by studiotullia | Oct 7, 2012 | HOUSE TOUR: Traditional Spanish Style House near Pto. Vallarta
I made a B line across the street when I saw Yayoi Kusama’s polka dot window display at Louis Vuitton. You have to credit Marc Jacobs, LV’s creative director, who has worked with Kusama over the years to channel the incredible creativity of Kusama into a line of clothes and accessories… released earlier this Summer. An epoch splurge for me would be anything Kusama by Louis Vuitton! Any one of polka dotted accessories – green, red, white, yellow – would do.
Here are a few images of the window display posted by Jeff Kahn on Portlandart.net in August.
Check out this collection:
http://www.louisvuitton.co.uk/front/#/eng_GB/Collections/Women/Yayoi-Kusama/stories/The-Louis-Vuitton-and-Yayoi-Kusama-Collection
A retrospective of Kusama’s work has just finished up at the Whitney in New York, having originated at the Tate Gallery in London. The Whitney sums up Kusama as an artist:
Well known for her use of dense patterns of polka dots and nets, as well as her intense, large-scale environments, Yayoi Kusama works in a variety of media, including painting, drawing, sculpture, film, performance, and immersive installation. Born in Japan in 1929, Kusama came to the United States in 1957 and quickly found herself at the epicenter of the New York avant-garde. After achieving fame through groundbreaking exhibitions and art “happenings,” she returned to her native country in 1973 and is now one of Japan’s most prominent contemporary artists. This retrospective features works spanning Kusama’s career.
http://whitney.org/Exhibitions/YayoiKusama
This is a fantastic video, excerpts from Kusama: Princess of Polka Dots directed by Heather Lenz, artist Yayoi Kusama, gallerist Richard Castellone, and Tate curator Frances Morris. They discuss Kusama’s childhood in Japan, her move to New York, and the themes of infinity and accumulation in her work. Here is the link:
http://whitney.org/Exhibitions/YayoiKusama/Video
In my own small way, I have created some polka dot pillows available through Studio Tullia as homage to this extraordinarily inspiring woman. If you would like some Kusama polka dot energy in your home (the symbol of eternity and no soft edges), please visit my Etsy store. (Please click on either of the below pillows to go to my store).
How is this picture to get you into the spirit of Fall:
Ok, if I can’t get a bag, I’ll settle for the watch:
T this limited edition timepiece by Yayoi Kusama and Marc Jacobs is a tribute to the “iconic artwork of the Japanese artist and the expertise of Louis Vuitton. Red with white polka dots, and finished with a diamond-encrusted monogram bracelet, again in red and white. Limited to 188 pieces, the Louis Vuitton Tambour watch by Yayoi Kusama and Marc Jacobs can now be picked up from Louis Vuitton boutiques.
by studiotullia | Jul 10, 2012 | LOCAL PORTLAND EVENTS, PORTLAND PLACES
This looks like a fun event featuring vintage and antique goods coming up at Battle Ground, WA. I have heard about this in the past and am going to try to go this year.
Read more about it:
by studiotullia | Dec 22, 2011 | PORTLAND PLACES
I recently completed a Houzz Tour article in which I wrote about my neighbors’ Tracey & Bernadette’s house. They chose to paint their home ORANGE and it really has enhanced the look of their home, given it a new life along withthe neighborhood. Little did theyknow Pantone would announce that The Color of the Year for 2012 was Tangerine Tango.
Here is the link to the article: http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/1047377/thumbs/Houzz-Tour–Tangerine-Tango-on-a-Portland-Bungalow
Now all the surrounding turn of the century homes in the neighborhood are looking a bit drab and dreary. The neighbors across the street have painted their home a cobalt blue with citron trim, which has really grown on me as well.
What should we paint our chalk green house??
by studiotullia | Oct 2, 2011 | INTERIOR DESIGNERS THAT INSPIRE
I used to work for Randolph & Hein, a posh showroom in San Francisco, about ten years ago. I really wanted to work there because they had Osborne & Little and Designer’s Guild fabric lines. Old time favorites. The quality, colors, style, and marketing of these iconic English companies was wonderful to sell and be around. Not to mention the trade shows in NY, London, etc where I got to meet Tricia Guild, Nina Campbell, Anthony Little. Such characters, great style, and so many gorgeous fabrics! I was fortunate to be in the right place at the right time when fabrics were discontinued and fabric wings were being given away. One of these great silks ended up in my collection, that I ultimately used for a pillow in my store.
