Blog Posts by Carrie Leber

baklava tower

With a trip to Turkey coming up, we have had a hankering for that sweet classic, Baklava. There are many ways to make this remarkable dessert, but often the result is a less than stellar presentation. I love this updated version that adds a sense of drama to the dish. Here's the recipe>>

rebecca ray equestrian daybedA few months back Style at Home Magazine did a photo shoot at the home of our client, Rebecca Ray Designs director of sales, Kristy Dukelow-Kehoe. I've been enjoying the photos like crazy, especially over the past few days as we've been getting the RR Fall and Holiday lookbooks together.

Aside from showing lots of Rebecca Ray bags, pillows, and accessories throughout (above the horse pillow, and the white Jane Bag look amazing) the shoot illustrates the progressive melding of design categories.

I opened my mailbox yesterday and inside an Ethan Allen catalog featured a woman dressed in upholstery fabric, rather than showing a couch or a chair. Ann Sacks has been using images of ruffled dresses and couture as inspiration shots for their ads for quite awhile. Wallpaper companies have been making dresses out of their designs rather than putting them on their walls as well.

In times past, interior design editors would bristle at the notion of having handbags or a line of

louise fili packaging designOne of my first real jobs after getting out of school (way back when) was working as a temporary receptionist one summer for the great Jennifer Morla.

Since then, I've been a bit obsessed with packaging design and logos - enough to fill my library with books commemorating design competitions and design trends. I enjoy paging through images of the freshly minted corporate images, the before and afters, the bags, the labels, and the bottles.

I find graphic design to be a true life art form that really defines the aesthetic of a company or product in a way that few things can. I came across noted food and package designer Louise Fili's website the other day and couldn't help posting some images from her amazing online portfolio. Here's a look at some of her projects:

bella cucina oils

Big Island Bees

see more great design here>>

charlies-angels

As you may know, I do a lot of work placing product on TV shows - it's one of my very favorite parts of being a publicist. I've been watching the massive shakeup at the major networks pretty closely. So many shows canceled (how could they take All My Children away?? why God, why??) But the bright spot of all this hacking and forest clearing, is the opening for lots of new programming - a notion I love. So I fell all over myself to take a look at this trailer and press release for the new incarnation of Charlie's Angels, picked up this week by ABC (the email I received this morning says it was announced today, but I saw a commercial over the weekend for the show, so go figure). Here's a look>>

Rebecca Ray Betsy bag

This morning I was looking through the images from yesterday's Banana Republic Fall 2011 press event and was excited to see the luscious colors and textures of Autumn. At the same time I'm so ready for the warm months ahead after this long Winter that I am delighted to show these fun Summery images that we styled recently for Rebecca Ray Designs. The company does a limited release of certain colors and styles for the Spring and Summer that are very fun and happy - just what the doctor ordered.

Above, the Rebecca Ray Betsy Bag comes out once a year in this fabulous color block pink. Below, the Summer Trapper is made from vintage French feed sack linen and finished with harness grade leather and a choice of glass rosette.

rebecca ray summer trapper bag

rebecca ray julie bag in slate

Above, the new Julie Bag in Slate is made from sturdy ballistic nylon - light and lovely but tough enough to tote tons around when needed. Below, the Molly Bag in tan is a canvas duck bucket bag with a Napa braided lariat drawstring secured

green giftsHappy St. Patrick's Day! We celebrate green today, but the color is universally one of the most favored in the spectrum - synonymous with luck, success, prosperity, warm balmy temperatures, and environmentalism - no wonder it's popular the year round. Here are a few fabulous green hued products for you to take a peek at - priced well for gifting! Shown above: Vagabond House Lucky Mushroom Salt & Pepper Shakers - a cute pair of highly detailed pewter mushrooms to adorn the table. $40. Europe2You darling ceramic Pots de Crème are just the thing for making Crème Brulee, Chocolate Souffle or any other goodie you'd use a ramekin for. $18. Rebecca Ray Rosie Bag - A mid-sized shoulder bag perfect for everyday. This classic ultrasuede bucket bag with decorative lining is accented with a reproduction bridle rosette that can be customized to suit. Zippered top, purse feet, interior pocket. Dimensions: 11.5' x 16" x 4" $295. green gifts Shown above: Loadedtrunk.com Mother of Pearl Flower pin! Get an

cowboy boots

Cowgirl Chic. I hesitate to call, or even think of it, as a trend - I'm someone who grew up with intricately tooled western saddles, hand woven Navajo Blankets, and row after row of cowboy boots (we call them riding boots actually) like the ones above as part of my daily life. To me it's just part of Americana - something that should be styled with a careful hand rather than plowed into so the effect looks more like a costume or a stage set than a home or an outfit. The best versions of the look tend to have either a modern sturdiness to them - or a vintagey airiness that is almost an homage to former interpretations of the cowgirl.

ralph lauren spring 2011

I love that Ralph Lauren is reigniting the look with a celebration of big silver belt buckles and a nice balance of country hues like blue, peach, and brown. The look is also translating with a freshness into the home in the form of Navajo blankets, iron fixtures, naturally shed horn and antler, and interesting use of materials used

basket fold table place setting

I think planning the decorations for the Thanksgiving table is one of my favorite things. But so often I fall into the mindset that I need to use a full palette of earthen colors and big chunky ceramic plates to pull off that perfect Fall look. Never mind that I have set after set of vintage china that I've prowled every antique store on both the West and East Coast to find. It sits stacked and waiting every year - only to be passed up for a traditional design. But I'm dedicating myself this year to taking back my table from these ideas! There are other colors in the Thanksgiving spectrum, I just know it.

vintage china for thanksgiving tabletop

The problem of course with vintage china is that the pretty flowery patterns look a little out of sorts on a Thanksgiving table. I have pumpkins and leafy looking cutouts dancing through my head - not roses!

But still - take back the table - I want to use my stuff, not a cookie cutter idea of decorating.

But I think I'm starting to figure out how to make it