Hi, it's just me.

Introducing Priscilla

Two winters ago, when Carol Maguire Home was barely a twinkle in my eye...Amanda and I were antiquing in Vermont. We came across a beautiful shop in Waterbury...home of Ben & Jerry's ice cream...and Green Mountain Coffee. And we soon learned it was home to our "Modern Priscilla" too!

There she was...staring up at us from the top of a pile of magazines...saying "take me home!" So we did. 

It was on that same trip to Vermont that we conceived Carol Maguire Home...and Priscilla became our mascot. She sits framed in our Vermont office...sitting behind Amanda...so I can see her when we skype!

Priscilla takes her role as mascot very seriously. Sometimes she likes to wear her Peony Noir suit and Sunflower Persimmon cap.

And sometimes she prefers her Peony Fern swimsuit with her Sunflower Aubergine cap.

What a nut she is! But who can blame her?

So there you have it. Our very own Modern Priscilla. Is there a little Priscilla in you? xo

Two Buttons /Eat Pray Love

I took a road trip this weekend with my dear friend Stephanie to Frenchtown, NewJersey. We went to visit Elizabeth Gilbert's shop "Two Buttons". Liz with her husband Jose have filled a warehouse with an amazing collection of beautiful hand made art-items from their travels! Jewelry, textiles, furniture and sculpture......all magical.......a real feast for the eyes.

We were disapointed not to meet Liz.......but we did catch a glimpse of Jose!

PS I saw the movie last week.......and loved it!

 

 

New for Fall

We are so excited to share our new Carol Maguire Home Fall colors with you! The Sunflower Aubergine and Persimmon will be perfect for your autumn celebrations...tailgating....impromptu picnics...cozy nights at home...and especially Thanksgiving!

And check out our new pattern "Peony"...the very cool pink on black (oh so French)...and the scarlet on fern...perfect for holiday tables.

All of these colors will be available in three tablecloth sizes, placemats, and napkins as well as our beautiful 45" square voile scarves, totebags and NEW for Fall - a new, larger duffle bag!

These new colors will be available in late September...stay tuned to www.CarolMaguireHome.com for their arrival!

Tablecloth Magic/Upholstery 101

I blogged about this little chair back when the ground was covered with snow. I photographed it in my desolate garden........here she is again. Now in good company...with my late summer flowers!

I have had numerous requests on how I covered this chair. So here you go!

It was originally covered in a black needlepoint. I removed the needlepoint and used it as my pattern.

For the front top of the chair I used a Carol Maguire Home Hydrangea Oasis Napkin. I laid the old needlepoint down on top of the napkin, pinned it down...drew around with a pencil....and cut it out.

For the seat I used a 60" x 60" Carol Maguire Home Hydrangea Oasis tablecloth. I knew I wanted to use the striped border of the tablecloth in a prominent way......and right across the front face was perfect. Again I laid the old covering down on top of the tablecloth, pinned it down.....drew around it with a pencil......and cut it out.

I used a combination of a staple gun and some upholstery tacks to attach my new coverings.  To finish the top back panel and arms I attached some coordinating cording...... it not only makes a finished appearance......but hides the staples and tacks!

I love this little chair......it makes me smile everytime I see it!  And you can do this too! Send me pictures of your upholstery magic.......I know you are out there.  xo

Summer's Bounty at Maples Acres

After traveling around like a gypsy all summer.......I am finally home.  Back in my wonderful old house......really old...... over 200 years.  Back to my gardens that have been so neglected this summer. I spent the weekend weeding......thinning......pruning......transplanting ......it feels so darn good to have things starting to be back in order.  Being a Libra I need the order and balance just to feel at peace.

And I have the time to go to my favorite farm......Maple Acres.  Their produce is amazing.....and so plentiful. I love their displays.....baskets overflowing. I bought eggplants, tomatoes, peaches......onions, brocolli, peppers, corn.......and am so happy! Yum.......it just feels so good to be on the farm.....everyone is happy....off to the kitchen to make something wonderful!

Trunk Show on the Vineyard

What a glorious Memorial Day weekend we had! I flew up to Manchester NH where Amanda, my daughter and partner, picked me up in her SUV packed to the max with our tablecloths! We drove to Woods Hole to catch the ferry to Martha's Vineyard.....a bowl of chowder and 45 minutes later we were rolling off the ferry onto the most beautiful island. Our home away from home.

Amanda and I headed over to the Granary Gallery in West Tisbury to set up our "Carol Maguire Home " shop in the gallery's courtyard. We draped tablecloths.....hung tote bags in the trees.....and used their wonderful props to create a wonderful cozy space. The gallery folk had hung my paintings on the walls and fences....I just loved seeing my paintings and the colorful linens all in one space!

The weather was perfect.....and the customers plentiful. It was a joyous celebration. We sold tablecloths for wedding presents.....placemats to be sent to London...Edinburgh...and Tuscany. We met so many lovely people.....and the Granary staff was amazing! 

Here are some pictures. We were so busy selling our line that we didn't capture the courtyard crowded with people.

My Pom Pom Tree

I love this tree.......or big bush! I have lived with it for for 25 years and I look forward to seeing it bloom every spring! It is surrounded with lovely ferns........I remember the very first time I saw this house, it was owned by a very interesting couple of women......one was a psychiatrist....one was a lawyer. They were retiring to Maine and selling the house. They had lived here since 1953.....the year I was born......and the year they planted the Pom Pom tree! They told me the reason the ferns were so lush was that they had buried their beloved cats under the tree.......and we have carried on the tradition.

