Years ago, I had the pleasure of designing dinnerware for a number of manufacturers. I hadn’t discovered that I could paint or even draw till my mid 40’s. I loved every minute and every part of the process of creating designs. A cute art studio on the second floor of my home that was surrounded by picture windows with a view of my new Charleston garden that I had recently planted; framed my day. I was in heaven.

My love of food, home and family was the inspiration for this career. For some reason, and I might never know what happened, it disappeared not long after the appearance of what looked like a most promising career. This is one of those times in life when it still stings to think or talk about it, so this section of my blog is bittersweet.

Why things didn’t work out, will undoubtedly be the first question I ask God when I go to heaven. It is a long complicated story that I won’t go into. So much was out of my control. It also was a time when I felt the most connected to God and my calling. It felt as if every step I took on this journey was guided by God’s presence.This made it even harder to digest the outcome. Somehow, I believe it is intertwined with this blog, my writing, and passion for home specifically the kitchen.

I enjoyed the privilege of designing for some of the best companies both in the states and in Europe. Neiman Marcus was a big part of my career launch into this business and I am grateful for the support and encouragement of their Dinnerware buyer. Many friends were made along the journey and I experienced opportunities beyond my wildest dreams.

One such experience was having the pleasure of being featured in a 7 page spread in both Southern Lady Magazine, and Better Homes and Garden Design Magazine. If I can find a way to get the articles onto my site I will. They were both well done and it was a blast spending the day having a photo shoot done in my home and everything else required for the article to be made.

I also had the pleasure of being the featured designer and dinnerware artist for an annual event The Perfect Setting for 2 years in a row at the Highpoint Country Club. It was a joy. I made life long friends in the process whom I still see every year. We raised a lot of money to support the YWCA in helping young at risk girls graduate high school without teen pregnancy. We also had a lot of fun.

Additionally, upon moving to Charleston I was invited to present a tabletop design for an exhibit at the Gibbes Museum in Charleston. I used my Butterfly Arbor design which I had created & licensed under Present Tense/Herend Dinnerware. That is the image used for this section.

This brings me to The Southern Table. While I am cooking, I am often thinking of how to set the table for both family and guests. I suppose it is that part of me that wants to make everything the best and most enjoyable. I subscribe to a casual elegant style. Simply put, I like nice things mixed with a good dose of casual. If you were to visit my home you most definitely would want to kick off your shoes and rest on one of my comfy sofas, especially after one of my meals. By the time dinner is over, even if you are a new guest you will feel welcome enough to do so.

Hopefully you will stop by this section as I share my design finds, my daughter M’s professional flower arrangements ( she has no idea she is getting roped into helping with this) and techniques along with any thing else as it relates to The Southern Table. Whether formal or family style Southerners care about how their food is presented. In this regard I fit in quite well.

All my dinnerware is in storage, and I welcome the chance these next few months to get settled in our new home and get my many kitchen belongings back into the home to enjoy. I still do a design every now and then. I am hoping to pick up pencil and paint again. Being a horseback rider since childhood, I know all too well that when you fall off of a horse you need to get back on right away. It is soon time to get back on even if only for the sake of creating.

It will take time for this section to develop and I hope you come back to see what happens as it grows.