Spring!

Outside, it looks like winter. With a dusting of new snow to start the season, it's hard to believe that spring is finally here.

Over the last week and a half, the world has looked like a gloomy place. With the images from Japan and now Libya, it's been difficult to think about much positive. And yet I'm reminded about the power of hope.

Eleven years ago last Thursday, I was diagnosed with a deadly form of cancer. A few days later, as I recovered in my hospital room, a volunteer brought in daffodils, in celebration of the American Cancer Society's Daffodil Days. So, to counteract all that seems dim, I now have a small daffodil plant blooming on my desk, courtesy of this year's ACS Daffodil Days.

During my 3 years of treatment, I sometimes wondered if there would be joy again in my life. Happily, there has been. So, I offer the picture of these daffodils as a small ray of sunshine, a sign that joy and beauty are not lost. The world will smil again - not today, maybe not tomorrow. For now, we can enjoy little things - and savor what is special to us.

Weekend Projects

Some people play golf. (I do too, occasionally.) Some people go hiking. (I can be persuaded, when it's really nice out.) Some people laze around on the couch. (Perhaps I'll learn how to one day.) But my favorite weekend activity is working on decorating projects around the house. Soon, I'll be heading out to the garden, to try to coax what is now mud and ice (mostly mud) into something pleasing. So, I'm trying to get to some of my decor wish list now.

This past weekend, I tackled two projects.

First, was the floor lamp. Oh, it was nice enough, but really too dark for the living room. So, in preparation for painting it with grey pebble finish spray paint, I took to it with some 220 grit sandpaper. I was stunned to find a lovely nickel finish under the dark brown paint. The more I buffed, the lovelier the lamp became. Happy with the look after the sanding, I decided to forego the grey paint altogether!

The second project was to recover a leather os de mouton chair. It had been relegated to my studio/craft room in the basement. So with staple gun and screwdriver in hand, I transformed it so that it now fits nicely into my livingroom.

The one project remaining for the room is to sew white linen slipcovers for the sofa and chair. I'm still stalling on that one because I'm not a great seamstress. Straight lines for curtains are easy. But easing to sew curved edges is just beyond me. Perhaps I'll just save my pennies and have a professional make them.

As for this weekend - who knows?

The Power of Music

It's been a very long and hectic week. I needed a little slice of joy. At just the right moment, one of my co-workers, who shares my affinity for music, suggested I listen to Bobby McFerrin's Ave Maria on youtube. I recommend you put on your headphones and give it a listen. It must have been amazing to be in that audience.

That reminded me of a flash mob version of Handel's Hallelujiah chorus. Whether one is religious or not, these pieces are so inspiring.

Then, for a change of pace, I listened to Manhattan Transfer's Birdland.

And, speaking of birds, I'm reminded of the story from Daniel J. Levitin's This is Your Brain on Music. He explains how one can make an owl’s bones vibrate such that the entire owl resonantes with Strauss’s “Blue Danube Waltz.” (It has to do with overtones. To oversimplify, you play aspects of the piece, removing some essential portions of notes and the bird's bones fill in the rest.)

Since reading this book, which I recommend, I've referred to myself as having owl bones because my love of music is that deeply rooted in me.

I hope you enjoy the pieces I've shared and found some joy in music today.

Patience vs. Perserverence

The stunning craftsmanship exhibited on todays Belgian Pearls site and some ensuing comments got me thinking about a statement I hear often. When viewing something that requires many hours of fine workmanship, observers often remark that completing the piece must have required a lot of patience. As extraordinary quilter Marjorie Lydecker would say, "Not patience, perserverence!"

"As Time Goes By" by Marjorie Lydecker

It takes patience to navigate rush hour traffic. It takes patience to wait in line at the supermarket. But to complete a project that requires taking many small stitches, assembling many small pieces, or making many delicate carvings take perserverence.

When I create a sailor's valentine, an intricate shell mosaic done in an octagonal shadow box, I glue hundreds of shells to create the design. And I love every minute of it.

"Tuckerman's Dream" sailors' valentine by Anne Sandstrom

So how can you tell the difference between patience and perserverence?

Usually when people see my work, they ask the same question. "How long did it take to do this?" My answer is always the same. I have no idea. I've been standing next to Marge Lydecker at a quilt show and heard the same question and her same response.

But if you ask me how long I was standing in line at the supermarket or stuck in rush hour traffic, I can tell you exactly.

