Balance and harmony are core elements of ikebana, a Japanese style of floral arranging. George Saridakis’s ikebana vases capture these characteristics. He uses maple and holly from the Northeast, plus exotic woods from Africa and South America, such as wenge, bubinga, and bloodwood. Pictured here is a holly and ziricote vase ($120). Each vase comes […]
Katrina Yeager
New England’s Finest: Fine Woods
Weekend: Woodstock, Vermont
Among the villages in New England that beg you to park your car once and return to it only when it’s time to go home, Woodstock is without rival in its variety of outdoor and indoor treats within a short walk of its center. Across the village green from the stately Woodstock Inn & Resort, […]
Wyeth Art Works in New England
While the public cannot personally visit Allen Island and the neighboring Georges Islands, you can see some of Andrew Wyeth’s Maine paintings, watercolors, and drawings at over a dozen New England art museums. Start with the Farnsworth Art Museum & Wyeth Center in Rockland, Maine. The Farnsworth has the region’s largest collection: 26 (compared with […]
Why Leaves Change Color
1. Leaves contain a green pigment called chlorophyll. Chlorophyll is instrumental in photosynthesis, the process in which energy from sunlight (along with water and carbon dioxide) is used to make sugars that feed the plant. Over time, chlorophyll breaks down, but during the growing season it is continually replaced. 2. In autumn, the environment is […]
A Splash of Color
Want to add a bit of flair to your wardrobe? Try a scarf. Mitzi Johnson manipulates colors and patterns on broad bands of fabric such as silk, velvet, crepe, and chiffon. There are basically three options: hand-painted, hand-dyed in a single color or in a fade, and hand-dyed in two contrasting colors (one on a […]
Seaside Chic
Sea-glass jewelry is a New England summer fashion must. But which piece to choose?
Coastal Comfort
Wrap yourself in a Swans Island blanket for cool evenings. These beautiful works are woven of wool from local sheep; it’s spun in Vermont and dyed at a weaving studio in Maine. Wool is a naturally breathable, moisture-wicking fiber, and the high-quality materials used here exude comfort. Our favorites are the summer-weight blankets in indigo […]
Carry It in Style
In addition to everyday concerns (a mother of three boys is used to problem solving), Becky O’Neil considers such conundrums as: Button or bow? Shoulder strap or two handles? Fabric handle … or plastic or bamboo? Her nascent line of handbags uses everything from silks to cottons to twills to corduroys, and appeals to the […]
Budding Blooms
A bud vase is typically used to showcase one beautiful blossom. With Suzanne Tanner’s coin bud vases, it should be the other way around — pick a flower to show off her beautiful handblown glass. Each teardrop shape, about 6 inches tall, highlights variations of color (blue, light green, green, violet, pink, or clear) and […]
Be-Jeweled
Designer Kati Enscoe is beginning to get quite a following, and we can see why. Most of her necklaces, bracelets, earrings, and rings are set with quartz, jade, crystal, or mother-of-pearl in a trendy yet timeless fashion. The chunky pieces are surprisingly lightweight and possess an overall boldness, as if to say, “Dare to stand […]