i got the blues...

My world has been a pink explosion of late...due to BabyGirl showing up. But some of my favorite things lately {besides my pink lady, of course} have been in one shade or another of this dreamy hue: blue.

Early this spring I painted my stair landing and kitchen door the most soothing turquoise : Benjamin Moore 2050-40 Florida Keys Blue {semi-gloss for these applications}. It's a gorgeous white sand beach, frosty mojito and resplendent sunset in a quart-size can. Get some for yourself! If you're local, visit our friends at Suburban Paint for all your paint needs.

{Benjamin Moore}

I've been true to blue when pulling concepts together for new clients recently too...trying to work it in when I can. Blue, in most every shade, offers a clean slate, a deep breath. Hope. Clear skies. Placid waters. It says: fresh, crisp, confident.

One thing's for sure: if we have to do laundry and vacuum, we may as well look cute doing it. Hence, my new Miele canister vac. This is dang cute, don't you think? LOVE this little wonder...excellent performance, lightweight, not to mention it's color makes me smile every time I see it! And the cobalt Electrolux washer and dryer were a nice step up from the dingy basic white laundro-matish editions that preceded them. Makes housework a breeze! {This is not really true, but sounds good...the breeze part, I mean, since I still have to be Cinderella and do the work!}

Last, but not least, thought I'd throw in my boys who greet me each morning. They've clearly been up to something. Got this compelling painting from my artist/foodie/mystic friend, Sermet in Charleston. You may have eaten at his delicious cafe, Sermet's Corner on King Street. I love the quote written at the bottom of his painting: A youth without fire is followed by old age without experience.

{Sermet's Corner, 276 King Street, Charleston, SC 29401. ph 843.853.7775}

True that. So, light it up!

chasing fireflies

{google images}

Ok, here goes: I'm new to this blog-thing. I still don't fully understand it...and frankly, it intimidates me. There, I said it. But our marketing diva and dear friend, Taylor, assures me that all I have to do is write about "what inspires" me. Well, this could go on all day, right? As sleep deprived as I am these days {having given birth to little Virginia 5 weeks ago}, I still find my spirits buoyed by the unexpected. Could be the way the pink/aqua/chartreuse evening light filters through century-old trees that canopy our house. Or the perfect pitch of our black lab, Bryson's soulful howl...whatever the "inspiration" of the moment, it is always accompanied by a rush of deep gratitude.

I grew up in Alabama where many a thick, balmy evening was spent running barefoot, stringy-haired around the neighborhood...Mason jar in hand, grasping for little magic bits of joy we called "lightning bugs." My sibling and I spent hours creating natural "lanterns" which we placed beside our beds. Last night, my ten-year old son, Guy and I were looking for some trouble to get into...so we grabbed a plastic Crystal Light container {fresh out of Mason jars here} and lit out into the perfect sticky Carolina dusk to catch some fun. WOWEE! The dark woods behind our house had become the perfect layered stage for a synchronized electric show! Nature's own Lite Brite {remember those?!} We stood wide-eyed, mouths gaping at the mesmerizing display. Crickets chirped and birds chattered about it...even one of the {creepy} neighborhood raccoons stopped near us to watch before he scuttled off into the brush. Guy said, " I always liked that word, 'scuttled'." And I said, "Me too." And that was that.

How's that for inspiration?

My crazy wonderful dreamy boy, Guy. He's without a doubt, my greatest inspiration.

I'm gonna take all those greens and citrons and lavenders from those bugs and the gorgeous twilight and pick back up a series of paintings I started a couple of years ago...of swinging chinese lanterns, ribbons, fireflies and the like. A party on a canvas. Stay tuned. I'll post them as I get them finished.

Be happy. Be grateful. Mostly, be kind.

let's get this weekend started!

tgif!

the memorial day countdown is on... in honor of this holiday, we're having an event today and tomorrow!

stop in and delight in all things red, white and blue... pink, orange and violet, for that matter... and take 25% off your purchase - which can be anything, any color!

and for those that have been asking, baby Virginia and mama Mayme are doing great and will officially be back in the studio June 14th - so schedule your design consultations with Katie or just come by to visit.

can't wait to see you. enjoy your weekend!

{ hope it's filled with lots of fireworks, burgers, family & fun... but don't forget to hug those soldiers, veterans & others in the armed forces for this special day }

xoxo Taylor

V is for Virginia!

feather your nest

"be like the bird that passing on her flight awhile on boughs too slight, feels them give way beneath her, and yet sings, knowing that she hath wings." - victor hugo

as most of you have heard, this spring will bring something wonderful to the studio - we are anxiously anticipating her sweet arrival any day now. Mayme is expecting a baby girl!

so while waiting {...sigh!}, we are feathering our nest - complete with planting our summer flower boxes. these pink, purple and yellow babies are tucked in with fresh soil and good food, watered and ready to grow! by mid- June, they'll be an explosion of delightful color! - we'll keep you updated.

much to our delight... as we were working from planter to planter, we heard some soft chirps. lo and behold, some smart mama bird had hid her beautifully constructed nest all safe and sound behind one of the boxwoods. she obviously knew a chic snug spot when she saw it! it must have been the bubblegum pink shutters that drew her to us. those are sure to be some fashionable little hoots she sends out into the world!

while we're on birds, you must come check out these fine feathers here at the studio... to add a little lovely to your own nest!

in the right light, at the right time, everything is extraordinary - aaron rose

we have great, big news!

we are proud to announce that starting in June, we will be an exclusive dealer of Marjorie Skouras Design!

you may have heard the buzz about her in any of these... the beauties that she creates are all handmade in LA and incorporate semi-precious stones - turquoise of many colors, black coral, onyx, lapis & red coral!

these are TO DIE FOR... we can't wait to have them in here in store!

all images from Marjorie Skouras Design

up, up and away! WEBSITE LAUNCH!

y'all!

light your cigars and grab your flutes of bubbly!

we've got babies on the mind for sure... seems like there's a bumper crop of newborns around here - including our big website baby! after months of hard work, good nutrition and sleepless nights, it's finally time to push this young one out of the nest and let it fly! sniff! sniff!

we are so excited about the website and hope you will be too! check the site often since we will be adding images to all of the portfolios weekly as projects are completed and ready to photograph. please let us know what you think and please pass it on to all your friends and family!

www.maymebakerstudio.com

lots of love and good wishes (and crossed-fingers!),

mayme