Can you believe it's already almost Thanksgiving? I can't!! I admit I am pretty excited though because Thanksgiving is probably my most favorite Holiday...lots of delicious food, family time, and the reminder of how much I have to be thankful for. And one of the many things I am thankful for is being able to live on the gorgeous South Carolina Coast. So..meshing those two things together can make for a pretty amazing table setting. Here are some ideas that I'm loving this year...
Gratitudeis the most accurate word to describe my feelings thisThanksgiving. I am so aware of the families that have lost everything in Hurricane Sandy. My heart and prayers go out to them. I'm very thankful for my faith, my family and friends, a roof over my head and a warm bed to sleep in. I don't ever want to take them for granted.
HappyThanksgivingfrom my home to yours! This little family is one of My Favorite Things! They were lovingly crafted for me 25 years ago by my secret pal, LometaGreen. I love displaying them every Thanksgiving."Family"
My sisters and brother...and, me. (left to right) Marsha, James, Sharilynn, Carolynn, Marilynn, Patricia 1959
If you look closely at the framed picture you will see our sweet Tabby "Nicolas". He lived to be a few months shy of 20 years old. This is my favorite photo of him. I love this photo. I layed my Bible down to answer the phone and when I returned he was sound asleep...resting sweetly on God's Holy Word.
"Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it." WilliamArthurWard
Thankyou, my dear friends for visiting. It has been such a joy getting to know so many of you through the wonderful world of blogging. I pray that each one of you Have a Happy Thanksgiving!
Blessings, Carolynnxoxo
Linking To Beyond The Picket Fence www.bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.com Little Red House www.dearlittleredhouse.blogspot.com The Dedicated House www.thededicatedhouse.blogspot.com BoogieBoard Cottage www.boogieboardcottage.blogspot.com Etsy Cottage Style www.etsycottagestyle.blogspot.com Rose Chintz Cottage www.sandimyyellowdoor.blogspot.com Cedar Hill Ranch www.cedarhillranch.blogspot.com Cozy Little House www.cozylittlehouse.com Coastal Charm www.linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.com Lavender Garden Cottage www.lavendergardencottage.blogspot.com Sue Loves Cherries www.suelovescherries.blogspot.com Have A Daily Cup of Mrs Olson www.haveadailycupofmrsolson.blogspot.com Time Washed www.timewashed.com Vintage On A Dime www.vintageonadime.blogspot.com A Delightsome Life www.blissfulrhythm.blogspot.com The Brambleberry Cottage www.thebrambleberrycottage.blogspot.com Rooted In thyme www.rootedinthyme.blogspot.com Common Ground www.commonground-do.com Dandelion House www.deborahjeansdandelionhouse.blogspot.com Charm of Home www.charmofhome.blogspot.com Mockingbird Hill Cottage www.mockingbirdhillcottage.com Sunny Simple Life www.sunnysimplelife.blogspot.com
I don't have many early photos of my dad at my house but I came across these so I am going to share...
It sounds trite to say he is patient and he is kind but those are two words that always come to mind when I think of my dad. He has never raised his voice and never yelled (except FOR his children as we were playing sports and then he REALLY yells!) And no matter what situation we got ourselves into as kids (or continually as adults), he would always approach it with such ease, usually adding a joke to calm us down. I could only hope to be half the parent this man is.
Let's ignore the fact that it looks like I just ate a bag of Sour Patch Kids...
Growing up, my dad was always at every sporting event, every dance recital, every art show...if it was important to us, he made a point to be there. He has always put family first and I respect that. No one cares more about family than this man! We will barely be through our Thanksgiving supper and he is already planning Christmas!
Let's ignore the fact that my mom looks like a Stepford Wife! lol Love you mom, you look gorgeous, just Stepford-y.
Speaking of Christmas, no one loves Christmas more than this man! I think he starts listening to Christmas music in September to gear up for the holiday. Again, I think part of the draw is more time with family. He takes the entire event in-the smells, the sounds, the tastes...I love to see Christmas through his eyes. Growing up, he would "play Santa" by handing out the gifts and he would make it last all day like from 8 am until 5 pm hanging on to every second, not wanting to let go, taking in every memory and capturing it with a photograph or a video or even a tape recorder depending on what decade it was! Of course at the time my brother and I groaned about it but now I couldn't be more thankful.
Let's ignore the fact that I have 90's Brook Shield eyebrows and dyeable shoes on. Oh, I could go on about the things I want you to ignore but this is not about me...
I included this photo because I know it was a proud moment for my dad, when I was on Homecoming Court in high school, as it was something that him and I could do together (especially at a time when teenagers don't want to spend time with their parents) but what he doesn't know is that it was a proud moment for me also as I was able to show him off.
Let's ignore the fact that this isn't my best side..
I LOVE this photo of my dad! We were tearing up the dance floor at my cousin's wedding. My dad has such a youthful spirit. Our family always jokes that he has an actual age and a mental age. He will play with my nephews as if he is one of them. When my brother was in college at UGA, he would wear khakis and a tie to the football games and hang out at the fraternity house (also his fraternity) like he was one of the guys. He is blissfully unaware that he doesn't belong which is ironically part of his charm.
