Sands of Time

About a month ago, I bought a brass ship's hourglass from one of my new favorite online shops, One Kings Lane.

I've become quite addicted to their hugely discounted designer homewares over the past few months; last week, I bought a beautiful gift box of Claus Porto soaps for just $19.

Anyway, back to that hourglass. I bought it because I had a sudden revelation on where it absolutely needed to hang in my house.

(Kitchen)

It's a thirty minute timer, which is exactly the length of one episode of "Phineas and Ferb", "Johnny Test" and the regrettably-named "Kick Buttowski." I'm not wholly parsimonious with my son watching television, but I'm hoping that having those sands of time slipping, slipping away right in front of him will make him consider what else he could be doing. Plus, I just like the way it looks up there, its delicate structure offering a gentle counterpoint to that black thing anchored to the wall (living with two males, I have reluctantly come to accept that sports and cartoons are considered as essential to life as air and water.)

In other news...

My friend Andrea over at C Magazine emailed me that One Kings Lane is holding their first Tastemaker Tag Sale this Saturday, April 10th, and seriously, the only break I'm taking from sewing this weekend is to be online when the sale begins. I was fortunate enough to meet the dashing Nathan Turner...

(Nathan Turner; photo courtesy of All The Best)

...during a party in Almont Yard recently and he told me that the chair I've had my eye on for about two years now...

(Flores chair designed by Nathan Turner)

..is going to be in the sale at a crazy reduced price. Be still, my heart.

Andrea also sent me a photo of this pair of Foo dogs which will be on sale for $109...

...and this incredible hand-painted lantern ($599) that would grace my entry foyer so nicely.

All the items were handpicked by Nathan, which is kind of cool, I think. If any of you buy anything, you'll let me know, won't you?

Thank You, C Magazine

I am chuffed to announce that this month's issue of C Magazine has a little article on yours truly in it (page 66). But equally as exciting as seeing my name in print was the fact that best-selling author/editor/bonne vivante Diane Dorrans Saeks penned the piece, and so I had a few phone conversations with her. If her name sounds familiar, it's because you totally know her. She's written dozens of books. Perhaps some of these look familiar:

(I know. Not too shabby, huh?)

Anyway, I feel so lucky to have had the opportunity to meet her through this blog. The woman is remarkable. My conversations with her lasted for hours...not because we were talking about me but because I became so enthralled with her life I couldn't stop asking questions about her! She's lived all over the globe, has read every book ever written and is chic beyond all comprehension. She's so old-school cool that this impromptu paean to her will undoubtedly alarm her, but no matter. She's just going to have to deal with the admiration.

(Diane Dorrans Saeks)

Her blog The Style Saloniste has become one of my favorites because of all the first-hand stories and insider glimpses she reveals about her glamorous, design-filled life. She doesn't just merely discuss Picasso...oh no. She shows you personal photos from when she visited his house in Provence.

(Photograph courtesy of The Style Saloniste)

And when writing about Axel Vervoordt, she doesn't resort to source material. Pshaw. She flies to his castle, interviews the man and cajoles him into getting on his horse so she can snap an impromptu photo.

(photo via The Style Saloniste)

Yes.

I know.

Just click over there now and we'll convene for kvelling later.