According to BRASWELL: January 2014

Friday, January 31, 2014

Chinese New Year - Year Of The Horse 2014

Happy New Year!

The Introduction of 2014 Year of Horse

The Year 2014 is considered as the Year of the Horse as per the Chinese Zodiac Calendar which begins on January 31, 2014, and ends on February 18, 2015. 2014 according to Chinese Astrology Calendar. it is the Year of Wood Horse. Wood is related to tree or green, so it is also called Year of Green Horse. 2014 is the jiăwŭ (甲午) year.The Chinese zodiac calendar comprises 12 animal signs and horse is the seventh among all of them. In Chinese culture, the Horse is a symbol of nobility, class, speed and perseverance. People born in the Year of the Horse are smart, fabulous speakers who have a gift for getting through to other people. People bearing the horse sign strive towards seeking freedom and happiness. In general, 2014 would be a better year for those people who were born under The Year of the Horse.

Love this picture!

I burn joss papers for the new year celebration.
Write down your wish and burn... Sending them up to the heavens.
What's a new year without joss paper?

Dear readers, this is going to be a fabulous year!

Love,

Peggy

To see your vision come to life, email us about our design services at Peggy Braswell Design.

Friday, January 24, 2014

Chinoiserie, Part I

I will go on record, as saying I adore chinoiserie.

My godfather Wallis told me years ago,
"Chinese anything is chic, after all, chinoiserie is the last & the first thing sophisticated people use."
I believed him then + still do believe him.

Of course, he said all this in his famous southern drawl.

These examples of chinoiserie are from my Pinterest.

from feauboiserie.com

Aren't these chairs the best?
Look at those panels!

from zsazsabellagio.blogspot.com

I used a similar round Chinese door lock on a client's bar.

from plumo.com

Adore birdcages.
Especially this one!

unknown

This looks like a folly to me.
I would love to find this at the end of my walk.

from megbraff.com

Love the pagodas on this sideboard.

from byelisabethnl.blogspot.com

This chair is beautiful.

from alaintruong.com

A beautiful panel.

from artstheanswer.blogspot.com

The wallpaper so beautiful.

from andrewhopkinsart.blogspot.com

Another folly, adore this.

from anngettyhouse.com

Stunning!

from tumblr.com

So beautiful!

from decoratortagsale.com

Love this lantern!

unknown

A bit of lovely fabric.

from 4.bp.blogspot.com

Look at all the detail.

from theglampad.blogspot.com

Wouldn't this be a conversation piece?

from soane.co.uk

Dramatic red lantern!

Tell me what your favorite piece is, dear readers.
I can't pick one, they all are wonderful I think.
( but of course I picked them)

Love,

Peggy

To see your vision come to life, email us about our design services at Peggy Braswell Design.

Friday, January 17, 2014

Fashion Illustrations - Jenny Kee & Jesus Del Pozo

International Fashion Desk Diary
by Shirley Kennedy

This is one of my favorites for fashion illustrations.
I was given this desk diary a few years ago by my godfather.
It is from 1993 & all the illustrations are wonderful.

Jenny Kee

Jenny Kee's name stands for Australia's truest fashion original.
She created acclaimed designs that capture the essence of Australia.

She designs scarfs, rugs and knitwear.

These are so colorful + unique.

Jenny is of Chinese decent and considers herself 100% Australian.

That is her picture with round glasses.

Jenny creates these on silks, knits, swimwear, bed linens and ceramics.
They depict aborigine, koalas, kookas, kangas + the beauty
of the outback in Australia, where she has her studio.

Jesus Del Pozo

He is a Spanish designer from the University of Madrid who designed Spanish
uniforms, created wardrobes for television, theater + film stars.

Tubular: a cinnamon color envelope coat with cascading rippling folds
and a stand-up neck plus slim sleeves.

Wavelength: Ombre espresso tones soften a graceful matte jersey tank
and chiffon shirt with wavy soft pleats.

Circular: a lovely confection featuring a soft floral bodice detailed with tucks and gathers
tops a curved satin skirt with a burnt orange chiffon overskirt.

There you have two very diverse designers.
Both have great fashion sense and can be worn NOW.
Which one do you like, dear readers?

