a touch of romance

Love is in the air and my heart is full!

Come along and follow me through the doors of Surroundings and you too will fall in love...

if only for the moment...

Even though my palette is always a wash of white and cream...it is impossible to hide the true colors of romance. Touches of red pepper the shop and warm the senses as well as the soul!

I love vintage linens and it is a joy to showcase these cheerful French classics.

Worn, loved and treasured...

and they have the character to prove it.

From torn linens to elegant china...it all blends together seamlessly.

A few scraps of upholstery fabric, a yard or two of grosgrain ribbon, and a vintage velvet rose...

Voila...romance!

...And a touch of country gingham goes a long way. This tufted heart garland is as whimsical as it is charming.

Of course no display in my shop is complete without the addition of a nest..every season is the reason for a new beginning...hence the nest! 

 Thanks for joining me on this heart felt tour of Surroundings. I send you warm wishes and rose scented dreams!

Fill your heart and home with love during this most romantic season!  XOXOXO

take a peek...

January began as most every month for me...with the restaging of the shop. The showroom has a new look for the new year! Well not a new look exactly but lots of new and wonderful things.

Take a look for yourself...

I have also been adding lots of new treasures that you will be able to purchase through our new online shoppe...

www.surroundingsbymelinda.com

One of my favorites and best sellers in the shop is our lovely collection of hand milled and over-sized soaps.

The scents are sublime...

the suds are divine...

...and the packaging is elegantly refined!

I am so thrilled to be able to share all the new changes with you.

Thank you so much for stopping by...

...and I hope to see you again very soon!

back to the drawing board...

Inspiration comes from everywhere. It can come from the most obscure places or it can be something we see every single day. I am so blessed to have the Gulf of Mexico at the end of my street...now that's inspiration!

The shelling has been spectacular this winter!!! And needless to say...I have been spending less time working and more time with the sand between my toes. But now it is time to get back to the drawing board and I have taken my inspiration with me once again...

Even though my shop maintains a very defined look comprised of white vintage lovely feminine wares...my design work spans a multitude of styles. No matter how traditional or modern...residential or commercial...the project may be I always refer to nature and history for my design inspiration.

Texture, color, form...it all comes from the past. Look to the familiar when attempting to create the extraordinary. I have collected many beautiful shells and shaken the sand from my shoes. It's time to officially get back to the drawing board!

This is a sneak peek of things to come. Thanks for visiting me at my drafting table. I can't wait to show you the end result...stay tuned!

Yummy Fun in the Kitchen

Well this blog is starting to make me look like a pastry chef...truth be told, I am barely a cook. But my love of decorating always takes over...even in the kitchen! I thought I would share my favorite super simple spice cake recipe that I made this holiday season...

Here is what you will need...

boxed spice cake mix

3 eggs

1 1/4 cups apple sauce

1/3 cup vegetable oil

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/2 tsp ground ginger

1/2 tsp nutmeg

First, preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Next, grease and flour a bundt pan. Combine all ingredients above in a large bowl...then, using an electric mixer, mix on medium speed for 2 minutes. Pour the batter into the greased and floured bundt pan and place on the center rack in your oven. Bake for 40 minutes... Allow the cake to cool 5 minutes before removing from the pan. Be patient and allow the cake to cool completely before decorating!

Now the fun begins! What you will need for decorating...

30 ginger snap cookies

12 oz container of cream cheese frosting

1 can green cupcake frosting with decorating tips

1 can red cupcake frosting with decorating tips

green crystal sugar

clear sugared glitter flakes

Grind gingersnaps in a food processor and set aside. Frost entire cake with the white cream cheese frosting. Gently pat the ground gingersnaps into the sides of the frosted cake. Next, attach the leaf tip to the can of green frosting. Cover the entire top of the cake with tiny green leaves. Be sure to practice on a piece of waxed paper. Start the leaves in the center of the cake and work your way around and around until the top of the cake is covered and looks like a wreath! Now sprinkle the green sugar lightly over the leaves. Using the drawing tip on the can of red frosting, randomly make small dots to resemble berries on the wreath. For a wonderful finishing touch, sprinkle clear sugar flakes over the entire cake...it will glisten and shine in the soft candlelight. I like to think of it as fairy dust...!

I love to bake...I love to decorate...but most of all...I love sharing a piece of cake and a cold glass of milk with the people I love! I would like to send a special thanks to the Craig Family...especially Cooper...for helping me finish the entire cake! I hope you will be inspired to create something beautiful...and yummy!



a recipe for Christmas cheer...

I think I may have found a holiday tradition that is the culmination of all the things that bring me joy...

baking, decorating, crafting, collecting, and gardening...! 

One late evening...as visions of sugar plums danced in my head...it came to me like a magical dream! I flipped on the lights, wrapped up in my robe and ran to the kitchen. Everything I needed for my creation came dancing out of the pantry...

cereal

hard candy

powdered sugar

gingerbread mix...

pretzel rods
graham crackers
frosting
rice crispies
marshmallows...

...and lots and lots of love

This is the recipe for my winter sweet creations...and the result is a great deal of joy! Vintage cake stands elevate the lovely winter fairy houses and give them a stage on which to shine. Tiny candles illuminate the candied stained glass windows from within adding a warm delicate glow. Domesticity is an honorable art. Now it's time for you to dig through your pantry and bring your vision of sugar plums to life too!

A New and Wonderful Favorite...

For anyone who has a love of orchids...and all things to beautify your home inside and out...you will adore this incredible shop.

Awesome Orchids

plants pots and more

As you walk up to the door, you are surrounded by lush green and flowering plants, serene seating, stunning beds of river stones and then you realize...you haven't even entered the shop!

Every inch of this precious establishment is filled with exquisite nature inspired accessories. Each corner...and every space in between...is expertly arranged by an artful eye to create spectacular vignettes.

Orchids clearly take center stage...but all the details that create the shop are intricately entwined to set this theatrical work of art.

You will find special treasures for any person you hold near and dear to your heart...or simply take time to spoil yourself with a gift to raise your spirit.

Butterflies, birds and all sorts of whimsy embellish the decor with a graceful elegance.

It is so clear that the owners not only take pride in their profession...but they truly love the environment in which they create. Thank goodness that this talented family opened their hearts, talents and world and allowed us to enter. From all of us who love what you do..thank you Eve, Alan and Martha! Please visit the shop website for more information...

http://awesomeorchids.com/index.html.

 

Now go have an adventure, and start at Awesome Orchids in Sarasota!

Until next time...be blessed and always bless others.

The Country Living Fair...

It was a beautiful early fall day...pumpkins were all around!
Between the pumpkins were wonderful treasures and special new friends waiting to be found...

For all the inspiration I couldn't ask for more...

...especially this charming wreath on a simple white door!

Thanks to everyone who made the Country Living Fair a beautiful event for all...

I had a wonderful time!

For the love of vintage linens

From a passion of collecting lovely linens comes the latest category of goods added to the virtual shoppe...

Here is a sneak peek of a few items coming soon to our online shoppe. It has been such a joy preparing for this new venture!

aprons and pillows

antique organdy table linens

organza champagne roses

crochet in many forms

just another day in the office

For the past month I have been glued to my computer...but have totally ignored this blog. It has been a hectic few weeks around here. After almost 17 years of owning a retail shop, I have decided to launch an online virtual store. I have been knee deep in photo shoots but it has been wonderful. Here are a few product pics from the most recent shoot...

It is such a blessing to love my job...I am free to be creative and work means wearing sundresses and walking in the waves...

This is what a day at the office should look like.

I can't wait til this new business is launched!

Stay tuned...