That's for Thoughts

You know I love my vintage tablecloths. I'm most drawn to the ones with bold purpley blues, reds, pinks and aqua greens. I love complementary colors: my living room is painted "Pink Mix" (aka Tequila Sunrise) and the adjoining hall is Muscari. The kitchen is Blue Room with accents of deep cherry red.

I often admire all-white rooms in magazines. And I can go into the home of someone who decorates minimally, with off-white walls, a few well-placed pieces of good art, and streamlined furniture--and not only admire their taste, but feel so calm and relaxed there that I vow to go home, paint the walls pale yellow or beige, strip the rooms of every unnecessary item, and decorate with white tulips. But I never do. I like change, variety, and lots of color. It's just my personality. I'm more of a double pink peony than white tulips. I love white tulips, but they're not me.

I do have several white-tulip friends, however. My friend Ann, is one. Simple, tasteful style. And my friend Wendy, too. Not bland by any means. At Ann's home the first thing you notice are her books and fresh flowers from her garden. At Wendy's, it her wonderful collection of artwork, much of it by her own hand, or through her camera lens.

When I decided to sell a few of my treasures a couple of weeks ago, one of the items I decided I could part with was a vintage tablecloth with a pale yellow, white, and silvery gray design of birch bark. Now, I love birch bark--it reminds me of Michigan where I grew up, and I could just see that tablecloth on a picnic table or in the kitchen of little cabin in the woods. It's a simple, elegant design. But it's not me. So I put it up for auction. For several days I watched the numbers tick up on all my other items up for auction, but no bids on that tablecloth--no one had even put it on their watch list. I began to regret even putting it in the auction, as it might just go for the minimum amount--if at all.

Then, suddenly, a bid and a few watchers. In the end, it went for twice as much as the other cloth I had up for bid. I sent off my congratulations and request for payment, and the winner immediately paid and e-mailed me a note: "Surprise, it's me!" The winner was Wendy! I was definitely surprised and pleased on so many levels: that the cloth was going to a good home, that Wendy would care enough to buy it, and that I would get to see it again at her summer cabin up in Vermont.

If you would like to see some samples of Wendy's simply elegant work, look here.

Comments

[Rue]

I'm the same way. I always want to change my home to simple cottage colors, but I love rich colors and I could never paint my antiques white.

Have a great night,
rue :)

[Genevieve Olsen]

I am the same way! I even went so far as to slipcover my couch and chair in white denim. I was going all white! But little by little my favorite red slips in and takes over, he he! I believe that what we are affected by what I like to call decorator's schizophrenia!!! I too am a vintage tablecloth freaksaurus I simply cannot get enough! My mother and Mother –in-Law think they are so granny! Oh well I do not think there is a cure for either affliction so hang in there!