beans in a Staub Coccotte.

I would think it was the best cassoulet ever. And yes, we would share these dishes too.

I would think we would be a little full for dessert but would love the chocolate souffle chaud with molten chocolate in the center. On a cold winter day I could think of nothing better.

So while it was cooking I would think we would have espresso with crema on

top.

I would imagine my dream restaurant would look like think this. If I went to Paris, the entrees would be only 6 Euros and the plates 15 Euros.......Fabulous.I also imagine it was everything we dreamed of in our first meal when we would arrive in Paris.

I would think the name of the owner was Jerome Desvouges.

He would be a former journaliste with a love of food from Toulouse

that he very successfully incorporates in his menu.

If you go to Paris check this out www.restaurantdesvouges.fr

I think it would be in the 5th at 6 Rue Fosse St Marcel

More on my imaginings to come this week, If I WAS IN PARIS.

IF I WAS IN PARIS, Part One

2012-01-15T15:53:00.000-08:00

If I was in Paris, I would stay in La Carrotte Apartement,

I would visit Maison et Object and see Arte Pura' s new spring collection

IF I WAS IN PARIS...

To see La Carrotte go to my sidebar and click on La Carrotte 1.

Eiffel Tower image from sheexists.com

Take a Little Sip of the Country!

2012-01-07T09:44:00.000-08:00

AN INVITATION FOR YOU!

On Saturday the 14th of January,Downtown Brenham wil be hosting it's first

wine tasting!

Called the UPTOWN SWIRL attendees buy 25$ tickets that entitle the purchaser to wine tastings at various locations within staggering distance of each other around the Downtown area from 2:00 in the afternoon to 7:00 in the evening. You get a sassy little commemorative wine glass,(the glasses are great,Robes and I have been testing them for leakage and we can assure you they are fantastic!) tastes of 20 wines, munchies and proceeds will benefit downtown improvement projects..

Of course Beadboard will be participating!!!!!! So come on up and spend the afternoon!

Tickets are available here, the Washington County Visitor Center, and by contacting Main Street

979-337-7384 or go to their websitehttp://www.brenhamuptownswirl.com/

The Tournament of Roses.....

2012-01-01T10:11:00.000-08:00

This year the parade will be on Jan 2nd....... Usually it is on New Year's day.

It is a spectacularly unique show of flowers, bands, horses and all that is great about Pasadena and California.........Rules, everything on the floats have to be made from flowers, seeds ,grains leaves......

The parade always precedes the Pac 10 play off football game......

A close up of the flowers and the efforts of many many local volunteers that work into the wee hours of the morning.... To my knowledge this is the only parade that is Perishable.......All the fresh flowers arrive at the last minute from all over the world.

The floats are spectacular and start out with a rendering like this...

Love this. This was one from FTD Floral Company...........

There is always a queen and her court. Selected for their academic abilities, poise, community service accomplishments, and always a delightful group of young women....

Last year's grand Marshall..... You see him, Captain Sully, the airline pilot that landed his plane in the Hudson river in 30 degreee weather..............Not just celebrities here........Sometimes even better.

Another beautiful float......This one not for commercial reasons,

but awareness of alzheimer's disease.

Fabulous high school, college and city bands compete for the privledge of being in the parade.

Horses of many breeds are represented as the parade started from carts and floats being pulled by horses near the turn of the century.

SOOOOO Who gets to ride in the beautiful floral bedecked old vintage car as the Grand Marshall this year?????? None other than JR the veteran from dancing with the stars........Wonderful Choice!!!!!!. I'll be watching..

Looking for the entry from the City of Long Beach, where I used to live, to see their float that usually has a Pelican on it......Hope you will too. Have a very Happy New Year!!!!!!!

Pictures from Google images.

Why do I love this lilac color so much?

2011-12-27T09:23:00.000-08:00

When I opened my copy of Veranda I fell in love with this new Jewelbox of a Jewelry shop

Mish New York. Loved the chandelier,the mural by Mark Uriu Studios, the color of the lacquered front doors, the settee. More in the magazine don't want to spoil it for you!

Thought I'd share this little tasty morsel. The jewelry is incredible too!..... Good Luck Mish!

Thank You, Merci & Gratzie

2011-12-24T11:29:00.000-08:00

There's no better way than this I can think of to share xmas except with the work of

photographer and artist Kees Terberg.

Paperwhites and fairies....

A Bloembox and a fairy.....Sitting on an Amaryllis.

And our own little fairy at home perched on a lamp.

Wishing you the happiest of holidays..... Thanks you for reading.

It warms our hearts to think we have so many virtual friends. xo

Maryanne and Robes.

Arte Pura Pajama xmas......NO PLAID HERE!

2011-12-15T15:24:00.000-08:00

I am not one for wearing xmas ensembles... No sweaters with trees, no earrings with giftboxes on them. And I'm not being all Scroogey. BUT.......I wouldn't mind opening a gift or two in this.

THIS floats my boat. From the new Collection that has just started trickling in

This is Felpa. The puffy collar on this makes me Happy Happy. Oh and NO ONE IS WEARING THESE TO BED EITHER!!!!!!!!

We just got this in the shop. In the Grey Lilac Color called Fata Old.

Ruching in the front with tulle details on the cuffs. Palmaria. You have to enlage this picture to see the look at the woman in the back, who is LOVIN this top......I took all of these pictures at market in Sept., so lighting was a challenge.

Tops and bottoms sold seperately bottoms are cotton low rise with pockets in the back and belt loops....

This is Bergegi.

Casletta blazer.... I'm definitely thinking jeans with this.... Squares of tulle over cotton.

This is a favorite the Cheradi..... With the crochet lace from the bedding, table top, and bath collections in the front. One thing in common with all these pieces. FABULOUS buttons!!!!!!!

This is already a hot seller. The Lunga. there are pearl on the cufffs along with the laces......

Frosted buttons and two of teacups.

This is Trezze, with the geometric quilted organza.......

Actually any of these can be night AND day wear. Love the detail on this The ELBA.

The Camicia Front.

The Camicia Back. To the left is the back of the ELBA.

I love it when you look just as good coming as you do going.

This is Piana.....All the ruching......Detail on the sides. Remember all are available in 32 luscious colors.

I don't know about you, but even though these wouldn't be in BY xmas,

I would love having one of these to wear later. Oh and I am by the way. If you are "Piqued"

Beadboard Xmas Part Deux!!!!!

2011-12-04T11:56:00.000-08:00

I feel like Beadboard got it's presents early.

We got the shipment from Arte Pura and I ripped into it like a crazy person!!!!!

I wanted a very Figue xmas in the color palette for the shop

and the bedding, candles and pajamas hadn't arrived yet.

So here it is.The Magia bedspread/duvet with the crochet and the Arte Pura logo in a wide swath across the bedapread. The bottom two layers, one of linen and the second in linen encased with organza in the new color FATA OLD ( a grey lilac).....Is gorgeous.

This tablecloth is in the same color.

The grey lilac is paired with grey, cream, white with touches of amber and mercury glass.

And we got candles!!!!!!!!!

The samples arrived in great shape beautifully boxed... So yes!!!!!

We are already taking orders for them! This one being taken for a test drive.

It is performing well burning in a hole in the center and then when it gets way down you can stick an led votive in there and it will go indefinitely. I blogged on it.....

So I added another bed to the shop to show the grey.

And the Topazio pillow with pearls and crystal, with the painted roses.

The figue floral arrangement with recycled paper and candles with the Arte Italica Candlelabra

Remember the peach souffle bed? Here it is with the new Admiration pillow shams

from Anne de Solene.

The printed shams are reversible to tiny pink flowers on the back.

The pajamas are incredible. Here is the "t-shirt" Poveglia. Shown in Fata Old (the grey lilac) with crystal down the front and parssimentarie. (obviously THAT word isn't in the old spell check!)

This is the darling Lunga Nightdress with the relaxed ruffled sleeves with pearl trim,

and three layers of lace on the bottom...Two of the buttons are tea cups.

Palmaria with the tulle embroidered with roses........Fabulous.

The Berrgeggi pants. For the younger fry? Maybe not.

Low rise, belt loops, and pockets in the back like jeans.

When you sift all the orange colored pumpkins from your velvet ones, you can still use them........

Here is the cash wrap with the poinsettias locally grown from Ellison's gardens.

They have a pointsettia festival every year.

And here it the xmas "Cofferet Prestige" from Herve Gambs. We sold out and are getting more.

The flower is a diffuser you spray with the Bois de Cashmere fragrance.

