Saturday, February 22, 2014

Visualizing Spring at 6 Wilson!

Oh man it's been a lonngggggggg winter thus far, wouldn't you agree?  Way too much snow and cold.  So, I decided to bring a little Spring to 6 Wilson on this rare, sunny 50 degree day, before the deep freeze comes again next week.




Check out these spring inspired pillows, now in the shop...



Each of these happy linen pillows has a gorgeous cobalt blue fabric on the back, and with all the color, they are the perfect accent for a winter weary home, don't you think?




Accent pillows like these don't need to match your decor -- they are meant to be little pieces of jewelery to add pop to the outfit that is... your room!! 

I used the flowers I bought today to style this vintage Lubeck pitcher, too...




There is a vintage wash basin in this pattern, as well (now in the shop), which I think would look AMAZING on a spring table with tulips planted in it.  How gorgeous would this be a centerpiece on Easter? 



The wash basin/bowl, is 14"x5" so it's a whole LOT of style.  Maybe on your coffee table?  I think blue and white is like jeans -- goes with everything.

And on the blue and white theme, these Spode plates below are now in the shop, too.  Perfection for a gorgeous salad on top of a white dinner plate (or maybe a colored dinner plate, like pink or green!  Ahh!)




So there you have my suggestions for adding some spring fling to your home!  Take that, Old Man Winter!

Enjoy the rest of your weekend, and don't forget that flowers can lift those winter doldrums in a snap ;-)



Thanks for stopping by,

Monday, February 10, 2014

Chinoiserie Trays in Classic Blue and White for Sale

UPDATE:  BOTH TRAYS HAVE SOLD.  I WILL BE ORDERING MORE AND ADDITIONAL PIECES AS WELL.  STAY TUNED!

  Are you a lover of blue and white chinoiserie?  Then you've got to see these porcelain trays...




I am going to be carrying this Chinese porcelain line when I launch 6 Wilson.com, and I am so excited about it.  These trays are handmade in China by local artists who mold them and then hand paint them.  They are heavy and substantial, not really for serving, and definitely make a statement.  I have styled them a bit to give you an idea of scale (mind you, the lamp below is only 10" wide). 


Here's the rectangle...



And the octagonal...





When I discovered these pieces, I learned that a lot of the mass produced blue and white porcelain you see in stores everywhere is actually produced using blue decals, while some is painted.  That is why the price can sometimes be very inexpensive.  I believe I will probably offer both variations -- mass produced and hand done, because each has it's place, and each offers a different aesthetic.


What I love about this more rustic line of hand done porcelain is the rich character the pieces contain,  making no two alike.  These are done in a pre-industrial setting with the rich clay of the region, where up to 8 or 9 potters and painters can collaborate to form just one piece.  These pieces are definitely not the perfect, crisp white and blue porcelain of the modern factory.  And that's what gives them their charm.  They are regional and proudly made.



If you look closely at the images above, you will see markings from tools, the imperfect lines of the painter's brush, and what I love most -- the occasional and sometimes densely spaced, tiny brown markings that appear (bottom center) in the piece after it is fired.  I'm told this is actually iron from the rich iron content of the local clay.  Some pieces will have a lot of it, some barely any.  It's all a natural process.  Here's another look.

The rectangle measures 17" x 13" x 1 1/4" and the octagonal is 15 1/2" x 15 1/2" x 1 1/4".



The bottom of these pieces is unglazed, and looks very rustic, but it so smooth...




Because the 6 Wilson.com shop won't be up and running for a few months, and I can't sell them in 6 Wilson on Etsy because I didn't make them,  you can buy them from 6 Wilson via a PayPal invoice.  Shipping is $20 (and if you are a Massachusetts resident, sales tax applies.)  You just need to email me if you want one.




Thanks for stopping by.  I hope your week is off to a great start!

Email me at Shop6Wilson@gmail.com to purchase or to ask questions.





Sunday, February 9, 2014

Tone on Tone is Hosting a 6 Wilson Giveaway

  Please go over to see my fabulously talented friend, Loi Thai, for his 6 Wilson pillow giveaway at his blog, Tone on Tone.  If you don't know Loi (and I can't imagine at this point that anyone doesn't!), you're missing out on gorgeous Swedish style.




Happy Sunday, everyone!  Oh, and if you are a blue and white lover, watch for some gorgeous Chinese blue and white porcelain coming to the shop in the next few days!

Friday, February 7, 2014

My Best Chicken Stew Recipe

     Happy weekend, everybody!  A while back, I showed my Chicken Stew on Instagram, and a follower asked me to share my recipe.  I am so not a recipe-writer, so I can't promise anything, but I thought I'd give it a go!  I am an avid cook and love to entertain.  This stew is sure to warm your party of 6 or so.





