Perfect Print. No, really. PERFECT.

Ai! This is incredible. I need to buy it and hoard it for a house I will never leave.  Or maybe put it on panels so I can take it everywhere.  Would it be strange to paper the inside of one's car? 

Perfect. I'll be nice and give you the link.  Furbish, two rolls $105

The Right Shade of Envy

I'm not one for a flashy watch, but I am interested in a flashy vintage watch. Vintage makes anything vulgar seem less so by adding patina, mystery, and rarity. Therefore this Malachite Rolex is firmly planted in my wheelhouse.

There's nothing like the wavy greens in gorgeous Malachite. It was the first mineral that I learned - and learned how to spell - taught to me by my Grandmother. She was an avid collector of antiques and jewelry. I blame her for my obsession with sparkle, and well deserved gratitude for influencing my chosen profession. She definitely would have approved of this insanely perfect Rolly. xoxo

Malachite Rolly = Perfection

Jolly Good

Ah, another delicious find. The Fiat Jolly. Adorable runabout auto punctuated with good humor, infamous owners (Jackie O), rarity (possibly less than one hundred still exist), and how can we ignore WICKER seats!!!
I'm pretty sure I snapped a red one at the IKEA parking lot in San Diego. It was unmarked and looked perfectly vintage - candy apple red with bumble bee accents for humor (jolly). I'll have to look for that pic to confirm the sighting. I love a good vintage whip.

Golden Fish

I love taxidermy. (I should be hung on a wall for the time it's been since I've blogged). I found this gorgeous idea from one of the stylishly genius people that I follow around on Pinterest: my latest visual addiction. Of course this golden fish idea means I will be scouring tag sales galore for cast off fish and spraying them gold. Either that or the Walleye from my parent's storage unit are no longer safe. We shall find out when I land in Ohio again.

Treasures

Happy Hundred Degree Saturday!
While in Ohio I was held over an extra day because of thunderstorms. My mother has lately been reminding me of her "go with the flow" ideals. During the delay we visited a local library to read and wait out the storms. Inside we searched their ongoing book sale room and scored some gorgeous books for great deals.
Below is a photo of the print inside the cover of one of the beautiful antique books we bought on my redirected day.

The Taste of Home

Since the 1930s my family has been going to the same fish house on Lake Erie. We call it "Harry's" or "Brennan's"; it's changed owners every few decades and I am not really sure what the proper name is right now. What I do know is that my grandmother swore to me that the taste of the food has never changed.

I'm pretty sure Harry was some distant cousin of mine and I'm also sure he invented the fresh cut French fry (although it is seemingly possible he did not). They serve Lake Erie Perch, draft beer, chowder (of some kind), those legendary French fries, and the best grilled cheeses I've ever eaten. I'm not a fish person. It was key that Harry's have grilled cheese on the menu.

We spent many of my grandmother's birthdays at the large round corner table. She would always order the perch dinner and a draft beer - a bold move I always thought to myself.

Fortunately I was able to visit again while I was "home" last week. It tasted exactly the same as it has since my grandmother, my mother, and I were kids. Although simple, there is nothing lovelier than tradition and familiarity. I hope Harry's stays on through another 80+ years...whatever it's called now.

A Tisket A Tassel

KJL necklace at Net-a-Porter

I returned from my jaunt to Newport via the heavily traveled I-95 South (note it skims all beach access roads...and it's June...).  While mired in traffic I had some time to obsess on my latest obsessions, tassels being one of the ongoing images. 

Enjoy the inspiration...

Mara Hoffman tote. Sold out.  And it's no wonder. 

From Rada' at Calypso (my renewed fave store after being in two in the Northeast! If only one would pop up down here!)

I am working on getting back in the saddle with my blogging! 

Sugar On The Road - No Sleep 'Til Newport!

I am happy to announce that Vieve is generously hosting a trunk show at Chez Genevieve for Sugar next Thursday, May 31st.  It will be open-house style from 4:30 until about 8 o'clock in the evening.  If anyone is interested in attending please email us at info@shopsugar.com to RSVP - or to make an appointment if you cannot make the time frame. 

I will also be doing wholesale appointments in Connecticut and Rhode Island while I am there as well.  Those appointments can be made through wholesale@shopsugar.com. 

Discounts on Summer Jewelry!  Wine!  Socializing with friends!  Discounts of 30-50% off brand new designs like rings, necklaces, and earrings making their debut! 
www.shopsugar.com

How to Ride a Bike

I am looking for a beach cruiser for summer to ride around my 'hood. 

That said, I thought I would share this photo by Tommy Ton of a super chic French woman riding her bike in Paris during fashion week (of course). 

Tres bon! Now this is how you ride a bike. 

