Exploring Beaufort's Run

I recently discovered a web site listed on another website... www.BeaufortsRun was listed as one of their favorites web sites... and being a curious person, I clicked on to open. I discovered there is a wonderful sanctuary in Upper Pottsgrove, created and set aside by it's owners to celebrate the beauty and tranquility of their property, and their dedication to their beloved departed dog, Beaufort.

I couldn't resist...I had to visit this place. So I called a friend to see if she had heard of it. She had not so I invited her to join  me in my discovery. On August 16th the weather was perfect and we both had time in the late afternoon. I wanted afternoon light to practice my photography.  We met at the property off Moyer Rd in Upper Pottsgrove...not far from my home. The directions on the web page were easy and accurate, although if I had not seen my friends car...I would have missed it...just a simple clearing for parking... and after we got closer to the path, a beautiful metal sculpture of a standard Poodle then welcomed us at the beginning of the path.

Beaufort was a very loved dog...

This is the sign at the properties entrance stating that it is a certified wildlife habitat..It was not the a huge acreage I envisioned in my head (think Longwood Gardens)...But beautiful and just enough for a leisurely 45 minute stroll.  It is absolutely delightful, with wonderful  and whimsical little surprises sprinkled throughout.  We walked to the end and then backtracked to where we began...and we were amazed at the surprises we discovered at the second passing. 

this is the view as we entered the property.

These little guys just make you chuckle.

A lovely shrine at a peaceful turn in the path.

And this "out house"...  well what can I say...check out the boots...so hilarious.!!!

 This "Airstream" Bird house is my personal favorite...how clever....

and this little guy says it all....

So the next time you have an hour to treat yourself...take in the beautiful little bit of heaven that is    Beaufort's Run in Upper Pottsgrove...it will make your heart sing and spirits soar...

SUNDAY AT THE FOOD FESTIVAL

I was fortunate to be able to attend the Food and Art Festival at the Gallery at MCCC on August 5th.  The Affair featured a large gathering  of local restaurants, caterers and beer crafters gathered together to offer samplings of their finest fare to attendees as they looked at and enjoyed the displays of local artisans and crafters....many who had donated items for a silent auction.  It was a wonderful affair in a beautiful setting....the Art Gallery Building of the college on High St. It was well worth the $15.00 entry fee at the door.

The event was a fundraiser for  "Prays and Poinsettias"..a faith based group that raises money to help children who's mother has/is suffered the effects of Breast cancer.  It was started with one mothers love of her children and wish to ensure their education.
The following is the story from the website  www.prayersandpoinsettias.org

{ Three years ago, Barto resident Mary Beatty started a scholarship to fulfill her friend's final wish. Mary's friend, Andrea Smith Collins of Philadelphia, had breast cancer, and her thoughts were with the six children she would leave behind. "Her concern was, the mother passes away ad the father is grieving and then college is dropped," Beatty Explained. To aid Collin's children and other kids whose mothers have stage 4 breast cancer, Beatty set up Prayers and Poinsettias, a nonprofit scholarship foundation based in Barto.
Collins, 37, died in 2008, and last year Prayers and Poinsettias gave out its first scholarships: $500 to a freshman at Montgomery County Community College. Beatty is a graduate of that school. This year, the nonprofit is setting up a scholarship at Boyertown High School. "It's really a wonderful cause," Beatty said. The first year, the nonprofit sold 275 poinsettias at $20 apiece. "This years we're ramping it up," Beatty said. A May fundraiser in Pottstown called Taste of the Town, which included a silent auction and food tasting, raised $3,000 for the foundation. Future scholarship amounts will depend on how much money Prayers and Poinsettias can raise in a particular year."We would like to be able to pay a (student's) full tuition throughout community college,"Beatty said.}

The art on display was wonderful and high quality...my personal favorite, from the Hemlock Forge, was a gloriously large floral arrangement in a vase...all forged and sculpted out of metal with a wonderful bronze and slightly gilded finish....absolutely stunning...and absolutely out of my mad money budget...but to see the artistry was such a treat.
There were so many artisans I could not count them all but they filled 2 floors of the gallery....I trust they will credit  them all and all the restaurants on their web site...
It was a well planned event making for a wonderful Sunday afternoon....and I look forward to attending again next year...and know you will too.....

WHEN IN DOUBT...GOOGLE IT..!!!

This is part 2 of last weeks post and you may want to review it so this will make sense...I am having a little fun today with all this . I am exploring the person who wrote the original article about "101 Designer's Secrets" (House Beautiful 5/2012)  It seems that she is not a designer, but a freelance writer who specializes in articles about Interior Design, Horticulture, Archetecture and Food.  Which explains why she wrote these '101 secrets'.

To a non-design person these little tid-bits of design wisdom might ring true, but to someone who has worked in the field for years, these blanket statements of fact are not something I would ever claim or suggest you adhere too.

The one that is stuck in my 'craw' today is by a designer named Kate Ridder who believes that:

" A bed should be 23 inches off the floor, no higher". 

