ray staples: words of a designing mind

As most of you will already know, the great Ray Staples passed away recently. The world will be more beige without her. Ray was a shining light of interior design – and so much more – in Canada. I have been considering for these days since recieving the news what to write about Ray. But her family – the people who knew and loved her best – have already done a marvelous job at the writing. I hope you will read the post at the Ray Staples site and also the lovely tributes by her neice Elaine Loring, who took the photo above. 

For some inspiration, I went back and listened to a taped phone interview I did with Ray a few years ago and revelled in every word. I considered posting the whole interview but decided against that. I thought it might be a bit of an overstepping of bounds. Lord knows Ray was never one to be bothered by propriety, but still. Well, maybe it's just that I want to keep it just for me. 

Mr. A has been in close touch with Ray's son Kevan over the last few days, and through that contact this marvelous thing came into my possession.

Now, as a bit of a paper products nut I have owned special cards and paper that I have only used for very very special circumstances before. But this, this takes that to another level. What could I possibly write on a piece of Ray Staples' personal stationery? The idea came in a flash. Of course I would write Ray's own words. So here they are. Most of these are excerpts from the phone interview I did with her mentioned above, some are from in-person meetings. All are quintessentially Ray. 

And one last thought: If you feel inspired to share a story or comment about Ray, I hope you will hop over to the Ray Staples page to share your thoughts there. It has become a hub of great memories of a great lady!

Now, enjoy Ray! (be prepared - there's a lot.)

UPDATES:

some more mentions of Ray. Some have repeat content but it's nice to read each person's own view, plus the comments. And don't miss the video of Ray herself!

My own previous post 

De tout, de rien

Summerhill Still Life Blog

Michael Penney Style blog

Quills Quotes & Notes by Rosemary Phillips 

Girl Meets Design 

In the Corners of My Mind

Dawna Jones Design

DOMINION MODERN\ Ray E. Staples from dominionmodern on Vimeo.

duchess of cambridge and lady mary crawley

Here are two characters whose wardrobe I watched in 2011. The other day a spontaneous chat broke out on Twitter regarding the merits of the Duchess's Christmas Day church-going ensemble. Weighing in were Rev. Daniel Brereton (@RevDaniel), our style-savvy representative of the Church of England; Meredith Heron (@meredithheron), designer, blogger, contrarian; duchessofcambridgestyle.com blogger Makeda Saggau-Sackey (or another staffer tweeting from @TheDuchessStyle). The Rev, the blogger and I agreed that the Duchess's aubergine outfit was perfect for the occasion. Meredith – she of the acid green wedding dress ;-) was the lone dissenting voice. She felt the outfit too matronly for the young Duchess. Toward the end of our chat I remarked that I thought there was a whiff of Lady Mary Crawley in the Duchess's outfit. Lady Mary is one of the principle characters in the ITV/PBS series Downton Abbey. Judge for yourself. 

The Duchess of Cambridge, Dec. 25. Image from Duchessofcambridgestyle.com

Lady Mary Crawley (played by Michelle Dockery) in season 2, Downton Abbey.

giving thanks for apples

I have never been the caretaker of a fruit tree before. Now we have four apple trees on the grounds of our little Whale Cottage on PEI. Before we closed it up for the season I snapped this shot. How simple. How pretty. How wondrous these small little jewels are, blemishes and all (perhaps a deeper lesson there?). And they taste quite yummy, too. I kind of miss them. I hope to plan our spring visit for when the trees are in bloom. 

I just can't look at apples without remembering that scene from Good Will Hunting. Matt Damon (Will), after vying with a Harvard man for the attention of Minnie Driver's character:

Matt Damon as Will "Do you like apples?"

Harvard dude "Ya"

Matt Damon as Will "Well, I got her numbah. How do you like them apples?"

I am thankful for our apple trees and so many more things this weekend.

Happy Thanksgiving.