Celebrating Three Years Of The Abraham Lincoln Blog

Today is the third anniversary of The Abraham Lincoln Blog. I began writing about Lincoln on October 31, 2007 not knowing if anyone would ever find this site. Additionally, I had no idea if people would actually enjoy the blog or find it useful should they even stumble upon it. Above all I wanted people to take it seriously as an important source of information about the 16th President of The United States.

Sure enough, people found the blog. Sometime this week, the site will achieve it's 200,000th page view or "hit," which is amazing to me. I had no idea it would receive that much attention. I am grateful for that single measure of success. Since it's inception three years ago the blog has received an average of just over 180 views per day. The average has been nearly 200 hits per day over the past 18 months, so more people are finding it.

Through this blog I've made some wonderful friends, meeting people who share my fascination with Lincoln or my love of American history in general. That's the most thrilling part of this effort I've put in, meeting some great people.

It still remains to be seen just how seriously the blog is taken by the community of Lincoln fans. I'd like to hear from more readers. And I would love to be asked to speak in public about Lincoln. Not because of money or attention, but because I have a passion for Lincoln's story and would love to share it with more people.

Thank you for dropping by, no matter if you're a long-term reader of The Abraham Lincoln Blog, or if you're here for the first time. It's because of you that I keep this blog going.

Library Of Congress "Gateway To Knowledge" Traveling Exhibit

The Library of Congress (LOC) in Washington, D.C. has recently taken to the road across the United States with a special rolling exhibit called "Gateway To Knowledge." Via this exhibition, the LOC has been bringing facsimiles of many of its top treasures and information about the millions of resources in its unparalleled collections to the heartland of America. This exhibit travels inside a specially equipped 18-wheel truck as it visits small towns.

Founded in 1800, the LOC is the nation's oldest cultural institution (yes, older than the Smithsonian). It houses rare books and maps, even rarer documents pertaining to American and world history, the earliest motion pictures, and priceless photographs.

The LOC also holds incredible items associated with Abraham Lincoln. It holds the original Bible used by Lincoln during his first inaugural on March 4, 1861 (and later used by President Obama). It also contains in its collection the contents of Lincoln's pockets the night of his assassination on April 14, 1865. The hoods that the Lincoln conspirators wore while in prison and on trial are also in the LOC collection. Of course, the Library of Congress has been staging the truly magnificent "With Malice Toward None" Lincoln Bicentennial exhibition, currently entering its final week in Atlanta, Georgia.

The "Gateway to Knowledge" exhibit tells the story of the LOC and features high quality facsimile reproductions of some of its unique treasures. It relates how former president Thomas Jefferson "rescued" the Library when it was burned in the War of 1812 by the British, losing it's valuable collection of books. Jefferson sold his own extensive collection to the LOC, thus permitting it to once more serve as a repository for information for everyone.

Visitors to this exhibit can see reproductions of a 1455 Gutenberg Bible; a 1507 map which is the first known to contain the word "America"; the rough draft of the Declaration Of Independence; videos of the earliest movies; and copies of the original artwork for the first Spider-Man comic book. The originals to these items are held by the LOC in its collection.

The exhibit pulled into Oberlin, Ohio a few weeks ago for a two day visit on the grounds of the liberal arts school Oberlin College. It was there where I went to see it for myself.

Here are some photos from my visit:

I wrote above that the "Gateway To Knowledge" exhibit travels on an 18-wheel truck. Once the truck is parked, the sides of the trailer expand to more than twice it's original width, thus permitting a much larger space for the displays. Quite remarkable. Below is a photo which shows the trailer in its expanded state.

This LOC exhibit is driven around the country by two young docents who are quite knowledgeable about the Library and the exhibit. The husband and wife team of Josh and Abigail Van Gelder are on the road approximately 300 days annually as they tour our nation bringing special exhibits to the masses. I've been fortunate enough to meet them via blogging and am now honored to have them as my friends.

Abigail writes a guest blog for the Library as she and Josh travel through the heart of America. Here's a link to her article about the visit to Oberlin, Ohio. She also blogs about their lives on the road on another blog which you can find here.

"Gateway To Knowledge" is currently in Iowa and will next head to Minnesota. The schedule is maintained on the LOC website. Over the next year, it will make approximately 60 stops in the mid-west and southern U.S.

It's a fascinating exhibit. If it comes to a town near you, drop by for a visit. Admission is free. And if you do, please tell Abigail and Josh that I said hello!

