My Shabby Streamside Studio

Friday, March 25, 2011

Review of ‘Belle Blanc: Aus Liebe zu Weiß’ by Mira Schnepf and Bianca Aurich

All content from Belle Blanc: Aus Liebe zu Weiss by Mira Schnepf and
Bianca Aurich, published by Busse Seewald, 2011

At long last, I can glue my bookplate in.

Graphic: Tattered Vintage

Belle Blanc: Aus Liebe zu Weiß (Beautiful White: For the Love of White)

ISBN 978-3-512-03354-4

Hardcover
9 x 11”
High quality paper with the title embossed in zinc foil. Yummy.

Q:

“Why should I buy this book?   It’s $50, their blogs are free to view, and it’s in German.”

A:

Just in case you’re thinking this, and I doubt you are, gentle reader, I will relay why you should.

The price is now $34 with free shipping from The Book Depository.

It’s the sort of book that never gets shelved.   It’ll stay on my dresser or in my tote bag.

If you love New England/Cape Cod, Cottage, and Jeanne d’Arc Living décor, this book is a must for those aspiring to perfect the ,,White and Worn” style.   Lastly, if you have a weakness for old roses you’re going to have a heart attack at the bounty of them throughout.

Pictures speak louder than words, and it’s obvious to see the book is organized by room and garden.   The experience was like those wordless illustrated books I enjoyed as a child.   If you must, type text into Google Translate and read to your heart’s content.

There are merely two pictures I recognize from their blogs: this is fresh material.   The layout is a dream.    Expanded font.   White space.   Edited palette.   Pictures evenly toned.   All imparts an atmosphere of blissful beauty.

What touched me the most was the level of elegance Mira and Bianca achieve in average suburban homes.    I’m the sort of person that swoons over homes with 14 foot ceilings, rinceau, and 19th century oak floors in a herringbone pattern.   However, these ladies made their spaces as special as can be without adding texture to the walls.   Their Nordic-influenced kitchens will have you ripping out your kitchen cabinets and installing shelving to display your ironstone and French wire kitchenware.   They expertly fuse new fixtures with vintage items in the bathrooms, softening the modernity without muddling the clean lines.   Tasty dishes and recipes round the content out.

Mira and Bianca spent a lot of money and time and it shows: Belle Blanc: Aus Liebe zu Weiß glows with heart.   These are the sort of shots acquired only by planning, waiting, and shooting over & over at different angles on different days.   Old roses bloom only for a few weeks, and they work full-time, so the dedication it took to race home from work when the light was still magic and prop & shoot is extraordinary.   Family, cats, and relaxation time surely were sacrificed for their art.

Regrets:

It’s the way I wanted to do my book, so now I have to think of something else.   It should be in linen with a zinc foil title, but publishers are cutting costs.   I have no idea where in the U.S. I’m going to find those old brass church candelabra now that I need them.   My copy was imported and it took 3 weeks to arrive, so every night I came home hoping to see it in the mail I deflated.

Get The Belle Blanc Look: French and German Grain Sack Pillows

Budget Reprints:

The Real Deal:

Mira (Belle Blanc) and Bianca (White Living) made the leap from blogger to print author and I’m very proud of these two, who have been in my top five favorite blogs since I started out. I’ve contacted the lovely writer that did my German Elle Decoration article to inform her about this tome, and I haven’t heard back from her yet but I’m certain they’ll be featured in “Elle Deco” in short order.

So, hurry over to The Book Depository and serve yourself a slice of heaven.

Belle Blanc: Aus Liebe zu Weiß

ISBN 978-3-512-03354-4

Available at The Book Depository

$34 + free shipping

Bis zum nächsten Mal, bleiben shabby!

I’m sharing this with:

White Wednesday at Faded Charm

Vintage Friday at Common Ground

Show & Tell Friday at My Romantic Home

Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage

I'd like to broadcast my gratitude to the following bloggers for featuring me recently:

disegno Karina Gentinetta
(This post got me teary eyed, thanks, my friend!)

the paris apartment

Little Cottage

Shabby Chic Con Amore

Style File

White & Shabby

(My favorite blog. Danke, Jade!)

And, as always, my gratitude for everyone's encouraging comments!

Friday, March 11, 2011

My German Elle Decoration Feature

What a big thank you I have to say today!  Liebe Lydia Schmid, you have kindly written a story about me, gaaaaaaaaanz mystified as I am to be in a glossy big-time mag like Elle sharing space with Tommy Hilfiger and Cher.

(Ganz means quite.   My favorite blogger, Jade of White & Shabby, uses this darling adjective often and I adore it.)