I have to admit I took it for granted.....then 2 years ago the spring came and the tree looked terrible....fewer leaves.....and even fewer pom poms.....I freaked out!! Called a tree guy who gave my tree a shot of fertilizer.....he told me how to prune it.....and it came back to life.

I have loved the pom poms....painted the pom poms.....filled my house with pom poms! Yesterday I was lying in the grass admiring it's beauty.....and I thought for the very first time in 25 years.....what are those pom pom made out of?

To my surprise.....each pom breaks down into 7 clusters......each cluster into 7 smaller clusters ......and each smaller cluster into 4 blossoms. Each pom has 196 little flowers!  I love life!

Spring Party Carol Maguire Home

We had a wonderful day on Saturday.......here are some pictures of our party ......we set up a "Carol Maguire Home Shop ' on the lawn! So many people came .......and were thrilled with our new designs.....lots of sales....laughs ......and

 






conversation......it was a dream come true!

Easter in Vermont

 I went up to Vermont to spend the Easter weekend with Amanda and Steve!I was traveling with my  88 year old mother...we drove, cabbed, flew, and drove......a nine hour trip from Philadelphia....and so worth being with Amanda and Steve! 

We had a party for Mom's 88th birthday.....Amanda and I were able to get a lot of work in....we celebrated our first two retail connections......The Pear Tree in Wayne PA and The Store in Waitsfield VT......both hand chosen by us.......beautiful shops to carry Carol Maguire Home.

We are so blessed.....in so many ways....one of the highlights for me was the discovery of "blue eggs" at one of the local Vermont farms. They are really a variety of blues and greens.....combined with pinks...neutrals...to warm browns!

Life is so good.....so blessed to be working with Amanda........blue eggs are just the icing on the cake!

(Speaking of cakes......Mom's birthday cake is a Lady Baltimore Cake......the city of her birth.....88 years ago on Easter Sunday.......hand made by Amanda!!!!)

Trunk Shows

Amanda and I are hitting the road this summer to promote Carol Maguire Home with a series of Trunk Shows! We have been so fortunate to have a number of my art galleries to invite us to show our new home decor line.

Martha's Vineyard & Cape Cod MA, Warm Spring,VA, Greenville DE, Whitfield RI.......all magical places!

Amanda is previewing  our Trunk Show apparel......so you can make us out from the on lookers!

New Paintings inspired by our Spring Collection

I designed the Spring tablecloths about a year ago... at that time we sent all of the info to our manufacturer in India.They burned a screen for each color......14 screens for each design....hand printed each one.....packed and shipped them on their way.

I received these samples in January and was mesmorized by then.......yes, they are my designs, my artwork......but to see it on these beautiful tablecloths is mind boggling for me. I have always included textiles in my still life paintings......and now to be able to use my own designs is just a dream come true!

We will be introducing the Spring Collection next week. XO

Look what popped out of my garden today!

Look what popped out of my garden today!!!!! It must be Spring!

Well.......I'm kidding......and I am so looking forward to the days of sunshine!

This is a chair that I picked up at a consignment shop.......and gave it a new life. It was a sad little thing when I found it......upholstered in tattered black needlepoint......tucked away in a dark corner.....with a 50% off sign on it!

And now it is the "First Official Carol Maguire Home Chair".......a coveted title among chairs!!!!!

I had fun.....and I am sure my new chair feels better!

Philadelphia Flower Show.....Spring is here!!!

Oh.....so beautiful.....so fragrant......it was an amazing day!!! So good for the soul! I went to the Philadelphia Flower Show today with my dear friend and neighbor Chris. We took the train in to Philadelphia.....it's a quick trip.....we had a quick lunch .....a Mediterranean salad with humus, taboule, domades......some olives and pita.....yummy. Then we braved the crowds.....this is a huge and very popular flower show......the oldest in the country.

Chris and I are both avid gardeners....so we spent the next 5 hours in wonder and amazement. This year, the major floral designers took their inspiration from India, Africa and Thailand.

The jewelry pieces are all made from plants.......spectacular!

I only wish you could smell the fragrance ......Spring is right around the corner!!!

  

 



 



 

Treasure Cay Painting Workshop

Oh! We had so much fun! What a dream.....to be asked to teach a painting workshop....in the Bahamas ...for the second year in a row!!! And to be able to bring my daughter ......life is good!

This year we painted at Stella's home studio. We were a group of 12 women.....bright, happy, talented painters! Five days from 10 until 3.....with lunch on Stella's deck...right on the beautiful white beach with the amazing turquoise water! Here a some pictures!

Photoshoot in the Bahamas

I was invited by the Treasure Cay Art League to teach a painting workshop. The dates were set for February 8-12.......our flight on the 6th was canceled due to the impending snowstorm. We scrambled and left for Miami on the 5th

(we caught the last flight before the Philly airport was closed!)....and in Miami it was Superbowl weekend!
Amanda searched to find us a hotel room....we had to spend the night.....leaving for Abaco the next day. The workshop was a huge success. While I was teaching....Amanda was busy taking the photos of our new Spring line. Here are some of the out-takes, our condo.....the foliage....our week!