Blue and White Interpretation...

Have I shared these yet?  *The move has made my poor memory even worse. 

Blue Willow Knuckles?  They are from Etsy, I am sorry I don't have the link to the brilliant soul who made them.  Incredible! 

I am obsessed with Blue Willow and all things blue & white right now (much to Mr. M's dismay while out collecting).  These take the cake. 

Concept and Design of a Guest Room

I am working on our guest room.  Now that we are on the East Coast, back to civilization, I am anticipating guests.  Yahoo! 

I always love a bunk room, but I don't think that's appropriate until we have a lake house somewhere.  Therefore we are doing twin beds.  After all of those years passing up gorgeous twin bedding (because, after all, who has twins except in their guest room?) - now I am want for Bedding Bargains of My Past. 

Right now I have heaps of other things to worry about...but here is a concept that I love.  Love the Hudson Bay, love the monogram, love the branding (of one's cabin!). 

Fuzzy

T.G.I.F.

Below, an homage to my friend who helps me with everything. Thank you.

can we please talk about the whiskers?

Beat the Heat

The weather here is going to hit a "near record high" in the next two days.  Despite my overwhelming excitement about being back on the East Coast, I have to say my body is a little more used to the dry desert.  Humidity is not really my friend (I don't think it ever was)...the best thing about heat and humidity? The thunderstorms! 

I was poking around through some pix and saw these images to remind me how I need to dress for success in the humid heat over the next few days.  Currently I am enjoying the crispiness of a cotton maxi dress (something I am currently addicted to much to the dismay of the rest of my closet) and some gold Jacks.  Nothing like a uniform to get you through the tangles of the day.

I love this look, it's so casual but slightly premeditated.  It really made me want a pair of python Sperry's. 

Need I say more?

Giovanna = super chic.  She is impeccably dressed and I LOVE the safari.  It's probably some vintage YSL layered over something she found in the trash bin outside of Zara and I am sure it's like 102 degrees and she looks so incredible. 

I have shared this before.  I love this dress.  This time, and in this heat I might rip those sleeves off and add some flat sandals. 

It's so big that it doesn't touch your skin...you know those hot days when you just want a cotton tent nearby to cover you for decency's sake but nothing more?  This is the dress, and it looks good. 

The Den of Inspiration (and Work)

As you may or may not know, I am a designer. A jewelry designer (and a collector, obsessor, decorator, exclaimer, etc...). Upon our most recent relocation I was contemplating the office options with Mr. M. Fortunately, something worked out in our favor and I am sitting in my 90% complete office! Hence why I have allowed myself to blog again after The Great Pack, The Big Move, and The Incredible Drive.

Someday I will post pix of my office when it is finished. There are elements of sisal, flokati, high gloss red, pink Liberty print shades (thank you Target), an antique french desk, and more long cotton draperies than Mr. M cares to recount. I have him to thank immensely for the space and it's conversion.

Back to work for now...the ball is rolling! Here are a couple of pix below that were inspiration for The Office/Studio/Haven/Den of Inspiration...

The theme here is organization and work space...of which I need more of both.

The super chic office Mary McDonald decorated on "Million Dollar Decorators" (I heart that show).  I am dying for the draperies.  Hello! 

If I had a loveseat in a nook I would be sharing it with Dixie the yellow dog no doubt.

Mary McDonald's coveted blue office. The lamps and the desk are insane. 

Now all I need is a well placed Zebra pelt...hmm.  Dying to find some of those faux bamboo numbers lurking in someone's garage around here. 

This woman is also a designer, but a French one.  And who cannot help but envy and want to reproduce what the French have done stylistically?  I am merely a follower and an appreciator.  I love her space though.  Serene and organized. 

Thank you Mr. M for everything. xoxo

Breaking Free

Howdy y'all!  It sure has been a while since I have written.  Many changes have taken place...all for the better.

We drove through CA, AZ, NM, TX, OK, AR, TN, AL, GA, SC, NC, and made it to VA!  CA had a tough time letting us go, just miles from the border we were almost sucked back into the west coast vortex - but we burst forth and crossed several state lines. Here are a few highlights from our trip and our layover in SC.

Now that we are getting settled I am back on radar - blogging and back on my coast whose salty ocean is called the Atlantic. 

This might be Oklahoma...where passing the time came in the form of pretending we were weather chasers.

A sign of civilization (in my book).

Picking strawberries in fields where one finds relief from the Southern sun under a giant Live Oak complete with Spanish Moss adornment.

The fruits of our labor.

Le Francais sont Gris

Translated: The French are Gray. 

It's a complement from my perspective.  Christian Dior is famous for their "Dior Gray" (now available at Benjamin Moore - hello!).  I love Gray.  It's one of my favorite colors - alone or mixed with almost any color it makes everything chic. 

