Ladies Bus trip to Stone Mountain and Daughter

Last weekend I went on a bus trip with the Haute Couture Societe.  It is a wonderful way to spend a slightly rainy day.  Our first stop was at Stone Mountain and Daughter fabric and sewing store in Berkeley.  This store has been in business at this location for many years. They must have the largest selection of quilt fabrics I have ever seen, and they have a huge selection of knits, wools, and specialty evening fabrics.

http://www.stonemountainfabric.com/

 


Up stairs is where you will find the sale bolts, all 50%off.  I found a gray snake skin pattern knit that I will make a top in.  (of course will she you later the final project.)











My personal favorite instructor would be Sandra Betzina  My mom knows Sandra, and from the times I have met her I can tell you she is vivacious and excited about sewing.  She is the host of the Power Sewing WebTV Show and designs a full line of patterns for Vogue under the Today's Fit Tab. She has produced a skill series of 11DVDs and is the author of: More Fabric Savvy, Fast Fit and Power Sewing Step-by-Step. Her new book, The Power Sewing Toolbox: Tips & Techniques.  Sandra is also a popular speaker and hosts several week-long Sewing Retreats in San Francisco throughout the year. For more information about Sandra Betzina and Power Sewing visit www.powersweing.com.  I also loved this Sandra Bitzini Skirt with layered fabric strips in a stripe.  There was a class scheduled to teach these techniques.

  
 


  
 
 
 
 

 Upstairs is the classroom where the very best instructors teach(http://www.stonemountainfabric.com/sewing-classes.htm With over 150 classes in their catalog it was no surprise that a class was busy sewing up skirts and I loved the teachers skirt, a vogue patter that has been discontinued darn it.  She was clearly an accomplished sewer and as I listened to her teaching she was a very good teacher too.  The offer a lot of sewing classes, and bring in top notch teachers to share their expertise too.

They have a full selection of patterns, including independent company patterns.  They had one binder filled with discontinued independent patterns, now that is a find!  (Here I am sharing pattern ideas with fellow member.)











I would say this place is a quilter's paradise.  They have wonderful cotton prints for quilts. 

The cutting tables were filled with ladies grabbing pieces of their favorite fabrics.  The walls to the back of the store were filled with sewing notions.  I like that they always have things on sale.  Check out http://www.stonemountainfabric.com/special-offers.htm for special online offers.



To keep up with the store events and trends in sewing why not read their blog http://www.stonemountainfabric.com/daughters-blog.htm  You can follow along with co-owner and Daughter, Suzan Steinberg as she talkes about the store, Berkley and her favorite things to make.   I'll tell more about our bus trip tomorrow.

Jonelle

Dessert at the "Greens" San Francisco

 Greens Restaurant is located in a converted warehouse at historic Fort Mason. Greens Restaurant serves creative vegetarian cuisine using the finest seasonal organic produce. The presentation is simple adapting the cuisines of the Mediterranean, Mexico and the American Southwest influence.

	Qty	Items	Note	Each Price	Total
					$0.00

Greens was an early adapter of the vegetarian movement in the United States. It was the 60's and 70's that vegetarian restaurants began springing up. A definite nod to the heath craze. Greens was the first high profile vegetarian restaurant in the United States. Now nearly every restaurant offers vegetarian cuisine on a level.

A view from our table of the bay

Tea and Dessert, Just perfect!

 A wonderful spot for a mother daughter tea, complete with dessert of berry and peach cobbler with soy sorbet.  YUM is not enough to describe the delicious dessert.  From the looks of the full menu I can see we will need to return here soon to try some of their other offerings.


Left here, this is the table I want to get next visit.  So the next time your in San Francisco and looking for an excellent restaurant to spend some quality time with your guest, check out Greens. www.greensrestaurant.com/

Where to get "One of a Kind"

Yesterday I attended the American Craft Council Show to see what is new and exciting for specialty decor pieces. and saw more than 230 exhibitors whom specialize in contemporary arts from across the country.  Primer furniture, decor, and textile artist showed their one-of-a-kind handmade creations. You too can see incredible fine art at exhibits in your community. Or like me drive to your nearest large city (for me that's San Francisco) and breath in the excitement.

Clients ask me where they can go to find unusual and different accessories for their home.  This show was a great example of new and very unique items that can be the punch you need for that natural room.  I  took a load of photos to share these ideas.



House Jewelry.com is the place to go for metal works to accent your home.  I liked these numbers & light switch plates made out of numerous metals. Loved the mix of whimsical and yet functional. They came in several different metals and can be specially designed by YOU.

Jennifer McCurdy is a NEW artist to the show who came from Vineyard Haven, MA Her ceramics were more than elegant and were a top attraction.www.jennifermccurdy.com

These statement pieces are wonderfull.  All made out of fine wood.Sculptor of wood Mark Doolittle has some incredible pieces http://markdoolittlestudio.com/ Any one of them could accent a room, making it a conversation piece for life.

