Moving on UP

Or should I say DOWN. The "organized mess" you see is my new 300 square foot design studio. Over the weekend I relocated my home studio downstairs. Since our home acts as my primary canvas and is my constant muse for projects and designs, the whole live-and-work space concept is ideal for me.

The Ultimate Baby Wardrobe

I have this wonderful antique armoire in our bedroom. It was a very generous housewarming gift from our friend & former landlord. The armoire is old, weathered and full of character. Ornate silver sheeting cover areas in the aged wood that have seen better days.

Hello Again!

Wow, I didn’t realize how long it had been since my last post! I’ve been wanting to start blogging again for quite a while now, but I’d developed a case of writer’s block. What to write about and how to get started again after such a long break eluded me. So let’s just catch up and get reacquainted, ok?

Banana Bread & House Guests

Last week my dear friend Karen came for a visit with her husband, Alex, and their two adorable kids, Amelia and Christian. It was a great visit, and a wonderful opportunity to get to know Karen's children better. I taught Christian how to make smoothies and Amelia all the different ways a sarong can be tied. Here's a picture of the kids making their own pizza for Friday night movie night.

Linen Water

This week I've been preparing for my friend Karen's visit with her family. It's their first time to the Virgin Islands, and they are very excited to leave the unpredictable DC weather behind for a few days. Prepping for Karen's visit next week has got me thinking about the things that set a guest room apart from a hotel room, and the little touches which make any guest feel at home. Books to read, good lighting, fresh flowers, dark window treatments, a comfy bed, soft sheets, all good starts yet predictable. But linen water, ah ha, that's one of those "little something special" treats you do for guests, especially one that has been a friend for almost 20 years!

I am obsessed with fabric, so it is no surprise that I make my own linen water too!

HoneyJito, just in time for St. Patty's Day!

Here's my Caribbean take on green beer and Irish whiskey, a Honey Mojito or what I call a HoneyJito.

Seeing Green!

I was in the print studio last week working on my new collection of handprinted home furnishings. I printed so many napkins, pillows and tablecloths, that the studio simply couldn't hold them all! Luckily the weather was gorgeous, and our sun-filled deck is right upstairs! This is what our deck looked like on Friday, when I printed my Coral Garden and Teyer Palm patterns in Seagrass Green!

Mirror, Mirror

I was hard pressed to find a vanity mirror which embodied the Caribbean Chic style so I made my own using seashells!

My version uses crushed capiz shells, however the mirror would easily work using other types of shells.

Here's what you'll need to make your own:

Materials:

• 3 identical framed mirrors (I used 3 inexpensive Ikea mirrors with a pine wood frame)
• 4, 1.5" hinges & screws
• Paint in a color to match your shells
• Paint Brush
• Craft glue that dries clear
• Seashells ( I used crushed capiz shells)
• Painter's tape or Masking tape
• Newspaper

Directions:

1. Tape each mirror around the inner edges of the frame (where the mirror meets the frame).
2. Cut and arrange newspaper so that it covers the remainder of the mirror. This will protect your mirrors from starching. Secure the newspaper in place with tape.
3. Paint the frames and let them dry completely.
4. Flip the mirrors over, so that the backs are facing up. On the back of the center mirror, measure and mark 1/3 of the distance from the top and bottom of each side. Measure and mark the same distance on the right and left side (respectively) of the side mirrors.
5. Screw a hinge at each marking of the center mirror (2 hinges per side). Align your side mirrors to the left and right of the center mirror and attach them to the hinges. Make sure the bottom of the 3 mirrors are flush, otherwise the mirror will not stand properly.
6. Flip the 3 attached mirrors over, right side up. Apply glue to the frames and arrange the shells over the glue. Work your way around each frame, one mirror at a time. Let dry.

Variations:

I made a 3-sided vanity mirror, skip a few steps and try a single mirror for a dramatic statement piece.

Substitute other natural materials such as sand or fan coral in place of the seashells for a different look.

Have fun!

CC

I-sland Candy

I know it's shameless to post pictures of a beautiful tropical island when most of the country is covered in snow and ice, so I apologize in advance to those living above latitude 18!

But honestly, who doesn't have visions of warm tropical islands in the dead of winter, right? And if you're lucky enough to live on St. John, well it's just nice to be reminded of how wonderful it is to live on island!

Truth be told, it's a busy week for me! I'm in the print studio printing fabric and have an impending article deadline for the St. John Suntimes. Beautiful island pictures were an easy way out ;-)

Enjoy the i-sland candy and think warm thoughts.

