HALLOWEEN

Happy Halloween!!  No one knows how to celebrate today better than Martha Stewart.  Here is some last minute inspiration for your spooky night.

Images via Martha Stewart

HALLOWEEN: GRAVEYARD

Many may find this strange and quite morbid, but I am fascinated by gravestones.  Each stone is a unique work of art reflecting a different lifetime.  One fall weekend, my dad took me and my brothers, to one of the oldest graveyards in our town.  Here, we made sketches and crayon rubbings, of gravestones.  

When we returned home, my dad cut pieces of foam to match the shape of the gravestones.  Next, we spray painted the white foam with various shades of gray and mossy green.  After the paint dried, my brothers and I went to work.  We created an array of funny names and stories about the lives of the members of our fake graveyard.  One of my favorites is "To My Love Jelly Donut."  In addition to names and background stories, we also added gravestone motifs; oak leaves, to symbolize strength, olive trees to symbolize peace, doves to symbolize eternal life and peace, and an urn to symbolize immortality. 

After painting and decorating our gravestones, my dad reinforced the backs with rectangular pieces of ply wood and affixed a stake.  Next we set out to  install our front yard graveyard.  Despite a few unfortunate Cabbage Nights, our graveyard stands through the final weeks of October and Halloween. 
Image by AGA

HALLOWEEN: LADIES' FINGERS

One of my favorite Halloween treats (other than candy, of course!), is Martha Stewart's Ladies' Fingers.  It took a little while to get past the gruesome look, but once I did I realized how delicious they are!  Stick your ladies' fingers in a platter of dried lentils, and they will look like fingers crawling out of dirt.  Enjoy!

STEP 1:  Heat oven to 350 degrees. Line two baking sheets with Silpats or parchment paper, and set aside

STEP 2: Place 2 tablespoons of red food coloring in a shallow bowl.  Using a small paintbrush, color the face of 30 blanched almonds.  Set aside to dry.

STEP 3: Separate 1 egg.  Set aside white.  In a small bowl whisk together yolk, remaining egg, and 1/4 teaspoon of vanilla extract.  Set aside.

STEP 4:  In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine 8 tablespoons (1 stick) of unsalted butter, 1/2 cup of confectioners' sugar, 5 tablespoons of granulated sugar, and a pinch of salt.  Beat on medium speed until well combined.  Add egg mixture, and beat until smooth, about 2 minutes.  Add 1-2/3 cups of all-purpose flour, and mix on low speed just until incorporated.  Wrap the dough in plastic, and chill until firm, 20 to 30 minutes.  

STEP 5: Divide the dough in half.  Work with one piece at a time, keeping remaining dough covered with plastic wrap and shilled.  Divide the first half into 15 pieces.  On a lightly floured surface, roll each piece back and forth with palms into finger shapes, 3 to 4 inches long.  Pinch dough in two places to form knuckles.  Score each knuckle lightly with the back of a small knife.  Transfer fingers to prepared baking sheets.  Repeat with remaining dough.

STEP 6: When all fingers are formed, brush lightly with egg white.  Position almond nails; push into dough to attach.

STEP 7: Bake until lightly browned, about 12 minutes. Cool completely.  

Recipe and image from Martha Stewart www.marthastewart.com

HALLOWEEN: A BUNCH OF HOCUS POCUS

Halloween is still 10 days away, but I cannot contain my excitement anymore!  After watching Hocus Pocus on repeat since September 29th, I am ready to celebrate.  Candy, costumes, parties, and whimsical décor make this an especially exciting holiday. As a child I remember spending afternoons in the sewing store, looking through different patterns for my Halloween costume. This was the one day of the year that I could be as sparkly and billowy as I wanted. Over the years, I was every kind of princess imaginable: a snow princess, hot pink and green princess, gold princess, fairy princess...the list goes on and on.  Sorry, I didn’t mix it up for you Mum! 

On Halloween day, there were school parties where we bobbed for apples, ate chocolate cupcakes with bright orange frosting, and listened to the monster bash on repeat.     By the time the school bell rang, and the sugar rush was already in full mode.  A sparkle touch up and a quick bite of dinner, was needed before heading out to the neighborhoods.  Each year we would use the same trick-or-treating bags; a personally decorated canvas bag from a craft store.  Mine often featured jack-o-lanterns, witch silhouettes shooting past a Harvest moon, and gnarly old trees. 

