Tis the season… Supporting local artists (of all kinds)!

I grew up in an artsy family. We were always doing something, art, crafts, etc. We grew up playing outside mostly (in Michigan), but in cold or rainy weather we were plenty busy with arts/crafts. My dad was always tinkering on something. He would buy a book and learn how to do whatever it was at the time and then he would do it. Amazed me every time. Made jewelry, polished rocks, made wine, developed his own photos in a dark room he built, watercolor, oils, gouache, fly tying, canoe building, wooden bowl turning, adirondack chair making, jewelry box creator, lamp builder with wood he turned, the list goes on and on and on. I think that’s why I love to figure things out so much!

This bowl has been in our family for what seems like forever. Not sure which art fair my parents bought it at – I’ve always loved it – on a visit several years ago we brought it back with us (thanks Mom and Dad)! So if you see an art fair, take advantage of an opportunity right before your eyes. Find something special that speaks to you and support an artist! They work so hard!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Cinco de Mayo & Taco Boy!

Taco Boy, Charleston, SC

We recently popped into Taco Boy for a weekend lunch. This place is full of atmosphere. I love how the windows behind the bar roll up making the inside and outside one fabulous space! Continue reading “Cinco de Mayo & Taco Boy!”

Featured Artist: Chris Long!

Mendocino No. 4 by Chris Long 12×12″ Acrylic and Gouache on Wood Panel

Chris Long. Pretty amazing, right? Just look at the texture in the sky. Some of his paintings have such fabulous texture (see Oregon Coast, another fabulous example).  The colors in this painting just grabbed me – The sky exudes such radiant heat and the cool horizon color is just fabulous against that brilliant sky! I featured Chris a little over a year ago – thought it was time for a re-feature!  Continue reading “Featured Artist: Chris Long!”

The 2300 House Plan by GOLogic!

The 2300 House Plan by TheGOHome.us – Photo by Trent Bell

This is the 2300 House Plan by GOLogic. This plan is 2,289 square feet with 3 bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms. GOLogic builds beautiful prefab homes that are energy efficient, high quality all the way. This plan has an optional garage that I think is essential, especially with the way it’s connected to the house via the covered walkway is quite nice. This home is so sharp – be sure to check out the link above to see images of the interior of the house, the images are beautiful and will have you dreaming of a GOLogic home! Continue reading “The 2300 House Plan by GOLogic!”

Featured Artist: Lucy Williams!

Lucy Williams. Interior designer and artist. I love her design, it’s refreshing, clean and uncluttered. Her paintings make her spaces pop. I absolutely adore the movement and Lucy’s color palette. Her paintings are interesting and they add a nice HELLO! to their surroundings.

This painting (and others) will be available this fall – for more information check out Lucy’s Instagram! Continue reading “Featured Artist: Lucy Williams!”

Happy May Day! 🌸 AND ☀️ The Last Pool Rake You Will Ever Buy!

Image: ProTuffProducts.com

Happy May Day! I love the tradition of flowers left on people’s door on this day. What a wonderful tradition. I don’t expect to see any flowers on my door, but it did happen one year. Some children that lived down the street made beautiful arrangements that they tied to neighbor’s doors. That was such a surprise, I’ll never forget it!

My husband, Fred, was the May Day King in elementary school. How I wish I would have been there to see that!

Moving on to a product I recommend, it works so well for us, I just wish we would have know about it sooner! For those of you with swimming pools, you know how important the leaf rake is – this isn’t just a leaf rake…

Meet the ProTuff Pool Leaf Rake. This leaf rake cleans like no other. If you have a pool you know how straining it can be using some of the pool rakes – because you’re filling the net and dragging against the water. ProTuff Pool Leaf Rakes are so much easier to use, they’re light and they do the job right the first time. This leaf rake gets our pool just as clean as vacuuming. It’s heavy duty – and we have a lot of leaves, squiggles and various other plant particles falling into the pool at different times of the year.  Continue reading “Happy May Day! 🌸 AND ☀️ The Last Pool Rake You Will Ever Buy!”

