It takes a village - to fill two pages

Well, as I posted on Friday (and you'll see on my sidebar) I published my third issue of Surroundings Magazine - The Holiday Style Guide. It's a lot of fun for me to put this together, but it's a lot of work to do only twelve pages. Seriously - I have new found respect for the Rue Girls (their 2nd issue is due literally any moment now) and the folks at Lonny, both of whom put out 200-300 page publications. Of course, they have staff people, but likely not legions of staff, just a few really talented people. I, on the other hand, have just me and I'm pretty cantankerous and am known to whine about holiday bonuses, especially at 3 A.M. Management doesn't find that behavior very productive, but is not yet ready for staff changes. Staff thinks Management should provide a better work environment and stop the late night hours. Picket lines are forming on both sides.

Anyway, last weekend (7 whole days ago) I wrote to several of my favorite blog and design friends and asked them to provide me with their best tip for holiday entertaining, or ideas for hostess gifts. Basically, just some little nugget - because this is certainly a group that has lots of nuggets of goodness in their design holsters. Mixed metaphor's aside, they are THE BEST. Within 4 days, I'd received eleven fantastic responses, complete with photos (in some cases staged for this purpose) and great ideas.

So,I wanted to take a moment to thank my very generous friends for their excellent ideas and participation. I know how busy you all are and I appreciate your support!

Eddie Ross - EddieRoss.com

Greet LeFevre - Belgian Pearls

Stacy Kunstel - StacyStyle

Grant K. Gibson - GrantKGibson, The Blog

Megan Arquette - Beach Bungalow 8

Vicki Archer - French Essence

Monika Claassen - Splendid Willow

Gina Milne - Willow Decor

Trish Allen - Trouvais

Joni Webb - Cote de Texas

Scot Meacham Wood - Tartan Scot

You can read all their great tips here.

Speaking of digital magazines, Megan, Joni and I chatted about the new field of digital magazines, including Rue and Lonny, and many others. We're also hosting a give-a-way - a $200 shopping spree courtesy of One King's Lane!!  So, stay tuned for that post up on Monday!

 Subscribe to ::Surroundings::

It takes a village - to fill two pages

Well, as I posted on Friday (and you'll see on my sidebar) I published my third issue of Surroundings Magazine - The Holiday Style Guide. It's a lot of fun for me to put this together, but it's a lot of work to do only twelve pages. Seriously - I have new found respect for the Rue Girls (their 2nd issue is due literally any moment now) and the folks at Lonny, both of whom put out 200-300 page publications. Of course, they have staff people, but likely not legions of staff, just a few really talented people. I, on the other hand, have just me and I'm pretty cantankerous and am known to whine about holiday bonuses, especially at 3 A.M. Management doesn't find that behavior very productive, but is not yet ready for staff changes. Staff thinks Management should provide a better work environment and stop the late night hours. Picket lines are forming on both sides.

Anyway, last weekend (7 whole days ago) I wrote to several of my favorite blog and design friends and asked them to provide me with their best tip for holiday entertaining, or ideas for hostess gifts. Basically, just some little nugget - because this is certainly a group that has lots of nuggets of goodness in their design holsters. Mixed metaphor's aside, they are THE BEST. Within 4 days, I'd received eleven fantastic responses, complete with photos (in some cases staged for this purpose) and great ideas.

So,I wanted to take a moment to thank my very generous friends for their excellent ideas and participation. I know how busy you all are and I appreciate your support!

Eddie Ross - EddieRoss.com

Greet LeFevre - Belgian Pearls

Stacy Kunstel - StacyStyle

Grant K. Gibson - GrantKGibson, The Blog

Megan Arquette - Beach Bungalow 8

Vicki Archer - French Essence

Monika Claassen - Splendid Willow

Gina Milne - Willow Decor

Trish Allen - Trouvais

Joni Webb - Cote de Texas

Scot Meacham Wood - Tartan Scot

You can read all their great tips here.

Speaking of digital magazines, Megan, Joni and I chatted about the new field of digital magazines, including Rue and Lonny, and many others. We're also hosting a give-a-way - a $200 shopping spree courtesy of One King's Lane!!  So, stay tuned for that post up on Monday!

 Subscribe to ::Surroundings::

Auction to help *Visual*Vamp*: SOLD

As you may have heard, Valorie Hart, of *Visual*Vamp* fame has been in need of help and Laura Ingalls Gunn of the blog Decor to Adore came up with the idea of creating an auction where bloggers will auction off items of their choice and ship it to the highest bidder.You can read more here.


