TURKEY DAY - A RETROSPECT

This Thanksgiving, we broke with tradition and had our family meal at my little sister's house.

I love her kitchen - she is an amazing cook and did a wonderful job of hosting everyone.

It was just crisp enough to enjoy a nice fire

It was a beautiful, perfect day outside

Not exactly what most people picture when you say 'Thanksgiving", but it works for me!

How did you celebrate??

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

This is a prayer that my mother first saw framed and hanging in Garrison Keillor's dining room in a magazine. I sketched it all in for her and she painted it with gold on a blue strie background. It hangs in her kitchen now. It reads:
" O Lord, we thank you for this food, for every blessing, every good - For eartly sustenance and love, Bestowed on us from Heav'n above. Be present at our table, Lord, Be here and everywhere adored. Thy children bless and grant that we may feast in paradise with Thee."

This is one of my early paintings, done back in the 90's when I was a young whippersnapper! I love to sit by the fire when it's chilly (I never dress like this, though. LOL)

I want to wish all of my US friends a very Happy Thanksgiving! I am heading out of town to my little sister's house to spend it with my family. I am thankful for the countless good things that I am blessed with. Even thankful for the things that don't always appear so good at the time, that are often transformed into blessings later. I am thankful for all of you loyal readers, clients, fellow bloggers and friends. I wish all of you a very pleasant rest of the week/weekend! You guys are the best!

POSTING TIME

I often sit here on my sofa, sometimes with a little bag of contraband and my notebooks, working on my blog posts. Chocolate has been known to stimulate creativity, you know!

I slip off my flip-flops, prop up my feet and type. Today I've got some new merchandise to peddle.....just in time for Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanza (and any other holiday I may be neglecting to mention).

Orange Bergere Chair

Royal Worcester Jar

Here is the latest addition to the stationery selection on my Etsy site. I am now offering a set of 8 flat scalloped notecards/envelopes. The paper is a beautiful weight and there are 5 different designs. These can also be personalized with your name or initials!

RedChinoiserieChair

Orange Chair Silhouette

Palm Beach Chair

These note cards make great stocking stuffers or hostess gifts and you are supporting Indie art at the same time! Be sure and check out my shop and so many others on Etsy this Holiday Season - unique and handmade gifts you won't find everywhere else, delivered to you straight from the artists.

NEW HOMES FOR MY WORK

These photos were sent to me by Anna Spiro of Absolutely Beautiful Things. They are of her gorgeous shop and design firm in Brisbane, Australia. Here she framed 2 of my prints, Ikat Chair and Courtney Barnes Chair. Anna's trademark is classic style mixed with lively color and I think she couldn't have chosen a lovelier way to frame these!

These two prints are now in Kate Conroy's Manhattan home. I really like the gold bamboo frames she chose.

When you put a lot of time into creating something, you can't help but be interested in what happens once it leaves your hands and ends up in it's new home. It's always fun for me to see the photos that my wonderful customers/clients send me of my work hanging in their homes (and, in the case of the top photos, their shop). It's very fulfilling to see them put their own personal stamp on my work with their framing choices and make it a part of their environment. I feel so grateful to not only be able to do something I love, but also that I get the opportunity to meet such exceptionally nice people via my blog and Etsy site. Just a reminder that I SO appreciate the support of all of you - readers, clients and fellow bloggers. You never fail to brighten my day! I hope everyone has an especially nice weekend and I will see you back here on Monday.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

Wouldn't one of these matted and framed prints make a quick and easy gift? These are 8x10 inches (image size is 5x7) and have an easel back that will stand on any flat surface or is equally suitable to hang on your wall. Frames are also available in black with a white mat. Contact me here or check out my Etsy site.

CAN I QUOTE YOU?

Nothing like a colorful and positive message to brighten your space! Whether it's a hallway, powder room, office, bedroom or anywhere! Here are a few new quote posters in addition to a couple of my most popular. They are all 11x14 inches (actual image is 8.25 x 10.75 - white margin for framing). They are printed with primo inks on high quality, heavyweight paper and available with or without mat and frame. Available now on my Etsy site. Custom designs/quotes are also available - just contact me here for more information.

A LITTLE CAFFEINE, PERHAPS?

