Reinvent your photo wall

As you may know, we've been turning our house upside-down, prepping for our summer photo shoot... I blogged a little bit about this topic before, tempting and teasing you mercilessly, I realize! You've all been so patient...... So, here she is!!!

One of my absolute favorite vignettes is our new photo wall! (If you'll recall from past videos, this wall used to be a shade of pale celadon green with gobs of black and white photos on it.) To change the feel entirely, we chose the most sumptuous shade of indigo... then stenciled on a tone-on-tone Moroccan pattern... and then topped it off with touches of metallic gold. Simply stunning! But you know me, I couldn't stop there! Over all of that deliciousness, I've layered gorgeous huntress elements... everything from resin antlers and a majestic stag, to our notable relics and petite aged mirrors. As a finishing touch, I chose some of our most cherished favorite family photos to toss in here & there. Tres magnifique! (BTW, if you look closely, you'll see my formerly white banister also received several coats of jet black lacquer, and a fabulous set of antique foo dogs now graces the columns! Oh, and the Chinese red doors in the background... They're far too good... More on those soon!!!) I absolutely adore my new space... I always say, our home is a labor of love, ever evolving, never quite finished... That's the beauty of it, for me anyway... I hope you're inspired to reinvent a wall, or a nook, or an entire room, in your own home!

xoxo,
Tracy

It's all about the BLING!

Totally effortless... but ohhh, the dramatic flair!! I can't say enough about COCKTAIL RINGS... Striking, versatile, confident, glamorous... Of course, for me to be verbose is nothing new... so we decided to put together a little video clip about them, so I could just get it all out there!!! Plus I think it always helps to see statement pieces like these "on" someone... Really helps to understand their scale & grandeur and all of that...

So, right... cocktail rings! Totally en vogue AND timeless, all at once... They truly make you feel entirely sexy and pulled together, as soon as you put them on... These gems are particularly smashing! Even the names evoke emotional surrender... Lavish & Luscious... Heart Racing... Festive & Flirty... Fragments of Beauty... (I'll be the first to admit that I can't remember which name goes with which, but you get the idea!!). I love the mix of materials too... glittering gold, sleek wood, brilliant apple jade, faceted fire opal... Just makes my mouth water thinking about them all!! Many of the girls in our studio own at least one of these, and it's always so much fun to see which one they've donned on for the day! Great with jeans... just as spectacular for a night out on the town, all dolled up (red lips and all)!

Do let me know YOUR favorites... I'm so curious to hear!

Smoldering in the bedroom...

Mind you, I'm a teensy bit biased... but what's not to love about Moroccan-inspired lusciousness in fresh, saturated colors?? Fashion meets boudoir... Hello, pretty!

We put together a quick little video clip on ROSEWATER so you could see her in all her preppy glory... (I know, I know, we REALLY wanted to show this to you on my bed at home, but we just had to jump in here at the studio first!!) I hope this gives you more than a little taste... She's simply divine! All of us at the studio want her in our master bedrooms. (Well, I don't know about John... but he will come around with time!!) Oh, and I can't forget about SKYLARK... She's a smashing beauty in crisp shades of aqua, cream, and lime... Oh, now I can't decide... It's so hard to choose a favorite, isn't it?? Let us know if you've fallen for them just as hard as we have!! (p.s. Not looking for a major overhaul? Dip a toe in and get a couple of the throw pillows... They're perfect for freshening up a sofa or settee that needs a little extra pizzazz... A girl can never have enough pillows... or shoes... or makeup... right???)

At last! The Messy Bun!

Okay, girls... I know some of you've been waiting on pins & needles for this one... We shot this "behind the scenes" clip getting ready for our summer catalog shoot. Our golden goddess Robyn was kind enough to let Katie work her magic... but trust me, this really is as simple as it looks, and you can easily do it on your own! Katie does a great job walking us through here, but I thought I'd give you a little written step-by-step below as well... BTW, as Katie says, this will work if your hair is naturally curly OR straight. Honestly! But if it's stick straight like mine, you might want to use my trick with the hot rollers first for a little extra volume...

First, loop a hair band over your wrist so it's at the ready. Then, loosely rack your hair back with your fingers (we're not going for taut and slick here... this is, after all, the messy bun!!). Pull your hair partway through the hair band, stopping before the "pony tail" emerges... then double the hair band back around to hold your hair in place. This creates the "messy bun" which you can then play around with by pulling out tendrils and fluffing up other strands, etc. Voila! See, it really IS that simple!!!!

An impromptu conversation!

