Arsenic and Braised Skate

Well… turns out that once again I was anticipating trouble where none. Today Michael convinced that red-headed Our Lady of Eternal Perfection that I was the one with the vision and that it would be creatively advantageous for her to work with me. In fact, it seems that she is willing to forego her “fling” to preserve her best interests. Hmmm. Not only that, she seems sorry for the misunderstanding. She said that when I come out to NY to meet with her next week she’s going to have a special wood-fired Napa pizza made for me with figs, goat cheese, arugula - and braised skate! And speaking of food, I’m already thinking of the mustard fields of Sonoma as color inspiration for the shirts. Of course, I’ll keep my guard up in case she offers me a side salad of arsenic. Until then, I think I should trust more – at least trust Michael. (Sorry Michael!!) I still wonder what she looks like…

Michaels’ Flaming-Haired Old Flame

New business = New opportunity for trouble. There’s this woman Michael dated once or twice back in Manhattan, before we met. She was a model then. Just stunning, with gorgeous, naturally red hair. The whole idea is soooo unfair. Now she’s a restaurateur. Very successful too. In fact, she’s got six bistros on the east coast as stylish as she is. Everything she could want but a husband. So she’s probably thinking, why not borrow…Maddie’s?(!) She’s been emailing Michael and sending flowery little notes asking him to come meet with her, that she’s interested in having Red House provide her staff with uniforms. I have to say, it would be a coup for us. This would be a great chance to send the wine country ambience east. And the ex-model’s “rustic French” restaurants have an elegant yet casual approach to what they do – just like Red House. Here’s the thing: she wants to deal with Michael directly “because she knows him”. Hmmm, I’ll bet! I’m the one who goes out after new business while Michael crunches numbers and makes sure the place runs smoothly. I don’t want to sound threatened, but I bet this woman hasn’t aged since college! Michael may not be immune to such supernatural charms. What if their former flames rekindle over dinner in the bistro.? I picture champagne, monkfish ratatouille with the faux ingénue looking even younger by candlelight… Ok, I’m over-reacting. And I DO WANT that account! So, I decided it’s ok to for him to woo her in a business manner… and hope that she doesn’t want more than Red House pinpoint oxford shirts! But I wonder, how far will I (um, Michael) go to get the business?

The Natalie update:
Natalie continues to challenge us with her wandering. We have had her comparing dye lots and doing some basic filing. But when Kerin leaves for lunch, Natalie checks out for the day. Kerin and I came back from a client meeting today to find the reception area sofa pillows in disarray, and recently extinguished cigarette butts underneath – black lipstick on half of them. In the distance, the sound of a motorcycle speeding off. Stefan again! It looks like Natalie is not likely to become the Red House employee of the month any time soon.

The Ovens of Opportunity

I’m taking a chance, a BIG chance: Natalie is now an intern at Red House. It was that or she’d continue to sleep all day. And really, I’m trying to reduce the amount of time she’s spending with Stefan, her vaguely European friend with the motorcycle. He’s maybe 17 tops! Yet I trust my instincts and think Nat just needs a little guidance. At 19 though, she’s a quasi-adult and there’s only so much I can say. Natalie’s duties will depend on what Michael, Kerin and I come up with. I started her out with a mini trade show experience featuring businesswomen of the Napa Valley. It was sort of a big deal to be invited to participate along with vintners and growers, chefs, artists and other clothing entrepreneurs. I wanted Nat to meet women who have made their mark. The fact that these achievers have their success and the most beautiful setting in which to work is just the icing on the cake. But more on baked goods later.

When I opened my packet of registration materials the day before the event I nearly fell over. Red House was listed as BREAD HOUSE! I couldn’t believe it, a total disaster for a new company - they thought we were a BAKERY!? Kerin thought we should pull out of the exhibition, but Natalie suggested we bake some bread and BE a bakery for a day as a public relations stunt. I liked her thinking! There must be a genetic thread of pro activity between us after all. We might even get more attention for Red House by showing we could weather a setback of erroneous printing. We’d have a table set up like a wine country picnic and hand out samples. The only problem was that baking takes time that I didn’t have. Miracle #2 – Natalie said she could bake bread! Did my ears deceive me?! She let slip that she learned to bake while on Work Release! (I didn’t pry, but I’m going to later.) Nat even offered bake at Stefan’s house so she wouldn’t be keeping us awake all night. Meanwhile, Kerin and I made a sign for the booth that said, Redhouse creates clothing for wine country, and when necessary, bakes for it.

Well, I’ve got to hand it to her - Nat came through with the bread. It was a big hit, and the women in wine who were exhibiting sent people over to our booth with glasses in hand. They lingered to hear about our printing disaster and our line of corporate clothing. Some of them looked askance at Nat with her skull earrings and black eye shadow, but she was friendly enough. Perhaps too friendly - as she wandered off to the wine tasting area to flirt with most of the men who showed up – especially those pouring wine! Sigh. One day at a time, Maddie!

