More Coco’-lanterns

This week Milan and I painted coconuts and created our own island style versions of Halloween jack-o-lanterns or coco'-lanterns.  We used the coconuts we found on the beach over the weekend and some non-toxic, washable finger paint.  It was a nice change to finger paint on something other then paper, and making a big mess on the deck was an added bonus!  The best part was watching the coconuts roll everywhere when she discovered that they were easier to roll then to carry.  Thankfully, it all washed away quite easily.  These are our masterpieces displayed in our dining room (it's outdoors).  

Decking My Halls

We've been traveling and I got a very late start on Christmas decorations, I'm still decorating as we speak.  Truth be told it's been a daunting task this year with the house renovation and chasing after a one year old.  But Christmas is my favorite holiday and it's Milan's first christmas at home so I really wanted to make it special.  My strategy this year was to choose to work on just a few big & bold projects.  Maximum impact with minimal work!  Here are a few of my favorite decorations this year...

The Stockings Were Hung

George & I didn't grow up with many holiday traditions so it's been fun to try new things and create our own as the years go by.  Now with the addition of Milan we think it's even more important to create traditions that will define our family and last for years to come.  For example, her Memory Christmas Stocking that we hope will create a sentimental collage of all of her favorite childhood memories & interests.  Like a charm bracelet, each year we'll add one special item, ornament or keepsake to the stocking that best represents her love & passions for the year.  

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.

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

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

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.

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