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| The Juilliard School |
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Belated Good News
My post yesterday made me realize that I forgot to announce my move to New York! At the end of March, I was notified that I was accepted to the studios of Itzhak Perlman and Catherine Cho at Juilliard as an Irene Diamond Graduate Fellowship recipient.While this was a bittersweet decision for me, as I have nothing but positive things to say about my teacher and my school here in Los Angeles, I am very excited. I am also incredibly thankful that my father knew about my acceptance and was thrilled with my decision. I can't wait to move back to the east coast!
Thrift Store Furniture and Vintage Inspired Finds
In anticipation for my move to New York city this fall, I have already spent a lot of time thinking about the ideal space I want to create. I have always loved to surround myself with things that reflect and reinforce who I am and who I want to be. On a random impulse, my mom and I went exploring a couple of weeks ago and found some great thrift store finds! No purchases yet, as I'm still looking for apartments.
I loved the hand-painted designs on the nightstand and screen. Also, how cute is that vintage washboard?!
The online marketplace Etsy also has unique, handmade items.
Modcloth and Urban Outfitters have some cute housewares, too!
Of course, there are always ways to find inspiration from higher-priced items and recreate them for way less.
$10 per jar at Anthropologie compared to $19 for a set of 12 when mason jars and chalkboard labels are purchased separately!
This vintage-inspired factory cart coffee table runs for $890 (on sale, no less!) at Restoration Hardware, compared to $180 for an actual antique factory cart on Craigslist. Of course, the Craigslist find would need some sprucing up!
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| Nightstand, $95 Thrift store in Ardmore, PA |
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| Vintage washboard, $14 Thrift store in Ardmore, PA |
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| Wooden screen, $245 Thrift store in Ardmore, PA |
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| Vintage dresser, $165 Thrift store in Ardmore, PA |
I loved the hand-painted designs on the nightstand and screen. Also, how cute is that vintage washboard?!
The online marketplace Etsy also has unique, handmade items.
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| Chalkboard end table, $20 Etsy |
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| Mail holder with mason jar and hooks, $29.95 Etsy |
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| Telephone table, $60 Etsy |
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| Trees and birds wall decal, $84 Etsy |
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| Mirror, $19 Etsy |
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| Set of 2 chairs, $100 Etsy |
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| Birdcage, $20 Etsy |
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| Drop-leaf table, $145 Etsy |
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| Nightstand, $75 Etsy |
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| Set of 2 scroll shelves, $20 Etsy |
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| Sofa or entryway table, $74 Etsy |
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| Sunflower poof, $80 Etsy |
Modcloth and Urban Outfitters have some cute housewares, too!
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| "Plenty of Spice to Share" Shaker Set, $21.99 Modcloth |
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| "Planks a lot" Cutting Boards, $12.99 Modcloth |
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| Damask wallpaper, $78 Urban Outfitters |
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| Mixed media shag carpet in grey, $29 Urban Outfitters |
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| Reclaimed wood chalkboard, $49 Urban Outfitters |
And then there's the wishlist of stuff that is most definitely out of my price range...hey, a girl can dream, right?
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| Georgina duvet cover in light grey, $368 Anthropologie |
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| Vintage chair, $165 Etsy |
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| Time Will Tell arm chair, $880 Etsy |
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| Ava tufted sleeper sofa, $749 Urban Outfitters |
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| Stella floor lamp, $119 Urban Outfitters |
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| Chalkboard spice jars, $10 each Anthropologie |
$10 per jar at Anthropologie compared to $19 for a set of 12 when mason jars and chalkboard labels are purchased separately!
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| Chalkboard labels, $8 for a set of 12 Etsy |
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| Set of 12 mason jars, $11 Ball brand |
This vintage-inspired factory cart coffee table runs for $890 (on sale, no less!) at Restoration Hardware, compared to $180 for an actual antique factory cart on Craigslist. Of course, the Craigslist find would need some sprucing up!
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| Factory cart coffee table, $890 on sale Restoration Hardware |
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| Antique factory cart, $180 each Craigslist |
As I'm sure you can tell, I'm very excited about setting up my own, unique space. I look forward to sharing more with you as I actually find an apartment and start to put things together.
