Hi, it's just me.

Don't Drink Daffodil Water

What a busy day! I got up.....went swimming..... then to the market for some new painting "inspiration".....a lovely bunch of daffodils. Went to the studio, set up my  painting.......I sat down and painted away!

 

I ate lunch, showered, changed and headed down to visit one of my galleries, the Somerville Manning Gallery in Delaware. Raced back from the gallery to finish my painting.

I was so thirsty.....ran back to the kitchen for a glass of water....grabbed a glass......but then I spied a full glass of water on the counter.....so as not to waste a glass of water.....I grabbed it and gulped it down.....the whole thing. It left a funny taste in my mouth.....what was that taste? It was familiar.....oh no......it was daffodil! What? How did that happen?

Oh, now I remember....when I returned home from the store I put my daffodils in water before I arranged them. In a drinking glass?  Yes, I did.

I did a quick google search. "Are daffodils poisonous". Yikes. They are. There was lots of information. The bulbs are the most dangerous.....both the stems and flowers are too.

But what about the water? I soon found out. My stomach started rumbling, followed by a sharp pain and an emergency run to the bathroom. I felt like a small child.......on the floor thowing up. I felt terrible but it was amazing to think of my body's natural reaction to get it out of me!

So, there you go......a word to the wise......Don't Drink Daffodil Water!

P.S. I feel fine now!

 

 

Tablecloths are Curtains too!

On a recent trip to Italy I noticed that all of the curtain panels in the house we stayed in were suspended from the curtain rods with clips attached to rings. So I thought......What a good idea! When I got home I went to my local Bed, Bath and Beyond......and voila......there are many styles and sizes of these gizmos. I bought a couple of sets and......

One hour later I had turned my Persimmon Sunflower Tablecloth into a beautiful curtain!

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And then I added the chair I upholstered in the Oaisis Hydrangea.....I love these two patterns together

The blues and the oranges make a vibrant combination.

And then I played with the Peony Fern......first as curtains.....

And then the napkin stretched in a shadow box......the perfect addition to this grouping in my dining room!

Stay tuned......I am not finished yet! xo

Happy Holidays in Richmond, Vermont!

Last weekend, Amanda ran a Carol Maguire Home booth at the Richmond Holiday Market in her hometown in Vermont. Her friend Caitlin (also a redhead) helped her staff the booth, and they met lots of wonderful people!

Our booth at the market.

Caitlin (left) and Amanda (right) smiling at the booth.

The big man, himself, showed up for a few hours - and the little ones lined up for hours just to have a few moments with the magical Santa Claus! The pictures are a little blurry because - as you may know - Santa is very elusive!

There were also sleigh rides, courtesy of Santa's stable. Bake sale yummies were being sold, and wreaths by the boy scouts - it was a true small town holiday event!

Some folks brought their plates to figure out which tablecloth they wanted...and decided that the Peony Fern tablecloth was the best choice.

 

Caitlin modeled yet another way "how to wear a scarf"...wearing the sunflower persimmon scarf!

 
And can't forget the Camel's Hump Middle School select choir that serenaded the shoppers with carols!

 

It was a positively magical day, filled with happy shoppers and lots of holiday cheer! Can't wait to do it all over again next year! Happy Holidays! xo

Magical Sweden Part 2 (Potatoes and Snow)

We made two visits to our new favorite lunch spot in Ystad. "The Book Cafe" had a "sign"..... well it sure got our attention......it was a tall female manakin standing on the street.....with a chair and a menu. We were intrigued.

We trotted down the cobblesone street to an entrance into a courtyard.....and  from there we just followed our noses!

I knew it was my kind of place when I saw a big book of Henri Matisse's paper cutouts ...open in a bookshelf!

The menu was small.....they gave us the English version......there was soup and "baked potatoes with good stuffing" So we said OK to both!

The soup was a rich pink in color.....filled with salmon, shrimp and mussels!

The potatoes were big and velvety and wrapped in tin foil.....and heaped with ,version #1, a creamy creme fraiche chicken salad and topped with tomato and bacon. Yum. Version #2 was filled with a creamy shrimp salad with fresh dill and topped with a lemon slice and cavier. Who knew these kind of things existed?

And then there was dessert......an apple bread pudding with a rich warm vanilla sauce! Delightful....Oh and FYI.....it took 4 of us to eat all  of this!

 

And then there was the SNOW. We had heard that there was little snow in this part of Sweden. It is on the coast.....mostly rain. So we were prepared with our umbrellas and raincoats. Well ....the day we were to leave we woke up to 2....TWO...feet of snow. It snuck up on us big time!

