I Don't Want to Play House

Dear Readers:

Last I left you I was headed to the Hamptons for a month.  "ooh la la," you must be thinking.  Well, you are quite wrong.  I had a magnificent trip, but I had to clean, clean, clean.

I am lucky enough to have a housekeeper, aka the mother to my children, and I am not the neatest of people.  Mess does not upset me one bit.  As my aunt once said, "an unmade bed is a sexy bed."  Try it!  It will get you out of making the bed forever!

At first I pretended I was on a commercial whenever I had to fold a load of laundry, "wow, if this detergent gets out EVEN Kevin's stains!"  Or while unloading the dishwasher I would hold up a wine glass, then look into the pretend camera, "CRYSTAL CLEAR!"

Yes, the first week I reveled in domesticity, stopping at farm stands and cooking fresh and local.  Then is got old.  Real old.

Where was El Rey, my husband through all of this?  Oh, well, working of course!  He was screaming into the phone on conference calls during the day.  When he would walk into the den and see me stitching and watching TV, I would say, "your not the ONLY one who has a job, Mister!."

But the kids had fun, and isn't that the point? 

Actually it was relaxing and divine.  Great friends, the beach, shopping, day drinking, etc.

Speaking of drinking, and really, who isn't.................

I am going to debut my new line of cocktail napkins at the New York International Gift Show this Sunday!  Come by and say HI!!  Booth 7942 At Home in Textiles, Javits Center. 

There are four different designs and I know you will want them all.  They will be up on the website later this week if you are not in the Tri State Area.

Yes, I am scampering back to NYC for a fun filled time.  No meals to plan, no kids to carpool, no lunches to pack for a week.  And then school starts.  And I will be enthusiastic about all school related activities and all sports shenanigans.  I'll just pretend I'm in a movie about a really good mom with lots of really good jewelry. 

xo,

Kate

What's New Pussycat, or How Smoking Saved My Life

Hello devoted readers, all three of you!  Well, it has been a few months since my last post.  I hope you all are doing well.  I am very ready for a vacation.  Soon I will be relaxing at an undisclosed location.  Hint : it rhymes with The Pamptons.

pillow made from a vintage needlepoint, sold

In the mean time I have had to deal with the school year's end, swim team, and day camps.  Where is the time for ME?  My dogs and I have to watch at least an hour of Law and Order a day or else we are not ourselves. 

Lucy likes Law and Order SVU

El Rey, my husband, has been traveling constantly for work.  Places he has been recently include Beverly Hills, Las Vegas, New York.  Places I have been recently : carpool lane, pool, grocery store.

Every summer I ask my kids, "are you sure you want to do swim team, it's okay to take a year off."  Wouldn't you know I have the kids who swim butterfly willingly, say the cheers the loudest, and support their teammates. 

Ordinarily I would find this kind of sweet, but we parents are forced to volunteer.  My job is to write the swimmer's time down after their race.  Their are four timers for each lane so it is a lot to write in a short amount of time.  Plus we are not allowed to drink during our timing sessions, for obvious reasons.  Plus it it 100 degrees and I am not allowed to time in the buff, for obvious reasons.

small swim team child : "What was my time?"

me:  "What am I, a computer?  Go get me a margarita, no salt."

Just kidding, of course.  The point of all of this is that I have had little time for my work.  How to handle all of this stress?  Vices, my pets, vices.

Sometimes after I put my children to bed I like to go out on the back porch for that seventh, I mean second glass of wine and have a cigarette.  I know, such a crime and there are no excuses.  But it saved my life.

A few months ago I was on the back porch ,legs crossed and by the light of the silvery moon I saw an odd spot on the back of my calf.  Being all Irish/Scottish/Englishy I thought it was just another freckle.  But I wanted to see if I needed Botox so I made an appointment with my dermatologist.

Well it turns out it was the bad kind of skin cancer and I had to get it chopped out.  I have the scar to prove it but I will spare you the photo.  Plus how do you take a photo of your own calf?  Physically impossible.

Anyhoo, I am fine.   I am happy that I am here to see my children swim like mad this summer.  And wouldn't you know I find myself chiming in to the swim team cheers.....  I drink the Koolaid, my readers.  I will be momming it this summer...until the New York Gift Show in August!!

If you see me in The Pamptons, please say hello!

At Bobby Van's in Bridgepampton

xo,

Kate

The Great Pillow Giveaway of 2012

Yes, this will go down as a historic event no doubt.  I am feeling generous and it isn't even wine time.  T minus 90 minutes or so...

