a wordless year

May 22, 2015

I didn’t choose a ‘word of the year’ for 2015. I was thinking about that on my walk by the water today. I wondered why I wasn’t inspired to come up with one this year.

I thought if I had, it would have been something that expressed a need to keep things fresh…to constantly learn new things…to go on new adventures.

I don’t have the ability to travel to foreign lands or visit exotic cultures. But, I am still able to find new adventures every day.

Not a day goes by when I don’t learn something new that creates a special interest or the need to explore.

But, I certainly wouldn’t want to confine that need to discover to a single year…maybe that is why no word for the year?

I hope you enjoy joining me on my walk today for Friday field trip…

Have a wonderful weekend. Thanks for stopping by!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

no comments

a visit to ben wolff pottery

May 15, 2015

Because I am so enamored with his handcrafted pots, I have wanted to make a visit to Ben Wolff’s studio for a long time. Even though it is located right here in Connecticut, the studio was one spot on my ‘to visit’ list that never seemed to get crossed off.

That changed this past weekend when my son asked what I wanted to do for Mother’s Day. I decided I could pass on a meal and, instead, we aimed to get Ben Wolff’s pottery studio crossed off my list of places to visit- yippee! It was a great day for a drive and the ride provided some great alone time with my son – catching up on what was going on with him.

If purchasing flower pots were my goal, it would have been easy enough to just order them online. I’m not saying I didn’t want any pots, but that was not my main reason for the visit. I wanted to see the studio and meet the artist. As luck would have it, I was able to do both.

Ben and his wife, Corinne, were both in the studio when we arrived. I knew Ben was a third generation artisan and he was happy to share his history and explain how he got started learning his craft at the age of two!

It was a great visit and it turned out my son’s gift also included a few of Ben’s pieces! As a lover of neutral color schemes, the pots Ben creates in white clay are my favorite! I carefully picked out a few; choosing ones with Tuscan rims.

They are just so gorgeous! It is hard to imagine using a terra-cotta pot after you have seen Ben’s work. (If you read this blog, you probably have already figured out that I don’t use terra-cotta pots because of my aversion to the color and that my passion in the garden is for all white flowers!)

With pieces starting as low as $8, they are affordable pieces of art – each signed by Ben.

I haven’t yet planted in my new pieces, but for Friday field trip today, I hope you enjoyed sharing some of Ben’s works of art – a few from the thousands of flower pots he creates each year on his potter’s wheel in Goshen, Connecticut. I photographed them with some of the early bloomers from my garden.

I hope you are enjoying some of your own garden flowers. If you follow my Instagram, you know I have been enjoying mine!

Ben Wolff Pottery Studio pleasure in simple things blog

The outside of Ben Wolff’s pottery studio in Connecticut.

Thank you so much for stopping by! Have a fabulous weekend, Jackie

Sharing with Craftberry Bush and French Country Cottage.

no comments

a cluck and an oink and healthful eating

April 17, 2015

For me, more so than the start of the new year, spring is the signal for new beginnings. And, just like the tradition of making new year resolutions, I always try to start spring off on the right foot. One thing that I am constantly trying to improve upon is my nutrition.

Each year, I try and take one or two baby steps that continue me on the path of healthy eating. Some of the steps I have taken in the past, for example, are the ones that have totally eliminated diet soda and artificial sweeteners.

Healthful eating is a real challenge. As a consumer, it is not always easy to make good food choices. This task definitely requires a lot of time and effort!

chickens up close pleasure in simple things blog

Up close and personal. What it looks like when a chicken pecks your camera lens!

One baby step I have added that really helps me in the time department is to shop in places that have virtually eliminated what I consider to be bad food choices. How do I do this? One way is by shopping locally at farmer’s markets and local farms.

This spring, I have already started visiting a local farm – Sporthill Farm in Easton. Even though there is not much product out yet, it is helping me develop a habit of visiting a healthy source for foods – another step toward a healthier lifestyle. And, as you can see by this week’s Friday field trip photos, I am meeting a few new friends along the way!

In the words of Dave Weinbaum: The secret to a rich life is to have more beginnings than endings.

Thanks for stopping by! Have a wonderful weekend!

Wishing you many new beginnings! xo Jackie

Sharing with Nancherrow and The Shabby Nest.

no comments

a winter trip to the flower show

March 13, 2015

For Friday field trip today, I would like to share a few photos from my recent trip to Philadelphia. Every March, Philadelphia is home to the world’s longest-running and largest indoor floor show. Yes, I did go to the flower show, but this year the photos I am sharing are not actually from the show! Instead, these photos are from a couple of my favorite stops along the way!

