Happy Sunday! I know it is unusual for me to write on a Sunday but I have been insanely busy. Last week was not only filled up with a lot of work…but also with a whole lot of emotion. My friend and client died last Saturday of a heart attack and it really rocked my world. She was only 70 years old~~~ far too young in my opinion. I have known her most of my life and I think I started doing design work for her and her husband over 20 years ago. I remodeled her her kitchen and bathrooms, melded her parents furniture in with hers when her mother died, reupholstered many pieces in the house ,designed drapery treatments , designed her home in Port Aransas, and just last year rearranged all of her accessories in her house and got her a new chair for her master bedroom where she liked to do her needlepointing. We are both old Fort Worth….so when we mentioned people it was always by first name only and we knew who we were referring to. I was overwhelmed with emotion and grief all last week. Her funeral was yesterday and was standing room only even 15 minutes before the service. I was lucky to find a seat for a “one person” toward the back. Yesterday was mother’s birthday as well….she would have been 92. Needless to say~~~~~ it was a day of many tears for me. I love and love deeply~~~and I take loss in a hard way. I have never been one who likes change….even though I have gotten better about it. Today is a new day!
I started two new jobs last week and wrapped up the job I only started on Wednesday the 17th. I started doing something new in 2019 where I order samples that I like from vendor meetings and keep them in my library. I have four large walls of books and a wall of trim and wallpaper. To the naked eye it is a bit messy but I know where everything is located. My one huge work table only has samples on it and the table I have with 6 chairs I use for creating my jobs. Of course I still go to Dallas for sourcing but I often have what I need at my fingertips here at work. Between meeting with clients and creating the rooms…..it was a jammed week. I adore being busy….and it really helped me to pour myself into work with all of my emotions running wild. Getting lost in my world of design helps me to push down other emotions. My job I got on Wednesday the 17th wanted to come into my studio last week and work on fabrics…..which inspired me to buy more baskets and organize more fabrics. When I really like a fabric I order it in all colors. I went to Big Lots~~~ which happened to be one of mother’s favorite stores. You never know what you will find in there! I LOVE The Container Store but I needed many containers….so the prices at Big Lots were far better and I actually found some great ones that matched in the clearance area. I was MOST proud of myself! I came into work last Sunday with my new containers in hand ~~~ organized and pulled more fabrics for my client to see. Monday I made sure what I pulled was still current…..you never know when something will be dropped by the mill or the vendor. I was 100% in good shape! Yay go team!!! The job I got last Monday has a strict budget and has many wishes……and I am PROUD that I think I am going to make all of her dreams come true. I take many vendor meetings so I can have many choices and be informed. I can make a room look like Kay Genua on a budget! After 34 years of design I have many tricks up my sleeve.
It is a rainy day here today. Perfect weather for Tutu and me to get a little work done. She is happy to be anywhere I am! Here is wishing all of my readers a wonderful week ahead. May arrives on Wednesday! My birthday month! I will be 64 years young ~~~ and as my One Momma would say~~~ I am happy to be looking!
A darling picture of mother. I am not quite sure where she was….but this is how I remember her. Beautiful and elegant. Lord have mercy I miss her!!!!!
My cousin Shelley went to a wonderful wedding last weekend. Since she took the pictures herself~~ yay!!~~I can share them . What STUNNING flowers!! Those peonies are fabulous!!!!
Blow my hair back glorious!!!!!!! What a beautiful venue as well. That mantel is gorgeous.
My best friend Beast has been in Vienna with her daughter. The pictures she has shared are magnificent. She studied architecture at Yale so is always intrigued by it. This is Cafe Central. OH MY GOODNESS!!!!! That ceiling!!!
This is the Imperial Exhibition riding ring which is famous for Lippinzaner stallions. This is so gorgeous it could be a wedding venue!
The entry hall of their version of the Met in New York. Take my breath away gorgeous! I could stare at this architecture all day!
She and her daughter went “ tromping around” as she described it to find different buildings by famous architects. This UBahn ( subway) station was designed by Otto Wagner. She was also searching for buildings by Adolf Loos. I learn something new from her every day~~~ I have never heard of these famous architects but know them now!!
The Vienna State Opera House. They went to see Don Giovanni. She said Mozart in Austria was “perfekt!” I am thrilled to get to share all of these incredible pictures with my readers since Beast took them all!
A staircase designed by Otto Wagner. WOW!!!!!! Oh….by the way ….. Beast’s real name is Elizabeth Beier. My best friend since we were 12 years old!
I am honored to be included in the magazine article about business women who have “Weathered the Storm” in this months West Fort Worth magazine. Thank you West Fort Worth for featuring me along with 11 other ladies!!
The two main fabrics going in the tv/family room in the home I worked on last week. My client described these fabrics as “shut the front door” fabulous!!! This velvet from Brochier I liked so much I got the sample in every color. The Pierre Frey velvet is like a piece of art. This room will be warm, cozy, and stunning!
We have had so much rain lately….the waterfall close to my house has been so full!!! As much as Tutu hates the thunder~~~ I am thankful for the rain. I have not turned my sprinklet system on yet this year!