Anna Speir's Holiday's Flowers At The Beach

 

Anna was having a surprise birthday party for a friend at the  beach cottage ( My wonderful "99 steps to the beach" ). It was a small party but Anna made it wonderful with her flowers and magic. The simple little cottage was transformed with her touch.

A  simple little beach cottage.................a strand of old christmas lights from my childhood .... fresh  holiday flowers in a small clusters from Anna Speir... .the light mist of the rain.. the anticipation of  visitors who have never been here before......the element of  a birthday surprise .......

Ready For A Few Tourist Asking Questions....

It is in the low 30's and low 20's and headed for the teens next week.  We might have some snow and ice. I guess the information booth won't have many patrons but it is 99% ready to go. I donated time and materials to make this little 5'X6' building presentable and usable for the city of Tybee Island. .

Not much room for shutters but for fun I squeezed a few on the windows

View  from the hut

The hut was moved to this spot on a front loader by the wonderful city workers

BEFORE

 

The information hut "BEFORE". Having a positive attitude about the proposed project helped. Actually, having a positive attitude about life really helps. My Dad taught me this when I was very young and it has been extremely important in all aspects of my life and my work.

The Room that Smiles!!!

Here are the lamps in the bedroom. (12/6 blog) They look like something from Anthropologie that cost $495.00 dollars, but they were $39.99 each and the spray paint was $3.49. We used all the existing brightly colored Ralph Lauren linens and the orange paisley pillow was in a chair in the living room. Actually it is one of my favorite pillows ((5 years ago I had it made for the dark wicker chair.) It made it's way into the bedroom and finally as the place of honor in the middle of the bed.

By the way, a giant German Shepherd  named Gus sleeps here!

The New Information Hut at Tybee Island

I volunteered my time and the materials to refresh an old building on Tybee Island. It is not quite finished but here is a progress report. It could use some  landscape and a few more final touches. I blogged about it on the 29th of October.
 It took "tybee time" for the busy workers to get it wired and permitted and painted the Jane Coslick colors http://www.janecoslickcottagecollection.com/ The colors needed to blend with the benches and the light post and yet draw your attention to the tiny building. I used TYBEE TURQUOISE , MELON, and LUSCIOUS LITTLE COTTAGE PINK for accent. I may add a few shutters on the side window from my store but it has some charm and personality.

I LOVE A CAN OF SPRAY PAINT !!

I am working on a surprise bedroom makeover.
I ran across these lamps and decided to really push for the major "Happiness Factor".
I added great old french shutters and yellows, reds, aqua's and the brightest yellow (old Ralph Lauren bed Linens)as part of the mix.
The clients is away for the month and I am DE-depressing the room. It is painted a deep blue with heavy furniture and a more formal feel.
Not any more.......


FIRST ORANGE FUNKY LAMPS FOR EACH SIDE OF THE BED

New Project..New Bellamy painting.. New colors for a Condo

I have a new job....
I am putting a new face on an old condo. I have to admit, I have never been a fan of condos because usually fabulous old buildings have been torn down to make way for the giant condominium. I am a "window freak" and condos don't have many windows. They do have sliding glass doors with a view of the clients yatch so "Hey" ,"I am up for the challenge!"
First thing,... gone are the gold framed prints,  dark green sofa and ruffled lamp shades.. No unlimited budget but budget for a few great pieces of furniture, throw pillows and real art.
Second thing.. off to Bellamy's studio for some laughter and creating a new look for these special clients. I had a few great old pieces of furniture with lots of patina and character and 3 throw pillow that would add so much to this normal place.( I actually saw the same pillows in Elle Decor's Show house in two wing chairs.)
I wanted to create a color pallet that was unique and uplifting ,and when I saw the Crab painting that Bellamy had just finished, I was thrilled.
The new, the old, and that element of surprise.
I am waiting on the delivery of the neutral slip covered sectional sofa and the wild and crazy mix of throw pillow, lamps and end tables.

Hopefully, by the 15th of December  the condo will ready for photos and ready for a visit from Santa Claus. Hope he brings a new headboard for the Master bed room and a great piece of art for over the sofa and the zinc chest from Restoration Hardware for the master bedroom  and...and ...and
 
                            TURQUOISE, CITRON, GREEN AND A SPLASH OF ORANGE

 

The Jane Coslick Cottage Cats..................

Animals are my other passion!!!!! ( some people think  feral kitties can't  become  family pet)  NOT SO ...
I am blessed by sharing my life with 5 kitties at A Bohemian Cottage and 7 that were fed by a man for 4 years and then abandoned .They were born in the back yard of my first cottage and I fed them in the beginning.  I now feed them again at "99steps to the beach" .There are 2 sets of identical twins in the group and I love to watch them play together.  They have all been spayed and neutered by the Milton project.
I have designed a habitat at the Bohemian for  the 5 that live with me .... complete with a gazebo, windows in the fence for easy access, several kitty doors and their own "room".
They all get along with  my dog Lucky and Foster , my dog angel, loved all of them.
I am involved with the Milton project, a spay, neuter and release project for the kitties It is part of the Coastal Pet Rescue group that helps homeless animals http://www.coastalpetrescue.org/. I have met so many wonderful caring people who give so much of their time to help . I am donating $5.00 dollars of every cottage book sold on my online  this year  to the Milton Project . I hope one day soon to have a cottage tour and design seminar to raise money and awarness of the good work that they do.
http://www.themiltonproject.org/http://www.themiltonproject.org/