Today's Inspiration

The name of this bed should be "speechless", because that is the reaction it elicits. Solid wood is laser-cut and crafted with dove-tail joints. Modern fairytale woodland bed, indeed. Time is precious, as are resources, so the tag matches the work. At $14,000, maybe we'll call it "the dreamland bed". It's like a dreamcatcher. How could you not dream of stone cottages, apple trees and furry fawn with this bed? I suppose you would have to keep the wolves, bears and ants out of your slumber... Thanks to designer Tiina Attila of Finland for her inspiring work.

2010 Holiday Schedule

:: Gift Selection Help ::

Need help selecting exuberantly unexpected gifts? Call or email. 

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:: A Great Value: Gift-worthy Presentation ::

What's the opposite of a careless re-gift thrown in some sad paper? A specially-presented, carefully-selected gift that tells the recipient you put thought into a gift you know they would enjoy. 
Our wrapping is pretty great. Not everyone can pull it off.
Your time and very special gift presentation is worth a few dollars!
If the item comes with optional gift wrapping, just add the option while you're on the product page.  

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Christmas Ordering Deadlines (delivery by 12/24)

*12/19 (Sun) 5:00PM ET: via Standard
*12/20 (Mon) 12:00PM ET: via regular expedited (USPS 2-3 day)
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*USPS / UPS / FedEx do not guarantee any specific delivery dates for Standard (nor regular Expedited USPS 2-3 day).

contact us about:
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Holiday Closing

12/22 - 12/27, 12/31
Orders placed between these dates start shipping 12/28 & 1/3
Please read product page; some items have longer ship-out timeframes
We will respond to all messages starting 12/28 & 1/3.

Holiday Trivia

At Calliope, I'm known as a grab bag of "useless information". Random facts, visuals and quotes nest in my brain, at times leaving a "no vacancy" sign for more impressive information. Here are a few cookie crumbs from my trove of random quotes and trivia:

Frommers

Charles Dickens

I have always thought of Christmas time, when it has come round, as a good time; a kind, forgiving, charitable time; the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely, and to think of people below them as if they really were fellow passengers to the grave, and not another race of creatures bound on other journeys.

Norman Vincent Peale
Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful.

Eggnog

The first eggnog made in the U.S. was consumed in Captain John Smith's 1607 Jamestown Settlement.

Speaking Cats and Dogs

According to old wives' tales, at midnight on every Christmas Eve animals are given the power of speech for a brief period.* That brief period will be known as snacktime for our four-legged friend. (Remember the chewy granola bar commercial?)

Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree

Construction workers started the tradition in 1931.



Xmas

Contrary to what many people think, the "X" is not a way to disassociate Christ from Christmas. Its origin is religious in nature. The Greek word that gives us the English word "Christ" started with the letter "chi" or "x". The early Christians who spoke Greek used the word to signify "Christ's Mass". Throughout the centuries, fewer people understood ancient Greek and thought the "X" was pagan-like, and even disrespectful.*

English Customs

Christmas, as an English custom, fell out of favor in the U.S. after the American Revolution.

Frommers

More Christmas Interest

Christmas medley: history, strange customs, light displays, Santa's origin

Traditions around the world
For travelers: CNN's top 10 places to spend Christmas

Displays: Frommer's 10 Holiday Lights Around the World

*Farmer's Almanac

Favorite Holiday Flicks

Give treats. Play tricks. 

Pumpkin in everything.

Hot cider. Warm hearths.

Nick, Frosty and Charlie.

Bubbly here, bubbly there.

Sprinkle your house with red. 

Drink cream. Bake men.

Wrap to your heart's content. 

Create. Give thanks.

I and we. Celebrate.

Spring rejuvenates and refreshes. Anticipation seems to sprout lazily on tree limbs and crawl over lawns. Summer infectiously invigorates; light, color and mood are bright. I think, however, that my favorite time of year is the fall to winter bridge. There is more ready opportunity for celebration in October, November and December than there is in all other months combined. More people are in kind, festive moods, enjoying themselves and helping others enjoy themselves as well.

