never a lack of love...

The official day of love, St. Valentine's Day, may have come and gone, but have no fear...

you will always find love at

Surroundings by Melinda

glass blown hearts filled with sand and shells

whimsical pillows

silk flower arrangements

vintage ephemera love birds

hand made quilt heart pillows

crochet pillows with vintage broaches

decoupage flower tins

...if I didn't make these arrangements, I would never believe that the flowers are not real.

Even the bees get confused!

Try to keep romance close to your heart...no matter what the calendar says.

Every day can be Valentine's Day if you try!

visions of love from Sanibel Island

On this tiny island called Sanibel nature is very much a part of everything I do. Mother Nature herself sends love our way everyday...sometimes you just have to stop and look.

barnacles

cockle shells

sand

scallop

driftwood

heart shell

paper figs

Love can show up when you least expect it.

So keep your eyes...and your heart open.

I hope your day...life...and heart is filled with love.

Happy Valentine's Day!

inspired to create...

With all the driftwood piling up it was clearly time to make another creation.

I love making these mirrors. It's like a very intricate puzzle.

Love, love, love the process...

...and if I'm missing just the right piece...

the beach is a short bike ride down the street.

The colors and textures are so inspiring. It is the perfect addition to my growing list of must have treasures and simple pleasures.

Now it's time to head back to the Dead Wood Forest in search of a new pile.

Funny, it doesn't look or feel like "work".

I must say that I love that this is my "office"!!!

It doesn't take long at all to fill my bike basket

to the very brim.

What project to tackle next...?

I guess you'll just have to stay tuned!

I hope your days are filled with inspiration and creativity wherever you may be!

It's here!

Well it's here! My designs for the renovation of the Island Inn on Sanibel are featured in the current issue of Romantic Living magazine.

Enjoy...

*a very special thank you to Jacqueline deMontravel and Romantic Homes Magazine...

*images courtesy of Romantic Living Magazine 2012

and a little happy press...

AS SEEN IN THE ISLAND REPORTER

Latest press release:


  ACCLAIMED INTERIOR DESIGNER JUMPS INTO THE NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT

...and brings Sanibel with her




Interior designer, Melinda Graham, has had her fair share of national

recognition over the years. Not only has her work been featured in

numerous magazines and books, but she has also appeared on multiple

television shows on networks such as the Discovery Channel, HGTV, Oxygen

and NBC. Three and a half years ago, Melinda relocated her interior design

and retail business of 15 years to Sanibel Island. Surroundings by Melinda

is now a year round home décor business on Sanibel featuring her own

signature style which she refers to as “comfortable beach chic”. The shop

is filled to the brim with vintage beach inspired items for the home and

wonderful unique gift items sure to impress.





Now as a full-time Sanibel resident, Melinda has been thrust back into the

national spotlight. Melinda’s home was chosen to be photographed for the

magazine Romantic Homes. Graham’s previous home and business have been

well photographed but this will be the first time her Sanibel residence

has been chosen to grace the pages of a national magazine. The magazine’s

editor, Jacqueline deMontravel, arrived on Sanibel in November to shoot

Graham’s home and local shop. Graham had arranged for the editor and her

family to stay at the historic Island Inn. Over the summer months of 2011,

Melinda was commissioned to design the remodel of the Island Inn on West

Gulf. The renovation of the Inn was featured in a special addition of the magazine called

Romantic Living. Currently on newsstands, you can see a sample of Graham’s

work and a lovely article about the Inn and Sanibel Island on pages 18 and

19 of the magazine. Feel free to call Surroundings by Melinda for details

and magazine availability. For additional pictures of the design

renovation of the Island Inn you can visit Graham’s blog at

www.surroundingsbymelinda.blogspot.com.


“It is a privilege and an honor to have my home and shop selected to

appear on the pages of a magazine once again. I was thrilled to be able to

share the spotlight with a local iconic landmark like the Island Inn.”

Graham’s home will be featured in the April 2012 issue of Romantic Homes

magazine and her retail shop will appear in the holiday 2012 issue…just in

time for Christmas. For information about Melinda’s design work, retail

shop and availability of the magazines you can call Surroundings by

Melinda or visit her website at www.surroundingsbymelinda.com.



Surroundings by Melinda

2480 Library Way

Sanibel Island, Fl 33957

239-579-0409

driftwood, sea glass & beach side treasures...

I've found the perfect fix for a winter day in January...

whether you are here on sunny Sanibel Island or somewhere cold and blustery just dreaming of warmer days...

Can you tell I've been inspired by driftwood and sea glass...?

 

I've found lots of new goodies for the shop!

You can surround your home with this beach inspired look...

or wear it!

don't you love this driftwood hat stand...?

Whether you love it...or live it...always be inspired to achieve that beach-day mentality.

I hope you enjoyed a peek at what's new in my little shop.

Wishing you warm days...or at least fond memories of warm days!

My friend Walt

You know the expression "back to the drawing board"? Well, I desperately needed to step away from the drawing board in search of not only new goodies for my shop but for much needed inspiration. The Christmas season is clearly over and it is time for a new look for the new year. I never really change my look but I truly needed a spark of motivation. And this is how it began...

step one: go to bed early and set alarm for...gulp...6:00am
step two: put on my trusty old boots and jeans
step three: grab camera, cash and my favorite satchel
step four: find the nearest outdoor flea market
step five: happiness

You can take the girl out of West Virginia...but you can't take the West Virginia out of the girl...

I found just the right place! At the end of a long row of vendors sat a grey van, mounds of old wood and a charming character...my new friend Walt. He is nearly 80 years young and is as sweet as he is cute! And quite the story teller as well. I learned that every year Walt fishes his way from Georgia to Ohio and collects all sorts of wood along the way: driftwood, gnarly old branches, boards off boats and chunky logs whittled by beavers! He takes his haul back to his work shed in Florida and makes wonderful treasures. 

His little trailer was just filled to the brim with the best collection of weathered old bits I've ever seen.

I couldn't live without a few of these great benches...

They went directly from the old drive-in to my shop.

And the hooks he makes from old wood and railroad spikes are nothing short of fabulous!

This one lasted 24 hours in the shop. I've already put in my request for a few more...I'm doing my best to keep my new friend busy.

I guess I have found not only my inspiration but I have also made a wonderful new friend. Sorry ladies...he's taken!!! The good news is that his lovely wife is an antiques dealer...what a great team!

Now it really is time to get back to the drawing board...

but that sure was fun!

Santa Stops in the Shop...

My love of a white palette is obvious. It really makes the red berries and green garlands even more festive this time of year. Here are a few more pics of my shop decked out for Christmas...

These Christmas cards depicting Santa on the beach couldn't be more perfect for a little shop in the Gulf of Mexico!

Thanks for taking a peek!

I hope your heart is filled with holiday joy...