La Quinta Tight Timeframe: The Final Stretch

We're in the final days before the furniture install: all the wiring/lighting is completed, all the flooring is in place, the kitchen cabinets are refinished and have new hardware that will be installed. The fireplace has its new surround, and carpeting is installed. The window coverings will be installed next week as well. Saturday, the sofas will be installed, and the remainding furnishings will be transferred from the owner's home, and the new furnishings and artwork in our warehouse will be installed early next week in anticipation of the owner's arrival on November 5. Total time for this 4,000 sq foot home remodel: 6 weeks.

It's Not Too Early To Be Thinking About the Holidays...

We are, and our warehouse is starting to fill up with all kinds of great holiday Decor. This year, we are helping create a festive atmosphere in your own home with Holiday Decor & Christmas Tree Packages from $450. Leave the decorating to designers this year!

Contact William Miller Design at 760-413-9005 to schedule your Holiday Decor appointment!

Trina Turk Residential: Palm Springs

My favorite supplier of men's pants, Trina Turk, has some new pillow designs out this Fall. If you aren't close to her store in Palm Springs, they are also available through Neiman-Marcus, which retail for $125. If you are an interior designer, I've also seen her pillows and accessories in LA's Pacific Design Center, though I can't remember which showroom I was in. She's recently done a line of fabric for Schumacher, so now you can get your patterns by the yard. While in Palm Springs checking out lounge chairs at 20 First Vintage & Modern I saw this great dining room set that had been reupholstered in a TT pattern. Love the residential application of something that I own in a dinner jacket!

Movie Sets I Would Live In: Vertigo

Alfred Hitchcock's Vertigo, apart from being one of my favorite movies, also has one of the neatest artist studio apartments ever recorded on celluloid. Midge (Barbara Bel Geddes) is a fashion illustrator who lives in a cozy Russian Hill apartment that also doubles as her studio. Among her furnishings are many accessories considered de rigueur for the artist in residence: Bertoia chairs, sculptural lamps, grass window shades, sisal flooring, an assortment of geomentric pillows on a low armless Eames sofa, and the walls in a warm buttery yellow. Heck, it sounds like a spread for Metropolitan Home, but remember, this was a set from a movie filmed in 1957.

I guess times change, but when you've set up a room with classic pieces, it will never go out of style.

Thirft Shopping for Clients: Palm Springs

Everyone is economizing- that's not news. What is great for us, and a challenge is to find home furnishings for clients who want an updated look and don't have a big budget. One solution that we offer to clients is sourcing furniture in the thriving second-hand home furnishings market in Palm Springs. Our favorites for this are: Revivals, The Estate Sale, and Cargo. I am always shocked at the deals: many new, unused items- for other items, though, you have to have a fair amount of creativity: new finishes and reupholstering are generally needed to make furniture useable. The savings is in the "frame" of the furniture- $45-100 for a piece, versus $400-$1500 for a new piece. In addition to being checkbook friendly, this practice is also green- no environmental impact is made in production of these pieces. Also, in buying in a "benefit" store, you are supporting local charity, and we are employing local furniture re-finishers and upholstery shops, which is great for our community!

Blue Mid Century Modern Chair $35
Palecek Bench $125
Palecek Chair $225
Barstool Set of Two $125

Christopher Kennedy at Just Fabulous

We love the new pillows, sofas, and candles by Palm Springs Interior Designer Christopher Kennedy at Just Fabulous! Great to see local designers doing their own lines! The display looks great, Chris, and people are excited to have you in their homes!

Custom Built-In Desk, Palm Springs

We love to see drawings transformed into cabinetry! A built-in media unit, shelving, or a desk can transform a room. In this case, a blank wall in a guest bedroom became a very functional 2nd home office in Las Palmas, Palm Springs. The room, when completed, will have a warmer look. It will also "age" the room. Since this is a newer construction, wooden built ins (and wainscot) will add history to a house that is still in its infancy. The least expensive built-in that we've installed recently was around $2600. This one was a little over $17K, but depending on finishes and hardware, we have seen prices as high as $25K.

Tight Timeline Update: 2 Weeks to Go

With our deadline of November 1 approaching, most everthing is falling into place. In case you didn't check out the last two stories, we took on a project for a client that we had done a home with before. We were given about 6 weeks to complete this 4000 sq ft home in La Quinta. We haven't really run into anything that would prevent the owners from taking occupancy for Thanksgiving.

