Miniature Dining Room at CMOA

Carnegie Museum of Art Miniature Gallery

“This dining room is one of three reproductions that Sarah Mellon Scaife commissioned around 1950. It was made by a New York gallery and interior decorator, French & Company, as a tiny copy of the actual dining room at Penguin Court, the Scaife residence in Ligonier, PA

The mansion at penguin Court has been demolished and the 900+ acre property is a conservancy

Dovecote in Aspinwall on Brilliant Avenue

Dovecote, a vintage boutique in Aspinwall Pennsylvania, located on Brilliant Avenue.  What a great address.  Brilliant!

My friend Vincie and I were shoe shopping at Soothe the Sole  on Brilliant Avenue and Holly (at the shoe store)  suggested we check out Dovecote right across the street.

Here’s what we discovered –

Mr. Rogers

The boutique is definitely eclectic and affordably priced. Scroll down for more details.  There are vintage items, consignment items, handcrafts, antiques, jewelry, home decor and holiday fun. Sports team theme including black and gold potholders and darling onesies with hand sewn embellishment, adorable ruffles.

The felted Mr. Rogers created by Artist Christine caught my eye, and the Pennsylvania ceramic platter would be cool to serve from at a dinner party.

from their website

from Dovecote Aspinwall  click for virtual store tour
“If your style is eclectic with a vintage vibe, this is the place for you! We offer a wide variety of vintage & antique home decor items, as well as new & vintage clothing & accessories. From tables and lamps, paintings, and dishes; to jewelry, shoes, candles imported from Spain, gifts, vintage-inspired greeting cards, and more, there is something for everyone in our cozy store. We carry Lindsay Phillips’ line of shoes & sandals (SwitchFlops), as well as Naked Bee’s organic skin care creams & lotions. Need to make space in your closet or sell your unused home accessories? We offer resale and consignment options. Visit our vintage boutique, and then follow us on Facebook for frequent updates!”
A place to take things when you need to downsize! Good to know.

Penthouse and Condo Views from Empire on Liberty Pittsburgh Magazine’s Ultimate House

Here’s the Post-Gazette article by Patricia Sheridan that my friend sent the other morning. Last week V and I toured the Pittsburgh Magazine’s Ultimate House penthouse and two of the condos in the fully restored and renovated old furniture showroom and warehouse Empire on Liberty.

All proceeds were given to Children’s Hospital Free Care Fund.

Just today, I realized I bought a carpet in 1989 at the former Roth Carpet Showroom which is now the available first floor retail space.

http://www.post-gazette.com/life/Buying-Here/2018/04/27/Buying-Here-Bloomfield-Empire-on-Liberty-condos-penthouse-office-retail/stories/201804290015

An article from Pittsburgh Magazine about the Ultimate House renovation

http://www.pittsburghmagazine.com/Best-of-the-Burgh-Blogs/Nest/November-2017/First-Look-Ultimate-House-Returns-to-the-City-with-Empire-on-Liberty/

A Thoughtful and Creative Retirement Gift

Thanks,  Sylvia. These are so creative. Perfect for the photographer’s  home. A nice focus as you enter the living room.  Thank you for the unexpected present!

  I will put them at either end of the couch but they look great front and center for the pic!  Terrific update for the room, too. Now you have to come over for tea. 
Xxoo

Divertido – If you Need Russian, Chinese, Hebrew, French or Greek Building Blocks

Divertido means fun in Spanish.

Saturday afternoon I drove down to the Lawrenceville neighborhood to photograph this fun shop on Butler Street.  I’d met the owner, Mary Ellen, when she attended the Christopher Jones house concert at my home last October so this had been on my “to do” list for a time.  I knew visiting the store, photographing it and blogging it, would be a good project.  Six months can fly by before you know it, though.    I needed a college graduation card, too, so what better time to go shopping and blogging?   The greeting cards are definitely out of the ordinary and this was a special one for my friend’s daughter.

Hebrew and Greek Wooden Building Blocks

I loved the Uncle Goose wooden building blocks with the different languages- French, Russian, Chinese, Hebrew and Greek were some of the languages represented.

Everything about the store is fun!  The front windows with the swim noodles and inflatable swim rings as well as the trophies in aqua displaying the jewelry in a case are designed by Sean L. Miller.

The turquoise trophies  took on a life of their own, like an installation art piece.

I took the window designer’s business card from the counter  which has the words imprinted –Think Outside the Box.  He definitely does and gets you thinking that way, too. The eye catching colors and design were so inviting.

Front Window by Sean L. MillerTurquoise Trophy Case

Mary Ellen wasn’t sure she wanted her photograph taken but she graciously consented.  Here she is in front of the counter with a cool, antique door on the front.

Thanks Mary Ellen.  Another shot for my People at Work series.

Mary Ellen Gubanic

You might have visited the store when it was down the street but Mary Ellen has been in business for nine years.  And if you live out of town, no worries, she has online shopping at her website and you can LIKE her on the DIVERTIDO page on Facebook, too.

Divertido

3609 Butler Street