wherefigsfly

Meet  Cinderella Story’s aunt…Mme. Cinderelda.  

She’s quite a dame…I mean, sporting a photo of herself without her petticoats and fancy gown.     

We didn’t know that Cinderella Story had an aunt until last week.  When we met her, we saw the resemblance immediately.  The madame took a shine to us, decided she wanted to trade her smelling salts for some fresh country air, and when Madame sets her mind…well, it just happens.  So Frankie and I found ourselves driving Miss Daisy, I mean, Mme Cinderelda to The Fig.  

Now she has decided that she would like a gown much like her niece…and when we mention that the gala is only three weeks away and that we might be a little pressed for time, she simply laughs and shushes us with oh girls! Where there’s a will, there’s a way.  The Madame definitely has the will…and we’re finding the way. 

Calling all elves,

june & frankie

One of the perks of working at The Fig barn is that my mom is within a short walking distance.  Sometimes when she comes over, we put her to work.

Here she is sanding a French bed.

And this is the bed.

Now every time she comes over, she looks at the finished bed and imperatively asks, You are going to keep that, right?   My mom has always had tasteful instincts…she loves this bed. 

Last year, we paused in the midst of crazy-work-madness and celebrated at The Fig with happy birthday wishes hanging on paper plates from the tree and a bakery caramel cheesecake. 

 Today, while the rain hums happy birthday, we will celebrate her birthday quietly with my Irish cream & coffee poundcake.  So Happy Birthday to my mom today. And apologies too…the bed will be available at The Spree where I think her instincts will prove spot on.  They usually (always!) do.

And Mom, merci beaucoup… for everything,

june 

We are in the zone…construction zone that is.  And we are in the stretch…homestretch before The Spree.  Getting closer by each dusty, messy, glorious September day.

A rustic bench got some legs yesterday.  Oh yes.  And there is a contemporary dining table that will be a mix of North Carolina pine and Los Angeles metal legs.  Got its legs today and it is like way totally YES.  And then there is a piece that can wear the colors of lemongrass and chamomile. Would someone rent me an apartment in Paris?  Oui? 

This week has afforded us some opportunities to stand back and say yes.  A welcome in the zone week!

Sporting saw dust in my hair,

june

To market, to market,

to sell a li’l fig

October 25-28, 2012

RALEIGH CONVENTION CENTER

We are very excited to be an exhibitor at Raleigh’s 28th annual A Shopping Spree in a month!  Click here  for more information on The Spree. And there is a LOT more than li’l ole’ us going to be there!

Counting the days,

june

We had a visitor today at The Fig…and yes, he is a thief.  A thief of hearts.  Frankie and I were s’posed to be talking to his mama.  But we were smitten…as in totally.

Fair warning…if you look at the pics below, there is a good chance that  your heart will be stolen.

I will have to tell you about his mama and what she does on another day…till then 

High Five,

june & frankie & the prince of thieves

glam metal  [glam  met-l]  noun

1. a sub-genre of metal music

2. a decorating trend with words like machine age, steampunk, industrial thrown around

3. something coming to The Fig…soon…causing a stir  The Fig hopes to use this glam metal to create a table that is not trendy and forced, but authentic and time-standing.

Excuse me while I go stalk the postman,

june

I texted my friend:    the apple tree at The Fig has apples…would you like some?  Heads up, they are not flawless like a grocery store apple.

The response, verbatim:     funny thing is when I pick my fruit I try not to get the pretty perfect ones.  I find pretty in the ugly and blemished.  Can’t wait for the apples!

So Frankie and I stood in the back of a pick up truck and filled a bag with apples which I delivered to my friend.  And then Holy Smokes, this pie was delivered to my house a few days later. 

There are lessons in this…so much ‘pretty’ is overlooked…never, ever underestimate what can result from humble ingredients and sensibility…a good friend brings you apples, a great friend bakes you a pie…and apple pie and sausage make the perfect late August supper.

                                                                    At The Fig

May you find some pretty,

june

As of now, I’ve no bucket list…but if I were to bang out a wishful to-do, visiting a Farrow & Ball  paint store would certainly be on it.  A jaunt to Atlanta or DC would be a-ok, or a journey to Dorset on the merry coast of England would be all right too.  

When I received Farrow & Ball’s colour card in the mail, I retreated to the screen porch and was as happy as any child with a great picture book could be.  Their colour chart is a visual bash.  The colour names are a fun read.…mouse’s back…orangery…drawing room blue…castle gray…smoked trout…print room yellow…mizzle…picture gallery red…and get these…churlish green…dead salmon…arsenic. 

rbscorp

These paint colours truly do have a depth that deserves appreciation.  And I really like that they have tonal undercoats for the paints.  Just call me gobsmacked.

at The (merry ole’) Flying Fig

While we’ve only used these paints a wee bit, it has been a treat.  But so as to avert any kind of revolutionary-war feelings, I must tell you that my first love is Benjamin Moore. (Rumour has it that I’ve been asked to call him Benny.)

Jack Vettriano

And let me clarify…this is not Frankie and June.  Frankie would be drinking iced tea and June would be coughing her sunglasses off if she were to take a puff of that cig.

Cheerio,

june

Remember Highlights magazines and the What’s Wrong with the Picture?  Well, here’s one you may not find on the back cover in a waiting room.

ANSWER KEY 1. Handle is missing on the the right side of the middle drawer. 2. Keyhole escutcheons have not been attached.  3. There’s an aura on the top right drawer.

Now what’s right with this picture?

ANSWER KEY  1.  It is almost complete…yoo-hoo!  2. The missing handle is not missing…just not attached yet  3. The stained oak top is lovely   4. Shapely? Yes.  5. Original casters   6. Handsome and functional

  7. 42” wide =  Drawer space. Amen.