The Happy Flag Project

Before leaving for our month long trip to the East Coat (more on that later), I had the opportunity to spend some time with friends I met through an artisan guild.  This group of craft artists, interior designers, architects, painters and entrepreneurs gather every month or so to share their passions, professions and creative expressions.  For this recent gathering textile designer Jennifer Sampou invited us to her studio to create Prayer Flags for The Happy Flag Project.  Using fabric samples and scraps, buttons, stickers and feathers we each decorated one flag to be sent to the Dalai Lama and another flag to keep.  With themes of peace, joy, contentment, compassion, empowerment and healing we all put our creative hands to stitch flags together.  Take a look at some images from the evening and the flag I made for Zoe.

Many thanks to Jennifer Sampou for opening up her studio for us and inspiring me to break out my sewing machine.

Be sure to check out Jennifer Sampou's amazing fabric designs and collections here and give some thought to gathering a group to participate in The Happy Flag Project.  It is great fun!

The Creative Residency

I have fantastic news!  I was just accepted to be a fellow at The Creative Residency, a seminar series founded by  Justina Blakeney and Dabito.  They are both  leaders in the blogging, photography and styling stratosphere.  Simply put, they're kick ass creatives!   At the end of the month I'll be attending their Social Media Practicum in LA.  It took courage to apply but I'm so glad I did and now I'm in it!

I feel like great things are happening ahead and I'm fully engaged to embrace them.

Be sure to check out all of the seminars at The Creative Residency here and follow their Instagram feed for inspiring images and words!

Life Happens

In a previous "Life Happens" post, I expressed my thoughts (in a somewhat dour way) on the of effects of time on me, our children and my parents.   On the flip side, as time continues to pass, our kids are maturing into very distinct individuals and each one is SO enjoyable.  In the photos recently taken in Big Sur, one can get a sense of the unique personalities captured by my camera.

I'm looking forward to a slow summer in their very entertaining company.

Here's to many happy and safe life happenings this summer!

Before & After: A Guest Bedroom's Quick Fix

In the coming months we're expecting quite a few visitors, so I decided to revamp our guest bedroom suite. Utilizing items that we've owned for many years, I put together a space that looks familiar yet feels completely new.  Staying true to my love of neutrals the room is a medley of earthy tones, textures and patterns.  Not a penny spent, just time rummaging through the house for things to repurpose.

Here are the details:  a pair of Ming dynasty chairs that were once desk chairs now act as bedside tables, art found at a yard sale 12 years ago turns the headboard into a focal statement,  existing bedding and pillows help layer a cozy bed look, the sisal area rug is a remnant from our redone office area and lamps that were once sold at Cocoon (our store) provide adequate light to read by.  Lastly, a feng shui botanical touch and some bedtime reading for our guests.

Take a look at the before and after process that took [literally] one single afternoon:

Below is snapshot of our Belmont, Ma., apartment circa 2005.   The lights and art were right at home even then.   While it's nice to decorate with brand new items, I really enjoy repurposing what we already own and then accessorize as needed.  The guest bedroom suite will someday undergo a complete makeover, but I'm sure that some of the pieces you see now will still show up somewhere in the house...

Cocoon Home Design can help you achieve an updated, stylized look with preowned items.  It's all about featuring favorite things in a brand new light.  Contact me at:  debra@cocoonhome.com

A Woodland Fairy House

Last week Zoe designed a fairy house from a piece of birch bark once used for a Cocoon Home botanical installation.  Keeping true to the trunk's natural state, Zoe used stones, twigs, lichen and moss to fashion the tables, beds, swings and stairs.  SO proud of her and her magical creation.  Take a look:

To see another 'woodland' creation inspired by our Zoe click here.