CC

All the Leaves are Brown

Well not quite, there are more like a harvest yellow!

Here's a picture of the Turpentine (a.k.a. Gumbo Limbo) tree which sits prominently in the center of our deck. George and I designed the house around this one tree! Throughout the summer months its vibrant green leaves are a shady refuge from the afternoon heat, and provide an oasis for the bananaquit and hummingbirds that frequent our bird feeders. During the winter months, when the weather turns a brisk 75-85 degrees, its leaves become a vibrant golden yellow reminiscent of ripen starfruit.

This color has inspired a golden yellow shade for my handprinted fabric. Here's a swatch of my new color. I need some help naming it though, and would LOVE SUGGESTION. If you are so inclined, please email me or leave a comment with your ideas. Thanks in advance for your help!

I will be in the print studio all of next week printing yards and yards of fabric. I can't wait! As a result you may not hear much about island living next week, but I promise to return as soon as possible with sneak previews of the new patterns!

BTW, you might have noticed the new badge on the blog. Caribbean Chic Living is now a proud member of the Friends of Martha Stewart Blog Network. Check out the link and some of the other great blogs in the network!

Warm Wishes,

CC

Bring the Outdoors In with a Bamboo Shower Wall

A stylish, yet inexpensive, alternative for a shower enclosure is a natural water barrier made from bamboo.

Necessity is the mother of invention here! After our enormous island home renovation, the costs to make, crate, ship and install glass panels to enclose our master shower was exorbitant! I created my own organic version out of lucky bamboo and areca palms.

Lucky Bamboo (or Dracaena sanderana by its botanical name) is not bamboo at all, but actually a member of the Lily family. It is incredibly resilient, likes warm places and requires little sunlight and water. It's an ideal, low-maintenance choice for a bathroom. I used it to separate the shower from the tub.

I bought 10 loose stalks from the Home Depot on St. Thomas. I cut the long stalks in half and placed them in a vase filled with a few inches of water until the freshly cut stalks developed strong roots (about 6 weeks).

I planted a straight, evenly spaced roll of lucky bamboo in 2, 24-inch plastic flower boxes (10 stalks per box). To dress up the inexpensive flower boxes, I applied a rich walnut colored epoxy paint inside and out, using a distressed painting technique which give the boxes depth and texture. I finished the boxes with a coat of polyurethane for shine. I planted the bamboo in good potting soil and covered the soil with island pebbles and stones we used for the shower. The bamboo does a good job keeping the water from splashing out. It is about 2 feet in height now, and is filling in nicely. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for the areca palms at the foot of the shower entrance. I think I may soon replace these with a few extra-long, thick clusters of lucky bamboo. Perhaps in the future I may change my mind and install a glass enclosure, but for now I'm loving this pulled together, low maintenance outdoor shower feel!

CC

The Winter Olympics & The Cinnamon Bay Hiking Trail

The start of the Winter Olympics has got me missing cold winters this week.   Luckily it's simply a fleeting thought, as I think about all the snow that's fallen on the US and Canada recently.  We might not have gotten our share of fallen white snow, but certainly have gotten our share of beautiful yellow fallen leaves caused by our 75 degree winter temperature.  And although I didn't get a chance to go cross-country sking this weekend, I did manage to go on a beautiful island hike!


My favorite time of day for a hike is early morning well before 9 AM!  It's still cool out, the trails are quite, there are loads of birds and animals to observe, and most of the time I'll have a trail all to myself!  St. John is filled with wonderful hiking trails as two-thirds of the island is protected by the Virgin Islands National Park.  Here is a picture from a vantage point on the Cinnamon Bay Trail.

The Cinnamon Bay Trail starts off of North Shore Road, across from the Cinnamon Bay camp ground and ascends to Centerline Road, at the island's center.  The trail is 1.1 miles each way and a solid exercise hike.  Unlike many of our trails, this trail ascends rather then descends first.  The trail is lined with fragrant bay rum and cinnamon and includes a detour to visit ruins.  Here are a few things I found particularly inspiring on this hike.  I can see these becoming fabric patterns or colors in the near future.


Warm Wishes,
CC

Cake Decorating Class and Guava Coconut Cake

This week my friend Jayme and I went to a cake decorating class at the Elaine I. Sprauve Public Library.  Our island library is small, but well-appointed, and has recently undergone a massive renovation.  The current issue of the St. John Magazine features a great article and wonderful pictures of the library.

