You've got to have options.

Folks say (I mostly hear it from my husband) that it is always good to have options. 

Applying that thought to this chair, here is an option....

Add this fabric.....

For something like this...

via:Effortless Style

Different shape yes. But is it the general idea, still yes. 

So, what do we think? 

Playing with my toys.

Today I have been playing with my toys.  These particular toys revolve around accessories and lamps in the living rooms. Here are some of my toys. 

A pair of these lamps were purchased approximately 11 months after we bought our house.  

They are came from here. I love them dearly but they are sometimes quite hard to work with because they are big & tall. They work best when together and they shine a nice, friendly light in the room. 

I purchased this dandy at TJ Maxx. It is a far cry from my beloved tree lamps, but none the less is a cutie.

TJ Maxx frequently has pairs of things.  There are always two! Some meany pants bought one and left this poor little guy there all by his lonesome. Sad day. I had to bring him home. 

These two Jolly Rancherish frames also came from TJ Maxx.  In my personal opinion I'm better looking than the frame model.  Just kidding, these are for my Mother.  (I hope she's not reading this, that would totally blow the surprise.)

I bought "Mr. It" a few weeks ago at the Art Center in Midtown Memphis.  It's been a total hoot to see what posture he is in after a day of teaching lessons.  No naughty fingers as of yet, let's keep OUR fingers crossed shall we?

All of these pieces belong to the living room console.  Trying to figure out who will take their turn for the next few weeks has been a tough one.

This is what I started out with:

Yes I realize there are to many things on top of the console. I was weighing the options. 

Then I went to this: 

Switching to a single lamp, and to one that is smaller really changed the feel of the room. I hadn't realized how much space the pair of lamps took up. 

two more swaps:

The subtraction of the X-Stool (bought some leopard fabric for the top cushion more on that to come), and added the ceramic garden stools.  A nice punch of color under the forest of metallic that is the console. The tray that was on top of the X-Stool is not on top of the console. The color of the books plus the stools is a nice contrast to break up all of the mirror from both the console and the actual mirror. This was also something that the tree lamps was able to provide. 

For the time being I am going to try out this lamp on the console.  It is such a different look for the room. I adore the pair of tree lamps on this console.  So they may be back.  If I could find another one of these TJ Maxx dandies to pair with this little  guy, that would be super.  It's hard to purchase just 1 lamp.  Buying 2 is always advisable.

So kids, what do we think? Any one have some good console ideas to share? 

Interview with Prince William and Catherine Middleton

It's "Spring Break" this week with most Memphis schools and thus most of my students are away in fancy places like...Belize or Telluride...or Lake Tahoe...need I go on? 

I have a little extra time on my hands in the meantime...perfect for learning...oh say....recital music!?!?! 

In addition to recital music, I've also been doing some accessorizing in the living room. I picked up a few things around the time of the Kansas trip.

I picked these hands up at Urban Outfitters in Lawrence.  I wanted to get a preview of what our new neighborhood store would have on "hand" when it opens in just a few weeks. Yes they sort of look like  a Jesus prayer hand sort of thing but I think they're perfect for holding my business cards that I keep hand-y on the piano to give to students/parents at lessons. 

This guys is something else.  To say that he is two faced would be an understatement.  He's actually...um 7 faced...hmm that doesn't have the same ring to it? It is just the cutest little vase isn't it? Haha, spoofed you.  I totally didn't pay that for this! I have been longing for this darn weirdo thing for about 2 years but there's no way I'm going to fork over that much for a vase...seriously! When we were in Kansas City we went to Z Gallerie and that is where I found him.  Unfortunately he is not listed on the web page. Perhaps they hijacked him from Jonathan Adler? That would be really sweet. 

I ordered this bowl from none other than hsn!  That spelled out is home shopping network. Those folks don't fool around kids.  Fastest shipping I've ever experienced and in short, service with a smile.  Or lack there of because I didn't actually ever see or talk to anybody. This little dandy comes from the Nate Berkus line of treats.  I'd seen this bowl pictured in several magazines and blogs and thought, what the hey...cute as a button, ikat, good price, let's do it!  I ordered on Tuesday and it arrived on Wednesday just before we departed for Kansas.