ITS SPRING!

Don’t tell anyone, well, not too many people, but this is the time of year to let the sleeping beauty that is Napa awaken your senses. And I don’t just mean the senses that deconstruct wine (wildly important though they are). Come look around - our little secret is that it’s already spring here. The grapevines are starting to show green and the entire valley waking to the excitement of what’s to come. Maybe bracing is the right word, as what’s to come includes tourists - lots of them. (Michael and I were two once, though we’ve forgotten all about that!) Now though, while there’s no guarantee of sunshine you still have a chance to enjoy less traffic on the roads and fewer patrons jockeying for space in the tasting rooms. It’s an excellent time to tour! Take your wine journal and jot a few notes along the way. You can always order a case later. Don’t forget lunch between tastings. Some of the restaurants that you have to book months in advance for dinner are easier to get into for lunch. Especially weekdays. Happy Tasting!

Here are a few favorites I’d like to share:
Cars and Cabs: Far Niente is known for elegant Cabernets. The tour lets you check out some classic cars too.
Taste the Terroir – Single vineyard production at Nickel & Nickel are de riguer
Best Faux Chateau – Ledson Winery. Looks like France, with better weather!
Friendliest Winery Dog – “Moose” at R.H. Cohn Kid-Friendliest Tour – Get on the tractor at Benziger Winery.

On another note, an old friend of mine (from my GOAT DIPPING DAYS) sent me this today! Isn’t it funny, I just wrote about that strange (and color-changing) experience.

Wine lovers! Did you hear that they’re turning the infamous Judgment of Paris wine competition- where Napa beat France!- into a movie?! It’s called Bottle Shock and it just screened at Sundance. I found this trailer yesterday and just had to share.

Caught up in the romance

I admit it. There IS something truly enchanting about Napa on Valentine’s Day. First, the land is so lush and green and fragrant with the coming of spring. Not like NYC where the spring fragrance is... well, unmentionable. Here, everywhere you look there’s something that catches my heart (can you believe that's a REAL leaf?!) – like the way the golden mustard blooms weave across the land. In fact, there’s an entire Mustard Festival dedicated to this splendor.

Even Michael was caught up in the romance. He surprised me with reservations at the very romantic Martini House (check it out!) in St. Helena. First, we drove against a spectacular sunset. Then, once we were settled in at the restaurant we were like teenagers in love as we drank the perfectly pink Schramsberg Brut Rose (from Napa, of course) and shared a plate of the indescribably delicious wild mushrooms. It was truly divine.

The Natalie update:
After an initial (stifled) gasp from Michael we are settling in with niece Natalie. The kids have seen people with even more piercings, and Nat doesn’t even have tattoos (that I know about.) If she’s surly, she’s saving it. Though she has slept most of the time since her arrival… And yes, I have locked the wine refrigerator and hidden the matches. She was nice enough to babysit for us so we could go out for our special Valentine evening. Thank you Natalie!

SFO – uh-oh

I messed up yesterday. I had to get an order of pashminas delivered to an embroiderer in Oakland and was late picking my niece Natalie up at the airport. Baaaaad move! I could have had Kerin deliver the pashminas or had Michael go to SFO, but these were two tasks I felt I had to do myself.

The 100 pashminas are to be gifts for the members of a nonprofit women’s garden group at their annual retreat. The director, a tad eccentric even by California standards, chose camel, my closest shade to earth itself, and a very loopy (extinct) flower design to be embroidered in more colors than I usually recommend. The director has an eye for luxury as well as blooms, which is why she chose the Red House pashmina – twill weave, two-ply, 100% cashmere.

All these years in design taught me to plan ahead and so I made sure I had the embroiderers booked early with a week to spare. But yesterday, the director called me and asked if we could please have these done 3 weeks early–in time for the ladies to wear them to the SF Flower and Garden Show on March 12. (!!!) Apparently this is a see-and-be-seen event for the horticultural elite. I said I would try, not knowing that every California spring sports league had booked the embroiderers solid for the next month. So I begged, and brought orchids for the staff when I came to discuss the project yesterday.

And it all worked out with plenty of time to get to the airport. Except for one thing: the worst traffic ever. I may as well have walked! When I did finally arrive, park, and run to the terminal (why did I have to wear spike heels that day?!) I had some trouble locating Natalie. I thought she might be browsing the gift shops. Instead, I found her having a drink in an airport bar! Can you believe it?! She’s 19! And speaking of being thrown for a loop, she had three nose rings, plus a belly ring with a dangling charm that appeared to be an angel and devil locked in battle, possibly for her soul. And if you recall how Jodie Foster dressed in Taxi Driver I won’t need to describe the skirt she was “almost wearing”. I hope my shock registered as indignation over the hellish traffic, which I nervously ranted about while trying not to stare. The good news was that she didn’t seem upset that I was late. The bad news is that I was about to take her home to Napa… THIS was going to be interesting!

