Claudia — Page 1651

Curvy

November 3, 2010 at 10:31 am by Claudia

You’re looking at the top of my 30’s era china cabinet which is in our den. On it sits my vintage Hendryx birdcage, several vintage and well-loved books and some of my Roseville pottery. When husband and I sit on the sofa and watch television, this cabinet is right in our sight-line (as we say in the theater.) The other evening, Don asked me to look closely at one of the pieces – this one:

Says he: Doesn’t it look like a woman’s body with hands on hips? Curvy with a waist?

Says me: Why yes, it does.

And now every time I look at it, which is often, that is what I see. Should I name her? She’s sort of flirty isn’t she?

Speaking of curvy, my obsession with vintage dress forms continues. I scour Craig’s List every day. Sometimes several times a day. I’ve missed out on a few recently. There is a vintage Wolf dress form that has a lot of wear (to put it kindly – I swear a musty smell emanates from that listing) that I had my eye on, but it is way out on Long Island. If you remember my over 3 hour long journey there last year for a coaching job, you can see where this is going. Too much time, too much gas for something that might be too damaged.

I love this style – wonderfully vintage and usually with a wire cage at the bottom. However, most of the listings I see are pretty pricey, more than I’m willing to pay.

More and more, I find I am drawn to these adjustable forms. They are often made by Acme and might be better for the limited amount of space I have upstairs.

Once I am obsessed about something, there is no stopping me. I will find one. (I sound a bit like Scarlett O’Hara.) If anyone in the NY/NJ/CT area knows of a great deal on a vintage dress form, oh please let me know? Pretty please?

What have I come to? I’m reduced to begging.

Have a wonderful day!

Falling Leaves, Aging, Dog Hair & Crochet

November 1, 2010 at 10:22 am by Claudia

We had our first hard frost last night. The Catalpa tree, always the last to lose its leaves, is shedding them at an alarming rate. The drive is covered in big, heart-shaped leaves. Piles of them. It’s time to say goodbye to the glorious colors of autumn and hunker down for the coming winter.

Happy November. I have a special spot in my heart for this month – the month of my birth. My birthday always hovers within a few days or a week of Thanksgiving. Since I usually feel like I’m somewhere in my late 30’s, the actual amount of years I will celebrate is always a bit shocking. After a sleepless night last night (for both of us), my husband looked around the living room this morning and said “The pack is aging. The wolves are circling the house saying, we can take them.” Scout is going to be 12 in December, a young 12, but 12 nonetheless. Riley’s age is a guess, but he’s probably around 9. And Don and I? Well, we’re young at heart. Cue Frank Sinatra.

I swiffer every day. I vacuum every day. I use a lint brush on the furniture almost every day. Then I sit here in the morning light and all I see is dog hair. Everywhere. See the white hair on the table? Thank you, Scout. We have two very hairy dogs here at MHC. In fact, our new Vet couldn’t believe how thick Riley’s undercoat is. And Scout: lots of fine cat-like hair that flies everywhere. Oh, and leaves. Riley seems to be a magnet for every fallen leaf in the yard. It’s as if he’s made of Velcro. But I forget it all when I see their sweet faces. Sort of.

It makes cleaning a challenge. And it makes crocheting a challenge. I seem to be picking long white hairs out of my stitches rather frequently. I suppose a part of Scout is in everything I crochet or knit! I’ve been hooking away while watching the World Series.

I think I’ve made it a bit too wide, though since Don and I usually sit together on the sofa, I’m aiming for something that can cover us both with room to spare. I love doing these scrappy ripple afghans because it’s such fun to play with color and texture. I’m rather liking this so far.

I’m off to swiffer.

Ode to All Things Worn and Weathered

October 30, 2010 at 12:00 pm by Claudia

As I sit here this Saturday morning, I’m struck by how much of my furniture is weathered, chippy, and worn-around-the-edges.

This is by design. I’m drawn to old, used, gently worn pieces. Almost nothing in my home was bought new. The beds were, of course, as was the sofa in the den (which I detest) and the loveseat in the living room (bought when I was living in Boston) and the chair I’m sitting in, which may be the reason it is the only place I’ve been able to comfortably sit since my back was injured!

Everything else is vintage. Tables, chairs, cupboards, hutches, desks, dressers, piano, kitchen island, kitchen table – all of them were chosen precisely because they were old with nicks and scratches and chips and frayed edges.

When I was growing up, everyone bought new. No one would have entertained the idea of having something chippy and old in their home. This was post WWII – new homes were being built in subdivisions for GIs and their families – the baby boom had begun. My mother would never have anything like my weathered chairs or tables in her home.

Somewhere along the way, my taste took off in a different direction. I love old. I love imagining the story behind a piece. Sometimes I already know it, as in the case of inherited pieces. But sometimes, I don’t. I just know that a particular piece was used and loved.

And now we get to use and love it.

And it’s recycling at its best, don’t you think?

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Have a happy Halloween everyone. We don’t get trick or treaters out here on our country road. And, though I obviously loved Halloween as a child and love seeing children all dressed up in their costumes, I’m afraid dressing up as an adult holds no allure. I was a working actress for too many years. I’ve worn more costumes than I can begin to count. So has my husband.

This year’s costume? My flannel pajamas.

Curvy

Falling Leaves, Aging, Dog Hair & Crochet

Ode to All Things Worn and Weathered

Lambs Like to Party

A Note

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