Author: Constance Hammond

Rejuvenate Your Space

As warmer temperatures arrive and spring cleaning occupies my mind, I am reminded of a worthwhile online course that I took eight years ago about cleaning up your environment and setting up systems for your business. Appropriately, the first thing she had us do was make a HUGE list of all those hundreds of little annoyances which are actually energy drains and time-sucks.

It’s amazing how much that one intensive exercise applies to happiness as it relates to your home.

That “Annoyances Project” was such an eye opener for me that I thought it was worth sharing a quick overview since spring has sprung. It’s more than just a to-do list; it’s truly an energy saver. And who doesn’t need that in this day and age? I pulled out my old list from years ago and there were hundreds of items on it that have actually been checked off (well, at least, 95%). I encourage everyone to do this exercise sooner rather than later because you’ll be shocked to discover how much those little annoyances are actually weighing you down.

So What Do You Do Exactly?

You start by making 2 columns on a sheet of paper. The left column is the itemized list of little annoyances and the column on the right is for “Next Steps.” Then sit in one room at a time with pen and pad in hand and look around the entire room. Sip on some coffee, take your time and just closely observe. Take note of every single little thing you see that bothers you (it’s important that you get into the details here) and then write it down in that left hand column.

Don’t do anything but sit there and just make your list.

That smudge on the light switch plate? Write it down. Dusty baseboards? Write it down. Broken glass on that tabletop? Write it down. Dog chewed on the corner of the couch? Write it down. Crooked curtain rod? Write it down. Light bulb needs to be replaced? Write it down. Dull and dated mat in that picture frame? … Chair needs to be recovered? … Door doesn’t shut right? … Stain on the carpet? … Sterling Silver is tarnished? … Lampshades are dated? … Air vents need cleaning? … Houseplant is dying?

Write it all down.

You get the drift. Look up, down and all around. Every single thing that needs to be done that your eyes can see in that one room gets written down. Then you move to the next room. You hit every single room (and closet) in your house. Remember, all you are doing at this stage is making that list. You’re not doing any of the tasks and you’re not making any judgments; you’re just writing it all down. Then move to your car. Then the garage. The porch. The shack out back. You could keep going with unseen annoyances outside your “home” category too (like finances, relationships, spirituality, social life, work), but for this “Rejuvenate your Decor” purpose, let’s stick with home.

Once that left-hand column is done, take a quick glimpse and see what you can immediately check off (tasks you can complete in under 15 minutes). It feels so good to check them off one at a time, so get some easy ones done like cleaning that smudge off that light switch. For most of your list, you’ll need to write next steps in the corresponding right column.

Examples of Next Steps: Make that call to get that estimate. Buy the paint. Get the tool you need for the job. Take the measurement. Pull out the leftover fabric. Hire the carpet cleaning service. Buy new light bulbs. Sew the torn item. Donate to Charity.

Then, start the ball rolling. Group the ones that are similar (e.g. ones that need cleaning) and start tackling that group on your list.

When you have an hour to spare, make some calls for estimates on some of those annoyances. Another day, find those paint swatches to match at the paint store. Organize the junk drawer. Order the new glass from the glass company. Order silver polish from Amazon. Add houseplant food to your Lowe’s list. It’s important to keep the list nearby and within view so you can work on it when you have time.

The best part is how you feel as you check stuff off the list. It probably took me two full years to get through my first list of annoyances, but I got most of it done.

Is It Time to Rejuvenate?

The thing that has become crystal clear since I relaunched Tookey Buxton at the start of the year is how tired my interior decor has become. Not too bad, not too ugly…just tired. It dawned on me that I have had the same treasured items on display for decades. Were they nice items? Some, yes. Some, not so much. But many were items that have kept moving forward with me from home to home through my life without much consideration. For example, I have a pair of black and white landscape photographic prints purchased at Pier 1 about 25 years ago that I’ve always just hung in my bathroom. The  glass corner on one of the picture frames is cracked and the matting has gone from off white to antique yellow (if you know what I mean). They’re pretty pictures that are just plain tired. Ugh….every time I see them, they zap my energy instead of lift me up. They were just added to my 2023 Annoyances List with the next step as “Goodwill Box.”

There’s also that Restoration Hardware lamp that I paid a few hundred dollars for about 20 years ago. I loved it when I bought it. It was so en vogue I thought. Works just fine too. But the big, heavy dark brown metal jar lamp no longer inspires me. Should I get rid of it? Move it to a new location? Not sure. It may look great in a future workshop or hallway, but for now, I am adding it to the list.

Another thing I’ve noticed is how some gifts and/or inherited items have occupied my space for far too long without thought, yet some no longer serve my ever-evolving design aesthetic or limited, downsized space. And that’s okay to admit. Who says you have to display or even keep every single item inherited or received just because you don’t want to be inconsiderate? Actually, its good to remember that someone is out there just waiting to appreciate that item that no longer serves you.

Writing all these annoyances down makes you immediately realize how much they drain your energy. Every time you spy one of them broken, dirty, ripped or worn, you may berate your lazy self or roll your eyes or perhaps just forget what it’s like to live in a cleaned-up space altogether. The truth is, once you tackle one room, the other rooms get easier and so on.