Peggy Sprauve, our instructor, who generously donated her time and expertise asked us to bring a cake to decorative in class.  This certainly got me thinking!  Being that Valentine's Day is just around the corner, it was only fitting to bake a Valentine inspired cake.  Red Velvet simply didn't seem right, so I came up with a perfect island inspired alternative, a Guava Coconut Cake.

One of my favorite desserts growing up in a traditional Cuban household was cascos de guayaba con queso crema.  Translation, guava shells my mom would peel and boil until soft with water and sugar.  The shells and syrup turn a beautiful candied red, and are served with a piece of contrasting white cream cheese.  I know it sounds strange for those unfamiliar, but it's absolutely delicious!  It still remains one of my favorite desserts.

With this nostalgic treat in mind, I created my Guava Coconut Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting.  It's inspired by Paula Deen's Hummingbird Cake made on the Martha Stewart Show.  The cake is light, moist, and delish!  The guava and syrup give it a sexy rose color, perfect for a Valentine.

CC's Guava Coconut Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

For the Cake:
3 cups of all-purpose flour, and a little extra to dust the pans
3 tsp of baking powder
3/4 tsp salt
1 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup canola oil
1 1/2 cup of canned/jarred guava shells and syrup, pureed (puree a little extra if you want to use it to decorate the top of your cake)
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
4 large eggs, beaten
1 1/2 cup of shredded, un-sweeten coconut
Butter to coat the cake pans


For the Frosting:
1 lb (1 box) confectioner's sugar, sifted
16 oz. (2 packages) of cream cheese, soften and at room temperature
1 stick of unsalted butter, soften and at room temperature
2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract


Cake:
1.  Preheat oven to 325 degrees.  Butter and lightly dust with flour 2, 9" round cake pans.  Set aside.


2.  Sift the flour, baking powder, salt and sugar.  Mix sifted ingredients with the remaining ingredients (except for the coconut) until evenly combined.  Fold in the coconut.

3. Pour the batter evenly into the prepared pans.  Shake and tap the pans to release any air bubbles in the batter, and smooth out the top with a spatula.


4.  Bake, rotating cakes halfway through.  Cake is done in 26 to 28 minutes, or when a toothpick comes out clean after inserting it into the center of the cakes.


5. Pop cakes out of the pans and let them cool completely on a cooling rack.


Frosting:
1.  Combine all frosting ingredients and mix with an electric mixer until smooth.  You may need to add a little milk if the frosting is too thick.


2.  Frost the top of one cake and stack the second cake on top of it.  Frost the rest of the cake and decorate with extra guava puree.

In class, Peggy taught us that the best way to frost a cake is to start from the sides with a generous amount of frosting, and then do the top.  It's important to continuously check the frosting on your knife and pick off any crumbs.  For a professional smooth finish, dip your clean knife in water and very lightly brush it over the frosted cake to smooth away any marks.


The pictures shown are from my first attempt at the cake.  I made half the batter to test the receipe and filled mini heart-shaped molds, the batter works great for cupcakes too!  The table linens featured are samples from my new collection of handprinted fabrics soon to be released!  I put all of my fabrics and home furnishings to good use before making them available for sale.  This pattern is called Coral Garden.  The color is a soft blue-gray hue reminiscent of our island sky as a storm rolls in, and is fittingly called Storm.


Warm Wishes,
CC

Friday Night Movie Night: Pizza Dough Recipe

Every Friday night my husband, George, and I do pizza and a movie. It's a tradition we rarely break! Since we don't have a movie theater on St. John, movies are usually Blu-rays from Netflix's on our couch. We take turns every week choosing the movie so our Netflix's queue is quite eclectic. It's funny how something so simple has become the highlight of the week.  By Wednesday George is asking me, if it's Friday yet. But I think it's more for the pizza then the movie!

We use to order our pizza from Cafe Roma. It's our absolute favorite restaurant pizza on island, however during their off season hiatus last October I was inspired to make my own. The first Friday I tried, it was terrible and I swore I wouldn't attempt that again! But after some encouragement I tried again the following Friday.  Besides Roma was still closed for another couple of weeks. That week it turned out much better, and I've been making our Friday Night pizza ever since. Sorry Roma, although I still may want to take a Friday off every now and again! 