Now as for these three pieces, they are all sort of random acquisitions...if you will.  Right now they are all out on display around the living room.  Where they will go and what I will actually do with them is unknown.  The 7 faced vase is an odd size for flowers and the bowl isn't exactly something I'd serve mashed potatoes in so I'm not sure what's up or down other than I like them.  The Jesus hands have found a place and provide the perfect service, right where I needed a set of helping hands.

Last evening I went to the store to pick up a few items and decided to pick up a little $7 delight.  Tea roses.  Right now they're closed and not showing their faces but I anticipate that in a few short days they will be in full blossom.  I tell you what boys and girls, there's nothing to perk a gal up like fresh flowers!
Such a lovely prelude to spring in Memphis.

Recital posters in the air

In just 10 short days I will be giving a recital.  I haven't done a full recital since May 1, 2005. I've sang a song here, and a song there...and a set of songs on occasion but for the most part I've not been an active singer for quite a while. A musician friend of ours in Memphis even went as far as to say, "You're not a singer anymore!" What a shock to me that was. My response was to ask, "Well what am I then?" He told me I was a preacher type...Those of you who have known me, and even back to the days when I was a "singer"...I think there is something that we can all agree on that I have always been a preacher type.  My "preacher type" revolves around the fact I like to talk...I can tell a story, and I can listen to a story. Doesn't this translate into a "singer"? I mean hello, have you met a singer? They talk, and talk, and talk some more! To me, after the general translation, what he said was equivalent to....a singer. 

I have been planning for this recital for a while.  Since I entered seminary as it were.  I've thought about which pieces I would like to study, and then sing.  Where it would be...and what I would wear. (Hello...totally a singer thing to do. )  When I started the med study in the early fall I made it part of my goal that I had to lose some pounds before my recital and before graduation. To date I'm over 40 pounds, that puts me in a much better place than 6 months ago.  I stand a little taller, am a little prouder, and hold my chin a bit higher...hello, singer. 

So here we are the week before the recital.  I've got my dress picked out, my weight lost (or a lot more than I expected) and the music in the works.  That leaves one more thing....recital posters! I want people to show up after all...once again, singer. 

And like anybody, I like to have options...here were the 3 options: 

Photos by Annie Tichenor

I think it is safe to admit that for a short period of time I actually was more worried about what to wear for these pictures and for the recital than I was about anything else.  (singer) I selected photo #2 for the recital posters.  Photo #1 comes with a bit of history in that this is the same pose/shot as the recital poster this photographer/graphic designer did for my recital in 2005.  Some good things are fun to recreate. This is for sure one of them. 

The current recital poster is modeled after this dandy! I've renewed my love with Kate Spade.  

What do you think? 

Back in 2005 I was going through a Marc Jacobs phase.  I still am...what am I thinking.  I think his style is brilliant. Everything he does under his label all the way over to Louis Vuitton. 

I love what he does with his fonts and the photos against the white background. 

That is where the primary inspiration came for the first pose in this now series of posters.

All this being said, the recital is Friday March 25th at 7:30 pm at Saint John's Episcopal Church in Memphis, Tennessee. The outfit has been chosen, some weight has been lost, the songs have been learned (for the most part), and the party has been planned. The thesis has been started and all engines are on "go". 

craigslist ridiculousness

I have all the luck in the world buying things on craigslist...why in the world can't I sell something on craigslist? I have been posting these chairs on and off for the past few months on the Memphis Craigslist furniture page and I get some nibbles towards a purchase, but for the most part...NOTHING.

