Monday, May 31, 2010

Nashawena Island ~ a story and a collection Part 2

Like any Northern Island, the Summers on Nashawena are amazingly beautiful with warm breezy days and chilly nights that are perfect for snuggling on the couch for a spirited board game and a hot toddy.
There are single track trails covering the island from the Farmhouse to middle pond, to the private beaches and over to the Red House and back again. Mostly made by the long haired Highland cattle brought to the island for brush control but also from the two old mares that hang out each evening in the bay. The white surf laps at their hind quarters and sometimes they get caught on the Peninsula between tides and wait patiently for it to go back out again.

Down by the dock you can find quahogs for steaming the size of your hand, but around the bay and over on the peninsula beach there are so many razor clams that the dark sand looks polka dotted with their siphon holes and they make a mean clam chowder...that alone could fill my days, but a nice walk to Quick's Hole beach that divides Buzzards Bay and Martha's Vineyard sound provides the best sea glass for jewelry making or collecting.

Reading in the hammock on the porch wrapped in an old afghan from the back of the couch, writing my thoughts on each day, cooking with ingredients gathered from the island and the sea, talking with Susan about gardening, swimming in a saltwater pond and feeling like the only person on the planet, walking beside stone walls built ages ago , running the 3 mile total length of the island, napping in a leaning house feeling the wind rush over the little wooden bed and listening to the sounds of an enchanted place standing still in time ...these are my memories of Nashawena.



Here is a preview for the rest of the collection. I hope you enjoy it, tomorrow I will be posting some photos of the island with a little more trivia!

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Nashawena Island ~ a story and a collection



Nashawena Island is the second largest of the Elizabeth Islands of Dukes County, Massachusetts, USA. It lies between Cuttyhunk Island to the west and Pasque Island to the east. The island has a land area of 7.076 km² (2.732 sq mi, or 1,748.4 acres) and an official permanent population of 2 persons as of the 2000 census.

That is what Wikipedia can tell you about Nashawena.

I can tell you that those two persons are named Susan and Ryland E. Knott and that Susan has the most loveliest fruit, vegetable and flower garden I have ever seen with the sweetest raspberries. I can tell you that the old farmhouse in which they live is one of only two residences on the island. The other is known simply as "The Red House". It is not permanently occupied.

There are chickens behind this 200 year old farmhouse that wake you early each morning, but their alarm is not really needed, because you have to get up early anyway to take advantage of the three hours of electricity provided by generator each morning from 6-9 am only and again each night from 6-9 pm.

I can tell you that Ryland goes to Cuttyhunk by way of a small boat each Tuesday to send and receive mail. Its the only day the post office is open.

There are two ways to get to the island proper, meaning without trespassing on any of its private beaches or land...one, you can arrive by boat about an hour from the mainland or two, in a puddle jumper that will land in the bay in front of the farmhouse by the pier. Both ways are exciting and both have their own challenges.

More about the Island itself in my next post...

Here is a collection of vintage clothing, jewelry and vintage for your home inspired by Nashawena and all of its secret treasures.

I will be loading a few more items from this collection throughout the weekend
Check back for updates~

Sunday, May 16, 2010

Who could ask for anything more?




bottom two photos via jean jean vintage


"I've got starlight, I've got sweet dreams, I've got my man who could ask for anything more?"

You can imagine my joy when I came across these earrings from Jean Jean Vintage. I snatched them up immediately! Something about them screamed at me and I knew they must be mine!

Dorothy Dandridge Is one of my all time favorite women, I have seen her movies and the Halle Berry movie about her life SO many times.

A few weeks ago when I spotted these press photos of Dorothy and Harry Belafonte I let out a little yelp of surprise! Now I can share in a little bit of Dorothy's style via Jean Jean Vintage!
Hop over to see if your next inspiration is waiting for you!

Wouldn't it be great if they were really hers?


Saturday, May 1, 2010

A Sentimental Collection





These are some of my favorite things I have sold in the last year...among them a wedding bag to carry down the aisle, a tablecloth that was just like the buyer's Grandmother's. My very first sale ever that was a lace dress to Paris and another dress designed by Jay Morley that was being re-collected by his niece.

Strange to see all of my photos styles side by side and a wonderful collection of memories!