 

It was beautiful....but needless to say I missed my flight.....had to buy new tickets.....but you know what? It was all worth it! xo

Magical Sweden Part 1

We just returned from a magical trip to Sweden. Amanda,Steve and I ......Steve's parents and Amanda's Dad all traveled to Sweden to spend Thanksgiving with Christine, Steve's sister who is studying the flute at  Musikhogskolan in Malmo.

We rented a big Swedish house in Abbekas......complete with an indoor pool and sauna. The weather was cold and windy......we wrapped ourselves up and headed out into the weather to visit palaces, fish smokeries, ancient stone ruins, antik shops.....and grocery stores......each time wondering if we were really buying what we thought we were!

Christine and her beau, Dan......or Iron Dan as he is known (he is a triathlon guy)...helped us navigate the Swedish language and countryside! Dan found us a big turkey...special order in Sweden.....and we make a proper Thanksgiving feast complete with mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, stuffing, gravy and the ever popular lingenberry sauce! We had a blast cooking ....we set the Table with our new Carol Maguire Home Persimmon Tablecloth......and tons of candles! Its so Swedish ...where the daylight is very short!

 

Steve, Christine, Dan and Amanda outside of the Book Cafe.

Advent Candles

Red roses were everywhere!

Living room.

Puzzle Completed.....in 7 days!

Holiday Table.......the day after.

Swedish Radish Baby!

Amanda and Dan deciding.....

The Iron Dan Butterfly

Steve and his Dad

In the sauna!

 

Swedish Christmas Tulips.

It was soooo cold!

 

Carol and candles!

We went to a farm for our...potatoes, onions and carrots!

Amanda and her Dad.

Carol and Christine......reading?

Christine and Steve

Magnificent room where Christine's concert was held in Malmo's City Hall.

From the concert......Christine in glam red.

We also had the pleasure of meeting Kristina and Dennis, Dan's parents, who traveled from Smalland to attend our Christine's concert. They were a delight!

Thank you Christine and Dan for making our trip absolutely perfect! xo

 

 

 

 

 

Just in Time for the Holidays

Our beautiful Holiday shipment arrived yesterday........"Peony Fern".  In yummy warm greens with big ,bright, bold red flowers and buds.......and touches of gold!  This will make a magnificent holiday table! It comes in tablecloths, place-mats, napkins.....and perfect for gift giving .....tote bags and our new bigger duffel bag!

See our entire Holiday collection at www.carolmaguirehome.com

Our Holiday gift to you.......Free Shipping now until December 24......come and get it while its HOT!!!!!!

New Paintings....Fresh from Italy!

I just returned from two weeks in the Tuscan countryside! I had an amazing "outside" studio with views of the vineyards, olive groves and rows of cypress trees surrounding the villa.

 

 

 

That being said....I was teaching a wonderful group of women...some who had never touched a paintbrush....and our focus was still life.

The light was spectacular.......weather perfect!

 

It was such a delight! Can't wait to return next Spring!

Introducing Priscilla

Two winters ago, when Carol Maguire Home was barely a twinkle in my eye...Amanda and I were antiquing in Vermont. We came across a beautiful shop in Waterbury...home of Ben & Jerry's ice cream...and Green Mountain Coffee. And we soon learned it was home to our "Modern Priscilla" too!

There she was...staring up at us from the top of a pile of magazines...saying "take me home!" So we did. 

It was on that same trip to Vermont that we conceived Carol Maguire Home...and Priscilla became our mascot. She sits framed in our Vermont office...sitting behind Amanda...so I can see her when we skype!

Priscilla takes her role as mascot very seriously. Sometimes she likes to wear her Peony Noir suit and Sunflower Persimmon cap.

And sometimes she prefers her Peony Fern swimsuit with her Sunflower Aubergine cap.

What a nut she is! But who can blame her?

So there you have it. Our very own Modern Priscilla. Is there a little Priscilla in you? xo

Two Buttons /Eat Pray Love

I took a road trip this weekend with my dear friend Stephanie to Frenchtown, NewJersey. We went to visit Elizabeth Gilbert's shop "Two Buttons". Liz with her husband Jose have filled a warehouse with an amazing collection of beautiful hand made art-items from their travels! Jewelry, textiles, furniture and sculpture......all magical.......a real feast for the eyes.

We were disapointed not to meet Liz.......but we did catch a glimpse of Jose!

PS I saw the movie last week.......and loved it!

 

 

Tablecloth Magic/Upholstery 101

I blogged about this little chair back when the ground was covered with snow. I photographed it in my desolate garden........here she is again. Now in good company...with my late summer flowers!

I have had numerous requests on how I covered this chair. So here you go!

It was originally covered in a black needlepoint. I removed the needlepoint and used it as my pattern.

For the front top of the chair I used a Carol Maguire Home Hydrangea Oasis Napkin. I laid the old needlepoint down on top of the napkin, pinned it down...drew around with a pencil....and cut it out.

