New York Gift Show

I have been back from the New York Gift Show for two weeks now and the cool stuff I bought is just starting to come in. It is kind of like Xmas! Even though we do interior and garden design in the studio upstairs from the shop, we carry more than just furniture and pots in the store. It really is a fun eclectic mix of stuff I love. Perhaps it is not as sophisticated as some design shops, but when I get to the gift shows and see all the fun stuff, I just cant help myself. So we really try to come up with a great mix of cool indoor and outdoor furniture and super fun accessories and gifts. That being said, this week we got two orders that have nothing at all to do with each other but are super cool in their own way.

I have ALWAYS wanted one of these chairs! So if one is good, two is better, right? It is called the "Fauteuil Capuche de Versailles" , or the capucine chair, or the porter's chair....... Originating in the 18th century at the palace of Versailles under Louis 15th, it was originally meant for private conversations between two people. The chairs would face each other, say in front of a fire, and you could actually speak softly and be heard in the other chair. The sound carries from one "hood" to another. Crazy! I have seen them in France and always loved them! At the same time, they were using them in England as porter's chair. The chair was placed by the front door of an estate or home for use by a gatekeeper servant who was in charge of screening guests and visitors. I love the history of furniture......

I have seen this vendor at the New York show for a few years but have never really been able to afford them. This time I just did it! I bought two! YIPPEE! They should be in my shop in the next two weeks. I had mine made in a weathered, greyed out wood with gilded gold accents. I chose a luxurious greyed out brown velvet for the seat, the welting and inside the hood and a great burlap and rusted tacks for the base of the seat and the outside of the chair. They are going to look killer in the front window! I cant wait!

As if getting the two of them wasn't good enough, the day after I ordered we went to Bergdorf Goodman to see the Kelly Wearstler boutique and lo and behold , she had two stylized and VERY glamorous version of the same chair! It was a sign! I love Kelly Wearstler! I love my chairs. Then (as if that isn't good enough!) my friend Todd ambled down the hall to use the litter box (he left us still sitting and drooling in the Kelly chairs). He was back in 10 seconds, literally...and without saying a word, grabbed my had and said "come!" He dragged me down the same hallway and when I turned the corner into the Luncheon Cafe......there they were! At least 10 of the same chair! Yellow and blue and oh so lovely! If you ever have the chance - you have to go and have lunch there! Such a lovely space, the De Gournay wallpaper, the view of Central Park, the Capuche chairs! Heaven!

Anyhoo......back to reality.....to compliment the lovely aforementioned chairs are the lovely Gnome accessories to go with all the other gnome stuff I have. I am kind of doing a picnic concept for all my outdoor stuff this season...and these gnome plates and cups would be so fun and cheery tucked into a picnic basket. I brought in some beautiful French market baskets with red leather handles and trim just which are just perfect!

OK then...that's it for now! This turned out to be a bit longer than I expected. Tune in next time and here's to dirt under your nails!

I CAN'T BELIEVE IT! DOMINO IS NO MORE!

How can this be? Domino? Dead? No way! I just bought 30 subscriptions (honestly)for my clients in hopes they would love Domino as much as I did! There is absolutely nothing else out there with the style of Domino - the accessibility - the eclecticity.... I am stunned.

I am sure that it will not help - but I am writing a letter to Conde Nast......out of all their magazines...this one? They probably won't be listening, but it will at least make me feel a very little bit better......

instead of just bitter........

I have a secret obsession with garden gnomes. OK, maybe it is not so secret.....and I know it is not particularly cool to like these cheesy little critters, but at the same time - what's not to love. I have never really wanted to admit my love for gnomes in public until now...so here it is....my Official Gnome Outing! YIPPEE! I LOVE GNOMES!

Anyhoo..........I was in New York last week at the gift show and I found myself (much to my 4 travelling buddies' dismay) on a mission for ALL THINGS GNOME. I have always carried a line of garden gnomes in my shop that I love very much - but they are a more realistic gnome, not the crazy gnomes of old...you know, the cheesy ones......so off I went. I found gnome dinnerware, gnome pillows and the ultimate.... GNOME-BE-GONES; which are quite possibly the funniest things I have ever seen! Look at the expression on their faces...and as for the gnomes being hoisted away, they are in full lipstick and mascara....almost in drag! HILARIOUS!

The fellow who is the artist is named Fred Conlon and his company is called http://www.sugarpost.com/ . I carried his product during the winter, like the army helmet turtles and the Venus fly traps, but only now have I discovered the GNOME BE GONES! You have to check out his website and then play the game - he really has an interactive game - GNOME-BE-GONE; THE GAME - you get to shoot gnomes that pop up from behind the rocks....what a stitch!

