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Sunday January 9th 2011 : Gayle's View

Sun, 09 Jan 2011 11:41:48

Sunday January 9th 2011

Dear Readers,

I have not given up Gayle's View!!!!!

With the help of experts, Stars is getting a new, improved website. I have been training with Social Media expert, Jen Mcabe, (who has a fabulous blog under the name of her grandmother, Honey Kennedy ) to learn the ins and outs of the new Gayle's View which will be a link on the Stars website.

We will have the ability to post unlimited photos which opens up all kinds of possibilities. All previous posts will be able to be viewed (I wondered where they all went--knew they were somewhere in cyberspace.)

I will keep writing about the collecting lifestyle--in particular home decor, trends, gardening, hobbies, artisans, doings at the Stars malls and other malls, shops, and antique and craft shows.

As soon as we get all the "bumps" figured out, our new blog format will go "live".

I miss you all....

signing off....

Gayle@starsantique.com

Sunday October 17th 2010 : Gayle's View: Marguerite in Westmoreland

Thu, 04 Nov 2010 16:14:54

Sunday October 17th 2010

BIJOU: something small and exquisite

Tucked away on S. E. Bybee Street in the Westmoreland shopping area (and 2 blocks away from the Stars malls) is a small shop imbued with a rare atmosphere. The name is simply "Marguerite" and it is the vision of its owner, our friend, Daisy Phillips.

I am not exactly a world traveler, but I would say that this shop would stand out in Paris, New York, and London--actually in any great metropolitan city. And here we have it in Portland, Oregon.

The shop is painted in tones of grays (with maybe a "beigy" tint) and Daisy has done wonders with architectural features, draping, moldings, and built-in display pieces. The floor is a wormy-pine laid in a chevron effect. Lighting is achieved with chandeliers. There is a mixture of new giftware and English, French and Swedish antiques.

One large open wall is filled with with French clay ware from Astier De Villette in Paris. The beautiful cream-colored dishes are actually made from black terra cotta. These are highly desirable to the discerning shopper who can add to a collection from time to time. The shop has a bridal and gift registry and also offers gift certificates.

There is a timeless feel upon entering and this is enhanced by the wonderful scented soaps, candles, and room sprays from Deptyque and Parfumerie by Rance. I especially adore the varied selection of fabrics and linens in the form of towels, runners, tablecloths, pillows, and even fine cotton pajamas and robes.

There is pewter and hotel silver mixed in various displays--one whole section devoted to unusual barware, glass cases filled with precious antique "smalls"--even wonderful ruffled umbrellas.

I am always drawn to stationery and writing tools and in the photo below, you wil see an old desk jam-packed with cards, pens, journals, papers, greeting cards--even old French correspondence written in lovely copper-plate handwriting.

And then, there is the last "piece de resistance"--the wonderful powder room--the ultimate feminine space.

Right now the shop has an autumnal feel with sheaves of wheat and pheasant feathers about, but before long it will be decorated for Christmas.

I always leave the shop (or thinking in French, the Bijou) inspired and with my spirits lifted.....

signing off.....

Gayle@starsantique.com

Monday September 27th 2010 : Gayle's View: Halloween Hi-jinks!

Thu, 04 Nov 2010 16:13:23

Monday September 27th 2010

LOOKING FORWARD TO HALLOWEEN HI-JINKS......

Yes, I'm a bit ahead of myself as it is not yet even October, but I couldn't resist a bit of a head start. I have always loved Halloween--even years ago before it became a major marketing tool.

I am old enough to remember the days when we went through the neighborhood with our papier-mache pumkins to collect the treats given at every door. I never had a store-bought costume. Sometimes I was a gypsy complete with jewelry, other times a princess--once I was Little Red Riding Hood with a hooded red cape bought by my mother at a rummage sale.

It's fun to decorate for this holiday and I try to limit myself to either vintage or hand-crafted Halloween items--and of course, lots of real-live pumpkins, gourds and squash. Pictured below are some vintage items taken last year at Stars.

I have two movies which have my favorite Halloween scenes--the first is a segment in Meet Me in St. Louis with a very young Margaret O'Brien and the second is a scene in One True Thing with Meryl Streep. I don't care for the horror movies--only the nostalgic ones.

The most fun of all is to see the little kiddies dress up and I always look forward to the Monster Mash, a parade held in West Moreland near the Stars malls. Is that a bald eagle below??????