The tile that has been installed throughout the house, all the wiring has been completed for the new lighting plan, the media center in the living room has been framed out, and the new hearth is nearly complete. The furnishings are arriving at our warehouse, and we're looking forward to installing it all soon. Before that happens, though, the painters will have to finish their work!

DeBrabant House, 1920's Palm Springs Villa

I hesitate to use the word 'charming' in a sentence, since it beings up all kinds of potential real estate adjectives that get banded about when describing houses inappropriately. However, in the case of this 1920's Spanish Colonial, no other adjective will do- it is indeed one of the most charming homes I've been to in Palm Springs.

This home is a superb example of the Spanish Colonial architecture that was so popular in California in the 1920's. This one was built in the Haciendas Estate tract in what is now the "Movie Colony" area of Palm Springs. Current owners Jan and Mark Hilbert, along with Marty Newman have completely captured the era with a dazzling collection of period Mexican furnishings, Tourist Pottery from the early half of the last century, and wonderful Plein Art paintings throughout the house.

The home features five bedrooms (one is in a wonderful turret room with commanding views of the surrounding mountains), and five bathrooms. In addition to the living room with a beautiful wooden ceiling, a 'casino' was added in the 1950's (apparently this was an illegal gambling house at one point). This room is complete with Navajo blankets on the knotty-pine walls, and a full-height fireplace.

Yesterday, this house was celebrated as a Class 1 Historical Site by the Palm Springs City Council. The Palm Springs Preservation Foundation celebrated this with an open house. There are six more events through the season. They are a must-do if you love homes, history, or just socializing!

Abraham Lincoln Portrait Series

Most works of art depicting Abraham Lincoln are realistic, whether the medium is paint, ink, or sculpture.  This was of course especially true with works done during his lifetime or in the immediate years after his death.  Now one can see the occasional abstract piece, the most famous of which is Salvador Dali's painting which only at a distance of 20 meters becomes a portrait of Lincoln.

I was contacted yesterday by a current "abstract" artist named Lola Dupre' who hails from Glasgow, Scotland, asking me if I would consider featuring her series of Lincoln original portraits here on the blog.  After a look at her work and her description of the pieces, I have decided I will do so.  Disclaimer: I am not being compensated in any way for featuring her works. 

Ms. Dupre' works mainly with paper and scissors, according to her website.  She takes images of the famous, including Lincoln, then distorts them in unique and unusual ways.  As she told me in her email, she enjoys working with images of the famous, who are already known to us and who have achieved some measure of fame.

Before you see her images below, please know that she in no way intends disrespect to Abraham Lincoln.  In fact, I made sure of that before I consented to feature her works in this forum.  She told me that the "abstractions in the features are in themselves meaningless. It is when associated with the emotional in the viewer, that interesting interpretations may be made."  After all, isn't that what "art" is all about?  Some people love works by Picasso, while others adore Gauguin.  Art does affect our emotions and means different things to different people.  Here is the first work of Lincoln from Ms. Dupre':

I admit that when I first saw the above image, I didn't much like it.  But when I re-read her descriptions of her art, and especially how the abstractions can mean different things to different people, I began to understand.  For example, this is a distortion of the famous portrait of Lincoln taken November 8, 1863.  That image is my personal favorite.  It shows his determination, his resolve, and strength.  It also is one of the first portraits which shows how the war was wearing him down. 

Artist Dupre's abstraction (and the others which follow below) speak to me about the numerous "directions" in which Lincoln was being pulled while president.  Abolitionists were angry that slavery had yet to be ended.  He had political rivals within his own party, and of course in his own cabinet.  The war weighed heavily on him.  His wife was most likely bi-polar.  He had lost two children by the time this portrait was taken.  He had yet to find a general who would consistently fight the enemy and fight it well.  Lincoln had so many issues affecting him, that he at times surely felt how these portraits by Ms. Dupre' depict him.

This final portrait in Ms. Dupre's series of five on Lincoln is my favorite one.  To me it appears that poor Mr. Lincoln's head has been placed in a vise.  He must have felt like it at times, if not all the time.

Unfortunately, none of these originals by Lola Dupre' are available as they have each been sold.  Perhaps I and the readers of The Abraham Lincoln Blog can encourage her to create more.  Please check her website for other unique and interesting pieces.  Please do NOT grab her images from the website without her express permission.  I had her permission to share these images in this post.  Respect her work and copyright.  And please do NOT grab these images from this blog, either. 