I will be getting my first shipment of these little lovelies on March 1st so stop by and check them out! I can't wait - I am sure I will take at least one home for myself - or perhaps I will have him make me a giant pair - the granddaddy of them all!

YIPPEE!!!!! Today is George Bush' last day! Tomorrow morning at 9 am pacific time we will have a fantastic new President! So glad those last 8 years are over…….CONGRATULATIONS PRESIDENT OBAMA!!!

It’s time for a fresh start and what better way for a fresh start than with a fresh new color? Pantone the global authority on color and provider of professional color standards for the design industries, just announced PANTONE® 14-0848 Mimosa, a warm, engaging yellow, as the color of the year for 2009. In a time of economic uncertainty and political change, optimism is paramount and no other color expresses hope and reassurance more than yellow.

"The color yellow exemplifies the warmth and nurturing quality of the sun, properties we as humans are naturally drawn to for reassurance," explains Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute®. "Mimosa also speaks to enlightenment, as it is a hue that sparks imagination and innovation."

Best illustrated by the abundant flowers of the Mimosa tree and the sparkle of the brilliantly hued cocktail, (mmmmmm…..cocktail) the 2009 color of the year represents the hopeful and radiant characteristics associated with the color yellow. Mimosa is a versatile shade that coordinates with any other color, has appeal for men and women, and translates to both fashion and interiors. Look for women's accessories, home furnishings, active sportswear and men's ties and shirts in this vibrant hue. I have some great yellow accessories arriving in the next few weeks—you should stop by and see if you can add a little sunshine to your interior with this super fun and cheerful color! See you soon!

Please let me introduce myself.....

HI THERE! Welcome to my very first blog entry! My name is JJ De Sousa and I am an interior / garden designer from Portland, Oregon. I also have a cute little retail shop on NE Alberta street in the Alberta Arts District. It is my intent to blog on pieces for your home and garden that I find interesting with hopes that you will too! I always like to know the history or the story of a piece – where did it come from? Who made this piece, when and why? I hope to share information with you and learn something myself in the process.

A little about me: I live in Portland and I love it. It is the coolest town and I am very lucky to be here! I love to travel a lot and bring things back from wherever I go. I try and get out there as much as possible and tend to get cabin fever quickly. I love music, and I have been playing guitar since I was 7. I have played in a band until just recently named Secret Squirrel. I believe in color. I believe in eclectic interiors and gardens. I believe that it is important to get out into the world. I believe in Hello Kitty, great handbags and shoes and finally I think things will get better in this country with Barack Obama at the helm! YAHOO!!!!!

So off we go……

I have a new obsession. Rain boots. Rubber boots, garden boots, whatever you want to call them. I have been trolling the web for the perfect pair for about 2 months. And at last, I finally found them. YIPPEE!!!! Actually, I am not sure if I really found the perfect pair or if I just got completely sick of looking for the perfect pair and just settled for a pair that was great, but not perfect.

If you have been even remotely paying attention to women’s shoe and women’s fashion for the last few months, you can’t help but have noticed that anyone who is anyone is wearing hip and fashionable rain boots for more than just going out in the rain. They have hit the mainstream and are showing up everywhere. It seems wherever I go I see some hip chick in a great pair or rain boots. Some great places to look for your perfect pair are www.dllrainwear.com; www.shoes.com; www.zappos.com and www.dsw.com . That being said, I did not find my new boots at any of these sights. I was looking for a short pair black patterned of rain boots to accommodate my short legs and it has proven to be a pain in the butt! But yesterday I achieved relative success! I found a pair of super cute London Underground short shaft black & white rain boots! I really wanted the Ed Hardy “Love Kills Slowly” boots, but none were to be had in my size – heavy sigh. After I purchased the London Underground pair, I found another pair, so what the hell, I can just have two pairs. I guess if less is more, then more is better! Both pairs I found were under $40 each so for less than the price of the one pair of Ed hardy I originally wanted, I got two pairs. My second pair will actually be used in the garden so they have a Royal Horticultural Society (England) garden vegetable theme.

In England, a land that is far more wet and rainy (if you can believe it!) than here in Portland, the rain boots are called “Wellies” The Wellington boot, is a type of boot based upon Hessian boots. It was worn and popularized by Arthur Wellesley, the 1st Duke of Wellington and most fashionable among the British aristocracy in the early 19th century. Wellington boots are waterproof and are most often made from PVC. In the past they have usually been worn when walking on wet or muddy ground, or to protect the wearer from heavy showers. But lately, they have taken a whole new spin, just open any fashion magazine and see! They are generally just below knee-high. Check these out…..

So there you have it, my very first blog! Thank you very much for listening and I hope to see you again!