My niece Natalie

I’m SO excited – we’re adding a family member! NO – not what you’re thinking! I am done with that, Red House is my baby now. And at the “demanding” stage. We are going to have an addition to our household though – my niece Natalie. She’s my sister’s only child, 19 years old, from suburban Saddlebrook, NJ. I haven’t seen her in years but I remember a sunny little kid - very eager to please.

When my sister first called about our taking Natalie she said Nat was somewhat withdrawn and unmotivated, the only one in her class who hasn’t gone on to college. She figured that a few weeks with us in Napa and seeing me adeptly manage my life and work (ha - depends what day she sees me!) would be just what Natalie needs to jump start her own life plan. I said sure, wonderful! She called back a few days later and said she thought a few months might be better. Ok… And she mentioned that Nat hadn’t “actually graduated” - something about a “suspicious fire” (!?) that she was seen running from. Well… I am nothing if not determined to have an impact in this life so I said bring her on! (I decided not to mention the new details to Michael right away.) I will inspire this girl! I will have her painting vineyards and collapsing barns in no time! I also hope Natalie can be of help with Andrew and Delia. Who knows, maybe Michael and I can get away for a weekend ALONE! That would be fantastic! And we’ll see what her interest level is, but I even had a thought that Natalie might want to be Red House’s (first!) intern. I’m going to talk to Keren, my assistant, to see if there are some tasks she can help with. Meanwhile, she arrives next week! The kids are excited and Michael is too – with a little apprehension thrown in, but I think it’s going to be great for all of us! Ok – work is calling – must get back to it!

The pitch and the pain

I’ve wanted to kick a vendor to the curb the past few weeks. His name is “Jim Flimsy” and he would just not quit. I could feel the New Yorker in me fighting to get out and tell him to SHUT UP ALREADY! I even had to step out for air, but it was hard to watch the hawks circling overhead without picturing one swooping down on Jim and ripping out his jugular vein. (Did I really say that?!)

I have to say I was intrigued the first time Jim called about his “wonderful” interlock fabric, so I asked to see his samples. He proffered some very sad swatches of inexpensive cotton/poly interlock. It was sure to pill up after a few washes and too thin to hold up to embroidery. Kind of shiny too, made me think of bowling. I told him Red House would consider only long staple combed Pima cotton. No blends. No deal. I was adamant but polite. Yet, HE DID NOT GIVE UP! Days later he called AGAIN with a value-added feature - he named his colors to reflect the majesty of wine country living. Unreal! As if “Pinot Plum” and “Malbec Mauve” would change my mind about polyester.

Mr. Flimsy also had my business card from the trade show and was calling me on my cell. Couldn’t we compromise? NO! And last Saturday, Michael and I ran into him at the Ledson Winery tasting room. He mentioned how much he wanted to work with me and how offering a lower-cost (aka lower-quality) polo shirt would open new doors for Red House. I obliged him briefly, though quietly seething with annoyance, and leaving Michael to make conversation with his wife.

There was a happy, nonviolent ending. I sent Jim to another provider of corporate clothing who I thought would be receptive to his low prices and shameless self-promotion. She in turn, sent a vendor of a premium organic interlock my way. One hand washes the other, as they say, and no hand goes for the jugular, as I say.

Cashmere in the Mud

During the NY design days of my youth I did what I had to do to not get fired. Once, I was a Goat Dipper. Someone had the bright idea of using actual dyed cashmere goats in a photo shoot for the sweaters we were producing. The idea was to show how well cashmere takes to dye. Yet no one thought to ask if this were true when the cashmere is still attached to the goats, who would also be wearing a fair amount of barnyard grime. At Red House, we source our cashmere from the mountains of Tibet, Mongolia and China because I know that the higher the altitude the better the quality. The NY “design house” (and I use that term loosely) got their cheap and scratchy cashmere from the lowlands of rural Canada.

The shoot was in May, in what must have been a banner year for mud. It was a slogging plague of biblical proportions. The kind of mud that sucks the boots off your feet and sets them next to the gates of hell. The crew lost – literally lost- some of the camera equipment. Satan himself may be using it now. I herded a small army of pygmy-size goats through the muck and dipped them in tubs of an eco-friendly dye solution, thinking they would enjoy the warm bath. Uh, no. Can you tell I’m from New York? Hello! They shook. They kicked. And guess who ended up wearing the most dye? On the plane trip home I looked like I’d gone a few rounds with the Teletubbies. This was when Michael and I were dating and I actually hid out in my apartment for days after I got home – scrubbing. If he had seen me he would have bolted. But I’d still have this story to entertain me in my solitude. Maddie, The Goat Whisperer.

History has taught me that a great product doesn’t need a lot of gimmicks to promote it. Our lavish quality Red House cashmere is woven to exacting standards, and each sweater, pashima or scarf is piece-dyed (not goat-dyed!) for truest colors.