upon a New Year-Little Augury turns 1.

in thinking about a post for this day- I stopped. What could I say that I did not say last year? Little.

the real voyage of discovery
consists not in seeking new landscapes 

but in having new eyes.

Proust

Here is the first post of little augury written last December 31st. Much is the same with me, along with an afterward.

What moves us to reach out to others with our thoughts, opinions- our suppositions? For me- I have been continually inspired by one particular blog all year- An Aesthete's Lament. Thank you.

I also begin with an ending of sorts- a dear friend and sometimes mentor died on December 15th and I made a promise to keep just a bit of his wit and wisdom alive by sharing it whenever possible. Hopefully this Little Augury will do that and more. Surely it will evolve- follow along if you'd like to see just how.

a toast to S.Peele and you...
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,

And never brought to mind?

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,

And auld lang syne? ~rabbie burns (1759-96)

afterward-
I read several blogs in 2008 before I began my own- I never commented on a post before I started writing my own.

TOASTS to, Jason Clark, Pamela Terry & Edward, PVE, An Aesthete's Lament, House of Beauty and Culture,Rosie, Elizabeth Avedon,Lauren Hutton, Kelly Smith,Elizabeth Floyd, Architect Design-Stefan, Agnes, le style et la matiere, masion 21,balsam fir, rurritable, meg at pigtown designs, Home Before Dark, Paul Pincus, LBG, Jezebel, Mrs.Blandings, Topsy Turvy,Cote de Texas, The Peak of Chic, Emily Evans Erdmans, Debra, Janet of JCB, Maison Bleu, Jesma, StyleCourt, B.Cushwa, Pooka, Hels, mamacita, Vicki Archer, laura-what I like, Ulla of Model's Own,Sanity Fair,Penelope Bianchi, LIZZIE, Martha, Columnist, tartanscot, Hill Country House Girl, Denise of a Swelle Life, Clarity.
These Lovelies commented on posts the first 6 Months of 2009-& for that my gratitude.

I didn't do any Counting of Visitors on little augury until the end of OCTOBER- and my advice to anyone starting a blog is-Don't. Unless you have a wonderful Entre into that world, focus on what You want to say and Others may want to read-Not what you think other Bloggers want to read.

Do you have resolutions?

I do.

I will.

I want to focus more attention on design in my postings. I have a great series of posts planned - the Most Devastating Beauties of the Last Century. Look for these posts to begin in early January.

I asked Fabulous Augurs for their lists:An Aesthete's Lament,Emily Evans Eerdmans, Rose C'est La Vie, A Bloomsbury Life, Architect Design, Houseof Beauty and Culture, Paris Originals, Le Style et le Matiere, Elizabeth Avedon, Model's Own, InDecorous Taste, The Blushing Hostess Entertains, Lucindaville, and perhaps a few surprises. No?

(I ask them to submit up to 10 Names for compiled List of 10 Devastating Beauties. Ask 10 people and get 10 unique answers- YES! There is some small consensus- But mostly an INTRIGUING MIX. I hope you will stay in touch.

winter 1670.
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Ladies and Gentleman

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I wrote "Though it matters Not a wit to me!I was sure you were a distinguished gentleman.I would be a little disappointed to have missed the mark so widely-Please confirm or deny-A man or A woman? Whichever you might be inclined to be & I will adjust accordingly!"
to which this eloquent reply came:

"A man yes, A gentleman~ I hope."

& this comment on Tuesday from a reader:
I sometimes do not know why someone out there seems to think you are a Man? It is posted that you are Female! Can you clarify?
to which I reply

"A woman yes, A lady~Lord knows my mother tried!"

& I add:
I don't think people always actually READ blogs- though I am glad they stop in to see the pictures. Perhaps they read my COMMENTS on other posts- which are cloaked in mystery!?
or
Perhaps it is the posted picture alongside my Profile-Some have queried it is- a man- in drag, I think not. Though It is not Me-there is nothing unattractive with the lady in question- No? Remember-Beauty is in the eye of the Beholder & some just are not as lovely as others. I rather like her looks. Whatever the case~
I remain

A lady~

I try.

