Benefits of Travel

Well another week has pasted and I have been thinking a lot about all my travels over the years. Yes I know this is getting off the track and point and purpose of this blog I started, But I have to say so many things happen in your life over the years and those events influence who you are and how you think about things in general. 

One of the great advantages of travel, which I have done so much over the last 30 years, is the meeting of some of the most interesting people from around the world. I have been blessed with working with some of the most talented people anyone could ever meet in one life time. I truly mean this in the most sincere way.

Working with technicians, designers, artist, craft people etc. has given me my total outlook on life and helped my own design sense and abilities. 

One of my favorite places to have had the privilege to travel is the Philippines. Over 20 years ago upon my first trip to the Philippines I not only fell in love with the islands, but most of all with the People. Everyone that I have met over the years has been an inspiration to me and helped guide me as a designer.  

But what I want to talk about most in this post is about a person I just met a little over a year ago. I have had the honor working along side of him in the design business, but most of all getting to know him as a person, Not just a designer/artist that he is one of the best I have every met, But a person with so much thought and remarkable insight to the problems and challenges of living our lives. 

I don't want to go into names and details and such, but one of his passions, besides design and art, is horticulture. Plants, Plants, Plants and how to use them in design and how to live and grow with them. We are face book friends as most of your are and he has posted some of the most wonderful photos, some his designs, some others designs, hints and facts about plants, just about anything you want to know about living and learning about plants. So I want to share some of those " Inspirations" with you. 

Designing a outdoor space takes time and patients beyond what most of us would every choose to take on. But results can be amazing! 

Just something simple like log and twig arbor makes a big difference to any outdoor space. How lush this one makes this dining area look. 

Can we talk tropical!  That is what is so wonderful about the Philippines, everything is oversize and over grown beauty! 

I have no idea what these are, I guess I should ask my friend! 

 BUT isn't this a spectacular achievement ?

An added bonus to having a friend such as this is to see through their eyes, And as a designer myself it helps with my own perspective and outlook. 

Sharing the interest of home decor design and combining it with the knowledge of horticulture proves to be a winning trait. 

Last but not least I want to show you some examples of creative use of materials combining love of Plants and Nature! 

Love this, How Eco friendly can you get? 

How clever can you get?  Great for a Garden room or kitchen or just hanging on the side of your potting shed or garage. 

The perfect WALL ART! 

A simple and easy way to create a bog garden! 

Buy some cheap plastic jello molds or cake pans and use quick Crete ( that's simple cement, brand name) to make some of the most interesting and creative holders for plants. Love the Bulb idea, fresh and clean!  

Well!  Thanks for letting me share an important part of my life and hopefully it will let us all remember how wonderful it is to meet and work with interesting people. We all can share in this journey called LIFE.  

My best to everyone and remember.

Make everyday your Holiday! 

Tim  

The Mess before the Events

Well I just have to make this post.  I know it really doesn't concern for the most part what my whole blog is about. BUT I think if you bear with me or at least give me a little " Artistic License". you will come to understand my madness.  For the last two weeks the whole front of my home has been under construction or should I say demolition.  We had to do some repairs to the front walkway due to the age of the home and such. But what got me thinking was how wonderful NOW it is going to be to decorate the front of the house for all the Holidays coming up.  See I told you I would get around to showing you there is a madness in my thinking..

The Front, what a mess,  But can you picture the door being festooned with holly and ivy for the coming Christmas season? 

This is the walkway that runs down the half side of the house. Ideas are floating in my head how to decorate. 

What a mess, a true war zone by any standard! 

At least I left the flag waving from the 4th of July season! 

But look how nice it looks after just two weeks.  I now have this wonderful walkway/runway along the front of house. Can you picture it lined with pumpkins for Halloween?  Or Potted trees with lights for Christmas? 

Fully restored and completed!   NOW I really have to get to work. Just thinking about all the possibilities and direction I can go. It was well worth the two weeks of construction. So everyone keep these pictures in your mind, Because as we get closer and closer to the Holidays you will remember all this work that went into preparing the front of the house for the holiday decorations!  

Thanks to everyone, and remember

"Everyday is a Holiday" 

my best,

Tim

Holiday Traveling

One of the amazing Perks of being a product development/designer is the travel. I remember as a child always wanted to travel to be somewhere else in the world, seeing new things and meeting new people. Well over the last 20 + years that is just want I have been doing.  And the result of all this travel has given me so much insight and respect for cultures and traditions and overall admiration for the people I have met and enjoyed working with and getting to know such a wide range of likes and dislikes when it comes to Holiday celebrations. 