The first few photos are from Terrain in Glen Mills, PA – for me, always a required stop on a Philly trip. One of my very favorite stores, Terrain is the ultimate in home and garden inspiration!

Next stop is Longwood Gardens! Listed as the 2nd best public garden in the nation, my other “must visit” spot on a Philly trip is Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, PA.

Even on a day when the hemlocks are dripping with ice and the weather prohibits walking the extensive grounds of the gardens, Longwood does not disappoint. Even the bad weather doesn’t prevent a quick walk past the topiary garden.

At this time of year, the Conservatory sports an amazing display of orchids. But, this trip, these were my favorite flowers.

And for me, the winter is a wonderful time to admire favorite indoor spaces that do not get as much attention when the weather makes the outdoor spaces at Longwood more inviting – like the children’s garden. Here are some of the great water features in the children’s garden (Did you see the video of the nest and bird fountain on my Instagram?)

As I leave, I see a suggestion of what is coming in the better weather ahead – this will be filled with roses in bloom before you know it!

Thanks for sharing a few photos from my (snowy and icy) trip to Philadelphia on today’s Friday field trip. Have a wonderful weekend!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

Sharing with French Country Cottage and The Shabby Nest.

no comments

powder room redo

March 6, 2015

Who doesn’t love to see a good before and after? For Friday field trip today, I am sharing the progress of a pretty little powder room update.

My good friend, Phyllis, decided she needed to update the bathrooms and laundry room in her beautiful, historic home. On a recent visit, I found her downstairs powder room was almost complete. With only a little styling left to finish, I had to admire the beautiful update she created.

After removing floor to ceiling wallpaper, Phyllis started the powder room project by adding some molding detail on the bottom half of the walls. This is where a handy husband is very important! He crafted both the chair rail and the panel molding. This type of detail on the walls is a great way to add some interest to a small room! Next, for the toughest part of the renovation – removing the old tile floor. (I know, I know – the old floor looked great too, right?)

Phyllis picked out a pretty geometric mosaic tile pattern that also coordinated well with the tile she chose for the upstairs bath and the gray marble she chose for the nearby laundry room. (I can’t wait to see the finished laundry room – I will try and share that with you on an upcoming field trip!) The mosaic tile pattern was installed with a black tile border. For the wall color, Phyllis chose a lovely shade of gray called Pike’s Peak by Benjamin Moore.

Phyllis kept her sink, but decided to install a new, more efficient toilet.

We all know good taste is not limited to shopping at expensive stores and Phyllis proved this, big time, with her mirror choice. After visiting many stores, she chose this beauty she found at Marshalls to hang in the new powder room.

A little bling in the light fixture choice and shine on the wall switch definitely add an elegant touch to the space.

Coordinating with a little bit of shine, Phyllis created a little orchid planting in a silver container specifically for the space.

Phyllis has plans to add a white plantation shutter to the window and a few more accessories to complete the space, but with the styling almost finished, you can see how pretty the new area came out!

Thanks so much Phyllis for sharing your beautiful new powder room on Friday field trip!

Have a wonderful weekend, my friends! Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

Sharing at Nancherrow, Shabby Nest, Coastal Charm, and French Country Cottage.

2 comments

happy chinese new year!

February 20, 2015

Yesterday started Chinese New Year. In celebration, for today’s Friday field trip, I am sharing some special Chinese art given to me. These images are photos of Chinese paper cuts.

Paper-cutting (Jianzhi in Chinese) is one of the oldest and most popular folk arts in China.

As early as 3 BC – before paper was even invented – paper-cutting techniques were used in China on leaves or other thin materials. Chinese paper-cutting is the first type of paper-cutting design since paper was invented in China!

Aren’t they amazing?

Have a wonderful weekend! Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

P.S. You may not be celebrating Chinese New Year by creating designs like these, but maybe try creating some yummy bubble tea? Click here to check out how to do it!

no comments

glass blowing adventure

January 9, 2015

I love all creative arts. One place I had been eager to visit ever since I knew of its existence is Peter Greenwood’s Glass Blowing Studio in Riverton, Connecticut. Peter offers workshops for beginners with no experience and I really wanted to give it a try!