My mantra at Tookey Buxton is to offer “carefully curated products for discerning individuals who celebrate unique design and enjoy timeless decor — pieces that exude a little bit of fun and flair while maintaining a sense of quality and sophistication.” As you tackle your annoyances list and freshen your space, my hope is that there soon will be a Tookey Buxton treasure somewhere in your home (or garden) that makes you smile every time you see it…and let’s you exhale in peace.

If you need more inspiration to rejuvenate your space, check out this “Accessories” Instagram Reel  on how to revitalize your space by Interior Designer Cynthia Collins.

Spring Fever

After a long, cold winter, I am more than ready for spring to be sprung. It’s always exciting to see the first daffodils starting to pop up in the yard, and bringing a few of these buttercups inside to cheer up an interior space is one ritual I have each year to kick off the change of seasons!

The featured photo above is of my exercise “nook” which highlights ways you can transform a dull and drab corner into an uplifting and happy space just by adding a few fresh flowers, a gallery wall of fun art, a pretty paperweight or two and other bright and cheery colors like the yellows and oranges depicted above. If you’re ready to dust off a dull space and do some spring cleaning by updating your decor, check out the link below for some “Spring Fever” inspiration.

Shop Our ‘Spring Fever’ Products Here

 

Tookey Revival: Jewelry — and So Much More

Tookey Relaunch website home page

As you may have noticed, Tookey Buxton experienced a revival of its own earlier this year when I relaunched the business with an expanded offering. In addition to Jewelry, I added more categories to the mix for the home, and I refocused my efforts on curating vintage items as well. You may be wondering why I did this, where I went and where Tookey Buxton is headed, so hopefully this post helps explain some of that.

In 2020, I gutted my entire home except for one bedroom and bath which required me to pack up all my jewelry supplies and put this endeavor on hold “for a few months” while the remodel took place. As to be expected, months turned into more than a year and as exhaustion set in, I found myself thinking about Tookey Buxton and what all needed to change for it to be worthwhile, especially for my customers. For starters, I had built the website on a shared hosting account (tech speak) which I knew would require me to transfer it to it’s own server. As I pondered that time-consuming endeavor, I also thought about how I wanted the company to transition to curation over creation. I still wanted to create and make jewelry when when inspired to do so, but my passion had evolved over time towards vintage decor for the home and garden as well.

Shortly after the remodel, my sister and I leased an antique booth at an antique mall in Corinth, MS and started dipping our toe in the vintage resale market. In addition to being a lot of fun hunting for items and sharing our “finds,” it was a great learning experience, but after a year and a half of reselling, we determined that the higher end items we were curating for resale were not the best match for the customers who frequently shopped there. Thus, we chose not to renew our lease there, put our items in storage and set our sights on trying a new location sometime in the future. This was our fun “side hustle,” and we both still love the hunt for treasures today.

Then Covid hit.

Two more years passed during Covid, and I poured myself into my garden (organic veggies!) while I waited for the crazy world to get back to normal in order to relaunch the business. This time of reflection allowed me to refocus my efforts in order to sell vintage items that fit into these five categories: JEWELRY, HOME, GARDEN, TABLETOP and ART. I’m excited to combine my lifelong career in technology, sales and marketing with my more recent experience of having a resale antique booth — and then adding the research and knowledge gained from my Certificate of Fine and Decorative Arts Appraisal summer intensive course in NYC to kick off this renewed endeavor.

As my inventory continues to grow and Tookey Buxton evolves into its own personality based on the products sourced, you can rest assured that the items found on TookeyBuxton.com will always be carefully curated for discerning individuals who celebrate unique design and enjoy timeless decor. I continue to hunt for those one of a kind pieces that exude a little bit of fun and flair while maintaining a sense of quality and sophistication (reminding me of GrandmaTookey’s great sense of style, of course). You can expect to be pleasantly surprised sometimes by the items offered (like this contemporary painting of Converse Sneakers which sold almost immediately), but all will be chosen because they’ve made me smile and/or stopped me dead in my tracks to do a double take.

I’m excited to share my “finds” and hope they tickle your fancy as much as they do mine! Thanks for following along on this revival.

My Art History: A Love Affair

My personal love affair with art began at Southern Methodist University during my freshman year of college. I took the prerequisite Art History foundation course and decided early on that I really enjoyed researching and learning about all the different art periods over the ages. The spark was ignited, and it continued throughout college. When I moved to Chicago in my 20s, I decided to dip my toe in an actual art course for actual artists (what…me, an artist?!) at the American Academy of Art in the Loop. I remember thinking to myself when I registered, “well, here goes something.”

At the time, I was living in a high-rise apartment … on the 33rd floor … in a really cool Mies van der Rohe building … overlooking Lake Michigan … along the Gold Coast. Truly, it was one of those lucky dreams come true for this 20 something who was hellbent on creating a life well lived. I vividly recall heading to that class, walking straight down Michigan Avenue on Saturday mornings with my big black art portfolio in hand — thinking I was cat’s meow. I’m sure I looked extremely foolish. Then again, it was the 80s, I was young, and this was way before cancel culture could weigh in.

My first assignment was in the pencil medium. I had to draw a grid with 100 equally sized squares, and those squares had to transition from black to white in equal shade increments. I don’t know if I’m even describing the assignment accurately, but what I do recall is that I thought “easy peezy” to myself when the assignment was handed out.

