Wishful Spring

Wishful Spring

I was going to use these green suede pelts for recovering a bench for the shop opening, but then when I found the green hills painting, above, at a flea market, I thought that the suede pelts would work well for  mimic-ing the grassy green that I am so longing for right now.  Throwing in the Italian leather Castelli chair, and I immediately imagine myself as a real horseback rider with those cute kind of riding boots.  The trophy just "goes" for the show.

photo by nathaliebearden.com

Hope you are having a wonderful week.  What are you doing to ward off the winter blues?  I could use some pointers, 'cause the kids are going in waves of the flu around here, and it feels as if Spring is a million miles away.  Help!

xo

sharon

Locked In Love, In Paris

I had a good evening last night with a friend.  It felt good to laugh and fill our "inspiration buckets".  I'm stealing the phrase inspiration bucket from Rachel Ashwell.  Last night, my friend shared Rachel's blog with me.  If you've never gone there, you should, because Rachel opens up with her deepest thoughts, struggles, limits, triumphs, fears, and amazing inspirations.  She is a goddess of strength and just a really great woman/mom role model.

She built an empire, only to see it fall, and now is beginning to see it slowly be built back up again.   Ironically, her empire is built on simplicity. {Goes without saying...shabby chic}

I admire her simple, honest views on life, work, home, and family.

**Cherish every moment with your loved ones.

**Love is a daily choice...For others and yourself.

This is the month leading up to LOVE day, so you may hear more from me on it.   I told you I love, LOVE.

Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

xo
sharon

Refined Rustic Chic

I'd love to go to this place in the Sawtooth Mountains of Idaho.  It didn't surprise me that Miguel Flores-Viana so beautifully captured the amazing work of interior designer, Mary Lynn Turner, and her two daughters, Marie, and Emily of m. elle design.  Amazing workmanship, too, I might add.  The place they built on family land looks as if it was rescued, and those were there exact intentions.

Rescuers, come to my rescue and take me there. I've been walking a mystery mile, here lately, and could really use an escape like this one to let free a few worries o'mine.  I just know it would soothe any ones soul, don't you?

via elledecor.com/


Cheering up is in order:  shop projects, craft projects, and creating entertaining table tops with friends.  The line-up begins in February and Oh, what FUn is to be had with all of you who will come!  I do hope you'll join me.

xo
sharon

Motor Running!

 

I love:  

1. vintage cars

2.  chocolate

3.  kids in military jackets

4.  twin beds

5.  grace kelly and cartier

6.  amaryllis

7.  classic stationary

...still thinking on the other three things...

8.  snow covered streets

9.  LOVE

10.  two oxen pulling the cart the same way.

**********

As I prepare for wedding show and shop opening, I'm loving red! 

 THOUGhts Today: 

*I think a red mercedes would be the perfect prop for designing a wedding.  

*This week, I'm having red drapes made for the shop and looking at words that symbolize "LOVE" to be added to my brochures and signs for weddings.

*Beautiful text is what I go weak in the knees over, and who represents classic beauty more than grace kelley?

*********

So, what are you all loving right now and what really gets your motor running?  And what does love represent to you?  

I'm getting ready for give-aways as the countdown begins for shop opening.  Get your boots on and sign up as a follower!  You might just be happy you did.

xo

sharon

REAL SIMPLE Weddings Feature!

REAL SIMPLE Weddings 2011

Erin Jowett and Brian Newcomb's wedding was the greatest show on earth, as described by REAL SIMPLE weddings editor.  I agree and here's who made it happen along with many, many others. Starting off with the artistry of these talents: Carissa of JL Designs, The Jowett Family {the father, mother, brother and of course, the genius bride,} Simply Delicious, Gabriel Ryan Photography, along with myself, and my other planner, Kendra Skinner.

Nestled down in the woods of the beautiful Ozarks, alongside a creek that feeds into the James River, guests were led through the woods along a path that had been carved out by the father of the bride.  Complete with a footbridge that was built by dad and son, the brother of the bride.

