Last day of the year at the shop......

Last day of the year at the shop....

HAPPIEST OF NEW YEARS TO ALL OF YOU!!!!

This morning at the flower market...

Check out this crazy unusually shaped pepper...of some sort. Had to take a picture. No tag on it, so the mystery remains. Anyone????? Bueller?

A day of trawling.....

I love lighting....LOVE. So today I went in search of some new to me/vintage lighting at one of my favorite spots, Lounge Lizard. I found these three killer pieces. If I had ANY room left in my house, I would sooooooo get the yellow periscope lamp. UP PERISCOPE! Totally unique. Yours for a mere $85..........

Now it's off to Pinot American Bistro with Sue and Eric and her parents visiting from Texas......I'm hoping they still have their amazing fried chicken on the menu.......

Have a lovely evening!

The Merriest of Xmas' to you!

...and your Agave......... (hilarious!)

...we had a relaxing day of cocktails, a side of bacon and new movies.......

Now it's off for a Chinese feast (and more cocktails) for dinner! Happy Holidays!!!!

Jj de Sousa sent you an ElfYourself dance!

Greetings!

Jj de Sousa sent you this ElfYourself dance:

http://elfyourself.jibjab.com/view/hKKPSI0NO6EH37brFQ2v

HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE.......I can't seem to get enough of this jub jab stuff...this time it is Elf Yourself..the 2010 version! Ho Ho Ho!

i love a good tulipere....

If you have been in my shop more than once, you will surely know that I have a few things that I really love......Gnomes, squirrels, all things chinoiserie......which would of course include tulipieres........ Tulipieres come in many shapes and sizes, but they were originally formed in a semi-pagoda style.......so you might be tempted to think that they might be Chinese of origin, but they are in fact, a Dutch thing. In the 1600's hybridized tulips were being traded on the market like stocks are being traded now. Certain new and exciting varieties would be traded for the same price as a house. So here is the Asian style tie-in.....tulips - which are thought of as a Dutch thing (and now really now are a Dutch thing...) actually have their origins in the Far East, so the tulipieres were created in an Asian or chinoiserie style to reflect that origin. The main purpose of the tulipiere was to show off individual expensive varieties of tulips, thereby showing off your extreme wealth. Interesting to note is that the bottom eventually fell out of the tulip market much like our modern financial disasters....time just repeats itself. I love the history of things.......geeky, but kinda cool!

Anyhoo..........The pair pictured below are very traditionally shaped tulipieres done in a typical Delft Blue and probably about 5 feet tall. I saw one similar (but bigger and more ornate - with gold ormolu) at the V & A in London.....

Of course, there are many modern takes on the traditional tulipiere, which I love...and we just got a bunch of them in the shop....here is what we have in the shop.....so many great choices! Don't you know someone who would LOVE one of these for Xmas?????

So modern and cool! I love these gray pieces....so unique and modern....

Here is a photo of a coral branching tulipiere and a smaller version of the gray one two photos back. The yellow roses really popped against the gray and were a good substitute for tulips. I also have placed tillandsias where tulips should be and it is SUPER cool!!!!!

These artichoke tulipiers are a more subtle and conservative version, but the green one ( I didn't get the pink one - blech!) is quite lovely!

Allrighty then........ have a great last week of Xmas shopping! We hope to see you!!!! As always, the espresso is on us!!!

A day in Seattle.

Miss Barbara and I spent Monday shopping at Pike's Market in Seattle
and stopoped at the Pink Door for lunch. What a great place. No sign
outside, just a pink door......

They actually have women swinging on trapeze during certain lunches
and at dinner. Crazy!!!

THE PANTONE COLOR OF THE YEAR 2011 IS......

HONEYSUCKLE.........
YIKES!!!!! Anyone who knows me knows I love color....just not this color........My new intern, Cullen, described it as "old lady lipstick". He hit it right on the nose........

Sorry to those of you that don't dislike shades of pink like I do, but there it is. Yuck.........

Anyhoo......here is the press release.....

----------------------------------------------------------

Pantone Reveals Color of the Year for 2011:PANTONE 18-2120 Honeysuckle

Energizing Honeysuckle Lifts Spirits and Imparts Confidence to Meet Life's Ongoing Challenges...

