A SPECIAL CHRISTMAS PRESENT

SOPHIA

Sophia is one great gal! MC and I had met her before and always knew she would be a joy to have as a house guest.

We were delighted she spent Christmas weekend with us. But.....when she presented us with the beautiful art work she had done, just for us, and the Bucket List House, I can't tell you how overwhelmed we were.

She is such a talented artist. We hope she can go on to great success with her works.

Now....We have TWO TALENTED ARTISTS IN THE FAMILY. How lucky is that!!!!!!

We decided to place her piece in the dining room. I think you all will agree that it "fits" the space perfectly! MC spent the week creating a frame and now it is hung!!

Now.......you all know that things can MOVE. I can not promise it will always be where you see it today. But, if it moves.....it will only be to improve it's importance!

Sophia, we thoroughly enjoyed your stay.....please come back soon.

CHRISTMAS 2010

FIRST CHRISTMAS IN THE BUCKET LIST HOUSE..

We are so blessed!!!!

ANGELA, STEVE AND ISABELLE

EVERYONE WILL BE WARM THIS WINTER

The best part..... meeting and getting to know, Isabelle. She is such a precious baby and we are so lucky and thankful we were able to spend time with her..... I hate the fact she will be going back to Seoul and we won't be able to share in all her "firsts"....

MC and I had a wonderful time getting to know our house guest, Sophia. She was going to spend more time with us, but due to difficulties with her Visa, she will be returning with Steve and Angela. She is a very talented artist! She is also amazing.....she was able to carry the painting, beautifully gift wrapped as carry on baggage all the way from Seoul .......not one tear or wrinkle .....

Sophia and Me

PLACE OF HONOR TO BE FRAMED VERY SOON

The days went so quickly.....and before I knew it .....they were gone. They have business and visits in North Carolina and Virginia. On their return , MC and I will meet up with them for dinner before they fly back to Seoul next week.

Last night I was TOTALLY surprised with a belated Birthday Gift. I am now glad I have reached the age of 70!!!! In Korea, living to be 70 is a big event and one is "gifted" handsomely.

Angela wasn't going to let this go by and I was "Gifted" last evening with a wonderful, great, new lap top.......I am writing this blog on it!!! Thank you so very much......What happens at 71?

Now back to our normal day to day existence. With "fresh" eyes from Steve, MC and I figured out a new approach to the design of the built-ins......We think ....even Steve....will think the changes are up to MC's quality of work....

OH.....IT'S GORGEOUS !!!

1968--------2010

Boy...... after 42 years it looks great !!!!!

The sofa has never looked this good...... I can't believe how GRAND it turned out!!!

Kathy Lockwood did a wonderful job transforming a faded, somewhat droopy sofa, into a very special integral part of our home!!!!!

MC and I are so pleased with Kathy's work. We never dreamed our old sofa could be magically turned into the piece that is now the focal point of the Great Room.

We want to thank Kathy for her very talented workmanship........

Kathy can be reached at:

lockwoodupholstery@gmail.com




Kathy and I have the "First Sit" test......."Yes, it's very comfy" .....

WHITE CLOUD
JUST PERFECT

oh.....it's easy to clean with just water........how great is that!!!!!

The Great Room...... ready for Christmas..... Well sort of! A Lot more layers to add.... in the future....

MC will be constructing cornices for all the windows in the rear of the house. I don't expect them by Christmas though. We are covering them in an ultra suede fabric, a shade slightly darker than the wall color. Looking forward to that addition! Erica and I went shopping last summer in Asheville. Great fabric stores and a great fun day!!!


A big, unexpected, addition will be a 6' x 9' "Flokati" rug in black (of course). I'm going to center it under the red ottoman. Thanks to, two dear friends,... who suggested this medium for the rug. What a great texture addition. I went on line and found a site that sells Flokati rugs and pillows....Stylish Shag & Modern Rugs. Just what the room needs to bring the white and black together......Will order the rug next week, just in time for Christmas and I will share it with a picture when it arrives.

