Contemporary Baby's Room

Just how fun is this look. I would paint the walls Benjamin Moore Grasshopper AF-415 in (I love the name) in Natura a non toxic paint. Windows in natural woven shades with privacy liner. Trim and ceiling in white. The bedding will be 100% organic cotton in white, Maybe with a stripe of lime green.


The crib is from Kool Roomz and has a changing table that can be moved to the dresser when baby gets bigger. It has a circus feel I think.

Every baby's room needs a rocker, and this one from Lee Industries is slip covered for easy care.
Cool floor lamp.
Elephant bookcase
I would use a collection of vintage circus or zoo posters.
The toy chest- Pottery barn.
Three foot zebra a must from F A O Schwartz
Outfit for baby.

I really am dying to use this rug for a baby's room. I think I will just pretend till the right client comes along.

Shops in Camden Maine

This is Jo Ellen Designs A very unique store

Check out how everything is grouped by color. Love this concept.
Letters are fun especially in pearls.


I could shop till I dropped here.
This rug is driving me crazy!!! Can I please design a nursery for someone?
I can just imagine dark contemporary furniture, antique zoo posters, and a few funky accessories. I may just have to invent a job.
One of many great rugs. The prices are reasonable 4x6 $349.00, 6x9 $766.00 2.5x8 runner $290.00. and remember 10% goes to charity.



Pillows too






While on vacation I visited Camden Maine. It was charming, and the shops were unique. Across America our towns have become repetitious, with the same chain stores over and over. I can shop Anthropology, Pottery Barn, Gap, Restoration, Borders, or Bed Bath and Beyond at home. ( you get the idea) I miss finding the novel places and shopping while away. This town had it, quirky little book stores, corner taverns, and fun gift shops. My favorite " Jo Ellen Designs" This shop was merchandised by color and the owner designs fabulous hooked rugs. They have a program- Designs for Good- that when you purchase a rug or pillow 10% will be donated to charity. ( another reason to buy there) Please check out her sight and stop in when ( and you have to ) visit Camden Maine. JOELLENDESIGNS.com 21 Maine Street. Later today I am going to design a nursery around the purple animal rug , so check back.

Back From Monhegan Island

I felt all of the above, and more while on Monhegan Island. It is a very spiritual place.
This is a gentleman we met by accident. He was so generous as to take us a tour of his home, which has been in his family since 1890. It was rich in history, with old books , antiques and collections from generations. It will always be a memory for me.
This is George's home. Have you ever seen windows with 20 over 20 panes? He was painstakingly crafting new replacements for the dormers when we met him.
This is George's view.
I had to kiss the fish , a custom in his yard.
We saw the sign.
And we ate.
The Monhegan light house-a favorite place to paint.
View behind the School House.
There is a one room school house, I think attendance is 5 students. They have a blog I am going to check out.
I have never been such a fool in my life, but we were a hit and now known as the Lobster Girls. A fellow artist painted us a prize of a puffin on wood with an inscription on the back. I will treasure it always.
This is Van Gull he visited us daily, and decided to use our paints one day !
Christmas Cove

Cathedral Woods, This is where Fairy's live.
Dotty deciding where to paint.
This is Fairy food. They have been nibbling.
Fairy houses


The Laura B our transportation to paradise. She was built in 1942 to transport soldiers in the Pacific during WW2. One of the few that was brought back to the States.
Good buy Monhegan

I'm back from one of the most inspiring, wonderful, motivating, rejuvenating, relaxing, carefree, trips of my life. ( need I say more ) Every wife, mother, career women- should take a week to just think of themselves . With my sister I met up with three fellow artist to paint on Monhegan Island ( ten miles off the coast of Maine) for a week. We were fairly disciplined as we painted in two locations each day. Wondered the Island in search of gallery's to inspire our work and just shared good conversation as only friends can. We were silly at times, ( you will see the pictures of Pat and me as "Lobster" Girls for the Island talent show) and serious when we critiqued our paintings to better our art. Even the 11 hour ride home with my sister was constructive as we discussed how we would better our lives in the coming year. We had wonderful meals, lots of wine went down and I think we were all refreshed. I truly believe we can only achieve success and fulfilment when we have fed our own souls .

A special thanks to Diana Nolan, Pat Nolan, Christine Collins Howell, and Mike Collins for holding down the blog. You all did a terrific job ( maybe better than me) to keep this sight flowing with interesting reads. I feel lucky to have you as friends.

Optical Illusions

A classic!

I was thinking about uploading some of my photography as today's Guest Blog however, I am going to save that for another time. Instead I thought I would do something fun and interesting about how our brain and eyes communicate and sometimes play tricks on us.

*Michael

Cool illusion of waves

This one still boggles my mind. Same shapes, same size, rearranged and a space appears?

Focus on the blue dot in the center and move your face toward and away from the screen Although the circles aren't moving it appears that they are.

Do you see the circles spinning?

These lines are actually parallel.

Although the red lines appear bent, they are really straight.

Do you see an old woman or a youn woman?