The Bois de Cashmere for this time of year is just, well, RICH. Men love it, women love it and it smells like a room in a big house with a fireplace, leather furniture cashmere throws and some cognac.

That's Christmas here. I'm pooped. Bring on the eggnog!!!!!!

Let the Holiday Games Begin! 2011

2011-11-27T11:31:00.000-08:00

Ok, I have NOT been idle!!!!!The shop is ready for the holidays....Whew!

Jacqueline, our mannequin, is sporting our knitwear a red belted cape with a ruanna wrapped as a skirt and a Merangue stole as it it chilly out. (finally)

Inside a fabulous Red Riding Hood cape boasting a three layer ruffle on the top and bottom.....

Here it is our Herve Gambs!!!!! The orchids you spray with the fragrance...

The Bois de Cashmere is VERY POPULAR.....

Here is the orchid topiary in red. Yes it can be a rom diffuser too!

More good fragrance!!!! The Sands of Morocco. A french "nose" teaming up with her sister that does fabulous graphic art.... Packaging is gorgeous.......

Here's more with out tree of silver birds and hummingbirds.

Lavender we can't be without......

AND brand new from ARTE Pura the octogonal tableskirt in the new Fata Old Grey Lilac

with the Elegant Lace trim........

Dinnerware is Amorini from Arte Italica and the Ambra glasses

that have an opalescence on the outside... (love these)

Silver xmas balls contained in a cylinder on a column.

Our window,, the Amorini on the Cellini Gold tray as a charger.

More window

The green ruana with the midnight blue cashmere squiggle.

The Amorini is dressed up with the Vittoria Gold Stemware.

We did a little nest in the compote with a champagne colored hummingbird perched on the side. Don't you love the way the grape leaves look like holly????

If you haven't yet guessed we've got a FIGUE colored thing going on this year..... People love it....So now you see Robes and I have been busy, but I know my fabulous followers and readers will understand.;)

If you are in the neighborhood stop in and see in person.... And for info and pricing on anything just contact us through the website.....http://www.beadboardupcountry.com/

We took Le Plunge!

2011-11-12T15:26:00.000-08:00

We did it!!!!! Herve Gambs (he did the flowers on this model) flowers and fragrance will be at Beadboard UpCountry!!!Shipment should arrive next week..

I will be posting on the on the offerings we receive and special orders will be available.

(image from http://www.parisplanetfashion.fr/ )

We'll have these in red.

We'll have these in white, violet and red....

These will be special order orchids you can hang.

This is the xmas floral diffuser shown below that will be boxed with a mini spray of Bois de Cashmere.

We will have the the one above will have the white bottom. This is the cube orchid we will have in Green and Black orchid.

Don't you just love the artistry of this? Fragrance and flowers...........Christmas is going to be very

Very Interesting at the shop this year.......;) To see more, scroll dow to my post of Oct 26th

beadboardupcountry.blogspot.com/2011/10/herve-gambs-pushing-design-envelope.html

Segreto "Secret" in Italiano

2011-11-06T02:00:00.000-08:00

The "SECRET" is out! And in the form of a hot new and gorgeous book that would beautifully grace any surface in your home.

Entitled "Segreto", Secrets to Finishing Beautiful Interiors by Leslie Sinclair, owner of Segreto Finishes in Houston, the book is available online through Amazon.

In the book, there are samples of finishes as well as rooms Leslie's talented team have transformed.

While the mural like depictions are beautiful, I love the lime washes, and the way they

use plaster, paint, and glazes to make a home look like Tuscany or like Provence. I find myself going through the pages just staring at the nuances "blank" walls.....

Ceilings are no exception, enhancing chandeliers and treating ceilings like "another wall" brings impact to these rooms. It is obvious why she and her expert team is in demand, not only for Houston designers,but builders and

those who want to add impactive depth to the surfaces of their homes.

Her reach is growing beyond Houston as well. Leslie is now collaborating with the New York designer Celerie Kemble.

I left the lines in the pictures so you can see how they are depicted in the book... The book is a generous size too, showing plenty of detail....

I like the fact that it not only showcases Leslie's talents but an array of designers and their styles as well.

I love what she does with the glazes on kitchen cabinets..... Segreto would make a fabulous xmas gift for those that like design....We are carrying the book here at Beadboard......By the way she has her own personal art in galleries in the Houston Area. Why have the talent stop at walls?????

To investigate further, you can check out her website and blog

http://www.segretofinishes.com/ or her blog at http://www.segretosecrets.squarespace.com/

or on Facebook www.facebook.com/segretofinishes

OR catch her interview on The Skirted Roundtable now.

Herve Gambs Pushing the Design Envelope

2011-10-26T13:55:00.000-07:00

For years when I went to Maison et Object in Paris I loved seeing this spectacular floral designer's offerings.

In a world where there are hundreds of choices for fragrance, uniqueness and presentation is paramount.

These are the Love Couture Orchids in five of the six colors.

So how does he do it?????? The offerings are of flowers in containers shown here the larger orchid cubes.

Six colors: white, green, red, violet (or Figue!), fuschia, and black orchid. Five Fragrances:

Herbe Intense, Essence de Figuier, Noie de Cassis, Bois de Cashmere and Terre D'Epices.

Look at the boxes......Very Chanel Like. So What makes this different????? The flowers are made from a special material that acts as a ROOM DIFFUSER when sprayed with the home fragrance.

It will last several days.

For the Holidays???? A RED Love Couture Orchid with a mini spray in the white box with the black trim in the Bois de Cashmere fragrance.....Hey Gentlemen, wouldn't an engagement ring look great nestled in there?

The artistic talents of Mr Gambs is evident when you visit his website http://www.hervegambs.fr/

Here are the Sphere Orchids with a ribbon handle to hang. They are big. I LOVE them. And yes you can spray them too!

Love this picture!

So what's your opinion??????Do you love it as much as I do?????? I think it is even pinworthy on my favorite things.......Will it be coming to Beadboard????? Hummmm.

The Color Figue!!

2011-10-21T12:08:00.000-07:00

It's everywhere this season! In water features like this...

In our tabletop!

And dinnerware...(image from Cote Sud Sept 2011)

Floral arrangements....Maison Pederrey.

At Maison Object on the leather sofa, on the footballs, I thought this guy would MOVE when I took this picture, but he is a PROP evidently.... And a cute little prop at that! He knows it too....

On cars...

Jewelry ads, this one from Veranda for Coomi.

On our outdoor furniture..... This from Veranda August 2011.

We are wearing it in various tones. Yes here it is.. Figue! I bought Robes a Figue shirt in Paris. The first time he wore it in the shop a woman complemented him on it.... "It's FIIGGUE!"he said proudly.

Oh and we are sleeping on it! The Arte Pura bedspread in Agata Old (Figue).

Arte Pura, Elegant Table Linen

2011-10-15T13:39:00.000-07:00

Yes! Here are the pictures from the new introductions from Arte Pura Italian Table linens,
Fall Collection 2011.

I ENCOURAGE YOU TO ENLARGE THESE, so you see the detail. This one of two new colors, Incanto Old (like seaglass) shown here with the new trim they call Elegant lace.

The Arancia octogonal tablecloth on the left with Tulle Lace border, and on the right the same in Bianco with Swarovski crystal, plain border. Dress it up, dress it down.... Shown with the ever Popular Evento stretchy slipcover.

The new option in their tablelinens.... Now, not only can you pick the trim on the border of the cloth and also the color but now you have another choice: You can have the trim, 9 choices there, going down the CENTER of the cloth.......Shown here both ways with the new Elegant Lace in Polevere Old.

More tablelinens, Incanto Old with the New Geometiic plaid quilted organza in a diamond pattern on the left and Burro Old with the Crochet lace on the right. Also see the runners, placemats and little fabric baskets???

More eye candy. The tablecloth on the left in Armonia Old with th Tulle lace trim, and the Gesso Old Grey/taupe on the right, both layered up with napkins, runners , placemats......How fun it this????

This is new. They are putting the organza on the placemats over the linen on the edges and doing the Arabesque embroidery over it.... The new napkins are in a lighter weight linen and have the Arte Pura embroidered logo in European script.....

Shown here with one of the new candles (from a previous post) they are gorgeous.

I took this in Paris.... The new color I love, Fata Old, a grey lilac....SOOO Pretty! Elegant lace on the runner and on the border of the tablecloth. In the shop this season this color will be mixed with the Burro Old, a pale butterscotch color.

A table in Bianco linen, with Crocheted Lace runner folded over.