In researching this experiment further, I found this info: “Working in black and white requires a subtler transition between light and dark areas which improves your ability to play with tone and develop subtlety and control.” Apparently with practice, your eye is supposed to pick out the darkest and lightest areas more quickly, helping you know which boxes need adjustment.

Easier said than done.

I sat in my apartment that entire weekend, with clouds passing by my floor-to-ceiling windows, penciling in those little boxes, then resting my eyes by staring at the horizon and clouds over Lake Michigan. Back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. It was so tedious, and needless to say, it would be my last course at the American Academy of Art.

Fast forward to Memphis a few years later. I was working at my ad agency, and one of my clients had asked me to go to Las Vegas to promote his product at the CES trade show. The night before I was scheduled to depart, I was walking in downtown Memphis near Beale Street (this was back when the city was much safer) when I passed by an empty warehouse. A painting of a Memphis cityscape hung in the window stopped me dead in my tracks. I loved it! I wrote down the artist’s name and phone number in the back of my checkbook, and decided I’d call her for more details after my trip.

Janet Smith “Uptown”

As I boarded the plane the next day, I introduced myself to the passenger sitting next to me as I settled in. My client had purchased a ticket for her too, as he wanted her art displayed in the trade show booth in Las Vegas. Imagine my surprise when I learned her name was Janet Smith and realized she was the artist of the painting on display in downtown Memphis! Serendipity. I showed her where I’d written her name and number in my checkbook, told her I love that painting “Uptown” and agreed to start making payments immediately after she agreed to sell it to me.

I purchased my first serious piece of artwork before I purchased a place to display it. I think that’s confirmation that I’d been bitten by the art bug.

When I was married, we purchased a home in Minnetonka, MN and were delighted when some great new neighbors named The Galey’s moved in next door. Of course, Reid Galey was a talented artist from New Mexico and a local art teacher who had been recognized as an emerging artist to watch in Southwest Art magazine. I was eager to dip my toe back in the artist realm and found I loved it even more this time around. Reid Galey taught me about plein-air painting and impressionism and all things wonderful about the creative art of painting. He’d come over and help me with my art in progress, urging me to use broad brush strokes while painting the impression that appeared before my squinty eyes. Oh, how I loved his masterful approach to painting and his never-ending encouragement equally as much as I loved having Reid and Mary Beth as neighbors.

He told me I was a natural talent, and of course I chose to believe him!

Connie Hammond “Ajax Mountain”

During this time of my renewed love affair with painting, I found myself oddly enough painting my soon-to-be-ex-husband out of a painting of a photo in which he was front-and-center — a photo that beautifully showcased the majestic Ajax Mountain backdrop on a beautiful fall day in Aspen.

Surely this omission was a sign of my marital demise.

One day during this trying time, I walked over to Reid’s studio and immediately noticed a sketch he’d drawn on a canvas which would soon turn into one of his oil paintings called “Around the Last Turn.” As soon as I saw it, I felt as though this painting spoke to me and my pending divorce. I immediately identified with the lead horse making that last turn headed towards that finish line. I knew that this painting would be my second serious painting in my beginner’s art collection. It also wouldn’t be the last painting I’d buy from Reid Galey.

I actually have several of Reid’s paintings hung around my home now, and I love them all as much today as I did when I purchased them. Actually more. Reid passed away when he turned 40, and I always remember his joy and kindness when I see his paintings. They’re like a big hug from him in Heaven. Here is a little painting of Reid’s of the Teton mountains which sits above my desk … another one of my favorites.

Reid Galey “Tetons”

I’ve noticed that art — in one form or another — usually shows up during important transitions in my life. After my divorce, I decided to immerse myself into the world of art once again. I took the summer off between jobs and enrolled in an intensive Fine and Decorative Arts Appraisal course at NYU which was filled with days spent at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It was an amazing art-filled and fun-filled “Summer of Yes” (read all about it here).

After working in finance and technology for a decade, I moved back to Aspen for several years to clear my head and enjoy living a little bit more. I think I was dreaming of a more peaceful existence after a decade of working so hard. On my 45th birthday, I decided to take a stroll in the heart of Aspen and found another piece of art that made my soul sing which is exactly what art is supposed to do. My birthday present to myself was another piece of artwork that seemed to find me at just the right time; it was time for new dreams.

Shortly thereafter, my life would take another unexpected twist and turn when my father passed away. A move back down south to a small town in Mississippi would become a dream come true that I didn’t know even existed deep inside of me. After the first few years of shock and awe (never in a million years did this city girl think she would end up in a one stop light town, literally), I decided to “claim and name” my new life in the woods; thus, the “Peace Palace” was born. My end goal before I retire one day is to have an art studio, a workshop and an amazingly beautiful garden where I can create and create and then create some more.

After a decade of adjustment and surrender into this new slower paced life, I think I am ready to pick up the pace again.

Now at 58, I’m embarking on a renewed journey with Tookey Buxton, showcasing favorite vintage items for the home as well as jewelry which launched the Tookey Buxton brand several years ago (named after GrandmaTookey). I’m most excited about searching out new, unknown artists or beautiful vintage artwork — that makes my soul sing — to add to the mix.

