Skirted Roundtable: This week with Mrs. Blandings!

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj83NWK9NXbukF9v81LiUwxcgNKwDefNUHAreufEEAqywxDaOPAlHkG7TXXuMloZdxZrlvGK2le-4ejbs6_O5apGJwxne9jbkYY12Pmie27wBIWv68GE99tRTdA-lItvbI8c7nnOxLSt_S3/s1600-h/roundtable1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343462178202250370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj83NWK9NXbukF9v81LiUwxcgNKwDefNUHAreufEEAqywxDaOPAlHkG7TXXuMloZdxZrlvGK2le-4ejbs6_O5apGJwxne9jbkYY12Pmie27wBIWv68GE99tRTdA-lItvbI8c7nnOxLSt_S3/s400/roundtable1.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 455px; height: 147px;" /></a><br />This week on <a href="http://skirtedroundtable.blogspot.com">The Skirted Roundtable</a>, Patricia Shackelford, a.k.a.<a href="http://www.mrsblandings.blogspot.com/"> Mrs. Blandings</a>, joins us to chat about her blog, her great blog name, her inspirations for blogging and design. We also get into a universal question for bloggers "Have you ever thought about stopping?"<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjncOxYsrcojwjo1JGjV7ZaSa9Ugn2KosuB-uCqpZO09gzmoFGaLgmCUH-fAXAHGBKj0wrobOUhLgFriYTqroy9f11TD4MxS16wW7eE2rRORB5qj9efA6ahgB0q-A6FPHvlsjctOxZsJy9A/s1600-r/header4.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjncOxYsrcojwjo1JGjV7ZaSa9Ugn2KosuB-uCqpZO09gzmoFGaLgmCUH-fAXAHGBKj0wrobOUhLgFriYTqroy9f11TD4MxS16wW7eE2rRORB5qj9efA6ahgB0q-A6FPHvlsjctOxZsJy9A/s1600-r/header4.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 470px; height: 279px;" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/40/61AD69B5456EE9E48D48218DA34439B1.png" style="border: 0pt none ! important; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" /></a><br /><br /><p><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/EQjz" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml"><img alt="" src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon16x16.png" style="border: 0pt none ; vertical-align: middle;" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/EQjz" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml">Subscribe to ::Surroundings::</a></p>

Skirted Roundtable: This week with Mrs. Blandings!

This week on The Skirted Roundtable , Patricia Shackelford, a.k.a. Mrs. Blandings , joins us to chat about her blog, her great blog name, h...

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A little this 'n that and catching up

I spent this morning editing our latest <a href="http://www.skirtedroundtable.blogspot.com/">Skirted Roundtable</a> chat (we had a guest host this week!) - it takes 2-3 hours to edit and upload each podcast! It's a lot of fun, but I sometimes get behind on other things... I'm sure all bloggers can understand that!!Anyway, I had some errands to run and on my list was to stop by a couple of favorite second hand stores, Homegoods, maybe the Salvation Army store to see if I could find some kind of attractive storage chest with drawers that I can use in my kitchen. It's crazy, but I only have two useless little drawers in my kitchen! I have no decent place to store batteries, stamps, cough drops, extra business cards. You know, the usual detritus of living... So, I end up with stuff in open containers and it's just getting to me! It feels so cluttered. My quest for the perfect storage solution (something in wood, interesting looking or refinishable, could sit on top of my antique commode, has drawers and good storage AND isn't too heavy so it can be moved) fell short. However, at <a href="http://www.eliterepeatfurniture.com/">Elite Repeat</a> in Hanover, MA, I found a couple of really unique pieces!<br /><p style="text-align: left;">First, how adorable is this little antique writing desk with faux painted piano keys! It's a little rough looking, but for a musician, it would make a pretty sweet statement piece - especially for the current price of $180.00. I wish I had a place for it, and an extra $180 floating around the bottom of my purse!</p><p style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeBMBGQZygNvph461o69q3dDnKsbA3osZAR2nP83Avsrm8GoL8qId1gv5ExcQfeZqZouQBz1Tl93WyTfFbY5l8U1q_HGA8oDewJWrQybZsXFaUiUd74uYGuFZjYtDo9k9XUgFTKE7lGab-/s1600-h/3593206577_b7a8c68360_o.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343262134685998242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeBMBGQZygNvph461o69q3dDnKsbA3osZAR2nP83Avsrm8GoL8qId1gv5ExcQfeZqZouQBz1Tl93WyTfFbY5l8U1q_HGA8oDewJWrQybZsXFaUiUd74uYGuFZjYtDo9k9XUgFTKE7lGab-/s400/3593206577_b7a8c68360_o.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 478px; height: 425px;" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"> <img alt="DSCN0298.JPG" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3377/3593205225_71de788fe1.jpg" style="width: 300px; height: 196px;" /> <img alt="DSCN0299.JPG" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3589/3593207039_a35c56ca56.jpg" style="width: 324px; height: 198px;" /> <img alt="DSCN0301.JPG" height="445" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3401/3594016930_5c6ae0d997_o.jpg" width="594" /> <img alt="DSCN0300.JPG" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3299/3594015118_929c16ab71.jpg" style="width: 381px; height: 471px;" /> <img alt="DSCN0303.JPG" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2463/3593206805_7e85f55e80.jpg" style="width: 352px; height: 477px;" /></p>Another fun piece is this "vrai bois" bench. Again, no place to put it, but it would look great in a mud room with some cute cushions!<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="DSCN0304.JPG" height="298" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3639/3594014358_04386a58c9.jpg" width="224" /> <img alt="DSCN0305.JPG" height="301" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3412/3593206323_207f382815.jpg" width="402" /></p><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br /><img alt="200906031940.jpg" height="61" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3626/3594015724_b1486d3a33_o.jpg" width="343" /></p>Over at <a href="http://www.divinecaroline.com/home_and_food/keeping_house">Divine Carolin</a>e, I have two new articles: <a href="http://www.divinecaroline.com/33666/75202-turning-bath-spa">Turn Your Bathroom into a Spa</a> and <a href="http://www.divinecaroline.com/33668/75203-smart-design-accommodate-aging-place">Smart Design to Accommodate Aging in Place</a>. I'm taking suggestions, so head over over, check out the articles and click the link to send in YOUR bathroom or kitchen design question!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><img alt="Brazilian Quartzite Mayan Sunset" height="402" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3379/3593204989_29451d5923_o.jpg" width="547" /><br /><br /></div>A couple of weeks ago, I was invited to an event at <a href="http://www.gerritystone.com/">Gerrity Stone</a> <span style="font-weight: normal;">, one of New England’s premiere interior and exterior custom stonework specialists, where they unveiled their Platinum Collection – a distinctive and stunning line of one-of-kind stones handpicked from quarries around the world. How gorgeous is the stone in the above photo? It's like a fine work of art - not your average granite countertop! If you're looking for something special - in a kitchen or bath project - you might want to check out <a href="http://www.gerritystone.com/">Gerrity Stone</a>!</span><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:Verdana;" ><img alt="Virtual Globetrotting/ Barbra Streisand's House (Live Maps)_1244074104208.png" height="285" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3375/3594015450_5949149d88.jpg" width="480" /><br /></span></p><br /><p style="text-align: left;"></p><span style=";font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;" ><b><span style="font-weight: normal;">Barbra Streisand's book</span> <span style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://us.penguingroup.com/static/html/blogs/passion-design-barbra-streisand-acquired-viking">A PASSION FOR DESIGN, has been bought by Viking Press</a>. Says their release "The book will focus on the architecture and building of her newest home, the dream house and refuge Ms. Streisand says she has longed for since the days when she shared a small Brooklyn apartment with her mother, brother and grandparents. A Passion for Design will be the culmination and reflection of Barbra's love of American architecture from 1790-1904. It will contain many of her own photographs of rooms she has decorated, furniture and art she has collected, and flowers and vegetables she grows in her glorious gardens." The book is slated for a 2010 pub date. So, question, are we interested in famous people's design work? Do we think Barbra did the design herself or with a team of decorators... Will it be "like buttah"?</span></b></span><br /><br /><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p>