The Geometric Plaid

Linen with Ogranza quilted over it in a diamond pattern.

See something here that would compliment your holiday table????????

If you want to order, do NOW for the holidays..... That goes for dinnerware and stemware too....:)

For more specifics, go to http://www.beadboardupcountry.com/ click on Contact us.

Star Trek, Tribbles, Squiggles, Cashmere...

2011-10-12T13:56:00.000-07:00

What in the blazes do all these things have in common???????

If you have seen Star Trek, and who on earth hasn't???????

You will remember these warm fuzzy creatures, the TRIBBLES.

My favorite episode....."The Trouble With Tribbles". These softer than soft fuzzy things were proficient at multiplying!!!!!!

They ended up all over the ship!!!!! No one could figure out how these furry little ball like creatures were having wild sex...

That presented a problem.... Evidently.

Doesn't the look on Bones (the Doctor's) face tell the story?????

What does this have to do with CASHMERE???????

We have our own "Tribbles"! They are

cashmere squiggles.....Appeared last year, for the first time, warm fuzzy little things, soft, grippy,

like a Shar Pei Puppy around your neck!!!!!!!!!!!

With a ruana or coat they look like a piece of whipped cream on top,

with a little fringe for more texture.

Gorgeous and perfect with a sweater for cold evenings...

Like in California under a gas lantern at a restaurant without a coat.

Colors, and new ones.... Charcoal, Heather Grey, Camel, Tobacco, Ivory, Coral, Plum, Dark Plum ( the French are calling FIIIGGUE! (figue), Turquoise, Black, Royal Blue, & Midnight Navy.

They are 117.00 each....100% cashmere, more weighty than the Loro Piana ( I know because I compared them in New York.) which, by the way, would retail in the 400$ range. Our Squiggles can come home to you. Just contact us. beadboardupcountry@sbcglobal.net . And if you find a way to make them multiply,

DEFINITELY contact us!!!!!!!!!!!

Rivera Maison, The Dutch "Get It"

2011-10-06T14:46:00.000-07:00

This is why I like going to market in Paris..... It's civilized, and you can see companies that show real inspiration like Riviera Maison....

.A lifestyle company that, if it ever came here, would blow P Barn out of the water.

At the entrance this old car set for Christmas with pillows, gear, throws hanging out the window to make way for what else????????? The Christmas Tree! Note the big screen TV in the background, they don't miss a trick. THIS is the way to treat people at a show......

The back of the trunk..... Inside the pavillion is a 30 ft BAR amid custom upholstery, accessories, furniture and people sitting everywhere as if they are RELIEVED to be there. They serve water, wine, champagne, espresso, and have store employees serving at the bar.......(and you wonder why I hate Javits????! The concessions are the pits.)

I'll take Laduree, Fauchon, a baguette sandwich, and splits of champagne anytime over the mystery food served at the NYC show.

Another example.. NICO, a visual merchandiser for RM. He expalined to CTH ( mon ami Charlotte the Harlot) and I that their uniforms are changed with every new collection..... FOR EMPLOYEES ONLY.

He said customers beg to buy them.

Not just a shirt but pants, sweaters, the works.... Monogrammed on the arm, with a hoodie!

Oh and the attention to detail..... This is a chocolate truffle coated with white chocolate with pictures of RM's products on it!!!!!! (I ate one and forgot to take a picture and Nico quickly grabbed a photographable one....)

Oh, and in big baskets,

because it was hot with all the lights, were small bottles of complimentary water to spritz yourself with, sporting the same images as on the truffles!!!! Talk about COOL!!!!!

And after looking at this,

And we spent all day in just ONE building (there are 8) . I applaud Riviera Maison for being so gracious.

Go to http://www.rivieramaison.com/ because it would take me too long to describe it........And enjoy!

A mention....... A fond farewell to Steve Jobs. He made all our "Jobs" a little easier.

Do you think the man upstairs has a MAC? HMMMM....

The"Lights" of Arte Pura

2011-09-30T16:49:00.000-07:00

Ok, I've saved this until I got all the info.....Candles. Yes Candles!!!!! But what Candles!!!!!!!!!

Candles you design yourself??????? Absolutely....

Only one designer could come up with this... Daniela Dellavalle from Arte Pura.

By now, everyone who reads this blog knows we are nuts for these Italian Linens, but she has gone way outside the design box......

What other line is doing candles that compliment their linens that have a piece of the linen IN THEM???????

Daniela confided in me that it was a challenge for the candlemakers to realize her vision for these pieces of art....... No they are not in a glass cylinder.......YES you can burn them.... And they are huge.....The idea is this: When you burn them they will form a cylinder inside the center and later you can put an LED votive in it so it can light indefinitely.....Brilliant!

We already have Arte Pura owners who have ordered...... There are three sizes, two cylindrical and one cube..... The cylindrical are approx 14" and 10". The Cubo Grande square is approx 8" square. They come in 7 colors and in 8 laces..... They offer three subtle fragrances depending on the color. the neutral colors are in a Linen fragrance, the cooler colors are in Lemongrass / Mint and the others are in Sandalwood/ Patchouli.

I have never seen anything like this.... I applaud Daniela for her vision and for taking the "candle "

into a new category of decorative arts....

Colors : Blanc, Naturale,Beige, Polevere, Gesso, Incanto, and Fata.

That means... White, Milk White, Cream, Beige, Beige Mauve, Grey/Taupe, Seaglass,and Grey/Lilac.
Of course, they are available through Beadboard UpCountry especially for you. Email us for specifics...
Light up Your Fall..... Gratzie;)

Sizzling Sales at Round Top!

2011-09-28T18:56:00.000-07:00

These blew me away......Great pair of lamps... The dealers at European Antiques Collection out of Atlanta have the shades custom made..... WOW. Great pairing.

I went nuts for this Art Deco Clock and Candlesticks.

You need to enlarge this..... So almost Erte Like.

This was from the same vendor "Rustique" at Rustique http://www.rustiqueantique.com/ ( I am too pooped to link it at it is day two of a 12 hour bell to bell at beadboard.) In shop talk open til 9 for 4 days....But this piece is special, Restoration Style, in Maple, with a gorgeous gray marble top,one of it's sister pieces are in the museum of decorative arts in Paris.

Loved this cofffee set.....Everything about it.. They tray is a seperate piece.....

These were so pretty, I like the one in the front.......

Sold! To a couple last night at 8PM a wonderful example of Louis Phillippe......Shows you what kind of business you can do when you serve wine.........

Hope they leave the fabric alone.......

I know it is fall but big gazebos are the rage.......This was the best I saw.

A painted Provencial entry chest, and it had the original key......I like that....

Pretty Trumeau.

I think this was a repro... Liked it anyway.

From Industrial Chic, by Christopher Bailey.

Beautiful French Sheets from Touch of Europe..... Mimi and Peter have gorgeous things.......

And lots of them!!!!!!! Great prices! La Bahia Antiques.....

They are also online......
I must say one thing..... this was a very different Round Top..... It for the first time was Excruciatingly hot, no breeze in an area like most of Texas that has the worst heat and the worst drought in recorded history......
Not all visitors are happy this year we hear all of the buzz...... But it depends.....You don't have to do it all at once....... And the shows need to realize they can't count on mother nature. if coolers and fans are needed do whatever it takes....The ones that charge need to be giving out water.... This is serious stuff.... I am seasoned at this and it is tough going but there are deals to be had...... Just be smart about it....
Take care of yourself....;)

Clair de Reve Marionettes

2011-09-23T16:09:00.000-07:00

This is a relatively new shop on Ile St Louis, Paris.... Clair de Reve.

As we were shopping for provisions for the apartement, mon ami from Californie, Charlotte, ( I call her Charlotte the Harlot ) and I stumbled across this little gem of a shop.

It reminded me of the movie "LILI" starring Leslie Caron where puppets and marionettes were acting like people in small shows in the parks of Paris.......I could just hear the accordions.....

Or, the Sound of Music when they did "The Lonely Goatherd" Yodaallaayydee!!!!!!

We admired these wonderful pieces of art.... Each with their own distinct personality.

They also offered other clever pieces......Don't ypu just love the Blue Deux Cheveaux in the back?

CTH and I didn't make a purchase. We figured they looked better just hanging than in our unpracticed hands.....

However, I wonder if they have the book "Marionettes for Dummies" on Amazon.....Hummmm. Maybe a surprise xmas present for CTH. I think she'd kill me.

Paris, The High Rent District at M&O

2011-09-17T15:47:00.000-07:00

Yes, it is all different here....In this building #7, the exihibitors pay a hefty sum to be with EACH OTHER.

