THE GREAT, GREAT HARVEST. . . .

I am hardly through with my posts on my trip to England. . . . . . one especially I wanted to share was the  British version of the GREAT HARVEST.    One of our day trips included a drive to the BATH & WEST NATIONAL GARDENING SHOW.  There were beautiful flowers and garden related items everywhere.  But, then there was this barn. . . . . . .

THE GREAT GREEN PUMPKIN . . . . . 36" IN DIAMETER

DIDN'T TAKE NOTE OF THE SIZE OF THIS SQUASH, BUT

BELIEVE ME IT WAS HUGE!

   

FARMER PROUD SQUASH . . .

THIS LEEK WON FIRST PLACE IN THE WEIGHT CATEGORY. . 

5.6 0ZS.

TALK ABOUT MAKING COLD SLAW FOR 50 FROM ONE CABBAGE!

THIS ONION WEIGHED 7.3KG.   HELP ME ON lb.CONVERSION.

THIS IS ONE HONKIN' HUGE BUNCH OF CELERY!  IT HAD

WON FIRST PRIZE ON SIZE.

THIS WON FIRST PRIZE FOR COLOR, SHIINE AND LEAF TEXTURE.

LAST WEEK I TOOK MY GRAND DAUGHTER OUT PUMPKIN SHOPPING. . . .

I WOULD SAY THAT ORANGE PUMPKIN LOOKS LIKE IT COULD BE A

CONTENDER IN A USA PUMPKIN CONTEST. . . . . AS FOR MY LITTLE PEANUT

I WILL GIVE HER FIRST PRIZE FOR EVERYTHING!

ENJOY THE FIRST WEEKEND OF OCTOBER WHERE EVER YOU

MAY BE. . . . . I AM HEADING OFF TO THE FLEA MARKET

IN THE MORNING. . . . CAN'T WAIT!

LOTS OF PROGRESS TODAY. . . . .

I STARTED AT THIS ADDRESS OVER 9 WEEKS AGO.  FROM THE

INITIAL CONSULTATION TO WHERE WE ARE TODAY, SO MUCH

HAS HAPPENED.

OUR CLIENT DISLIKED THE HOME THE WAY IT WAS.  SHE AND HER

HUSBAND HAD  MOVED INTO THEIR HOME IN MAY.  SHE WAS

DISCOURAGED AND JUST WANTED TO GET GOING AND GET IT

DONE!  I EXPLAINED THAT GOOD DESIGN TAKES TIME AND NOTHING

WOULD HAPPEN OVERNIGHT!  IT WOULD TAKE TIME TO CREATE

A PALETTE WITH WHICH SHE WOULD BE COMFORTABLE.

THEY (SHE) REALLY DIDN'T HAVE ANY PARAMETERS, NO COLOR CHOICES

NOT FUSSY, BUT JUST WANTED IT DONE SO IT WOULD BE THEIR

HOME AND NOT SOMEONE ELSE'S.  STYLE AND COMFORT WERE

IMPORTANT AND HER HUSBAND JUST WANTED HER

TO BE HAPPY.

AS THE WEEKS WENT BY AND APPOINTMENTS WERE MADE, DISCUSSIONS BEGAN

TO SHOW WHAT WAS LIKED AND WHAT WAS NOT.  (N0T MUCH WAS NOT!)

WE DEVELOPED A COLOR PALETTE AND BEGAN OUR SHOPPING. 

WE USED A PALETTE OF SOFT GRAYS, SOFT WHITES AND STRONG 

WHEAT TONES.  SHE EXPRESSED AN INTEREST IN WALLCOVERING, 

SOMETHING I REALLY HADN'T USED MUCH OF IN THE PAST 8-10

YEARS.  SHE ALSO WOULD LIKE TO USE SOME GRASSCLOTH.

LO AND BEHOLD WHILE ON ONE OUR SHOPPING TRIPS AT THE CHICAGO

MERCHANDISE MART, WE HAPPEN TO TO WALK INTO THE SHCUMACHER SHOWROOM. .  .   THE REST IS HISTORY. . . . . A NEW PAPER, OVERSIZED PRINT THAT HAD THE 'WOW FACTOR' ATTACHED TO IT.  IT FELL INTO OUR COLOR PALETTE.

THE MEASLY SAMPLE YOU ARE GIVEN WHICH WAS ABOUT

10"X8" DIDN'T BEGIN TO DO THE PAPER JUSTICE!  I ORDERED

A FULL REPEAT SO THE PAPER COULD BE APPRECIATED.