Just my luck, HGTV magazine chose to feature the pillow with the fabulous fabric that is not available anymore in their debut issue hitting newsstands on October 4th.
http://www.chron.com/life/article/HGTV-Magazine-debuts-Oct-4-2191560.php#photo-1629511
I have tried to track down this fabric, made several phonecalls, emails… to no avail.
Well, I have been revisiting Designer’s Guild’s latest offerings and per the usual, everything is fabulous.
I did happen to find some wonderful silk fabrics that might be appealing to a reader who likes the above pillow. What do you think?
I thought I would also share a few other fabulous shots from Designer’s Guild’s website:
Here is the link, if you want to see more:
http://www.designersguild.com/fabric-and-wallpaper-showroom/fabric/
Just a weekend at one of the chateaus where they have their photo shoots would make me a happy girl…
by studiotullia | Sep 15, 2011 | HOUSE TOUR: Traditional Spanish Style House near Pto. Vallarta, PORTLAND PLACES
I had a moment to myself late last June as I had dropped off the kids at the zoo with their grandparents. I had to stop at the Portland Rose Garden, despite the intermittent rain.
In retrospect I think it is best to go on a rainy day, with the fresh drops on the roses. Everything smells so sweet and fresh. I wanted to share these before Summer fully escapes us. Today was a grayish day and I am still really wanting Summer here in Portland. Have a look.
Some nice elements to the garden are the outdoor ampitheatre, Lee Kelly’s stainless steel sculpture provided by the Portland Art Museum, and the wonderful bench in honor of Jesse Curry, the first President of the Portland Rose Society.
For more information about this wonderful Portland treasure:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Rose_Test_Garden
by studiotullia | Aug 28, 2011 | MAGICAL MOMENTS
On a recent trip to San Francisco I stopped by The Ribbonerie, a wonderful old world boutique shop for every ribbon you could ever desire. Paris has not been in the cards for me lately, but if you want to feel like you are somewhere else, for just a few minutes, step inside. They used to be located in the Design district downtown but the neighborhood has gotten pretty seedy and with their lease up recently…they moved to stylish Sacramento Street.
My favorite area of the store is the bargain bins, full of wonderful rolls I use for a variety of projects at a clearance price. My daughter had to have a little bit of many variations of pink, and she had quite a selection when she left. They also have a vintage cabinet full of velvet flowers, ribbon, pins, etc. that could keep a milliner entertained for quite some time.
I apologize for the quality of these pictures with my iphone. Here are a few more:
A fun stop next time you are in SF. There is a florist shop in the back that shares the space. I would imagine flowers from this store would be quite magical.
by studiotullia | Jan 11, 2011 | INTERIOR DESIGNERS THAT INSPIRE
I am starting out the New Year with a fresh visual drink of inspiration from interior designers I have admired over the years. I am going to seek out the extraordinary this year and try to figure out why some things certain designers do are great.
Stephen Shubel values antiques and the classics yet he finds a way to display these elements in a fresh, modern way.
I have some images of his wonderful black and white rooms, in which he often uses neutral upholstery, linens, black and white prints, photographs. He loves large-scale busts of great men, in plaster, carved, and as silhouettes on paper, framed or on pillows.
When he uses color it is bold, predominantly sunny yellows, or soft yellows or red, pink or orange, against white or cream. Of course, these observations are based on articles in magazines along with images from his portfolio. Shubel also creates rooms bathed in a colors of French macaroons; soft pink, pistachio green. As an avid pattern lover, I am oddly drawn to his interiors.
In a recent blog interview with Diane Dorran Saeks, he provides five of his favorite whites by Benjamin Moore:
White Dove
Woodmont Cream
Cloud White
Ivory White
Decorator White
Stephen Shubel has been a San Francisco designer for decades and it looks like he has a new furniture line with SARLO, featuring many of his French finds.
Thanks Stephen Shubel, for your bold and fresh design.
I love the blend of black and white pattern
This settee is featured in his new collection with SARLO in San Francisco.
White room, bold chandeliers (2!) and bold color: yellow and orange
This is a breath of fresh air for any designer after a day of color wrestling.
by studiotullia | Dec 29, 2010 | HOUSE TOUR: Traditional Spanish Style House near Pto. Vallarta, PORTLAND PLACES
I saw some unique trees this holiday season. I am realizing that I have the more predictable, traditional tree; the same ornaments every year, same lights. I even bought the cranberries to string along with popcorn. I take the easy way out, I guess.