Featured Artist: Dennis Doyle!

November Esker by Dennis Doyle 14″ x 18″ Oil

Dennis Doyle. I love how loose his paintings are – clearly done in the moment and they capture the feeling of what he’s painting so beautifully. Love the clouds and the overall feel in this one: the dark tree line, the dramatic clouds coupled with the brilliant sky and the light in the mid horizon. So many wonderful paintings and such a cool story. Dennis is not afraid of hard work, that’s for sure! Continue reading “Featured Artist: Dennis Doyle!”

Sunroom Flowers…

I like to say I’m a lot like MacGyver (remember that TV show?) – I can find a way to make things work using objects I have sitting around. This photo is from years ago, flowers growing like crazy in our sunroom. All of a sudden I needed a prop to keep my Amaryllis up straight. I looked around for various things to use, then I came upon some well-used paintbrushes. PERFECT! It worked like a charm.

Continue reading “Sunroom Flowers…”

Featured Artist: Kimberly Goldstein!

Madrid by Kimberly Goldstein 12×12″ Mixed Media

Kimberly Goldstein. I love her work. It’s happy and fresh. It’s got oomph! Most paintings are mixed media which tends to perk up an abstract and give it added dimensions. I think “Madrid” is a sharp painting – modern, in a modern (square) format. Fabulous!

Continue reading “Featured Artist: Kimberly Goldstein!”

The St. George Cottage House Plan by John Tee!

This is the St. George Cottage house plan by John Tee! This plan is 1,610 square feet with 3 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms. I love the exterior – and oh! The interior is fabulous as well! There is a front porch and an optional covered porch across the back of the house. The dormers add such charm, don’t they?  Continue reading “The St. George Cottage House Plan by John Tee!”

Artist Submission: Susan Bartlett Rice!

Island Boat Stands by Susan Bartlett Rice   30″x30″   Oil

Susan Bartlett Rice. What a wonderful surprise – this is an artist submission that I received – I love the happiness in Susan’s paintings. The bright colors and cool New England settings. Just lovely! I’m also a fan of the square format when possible – it seems a bit modern which I really like. Check out her various paintings, I think they will put a smile on your face! Continue reading “Artist Submission: Susan Bartlett Rice!”

Cauliflower Soup, Cheese Toast and a Chilewich Placemat

It was cold here in Charleston, SC this past winter, well… for us anyway! There were several occasions that called for a pot of hot, comforting soup. I ran across this recipe on a blog called The Girl Who Ate Everything – and thought it sounded good, so I gave it a whirl (original recipe via Taste of Home!) – It’s a winner! Click HERE to print my version as shown above… (Thanks Mom for the reminder to actually add the link!) 😍 Continue reading “Cauliflower Soup, Cheese Toast and a Chilewich Placemat”

Featured Artist: Anne Ireland!

Island Inlet by Anne Ireland 30″x30″ Oil

Anne Ireland. Such an amazing artist. Her work is so different and outstanding – Anne clearly has a passion from deep within to create these wonderful paintings.

I love how she can take a scene and simplify it in the most magnificent way. With added colors that are just gorgeous, she makes her paintings come to life! The water in this painting above – Wow! Oh, how I love those trees! It’s all the little WOW’s that make this painting, and truly, all of her paintings – so fabulous! I am a fan!

Continue reading “Featured Artist: Anne Ireland!”

Where to Next?

I saw this the other day and had to grab my phone and take a photo. Sadly the dog had turned it’s head and I missed the shot that was head on. This dog, sitting in the driver’s seat waiting for his person to come back to the car. He looked like he was the driver.  It cracked me up. Delight in the little things!

📸 IMAGES ARE MY OWN UNLESS STATED OTHERWISE. PLEASE CONTACT ME IF INTERESTED…

Catch you back here tomorrow!