Did some tweaking in the Guest Bedroom. We put the Darryl Carter Thomasville sofa in front of the windows. Need to hang the drapery panels and wait for the cornice. Then.....I will take a picture of our "Guest Suite"!!!

So much to do.....Oh I love it.......
We so Love Our Bucket List House......
Till next time....Enjoy....

A FUN SATURDAY AFTERNOON

.....AND WHAT DID I DO FOR FUN THIS PAST SATURDAY AFTERNOON......??

Boy did I have a BLAST!!!

Around eleven Saturday morning the Sales Center called and asked if I could help put some decorations up at the Sales Office. They were pretty busy making cookies for the Tour of Homes the following day, handling the traffic plus their other necessary work!!!

Didn't have to think about that answer.....
Now how long do you think it took me to get over there?????? Pretty FAST!!!
My dream afternoon was waiting for me!

Two years ago one of the model homes had been decorated from "Head to Toe" or I should say Wall to Wall...Ceiling to Ceiling!!! The decorations had been stored away for two years and hadn't been taken out until last week.

Arriving, I saw boxes and boxes of fabulous, to die for, gorgeous decorations. Everything from bows, balls, tree, wreaths.....You name it ....it was there. Heaven for any designer to work with........I hardly knew where to begin. All I could think of was "Patty, calm down ....move slowly... and do the best you can....."

They requested I do the tree and whatever else to make the large Sales Center main room look "Decorated for the Holidays"!!!

First I divided all the items by color .....It was then easy for me to see that one color dominated and that would be my "Theme".
. My first job was to adorn the large chandelier that dominates the center of the entire room. I found two beautiful glass balls! I knew they belonged in a"Place Of Honor"

Enter....MC .............
With MC on the ladder and yours truly giving "directions" we were able to hang them perfectly.



Now I could start on the Tree!
Russ was working the desk. He and MC handed me balls with the hangers, and I placed them carefully around the tree. I then finished with ornaments and bows I found in the boxes.



Across from the tree is a fireplace with a beautiful mantle.....Perfect place for the large wreath and garland.


Moving right along......two more spaces needed to be adorned!! The coffee/cookie serving area and the long shelf under the Monthly Activity Calendar.



Wow.......by 4:00 it was finished!!!! I have to attribute a large amount of the success to the GORGEOUS/MAGNIFICENT materials I had to work with.

BUT........The "story" isn't over...........

Sunday, when I arrived for the start of the Holiday Tour of Homes, under the tree was the BEST CHRISTMAS PRESENT I COULD EVER RECEIVE........




The entire staff made this sign to show their appreciation. I can't thank them enough. I have never been so happy!!!!

THANK YOU .........YOU ARE ALL VERY SPECIAL

MERRY CHRISTMAS
HAPPY NEW YEAR
FROM
MASTER CARPENTER AND PATTY

We wish you all the BEST Christmas ever and a wonderful, healthy New Year! Thank you for reading my silly blog!! We hope you have enjoyed all our crazy antics.......and will continue to follow the journey into our future in the Bucket List House!!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS
HAPPY NEW YEAR

FROM
THE BUCKET LIST HOUSE

THE TREE

MERRY CHRISTMAS
HAPPY NEW YEAR
MASTER CARPENTER AND PATTY

FINALLY

AT LAST.....

THE TREE HAS ARRIVED....

The day started early...Russ picked up MC and off they went for THE TREE!


ONE HOUR LATER....

AND NOW FOR THE

THE REVEAL......

BLACK

When Patti was here a couple of weeks ago, she suggested "black"!!! The more I thought about it....the more I thought...."It Just Might Work!" It only makes sense.......the house is basically BLACK AND WHITE!!!!


Many of you guessed that the Accent Color would be black! I think you are figuring me out !

.....previous years the colors have been Red, Purple and Tiffany Blue! Traditional, normal colors!! Again, I am pushing the bar......I am not NORMAL!!!!!