I've always been fascinated by what makes people tick... I love tootling around other people's websites (or jumping to the back of their book jackets, whatever the case may be) to check out their "story"... I find it incredibly humbling and inspiring, all at once. So of course our team thought it would be fun if John and I sat down and did a little Q&A session with you all!! Nothing fancy, mind you... Just more off the cuff chitter-chatter to give you another taste of our lives here in Wisconsin...

xoxo,
Tracy

Do you ever...

* Have to try on any new purchase once you get it home and rummage through your closet to see what else it goes with??

* Make up lyrics to songs? Or make up your own songs?

* Really look forward to Sundays? Tasty pastry in hand, that extra cup of coffee (or tea, in my case)... paper... PJ's... no set schedule...

* Stay up way too late reading a great book you just can't put down?

* Sing at the top of your lungs when you are alone in the car? (Or sing at the top of your lungs when you aren't alone in the car!?!?)

* Pretend to be on American Idol when you are the shower? You know, planning out what song you would audition with... what your answer would be to the question "why are you here"...?

* Keep tearsheets from your favorite magazines in a file to inspire you?

* Plan a stay-at-home date? Complete with cocktails, fabulous music, dim lights, and cooking...

* Take a mini weekend vacation? Whether at home with no agenda (other than to spend the weekend with your loved one)... or at a bed and breakfast where you can get away and relax...

* Light a candle (or many) during the work week when you get home?

* Have NO TV nights... where you make conversation the program of the evening?

* Get dolled-up... for no reason at all?

* Ask your grandparents or parents the story of how they met and fell in love?

* Ask yourself what goals you want to accomplish in the next 5 years... and then figure out how to get there?

* Take a good long walk by yourself with nothing but your thoughts?

Smoldering tunic!

Sultry and smoldering indeed! We've gotten numerous calls asking about this sexy little number over the past couple of weeks, so we thought we'd put together a little video so you could actually see her in action! We originally fell in love with her as a gauzy beach cover-up... but as you can see, she's just as smashing with jeans, a fabulous belt, and a great pair of heels! Either way, the look is entirely effortless... Toss on a few mouth-watering accessories, and you're out the door!


(Let us know what you think!! We'd love to hear!)

xoxo, T.

Ever collecting

As you know I am a collector... in every aspect of my life. Layers just interest me... as do the way that we gather them, how we come to them. Serendipity seems to play a role in all of our lives, of course... The older I get, the more I believe that many things just fall into place. As a collector, I have come to realize I will only become more of this person. I like this... I like looking, searching, finding, gathering... It's all so nesty and comforting to me. It's not that anything I collect is remarkably valuable... I am not buying high priced art or antiques that are fetching gobs of dough. For me, it's more of a way of life. I could certainly do without any of it... and for sure, when from time to time something breaks, it is okay with me. Our children are our "home" - not the stuff we have collected - which makes it more fun to keep my eyes open, and certainly more interesting for the boys as well! I have no interest in keeping them out of certain rooms. I love when they are intrigued with how something is made, or how it mixes in with other things... they will often comment on my outfit, or jewelry... their likes and dislikes... ask me how it was created or where something was made. They have strong thoughts on how we decorate, and on the changes we make in our home. I do listen... it honestly does influence me. It sort of seeps in and grabs me. Since I am a collector I have to be pretty aware of finding things that are entirely cool (as this excites me) but the reality is not everything can be too pricey! I pick some things out and am able to justify their price... but then I know I need to mix in something that is in fact quite inexpensive. I find it to be a bit of a game! I actually really get a thrill out of it... It allows my justifications to be that much more plausible!

I commented on this recently in a blog... the high and low of it all. I do it with my clothes, my home... you name it. If you put it together with confidence, it can work quite well. We have a gorgeous den that is a luscious red... and I was on the hunt for a chinoiserie secretary... something to use as a bar or for a computer... Well, I found "The Piece"... fell in love... it wasn't too pricey... but enough. The chair I wanted to go with it was NOT going to happen. Our own furniture collection was not available yet, so I was on the lookout for a chair that I would truly love with it.

One day while buying diapers and such at a Wal-Mart... I happened to go down their furniture aisle on my way to the kids' section... and to my right sat a box with a photo on it of the perfect chair! Black, modern... a nice contrast to my antique secretary... Indeed the item I was looking for (AND cheap!!). I cannot remember... it's been a few years, but I think it was about $22 dollars! My sister came over a few days later and we just laughed at how fabulously they worked, and how little I had spent on my great high-low finds!!