When Halloween night had finally arrived, we would all pile into my Mum’s  station wagon, and head to our friend’s house.  After photos and hellos, it was time to run wild.  With the parents close behind we zigzagged from house to house in hope of a “jack-pot”, AKA a king size candy bar.  We loved seeing what surprises each house had in store for us, except for that one family (a dentist of course) who gave out toothbrushes every year.  

At the end of the night we would all run home to sort our candy.  I would begin by pairing all king size candy bars, then slowly work my way to the smaller tootsie rolls, and sweeties.  During the sorting process my brothers and our friends would go back and forth, bartering for a better piece of candy.  And beware! There was always a constant threat of a sneaky little brother snatching up a prized treat.  

As soon as I got home, I would hide my prized treats.  Over the following weeks I would carefully eat one piece at a time.  By the time it was Christmas, I would still have left-overs.  My dad always use to comment on this, particularly when he would be looking for a sweet tooth fix on a late November evening.  My brothers, on the other hand, had more of an “eat it as quickly as you can” approach.  More often than not, this plan proved to be a poor one. My youngest brother is a perfect example of this, as he was sick before making it home one Halloween.   

Today I enjoy the costumes, parties, and the excitement of young children.  This is like Christmas for someone with a big sweet tooth, like me.  Snickers, Peanut Butter Cups, and Almond Joys, are a few of my favorites!  In addition to the candy, there is always decorating and pumpkin carving, as well as the question of “what should I be this year?”…this can take quite some time and preparation.
Image by AGA

GET SPOTTED: THE LOOK

Get spotted with these fun leopard accessories:

“My weakness is wearing too much leopard print.” Jackie Collins 1941

Jcrew leopard belt, Banana Republic leopard tablet clutch 

Tory Burch leopard loafers, Alexander McQueen leopard scarf with scull motif available at Nordstrom's 

Jcrew leopard bangle, Jcrew leopard Iphone 5 case

Manolo Blahnik leopard pump, London Sole Henrietta flat 

GET SPOTTED: MUSE

“High glamour is only one role that leopard plays. It's the Meryl Streep of trends. It can suit a rock chick's rebellion; it can be hippie, high-end or hip-hop. Small wonder these spots stubbornly refuse to fade.” (Meenal Mistry, Wall Street Journal)http://online.wsj.com

Christian Dior does leopard, image via pinterest 

Vogue 1948, image via pinterest 

Vogue 1939, image via pinterest

1951, image via pinterest 

Joanna McCormick, Dior 1957, photo by Henry Clarke, image via pinterest

 Pierre Balmain 1956, image via pinterest 

Bette Davis, image via pinterest

Jacqueline Kennedy 1967, image via pinterest

Gloria Swanson, Sunset Boulevard, image via pinterest

1957, image via pinterest

Natalie Wood, 1950's, image via pinterest

Mitzah Bricard, Christian Dior, image via pinterest

 Marie Therese in suite, muff, and beret by Pierre Balmain, photo by Willy Maywald (1954), image via pinterest

1950's Jane Russell, image via pinterest

Marilyn Monroe, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953), image via pinterest

Carmen Dell'Orifice, image via pinterest

GET SPOTTED: INTERIOR

Add leopard to your home with an area rug, pillow, throw, or even a wallcovering.  Here are a few photos to inspire your spotted interior. 

“Leopard is an animal design, and my designs come from nature.” Roberto Cavalli

Gallery by Mary McDonald, image via Elle Decor

Aerin Lauder's Living Room, image via Elle Decor

Aerin Lauder's Living Room, image via Architectural Digest 

Living Room by Bunny Williams, image source unknown 

Bunny Williams's Office, image source unknown 

Family Room by Bunny Williams, image source unknown 

This month's issue of British Homes and Gardens, note the Rose Cumming leopard print pillow in the center of the sofa. 

Rose Cumming's leopard print linen, image via Dessin Fournir  

Albert Hadley in his red hallway with a leopard runner, image source unknown 

This is my personal favorite leopard print fabric: Cowtan & Tout, Zanibar.  Shown on the right, in color Forest.  http://designs.cowtan.com

GET SPOTTED

A few years ago, I received a faux leopard coat for Christmas.  I was instantly obsessed!  Leopard belts, jewelry, shirts, shoes, handbags, and coats…I could not get enough of this playful print.

