Welcome to my blog ~ where aesthetics are a passion, details are a priority, and pleasure in simple things is celebrated!
I invite you to share my inspirations for a creative life and a lifetime of adventures.
Thanks so much for visiting, Jackie
Most every coastal town in Fairfield County schedules a sand castle building contest during the summer and each year I try to attend at least one. For Friday field trip this week, I am sharing a few photos from the contest I attended this year.
Which is your favorite?
Have a wonderful weekend and remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie
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What would happen if someone dumped two tons of LEGOS® into a city park and told the public to ‘have at it?’ You can find out this summer on the High Line in New York City with The collectivity project!
The collectivity project, an installation of white LEGO® bricks, features an imaginary cityscape conceived and designed by the public. The ever-evolving shape of the installation is at the mercy of those visiting the High Line who are welcome to play with the installation – building and rebuilding the structures over time.
The project stimulates tons of creative energy and provides a darn good time in the process! The idea was driven by Danish-Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson, demonstrating his desire to make the concerns of art relevant to society at large; not limited to the confines of a museum or gallery.
Visitors are a mix – from super serious architect types to those who are just passersby and add a single brick or two. Me? I found myself somewhere in the middle. I wanted to make my mark on the project – to be a contributor – but, I didn’t feel the need to impress anyone with my superior LEGO® building skills!
If you should visit, you may not see what is pictured here since the piece is constantly being reconfigured by those who visit and contribute to its ever-progressing contour.
Visit the High Line now through September 30th and you will get the chance to make your mark on two tons of white LEGOS® at no charge! How cool is that?! Thanks for stopping by for Friday field trip! I will post some additional photos from this great installation on Facebook this weekend.
Have a wonderful weekend and remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie
P.S. Click here to read more about The High Line.
Comments Off on two tons of white legos® | field trips, inspiration, swag
The last time I went into the city, I had a fascination with windows. Sounds crazy, right? I started looking out some old windows with chippy molding and was mesmerized! It seemed the older and dirtier the windows, the more beautiful they became in my eyes. And, if something interesting was near the window – all the better!
You know I am all about a good theme and, apparently, my visit on that particular day was going to be windows!
For Friday field trip today, I am sharing a few of my favorite photos from my ‘window day’ in New York City. I will post a few additional window photos on my Facebook page.
In the words of Anne Spollen in The Shape of Water: “I discovered windows one afternoon and after that, nothing was ever the same.”
Thanks so much for stopping by! Have a wonderful weekend!
Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie
Sharing at House of Hipsters, Craftberry Bush, The Shabby Nest, and French Country Cottage.
Comments Off on a window view | field trips, inspiration, style
At the beach or in the garden, the light at dusk is my favorite light of the day.
I am enjoying the opportunity to explore a yard I haven’t seen before at this glorious time of day.
And, today for Friday field trip, I am sharing my visit with you.
Many would have found the challenge of creating a pleasing landscape in a sloping yard with plenty of trees and ledge as too much to handle.
That is not the case with the owners of this yard! If the abundance of shade presented a challenge, it is not evident to anyone who visits this beautiful and imaginative space.
The details are lovely and there are plenty of unique features.
I think one of my favorite aspects of the garden spaces is that where many may have used white, (on a pair of Adirondack chairs, planters, garden shelves, fence) this couple chose to use black as a ‘go-to’ color. The use of the darker color brings a sense of richness to the design.
I hope you have enjoyed a few glimpses of this lovely space today on Friday field trip. Thanks for stopping by.
Have a wonderful weekend and remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie
Sharing with Nancherrow, The Shabby Nest, French Country Cottage, and Craftberry Bush.
Comments Off on dusk in the garden | field trips, garden, inspiration
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!
Comments Off on happy chinese new year! | field trips, holiday
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.
Comments Off on shop hop 2014 | field trips, holiday, inspiration
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 » | field trips, food & festivities, inspiration, style
A balmy day in November certainly warrants a trip to the beach – no matter how brief. There are signs of the season here – the fall colors in the marsh…
an occasionally leaf under the docks…
but even with an odd sixty degree afternoon in November, winter is on its way.
For Friday field trip today, I am sharing a few photos from my trip to the beach this balmy day…
I’m here to collect some items for holiday crafts…
It is so much fun to repurpose collected materials from nature!
Today was the perfect day to do some scavenging!
Snow is predicted this week in Connecticut, so soon this fall scene will make way for the white stuff!
Thanks so much for stopping by!
And, remember to take pleasure in simple things…some of the very best things are the simple things!
Have a great weekend, Jackie
Comments Off on balmy beach day in november | field trips, inspiration, sand & sea
I have to admit that the 332 miles of shoreline in my home state is my favorite part, but there are so many more places to visit in Connecticut! And today, for Friday field trip, I am sharing one of these places – Connecticut’s largest sheep farm.
Sankow’s Beaver Brook Farm, located on a 175-acre setting in the town of Lyme, has been owned by Stan and Suzanne Sankow since 1984.
Named after the creek that runs through the property and continues on to the Connecticut River, Sankow’s is currently home to 600 sheep.
The farm makes and sells artisanal sheep and cow’s milk cheeses as well as yogurts, milk, and gelato.
The wool shop features handspun wool garments for sale and the farm store also sells fresh lamb meats and homemade entrees such as white bean chili and lamb curry stew.
I have to say, I found the idea of purchasing lamb meats or entrees made with lamb a little unnerving after feeling like I developed a relationship with the resident sheep! But, I did leave the farm with some sheep’s cheese that I later used in a pasta dish back at home. Afterward, I felt really guilty about eating it because I learned, that although sheep’s milk has more calcium than cow’s milk, it also contains almost double the fat!
It is a lovely time of year to visit Sankow’s Beaver Brook Farm to spend some quality time with these gentle animals while admiring the (soon to be) breathtaking backdrop of fall foliage. It is open 9 to 4 daily.
I hope you enjoyed today’s visit to the sheep farm!
Fun sheep fact…What do you call a group of sheep? Did you say flock? Herd, mob, drove, or trip are also used! Have a wonderful weekend!
Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie
I can’t deny that Central Park is magnificent, but it is not my favorite park in New York City. For Friday field trip today, I am sharing a glimpse of my favorite park in the city. It not only provides an amazing display of shrubs, grasses, trees and perennials that rival any public garden, but also provides a unique view of the city from 30 feet above the ground!
Running from Gansevoort Street to 34th Street, the High Line is a one mile New York City linear park built on a section of an old railroad spur. This unique park, 30 feet above street level, contains innovatively designed seating areas and beautiful plantings in addition to expansive views of New York City and the Hudson River.
The park provides a view of life in New York like no other.
A view of an office from the High Line in New York City.
Seasonal blooms (click here for September list), art on display, and scheduled activities are all part of the High Line culture. Dining is also an option during a visit and a fun way to take a rest and admire views of the Hudson River.
It is an exciting time to be a High Line fan, because on September 21st a new High Line section, from 30th Street and 10th Avenue to the curve near 12th Avenue, and up to 34th Street will be opened to the public. I can’t wait to check out the new design features and plantings in the new Rail Yards section!
Cleverly designed seating amid the original rails on the High Line in New York City.
If you should visit New York City, be sure to include the High Line in your schedule of activities.
Thanks so much for stopping by for Friday field trip. Have a wonderful weekend!
Remember to find pleasure in simple things, Jackie
Sharing at Finding Silver Pennies, and Crafts a la Mode.
