Tuesday, January 5, 2010

WATERSIDE WEDNESDAY: ALOHA

One of the little known pleasures of writing a book is that you rediscover old friends.
A month ago, a very talented Virginia decorator who I had lost touch with saw my book and sent me an e-mail.
She was living in Hawaii for the past six years and had recently opened a home boutique called Nest. She wanted to stock my book.
From experience, I knew that everything that Sandi Wickersham does, she does well, and I asked her to send me a few photos of her shop and recent work. Above is a bedroom she redid for a client. All of the other photos in this post were taken in Sandi's shop in Kihei on Maui.
When Sandi told me that my book, Waterside Cottages, was perfect for her shop, she wasn't kidding! Perched on a shelf, it really does look right at home at Nest.
Here's a closer view!
Born on a farm in Washington State, Sandi grew up surrounded by green hills, apple trees and a host of horses, cows, and chickens. For some reason, she always dreamed of living by the sea.
Her father encouraged her to draw. As an adult, Sandi gained recognition for her primitive style paintings of daily life at her family's farm, country fairs and other country scenes. She also painted her Caribbean fantasies filled with flamingos, frothy surf and stacks of shells.

Despite her success as an artist, Sandi has worked as a dental hygienist in California, opened an antiques shop in Texas and designed quilts and bedding for a company in New York City. Today she frequently incorporates Hawaiian quilt patterns into her design work.
Sandi and I met in 1993. She was living in a rustic log cabin in rural Virginia, raising horses and painting, and running two home design shops.
Her life seemed practically perfect but moving to Hawaii was her dream come true. To see more of what she's been up to visit www.wickershamdesign.com
If you are in the neighborhood, please drop by Nest and tell Sandi that Barbara sent you.
Of course, you might want to call ( 808-269-3228) first to be sure Sandi's not taking a break.

28 comments:

Julie Marie said...

Hello Barbara... what a fun post and how wonderful you two "met" again... her shop looks beautiful and I am sure your book will be one of her best sellers! Mine sits on our coffee table all the time! xoxo Julie Marie

Blondie's Journal said...

Sandi sounds like a 'jack of all trades', living in paradise. But I know, running a shop must not be the easiest thing to do. And how wonderful for you to have your book selling there. I am sure it will be a hit. It looks so pretty amongst all Sandi's blue dishes. You know I do have it, Barbara, and I am still savoring it. One cottage at a time!! :-)

Happy New Year, by the way!

xoxo
Jane

Stephanie said...

Gorgeous shop! One more reason to want to go to Hawaii (Not to mention it is so much warmer than here!) After I found your page, I went back to your beautiful book - it is definitely one of my favorites - and decided to order 2 more as holiday gifts - They loved it! Looking forward to reading more of your adventures ...

Kathleen said...

Beautiful Barbara.. It is frigid here in Southampton!

bikim said...

GORGEOUS THINGS!
WISH I COULD GO THERE!
HAPPY DAY,
ROSA

Shellbelle said...

Your friend's shop is lovely, I could get lost in there for hours. Your book fits right in, what a delightful way to reconnect with an old friend.

Lovin' those dish towels!

Ruth Welter said...

Your friend is very talented Barbara, beautiful photos of her work and shop and of course, to live in Hawaii would be a dream come true. Happy new year to you.

Ruth

Andrea said...

What a cute lil shop, makes me feel like I'm there and I wish I were! Shopping!

Brenda Pruitt said...

That's one talented woman! I love your book!
Brenda

Jane said...

Wish this shop was here in FL!!! It's beautiful....and your book definitely fits.
I could spend hours exploring and dreaming here.

Don't you love renewing friendships! Recently, I did this with an old friend from our early days of marriage...25 years later, we had lunch and picked up right where we left off. Wonderful!!!

Jane (artfully graced)

Kathryn Bechen said...

What a wonderful story for both of you to reconnect! What talent!

Cindy said...

What a beautiful shop! I love those towels that say Welcome to our Beach House!!

NeereAnDear said...

Happy New Year!

What a wonderful way for us to take a vacation to Hawaii and get in out of the cold...

Your friend seems to be a very amazing and creative talent...

Love her shop

HUGS
JO

Maya @ Completely Coastal said...

What a gorgeous store. Love the display cabinet!

beachvintage.com said...

What a fabulous shop and what a fabulous story. This was meant to be, you to meeting up like that. Hope you had a great New Year and look forward to reading your blog in 2010.

mermaid gallery said...

The shop looks amazing....I too had a little shop that I pretended was in a tropical place, so I am, indeed, fascinated.

Anonymous said...

What a stunning shop your friend has, and what a wonderful story.

Creations by Marie Antoinette and Edie Marie said...

How wondeful that an old friend called and wanted to display your beautiful book.For it indeed looks lovely on her shelf.I can surely tell she does some awesome work.
With thay,
I wish this new year will bring you all the best it can offer Hon,
XXOO Marie Antionette

Sandi Wickersham said...

What a nice surprise, coming home tonight to do a little "updating" on my website only to find Barbara Jacksier's blog Waterside Wednesday Aloha & her generous comments & photos of my life in Paradise!

All of your kind words & compliments have lifted my spirits immensely! To be able to do what you love, art & design, in a place that you love, Maui...I am truly blessed! Barbara & I have had some crazy adventures travelling around finding & styling photo shoots in the Washington, DC area, rural Virginia & the Maryland shore, pushing chairs here & there, fluffing bed linens to perfection, gathering photo worthy strawberries & peonies, all to create a visual story of the country life we love!

I learned so much from Barbara & Dan Mayers, amid lots & lots of laughter! Her book sold out in my store Nest immediately! She may need to bring some to me personally--good excuse for a winter getaway! Thanks loads
for all your compliments, you make me blush!! ...with warm aloha!
Sandi (& Cheyenne sends her warm dog licks to her favorite photographer Dan)

www.MaisonStGermain.com said...

That shop is so pretty and the perfect place for you wonderful book. It looks like it could be in a magazine or book.
~Debra
Blog: Capers of the vintage vixens

Elyse said...

hi barbara,

it's as if your friend was given the design assignment: build a shop around my book! a perfect fit.

i am in swoon-overdrive over the aqua oars. sigh.

thanks for sharing. so nice to read about people taking action to make their dreams come true!

xo
elyse

Betty Jo said...

I would really love to visit Sandi's shop someday. Your book is truly at home there. I adore the bedroom she redid for her client. Gorgeous! I actually wrote about Waterside Cottages today on my blog. I so adore your book! ♥

Paula said...

How gorgeous! She is a very talented lady- glad you two reconnected!

Unknown said...

what a beautiful shop!!

Deana said...

looks like a fabulous shop!

Linda@ Lime in the Coconut said...

Hey...I'll second that I wish this shop were in FL. Beautiful
Your book will be beautifully at home there!

sealaura said...

looks like a lovely shop. also what an inspiring story. I dream of living by the sea and it is nice to read about someone who has had many twists and turns in life and still landed by the sea. :)

Tutti Chic said...

Your amazing book will look right at home in this beautiful shop! :)