THE FULL REPEAT WAS 87"X54"  BECAUSE OF MY ENTHUSIASM, WHICH

I WAS TRYING TO DOWN-PLAY . . . . THEY WANTED TO THINK ABOUT

IT AND WOULD LET ME KNOW.

HERE IS THE BEFORE. . .

HERE IS THE AFTER. . .

AND TODAY THE DRAPES WERE HUNG AND THE HOST AND HOSTESS

CHAIRS DELIVERED.

I HAD THE SIDECHAIRS UPHOLSTERED IN A GREY AND CREAM

STRIPE WITH GOLD DOTS ON THE STRIPE.

THE NEW DRAPERY TREATMENT WITH HER OLD DRAPES REDONE.

WE REMOVED YARDS AND YARDS OF TASSELS AND CREATED A

DIFFERENT PLEAT. . . . . I LOVE A FRENCH PLEAT.

THIS MEDALION WAS PURE WHITE AND HAD NO PERSONALIY

THE FAUX ARTIST I WORK WITH FOLLOWED MY HEART BY

JUST TOUCHING IT WITH METALLIC GOLD WITH CREAM AS THE

BASE COLOR.  I WANTED IT TO BE SOFT.

LIVING ROOM CHANGES WERE EASY AS THE VAULTED

CEILINGS AND MOLDINGS,  WHICH WERE ALREADY IN PLACE

EASILY SPOKE A DIRECTION TO ME.  THE BEIGE WALLS CHANGED TO

A SOFT GREY, BENJAMIN MOORES, AFFINITY COLOR, THUNDER.

THE MOLDINGS CHANGED TO BENJAMIN MOORES'S, DOVE WHITE.

REALLY, HER ONLY REQUEST WAS FOR US TO TRY AND USE

THE CAMEL BACK SOFA AND REMAKE THE DINING ROOM DRAPES.

WE ARE WAITING FOR THE PILLOWS FOR THE SOFA AS WELL.

THERE WAS A MAHOGANY CURIO THAT WAS FILLED WITH IRISH CRYSTAL

AND LOTS OF IT, STERLING SILVER PILED HIGH AND VARIOUS OTHER

BITS AND PIECES!  WOULD THEY PAINT THE CURIO?

WE PAINTED THE CURIO IN A SWEDISH GREY WITH A GLAZE.

THIS WAS DONE BY MY FRIEND JOY FROM THE SAAVY CITY FARMER.

AMAZING THE CHANGE THAT OCCURED AS A RESULT.

THE EXISTING CHAIR WAS UPHOLSTERED IN AN IKAT

FABRIC FROM KRAVET.  ALL OF THE WOOD ON THIS

CHAIR WAS REFINISHED AS WELL.

DRAPES INSTALLED TODAY . . .

THE CORNER TO THE RIGHT OF THE SOFA.

AREA CARPET STILL NOT IN . . . . BUT LOVE IT JUST THE SAME

                                                                                    ~

GREAT ROOMS ARE CREATED FROM THE GROUND UP. . . . . WE PRETTY MUCH
HAD A CLEAN PALETTE TO WORK FROM, WHICH IS QUITE IDEAL.  UNFORTUNATELY,
WITH SO MUCH HAVING TO BE DONE. . . . . MONEY STARTS ADDING UP AND CAN BE
A BIG SURPRISE NO MATTER HOW READY YOU ARE FOR THE FACTS.  THE MORE THAT HAS TO BE DONE, USUALLY THE MORE THAT HAS TO BE SPENT.  FLOOR PLANS, COLORS SELECTED, CONTRACTORS HIRED, DRAPERY WORKROOM VISITS, FAUX ARTISTS MEETINGS, BOARDS PRESENTED AND THE LIST JUST NEVER STOPS. . . .

HOWEVER, WHEN I GOT HOME THIS AFTERNOON, THE PHONE RANG AND IT WAS MY
CLIENT..................OMG, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!!  SHE LOVED IT ALL
 AND ALL OF HER PAST CONCERNS HAD JUST MELTED AWAY.  THIS IS ONE OF THE
BEST PHONE CALLS A DESIGNER CAN RECEIVE!

CARPETS AND LOTS OF ACCESSORIZING TO BE DONE, NEW CHANDELIER ARRIVING, ARTWORK TO COMPLETE AND MORE LIGHTING FOR THE LIVING ROOM.  I HOPE YOU HAVE ENJOYED THE 'RIDE' SO FAR. . . .

MANTLE MADNESS. . . .

