Inspiration and Resolve

This is where my inspiration began...with this book by Annie Sloan, Creating the French Look. I had gone down to visit my youngest daughter in LA, and we were looking for bedding in a shop. I saw this book and loved the ideas in it. When I returned home to Portland, I realized there was a special paint made by Annie Sloan that was now available in the US. I contacted a source from the book and was led to a stockist in California, Anne Skougard of House of Anne. And the rest is history!

I ordered some paint from Anne and started painting a small table. There was no prep work, just put on the paint, let it dry, add another coat, rough it up a bit for texture and character, apply some wax, let it dry overnight, buff, and voila! Magic is revealed! Now I wanted all the colors.

And then I found THE book, the one that explains all the attributes, the beauty of the colors, and the talent behind this incredible paint, Annie Sloan. I think I have every book on paint and technique that she has ever published. And the names of the colors are pure bliss. How about "Paris Grey" or "Duck Egg Blue" or "Emperors'Silk" or "Versailles"? I wanted to be transported in time to the color and the place. How could I possibly go wrong? It was simply a feast of color waiting to be indulged.

So this is how and why I came to this place. It is the "tip of the iceberg" for me.

I am sure that those that followed my whereabouts via mendofleur am wondering where I am headed, but I will still be exploring my other passion, textiles and stitching on my other blog. Please visit me there as I hope to keep up an occasional post on textile history, a love of cloth as well inspiration, thanks to my mentor in this important part of my life, Jude Hill.

A Play of Light

I have found that it is important to not think too much about names or choosing a title for what you want something to be.  After all, "being" can get to be so complex if you try to pin it down to actually BEING.  However, there is a part of me that wants to explain the meaning or the feeling or the mood that is behind my chosen name, Moonstone Designs.

I have a tendency to dream things into existence.  That is fine unless you are doing accounting or business plans.  And yet, this first post is really about addressing my dreams.....First of all, I think that moonstone is such a fine, descriptive term.  In reality, a moonstone is characterised by an enchanting play of light, just as it appears in these photos.  I love looking at the reflection of water and sun in carved ripples of sand, just as much as I love looking at the pearly coloration inside a shell, the play of light that constantly changes.

Although moonstone is actually a gemstone, it is known for its mystique and magic.  It has been known to strengthen our emotional and subconscious aspects.  Wearing a moonstone is also said to have the power to strengthen our intuition and capacity to understand.  I like these ideas.  They symbolize my dreams.  They push me to the edge of wanting to see something beyond the ordinary.  And this is how I want to envision my business.   In the days ahead, I will be writing more about my ideas, the changes that formulated new goals and processes and actions.  The questions behind the name will become clear and focused as I move slowly and more confidently into this altogether new blog.  I hope you will stay and help me explore this meandering path.  I feel certain it will be fun, exciting, and full of endless color and an enchanting play of light.