ring in the new year

THE PHRASE "ring in the New Year" has a new resonance for 2015. Literally, Juan and I have new rings. He surprised me with one for Christmas and I, of course returned the favor as an engagement promise. Since we live in Georgia, the legal significance of these rings is yet to be determined, but in our hearts they mean what they always mean when any couple wears them. Mr. and Mr. will soon (hopefully) become a real possibility, now that 35 states, plus the District of Columbia have marriage equality laws in the books for same-sex couples.

MR. & MR. | This bottle bag from Crate & Barrel contains the bubbly for a sparking new year.

THE NEW YEAR is always about change. It's about leaving the past behind and embracing the future. Just the fact that products are appearing in the market that tout same sex togetherness such as this linen mr. and mr. bottle bag from a forward-thinking business (Crate and Barrel). These products make a toast to a reality that we are embracing ahead of the fact. We are using it here to hold our New Year champagne.

RINGING TOGETHER | This ring dish from Crate & Barrel will give our rings a resting place that we can always find as we are both constantly misplacing things (especially cell phones and remote controls).

THIS MEANS A LOT to both of our futures. And we have begun building this future together in earnest. It's exciting to know that our partnership might one day soon be recognized by the world we live in . . . just like everyone else. Our rings are the only tangible commitment we have to that right now, aside from what we hold in our hearts. As soon as we got our rings, we talked about a centralized place to keep them when we weren't wearing them. Crate and Barrel also helped us out with that dilemma with this Mr. & Mr. ring dish.

DEER IN THE FOREST | Made in Germany by Ino Schaller Bayern, a family tradition since 1894, is famous for their paper mache candy containers. The company also makes glittery bottle brush trees and the doe figurine seen here (as well as the stags).

IT HAS BEEN and eventful 2014 for both Juan and I. And we are looking forward to a long future together. We don't really need a marriage contract for that, but it will greatly help us in the eyes of the law. All of the benefits that most people take for granted with a legal marriage will be rightfully ours . . . finally. As an animal totem the deer symbolizes Juan and I exploring our own magical and spiritual nature together. The deer is a definitive symbol of grace and an appreciation for the beauty of balance.

BRUSH, BUBBLY, AND POP | Champagne served in these Edge Champagne Glasses from Crate & Barrel have a decidedly modern sensibility. Confetti Mini Crackers from West Elm pop apart to reveal surprise gifts.

OUR TOAST FOR 2015 is to continue along our trail to a future we can only dream of together. The crackers included in these photos are traditionally a Christmas favorite in the United Kingdom. Since we're planning on spending Christmas in London in 2015, that future is looking bright already! Happy New Year!

©2014 DARRYL MOLAND | ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

collecting, photography and styling by Darryl Moland.

two thousand and twelve

It's easy to forget the nuances of years past. The classic New Year's song Auld Lang Syne begins with a rhetorical question as to whether it is right that old times be forgotten. This unique New Year's tree from last year's blog post is a toast to remembering. Take a new look at the old with the spreads for the New Year's story designed for The Decorated Tree book, which can be ordered here. This book will take you on a cathartic journey through the whole year of holidays from Valentine's Day to the next New Year.

AS WE GET OLDER, the years seem to fly by. Friends come and go, but for old times sake, the important events in life are not forgotten. The classic New Year’s song Auld Lang Syne begins with a rhetorical question as to whether it is right that old times be forgotten. It’s up to us to answer the question in the way that works best for us. If it has been a good year, then of course we’ll remember, but if it has been a bad year, we tend to try to forget. Memory serves well to selectively process and store the good times we all cherish.

THERE are MANY exciting things about a new year. It is a time to mix a refreshing drink and reflect on old and new goals alike. Looking back, as one is wont to do at the beginning of the new year, there’s always the practice to resolve to not repeat the mistakes of the past. As for the future, since none of us really knows what is in store, superstitious beliefs abound. Having been raised in the American South, eating collard greens for prosperity and black-eyed peas or Hoppin’ John for luck has always been a part of my New Year’s ritual. Our vision is not always perfectly clear in looking back. We have to “be in the now” to latch onto that elusive moment of clarity. That is a resolution for anyone—to be aware of and in the moment as much as possible when conducting our daily lives.

THIS NEW YEAR’S tree is an elegant and glitzy way of remembering long-standing relationships, welcoming new friends and raising a happy and prosperous toast to whatever lies ahead.