6 Wilson Chicken Stew
Time: about and hour and 15 minutes
Ingredients:
6  white potatoes, peeled and chopped into bite size chunks
3 large carrots, peeled and chopped into bite size pieces
1 medium onion, chopped
2 boxes of Swanson organic or Whole Foods 365 Chicken Broth (only kinds I use, prefer Swanson)
1 rotisserie chicken ( a good size one), meat off the bone and torn into bite size chunks
Frozen peas
Frozen corn
Kosher salt
pepper
dried or fresh thyme
chili powder
celery seed
2 fresh garlic cloves, chopped
1 stick butter
5 tablespoons butter
Crusty Bread to serve with your stew
You will need your soup pot, plus another pot for boiling the carrots and potatoes in broth




Add the potatoes, carrots, 3 tsp dried thyme (if using fresh thyme, add more), 1 clove chopped garlic, 1 tsp celery seed,  salt and pepper to your pot filled with one box of chicken broth or stock.  I also add a piece or two of the chicken skin from the cooked chicken for extra flavor, but be sure to remove it later.  Of course, you can use homemade stock if you have it.  Bring to a boil and then turn down to medium heat until potatoes and carrots are fork tender.

While the vegetables boil, melt a pat or two of butter in your soup pot and brown you onions and garlic clove over medium to medium high heat.  When the onions start to brown, turn the heat down to medium and add in 6 tablespoons of butter to begin the roux.  Whisk the butter when it melts, and allow it to brown (this will give your stew a nice golden tone).  Now add in 5 heaping spoonfuls (I use my everyday soup spoon, but you can use a tablespoon) to the butter and quickly whisk with the butter and onions until it forms a paste.

Slowly add the second carton of stock to the roux, being careful to continually whisk the butter and flour paste (roux) so that the stock and roux combine smoothly.  It will look like the consistency of frosting until all the broth is added.  (If you don't do it slowly and keep whisking, you will end up with lumps in your broth).  Add in another tsp of thyme, a dash of chili powder, and a dash of celery seed.  Salt and pepper to taste.  If you desire more garlic, you can add a dash of garlic powder.   Whisk occasionally over medium heat for 5 minutes to make sure the flour taste cooks out.

Now add the chicken to the soup pot, and then add the carrots, potatoes and broth from the first pot.  Mix all together.  Add in the frozen peas, corn, or whatever vegetables you have on hand, to your desired thickness of the stew.  Make sure to taste test.  Under salting can be bland.

Let simmer 10 minutes for the flavors to meld.

Serve with crusty bread and enjoy ;-)



While I'm an avid cook, I don't often use recipes, and I tend to make up my own, like this one.  I don't know how my recipe-writing will translate to the finished product, so my fingers are crossed!  If you have any questions, ask me in the comments and I will help out.

Hope you enjoy it!! 
Pin it to remember it...




Thursday, February 6, 2014

Thursday Thoughts...Satisfaction

I was so happy to have just been voted "Best of Houzz 2013" for Customer Satisfaction (Thanks, Houzz!).  It was for Carol Beck Interiors, not for 6 Wilson, but I do try to achieve customer satisfaction with every 6 Wilson transaction.  So it got me thinking about satisfaction, for Thursday Thoughts...












Happy Thursday, everybody!  Hope it's a satisfying day! ;-)

Don't forget to check 6 Wilson to see what's new...

Wednesday, February 5, 2014

Why I'm Expanding 6 Wilson and What's New

  I am so excited about expanding 6 Wilson I can hardly stand it!  Today is my one year anniversary on Etsy, and it's been great.  It's an amazing way to connect with customers, and bring to the market place the things I find beautiful.  But it's not enough for me.  You see, I love doing interiors.  Like can't breathe kind of love.  And I want to offer you more.




Sooo, I spent the past two days in New York City, at the NY Now gift and accessory show, with my pal Robin (a fantastic Interior Designer in Rhode Island :) searching for beautiful things that represent 6 Wilson style.  Here are just a couple of the things that caught my eye...


Hand blocked linens,





exquisite handmade and hand painted Chinese porcelain from the porcelain district in China (this is not mass produced factory stuff)...




gorgeous food safe plates from an artist in Turkey...




lovely throws made in Maine...



and these funky, beachy candlesticks for a bit of humor and interest for your summer home.




This are just a peek at what might be coming to 6 Wilson when it goes ".com".   It's all in the planning stages now.  I am beyond thrilled to use my interior decorating skills to put together a small shop that will (hopefully!) speak to you and your own design style. 

In the meantime, please continue to visit me at 6 Wilson on Etsy, for handmade, one of a kind pillows and vintage finds.  Oh, and yes, I will continue to offer my pillows even as I grow the shop ;-).

If you're getting all the snow I am today, stay safe and warm, wherever you are!