Say Whaaat?

I have come to a fork in the road. I have decided to do something that has been on my mind for some time now. The only thing that has stopped me from taking this next step is fear.  Is fear even a real thing or  a story we tell ourselves to keep us safe. I don't mean safe as in we are literally in danger, I mean safe as in keeping us in our comfort zone. Not taking a risk, playing it small. Life is too short to play it small! SO ~

                                                   I AM WRITING A BOOK

                                                              WISH ME LUCK

Charlotte Moss ~ A Visual Life

That Charlotte (no) Moss (grows under her feet) is at it again.  In her 8th book titled Charlotte Moss: A Visual Life, she shares a lifelong passion of scrapbooking, creating collages and the inspiration that makes her one of the great decorators of our time.  She invites other great ladies with a flair for living to share their journey in bits of paper and picture as well.

We all have an instinct to gather things and surround ourselves with those things that comfort us.  We may do it in different ways or it may take on different forms; such as starting a collection of some sort, journalling, even pinning pictures on Pinterest or creating videos.

It can be quite relaxing to just stop a moment and capture pictures that move us.  Whether you are cutting pictures from a magazine or taking your own photos, which Charlotte does, prolifically; It helps you step out of your day, explore, capture a moment or a thing of beauty that you might otherwise not have noticed.

The book is organized by themes:  travel, gardens, interiors, entertaining.  It's a great way for you (and by you, I mean me) to be inspired to get those files off the floor, out of drawers, and onto a working, visual board of beauty.

What's next for Charlotte you ask?  The beautiful photo (below) of a formal garden will soon be transformed via digital printing into clothing a la Mary Katrantzou.  Remember my story on Mary?  I am a huge fan, and I do love this new medium.  It has become very popular with many a designer.  I'm sure Charlotte's rendition will be as exquisite as everything else she has done.

One of the women Charlotte spoke of as an inspiration was Gloria Vanderbilt.  She just happened to be exhibiting her collection of art and collages, so I took a quick peek.  Check back next time...

The Perfectly Imperfect Home

"Any house or room remembered with pleasure has the look of being loved by those who live in it"

~ Billy Baldwin

That is the sentiment behind Deborah Needleman's book:  The Perfectly Imperfect Home.  I heard Deborah speak quite passionately, about the importance of reflecting the personality of the homeowners; a home that is imbued with life and love, whimsy and warmth.

The art of decoration is important, but not to the extent that the "soul" of the room is lost.  Nobody feels cozy in a cold, perfectly appointed room where you're afraid to put up your feet and relax.

Make sure every decorating decision contributes in some way to the beauty and comfort of your home.  It's your sanctuary.  Deborah believes, and she is certainly not alone, that the feeling of "homeyness" is lost when the decorating is too careful, too precious.  She says, "Keep it slightly humble."

You want to see signs of life in a house.  Your goal should be:  WARM and HAPPY!  Deborah gives you plenty of tips and tricks on how to do that room by room, chapter after chapter.

It's so simple you can start now:  Add textiles, throw a throw over the couch, add a few (more) fluffy pillows.  Pick out and arrange the family photos, display the kids' art work.  Strategically place jollifiers and mollifiers (things that make you and others happy, respectively) scattered about.

You want to dress to impress, but not at the expense of putting one off by pretentiousness

The book is beautifully illustrated by Virginia Johnson