BRING in the NEW | (1st "New Year Glitz" spread from The Decorated Tree book) Bringing in the new doesn’t always mean throwing out the old, but it certainly is necessary to make room for new aspirations.This large mercury glass tree is encircled with a collection of glass beaded snowflakes attached to a garland made of wire and glass beads. Two miniature metal cups and a champagne bottle hang from the antlers of a recycled aluminum deer. The champagne-filled glassesin the foreground are garnished with rosemary sprigs that have been given a sparkle with a coating of egg white and coarse sanding sugar.

TOP SHINE | (2nd "New Year Glitz" spread from The Decorated Tree book) I’ve retrofitted this tree topper with a new typeset and glittered disk of calligraphy. It is surrounded by beautiful glittered metal rays with tinsel woven through them. Glass-beaded snowflake ornaments are attached to a beaded garland encircling a sturdy mercury glass pleated tree. This beautiful reindeer symbolically stands guard and brings in a cup (or two) of good cheer on its antlers. The champagne flutes are garnished with sprigs of sugared rosemary as a symbol of remembering the good times.

©2011 DARRYL MOLAND | ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

collecting, photography, styling and design by Darryl Moland

 

new year glitz

TWO-THOUSAND-ELEVEN  sounds a bit like science fiction. It only seems like a few years ago that I brought in the year 2000 in Minneapolis, Minnesota at a huge, multi-themed night club called appropriately-enough "The Gay 90s," which is still alive and well. How does the time fly by like this? This year, I'll be having a more quiet affair (I'm thinking) at a friend's home. You never know though, how enlivened a party can become once people get enough bubbly in them. I'm planning also on attending a New Year's party tomorrow. It will certainly be more tame if everyone is nursing a hangover from New Year's Eve night. It's always good though to start the new year with friends, no matter if quietly, or with a bang.

IT'S  EASY  TO  FORGET  the nuances of the years that have flown by. Friends come and go, but for old times sake, I don't easily forget the people most important to me—you know who you are. The classic New Year's song Auld Lang Syne begins with a rhetorical question as to whether it is right that old times be forgotten. This New Year's toast and tree is my way of remembering long-standing relationships and wishing all loved ones (including blog followers) a happy and prosperous 2011. 

MY  GOAL  this year is to self-publish a small digitally-produced photo book or magazine with photos of my trees and editorial information about their creation. The plan is to sell it here on the blog and use it to shop my ideas around to real publishers. So, I'll be posting less here and spending more time on that. I've gotten so used to burning it at both ends though, who knows what the new year will bring? I do plan to have posts just as I have surrounding the major holidays.

THAT  IS  the exciting thing about a new year. It is a time to fix yourself a drink and reflect on old and new goals alike. My only definite plan is keeping sight of the end result and keep moving toward it—hoping for the best. I'm not good at wiping the slate clean—I sort of look at what I've collected in life (physical and otherwise) as my palette. The problem is, it is all getting to be an unorganized mess that is harder and harder to move ahead with. So I'm taking a few steps back to refocus and to hopefully be able to take a larger step forward. 

BRING IN THE NEW | (Top) Bringing in the new doesn't always mean throwing out the old, but it certainly is necessary to make room for new aspirations.This large mercury glass tree is encircled with a garland made from my collection of beaded snowflakes attached to a garland made of wire and glass beads from Cost Plus World Market. Two miniature metal cups and a champagne bottle from Crate & Barrel hang from a stately deer's antlers (made from recycled aluminum). The champagne-filled glasses are garnished with rosemary sprigs that I've given a sparkle with a coating of egg white and coarse sanding sugar.

TOP SHINE | (Above) I've retrofitted this tree topper by Seasons of Cannon Falls with a new glittered disk of type of my own design. Surrounded by beautiful glittered and tinseled metal rays, the manufacturer got that part right, but the original type with the clip art champagne glasses (left) was a bit clunky for my taste. I purchased my topper from Bayberry Cove.

SPARKLY SNOWFLAKES | (Above) Part of my fancy collection of glass-beaded snowflake ornaments (mostly made in Czechoslovakia) are assembled together on a garland around a large and sturdy mercury glass pleated tree form (made in India) from Home Goods.
 

GLEAMING NEW | (Above) This beautiful reindeer from Home Goods symbolically stands guard and brings a cup (or two) of good cheer on its antlers. The champagne flutes are garnished with sprigs of sugared rosemary as a symbol of remembering the good times.

OVERVIEW | (Above) Looking from above, it's easy to see the ground—a promise I am making to myself this year to step back so I can see the big picture. The glittery bugle-beaded charger is from Z Gallerie.

©2010 DARRYL MOLAND | ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Photography, collecting and styling by Darryl Moland