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November 18, 2020

Celestial Stephanie

November 18, 2020/ Meryl

Friends this week I feel extra joyful because I get to introduce everyone to my friend Stephanie Savage Flynn. We met through the wondrous world of Instagram. She really is celestial - she folds the most heavenly paper stars which I am fortunate to have in the Chalet. She also creates brilliant paper bows, does amazing needlework, is an avid cook - she is just crazy creative and intersperses beauty in all she does!

my very own Flynn Collection Stars on the Chalet Mantel

So Stephanie tell us about your family and growing up: “I was born and raised in Wellesley, Massachusetts, ten miles west of Boston. I have a beloved older sister who is the ying to my yang. I met my husband here, and we are lucky enough to be raising our own family in this special town. I have two kids – a daughter 9 and son 7, both of whom are in elementary school. I spend the majority of my time volunteering with local community organizations and our schools. Life right now is crazy busy, but it is all good! Pre-COVID, we popped into Boston regularly for special meals, shopping trips, museum visits and Red Sox games. We are still Patriots fans despite Tom Brady and Gronk leaving us for Tampa.”

Stephanie’s grandmother Gloria stitched this needlepoint pillow

I know you are an avid stitcher please tell us more: “I love needlepoint! My maternal grandmother Gloria (from New Jersey!) taught me to stitch when I was a teenager. Prior to that, we were ALWAYS doing crafts when we got together. She taught me many things like how to sew, decoupage, garden, cook from scratch and polish tarnished silver. My grandmother was very creative, was meticulous in her craft form and had an exquisite eye. Although she passed away 14 years ago, I still feel very connected to her, not just when I stitch but, whenever I am working on a creative project or searching for a treasure at a thrift store, something she also enjoyed doing.”

Painting by Anne Packard a well-known Provincetown, MA artist.

Stephanie created the adorable bracelet, clutch; as well as the personalized needlepoint placards on these bags shown in the home of her parents. She comes from a family of collectors - her mom Diane loves antiques and her father Robert a retired surgeon, is now an art historian and collector. Stephanie grew up attending antique shows and visiting many museums and art galleries with her parents.

“I have always loved nature and have been inspired by the natural world around me. As a child who spent summers on Cape Cod – I used to daydream about all the amazing things I could make from objects found by the sea: shells for necklaces, bouquets of foraged beach roses and wild heather, driftwood sculptures. I still love my time on the Cape, as I am endlessly inspired by the ocean. That is what I love - creating new things from what I find in nature. I can think about what I want to make and execute it. Its totally accessible. I also love cooking, canning, pickling and digging for clams. My Aunt Donna was a Home Economics teacher and now she brings these lessons to my daughter. The next generation is learning.”

“A wonderful memory from childhood is about this chestnut tree I found. It was full of such beautiful shiny objects. Just like a kid finding a beautiful shell. I felt this way about these silly little chestnuts. I asked my dad to drill holes in them so I could make a necklace. I finally made my necklace. Recently I found a chestnut tree – they are smooth they are shiny they fit in the palm of your hand. I took my daughter to collect them. They do look like beads. I made my sweet husband drill them and now I have my new garland. I offer on my website. I love being creative with what we find in nature.”

“Its the idea of using found objects and turning them into something else.”

— Stephanie Savage Flynn

Bows Stephanie created for the Wellesley Free Library Virtual Gala Gift Boxes.

Folding stars is just one of the ways Stephanie shares her creativity with those around her. She likes to fold paper into other shapes… like the bows she recently finished for the Wellesley Free Library. In addition, Stephanie assists her local Wellesley Hill Junior Women’s Club with various events including Wellesley Kitchen & Home Tour.

Can you tell the readers where you attended college and what you studied: “I went to school at Connecticut College, a small liberal arts college in New London, Connecticut (also by the ocean, no surprise there!). I was a Government (political science) major with a double minor in English and Religious studies. Perhaps the most impactful part of my college experience was studying abroad in Rome. My mother is of Italian descent, so I have always felt particularly connected to Italian culture. I LOVED my time in Italy – not just studying, but eating, drinking, walking, and exploring Europe.”

