great kitchen

I was happy to be invited to a lovely kitchen party the other day.  A snowy weekend and a menu of delicious soups in beautiful Northern Berkshire County hit just the right note.

My friend and client (also a Lisa), is a fabulous cook.  She makes the most of her award winning kitchen.

Eighteen of us gathered around the antique french baker's table.

Yep--all one table--amazing.

The bar was set up in the formal dining room.    Striped walls were painstakingly painted by yours truly.

The soft candlelit tone is a beautiful backdrop to the couples extensive art collection as well as their antique quimperware.

The lovely bank of windows opens to the back garden.  We had originaly discussed painting the windows an accent color but decided to let the beautiful architecture stand alone.   The right choice I believe.

A study hangs over the kitchen and makes for a great place to view the preparations.

The formal living room connects the kitchen and the dining room.  These Schumacher loveseats were repeated in different fabrics in two other rooms.

The reading room tucks in at the very front of the house.

Great design is great design.  I thought these shoes worn by a guest were fabulous.

A view of the aftermath--I was not on dish duty thank goodness.

Lisa's husband and I collaborated on the design of the floor cloth depicting two well loved pets.  The painting was done by Elizabeth Whelton.

Two tired Lisas at the end of the evening.

My own kitchen is a thumbprint in comparison, but I thought I'd show these great antique egg and nest prints I picked up at the NY gift show.

  The beautiful cup painting is by Daniel Thibeault.   And speaking of Daniel,  just look at what he can produce from the comfort of his own beautiful kitchen.

                             

Another wonderful party in another great kitchen.  

american clay earth plaster workshop

Please join us for a one-day American Clay Earth Plaster Workshop in our new seacoast location
1 Falkland Place, Portsmouth NH 03801

Details can be viewed at our website lisateague.com or by calling 603 493 4516.

color, glorious color

Some of you know that I just returned from a trip to Guatemala where I was cooking at a writer's workshop on beautiful lake Atitlan.  I arrived back in New Hampshire early Monday morning.  The day was gray and I was struck by the absence of all of the color that had surrounded me for the past couple of weeks.  This post will be mostly photos-- a feast of color for all of us that are slogging through the drab days of late winter.

view from the porch

entrance from dock

end of the day

my bedroom up in the peak

views from my bed

housekeeping day--I was so touched that the housekeeper had placed my glasses carefully beneath my books--pretty sweet

view from the shower

from my room

market day

Danny painting from the deck of his room

beautiful flowers

kitchen scenes and Danny's postcard paintings

local boys at play

attendees arriving in the pouring rain

Lisa and Joyce

It is nice to be home, but I have to say that spring can not come quickly enough!

out with the old...

...and in with the new--even if it's scarey.

So it's official--well almost, and practically a certainty unless things really fall apart, which of course they could, and often do--

I have a sales agreement on the  Nashua studio.  Those of you that have visited know what a remarkable space it is.  I have been lucky to have owned it for the last six years drawing from the great creative spirit of the place. We have held workshop after workshop, and so many wonderful people have shared time with me there.  But keeping a studio that is over 70 miles from my new home is logistically difficult and certainly not very green.  So....

 I am moving--and this is almost official as well--and this space is mere steps from my home.  I will be renting the space on the left side.  There are large windows, creative space, and a kitchen--those of you who have taken our workshops know how important food--in particular, chocolate--is to the energy of the class.  The space is only 1/3 the size of my current studio, but there is plenty of room to teach American Clay and all of the other workshops we offer.  The new studio is in Portsmouth NH, which just bustles with creative energy.  I am looking forward to getting through this next phase and working to become a part of this vibrant community.

And so when....?

 Well, right after I return from yet another dream trip--I am so unbelievably fortunate to be heading to Lake Atitlan, Guatemala to act as an assistant cook at a writer's workshop.  I will be assisting my dear friend and very talented artist, Daniel Thibeault.

The above painting is one of Dan's.  More of his work can be  viewed here.  His beautiful home can also be viewed in the latest addition of Country Living.


I will return in early March just in time to close on the studio and start working on the new space.  Spring will be near and I will look forward to inviting you all to view the new space once I settle in.

Happy New Year.  Wishing all a healthy and happy 2010.

PS--Below are two links to charities involved in relief work in Haiti.  My heart goes out to all that are suffering through this unimaginable crisis.  Blessings to those who are able to help.
Mercy Corps
IRC

home for the holidays...

We had our first Christmas together on the seacoast this year.  Christmas Eve was warm...balmy even.  The kids and I went into town to pick up Christmas dinner.  Sanders Lobster was our first stop.  What a find...they were passing out complimentary servings of their fabulous lobster chowder.  It was such fun to hang out on the dock slurping hot, delicious chowder.  My son-in-law Mike, promised to take on all lobster wrangling duties as I am  a bit squeamish about such things. 

My wonderful builder, Peter Coyman worked overtime to get the lights installed and the last of the shelves in place.  Dear friend and kitchen designer Susan Durling of Amherst NH had carefully re-worked my designs to make sure I made the most of every tiny inch.  We weren't the least bit uncomfortable gathered around the kitchen island.

Don Mavrikas of Mavrikas Upholstery did a beautiful job on my grandmother's chair.   Remember the chair?  I switched from the bold orange to this lovely cobalt.  The fabric is from Schumacher.  Thanks to Sami, Michelle and Timothy of the Schumacher showroom at the BDC.

Breakfast featured the family favorite--sausage bread.  Not quite having gotten used to cooking in a gas oven, I have to say this was not my best effort, but we each managed to put away our fair share.

The tiny living room with the equally tiny tree (Bedford Fields) was warm and surprisingly comfortable.

Unhappily for the lobster, chowder was the theme of Christmas this year.  Fresh greens, goat cheese and Prosecco from Fresh Market, along with  wonderful bread from  Ceres Street Bakery rounded out the meal.

With most renovations complete until we begin again late winter this will be the last post on the house for a while.  It's time to take a break from this and post photos of some of the fabulous projects I have been priviledged to work on this year.

The bigger news is that it looks as though the Nashua Studio will be sold and I will be moving operations to  a wonderful space in Portsmouth which I hope to settle into soon.

Wishing you and yours a joyful new year.