Anyhoo, from time to time I will read a design blog and a great design book or product is given away.  I am not sure how they do that because I am usually too lazy to press a button.  And really, there are few things I need.

But there are two things I do want for my birthday.

1. Verdura Cuff.  Nuff said.

2.  A walk on part of any Law and Order franchise.  I LOVE Law and Order. 

I could play a character on either the law or the order side.  I could be the cop that finds the body "from the looks of it, he's been out in the park all night."  Or I could be the opposing lawyer "MOTION TO SUPPRESS!!!." The possibilities are endless.



But I digress.  This giveaway is about you, if you are up to the challenge and like the prize.

Nautical Scene Pillow

18 x 18 inches

down/feather insert

natural canvas back and invisible zipper

Hand embroidered by fair trade artisans in India

To be eligible to win, simply write a poem about above pillow.  It can be serious, funny, haiku, etc.  Just leave your poem in the comments.  I will pick the winner in a week from today. 

If you just want to buy the dang thing go here.

This contest is open to anyone in the continental United States.

Except for Tinkerbell Hersch because she is a known plagiarist.

xo,

Kate

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Ka-Ching! Kachina Dolls!

Dearest Readers, all three of you, do you remember when I implored you to buy from me so I could buy myself a vintage Native American cluster bracelet?  Well looky here:

I am most deserving of this bracelet

But it is no thanks to you.  My blog generated no sales, which was the object of the exercise.  That's rich.  However, I did have a great show in January at the New York International Gift Fair.  One of my new clients is Anthropologie!  They are selling my pillows on line and only two remain.  My trusty intern and I just shipped out a new batch yesterday.

"we go bye bye to anthropologie, ups ground"

So yes, I was in a fairly good mood last Friday when a friend told me about a Native American Art Sale.  I went and I left elated and obsessed.  Let the tale commence.

The sale was at a Boy Scout Center, which filled me with fear and fascination.  I am usually against organized fun and do good-ing,  and I was scared to go to a Boy Scout center.  Plus I hate to drive and the center was off a frontage road off I-35.  But the need for jewelry brought be out of my zip code.

Well the center was VERY fancy!  And wouldn't you know it, the people who worker/volunteered there were chipper and most helpful.  They directed me to a banquet room full of wonders.....

Zuni Needlepoint (!) Jewelry

Gorgeous Hand Woven Rugs

And then I saw this beauty

Vintage 1930's Hopi  Hemis Kachina

Anyhoo, turns out these are quite spendy, and with great reason.  I did not have the cash on me for the vintage Kachina, and I had given my housekeeper the Amex to go on a liquor store run.  I am going to take the time to research and find the best dealers.  But here is the thing; I need a giant collection and I am asking you to buy pillows so that I can amass an important Kachina collection.

This week I debuted my Cave Painting Pillows.  The pillows are hand stitched by fair trade artisans in India and then hand sewn in Austin, Texas.  Down insert and invisible zipper.

They are fun all together

Detail

18 x 18 inch pillow, natural canvas back

17 x 12 inch pillow, natural canvas back

So, be a dear and check my website and buy.  I would be forever grateful.  But if you don't that's okay too, because I did take home something that day :

Vintage Santa Clara Necklace

xo,

Kate

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Shake if Off, Colton!

Shake it off, Colton!!!

I heard these very words on Sunday at football game of six year olds.   Seems little six year old Colton was trounced and his momma wanted and needed him back in the game.  I had one of those HOW THE HELL DID I GET HERE MOMENTS, as if my life was accompanied by the Talking Heads song Once in a Lifetime.You know the song.

How did I, the art school chick who married a nice New York Jewish boy, give birth to a baby redneck who loves football?  Is it so bad to bring my embroidery to the field?  Why do all these Moms of Coltons have folding sport chairs, fancy water bottles and cameras as big as chihuauas?

Then I took a deep breath and cheered for my wee blitzer, the boy who is so fearless and gung ho he  played the entire game and got four touchdowns.  His little eyes light up on the field and he loves the game.  Do I wish he chose a less violent sport like ballet?  Yes, but karma is a bitch and this is what I get.

SHAKE IT OFF, KATE!

I also reminded myself that in two weeks I will be back in New York for the New York International Gift Fair.  Ooh twice a year I schlep my pillows up and sell sell sell!

This is made from vintage needlework

New pillows hand stitched by fair trade artisans in India

While in New York I will catch up with my pals from me salad days as a twenty something in the city.  I will sleep by myself in a fancy hotel room (at least that's what I tell my husband).  Most importantly, I will walk through Times Square and buy New York Giants, Jets, Mets, and Yankee gear for my own little Colton, waiting for me in the Lone Star State.

