blessings...

I would like to start by saying

God is good.

 

This has been an amazing and busy month...

 

It began with riding the high of the truly lovely feature in
Where Women Create...

 

Then was the release of the April Romantic Homes issue...

 

 

Next stop: I bundled up and flew North to get my first look at the plans for the commercial job I will be working on over the next few months...burr...

 

 

Then I was so excited to see my article in Flea market Décor...

 

The retail and online shops were beginning to look a little depleted so I added new items to the inventory

inspired by the photo shoot in my garden...

 

Surroundings by Melinda

 

 

Then came Kitchens & Baths...

 

And to my surprise an amazing feature about my shop in

Romantic Country...

 

I was honored to be asked to be a guest speaker for the ladies of the Captiva Islands Yacht Club...

 

 

Then off to Sarasota to photograph the wonderfully talented Susie Holt's beautiful shop and café for an upcoming book...

 

 

 

...and I returned home to host a Gathering in the Garden

round table discussion in my garden...

 

 

I have a grateful heart.

 

I would like to give a very special thanks to my family and friends who are always so very supportive and encouraging. It has been a long and winding journey and I am grateful for every failure and success along the way.

 

God is good indeed.

 

Can't wait to see what comes next...

 

gratitude...

It is a blessing to have the opportunity to create lovely things for a living.

My "real job" as an interior designer is fulfilling but surprisingly not always as rewarding as some of my smaller projects. I have many requests for special orders in my shop from handmade floral arrangements to shell embellished mirrors to vintage inspired jewelry to my quirky little dresses. But my number one requested items are still custom made wreaths. 

For 20 years I have been filling orders for the amazing people who visit my shop. Just like the wonderful people that enter my shop...no two jobs are ever the same.  

 

I have been running ragged for weeks but when this sweet British lady came into my shop and requested to have wreaths made from the shells she collected here on Sanibel...

how could I possibly say no...?

 

I had to give them a test run on the front doors of my shop before they could be delivered.

 

It warms my heart to make people happy.

 

No matter how crazy the store becomes...or how quickly the magazine deadline is approaching...or how many floor plans need to be reviewed...I love to work in my little shop in the quiet hours of the night filling orders for my very special customers. Sometimes I moan about work loads piling up around me...but as I stand in the workroom in the wee hours of the night with a glue gun in hand I have to be thankful for every single opportunity that I have been given. It's not the size of the job...it's the fact that people continue to cross the threshold of my little shop. God willing, I will continue to fill orders...work in my shop...make pretty dresses...develop design schemes...run the online business...and meet magazine deadlines. There would not be a Surroundings by Melinda with YOU.

 

Thank you for allowing me to be able to do what I do!

a few more...

I didn't just find beach treasures...

Here is the rest of the stash from my recent haul...Enjoy!

 

These old child sized shoe-maker forms are absolutely precious!

 

 

And my love affair with vintage jars is never ending!

 

The utilitarian "junk" makes me swoon!

 

This tin is quite old but it is in perfect condition.

 

There is just something beautiful about these old scissors...

 

Who knows what this little key will become but I simply love it!

 

Who can resist an old cloth tape measure...?

Not me!

The case has rusted to perfection and the reel is in terrific working condition.

 

All vintage garden items are irresistible to me...

 

This metal frog lid on this jar is heavenly...

 

I am pretty sure these garden tools will become handles for a little cabinet.

 

I adore this Vaseline jar!

 

...and I couldn't be more thrilled to find this tiny box still full of its tacks.

 

Yet another obsession of mine...

BOXES

wooden, metal, drawers and tiny cigar boxes with the paper labels in tact

LOVE

 

Don't hesitate to email or call the shop if you see a treasure that you can't live without.

Soon they will be transformed and lovingly placed in my Sanibel Island store 

or tucked into the pages of my online shop.

 

Surroundings by Melinda

 

239.579.0409 

 

 

vintage beach treasures

Work has been so busy that I have not had many opportunities 

to scavenge for more vintage goodies for the shop.

Upon finishing a magazine photo shoot out of town last week
I was able to sneak away for a little treasure hunting!

Yippee...I struck it rich!
 

Here are a few vintage beach inspired treasures

that will soon be added to our retail and online shops...

 

This vintage tin is the epitome of a vintage beach treasure!

 

The painted metal lids of these old jars are a beautiful sea blue...

and I love this vintage wooden handled jar opener!

 

This watercolor is dated 1967 and says Fort Myers Beach...

 

How sweet are these pelicans...?

 

 

I found a box full of these huge arrowhead sand dollars...

 

 

...and a bushel basket of whelks from the Florida Keys!

 

I love anything that has to do with the beach...can you tell?

 

Please email or call the shop if you are interested

in any items before they are put out for sale.

 

Surroundings by Melinda

 

239.579.0409

 

 

 

beach comber's lamp...

Some projects come together immediately...

others take a bit longer.

This one was a year in the making!

I found this wonderful old post light while out junking.

The patina was perfection but it was not in working order.   

 

It had all of the metal pieces

and the beveled glass was beautifully intact...

but it didn't have any of the screws or wiring.

 

I added the candelabra lights in three different heights...

Then after almost a year of searching for just the right base,

I found two wonderful old pieces of wood.

The colors were spot on! Then it just needed to be constructed.

My Mom and Dad were visiting and this was the perfect

Father-Daughter project!

My Mom and I share an obsession for shelling

so the finishing touches were and obvious choice!

All that needed to be done was a fine top coat of a matte polyurethane to protect the patina.

It was a great deal of fun

and now I can't wait for the next project!!!

 

I love my job...and my awesome parents!