Weekend Wrapup

Good Morning! I hope y'all had a great weekend- and that those in the US had a fabulous Thanksgiving. The holiday season has begun!

We had a great time shopping at the cute little boutiques in St. Michael's Maryland...

via Virtual Tourist

(this picture does NOT do St. Michael's justice but I forgot my camera!)

and some shopping in downtown Frederick, Maryland ("home").

Downtown Frederick has really matured since I lived there- makes me kick myself that I am too risk-averse to have opened my dream wine/kitchen store there!

I saw a message that really resonated with me- sort of like the 3/50 project.

So my goal this holiday season is to find more thoughtful/unique gifts from smaller shops. I can't limit myself to brick and mortar as I love Etsy and so many other online boutiques! But I think the intention is the same. (That said, to be clear, I don't think Big Box is necessarily the enemy- and we are actually a household employed through large retailers- so I will stray from this a little bit.) OK, before I alienate everyone, onto politics. ;-)

On our way home, via National airport, we stopped by the FDR memorial. Fantastic views....

and amazing how many of the messages at FDR's memorial are applicable to today.

(note: this is not intended to convey a political message, but rather it's fascinating how history can repeat itself).

While we had a great weekend with family, I am celebrating our return to our furkids!

Thankful Giving

Raw Art Letterpress

Here in the States, as y'all have read and blogged about, we're preparing for our annual Feast of Thanksgiving. And in addition to the traditions like pumpkin pie (fresh pumpkin, of course), pecan pie, sweet potatoes with marshmallows, and turkey, we often take a few moments to give Thanks.

I love Raw Art Letterpress' play on words aboves- Thanks if For Giving or Thanks is FORGIVING. Powerful, yes? Christina at Down and Out Chic had a great post on forgiving earlier this week. (Side note: I'm thrilled to pieces to have won Bright Bold and Beautiful's Raw Art Letterpress giveaway!!).

TRMack Studio

This Holiday season, I have a slightly different interpretation. May we all be Thankful to be able to Give. Give freely- whether it's time, money, attention, love. Give not out of fear (of having nothing) or out of guilt. Give with respect, compassion, and love.

ForHisGlory

So whether you're traveling, staying home, with friends or family- this week or in the next few weeks- I encourage you to take a moment. Give thanks. And then find a way to thankfully give.

I'd also like to take this moment to thank you- all my followers, readers, and supporters. I am so glad to have gotten know you and look forward to building more friendships!

Happy Thanksgiving!

-Emmie

"Frank Lloyd Wright" of Atlanta- Robert Green

While researching modern homes in Atlanta for my "One of These Things is Not Like the Others" post, I stumbled upon works by the architect Robert Green. Atlanta has been blessed with many highly skilled architects and designers, but I was surprised to find we had homes designed by a student of Frank Lloyd Wright.

1885 Walthall Drive

Robert Green studied architecture at Georgia Tech- a few different times. Don't get too excited, Yellow Jackets, he left twice because he found the program too "limiting." Apparently, one of the arguments was surrounding Frank Lloyd Wright.

Shortly after leaving Tech, Green asked Frank Lloyd Wright to allow him into his program. Wright took him on, after Green wrote a "tersely worded" letter. Green was one of Wright's last apprentices and eventually founded his own firm in Atlanta. (Sources: A Line Through History: The Architecture of Robert Green, AIA, Studying Personally with Frank Lloyd Wright, by Robert M. Green)

This house is my favorite of the selections I found. While it's not "my style" I definitely have a strong appreciation of the design elements and materials.

Here are a few others:

Doud-Conner residence (available for location shooting)

This next room and bath is a complete surprise (to me) and a dramatic shift from the darker rooms. Love the bath!

The next house is 1677 Ridgewood Drive, and I believe it recently sold.

I'm not sure where this house is located-- found from an old real estate link.

This last house, 950 Edgewater Drive, is on the market for $675k (down $450k!).

Know of any others??

For more photographs, see his son's collection of photographs.

Have a great day!

-Emmie

Hot for Houndstooth

While many may be mad for plaid this season, I'm hot for houndstooth. (Yes, I know that sounds incredibly cheesy).

But seriously, when I saw this month's Traditional Home cover, I realized how much I love this pattern. (And, I used my scanner for the first time ever for the cover. And it worked. YAY!)

Williams Sonoma Home (WSHome offers many Houndstooth products)

Houndstooth originated in Scotland, though at an undetermined time, and related (purportedly) to Glen Plaid. The pattern was originally fashioned out of woven wool cloth and in black and white. It is identified as a 2:2 twill, or two over and two under the warp, with one thread advancing each pass (courtesy of Wikipedia and other "research" sites).

Prescott Chair, Overstock.com

It's regained popularity in clothing through several spurts in the last century- the 1930s, 1960s to 1970s (Geoffrey Beene and Anne Klein), 1980s (Chanel, later Calvin Klein, among many others), and then in spurts throughout the 2000s.

I love the more subtle versions and the shake-up from the traditional black-and-white print, which still looks slightly 80s to me if too big and "loopy."

Southern Living

Pillows are an easy way to incorporate houndstooth...

Peacock Alley Houndstooth Bedding

And rugs are an option for making a statement. Flor's pattern is extremely subtle.

Flor, all bark and no bite

Here are a few more bolder options- first in black and white...

and here in a bright, cheery yellow.

both images via Sanctuary Home

Going back through images I've seen before, I was almost surprised that I didn't notice the houndstooth initially.

Like in designer Philip Gorrivan's work...

via Simplified Bee

and this room, which has been featured all over blogs... did you see the houndstooth on the pillows here?

via Material Girls (At Home in Arkansas)

If you're not ready for big houndstooth commitment, may I suggest these fun little treats from some great etsy sellers!

Supercute hankie (coasters also available)

Houndstooth Hankie, Avril Loreti

A graphic print...

Hooray for Houndstooth Art, Lucky Bluebird

or a tea towel!

Alabama Houndstooth Floursack, Blue Eye Creations

The last one you KNOW I love, given the elephant. While it seems like the dream world of Emmie (elephants + houndstooth) it actually is a reference to The Univeristy of Alabama. The story is that the Coach Bryant often wore a houndstooth hat (sometimes, apparently, it was plaid).

-Emmie