I called my "ribbon" source, Norfolk Wholesale Florist, and within two days I had my BLACK RIBBON!!!!





Now that it's set up in it's "final" resting place.....(I think?).....I can start transforming the tree into a Magical vision ..... Black, a little Silver and Chrystal and Lots of sparkle.

When it's in it's Gorgeous State......I will post a picture......

CHRISTMAS DECOR UPDATE ...

WEATHER SLOWS UP PROGRESS......

It is raining.... and.... that means......NO TREE PICK-UP....today!

Pikes Nursery is about a 45 minute drive. It was highly recommended that we pick up the tree on a sunny day. Any moisture could break down the "flocking" !!!!

We are now scheduled for Thursday, December 2nd !!! The forecast is for a sunny day in the 60's...
Perfect! Russ has graciously volunteered his truck and personal help to MC. I now will be indebted to him and his unmerciful teasing for months!!!! Seriously, he's a GREAT guy and I thoroughly enjoy his teasing....just don't let him know!

Any guesses on what the SECRET accent color is going to be????? Oh I hope I can pull this one off!

Check back on Thursday.........

THE BEST "BUY" OF THE YEAR!!!

"INDECISION CAN BE A GOOD THING".......

That's what I said when I decided to have all the knobs on the kitchen cabinets different. It all started in Norfolk. I was looking for new hardware, went to a kitchen custom cabinet store and found a table with odd knobs. They were discontinued items and were 25 cents each. I picked about 20 and headed home..... happy as a lark!

I have continued the "Tradition" ...... ONLY BETTER

This time was even more fun....

Remember ??

During the summer, I visited "Bubba" at his custom cabinet shop. I needed many more than the orginal 20 for our new kitchen. I asked him if he had "odd" kitchen hardware. He sent me into the back of his shop where there was a large cardboard box. Inside the box were knobs left over from his jobs. I choose about 30 and went to pay him........He said: "Oh they're .... FREE..... I was about to toss them.....are you sure that's all you want?"

Sane people would think this very unconventional......but I have never claimed to be SANE!!!!








I hope I never stop thinking......it's fun being A LITTLE ODD!!!!!!

THINGS ARE POPPING

VINTAGE SOFA AND CHRISTMAS TREE....

All in one weekend!

Patti and Mark arrived yesterday afternoon!!! There is my "baby".....the Henredon sofa from 1968!!!

The upholsterer came with her truck a few hours later and whisked it away to her workshop. The next time we see it it will be absolutely drop dead,.....GORGEOUS!!!!





This morning, Patti and I headed out for, Yes....... you guessed it Senoia and Peachtree City!! Patti did a lot of Christmas shopping in Senoia......that should keep a few of my readers interested and excited!

It was early, no reason to head home, so off to Peachtree City! I wanted to check the large nursery, Pikes, to see when they were opening their Christmas shop and when they would have the flocked trees ready for sale................

SURPRISE......................they started selling flocked trees last week!!!! Apparently once the tree has been "flocked" it is preserved for at least one year..... or longer. They have customers who use them for two or three seasons!!! A much improved process from the 60's! So, not to let the perfect tree slip me buy......I bought one!!! They are holding it until we can get it home.....I am one happy camper.

Of course the "bringing home THE tree" will be a great photo opportunity and hopefully I can show it. I can't believe I bought a Live Christmas Tree on Nov. 20th!!!

"Stay Tuned" ..... a LOT is going on.....

"OH WHAT FUN IT IS TO....."

DESIGN---CREATE---BUILD

Here we go....

STEP ONE:

First Bucket List House Project

Master Carpenter started last week, with the help of our dear friend, Russ. They traveled (via Russ' truck) to Lowes....one of Master Carpenter's favorite places.....and picked up two, unfinished cabinets. He will use one on each side of the fireplace as the base for the built-ins.... A new design...!!! Shelves will be built, above, in various sizes, to accommodate all our treasures.

MC (Master Carpenter) has been in the work shop (garage) sanding and painting all week and the first one was carried in this afternoon with Carlon's help (great neighbor!)

