Enchanted Cottage

Lately I've been pondering paint choices for my house and I was doing a Google search for "purple house" when I stumbled upon the wonderful website of a very talented lady, Lucinda Hutson. She writes books about cooking with herbs and specializes in organic gardening and garden design.

Her house and gardens are absolutely magical! I sent a link to her website to a bunch of my friends and we all agreed that we want to live in her house! Her fearless and beautiful use of color is a joy to look at.

She has many gardens, including an area called the Mermaid Grotto.

Also, an entertaining area where she hosts her famous Dia de los Muertos parties.

I want her to design a garden for me! She is a wonderful inspiration, be sure to take a look at her website. Another fun link is this gardening blog that did a piece on her - check it out!

After the Christmas Decor is put away ...

Well, Christmas is over and the Christmas decorations are packed away ... now there is more room for my collections :-) I recently found a fabulous 1920s Wilton carpet for my living room and I love love love it!

The colors are perfect for me! And the deco take on the persian design is so fun!

My parian statue of Flora is glancing over at the bare breasted lady in the photo ...

And a recently acquired relic from Theresa at Time Worn Interiors - fun!

A little display by my front door ...

I added an Aesthetic velvet fabric piece for my possum and laughing baby statue to sit on ...

A few old photos of pugs next to the couch ...

And a beautiful silverplate frame for my dresser with a picture of Mary Miles Minter in it.

I love to surround myself with old things!

Fantasy Art for the Holidays

Are you looking for the perfect whimsical holiday gift? How about a lovely original watercolor by my favorite artist - my dad David Irvine! He has several fantasy paintings on ebay right now and they are just beautiful.

I love to tuck these paintings in among my collections where they can shine with their jewel-like watercolor washes.

My favorite one in this group is his mermaid with baby sea otter!

To add one to your collection of beautiful things, or to give as the perfect gift, just click over to ebay to take a look!

Working on my Path

Well, there was a change in plans on my mosaic pathway. I had to take out several feet of the design due to a low spot. Gone are the mirror swirls! But not to worry, we decided to put some flagstone in to raise the level and then I'm mosaicing in between the bigger cracks in the stones and I'm liking how it is coming out. I will tie the flagstones into the mosaic path on our next flagstone-laying session. Ah, the never-ending project!

Fairy Soap Box for Sale!

I'm listing a few of my antiques on ebay. If you like magical antiques, be sure to check out my latest listing - a wonderful antique Fairbanks Fairy Soap Box - the Christmas edition.

I just love the litho of the fairy - the colors are beautiful and the gold accents are stunning. I particularly like how the water stains give it an even better antique patina. You can click on the photo (below) to see it bigger.

Pretty Little Things

Here are a few vingettes of some of my collections.

JW Waterhouse prints transferred to canvas give the room a wonderful other worldly atmosphere.

Ladies of the Art Nouveau era are a favorite of mine.

Lately I have been searching out beautiful antique frames and pairing them with photos of turn-of-the-century ladies, usually showgirls or other languid beauties.

I especially love antique frames with a nature motif. My sister Barbara gave me this one and it is my favorite! I found a beautiful picture of Evelyn Nesbit to put in it. Evelyn was the original Gibson Girl, but in this photo she looks like a woodland nymph.

Somehow the Victorian taxidermied birds fit in really well ...

And in my lavender bedroom, more of my favorite things.

Magnolia Pearl Style

Wow - I'm so excited! My favorite designer, Robin Brown of Magnolia Pearl fame, came out with her first book - and it's a beauty! I have been carrying this book with me back and forth to work all of last week so I can look at the gorgeous interiors whenever I get a chance. If you are a fan of lush Victorian style interiors with a funky psychedelic edge, this book is for you! I love Robin's description of her unique style - What you would get "if Queen Victoria had partied with Janis Joplin and Alice in Wonderland ..." Fun!

I have been gleaning bits of decorating advice from my new favorite book and one thing Robin recommends is buying or salvaging objects that really speak to you with their beauty. I found just such an object recently at Gothic Rose Antiques. A gorgeous pier mirror with a lovely plume design at the top. My sister Barb is bringing it down from the wilds of Northern CA this weekend and I will see it in person tomorrow!

Another great idea from Robin's book is to take clippings of vines and drape them around your rooms. My husband trimmed back the old elm tree today, so I brought some branches inside and put them over the curtain rod in the living room and voila! Instant nature indoors!

So if Bohemian Luxe, Victorian Hippy is your style, run, don't walk to your nearest bookstore and get Robin's book (or just click over to amazon.com like I did : - ) you will not be disappointed!!