Carolyn Westbrook: Live from the Plantation

 It is spring break and could not resist the warm weather outside. Decided to light the chandelier and head out for dinner in the backyard by candlelight. There is something so special about dining outside and candles. Atmosphere is everything, I always say. Joe was busy grilling the perfect steaks and the teens were excited about homeade apple pie...Yum!
The grass is freshly mowed and that sweet smell of spring is in the air, with everything blooming all at once. Makes you want to go barefoot and feel the earth between your toes...right?
Nicholas caught a few fish yesterday and we had a fish fry last night. Thanks to the good ol cast iron skillet, some buttermilk and cornmeal, it was a delicious feast. Even had some left to share with the neighbors.
Hope you are having a great spring break too. Get out there and enjoy the season! xo Carolyn

Carolyn Westbrook: Live from NYC

As I go through the revolving door and the doorman greets me, I think, yes it is just like in the movies. You can feel the pulse of New York as you step out on to the streets. My agent and I walk the 3 block trek to the showroom on 5th Avenue to see the new Carolyn Westbrook Fall/Winter 2012 collection. You have to know, that as big of a control freak as I am, it is scary to not know exactly how it will turn out. The entire space in the showroom has been overhauled to be changed from Spring/Summer to Fall/Winter. This is a private showroom that is owned by one of the biggest 'top of bed' manufacturers in the world. I never knew this world existed. One that is only open to big box retail stores that pass through...the JCP, the Macy's, Dillards, Bed Bath and Beyond and other retail icons...no pressure for me. It seems amazing and weird to me, as I walk in and my spot is right in the front. This world of manufacturers are not ones that really merchandise. I now have been in the biggest showrooms in the world and it is beds shoved up against walls. Anyone that knows me, knows that I have to have my 'stuff' and in the showroom is no different. We walk on to the floor and through the door, and there it is...my bedding. This time it really is my bedding from the fabric to the surroundings. I have always dreamed of being able to design my own fabric, and carried my bits and scraps of antique fabrics from the Paris flea markets in my little "hope chest." Finally, they have served as the inspiration for the new bedding. I cannot believe my eyes. My agent, Bob said he would know my reaction in the first few seconds. My heart is in my throat and beating fast...success. It looks magnificent. The showroom is full of energy, as all of the sales people and designers come in from all over the world. Heidi, who is a designer and just came in from Shang Hai, where she lives, tells me that one of my designs was really tough, but they were pleased with the results. It is the "Collage" collection. Sort of a quilt mixing many different fabrics and colors together in a comforter, with an eclectic and sort of bohemian feel. It looks amazing. Even better than I expected.
We are there to walk the showroom and give approval...the answer is approved. Woo Hoo!I turn to Bob and give him a big high five.

So, now we are back in Texas, going through the daily routine. Feeding chickens, dogs, and seeing the pear trees blooming, and the trees bursting forth, and it is such a dramatic change from the city, but this is definitely my fit. Where I know that I am home. The kids come rambling in after I get back, telling me to get ready for the Fish Fry at the community center...everyone is going, they say. I walk in the door over at the Fish Fry and I see all of those familiar faces, and everyone is eating, and laughing and hugs, hugs, hugs...nope you can't beat this. No sir, this is what home is all about, right here in Chatfield Texas.

xo Carolyn

Carolyn Westbrook: Live from the plantation

Hey yall. It feels like spring here, awaking to all of the chirping and singing, just outside the window with tons of big, fat, red robins pecking about the grass outside. I love this time of year when you know the green leaves are about to burst forth and the green spring grass is mounding up everywhere. Nick just cut the grass and it smells so good. We threw the green grass clippings in with the girls and they get so excited clucking about. Minnie and Pearl the two Polish hens, do not seem to lay any eggs, but Wilemina and Babs and the rest are making up for it. I was out there this morning and got a couple of pale blue eggs, and then one huge white egg. Love it.

Leaving for New York again this week to do a showroom walkthrough. Big Box market starts Sunday. Apparently, all of the large manufacturers have private showrooms, where only big box stores come through. I had no idea until I started this process, about this whole thing. I am excited to see the new Carolyn Westbrook Home bedding line that we created for Fall/Winter, and hoping that it will be in stores soon. It seems the bigger the business, the slower the process. I want yall to see it.