Stephanie oh my goodness you must tell us how you ended up with a personally autographed picture of Julia Child: “A neighborhood friend was attending a cooking trade-show in Cambridge, MA, I was about 9yrs old at the time - all I knew was there would be samples and Julia Child was to be there and I had the brochure from the trade-show and she signed it for me… for years it was just tacked up but, my husband had it framed for me. When I met her she was Julia Child – she was not an Icon that she is now, she was the first person who did cooking on Television.”

Stephanie found this Gucci dust bag at her local swap shop and hand stitched it to a denim jacket.

Your original IG handle was Wellesley Picker: “I love treasure hunting! During non-COVID times, our town has a “swap shop” area at our dump. It is a fun place to stop – I have found Tiffany crystal there, a beautiful rattan settee, sterling silver frames, to name a few. You never know what you might discover, which is part of the fun! I also like to visit thrift stores, antique malls and of course, estate sales, all for the thrill of finding a treasure or something that can be beautifully rehabbed. Aside from the fact that older pieces tend to be better made, I love purchasing or finding something with history. I enjoy making my home unique and finding special gifts for friends. There is an environmental component to my madness too. Buying vintage or secondhand is the ultimate form of recycling!”

Can you share with the readers why you decided to start your business: “I am JUST starting my business! I’ve mentioned our “swap shop”- last year I stumbled upon some beautiful Thibaut wallpaper samples there. I took them home because I knew I just had to have them. The only snag in that venture was what to do with random wallpaper scraps. They sat in my craft closet for quite some time, until my daughter was home sick from school. We are digging through my supplies to help pass the day at home, and I was reminded of my beautiful find. I took them out again and was inspired to start folding stars.”

December 9, 20219 Stephanie shared this image on Instagram. I left the comment: How do we get one? — December 9, 20219 Stephanie shared this image on Instagram. I left the comment: *How do we get one?*

To my delight, friends and followers on Instagram including you loved my stars Friends even “donated” scraps of their own designer wallpaper for my use. I quickly folded what I had and sold out almost immediately. This year, I planned ahead and started folding as soon as the world shutdown in March. I am very grateful to my friends who shared their leftover paper with me. I have a small inventory stashed for a holiday sale and even have a wholesale order!”

Congratulations on your site and the wholesale client - can you tell us who: “It’s with Dina Holland Interiors for her Honey & Fitz Collection. Last year during the Wellesley Kitchen & Home Tour we met. I created Sets of 3 Stars from wallpaper curated by Dina Holland. I’m really grateful for the opportunity.”

What are your goals for 2021: “My goals for 2021 are to stay healthy and happy. Happiness for me is first and foremost, spending time with family (I hope to see more extended family in 2021!). Nevertheless, I also cannot wait to get back to traveling and exploring more freely. If the world continues to battle COVID, I will be grateful to have more time to be creative and nest at home.”

Stephanie thank you so very much for sharing your creative beauty with us! You can find Stephanie on her Site and Instagram.

Til next time friends stay safe and wear a mask!

Images: Stephanie Savage Flynn

October 21, 2020

Zestful Zoe

October 21, 2020/ Meryl

Friends I am thrilled to welcome Zoe Grave to the blog! I met Zoe through her IG page and ever since our first DM she’s had me in stitches!

Zoe lives with her husband Tommy, three daughters and two dogs about 30 minutes outside of Boston, MA. “I met my husband when I was 19. I was a sophomore at Wellesley and he was a senior at Harvard. True story, the night after I met him I told my roommate I was going to marry him. I guess I was right because in 1999 we tied the knot! In 2004 our first daughter Adelaide was born, followed by two more spirited girls, Georgina and Daphne. Each of my girls has their own unique personality, but we all laugh a lot and can be very silly. We all truly love spending time with each other, and even throughout quarantine we were able to make the best of it! Our two Australian Labradoodles, Obi and Leia (we love Star Wars!) also keep us constantly laughing!”

