April 2016

I read recently that Haeger Pottery is closing its doors after 145 years in business.  This makes me a little sad, because I own several vintage Haeger vases that are beautiful and fresh every time I bring them down from the shelf.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/elgin-courier-news/news/ct-ecn-east-dundee-haeger-closing-st-0406-20160405-story.html

This is my vase closet, and , as you can see, I enjoy collecting vintage pottery vases.

The Wall Street Journal recently ran an article on a young writer’s Jasperware (or Wedgwood) collection , which she dubbed “granny chic.”

http://www.wsj.com/articles/the-fancy-old-lady-allure-of-wedgwoods-jasperware-1460042312

I agree – vintage vases have a breath of nostalgia about them, but they do make flowers look grand.

If you have even a small interest in collecting a few beautiful vases, you don’t have to look very far.  Every antique and resale shop around has shelves full of them, low-priced and pastel pretty.

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Just got back from a short road trip with my husband.  We wanted to break in our new car – and maybe soak up a bit of spring.

I was excited to travel through several small cities and towns further south that I’d always heard about and never visited.  We literally did drive-throughs and maybe a few side trips if a neighborhood caught our eye.  And of course, I immediately got impressions of how people live and how they feel about their environments by observing porches and window treatments and landscapes.  I could start to fantasize a life, living in ____________.

Too bad there’s not a name like “Foodies” for people who obsess about interiors (Spaceballs?)  But I tend to picture interiors anywhere I find myself.  So I started playing a little game of designing a room that described the impression of some of the towns we drove through.  It’s a very personal impression I’m picturing – you can write and tell me if you agree.  Anyway, here goes:

INDIANAPOLS, IN

Home of Angie’s List, of course!

What a lovely downtown – very elegant.  Almost old world.  The streets are wide and grand.

I think folks have updated a bit here, but probably keep that traditional grandness alive and comfortable.

LOUISVILLE, KY (“Luvul”)

Surprising that I didn’t see more Kentucky Derby influences.  Nice old place. Thriving downtown, and a fun looking old town with good restaurants and bars.

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