This got me thinking.. so I took my yardstick up stair to my own bedroom....Oops it's 26 inches..But  I think it looks terrific.  I have a large spacious bedroom with well sized furniture and 15 foot Vaulted Ceiling.  I also wanted it the same height as the matching Bachelor chests that I use for nightstands. They are large and are very balanced in the room...plus lots of storage. I then remembered hearing of a study done years ago by Domain, a high style retail  furniture company. (a store in the King of Prussia Mall).   They queried their customers and found that most people really prefer to climb up into a bed...not down into it.  Perhaps Ms Ridder works primarily with Far East design  or perhaps she is very petite...I don't know...so I  "Googled" her web site and checked out her work.  Just as I suspected...very clean Mid-Century modern designs with a touch of Asian influence. No big comfy looking beds here.
After I "Googled" Ms. Ridder,  I "Googled" the author of the article, Lisa Cregan. On her web site she listed all the articles that she has had published with pictures of the magazine covers..  I clicked on the one for the "101 Interior Design Secrets"  in  House Beautiful May of 2012...and to my surprise.. the online version of the article only listed 35 Designer Tips (which  are good starting ideas)... Ms. Ridder's belief was not one of them....Do you think Ms Cregan might have received some feed back from those of us in the field?

The moral of this story...as before...there are no hard and fast rules in Interior Design...And when in doubt...GOOGLE THE SOURCE......and now for me....I am going to climb into my Great Big High bed and have a wonderful and regal nights sleep.

SPECIAL NOTE..Next week I will return to writing about places around Pottstown...I'm planning a trip to explore Beauforts Run....you can google it.....and going forward I will be writing design tips on my new blog at the "Pottstown Post" every Friday. ...Carolyn Harris...Interior Design Coach.    Hope you will check it out and follow me there...

SO MANY "RULES" TO DE-BUNK!

I have been very busy lately discovering new music venues and wonderful art and theater,  but I am not an entertainment or art critic...I am a Designer. So I am going to take this blog in a more profession direction for a while.

A Designer friend recently presented me with a list of "101 DESIGNER SECRETS" that she found in a prestigious design magazine. This group of "Top Interior Designers" where interviewed for their personal tips and rules.. As I was reading some the "rules"  I felt like screaming...No, that's not true in all cases!
I found some of  this to be a tad bit arrogant.. as interior design is an art form and therefor has no rules.  An idea... that in one situation can feel quite off, when applied in another situation can be quite perfect. 

So for the next few weeks or months.. I will examine some of  these "design secrets"..and free you all to be as creative as your heart desires..because good design is about "Your Home" and "Your likes" and what feels good to you.

The first "Rule" I will contest is by a designer named Carey Maloney.
  "don't hang a mirror between windows. The spatial void it creates distracts from the view. And don't fall prey to using mirrors in every room or over every mantel.  Mirrors are not art, and a room needs art."

Well, there is one concept here I will accept.  Don't hang a mirror over a mantel... and the reason is quite simple.  When you are sitting in that room.... look at the mantel from the seated place..if you  see the reflection of the ceiling, and or opposing wall.. then perhaps  a wonderful  piece interesting of art would be more appreciated.   And as for hanging a mirror between windows...well that depends on so many things.. the space between the windows, the size of the windows, the size of the mirror, the frame design housing the mirror and how does it work with the size of the room.  I recently let a client hang wonderful antique mirror between two windows in the guest room we where working on and it is quite prefect and the best place in the room to show of this beautiful piece.

And as for the idea of "Mirror's not being art"....well that is just plain silly.  I personally a a large Venetian glass framed mirror, which is one of my most elegant possessions. If your personal collection includes several interesting and wonderful mirrors that relate to each other, have fun with them and hang them as an art grouping on one wall.   It could  be a great focal point.

One myth down and many more to go...and if you have design questions about your personal project, please feel free to email me and I will give you some ideas to think about....See you again soon with more rules to debunk...

Barns Alive..Must See

There is a wonderful exhibit of "Barn Paintings" at the Montgomery County Community College that should not be missed ...whether  you are an art person  ..or just a lover of  anything country..or an appreciator of talent and vision...I know you will enjoy this exibit...in downtown Pottstown....Sherry McVickar has her paintings on display and her vision of old Barns  is extraordinary...she calls herself the Barn Lady...and she has that right 

I am not an art officianardo...but I do know what makes my heart sing...and her interpretation of the "Grand Dames" of country architecture is amazing...She has a vision of color and light that is unlike any other artist I have experienced...and I have seen a lot of New England renditions as well as Eastern Pennsylvania art.

Sherry brings a bigness and boldness to these wonderful structures with her point of view... and then she infuses them with light and color that can only be experienced during a set minute of that days sunlight...

Sherry McVickar is a creative genius with her brush, paint medium, and pallet.  Her work is  a joy to behold...

