Interior Design & Decoration for the South Florida region
Thank you so much to all who entered the Novica $50 Gift Card Giveaway! Today is the day the winner is announced! After selecting a winner through random.org, the lucky person is…………..
Keeping family traditions and keepsakes alive in your family is a special, personal way to remember family members before you and to honor their lives. It’s also a wonderful way to teach your children to honor traditions and the special memories that remind us of who we are and what your family was all about. When a representative from True Value hardware contacted me about participating in a program that does just that, I knew I wanted to get on board and be a part of something special. In their recent campaign to honor families and their traditions, I was asked to speak about a family heirloom that was given to me and how I have honored it in my home and life. I spoke to my mom about this, because I wanted to make sure I chose something heartfelt and special to our family. One treasure that we both agreed would be perfect is a photograph I have of my grandpa Louis, her father. My grandfather passed away when I was little, so hanging onto personal pictures reminds me of the special man he was. In my childhood photo album, I have pictures of him with myself and my brother. I also remember my mom telling me how much he adored my grandmother and the stories of how they met. The particular photograph I share with you today, is even before they met. My grandfather had a dream of becoming a baseball player. In the mid 1930’s, he lived that dream and was the catcher for a semi professional team in Brooklyn, NY. The picture you see below, is my grandfather in his catcher’s uniform. I decided to frame this very personal keepsake and include it on our shelf in the family room. I wanted it to be on display as a constant reminder of family and following your dreams. I love showing our kids this picture, because it always sparks conversation about relatives that have passed and keeping memories alive in our hearts. When I talk to them about my grandfather’s work ethic and striving to achieve his goals, it becomes another reminder to them that dreams can happen and that they do come true.
This wonderful keepsake sits inside a modern glass frame and is surrounded by some of our favorite accessories and treasures. The tortoise vase is a piece we found when visiting Italy. The framed watercolor painting that sits behind my grandfather’s photograph was a gift from my in laws and is a scene from one of our favorite cities in Italy. The unique irony behind all of that is that my grandfather was Italian, just like my in laws. When I first met my mother and father in law, they loved hearing about my grandfather’s Italian heritage and the city where his family grew up. It turns out that my grandfather’s family lived close to the Italian city where my in laws currently live. The special meaning behind sharing stories of our families is that we can honor their lives and remember them much after they are gone. Their lives go on through our conversations and memories. They will always be alive in our hearts.
When True Value sent me a link to their video about honoring family heirlooms and traditions, it was very touching. I have watched it several times and I would love for you to see it by clicking HERE. Once you watch the video, leave a comment at the end of this post, telling me about your favorite family heirloom and how you honor it in your home.
True Value is also participating in the pinterest pin it to win it challenge. Show how you keep family heirlooms in the family HERE!
I am so excited to be a part of this giveaway! In my last post, I wrote about the on line site, Novica and the amazing way they created a site that brings together unique artisans from around the globe straight to the consumer. Their handmade, well crafted pieces are all on one site and feature items such as: home decor, jewelry, clothes, handbags, etc. When a Novica representative contacted me, I was able to choose a favorite piece from the site and this is what I chose:
This beaded rattan basket is even more stunning in person. It can be found on the site HERE. And after much deliberation, here is where it currently resides in our home…
Handmade treasures and unique design items that tell a story can be the most cherished pieces in your home. I am excited to work with Novica again, a company that provides just that. Novica is in association with National Geographic and they have developed a site that allows you to purchase unique, handmade items from artists around the world. They are bridging the gap between us (the consumer) and the many talented artisans around the globe. When you receive your items from Novica, it comes beautifully wrapped with a handmade ribbon and story about the artist. Many of these artists were struggling to feed their families and this site gave them hope to continue doing the craft they love. When a company representative reached out to me, I was able to search their site and find my own unique treasures. It was difficult to narrow it down, since there are home decor items, furniture, jewelry and clothing, just to name a few. I did find a beautiful beaded basket and I can’t wait to share it with you!
The Novica Experience
I was so impressed with the packaging and the thoughtful way they made this gift special. I chose the Beaded Rattan Basket called, Night Thunder and can be found HERE. I loved the zig zag, chevron like shape. It came all the way from Bali and was handmade by Wayan Sukerni. The intricate bead work makes this basket a treasure! I knew it could fit anywhere in my house and I was excited to play around with its placement. Here is where you come in handy! I love it in so many places, I need your help in the decision!
On the Mantel
On the Bookshelf
On the Dresser
See my dilemma? This basket can go anywhere! It’s a great dilemma to have, though, because versatile pieces always make the best accessories. Please visit the Novica site HERE and in the comment section of this post, tell me your favorite things from the site! Also, please help me solve my design dilemma and find a home for my beautiful new accessory. You can also visit their site by clicking on the following links below. They currently have some great featured items:
Women’s Clothing from Central America
Blue Dresses
Short Skirts
Balinese Dangle Earrings
Peruvian Silver 950 Jewelry
Cotton Dress
I am excited to introduce you to one of my sponsors! Liza Hathaway Matthews is a talented abstract artist who creates beautiful paintings inspired by nature, design and pattern. Her contemporary paintings bring that needed pop of color to any room and can be inspired by the garden right outside your window. I truly believe art is the must have accessory in any home. It brings a sense of warmth and a personal vibe to your space. Her use of color and fluid brush strokes are so pretty. Let’s just get right to the art, shall we?!?
This has been a fun, busy weekend! The post title says it all, as there have been many celebrations going on here these past couple of days. It was our 11th wedding anniversary on Saturday. Mike and I went out to dinner and had a blast. He is my rock and the love of my life! On Sunday, it was my birthday! I am full with delicious dinner and cake. Needless to say, I am very lucky!
This has been a fun, busy weekend! The post title says it all, as there have been many celebrations going on here these past couple of days. It was our 11th wedding anniversary on Saturday. Mike and I went out to dinner and had a blast. He is my rock and the love of my life! On Sunday, it was my birthday! I am full with delicious dinner and cake. Needless to say, I am very lucky!
We had a nice, relaxing 4th of July at our house. My mom came over and we grilled and chilled. I snapped a few pictures of our table setting in progress. I always like to make small, festive touches during the holidays. I never go too crazy, but just keep it simple.
4th of July Fun ……………………………………………….
I like to use a mix of our white dinner dishes with some fun holiday paper products, to add some color. The large stars and stripes basket was a gift a while back and it always houses our dinner rolls and buns for the grilled food. Our grocery store had patriotic stars and stripes ice cream this year, so we had to try that! When the ice cream is served in a white bowl with a wooden spoon and festive party toothpick, it instantly becomes an easy, pretty dessert! I used grasscloth looking scrapbook paper for the place mats and a roll of white craft paper for the table runner. It’s a great spot for the kids to draw on after they finish their meal. That way, it gives some time for the adults to chat and unwind. I also used mason jars for the drinking glasses, which isn’t included in these pictures.
A little while back, one of my former clients reached out to me again, asking if I could help her with the exterior of her home. This is my first time working with a client on an outdoor space, so I was up for the challenge. The timing is actually funny, since I just helped a neighbor choose exterior paint colors for her siding. So when my client e-mailed, I thought… did you just talk to my neighbor??? 🙂 Paint colors show up differently outside, since there is the sunshine and outdoor elements to consider. Darker colors show up a bit lighter outside. But when you work with amazing colors that are tried and true and always work, how can you go wrong?? Here is Option 1…
The Plan Option 1 ………………………………………….