The lines above list a few of my favorite things about this "holiday bridge". I love holiday concerts, ballets and plays, but I also like to watch a Christmas movie here and there to inject a little jolly. In need of an instant holiday pick-me-up? Rent a few of these online or locally and check tv listings here:

1. White Christmas

I love, love, love technicolor movies, especially those featuring Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye. Irving Berlin was b-r-i-l-l-i-a-n-t. Listen to one of his songs and your happy-meter reading does a little jump. The soundtrack from this movie is perfect holiday fare...

White Christmas (duh!), The Best Things Happen When You're Dancing (not a newsflash!), Sisters, Count Your Blessings Instead of Sheep, Snow (snow, snow snow...), What Can You Do With a General, Love You Didn't Do Right By Me. Then there's Bing's Mele Kalikimaka, which I discovered in the last few years (believe it or not).

2. The Holiday

Watch the movie, want the cottage. And Jude's character's house. And a vacation at Cameron's character's house. And Jack's character to write you a theme song. Oh, and Sophie and Olivia, too.

3. A Charlie Brown Christmas

A timeless, childhood classic. Even now, as an adult, I drop everything and run to the tv when Charlie Brown holiday specials are playing.

4. Little Women (1994)

Perfect adaptation of the novel. Terrific cast. Gorgeous scenes.

5. Love Actually

One of the best collection of short stories on-film. Fabulous cast. Alan Rickman is amazing. The soundtrack is great too. You'll be singing along to the movie and the silent types watching with you will have to gag you.

6. Mickey's Christmas Carol

Short but so sweet. Plus, it's Mickey, the all-time king of cartoons.

7. The Santa Clause

Tim Allen is just fantastic in this movie. I love the north pole, Judy the Elf ("Thanks, but I'm seeing someone in wrapping.", "Seeing isn't believing. Believing is seeing."), and Charlie with the super pinch-able cheeks.

8-9. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer & Santa Clause is Coming to Town
The misfits. Need I say more? High-tech animation can't touch this.

10. Samantha: An American Girl Holiday

An old-fashioned story. I never owned an American Girl doll, but I loved them. Although I was part tomboy, I also loved history and Victoriana, in which the scenes are pretty rich. 

11. A Christmas Carol (1951)

I like black and white movies and that isn't the reason I prefer this version...

12. Home Alone 1

Macaulay was hilarious. I think every kid has shared at least one of Kevin's thoughts at one time.

13. Miracle on 34th Street (1947)

Natalie Wood was a huge talent at such a young age. She played a great vulnerable little skeptic.

14. Frosty the Snowman

Can you remember the lyrics? For some reason, they just don't stick with me. Frosty the snowman was a jolly, happy soul, with a... and I resort to humming.

15. Family Stone
The last few scenes! That porch, too.

16. Polar Express

17. Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Clause

18. It's a Wonderful Life

I have mixed feelings about this movie, but it's a classic so on the list it goes.

Black Friday - Cyber Monday Special

We are so thankful for our great customers who support small businesses like ours which contribute to local economies. As a gesture of gratitude, we are offering...

FREE STANDARD SHIPPING

On All Orders placed on CalliopeBoutique.com

12AM ET Friday 11/26 - 11:59PM ET Monday 11/29

no code necessary

*for items other than large furniture, e.g. chairs, desks/tables, cribs (some of which already feature free shipping)

*for items shown as currently in-stock (not "on backorder")

*for destinations within the 48 contiguous states

*may not be combined with other offers/promos

*shipping cost appears in your total but will be deducted when order ships out

(note: our office is closed for the holiday 11/25-26, reopening 11/29)

: plus :

Giveaway Debut
 Enter to win a set of iPod®-earbud-inspired speakers (a great holiday techie gift)!

Just visit http://bit.ly/i3ZYrg for details.

Halloween Revelry

On Halloween, we took a walk around the neighborhood and discovered this fun scene:

We also hosted a Supernatural/True Blood-inspired party. Here are a few highlights:

1. Black with crimson accents with a nod to the Victorian, inspired by Pam:red-ribboned black satin swag, candles floating in black liquid-filled tulip-shaped goblets, black fauna, blood-red carnation posies, black-silhouette screen. 2. blood-red roses & carnations on shimmery black spider-web cloth. 3. Costumes on ladies are not store-bought; pieces were sourced individually. On left: inspired by a wild Pam ensemble (below). On right: glittery evening gown, phoenix necklace  inspired by Twilight's Volturi. 4. Gothic paper curtain pays homage to Pam's Victorian background. Red "veiny" Twizzlers, "blood-dripped" Maxine Fortenberry's red velvet cupcakes, pumpkin cheesecake balls coated in crimson and black sanding sugar, Vampire wine and a pack of True Blood O-positive (blood orange soda).

