new blog, old blog

Martha with Kevin Sharkey, Decorating Director at MSLO (and me...see, in behind)

I'm pleased to let you know that I'm now blogging over at the STYLE AT HOME site. It's early days yet, but I do have a three-part blog on my recent experience attending the press launch at the MSLO head offices for the launch of her new line of kitchens for Home Depot. 

Now, where does that leave us over here at margotaustin.ca? Not to worry, I'll still be here. I'm continually working to regain the ground that I lost here when I took a blog break in the summer. But I promise I will blog forth and I hope you will stop by again sometime.

For now, here is what I am thinking of today. It's a little TS Eliot and to me it is a lament for the foolish, hollow stuffed heads that populate our world. I have been sad about them this week. 

THE HOLLOW MEN

We are the hollow men

We are the stuffed men

Leaning together

Headpiece filled with straw. Alas!

Our dried voices, when

We whisper together

Are quiet and meaningless

As wind in dry grass

Or rats' feet over broken glass

In our dry cellar

Shape without form, shade without colour,

Paralysed force, gesture without motion;

Those who have crossed

With direct eyes, to death's other Kingdom

Remember us -- if at all -- not as lost

Violent souls, but only

As the hollow men

The stuffed men...

Poetry is magic, don't you think? I am taking this weekend to stop feeling sad about these people and instead feel thankful for all the non-hollow non-stuffed people in my life. They lift me up! Happy Thanksgiving.

j'adore orange

Hello, I'm back and I'm loving orange. Here's why:

I just LOVE this photo. It's my parents, Bernadette and Leo Doiron. It was taken on a wonderful day last summer when we were deep sea fishing off Prince Edward Island. It was early in the morning and a bit misty, so the captain of the boat gave my Mom this slicker to wear. Isn't the colour magnificent? Especially next to the ocean and sky and my Dad's shirt. Oh yes, and leave it to a woman of her generation to wear lipstick on a fishing trip. When I was looking through these travel photos a couple of weeks ago I became very inspired by this colour and have used it in my styling gigs a few times since -- deep orange dahlias, orange silk draperies and pillows and an orange lacquered side table will all be making it into the pages of STYLE AT HOME because of this photo. There is so much gorgeous orange inspiration out there. Here is just a bit. Of course, Martha and her peeps do this colour beautifully.

sources: 1. me. 2-5. martha. 6. quadrille fabrics. 7. & 8. madeline weinrib atelier. 9. west elm. 10, 12, 13: crate & barrel. 11. anthropologie. 

mantel style

I know it's summer, but lately I've been thinking about pretty mantel arrangements. Here are some recent loves. BTW, the shot with the leather wing chair is one of my fave rooms of all time (in my heart of decorating hearts I'm not a very girly girl). It's by Shawn Henderson and there's a chance I might meet him in a couple of weeks in NYC. Fingers crossed! 

sources: 1. james merrell. 2. ron marvin. 3. shawn henderson. 4. me. 5. martha for kb homes. 6. laura resen for thomas o'brien. 7. sophie conran for portmeirion. 8. paul c for me.