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Favourite Post TOPIC for 2009, more please.

My own personal favourite post topic for 2009 was?
- guess?

Yes,
DV.
Diana Vreeland.


I made DV my post topic 5 times. (6 as of today)
Bloggers-please consider taking a look at DV her work, her life, her style often in 2010. A never ending source of inspiration and entertainment.

DV

and my posting friends ?

the great Aesthete posted about DV 3 times here

Mrs B-3.  here

lovely Lisa of bloomsbury 2 here

an English Rose posted on DV 2 times here

gorgeous Ulla here

my dog ear pages here

lady Emily posted about DV just once here, 

oh
and here too.

Judith in her studio posted about DV here

and my favourite DV here . this post  from Lisa of A Bloomsbury Life, combines everything I like best when I read a blog story and when I try to write something of interest.

attention.
did you dish about DV in 2009? I would love to know, please leave me a note and link if it's handy.

additions to DV-follow...

Stefan resident DC- AD  here

& Daniel of hh here

& I knew that LucindaV. had to have posted on DV,alas NO, and now I KNOW! today it's here

some interesting other sites -
Johnny Edward Heys DV here
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Margaret Russell a love letter

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Margaret Russell's ELLE DECOR editor's page in the January 2010 issue is a love letter to bloggers and their readers of sorts.
Read the letter here at pointclickhome

Margaret Russell with TOP DESIGN cast of judges

Bravo season2

 

Ms. Russell reads blogs. Bloggers are "our treasured partners." She says she is "completely absorbed by design-blog postings regarding interiors magazines; the deep attachment people have for beloved publications is so heartening to see." She misses them too. (I for one wish she would immerse herself in the House and Garden archives)

She promises to pick up some of the now defunct Met Home's contemporary vibe. (Oh, please not too much-don't. Elle Decor already feels very modern and that is enough for me) What happens to Metropolitan Homes subscribers? read here

She also promises a stronger online presence for the magazine- "a new and improved elledecor.com" a great discussion on the topic is in the works at decorno here

all quotes from ELLE DECOR Jan 2010
the elledecor pointclickhome site here
elledecor blogs here
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seven swans a swimming, one lord a leaping,1 lady being~ DiVine

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Some of the most wonderful things about the world we live in today is that we can look back, actually thanks to the incomparable Diana Vreeland, we can look back to these wonderful things. Is there much that inspires you in today's publications?

The goddess of Vogue from the late 60's of course was Diana Vreeland- after her reign there-
does anything compare?

Inspiration from her editorial skills and innate sense of style and beauty gave us the great Valentine Lawford-Pauline de Rothschild pairing, & the Richard Avedon-Verushka sojourn to Japan.

In Eleanor Dwight's DIANA VREELAND, an all encompassing book about the Great One, DV's fascination with the novel MOBY DICK, the great white whale, led to a  photography shoot with Lord Snowdon and white whales for the December 1968 Christmas issue. Other WHITES were white horses and white swans. According the Eleanor Dwight book, " Tony dahling", drew the line at photographing white tigers in India...


DV "They are so aristocratic, so ravishing."
TS  " But Deeanna there's a war going on between Palistan and India. All my photographer friends are going to shoot that. I can't take white tigers."

Here- are the Snowdon Royal Swans from Vogue December 1965-thus ending the holiday posts from collected House and Gardens and Vogue magazines of the era-a swan song of sorts.