My love affair with art continues, and I’m feeling that happy inspired feeling again after the last few dreadful Covid years. During my Summer of Yes, I learned so many interesting things by studying the masterpieces, and I purchased so many reference books which I’m sure will serve me well in this new endeavor. If there’s one thing I love, it’s learning the backstories, researching the marks, discovering the artists or brands, learning about the design techniques or eras and more. I could spend countless hours investigating the history of pieces I’ve acquired which has proven to me that time really does fly when you’re having fun. When possible, I’ll share that research and/or backstories of the vintage products offered on this site, whether that info is on the actual product page or one of these dedicated pages that will continue to expand:

I’ll be starting out small and just going with the flow, excited to see where this renewed journey leads. After all these years of marketing and sales and antiquing and art and travel and writing and painting and gardening and technology, I’m just combining it all into this one beautiful endeavor. I feel as though the pieces have finally fallen into place, and I’m putting all my passions to work in a way that I hope leads to continued fulfillment and creativity and overall success.

Mostly, I am excited to offer these carefully curated products to friends (old and new) who celebrate unique design and enjoy timeless decor — pieces that exude a little bit of fun and flair while maintaining a sense of quality and sophistication. Just like GrandmaTookey. Who knows where it leads, but admittedly, I’m really excited.

Thanks for following along on this journey of mine.

Paperweights

I was in Greece years ago when I started my love affair with paperweights. I was perusing a jewelry store for something special to take back home with me when a beautiful paperweight caught my eye. It was a mesmerizing clear glass globe with an internal white coil design that just really seemed so different from anything I’d seen before — plus it was white and clean and crisp and peaceful. I just loved it. I purchased it and have displayed it on a tabletop or bookshelf ever since.

I have never been one to collect things. Not because I didn’t want to necessarily (I actually did because I like the general idea of having a favorite grouping of similar treasures), but really just because I hadn’t ever found the “thing” I liked so much to actually collect lots of them. Whether collecting is for sheer pleasure, to learn more about the objects, altruism, nostalgia or even to seek status or prestige, it can be fun to appreciate and build a collection of things you love.

This year, I got the itch to collect something, and scratched that itch with paperweights. I still love and cherish my first paperweight, but I have noticed that I’m drawn to colorful flowers now probably because of my love for gardening. I’m also craving more color now, probably because the last few years have been filled with too much Covid dread.

green floral paperweight

I’m floored by how pretty these paperweights look positioned atop a few books on a coffee table — especially next to a flickering candle. They tend to capture the light beautifully, and I just love the look of it.

The History of Paperweights

The earliest paperweights appeared in Europe in the mid-1840s. Venetian glassmaker Pietro Bigaglia created and exhibited the first signed and dated weights at the Vienna Industrial Exposition in 1845. He, like other paperweight makers of the time, revived many ancient glassworking techniques to create his weights. In June of 1990, Sotheby’s auctioned the remarkable Clichy “Basket of Flowers” for $258,000, the highest price ever realized for a paperweight.

sotheby's highest selling paperweight

“Glass paperweights have been described as one of the world’s best-kept secrets. The secret is not because of a conspiracy, but because of a simple lack of exposure. This is a real shame, because once people see them, understand how they are made, and their history, they are genuinely fascinated with them.” Read more about paperweights here: https://www.glasspaperweightfoundation.com/all_about_paperweights.

Now that I’ve been bitten by the paperweight bug, I’ll be searching out beautiful and unique paperweights to offer on this site — in addition to the ones I keep for my own personal collection —  because I think every home should have at lease one pretty paperweight on display (if not more).

Shop our selection of Paperweights

 

Tookey & The Griswolds

Smokey Mountains

14 days stuck in a car traveling cross country with a family of five makes for some interesting memories. If that doesn’t drive you bonkers, add a GrandmaTookey to the mix and you’ll be pushing the limit. Top it off with a Winnebago and trust me, you’ve got a recipe for disaster.

Or, what some might call a Griswold vacation.

One hot summer day in the early 70’s, my dad got his hands on Mr. Smith’s Winnebago. Mr. Smith didn’t go to Washington, but we sure did. Dad was overjoyed and jumped at the chance to get behind that wheel. Mom (as usual) went with the flow and was up for anything, and we (the kids) were cautiously optimistic about the hotel on wheels.

Game On

Dad decided that not only were we going to explore American history á la ‘bago, he also decided it would be a great bonding opportunity if GrandmaTookey partook. The invitation was sent and graciously accepted. GrandmaTookey would be joining us on our cross country trek to the nation’s capital … with conditions. She opted to participate in dad’s master plan because apparently she loved us a lot. The Winnebago? Not so much. So she made it clear she’d be going on her terms.

I guess you can say GrandmaTookey taught us the value of boundaries with her travel mandate.

This meant that dad had to unload ‘The Green Monster‘ — a very heavy, very large leather suitcase without wheels — each and every night so she could check into her hotel du jour while the rest of us slept in the Bago. That was so dad — naming her suitcase. And that was so GrandmaTookey — checking in to a suite. Being the trendsetter that she was, I tend to think GrandmaTookey was the original ‘glamper‘ (way before glamping was considered cool).

As evidenced by the family picture, we were dressed to the four’s while GrandmaTookey was dressed to the nines. Glamping was really the only option for someone sporting heels and pearls; whereas, camping suited this 8 year old culotte cutie just fine.

And We’re Off

So we traded in the wood-paneled station wagon for ‘The Bago,’ setting off from Memphis. Our route would lead us through the Great Smokey Mountains, over to the east coast then up to Washington D.C. Our plan was to hit some historical sights along the way, appreciating the memorials and viewing American History in real life.