For the seat I used a 60" x 60" Carol Maguire Home Hydrangea Oasis tablecloth. I knew I wanted to use the striped border of the tablecloth in a prominent way......and right across the front face was perfect. Again I laid the old covering down on top of the tablecloth, pinned it down.....drew around it with a pencil......and cut it out.

I used a combination of a staple gun and some upholstery tacks to attach my new coverings.  To finish the top back panel and arms I attached some coordinating cording...... it not only makes a finished appearance......but hides the staples and tacks!

I love this little chair......it makes me smile everytime I see it!  And you can do this too! Send me pictures of your upholstery magic.......I know you are out there.  xo

Summer's Bounty at Maples Acres

After traveling around like a gypsy all summer.......I am finally home.  Back in my wonderful old house......really old...... over 200 years.  Back to my gardens that have been so neglected this summer. I spent the weekend weeding......thinning......pruning......transplanting ......it feels so darn good to have things starting to be back in order.  Being a Libra I need the order and balance just to feel at peace.

And I have the time to go to my favorite farm......Maple Acres.  Their produce is amazing.....and so plentiful. I love their displays.....baskets overflowing. I bought eggplants, tomatoes, peaches......onions, brocolli, peppers, corn.......and am so happy! Yum.......it just feels so good to be on the farm.....everyone is happy....off to the kitchen to make something wonderful!

Trunk Show on the Vineyard

What a glorious Memorial Day weekend we had! I flew up to Manchester NH where Amanda, my daughter and partner, picked me up in her SUV packed to the max with our tablecloths! We drove to Woods Hole to catch the ferry to Martha's Vineyard.....a bowl of chowder and 45 minutes later we were rolling off the ferry onto the most beautiful island. Our home away from home.

Amanda and I headed over to the Granary Gallery in West Tisbury to set up our "Carol Maguire Home " shop in the gallery's courtyard. We draped tablecloths.....hung tote bags in the trees.....and used their wonderful props to create a wonderful cozy space. The gallery folk had hung my paintings on the walls and fences....I just loved seeing my paintings and the colorful linens all in one space!

The weather was perfect.....and the customers plentiful. It was a joyous celebration. We sold tablecloths for wedding presents.....placemats to be sent to London...Edinburgh...and Tuscany. We met so many lovely people.....and the Granary staff was amazing! 

Here are some pictures. We were so busy selling our line that we didn't capture the courtyard crowded with people.

My Pom Pom Tree

I love this tree.......or big bush! I have lived with it for for 25 years and I look forward to seeing it bloom every spring! It is surrounded with lovely ferns........I remember the very first time I saw this house, it was owned by a very interesting couple of women......one was a psychiatrist....one was a lawyer. They were retiring to Maine and selling the house. They had lived here since 1953.....the year I was born......and the year they planted the Pom Pom tree! They told me the reason the ferns were so lush was that they had buried their beloved cats under the tree.......and we have carried on the tradition.

I have to admit I took it for granted.....then 2 years ago the spring came and the tree looked terrible....fewer leaves.....and even fewer pom poms.....I freaked out!! Called a tree guy who gave my tree a shot of fertilizer.....he told me how to prune it.....and it came back to life.

I have loved the pom poms....painted the pom poms.....filled my house with pom poms! Yesterday I was lying in the grass admiring it's beauty.....and I thought for the very first time in 25 years.....what are those pom pom made out of?

To my surprise.....each pom breaks down into 7 clusters......each cluster into 7 smaller clusters ......and each smaller cluster into 4 blossoms. Each pom has 196 little flowers!  I love life!

Spring Party Carol Maguire Home

We had a wonderful day on Saturday.......here are some pictures of our party ......we set up a "Carol Maguire Home Shop ' on the lawn! So many people came .......and were thrilled with our new designs.....lots of sales....laughs ......and

 






conversation......it was a dream come true!

Easter in Vermont

 I went up to Vermont to spend the Easter weekend with Amanda and Steve!I was traveling with my  88 year old mother...we drove, cabbed, flew, and drove......a nine hour trip from Philadelphia....and so worth being with Amanda and Steve! 

We had a party for Mom's 88th birthday.....Amanda and I were able to get a lot of work in....we celebrated our first two retail connections......The Pear Tree in Wayne PA and The Store in Waitsfield VT......both hand chosen by us.......beautiful shops to carry Carol Maguire Home.

We are so blessed.....in so many ways....one of the highlights for me was the discovery of "blue eggs" at one of the local Vermont farms. They are really a variety of blues and greens.....combined with pinks...neutrals...to warm browns!

Life is so good.....so blessed to be working with Amanda........blue eggs are just the icing on the cake!

(Speaking of cakes......Mom's birthday cake is a Lady Baltimore Cake......the city of her birth.....88 years ago on Easter Sunday.......hand made by Amanda!!!!)