Movie Sets I Would Live In- Elephant Walk

I've always said that if I could build an important home it would be something like the one that Elizabeth Taylor is the mistress of in "Elephant Walk." This massive plantation home was constructed by set designer/decorators Sam Comer and Grace Gregory. I fell in love immediately with the color scheme: muted grey walls and stone carvings and dramatic black polished wooden floors and dark finished furnishings make a fantastic combination in the tropical setting of Sri Lanka. The general feeling runs a bit "British Colonial" but I can see some stylized elephant themes running through the house in carvings. One of the best parts of the movies is an indoor bicycle polo match and Elizabeth Taylor gets to decend from the massive staircase to chase out her unwanted guests. Be sure to check this movie out on TCM or netflix!

Oscar de la Renta Collection for Lee Jofa

1st Dibs sent me this great info about the Oscar de la Renta Collection for Lee Jofa:


For decades, the Oscar de la Renta name has been synonymous with timeless elegance. In 2002, the Oscar de la Renta Home collection was developed around the concept of lifestyle and Oscar's deep appreciation and affection for the spaces in which he lives.

The fabric collection includes 25 designs in silk, linen, velvet and cotton, ranging from delicate floral embroidery and ethnic-inspired prints on linen to solid silks and velvets in bright, saturated hues. The fabrics exhibit the fine tailoring and incredible detail that is the Oscar de la Renta signature.

Oscar de la Renta said, "Fabrics have always played an extraordinarily important part in my collections. I am very excitedabout this latest extension of Oscar de la Renta Home with Lee Jofa, a company that shares my commitment to craftsmanship and quality."

"We wanted to create a collection that reflected the sensibility of Oscar's clothes," said Miles Redd, Creative Director of Oscar de la Renta Home. "All of the things one loves about Oscar de la Renta: the color, the embroideries, the textures' each signature is translated with practicality for the home."

"Working with Oscar and Miles on this collection has been a delightful experience for the Lee Jofa Design Studio," said Stephen Elrod, Creative Director for Lee Jofa. "Lee Jofa has a history of craftsmanship that goes back decades, and the Oscar de la Renta brand truly upholds the level of quality and design that we adhere to through our fabrics."

The fabrics are available in all Lee Jofa showrooms nationwide.

To celebrate the launch of his home fabric collection with Lee Jofa, Oscar de la Renta created custom ball skirts using fabrics from his collection. The skirts, which were used in advertisements for Lee Jofa announcing the launch of the collection, will be auctioned off for charity. The fabric on the skirts is backed in organza and lined in silk, giving the skirts the weight and tactile quality of a timeless Oscar de la Renta piece.

All skirts are a women's designer size four. There are nine skirts and one caftan, size small, made from various patterns from the collection, including exclusive designs on linen and silk, delicate beading and embroidery, and a luxurious velvet and linen stripe. Each item is exquisite and a one of a kind collector���s item. The Lee Jofa website has images and detailed information for each piece, as does the site where the auction is hosted, Bidding for Good. Bidding will be hosted online through November 30, 2010. Proceeds of the auction will go to Casa del Niño, which is regarded as the most complete project of child assistance in the Dominican Republic.

Interior designer Miles Redd is the creative director for Oscar de la Renta Home. Redd himself is known for his fearless use of bright bold colors, and his styling is evident within the collection.

Kneedler Fauchere in the 1950's

Sometimes, I come across a photo that has so many cool things going on that I don't notice an important detail until later. I initally came across this photo while doing a Google search for "station wagon." This 1958 Dodge Sierra came up, and I loved the color combination. I wish auto makers would go back to two-toning and big chrome bumpers. This car looks expensive, but remember, it was a mid-range car. The next thing that I noticed was how the people were dressed- ladies without hats(!) wearing skirts and men in suits. No tennis shoes, ridiculously large handbags, big earrings, and no flip flops in sight. Then, I came to the setting: the Kneedler-Fauchere building in San Francisco. Kneedler-Fauchere, if you don't know was the world's first luxury market multi-line showroom founded in San Francisco, California in 1948, proferring premier collections of furniture, fabrics, wallcoverings, accessories, art and lighting. The have an amazing collection of Tony Duquette fabrics through Jim Thompson from their carefully archived collection.

Great Lamp Choices from Arteriors

Great lamps are hard to find- they're like picking out ties- you either love them or hate them. Whenever we're stumped about choices for tabletop or nightstand lighting, we go to the Arteriors website- they always have a lot of great choices, a great range in pricing, and something for everyone's tastes!