Zoe can you tell us a bit about your childhood. “I grew up about 50 minutes outside of NYC, on a horse farm in Waccabuc, N.Y. As a child I used to love to pretend I was Laura Ingalls (I was obsessed with the Little House books and TV show!) and our farm was the perfect place to do just that! I would spend hours outside, climbing trees, running through the fields and catching frogs from our pond. Horses and animals in general were a huge part of my childhood, and thankfully they still are. I have an older brother and sister and all of us showed horses competitively. It was wonderful to have something that our entire family could enjoy together. I’ve lived in Massachusetts longer than I ever lived in New York, but I still consider myself a New Yorker through and through. Go Yankees!”

“Art and design have also always been a huge part of my life. My grandmother June was a very accomplished sculptor and I’m lucky enough to have some of her pieces. She was this tiny Italian grandmother so it was amazing to see these huge blocks of marble and stone that she would work with. My favorite piece of hers is a super tall totem pole. It’s absolutely beautiful. My mom also named June has an incredible talent for putting interesting and beautiful things together. With both fashion and interior design she is extremely creative and inspiring. She taught me the importance of your environment and how it truly affects your mood. She also has a love for color, just like me!”

Any anecdotes from childhood you’d like to share. “I mentioned how much I loved growing up on our farm and being outside, but on the flip side I have also always LOVED television! I find it very soothing and usually have it on for background noise. I find HGTV to be the best for that! When I was little if I did something wrong my punishment was always no TV for the night. I would say fine and then head immediately down to our barn. Thankfully my parents never remembered that there was a tiny TV down there. Nobody ever used it, but I would sit there cuddled up with our barn cat Tigger awfully proud of myself for finding a way to skirt the rules!”

“I love our home. I was lucky enough to work with Designer Dina Holland when we renovated our kitchen and she just completely got me! She was able to reign in my desire to use ALL the color and ALL the patterns and just really nailed exactly what I wanted. It’s been so nice to have a space during quarantine that really makes me happy. And here’s a fun fact - the bronze ship bell on the wall belonged to my grandpa and he would ring it to call everyone to the table for our big Italian dinners!”

“Art and design have also always been a huge part of my life. ”

— Zoe Grave

Tell us where and what you studied in college. “When I was little I always wanted to be a doctor. As I said - I went to Wellesley College and spent a lot of time in the science center and completed my premed requirements. I also minored in Studio Art. My art classes were a wonderful escape for me from the stress of my more academic classes. Looking back on it I wish I had taken more! Being at an all women’s college really helped shape my view of the world. I loved the sisterhood that I experienced there and the campus is one of the most beautiful I have ever seen. I’m so grateful for my time at Wellesley and I consider myself lucky that I currently only live 15 minutes away! It remains my safe haven and nothing beats a walk around Lake Waban when you need to clear your head.”

How did you end up in Graphic Design? “After having a number of jobs in the medical research field I decided that med school was not for me. I had always continued creating art as a way to relax and even took some painting classes at night. After my second daughter was born I didn’t seem to have as much time or the space for the mess that painting required and I started playing around with art on the computer. I found it a great creative outlet and it was so easy to pick up and put down. Even when I would paint, my true passion was
playing with color and I found that graphics programs could continue to allow me to do just that. I learned that Boston University had a Center for Digital Arts and they offered a program part time. It was a lot of work juggling that and being a mom to two little kids but, it really energized me and I met so
many incredibly talented people. I started out doing brochures and logos for small businesses which I really enjoyed. Now I primarily work for a company doing more web based advertisement graphics although I love to help friends if they need It with business cards etc. I know how difficult it is to be a small business and get started with branding, especially for artists! They usually know exactly what they want, but aren’t sure how to physically get it. They can sketch something out exactly how they want it but, don’t know how to transfer that onto the computer. I love helping them put their ideas into something concrete to help market themselves.”

So tell us how did you end up with your Essential Oils business? “One thing that is certain is that I love trying new things and sharing them with people. I fell in love with essential oils a few years ago and just started sharing about them! While I love diffusing them I realized there are so many other ways you can add them to your life.”