Until next time,
Francesca
Francesca
Thursday, April 19, 2012
My Father
I've been attempting to write this post for quite a few days now. I keep re-writing, but despite my efforts putting what has happened into words is exceedingly difficult.
On April 8, 2012 my father passed away. A cancer patient for 13 years, things finally took a turn for the worst in the last month of his life. Beginning the day after my audition for Juilliard, my father underwent 4 surgeries in 8 days. The plan was that, with chemotherapy, he could expect 6-12 months. Unfortunately, he never recovered enough from his surgeries to begin chemotherapy and in that time, the cancer went rampant. He died from respiratory failure on Easter Sunday, while listening to a recording of the Bach C Major Sonata Adagio from my senior recital.
I'm not sure if I can ever put into words just how special of a man my father was, nor could I adequately explain how close we were.
In light of what has happened, I have withdrawn from the Queen Elisabeth competition. I have not been able to practice for the last two weeks and I simply can't go to a competition of this magnitude knowing that I am not as prepared as I should be. In one of our last phone conversations, my father vehemently told me that my decision about the competition in no way changes how proud he was of me. It's difficult to let go of something I have been planning and preparing for over the better part of a year, especially when I fought so hard to continue practicing despite the emotional turmoil of my father's illness. At the end of the day, I know that there will be many competitions and opportunities in the future. The death of your father only happens once in your lifetime.
Below are his obituary from The Philadelphia Inquirer, an article from The Strad magazine, a dedicated blog post, and a slideshow featuring photos alongside his live performance recording of Dvorak Romance with The Philadelphia Orchestra.
To the overwhelming amount of people who attended his services and the endless proclamations of love, support, respect, and sorrow--thank you.
To my father, I thank you for twenty-two years of indescribable love and support. I am so lucky to have had such a meaningful and beautiful relationship with someone as unique and extraordinary as you. You taught me to be strong and I promise you that I will be. I love you and will miss you every day, but I am glad you are no longer suffering. It still doesn't seem real...and part of me believes that it seems that way because you will always be with me. Rest in peace.
On April 8, 2012 my father passed away. A cancer patient for 13 years, things finally took a turn for the worst in the last month of his life. Beginning the day after my audition for Juilliard, my father underwent 4 surgeries in 8 days. The plan was that, with chemotherapy, he could expect 6-12 months. Unfortunately, he never recovered enough from his surgeries to begin chemotherapy and in that time, the cancer went rampant. He died from respiratory failure on Easter Sunday, while listening to a recording of the Bach C Major Sonata Adagio from my senior recital.
I'm not sure if I can ever put into words just how special of a man my father was, nor could I adequately explain how close we were.
In light of what has happened, I have withdrawn from the Queen Elisabeth competition. I have not been able to practice for the last two weeks and I simply can't go to a competition of this magnitude knowing that I am not as prepared as I should be. In one of our last phone conversations, my father vehemently told me that my decision about the competition in no way changes how proud he was of me. It's difficult to let go of something I have been planning and preparing for over the better part of a year, especially when I fought so hard to continue practicing despite the emotional turmoil of my father's illness. At the end of the day, I know that there will be many competitions and opportunities in the future. The death of your father only happens once in your lifetime.
Below are his obituary from The Philadelphia Inquirer, an article from The Strad magazine, a dedicated blog post, and a slideshow featuring photos alongside his live performance recording of Dvorak Romance with The Philadelphia Orchestra.
To the overwhelming amount of people who attended his services and the endless proclamations of love, support, respect, and sorrow--thank you.
To my father, I thank you for twenty-two years of indescribable love and support. I am so lucky to have had such a meaningful and beautiful relationship with someone as unique and extraordinary as you. You taught me to be strong and I promise you that I will be. I love you and will miss you every day, but I am glad you are no longer suffering. It still doesn't seem real...and part of me believes that it seems that way because you will always be with me. Rest in peace.
Slideshow in remembrance of William J. dePasquale
July 15, 1933-April 8, 2012
July 15, 1933-April 8, 2012
Friday, April 6, 2012
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