Suspicious Minds

BLOG EPISODE... GRACELAND.

Hello and Good Day. This Blog is about style. As much as we would like everyone to have Our Style, today we are talking about someone else's... Elvis. As luck would have it, Our Style's intrepid reporter Patty was able to visit Graceland. What follows is her account. Caution, some photos may not be suitable for all viewers...Stylewise. 

Welcome to Graceland.

Really, we mean it. Welcome to Graceland.

Our Style's intrepid reporter.

Oh My God ... Welcome!

How many people does it take to fill this couch?

Dining under the stars
 and we don't mean Ann-Margret.

A bold wallpaper will brighten any small space.

Waiting for the Kitchen Cousins.

Tufted ceilings?

Natural wood coffee tables are all the rage.

Choose accessories wisely, they can make a room. 

Ash trays are decorative, but please, no smoking.

Bold choices, but the monkey is freaky.

With a nod to Lisa Marie,
Don't forget to consider the children when designing.  

Whew!
Need to stop for a quick peanut butter banana sandwich. 

Elvis had all the latest technology.

Could Elvis be reaching out?

Displaying awards can make an artistic statement.

Dress for the job you want, not the job you have.

We all begin somewhere.

And sometimes end up in surprising places.

The King.

Ahead of Our Style

            

              Dear Just Off The Presses Vanity Fair Style Issue,
              We couldn't agree more.
              Sincerely, Our Style Inc.

Vertigo by the Northwest Window

Good Day, Mr. Hitchcock

Hello and Good Day. We love movies. We grew up watching movies. We grew up watching old movies. We grew up watching Alfred Hitchcock movies. Hitchcock's movies were full of style. The clothes, the sets, and the details all influenced us. (Who knew what a Mark Cross overnight case was until Rear Window?) We agreed that Rear Window, North by Northwest and Vertigo entertained us visually. And Oh, what a lucky break, they are all in Big Bold Bright Color. (Don't panic, we'll do one on black and white, too!) Whew! Enjoy the show.

 Rear Window
The ultimate.

 Vertigo
God, Donna loves this coat!

North by Northwest
Great red dress, a martini and Cary Grant. Sigh...

Vertigo
Cashmere sweater and an artists' studio apartment
 in San  Francisco.
 P.S. Donna use to have those glasses

Vertigo
Little details, big impact.

North by Northwest
Is there anything more stylish than initialed matchbooks?

Rear Window
YES! A Mark Cross overnight case!

North by Northwest
Who wouldn't want a furry chair?

Vertigo
The studio every artist wants. (the studio and that coat)

The entire set of Rear Window is fabulous but only looking out the rear window. Unless we can redecorate, Jimmy Stewart's apartment is not so much. As a result we offer this video to show the courtyard and the musician's apartment. Then we come around to Grace Kelly. She is at her most fashionable wearing loafers, rolled up jeans and a red shirt. She is one of those women that will always look Crisp (Patty is another, always Crisp). She is Our Style. 

Warning, this is the end of the movie! If you haven't seen it, shame on you and don't watch this clip. Go watch the movie. Thanks ever so. Good evening, Mr. Hitchcock.

Salvage: A Demo

Hello and Good Day...We went fishing in New Bedford, MA last week and our catch of the day was New England Demolition & Salvage on Cove Street. We entered utopia and our mouths fell open but not with chatter. It features everything you would want to Re-build, Re-do, and Re-novate (clever, eh?). New England Demolition & Salvage recycles vintage architectural details and we wanted every one of them. Here are some of the photos from our day, which we post with their permission. 

We said Red tub, not Redrum!

Come on in.

Patty wants to slide these over to her house.

These doors lit our fire.

Someday this will be Donna's shower door.

Oops... wrong wish list.

For those of you with an empty church.

The radiating city.

Stairway to Porcelainland.

Alien light fixtures. Eat your heart out Sarge Weaver!

The weight is still over.

Attack of the claw people!

Sink or swim.

Redrum?

Mission: Lavender

Lavender

Hello and Good Day...

Style comes in all forms. We see it everywhere. That being said, this particular blog isn't about style in the interior design world, it's about style in the culinary world. Our mission is Lavender, not the color, although we enjoy the color, the flower. Flowers are used in baking and cooking more often than one would think. Petals can be candied for cake decoration and buds used as a Rub for lamb, duck or pork. They pair nicely with chocolate and lemon.

Okay... on with the mission.  I (Sarah/Patty) went on a field trip to Fort Hill Farms in Thompson, CT, to meet Kristin Orr and her husband Peter. They are the hosts and farmers of Fort Hill Farms. The Farm has a corn maze, a creamery, a spot to pick your own blueberries and one of the largest lavender displays in New England (enter the purple flower).  As luck would have it, Fort Hill Farms is having a Lavender Festival on Saturday June, 23rd so Kristin asked me to make something. Having cooked with lavender only once or twice I was  hesitant, but up for the challenge. She handed me a container of dried lavender flowers and off I went. Creativity here I come! 

Purple Lemons

Lavender, Honey and Lemon Cupcakes
Butter
Eggs
AP flour
Baking powder
Dried lavender
Salt
Sugar
Honey
Lemon zest
Vanilla
Milk

Frosting
Butter
Confectioners sugar
Lemon juice/zest
Honey