We are so, so, fortunate to have friends that are so gracious to help!!!!!! Thank you so much.







Stay tuned for

STEP TWO

PERFECT LITTLE GIRL

MY CHILDHOOD IMAGE.........

As I was looking at the pictures we took over the weekend this one caught my eye!!!

When I was a young girl .....(the "period" now known as "Mid-Century"!)......I had the idea that I would have a little girl who sat in a chair and looked perfect! She would never get dirty and always act like a young lady...

Well here she is.........

GIADA

ERICA'S EPIPHANY

A CHANDELIER BECOMES GLASS "ART"

This all began with THE unique light fixture!!! It's "life" started at the shop where Erica works. She and the owner, Connie, never felt it "fit" the shop's image. So, when they found a replacement last summer, I commented that I could find a place for it. They were more than happy to hand it over........

I was sure it would look great over our kitchen table .....and it did! But..... we had an electrical problem! As the electrician explained....the frequencies it threw off were so "loud" that it caused the circuit boxes in the garage to "pop"!!! The fixture was unusable!!

......Oh Boy.. I could buy another chandelier!!!! By now you all know how I love that!! It took hardly a day to find it's replacement.

I was determined to use the chandelier from the shop somewhere. A chandelier not finding a "home" is too hard for me to accept!!

Bobby, Carla, Giada, Erica and Adam were here this weekend. When I had a quiet moment (rare this weekend!) I asked Erica where we could "hang" it?? It didn't have to "work".....just hang!

Erica looked at me with those sparkling eyes of hers and said: "Grandma, I think I have it"!

Enter Master Carpenter.....we had to figure out how to hang it and not have it look like a chandelier! He remembered the "arms" were movable and placed them in a half circle. He then figured out how to hang it ...

Presto .......


I can't promise how long the "vase" will remain, but for today's photo shot it will do. The plant stand came from England on the ship Grandma's father traveled to the States in the 1800's.

The "Girls" did find time this weekend to do a little shopping. Saturday we ventured to Senoia. Erica found a hat! Just happens that Master Carpenter has one just like it !!

Giada looks better !!!!

(if you look closely, you can see the new chandelier over the table)

Master Carpenter is at work in his "shop" ......he started the Wall Units!!!!! Can't rush him, but I hope we have some progress soon to show........

YOU'VE GOT TO BE JOKING !!

MACYS PUT THEIR TREE UP.....on November 5th!

Now, that is too much!

But......when I got my Birthday present from our Son, Steve and his family, I started to "Think Christmas"!!!

Steve thought he was sending "Live" greenery and fruit for Fall. But, in reality, the wreath and garland are silks. He was so upset. I have reassured him that it got my mind churning and it is a FABULOUS gift!!

I didn't have enough ornaments to "decorate" our new home and a large tree. All the fabulous silk magnolias, greenery, and fruits I now have ......... well.........I can't wait to get to work!

I have no idea what I will do, but I'll have a lot of fun. I'm thinking of all the different ways I can adorn the live, flocked, white, tree we will buy. We haven't had a live tree since the Tacoma Christmases!!

This is going to be Great.......

Will start after Thanksgiving. With a live tree, I can't do it too early.

Stay tuned....I have a lot of work ahead of me.

WHAT TIME IS IT ?????

WE CAN READ THIS ONE......

We needed a clock......
We went shopping......
We found a clock.....
......and......
We can read it!!

Eventually the famous "Family Clocks" will be hung. That needs to wait until Master Carpenter constructs the valances. I have to actually "see" the valances to know the desired "height" of the clocks.

I will say one thing......we will know what time it is when we are in the kitchen......

SEPTEMBER 3, 2008........SEPTEMBER 3, 2010

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY

Today is Anniversary EVE!!!!!

Two years ago tomorrow Patty's Epiphanies began!!!!!
I have been know to love the Holiday Eves as much, if not more, than the Holidays themselves. So....I choose today to make my Celebration Post.

