A Picture of Gardens- II

The bath area was home to amazing scents… Santa Maria Novella from Italy, oils and cremes from France in beautiful glass bottles, and lovely candles….
This table was set in front of the picture window… James found this amazing spot light that added great drama…
Gary loved his orchids and would bring in lovely specimens that we would place in vessels such as jade bowls, thick glass hurricanes, or resin boxes…
Mell Lawrence designed the shop when it was ultimately remodeled. The furniture in the shop was for sale and would always be reconfigured in the shop to create a dynamic space. Customers would love to come in on a weekly or bi-monthly basis and experience the shop or nursery in a different light. The shop was always fresh and new feeling…
About this time every year we would be busy receiving merchandise, much of it from Europe, and having great fun merchandising the store and nursery. It was an intense job but one that I never tired of. It was always paramount that the store was exquisite and full of life and energy balanced by simplicity and tranquility. I loved that combination and find that it is what one should always strive for in design.

A Picture of Gardens- III

GARDENS was a place where one could spend a few dollars on a wooden spoon from Southern France or $20,000 on a beautifully crafted table from Belgium or a wooden toy truck from Germany…
Playing with color and themes… chop sticks, bamboo trays, incense and tea, little mirrors with Asian emperors…
Enameled dinnerware in sunny and sky colors from a Brooklyn designer on a French farmhouse table…
Display case near the register holding a combination of glass from England, porcelain tea pots and bowls…
The ‘kitchen area’ was home to teas and chocolates from around the world, fine linens, plastic plates, copper cookware, danish kitchen accessories…

Well… there you have it… 3 posts to fit these pictures in… I wasn’t very good at narrowing them down. It is always fun for me to revisit these images. Working at GARDENS was a great chapter on many fronts. As I started out saying, I am so happy the beautiful space will be vibrant once again.

An Autumn Adventure- phase I



Over the past few years I have been collaborating with my husband Jason’s aunt Honey on a children’s book with a Halloween and Thanksgiving theme. I am on a roll with the illustrations, there will be about 16 total when all is said and done. I thought it would be fun to share with you my progress and wish my readers a happy fall.

‘Play the Day Away’ Mural for Dell Children’s Hospital of Central Texasn toddler playroom


This mural was originally painted on about a 5′ x 7′ piece of clayboard with gouache. It was then scanned and transferred onto a Swiss innovative, anti-bacterial wall covering material called Clipso. The actual mural is about 9′ x 11′ and covers a wall in a toddler play room in the hospital. The original painting is hung in the neonatal care section of the hospital.

Environmental Art for Children’s Hospital- group I

These illustrations were commissioned for the Dell Children’s Hospital of Central Texas that opened in 2007. The idea was to use this character in signage through out the hospital to educate patients, visitors, and the staff about the innovative building systems that were used to achieve platinum LEED certification. The designs were not used ultimately. The last time I visited the hospital there was no signage.

Oil Cloth

While apprenticing at the FABRIC WORKSHOP in Philadelphia I created this repeat pattern in response to an oil spill that happened at the time (1991). Since then, it has been in my flat files. It just seems that this design needs to come to life (SEA LIFE SEE LIFE SEA LIFE) in some form or fashion to help bring attention to this dreadful disaster (OIL & WATER DO NOT MIX). The proceeds would go to a good cause, after covering design and reproduction costs.
So, my first thought was, take the design to Whole Foods, sell them the pattern to stamp on their tyvek shopping bags with a slogan of some sort, ‘WHOLE FOODS IS MAKING WAVES’. Get the design & message nationally circulated, on the streets NOW! This is obviously not the only way to MAKE A SPLASH. I do feel a sense of urgency to get something out there. I know I need to be thinking outside of the box and try to be big & bold with whatever I do.
I am just putting this out there. Any level of input or collaboration would be so valued. Maybe you feel like I do, the intense calling to contribute in some form or fashion to this catastrophe?