MERRY CHRISTMAS!

 

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Thanks to all of you for your readership and support. I have been a little MIA for the past few months as I have worked on a big illustration project that I am very excited about. I will be posting more frequently in 2014 and get back into the swing of things.

 

I want to wish you all a wonderful, peaceful Christmas and a New Year full of blessings and true joy.

I have so much to be thankful for this year, many happy changes in my life, new opportunities and challenges. Most of all I am thankful that God sent His Son as a humble, helpless baby to bring light into this dark world, healing to our hearts and hope for us all as our Saviour and best friend throughout our lives and beyond.

Here is one of my most favorite pieces of music that tells it all!

Love, Anne

LONDON PART 2 - FORTNUM & MASON

How cliche' and yet not complaining because the ambiance is worth every chilled drop.....

London in the rain on the steps of St. Martin-in-the-Fields.

Hello Everyone! I have emerged from my work cave to post again. I've missed blogging regularly, but have had some neat opportunities that have translated into much work lately. So, while very thankful, I am at the same time a bit behind and meant to share these photos of our trip to London sooner.

Well, better late than ever, I guess. We had a wonderful time and one of the highlights was hitting up the famed Fortnum & Mason, which prides itself on its long-standing royal warrant.  All departments and floors were great, but the basement full of groceries, many unique to England, was my favorite. Looking for "Kentish Cobnuts"? they have 'em! (above)

This stuff fascinates me.

 Talk about eye candy. They have presentation mastered.

A little something for everyone......surf, turf or.......

fowl

Feel dizzy yet? It's called "out-of-focus". I wasn't sure how the management felt about Americans snapping photos, so I didn't have much time to make sure everything was clear. 

We had a delightful lunch in the Parlor. Attention to detail and British charm won the day. The staff at the store has politeness and civility mastered. They give British propriety a good name.

The counter at the Parlor @ Fortnum & Mason

The tabletops feature beautiful illustrations of auriculas and scroll-y details.

Loved the retro chairs with pale chartreuse upholstery and the huge sash windows overlooking Regent Street.

My husband ordered a milkshake and it came on this silver tray.

I had the Welsh Rarebit with tomato marmalade. It was delicious and perfect for a mid-day repast on a cold day in London.

Loved this charming ornament in the Christmas department.

It seems that the British are quite liberal in their use of the term "proper". We kept seeing it on labels, including these potato chips.

I did see some very proper and gorgeous tea pots and accoutrements. 

My favorite thing in the store was this intricately detailed boat model with aqua trimmed upholstery. 

Very cool. I'd need to sell a few more paintings before I could justify shelling out major $$$ for it, though.

Tea lover that I am, I came away with a trademark tin of house Assam. 

The F & W signature color is a very pretty one. I am a sucker for great packaging. (ignore tacky plastic seal - function over form - gotta keep it fresh for a while)

It's impossible to catalogue all the good things I saw here. I can only say that I strongly suggest you make it a priority to visit if you haven't yet been. There's something so refreshing and comforting about a truly old-fashioned department store with multiple floors, restaurants, professional staff and truly unique items. These places remind me of my childhood and are sadly a dead and dying breed in the U.S.

I hope that you enjoy your Monday and that your week gets off to a great start.

More soon!

CYBER MONDAY SALE AT ANNECHOVIE

Today only! 20% off everything in my shop with code CYBERMONDAY

Type in at checkout to receive your discount.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Happy Thanksgiving from Florida!

I'm celebrating Thanksgiving with my wonderful husband and family. I am thankful for so many good things in my life that are gifts from God - especially this past year and least of not which, YOU my faithful and supportive readers. I wish you all a wonderful and meaningful Thanksgiving with those you love celebrating all of the blessings in your life.

AND MY GIFT TO YOU - 20% OFF IN MY SHOP UNTIL SATURDAY WITH CODE:

BLACK20

CHARMS OF LONDON, PART 1

I had the privilege to be in London last week with my husband and we enjoyed our time immensely!

It's been a while since I was last there and so I was eager to see if my former haunts looked the same.

One of the highlights of my short stay was hitting up The Conran Shop. The windows alone were destination worthy and the shop's contents certainly didn't disappoint either. The popular British use of the word "BRILLIANT" is what came to my mind.

This place is a hotspot for fans of British design and funky, offbeat wares that don't follow a generic path or lull you into visual doldrums. Founded by Sir Terence Conran, a British design maven and entrepreneur who has weathered decades of trends and founded his own design dynasty, this shop is housed in the historic Michelin House in Chelsea that first opened in 1911 and includes a fabulous restaurant, Bibendum.

Eye candy is another term that comes to mind.....color and cool little accessories and items to give your home and office personality.

Their Christmas and Holiday theme is all about bright neon colors this season and is a refreshing departure from humdrum same-ness.

