Never Have Lumps of Coal Been So Chic!

Lumps of coal for the naughty among us.

Natural seasonal touches...only Aaron Rambo and Ruth Davis, at Found for the Home, could be so chic with green.

Our kind of tree...understated and alive!

Without striking a match, this is a warm touch.

Ruth Davis and Aaron Rambo, who hold the keys to Found for the Home, threw open their doors to welcome the season. The fragrance of fresh boxwood, cedar, pine and softly scented candles filled the cool night air. Wherever one looked, there were magical ideas for one's own nest. Everyone loved the amusing jars filled with lumps of coal and tagged Naughty.

Later...right here on this blog...you will see more of Found's retro industrial chic plus a pair of shoes to die for.

White Wednesday: Art Deco White

The 1940 Air Terminal Museum is a stunning white art deco classic. It was once the Houston Municipal Airport Terminal.

The museum is being returned to its former elegance. The interior walls have been plastered to perfection and the white paint chosen for the interior and exterior is ethereal.

While I shot the interior, Tall Husband spoke with a young couple at the museum who were making arrangements to have their wedding reception there...I know the wedding guests will feel as if they are on top of the wedding cake!

White Wednesday is hosted by Faded Charm.

Note: Come back later to see some of the vintage items that give character to this magical museum.

Still Flying After All These Years

Sunday afternoon, Tall Husband and I dropped by The 1940 Air Terminal Museum, an Art Deco beauty built the same year we were. It's always an inspiration to see something our age that is still standing. We had missed the Museum's Saturday Wings & Wheels gathering, due to bad weather. Wings & Wheels features a variety of aircraft and classic cars. This was to have been our first time to attend.

A tiny Taylorcraft, shown here, had been left in the museum's hangar overnight, as the pilot could not fly out due the storm. We met him and his son, Cody...the coolest kid I've met in a long while...as we visited the museum. Cody and his dad invited us to see their wonderful plane, which Dad had restored himself. Cody was especially proud of the antique brass fire extinguisher which is a working vintage piece.

The Taylorcraft, also about our age...vintage, verging on antique...is amazing. The engine has the sweetest sound and the wooden propeller had to be wound, as did the propellers on the toy planes Tall Husband and I built when we were kids.

The little 1940 airplane is being pushed out of the hangar.

Cool Kid Cody showed off the plane. That little rear wheel is the size of my hand. Also note the vintage brass fire extinguisher.

Dad, the pilot, giving the wooden propeller a spin.

Here's the "Ground Crew" including Tall Husband.

After a call to the tower on my cell phone, the little plane begins her taxi toward the runway.

And about here, I was kicking myself for not bringing my lens bag with my telephoto lenses.

She's still flying after all these years, just as Tall Husband and I are!

Click on photos to enlarge.

Note: Thanks to members of Houston Spotters, Blair, Max and Emily, pictured with Tall Husband in the fifth photo from the top, for escorting us around and answering all our questions.

White Wednesday: Vintage Kitchen Ware

Plates and grater are at Installations Antiques, Houston.

Vintage ironstone plates and an old, white enamel grater add character to any kitchen.

White Wednesday is hosted by Faded Charm Cottage, where you'll find links to wonderful white stuff.

Happy Birthday

Linda, Happy Birthday! May this year be magical for you.

An American Primitive: Red Chair

I spotted this child's primitive red chair in the shop at Installations Antiques when I wandered away from an art exhibit next door at Installation's new gallery space. What draws one to this chair is Becki van der Oord's exquisite styling, including the lighting.

I think that little chair would look charming in the The Bunny Bungalow's new studio (when it is built). Speaking of which: Rogers + Labarthe (the architects), the builder, Tall Husband and I are finalizing the plans and builder's contract for the garage/studio. We hope to have a signed contract soon and see the first shovel dig into the soil. As I write this, my butterflies are stirring!

Stay tuned for progress reports.

Coffee and Cars: A Love Story

Tall Husband arriving in his Porsche Cayman.

Tall Husband chatting about, what else? Cars, cars and more cars.

Confession: Tall Husband and I are passionate about cars...classic, domestic, foreign, new, antique. So, last weekend we dropped by the Coffee and Cars gathering here in Houston. We were not disappointed in the cars or the people with whom we chatted.

And did I mention that there were also great dogs and kids there? Perfect!

Note:
These are only a few of the more than 200 cars that were displayed by their proud owners.

Jean-louis Breux Presents Contemporary French Artist Jacques Barry in Heights New Gallery Space

New gallery space at Installations Antiques.

The French artist, Jacques Barry.

Last night, Jean-louis Breux presented the work of contemporary French Artist Jacques Barry at a new Heights gallery space at Installations Antiques. This new venue was a wonderful match for this Frenchman's art...the space looks and feels magically raw, as does Barry's forceful art.

White Wednesday: Button, Button...

I'm running out of old white things to show you for White Wednesday. I just might be forced to show you the last vintage white thing around the house...me!

White Wednesday is hosted by Faded Charm Cottage, where you'll find links to wonderful white stuff.

This Is Not Blue Monday!

Look what arrived in the mail today! Bonjour Madame held a fantastic giveaway over at her eponymous blog and I am the winner.

Here's a Sephora atomizer, which Madame filled with Annick Goutal Violette perfume...

some Dove Dark Chocolate...

some Burt's Bees goodness...

and wise advice.

Bonjour Madame, thank you for such a chic prize! I love it. Now, floating on a sweet cloud of Violette, I'm off to follow that dream.