Our first stop was Gatlinburg, Tennessee, known as the gateway to the roughly 520,000-acre Great Smoky Mountains National Park.  It was at this point in my life that I fell in love with the mountains. Gatlinburg is a beautiful little mountain town that really left an indelible impression. So much so that I actually eloped there in my late 20s (but that’s another story for another day).

We lost my little brother during this first pit stop.

Times were different then, so losing him for 5 hours in a national park didn’t bring on full meltdown mode like it would today. But it was enough cause for panic. We found him nonchalantly hanging out at some Volleyball game, unscathed and completely unaware of the search party that had gathered to find him. It was kind of like when my parents left me at a random gas station on a random highway stop during a random bathroom break a few years earlier. They didn’t realize the omission until several miles down the road. When they returned, I was nonchalantly sitting on the curb, waiting for their arrival.

Either no one wanted to kidnap us, or we were just damn lucky. Times sure have changed.

On the Road Again

Oh the games we played while traveling down the highway. The 70s were all about creating your own fun. Board games like Monopoly proved to be the much needed respite from what seemed like a never ending, humdrum Bago game of Love Bug.  Do you remember that oldie but goodie? The game where the first one to spot a Volkswagon beetle got to count it in their tally.

So many beetles; so many colors. My favorite one was yellow, and I must have counted thousands on that trip. In between Monopoly with siblings and Go Fish with GrandmaTookey, the Alphabet game kept us preoccupied, screaming out letters of the alphabet discovered on each passing road sign — first one to Z wins!

I’m sure dad just loved the peace and quiet (not) that arose from that activity, and I’m confident that those playful ‘shouting matches’ added to what some might describe as the frazzling of dad’s newly-fragile nerves.

From Gatlinburg, we headed east to Virginia Beach for a dip in the ocean then onward to Thomas Jefferson’s estate in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Did you know that Monticello is on one side of the nickel? I’d actually forgotten that. I’m hoping it doesn’t get vanished due to bitcoin (or political correctness). It’s an historic and beautiful home nonetheless.

Montecito

Once our Monticello tour was over, we trekked on up to DC for the grand finale.

Are We There Yet?

Driving that Bago beast finally got on dad’s last nerve. In true Griswold fashion, he let it be known that we would be taking the DC express tour.

Instead of meandering our way through America’s monuments and learning American history first hand, we were granted one quick pic in front of each landmark (no matter how far away we were). We’d round a curb, park illegally, hop out of the Bago, snap a pic and hop back aboard in 5 minutes flat. At least we got to say we’d been there, done that.

Dad hated parking what had come to be known as ‘that damn RV’.

Funny, I don’t remember the leg back to Memphis. I guess, like most things, interest gets lost when you reach your destination. Or, more likely, we were told to sit down and be quiet or else endure the wrath of an angry mobile-home driver.

The Last Bago Story

Before dad died just a few years ago, we sat quietly talking for hours on end about family and life. I cherish this conversation like none other.

I had just returned from a family reunion in Nashville with dad’s side of the family. It had been so long since I’d seen my dad’s family, and I was excited to go not only for myself, but also to be dad’s eyes, ears and legs.

Dad really wanted to go (I believe more so than he let on), but being paralyzed, he felt it would be too difficult making his way around the old family farm. In all honestly, he didn’t want to be a burden.

I told dad that his family really missed him and happily volunteered to transport him around the next time. I remember how hopeful — almost excited — he seemed about the possibility of attending the next reunion after all. Over time, the conversation turned to GrandmaTookey, and dad got tears in his eyes — a rare occurrence which definitely got my attention.

He started reminiscing about the Winnebago trip with her, and he let me know how meaningful this trip actually was to GrandmaTookey. Apparently, she’d bragged to many people over the years about that Griswold trip.  I could sense dad’s pride that he made this trip happen. His tender heart really shown through that night, and so I consider myself doubly blessed by the Bago trip.

I guess you never really know the positive impact you make in someone’s life.

Classic Pearl BraceletClassic Pearls

GrandmaTookey’s pearls serve as the inspiration behind the Classic Collection, with the Classic Pearl Bracelet being one of the cornerstone pieces in the Tookey Buxton jewelry line.

This beautiful freshwater pearl bracelet is perfect for the sophisticated woman who demands the best, exudes confidence and has a strong fashion sense.

In other words … it’s a Tookey!

Shop the Classic Collection

 

Santa Fe Excursion

Santa Fe Sunset

This weekend marks the end of the 96th annual Santa Fe Indian Market, the largest and most prestigious juried Native arts show in the world. The Indian Market, which started almost a century ago, attracts 100,000+ visitors from all over the world, to buy art directly from roughly 900 artists from 200+ federally recognized tribes from the U.S. and Canada.

I wish I was there this year.  Instead, I’m taking a trip down memory lane…

The horses neighing outside my bedroom window were my wake up call.

Santa Fe New Year’s (2004)

The cowboys promised they’d take me for a ride up in ‘them thar hills’ a day earlier, but I really didn’t take them seriously. Why I don’t know, but I should have. Sure ‘nuf, they showed up — on time, saddled up and rearing to go.  I do declare I even heard them holler giddy up.

I, on the other hand, needed a cup of coffee first.

