The GTA West Chapter ladies go shopping & sourcing.....

A little retail therapy is always a nice change for us in our busy lives.  In our professions as Decorators and Designers, we get to shop a lot when sourcing for clients but this king of shopping was just for us!!   Clothes, jewellery, accessories, what could be more fun.   The ladies took St. Jacobs and Elmira by storm last Friday and what a time we had.  Nothing could stop us, even the horrible rainy weather.

We met, at a bakery, (of course) and enjoyed some morning treats then hit the streets.  Such a great variety of clothing stores.  We all came away with some great items including including meat, cheese and sweets from the local shopkeepers as well as clothes.    I think we will be going back again sometime soon.  We also had the opportunity to check out some of the antiques, and artifacts offered so that we were keeping up for our clients.

We did break for a monthly meeting and lunch and welcomed some new members to the group.  A great time was had by all.

Hello - I'm Back..... sort of

Well here it is the month of December and I haven't written in ages.  Very good reason - I had a little accident and broke some bones and ended up having surgery and being in a cast and in bed pretty much of the time for 3 weeks and then a walking cast.   I was ready to boogy so with the aid of crutches and this wonderful walking cast I started getting out and about.  Unfortunately I injured my driving leg so I missed out on so many industry events but I do have feedback on some of them.  I could have used this down time to write but just wasn't in the mood so now I am.  Watch for coming posts....

Summertime and the livin is easy.....

There really was a song by that name, and now that I mention it, I am really dating myself.  Oh well...

We missed summer last year and for most of the previous year so this year I had a lot of hope running on it.  We have had a variety of weather - hot, rainy, hot again and so on.  Enjoying the outdoors is all part of what we do here for those precious few months that we can, and having a nice space in which to enjoy the summer months is paramount.  Outdoor decorating has really evolved from the days of my youth.  No more the portable round grill with briquettes and a couple of folding web chairs sitting in the back yard.  We now have rooms created within our outdoor spaces with areas for relaxing, sunning, dining and so forth.
Covered areas to keep out the strong rays are a must as is good seating.  Some of the more elaborate gardens sport "cooking areas", water features and fire features.

Our outside spaces are now being co-ordinated to the style of the home as well as the interior decor.  There are so many looks around.  Let's see some of them.....

My own spot for relaxing!

and dining....

I'm back.....

....and so it appears is our economy, if the busy spring and summer so far are any indication.  I can't believe it has been so long since I have entered anything on my blog.  Usually things slow down a little at this time year, but not so much this year.  Horray - I am definitely not complaining, I am thrilled to be working on so many great projects.  I also was notified that I had been nominated again this year for one of our local newspapers - Oakville Today's Readers Choice Award for Interior Design/Decorating and was a Diamond Winner!!  Many thanks for the nomination and to all who voted for me.

Now back to blogging.....