pretty pairings

After my last post, I was inspired to indulge in color again in an unexpected way. I think most of us strive to set a beautiful Thanksgiving table. I want to encourage you to dig into your stash of pretty china and create a beautifully colorful tablescape.

 

This beautiful pitcher is the inspiration for the table.

 

All the colors of transferware I pulled are found in the pitcher.

 

Normally I would separate my transferware and use one, maybe two, colors at a time.

 

 

Not to mention the fact that I almost exclusively use brown, grey or black transferware in the fall.

 

However, the colorful floral centerpiece featured in my last post really inspired me to push the envelope!

 

Get thinking outside the box. And don't forget to pour a festive glass of bubbly pink champagne!

Happy Thanksgiving...

 

 



smells like fall

I am a flower girl.

No matter the season!

The last post made me remember the flowers I had out for the shoot.

 

 

I am very traditional in many ways, but I don't truly think there are specific flowers for each season. This is a prime example. Pink and purple and orange for a fall centerpiece...

 

My best friend Freddy, who is a brilliant florist, introduced me to a love of vibrant colors. My home is a wash of cream and beige but I have embraced a pop of color!

 

I wish I could bottle and share this scent. The entire house smelled like heaven. Or at least what I assume heaven must smell like.

 

I will happily showcase this cheerful color scheme for Thanksgiving.

 

I am loving color!!!

Sending warm and colorful wishes to everyone...

 



autumn in a different light

Fall on a warm sunny island is nothing like fall in the hills of West Virginia. It is beautiful...just a different kind of beautiful. I love warm neutral tones and that never changes, but they seem to make the most sense this time of year.

 

 

This is the guest bedroom of my home on Sanibel. The colors are as warm as the sun streaming through the windows...

 

 

Fall on Sanibel still means 85 degree days but I love to decorate with pretty knit blankets... and sea shells of course!

 

Warm natural wood pairs perfectly with sepia toned framed vintage prints.

 

My decorating go to's for fall

(or anytime at all!)...

Natural wood, Ironstone, transferware and sea shells.

 

 

The article about my home, written and photographed for Romantic Homes really captured these warm hues...

 

 

 

If you're looking for a little fall decorating inspiration, think about adding some brown transferware or Ironstone full of seashells to your pretty autumnal vignettes.

 

 

Pretty for fall...or any time at all!

 



country roads

I have been sorting through some old photo files and reminiscing about some of my favorite magazine article assignments. (I shared the sweater ideas earlier this year.) I had traveled home one fall to West Virginia. I shot a feature and was able to get inspiration at my friends' beautiful working farm. Here are a few B-roll images I took just for fun and memories...

 

 

The farm is one of my favorite places on Earth. I grew up running around this awesome place. My dad was the minister at Sugar Grove Presbyterian Church right down the road from this very building. The main mode of transportation on the farm is a four wheeler...and that's how we got around the day of the shoot.

 

This special guy is Chauncy, he's like family to me and this is his farm. I rode in a wagon behind him and this was my view as we crossed the creek...

 

As I look at this picture, I have to believe John Denver was sitting here when he first sang Country Roads.

 

And the sheep were the entire reason for the shoot. I was writing an article about repurposing old sweaters... sheep, wool, sweaters! That's how my "sheep shoot" idea came to be.

 

There were so many beautiful things to shoot that day. The barbed wire "wreath" and wild flowers glistening in the sunlight, the weathered barnwood and the Dutch door with a rusty horseshoe. It's all perfection!  

 

Below is an image from the article...

 

See a few of the sweater upcycled projects? Hint: the pillow covers and purse.

 

This pretty girl was my muse and she didn't even make the editor's cut for the magazine. But I loved her so here she is!

 

Few things are as lovely (or should I say "wild and wonderful") as autumn in West Virginia.

 

If you've never seen the leaves turning colors in WV, put a visit on your bucket list. You won't be disappointed. Happy Fall Y'all!

 

 

cobalt blue

Fall is such a beautiful and colorful season! Several years ago I photographed a home for a possible article. I was always taking scouting shots just in case an editor was looking for something that I had in my photo files. Although this home wasn't published, I think it's so lovely that I just had to share!!! And to me it perfectly represents fall...beautiful and colorful!

 

 

I discovered this home sort of by accident. The home owner came into my Sanibel Island shop and commissioned me to make this wreath. The scale is hard to tell. It's 3 feet across! That's a lot of hydrangeas and sunflowers.

 

Cobalt and copper are a spectacular pairing for fall. The addition of vibrant yellow sunflowers makes this cheerful kitchen perfection!

Welcome Fall...

 

 



seashells past

Sometimes I think I can actually see how my brain works through looking at blog posts.

I am going to share a few pictures of vintage seashell crafts. Looking back I just posted about flea marketing...

then a post about my mom...

now seashells because I'm daydreaming about all the summers I spent picking up sea shells with my family.

flea marketing

mom

sea shells

The connection is clear...

these are a few of my favorite things!

 

 

Some time ago, I photographed numerous vintage shell crafts for an article in Victorian Homes magazine. Since that time I have been inspired to look for shell collectables. Like the bouquet of coquina shell flowers above to the tiny hand painted purse below.

 

These items gained popularity during Victorian times and continued to be a favorite pastime throughout the 1900's.

The purse and perfume bottle are lovely examples of the late 1800's through the early 1900's.

 

Shell encrusted vases and pots gained popularity in the 1940's and 50's.

 

I simply adore this precious piece dated 1901...

I thought it was an inkwell until I saw the tiny spoon which led me to think salt cellar.

 

I love collecting shell boxes. Even this little lid alone is a welcome addition to my home.

 

Keep an eye out when thrifting, yard sale-ing and flea marketing. Sometimes you can find a wonderful shell item when you least expect it...and for a deal!

Happy hunting...