Staying in Lamy, NM at a friend’s house right across from a train station which suspiciously seemed stuck in time, I’d always dreamed of how magical a trip to Santa Fe might be.  I’m happy to say that those dreams were realized.

Most certainly, Santa Fe is a spiritual place.

Some of my Memphis and Aspen friends gathered for a long weekend of fun, shopping and total relaxation to ring in the New Year. Trust me when I say the town and the company did not disappoint.

In addition to the early morning horseback ride, we indulged our bodies at Ten Thousand Waves Spa, indulged our senses at Georgia O’Keeffe’s Museum and indulged our taste buds with many margaritas and guacamole galore at shmancy-fancy restaurants. We shopped at some groovy resale shops as well as some upscale jewelry boutiques and obviously …

I indulged in some turquoise.

We also were captivated by the magnificent  architecture which did not disappoint. Santa Fe has a distinctive architectural style all its own. No other city in the country has so many low-slung, earth-colored, Spanish Pueblo buildings made of adobe bricks (consisting of sun-dried earth and straw). The Spanish natives often built their houses initially with only one or two rooms, then added on later to accommodate their expanding families. And their simple home design incorporated just a few doors or windows in order to retain heat during the winter and maintain cool temperatures during the summer.  I love that they cherished and preserved their sense of community via their ‘pueblo’ (the spanish term for ‘village’) design. (Read more about the Santa Fe Architecture)

I truly believe that there is an artist in every single person, whether it be cooking or writing or horseback riding or something that puts you into that zone where nothing else matters. When you’re in that zone it all comes together. Life makes sense.” — Amber Morningstar Byars, Choctaw Lapidary Artist

For New Year’s Eve, we celebrated with dinner and drinks at our host’s friend’s house. It was a large group of interesting creative types with captivating conversation and booming laughter lingering none too long. Afterwards, we hiked up the back hills to experience a New Year’s Eve fireworks show over Santa Fe. Admittedly, we also did a little tribunal dance to call in all those good, happy spirits to bless us that year. I can’t recall if someone brought a drum, but we happily found a beat. Humdrum it was not.

Truly memorable.

Another thing I definitely won’t forget is the incredible curry chicken dish, consumed at ‘home’ — in front of the fire — on one of our Santa Fe nights. Stomachs growled, wine flowed and laughter rang out that night. I’ve kept and cooked that complex South African Indian Curry Chicken (secret family) recipe several times since then, and each time, it leads me right back to Santa Fe at the Zunkel home.

The last morning before our too soon departure, we stopped by Santa Fe’s proclaimed meeting place, The Pantry, for a delicious, New Mexican breakfast of Huevos Rancheros. It was the perfect finale to a much needed getaway.

We went to Santa Fe to fill our spirits and our tummies. Needless to say, we left satiated.

My Turquoise Bear

In Native American beliefs, the bear symbolizes physical strength and leadership. The bear is considered to be one of the most powerful and sacred of all animals, and because the bear hibernates, it is considered to bring the gift of renewal.

Every time I wear my impressive, carved turquoise bear pendant which I purchased during this Santa Fe excursion, I not only get tons of compliments, I think I feel stronger, more vibrant and admittedly, kind of cool too.

After all, isn’t that what the power of turquoise is supposed to do?

Legend has it that the Native American Indians danced and rejoiced when the rains came. Their tears of joy mixed with the rain and seeped into Mother Earth to become ‘SkyStone’ Turquoise.

Turquoise, the “fallen sky stone” hidden in Mother Earth, has been valued by cultures for its beauty and reputed spiritual and life-giving qualities for over 7000 years. It is a true gem of the centuries. A long time ago someone noticed a clear blue line running through gray rock, and saw the imagery of sky and water in stone, and from that time on, turquoise has been cherished above all else in creation – turquoise, stone of sky, stone of water, stone of blessings, good fortune, protection, good health and long life.

Native Americans believe that the earth is alive and that all things, no matter how small or apparently inanimate, are precious. To the Native Americans, turquoise is life. There are stones medicine men keep in their sacred bundles because they possess powers of healing. Stones and crystals have unique attributes that support and heal us. Turquoise, especially, is known for its positive healing energy, an aid in mental functions, communications and expression and as a protector. If you’re wearing a turquoise ring and you look down and see a crack in your stone, the Native Americans would say “the stone took it”, meaning the stone took the blow that you would have received.

Sometimes, when I see a cowboy on a horse…when I have a fresh squeezed margarita….when I wear turquoise….even when I say a prayer of gratitude, I think of this magical trip to Santa Fe, exhale and reminisce. I’m excited for a return visit which — guaranteed — will be sooner rather than later.

Shop the Santa Fe Collection

Mourning & Muscle Shoals

I’ve lived a charmed life.

I’m glad I still claim that belief despite the past five years which have consisted of lots of mourning and loss and just massive change. I don’t want to wallow anymore, so I’m not rehashing it here. I lived it. I survived it. And now I’m ready to focus on the future.

You let time pass. That’s the cure. You survive the days. You float like a rabid ghost through the weeks. You cry and wallow and lament and scratch your way back up through the months. And then one day, you find yourself alone on a bench in the sun, and you close your eyes… and lean your head back… and you realize, you’re ok. — Cheryl Strayed, Brave Enough

The Shift in the Shoals

I found myself in all places at the Muscle Shoals Tourism Center one day, trying to figure out what on earth this bizarre — yet oddly fabulous — place I’ve found myself in offers.