It is evident by the Car (this Jaguar) in the entrance......

These are a series of pictures.... Some taken very quickly as they are not allowed unless you are "Le Presse".

So if some are blurry, my apologies...... If I had set up a tripod I'd be French Toast.

Called Scenes d'Interieurs, the design showcase of Maison et Object in Paris houses some of the WOW, but not all of it.

Fun Chandeliers.... Something totally new. Fabric with beads with a modern tweak.

This was a poster on the side of a Pavillion.......Don't you just love the basics?????

Haviland China has teamed up with Limoges...... Love this color blue.

All the glass in here is Limoges......As is the Dresser.... Yes Dresser... See the inlay.

Yup, Limoges in in furniture...Literally.

More Limoges furnishings......It feels wierd to say that.

This was also in the showroom. The glass over the night tables is Limoges.

Jeez I hope they are not doing bedding.......But this room was stunning.
More eye candy to come!

Reflection on Paris and France

2011-09-15T16:32:00.000-07:00

This post will be different......

The first of a series on my trip to Paris, France. " Normalement", I go in January with Robes for market.... This time I went with one of my two best friends, Charlotte, from California.

January the gardens are bleak. This is Place De Vosges.....

This was shot on Sunday Sept 11th... Our apartement is a block away.

You would think this be business as usual at the Cathedral of Notre Dame, it wasn't.

I had heard there would be a requiem mass for the victims of 9/11..

And we were too late because I didn't know where it was.... It was OPEN TO THE PUBLIC! Some friends of ours got in very early and were able to be there. Rebecca Grace and her husband from the Cheeky Cognoscenti blog. Lucky them.

So as we were walking by we saw serious security.....

And the government cars......

Lots of them with no license plates....

Inside was President Sarkozy and his wife,

the pregnant Carla Bruni along with other French dignitaries....

I thought it fitting there was a full moon shining at dusk.This is a building behind the cathedral.

There were memorial services all over France..At Omaha Beach, and another one in Paris where they did a 10 story mock up of the Twin Towers one with the names of the victims and one with hand written condolences from the French People. I can't imagine how many other things like this were done on a community level all over the country.

So I am thinking, when Americans see what they saw on TV on Sept 11th,

do they realize how many other countries are grieving with them???????

And when people say they won't eat "French Fries" how stupid is that?????

And when they say mistakenly, the French, especially Parisians, are snooty,do they remember that the big statue we call Lady Liberty proudly protecting us in New York Harbor was, um, a gift to us by the FRENCH people?

I feel privileged to have been in France on Sept 11, 2011.

It gave me a great perspective......

Arte Pura goes to College!!

2011-09-05T15:18:00.000-07:00

On july 9th of this year I blogged about our Arte Pura muse..... We call her Miss Beadboard.

She is attending a major university, is in a sorority, was a cheerleader, gets good grades, and has awesome parents. MB fell in love with this bed, the Sorgente in the peachy Armonia Old.

Soooo, she sent up pictures of HER new room at school.

She chose the Ciotello spread in the same peachy color accented with greys and whites.

How this for student digs????????

Evidently it is getting high marks with her sorority sisters already.

Here's the evento slipcover in the Gesso Old at her worktable....

The puckered bag it comes in is being used to carry the MAC.

Oh and we love the Arte Kleenex box in the white terry with the Swarovski Crystal.

Thanks for the pics MB!!!!!! To see the blog from July just click on muse in the search onthe right sidebar below.

Oh! And other news!!!!!!! Beadboard was featured in a regional publication, Austin and San Antonio

URBAN HOME! Page 96. Thanks URBAN HOME!

So, my apologies for not commenting so much lately... I've had the "schmutz" like a mini flu, and I'm leaving for Paris for Maison et Object tomorrow with a battery of over the counter cold medicine,

while leaving the shop in Peter's capable hands.

I will be meeting the designer and the team from Arte Pura,

and seeing their new fall collection in person...

(I already have the pictures but have to keep them under wraps until after the show.......)

All I can say is it is incredible!!!!!!!!!! Over the top with a few surprises.

So I will be scouting out the latest and greatest for all of you fabulous people.......;)

Bisous!

Country Estate, New Fall Collection

2011-08-26T15:20:00.000-07:00

The Country Estate.... A REAL one...

With a collection of buildings for different purposes...

A Main House, a Sporting Lodge, a Conservatory,

Stable, Boathouse, Reading Pavillion etc..

You want to entertain your guests with stylish dinnerware and stemware, but how to get

durability and longevity at the same time????

The people in the back can do serious damage.

The ones in the front don't want to deal with it.

The solution? Country Estate stoneware and Colette PRESSED glass from Juliska.....

A new collection depicting a country estate with all the houses mentioned above.

And some extras.....This is one of the delightful bowls "The Kite Fliers". How cool is this????

This is the boathouse......

The glass is Colette.... Coordinates with anything Juliska....

Available in Clear, Amethyst, and Green...

Look at how the Country Estate works in with the Pewter Stoneware.

And yes I said Pressed glass with the Berry and Thread motif, which means

when you toast and clink the glasses....... NO WORRIES!!!!!

Here's the mix...

Also some delightful gifts.. Little bowls in fabulous boxes, this is the reading Pavillion.

For the first time a candle offering... Beautful glass with a Stoneware top a little tassel.

Reusable...

Don't forget they still offer gorgeous hand blown, signed glassware, and more.

Cheerio to you Juliska! And yes, available at Beadboard UpCountry.

(First three images in order: Kate Rosin's Gallery Picasa. luckysoap.com, and
Queensland Museum gag.qld.gov.au)

Mention in The New York Times!!!!!!

2011-08-22T07:25:00.000-07:00

We got a mention in the Sunday Times!!!!!!!!

Recently a travel writer came to our shop visiting all the places of interest here in Brenham.

I'd love to share the article with you....... Especially those who come to Round Top for Antiques Week, and never make it here.........Enjoy!

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/21/us/21ttculture.html? r=1&ref=texas

My Two Year Blog Anniversary...

2011-08-18T15:10:00.000-07:00

I think this blog has evolved much like the shop. Started kind of bare bones.

I had the experience, and I had a vision, but never had my own shop.

This is the Farmer's National Bank building before Beadboard moved into it.

This is the building after we moved in.. Graphics on the windows, a tip of the hat to Beverly Hills with the awning, ( paid for by a grant from the city of Brenham,Texas) and the beautiful plants........

Blogging has helped me and the shop evolve into this, more fine tuned, from seeing all the beautiful pictures and interpretations of bloggers all over the world. This medium made me a better person, given me new friendships, and made this tiny storefront recognizable to people who have never set foot in our our shop.

A big thank you to all of my blogging friends and followers that understand I have a business to run. And to Joni Webb of Cote de Texas, a former customer when I worked in the city, who came in here and took pictures a couple of years ago and said "I'm blogging now".

I said what's blogging? What's a blogger???? What the blazes is that???

I know now. Evidently so does she. HEHE.

Gladiola Guacamole?

2011-08-17T14:48:00.000-07:00

Doesn't this look good???? It comes from our local unsupermarket. Their guacamole is delicious.

When I don't have time to make my own I pick it up there.

Paired up with some chips and some Pico de Gallo, Yum!

Oh, and a little shot of tequlia. The guacamole evidently is made ...

HERE. Yup, the floral department.

Those florists must be busy making bouquets and whipping up vats of guacamole. Are FLOWERS the secret ingredient? Are they putting gladioli in the guac?

Why do I call it the unsupermarket???? Because ours here is an abbreviated version of

what they have in Houston and Austin. No Raddichio, no Frisee, no taqueria in the store,

no European bakery, no giant cheese department, no gelato, no take out department serving up gourmet style meals to take home, no sushi bar. YES! Let me tell you about MY H-E-B!

In Houston they have Central Market (same company ) the upscale version of H-E-B where they have all these things.

New H-E-B stores are incorporating a lot of these features.

I love the people there, but should living in a small town mean we have to drive 50 miles to the nearest one to get a store that suits our needs?

The other alternative is Wal Mart and don't even get me started on that.

No, the H-E-B brass needs to build a new store. Give their wonderful employees and customers a beautiful new place to work and shop. HERE, in Brenham, Texas.

One big Houston company just built a huge wine/liquor store... Specs. It is across the street from my unsupermarket. Lots of selection, fabulous prices.

The Day Spec's opened, there appeared at MY H-E-B, a sea of yellow sale tags in the wine aisle...

