The one with the Dominican Hospital Holidays d' Eleganz fundraiser Christmas tree

Today was the day I trimmed the tree (theme is natural history) at the cocoanut grove for the dominican hospital fundraiser. This idea was my friend Meagans, I had this old natural history book that I wanted to use and she suggested opening it and having a critter be reading it. It turned out so cute! The chapter is called "some wonderful spiders", and is written by Charles Darwin.

Almost done, I'll go back in the am for touch ups. I made the garland today. Little specimin labels with frogs and alligators (yes, there is an alligator in my tree) and ostrich's, what thier natural habitat is, where it was found, etc. Super cute! I hope it goes for lots of money!

update 11-21 here it is in all of its glory! I really love the way it turned out, and the dominican guild members and volunteers did a great job matching it up with some great gifts. It was so nice to see everyone looking closely at all my hard work and really "getting it".

The one where I get crafty

Somehow I found a few minutes to be crafty this week. These are some sort of old wooden foundry molds that I've attched vintage flower frogs to for a cute picture display idea.

A couple of vintage cows (I love cows!) that are now sculpture on these old molds/stands.
I found some more fabulous antique medals in Texas and paired them up with these sterling chains to make one of a kind necklaces. Some of them can be monogrammed for a personalized gift. I've already sold some, so hurry in if you don't want to miss out.

The one with the before and after paint job

I am so excited to be decorating a room in a lovely Victorian in Los Gatos for The Summit League benefit. All proceeds go to the Pacific Autism Center for Education (PACE). The homes will be open on Thursday, December 4 and Friday, December 5 from 10-4 pm. My room will be the grandchildren’s bedroom, and I am calling it “A children’s vintage Christmas”. I was lucky enough to be able to work with the homeowner, Ann Atkinson on this room. It was her daughter’s bedroom and since she now has her own home and family Ann was ready to make a change. Below are the before and (in progress) after pictures. I have picked many paint colors in my life, but this room in the new blue (benjamin moore 847, sweet dreams) and cream (benjamin moore 943 spanish white) scheme is truly one of the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. The room itself is magnificent, the corbels are Queen Elizabeth with a strand of pearls. This house has amazing Victorian architecture and details. There are 3 wonderful homes on this tour with about 40 designers working on them. Tickets are $40 in advance, and you can purchase them at the store. Information hot line is 408-494-9225 or go to http://summit-league.org/ticket_info.php.

I am also honored to be decorating a Christmas tree for the Dominican Hospital Foundation Guild fundraiser “Holidays d’Eleganz” at the Cocoanut Grove, http://sites.google.com/site/dhfguild/ . This is a 2 day event with a fashion show and lunch on Friday, November 21, and dinner and grand ball with an auction on the 22nd. It will be fabulous with wonderful donated gifts and you can purchase raffle tickets to win one of the amazingly decorated trees, all done by local florists and designers. The theme of my tree is natural history, so you know I'm going to have fun with it.

Also, the Sunset Idea House in Monterey is open until December 7. Hours are 9-4 Friday, Saturday and Sundays. http://www.sunset.com/sunset/marketplace/article/0,20633,1708721~844996,00.html I’m thrilled that they chose to use quite a few of my antiques in the home but besides that it’s just a pretty fabulous piece of land and home filled with great ideas.

The one with the cool super close ups

Yes I went nuts with the macro mode-
amazing what people did to make do: plate breaks, mend it. a lovely image from an antique lithography stone old chippy paint

a little section of furniture fastening:

some pegs in my swedish table

dovetails on a pine trunk

dovetails on another pine trunk

just look at the circular dovetails on my crock hutch!
crazy curved dovetails on the swedish armoire

alligatoring on an antique dresser

an antique alligator

The random one with the bingo balls

Love the macro mode on my camera... My new crock shelf I love love love so much I can't explain exactly why. It just speaks to me.

The fabulous metal dental cabinet I bought in Texas LAST YEAR and finally brought in.

vintage crow targets found in Mylissa's Garden. A cute addition to my Halloween window.

The one with an ode to my butcher block

I'm in love with my butcher block, found in Texas by way of Nebraska. Lovingly made and thoroughly used, it's ready for a million meals more. BTW it's not my butcher block, I own it but it resides in the shop until you take it home :) Local delivery is available.

