simple of blogs

Saturday, May 29, 2010

Hello breadboard!

We've been Flickring... and found this great image! ( By love_yellow) She's been making rye bread from Ikea. (Comes as a mix in a pack and then you add stuff.) We're going to try it next time we're home sick and go for a little bit of home comforting in Southamptons new Ikea store.

In good company!

Found these two images on Flickr today ( by rubbad) and had to post them here. The leaf tray/ plate is a vintage Stig Lindberg for Gustavsberg. And the Isak cup is the first cup that we made back when we started, so I guess, in some ways our cup is a bit vintage as well! We are very flattered we're next to Stig! And aren't the graphics on the rape seed oil fab?

Happy Trails

Saturday morning pre work. It's 6:30am and there is a new presence in my private time. Our roommate's brother "Styles" is here for the weekend. Why does everyone have a call name? Am I in the marines?

Anyhoo, Styles seems to require even less sleep than I do and as I browse blogs and sip espresso, he's out in our garden mulching. I'll be out there shortly, stumbling through the wet grass taking pictures for this post. We've had two nights of rain and the"grounds" looks green and fertile. The grass needs a mowing and is ankle high in clover. Our visitor wanted to mow as soon as he got here last night. He doesn't read Horticulture magazine so is advising weed killer. I'm a weeder not a killer, no pesticides here.

Big garden news for us is this hydrangea. It hasn't bloomed in 5 years, it was due for rezoning. Apparently it got the memo. It's loaded with pink and purple blossoms. The raspberries are ripe for the eating and our basket of strawberries is going strong.

Sunday is a day for slow roasting pork and baking beans. Monday we're off to visit our garden mentors at their farm. Happy holiday weekend to all. May all your skies be blue , your food delicious and your conversations witty.

Friday, May 28, 2010

Dancing in the streets

A lot of life was just added to New York Avenue here in DC recently thanks to the National Museum of Women in the Arts.

A series of sculpture exhibits is planned in the upcoming 5 years for a rather soul-less section of New York Avenue right downtown near the White House (between 12 and 13th streets). The first artist selected for the series is Niki de Saint Phalle, best known for her Stravinsky Fountain in front of the Pompidou Center in Paris.

Her large and colorful sculptures bring a smile to the face of everyone who sees them. The expressions they evoke are of pure joy and exuberance, just what dreary downtown needs sometimes! Even while taking these pictures, I got a lot of comments on how great they were.

The sculptures are in stark contrast to much of the art that is featured throughout the city: overwhelmingly traditional and much of it very staid and seriously themed.

The purpose of the exhibit is to bring the museum into the streets and the community. I think it will also bring some attention to NMWA which I have to admit I've never visited, despite living a mere 3 blocks away!

Saint Phalle liked to challenge the notion of what fine art is, and these pieces are no exception. Whimsical yet still monumental, I would imagine a lot of people enjoy these pieces a lot more than they would a trip to their local museum (or so they would think). Art is to be enjoyed, and these are undoubtably joyful!

They celebrate women, children, cultural diversity and love. I think we can all get behind those subjects.

Every 1 to 3 years, the installation will be changed out, but I hope this one remains longer rather than not. Even the signage for Saint Phalle is fun!

Do you have a favorite local statue or exhibit to bring a smile to your face everyday? I would love to hear about it!

holiday weekend

ready for summer? me too! a little collage of things that came to mind when I thought of summer while I worked today.

HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND

Model Home Tour starts this weekend

New model homes are freshly decorated and ready for your visit at One Main Street in downtown Bellevue. The model home tour includes eight model homes with new pricing including these:

Model Home 203 has one bedroom, one full bathroom and a powder room, with 791 square feet, priced at $389,900.

This home also features a large private balcony, a grand kitchen with slab limestone countertops, and a lavishly appointed master bath with huge walk-in shower.

Model Home 210 is a City Suite with three-quarter bath and 662 square feet, priced at $369,900.

This efficient space is perfect for a first home or pied a'terre. The living space is inviting and elegant, and the extra finished room with closets is a perfect space to convert easily from bedroom to den/office and back again.

Model Home 403 has one bedroom, one full bathroom and a powder room with 804 square feet, priced at $419,900.

This north-facing home has an inviting living space opening to an entertainment-sized deck. The elegant master suite has a walk-in closet and an ensuite bathroom wtih large tiled walk-in shower.

These three homes plus five others are furnished and ready for your tour and purchase this weekend as our Model Home Tour kicks off. Visit One Main Street today, open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 10000 Main Street on the walkable, livable west side of Downtown Bellevue - about which one homeowner says, "I love having people over and strolling to restaurants, or just going and grabbing a cup of coffee."

For more info, e-mail Trisha Quigley or Marina Pelzel, call 425.452.6246, or visit http://www.onemainstreet.com/.