COTE DE TEXAS: What A Year!!

What A Year!!

 

The Skirted  Roundtable

 

Yep!  Hard to believe but we’re starting our second year of the Skirted Roundtable.   It was all Linda Merrill’s idea, so blame her, not me.   Linda was a blogging friend of mine from Massachusetts that I had bonded with over our mutual love of the Something’s Gotta Give house.  I kid her about being a grandmother because she’s been blogging with Surroundings much longer than most of us have, but she’s actually younger than Megan or me.   Last year Linda approached me about joining her for a weekly design podcast and I suggested we also ask Megan of Beach Bungalow 8 fame.   Megan and I were emails buddies who had spent many late nights laughing while texting, but then she had to go off and get married and our late night texting  abruptly stopped.   I’d missed our laugh filled sessions, so I begged Linda to ask Megan to join us.   Our plan was straight forward -  we would talk over Skype since we lived in Texas, Massachusetts and California and it would only be audio because everyone looks like a troll on Skype, even the gorgeous Megan.      Initially we promised ourselves we could keep it short and sweet:   fifteen minutes of talking about design and fifteen minutes of talking about blogging, period.  We actually kept to that schedule  for a few months until we started having guests and our short and sweet turned into one hour plus.    It’s been so much fun this past year - we record on Monday nights at 11:00 pm EST and usually don’t end the conversation until 1:00 am.    We’ve had some incredible guests – Charlotte Moss, Alessandra Branca, and Vicente Wolf, to name a few.   I will confess that my stomach was in knots interviewing Charlotte – she’s one of my idols and I still can’t believe she agreed to talk with us!   We’ve got some more great interviews lined up for our second year – noted author Diane Dorrans Saeks and interior design extraordinaire Mary Douglas Drysdale are coming up soon.

As always, it’s your support and loyalty that makes it all worthwhile and we can’t thank you enough for listening and leaving comments.  Just a reminder – the Skirted Roundtable is available on I-Tunes for downloading by subscription.   

 

 

Lee Stanton poses.  Sigh.

 

This past week on the  Skirted  Roundtable, our guest was the absolutely gorgeous (!) noted antiquarian Lee Stanton from Los Angeles.   If you are like me and are interested in antiques and the antiques business, be sure to listen to his interview.    He is a fascinating man and we really learned a lot about antiques from him  - I hope you will too!!!   To listen to Lee’s interview, please go HERE.

47 comments :

  1. Joni, It is so hard to believe it has been a year. All of the SRT interviews and discussions have been fabulous, and so interesting.

    Congratulations to you Linda, and Megan.

    Karena
    Art by Karena

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  2. Love the SRT.

    How did your panel discussion work out?

    Let us know. I was cheering for you!
    Kare

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  3. Hi - it went great today - just had two total hot flashes. otherwise it perfect! hehe

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  4. One year, and you ladies in your skirted roundtable do not look a day over a month old. How do you do it?
    pve

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  5. Congratulations to you, Linda and Megan on one year!!! I love the Skirted Roundtable and never miss it! Also glad to hear your panel discussion went well.

    Mary

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  6. One year congratulations! Love the Roundtable-its always a weekly treat-can't wait to see who's next! best, barbara

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  7. Bon anniversarie! I love the show-- it keeps me company on late nights in the studio-- here's to many more years of SRT!

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  8. Bon anniversarie! I love the show-- it keeps me company on late nights in the studio-- here's to many more years of SRT!

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  9. Love the SRT - thanks so much for sharing it with us!! I have learned so much!! You all are the BEST!! Congrats on your anniversary!!
    xx-Gina

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  10. time flies! congrats on the SRT anniversary :) i have enjoyed listening to the interviews .... and learning so much!

    cheers for more years to come!

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  11. Lucky us. SRT remains unique. Thanks so much.

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  12. Congratulations to all you lovely ladies. You all sound like you have a ball.

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  13. Joni, Congratulations on your 1 year anniversary! I've enjoyed going back and listening to some of the interviews I missed.

    Hope yesterday was an amazing day for you! Best to you!

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  14. Hi, Joni! I am a bit behind on my blog reading and didn't realize you were speaking at the Dec Center yesterday UNTIL......I thought I heard your sweet voice (recognized it from SRT!!)while pulling fabrics in Kravet. I went flying out of the showroom and was so excited to see you on the panel. I even recognized your Mr. Slipper Socks Man and told him I wished they'd just give you the microphone and let YOU do the show! You were (and are) awesome. Well done and thanks for representing/promoting all the great design in our great state.

