33 Ways To Stay Creative

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What did you do over the weekend?  We had a rain filled weekend that made for a soccer tournament rain-out which led to nice, long family lunches, quiet time, flea marketing, and time for dreaming up new project ideas.

Hope you have a great week!

xx

sharon

thank you

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I need these fans.  Not for any events necessarily....but so I can thank and "fan" all of you for being so sweet to me these past few days.  I'm so incredibly grateful for all of you.   

The open house was this past weekend and it was great to see everyone that stopped in.  We had most visitors in on Saturday...but here's my very first customer.  Charlotte Collier.  The sweetest, spunkiest, classiest 90 something year old lady. She's got it together more than anyone else I know. She wanted to hold Jack immediately upon walking in the door.  It was so cute.  I think she was pretty sold on him.  {Notice the sign behind her.} 

Counting my blessings.  I have way too many to count.  How about you?  

This huge chalkboard was just given to me for free by a nice flea market vendor I recently friended.  Who gives things like that away?  That in itself is a blessing.  

My intern hung tons of charms, old clock faces, and odd objects from this tree we arranged in the front window for the fall open house.  The charms are only $2 each.  I've sold a few of those, but still have many left for those of you unable to stop in this past weekend.  They'd make great charms for necklaces,  funky napkin rings, key chains, or even a rear view mirror little thing. The windows are going to get some more dressing up here in the next few weeks.  Be sure to watch for some new creations.  

I hosted the monthly Met Bride bridal vendor luncheon here at Pickwick House on Tuesday.  We used an all monochromatic color scheme of black, white, silver, and gold.   About 20 vendors came.  I love Met Bride.  And the community of vendors we have here in Springfield is really great.  

Here's an "in the works" buffet set up I pulled together that morning.  All different shapes, sizes, and finishes of mirrors for the back drop behind buffet.  By the way...I just discovered a new LOVE.  An alternative to a table cloth.  Shiny black patent leather vinyl. No sewing needed.  Just a few yards covered this 8 foot long table.  It's sleek, chic, easy to wipe down, no wash or iron needed.  PERFECT for a Halloween party or a chic Holiday party.  Super cheap too.  It kinda draws me back to kindergarten where I remember one of our school supplies was called an "oil" cloth.  Does anyone else remember this?

Ta-Da!!...Notice the spread of food arrived...but I did not cook the food.  The Traveling Chef brought yummy stuff.

How's your week going?  I hope it's a smorgasbord of good things.  

xx

sharon

If you'd like to make your house into an inviting home, please call me or come see me.  

bad day

                                                                             (source)
I've had a bad day. I could use cheerful thoughts, if you have any.

                                                                            xxxxxx
                                                                            Sharon

2011 Interior Design Award: Office {Sharon Taylor of Pickwick House}

Hi All!  Could the weather be any more invigorating and inspiring?  I hope it'll put a pep in your step to come into Pickwick House today thru Saturday for our "FALL into Style" Open House.

My interns have been busy helping me ready the store while I work on more design projects outside of Pickwick House.  I'm so happy to have five interns joining me this fall!  I could still use two more art + design students to join in for our fall and winter window installations.  Qualification Must-Haves:  must be a hard worker who is passionate about hunting for the unconventional objects to weave and create a storied window.  Please email me if you are interested.

Photos by Randy Colwell

I'm so proud to share my 417 Mag's winning interior design award with you.   Here are a couple of pics from the online version of the magazine....and here's the link.   To see a better overall room image, take a peak at the September issue of 417 Home, now on newsstands {p. 70}.    I'm a little sad to say it, but...we're already moving on with this office.  It actually was recently just disassembled to become a little girls nursery.  That's the good news! I hope to share that soon.

Special Thanks to my intern, {now assistant}, Hillary Ellison and my two older sons who helped me load up a truck load of props to use for this photo shoot, on one of the very hottest days in July, I might add.  You may not realize it, but a lot of work goes into preparing a room for a photo shoot.  It took all day to get things situated just right for every angle of that lens.