I was drooling in the kitchen department.....

Loved these mini kids' Kartell Ghost Chairs

A dream bed for a kid....I would've been all over this.....your own cozy little fort to sleep in.

I would snap one of these up in about 2 seconds.....

Comfort and good design are NOT mutually exclusive by any means.

I was captivated by these funky color lighted cacti and wished they had mini versions for sale

I know these colors are not for everyone, but they were right up my alley. I love how the British manage to marry tradition with updated chic style without making it seem contrived. Makes the British part of me glad to come from these folks.

Ta-ta for now and have a great weekend!

More to follow soon when I can manage to get some time away from my huge project (with deadline looming!) and all the Holiday busyness I am working on.

WISHING I HAD SOME STOUT BIRCH TREE STUMPS

I spotted this on Pinterest (where else?) and thought it was such an interesting idea.

I guess it could be done with papier-mache and or trompe l'oeil so that no trees would be harmed? Or if you happen to have some great birch stumps lying around your place, feel free to pass them on to a girl in Florida who is in far too hot a climate to grow birches.

BTW, a huge thank you to all of our Veterans today for their service!

OFF TO LONDON.....

I am off in London for the weekend with my Dear Husband. 

Who knew being married could be so sublime? We have very limited time, not enough to see all of my London friends (sadly!) but hoping to hit up a few highlights and absorb some of that delightful English vibe and culture. I may be updating via Instagram so if you'd like, you can follow me here  

Have a great weekend and I will be back soon!

HOUSE PROUD AND BLOGGER PROUD!

My friend and fellow blogger/designer Valorie Hart has just had her first book published!

It's a beautiful volume featuring unique homes in Louisiana with Valorie's inimitable viewpoint and insights resulting from her years of design experience and style savvy. Valorie has been a sweetheart and so supportive of me since we were both green bloggers years ago and the design blogging community was so much smaller. Thanks so much, Valorie for featuring some of my work and adding me in your art sources! I am honored. Please check out her book - "House Proud". It's available on Amazon here

If you're in New Orleans, stop by Modern Market on Magazine St. for a book signing tonight

 from 5:30-7:00.

You can meet the ebullient and charming Valorie for yourself!

Congratulations, Valorie! xoxo

LAYERED NICENESS

Hello Everybody!

I have emerged from my work cave to bring you an update. I am sure you haven't exactly been on tenterhooks, waking up wondering when I am going to post again, but I do feel remiss for having neglected posting lately to get other things done. I just love this room and it's relaxed cottage style. Those lampshades are calling out to me as I attempt my own lampshade customization project. That is just one in a long line of projects I am trying to pull together to inject our new place with some life, color and personality. I am attempting to convert our new home from the most generic, pablum, blah, lack of personality/color interior that you could possibly imagine to something eclectic,  interesting, comfortable and unique. I will post some before/after photos in the near future. IN the meantime, I will be posting sporadically and send you all my best. Thanks for reading and have a terrific day!

PRIZE DOORMAT

I saw this online and thought it was fun. What a great way to welcome people to your door....with a bit of humor. Find it here.

I hope that your week is going well!

TOTAL SLACKER

T.G.I.F.

I know that I have been terrible about blogging lately, but sometimes there are things that are pressing and you have to just stick to priorities and let the rest go without stressing too much. It's been another very busy week, but I am feeling better because I am checking some major tasks off my list and just met a big commission deadline. Time to take a little time off this weekend to spend celebrating my husband's birthday and catching up on a little rest. I love this photo because it conveys a homey kind of warmth and looks like a niche somewhere in a cozy London breakfast room.

Thanks to all of you fine friends who continue to read Annechovie, in spite of irregularities.

Have a wonderful weekend and see you soon!

ITALIAN GARDENS PILLOW
My latest pillow design available now HERE
HAVE A GREAT MONDAY!

PHEW!

This photo I found on Pinterest of a nook looks like a cozy spot for a little respite, something I am needing right now!

I apologize for being so MIA right now. We are still getting settled after moving and I am setting up my new studio while trying to keep up with my work, orders and a big new project in the works. Things may be a little thin here on the blog for a bit, but thanks so much for your support and patience!

Hope your week is going well! xx

CAMPAIGN CHESTS

I am drowning in a pile of to-do's but enjoying every minute of it! Today marks my 41st birthday, and I have a lot on my plate, let me tell you.

This is one project I am attempting to undertake. Transforming a notty pine, non-descript piece into a "Campaign" chest. I found it on IKEA hackers, courtesy of Pinterest (where else?) I bought 3 of these Rast chests. My sweet husband looked a little skeptical when he asked why I wanted them and what my plan was. Being the great guy that he is, he only said "I trust you" when I grinned and attempted an explanation. I will let you know what color I paint them and how they turn out.

Here goes nothin'!