Decorate Workshop by Holly Becker

Happy to receive my copy of Decorate Workshop by beloved blogger and stylist Holly Becker! I've written about Holly and her work a lot on this blog because:

1. I love her style and her books. 

2. I've taken a couple of her Blogging Your Way classes and learned so much. 

3. I love her personal story: it inspires me to see how Holly is following her dreams. 

On my shelf

So, you can imagine that when her second book arrived, I was quite excited and couldn't wait to pour a cup of tea and settle in! It's called Decorate Workshop and although it's paper back, it's still quite hefty with over 200 pages of gorgeous photography by Debi Treloar. This book is different from her first book Decorate because it's more of a step by step guide to help you move away from the book and actually pick a project to work on. There are 8 steps to help you get in touch with your creative nature and express yourself. I am very drawn to this concept. I am intrigued with how people decorate their homes and love to explore friends' homes to get a better glimpse of who they are, where they've been and how they choose to express themselves through their decor. Of course it's an ongoing process and by no means does your home "make you who you are," but it certainly is fun to see what people choose to display in their homes and how they represent themselves. People have told me that my home is really "me" and I take that as a compliment since it is my intention to reflect who I am in all aspects of my life, including my nest.

Holly recommends that you use this book as an "interactive workshop" and after having taken her classes and listened to her podcasts, I can really hear her voice as I read. There are spaces in the book to make lists, write down inspirations and jot down ideas in each chapter. Holly encourages the reader to write in the book, which I've never done in any decor book, but I found it was quite fun to write my name in the book and begin a sort of journaling process. 

My favorite sections are the first two- Seek INSPIRATION and Find your PERSONAL STYLE. I like Holly's prompts such as  "List 5 cities that you adore and detail why" or "My favorite places to visit are..." 

Another bonus is that we get to see Holly's home as she explains her creative process with decorating her own personal space. 

 Less is more when it comes to a child's room

Learn how to make a mood board to catalog and guide your inspirations

The patchwork tile floors, dangling lights and vintage cabinet make this
kitchen stand out from the norm.

Go ahead, write in it!

Soothing neutrals

A perfect example of how vintage can look polished and clean,
with just the right amount of texture and nostalgia.

A vintage medicine cabinet in the kitchen adds character

I'm probably on step 3 right now, "Identify your project". Although I've put a lot of time into personalizing my home, I still have grand plans to remodel my kitchen, decorate my office and update all the bedrooms. Yikes, sounds like a lot of work! Yet, Holly's right, your home is always a work in progress, but having a guide like this makes it more fun than work~

Love to My Soul Sisters

I just had to share this sweet invitation because it warms my heart and I would like to encourage anyone out there who is working on their dreams to form a support group of some kind.

It's hard to admit your dreams to yourself, and even harder to share those delicate dreams with others,  BUT if you can find or form a group of like-minded souls who can consistently support and love you through all the drama of real life, then you have a much better chance of actually making your dream become a reality. How do I know? Because I'm living it sista!

I've been on a roller coaster of emotions during this last year and a half and I wouldn't be able to continue this path without some serious encouragement and support. For the past 8 weeks, I've been facilitating a powerful session called Fire Starters with an amazing group of creative women. A few weeks ago, I was out of town and asked a friend to facilitate the group.  While I was gone, my dear group came up with the idea of throwing a party to "help advance Desha's dreams".

My Awesome Fire Starter Soul Sisters

They've planned a lovely party and as you can see from the above invitation, it's going to be a really fun and beautiful event. We'll watch my latest episode of The Desha Show, "Life on Nantucket" and look at my new book proposal, Eclectic LifeSTYLE.

I'm honored and a bit nervous about this whole thing. I haven't shown my book proposal to ANYONE except my agent. In fact, I haven't even said a word about it on this blog... but there you have it, I'm working on a book proposal :)

If you have experience/interest with design, fashion, style, film, social media, SEO, TV... we'd love to see you there. It's Sat, November 17 at 6pm. 

RSVP to Susie:  belleci@yahoo.com 

Thank you to all my dear Fire Starters. You are the BEST!

Garden Design by Dot

Dot's Shade Garden

Today, on My Little Brattleboro, I would like to introduce Dot Lenhart, gardener extraordinaire! I love home architecture and it's amazing how a garden can change the aesthetic of your exterior. I've been walking past Dot's home garden for the last few years, admiring it and watching it grow (often quite jealous). Gardening is a form of art, and Dot's landscape is a fine example of how a garden can enhance the beauty of your home. While summer is simmering down, it's a good time to think about your garden design for next year, so contact Dot if you need some great advice. I plan to!

Dot, I often walk by your house so I can see your gorgeous garden. What led you to garden professionally?

Plants have been my biggest continual interest since I was a small child. Once my children grew to school age, I was searching for a career. Friends and professionals alike encouraged me to put my passion for gardening into a business, and I have been in the business for about 20 years now. 

What's your favorite thing about your own garden/ garden design?

Well, I have two favorite areas of my current gardens. I have been in love with my shade garden since I created it, even though it presents me with some challenges. It's wonderful how our gardens teach us. Secondly, I adore the shrub garden I am creating in front of my house. I have always focused primarily on perennials, so this garden is refreshing to me. Okay, third area - the Day Lily border!

Day lily Border

What colors, textures inspire you in outdoor design?

I used to be a 'pastel person' as far as gardening, so it's interesting how I've moved into saturated colors. I like to mix up the textures for interest so that the garden doesn't have to rely on color alone to be attractive. I've also learned the value of white in a garden.

You are starting a new outdoor design business, right? What are your services and where can we find you?



Front Garden off the Porch

I am indeed starting a new business, Dot Lenhart Garden Design and Consultation. I am offering garden design and consultation services, garden coaching for people who want to learn about gardening, and classes/seminars for groups interested in lectures on garden topics. 

I can be reached at 802-257-6917, or len1922@aol.com.

Do you love Dot's garden? Let her know in the comments below~