l  i  v  e    e  x  u  b  e  r  a  n  t  l  y™

event decor, costume design, other photos (house, skeleton in closet, dining room, red centerpiece) by natalie @ calliope
giant spider by stan @ calliope; steps, fireplace, candles by ditheviolinist; 2nd image by HBO

Giveaway Debut: 500xl Speakers

Finally. We dipped our toes in the giveaway waters. Don't laugh. It goes hand-in-hand with the development of our Facebook page. I know, I know. Our hands were in too many other pots, but it's here and possibly just in time for the holidays. Help us light a fire under this experiment and maybe we can announce a winner even sooner!

The Prize

A set of iPod-bud-inspired speakers ($50 value)...a fun holiday gift! 

How to Enter 
*Become our fan on Facebook by clicking "Like"/"Add to Favorites": http://on.fb.me/cENcDw
*Receive 1 extra entry for:
1. posting this contest on your Facebook/Twitter page and updating your email address on our site's mailing list. 

2. each time you get a different friend to add us on Facebook (and to FB-mail us your FB page URL to give you credit).
3. each time you get a different friend to complete #2 and sign up for our site's respectful mailing list.
*Drawing on 12/21. Winner notified between 12/21-31.
*Entry info (FB pages, friends, email addresses) must be current and authentic.

Prize Details

iPod®-inspired speakers called 500XL because they’re 500 times the size of teeny iPod® earbuds! This is one gadget on your desktop sure to merit many a double-take and much use. 
Use these sound speakers with your PC, CD or mp3 player. They include a built-in amp and 3-way power capacity allowing you to connect them to your PC’s USB port (cord included), plug them into the wall, or run them on batteries (3-AAA not included). Full of playful, tongue-in-cheek personality, they make a perfect gift for seasoned and aspiring techies young and young at heart! Designed by Winnif Pang.

dimensions: 4.5 diameter x 4D x 7L
includes: 3.5mm audio input cable, USB DC power cable

Milestone Anniversary

Ten years ago, just a year out of college, my husband chose me. They must be in the minority, those well-educated men who know their hearts and can make such serious pledges at such a young age. Although getting married (well, getting engaged) was originally my idea and I understood the scale of that pledge, it was many years later that I began to understand its full scope and meaning, and realized the full significance of the choice he (and I) made at that age. Ten years after that dream-like day sitting in our house with our dog and working on our business, I'm struck by wonder over that choice and gratitude for my best friend, the most impressive human being I've met, and our life together.

I'm not saying life is easy and marriage is a piece of cake. (Wait, cake isn't easy to make! Not the the moist, delicious, labor-intensive, suspenseful, made-from-scratch kind... the authentic, legitimate kind. So maybe marriage is like cake after all.) Act I of life (pre husband-to-be) made me think I drew the short straw. Fortunately, the universe balanced that unsolicited, soap-opera worthy first act with Act II, the real deal. 

Our wedding was a sweet, languid, old-timey celebration on the lawn of a cozy 17th century waterfront house on the National Registry of Historic Places. Think "an al fresco high tea à la Martha Stewart". The house, somewhat close to our alma mater, is in the country by way of long and windey unnamed roads. Picture a rolling lawn with a gazebo-like well, tiger lilies, and an unobstructed view of the river. In retrospect, I think the house is much like us - combining a love of history with a love of innovation, old stories with fresh, modern sensibilities. Its renovation was beautiful, from the restoration of the original house to the addition of sophisticated yet airy and unpretentious modern quarters. The grandparent-like owners didn't advertise, so theirs was a small operation distinguished by their elegant Southern hospitality. This made the site a hidden gem, giving our wedding a made-to-order feel. I was so charmed by that house that I, during my years as an event planner, took clients there for their destination-esque weddings. Apparently, something about our wedding inspired the owners, too; ten years later, our photos still head the site's online gallery.