 ScottSewartdesigns.com does lovely furniture. His designs  'Legacy Furniture' meaning pieces are sustainable on all levels. Each is made from the finest, thoughtfully harvested materials, crafted to last longer than a replacement tree would take to grow. They are designed and built with a specific client in mind. This adds to their meaning and history as they pass between generations.

Sausalito artist Juline Beier has been working in various forms of fiber art for many years.  www.julinedesigns.com She is an artist and friend of my mothers.  Juline used to do silk painting, in fact my mother gifted me a piece of her work a few years back.  I love the light and silky scarf for evening wear.  Now she has switched her attention to Decor Fiber Art.  Her wall sculpture and sculptural objects and unique and beautiful.  Her wall sculptures, which have received critical recognition, are composed primarily by machine-stitching thread onto water-soluble film to create the fragile webs which she then layers or alters by adding other materials

www.carolynmorrisbach.com is more than an artist, she is a spiritual renewal of her the natural environment and its visual expression in figurative imagery.  I loved the intricacy of her work and how truly imaginative it could be.  I am saving for a piece of her work myself, check out these makeup brushes.  Fabulous!

This ceramic artist has such a warm and natural feel to her work.  www.marilynmackenzie hails from California and I loved her pieces in their simplicity.  The fish are fun pieces that would fit to anyone's decor.  Do check out her work and see if you don't agree.

 Another new artist whom had some very sophisticated pieces was Earl Nesbitt Fine Furniture.  www.earlnesbitt.com.  I loved the old knotty woods on his surfaces and the contemporary designs.

My mom and I had a wonderful time at Fort Mason in San Francisco.  It's great to get out for the day and see some exciting and inspirational arts. We chose to attend by bus so we got caught up and were able to hang out with some lovely friends.  Now what are you going to get inspired??

Color Me Happy

I love color!  As many people know, I am a big fan of fiesta ware with its carnival of color.  Well I also love  Madonna Inn's signature glass goblets.  Color has such a way to inspire a positive mood and fun atmosphere, especially when entertaining. 

What a wonderful conversation starter these unique glasses have been over the years.  Guests sometimes even trade glasses when they want a certain color green or the frosty pink.  These are great for a wedding, anniversary, birthday, or collector’s gift too.

Here is a link to all the colors: http://www.madonnainn.com/store/c-2-goblets.aspx
And don't even think about catching these on eBay.  I have been looking for years and they actually fetch a higher price on eBay than in the store.  They are dishwasher safe, and come in two sizes: a 9-ounce “water” goblet and a 5-ounce “wine” goblet.

I have been collecting the wine glass size of Madonna Inn goblets for years. I purchase one each time I visit and I am collecting one of each of the amazing colors.    They are wonderful to use when I entertain as each person can use and reuse their glass as they can easily recognize their color throughout the evening. A great way to be green and enjoy your party, not having to re-wash glasses during an event. 

I love that I can use a color scheme (blues and greens) on the table.  These are a great way to add some color and fun to any party!

Be Inspired by 65 years of Pink

Being to true to yourself is so important in life, but also in your design.  For nearly 25 years, I have been inspired by Phyllis Madonna's courageous use of pink to style her popular Inn in San Luis Obispo.  This well know stop for travelers since December 1958 has been known for their extravagant rooms, excellent food and excessive use of the color "Hot Pink"  Reminiscent of the board game Candyland, it may not be my personal taste for my home, but what an example of a designer who is true to herself. 

While my girls were growing up, we used to enjoy the day before school started with breakfast to celebrate the "new year."  I now go to meet friends and catch up on our careers. You cannot miss this hotel restaurant and event center as you travel north or south on 101 Freeway. The style of Madonna Inn is 19th-century Gothic and Swiss chalet but some describe it more accurately as Swiss Chalet meets Disneyland. What is fun is there are no numbers on the doors of rooms but each room has been given a name and each room is decorated uniquely. Madonna Inn is a hit with locals and many celebrities have visited the Inn too. (Ask the front desk clerk and she'll ramble off a list.) There are one hundred and ten unique rooms, each decorated differently to suit many individual tastes...rock rooms, waterfall showers, extensive fireplaces, European fixtures, and fine furnishings make every room special. 

A collectors item from years past the famous Madonna Inn Goblets in an array of colors.  You'll learn more about them in a future blog as I collect them.

While at the Inn, I took some pictures to share with you (excuse the camera phone quality, they are from my iphone 4)  You can see this beautiful hand carved wooden door when you arrive. There are also more wonderful carving on the walls and stair railings.  There are mirrors everywhere, gilded gold furnishings, fabulous light fixtures and wild bright (pinks) floral carpeting.  All this designed for a feeling of fine dining.  It is “over the top” in bright pink, white lights and flowers. You can't help but feel the passion and purpose the owners felt when building and designing the Inn.