The swans Snowdon photographed in 1965 belonged to Lady Galway whose family had kept a swannery for over 300 years at the time. Today the Galway Swannery at Abbotsbury in Dorset is owned by the only surviving daughter of the 9th Viscount Galway,Charlotte Townsend. She is the only person in Britain other than the Queen entitled to own swans. (read more here in the Daily mail)

The royal swans were marked on the bills of the birds to indicate ownership- This Swan-Roll around 1603-the Cantley is from the Broadland region and illustrates the beak mark indicators and the names of the owners.

from the article~ 

DV photograph by Bill King 1977 for Blackglama

read more about Swan Upping on the River Thames here
read the Errant Aesthete's the fashionably Elegant Mats Gustafson here
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my Top Five INTERIOR Design Books of 2009

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My TOP 5 Best INTERIOR DESIGN BOOKS for 2009 in NO particular order-

JACQUES GRANGE INTERIORS

IN HOUSE

THE PRIVATE WORLD OF YVES SAINT LAURENT AND PIERRE BERGE

French Interiors: The Art of Elegance

Michael Taylor: Interior Design

Your picks?

& anticipating

The Great Lady Decorators: Lessons from the Women who Invented Interior Design

familiar?

.

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Springtime of the Spirit

.

realize that Christmas is a pause.

The word is beautiful and the idea

behind it more beautiful.

Christmas is not just for children.

To believe that it is to believe that innocence

without knowledge is better than

understanding and faith and grace.

To be clever about Christmas

is to be profoundly stupid.

The early springtime of the spirit,

Christmas is renewal and joy.*

*from Vogue dec 1965, author unknown.
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merry christmas

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 "in the golden chain of friendship

let me claim one little link."

a little merry Christmas

little augury

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Christmas 1909

Christmas Sea Mosses and Wild Flowers

prepared & arranged by Mrs J. Mills,

153 First Street Santa Cruz,California

from Mrs. Mills herbarium- 1909
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my holiday

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A LUMP OF COAL to Desiree Rogers

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Desiree Rogers desk as photographed in the November VANITY FAIR. Wonder where that State Dinner Guest list might be?

Mostly here- names dropped all over the place.

Hermes, Letitia Baldridge's note wishing her well, Frango chocolates, Jon Bon Jovi's cd gift, George Stevens producer's gift of fine point ink pens- Oh- & guidebooks for planning a state dinner for Indian prime minister-
now, Where is that list?
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McQueen that's mean-RIP

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as to that shoe- see this article posted today at frockwriter here :

3 models-including Abbey Lee Kershaw boycotted the shoe and left the show refusing to wear the deathtrappish looking 10 inch (10"!) shoe. Kershaw had already been sidelined earlier in the year due to a fall and serious knee injury.

I don't think it's because Ms Kershaw is afraid of shoes- She's just smart.

other smarties-

Sasha Pivovarova -not afraid of hair.

& Natasha Poly- or make-up.

all three pretty fierce really, oh- and smart.


Daphne Guiness- head in the clouds.

all photos from style.com
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McQeen RIP

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The newest version of the ancient practice of foot binding- referred to as the Lobster Claw, indeed when lobsters
are captured their claws are banded -eventually causing atrophy.

...& in the spirit of style court

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short on time, wrapping paper- then this is an idea whose time has come-wish I'd thought of that!
this little gem is actually something I'd love to receive for a present. I am always on the look out for unique wrapping papers-and this is the whole package.

(from an old House& Garden, of course)

Mistletoe & Holly to StyleCourt- for Stylish Gift Pairings & everything else good.

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If you did not get over to Style Court this year, I'm surprised.
But wait-there's still time- her most recent post here "last minute ideas" is full of reasonably doable things for gift giving. She has been cited over and over again as one of the best of the many style blogs around-with the moniker- Style Court- how could she miss?

This December her blog has been my daily destination for her GIFT PAIRINGS posts here along with terrific suggestions for books here and for how to wrap it all up once in hand here.

I took her advice on wrapping paper and added two suggestions to my wrapping repertoire from this post.