CARLSTADT, N.J., Dec. 9, 2010 – Pantone LLC, an X-Rite company (NASDAQ: XRIT), and the global authority on color and provider of professional color standards for the design industries, today announced PANTONE® 18-2120 Honeysuckle, a vibrant, energetic hue, as the color of the year for 2011.

While the 2010 color of the year, PANTONE 15-5519 Turquoise, served as an escape for many, Honeysuckle emboldens us to face everyday troubles with verve and vigor. A dynamic reddish pink, Honeysuckle is encouraging and uplifting. It elevates our psyche beyond escape, instilling the confidence, courage and spirit to meet the exhaustive challenges that have become part of everyday life. “In times of stress, we need something to lift our spirits. Honeysuckle is a captivating, stimulating color that gets the adrenaline going – perfect to ward off the blues,” explains Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute®. “Honeysuckle derives its positive qualities from a powerful bond to its mother color red, the most physical, viscerally alive hue in the spectrum.” Eiseman continues, “The intensity of this festive reddish pink allures and engages. In fact, this color, not the sweet fragrance of the flower blossoms for which it was named, is what attracts hummingbirds to nectar. Honeysuckle may also bring a wave of nostalgia for its associated delicious scent reminiscent of the carefree days of spring and summer.” Honeysuckle is guaranteed to produce a healthy glow when worn by both men and women. It's a striking, eye-catching hue that works well for day and night in women's apparel, accessories and cosmetics, and in men's ties, shirts and sportswear. Add a lively flair to interior spaces with Honeysuckle patterned pillows, bedspreads, small appliances and tabletop accessories. Looking for an inexpensive way to perk up your home? Paint a wall in Honeysuckle for a dynamic burst of energy in the family room, kitchen or hallway.

Presenting..the Digs Inside & Out Cookbook.....tried and true recipes

It's finally here.......our new cookbook arrived today and I am thrilled!

I love to cook and entertain so I threw together a small collection of my favorite recipes and had them put together in a small book. YIPPEE!!!!

The book is available in the shop for $30.......it would make a great gift...i'm just saying....

In the shop....

Here's a few iPhone photos of what we have got at the shop right now.
The perfect nifty giftys....

Monster studio...

A local artist makes these hilarous monster sculptures and he had his
studio sale yesterday. Each piece had it's own distinct personality.
Love it!!! He also has minster making parties
Where you make and keep your own.

WTF????

Do you think he knows about this??? YIKES!!!!

how cute is this!!!!

The shop is being over run by gnomes and their accouterments.......... The mushroom banks are killing me!!!

30% OFF EVERYTHING SALE AT DIGS - THIS WEEKEND ONLY!

GOBBLE GOBBLE!!!!

HAPPY TURKEY DAY TO YOU AND YOURS! ....AND HERE'S A TOAST TO ALL OF US SMALL SHOP OWNERS TO A GREAT DAY TOMORROW AND THROUGH THE HOLIDAY SHOPPING SEASON!

PLEASE SHOP SMALL - SHOP LOCAL!!!! IT MAKES A HUGE DIFFERENCE...........

HECK OF A SALE AT DIGS - START THE SHOPPING SEASON RIGHT!!!

Thank God for happy hour.......

A lively drink at Olympic Provisions......

Perfect day for a pedicure!!!

Snowy and blustery.... Perfect day to get a seasalt leg scrub and a
soak in warm water. Nothing like a good foot rub to get the day
started. The blue nail color reminds me Morocco.

First snow in Portland. Yippee!!!!!

The land of tillandsias and gnomes

I have a love affair with tillandsias this year. In fact, I love them so much that the we literally have a few hundred of them at the shop this week! They are so easy to love and even easier to care for......

These tillandsias look great adorning this tulipiere - kind of an unexpected pairing!

We also have lots of happy little garden gnomes.......we even have a "gardening" gnome and the craziest gnome I have ever seen - the "biker" gnome. Unfortunately, I need a better photo...so tune back in to check them out...or better yet, come on down to the shop and take a gander....the espresso is on us!

Lastly, Frenchy and I went out for dinner with some friends - the ever charming Sue and Eric at a relatively new restaurant downtown - Pinot American Brasserie - it was delicious! Nice interior - tasty food and excellent service! A perfect combination!.....Sorry for the bad iphoto - but we started with the duck fat fries (yum!) and a great beer!...Ty it for yourself at SW 12th & Washington........

Have a great Sunday!