Happy Tuesday! Happy Summer! It has been “a minute” ( more like months!) since I have written~~~ but I have been insanely busy. THAT IS A GREAT THING!!!!! Starting the second week of February I feel like I have needed roller skates to keep up! I have had many a day that every 15 minutes counted. I am the queen of multi-tasking so I have been just fine. I am also handling it by myself without an assistant. It is a lot more work for me but I know all is done accurately and I have been following up on orders. I feel more in control which is a good feeling for me.
In March I found out that AAA Draperies~~~ who I have used exclusively for 35 years~~~was retiring. Talk about sending me into orbit on a ROCKET SHIP!!!!!!! I truly had to put my “big girl panties” on and not only digest it but find the resources to replace them with. Gary Jordan who was one of the owners of AAA has been not only working with me for 35 years….but he did my home I live in now in the 1970s. He has been part of my life since I was 12 years old. I cried a LOT~~~~~ but knew I had to shake it off and find new wonderful people to produce my product. I am VERY PICKY and demand the upmost excellence ~~~ so the process has not been an easy one. After talking to many people and researching….I think I have the people in place. It will not be a “one stop shop” like I have had all of these years…… but it will work out great. I REALLY do not like change….I never have. But I did not have time to wallow in my tears…I had to act fast. I have 5 resources that will replace what one FINE business did for me all of these years!!!!!! Life will go on!!
As many of you know I walk my precious Tutu every morning. I have seen the same landscape men in several homes for years. A few months ago they were working on a stone wall surrounding a property. I have a similar stone wall separating my property from my neighbors that has a section that crumbled. I stopped one of the men and asked for their business card. God works in mysterious ways…..I have always known that. This landscape company has been working in my area for over 30 years…..and the three men ~~ brothers~~ who own it have breakfast with their mother every day before they go to work. THAT IS MY KIND OF PERSON!!!!!!!! They have been amazing helping me to bring my property back to its original manicured glory. My step-father had let it get overgrown. The thought of trying this on my own was monumental……so I have ignored it for the most part. They have done 3 phases…and we have more to do. But seeing the yard look the way I remembered it in the 70s has made my heart soar !!!! It has brought me Immense happiness!!!!
I not only got to have a Beast visit in March……and taught me how to make bread…....but she surprised me for my 65th birthday May 6th. WHAT A PRESENT!!!!!! Amazing in every way!!!!!! I never knew I would be so happy to be 65~~~ from the savings getting on Medicare to just feeling the milestone of actually getting here . She made my birthday even more special than it already was!!!!!! 65 and staying alive!!!!! That is my new motto!!!
I have had the pleasure of working on so many wonderful projects with new and existing clients. One client I have not done design work for in about 20 years. I truly love what I do and have not minded a bit being so busy. I say BRING IT ON!!!!!!
I feel like I have been in a tornado lately….but a happy storm. I have had a few “ hiccups” without AAA Draperies…..but nothing too bad. I am determined to figure this out and continue to provide excellence to my clients.
Happy summer to all of my readers. It is my favorite time of year with the pool being open. I missed going yesterday ~~~ man oh man did we get rain!!!! My yard is looking glorious and green. I will enjoy it while it lasts~~~ before the heat of the summer takes a tole. Wishing you all happiness and health!
Kay
My first time meeting the twins! What joy!!!! Covert was hiding his precious face:) My brother Cove would be head over heels for these babies!!!!!!
Precious little Kennedy. She had to stay in the NICU for over a month but is doing great!!!! Check out that bow!! Sassy!
When Beast came in March we kept VERY busy!!!The Butterfly exhibit at The Botanical Gardens was incredible. Being up close to these magnificent creatures was a treat.
Beast taught me how to make sourdough bread. I am making it every Saturday now!
We toured the Ball-Eddleman-McFarland House. I was enthralled by all of the details~~ especially the wood floors and all of the wood detail on the ceilings. This house was built in the same era as my great-grandparents home~~ which was torn down in the 50s. I truly felt like I was walking back in time .
Beast with Riley & Harrison before our dinner at Don Artemio.
We have been best friends since we were 12 years old!!!!!
Everything we ordered was DIVINE!!!!!
Easter was at my house this year since the twins were so little. More work for me ( because my idea of casual is not like every one else’s idea!) I did not pull out the silver…but I had to make it pretty! I bought a tederloin from Meatboard and made my cheese grits. We had the best time. It was BUSY with the twins~~~ sorry not many other pictures. I did not get my anuual Easter family picture~~~~ but all the love was there. The tablecloth is from my last year of Design Inspirations that AAA Draperies made fit my dining table.
My antique buffet~~~ that I LOVE~~~~ adorned with my bunny collection and flowers. The two tall bunnies on either side of the tea service were a gift from my friend Mary Louise this year for an early birthday present.
This wing back chair was finished before Easter and my sweet friend Gary drove it to McKinney himself the Saturday before Easter. This Cowtan & Tout fabric looks incredible!
These pillows with the AMAZING Pierre Frey fabric were also finished for Easter. Take my breath away gorgeous!
The living room with the pillows in place. We reupholstered her sofas in a treated antique velvet rom Pindler. The ottoman is reupholstered in another treated velvet from Maxwell. I wanted this room to be very user-friendly since this is where she watches TV and all family gatherings happenn here. I am thrilled how all turned out!
My new client’s study. The space is tight and she wanted as much seating as possible….so I designed a small sectional with Kravet. The swivel chair is also from Kravet~~ gorgeous with the wood trim. There is a “pouf” ottoman coming in a few weeks to go in front of the swivel chairs for maximum comfort watching TV. The draperies are from Zoffany. The custom pillows on the sectional are from Clarence House and Harlequin with trims from Samuel & Sons. The base of the sectional is finished with a glorious trim from Manuel Canovas. This room was SO MUCH fun to design with only the rug, wall color, and a piece of art ( not seen) to dictate the color and feeling.
An office I designed for a commercial client. The rug is from Abrash and the chairs around the round table are from Kravet.
Custom lamp shades make SUCH a difference! These were done out of a Lee Jofa fabric by The Lamp Shoppe. Glorious amongst the antique majolica.
I cannot get enough of pictures of the twins. Make me melt!!!!!!
Beast surprised me for my 65th birthday!!!!!! We were having fun with my dear friend Mary Louise at Bricks and Horses~~ when Beast appeared with a glass of champagne. I thought I was dreaming!!! Another restaurant I highly reccomend!!!!
I was invited to an elegant lunch with Kravet to showcase the newest fabrics from Lilly Pulitzer. My birthday week just kept going with parties!
Crawfish boil with my sweet family. My cousin Renee is hosting these now….fun and delicious!!!!
Tutu checking out the new Brown Jordan furniture at Kravet. She has VERY good taste!!!!
Tutu selecting rugs at Abrash. She has such an eye for design!!!!!!!! The one on the left was the winner!
God’s beauty! What an incredible sunset!!!!
My long term friend from Culp~~~ Cammie Marrs~~~ treated me to lunch at Le Bilboquet for my birthday last week. We have known each other through work since the 90s….and have remained wonderful friends. We talked , ate, and talked some more for 2 hours! What a fabulous lunch!!!!!!