My idea was to visit before Christmas and create a glass blown ornament for my tree…how special would that be?! But, after discussing the workshop options with Peter before I made my visit, I decided to create a glass paperweight rather than a glass ornament. Yes, the ornament was an actual glass blowing experience, but if I took the workshop for the paperweight; I could actually make my piece from start to finish. I decided to go for the hands-on experience of forming molten glass and sculpting it into a paperweight – with Peter’s guidance, of course.

I am so glad I did. The process was fascinating.

A friend and I made the trip to the quaint little town of Riverton where Peter’s studio and showroom are located inside a historic stone church built in 1829.

I am sharing some photos from the visit on today’s Friday field trip, but I think the best way to really get a sense of the process is to watch the short video created from phone videos the day of my visit. In hindsight, I probably should have brought a video camera with me, but my friend Wendy was nice enough to take some video of my experience and I am thrilled to have it documented.

Click here for A Video on Creating a Paperweight in Peter Greenwood’s Connecticut Studio.

In some ways, I found creating glass pieces very similar to throwing pots because of the symmetry component, although working in conjunction with a 2,000 degree oven was a little more daunting! I was very much aware of the dangerous temperatures involved and was extremely cautious.

2,000 degree furnace glass blowing pleasure in simple things

The 2,000 degree oven used to create my glass paperweight at Peter Greenwood’s studio.

beginnings of a paperweight pleasure in simple things blog

The beginnings of my paperweight at Peter Greenwood’s studio in Connecticut.

glass chips from glass blowing pleasure in simple things blog

Glass chips like this are used to create the design in the paperweight…I used blue chips for mine.

When completed, the blue swirl I created in my paperweight glowed orange from the high temperature. Once cooled, the blue color would be apparent. The cooling process is done very slowly or the piece would have exploded due to the quick temperature change!

I hope you enjoyed today’s field trip. Peter is a wonderful teacher and I highly recommend looking him up should you ever want to take a trip to Riverton and experience some of your own glass adventures!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Peter Greenwood pleasure in simple things glass blowing adventure

The glass master himself, Peter Greenwood.

Thanks for stopping by! Remember to enjoy pleasure in simple things, Jackie

Sharing with Elizabeth & Co., Nancherrow, and House of Hipsters.

3 comments

restoration hardware gallery in ct

January 2, 2015

Don’t you love walking through Restoration Hardware? Their use of a neutral color palette, thoughtful mix of textures, and minimal use of accessories is definitely right in line with my taste. And, the light fixtures? O.M.G.

All the stores are worth a visit, but if you happen to live near Boston, Greenwich, Atlanta, or West Hollywood; you have access to a very special store – the Restoration Hardware Gallery Store. If you don’t happen to live near these places, you can catch a little glimpse of what you are missing on today’s Friday field trip to the Connecticut store.

Formerly on Greenwich Avenue, the store moved a short distance up the street to occupy the old historic Greenwich Post Office and become one of the four RH gallery stores. But, this did not happen until after the space was completely gutted and renovated. Click here to see more about the project.

The grand scale and dramatic lighting of this magnificent store make for a museum-like experience…

The store displays a luxury lifestyle with dramatic interior and exterior installations of home furnishings in a gallery setting.

Some pieces are a little too masculine for my taste and some a little too heavy on the industrial vibe, but for the most part, I would love to own any one of Restoration Hardware’s furniture pieces (if I had a large enough space to accommodate it, of course!).

I love examining paint finishes and have had fun trying my hand at recreating (in look anyway) them in some of my refinishing projects using Annie Sloan Chalk Paint.

The Greenwich RH Gallery provides some amazing inspiration and I urge you to visit one of the four gallery locations if you should be provided the opportunity.

I hope you enjoyed today’s field trip.

Thanks so much for stopping by. Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

Sharing at The Shabby Nest, Kim Klassen’s Friday Finds, French Country Cottage, and House of Hipsters.

3 comments

shop hop 2014

December 5, 2014

Planning a shopping day filled with holiday inspiration with friends – what could be better? Today’s Friday field trip is a special seasonal road trip to visit shops across Connecticut.

I made a holiday music CD for the car (actually my son made it, but hey –it was my idea!), decided on a box lunch menu (don’t want a restaurant lunch to slow us down!), and planned an itinerary for Shop Hop 2014! The destinations? Well, these are a surprise…but, I will share them with you in this post!