Over half it looks like to me...They are still there.

So, have we been paying too much for all of these items BEFORE the competition arrived??????

I wonder.....Thanks for listening to my rant... Maybe they'll hear....

I'd also love a Trader Joe's, thank you very much.;)

Belgian Design/American Retro?

2011-08-13T13:44:00.000-07:00

It is amazing when you look through magazines you thought you read and lo and behold you see something Fabulous!!!!!!!! Just your style..... How did I forget this??????

Owners of this home are passionate for antiques and buy and sell them.

Love the hotel silver piled up on this bakers table.

This home is located in Belgium. It was featured in Cote Quest, in January 2011 issue.

Love this big mirror reflecting the living room. Heavy beams and a grand chandelier.

The dining room elegant but casual with the glass cabinets.......

Filled with White dinnerware and silver. The door pulls and the sign saying "Pull".

There are glass doors to the kitchen.

This is where the RETRO comes in, there is a Philco refrigerator, against an espresso colored wall with a floor reminicient of the 50's in America.... There is also a Petite sign on the door to the dining room saying " GANG". Love the cleverness of this. The island is an old shop counter.

And not holding back on the mix of styles, the modern chandelier totally works in this room.......

The back side of the island in the kitchen is from someplace,

like a shop as some of the square drawers have the enamel labels on them, saying "Amandes, Moutarde" Etc...... Owners Anita and Carlos really know how to put things together.

The blue on this authentique canape is fabulous with the grey green of the Library.....

Beautiful Photography by Gilles Trillard. Article by Marie-Maud Levron.

Bathing in the Aftermath!!!!!!

2011-08-10T14:14:00.000-07:00

The Knitwear Trunk Show was an amazing success!

I was thinking......( Yes here she is again. That is not me thinking...) How amazing it was!

Instead of a cart on line and no one to talk to about colors, nuances of styles, we were able to talk to the people that have purchased, and had a few laughs with them and made some new friends!

Karen Sugarman Designs certainly provoked some interesting pairings of her jewelry.

And people loved the cashmere "squiggles".

So Thank you!!!!!!! For supporting this petite, but "design mighty" shop

here in a village in Texas. And a special thank you for the incredible bloggers and The Red Vault in Houston that spread the word,

you have no idea what a difference you have made at Beadboard during sweltering heat, and a drought.

IF YOU MISSED OUT AND STILL WANT TO CUSTOM ORDER ANYTHING

ON THE TRUNK SHOW...... YOU STILL CAN, IT JUST WILL BE ARRIVING LATER...

Check out the former blog......XO Maryanne & Robes.

And thank you to the Duchess of Cambridge for her extraordinary taste...

Ruanas are Celtic you know......

TAAA DAAAAA!!!!

2011-08-03T13:17:00.000-07:00

Thanks for accepting our invitation to our

SECOND ANNUAL BEADBOARD KNITWEAR COLLECTION VIRTUAL TRUNK SHOW!

We are very excited about this year's offerings. A head's up, only the pieces in the descriptions

are available... Some accessories are prototypes so we are not able to order them for you. And Yes we have the same gorgeous model that still needs a hot oil treatment!

Color choices and fine print are at the bottom.

This is the WOW Sweater! Pictured Above. Open Cardigan with Pleats SW-11-02

Two sizes S/M and ML 267.00

Farfalla Sweater- One size SW-11-04 297.00

Love the ruffles on this one!

Poncho Turtleneck Short PONS-11-03 177.00

(Comes in two lengths, longer version below)

This orange color is HOT!!!!!! Goes Great with Grays....

Poncho Turtleneck Long PONS-11-02

This available with contrast border. 217.00

Belt Cape Cap-11-05 297.00

Braided Scarf SCF-11-06 87.00

Note:Scarf only available in mix of Red, Brown, Blue and Black.

Matching braided gloves in next picture.

Lucy Long Vest VEST-11-11 237.00

Braided Scarf (see above)

Gloves with Braided Cuff GL-11-05

Note: gloves available only in Black, Brown, Red, and Blue mix

This has been a popular piece.

Bee Hive Cardigan S/M and ML CARD-11-03

(Love this!) 327.00

No, you can"t have her Petite Ruana....

But you can get this one!!!!!! Petite Ruana Ruffle RRP-01

Very Popular! And can be worn as a skirt!!!!! 167.00

Button Vest S/M-M/L VEST-11-08 167.00

Ruana Regular Ruffle RRR-01 187.00

Two Length Vest Vest-11-07 167.00

Very unique!

Cape Telefonica As shown only.CAP-231-1 267.00

Medium rosette pins (sold separately) Any Color.RST-02 37.00

One of my new favorites : Lucy Blooms Cape shown with a medium rosette pin.

Cape is CAP-230 187.00

Medium Rosette Pin is RST-02 37.00

This was the WOW coat from last year and is still very popular!!!!!!!Available as shown only/

SM & ML COAT-021 375.00 Another view of this coat at the shop.

Three Ruffle Stole ST-03 217.00

This is available with contrast ruffles on the bottom.

Gorgeous. Pin on the stole is the Medium Rosette Pin RST-02 37.00

Ok, here is the cutest Bolero Cape Zingara in the HALF length ( to the Waist )

CAP-226 217.00

The other one is the 3/4 Length (covers the derriere) actually more popular,

CAP-227 237.00

And finally one of my personal favorites the Merengue Stole. ST-03 197.00

I took two of these to Paris twice and they came out of the suitcase just perfect.......

Think White shirt and jeans..... They sure are great to wear when you sit outside in the winter under gas lights and it's too hot for a coat..... The younger fry wrap around their waist.

My recommendation for a scarf to go with any of these????? The 100 % cashmere Stretchy Ruched Squiggle Scarf Shown here with a red Ruana..... We have again this year.....

Colors for the scarf are black, red, ivory, grey, charcoal, lt blue, turquoise, midnight navy, purple ,camel and fuschia. It rocks!

114.00

All the knitwear is angora blend and washable, packable and gorgeous....Delivery will be 2nd to third week of October, shipping is complementary in the US. To order, Go to the website http://www.beadboardupcountry.com/

and use the contact feature or email us direct at www.beadboardupcountry@sbcglobal.net or call the shop at 979-830-8788 and we will be happy to assist you with any inquiries you may have.

Thanks to blogging friends Renee Finberg of Renee Finberg's Adventures in Design, Deb Milne at Dumwit Tellher, Ms Bubbles at Crush Party, Valorie Hart of (take note)" THE" VISUAL VAMP

blog, Greet at Belgian Pearls, Linda at Lime in the Coconut,Tish Jett of A Femme D'un Certain Age and Karen Sugarman of Karen Sugarman Designs who paired some of her jewelry with some pieces from the collection on her blog.

An example is above.

Her pictures will be at http://www.karensugarmandesigns.blogspot.com/

TRUNK SHOW ONE DAY AWAY!

2011-08-02T10:04:00.000-07:00

A week after the Royal Wedding the Duchess of Cambridge (aka Kate Middleton) appeared in a

forest green knit

RUANA.

So I guess, YES! They will be hot again this year!

You will be able to order your own and choose the color at our

SECOND ANNUAL VIRTUAL TRUNK SHOW

featuring BEADBOARD COLLECTION KNITWEAR!

August 4th thru 8th..

This is Petite Ruana over a new vest...

Remember Her?

This style, the cute little Bolero Jacket in two different lengths will be back.

So tune in and see the great new looks we will offer....

Orders will be delivered the second or third week of October,

just when we will be able to WEAR them! (except for you lucky people in the Pacific Northwest)

We are already taking orders from preview emails to purchasers from last year.....

They all loved the line..Pictures, prices and sizes where applicable will be posted soon

Just email or call us to order.......;)

Floridian Art, Family Style

2011-07-30T08:25:00.000-07:00

Marie Decosta is an artist.....She has, over the years developed an edgy style,

with bright colors and subjects. While I like her flowers, and landscapes, she has developed a following in Florida for her pictures of Surf, Surfers and all things Floridian, which is why I sent some examples of her work to Linda of Lime in the Coconut! Linda loved the Floridian side of Marie's art so we are blogging together... Who Better???? She is doing the beachy stuff and me the flowers etc......See here at http://www.coconutsandlimes.blogspot.com/

Living in Florida for recent years Marie has tackled different venues,

This example called Tiffany's Garden seems like one of their glass artworks......

The use of bold color in her art makes her style unique and noticeable. This is Peacock Blues. She has

exhibited in Museums, Galleries, Banks and now has reproductions available.