This is the First Post of Patty's Epiphanies. I thought it was worth repeating.

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

Welcome to my World of Design

As an introduction to this blog, I first want to thank my Granddaughter, Erica, for the suggestion that I start this adventure. Most of my family and friends know that my passion in life is Interior Design. Even as a small child, I remember picturing rooms in different colors and forms. It has only been in my later years that I have been able to express this passion. I have had the benefit of being associated with two designers, one a very talented unknown and the other a very well known celebrity in the Design World. Both have encouraged me to pursue my passion. Through this blog I hope to share all my thoughts (epiphanies). I have been known to change rooms at 3 AM ---just about whenever an idea comes to mind. I am not sure what format this blog will take on. I might let it just fall into place and evolve like design does.

Over the past two years, you all have gotten to know me and my family....especially ...MASTER CARPENTER....
Without Master Carpenter this blog would not exist. He calms me down when the computer goes hay wire, does ALL the technical "stuff" and most of all ......HAS BEEN THE SOURCE OF FABULOUS IDEAS....AS HE DID YESTERDAY WITH THE REPOSITIONING OF THE DINING TABLE ......NOT TO MENTION THE PROJECTS I HAVE ASKED HIM TO DO.....and............HE HAS DONE THEM ALL AGREEABLY!!!!

I have also had my Granddaughter, Erica, at my side (by computer) to give design aid ....AND.....CREATE ALL THE FABULOUS PIECES OF ART AND BEDDING!!!!

Without these two wonderful people Patty's Epiphanies would not exist.

You have learned that I am not quite "Normal"!!!!! Certainly not the typical Grandma as my Granddaughters relate to their friends. I am impatient and I admit to that to everyone......This trait has gotten me into many messes, but in the end they work out.

This blog has been read all over the world. Can you believe that people in Odessa, Ukraine; Penang, Malaysia; Hyderabad, India; Canakkale, Turkey; Casablanca, Morocco; Groningen, Netherlands; and even Telkon, South Africa .


Thank you one and all..........for all your support over the past two years. It has been a ball for me and I hope you have enjoyed reading about my "crazy" ideas, life and antics!!!!!!!!!ON TO BIGGER AND BETTER POSTS.

SENOIA........AGAIN!!!

JUST CAN'T STAY AWAY....

Friday afternoon, Master Carpenter and I decided to revisit one of our favorite places, Senoia.

The town fascinates us .......just three years ago it consisted of rotting old buildings! Today, Main Street is a thriving street with fun, shops and restaurants. With new camera, in hand, Master Carpenter shot these images .....








In addition to the rebuilding of Main Street, the town has a history of being one of Hollywood's favorite places to shoot movies, Fried Green Tomatoes, Driving Miss Daisy, Sweet Home Alabama, Broken Bridges and about 15 more..plus the Drop Dead Diva show.

RECOGNIZE THESE FROM "FRIED GREEN TOMATOES"?

"DROP DEAD DIVA" USES THIS HOME FOR INTERIOR SHOTS
STUDIO PUTS FAMILY UP IN NEIGHBORING TOWN,
TEARS DOWN WALLS, COVERS WINDOWS.
HOLLYWOOD TRAVELS 3000 MILES TO DO INTERIOR SHOTS HERE.
WHY???

THIS CHURCH IS USED FOR MANY FILMS.

While finding these "famous", fun locations we happened upon some gorgeous homes.

CIRCA 1900

SITE OF SOUTHERN LIVING IDEA HOUSE 2010

This one is for SALE!!!!! Hmmmm
What I could do with this.....



http://www.owners.com/GA/Senoia/258-PylantSt/GTM6571/?sch=z+30259%3Br+20

Now everyone hold your hats (especially Janet and Linda!)....it's a "little" out of the budget!!! Just "playing" with you!!!!

NOTHING will change our Bucket List House....... and it is coming along fast and furious.
Today they put up the drywall. We have real walls and rooms!!! It was too muddy from afternoon showers to walk through, but will tomorrow. Will share pictures soon....