If you know my dad, you know that he is a funny man. He cracks everyone up, especially himself which is one of my favorite things about him. He has a silent giggle where he puts his hand over his mouth when something is funny but you aren't really suppose to laugh...like if someone falls or says something inappropriate or does something embarrassing...kinda like a kid does...I love it, it makes me smile.
There is so much more I could say about my dad but I want to end on that note...the silent giggle.
Happy Father's Day, Dad...not sure you will ever see this because you don't have a "Blogging Machine" (his words) at home but I love you very much.
Eclectic Interior Design Group is a full-service design firm based in Charleston, South Carolina working on both residential and commercial spaces. Please email sidney@eclectic-idg.com for additional information.
Eclectic is a retail shop/design studio located in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina selling an array of vintage pieces, repurposed items, new products and locally made art with a fresh Modern meets Coastal aesthetic.
Blessings...to each one of you. I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving. The holiday season is in full swing and I can't wait to join in. I've been itching to get my decorating started.
An elderly friend of my Mom gave her this vintage 1930sBakelite Church. It winds up and plays a tinnie but sweet sounding tune. Several years ago my Mom gave it to me. It is a treasured keepsake. I display it every year for Christmas.
Meet my beautiful RussianBlue, Abbie. She is very sweet and extremely shy. When I found her at the Humane Society she was terribly traumatized. It took me fiveyears to win her trust and woo her into my lap. Having, finally, conquered her fears she has become my forever lap kitty!
, Just a little ninepatch quilt that I made a few years ago. I always use cotton batting and unwashed fabric when I make my quilts. After I have totally finished making the quilt I toss it into the washer... (adding a cup of vinegar to set the color) and, then, after washing on warm I, promptly, place it in the dryer. All the cotton shrinks just a tad bit creating a soft, cuddly old fashioned looking and feeling quilt.
Now here's one laid back, Dude. Schlomo is as mellow and easy going as can be. You may ask, "Why the name, Schlomo?" My husband is a violinist and a huge fan of the accomplished violinist...SchlomoMintz. It just happens to be that our last name is Mintz. What can I say...It was my husband's turn to name our newest pet.
It looks like I got my wish! We've had several snowfalls in the past month. The elevation here is 3,623 above sea level. The ski resort at Mt. Bachelor is just 22 miles up the road. At 5,700 ft. two feet of snow fell in just one day last week.
Thank you, my blogging pals,for your friendship and kind words.When I started blogging I had no idea how many treasured friends I would have the privilege of adding to my life.I am grateful for each one of you! Have a great week! Blessings,Carolynnxoxo
In case you're looking for my Tweak of the Week... Here it is:
Originally, these HOME votifs were a rustic dark brown. I spray painted them a soft blue and then gave them a coat of spray adhesive. For a wintry touch I sprinkled them with glittery snow. I love tweaking things to match the season and for just a few dollars worth of paint and glitter!
"Give unto the Lord the glory due unto His name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness." Psalm 29:2
Linking To
Sunny Simple Life www.sunnysimplelife.blogspot.com Beyond the Picket Fence www.deb4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.com Little Red House www.dearlittleredhouse.blogspot.com The Dedicated House www.thededicatedhouse.blogspot.com Boogie Board Cottage www.boogieboardcottage.blogspot.com Cozy Little House www.cozylittlehouse.com Coastal Charm www.linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.com Knick of Time www.knickoftimeinteriors.blogspot.com Rose Chintz Cottage www.rosechintzcottage.blogspot.com Cedar Hill Ranch www.cedarhillranch.blogspot.com A Delightsome Life www.blissfulrhythm.blogspot.com Lavender Garden Cottage www.lavendergardencottage.blogspot.com Sue Loves Cherries www.suelovescherries.blogspot.com Timewashed www.timewashed.com Vintage On A Dime www.vintageonadime.blogspot.com Have A Daily Cup of Mrs Olson www.jannolson.blogspot.com Brambleberry Cottage www.thebrambleberrycottage.blogspot.com At the Picket Fence www.atthepicketfence.com Common Ground www.commonground-do.com French Country Cottage www.frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com Mockingbird Hill Cottage www.mockingbirdhillcottage.com
Join me as I sit down with local artist Shannon Smith and have a lil' chat...
So how did you get started painting? I was born and raised into a family of artists. My Mom, my twin sister, and I are all oil painters and my triplet brother is a photographer.
How has growing up in a family of artists shaped you as an artist?Life as a triplet and an artist have made to be a fun and interesting one! How unique to be able to share a close sibling bond as well as all sharing the same artistic talents. My Mom was a full time mother of three, but she started painting once we got out of the house and started going to school. I was exposed to art at a young age through her works, attending art shows, and our family travels almost always included visits to art museums. I have fond memories of dabbling in watercolors in Mom's studio. 1979, Age 7
So did you always know that you wanted to be an artist? Wanted to be an artist, yes. I always had a love of drawing and painting and grew up wishing to be an artist like my mom but didn't believe I could do it professionally. So I did not become serious about painting until college. I earned my Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Clemson University with my focus on oil painting. After graduating I was unsure about being able to support myself and making a career out of my art. While at Clemson, I broke my leg skiing and had to undergo knee surgery and months of physical therapy. That unfortunate experience sparked my interest in the field of health therapies, mostly physical and occupational therapy. I moved back to Charleston and went back to school for a year to fulfill the health and science prerequisites needed to apply to MUSC's graduate program of Occupational Therapy. However, I was not accepted and although disappointed at the time, I quickly realized it was a blessing in disguise!