I currently have these chairs listed (twice) with Criag on his list and have them under different titles, both that include the word "Pair" as I think that helps...I've wondered if it is the price, I've also wondered if it is the word-age?  Another set of postings shall tell.

kittens

update on this post: March 22, 2010

After viewing this post several times for personal amusement, I realized that this video was totally freaking my kitty out! At first I thought he was totally worried thinking there was a kitten in the room, but then I realized he was actually looking for a kitten that might be in hurt, or in trouble.  It made me so sad when I realized that this little video completely tormented poor Handsome. He spent about 45 minutes looking around the house for what he was sure was an injured and quite scared kitten.  Bless his sweet heart for looking.  So do beware of playing this video with a cat in the room, the story does not end well! 

"...hail to old KU..."

This weekend we are taking in a quick trip to Kansas. 

Upon checking into our hotel The Oread, the bellhop must have been surprised to see mw burst into tears after looking out the windows of the room...that's right I cried like a baby.  Gazing out across a campus that I love dearly and seeing so many places that have been "the happiest" memories of my life...yes friends that will reduce you to tears. 

Here have a look for yourself!

Photo: via google images

What do you have to say for yourself?

Q: What do you have to say for yourself?
A: Absolutely nothing.

Yesterday the hubster-oosky mentioned to me that I hadn't posted in nearly 2 weeks (insert social gasp).
I didn't know he was a frequent follower, apparently so.  I guess it is also his way of finding out what project I'm working on, since I usually post it before I share it.

As per what I'm dreaming up these days, the answer is very little. I've been enjoying our home, living in it, leaving my piles of clothes everywhere, and taking some fairly substantial naps.  Sounds good right?

In the past few weeks our schedule has revolved around a hefty performance schedule, all by the hubster-oosky.  He has done a solo recital, hosted the St. Olaf Choir, was the clinician/conductor for the All-West Tennessee Children's Festival Chorus, and this past Friday night lead the Memphis Chamber Choir and Memphis Boychoir in concert.  Sort of nutty but that's he he rolls. As for me, I am just trying to make it to May 14, graduation day for Memphis Theological Seminary.  This past week, the bursar's office phoned for my cap/gown size.  That was REALLY exciting.

Now, let's get back to those piles I was mentioning.  Not only has our dressing room absorbed 5 loads of clean laundry (all still in baskets) but downstairs our piles of music and scores has started to take over portions of the living room and sun room.  I'd like to say that some of this music has traveled home from the church and is in limbo whilst waiting for the trip back, but sadly...a lot of it is mine.  I'm on the hook for this one.

I've been able to keep the piles mostly secured and reserved to a few locations all accessible to the piano, but alas, the heaps are starting to spread to other locations.

When I was a wee piano pupil one of my teachers used to keep her books and scores in a high boy near her piano.  I always thought they were the weirdest pieces of furniture.  They have about 70-bagillion drawers, all of which are small and it's oddly tall.  As I've noticed this heap of books in the past few weeks I'm starting to understand why that piece of furniture was so handy.  She kept her Bach in one place, her Chopin in another, and her Beethoven in between.  I now understand it is the perfect invention for my piles of music.

Now begins the search for the perfect high boy. I've looked on the ol' Craigslist, he's running low on said product.  But rest easy, Bojo's has got them by the truck loads.  The dark wood doesn't particularly go with my aesthetic for the living room so I was thinking more along the lines of something like this...

source

Perhaps not yellow, although it would be a contender, but maybe even red, or a really glossy black.  This is where my bright white walls come in handy, no worries of decoration clash, my walls are the blank canvas, the furniture is the standout.

When considering a color for this piece, I wonder "WWJAD"...What Would Jonathan Adler Do? Or...

"WWKSD"...What Would Kate Spade Do?  Most importantly..."WWHDWD"...What Would Hilary Dow Ward Do?

So while I'm at it..."WWYD"...What Would YOU Do? Paint it wild like, or go with a neutral? Paint it shiny or flat? Change the pulls or leave them be?

Something to think about...

This little ditty comes from  Children's letters to God.  

I saw it tonight while at school (Christian Ethics as it were).  

I thought it was worth a chuckle and a smile.