A little this 'n that and catching up

I spent this morning editing our latest Skirted Roundtable chat (we had a guest host this week!) - it takes 2-3 hours to edit and upload ea...

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Social Networking Seminar for New England Design Trade

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs1KnLkVXfR7QSgdZSnKeiQ_fXldn1AeuC7qnUWaPX-tWUXZXKxlH50uslGSXTnCg7ESkOSw-1vfvrkyq8DQSr_BBPOtN2tUs99ZaNNW4qegd_UJLF6H0dkPCCPqYDyVQV9R9b5wlLmTdQ/s1600-h/WEB2IMAGE.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342372000379694530" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs1KnLkVXfR7QSgdZSnKeiQ_fXldn1AeuC7qnUWaPX-tWUXZXKxlH50uslGSXTnCg7ESkOSw-1vfvrkyq8DQSr_BBPOtN2tUs99ZaNNW4qegd_UJLF6H0dkPCCPqYDyVQV9R9b5wlLmTdQ/s400/WEB2IMAGE.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 278px; height: 274px;" /></a>I am going to be leading a brown bag lunch seminar on social networking, blogging and e-marketing for the interior design trade. It's sponsored by the <a href="http://www.ifda.com">IFDA</a> (International Furnishing & Design Association) (I'm on the Board of Directors for the New England chapter) and will be held at the Boston Design Center on June 11th at 11:00am. Bring your lunch for this informal, yet highly informative, seminar. We'll end at <a href="http://www.dianalevinefineart.com">Diana Levine Fine Art</a> for dessert and coffee.<br /><br />I'll be presenting this seminar along with Diane Danielson, founder and CEO of the <a href="http://www.downtownwomensclub.com">Downtown Women's Club</a> - a national women's business networking association that focuses on a "clicks and mix" concept of business networking that includes both online and in-person networking opportunities. Diane is a nationally recognized speaker and writer on the issue of Web 2.0 and social networking.<br /><br />This event is free to IFDA members and $20.00 for all others. Everyone is invited to attend - designers, industry professionals, bloggers, etc. We'd love to have you! Please email me at linda.m.merrill (at) gmail.com for a registration form and I hope to see you there! Also, feel free to pass this along if you have any friends in the Boston area whom you think would be interested in attending!<br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/40/61AD69B5456EE9E48D48218DA34439B1.png" style="border: 0pt none ! important; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" /></a><br /><br /><p><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/EQjz" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml"><img alt="" src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon16x16.png" style="border: 0pt none ; vertical-align: middle;" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/EQjz" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml">Subscribe to ::Surroundings::</a></p>

Social Networking Seminar for New England Design Trade

I am going to be leading a brown bag lunch seminar on social networking, blogging and e-marketing for the interior design trade. It's sp...

Read more »