Hi, it's just me.

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

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 Arrivals

Oh .......it has been a harrowing couple of months! The monsoon season got the better of me.......it went on and on and on......and my tablecloths were caught right in the middle! There was nothing anyone could do.......but it was so darn frustrating! Our production in India was haulted due to the extraordinarily heavy rains. Finally in late September the sun came out.......the tablecloths were printed and now we finally have them. And even if I do say so myself..........They are beautiful!

New for Fall

We are so excited to share our new Carol Maguire Home Fall colors with you! The Sunflower Aubergine and Persimmon will be perfect for your autumn celebrations...tailgating....impromptu picnics...cozy nights at home...and especially Thanksgiving!

And check out our new pattern "Peony"...the very cool pink on black (oh so French)...and the scarlet on fern...perfect for holiday tables.

All of these colors will be available in three tablecloth sizes, placemats, and napkins as well as our beautiful 45" square voile scarves, totebags and NEW for Fall - a new, larger duffle bag!

These new colors will be available in late September...stay tuned to www.CarolMaguireHome.com for their arrival!

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

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.

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!!!!)

Trunk Shows

Amanda and I are hitting the road this summer to promote Carol Maguire Home with a series of Trunk Shows! We have been so fortunate to have a number of my art galleries to invite us to show our new home decor line.

Martha's Vineyard & Cape Cod MA, Warm Spring,VA, Greenville DE, Whitfield RI.......all magical places!

Amanda is previewing  our Trunk Show apparel......so you can make us out from the on lookers!

New Paintings inspired by our Spring Collection

I designed the Spring tablecloths about a year ago... at that time we sent all of the info to our manufacturer in India.They burned a screen for each color......14 screens for each design....hand printed each one.....packed and shipped them on their way.

I received these samples in January and was mesmorized by then.......yes, they are my designs, my artwork......but to see it on these beautiful tablecloths is mind boggling for me. I have always included textiles in my still life paintings......and now to be able to use my own designs is just a dream come true!

We will be introducing the Spring Collection next week. XO

Look what popped out of my garden today!

Look what popped out of my garden today!!!!! It must be Spring!

Well.......I'm kidding......and I am so looking forward to the days of sunshine!

This is a chair that I picked up at a consignment shop.......and gave it a new life. It was a sad little thing when I found it......upholstered in tattered black needlepoint......tucked away in a dark corner.....with a 50% off sign on it!

And now it is the "First Official Carol Maguire Home Chair".......a coveted title among chairs!!!!!

I had fun.....and I am sure my new chair feels better!

Photoshoot in the Bahamas

I was invited by the Treasure Cay Art League to teach a painting workshop. The dates were set for February 8-12.......our flight on the 6th was canceled due to the impending snowstorm. We scrambled and left for Miami on the 5th

(we caught the last flight before the Philly airport was closed!)....and in Miami it was Superbowl weekend!
Amanda searched to find us a hotel room....we had to spend the night.....leaving for Abaco the next day. The workshop was a huge success. While I was teaching....Amanda was busy taking the photos of our new Spring line. Here are some of the out-takes, our condo.....the foliage....our week!

Hint of Spring

New painting in Black with Sunflowers

Just finished this new painting.......after not painting for 6 months.......feels so good!