One of my "pink espresso" mugs available now on my Etsy site

I am not really a morning person, I'll admit it. Like many people, I enjoy starting my day with a little jolt of caffeinated goodness. I have a mild obsession with Italian espresso makers, although most of the time I drink coffee with a LOT of milk, rather than espresso. Above are a couple of espresso makers that, to me, are beautiful. They are both made by Italian company Francis Francis AND they are both available on my Etsy site as prints and the original painting of the blue is also now for sale. In fact, I have re-stocked my Etsy shop this week with many more originals, so please have a look if you get the chance! Grazie!

*Also, I would like to wish the woman who taught me how to make coffee a very happy 61st birthday~ Love you, MOM!

ANNECHOVIE AT ORLANDO COUNTRY CLUB

Orlando Country Club - founded in 1911
Last week, I participated in the Orlando Country Club's FaLaLa Event, a long standing annual tradition that includes a luncheon and holiday sale to kick off the season. It was fun to "keep shop" and get out and meet some customers face to face. There was a great turnout, despite the dismal economy.

One side of my table

One of my newest quote prints, available on my Etsy site, with or without frame.

Some new holiday enclosure cards, also available now on my Etsy site.

Items available included original art, note cards, scalloped note cards, holiday cards, prints and mugs featuring my work.

Me - keeping shop!

It was wonderful to meet some of my readers in person and get to chat a bit! Thanks to all of you who stopped by my table and introduced yourself and showed your support. It was great to meet you! I even connected with another very friendly blogger, Betsy, better know as "Miss Monogram". You can check out her blog here. There were many vendors there with lovely things. My only regret was that I didn't get the chance to shop or meet more of you! Special thanks to Ann Jones, who chaired the event and invited me. The weather was a bit chilly for Florida and it felt pretty festive. I can't believe the Holidays are almost upon us!

A couple of originals, that I am featuring more of on my Etsy site, as well as my new holiday cards.

HOLIDAY CARDS ARE HERE!!

Holiday Interior

Tree Silhouette - lilac

Tree Silhouette - mint

Cheery Christmas

This year, I have designed several holiday cards and they all are available for purchase on my Etsy site. 3 are very non-traditional with brighter colors not usually associated with the holidays, but very fun!!
Then there's the "Holiday Interior" that is classic in every sense. It features a elegant entry hall with a striped chair and a carved console table with red gift package below a mirror reflecting a holiday bough.

They all come in 2 different sizes, 4.25 x 5.50 inches and 5 x 7 inches. The "Holiday Interior" design also comes in gift enclosure size (3.5 x 2.5). Look for many new gift items to be added to my shop in the coming days.

COURTNEY BARNES AND DOMINO - A WINNING COMBO

The living design encyclopedia, Style Court blogger Courtney Barnes
(photo by Ingalls Photography via Domino)

My rendering of Courtney's chair "re-upholstered" in Peter Dunham's Kashmir Paisley

Rear view of chair with complementary red Shadow Stripe for the back.

Congratulations to my friend and fellow blogger, Courtney Barnes, who was not only featured in this month's issue of Domino (page 44), but is also guest blogging for them. She asked me to do a couple of illustrations for her post on Peter Dunham textiles that was featured earlier this week on Domino Daily Dose. Congratulations, Courtney and thanks for the mention - it's always a pleasure to collaborate with you! Be sure to read her other posts as well, if you haven't already. Prints of this latest version of Courtney's chair are now available on my Etsy site.

YOU'RE MY INSPIRATION.....

A room I painted

The "real enchilada" inspiration - a beautiful room by Alberto Pinto via Domino

I love the color in this room and just tweaked a few things slightly. I see things all the time that I would love to paint just for fun, BUT, so many subjects, so little time!

PACKING IT UP.....

Yesterday, there was a death in my family, and that, combined with an already planned business trip, will probably make posting a bit light this week. When it rains, it pours - I guess it's a good thing I voted early on Saturday. I hope all of you have a great start to your week and take care!

P.S. Happy Birthday to my Dad - you are THE best!

EVERYTHING IS GETTING SHORTER......