It's taken quite a few Friday's to perfect, but it's really a great recipe now and rises perfectly. The combination of whole wheat and all purpose flour adds complexity to the dough without overpowering the pie!

CC's Friday Night Pizza Dough

1 1/2 cups of all purpose flour (separate into two portions, 1 cup and 1/2 cup)

1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour

1 package of active dry yeast

1 cup warm water (warm not boiling)

1/2 Tbsp Honey (I use local honey of course!)

1/2 Tbsp Sea Salt (local if you can get it, I still have some I harvested from the Salt Pond last season)

In a bowl add the flours (reserving the 1/2 cup of all purpose flour for later), yeast, honey and water. Mix thoroughly until all ingredients are evenly incorporated. Add the sea salt and slowly add the reserved 1/2 cup of flour until it forms a ball and the dough is not sticking to the sides of the bowl (you may not need the entire 1/2 cup of flour).  Be sure to add the salt at this point, if it's added with the initial ingredients the dough doesn't rise properly.  Be careful not to over mix your dough or it will get tough. 

Lightly coat a bowl with olive oil. Place the dough in the bowl and then flip the dough over so that the top and bottom are coated with olive oil. Loosely cover with a piece of plastic wrap or a dish towel. Let the dough rise in a warm but breeze-free location for about an hour or until it doubles in bulk. (I let mine rest on top of the stove or kitchen counter away from open windows.)

Punch the dough down to release the air and knead it a few times with your knuckles. Remember the more you work the dough the tougher it gets, so don't over do it. Cover again and let rise a second time. The dough is ready for use after the second rise. I usually punch it down again and let it rise a third time since I make it early in the day. 

Makes 1, 16-18" pizza crust

I make my dough on Friday mornings, but it can be made a day or two in advance. Just wrap it up in plastic and store it in the fridge after the first rise. It can also be wrapped up and frozen for later use. 

I'll post my homemade sauce recipe which goes perfectly with the pizza soon!

Enjoy!

CC

Beekeeping in the Virgin Islands

Last week I graduated from beekeeping class. It was a very proud moment! The class was a 12-week pilot program sponsored by the V.I. Department of Agriculture on all three Virgin Islands. Here's a picture of me at the graduation ceremony on St. Thomas.

I confess my initial motivation was the honey. I love honey! I cook with it, bake with it, and use it often. But once I started learning about bees that quickly changed. We take a holistic approach to beekeeping on St. John. We're not honey hunters here! It's all about the bees, caring for them and ensuring their well being. The honey comes later. 

St. John graduated 24 beekeepers in this class. Here's a picture of the class after visiting our classmate's hives. Thanks Mark & Mark! Picture is courtesy of photographer and fellow classmate Kathryn Wagner.

Beekeeping unites people from all walks of life.  The group is composed of a chef, a midwife, a musician, a hairdresser, energy healers, photographers, landscapers, carpenters, and a designer of course.  Just to name a few.  It's an eclectic bunch here on St. John. 

Some of my classmates have already started hives.  I am patiently waiting to start my own.  Starting a hive is quite different here.  First off we work with Africanized bees not the Italian variety popular stateside.  It's the species we have in the Virgin Islands, and importing honey bees is certainly frowned upon as our local variety is plentiful and healthy.

A hive is started by either rescuing a wild hive or catching and attracting a swarm through the use of pheromones and a swarm trap.  The later being less work but more difficult to find and catch.  In contrast, rescuing hives can be a labor intensive yet rewarding endeavor.  It involves going out to a location where someone wants to remove an unwanted hive.  This picture is from a recent rescue and removal effort, the hive was in between the floor and ceiling in a home on Gifft Hill.

It's funny, I had a natural and normal fear of bees when I started the program.  That fear has turned into respect and today I am much more confidant and at ease when working with hives.  We learn that our state of mind certainly affects the bees.  Calm beekeeper = Calm bees. Hmm, I think this will become my new personal mantra! But I'm never lax about it, wear protective gear and spent a lot of time in class learning when and how to properly approach and handle bees to avoid attacks.


I never thought beekeeping would be something I would ever do, but once I started to learn about bees it became positively addictive!  Although some of my classmates have plans to develop bee businesses, my goals are modest.  A strong, healthy hive, and just maybe a little honey for me and my friends :-)


More of beekeeping in the Virgin Islands soon!
CC

Coral Bouquet

I hate fake flowers and plants! They go against my design credo that nature is always timeless and in style! However flowers and plants are not always practical to use or easy to care for. Case in point my bathroom vanity. I was looking for a wow factor for my vanity. It's a custom piece I designed especially for the master bathroom. It's made from maple and has a surf green granite top I hand picked because of its beautiful pattern that resembles inlaid crushed seashells. The knobs I recycled from cabinets in the house prior to the renovation.

