Random Acts of Blogging...My Cats

Last week I created a calendar that I wanted to share with you all, but it just was not up to 'Fresh Quince of Lyon Village (my neighborhood) style,' as my husband said. The initial plan was a Pin-Up Calendar featuring the following hot models...

The Models:

Mickey (aka Fatty McFatty): Handsome and ever so charming especially when in desperate need of food, which is pretty much all of the time.

 Pumpkin (aka Main Man): Rugged, aloof and not the most faithful of men, he's been known to play the field quite often. So don't be surprised when he is gone for a few weeks and he comes home smelling of cigarette smoke and you don't smoke. 

 Custard (aka Girlfriend): Gorgeous, sweet and always at the ready for some serious lovin'. This lady has a purr that just won't quit!

 Milou (aka My Little Black Pony): Stunning with a personality to match. This beautiful gal is up for an adventure any time of the day and if you let her in your home she's been known to 'you know what' on a sofa or two...who doesn't find that charming!?!

And here are some pin-up poses...

Yes they are all my cats and a kitten was on my wish list for Christmas, but instead I got a gift certificate to a consignment shop...I think my husband is concerned that I will become a crazy cat lady someday. 

Chinoiserie Style!

Yes, I know it is a pretty dramatic change from my previous design and if you have been popping in here over the weekend you would have seen a few different background color selections...do I go with a light pink, dark pink, neutral, green or even patterned background like this...

The pattern, which can be used as a fabric or wallpaper, is called Flowering Quince from Clarence House. It was created by fabric designer Kasumi Yoshida, who was inspired by an antique kimono. The only issue as a wallpaper for my blog the pattern was not fluid, so I decided on a fun shade of quince green white for a fresh start...wish life was filled with such simple and fun choices. Flowering Quince was my inspiration to change Fresh Quince's design for 2011, it reflects my current passion for Chinoiserie and pink obsession...I almost called this blog pink lady because of that and for the fact that I blush quite easily, but when I searched pink lady on the net I didn't want to be associated with what I saw. So, instead Fresh Quince was born. See Flowering Quince in the lovely images below...

All of the images above were sourced via Chinoiserie Chic Blog, a gorgeously done blog with a plethora of lovely images and ideas.

Hope you all like the change!!!! 

Fridays Finest Finds

I wasn't planning on doing a post today, but there are some seriously incredible finds on Craigslist in DC right now, so I had to share. For all of those that need some inspiration to redo their interiors in the new year, this is for you...

Black French Provincial Sideboard $95 (this gal is gorgeous and i have her dresser sister that i plan on painting as soon as the weather cooperates)

White Serpentine Dresser $25 (i like the white, but am not lovin' it...maybe some fun splash of color or maybe you already have color on your wall and need something fresh and light, for this price it's a steal)

ArtDeco Dresser and Nightstand $50 (so mod i love it...i would paint it black and keep all the gold detail)

Lee Industries 'Sexy Leg' Chairs $250 (these were purchased for over $1000/each only 4 years ago and are upholstered in uber chic golden ikat...still very in right now)

Dining Table and 4 Chairs $50 ($50 for all...you can't go wrong with this price...donate the chairs if you don't like, but they look comfy to me)

2 Pink Velvet Victorian Chairs $325/both (these gorgeous gals look perfectly dressed for 2011 in honeysuckle pink)

I see chairs above in a room like this...

Random Harvest Chairs $500/pair (a bit pricey, but great bones and very versatile)

Metal/Glass Coffee Table $20/ Ikea Chairs $25/each (sleek sexy coffee table, simple chairs...add a sofa in grey velvet, paint your living room white, get a black/white striped rug from ikea and you have an awesome living room for next to nothing)

Large Victorian Gilt Mirror $500 plus %15 off in Antique shop (this lovely piece has been on CL for quite some time...it's just sooo gorgeous and i think a pretty fair price for being an antique in great condition)

The mirror above could look stunning in any room, even a bathroom...

Pottery Barn 3x5 Moorish Wool Rug $40 (perfect splash of color for a kids room)

Pink Arm Chair $75 (i have the strongest urge to rescue this sad girl...she need some serious tlc. i might not even re-upholster her and just keep her in my bedroom all raggedy like the velveteen rabbit...she'll be my love, a connection to a past life. i want to know her history, how many books were read on her or movies watched. you know, i think that is why i love second hand pieces...they have a story to tell and i love that.)

Deep Orange Ikea Desk $150 (awesome color and fabulous for a sofa table, console or desk...would look fabulous against grey or even blue walls)

Here's an inspirational image for the desk/console above, it's taken from House and Garden's Guide to Interior Design...

Black Wingback Chair $175 (it's upholstered in black vinyl, not my favorite, but great for kids because very easy to clean)

Below is an image by Sixx Design, a hip design company, and the chairs in the photo are upholstered in vinyl, something they do a lot, especially since they have 7 kids, so if you get the chair above you can say you were inspired by Sixx Design...