Timothy Leary's Melting Electric Garden ( sold ) RATS! Marie has studied under William Greet of Cambridge England and Peter Ceretta of NYC and Fla.

Wild Orchids Sold (RATS!) Her affiliations are in Daytona, St Augustine, Brandon Fla and other areas not far from Ormand Beach.

This is sold but I love the dripping flowers.......

This Yellow Butterfly is one of my favorites...

Look at how this Moth has so much color!

Sweet "New Kitty"..

LOVE him! Her????

I know that she loved Georgia O'Keefe's work too.... It's not in her bio. The reason I know is that I have seen some of her early work. VERY EARLY.... It showed talent and potential.

I know, because she is my sister...... I am very proud of her accomplishments. To investigate Marie's work further go to http://www.marie-decosta.artistwebsites.com/ She is represented by http://www.anartaffairgallery.com/

Thanks to Linda at Lime in the Coconut for the collaboration.xo

AND don't forget our second annual VIRTUAL TRUNK SHOW FEATURING OUR BEADBOARD COLLECTION KNITWEAR AUGUST 4TH THROUGH THE 8TH;)

Trunk Show Alert!!!!!

2011-07-29T16:08:00.000-07:00

Remember Her??!!!!!!!!

Two level vest.... How cool is this! Pick your color!

She will be back Thursday August 4th through the 8th for the second Annual Beadboard Virtual Knitwear Trunk Show along with LOTS of new looks....... And a surprise or two..... Tune in then...Enjoy the eye candy! Come on Fall! If you wat to see last years offerings just click on the link below, the one that says lift off!!!!!!

Bringing YOU to market......

2011-07-22T15:30:00.000-07:00

So what tempted me over at Lila Reed????? These big oil lamps.....I loved these....

They come with decorative metal tops and a seperately packed liquid fuel....

You remove the decorative top, fill with the fuel and insert the colored ceramic lid.....

So Cool! And NO BILLOWING SMOKE!!!!!!! There are little ones with butterflies inside..... (you may want to enlarge this......)

Another example of an apothecary jar...I don't usually like "FAUX" anything but the fruit is very pretty and would look great in a kitchen. Besides being in building on the US Historic Register, I am very particular about what I burn in here. If anything.

Gifts for men..... This company does fabulous, embossed leather books, journals etc.....

The top one was for Birders ( bird watching) the second had noting to do with the LAW. A drink guide.

For a gentleman's gift I thought these were pretty nice!!!! And appropriate.

Loved the shape of the luggage tag......I think this one belonged to Richard Burton.... or the Reagans... or...

you fill in the blank here......

I was tempted by this line of glass serveware........

A tray with fsirly deep sides and smaller bowls to fill in or serve seperately.

Great colors! For fall I like the ones on the right.......

I liked the curviness of this........

Remember I did the post of the gorgeous dinnerware????? Well here are the new intros....

Cream center with brown trim on the left and white center with taupe trim on the right....

The green, blue and yellow for summer have been very popular...... Oh and remember?

These are PLASTIQUE!!!!!

So what would you buy for your shop?????? And why????????

Lighting, Mother Nature's Style

2011-07-17T16:30:00.000-07:00

The ultimate in lighting.....And it's free for you to enjoy on summer nights.

(image by leebyron.com)

Word has it the fireflies in the East Coast are prolific this year due to rain..

(image from google.com via pinterest)

Not so here...

(image from grogrenefabulous.com via pinterest)

(image from smithsonianmag.com)

Having grown up on the East Coast I remember putting them in the jar to see them light up.

I know better now.. Just watch.. and enjoy.

(image from metrolic.com)

A Glimpse of Beadboard Rehab

2011-07-13T16:00:00.000-07:00

Not only do we make custom furnishings like the dining chair above,

but we especially like to bring back old pieces with good bones.

I thought it was about time to show you some of my favorites and in some cases when we had the picture,

of what they looked like BEFORE.

Like this table frame... A little Carrera Marble for the top and Voila!

A pretty coffee table or a great piece for the end of a bed.

Believe it or not this is a before. I was going to keep this one and redo later. But the frame color was so perfect for my client's house and we had been looking for the perfect chairs....So I offered them to her...

This has one of my favorite designers Carolyn Quartermaine's French Script fabric...

Love how these turned out.... She does too!

These are two more French chairs I rescued......In another client's house.

These were very hard to give up. But they have a great home!

This is a bistro chair we carry in the shop........

Same chair with Arte Pura Evento....(thought I'd "slip"some Arte in there somewhere!)

This is a matelasse slipcover we did on a more contemporary sofa and then added shell pillows.....

This is a before, a 19th century French Side Chair.....Silk fabric.. YECH!

Carolyn Quatermaine again..... This time in pink linen. I love this.

I couldn't find the before picture for these but they were hunter green velvet......

Had a splat in the back,,,, so I thought I'd make it interesting by using contrasting fabric....

They didn't last long........

A classic wing chair we reupholstered for a client.

Same thing here .

This was a quilted Baker chair with dated mauves pinks blues...

We did in Seaglass linen and trimmed with a caramel linen in a 1/2 inch flange with pleats....

My favorite settee we did.....SOOO hard to part with this...That's why it is

Here at our entrance......! Hope you enjoyed this peek at some of our work.;)

We Have an Arte Pura Muse!

2011-07-09T13:12:00.000-07:00

This is the entrance to the Arte Pura Shop, La Galleria, in Firenze (Florence), Italy.

The picture was taken by our Muse, an adorable college student, with a good GPA, a cheerleader,

and a member of a sorority with 450 "sisters" at a major university.....

Isn't she cute?????

She went on a trip to Europe this summer after falling in love with Arte Pura at our shop.

She is our Arte Pura, Muse......Miss Beadboard. She is going back to the university with an Arte Pura Bed, and the Evento Slipcover and the padded puckered linen bag which she will be using to carry her laptop around campus....

When we heard from her parents (who are absolutely delightful people) she was going to Florence, we called Arte Pura to let them know she was coming. When she arrived at the shop with her friends on the tour, the owners knew her and greeted them all very warmly, She was able to point out all

the things she had coming from our shop.

It is nice a company this size would do this for us and for her.

They let her take pictures..... She was so excited she emailed us when she got back,

"They knew who I was!"

The owners tried their best to treat her special with their limited English.

So enjoy the pictures sent to us by our new Muse.... Of Arte Pura...Oh and see that little white pitcher to the left???? Bella Bianca from Arte Italica!!!!!! So the shop is carrying that just like us!

She emailed us " it reminds me so much of your shop!"

We were flattered because this is gorgeous.......

There is the Evento.....Her slipcover.

A beautiful display in a niche.

And here she is in our shop on "her" new bed with a few changes....

And, if any of her friends at school happen to see it..... She has all the answers.

Have a great year MB!

And Gratzie!

And Gratzie also to the owners of LaGalleria and Arte Pura....

Arte Italica Fab New Introductions

2011-07-05T16:44:00.000-07:00

I LOVED LOVED LOVED this new collection from Arte Italica!

Called Amorini, it depicts hand painted delicate grapes and vines with a rustic textured border. The chargers are very rustic and are offered in red and a cool green.

You must enlarge this. I took at the showroom in Dallas and they showed it with Murano Glass serveware.

There was also wonderful serveware in the Amorini collection.

I loved this cakestand and pitcher. The whimsical cherubs were copied from an old Italian Fresco. One of the main reasons I love this is because it's colors are so easy to play off of for any season, I can see this for a Thanksgiving table, and also for Christmas as the grapes look like holly. I am considering this for one of my xmas windows......I know with An Arte Pura Tablecloth in the right color.......It would rock.!

This is the serving bowl... Just lovely......

This is Merletto introduced last year..The square platter used as a charger.

Made with black clay and pressed with a pattern of lace....Offered in Antique White,and Aqua, the new colors are Sage, Bronze and Mocha. ( the latter two shown here ) With te Painted Rosone dinner plate.

Merletto aqua with the antique white....

Dress it up for holidays by adding a bronze charger.....

I think a holiday table tweaked with this motif would be wow!

These are some other new offerings... Dipping Bowls, Tureen and Casseroles Made with French Porcelain by Pillivuyt, and artisinal Italian pewter by Arte Italica...Don't you just love it when the French and Italians collaborate?! Arriving in stores Mid September..... If you have an interest let us know....

I know they will be popular!!!!!

The Casserole with the Lobster top....More to come soon.......What's your thoughts on these...?????