If anyone had ever told me that I’d end up living where I do, I would have called them a liar. I realized that I had been defining my return to the south as a boring and temporary care-giving stop on a much more exciting path back to the city. They say that God laughs when humans make plans though. Funny how God planted this self-proclaimed city slicker in a one-stop-light town, literally.

The joke was clearly on me. To my pleasant surprise, my eyes opened, my perspective changed and my excitement (kind of) return when I learned of the magic Muscle Shoals offers during that one quick detour that day.

The Movie

If you haven’t seen the Muscle Shoals movie yet, you really should (see trailer below). Especially if you like music. It’s dubbed the small town with the big sound (the Muscle Shoals Sound, that is), a sound that originated mainly from a group of session musicians called ‘The Swampers’.

At different points in time on this planet, there are certain places where there is a feel of energy. — Jimmy Cliff

These renowned musicians obviously felt that energy when recording here: Rolling Stones. Aretha Franklin. Bono. Percy Sledge. Lynyrd Skynyrd. Alicia Keys. Steve Winwood. Wilson Pickett. Gregg Allman. Boz Skaggs. Paul Simon. Bob Dylan. Staple Singers. Rod Stewart. Joe Cocker. Leon Russell. Glenn Frey. Willie Nelson. Carlos Santana. John Prine. Joan Baez. Bob Seger. Linda Ronstadt. Bobby Womack. Cat Stevens. Jimmy Buffett. Cher.

Wow. Just wow.

So, it appears God has placed me in Rock ‘n Roll heaven. I think I like it.

Music, like art, has always moved my soul. The Peace Palace is about 45 minutes from Muscle Shoals, an hour and a half from the home of the blues (my hometown, Memphis), and about 2 hours from the country capital of Nashville (my birthplace). I like to imagine music’s in my blood. I have a gut feeling that ‘getting my life back’ includes filling my soul up with music. My comeback cocktail is going to hit the spot: a splash of rhythm, a bit of blues, a shot of country with some rock ‘n roll on top. All shook up and rearin’ to go. I’m going to down it.

I’ve always walked to the beat of my own drum, but maybe it’s time to start stirring to the beat of others.

More Than Music

The quad cities (Muscle Shoals, Florence, Sheffield and Tuscumbia) have more than music to offer.  Helen Keller grew up at Ivy Green, her birthplace in Tuscumbia. The father of the blues, W.C. Handy, has his birthplace, museum and library in Florence. Who knew: we’re even touched by royalty reality. Cynthia Bailey (the model from the reality TV series The Real Housewives of Atlanta) grew up in Tuscumbia. Now that’s some trivia.

Frank Lloyd Wright has his stamp here too.  Architecture critic Peter Blake wrote in 1960 that “during the 1930s, Wright built four structures of a beauty unexcelled in America before or since.” Three of those are Fallingwater, the Johnson Wax Administrative Building, and Taliesin West. The fourth was the Rosenbaum House.

Treasure Hunts

Last but not least, there’s the shopping. Not really. The shopping isn’t that great, to be honest. Maybe there are a few retail treasures to be found. One thing I have noticed about the area is that you can easily stumble upon a lot of great, hidden treasures.

On one recent excursion, I stumbled upon a row of antique stores which just might be one good resource for my Revival Collection. I’ve always loved antique shopping in order to dig through the mostly plastic jewelry for that unique piece worth reviving.

I discovered this ‘Muscle Shoals Stone Revival’ necklace in one of those shops and fell in love instantly. It reminded me of GrandmaTookey in all the wonderful ways. This bold, heavy necklace is even prettier in person. The pastel colors are beyond gorgeous and I imagine wearing it another time or two before I officially upload it to the Revival Collection (It’s uploaded now…you can view it here).

That’s about it for now. Go watch that movie.  It won’t disappoint. Seriously. I can’t recommend it enough.

Tour de France

As I watch the 104th Tour de France unfold on television, I’m reminded of my own tour de France actually following the 91st Tour de France in real-life.

My long lost love of biking started long before it was considered cool in America. When I graduated from college in 1986, my parents offered me the choice of a hostel-filled European tour with friends or an Italian Bottechia road bike. I chose the latter. I’d fallen hook, line and sinker for two-wheel transportation while at the University of Denver. My friend and I would ride around Wash Park, doing laps, logging miles, racing each other and having fun.

Ahhh, youth.

After I received my graduation present and moving back to Memphis, I would take daily rides from Germantown to Downtown, rarely seeing another biker. Today, you’ll find many cyclists out and about (assuming they survive the crazy traffic!).

When I turned 40, I decided to give myself the gift of travel.  I was invited to follow the Tour de France with friends, and obviously, I said yes.

Unbeknownst to me, they were seriously planning to follow the Tour de France on their bicycles.  I thought they were joking. When they suggested we bike while there, I was game — subconsciously envisioning myself peddling through the lavender fields of Aix en Provence, ringing my little bicycle bell with a loaf of freshly cooked French bread in my flower-ladened basket.

Imagine my surprise when I arrived at the airport, noticing that my friends actually were checking their road bikes in at the counter. Needless to say, I was delegated to the pace car.

We landed in Toulouse, and in spite of lost luggage, I was jubilant to start the adventure and visit France again.

I was especially excited to test my language skills (comme ci, comme ça), experience the French culture and shop for jewelry, of course.