And that's how you know. When I'm not counting the minutes or the number of shells or the number of stitches, that's perserverence. But when I'm watching the clock, that's patience.

Some Artists

For as long as I can remember, I've been enamored with fine art. By the time I reached college, I minored in art history and even took a few studio classes. The security guards at Boston's Museum of Fine Arts got to know me, although some were still wary of my habit of sitting in the middle of a gallery, often on the floor, studying my current favorite works.

My tastes have changed and evolved over the years. I've been drawn to nautical themes (not the cutesy cottage-y type) and portraits.

Ken Otsuka is a favorite. His oils of shells strewn along the shoreline are realistic, but are imbued with his individual vision.

Original Oil   " Whispers of Waves and Shells "   24 x 32 by Ken Otsuka

Ovid Ward also paints maritime related themes. His treatment of light is unique, as striking to me as the impressionists' work.

Print "High Tide" 22 x 13 by Ovid Ward

Lately, I've been discovering portrait artists. In particular, watercolor fascinates me because the combination of the medium and the subject matter is one of the most challenging for an artist.

Ali Cavanaugh's work is both stark and emotional. She captures the essence of young womanhood, imbuing her figures with a sense of both innocence and restlessness.

Profile of Neve by Ali Cavanaugh

Alyssa Monks combines water and portraiture to capture brief moments that are striking and even disturbing.

Smush 40x54, oil on linen, 2008 by Alyssa Monks

Stephen Scott Young's watercolor portraits also capture individual moments.

watercolor "Yellow Light - Study for Innocent" 13 1/2 X 9 1/2  by Stephen Scott Young

Kara Castro has mastered using watercolor to portray not just people but emotions.

watercolor "Lacrimosa" 10 X 20 by Kara Castro

Although enjoyable on the web, there's nothing quite like seeing a work in person. Looking for something to do this weekend? Why not visit a local gallery. You might find a new favorite artist.

Inspirational Designer

Soon it will be spring, when a woman's thoughts turn to - house tours! It won't be long before the season is upon us. I've made some wonderful friends traipsing in and out of houses, marveling at designs. Last year, my sister and I ventured to the HGTV Green House (at the Pinehills in Plymouth MA) to see it in person. Frankly, it was hideous, garish, and poorly laid out. We were dismally disappointed - until we wandered into the model home nextdoor. What a wonderful revelation.

The designer, Lisa Weekes, is a favorite of ours and one of New England's best kept secrets. In this home, her soft palette introduces muted shades of lilac and lavender against a soft neutral background. She uses old pieces and paints them to make them look fresh. Her rooms are inviting, mixing vintage without the 'grandma' look.

All of the stragglers from the HGTV home ambled through the Lisa Weekes designed rooms, commenting "Now, this is a home I'd like to win!"

Kitchen - The blue glassware and hydrangeas were added for the photo

Lisa's designs inspired me when I redid my guest bedroom and bath.



Soon, it will be time to get out the map or GPS to see what local designers have been up to all winter. I can't wait!



Bedoom Secrets

This is where I start and end each day - at least when I'm home. With a hectic life, like many people, I need a place to wind down and recharge. And, being budget conscious, I found ways to acheive the look I wanted without dwindling my bank account.

First, an amateur decorator's best friend is her sewing machine. Making curtains, pillow covers, even bedskirts is simple - just some careful measuring and straight line sewing and you've got the custom look you want for a fraction of the price. The curtains, bedskirt, and pillow covers are all Waverley fabric. And instead of fussing with hanging hardware, I used snap-in-place grommets, available at most fabric stores. Nothing could be easier!

The lamps were a recent acquisition from HomeGoods. The white furniture was also a find at Cardi's. Which brings me to one of my design mantras. Don't be afraid to shop anywhere. You never know what you'll find. You just have to have a good eye and be able to wade through some mediocrity.

So, what makes this room so restful? The color palette, of course. The sea foam is indeed the color of shoreline froth. But I have another secret to share - something you can't see in the room. My secret to a good night's sleep.

For years, I suffered from insomnia. Now, I sleep better than ever. Meditation is the key. For me, the recordings available at the Meditation Podcast changed everything for the better. They use a technique called binaural beats. Having been discovered in 1839, this is not a new technology. With slightly different tones in each ear, your brain relaxes. Of course, you might check with your physician before trying any of these recordings.

So, the final secret? Loving what I see just before turning out the light and when the sun first rises. After all, being happy in one's environment is the first step toward peaceful slumber.