Smile, Gorgeous! Event 2.28.16

Photographer David West

Update your profile picture with a gorgeous new look with the help of Rodan + Fields skincare and Stella + Dot style! Register today to schedule a mini portrait session with photographer David West on location at TaggArt Studio in Wakefield on Sunday, February 28, 2016. Time slots will be provided.

Receive a complimentary Rodan + Fields Mini Facial sample pack prior to the event with ticket purchase. All registrants will have the opportunity to borrow from the on-trend collections of Stella + Dot jewelry and scarves assisted by Stylist Cindy Hanshaw. Receive a digital copy of your favorite photo after the event. All registered attendees will receive a door prize raffle ticket. Additional raffle tickets will be available for purchase on the day of the event. Sweet and savory treats will be provided by Sharon Bourassa of Pampered Chef.

Don’t miss out on this specially priced photo opportunity! Networking during the event is encouraged. Tickets available now via EventBrite. 

A few client “Afters”

Step one: color consultation and linen choices for the bath

Step two: find artwork to hang over the spa tub

I forget sometimes to show what I am working on with my decorating clients, so today I am featuring a few homes that I have helped transform with fresh paint colors, new art, decorative styling or design coaching. The spa tub above needed a piece of artwork that could fill the space and still make sense with the colors in the adjacent master bedroom. The bedding, which the homeowner chose, is a multicolored small print floral (scroll down below to see entrance to bath). I found this large canvas with tall flowers bordering a sandy beach. I like how it references water (i.e. being in the tub or in the ocean) plus the flowers in the painting are shown in the same rich colors that are found on the bed.

I suggested monogramming “his and her” towels
to add a personal touch to the new bath.

A cool blue was chosen for the master bedroom walls to coordinate with the bedding and to add a contrast to the warm wood tones of the furniture and the sandy palette of the bath. On top of the dresser, I created a focal point that would also anchor the flat screen wall mounted television. I added a pair of candlesticks for a touch of romance and to help bridge the visual gap between the television and the bureau.

For this vignette, I chose objects that were a variety of heights, finishes and textures. A painted vintage box acts as a pretty catch-all for small jewelry boxes along with the odds and ends that typically end up being emptied from pockets at night.

HOUSE NUMBER TWO:

A modern light blue-gray wall color was chosen to compliment the more traditional slate covered floors.




An extremely long hallway was given architectural interest by adding crown molding and wainscotting detail. Now the walls are ready for a gallery of family photos. By keeping the palette monochromatic, the focal point is on the master bedroom at the hall’s end, instead of drawing attention to the expanse of walls.

The master bedroom in this home is a
rich contrast of chocolates and creams.

HOUSE NUMBER THREE: BEFORE

Existing cabinets in this home were refinished and given new hardware to match the new stainless steel appliances. By keeping their existing cabinets, the homeowners were able to splurge on a new granite countertop and tumbled marble backsplash ...

AND AFTER

We chose a cranberry, gray and cream colored granite that would pull out the colors in the stained glass door on one of the upper cabinets. The yellow pineapple plays the same visual trick. When you work with what you have, instead of fighting it, the final design looks much more planned.


Learn my decorating tricks ...
Could your home use a little “design coaxing?” Do you have decorating questions that you would like answered? I am going to be presenting a series of evening decorating workshops at TaggArt Studio in Wakefield starting in January. If you would like to sign up, email me at yblacker@verizon.net and I will send you info.

Special holiday shopping event ...
There will be a holiday shopping open house at TaggArt Studio on this Friday night, December 2nd from 6pm to 8pm and on Saturday from 10am to 4pm. Along with fine artwork from studio owner Mary Taggart, jewelry, hostess gifts, and custom children’s clothing and accessories, my friend Beth Hylan will be there with her always creative holiday trimmings so don’t miss out! For more details, click here. I will be sending over some fliers with the information about my upcoming classes, and you will be able to get on the class list by signing up during this weekend sale. Decorating consultations also make great gifts and I will have some discounted gift certificates available for those hard-to-buy-for someones on your list!

Holiday open houses this weekend

Last night was the Holiday Stroll in Andover.
I stopped by to visit Paula Bakies of Acorn Interiors at her new retail location at 10 Essex Street.
Lots of people came in to take a look at her new space, have a few treats, and see some of the work that
is leaving her showroom ...

An array of ottomans includes a
“before” (all white) and three “afters.”These are available for purchase or can be
custom-designed by request. Let me know
if you need help choosing fabrics : )



Window treatments and ottoman for a girl’s room
designed by Lisa Pasquale (who happens to be
from my home town and is very talented!)

Paula transformed these vintage
chairs into modern beauties.



After leaving Acorn Interiors, I headed over to
another holiday open house at TaggArt Studio which
is on Salem Street in Wakefield. I took some pictures
of what you can find there on Saturday from
10am to 4pm, which is the last day
of their holiday trunk show ...

Some really pretty pieces of inspirational jewelry
designed by Linda Govostes-O’Neill

Gratitude journals and inspirational collage
gift items created by Marianne Snow

Music to celebrate the holidays
by local talent Noel Smith



Mary has a lot of beautiful original works of art available, but this one caught my eye. And remember when I said art lessons would make a great gift? Mary offers many classes for children and adults. Contact her for schedule details.




And don’t miss Beth Hylan of Studio B who is back in Wakefield just for this show. She has made a new home for herself in Concord, MA at Nesting on Main so you may also visit her there on Sunday from 12pm to 6pm during their Holiday Open House.