“I started making sprays for myself, because I needed them! It all started with my mermaid spray. My youngest daughter has extremely curly hair and it was always getting tangled and breaking. I did some research and mixed together some oils that are good for strengthening your hair like lavender and rosemary and added some argon oil to help with the tangles. I was so excited when I realized it actually worked! I started sharing it with friends and through word of mouth my little essential oil business was born!

“I had so much fun designing the labels for the sprays. The best part was working with my good friend Elena Boiardi! She helped me so much with the ideas for the labels and she even drew the mermaid for my mermaid spray. I’ll never forget how fast she sketched it out on a little notepad and I thought, that’s perfect! I was able to sketch it in illustrator, and to this day it is my favorite label of all the sprays!”

Goals and for 2021? “I want to continue my line of essential oil sprays and am working on developing another one for the masks that we all now need to wear! And speaking of masks, I recently started creating beaded mask chains. I was so tired of taking my mask on and off and looking for a clean place to put it down so I decided I could make a mask chain like people use for glasses! I was thrilled when people started asking me to make them one after seeing it on Instagram! Now I just need more time in my day! But I would love to keep creating these and trying some different combinations of beads and colors!”

“I’m sure we are all hoping for a better 2021 than 2020 was but, if I’ve learned anything from this year, it’s to try to slow down a little and really enjoy the family time. Before quarantine the five of us were always running in different directions. I hope that some of the quieter moments of 2020 will carry over to 2021.”

Thank you so much Zoe or sharing yourself with us! This word so describes you: Zestful marked by spirited love of life or enjoyment; ebullient.

You can find Zoe on her Site, Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest and You Tube.

Visit ZG Studio Use Coupon Code Chaletmomma for Free Shipping on any Spray!

Til next time friends be well, wear a mask and be creative!

Images: Zoe Grave/ Kitchen Image: Jessica Delaney Photography

October 14, 2020

Treasure Hunting

October 14, 2020/ Meryl

Last month I went to only my fourth Estate Sale ever - even though I’ve been actively thrifting for well over a decade and a collector all my life! Our family loves nothing more than planning an antiquing excursion with a great dinner - with my sister, brother-in-law and our son! Liam was in a baby carrier his first time! We love to travel into Pennsylvania, down to Princeton and so many places in-between. We never fail to look for treasures wherever we are - skiing in VT or at the beach. Today I want to share a few friends who are also big fans of thrifting and two of these ladies are vintage shop owners! I asked them to share why they love thrifting and if they have a favorite piece. Enjoy!

First up is Jen Dulac an Interior Designer - married mom of two from Marblehead MA. Her website: www.jendulac.com coming soon!

If I really think about it, I have been collecting old things since I was about 10. The very first old thing I bought was a cookbook my grandmother was selling at a yard sale. It was 25 cents. To this day, the “Wonderful Apple Pie” recipe from it is the one I always make at Thanksgiving. In high school, I loved to thrift shop. One of my favorite memories is taking the LIRR into Manhattan with my friends, going straight to Canal Jean Co. to scour the shelves of vintage Levis. Even now, I buy vintage Levis on Etsy. They’re just made better than any new jeans I’ve owned.

When I lived overseas, I’d shop for vintage furniture and rugs at the Dempsey Road warehouses in Singapore, the Ghost Market in Beijing, and shrine sales in Tokyo. I was introduced to estate sales when I moved to Marblehead. My good friend, her sister and dad had always gone to them - maybe because of a little bit of good ‘ole Yankee frugality?! - and I learned a lot of the ins and outs of navigating those sales from her. Our favorite way to spend a Friday morning these days is to hit the local estate sale train, shopping bags and packing blankets ready to go!

Sure, some of the allure of these sales stems from wanting to find a good deal, and from the love of the hunt. But there’s another part of me that’s a little more sentimental about the pieces I find from estate sales. I have always thought of estate sales as a bit like the movie Toy Story 3. At the end of the movie the main character Andy heads off to college, and the toys he grew up with and loved are given to a little girl Bonnie, where they’ll live a whole new life. It might sound a little corny, but I kind of feel that way about the estate sale pieces I bring into my home. They’re getting a whole new lease on life. Instead of landing in the dumpster or collecting dust in an attic, they’re adding a ton of character to my home. I love that my house marches to the beat of its own drum because of the eclectic pieces I’ve brought into it. I wouldn’t want it any other way.