OR AT LEAST IT SEEMS THAT WAY!
I have been running a bit short on sleep and time lately as I work to get things together for my wonderful clients, readers and the upcoming holidays. I can't believe tomorrow it's November and we will be turning back the clocks and our days will be shortened. Believe me, I can use all 60 minutes in that extra hour I am gaining! I hope you all have a wonderful weekend and try not to eat too much candy!

CHRISTMAS CARD COMMISSION

(Click for larger image)
This is a home portrait for a Christmas card that was recently commissioned from me by a beautiful young couple. It's hard to find a more unique or personal expression for your Holiday card than a portrait of your home and /or family. I was able to capture their home and dog for them, but at the same time, it is also a very personal way to visually document them as a couple at this unique point in time in their "story" together. They will be able to keep this for years to come and look back at this stage in their lives with fond memories.

I would love to do the same for you! Please feel free to contact me here for more information.

BE IT EVER SO HUMBLE......

The glamorous ideal (image via Elements of Style)

AND........ the way I actually live (I have got to paint those drab walls!)

What I do love: the plantation shutters, the desk from my mom's childhood I re purposed as a dressing table, and a mirror I bought in London years ago.

There is no place like home! I am sure most of you would agree with me, being the design and domestic aficionados you are. Nowadays, with so much available to us as far as design-related media goes, it's easy to look at the fabulous homes of others and, while being inspired, also feel twinges of design insecurity/inferiority. For me, design blogs and shelter magazines provide an endless source of eye candy and inspiration. But, at times, it's kind of like air-brushed photos of celebs, the homes look fabulous, but most have been styled to death, airbrushed and fine-tuned to excess. That can leave ordinary folks like me with "habitat-image" issues, not unlike self image issues that are exacerbated by "perfect" images of skinny, polished celebrities. Too much focus on design-perfect homes can leave people with thoughts like, "gosh, my kitchen cabinets look too much like cabinets and not furniture" or "my bed skirt looks like it is waiting for a flood". Have you ever felt nauseated when you look at clutter on your counter, or groaned with disgust at the dust you let build up on your lampshades? I have. (I hate dust, but hate dusting even more. I'll admit it, sometimes I skip the dusting.)

Truth is, nobody's space looks perfect all of the time. At least not mine. Like the rest of life, 99% of the time there is something of a gulf between people's ideals and how things actually are. If you're always bemoaning the imperfect, you don't have a chance to enjoy the better aspects of what really is. It's sort of like accepting your appearance. You see your flaws and, yeah, there are things you might like to change, but you don't run out and get a plastic surgeon to overhaul every inch of you. You make the most of what you have and make peace with the genes you've been "dealt", the good ones and the not-so-good ones.

One thing I appreciate about European design magazines, is that while I am sure they do their share of tweaking before photos, they seem better at letting things look natural and lived-in than us perfection-oriented Americans. I am not campaigning for a magazine that comes in and takes candid photos of mediocre interiors or anything akin to "just rolled out of bed" sloppiness. Nobody wants to aspire to that. What I am saying is that I think we should be able to enjoy our homes in process, even if we have absolutely no current plans to change anything. Home is dear purely because it's our private refuge and sanctuary. A space where we can find shelter, express ourselves and be "us". That is what makes people's homes truly beautiful and inviting, not when we are just following trends, trying to impress people or purchasing pieces much as someone buys a "statement handbag". I love to see it when someone decorates with things that mean something to them, whether it's been passed down, gathered on travels or made by someone special. To me, these are the things that truly give my space it's own unique personality, whether or not it wows other people. It needs to fit who YOU are and how you live! Don't listen to anyone who tries to sell you anything by way of intimidation tactics or subtle put-down manipulation. Like those hairdressers who ask first time customers in a snide tone"WHO cut your hair last time?!"or store clerks who use that annoying phrase to wind up your checkout experience,"Will this be ALL?". As if, by saying that, they are going to convince you that you are incredibly cheap and need to buy a heck of a lot more before you will be able to impress them. Not nice. Not smart.

Yeah, I am certainly all for new projects, or making the most of your space, but I don't think we should succumb to cookie-cutter peer pressure or always having to strive for "perfection" in our homes. As a wise person once said, "It's not the destination that matters, it's the journey". Take time to just live and enjoy what you do have. It's a blessing to just have a place to call home, be it grand or humble. It's more than a lot of people have.