Lessons from Empress Bianca

I have been so enjoying Mrs. Blandings' recent posts on the New York apartment of Diana Vreeland. This made me contemplate taking up needlework, and this made me reconsider ceramic Spaniels, that old WASP standby.

But when I read that much of DV's collection was given as gifts by her friends and admirers, who were surely legion in number, I thought - what I am doing wrong?!

That very night the answer came to me in the pages of Lady Colen Campbell's delectable page-turner Empress Bianca (buy it this week from Potterton for 25% off!) - Bianca knows that half the pleasure in giving is seeing how delighted the recipient is by your efforts. And can't you just imagine how thrilling it would be to be thanked by DV - she no doubt thanked with gusto and flair. A proper thank you in fact is a gift in itself, which is why hand-written notes will never go out of style.

N.B. Bianca's philosophy of thanking includes being enthusiastic even if you don't love the gift - it's not about the gift, tell yourself, it's the gesture. Eventually they'll give you something you really do like - a priceless diamond demi-parure, anyone? - and it will all be worth the while! Empress Bianca is full of all sorts of helpful tips, particularly if you're looking for advice on how to get away with murder in Mexico or Monaco...

Design Friends: From Virtual to Actual

This Saturday I was paid a most delightful visit by my two favorite Patricias from the blogging world -


From left to right: Mrs. Blandings, PVE and EEE in miniature dealer Elle Shushan's booth at the Winter Antiques Show - wallpaper by Brunschwig et Fils and booth design by Ralph Harvard - he also designed Sumpter Priddy's stand which you should also take a look at if you go through the show.

It seems these days everyone has a blog and I feared many would groan and roll their eyes when I started mine just a month ago, but what I found was the most warm, welcoming (and informed!) community.

One of my favorite blogs is Mrs. Blandings - I love her old school sensibility and, most of all, her warmth and graciousness that come right through the screen. (Click here for the best blog post in the entire world.) Another thing I adore about her blog is her header and it took me no time to track down its divinely talented creator PVE Design.

PVE also did the header for Ronda Carman's outstanding blog

I think what most captivates me about PVE's work is that her pen and brush capture a world that is dashing and dapper - a world out of a P.G. Wodehouse novel or a Noel Coward play - and most certainly a version of the world I would most like to live in.


Because imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, Ms. PVE has been working up a blog header for me which I hope to unvail very shortly....