I use www.EstateSales.net to find most of the sales I go to. The best piece I’ve ever scored? That’s a tough one! Really, if I’m using something I got at a sale or just enjoying looking at it, I’ll think, “Wow, that was a great find.”

JD at the Ghost Market in Beijing, circa 2001.JPG

Maura Jane is a wife, decorator and owner of Maura Jane Interiors outside of Chicago IL.

I love vintage and antiques for a lot of reasons but, probably mostly because I often think they bring on a feel ~ almost a little stir in your soul kinda thing! I equally love spaces that bring on a feeling ... when you walk in a room and you feel ~ that’s what I’m always after. If that makes sense! It all started by being “dragged” along on the many antique hunts - shows, shop or even trips into the Chicago Merchandise Mart! My Mom and her sister came from a long line of family Antique collectors and were forever on their own hunts. I used to act like I was being dragged along but quietly at a young age I started developing an eye and sense for eras, styles, lines - all of it! The two of them had plans in the works to open a shop of their own - however sadly, those plans didn’t make it into fruition but, their love of antiques and interiors never ceased!

As I grew older, if I wasn’t out antiquing with them, I would be reading every design magazine my mom had (she had them all back then and still does today, at age 92!) Victoria is her favorite. When I started my IG shop it occurred to me - that in some way I was kinda finishing the unfinished business that the two of them had started many decades ago; they even had a shop name - maybe they just needed a 3rd partner! I love finding these pieces and styling them in my home before releasing them into the hands of my wonderful customers, I really find that thrilling!

Recently, I found myself with an opportunity to open a small brick and mortar space for Maura Jane Interiors inside an incredible shop called Warehouse 55 !! A shop that I couldn’t be more honored to be a part of, talk about walking in and having that soul stirring feeling - there is so much talent all around! And I have to say this is a team effort, my hubby is a full partner in all this and I’m so lucky to have him. As for Mom she loves to hear on a daily basis the latest I’ve found in my own hunts, and what sold, and how I’ve got things set up and displayed in the shop. I know my Aunt would get such a kick out of this too!

Additionally, this has also been a great platform for creating opportunities to connect with both new and old clients for interior decorating projects as well! I feel fortunate to have discovered my passion early in life and by starting on IG I really figured out a way to carve my own unique path to do what it is that I love!

Jessica Rhodes is a wife and mom of two boys in addition to being a blogger, decorator, renovator and major thrifter.

I started buying vintage and antiques when I was in high school. I would go to the antique store in town with my friends and we bought costume jewelry to wear over our colorful cardigans with jeans. It was a way to express ourselves with pieces that no one else had on a very small budget.

As a homeowner a lot of my vintage shopping now revolves around furnishing and decorating my home, although I still look for unique clothing and jewelry.

The majority of my belongings are vintage or antique and there are a few reasons. I love finding quality pieces that have stood the test of time at a price that’s lower than what I would pay for new furniture. Collecting vintage allows me to create a unique mix of furnishings and decor that’s different than anyone else’s home - it’s important to me that our home expresses who we are and feels interesting and exciting. ]It’s also so much better for the environment to reuse antique or vintage pieces rather than buying new - especially since so many new pieces are almost disposable these days.

My favorite places for vintage shopping are Facebook Marketplace, estate sales, antique stores and thrift stores. Furniture mostly comes from Marketplace and estate sales, home decor from estate sales and in-person stores. I’ve also had great luck with eBay lately when I’m looking for something specific.

I try to keep a list in my phone of certain pieces I’m looking for - for my home with measurements. I also have collections - blue and white ceramics, Blue Willow, Wedgwood Jasperware and Queensware, cabbageware, Chinese cork dioramas, jadeite, Kutani ware, vintage tablecloths, design books - and I’m always on the lookout for additions to those. Besides that - I usually go into a store or sale with a totally open mind. If I see something I’m in love with at a fair price, that’s the best thrill, and I bring it home.