So come and see me at Home in Textiles, Booth 7942 at the Javits Center.

*This pillow is based on a true story and inspired by actual events

xo,

Kate



What's Trending Today : August Morgan Southwestern Pillows

Sometimes in the morning, when I am microwaving my children's breakfast, the Today Show is on.  I usually watch CNN and get up to date on the world, but usually I have been up since 5 and need to chuckle and sneer at the audience outside of Rockefeller Center.

Do you feel like Ann Curry is judging you, or is it just me?  I feel that way when I watch her, but I do covet her snazzy modern wardrobe now that she got that promotion.

After Natalie Morales gives  cliff notes on the world's floods and whatnot, she says "and here's what trending today..."

What the hell does that mean I thought the other morning?  Turns out it means what popular on the world wide web, like a hilarious video of some poor moose stuck in a swimming pool.  Then Al, Matt, Natalie and Ann have a chuckle and prep for the next segment of sending care packages to your child at college. 

"Well, what in the hell does this have to do with your blog, Missy?," you may want to ask me.  Just the title to my blog : What's Trending Today : August Morgan Southwestern Pillows.

I have always had the uncanny knack to forecast trends, but was too lazy to act and cash in.   My college roommate and I wrote a journal called The Drinker's Diaries, and then a year later Bridget Jones Diary came out.  I could go on but I fear my blood temperature would rise.

Anyhoo, little ol' me and my pillow company (little ol' me and my housekeeper) are bringing Southwestern decor back, but in a good way.  No pink wooden howling coyotes, don't you fret.

A selection of my Southwestern style pillows

http://www.augustmorgan.com/

Most of these are made from re purposed needlework, with new down inserts and canvas back.  I do have a Squash Blossom Necklace Pillow, which is available in multiples. 

Hand embroidered by fair trade artisans in Haiti, hand sewn in Austin.

Detail of Squash Blossom Necklace Pillow

The talented women in Haiti sewing for August Morgan.  We pay a fair wage and transportation and lunch.

Do you think the women in Haiti know what a Squash Blossom Necklace is or were they thinking "what the hell is this?"  Not many people are very familiar with Native American jewelry.  I grew up spending summers in New Mexico and went to college in Santa Fe for a bit, so I know a bit but want to learn more.

A collection of vintage bracelets at the Millicent Rogers Museum near Taos, NM.  I was tempted to break the glass and run for it but my uncle had the car keys.  I did buy my necklace in the gift shop.  They have an excellent selection of vintage jewelry. 

Here I am at the New York Gift Show selling my pillows and wearing my necklace.

Deep thought : does craft imitate life or life imitate craft?

This is a vintage Zuni Cluster Bracelet.  I simply must have one.

Last week my husband said he was basically traveling for work until Thanksgiving.  I looked him in the eye and said, "I want a vintage Zuni Cluster Bracelet."  He asked how much and I answered.  His answer was "buy two."

Turns out I accidentally low balled it.  Here's what I need for you to do : join the trend for Southwestern August Morgan Pillows and buy, buy, buy!  You could help me fulfill my dream of the week.  Imagine me drinking coffee in the morning, Zuni Cluster Bracelet shining on my wrist as I bring the cup of coffee to my lips, stopping to chuckle at the Today Show clip of a baby bear running through the produce aisle at an Alaska super market.



Must Like Dogs

Tomorrow I am interviewing a gal to be my intern!  Why do you need an intern, you might ask?  I was hoping you would tell me!  But it seems like everyone has one, and since El Rey, my husband, won't  give me a personal assistant, an intern will do.

Do you think I can ask an intern to give me daily blowouts so I can look like this for the carpool line?

The intern will be trained to help me embroider my pillows.  I tried to employ my children and dogs.  No go

I was an intern once....Oh the salad days!  My summer internship lead me to my one and only job pre pillow maker, at http://www.sothebys.com/en.html, Sotheby's.  Those were some fun times as a 20 something in Client Services in New York.  I would tell you about them but it is not wine time and I have dogs to walk.

Anyhoo, I will actually pay the intern to be a few hours a week to organize, promote pillows, and whatever else I need.

Intern to Bergdorf Goodman : "may I please send you a sample of our hand embroidered Greek Vase Pillow?"

What do you think I should have my intern do?  Think about it while I walk my dogs, something an intern might just want to do for me.....