For years I traveled to Germany on buying trips, but always managed to be in town for the "Christkindlmarkets".  German Christmas markets are an old tradition that have been going on for centuries.

Traveling in German has always been a special pleasure. My family on my Fathers side is from Germany, Also on my Mothers side. So I guess I have that in my genes. 

All I know is the strong traditional bonds that I have for the Christmas Holidays are truly engrained in me because of this heritage. 

My most cherished possession is this German Pyramid. It was given to me as a special gift from a wonderful business associate.

This person was involved in the industry for years, Importing goods and selling to the USA market. He is truly missed by me and many others that knew him. Every year I bring out this piece and my home is filled with so many memories of traveling in Germany and enjoying the holiday spirit that seems to always be there no matter what time of year it is. 

Another collection that I add to each year is my blown glass ornament collection. Yes most of them are from Germany, but other countries are represented also. Over the coarse of these blogs you will hear a lot about this collection. The pieces total over 3000 now. NOT the easiest to set up a tree using all of them. BUT as you see here it was a good effort!  took 2 days and three people to set it up and I truly believe 2 weeks to take it down and pack them all away, THE LOVE OF THE HOLIDAYS NEVER ENDS!  

Ok Enough of all that, let's get back to the travel part I started with. Germany the Christmas markets, I approach my decorating and showroom set ups as if I was selling in a market place. Strange some may say but it works. I just love how items are displayed, chalk full, overflowing into the arms of holiday shoppers! 

So given the chance in a life time, I choose travel. A true learning experience and never without something to think about or do. 

Thanks for traveling with me down Holiday Memory lane.

Best to everyone and remember.

Every day is a Holiday! 

Tim

Entertaining

Some of the best things about a Holiday are the Celebrations we create for our Dining pleasures.  Meaning our Tablescapes!  Yes I said that word, well what better way to describe the decorations we do for our tables and entertaining areas. If anyone can come up with a different description let me know, I will add it to my list. 

Grouping selective looks strenghtens the overall looks for your table. Be sure to add that extra element that makes your displays pop!   Like the Candy canes, Yum, Yum. 

Pick a group of items with with dramatic look and you are sure to set the stage for entertaining memories! 

Now we can not forget the true reason we entertain, It's the food we make, be creative with that element and you have the whole package!  

A true English Holiday, Roast Goose!

Not my best photo but you get the idea. Flaming Plum Pudding and it was so good, I have made it many times after that first event night. Somethings are meant to be repeated over and over again! 

So there you have it, Time to create!  And remember when in doubt, stick to the basics, Keep it simple and classic, food is the ties that bind our holiday memories. We can decorate all we want and be as elaborate as we want, but entertaining should be simple and easy and not much fuss. Just make it special. 

And remember, " Everyday is a Holiday" 

Always my best! 

Tim

Making Plans

Well another week begins and all I can think about is making sure I have all my supplies on hand to decorate for the next big Holiday.   Which will be Halloween!   

See I told you Everyday is a Holiday and I don't just deal with Christmas exclusively....   Over the years I have designed some great display pieces for Halloween, along with some wonderful table top items to decorate homes. 

Mr. and Mrs. Jack-O-Lantern always a favorite 

Oversize Fiberglass pumpkins with lights to decorate your front porch or patio!    How cute can they be? 

Nothing says Happy Halloween more then a spooky friendly Witch standing in your entree hall way. How much fun. 

Heres a new take on street lamps. Line your walkways with a grouping of these fun lamps and you are sure to get a large crowd of trick or treaters at your home. 

This is my latest creation, He stands 36 inch tall and his arms and legs are hooked so they move, He can hang or sit on a chair or tabletop. He will be the grand greeter to all the festivities. 

I just love these painted live pumpkins, How could these cute black cats every bring bad luck!  

Well as you see I love Halloween and just thinking about what I am going to be doing to get my home decorated excites me even more. There are lots of options and ways you can go, but for me keeping it simple and graphic is the best. Bold figures and bright shiny lighted pumpkins is all you need to get all those Ghouls and Goblins to come knocking at your door.

Get planning it's just around the corner!  

Best to everyone, and Make Every day a Holiday! 

Tim