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  15. You all do a fantastic job on SRT. LOVE IT. Thank you all for your effort and time in making blogging professional, interesting and challenging.

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  16. You three are amazing! Not just a wonderful idea to begin with but an execution to die for! Love all our interviews, the endless inspiration and the fun when I sit at my computer and laugh into the night after following your conversations! You are all funny and intelligent and just plain addictiv!

    Your fan and friend!
    Wishing for many more years of podcasting!!!

    Victoria

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  17. CONGRATULATIONS... time flies... wow...
    and yes, lee stanton.. so handsome and soooo nice.
    this image was taken by my boyfriend john granen...
    i think its fantastic and captures lee so well.. xx

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  18. Hi there,

    Having had stand-up speaking anxiety for years..here are my secrets
    1. Imagine that your stand-up speaking assignment no more than greeting and entertaining guests at home. Mentally see yourself as the soother. greeter, anecdote teller. Forget your surroundings and imagine yourself in your own home.

    My boss once said, "you are nervous because you are thinkiing about yourself. This has nothing to do with you. Its about your audience.
    See yourself as helping them. Not as an actress but as a teacher helping people have better ideas.

    Last, know your material cold.
    Do not try to teach too much.

    Most people can only absorb three new thoughts at a sitting. Show lots of example

    Have a few familiar anecdotes you can tell.

    This speech should become a tried and true speech that you give all the time.

    Ask the audience for their thoughts and ideas. Especially if you forget where you are going in the lecture.

    My speech teacher once told me that people only recognize the form of anxiety that they personally experience in a similar situation. This was a relief because no matter how nervous you are, only about 10% of your audience will notice.

    I go around in circles when I am nervous. For the person who perspires..I look cool as a cucumber!

    Good luck!

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  19. Joni, how time flies when you are having fun!! I love the SRT and look forward to the discussions of you wonderful ladies. YOu are all so insightful and articulate. Isn't it amazing where blogland has taken you? What a wonderful journey you are having and well deserved. You are generous blogger who made me feel welcomed to blogland and you have been a wonderful encourager and supporter. I always get so thrilled when I see your name in my comments. I always think Wow!!she took the time to let me know she was here. I so appreciate you and your writing and your talking on SRT. Congrats, Kathysue

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  20. The panel discussion was chock full of information in a fun and conversational way. Many thanks for your candid opinion, Joni. It was my pleasure to meet you.

    ~ Susan

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  21. Congratulations on one whole year.
    This really is a unique thing in the design world. Well done!

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  22. Hi Joni!

    Congratulations on your panel discussion and your first year of SRT. I'm really looking forward to the second year.

    Does Mr. Slipper Socks Man know you're drooling over another man (Lee Stanton)?

    Thank you for all the wonderful things you do for your design-addicted followers!

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  23. Joni- Many an hour has been spent listening to your ladies on SRT. I had just moved to Chicago to study interior design at Harrington (any other Harrington students out there?) when I discovered you and design blogging in general. I knew noone and it felt like you were my friends instantly. Truth be told, when I saw Alesandra Branca was on my jaw dropped open as I had a job interview with her company that very day. Needless to say, I bombed. I was so intimidated by her discussion with you. Oh well. However, during the interview, I was asked what blogs I read and the young lady's eyes lit up when I mentioned CDT and SRT. Kudos to you all on a wonderful job and motivation for all of us aspiring designers. You are what we all want to be. Truly you are an inspiration.

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  24. Congratulations on a whole year of SRT, I love them and look forward to them ! I've only been blogging 9 months so I've missed some. I'll have to go see how far back the archives go.

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  25. Congratulations and three very heart-felt thank you's! SRT has been inspiring, informative and so entertaining, what more could you ask of in a show!?!

    Here's to number two (pop)!
    Jessica~

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  26. A year? already?.... Thank you all for the wonderful gift of SRT! I have enjoyed every interview and have learned so much! You gals are so wonderful to be sharing all of these wonderful designers with all of us! Thanks again!

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  27. Congratulations. I so enjoy your blogs.

