SATURDAY SPOTLIGHT: Carol from Art and Sand

Spotlight: REAL LIFE BEHIND THE BLOGGER

  Susan from Must Love Junk, and myself (Kris) Junk Chic Cottage wanted to do a regular feature on our blogs, something unique that hasn't been done before.   So we came up with an idea to 'spotlight the real life behind the blogger' in a more personal way.

There is so much talent and inspiration in blogland, and we thought it would be fun to bring you a closer look at the person behind the blog.

Every week on Saturday we will spotlight a blogger and have them tell us a little bit about themselves and their blogs.  You will be able to see and read about each of the bloggers on both Susan's and my blog. 

I would like to introduce you to a very special blogger that Susan and I have come to know in blog world.  She is not only talented but also a very special teacher that recently retired and lives with her talented artist husband Steve in a sweet little beach cottage in California 

Hi, I am Carol and I write the blog Art and Sand t and Sand.

I was flattered when Kris at Junk Chic Cottage asked me to write a post for her blog.

But, then I was totally at a loss - what would I write about?

She said to make it personal - write about our beach lifestyle and our creativity.

Let's see, 

I AM A SCHEMER

I plot and plan until I get what I want and usually make my husband, Steve, think things are his idea.

In 1997, I wanted to live at the beach so our daughter KC and I went house hunting, without telling Steve.

We found this house

 and we talked Steve into looking at it because it was 7 houses from the water and he could check the surf from the driveway.

The plan worked, but buying that house didn't work out - thankfully!

Instead, we bought a little 1928 cottage - mullioned windows, 6 inch molding, French doors, arched porch - on the same street, 14 houses from the water.

MOVING 1 MILE CHANGED OUR LIVES 

We live on the best lane in Pierpont and life is one big party.

Beach people spend most of their time outdoors - sitting on the beach, socializing, walking dogs, watching the sunset . . .

 A quick story to explain life on our beach -

For fourteen years, on New Year's Eve, Brunswick Lane has held a Progressive Dinner with sometimes as many as 100 people - non street people are welcome.

Last New Year's Eve, a guest was chatting with me and said it was amazing that so many of us wanted to be together on New Year's Eve.

Our neighbor, Craig, jumped into the conversation to say, "It isn't just New Year's - we get together on Memorial Day, 4th of July, Labor Day, birthdays, retirements, graduations, anniversaries, etc. Brunswick Lane is family!"

So, we live at the beach with our large family and share in each others joys, sorrows and celebrations.

We ski together, go to concerts, eat dinner out and watch sunsets.

Craig documents our Brunswick family and on New Year's Eve we watch a video of the past year.

We could not be happier living in our little piece of paradise.

WE ARE CREATIVE CREATURES

Steve was not always an artist.

That is not exactly true - he was an artist who did not do art.

Moving to the beach provided him time - he no longer spent all weekend looking for surf.

With that time, he went back to his childhood love of art.

In 2002 he began taking art classes, in 2003 we built a studio onto the house, in 2006 he left the corporate world to pursue his art full time - and the rest is history.

I on the other hand, am not an artist.

I never was an artist, but I am a creator.

My fingers must always be busy - I play games on my iPhone while Steve drives or I fall asleep.

For the last 19 months I have blogged and because I blog,

I sew  . . .

I paint on boxes

and fabric . . .

I make books and cards . . .

I garden . . . 

I do not sleep . . . there are too many things on my lists to complete.

I guess this all makes me a scheming, creative blogger who loves the beach.

As of last month, I can add the adjective RETIRED to that list which means I can do any and all of the above all day long if I want.

Or, I can just play on the beach - want to join me?

Now if you loved reading and getting to know Carol from Art and Sand please hop over to Susan's blog and read about Mary Alice from Chateau Chic.