Our neighbor had a garage sale a couple of months ago and my 3-year-old daughter wanted the small pink Christmas tree for sale. Well, we got it for her and when we were decorating our family tree, Charlotte was working on hers. She got it out, assembled it and the girl decorated that tree. Until every branch was laden, then wanted candy canes, and lights. It looked terrific.
My mother hasn’t had a tree for a few years and so I finally bought her a small fake one from Target with pearl lights. Stationed in a brass pot between linen curtains and fully decorated it adds a lot to her living room and looks festive from outside in her upstairs flat.
My friend Kitsie Countryman had us over and introduced me to a flocked Christmas tree. I found it to be odd up close, as every bit of green was completely covered with snow, but I have to say it was a breath of fresh air, retro, chic, and I loved it.She chose to decorate with pink ornaments, new and retro along with large gold angels ornaments. It really worked.
I went to my hairdresser Ivan Dollar’s holiday party at his studio in a historic building above Schoolhouse Electric. Huge windows, exposed brick, dark shiny wood floors, that he has decorated so understated and elegantly; yards and yards of natural cotton drapes on one side offset the traditional brick walls and he has chosen black leather Eames sofas and clean lined tables, simple tall mirrors. He did something so charming for his party. Ivan drove to Mt Hood National Forest and with his permit, cut down several different very natural looking evergreens. In their varying heights, many very tall, you felt you were walking through a forest as you entered the event. They were not decorated at all, left natural, only white Christmas lights adorned the room. He anchored the trees in large burlap bulk tea bags weighted with rocks. It was understated, bold, elegant and lovely. I wish I had a picture but it was too dark for a good shot with my iphone.
Lastly, I must mention a talented artist and visual display extraordinaire who I ran into dressing Anthropologie’s windows in the Pearl District a few weeks ago. Her indoor display of logs upright on a table inside sparked some decorating ideas at my children’s preschool Harvest Party, which became a Winter wonderland from gathered greenery several of us found at nearby parks.
Nicole Faivre, is this gal’s name and she along with some other talents at Anthropologie, have created one fabulous window display after the next. They take ingenuity and resourcefulness to astounding heights. Here is a shot of her posing next to a Christmas tree being created from torn green rags. She showed me her sketchbook and we talked briefly of her creative process. What a treat to meet her and watch her work. I was impressed with the level of crafty items in the store. It was so ETSY. I mean crocheted banding along the display shelves and appliqued felt pillows on the furniture. Craft is hot. Anyway, let’s hope next year I leave the same old in boxes in the basement and do something else.
by studiotullia | May 18, 2010 | LOCAL PORTLAND EVENTS, MAGICAL MOMENTS
Love it when our dear friend comes to visit. JoJo has become quite the Auntie for the twins and if one photo could sum up who she is, it would be this one of her feet with new slippers. Of course, I went with the bright yellow and orange ones. Fun. The kids love her. She’s been coming up to Portland from the Bay Area since we moved about 5 years ago and has even come up to take an intensive Portland Flower School course to become a certified florist.
We visited a few venues while she was here that were loaded with flowers: The IRIS FESTIVAL and CYRSTAL SPRINGS GARDEN.
I had always thought the IRIS to be a bit frivolous. I mean how many more purple irises does one need in this world? They seem to grow by the 10’s, 100’s even just in my neighborhood alone. Well, I have been educated. The Iris Festival exposed me to hundreds of irises and I now have an appreciation for this charismatic and prolific bud. Just the names alone: Polished Manners, Again and Again, Spiced Custard, Ever Cool, Let’s Elope…inspire want. These kind of events feel so quintessentially OREGON. The festival runs through the end of May.
To top it off, it was Mother’s Day weekend. You can pick up a unique iris specimen for $15-$25. The real fun is with the cut flowers that are $6 for a dozen. Jo was in her element and gathered up enough irises to make a beautiful arrangement for me, my mother in law and my mother, not to mention a corsage for my mother to wear to church.
by studiotullia | Apr 8, 2010 | MAGICAL MOMENTS
With the help of my father in law who had the almond flour sugar cookie dough already made up, the kids and I went to town the day before Easter cutting out tulips, bunnies, butterflies, and flowers. Once out of the oven, we decorated them with icing and sprinkles, laid them out on doilies, added chocolate eggs from the fabulous chocolatier VERDUN in downtown Portland and voila! We are destined to make this one a tradition!
FYI , visit www.verdunchocolates.com to enjoy not only a feast for your eyes, but delicious chocolate.
The same father in law delighted us with an even more beautiful tray of chocolates from VERDUN for our wedding reception. I strongly recommend this chocolatier.
