The Perfect Rx

February 27, 2015

Nothing puts me on the road to Winter recovery like the first of March. And, with the first of March comes that perfect shot in the arm…the Daffodil. Simple joy and happiness found anywhere and everywhere by the generous handful for a couple of bucks. Is there anything quite like their gentle fragrance and burst of color when Winter is still trying to dig its heals in with bone chilling cold?

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photos: gp

Three Bags Full

February 23, 2015

Not wool, but newsprint yarn spun during last winters onslaught to ward off cabin madness. Now what? A starting swatch alone provided great textural interest…the addition of sisal twine added more. Then some manipulated copies brought things back to the original two-dimensional roots of the original newsprint sheet. Adjustment to scale might be next. Go big or go home? Yeah, that sounds right.

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photos: gp

Brrrrrrrr

February 16, 2015

When the temps reach the zero mark, even I can can get into a big piece of meat for dinner. And, if the recipe is as simplequietmodern as this Oven Braised Beef with Tomatoes and Garlic….well, I’m all in. With only three ingredients…a beef roast, a can of tomatoes and a head of garlic… you’ll be wondering as I was why you haven’t made this before. If there are any leftovers I see some Braised Beef Tacos in my future as well.

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photos:gp

All you need is love

February 8, 2015

Valentines Day on the 14th will have you seeing red all week. Not such a bad thing considering most of the country is up to their eyeballs in white.

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A few of my simplequietmodern favorites that just happen to work their magic beautifully in red.

top to bottom:

A pair of Heath budvases in red suede and ruby. photo:http://www.heathceramics.com/

Classic: Florence Knoll  1954 three seat sofa…still the best. photo:Hive http://hivemodern.com/pages/product1164/knoll-florence-knoll-sofa

Always simple quiet and modern…the Elsa Peretti redlacquer “donut” bangle for Tiffany & Co. photo: http://www.tiffany.com

Luxurious handspun wool, “Cast Away” in Strawberry Sparkle from Knit Collage Yarn. Thick and thin saturated color with a thread of metallic for a mid-60’s vibe. A blanket for the arm of that FK sofa perhaps? photo: http://www.nobleknits.com/knit-collage-cast-away-yarn/

Making a statement since its introduction in 1961, Cato from Knoll Textiles. Wool and rayon never looked sexier than it does here in Fire Red. photo:http://www.knoll.com/knolltextileproductdetail/Cato

“Firecracker” jatropha curcas. What can I say? Not your garden variety Valentine offering. photo:gp

One, two, four or more…the Executive Side Chair with metal legs designed by Eero Saarinen in 1957. Produced by Knoll in the USA. photo: http://hivemodern.com/pages/product1265/knoll-eero-saarinen-executive-side-chair-metal/

 

 

 

X’s & O’s

February 4, 2015

You’re sure to get plenty of both if you spoil your Valentine with this. From the original modernist, the Barcelona Cowhide Stool by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. simplequietmodern then, when it was designed for the Barcelona Exposition in 1929… simplequietmodern now.

 

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And, it’s made in the USA by Knoll.

 

 

Photos: via http://hivemodern.com/pages/product3746/knoll-mies-van-der-rohe-barcelona-stool-cowhide

Phil or no Phil…

February 1, 2015

shadow or no shadow…the official first day of Spring is still the 20th of March. Mother Nature has her own schedule and if past Winters have taught us anything, there is no point in forcing the issue. You can, however use the next six weeks to get a jump on any new design plan , changes or additions you’ve been contemplating for your yard and garden. To soften Winters grip right now, arm yourself with a pair of pruners, head out and gather up an armful of Forsythia or Quince branches to force into bloom indoors.

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photos:gp