My Barbie and Ken Dreamhouses

I mentioned before in an earlier post, how much I loved playing with and arranging the furniture in my Barbie Dreamhouse in the early 1960's. I have become so nostalgic about everything these days, I thought I would try to see if I could find original images of the Dreamhouse and of other doll furniture I use to play with. Leave it to Ebay and Etsy and you can find almost anything from your past! I thought I would pick out a few rooms and items that most remind me of my dreamhouse and I found a bonus house - Ken's! Or at least a miniature version of a very cool cat's den. These are some photos I have gleaned from other blogs as they appealed to me in one way or the other, mostly from my "mid-century modern" file and my "color" file.


I would have to fight tooth and nail with Barbie over who gets to live here!


I would add a room divider like this one to separate the bedroom.


I love the peacock blue from the chair in the original dreamhouse, so I think this whole arrangement will work. Besides, peonies of any color are my favorites!

I have to have this throw in case there is a Barcalounger covered in Naugahyde lurking somewhere. Besides, Barbie could never be unhappy wrapped in this... PS Nothing against Barcalounger or Naugahyde, I'm sure they've "come a long way baby" since the sixties!



Ken and Barbie will have to fight over this artwork and vases, I think they would work in either space.



Now for "Ken's" turn or whoever this cool cat is, love his den! Look at this crazy wall!



Real life designer Doug Meyer made this really cool space.


And this one...



Okay, so now we know for sure that isn't Ken in the room above since this is his framed photo. We'll just have to use our imaginations as to whose house these accessories belong...

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving was always a favorite holiday for my family, like most. I had the honor of decorating and setting the table from around the age of eight. Of course, I would help out in the kitchen a little bit, but not as much as some kids since I had the fortune of having my "Granny" live with us. So, between she and my Mom - we had two of the best cooks ever! I loved setting the table with my Mom's china, silver, beautiful serving pieces, the crystal and of course the linens! I still have her porcelain, a timeless Haviland pattern that I mix and match since it is white with a beautiful gold trim. However, the MOST precious holiday treat for me is seeing this old battered recipe - written in my Mom's own handwriting, which I have used year after year. You can see all of the spills and use this has gotten over the years, so it is good that we have this scanning technology to help preserve it for the next generation. Happy Thanksgiving to you all!

Head to Bed

I warned you I had a passion for the bedroom, so here are a few more elaborate designs and ideas from some of my favorite magazines. Also, as I have said before and apologize ahead of time - I have been clipping pictures for so many years and never thought to label them before, thinking they would be for my eyes only. Now, that I am sharing through blogging, I very carefully label the source before filing my favorites away! Unless I get distracted... The photo above is from Elle Decor, October, 2009. It is so stunning in every detail, I especially love the curvaceous upholstered headboard.

I love artwork above a bed! Plus the two mirrored screens and matching bedside tables. I'm not a matchy-match person in general, but in this case the symmetry is stunning!


Now this is what I call layering! From Cottage Style, this is either a very unusual placement for a bed or they are using a free standing antique fireplace as the headboard. Either way it is so much fun and I love the mixture of crystal and shells!


What a gorgeous antique bed! Is it by Thonet or in the Art Nouveau style? This is one of those cases where I clipped wildly not even noting the source, just knowing it was a work of art in itself!


This is what I call cocooning! From the minimalist leather panels to miles of silk enclosing the bed - just makes me want to crawl in and call it home.


Cool and sophisticated, this is rich mahogany paneling with cream suede upholstered panels. A gorgeous master bedroom retreat featured in Luxe Interiors & Design, fall issue 2009.


From Southern Accents - Our Most Beautiful Bedrooms issue, Summer, 2009. I couldn't agree more! This stunning antique Indian palampore (bed hanging) in a popular "Tree of Life" motif, makes this bedroom so serene and lovely. I love all of these bedrooms and each and every one of them lend themselves well to simple bedcovers. Imagine they could all be done with Papillon Linens;-)

Simple yet Fabulous Headboards

I could blog everyday about beautiful bedrooms - my favorite room of the home. I have to limit myself as I would post twenty a day, if I had the time! I will try and bring you some of my favorites that you may have missed, or would love to see again! The rustic, highly textured one above is perfect with this simple yet stunning setting. Just add washed linen-linens for more texture.

Here is a simple wood headboard that can hardly be seen, but the real star is the homeowners own photography. Artwork is always one of my favorite highlights for above the bed.

What imagination! A homemade slipcover from printed burlap bags. Notice how simple all of the bedding is when you have such interesting focal points as the headboard or above.

Here is a simple white headboard, but with all of the fabulous wallpaper available now, why not use the wallpaper as an entire headboard wall? You could change this every few years without breaking the bank and have a whole new look each time.