My Blue Topaz Ring

I bought several baubles, but my favorite by far was this blue topaz / sterling ring which I wore (and still wear) all the time. It fits like a glove … has clean lines and a modern look … feels so substantial when worn … plus, I think it’s pretty.

Isn’t it amazing how, when you wear a beautiful piece of jewelry purchased on a fabulous trip, it takes you right back there? This ring does it for me, and j’aime ça!

While I shopped, they biked.

If you haven’t had the chance to view the Tour de France live, I strongly suggest you consider it. It is so much more impressive in person, as I imagine most international sporting events to be. I was absolutely shocked at the hordes of people who line up in small town after small town to root for the Peloton as they fly by. It was thrilling to see Lance Armstrong, especially on the days he wore the yellow jersey, and the U.S. Postal Team ride by and shout USA! USA! USA!  Armstrong won his 6th Tour de France that year (long before his scandals emerged).

Anything can happen. It takes so little to change the whole situation.

For me, the highlight of this tour was being one of the 1,000,000 people to witness the Alpe d’Huez time trial.

We traveled the 21 hairpin turns on that mountain — via pace car (obviously) — the day before the big time trial. As I recall, it took us several hours to get to the top by car; my friends biked it in an hour and a half. Lance Armstrong only took 37:36 minutes (second fastest / tested positive).  Maybe that should have been a clue of scandals to come.

Later research reveals that he indeed has ‘an over-sized heart which can beat over 200 times a minute, and thus pump an extraordinarily large volume of blood and oxygen to his legs.”

Regardless, it was a breathtaking event to witness.

Instead of following the Tour to Paris for the last 4 (of the 20) stages, we headed south to Aix en Provence and onward to: Èze, Cannes, Monte Carlo and Nice.  It was all you can imagine and more.

I’m starting to think that now is the time to consider attending another international sporting event.  My friend just ran with the bulls, but I’m thinking Wimbledon may be more my speed at this point in my life.

Who knows what the future holds…

Olé?

The Summer of Yes

The Summer of Yes at the Metropolitan Museum of Art

Every year during my birthday week, I take time to reflect like most wise adults do. This year’s indulgent trip down memory lane actually marks the 15th anniversary of what I have since dubbed the ‘Summer of Yes.’

The older you get, the easier it is to say no to anything that takes you out of your comfort zone, and I believe it takes a concerted effort to say no to the norm.

Gurus say that if you really want to change your life, take a 30 day YES challenge, doing at least one new and different thing a day. Go visit a museum. Eat at a new restaurant. Take a different route to work. Change your hair. Go salsa dancing. Take a singing lesson. Volunteer.

Thank God that advice stuck.

So many moons ago, when I found myself between jobs and newly divorced, I chose to bust the rut by immersing myself in art, jazz and all things ‘yes’ in the Big Apple. I enrolled in NYU’s School of Continuing and Professional Studies for the Appraisal of Fine and Decorative Arts.

I’ve always loved art and antiques, so what better place to analyze objects d’art than in Manhattan? As a student, I said yes to learning at The Met … and at an acclaimed antique dealer … and at a famous auction house … and at an exclusive art gallery … and in the alluring Diamond District, absorbing all I could in the summer intensive.  Not only did we study awe-inspiring masterpieces, we covered Baroque to Art Deco, Silver to Ceramics, Tiffany Lamps to Fine Jewelry and much more.

When not immersed in art, I said yes to all invitations:

  • Would you like to go listen to jazz at the Blue Note? Yes.
  • Want to check out Brooklyn Bridge? Central Park? NYSE? Yes. Yes. Yes.
  • Can you go to Shelter Island for the weekend? Absolutely.
  • How about a sunset cruise around Manhattan? Sounds great.
  • Want to meet for a martini at Bemelman’s Bar? Sure.
  • Would you like to attend a Yankees game..with a real live Yankee…and a police escort? Hell Yes!
  • Brunch at Gramercy Tavern then shopping in SoHo? Yes and Yes.
  • Why don’t you join us (said Earth, Wind and Fire) at a private gig near Harlem? Ummmm…..YES.
  • Can you meet us at a midtown penthouse to view the Macy’s 4th of July fireworks? 100% yes.
  • MoMA? Guggenheim? Frick? Yes. Yes. Yes.

The list of affirmations goes on and on and on and on…and it was magical.

The rewards that came from this Summer of Yes actually outnumber the good times had, the art knowledge gained and the new friends met. The numerous interactions with strangers who shared a laugh with me were surreal, mostly because I was absolutely open to new encounters. Decidedly, I left the (old) closed me back home.

The decision to change course and try something entirely new led to so many wonderful and surprising things, including a successful career detour that took me back to NYC. Most importantly, though, I rediscovered my joie de vivre after a long, long slumber.

I promised myself that every 10 years, I’d welcome a hiatus and have a Summer of Yes. Spiritual teachers and meditation masters like Eckhart Tolle tell us to not only recognize the Gap (the silent space between thoughts) … but Be in It. In a way, I think the Summer of Yes is my gap, helping me to cultivate present moment awareness. I believe being alert in an inspiring place with no expectations other than to absorb the moment is a worthy goal.

Parental care-giving may have caused me to miss the 10 year mark, but I sense a new adventure brewing: I’m waking up from another slumber, rested and rearin’ to go.

The only question now is: when and where?