Weekend Getaway-Part 1--Antique Mall Shopping for Christmas Presents/Clients

Ritz Carlton at Reynolds Plantation all decked out in Christmas lights

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! We spent a couple of days with my family at the Ritz Carlton at Reynolds Plantation on Lake Oconee in central Georgia. My parents have been several times but we had not. It is a gorgeous place. The hotel is as great as most Ritz Carlton's, the lake is beautiful and serene, and the location is perfect for an easy, relaxed getaway.

There is something for everyone here. Golf, tennis, kayaking, fishing, three great restaurants on the property, and a spa that is apparently one of the best in Georgia.


But this trip for us was about Thanksgiving and time with family. As dear friend Lue Svendson said about Thanksgiving, "it is the most honest holiday. No presents, no long preparations, no pretense. Just giving thanks and being together." I agree whole heartedly and that is exactly the kind of holiday we had. Dinner at the Georgia Grille in the hotel with dessert after at the house my parents rented for them (we stayed at the hotel!). It was a relaxed, easy, happy affair all around. One big excitement was the engagement of my nephew, Daniel, to the sweet Julie Holcomb! Daniel proposed (with a gorgeous ring I should add) on the Ritz Carlton grounds just before dinner. It was very sweet and as they are a wonderful couple, quite a special moment.

Here is my family post-dinner in front of the huge Christmas tree by the lake:

Tim, Jeffery, niece Ann, nephew Daniel, future niece-in-law Julie, brother Joey, Mom, Dad

On Friday, we explored the beautiful towns of Greensboro and Madison for a little holiday shopping. WOW! Both towns are about as charming as any I've ever seen and GREAT finds for Christmas gifts and client projects were everywhere. I couldn't believe how incredibly reasonable everything was. I scored some deals, was able to pick up a few gifts, and have lots of great items to present to clients. I found so much that I am breaking it up and doing two blog posts.

First up, here are a few of my favorite finds at Greensboro Antique Mall in Greensboro, GA, that would make excellent gifts for Christmas:

Mens Cufflinks--a great gift! These were $4/pair..yes, that's right, $4/pair! in the city they would be at least five times that price.

Vintage Blue Acrylic Ice Bucket or Wine Cooler--$6!!

I am having a love affair with brass candlesticks right now and think they make perfect presents. More on my favorite recent finds in next blog post. I like candlesticks that are handsome and architectural, not fussy and curlicued. These are just perfect. And at $ 39.95 for the pair, a great buy.

I love visiting antique malls during the holidays to find unique gifts for friends and clients. In addition to Greensboro Antique Mall, some of my favorites are:

GEORGIA:
14th Street Antiques Market in Atlanta; Peachtree Battle Antiques in Atlanta; Scott's Antique Market in Atlanta; The Stalls on Bennett Street in Atlanta; Interiors Market on Bennett Street in Atlanta; Oh Deco Where Art Thou in Lyons

LOUISIANA:
Lagniappe Antiques in Breaux Bridge

NEW YORK:
Center 44 in New York City

FLORIDA:
Antiques on Holiday in Destin

and the mother lode of them all, three antique malls/markets in gorgeous Madison, Georgia which will be tomorrow's post....

Enjoy this wonderful time of year between Thanksgiving and New Year's and remember, shop local which for me mean's anywhere privately owned!

Candace Greer--Holiday Show, Perfect Gifts, Gallery Announcements

Today I am particularly grateful for my clients---both design clients and artists--who have each essentially entrusted me to lead them on the same journey. A journey filled with twists and turns that encourages them to study, experiment, grow, achieve beauty and success whether in their home or office or in the paintings they create. 

To my design, artist, and gallery clients: thank you for a busy and beautiful 2011!

Candace Greer is one of the artists that I serve as agent for and 2011's journey has been an exciting and eventful one for this very talented mixed media (primarily acrylic, oil pastels, and pencil on wood) artist who is now represented by galleries in Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, and Louisiana. 

So wherever you are in your travels be sure to check out the wonderful small pieces by this painter which make wonderful one of a kind gifts. And remember that you can always call any of the galleries to purchase a piece and they will ship it to you (tax free if shipping out of state!). I have included contact info for each at the bottom of this post.

 If you are spending Thanksgiving down at the 30A beaches in Florida, stop by Rosemary Beach for the 2011 Holiday Market this Saturday from 9-5. Candace will be showing many great pieces perfect for presents.

Some of my favorite pieces by Candace are these fantastic little sketches which are studies for larger pieces. These are done on thin pieces of raw wood and the combo of acrylic paint and pencil gives great texture and depth. They are perfect on an easel in a table top vignette or simply propped against a stack of books the way I did in my office. They sell for $ 45.

A Candace Greer sketch study mixed with my favorite design books, a Sarah Stewart shell, and a Steve Martin wire sculpture.

While in Rosemary Beach, stop into Tracery Interiors where Candace is always represented. Tracery-Rosemary Beach has a couple of small pieces perfect for stocking stuffers and on "black Friday" (can't we call it a better color than black?), everything at Tracery is 25% off so now is the perfect time to buy!

Mikimoto Pearl

6" x 6"

$ 125.00 (Less 25% Friday, November 25th)

Pretty Oyster

6" x 6"

$ 125.00 (less 25% on Friday, November 25th)

Tracery used Pretty Oyster in a tabletop display in this past Summer's 30A Show House

If you aren't in Florida but will be in Birmingham, visit Tracery's beautiful shop in Mountain Brook Village where these two sailboat beauties are:

Sailboat II

8" x 8"

$ 250.00 (less 25% on Friday, November 25th)

Sailboat III

8" x 8"

$ 250.00 (less 25% on Friday, November 25th)

In Louisiana, both Gallery at City Club in Lafayette and Rue du Pont Galerie in Breaux Bridge have a nice selection of Candace Greer paintings. At Gallery at City Club, my two favorites are:

Summer Blues

8" x 8"

$ 250.00

Colorful Trio on the Bay

8"x 8"

$ 250.00

and at Lue Svendson's Rue du Pont Galerie:

No Fear

16" x 20"

$ 675.00

 over in Mississippi, View Gallery recently received a very nice selection of pieces by Candace. My favorites:

Docked Serenity

12" x 12"

$ 375.00

Triangular Solace

12" x 12"

$ 375.00

Wherever you are this Holiday weekend, shop artists, local, privately owned! Don't spend your time waiting in line at a check-out register in a fluorescent lit, no windowed place buying something that everyone else is. Visit a shop, gallery, or studio with charm and beauty and purchase a unique, one of a kind gift...for friends or family or even better, for yourself!

RESOURCES:

Candace Greer, artist    www.candacegreerart.com

Tracery Interiors, Rosemary Beach, FL   72 Main Street   850 231 6755   www.traceryinteriors.com

Tracery Interiors, Mountain Brook Village in Birmingham, AL   2405 Montevallo Road  205 414 6026

Gallery at City Club, Lafayette, LA    1100 Camellia Blvd    917 282 1880 for info

Rue du Pont Galerie, Breaux Bridge, LA  123 E. Bridge Street   337 344 9207   www.luesvendson.com

View Gallery, Ridgeland, MS  1107 Highland Colony Pkwy  601 856 2001  www.viewgalleryart.com