For more new items check out Arte Italica's website http://www.arteitalica.com/

July 4th A Gift

2011-07-03T11:08:00.000-07:00

On this July 4th I can think of no better image than Lady Liberty a gift from the French to America.

image via Phoenix Masonry.org

Just knowing she is still there keeping a good eye on us is comforting to me.

Image via travelezinemark.com

Through good times and not so good she has been there for us along with the American military forces.

Image via wirednewyork.com

I hope she is there for many years to come.....Thank you Lady Liberty, and thank you France.

And thank all of you who have protected and are protecting our country.

Happy 4th of July.

Image via virtualtourist.com

Le Planning....Attention!

2011-06-30T15:50:00.000-07:00

I have just been to market and I want to share with you what is happening. It is summer,

You have the pool, the beach, vacation....... But.....Already it is starting..........(these are shots of spring summer linens, I am saving the NEW for later posts starting with the next one.)

The FALL entertaining begins around Labor day. That is only 8 weeks, give or take.

So...Listen and learn......I will share my experience with you.......

Here is the heads up.... If you want to order any tabletop ie. table linens, dinnerware, flatware, stemware, you need to start considering it NOW. In future posts I will be showing the latest and greatest in the lines we carry...... This also includes bed linens, high end xmas items, velvet pumpkins, the LOT!

Here's the deal. If it is coming from Europe, they are all going on vacation for 3 weeks in August.... Period.

Their summer holiday. In the manufacturing facilities there, you can't have the sewers or seamstresses going on vacation while the artisans cutting the fabric are still working.... They are all linked together... So instead of creating delays all year there is one grander one at the end of the year......Makes sense doesn't it???

Soooo, even if it is an American based company and some of their product is made in Italy, or Portugal, or France, or Spain and others they are ON HOLIDAY!! They are all hanging out in Sardinia, or Nice,on the beach or in their family's country homes for three weeks......

So, if you are thinking about updating that Thanksgiving or Christmas table you better consider it NOW.

Also let me tell you this.......After the holiday, they are preparing for market in Europe the first week in Sept and getting their new collections ready. That delays a little longer......We lost several orders of flatware because people decided they wanted to purchase 2 weeks ahead of time in December. With better tabletop, a lot of retailers are not stocking product because of the Euro against the dollar..... AND with so many custom choices available why should they?

THIS IS CRUCIAL INFORMATION:

NO MATTER WHERE YOUR PRODUCT COMES FROM

A LOT OF COMPANIES ARE TELLING BUYERS THAT THEY ARE LINING UP THEIR ORDERS NOW..COMPANIES WANT TO SHIP AS SOON AS THEIR NEW PRODUCT COMES OUT IN MID SEPTEMBER.... NOTHING NEW.

IF YOUR RETAILER KNOWS YOU HAVE AN INTEREST IN A CERTAIN PRODUCT, THEN THEY CAN SPECIAL ORDER OR BUY ACCORDINGLY....

NO MATTER WHERE OR WHAT , MAKE YOUR INTERESTS AND DESIRES KNOWN TO YOUR LOCAL SHOP. IF YOU WANT TO UPDATE OR JUST LOVE TO SEE THE NEW INTROS, I AM SURE THEY WILL BE HAPPY TO SHARE PICTURES WITH YOU OF THE LATEST AND GREATEST SO YOU CAN SHARE IN THE EXCITEMENT, AS WE HAVE WITH OUR CLIENTS. THEY ARE ALL PROVIDED WITH THE INFORMATION THEY NEED SO THEIR CHOICES ARE MET, IN TIME.

NO WORRIES.

HAPPY SUMMER, AND AN ENTERTAINING FALL!!!!!

( HEY I'M IN TEXAS, CUT ME SOME SLACK HERE IT'S HOT!);)

Antiquing: Throw Me a Bone!

2011-06-25T16:41:00.000-07:00

The Round Top Antiques Fairs ( and I do mean fairs ) that occur at the end of every September and March are HUGE. Thousands of dealers...... Then throughout the summer it is hot but THE BIG RED BARN opens it's doors to give you a little taste of what is to come.....

A beautiful selection of quilts from Blue Hills Antiques.......These are the real deal.... Not knock offs.

Also from there.... And see those French chairs in the back? Love them, they need some work but I will be doing the work because they are at the shop now waiting to go to Beadboard Rehab.

I loved the glass bottles here...

And the large Mercury glass bottles here.

Ok, now here is a lovely linen dealer but look at her body language, in the back of the picture. She looks like the Police with her hands behind her back. I am sure she has done many venues like this before, but in the first hour of the show I think it would be better to "make nice" and seem more welcoming. Also, the man in the purple shirt, probably was waiting patiently for his wife to go through another dealer's area.....

Maybe not his thing ,but he is trying....... Like a gentleman.

I loved this booth, they didn't have any business cards and I didn't want to take up too much of their time, as I think their customers should come first. Name is Industrial SOMETHING. The spoons were great 2 for 5$.....

Great crystal pieces from chandeliers, people were scoopng up in their hands.... They were clean, and shiny, not with grime on them like a lot of dealers.... These people make the extra effort......

Two adorable chandelier shades from Cabin Creek Lodge Antiques.. I bought these.

They are at the shop on two vintage glass candlestick lamps........

I love bakelite... Being from California.....

.This is from Vintage Linens and Beads in Columbus, Texas.

Beautifully arranged.......

I think this is J Hill Designs, Kilgore, Texas. Not sure......I was power shopping.....

Pretty cart with fresh herbs....Reminds me of France...

I loved this stand for clothes..... They used the base from an old mannequin and

put cast iron finials on it.......From Willow Nest Farm, in Burton, Texas.

Linda and Ludmil Marcov do a great job.......

Fall Markets, What do you think??

2011-06-15T16:04:00.000-07:00

Auguste Rodin's sculpture "The Thinker", My guess he is thinking about Fall Market.

That's when it is hot as Hades here and I have to think about what I bring in the shop for FALL.

See the resemblance???????

It sounds sexy. Going to market, whether in Paris, or Dallas or New York.....If you are working for a big company as a buyer,,, the pressure is on.....Last years figures, versus this years figures, and projected increases.......all come into consideration.... But, at the end of the day, you get the paycheck and benefits and your discount and you go home at night knowing that you met the company's criteria for buying to the best of your ability.

It's fun spending someone elses money.

What's worse is one criteria.....

When you have a shop of your own and you are spending YOUR OWN MONEY.

That scares the living daylights out of me....

So here with the AC cranked up I think about, "Hey will the Velvet Pumpkins still be hot?????"

The answer is yes!!!!!!!!!!! I think.

How about the offerings from last year????? Did they cut the mustard????? Should I have bought more of this and less of that????? Does the look of the shop matter when something else that seems inappropriate to me is selling like hotcakes in a big city??????? Yes.

How bout the sheep.???? People love them......I love them. They will always be here.....

Unless our source drops them. I think they won't......

I am thinking about cashmere...... And leather handbags, and gloves and caps......I am sweating.....

I am thinking about the new intros for the fabulous knitwear we carry....Yup, we'll have some...

Do you think you know who comes with me when I go to market every time?????

YOU!!!!!!! YOU are the buyer here, I always keep our customers and readers with me like a little angel on my shoulder. The other side is the New INTRODUCTIONS that are cool or the TEMPTATION.

It is a delicate balance..... Give up something to get something else, or do you go with your gut instincts and roll the dice and hope your feeling about the fabulous thing you are buying for the shop will be appreciated by someone you have never met?

So, all you readers and bloggers, now you have influence you never imagined yould have.... and I am lucky,

I have YOU. I think.;)

The Perfect Match! French and Italian

2011-06-04T15:17:00.000-07:00

Having Arte Pura at Beadboard is like having every candy color in Italian linen. Being a relatively new company they do not make fitted sheets for American beds. I searched for the perfect match for our fabulous Arte Pura colors. I found it!!!!!!!!!

I found it in Anne De Solene from France.... See the similarities??????? These are their beautiful solid color percale sheets called Vexin. They also offer delightful prints that also enhance The Arte. And a little lesson in this post on Thread Counts....

Which is all BUNK.... Yes I said it, BUNK!!!! Read on if you dare....

For example this is the Sakouna/Aiko a floral with a sophisticated beigey,mauve on one side and a coordinating peach mauve on a white field on the reverse.

This is the Polevere Old in the Arte Pura. See the similar color..?????

Anyone that reads my blog knows I love gray. This is Percale sheeting Evanasence in Grey from Anne De Solene. Cherubs and urns in gray on a white field that pair perfectly with...

