Introducing 'Miss Isabella'

Introducing 'Miss Isabella'.  'Miss Isabella' is wearing my favorite tile complimented by beautiful Jade beads at the neckline and wonderful seafoam green plates for the ruffle on the back hem.  I am still in love with this tile.  I have used it repeatedly on several pieces, and my collectors love it also.  This tile is a glass tile with a pearlescent backing.  In different lights it is green, blue or pearl.  I have used it with red and pink as well with great effect.  It is so versatile and compliments many different design styles.  

'Miss Isabella' is on her way to Paladino in Santa Fe, New Mexico.  You may remember from my most recent blog post introducing 'Miss Holmes' below, these pieces are going to be part of a new retail venture in support of   Palliative Care.  I am honored to be part of the new way of fundraising for healthcare.  Stay tuned for updates on Paladino special events and Openings.  My sculptures will be part of a special 'Gallery Crawl' event in July in Santa Fe.  

Today I have chosen various shades of green and blue to continue my Fantasy Decorating Series.  Images and Decorating inspiration are from Country Living Magazine.  You will see what I mean when I say that this tile is so great with so many different styles and colors.  Which one is your favorite?  

I think the bowl on the table might be the same manufacturer of the plates I used at the ruffle!

I enjoy the contrast of the beach cottage above with the snow in this shot of  'Miss Isabella'

I love the beige, light green and white in this room.  'Miss Isabella' would fit right in!

I think the jade beads are such a compliment

On the mantel, on the ottoman, on the table?

The basket weave design on the plates would be perfect with the stripe on those chairs

Introducing 'Miss Holmes'

'Miss Holmes'  17 H x 10 W
$2500

Introducing 'Miss Holmes'.  I found this spring green china through Crate and Barrel , not a usual sleuthing source for me.  However, I really, really liked this modern color of green and the solid outer rim of the plate. Pairing the bright green with white, makes for a cheery sculpture!  'Miss Holmes' is on her way to Santa Fe, New Mexico.  She will be part of a new way of fundraising for Palliative Care.  A new retail venue is opening in a very high end shopping district of Santa Fe, NM.  All proceeds from the sale of merchandise in this very special gift store and art gallery will go to raising funds for patients receiving Palliative Care. I am super excited and flattered to be a part of this new venture.  Be sure to 'Like' me on Facebook and Follow me on Twitter for updates on this project and how it progresses.

 In continuing my 'Fantasy Decorating', I have paired 'Miss Holmes' below with rooms from House to Home in the UK and House Beautiful Magazine  How perfect that House Beautiful's latest issue features homes with green interiors?!  Get inspired and think spring!

Loving the stencils on these walls, reminds me of our friends at Casart Coverings

'Miss Holmes' up close, V-neckline

I think this room was made for 'Miss Holmes'!

'Miss Holmes' from the back showing white beads for 'buttons'

This checkerboard ceiling is divine, 'Miss Holmes' would sit perfectly on that island!

Artwork and the Hotel Guest

A recent article in the NYTimes, ‘Hospitality Boutiques’, by Terry Trucco, August 8, 2011; points to how hotels are recognizing the opportunities they have for revenue in enlarging their hotel gift shop offerings to include high end merchandise and art.  “With occupancy rates and the number of travelers on the rise, industry experts predict growth in high-concept hotel shops.  Shops are one of the remaining opportunities hotels have for people to say ‘This place is different, better, cleverer and more exciting than I expected,’ ” said Bjorn Hanson, New York University. 

When a guest stays at a hotel for a few days, think of the numerous opportunities for retail.  “If it’s done right, retailing is another layer that makes the overall experience more engaging,” said Alex Calderwood, of the Ace Hotel in New York.  Hotels have long been selling their bathrobes and linens and guests have long been stealing toiletries.  The same applies for artwork in the Boutique Hotel setting.  Rather than taking home a robe, guests are opting for the artwork in the lobby for their own homes.  Alex continues, “You want guests to find things they may not see everywhere else.” 

Artwork by Shelly Hamill
Photography by Amanda Temple
Rosewood Tuckers Point Hotel & Spa
Bermuda

Guests in the leisure hotel market must pass the lobby artwork on their way to breakfast, lunch and dinner; on their way to the pool, beach, golf and tennis- for several days in a row.  The image of the artwork is repeated and reinforced multiple times in any given day.  An emotional connection is made with the artwork and in the experience of a hotel, the convenience and ease of charging that artwork to their account makes it all the more compelling.   

Artwork by Shelly Hamill
Photography by Amanda Temple
Rosewood Tuckers Point Hotel & Spa
Bermuda

Good interior design also plays an important role.  Good design allows guests to actually see what a particular piece of artwork will look like in their own home setting.  Decorating a hotel lobby with beautiful artwork and interiors makes it easy on the collector.  The collector does not have to guess what a piece will look like with a sofa and a lamp, the concept already exists. 

Artwork by Shelly Hamill
Photography by Amanda Temple
Rosewood Tuckers Point Hotel & Spa
Bermuda

Honestly, what it really comes down to is we want that vacation feeling to continue once we get home.  We can think fondly of our time in XYZ every time we see the piece of artwork and we can share our love of XYZ every time a guest in our home expresses interest in the piece- no need to pull out the slide projector.