Anyone of these would look smashing today.

Don't you think?

Love,

Peggy

To see your vision come to life, email us about our design services at Peggy Braswell Design.

Friday, January 10, 2014

Salted Caramel Apple Pie from Twenty Blackbirds Bakery

Salted Caramel Apple Pie
from Melissa and Emily Elsen of Four and Twenty Blackbirds Bakery in Brooklyn, N.Y.

I had to make pies to take to a holiday party.

This looked so good, just had to try it.

The pie got rave reviews!

Ingredients

Pie Dough: 2 1/2 cups all-purpose unbleached flour; 1 teaspoon salt; 1 tablespoon sugar; 8 to 10 tablespoons ice water mixed with 2 tablespoons cider vinegar; 1 cup (2 sticks) cold unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
Salted Caramel: 1 cup sugar; 1/4 cup water; 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter; 1/2 cup heavy cream; 1 1/2 teaspoons sea salt (Maldon flake is a good choice)
Apple Filling: 5 to 6 medium to large apples (Crispin, Granny Smith, Cortland); Juice of 2 lemons; 1/4 cup sugar; 1/3 cup raw sugar (castor or turbinado); 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon; 1/4 teaspoon allspice; 1/8 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg; 2 to 3 dashes Angostora bitters; 2 tablespoons flour

To make pie crust, combine flour, sugar and salt in the bowl of a food processor. Add butter and pulse until mixture resembles coarse meal. (To mix by hand, cut butter into flour mixture using a pastry blender, two knives, or your hands.)
Add water mixture a little at a time, while pulsing, until dough forms a ball. Divide into 2 discs, wrap in plastic and chill 1 hour or more.
Preheat oven to 375F. Grease a 9-inch pie pan.
Roll out one disc to fit pan. Place in bottom of pan, allowing sides to overlap rim.
To prepare salted caramel, cook sugar and water together over low heat until just dissolved. Add butter and bring to a slow boil. Continue cooking at a low boil until mixture turns a deep, golden brown color. Be careful not to burn caramel—remove from heat before it smokes or turns very dark.
Remove from heat and immediately add heavy cream. Mixture will bubble and steam. Be cautious, as sugar will be very hot. Whisk mixture together over low heat and sprinkle in sea salt. Set aside.
To prepare apple filling, core, peel and thinly slice apples. Combine with lemon juice and remaining ingredients.
Place half the apple filling in pan. Pour half the caramel over top. Layer remaining apple filling and then caramel.
Roll out remaining pie dough and cut into strips. Place in a lattice pattern over apples. Crimp edges of crust. Brush with beaten egg and lightly sprinkle with sea salt and sugar.
Place pie on a baking sheet and bake 20 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 325F and continue baking 25 to 35 minutes. Test doneness of apples with a long toothpick or small knife. They should be just soft. Let cool at least 1 hour before slicing.

Apples that are cut with seasoning on them.

Another picture of the apples before they went into the pie shell.

This was the caramel - yummy!

Apples in the pie shell before I put the lattice on top.

Lattice with apples in the pie shell.

Finished!
Apple pie is ready to go to the party.

Seriously yummy if I must say so.
The pie was just delicious.
Thanks, Melisa + Emily!

A new twist on an old favorite, apple pie.
Try it, dear readers-
Let me know how it turned out.

Love,

Peggy

To see your vision come to life, email us about our design services at Peggy Braswell Design.

Friday, January 3, 2014

Pantone Color Of The Year - Radiant Orchid

Radiant Orchid

2014 Pantone color of the year was announced.
One of my favorite colors - Lavender/orchid!

from complex.com

About the PANTONE Color of the Year

The color of the year selection requires careful consideration and, to arrive at the selection, Pantone quite literally combs the world looking for color influences. This can include the entertainment industry and films that are in production, traveling art collections, hot new artists, popular travel destinations and other socio-economic conditions. Influences may also stem from technology, availability of new textures and effects that impact color, and even upcoming sports events that capture worldwide attention.
For more than a decade, Pantone’s Color of the Year has influenced product development and purchasing decisions in multiple industries, including fashion, home and industrial design, as well as product packaging and graphic design.