Natural Fashion

wrapping up the holidays at Tete A Tete

Charlotte's blog

Charlotte Moss has lots going on-in the Fall of this year the Royal Oak Foundation presented her with the Timeless Design Award, in recognition of her work in design, historical preservation and philanthropy. Well deserved- and that single accolade tells the tale. It means seven books to her credit, with her eight in the upcoming year, a fabric collection launching in 2011 through Fabricut, as well as designing china, carpet, decorative accessories and home fragrances. Her board work is extensive- The Thomas Jefferson Foundation- Monticello, the Bone Marrow Foundation, as well as serving as co-chair for the UNICEF Snowflake Gala for the past five years, helping to raise millions for the worlds’ neediest children. She adds publishing a blog- Tete-A-Tete, to her stack of activities- and is a contributing editor to the Wall Street Journal magazine...

Charlotte Moss photographed at the UNICEF Snowflake Gala, 2007

& She is here to share some of her thoughts about the fast approaching holidays.

What is on your Christmas List this year?

CM: AS for Christmas.....one could sit and list wants all day long.....I do not

need a thing. If I had to list anything it would be experiences, travel and

TIME:
Putting together a Great trip with a group of girlfriends to tour houses and gardens....

Going to work with children through UNICEF, OPERATION SMILE, .....learning,
contributing AND. Learning from that.

in the spirit of giving Charlotte's blog takes time out to remind her readers:

read more about giving back here

Charlotte, What gifts will you be giving friends this year?

CM: For Christmas this year I have made a book for friends.....all summer long I took photographs. They are now in a book we did with BLURB.com.....love their software! I used some photographs to make postcards as gifts-boxed in Italian paper boxes.

No divulging the book's subject-
but what glorious photographs Charlotte has shared on her blog this year-

all photographs courtesy of Charlotte Moss

CM: Along with the books, I am always collecting antique linens and every once in awhile I find someone's monogram on them! Other times, I have them monogrammed- hand towels, sets of napkins, a teacloth napkins.

photograph courtesy of Charlotte Moss

with all the things Charlotte is designing- there are some things from her collections for my Wish List. Her most recent collection for Halcyon Days is called Wanderlust. I love these bracelets along with all the other small treasures found in her Halcyon Days collections.

I asked Charlotte to tell me about her inspiration for Wanderlust:

CM: We create things that either move us or are stirring within...Whether it is a day trip to see something new, or a trip long long in the planning stage, the thought of travel always brings a level of excitement, and expectation. I have charm bracelets with charms from cities around the world...among other things. These enamel pieces from the Wanderlust Collection were a modern, colorful and more graphic attempt at interpreting a 'note' from these cities.

I would be thrilled to open any one of the pieces from the Wanderlust Collection or her Muse Collection. Here are some of my own picks from the collections.

from Wanderlust- these bracelets are so pretty. I would wear these two together. The first is her ANKARA bangle and is 3/4" wide, while the second one is called Istanbul & is 1 1/2" wide.

& added to the Muse Collection are these bedside clocks- they are just under 2 inches.

& just to hold you over when you can't wait a moment longer for her new book Charlotte Moss Decorates ( below at l.) or you've plumbed the archives of her blog, caught up on her WSJ contributions-

get my favorite of all Charlotte's books- Winter House, It is a perfect companion for the colder months and in the spring her Decorates book will be waiting.

thanks so much Charlotte for taking time to help celebrate the holidays at Little Augury.

see more Charlotte on her website here

& see more of the Halcyon Muse Collection here

.

I guess I still have a bit of a thing for monogramming- I remember staying at my GranMa's and always wanting to sleep on the monogram sheets. She had a special way of making the bed with these sheets...that I did not like- making the bed with Gran- but I digress.

Again- monogramming was the rage in college (is it always so?) but at that time (early 80's) I was trying desperately to conform and reform the little bit of bohemian streak I had a the time...like putting a cat in a bag and occasionally opening it up to let a little air in-but I digress.

I don't often embrace the MONOGRAM but these are terrific. I think the designs are clean a little retro and modern too. They remind me of certain designers-

DIANA VREELAND can't you see DV