I may take a slap on the wrist here- but don't think the next holiday won't creep up on you sooner rather than later. Dare I say it? No I dare not, but keep Style Court in sight for her all together most beautifully curated(yes I use that word) posts and the latest in museum goings on and anything else within radar-will already be old news at Style Court.

all photographs courtesy of Style Court.
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the List~ in the tradition of Nancy Lancaster

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tis the season, visions of plum pudding, decking the ballroom, etc. etc....

Nancy Lancaster is legend- it took this Virginian to create the English Country House style. Though Nancy Lancaster never considered herself a designer, she simply had the most innate sense of style. Notables were drawn to the lady's sensibility, her warmth and unselfconscious elan.

In reading through articles,revisiting books in working on several posts about Nancy Lancaster- I came across the reminiscences of her grandnieces Jane Churchill and Melissa Wyndham, both designers, who spent much time in her decorated rooms. "Everything was wonderful at Haseley Court. One Christmas there were many guests my sister and I slept in what was probably the worst bedroom, at the top of the house. Most people's worst bedrooms are bleak, but Aunt Nancy's was very, very pretty, with red-and -white-checked curtains and painted Regency furniture." Churchill said , "I can still smell her house today, recall the wonderful foods, things you didn't get anywhere else."

In her address book the elegant purveyors- Asprey, Smythson of Bond Street, Lobb, Fortnum & Mason, Floris and Ardens are noted as favourites. Her bookstore was G. Heywood Hill, 10 Curzon Street- still there- selling books. Another insight from Churchill."Nancy wouldn't buy a painting because it had a big name, more likely it was because the woman had a pretty dress- like her Elizabethan portraits with those great ruffs." Signatures of the Lancaster style- painted furniture,mixed woods, masses of flowers, luxe curtains, marbleized baseboards, needlework, period antiques &  "Pairs- She loved pairs" (Trudi Ballard of Colefax and Fowler).  Nancy Lancaster would add these essential ingredients for her interiors- "a wood fire, candlelight, and cut flowers."

What would Nancy see in today's stylish world of art, design, style & fashion that would strike her?

Follow along in the famed Lancaster English Country House style- Here is your list.

for the house

"A gentle mixture of furniture expresses life and continuity but it must be a judicious mixture that flows and mixes well. It is a bit like mixing a salade. (I am better at room than salads)."NL

for the desk

 

for the breakfast room

"I never think that sticking slavishly to one period is successful, a touch of nostalgia adds charm. One needs light and shade because if every piece is perfect the room becomes a museum and lifeless." NL

for the tea tray

for the card table

for every room

for scent

for the dog

"[I like] to preserve simplicity rather than over-polishing. Fashions are changeable. Taste is in realizing the essence of a place" NL

  for the wardrobe

for reading

"I've always liked a formal layout and informal planting," she explained. "First get the structure right, like the bones in a face, then plant it like a crowded shoe. If you have a strong layout, you can let the plants seed themselves all over the place. Haphazard, unexpected... I like to be surprised by a garden."NL


for the garden 
 

for wrapping it ALL

SOURCES
All ANTIQUES for IN THE HOUSE available at 1st Dibs, All leather goods for THE DESK available at Smythson and at Asprey, All antiques IN THE BREAKFAST ROOM available at Colefax and Fowler, china from Charlotte Moss & Pickard, "Nancy" pattern, for THE TEA TRAY, tea set from 1st dibs, tea,preserves from Fortnum and Mason, for THE CARD TABLE, Hermes cards from 1st dibs, for EVERY ROOM, Cire trudon, diptyque, Agraria Charlotte Moss(Virginia). for SCENT, Floris, for THE DOG- all items MUNGO & MAUD, except the wicker dog bed from Hound Hill Design, for the WARDROBE train case-Asprey, all clothes-net a porter, for READING, tomfolio.com, amazon.com, for THE GARDEN,roses from Heirloom Roses, for WRAPPING IT ALL, ELUM

for more reading:

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