Thank you to all those who bid on my item of a mini-Champagne bucket. The high bidder was Tolly Lewin at $40. Tolly, please email me with your address and the confirmation that you have sent your $40 via PayPal to: boutique@planet-tango.com

 Subscribe to ::Surroundings::

Auction to help *Visual*Vamp*: SOLD

As you may have heard, Valorie Hart, of *Visual*Vamp* fame has been in need of help and Laura Ingalls Gunn of the blog Decor to Adore came up with the idea of creating an auction where bloggers will auction off items of their choice and ship it to the highest bidder.You can read more here.


Thank you to all those who bid on my item of a mini-Champagne bucket. The high bidder was Tolly Lewin at $40. Tolly, please email me with your address and the confirmation that you have sent your $40 via PayPal to: boutique@planet-tango.com

 Subscribe to ::Surroundings::

New England Design Hall of Fame - A gala evening for all!

The 4th Annual New England Design Hall of Fame Awards dinner was held this week at the State Room, overlooking Boston. In four short years, it has undoubtedly become the biggest night for the New England design industry. New England Home magazine founder Dan Kaplan created the Hall of Fame Awards and had the foresight to start big and stay that way. The event formula is basically the same every year - a crowded cocktail party, a sit down dinner (which is always delicious), flowers by the venerable Winston Flowers (see above) and presentation of the awards.

New England Home magazine Publisher Betsy Abeles Kravitz offers opening remarks. (forgive the image, it's a photo of the large screen which was easier for me to shoot than the speaker herself, same with Stacey below).

Stacey Kunstel (über stylist, writer and blogger) makes the presentations each year.

An iPhone shot of my dessert. Yum!

Some of the lovely ladies I sat with - fellow members of my IFDA board.

And the honorees of the evening:

Architecture

Thomas P. Catalano, AIA, Catalano Architects, Inc.

(Eric Roth Photography)

David J. Hacin, FAIA, Hacin + Associates, Inc.

Manuel de Santaren, Manuel de Santaren, Inc.

(Michael J. Lee Photography)

Eugene D. Lawrence, Eugene Lawrence and Company, Inc.

Landscape Architecture

Katherine Alexander Field, Katherine Field and Associates

Keith LeBlanc, Keith LeBlanc Landscape Architecture, Inc.

Specialty Design Award

Roger Lussier, Roger E. Lussier, Inc. Specialty Framer

(Mr. Lussier's own home, images courtesy of Mrs. Blandings)

Congratulations to all the honorees.  You are an inspiration to those of us who follow in your footsteps. On a personal note, Mr. Lussier's own home shown above and at the dinner are my personal favorites and it was very touching that last year's honoree Gary McBournie stood in for the elderly Mr. Lussier offering his thank you speech. On another personal note, and not to disparage the fine work of all the gentleman honored this year, it's a shame more women were not honored. Something which didn't go unnoticed, or unmentioned, that evening. However, there's always next year.

 Subscribe to ::Surroundings::

New England Design Hall of Fame - A gala evening for all!

The 4th Annual New England Design Hall of Fame Awards dinner was held this week at the State Room, overlooking Boston. In four short years, it has undoubtedly become the biggest night for the New England design industry. New England Home magazine founder Dan Kaplan created the Hall of Fame Awards and had the foresight to start big and stay that way. The event formula is basically the same every year - a crowded cocktail party, a sit down dinner (which is always delicious), flowers by the venerable Winston Flowers (see above) and presentation of the awards.

New England Home magazine Publisher Betsy Abeles Kravitz offers opening remarks. (forgive the image, it's a photo of the large screen which was easier for me to shoot than the speaker herself, same with Stacey below).

Stacey Kunstel (über stylist, writer and blogger) makes the presentations each year.

An iPhone shot of my dessert. Yum!

Some of the lovely ladies I sat with - fellow members of my IFDA board.

And the honorees of the evening:

Architecture

Thomas P. Catalano, AIA, Catalano Architects, Inc.

(Eric Roth Photography)

David J. Hacin, FAIA, Hacin + Associates, Inc.

Manuel de Santaren, Manuel de Santaren, Inc.

(Michael J. Lee Photography)

Eugene D. Lawrence, Eugene Lawrence and Company, Inc.

Landscape Architecture

Katherine Alexander Field, Katherine Field and Associates

Keith LeBlanc, Keith LeBlanc Landscape Architecture, Inc.

Specialty Design Award

Roger Lussier, Roger E. Lussier, Inc. Specialty Framer

(Mr. Lussier's own home, images courtesy of Mrs. Blandings)

Congratulations to all the honorees.  You are an inspiration to those of us who follow in your footsteps. On a personal note, Mr. Lussier's own home shown above and at the dinner are my personal favorites and it was very touching that last year's honoree Gary McBournie stood in for the elderly Mr. Lussier offering his thank you speech. On another personal note, and not to disparage the fine work of all the gentleman honored this year, it's a shame more women were not honored. Something which didn't go unnoticed, or unmentioned, that evening. However, there's always next year.

 Subscribe to ::Surroundings::