Arte Pura's, Narciso Bed in the Lava, and Gesso Old.

A surprise on the back of the sham a grey and white 1/8" inch stripe.......So, I have these in the shop and I hand it over to a customer and ask her to tell me the thread count.....600??? 800???? These feel so smooth!!!! Nope. Ready? 200!!!!!!!!!!

They feel better than my 600TC *!$!$#$$$ I have at home!

They are weightier and will feel amazingly better as you wash them... Why????? Because the threads are smooth before they are woven into the fabric........We have all been taught to believe the higher the thread count means better quality..... Sferra started that, now they have started a campaign called "LOSE COUNT" and are no longer putting thread counts on their packaging according to Home Textiles Today issue dated May 23rd.

Oh, Love the Quatre Saisons Towels.......Gorgeous!!! But back to my rampage......

Some other delectable offerings from Anne De Solene. Promise in blue....

The idea of labeling sheets with thread count was to indicate better quality in the higher TC's and therefore justify charging more....A LOT MORE....It BACKFIRED.

The problem with the thread count was that discount stores jumped in the mix and offered ourageous TC numbers but the quality was poor..... What difference does the TC make if the thread is sub par to begin with????? Threads weren't wicked properly so hair and lint stuck like glue in the wash or they pilled. It was as if some companies were using fine raffia to weave sheets!

Not so with these beauties.....

Promise in Coral. They are geraniums that look like they have been watercolored....

The article

in Home Textiles Today said "dubious marketing claims rendered the thread count distinctions meaningless". Now Paul Hooker, head of Sferra linens, who started touting the whole thread count thing in the first place said " we birthed it, now we're killing it" relating to thread count.....

Duetto..... Anne De Solene reversible shams with accent flange in a third color.

So, now we have all been Duped!!!!! Not from the companies but from the VERBAGE they created to make their products more desirable to the consumer.

Anne De Solene Numero Uno towel with matelasse border....

Husbands even bought into the thread count lingo and would ask the thread count of sheets if a couple came into the shop.

Coordinating Numero Uno pillowcase...

So where does all this leave us??? Hopefully, more informed than before, knowing that there is great bedding out there, just buy it from someone knowledgeable enough and interested enough to get the best sheets that are right for you! Preferably in a small boutique where you can get some personal attention. We still carry 400, 500 and 600 TC sheets. But we are now explaining them differently to our customers. AND the same customers that own those are also buying Anne De Solene......in the 200 TC and loving them!

Arte Pura Linen/Organza Sorgente bed. Wouldn't it go great with..

Anne De Solene Promise in Coral??????? Pretty!

Soooooo. The experts are saying forget about the thread count, just make sure your sheets are from a manufacturer that makes quality bedding.....Make sure they feel good to the touch......Flimsy and fuzzy is not a good thing.... Open those packages up and feel them.... Oh, and sheets are much the same as good jeans.... Select them the same way....

You live in jeans, you live in sheets.......Think about it.

PC Issues from Hell

2011-06-02T15:41:00.000-07:00

Where have I been???!!!!!!!

Yes it has been PC hell.......I am venting here, just to let you know when YOU go through it

you are NOT alone...... Started about 2 weeks ago something with the PC was just not right.....

Slower, took an age to post, and of course blogger changed their format.........Made me nuts

Then the Screen went south.... So we replaced it... OK.Done right?

Next thing, forget the flippin screen, we are getting updates from Outlook, Adobe, Windows, upload, sure! Of course we'll upload!!!!!! Why the HELL not??!! Next the PC at work that we have loaded all of these enhancements into says "I've had enough"! Starts to go south. Robes is yelling "we're going to lose all the !*&$@%$$! memory!!!!!!! I say we take to Computer Helpers here and let them take a look. They are fantastic!!!!! Even if you live in Houston if you have PC issues take it to them!!!! Reasonable and fast!!!!!! I also didn't want to powershop a new PC.

So off it goes, and when we get home the land line phone is not working......We have cell phones and I drop kicked the land line unit out the front door. Then the other land line phone goes south.....(it's an antique French, keeping that one) My foot still hurts, but I feel better.

So, just when we are feeling some kind of relief, after midnight we get a Trojan Virus and Robes sees it eating the hard drive on the notebook we use in the kitchen. Next morning, off it goes to, you know where Computer Helpers!!!!!!!!!

Who should be called Computer angels.......Yep all PC's are alive and well and they speeded em all up

Thanks to Harper, Josh and Jason. You guys rock!!!!!!!!! So I needed something..... Life is to short to stress about all of this stuff as it is everchanging.......

Sooooo. About 2 years ago the light went out in the new fridge that came with the house......( why would someone buy a refrigerator named HOTpoint?!). It was a fairly new unit but the way it was designed it was obvious the whole stupid thing would have to be dismantled to replace the lighting unit...... So, after foraging in the dark for a year and a half, I went down bought a new fridge...... Love it......The brilliant light that comes out the door is angelic......I sat in front of it and opened the door, and opened the door and opened.......I feel MUCH better!!!!!!!!.

French Mirrors? CAST IRON? Oh YES!

2011-05-26T10:07:00.000-07:00

We are all familiar with the French Trumeau, the Louis Phillippe, the Restoration etc.

I LOVE these Art Deco pieces.......They have soft details we don't associate with Art Deco.

Like flowers and bows. This one is from the Rhone Valley made in the 30's.

Here is another example...A silver one I love the shape, and the tassels.

Negrel Antiques Austin www.negrelantiques.com 14 x 31 it lists for 1250.00

This oval is great with the floral detail......17 x 29 and sells for 1395.00. Also at Negrel.

Don't let this fool you this is a large mirror selling for 9000.00 at

Newel

Antiques in New York www.newelantiques.com

This is also a beautiful example and big.........Reminds me of Estate Jewelry....in the 7000.00 range also at Newell.

So what do you think, do you like them too???????? I liked them so much I bought one....A small one.

The first one..... It is still in Austin.... But I already have a place picked out......;)

Tsunami of Tornadoes....

2011-05-23T12:00:00.000-07:00

Our hearts and prayers go out to the people of the plains states,and the southern states, especially Alabama(Tuscaloosa), Mississippi, and most recently, Missouri especially St. Louis and now the devastation in Joplin. Our country has endured a tsunami of deadly tornadoes SO FAR this season.

I remember as a child after having moved to Texas from Philadelphia, my family was living in a small town called Hillsboro, about 60 miles south of Dallas. I was about 12 and we were having dinner about 6PM. The same time the tornado hit Joplin last night. Betty and Bill (my Mom and dad) were looking out the kitchen window over the sink. In my young mind I thought they were looking at SOMETHING. So, I got up from the table and looked out the patio door to a TORNADO SKY. Black on top and gray on the bottom. My eyes widened and I stared in amazement as there were no less than SEVEN funnel clouds spinning from the blackness into the gray sky below. We were lucky, they dissipated....... I can't imagine what would have happened if one had turned into a category 4 storm like the one that hit Joplin last night. I keep thinking, how many were just sitting around having dinner like we were?

Please donate to your local Red Cross, again.
Incredible image from Picasa by thepqnation.com

Attention!! All my blogging friends!!

2011-05-20T15:30:00.000-07:00

No Images.... Why???????
Because I have an incredible blog friend who has influenced me by being an American expat living in Paris...... Not a lot of Visual, not an interior design blog. But one of the funniest, whittiest, hysterical blogs with the best insight on French life I have ever had the pleasure to read. The blog is LA MOM IN PARIS...the websiteis www.lamomparis.blogspot.com Normalment, I would link you but recently blogger is driving me nuts........So just pay her a visit......She calls her two sons the French fries and her French husband the Big Fry....She deals with two hour lunches in France and has to go back to work..... In laws who say "no, cafe, does not come before dessert" . She has the inside scoop on expats really living there and puts a refreshing spin on all of it.....Hey, she and the other expat wives have champagne at Laduree when the Big Corporate Fries are out of Town...... Also, she has been written up in a Paris magazine by Isabelle Juppe as one of the most insightful blogs in Paris.....
So, now she has been nominated as one of the circle of expat blog moms out of 25.entries.... I am asking you to go to her blog connect and vote..... Hey, no GIVEAWAYS here, just enthusiasm and the gift is discovering a very funny and enlightening blog that will lift your heart and spirits. If you want to know what real life is like in Paris go visit...Deadline is the 5th of June
The reward and gift is this : You will not be disappointed........... You are welcome!!!!!!

HAVE I EVER STEERED YOU WRONG??????!!!!!!! XXOO