The one with the cute boys in Texas

Couple of fun pics of our trip. Just the first night, because after that we were so sick and all of the pictures are so sad, like we are really trying to fake feeling good. This is the lovely Gary, who lives in Utopia, Texas, and is now single, ladies. I believe my leg was there because I was saving a seat for someone.

Jess and Chicago Joe, about 2:30 in the am, before they let her drive the golf cart.

Is this not a beautiful hunk of man? Don't look at me, look at Clark. He gets better looking every time, it's really not fair.
This is Caroline, she was hit by a car and lost her leg and eye. We so wanted to take her home.

Now time for my shout outs to my Texas (and kansas, oklahoma, missouri, nebraska, I hope I am not forgetting anywhere or anyone) friends. Charlie and Kathy, you were lovely as always, if you are reading this, I did not get my litttle landscape and I still want it! Gary, you sweet man. Danny T I hope you took it easy after we left. Bobby Boyd from "Shabbiques", you're a charmer, come on out for a visit and I'll show you around. You too Chicago Joe (Illinois!), email me for some great video and pics of our first night. Theresa from Garden Antqs Vintage, your booth was beautiful and I am so sorry I missed the party and did not get to meet all of the other wonderful bloggers out there. Thanks for the Uncommon Objects tank, and the sweet deal on that great dental tray table! Cheryl at Zapp, you are darling. I loved getting to see you have fun rather than work all of the time. Hey to "the Dude", it was so nice meeting you, I hope to see you next time. Clark, we'll catch up next time, although I know you are not reading this because you don't have a computer.

The one with great finds from the Round Top, Texas Antique Fair

Ok, I'm somewhat back with the living. I had some design clients to concentrate on, and now I can show you some things I brought back from Texas. Above is my ghost deer, which I just painted white, I think he looks so handsome. SOLD My ode to travel, and wine. This old postal sorter can hold 135 bottles of wine in a unique and compact manner. SOLD The 65 BSA is still for sale. A closer look at the awesome map I found. It's plywood, and so intricately cut out. Someone spent a long time putting this together. Sorry, no Alaska or Hawaii. The airplanes are old hood ornaments I had sandblasted and mounted on steel stands. SOLD

These posters from England were behind Jess and I in my last post. I had to bring them home. SOLD

You know I can't resist a postal sorter. This one is so cute, it's even got a little spot for Fort Worth, and comes with a pencil sharpener!

This mantle is so huge and awesome, long leaf pine, from a mansion in Arkansas. It would be an amazing headboard, opening is 59" wide.

A wider look at my Halloweeny front window, what you can't see is my new dyed black enormous hide, like butter.

Yes, I am insane. I went to Alameda a couple of days after I got back from Texas completely sick and exhausted, but look! It was so worth it. A Georgian secretary, circa 1810, English.

So I have a shabby chic side, what can I do. This is the real deal, a million layers of paint on a substantial antique dresser, I could not resist.

Yet another stripped and polished vintage steel dresser, works great and perfect in a room with too much wood, or where you need a little modern so your house does not look like Grandmas.

The one where I just got back and am sick and exhausted

We are back. Actually got back late Wednesday night after deciding to drive home in two days. I'm only going to focus on the positive so this pic was a fun time in the Clutter booth where jess and I were getting a little bit loopy. I found some really great stuff there. Will post more soon. To give you a quick little story of my trip I am now posting my facebook updates:
Colleen is in heaven. Here less than an hour, already 2 beers in and over 100 spent in the first minute.
Colleen is not giving into peer pressure anymore.
Colleen is a delicate flower.
Colleen 's hangover is possibly disappating.
Colleen is going to have a great day tomorrow.
Colleen is melting.
Colleen has country feet.
Colleen is finally in her element in Texas.
Colleen is pushing on.
Colleen needed a change so I just cut bangs with Jessies new toenail clippers.
Colleen is trying to sleep but Hank from King of the Hill is loudly entertaining the other guests right outside her door.
Colleen just heard a senator on texas radio liken the buyout package to "two cow patties with a marshmallow in the middle, and I ain't gonna eat that".
Colleen is exhausted, has a horrible cold, contracted pink eye, and is now leaving Abilene, Texas. I'm still in a good mood, though.
Colleen is going to drive for 14 hours today with the pink eye.
Colleen is home sweet home.