Yet another simple white headboard, but with the gauzy hanging above the bed and the way the light reflects through the hanging wicker pendants, you have a totally romantic and exotic retreat.

How simply elegant is this? A classic canned French bed with both head and foot boards. I love how they have kept this so monocromatic that it allows each piece in the setting stand out on it's own.

Okay, so this one is not so simple! This fantastic Colonial style four poster canopy bed is so dreamy and exotic, I just had to include it! I can just feel the tropical breeze...

Jackie Von Tobel

What fun to find out that one of my favorite authors and designers lives right here in my city! Even more fun was actually getting together with her recently for lunch and learning more about her exciting career. Jackie Von Tobel has been in the design world for over twenty years, it was amazing how much we had in common from sewing at a very young age to testing out various areas of the design industry before settling on our passions.

She has done such various things as making wedding dresses, designing her own line of costume jewelry, running a successful business painting murals and decorative painting - to a full career as an interior designer. Then she became an author! Her first book The Design Directory of Window Treatments published by Gibbs Smith, is an incredible design reference book that should be in every designer/design lovers library. Now she has another brilliant book, one that just called out to me - The Design Directory of Bedding. This is not just any book, it is 530 pages filled with knowledge, resources and my favorite - thousands of color hand illustrations by Jackie herself! It even comes with a CD-Rom with all of the illustrations in black and white line drawings, what more could you ask for?

The answer to that question is - a gorgeous new fabric collection by Jackie! How amazing is this woman? I don't want to spoil all of the fun of you finding out for yourself. I will post just a few teaser pictures and you can see for yourself why I am so excited! Her full website will be up soon, so please check out her blog in the meantime.

Who me?

I just found out that my delightful friend and customer, Maryanne from Beadboard UpCountry has nominated me for the Kreativ Blogger Award! What was she thinking? Or drinking, one might ask;-) Anyway, I will try not to be intimidated and take the plunge... You are suppose to tell seven things about yourself that most people who read your blog would not know. Hmmm where to start?

My love for design might have started when I got my Barbie's Dream House in 1962. This picture is from 1964, but I played with that thing for years! I remember my favorite part was rearranging the furniture, much more than playing with Barbie, herself! Funny, I have been preparing for an upcoming post on doll furniture and especially the "Ideal Petite Princess Dollhouse Furniture", which I adored! I wonder how many of you bloggers of my age had the same experience? I'll post more about it soon.

Next, I would say that I grew up in Kansas City, of which I am very proud! There is amazing architecture and I was lucky enough to spend most of my years in this house, which looks kind of scary in the winter, but it was pure heaven to me! It was definitely the biggest design influence in my life. It was built by one the the first female architects in this country - Mary Rockwell Hook. What she did inside and out of that home in the way of details and pure imagination, really sparked mine and I would spend years marveling at them. I was planning on doing a post about her in the near future because she was so amazing.

Now, for my true mentors and best friends for my entire adult life. They were the best parents, role models, characters and I miss them dearly, since their passing. They were stylish without even trying to be, generous to a fault and dear to all that knew them. I remember taking this picture like it was yesterday (1974) and I apologize for obscuring the gorgeous marble fireplace that was in our dining room. My Mom and Granny (she lived with us) sewed many of our clothes and would surprise me often with a "bedroom makeover" where they had made new bedspreads and curtains and re-decorated my room, just for fun! I started sewing myself at an early age and stayed with it through high school. In fact my senior projects were a winter coat and an elaborate quilt!

My precious children who I live for, who have brought so much joy into my life! I would not be who I am at all unless I were to introduce them to you. Eric is 25 and Anna is 21, I am so proud of both of them for they are the sweetest, brightest, funniest, most loving children that I could ever have hoped for. I just can't get a good shot of both of them in the same frame! What delights me to no end, is that they love each other and are so close, choosing to hang out together.


If you visited my post on dogs, you will have met my new baby "Vivi", here she is with my handsome husband - Max! This was two years ago, but isn't it amazing how their coloring is the same? Max is Belgian and a very talented man. I will blog about him someday, too! These two keep me laughing everyday, even when I am feeling my worst - they always can cheer me up. This goes for the rest of my family and friends of whom I could not live without.

What you might also not know about me (unless you read my press page on my website) is that I used to do many things before I owned this company. I did not go back to work until both kids were in school and then I started out of my home doing all kinds of design related things. My biggest accomplishments came when I owned The Chandler Collection (my namesake company). I was the very first to import new (as opposed to antique) whole cloth quilts, known as Boutis starting in the early 1990's. They were all of the rage at the time and still very popular. I designed the first "smocked curtain" that were sold in the wholesale market. Even today if you google them if they aren't by The Chandler Collection, then they are copies of my original design. I was thrilled and honored to be asked by The Museum of New Mexico to do thier first textile collection. That was probably the most fun in designing I have ever had. Lastly, I have done over 40 private label collections for stores and catalogs - in bedding. This is not something you can post on your press page! OK, enough about me. Now I get to invite seven of my favorite blogs to do the same. I've tried to choose some blogs that I know haven't done this yet, but some I'm sure already have.