BEFORE (SORRY FOR THE POOR SHOT)

AFTER  (DON'T LIKE THE CANDLESTICK)

ANOTHER OUTDOOR BIRD FLIES IN. . . . AND FINDS A PERCH

 OF ANTIQUE BOOKS.

. . . AND THEN ANOTHER JOINS HIM.

THE MANTLE IS GOING TO HAVE SOME MAJOR CHANGES,

BUT UNTIL THEN, I HAVE LIGHTENED UP THE VIEW.  THE

BLUE AND WHITE PLATTERS NEVER REALLY LOOKED RIGHT,

THOUGH MY COLLECTION IS QUITE LARGE AND I SO WANTED TO USE THEM.

 MUST PUT THEM

AWAY FOR AWHILE UNTIL THEY BECKON TO ME AGAIN.

EVERYONE IS USING OLD BOOKS AND BECAUSE OF THAT I WAS FIGHTING

THAT CONCEPT.  BUT, PUSH CAME TO SHOVE AND THERE I WAS IN THE

MIDST OF IT ALL,  USING THEM TOO.

BACK TO ENGLAND. . . .

. . . . . with photographs only . . . . One of our day trips from the B&B took us to Athelhampton in Dorchester.  I adored the gardens here which were built in 1891.  The Great Court, after 100 years has evolved into a unique topiary spectacle containing twelve pyramid yews, standing over 30 feet high. . . .

As I walked the perimeter of this topiary garden, there was always

a surprise. . . . .

The famous gardens at Athelhampton were made up of a series of rooms

which were divided by stone walls. 

Entering another garden room. . . .

This 'room' surrounded, in circular form, with stone and

cement columns.

A stone face behind moss. . . . almost every room

has a water feature. . . .so calming and so serene.

An iron gate with bells. . . . such a neat idea. . . as we enter

still another "room" in this garden

Ancient stone walls, ivy and statuary all share

and beautify each garden room.

A special place to sit and dream.

I loved this garden accent . . . . perfectly mossed and weathered . . .

A boy with his dog. . . .

This bench had reached the 'age of reason' but somehow,

it still added a bit of beauty to the garden.

A private residence in the garden.  A young family and heir to this

estate.

We were told not to miss the dovecoat. . . . . I am sad to tell you that I wasn't

quite sure what a dovecoat was. . . . .but, basically, it is a home for domestic

pigeons or doves. . . .

There was no doubt I had found the dovecote. . . . . the cooing of these

doves was calming into itself.

Lunch here was divine.  We ate at the Topiary Restaurant on the premise.

Everything is made using locally sourced fresh ingredients. 

The "watch house" at the entrance to Athelhampton as

we said goodbye.

"For every beauty there is an eye somewhere to see it.   For every

truth there is an ear somewhere to hear it.   For every love there

is a heart somewhere to recieve it."

~ivan panin

The English garden will always have a special place in my heart and soul.

COZY FALL SPACES. . . . .

Summer has come and gone and certainly Fall is in full swing.   Crisp sweater days, fireplaces lit, long walks amidst falling leaves and fresh apples to pick. . . .  It is a time to edit and to create COZY FALL SPACES.  While I am sad summer is now only a memory,   Fall is one of my favorite seasons and offers so much that is new.  I have been getting ready for a special guest and doing my best to get our home house-ready. . . . 

My little outdoor lamb, brought inside over a year ago

seeking indoor comfort in a new space.

My stuffed orange velvet pumpkin with a real stem.  I bought this one last year

at Scentimental Gardens in Geneva,  I hear they have them in again this

year.  They are so much fun.  Bought another one for a friend yesterday.

My special little witch. . . . the work of Dee Gann who is known especially

for her Santa creations.  Her witch creations, so full of character as well.

I just brought her out last night, she has been wrapped up for a year and bless

her, she is still smiling!!!

 

I resurrected a family heirloom that has to be about 100 years old.

It is such a perfect time of the year for pewter.  The lit pumpkin behind

is wonderful at night in the dining room.

 

Still working on my table for our special upcoming guest, but the sideboard

almost ready. . . .

Another outdoor piece taking comfort inside. . .

Fall tapestries and textures. . .

Details of a happy sideboard. . . .

Isn't he just the best?

It is only a week away from October . . . . . . time just seems to keep ticking

and your homes await new changes. . . . . .follow your heart and enjoy the

the changes that await you.

HAVE A WONDERFUL FALL WEEKEND AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO

MY DEAR FRIEND JOY, THAT SAVVY CITY FARMER!