So how did we celebrate this milestone anniversary? We went to Istanbul in May (more on that later), so on the big day we did one of our favorite things. We cooked dinner together, experimenting with new recipes, while listening - and, occasionally, dancing - to all kinds of music. Course I: Mymouné Whole Figs in fig-infused Syrup with Manchego and Novella Rayons de Soleil 2008 Muscat Canelli from Trader Joes (maybe overkill on the sweet stuff, but this wine is so refreshing with its aromatic notes of apricot and honey). Course II: Tilapia steam-baked with zucchini, tomato and basil. Course III: English trifle, for which I suggest using sponge cake instead of pound cake, Framboise or Grand Marnier instead of light rum, and lemon curd with or in lieu of vanilla pudding. You can't beat a gourmet meal at a fraction of the cost at a restaurant. We had a blast!

What token did we gifting experts give to each other? The trip to Istanbul was gift enough, of course, but we sneaked in a little something extra on the big day. He surprised me with a shirt I tried on in Istanbul and a replica of the first gift he gave me, a Coke and a Snickers bar (college story). I, in the bad habit of buying the perfect card months in advance of a special occasion then hiding it so well that I (or he) find it after the occasion, rushed to make him one when I couldn't find the store-bought card. From style of card to style of wording, our cards coordinated - jinx! (Those are silver-stamped birds in a sky of clear iridescent glitter on the cover of the one I made. The one he gave me, on the right, has clear iridescent glitter on the wings.) I paired it with a handmade crepe-paper rose reminiscent of the flowers at our wedding. I had another gift in mind, but it's such a time-intensive project that it's still in-progress. Hopefully, I'll finish it for his birthday, and I'll unveil it to you then because he does read this blog.

On to the next ten years... and more cake, of course.

p.s. - Our wedding cake was exactly like the one in the photo. Lemon with raspberry filling. To. Die. For.

l  i  v  e    e  x  u  b  e  r  a  n  t  l  y™

Martha Stewart wedding cake, bridal bouquet by deeakright, cards by natalie@calliopeboutique

Summer Reading

I had a love-hate relationship with my high school AP class summer reading lists. Books were my portal to much needed escapes (none better accepted than one that's school-mandated!), so I awaited the debut of these lists with conflicted anticipation. The lists promised great stories, new thoughts (er, new to me), proof that life could be different, and vicarious travel to all kinds of places. Some were excruciating to read (Moby Dick, The Stranger, Magic Mountain ... sorry, Mr. Williams!), while others comforted, enlightened, and emboldened. Whether they imposed epic plots or epic failures (in my then unseasoned opinion), these lists helped mold my favorite books collection. With a childhood that was cancelled after its first season, I am thankful for these books that filled-in like friends and family. As such, all summer reading lists were gifts.

Now that we're officially grown-up, we don't have the luxury of hand-picked reading lists. Not really. And so I'll offer one to consider. I'm a sucker for a good story in any genre or medium - poetry, biography, classics, young adult lit, fantasy, movie, visual art... you name it. What are your reading list picks? I'd love to know which stories lure you away from daily responsibilities.

1. Jane Austen Ruined My Life (Pattillo)

A fun, quick and light read. Best for Austen fans. Wouldn't you like to be traipsing about the grounds of Oxford in a red dress, too?

2. Shiver (Stiefvater)

You know it's a great story when you find yourself relating to a teen whose soul mate is a werewolf. Beautiful cover art, too.

 

3-4. The Battle of the Labyrinth and The Last Olympian (Riordan)

These two are part of the Percy Jackson series so you should start with book one. Books four and five, however, were my favorite. They're kids books so they're light, fun, lightning-speed reads. Nonetheless, they're funny, smart and feisty.

5. Lament (Stiefvater)

It's clear that Lament predates Shiver. Not as good as Shiver, this novel is still an interesting story. The ending leaves you a bit unsatisfied, but the plot manages to transport you to Stiefvater's creative world. Should we all have a friend like James; funny, quick-witted and loyal to the core (but not blindly so)! He reminds me of a few guy friends I had in high school, one of whom I'd like to run into so I can pay him the $25 (plus interest) that I owed him after graduation!

