By Nancy September 21st, 2009
My husband and I spent this past weekend on the north shore, camping and hiking and generally renewing our spirits. As avid birdwatchers, we spent the better part of an hour watching an osprey preening itself atop a tree trunk high above the Cascade River. Although I’m no Thoreau, the experience gave me the idea […]
By Nancy September 14th, 2009
Back in 1760, in the French village of Jouy-en-Josas near Versailles, a cotton print manufactory was started and a design phenomenon was born. Toile de Jouy, often just called toile, was originally made to compete with expensive silks. The target market was the general public as interest in decorating had greatly increased at that time, […]
By Nancy September 7th, 2009
Rugs are like art. They are personal, unique, and their patterns can have fascinating history. I have a brother-in-law from Egypt, and each time he and my sister visit his family there, they bring me back a small rug. Each one is different from the other, and I treasure them as I do my other […]