Never one to sit back and let everyone else have the fun, I like to dress up still. As you can see in the photo below from left to right, me as an Americanized Susie Wong, next a distinguished guest, and sister Carol Ann, as a vamp-type lady. This photo was taken last year--still trying to think of what or who to be this year.

Signing off......

Gayle@starsantique.com

Sunday September 5th 2010 : Gayle's View: End of Summer

Sunday September 5th 2010

In my mind, the end of August is the official end of summer. I know the actual end is September 21, but even at the end of August I start to see the signs of autumn coming. The summer (when it finally came) has been lovely--I've enjoyed being outdoors--, picnics, weddings, gardening, trips to the coast, reunions with friends, and the watercolor painting workshops.

I want to share with you a few photos I have taken this summer. The first two were taken in the garden of Robin Busch. Robin graciously allowed our painting group access to her amazingingly beautiful Asian-inspired gardens. The photo below is one of the many pathways throughout. I liked the sound of the pea gravel under my feet and also the way it looked.

The photo below is one of the gates in Robin's garden.

I attended a party last Sunday at the home of Norma and Sheldon Ainsley. Norma has worked three years to tranform a one story ranch style house into a storybook French cottage. In a future blog, I will tell you and show photos of Norma's decor. But for now, I love this photo of her antique cast-iron gates leading to the entry of her cottage.

I am trying to work up the energy and motivation now to carry out some ideas for the inside of my home. I like everything I have, but I need to do some "fine-tuning" with accessories, and change things around a bit.

I did buy a small gray flaky-paint cabinet from Darwin at the Stars Sidewalk Sale yesterday, and I like it in my living room. So today I am going to play around with "home decorating"--one of my favorite things to do in the whole world. (Future photos later....)

I want to keep on with the botanical look--bell jars, terrariums, small conservatories, lots of indoor plants--even miniature gardens. Ever since the Woodland Arrangement project hosted by Carol Kelly and Dianne Muyskens, I have been obsessed by moss, lichens, cones, twigs, pods, and pretty rocks.

These rocks below were in Robin's garden--and NO---I did not pick any of the moss off--even though I wanted to.

Signing off saying adieu to summer and hello to mellow September....

Gayle@starsantique.com>

Friday August 13th 2010 : Gayle's View: Country Home Magazine

Thu, 04 Nov 2010 22:58:09
Friday August 13th 2010

Some time ago I wrote a blog about my favorite magazines and how they were stopping publication. I know that I am one of many who looked forward each month to get the mail and sit down with a Cottage Living, Country Home, Mary Englebreit Home, Country Living, and Victoria. (Yes, I know there is still a Country Living magazine and a Victoria, but they are NOT what they once were). Therefore I was tickled to death when Brent informed me that there was a new Country Home magazine on the stands. I found it at my local Safeway and have enjoyed every page. I'm thinking it will be a special interest publication coming out just a few times a year. It is spendy--$12.99-but it is printed on quality paper and a bonus is no advertising in its pages.

I have been drawn to the appeal of "country decorating" for many years. I am no longer sure of the definition of "country", but my interpretation is a wonderful mix of old and new--probably collected over a period of time, following no specific "design" rules and reflecting the personal style of the decorator. There are myriad categories for this type of decorating going from: cottage decorating, romantic country or Victorian, traditional American country, the lodge look, Southwest style, flea market style, formal country, modern country, French country, and English country.
In my opinion, if it is done right, it becomes part of the decorator's lifestyle--leading to trips to antique shows, antique malls, shops, flea markets, sales, browsing the internet and lastly, and the most fun of all--junking trips to destination shows.
I once asked former Country Living Executive editor, Nina Williams, what the goal was of the magazine. She said to me, "we do not exist to set trends, we REPORT trends from all over the country." At that time she said an emerging trend was "bringing the outside in". We are all familiar with that now as it has been depicted in pages of shelter magazines for many years.
I have seen forms of all the elements in the photos below at northwest antique sales, shows, or antique malls. I have bought quite a few of these things over the years at Stars, and many other places. I don't think any of us want to copy the ideas exactly, but it is inspirational to see them all put together in a pleasing way.

The internet is a huge source with its wonderful websites and blogs, and when I go into them, I am truly amazed at the talents and great photos and ideas of untrained decorators and designers. In that way, all of you in the cyber world are "setting the trends".
The thing is, I am old-fashioned enough to still want to go to the mailbox, and hold the magazine in my hands, and stretch out on the sofa while I devour the pages. So hurrah Country Home for coming back to us. I hope it lasts.
Signing off to go rearrange furniture,
Gayle@starsantique.com