A gift I bought myself at New England Fine Living:
velvet purse with gold owl clasp from Vintage Wares


It is nice to know that I do not have to resort to mall-shopping this holiday season when there are so many creative shopping venues available locally.
If only I had more time to visit them all!

The Summer Nursery, part 1

“The Summer Nursery” designed by Yvonne Blacker
Photo courtesy of Eric Roth

“Summer Sky” by Mary Taggart

oil on canvas, 24 in. x 36 in.





Come back on Monday to see more photos of this nursery that I created for the Danvers Historical Society designer showcase, Reflecting on Danvers History through Interior Design. I will be sharing the inspiration behind the design, along with some
do-it-yourself tips and designer secrets!

Have a great weekend!
xo yvonne



ENTER TO WIN

Enter to win an item from the summer nursery
by commenting on my last post. Contest ends
Monday, 8.9.10 at 11:59pm EST.

Painting pink ...

Whenever I first sit down to paint, it takes
awhile to push away the thoughts. Then there
comes a turning point where I am just enjoying
the process of combining colors on canvas.
Pink has been speaking to me lately.

This was the still-life set up at the studio
today by instructor/friend Mary Taggart.
I even like how my palette turned out ...

Now that I am loosened up, I am going to
take out my biggest brushes and try to get some
painting projects done around my house ; )


P.S. My art teacher, Mary, recommended today that we all check out the blog of Carol Marine, an artist from Texas who works on a painting a day that she later posts on her blog and then lists on ebay. I just discovered she is actually visiting New England right now for an artists workshop that she just finished in Newburyport (too late to sign up for that one!) Check out her work and you will see how committing to an artful life on a daily basis has served her talent well. Some of her paintings even made it to the big screen (Letters to Juliet)! I think she is on to something, and I may give this painting on a daily basis a shot (if nothing else, it is very meditative).

An all white composition

I was back in the art studio recently for another lesson with instructor Mary Taggart of TaggArt Studio. We practiced using varying weights of charcoal pencil to establish foreground and background values when illustrating the all white still life shown below.

More art from the studio that
uses white as a focal point ...

I am really liking white as a
dominant “color” right now.

white space by designvignettes
on Polyvore.com

Art is blooming ...

“Utthita Hasta Padangustasana” by Mary Taggart
Arrangement by Yvonne Blacker

From Sanskrit, the name of this painting translates to something along the lines of “one holds big toe!” I chose to use a large branch from a Rhododendron bush as the foundation for my arrangement to represent the human body as it can be either flexible or brittle depending on the flow of nutrients to the limbs. The large scale branch is very asymmetrical, almost triangular, just as the student appears in the pose.

Cheerful pink blossoms are supported by the branches, with bright Gerbera Daisys used to signify her clothing, and the single pink rose representing the opening of the heart center – or chakra – which is achieved with continued yoga practice. Peach colored tulips show increased flexibility (and are close in color to the students skin tone) and the gold vessel containing these blossoms is securely grounded on a purple yoga mat (which I intend to use more often now that the show is over!)

The arrangement is intentionally minimalist in its design, just as yoga strips away the clutter from the mind, allowing one to connect with inner harmony and peace through meditation. Namaste!

Here are the remainder of the 2010 “Art in Bloom” collaborations between the Village Garden Club of Lynnfield and the Lynnfield Art Guild ...

Village Garden Club member Katerina Georges
also used branches to interpret artist
Virginia Dodwell’s “Barn Scene.”

Gerbera Daisys take on the form of a woman tending her flower cart in “Colors of Spring” painted by Lorraine O’Brien, arrangement by Dorothy Goodwin.

“Spring Flowers” by Louise Anderson was transformed into a delightful Easter basket by club members Joan Kirk, Mary Schwartz and Micki Trigilio. Look closely and you will find some cute surprises ...

These miniature guests were also
found on the refreshment table ...

Bold colors and flower choices made this beautiful arrangement by Jan Lisaki and Bootie Stevens
really stand out. I love that orange scarf!
Painting by Frank Colombo, MD
is titled “For Jennie”

Try adding fruit to your next arrangement as
Maura Quinn so eloquently did here.
“Still Life” painting by Jim Ryan

“Rose of Sharon” by artist Carol Wilson is recreated with delicate white blossoms and trailing ivy.
Arrangement by Karen Hathaway and Betsy Foley

So fun and colorful! This mixed media collage by Gail Rober is playfully named “Birthday Party” and was joyfully arranged by club member Wendy Keefe.

A burst of sunflowers stand tall in a cobalt blue
vase and capture artist Joyce Westover’s
watercolor rendering. Arrangement by
Debbie Caniff and Paula McKeever

“Lavender Fields” by Jeannette Corbett

A delight for the senses ... this scented arrangement by Laura Thomson incorporates lavender blossoms along with Rosemary branches, citrus peels, lemon leaves and cinnamon sticks. Doesn’t it just sound heavenly??

A stunning combination of branches, stones, evergreens and harvest colored blossoms were artfully arranged by Tracy Drislane to capture the spirit of “Undressed for Winter” by artist Pauline Bacon.

Delicate purple lilacs were successfully forced to bloom by club member Jean Dalton for this final painting titled “Lilacs” by artist Rose Keefe.

Even the paint brush became art at this show!
I hope you enjoyed it as much as we did : )