The Paris Apartment

Opal Petite Clothier

Ice Milk Aprons

Jackie Blue Home

If the Lampshade Fits

knack

Beach Bungalow 8

A Vintage White

Our Best Friends

I have lived with at least one dog my entire life. They are precious, lovable, amazing and sometimes as annoying as can be (sounds a little like kids) but I can't live without them! Here is a lovely, funny poem:

"Verse For a Certain Dog" by Dorothy Parker

Such glorious faith as fills your limpid eyes, Dear little friend of mine,
I never knew. All-innocent are you, and yet all-wise. (For Heaven's sake, stop worrying that shoe!)
You look about, and all you see is fair; This mighty globe was made for you alone. Of all the thunderous ages, you're the heir. (Get off the pillow with that dirty bone!)
A skeptic world you face with steady gaze; High in young pride you hold your noble head, Gayly you meet the rush of roaring days. (Must you eat puppy biscuit on the bed?)
Lancelike your courage, gleaming swift and strong, Yours the white rapture of a winged soul, Yours is a spirit like a Mayday song. (God help you, if you break the goldfish bowl!)
"Whatever is, is good" - your gracious creed. You wear your joy of living like a crown. Love lights your simplest act, your every deed. (Drop it, I tell you- put that kitten down!)
You are God's kindliest gift of all - a friend. Your shining loyalty unflecked by doubt, You ask but leave to follow to the end. (Couldn't you wait until I took you out?)

Send me your beautiful dog pictures as I will post them again, I didn't have room for all of them here. I also have a collection of cat photos, so I'll be looking for those, too;-) The doll at the top is my miniture dapple Dachshund - "Vivi" (short for Vienna).

Cote de Texas
Elle Decor


French Magazines
Vickys Yard Sale
Design Sponge
Desire to Inspire
Metropolitan Home
La Dolce Vita
This is Glamorous

Romance is Back!

The latest company with the courage to rear it's head in this economic climate, and THE one to watch is the Martha Stewart "Dreamers into Doer's" contestant Cindy Jo Morgan. She is the owner of Soft Place to Land. Inspired by a long illness after 25 years in the cosmetic industry, and countless hours fostering, and rescue/volunteer work with Greyhounds, a Soft Place to Land was created. If you ever get the chance to chat with this (young) old soul, you will find the story worth a listen.

The only 100% Belgian Linen Sheet and feather bed cover collection, created and manufactured in the USA - a woman after my own heart! In her passion for creating romance with an "Old Hollywood" feel, Cindy Jo has created a Belgian Sheet line, believed to be the finest in linen being made in our Country today. The styles range from a simple and clean knife edge to a luxurious signature 5 inch ruffle all the way around the flat sheet - the perfect compliment with any of Papillon Linens top of the bed styles! These sheets have the softness and quality of true heirlooms.

In addition, she has created the Bemberg 1940's movie star inspired line. It breathes new life into the bedding industry as we know it. The Bemberg fabric circa 1930's and the 1940's, provided movie stars of that era silk quality goods, from the USA. This new designer is bringing this all but forgotten fabric to you, once touched, you will be amazed buy the pure luxury of this special secret blend that mimics silk of a bygone era.

After all, at the end of the day we all deserve A Soft Place to Land.....

End of the Bed

My main focus with home decor is the bedroom, being the linen merchant that I have been for so many years. I wanted to share some of the many styles of "end of the bed" benches & ideas that have made it into my files. This will probably be a two part series since I have so many. I will also be posting headboards and other ideas for "head of the bed", soon. I collect all styles, not just my own style, but there are some really great ideas here. Above, you will see my slip covered design which is what I would call romantic.


Ooh La La, I love this!


I love this elegant iron bench!


Beautiful tufted bench would work in many decor styles.


Elegant country style small settee.


Perfection in poufs!


Even though this is a small bench, once you add the rolled up quilt it stands up to the bold bed!


Double your pleasure - just gorgeous!


If you have the space, why not make a whole seating arrangement?


Probably should save this for the "headboard" post, but I just love this!


Slightly Asian inspired bench - and another stunning headboard.


Simply beautiful!


Love the pairing of the half-wall behind the headboard and the simple wooden bench.


Wicker - always a favorite.




Glamorous Lucite benches from The Paris Apartment.

Pierrot Cries for the Cause

I could not resist posting this bit of vintage fabric that I have in my collection. Pierrot crying amidst the pink blossoms always makes me cry. He seems to be looking to the heavens for hope and answers in some of the poses and utterly sad in others.