I have a lot of favorite vintage finds. My number one is definitely a pair of matching pagoda bamboo-look etageres I found exactly a year apart from each other. I have them on either side of the diningroom fireplace and someday when I renovate that room, I’ll paint them in a lacquer to compliment whatever wallpaper I choose.

My second favorite find is an old Chinese daybed I found via a Facebook Marketplace estate sale. It’s not an antique, but it was used outside for years and has this gorgeous gray patina that gives it so much character. I’m going to use it in our living room across from the television. I love that it will make such a statement in the room but also be the most comfortable place ever to watch a movie once it has a cushion and tons of pillows - who needs a sectional?

“Treasure hunting is the physical search for treasure.”

— Wikipedia

Diahann Daniel is a Brit living in MA. She’s a wife, mom to one darling girl, thrifter and shop owner of Vintage Flicker on top of her Monday-Friday gig as a data scientist.

My love of vintage really started in my Mum's closet. The first thing that got me interested was her Louis Vuitton bag which she'd gotten at an estate sale. I was 12 and I still have that bag. I was too young to know what LV was but, I knew I loved it. Later, as I traveled and explored the world more I always found that I was drawn to older, classic, vintage items. Having spent most of my life in England, I would definitely say that's had a huge influence on my style. Reduce, Recycle, Reuse was a big part of my normal everyday life and something I very much hope I’m instilling in my 12 yr old daughter.

From my own collection my favorite pieces are definitely my Jadeite Jane Ray service for 8 for which I only paid $20! It was advertised on Facebook Marketplace as "green glass". I had to drive an hour. I was nervous, but all was fine. At the end of the drive was a lovely lady who wanted to pass on her grandma's dishes. She said there was lots of interest but I won her over with my warmth when I said I want them for my collection. There were many pieces including serving ware. It was a very lucky score indeed.

My business Vintage Flicker began simply - I wasn't ready to return to full time work in the US and I had a pretty good gig consulting summers in the UK. but, I wanted to make my own money. So I turned my passion for vintage into a small business. There was so much to learn and I'm still learning. I'm working full time again, but I love the shop so I continue to run it with the same spirit and enthusiasm as when I started and I hope that comes through to my clientele. I have a lot of fun on my IG page. Sharing behind the scenes of my home filled with new vintage finds. Some of which I keep but, often end up in the shop. I also really love the vintage community I’m a part of!

Anna Weaver is hands down the queen of Estate Sales. The married mom of three daughters has been extolling her knowledge through her IG page.

I grew up in the 80s and 90s going to a large Atlanta flea market every month. The flea market was held at an old fairground and occupied 4 to 6 large warehouses. My mom bought most of her furniture there and I had fun looking for old movie posters and art deco jewelry. All my babysitting money went to the flea market.

Fast forward 30 years, when I began furnishing my own house and flea markets have shrunk to one warehouse and now have very little furniture - so I started hitting the big box stores, but never found anything I fell in love with. While I scoured thrift stores, finding furniture proved to be difficult. Somehow I discovered www.EstateSales.net about 8 years ago and went to my first sale that same weekend with my two daughters in tow. I found a mid-century sunburst clock, which began my love affair with estate sales. Not only are estate sales a goldmine for quality furniture at an affordable price but, they also provide a time capsule that is so fun to explore. It has become a privilege to give these pieces a second life and treasure them as much as their previous owner.

I have found everything from a signed and numbered Leroy Neiman lithograph, to a Tom Greene Brutalist Chandelier and many many art deco Chinese rugs!! There's something for everyone at an estate sale!

One day I hope flea markets become the robust vintage furniture market they once were, but until then I'll be estate sales best customer!

Til next time friends I hope you’ve enjoyed meeting these thrifting loving ladies. Please pop over pay them a visit on their sites and IG and give them a follow.

Stay safe and happy hunting!