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  28. Allow me to brag on our dear friend Joni who I served with on the panel discussion yesterday! She did an outstanding job and brought some real color to the conversation. She delivered smart, witty and informative answers and I think everyone thoroughly enjoyed having this true Texan represented on the panel. I know I did! Joni...you kicked ass! My Best, Brad Ford

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  29. um, thanks? I guess? lol. I love you Joni. You and Linda have been so much fun to do this with I can't imagine better partners in crime.

    and yes, thank you to each of our loyal listeners.

    XOXO

    Megan (fellow Skype Troll)

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  30. Well, what Joni didn't say was that the first time we got on Skype, we were on video and saw what we all looked like (glasses, babushkas, no makeup,jammies, eek!) we laughed until we turned off the cameras! And, though I'm loath to admit it, I am older than Megan. She's the baby of the group! Love you guys!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (exclamation marks for Joni!)

    And JW - sounds like you were a hit at the panel discussion yesterday!

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  31. Many "Congratulations" on your first year of the fabulous SRT! Can't wait for year number two!!

    Jennifer

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  32. I can't believe what a success it has been. Congratulations to all of you.

    Joni, I would love you to stop by the blog soon. I just wrote about the most amazing house!

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  33. Congratulations Joni! You three did a wonderful job in "The World of Interiors Blogland"!
    It is an inspiration for everyone among us!
    So thank you so much for your effort!
    xx
    Greet

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  34. Has it been a year already? Wow. You've accomplished a lot in a short period of time. I have really enjoyed every single podcast. Thanks for all that the three of you do to keep us inspired, entertained, and informed! :)

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  35. Congratulations on such a successful year. I never miss a Skirted Round Table broadcast. Looking forward to many more.

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  36. Congratulations on achieving so much with your blogs, and getting your ideas off the ground successfully!
    :)
    Afshan

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  37. Okay okay...I was slow entering the blogosphere but you were my first subscription and I adore reading your posts. I guess I'm going to have to "break down" and subscribe to the fabulous podcasts now. (I'm so excited!) Congratulations on the milestone....

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  38. When I have the time I always listen and really enjoy it all. Once my husband was working from home and I just had to listen to the Charlotte Moss interview while the kids were at school. He thought I was crazy, but he doesn't understand much about the design world anyway. Keep your sports, I'll take my design gals any day of the week.

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  39. How exciting that I discovered CdT when it was just a babe. On another note, Joni - I live in Houston and enjoy your recommendations. Who do you recommend for silver - as in the silver piece on your dining table?

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  40. Your ideas was rocking and getting your ideas off the ground successfully!!!

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  41. I am so glad you girls exist! It is fascinating and entertaining to listen to your interviews. Until the next anniversary...Grazie!

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  42. I have enjoyed every show! I've taken notes and been informed and inspired. I've laughed hard! Really hard. I love you Ladies. You keep me company. Adoring you...Congrats! Patti (Liberty Post) xo

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  43. I love all your interviews, so much more we can all learn! I have even gone back and listened to some of them more than once. But I guess that the Kasler interview will always be one of my favorites (Of course I am from Atlanta). Suzanne gives so much insight into her design. Thanks and keep up the great work! The Designer Insider

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  44. Congrats on your 1st anniversary.
    I enjoy your blog and the SRT.
    Best wishes,
    bg

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  45. OMG! Joni! House #2 is killing me! You need a roommate when you move in? I'm reblogging, and I'm in desperate need of the curtain rods in that living room. I know, what about the antique blue chest... i have no doubt that exceeds the ol' budget. Do you have a favorite source for tiny curtain rods? I'm so over the massive rods and fancy finials. I'm so glad that I subscribe to your emails, cuz the pictures were massive and beautiful in the email, but my computer cut about a third of the pictures off and I would have missed the full glory...BEAUTIFUL! Thanks for sharing!

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  46. Oh yeah, and sorry, I got carried away with my house drooling and forgot to say happy birthday to tSRT. I make everybody at work listen now and you are such an inspiration to our shop, Rooney Robison Antiques in Charlotte (rooneyrobisonantiques.blogspot.com) come see us!!!!!!

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  47. Congratulations on SRT! I loved this post-- I have always enjoyed your seagrass since I don't use it in my own home-- but love it! However, I do have several antique/semi-antique persian rugs...mainly in mauve/light blue/ tan colors and just love decorating with them- so it was fun reading this post!

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