Love the hand carved wooden doors

This is Sammy my good friend looking at that large light fixture that is made out of a wine barrel. In the late 1950's several wood carvers were brought in for the specialty work of hand carving the doors, beams, railings and the many other carved adornments you see here at the Madonna Inn.

Notice the use of white lights, hot pink vinyl and wisteria (Phyllis Madonna's favorite flower)

There are gilded gold frames and mirrors everywhere.  The Madonna Inn provided the backdrop for an episode of ABC's reality series The Bachelor. In the season 14 episode that aired on January 25, 2010, look for this mirrored wall.

I love that when visiting the Inn you can just stroll around and see it all:  Madonna Inn Bakery & Pastry Shop, Copper Café & Coffee Bar, Alex Madonna’s Gold Rush Steak House, Silver Bar Cocktail & Lounge and several boutique shops upstairs. It is amazing and while you are there you must make a stop in their coffee shop and have their Toffee Crunch Cake. It is one of my favorites and I always want a piece on my birthday.

The owners, Phyllis and Alex Madonna, were friends of my grandparents when they lived in San Luis Obispo.  Mr. Madonna, who's known as a rancher and a local philanthropist, with his wife, Phyllis, were the imaginative force behind the Inn.  The story goes that he designed it on a napkin. Everything from the street lights to the vending machines is painted in a shade of pink, which the couple thought set a romantic mood for honeymooners.  (When I was a girl the entire Inn was painted bubblegum pink.)  Mr. Madonna built the Inn with his wife, making sure to consult with her with each and every detail. If nothing else, this trip to Madonna Inn has inspired me to really be true to myself!

If you are interested in checking out the Madonna Inn, you will find it off of HWY 101 on the Central Coast of California (http://www.madonnainn.com/).    The Inn is noticeable right off the freeway with its bright pink and white sign and its stately appearance.  The hotel is a stopping place for travelers from all over the world because of their reputation for excellent food (and lots of it) and unique architecture and design.  It is a wonderful place to meet up with friends and be inspired by something totally unique!

Inspiration Found on Family Fun Trip to Calico Ghost Town

A few weeks ago, while visiting my daughter and her family to celebrate the birth of their son Everett, Richard and I decided to take their two older kids to Calico Ghost Town. Calico Ghost Town is located just a few miles east of Barstow off I-15. Exit I-15 at Ghost Town Road.  It is free to get in normally, but this was a special President's Day weekend event and there was a $10.00 charge. We saw the likes of President Abraham Lincoln, as he recites the complete Gettysburg address.  We also enjoyed the Civil War re-enactors from the Southwest region of the American Civil War Society as they bring the Civil War to life.  

Blues and barn browns were all abound in Calico

Calico is Open every day, no reservations are required.  Calico was built during an 1881 silver strike, the largest strike ever found in California. The town boomed until the mines started to dwindle out in 1896 and by 1904, it was a ghost town. Today it's a tourist attraction, and a great place for a design enthusiast like myself to find some old-world inspiration.

I was so inspired by the the blues and browns I saw.  What a classic color palette.  The Victorian era furnishings were so polished-looking even for today's design standards.  I can easily see how sophisticated these styles would be in someone's more modern home design. 

My favorite attraction at Calico was the Lucy Lane Museum.  The artifacts, photographs and documents gave the guests an amazing opportunity to see what life was like for the people of Calico.

Some attractions we visited at Calico:

Maggie’s Mine - Replica of a mine demonstrating conditions in where the miners worked

Mystery Shack - Crooked house where water runs uphill

Lucy Lane Museum- Artifacts, photographs and documents from Calico’s origin.

Calico-Odessa Railway - Take an 8 minute tour riding the narrow-gauge mining train that circles the town.

 Calico Ghost Town website

Other charming Ghost towns on my list:

·       Bodie, a Sierras gold rush town east of Yosemite

·       Columbia State Historic Park, Sierra foothills

·       Rhyolite, near Death Valley

Micke Grove Japanese Garden: Bringing the Outside In

While on a recent trip to Lodi, California, my niece and I visited the Micke Grove Japanese Garden.  Julie and I enjoyed the trip and I was inspired by the beautiful and unique gardens.  As we were walking through I thought of different ways that I could bring the outside-in in my design work.  I could visualize these amazing views through french doors to a living room using these muted neutral tones in a minimalist design style.

While on the tour, I also learned a great deal about Japanese Gardens.  The gardens are influenced by three religions.  Shintoism is expressed in the use of stones, Buddhism is visible in the use of lanterns and Taoism is manifested in the islands.  

 

I appreciated the architecture seen in the buildings and bridges throughout the gardens.  The red arch bridge is of typical Japanese design and includes eight bronze lotus flower bud finials.  I loved the color contrast of the bright red bridge against the lush greens, browns and grey tones of the gardens and stones.  I can always appreciate a trip in which I learn something new and become inspired for future design ideas. The trip to the gardens was an amazing experience to share with my niece.

Check out my blog next week to see my color swatches and room inspiration from this trip!

-Jonelle