6-8. Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse (Meyer)

Yes, the entire franchise is a teen fad, or that's how it debuted. Yes, the series is over-commercialized. Trim the fat surrounding these tomes and you're left with some great stories. Sure, they have their faults, but they're quite an achievement considering they're Meyer's first works. I never considered myself a sci-fi fan. Traditional vampire and werewolf stories never really held much appeal. Oddly enough, I still don't consider myself a fan of the genre, but I've been captivated by this series. Meyer manages to weave themes of image, prejudice, self-sufficiency, ethics, neglect, complicated love into an unconventional interpretation of the vampire world. It's about vampires, but it's not. There's some silliness and some fromage, but it's simply a great story. Meyer doesn't just take the traditional vampire format and drop in her own plot. She examines non-sensical assumptions of traditional vampire and mystical lore and changes them by injecting a good dose of logic. The characters are so well developed, they seem real (thus all the craze). My favorite characters are Alice and Jacob. I want a best friend like Alice: strong-willed, chic, gregarious and sweetly cunning but not overbearing. Jacob is a riot, endearingly annoying and great fun. You just have to read it, ok?

Bookmarkable: Not Martha Hints

On Saturday, my husband and I took advantage of jet lag to get up early enough to visit the local sunrise (well, almost) farmer's market. While he chatted up a storm with the herb merchant about how to harvest cilantro, I roamed the market looking for raspberry-sorbet colored peonies. As I walked by a generic-looking flower stand, the merchant stopped me to give me a free blossom with some lavender. "Nice necklace", says he. Yeah, right, green old man (and he looked the part). Sure, it's just a free blossom from a flower vendor. But is he gifting every female passerby as a sales technique? No. There's no such thing as a free lunch, and that's especially true when a "green old man" kind of man looks at your "necklace". Don't get me wrong, I appreciate gifts. Appropriate gifts. It's nice to be admired. Not ogled. Beauty is everywhere for anyone to admire. That's fine. Take a look and admire beauty from an aesthetic point of view. Just don't forget that "it's not polite to stare" applies equally, if not more, to adults as it does to kindergardeners! At least I found my peonies...elsewhere.

After recovering from gross-out, I started to wonder when I could harvest the lavender growing in our garden. Through my google search I discovered a very cool blog - simple, handy and unpretentious Not Martha. It's written by a woman as curious as the rest of us "amateurs" attempting to savor the little pleasures of life à la DIY. Thanks, Not Martha, for sharing the results of your experiments with us. Now I know to pick my lavender at week 5 when the buds are all, well, lavender.

What about you? Do you have any insights you'd like to share about your fabulous projects and adventures large and small?

April Showers Knocking at the Door

As I drove through our area's cutest historic district on a wet Errands Day last week, I did a double-take when passing a home with humorous door decor. (Thankfully, I was at red light.) What a crafty way to embrace rainy April days!

Random Cool

Such a cool, nature-inspired concept. It isn't my style per se, but it's very creative. Can you imagine anyone having to try to keep it clean and germ-free, though? (Lenova sink)

Randomly Cool

Random photos I think are pretty cool:
(first 5 via WetBehindtheEars, last via LittlePlasticHorse)

I can relate to this. You can't leave me alone around dessert.

Pop of color is great. This one is a little spooky, though.

Speaking of dessert, cake is my favorite.

This one reminds me of Coppola's version of Marie Antoinette.

This one takes me back to Paris. It would be scary, though, to stand tip-toe in heels on a block so close to the edge of a roof.

It's Easter, Peeps!

I love Peeps. They're gross but oh so kitschy-cute. They spark this wonderful childish onslaught of creativity to see what you can make out of Peeps - monsters, architectural marvels, Jenga pieces, fences, play actors, the occasional nasty snack, and... a replica of a scene from an Oscar-winning animated film.

Here are my favorite Peep creations from Washington Post's 4th Annual Peeps Diorama Contest:

 

1. based on Pixar's UP; 2. based on "Goodnight Moon"

 

1. based on "Alice in Wonderland"; 2. based on "Madeline"

 

1. Pres. Obama with Bo (Simon likes to walk me this way sometimes); 2. First Family's dedication to health (super cool veggies)

 

1. DC Nationals' Presidents Race; 2. DC Blizzard '10 (the Peep trapped in car!)

 

1. Synchronized Peeping; 2. Creating MasterPeeps (insane level of detail - Peeps skeleton!)

 

1. Hitchcock's The Peeps; 2. riff on Chick-fil-A ad (look at the mini signs!)