Flowers from England

"This is such a charming item - it's a little table-cloth hand embroidered with a scattering of bright flowers....The cloth itself is a fairly fine cotton ...and the embroidery is done in a mixture of embroidery cottons and some wool in stem stitch, satin stitch, french knots, blanket stitch, chain stitch - possibly some others I don't know - and a bit of couching in the middle..."-from Made4Aid.

A few weeks ago, I successfully bid for this lovely tablecloth at Made4Aid. Sally of the Lettuce-eating blog & other like-minded souls had a great idea. Artisans & artists around the world contribute items for auction & proceeds are donated to the World Food Programme in Darfur (for their first project). Many items are made from recycled materials &/or use vintage textiles. It could not be easier to bid & complete the transaction. The starting bids on the most wonderful items are very reasonable; the shipping is also quite low. I recommend a visit -- something is sure to pique your interest. (Today, there are beautiful cards for sale to anyone. No bidding necessary.) Of course, you can donate any amount without purchasing a thing.

I'm so very grateful to Mme Lettuce & her compatriots for their efforts & for linking to Darfur Peace & Development Organization (DPDO) in their recent update.

Thank you Made4Aid!

[The photographs are via Made4Aid/used with permission; Made4Aid is a registered member of the National Council for Voluntary Organisations, membership number 11190. For more information, please visit their website.]

Week's End - Crème de Menthe Trifle Gown

See what you might do about that, would you?*

*This directive was first issued to or near my person (it was that weird) one horridly hot, humid, no A/C in the house morning... from an excessively-self-regarding summer-sublet. (The other resident friend-housemates shot out the door for their offices/classes with a vigor intense even for DC. Cowards.) She actually did the little QEII wave of the hand (without irony--I would've given style points for that). She'd blown the fuses just one too many times (I kept a paper bag of them by the fusebox--that's how often).

There's a very funny story here (at my own expense, yes, of course, the funniest kind). It's way over 500-word limit & a messy tangle at that. I'll rework it off-line. The things a photograph will do. So see? It's working, sort of.

I love this photograph (& two uncropped versions) by Nick Bartoletti in Seattle. [Update: here's the direct link to his Clise Manion shoot set.] His photograph in the Jump! post (1 June 2009) is a new addition to the wall at my right. At the moment, I can't even manage a bunny hop; that's not his fault, though. This dress reminded me of The Clever Pup's Crème de Menthe Trifle recipe (her post here) that I'd planned to make for a party last night. Best laid plans...

The dress also reminds me of the gorgeous costumes in Sofia Coppola's Marie-Antoinette & that little wave of the hand by The Fuse-Blower.

I have two major commitments this weekend--one quite demanding, the other outside. For hours. Taking people's guff (& niceness, too, to be fair) behind a table. And if it would just stop, please someone, stop the thunderstorms it would be most helpful. It's been a bad week for a lot of people here in DC. Yes, the museum shooting.

I'll try to be back for something worth reporting over the weekend. Perhaps over the phone...ciao

[Nick Bartoletti photograph used by permission/all rights reserved]