Restoration

I bought this box three years ago on Portobello Road in London, for close to $20. I was walking by it the other day when I thought: you know what? This box really isn't great.

The inside was dull orange paper, and there was a brass crest with bits of brass peeling off!

So, I rushed to my closet, and pulled out some pretty, inexpensive papers I'd bought last year at an art shop in Toronto. I originally was going to use these papers to wrap things, but they don't hold tape very well. These are only four styles, but I have about a million.

I settled on this happy paper, with blue, purple, and green circles.
I used a paper cutter, ruler, and glue stick...
To transform this box into:

Nothing like a pretty place to keep random odds and ends. I also spray-painted the crest black, and dabbed the paint off so that some gold shines through.

The Joy of Flowers

Spring is here, and with it comes a beautiful bevy of fresh flowers, at remarkably lower prices. I love flowers! They brighten up a room and are very easy to arrange. I'm no flower expert, and I can name not more than ten types, but I love arranging them. Below: green flowers (green looks fresh) brighten up a bedside table in a shiny mint julep cup.

Red flowers in a short clear vase on a hall table strike a rich note. Red is dramatic.

Hydrangeas and orchids (that's three types I can name!) look lovely in a parisian glass. I am a big fan of the hydrangea; they're big and inexpensive. Here, the contrast of the light green and white mixed with the richness of the purple is great (especially against my green leather letter caddy).

My new invention: the twelve dollar topiary! I took a light green hydrangea ($4), and stuck it in a simple square white ceramic vase ($8). Et voila!

Finally, tulips! Tulips can last forever, aren't terribly expensive, and are the one flower that I would choose to always sit on its own.

We were given: Two hands to hold. To legs to walk. Two eyes to see. Two ears to listen.

But why only one heart?

Because the other was given to someone else. For us to find.

- unknown author

The St. Lawrence Market

Every Sunday, there is an antiques fair at the Saint Lawrence Market which, understandably, becomes more and more popular as the weather improves (even though it's indoors). I love a flea market, especially when it's busy, and today was no exception.

A sparkly candelabra catches my eye... there is an attachment for a shade, but why would you want to cover it?

There was unused vintage wrapping paper from the 70s, 80s, and 90s for $4 a bag. I liked the simplicity of the stripes on top, but there were also papers with flowers, funky colors, and one pop-y yellow-and-white paisley.

I thought this was just fun!

My scores included a mirror and sterling silver tray ($15) and a tiny, simple box with diagonal gold lines ($5).

With a few bottles of cologne and some accessories, I easily made them into a little dressing station perched on a dresser.

I love the flea market!

Top 10 Telluride

With the end of my vacation looming (I leave tomorrow), I thought I'd make a top ten list of things to do in Telluride. From shopping to dining, my ten favorites:

1. A belt I had custom cut for $36

2. The Telluride Gallery of Fine Art, which features works by the likes of Jerry Uelsmann and Malcolm Liepke

3. Honga's Lotus Petal sushi bar and restaurant

4. The run called 'Plunge'

5. First tracks in fresh powder

6. The free gondola

7. The view from 'See Forever'

8. Lunch at the Alpino Vino on a sunny day

9. Artisan truffles from Telluride Truffle

10. Dinner at the New Sheridan Chop House

From art to the art of aprés-ski, Telluride has it all, and this list is the best of the best... well, in my opinion

Telluride - Day 7

Firstly, let me apologize for my infrequent blogging; our hotel's wireless is a bit touchy. But, today it seems to be working well, therefore:

Today was absolutely, drop-dead gorgeous! You could see forever on a run called 'See Forever;' aptly named. These are the absolutely divine views, above and below.

We saw a glider flying high (I only know what it is because of the Thomas Crown Affair, but still). What fun that looked like!

Then we stopped for lunch at the Alpino Vino, the only place to have lunch on the mountain. There was a rowdy, slightly intoxicated large group near our table, but their songs and revelry added to the fun, I think. Below is the view from our daybed/banquette.

We had a bottle of white wine, some bread, and an antipasto...

... as well as some nice paninis and cappuccinos, each of which came with a biscotti, hazelnut chocolate, and perfect cube of brown sugar.

The good weather continued all through the day; not a cloud in the sky!

We stumbled into Telluride Truffle, a very cute little place (with slightly surly workers), where delicious artisan truffles sport names like Bunny Hill (milk chocolate with a banana centre), Early Frost (mint and dark chocolate), and powder day (white chocolate with Amaretto flavoring).

All around (if you pardon the pun) a delicious day!

Telluride - Day 3

Today, we awoke to the welcome sight of snow. Snow everywhere. We ate breakfast, took the gondola to the top of the mountain, and were pleased to find half-a-foot of fresh powder awaiting us. There's nothing like powder skiing; it doesn't matter how experienced you are, you're either good at it or you're not. But there's a certain rhythm that comes with powder that you can't get from any other conditions.

We stopped in for lunch at The Great Room, the mediocre restaurant at the Peaks hotel. At least one good thing came out of it, though:

Then it was back to the slopes until about three, yesterday the visibility was little to none, but today, surprisingly, it wasn't bad. I'm not the best skier in the world, but I'm fairly experienced (we've skied Vail, Beaver Creek, Lake Louise, and Mont Tremblant in the past), and I can honestly say that this was possibly the best day of skiing of my life.

We headed to the hotel for a shower and a hot Toddy, and then went to town. There are two places to stay in Telluride: the Mountain village (a fairly Intrawest-y place that's all new, where we stayed last year), or Telluride proper, an old mining town with history, character, and restaurants. The town is great. We didn't have too much time, but we stopped in a shop with handmade hats and boots.

The boots were customizable...

You can choose from a variety of heights, styles, and materials. The basket below contains just some of the options.

Still foggy!

Telluride - Day 1

Today, we embarked on a perilous journey that involved two flights (Toronto to Houston to Montrose) and an hour-and-a-half-long drive. We woke up at 5:30 AM, downed a few coffees, and headed to the airport, where we tirelessly endured search after search and guess what they didn't find... weapons, bombs, liquids of any sort. After the flights and car rides, we were happy to check into the slightly rustic, but none the less well-appointed hotel with a fabulous adjoining restaurant 'Cosmopolitan.' The sight of the fireplace (below) in our suite was a sight for sore eyes, and a low but soothing gas flame is now warming my toes while I write this.

Like the hotel in general, the suite is well-appointed. With (four!) plasma screen TVs, two fireplaces, steam showers, and wi-fi, one gets a rustic ski experience with all the modern amenities you know you want.

There is a living room and kitchenette connecting the two bedrooms, which both have their own cozy seating ares. I can't wait to plop down on this sofa tomorrow after a long day's ski.

Inviting club chairs beckon, well-placed, I feel, in front of windows which face the mountains and bathe the room in light.

The bathroom houses more modern amenities. I don't recognize this particular brand of hotel bath products, but with soothing scents like aloe vera, honeysuckle, and almond, what's not to love?

Each room has its own TV, and I brought a choice few movies just right for snuggling up by the fire after a tiring day: Roman Holiday, the Great Escape, Lost in Translation, the Diving Bell and the Butterfly, and As Good as it Gets.

Each of the rooms on the top floor has a private balcony; mine faces the slopes.
Last but not least, the comfy bed where I'll be sleeping for a long time tonight.