I am en route to my home coast and have been collecting various pieces of reworked furniture and antiques all in the French style (some are gray like an amazing pair of cane side chairs...).  I am not sure the nouveau Chez Sugarbuzz will be able to handle a complete French Revolution, so I will pick my battles room by room.  Here is some inspiration I have been pondering...

The French (and the style inspired by) are so chic they make possible trash look purposeful.  I love this old window as the backdrop for the very (gray) bar set up. 

That giant fireplace is so amazing it looks like it is going to eat this dining set like kindling!  Of course the chandelier cannot be ignored...

I call this "dueling chandeliers".  I love it and would not have thought of hanging a matching pair of sparkly chandeliers to my bedside.  Cozy! 

Gray velvet grounds this whole room and makes it serene and cozy. I love this look because it is sophisticated but casual. 

30% Off The New Sugar Website!

Happy First Day of Spring! 

Is this the time when you are supposed to be able to balance an egg on it's pointy side?  I never got that. 

In honor of the struggling daffodils hemisphere-wide, we are officially launching the Sugar website today with an exclusive 30% off site-wide until April 15!  Spruce up your wardrobe with some Sugar treats! 

Use code: PEEPS2012 for 30% off!  Woohoo! 

www.shopsugar.com

Bailey Necklace
This is from our new line, Betwixt by Sugar, that mixes vintage components with natural elements like gemstones, coral, shark's teeth and more.  I am going to toot my own horn here and admit that I LOVE this piece - it's my favorite color afterall!   

Chelsea Necklace
Named for my friend's daughter, who when she was a teenager she was discovering the wonderful world of mixing styles.  She was quite conservative in her dress and getting more subversive each day.  She trotted off to NYU Film for a Master's a few years ago, and something about this design still reminds me of her fashion epiphanies in the early '00s...
(It's a Betwixt by Sugar piece, too. Vintage chain, vintage gold plated safety pins (gorgeous!), and of course fun dyed Howlite spikes).

Sarah Necklace
I love this piece.  It is named for my two Sarahs who both happen to love navy & white stripes (who doesn't, right?) and of course the color pink with some hidden yellow. Perfect for some Spring/Summer action, or simply to help you feel like some Spring/Summer action...

Blocked In

I hesitated a bit with the whole colorblocking-is-in announcement.  All I could imagine were a bunch of people running around mixing all of the wrong things together looking like human sized Legos...possibly me being one of them.  And then I realized that unless I am wearing stripes (which I am most of the time, like right now, plus fur vest!), I am usually in some mode of color blocking.  My mother always told me solids were a sure thing.  True true.  For me mixing solid colors is safe - no print mixing to meddle with and no layers of stripes on stripes. 

Here are a few inspiring colorblock mixes exaggerated by my favorite neon yellow, clashing colors, etc. The backgrounds of these shots are just incredible in different ways...you will see what I mean. 

Colorblock away dear friends! Avoid primary colors thus you will blend in at Chez Lego...ciao!  

1. The Bridge. Amazing.
2. LOVE the neon coat choice.  It's not really an exercize in colorblocking now that I look at the photo but the neon coat made it look that way - fresh!
3. Facehunter photo at London Fashion Week FW2012

1. Also good background - shipyard chic! 
2. Great yellow skirt.  I love how she treats it as the neutral that ties the whole look together even though the color is off the chain. 
3. photo via Facehunter, I believe from New Zealand?

1. The hot. pink. wall. makes this shot!  From Sao Paulo where hot pink walls are the norm.
2. I love when someone wears socks with sandals.  I don't have the nerve to do it, but I love it.
3. Fabulous wack looking metallic creature on the dress.  Futuristic Tribal. 
4. Thank you again Facehunter. 

Pleased with Prints

Don't you believe that a gorgeous print is like wearing artwork?  I LOVE a print.  Even an awkward garment looks divine when the print is amazing (ok, maybe that is a stretch). 

Here is a lovely collage of prints from Carolina Herrera - past and present.

Carolina's prints, past and present (note the birds are Spring Summer 2012).
She takes seemingly ordinary things (chairs, swimmers) and adds color and graphic delights to make them incredible.  Contemplate that idea...
NY Times Collection photo credit. 

The New Turk's Head

My friend Miss AHN showed me these last fall when we were visiting her brother in Venice Beach.  I fell in love, and sort of forgot about them until I realized summer is right around the corner. If only I knew how to splice...Mr. M might know how to do it...hmm. 

Do you think if I wrangled one of these on my ankle it would shrink to fit like they used to? 

OBSESSED WITH THESE
$85, A+R Store by Tanya Aguniga