2 Black Lacquer Chairs $400/pair (so chic, maybe not the most comfortable)

These chairs would look hot in a room painted this color...

Miles Redd

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!!!!

Fresh Quince in 2011

Come January 1st, Fresh Quince will have a new design! I have been grappling with different images and have finally chosen something I love, so pop on over in the New Year to see my fresh new design. Here's a tiny sneak peek...

Also, I have been following a blog called Ish and Chi for quite sometime. The blogger, Viv, has a feature called Fashion Friday, where she photographs herself in gorgeous new attire. Below are some of my favorite outfits...

Stunning, huh??? Anyway, she has inspired me to create a similar feature, but instead of clothes bought new, I will focus on my second hand items. Starting next Wednesday on my What to Wear Wednesday's, I shall photograph myself weekly in all of my consignment, vintage or second hand clothes. I want to share how I have created an entire wardrobe out of used clothing with a few newbies here and there. I hope it will inspire you...remember great style does not have to be bought new!!!

Lastly, I would love love love to hear from you all next year!!!!! A few weeks ago I received an e-mail from a subscriber named Therese who wanted to share her most recent Craigslist find. I was so happy she shared because she bought the most unique and gorgeous bed frame on Craigslist. So, I decided to create a weekly post on Monday's and feature all of your favorite Craigslist, second hand, gotten out of the trash, vintage or antique finds. It doesn't matter where you found it or what it looks like, if it is special to you and your favorite, then I would love to share it on Fresh Quince. So, I hope you all look forward to My Favorite Find posts on Monday's. Here's a sneak peek at Therese's head board, which will be the first item featured starting Jan. 10, 2011...

Please send your favorite find photos to me at freshquince.danielle@gmail.com or you can reply via my e-mail posts. I seriously can't wait to see what you all have found!!!! 

What to Wear Wednesdays: New Year's Eve

Club Monaco silver sequins with cream trim $118.95

Manolo Blahnik silver snakeskin sling back heels $274.95

Are you ready for a New Year's Eve party???? You will be more than ready to ring in the New Year with this dress. Every little step you take will be magic...it's truly the perfect party dress. After a few cocktails, you'll hit the dance floor and make some noise, Shakira style. With every shake of your hips the dress will sing for you and your friends...man I really feel like dancing right now. And do I really need to say anything about the shoes...comfort and sex appeal, you can't go wrong with these. 

Let's Party this New Year's Eve...consignment style!!!

Fridays Finest Holiday Edition

My mother wanted to share a childhood holiday story today, so in lieu my Criagslist finds I am sharing this...thank goodness because I have my whole family coming over for Christmas Eve dinner tonight.

You all have no idea how excited I was when she sent this to me!!!! Every Christmas I have asked my mother to tell me a story about Christmas when she was young and every year my mother gets as far as a sentence or two and then she would cry. So, yes every year on Christmas for as long as I can remember we have been crying over my mother's happy childhood. So happy that the memories overwhelm her.

So, here's just a piece of the puzzle I have been trying  to connect for over 30 years (can you believe that??)...


Because I like to think of myself as living in the present and looking to the future, I bow to modern holiday color schemes just because I don’t want to be a stick in the mud.  But if truth be told I’m still shocked when I see a shocking pink Christmas tree or a turquoise dyed poinsettia.    I love red and green, two colors that make me think of the holidays and two colors that find their way into my decorating schemes no matter where I’ve lived.    When I was little and a coloring fiend, my parents had to continually buy me new packs of crayons because the red and green crayons were always worn to a stub.


My love of these colors reached a zenith when I was in grade school.  As the holiday approached in our cold, snowy northern town, our greatest joy was to paint the large windows of our classrooms in traditional Christmas designs (10-12 windows in all).  Red and green, of course, were the predominant colors with dabs of yellow (for stars), dark blue (for night) and brown for reindeer or manger scenes.  In case someone chose the Three Wise Men as their design, purple and gold were also available.  Large holly festooned red bells were popular themes and one window always featured a large candle.  Because it was 100 per cent guaranteed that our classroom lights would be on at the crack of dawn and all through the day, these painted windows glowed like welcoming beacons to cold children who had just trudged several blocks through heavy snow.    We loved those windows with a passion and I’m sorry to say the glorious old building that housed these holiday painters is soon to be torn down.   The future is always beckoning.

 

A lovely Martha Stewart Holiday image...my mother has every single Martha Stewart Magazine and most of them are under her bed, so she can grab an issue at 3 in the morning to read.

Free downloadable holiday cards by Kana Kobayashi, LULU and Samantha Hahn from CWC!

I will be doing just one post next week before the New Year, so until then I wish you all a super Happy Holiday!!!