01 April 2012

who INSPIRES Me

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For the panel discussion at West Week, I was asked Who Inspires Me? 
I had to think about the people that seem to be-always with Me. Many people came to mind-the famous-the infamous, but mostly it was family-clients-friends.

 At the top of my List was my Grand Mother. I have featured her a number of times in postings-SO-If any of this is repetitive –my apologies.


My Daily inspirations center around a Grand-Mother & RAMBLING. 
She claimed I was her greatest RAMBLER.




This drawing of Bess and my mother was done for me by Vivian Strauss as a gift for my Mother. It is copied from a photograph of the pair in my Grand Mother’s garden.




Bess knew how to live well and beautifully.  Simple tasks like setting the table were transformed into a Daily Ritual of getting out one of a dozen different China Patterns, napkins, silver, goblets and adding amusing centerpieces from her tours in the garden or bric a brac from around the house. 

She followed House and Garden and her bible-Religiously.
She decoupaged, She scrapbooked- and She had a perfectly folded Linen Closet with Monogram towels and press sheets.

She kept a beautiful house-these things- the ordinary became EXTRA Ordinary with Bess.  
Her bird baths-Her garden and KOI Pond- also known as the Fish Pond- were notables with her grandchildren and her friends.

Nights spent with her meant wearing a special Chinese Kimono in red and yellow or plundering her bureau drawer full of costume jewelry.

Legend tells that Bess stood watching the upstairs rooms of her house burn holding a bouquet of violets.

I learned So Much from this Woman-and things I never Knew-until I was older and creating a Life for Myself.

There is Not a Day that goes by that SHE is not Present. 


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28 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. She was a creative force-many of her talents rubbed off on her thirteen grandchildren and We all had special memories of her. pgt

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  2. I am soooooo happy to have met you before I write this comment!

    I am a grandmother (I hope and pray) who is memorable like yours!

    I have seven grandchildren; by this summer; five will be back in my community! (three have been in Switzerland for 8 years.......they had been in Montecito for 3 years before that )! They are twins.....13; and a girl......Victoria......15!

    I hope I am the grandmother you describe!

    I had one!!

    Penelope

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  3. I forgot to say......your description of your grandmother is my goal in life. Honestly,

    thank you for articulating it so beautifully!!

    Penelope

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  4. Beautiful post, and one I can really relate to:
    http://thefrenchsampler.blogspot.fr/search/label/My%20Grandmother
    I love the picture you have painted of Bess standing, watching the upstairs rooms of her house burning, whilst holding a bouquet of violets, that is an image that will linger in my imagination for a while.

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  5. SO lovely - I think it's all about celebrating the everyday rituals in thoughtful beautiful ways!

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  6. The pictures and words here are all extremely fine, inspiring, and a lovely introduction and set-up for the week ahead. Thank you. Curtis

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  7. My favorite line, "the ordinary became EXTRA Ordinary with Bess". We as women are very fortunate to have had women like Bess shape our young lives. She sounded like a charismatic lady. I could never read too much about her.

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    1. It's quite true and I think many have that quality if we don't get too hung up on what others deem to be extra ordinary. You are right about the good fortune of having a Bess in one's life. pgt

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  8. What a lovely tribute to your grandmother. I was just thinking about mine and remembering how much time I spent with her and the impact she had in my life. She taught me how to play piano and introduced me to the works of Dickens. There is a photo of her with my grandfather in Florida. She's got on shorts, a halter top, and heels with a scarf wrapped around her head, a set of binoculars hanging off her shoulder and big sunglasses, the epitome of glamour.
    I was at the panel discussion and loved your comments about your different sources of inspiration, -- rooms, places, and people. We talked about Ottline Morrell. I also just looked at a recent post by you about La Dolce Vita. I go there often, it is so old school Italian and L.A. Hollyhock store is also a favorite of mine and I know Suzanne. I'm so happy you enjoyed your visit!

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    1. Sunday-it was wonderful to meet you, I remember our conversation, especially your mention of Ottoline Morrell. Thanks too for mentioning the panel on your blog!http://ciaodomenica.blogspot.com/2012/03/day-of-design.html

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  9. Your grandmother sounds like an absolutely lovely lady, and perhaps an influence in the direction of your career. I like the painting that you commissioned - it has great charm.

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    1. while the watercolor lacks the recognition of the pair-it completely captures the moment and yes-the charm, this would have been about 1934.

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  10. I adore your tribute and Bess with her bouquet of Violets. Interesting how much we realize at the time we begin creating our own lives. It's then we start to see all the love and inspiration that came before this very moment. To Bess!

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    1. Barbara, Violets were are fav with her-her December wedding bouquet. It is as you can guess the flower I associate with her for all these reasons. I never see them that she doesn't come to mind. It was a revelation to me- I spent a great deal of time with her-even in my college years I would spend weekends with her and we just mused together. pgt

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  11. Oh my goodness! What a wonderful heritage of memories and tradition she left you! And all enveloped in love, as I can feel it your words. This is what we ALL want to be remembered for! For some, they have unbounded energy and for others like myself, it takes planning and work! But the result is the same-- blessing all around! Thanks for the images of inspiration!

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    1. Mary, what a well said thought-"This is what we ALL want to be remembered for!" I find being still sometimes helps me get things done-I think you will know what I mean!

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  12. to grandmothers...

    mine too was a muse
    and lived to almost 102

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    1. Beth, I noted below that my Bess lived to a ripe old age-107! How lucky we are to have known them.

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  13. I knew many other people would be inspired by their grand mothers too- Mine was a one off in Every Way. My mother, her youngest, has inherited many of Bess' qualities-as have I, along with my niece Elizabeth. Some things are passed down vicariously.

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  14. Bess survived her husband almost 60 years. She never remarried and at the time it might have been as much a necessity to do so however He left her independently well off for her lifetime. She was able to create a world of her own-PGT

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  15. You are an inspiration -- always.

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  16. How wonderful for you to have had Bess as your grandmother. You have reminded me how influential a grandmother can and should be in a child's life.

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  17. I have just come back to read this! I was at that panel discussion......and (not anything negative about the other panelists......but for me......you were the absolute STAR)!
    Part of it was the past.......(including your grandmother); I think most of it was your absolute "unordinariousness" (spellcheck is telling me this is not a word.....I refuse to take it back! it is a correct description!!)

    It sounds like your grandmother made everything extraordinary....which is a talent and a gift!

    I believe in making every single part of life.......extraordinary as well!

    Why not have a pond......and visit the baby mallards (one has tamed and provided safety for in the morning)? Good grief! That goes on for 5 months here!

    (different duck families)! Why not have chickens? We have two sets of baby chicks right now.....usually they are out patrolling and eating all the snails and slugs.......(we have had a bobcat stopping by) We have to let him know there are other places to find "lunch"!

    With one granddaughter we did the "National Wildlife Federation" backyard habitat program certification!

    She presented it to her first grade class!

    I would sure like to hear more about Bess!!!


    I had a mother and a Granny who pointed out my peculiar talents (children assume everyone has those talents)! Double lucky!

    When our girls were first pregnant with grandchildren......I had to tread carefully.....my two stepdaughters were first......I said......"I know I am low on the totem pole...just in case no one else wants it (their mother; and they married brothers so they only had one mother-in-law) I would love to be "Granny"!

    They burst out laughing! "You can have that one!"!!

    My favorite name!!

    I; and I think many others would love to hear more about "Bess"! Love this sharing! Thank you!

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