Shop Hop invitations are sent out in advance – promising a day of friendship and inspiration touring favorite shops in Connecticut. My 2014 ‘south central’ edition is spanning four counties in Connecticut – all easily accessible by highway I95. (I am including my hop locations in this post in the event you live in Connecticut and would like to replicate my hop.) Be sure to like my Facebook page by clicking here, so you can see a gallery of photos from each of the hop locations and share some of the inspiration – even if you don’t live in Connecticut!

This is how our day goes… I pick up the gals at a designated location in the morning. They are not informed of our predetermined shop locations. ..makes it so much more fun this way! (For the most part, Shop Hop locations are best as isolated areas…save your clusters of stores in a town or a favorite local spot, for a day all on its own.)

A Christmas CD sets the holiday mood…this year, it was definitely a very eclectic mix! Click the three links below to hear three of this year’s selections:

This is my very favorite Christmas song by my very favorite entertainer.
Do you remember which recent fun holiday movie featured a version of this song?
Got to love my son’s sense of humor on this one!

A box lunch is the best way to avoid schedule interruptions. Believe me, this is for the best! A restaurant lunch wastes far too much precious time better devoted to inspirational adventures! Just be sure to use a cooler if you pack anything perishable! I packed mine in take out containers and added a label on the outside that I cut from chalkboard contact paper. A selection of flavored waters and ice tea rounded out the refreshments. We can always pick up a hot tea or coffee on the road to go with our rosemary shortbread cookies. :)

For 2014, these are the five locations I chose for our hop:

Grace, 46 Pennsylvania Avenue, Niantic
Maynard Gardens Holiday Shop, 87 Ingham Hill Road, Old Saybrook
Taken for Granite, 409 Leetes Island Road, Branford
No. 299 Fairfield, 318 Villa Avenue, Fairfield
Terrain, 561 Post Road East, Westport

Lastly, I like to leave my friends with favors – what fun is a special event without favors!

We visited some beautiful shops, but spending the day with my friends was the special part of the day! :)

I hope you are inspired to plan your own Shop Hop! Feel free to send me an email if you have any questions or need suggestions. Have fun with it!

Have a fabulous weekend filled with holiday inspiration, Jackie

P.S. The movie was Elf.

Sharing with City Farmhouse, Coastal Charm, Crafts a la Mode, The Shabby Nest, and Craftberry Bush.

no comments

rooms with a view in ct

November 21, 2014

Today we are taking a peek at a weekend in design featuring an Opening Night Gala; vignettes of interior design; a marketplace; a holiday fashion show and luncheon; and dinner with event chairman, Thom Filicia. (You know I love Thom…click here for our first meeting!)

Now in its 20th year, Rooms With a View has helped Southport Congregational Church help others by raising well over a million dollars for charitable causes.

The room vignettes are always inspiring…

My favorite room this year was designed by Forehand + Lake – a bright and styling cabin…

Every year I find different takeaways from the event. A couple of the lighting choices were really interesting this year…How cool is the lighting in this “Starry Night” themed room designed by NYSID students and alumni?

And, I found this light fixture, used by Jenny Wolf Interiors, as a unique choice…

Rooms With a View provides a great opportunity to get a jump on holiday shopping by offering a marketplace of vendors. You can see these items fit right in with my holiday theme!

Much like Susan Leggitt’s artwork inspired by the Maine Coast, I found these hand painted stars really awesome!

The meal and fashion show is always the most fun for me. The clothes from Millie Rae’s in Westport were my favorites and it is great the way the event people mix some thrift store finds in with the new fashions from local stores. This year, I loved that Borrowed (a rental company that specializes in bringing unique, mismatched, and whimsical touches to an event) provided an eclectic mix of plates to the luncheon service.

The meal provided by Festivities was delicious…

But, for me, the plates stole the show! How many more plate photos can I add? I just loved them!

The other wonderful design touch to the tables were the wallpaper runners provided by Farrow & Ball (no, those wallpaper scraps aren’t just for book covers)…

Rooms With a View is a great way for friends in Fairfield County, Connecticut to get together and be inspired. I hope some of the photos of the event on today’s Friday field trip have inspired you!

Thanks so much for stopping by! Have a wonderful weekend, Jackie

Sharing with Liz Marie Blog, Crafts a la Mode, and Shabby Nest.

4 comments

« Previous Entries Next Entries »

pleasure in simple things

search

categories

recent posts

archives

my friends & favs

a wordless year

a visit to ben wolff pottery

a cluck and an oink and healthful eating

a winter trip to the flower show

powder room redo

happy chinese new year!

glass blowing adventure

restoration hardware gallery in ct

shop hop 2014

rooms with a view in ct