Morning Coffee

I do my best thinking in the morning over coffee, and I LOVE exceptionally good coffee. I dream about it and look forward to it when I open my eyes! Unfortunately it is a very difficult thing to find on St. John! Luckily Peet's Coffee ships to the Virgin Islands so I never have to do without a good cup. I got hooked on Peet's years ago when I lived in San Francisco, not only is the coffee amazing but the company is social responsible and supports many villages and communities around the world. My favorites are Arabian Mocha-Java, Major Dickason's Blend, and Sumatra- full body and smooth liveliness. PERFECTION in a cup! But what makes morning coffee even better for me is drinking from an elegant coffee cup. Taking the time to sip and savor every flavor from china or porcelain versus taking quick gulps from one of my jumbo utilitarian mugs. Of course it doesn't happen every morning, but when it does there is just something so decadent about this simple pleasure. I have a small collection of beautiful coffee and tea cups just for this reason, they remind me to relax and be present and in the moment. After all that's why I moved to an island, to take it all in and slow it all down.

None of my cups match, some are expensive and some are not, but then that's what keeps the collection grounded and interesting. The one in the picture isn't one of my prettiest but is one of my favorites. It has lots of sentimental value because it was given to me over 15 years ago by a dear colleague and mentor. It has a few nicks and chips but I see those as signs of being put to good use! The picture is from my deck yesterday in the early morning. You can see St. John just beginning to waking up, the car ferry, and St. Thomas in the far distance. It turned out to be a beautiful day. CC

Orchids 101

First post, so I think it's only fitting to start off by talking about the orchids on my blog and website and how I took up gardening on island. The orchids are dendrobium orchids from my garden, no stock photography here!


I am certainly no orchid expert, and honestly I was just proud to have these bloom a second season. My husband is a great gardener, but couldn't cultivate orchids to save his life! So I figured if I could pull this off I would have MAJOR bragging rights. 

Orchids just seem so mysterious and elegant and add instant drama to any space. Cut flowers and floral arrangements are very expensive to buy on island and potted orchids are a perfect substitute. I was also curious to learn whether or not I had a green thumb, I use to travel so much for work when I lived in Miami that I never had anything alive at home. I couldn't resist the challenge and asked a good friend (and in my opinion an orchid expert you should see her garden, wow) how it was done. Here's what I've learned about cultivating orchids:

Orchid How to Tips for Newbies

1. Start with something easy. Dendrobiums are a good starter orchid. They are gorgeous, inexpensive, very easy to find, and come in a variety of colors. 
2. Orchids like bright indirect light. I kept hearing that but really didn't understand what that meant! Simple, keep them indoors near a sunny window, or outside under a warm, sunny covered deck or patio. I keep a few of mine outdoors on a coffee table which sits under a huge turpentine tree (see picture). They really do quite better outside here, just be sure to keep spiders and other creeper crawlers off of them. 
3. Don't over water. They are extremely resilient and only need to be watered about once a week. The potting mix should always be slightly moist to the touch. When watering give the entire plant a good soak, and let the excess water drain out. You can also lightly mist your plant with water midweek with a spray bottle if you live in a hot climate like St. John. I did this during the extremely hot summer months. I also feed my orchids with an orchid formula I bought at the local hardware store about once a month or whenever I remembered. 
4. Re-pot. I re-potted mine after it lost it's flowers the first season and the pot accidentally broke. Re-pot only when the roots are starting to come out of its current pot and after the plant has lost its flowers. Orchids thrive in tight spaces so don't re-pot in a container which is too large. Make sure there are holes in the container so that excess water can drain out. Use new orchid potting mix which has been soaked in water for at least a day, re-potting using a dry mix will cause your orchid to "choke" due to lack of water. Trust me I learned this the hard way! Make sure to cut off any dead or rotten roots and leaves before re-potting. 
5. Finally, don't obsess! It may take you a few weeks to find your orchids perfect home and watering schedule but once you do leave it alone! Changing your plants location to often and over handling just stresses it out and weakens it. Just relax and enjoy it! 

And voila, I got blooming orchids year 2 and a love for cultivating orchids.

CC