I received an invitation to lunch in New York a few days before Christmas for the interview.   She’s originally from Munich and has been living in a lovely Harlem brownstone for over ten years.   Elle’s offices are in the building right next to Radio City Music Hall, and we walked to the Le Pain Quotidien in Rockerfeller Center.   It was full, so she treated me to a steak place where I had lovely fries.   I told her all about the German blog White & Shabby, and how easy it is to find great stories if editors know where to look.   The atmosphere was vibrant with holiday cheer, the sidewalks so full of people, silver bells, smiling traffic cops preventing gridlock in Midtown.   Loved it.   Especially since no one noticed I snuck my Maltese Belle in.

Lydia graciously sent two copies to me, expressing her chagrin, “unfortunately they did not print the truth I had written about you, about your struggles and your chutzpa…I am really sorry as I so admire what you have achieved with so little funds.”   I’m sorry to hear she’s upset about that.   Nevertheless, she loves the story and of course the photos they bought from Trevor Tondro when he shot my studio for the Times are even better printed on glossy paper.   Except that he innocently included this ridiculous dollar store tiara I had lying around waiting for upcycling I never got to, and I didn’t realize (!) one of my books in the mantle vignette has too much color.   This could halt my aspirations as a photographer/stylist mid-stride.   Hopefully, everyone will be distracted by my portrait and remarking what horrible butch arms I have instead.

I should get used to translating German, for any day I’m expecting Mira Schnepf (Belle Blanc) and Bianca Aurich’s (White Living) book BELLE BLANC - Aus Liebe zu Weiß available on Amazon.co.uk.   It can be ordered here for about $50, delivery is close to a month.   I promise to do a review.

As always, thank you for your comments and visits, it means so much to me.

Bis zum nächsten Mal, bleiben shabby!

I’m sharing this with:

White Wednesday at Faded Charm

Show & Tell Friday at My Romantic Home

Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage

Friday, March 4, 2011

My MaryJane’s Farm & The Bund Magazine Feature

My favorite parts are the pictures with Zuzu and my old Blue Wheaten Ameraucana rooster Alex Lifeson when he was a sleepy baby chick!

Thank you, MaryJane’s Farm, for publishing such a delightful feature on my studio! I was approached by Genny Charet in September for permission to do a story, and I confessed I’d never heard of the magazine. As I often do, I scrambled to find and convert JPEGs to 300 dpi, email them along in small batches, and correct copy. I wasn’t prepared for such a sophisticated periodical: it’s much like Victoria in the 1980s, only with a little Mother Earth News and Oprah mixed in. There are ads I’m interested in for organic food, poultry farming, handmade jewelry, books, and more. Here’s a peek:

MaryJane's Farmgirls Sisterhood members have the “can-do” attitude I find appealing. They stress you needn’t live on a farm to qualify. In fact, there’s a posse of contributors including an urban and a suburban writer. I think I’ll join MaryJane’s Farm and make new friends!

Looks like they could use tutorials, garden tours, and recipes – why not submit something to them today at their Keeping In Touch portal?

The magazine is a little hard to find, but worth it. The only place I've seen it is Tractor Supply.

Harder to find is my feature in The Bund, a popular Chinese news/lifestyle magazine similar to Time. Thank you, Dakini Yan Lu, for the interview. I'd love to share it with you, but I still haven't received my copy. I made a screenshot of the first page of the PDF proof they sent during the holidays. I guess it recites the fact I renovated for $3,000, the rest is no different from my Times feature. A big European magazine bought the story, but I must keep it under wraps until it's published...stay tuned!

Until next time, stay shabby!

I’m sharing this post with Cindy at My Romantic Home – please come to the party!

Friday, February 25, 2011

My Fanciful Designs Rose of French Paper

A set of four Fanciful Designs napkin rings at disegno Karina Gentinetta, about $70.

Photo: Jacqueline deMontravel, ‘Romantic Homes’ October 2010

My giveaway prize front & center on my mantel.

In December, I won a giveaway at the celestial Fanciful Designs studio of artist Noel Solomon. Sound familiar? You may have heard of her from her feature in Romantic Homes, or from her mother’s sophisticated French Blue blog.

She fashions tea roses out of a stiff, heavy French paper. They’re light and heavy at once. The edges are torn, like fine stationery, adding a stylized feel while remaining acquiescent to the natural shape of a rose. They don’t look crafted. They look like art--technically perfect, arresting.

My friend Karina sells Noel’s napkin rings ($70 for 4) at her stunning New Orleans store disegno Karina Gentinetta. I’m hard pressed to find a shot from my shoot at her store without Noel’s paper roses gracing a vignette. I found myself using them more than real roses.

Everything about Noel is elegant; from the font addressed on my package to the pretty note card with her sentiments penned inside. I can’t wait to see what she does with her own wedding—congratulations to her and her fiancé who proposed over the holidays!

If I won a giveaway item from you, your time has at last come -- I spent a lot of time writing posts earlier in the month so you should read about it by spring!

