Moving to Camp Palm Tree...................

You 've heard..."Next to death and marriage...moving is the most stressful thing".
Next week it happens!!!
Of course the cottage isn't ready and I have 2000 square feet of furniture to move in to 621 square feet...( not to mention my clothes, my pink bike and my 4 cats)
The closet is still wet with paint and old footed tub has not been refinished. I had forgotten that the bottom was still rough where someone had tried to clean it with muricatic acid and pitted the bottom.
First thing on the list tomorrow morning...call a professional.




Here is the security guard. I just love love love palm trees!!!!

 






It is definitely a happy place..I give it that much. I am using what I have until I can dig deep into my storage unit to find the 65 or 66 favorite things I own.( that will pretty much fill up the cottage) The serious problem with that is..."I love it all so much and I enjoy my things". I am a serious treasurer hunter and right now my storage unit is full and my office is full and my truck is full. My favorites are on loan to friends who need styling and in my other shed on Isle of Hope(that may turn into a cottage at ony moment..but not this month)
When I sold A Bohemian Cottage in September I left it full of furniture that I love and miss . The new owner loves it as much as I so it's fine. I have been restoring and furnishing and designing and creating for years. ....and leaving favorite things along the way.



I found this photo Richard leo Johnson took 12 years ago looking into the living room dining room and kitchen. I scanned it to share.That man is so talented !!!!





HATS for the sunshine....where is that sun screen? It is going to be 78 degrees today and  I will be walking the beach pondering my future. Sometimes there are bumps in the road of life and I need some time for some serious pondering!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

               

 Wish me luck . I will share some photos of the process.........

The Christmas Gift of a" Bellamy" and a Happy New Year!!!!

Happy Belated New Year and here is the Photo of the Christmas gift of  Bellamy art!!!!!! I love it that you wanted to see the gift.

. I would have been back sooner but my computer has been sick and at the doctor!!!1 I got it back yesterday....

It was perfect and they loved it. It worked with their beautiful furnishings and finished off the room beautifully!!!

I love what they have done with their home . The great ottoman came from Habersham Antique Galleryhabershamantiquesmarket.com The coral was from my mother's collection and the silver tray was/is mine. My  mother and I bid on it at Wexler's Auction house in Washington DC. When we got home I could tell it  had to been a Butler's tray. I used to serve things to my guest and always wanted to have it engraved.... "The Butler died". It was so heavy and could I only dream of the world of Butlers...
I live in 640 square feet and this  tray is 3 feet wide.....Scaling down is not always easy but as long as the things you let go of go to a good home..it is less difficult.
I began my journey in a 3000 square foot house( where the tray lived) to 640 square feet my new home!!!!( Not much room for much!!!!)

The Bellamy Rooster was the other gift for their kitchen. They are starting a collection of roosters.......

This Bellamy Oyster was a wedding gift from her to them. It is unique in its colors and looks amazing in their house.It pulls out all the great colors in their home. 

On the Happy New Year note .. I got to visit with my good friend and  buddy "Putty" on NEW YEAR'S DAY and eat collard  green for money  and blackeyed peas for luck .

Is that a beautiful face or what!!!

Happy New Year from our house to yours!!!!!!!

SIMPLE BUT IT MEETS OUR NEEDS!!!!! ( feral cat colony at my cottage )

Christmas and Bellamy's House..............

I dropped by Bellamy's house to pick up a painting that was a Christmas gift for my son and his wife. I loved all the wreaths and decorations that she had made. I took a few photo to share her amazing talent and beautiful home...


THAT GIRL'S GOT TALENT.....................................

( a bit of luscious little pink... my  choice of color for the seasson)

                                                         





That girls got great style!!!!!

Merry Christmas to Bellamy and thanks for making my family's special Christmas!!!!!

The Winner of the Gift of Design!!!!

                        The Gift of Design................

Merry Christmas to everyone and thank you for taking part in the give away!!!!!!!

The winner is" Cynthia's Botanical Arts". I can't tell for certain but I think she may be in Steamboat Colorado. I just did a project there last year and I think this will be fun. I am sending her the most important tool of good design so we can create a great space for her.
I wish I could work with each and everyone of you so I have decided to share a few of my techniques along the way.
The tape measure is where it begins!!!!!!
If you don't have at least a 25 foot tape with a lock on it, buy yourself one for Christmas and put your name on it in BOLD letters.
After Christmas ...... Measure your room and everything in it!!!!!!!
 Oh heck, measure all your rooms and your windows and door openings.......................
Buy yourself some graph paper and keep in touch!!!!!!

Create Instead Of Christmas Shop...........................

Anna is out of school for the Christmas holidays so we had time for a visit . I dropped by so we could play "catch up" and I took a few photos of the beautiful Christmas creations by my talented friend. We decided to work on a guest room and went shopping for wonderful things. We call it "design therapy" and have so much fun doing it. Of course the holiday is around the corner, but being with friends..................is so much more important than holiday wrapping paper  !!!!!



                        beautifully decorated tree......  ANNA STYLE

                           A beautiful hand stitched  family heirloom

                                 the latest Anna oyster shell chandelier



a few fresh cut holly branches in a glass vase...natural Christmas beauty via Anna



                                                             Merry Merry..........

love the mantel detail ( OK, is it mantel or mantle  ..dont know how to look it up)

 the  tree skirt is made of burlap

real garland for the stair case

the front door is scrumptious

close up of the tree

         a few more stockings on the way................

  PS........ THE HOLIDAY GIVEAWAY IS ALMOST HERE..REMEMBER TO SIGN UP ON THE DEC12th  POST TO WIN.

An Isle of Hope Christmas Tree.............

I love this tree and all the packages and personal touches.. no reds and greens but coastal and so beautiful.

a natural wreath of mixed greenery

the left over Christmas balls make a statement in  the vintage brass bowl

I love the mix of colors

Did I see my name on these pretty packages?

LOVE IT....they used their fur throw as the Christmas skirt..ingenious

wrapping paper that would make amazing fabric  ...........

Merry Island Christmas ..Remember to sign up for my Christmas give away of  the GIFT OF DESIGN...............................!!!

 OK........It  is time for me to  shop as fast as I can..................ready set SHOP!!!!!!
 My office Christmas tree ..............a little purple Christmas tree skirt from Target for my funny  little tree... definitely looks like a Jane Coslick Cottage  tree ..tiny but colors add a punch. 
Happy Holidays to all..............