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Travel and More

By |2023-09-28T12:19:05-04:00September 28, 2023|fashion, Travel, Uncategorized|

Due to popular demand (!) and after looking over some of my more popular posts I will do a short recap here of what I am packing for my upcoming trip.

It’s a tricky one. A week in Manchester, UK where I will be staying in daughter’s house: she, her husband, the baby and the dog. It’s bound to be cooler than here in North Carolina; and chances are it will be wet some of the time. But I DO keep clothes over there. Sweat pants, sweaters, socks, pajamas, warm flannel robe, assorted hair and skin products. And of course I can, and do, use some of her things .

Let’s begin with my first week and what I will be doing:

This visit I will be doing some gardening. Surprise surprise! They bought a cart load of plants and bulbs in anticipation. Last May we had a great time planting for spring and summer. I am happy to say the Sweet Pea seeds germinated beautifully and they had lovely flowers; the hanging planter we bought at the local allotment sale is still…. going strong; the geraniums have flourished; and on and on.  So this time it will be bulb planting in the bed in front and in pots in back. And there is talk of my redoing a […]

Holiday Time

By |2022-12-07T20:55:14-05:00December 8, 2022|Inspiration, Uncategorized|

The holidays are fast approaching. How are you doing?

Each year that BIG DAY seems to arrive faster and faster. These days with all the on-line shopping we do… thanks to both Covid and the convenience of the world’s largest department store, Amazon, all we have to do is click that Paypal button and whoooosh….it ‘s done!

But I will tell you that my very favorite place to shop is Etsy. First, I really do try to shop local and/or small. Secondly, because I am an Etsy vendor I know how important each and every sale is.  And last, I think both the variety of goods and the customer service is unequalled .

For instance. There are two little girls I need to buy for. I won’t be seeing them at Christmas but they are the sweetest, cutest girls. Anyway, the older one was easy and done quickly at a makers market here in Chapel Hill. The younger one: hmmmm? Her mother said “Oh, some kind of bag or satchel or purse. She loves to carry cherished items around the house.”  Okay.  So off to Etsy to shop.

I mean, how cute is this? It’s 6 “x 4 ” and oh so perfect for those treasures!

It’s been a busy […]

FRIDAY FLOWERS: THE LATE AUGUST GARDEN

By |2018-08-30T20:54:16-04:00August 30, 2018|Friday Flowers, Uncategorized|

Just when we thought the hottest part of the summer was behind us…wham!….it his hot hot hot here again.
Each year, as a gardener, I find new and different plants that (I hope) will do well in the prolonged hot spells here. Luckily I DID install two separate watering systems a few years ago: they are absolute life-savers when we go away. I don’t think I would have a garden at all without them…

Zinnias, of course, are at their peak now. And the lime green, from FloretFarms, has not disappointed. It also looks fabulous in all my arrangements and photos with the dark dahlias, verbena bonariensis and my most loved scabiosa black knight.

 

In all its glory:

 

I have several Guara plants on my “southern slope” that always do well in May and June. Then they begin to die out. So this year I cut them way, way back (always a difficult task as you just never know…..) and yes indeed, they came back beautifully in August.

 

And the hyacinth bean vine!
We started these early, in a greenhouse, so they were ready to plant outside in early April. And they absolutely took off. I […]

NEW PRODUCTS FOR A COLORFUL SPRING

By |2018-04-08T17:39:22-04:00April 8, 2018|Uncategorized|

Are you ready for some color for Spring?
Are you looking for some new gift ideas for…Mother’s Day?

This is a copy of a direct email I just sent out (you may have received one.)

Many new products for you to see! Of course, there are greeting cards. But I have also finished two different collections of cute gift tags and cards: one is a flat card with twine attached and the other is a fold over card with white envelopes. Take your pick!

And finally, I am trying something new: ceramic mugs. As you may know, ceramics have long been a favorite of mine and I designed many, many different lines when I had a design studio. Some things just keep coming back, don’t they? Anyway, I hope you will take a look and let me know if you have any questions.

To note: I am offering a 10% discount on ANYTHING YOU ORDER through the end of April !!!

 

LONDON PART 2

By |2018-03-18T13:53:20-04:00March 18, 2018|Uncategorized|

One highlight of our trip was, of course, some shopping. A trip to
Liberty of London
did not disappoint…except that it was SO crowded. Note to self and all of you: do not go on a Saturday.

The ground floor was, to me, the least interesting. But the home furnishings on, I think, the 3rd floor was wonderful. Those small sort of “pop-up” shops/stalls from independent crafters and makers were so colorful and unique. Expensive goods…but great pictures!

 

Another really fun visit for us was to the
Winnie-the-Pooh exhibition at the V&A.

It was just wonderful!
The museum made it very child friendly and accessible, with dials, dioramas, descriptive plaques and imagery all at child-eye-level. And there were lots and lots of children!

But I particularly enjoyed learning about the author and illustrator, A.A.Milne and E.H. Shepard. They both had sons and it is clear their inspiration came from those boys. And remember, this story was conceived and then published a few years after The Great War when the world, and especially England, welcomed such an uplifting, innocent and joyful world view.

My favorite purchase: two sweet, adorable mugs!

A random image of buttons from the shop:

 

More COLOR […]

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