Until next time, stay shabby!

I’m sharing this with Faded Charm’s White Wednesday, please come and see all the pretty entries!

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Giveaway at The Nate Berkus Show!

Hi – Attached and below is information about The Nate Berkus Show’s “Giveaway-a-Day Sweepstakes,” happening NOW!! I thought you might be interested in this fun sweepstakes that offers fans a chance to win original décor pieces created by Nate and his design team. Please feel free to post information about this sweepstakes on your blog and if you have any questions, just let me know. Thanks for all your support!

I just received this message from a producer at The Nate Show -- check it out & good luck!

‘THE NATE BERKUS SHOW’ ANNOUNCES “NATE’S GIVEAWAY-A-DAY SWEEPSTAKES” FOR CHANCE TO WIN ORIGINAL DÉCOR PIECES CREATED BY POPULAR DESIGNER HIMSELF FOR TV SHOW

Fans Have Chance to Win from February 21-March 5

NEW YORK, February 22, 2011 – The Nate Berkus Show, announces the launch of its first ever “Nate’s Giveaway-A-Day Sweepstakes,” giving fans a chance to win décor created on set by Nate Berkus and his design team. Every weekday from February 21st at 8am ET until March 5th at 8am ET, viewers can watch The Nate Berkus Show (nationally syndicated; check your local listings or visit www.TheNateShow.com/station-finder ) to see which item Nate is giving away that day, then visit www.TheNateShow.com/giveaway to enter for a chance to win an authentic piece of Nate Show décor that has been featured on the daily talk show.

Some of these one-of-kind items include a refinished map chest, a sisal rope mirror, a gold-leafed chandelier, a repurposed door headboard, a coffee table, a replica of a royal tabletop with a custom monogram, and more!

For more details on sweepstakes rules, terms and conditions, visit TheNateShow.com/giveaway.

Friday, February 18, 2011

Maltese Dog Love: Easy Bows for The Pampered Pooch, Westminster or Petfinder

My furbaby Zuzu can jump up on my sofa from standing still.

The pillows are turned over so her paw prints soil only one side.

Images: Kennel and Bench, Unknown, Denise Rodhe/Darlynns Maltese, Jackie/Jami Maltese,

Sharon Pearson/Foxstone Maltese, Tammy Simon/Ta-Jon Maltese.

Since it’s the season for the Westminster Dog Show here in America, I thought I’d do a post on my favorite breed, the Maltese.

The breed is thought to originate from the island nation of Malta in the Mediterranean at the time of the Romans. From the start, the tiny dogs were spoiled by aristocrats delighted to hand feed them, carry them in their arms, and let them sleep in their beds.

One of the things they’re infamous for is a lot of grooming.

My Maltese Zuzu and Belle always have bows tied in their hair.

Belle, 11, is a gentle dowager and can keep a fancy $12 tiara in her hair for weeks.
For my visiting Maltese friends 'in dogs', Zuzu is from Heaven Sent Maltese in MA,
her sire's side has Marcris/RagTak/Pashes/Ta-Jon and can be traced back to
Joanne Chen's Mino Maya Dancer. Belle is adopted from Jambet, her
grandson is Magic who was ranked #12 a few years ago.

Zuzu, 6 on 10 February, is a little scalawag that follows our big dogs Ruffy and Mully

in the woods and fields. Her bows last a few days. I needed a solution for Zuzie.

It’s very easy.

Gather some wired ribbon, a ruler, scissors, and clear 5/16” grooming bands.

Cut the ribbon into 2 lengths of 6” each.

Fold one side, then the other.

Cinch with a rubber grooming band.

Attach to your furbaby’s ponytail with another grooming band,

and enjoy how cute she looks!

They’re washable and last for months.

The wire ribbon is malleable, which is great because you don’t have to

coax them into place the way you must with regular starched show bows.

Photo: Donna Bass Photography

My friend Donna loves dogs and horses, for a special treat check her site out!

These French script rose petal bows were made from a petal on my Teacup Design

silk roses I simply cut and stitched together and banded to Zuzu’s ponytails.

Do you pamper your pooch?
Blogger Marie Arden sure does – I’m always checking in to see ‘Les Girls’ –
so if you need a Maltese fix check her out! Her girls are from Linda at TaLin.

Interested in enriching your life with a Maltese? Opt to adopt at Petfinder.

I’ve been a volunteer for Metropolitan Maltese Rescue since 2005.

What a joy it is helping homeless dogs find loving homes in the NY metro area!

The American Maltese Association publishes a list of reputable Maltese breeders listed by state.

If you’re in Texas, why not visit their National Specialty in April, a dog show with just Maltese?

Thanks for all your 'bon anniversaire' wishes to Zuzu -- I relayed them and she wagged.

Until next time, stay shabby!