The gypsy like fan fair began immediately following a tear jerking ceremony.  Uni-cyclers, jugglers, fire blowers kicked off the cocktail hour where moon-shine lemonade was the signature drink.  Southern Cuisine, served by chef Patty Lynch, kept the night in full swing with a different dish being served every fifteen to thirty minutes through out the music-filled evening.

Where to find out more:  

I bought two copies at Borders and it is filled with a lot of really beautiful weddings.  Erin's and Brent's wedding will probably be featured on other wedding blogs soon, that I will share, and I know you will enjoy seeing the many details that were not highlighted in the magazine.  There were so many!  

I'm so honored that they made me a part of their big day.  Thank you, Erin and Carissa!

*****

If you're a bride in the area, don't hesitate to call me for a free consultation!! I think I'm the one for your day if this is what you're looking for: fresh ideas, young-spiritedness, and most of all...a stress-free-magical day!

I'll be at the Metropolitan Bride wedding show this Sunday, the 16th at the Expo Center.  Come by and see me!

xo

sharon

To Infinity and Beyond

I took a little breather to get over the hump of holidays.   We had a flu bug hit our house and we're just now recovering.  Things are looking up now, though.  Here's our living room, photographed by Nathalie Bearden, of nathaliebearden.com/.  Will painted all our main rooms and ceilings a high gloss white.  It's our little slice of heaven.

Well, it's the new year and time for a fresh start.  I, sadly, never made any concrete resolutions.  As a party planner and designer, I plan things to a T.   But in real life, I'm not a methodical planner, which can be a very, very bad trait.  It seems a lot of decisions from the universe have been made for me, and as the year progresses, many, many new hurdles await me and my family.  Some good, I hope.  I pray that I'm able to smooth-sail this year and years to come for everyone involved...to the best of my God-given ability.

My three year stunt as a home-spun business will gain a storefront platform, which will mean I will have to wisely budget my time for family + work + inspiration dives.

So, what are your resolutions for the new year?

Have a lovely weekend.

Best,
sharon

Trust Yourself: You Know More Than You Think You Do!

The new year is about setting goals.  Yes.  I will get to that later in the week. I like the idea of reminding myself what I do best.  Not bragging. 

I had a friend who bought me a magnet a few years ago as I was just starting out on my own in business.  Starting out from scratch in the scary business world, this magnet spoke "magnet"-udes to me. The magnet reads: Trust Yourself:  You know more than you think you do!  It was a gift from a person who believed in me.  Let me just say, I'm so thankful for that person for many reasons.  MmmMMUAH!

Ever get down on where you are? Snap out of it.  We don't hear, or don't listen to that little bird of praise in our heads nearly enough. I challenge you to write your best-ests out on paper, pin it up, say it out-loud to yourself, chalk it up on your sidewalk, &/OR blow yourself a little horn for once! You deserve it.

1.  Hey Sharon G. Arnold-Taylor!!:   You created some smooth-sailing and fun detailed parties in 2010.  You also created some detailed environments that were peaceful, stimulating, soulful, and green all at the same time.

2.  You worked hard.  Got 'er done every time.  Never stopping, procrastinating, or forgetting the whole time who and what you were doing it for.  #1. Your children and family.  #2. Clients.  #3.  Friends.  #4. Your own passionate soul.

So, there you have it.  I hope you'll do your best-ests right now.  It's a good way to "cheers" yourself on.  

I'll leave you with an image below that just popped into my mailbox a few minutes ago.  It's a sneak peak into an upcoming project.  I gave a graphic designer my vision for some details for the equestrian themed birthday party that I'm designing/planning.  I gave Justin Skinner the details on Friday and here's what he has already come up with.  It's exactly what I was wanting!  Darling, isn't it?

Happy "Cheers-ing" to yourself and be sure to also make this one of your new goals for the new year:  Read this wonderful blog this year: absolutelybeautifulthings.blogspot.com/.  It's a blog of endless inspiration to me and where I found all of the inspiration pictures above.  Anna Spiro, a blogger, interior designer, shop owner from Brisbane, Australia.  I know you will love her too.

Happy New Year!

xo
sharon