Hope to see you today!  Bubba Jack will be here with me.  He's one of my best-natured babies, so be sure to come say hi.

xx
sharon

Nursery DESIGN

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Pickwick House

I'm working on a nursery design for a little girls room.  I love the sweet little nursery at the top. I think those chinoiserie cabinets are really pretty and not so expected.  I love the calm, soothing nature of the room. When I ran across this image, I was reminded of the cabinet I have for sale at the shop.   It's still for sale.  And, it's still a really sweet deal. I hope to sell this design to my client for her nursery.

So far, this turquoise dresser is the only piece we have for sure for the room...  And the crib, of course.  This one, above, will be used as a changing station.  I just love not only the color of the piece, but the hardware especially.  Although, I'm really drawn to the soothing whites.

Found on One King's Lane

Here's another piece I love. LOVING the classic lines and sweet little slipper feet it has.  It looks more sophisticated and slightly too serious for this girl.  But mixed with some fun, and funky lamps + wall art, I think it would be darling.

John William {Jack}

Amy Pennington Photography

Amy Pennington came to the shop to photograph our bubba Jack.


I love this little guy...and can't wait for my client to welcome her new little girl.

Have a swell day.

xx
sharon

Equestrian Love

Good Monday Morning to ya!!  Remember this fun, chevron chair?  Well, it has sold, sadly...but the pillows are for sale at the shop.  $68. 

Did I ever show you this equestrian pillow?  I'm sure I have.  I have a thing for equestrian stuff.  I was reminded of my love for it this morning when I popped onto Lonny Mag's tweet.  Their great equestrian finds are at the bottom of this post.   I want their soft-grey-ish horse pillow they have posted....badly.

Back in January, I designed the horse silhouette pillow with my logo frame-work and then had Kendra of Lonnie Mae sew it up. These pillows are extremely well made.  The down pillow inserts are terrific too.  I don't like pillows unless they are down filled, really, do you? 

                                                         amypenningtonphotography.com

                                                                    blog.lonnymag.com/

What have you got planned for the week?  We are planning the fall open house.  SO, pull your boots out, and ride your little pony to the shop!!

xx
sharon

back in the saddle again

Windsor Smith Foyer

                                                            LOVE that settee up there!!

Hi All!  I apologize for the long, long absence.  I hope you're doing well!  I've missed you!

With the new little addition to our family and the end of summer nearing, we've been soaking up all we can of baby and also getting settled into new activities with the school year fast approaching.

This little break has given way to a much longer list of to-do's.  Top of the list is to find new, cool things for my clients and the shop.



Here is a picture below, of a table I found at a flea market.  I loved the lines of the legs, but hated the look of the wood, and the wing-top... reminiscent to me of the 1980's shaker style that was so popular.  The lines of the legs reminded me of the french benches I'm seeing in a lot of the magazines right now, though.  So, I de-winged the table with a screwdriver,  painted the legs white, added a 2" foam cushion, a durable steel grey colored fabric, and brass tacks.  What do you think?

Wing-Top Flea Market Table

{Re-Invented bench at Pickwick House}

I think the bench would be great for a bathroom, extra seating for a living room, a bench to pull up to a desk or even as bedside table with a mirrored tray on top.  

Will and his mom spent an entire blistering-hot, 103 degree, July day at an auction purchasing some really great items from a house that was still fully decorated with antiques and vintage finds.  The house was also auctioned and I had so much fun peeking at its 1960's decor done by one local designer, complete with flocked wall-paper and matching drapes/valances.  Such a gem.

Anyway, I'm busy as a bee getting some of those auction pieces re-worked and upholstered for the "Fall Into Style" opening at Pickwick House on September 8, 9, & 10th.  I hope all you locals can make it.   I'

I love re-working pieces.  And, I love the step by step design process for making custom pieces out of something no one else would care to envision.  Do you have any pieces like this in your own home that you are proud of and want to share?  Please post to the facebook Page or send me an email!

Going back up to the top of this post, I have to say I'm obsessed with Windsor Smith's room pictured at top.   Obsessed mostly with that settee.  I have decided to attempt to build it.  It may end up being a failed attempt.  But, I've got to get it out of my system.  Using an old coffee table from the auction, I'm going to work with my handy, dandy upholsterer to try to achieve that look.  Stay tuned for that re-do.

And, in case you're wondering, yes, I am working again..  Please feel free to call me or stop in if you have any need for a decorator! xx  sharon

I'll leave you with the August Pickwick House newsletter,