You must not miss this showing at the Montgomery County Community College which ends June 29th...if you do...check out her website at   http://www.barnlady.net/    

THE DESIGN SLEUTH GOES HUNTING...

People who know me personally,  know that I am the absolute Queen of bargain hunters... My best find yet was a much wanted 108 piece set of gold rimmed bone china, a brand new service for 10... for $25.00.

The trick to being a top notch bargain hunter is not just how "cheap" the item is, but to recognize  impeccable quality and exquisite style  that fits with your personal taste..and then to find it at a below rock bottom price. 
 
Lately, I have been in shopping Nirvana!  There has been an emergence of  consignment stores in our area and the shopping is great. This  is part of a national trend.  It seems that all those folks who went on "buying binges" during the early part of the decade..before the crash.. are now selling all their great, hardly used  things. They are selling their designer clothing,  fabulous home  furnishings and great books.. and those of us who  "hunt"  both for a living and for  "sport" are having the time of our lives finding great "trophies" for very little money...

I recently completed construction of a new media space in the lower level of my home..the space for sports and movie gatherings...and I have been inspired to furnish the entire space with consignment finds.  My  first find was a classic leather sectional sofa in great condition for $299.00...and it looks fabulous and will stand up to years of  sports, spills and The Cat!   And now I am searching for the area rugs, tables, lamps and a media cabinet...my goal is to complete the entire room, with style,  for under $800.00..I will keep you posted....

Where are these great stores?  For starters travel down High Street just beyond the Library to a great shop called Decor.  My dear friend Penny, who is always ahead of the trend curve, has recently converted her fabulous shop to include high quality decorative furnishings on consignment. The trick with Decor and most other consignment stores, is that you must visit often to find the best items.. and most shops have limited hours and not on Sundays...

Some great places for clothing and wardrobe accessories:  The French Creek Boutique is on Rte 23 west of route 100 seem to have Chester county's finest cast offs ( be sure to sign up for their email newsletter of events)... Sophie's Choice is in the Amity Place Shops in Douglassville and is another great place.  They offer coupons in the Hometown Coupon mailer.

And for Books, I love, love, love  Gently Used Books in Douglassville. I always find what I am looking for, and then some, in their expansive collection...There are other new and used book stores in the area as well, but they  feel like chain stores to me..and don't have quite the variety and depth of subjects I appreciate at Gently Used Books..( they also have a great web site and search capabilities).

I have  found many other great stores outside our area and I am currently compiling a list of my favorites. Perhaps I  will be share that  in a later post...

So if you have a little vision,  a creative spirit, and love the thrill of the Hunt...I suggest you begin shopping consignment stores.. You will be amazed!.....And please write me and tell me of your finds....I love a good "trophy" story...

Discovering Bear Creek

It has been a very busy 2 months for me.  A full renovation of the  basement level of my home and the result were worth it...I now have a huge sun lite, walkout studio with place to spread out all my supplies and projects,  and  a very large TV viewing space for the less ambitious moments of my life..Special thanks to Gregg and all the men from GH Remodelers..and to Larry Pierce and the men  of Chester County Painting.

During all the chaos, I did manage to sneak out for some afternoon excursions.  One particular discovery trip was to Bear Creek Ski area.  I was on a fact finding mission for a friend who is relocating  to the east coast after decades living in the mountains of Colorado.  He is looking for a location that will have all the amenities of 4 seasons, but without the harsh long winters of his home state of NH. Golf, skiing, the sea shore and cultural venues.

Now, it is important to note that I am also a transplant from NH and I spent many years as a professional skier at some of the largest ski areas in the Northeast. When I moved to this area of  Pa., over twenty years ago, I had already resigned from the sport I loved passionately due to  bad knees, so being aware of ski areas near my new home was not even in my consciousness. I knew there where several areas in the region but had not explored them.  So, after reviewing their web site for its location, I was surprised to discover that Bear Creek was only 14 miles from my home. I had to check this out... and headed up route 100 north to Church Street which becomes Mountain Road.  It was the beautiful sunny afternoon of Feb. 9th,  and as I came to the top of a hill... there it was in front of me.  It was a magnificent site.  A big mountain with wide sweeping trails covered with snow. The chairlift moving steadily up the mountain full of skiers and snow boarders.  My heart began to flutter with a feeling of excitement I had not experienced for decades.  You see in 2007, I was blessed with a brand new knee and no longer a cripple.  I realized that the possibility of putting on the 'boards' again was very real and here was this wonderful mountain facility right in my back yard.

Later that day I reported my findings to my friend. I had sent him the link to their web site, but actually seeing the area is much more impressive.  He had been looking at several of retirement regions but never considered Southeastern Pa.  Who knew that it had so much to offer.  There are 7 golf courses in a 10 mile radius of my town, the ski area is 14 miles away, the shore just 2 hours away and  access to arts and historic culture, both local and regional is unsurpassed. So now  my friend is very excited and will be arriving here soon, and I am looking forward to some wonderful afternoons on the slopes next winter.

We really do have it all right here in the Tri-County region.