ALL IN THE FAMILY

I wanted to share some photos taken by my incredibly talented brother, Jeremy Harwell, of his brand-new studio.  You may have seen his creative space featured yesterday on Decor8. He's a creative dynamo and a great guy in general. I just feel blessed to have him as my brother!

You can check out Jeremy's site that includes a portfolio and links to his blog here! 

Have a great weekend!

(re-post from 3-16-12)

FLORIDA STYLE

via Gulf to Bay Sothebys

via Shorely Chic

via Palm Beach Sothebys

I hope that you had a nice weekend. I had a very nice one myself and was just thinking how blessed I feel to live in Florida. 

Moving here over 5 years ago was one of the best things I have ever done. 

We have a perfectly sunny, warm Winter and then, even in Summer, we experience cooler temperatures than many parts of the U.S.  I never grow tired of the lush vegetation, beautiful beaches and laid-back lifestyle. It's a place full of green and color year-round and being expressive with color in your dress and decorating is not frowned upon, so I fit in perfectly.

 It's definitely not a place where the chromaphobic mentality reigns! 

Viva Florida!

SPRING BULBS & CHEER

Ever since I can remember, I have loved the scent of hyacinths. From the days of long Winters growing up in the North, they have represented to me the promise and hope of Spring and warmer weather. The scent triggers a sort of euphoria in my brain and takes me back to those crisp sunny days as a preschooler, tooling around in my windbreaker on a tricycle, stopping to sniff the hyacinths planted in beds along our driveway.

To this day, hyacinths still give me a thrill....even if I am blessed enought to spend my Winters in a sunny subtropical climate now. This is just a snapshot of one I bought at my local store that I have been enjoying thoroughly. I love the way it picked up the color in my "Patchouli Seas" canvas print (available here).

Do you enjoy Spring bulbs in your home? Which flower is your favorite?

MOMENTS CAPTURED

Did you have a nice weekend? I just wanted to share this piece I painted for my boyfriend for Valentine's Day. It's from a photo taken of us last year on the beach in Hawaii. Contact me here for info on getting your own special memory immortalized on a canvas!

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

Aren't these paper fortune cookie valentines adorable?

Hope you have a wonderful day & thanks for all of the love and support you guys show me.

I truly appreciate it and love my readers. Hope your Valentine's Day is a great one! 

PALM BEACH PERFECT

** This is a re-post from a couple years back as I am currently winging my way across the country!

I will continue to post - so don't go away!! Have a terrific Monday.

I never squeal. Never. However, when I turned this page of the March issue of Coastal Living and saw this room, I think I squealed internally.  I went nuts over designer Meg Braff's Palm Beach apartment.

(click image to enlarge)

I don't think I've ever seen a home (vacation or otherwise) that embodies my personal style as well.

And to think this woman is married with 4 sons.....gotta love everything about it. All the beauty and softness balancing out all the testosterone she lives with.

This proves that guys can live without black leather and thrive.

She is amazing!

(photos via matters of style)

THANKS, EVERYBODY!

I'm sorry for being so MIA lately.  I've just moved and it's been quite a chore. The results are well worth it, though. I love my new digs and this is my shipping storage area. It's organized and everything's visible and accessible. I am a happy camper.

Trying to keep on top of my business and shipping orders while moving all of my earthly goods required some juggling and some healthy snacks to fuel me. These Trader Joe's pineapple chips are my new fave. Once again, Trader Joe's comes through. Have I mentioned that I love that place??

In the midst of my moving insanity, a local reader of my blog got in touch because she wanted to buy my Veranda magazine stash. When we met for the magazine drop-off, she surprised me with this because she had read that these salads were my favorite. Can you believe how thoughtful this lady is?? 

It really made my day - thanks so much, Irene!  One of those instances where you are reminded of how refreshing it can be to meet a truly nice person and what a joy blogging can be when you are able to interact with readers and fellow bloggers.

Speaking of nice, I also wanted to say thanks to fashion blogger Maggie Philbin for this mention of my matchboxes last week. Very sweet. You can read it here:

Mag's Rags to Riches

Well, that's a short update and I will try to catch up on commenting & posting fresh content very soon.
Thank you all for your patience & loyal support. You guys are the best!
Enjoy your weekend!!

ETSY BAZAAR

Great pillow here

Terrific tape here

Funky photo here

Class act card here

Scrumptious cookies here

Pretty pendant here

Etsy has been a great venue for me to sell my work for the last 6 years. I also try to support my fellow Etsy sellers anytime I can. If only Etsy could stop the rip-off artists who steal my work and market it as their own, I'd be perfectly happy. In the meantime, I need to send a cease and desist letter to some unscrupulous copycat who is somehow ignorant of the immutable fact that you will definitely end up reaping what you sow in life and if you're a dishonest thief, that doesn't bode well for your future. 

Ok, off my soapbox now....deep breath.

ARTIST'S PORTRAIT * CAROL GILLOT

Artist, Francophile and blogger Carol Gillot at work

Even before I first started blogging, I read about Carol Gillot and her charming watercolor paintings on Rita Konig's Domino blog. I have since been an ardent admirer of her work. She sells originals and prints of her work on her blog and in her Etsy shop. She also authors a charming blog that features all sorts of interesting photos and information on French life and culture from her frequent trips to Paris. Her posts are filled with fascinating tidbits of information, all imbued with her affection for the City of Lights. Today, she has taken the time to give us a peek into her own background and life.

Where were you born?

Abbington Hospital in Pennsylvania at 3 AM

What would you take if your house was burning down?

My favorite old black watercolor paintbox (it was my mother's), my favorite brushes and my passport.

Best childhood memory?
Going with the family for ice cream cones every Sunday and going by myself to the 5 &10 in Jenkintown to browse and comparison shop for my dollhouse.

Your favorite book?

"Life of Pi" by Yann Martel

If you could have only 1 last meal, what would you want on the menu?

Burnt marshmallows, popcorn, coffee ice cream, milk shake, caramel macarons from Laduree, a bacon sandwich and an apple.

Do you prefer hot weather or cold?

Cold weather always!

Favorite artists?
Wayne Thiebaud, Delacroix drawings, Steinberg.

Pet peeve?

People rustling candy wrappers in the theater

Favorite travel destination?

Paris of course, then Rio...

Favorite shop?
Fauchon, when it was open in New York- I used to go religiously every Sunday to worship.

Most visited links?
Laduree

Mes Vitrines

Simon Says

Easy Fashion

What is the best thing about being an artist?

You get to paint 24/7. It's also the worst thing about being an artist - extreme focusing.

Thank you, Carol! Don't forget to visit her blog here.