A longtime favorite of designers, celebrities, and the public, this print has made quite an impact over the years.  Beginning as a symbol of status and wealth, leopard print was a favorite among Christian Dior’s muse Mitzah Bricard. 

In addition to leopard’s influence on the world of fashion, this print has played a significant role in interior design. Similar to zebra print, leopard adds an exotic and graphic element to any room.  Albert Hadley, a well-known American interior designer, was an avid fan of Rose Cumming's leopard print linen.  Hadley was known for his daring designs, which often featured combinations of classic and contemporary themes.  Furthermore, Hadley and other designers promoted the use of the leopard pattern in interior design, allowing its popularity to grow. 

Today many well known designers, including Mary McDonald and Bunny Williams, have used this exotic print, and consequently leopard made yet another appearance on the Fall/Winter runway.  This versatile pattern has been reworked in various colors and textures, lending itself as a perfect addition to any scheme.  The leopard pattern is classic and edgy, establishing it as a design that will stand the test of time.  

Image by Olivia Pearson

STUDY: MY COLLECTION

Here are a few books from my bookshelf:

What I am currently reading: 

• The Chaperone: My mum recommended this book and I have enjoyed every minute of it.  A novel about the summer Louis Brooks and her chaperone visited New York City.  

Reading for the evening: 

• The Great Gatsby: F. Scott Fitzgerald's magnificent portrayal of 1920's America and the American Dream.  This novel has been celebrated throughout the decades.  The most recent representation, Gatsby features Leonardo DiCaprio as the alluring title character.   
• Rocket Boys: I was a huge fan of the movie, October Sky, and it led me to read the book. I highly recommend this to anyone, at any age.  Rocket Boys inspired me to follow my dream of studying Architecture, even though there were those who said I should not.
• Rules of Civility: A timeless New York story, where a young girl slowly rises into high society, by her beautiful charm, and the magic of a chance encounter.  

Reading for design inspiration:

• Victoria Hagan, Interior Portraits 
• Gil Shafer, The Great American House 
• Michael Smith, Houses
• Eric Cohler, Cohler on Design 

Favorite childhood reads:

• Eloise at The Plaza: New York, Pink, The Plaza, and a Pug.  What’s not to love about Eloise!  My favorite part of the Eloise series is how Hilary Knight magnificently captures the quirky characteristics of the pug breed. As someone who grew up with two pugs, Phoebe and Prudence, I can relate to every illustration.
• The Very Little Girl: A 1953 publication about a very little girl who grows big enough to have a little brother.  A story identical to my own childhood, when my wonderful younger brother arrived.

STUDY: THE IMPORTANCE OF BOOKS

I have always loved books.  Growing up, I can remember spending long afternoons in my grandfather’s Study, looking through his expansive collection on anatomy, photography, and architecture.  I started my personal collection at a young age, and it has grown with me over the years.  My current bookshelf features everything from one of the first books my parents shared with me, to college Art History and Architecture books.  When I read one of these books, I am reminded of when and how it came into my life.

At work, I often go into homes to discover there are few or no books. I sometimes wonder if one day everyone will have a Kindle on their coffee table.  Will bookcases no longer serve a purpose in the home, other than to store our electronics?    

Books are not only educational and inspirational, they are also a great decorative and personal element to any living space. If a client asked me to purchase a box of books for their bookshelf, I would find this task incredibly challenging.  A book collection is a personal expression.  The content, history, and purpose of the book are all necessary in creating a distinctive set.  I often find myself opting for inspiration through pinterest or Google searches, but this modern habit does not compare to the natural enjoyment that comes from picking up a book and flipping through the pages. 

I am someone who consistently has a filled cart on Amazon;  design, photography, travel, and fashion books are frequently added.  One day I hope to have a magnificent Study or bookcase to showcase my collection.  Here are a few photographs to inspire your personal Study.

 Image via David Hicks

Image via Suzanne Slesin

Image via Michael Smith, Elle Decor November 2008

Image via Elle Decor

Image via James Huniford

Image via Victoria Hagan, Elle Decor 

Image via Elle Decor 

Image via Jeffrey Bilhuber