Had you ever shown your work before? I had exhibited in Spoleto's outdoor art show in the past with my college art and decided to paint for that year's upcoming festival in May. I painted 25 oils for the show and sold over half! I was thrilled beyond words at my success. It was the boost of confidence that I needed to follow my passion as an artist! I also give tremendous credit to my mom and her artist friends, watching them achieve established roles in the art community, both locally and nationally, truly gave me the courage to follow my passion and follow in their footsteps! I am now a full time professional artist of 15 years, showing in galleries and museums, and have not looked back since that May of 1996!
Where do you show your work? This year we celebrate the 10 year Anniversary of the opening of our family gallery, Smith Killian Fine Art on 9 Queen St downtown Charleston. [Shannon also show's her work at the following galleries: The Well's Gallery at Kiawah Island, South Carolina; Anne Irwin Fine Art in Atlanta, Georgia; Parker Gallery in St. Simons Island, Georgia and the City Art Gallery in Greenville, North Carolina.
Where do you paint?My painting studio is in the upstairs of my home in Mount Pleasant, but I also take my "studio" outside and paint en plein-air when nice weather and great travel opportunities permit.
Shannon in her home studio.
Shannon plein-air painting in the misty rain on Shem Creek.
Also she is a Signature Member of the Plein-Air Painters of the Southeast.
How would you describe your paintings? My subject matter varies between landscape, still life, and figures while all sharing the common theme of dramatic use of light. I consider my style to be somewhat impressionistic and representational, with strong emphasis on color and light.
Here are some examples of her latest work.
"Cortona Light" 40x30 Oil on Linen
"Lowcountry Roots" 36x60 Oil on Linen
"Summer House II" 30x30 Oil on Linen
"The Waiter" 30x40 Oil on Linen
"Pink and Pewter" 16x20 Oil on Linen
Shannon has a wall in her studio she calls her "Travel Wall" where she creates paintings from all the places she travels. In the photo, you can see one of her two Himalayan cats, Ollie (other is Rufus). Ollie likes to sit on the sofa and watch Shannon paint. In fact, sometimes Ollie gets a little too close as he had green paint all over his beautiful white fur! Just one of the hazards of being the cat of an artist I suppose.
Shannon will be teaching a painting workshop along with fellow artist Laurie Meyer in Italy in April of 2012.
Since I am an interior designer, you know I am going to ask you about your home!
Your house is adorable! How long have you lived here? It will be 6 years this Thanksgiving. I bought it during the construction phase so I was able to customize some of the elements to my particular taste. What really drew me to it was the Nantucket cottage feel it had.
What is your favorite spot in your home and why? My back screened in porch without a doubt! I grew up always having a porch where our family shared meals and time together. It is my "happy place" where I unwind and truly relax, whether it be with my morning coffee or evening glass of wine. I just love being outside close to nature... watching the birds at my bird feeders and enjoying the critters that frequent the pond behind my backyard, ie. ducks, herons, egrets, turtles, snakes, and the occasional visiting gator! All while listening to water trickle from my fountain, I also take in the fast changing colors and clouds of evening light which soon become a beautiful night sky of moon and stars. I am also fortunate to have a front porch...now that is where I go to rock in my rockers and be more social with the close-by neighbors!
Name one item in your home that you are most proud of? I am most proud of my art collection...mostly oils and a few etchings and photographs. Of course they are all original pieces! While some are my own works, several pieces were traded with my family and artist friends, and some I have purchased through art galleries. I treasure each and every one for their meaning and inspiration to me and my life as an artist. I am out of wall space...time for a bigger house to continue my art collection!!
What is the first item you bought for your home? Afghan and Turkish hand made rugs from Zinn Rug Gallery. Most of my wall colors and furniture are shades of white and neutrals, therefore the rugs and artwork are a chance for a pop of color.
If you could update one aspect of your home what would it be and why? My light fixtures. When completing this house, I chose things that fit in with the traditional coastal cottage style. I now wish I had meshed more contemporary modern with the current cottage theme. I like the idea of new and modern mixed with antique and cottage...keeps it interesting! I am not at all a fan of "matching" decorating, color wise or furniture wise! I think changing out light fixtures, ie. my pendants over the kitchen bar and chandelier over the breakfast table, would be an easy way to update my home, giving it more of a modern twist without a lot of fuss.
It has been great getting to know you better, thanks for taking the time to sit with me Shannon!
[From The Front Porch Of ___ will become a regular post I will be doing for all of us to get to know local artists, business owners and craftsman in the Charleston area that are in some way "home" related. I hope you enjoy getting to know these folks as much I do!]