The one with the great information on the Round Top and Warrenton Texas Antique fair

A little more info on the big Texas antique fair:

http://www.zapphall.com/map.htm

Everyone asks me where this huge antiques fair is and I tell them it's in the middle of nowhere, seriously. So here is the map of the area. The fair spreads out to shelby, round top, carmine, fayetteville, and burton. http://www.showdaily.us/ is the magazine that is provided to you at the show to help navigate your way through. http://urbanprairierefueled.blogspot.com/2008/08/warrenton-texas-podcast.html it's a short film that Chris Brown from Urban prarie did. A little different from the way I see it, but very cool. http://www.slide.com/r/ACC24h-zFj_kCbtrFVbIxugf7rnc35W2?cy=bb is a slide show of images from warrenton, where we stay, shop and hang out. I'd like to give you images of the size and scale of it, the tents and open fields of vendors, but can't find any.

5 hours flying out, 1841 miles, 28+ hours driving time back, 4 days walking miles and miles through hot dusty fields filled with fire ants in either a 100 degree bathtub or 32 degree freezing rain weather eating bad fair food with no relief. It really sounds bad when I put it that way but I love it, the people and hospitality and the wonderful finds and the beautiful nights filled with laughter and music make it all worthwhile. Plus I get to do it all with one of my favorite people, my girl Jess. It wasn't the same without her last time. 8 more days!

The one before I leave town and am very excited

Eleven days until Texas! So excited! I will be having friends fill in so I am working hard at getting everything priced and easy. I'm also getting all of my ducks (and fabrics and workrooms) in a row on my design jobs so I can concentrate on buying. Miss Jessie is doing the same I hope. PS this amazing English chest of drawers circa 1750 now has a beautiful new home.

The one where "the littlest bird" moves to Blue Apple Studios in Aptos

" The Littlest Bird" at Saffron and Genevieve will soon be no more.

Cayce Ellison, the brilliant mind behind it

would like to concentrate on her family,

her career - Blue Apple Studios,

and her second baby on the way.

If you've been in you know how great her stuff is,

baby gifts, clothes, books and toys.

Sorry for the short notice,

it will all be moving to her studio in Aptos after Saturday.

Come and get it while it lasts.

I couldn't resist buying some finger puppets for myself ;)

Cayce I had so much fun having you here,

seeing you and Jack Henry,

your creativity and artists eye are such a gift.

I hope to see you just as often.

BTW Saffron and Genevieve is safe and sound and

not going anywhere,

you know how these rumers get started...

The one where I talk about my tomato tasting and anniversary sale

I want to thank everyone who made it to my anniversary party for coming. Thanks to Barbara at Meder Street Farms for donating the most scrumptious dry farmed early girl tomatoes for my tomato tasting. We also served some beautiful organic heirlooms, which I still have 30 pounds of... (I didn't want to run out, and a little tomato goes a long way). The toppings bar was beautiful, if I do say so myself. Friday night I cooked up a ton of crunchy bacon, a sundried tomato dip, carmelized onion dip, nice toasted garlic slices, and sourdough toasts. There was also goat, parm, blue and fresh mozz cheese, as well as the must have balsamic. It went over well and I recommend it highly as a buffet idea. Thanks to Allison for serving and making everything so pretty. Must also thank Meagan, Kate, Stacey Costello, and Cayce for being here and doing whatever needed to be done. Last but not least thanks Jeffery from Vinocruz for coming out and pouring and talking about your fabulous wines, and J-P for choosing just the right ones to complement the tomatoes.

Unfortunately I did not sell everything in the store so if you did not make it by come on in and see what's left. 15 days to go until big Texas antiquing trip!

The one with the tomatoes

Are you all ready for the party this Saturday? I now have 1300 people on my shop mailing list, so it's a big guess as to how many people will come. I now have enough heirloom and dry farmed early girl tomatoes for an army, and enough local wine for us all to enjoy (I hope). I have brought one load of furniture so far from my abundant storage unit, and have 2 more trips scheduled. I really plan on selling everyting outside before the days end. If the store ends up empty too of course I will be sad but hey, Alameda is the next morning, so I will get over it. So, Saturday at noon. Buy what you love, get a great deal, eat and drink fabulous local yummies, and visit with the nicest people in town - my customers!