Simple eye makeup

So, Katie (our makeup-ista) and I got on the topic of eye makeup the other morning... It is so interesting to learn what techniques everyone uses, so I thought we would share a look that we both have been doing for years and have never grown tired of... It literally takes me 5 minutes, and now we have a video of it!!! Here's how to get the look:

I'll start out with a nude eye (I do apply an eye shadow primer - I know you already know this). Then I'll sweep a nice pink eye shadow with a luster finish on the lid. You can literally use any pink that works for you. Right now Katie is using MAC's shadow in Gleam, and sometimes I use their pink in Honesty. Then, in the outer corner of the eye, I'll use a great deep brown that I can blend just underneath the corner of my eye so that it looks like smudged liner. (I don't use any eyeliner underneath my eye typically... I save that for cocktails!)

For a finishing touch, I'll either apply a dark eye shadow for a liner (MAC's Embark is quite lovely - it is actually a very deep rich brown with plum undertones that works beautifully as an alternative to the typical black or brown eye liner) or I'll use their Fluidline in Blacktrack. This is an awesome liner!!! I love that it lasts all day long and is a breeze to apply. (It can't be too hard or intimidating, mind you... I just don't have the time and would much rather be with the boys in the morning!)

Apply two coats of mascara (I love and cannot live without Maybelline's Great Lash - hands down the best mascara I have ever used)... and you're done! Truly, I still get compliments on this look - and you can always tweak it a bit by changing up the shades, etc. But trust me... you will not go wrong!!!

p.s. Love the gems featured in the video??
(It's okay... We couldn't help ourselves either!!)

I've sold my SOUL...

...to the company store. Oh yes, it's true... (but there's no need to tell my husband, since it's a "work–related" thing, right?!?!)

So in midst of self-reflection, I can honestly say that I'm the most tainted, picky, "over-it-and-on-to-the-next" person on the team when it comes to decorative objects, jewelry, and fashion. Love it today - and then I'm on to the next. So... for me to actually purchase and LIVE with the following items is noteworthy indeed! (You most likely will need to surrender to them too... delicious indulgences that you will love forever!!!)

Oh... and if you do find yourself giving in to your stylish cravings... be sure to blog back to us, so we know if your fancy has been tickled too...

Enjoy the spring mix as much as I am!!!

Sarah

(Sarah Willett - Executive Vice President - TRACY PORTER)

Love this combination! European preppy meets
mouth-watering vintage... My fantasy bedding!!!



This turns my heart a-flutter... ruby red hand-painted
leather atop Chippendale bamboo. (Biting my knuckle...) I really
would like two; one for each side of our rustic hearth.



I already know that I will still love this in 30 years...
Versatile and perfect each and every day (or night). I'm
in need of a few classic pieces... and this one is easy.


Tracy & I were hunting for antiques in London last year...
saw beauties that remind me of this... but they were far
too expensive to bear. Left them behind... but I've brought this
one home. I love it! It graces our foyer and makes me smile.



I'm on an eternal quest for fabulous shoes that I can
wear to the studio each day... I am SMITTEN.


I have them in my kitchen... the kids take turns
lighting the candles inside each night before dinner.
The color is delicious and I love their exotic allure.


I know it's not possible for jewelry to
flirt... but WOW. I wear it around the studio
all the time and it is GORGEOUS!!!

Emotional surrender...

I am going to give you my thoughts every few weeks on this topic... We all have them... an "emotional surrender" that is! In the studio it changes from week to week... I love knowing what our team is digging... I am pretty vocal about mine! I figured the video would give it to you straight... no fluff... Just exactly what I am thinking in a few quick moments... also kind of nice to see things on someone... Don't you agree?!? This extra chatter is for those of you that just needed a few more words on the topic... (And you know I can talk!)

Okay... The Gordian Knot... The bracelet of bracelets... over the top... kills me! I have one in my purse right now to take home. (You think I'm kidding.) Straight out of our sample tray! Classic, elegant... a statement without looking like wonder woman.

The Fragments of Beauty ring... I gave it today as a gift, and then sort of "lost it" right then and there as she slid it onto her finger... Mind you, I have loved it all along... but I think with a bit of additional girl talk on it, I was "in"... I decided I too must have one!

Ahhhhh... The Soulful Glam necklace... not too much about this beauty that you can't see for yourself... but since this is my chance... I have this love affair happening with gold coins! My mother has always had gold coin jewelry, so I'm certain she has yet again inspired me and my tastes... I think this beauty feels vintage... the sort of gem I would hope to find at some great auction in London. Shall we dance??