Just finished the book text on Friday...woo to the hoo! I had to be locked in to my office to get it done...200 pages is alot of text. Let me tell you, it is not easy trying to write a book around here, with kids coming in and this whole getting into college thing with ALex, is like a full-time job.

Looking forward to seeing everyone soon at Warrenton/Roundtop Antiques week. I am ready for bluebonnets,field flowers, good junk, good friends in the middle of the beautiful Texas Hill country.

xo
Carolyn

Carolyn Westbrook live from Houston

Hey Everyone

We are in Houston this weekend for a great event...The Urban Market Houston. A great place to remedy the winter blues with some antiquing therapy. I did a little shopping on the way down. I cannot resist an antique mall signbecause you never know where a treasure may be lurking. This is a really good show that is some of the best dealers with fantastic finds.

This time of year, I am always ready to start refreshing. You do not Havering completely overhaul a room to change the look. Sometimes it is one awesome piece that inspires you. Just by changing your couch pillows or a rug or adding a great painting to a room can make for a change. Love to bring in plants and flowers during this dreary time of year. Especially at Valentines Day...there are all kinds of beautiful tulips, hyacinths and such.

Also, wanted to let you know that I just received the book layout for the new branded book Carolyn Westbrook"Through the French Door." It looks amazing and I think looks better than the last...hope that y'all will agree.

Last, just handed off the Spring/Summer 2013 collection. I did a survey on my Facebook for the toile color.. virtually. A tie between blue and brown...blue was the winner....
Very excited about that too. Big Box retail market in two weeks, so back to NY...woo hoo!

Hope to see you in Houston!
Xo Cdarolyn

Carolyn Westbrook: NYC Bergdof at Christmas

Hey Everyone! Hope you are enjoying the Season!! Here are more photos as promised from the Bergdof windows in NYC. First, is Alex excited to be posing in front of the windows. All I have to say, is it is a good thing that my friends, Gina, Heidi and Portia were not here with me, because we would have never been able to leave this location. Seriously, the next day, they would be scooping us up off of the sidewalk, as we would have stood out there all night trying to see everything, which is almost impossible. The detail is incredible. One window is all items made of wood, then another all white, and another is all mosaic jeweled items that looks like an underwater fairyland, and another is all black and white.

I hope that y'all enjoy these pictures, as it was really special. I am sort of numb today after too many sausage balls, turkey and dressing, and pecan pie...ughh! But it was a wonderful time for the entire family.
We have another member of the family now. The other day, after returning for New York, someone "dropped off" a little abandoned cocker spaniel. We named her Coco Chanel. She has found her a home and living in luxury, as she sleeps with me and follows me wherever I go. If I am not here, then you will find her curled up next to someone. She seems to have abandoment issues, as she will not go outside to potty unless someone goes and stands with her. I guess she is afraid that we will run off and leave her. Then, Victoria brought her Husky puppy "Coda" to live here for a while. Now we are back up to four dogs, 10 chickens, and Alex got an aquarium for Christmas...so now we have fish too, and an occasional cow.

Life is never boring. Believe it or not, there are even more pics to post....enjoy!

xo Carolyn

Carolyn Westbrook: More from NYC

As promised...here are some more photos of the Christmas windows in New York. Hope everyone has all of their last minute shopping done...tick, tick, tick.

xoxo Carolyn

Carolyn Westbrook: Christmas in NYC...

It has always been a dream to be able to see Christmas in New York and this year, that dream came true. Alex's birthday is right after Christmas, and she always gets a bad deal, as everyone combines birthday and Christmas. So, this year is her 18th birthday, and I decided to make it special and surprised her and my son Nick, with a trip to NYC. It was AMAZING! Of course, we were all there for different reasons. Mine was all about the window displays, Alex was all about the shopping, and Nick wanted to see the Natural History Museum and a cool Broadway show.
We walked for miles and miles the first day. First, was the Macy's windows. I took so many pics, that I thought that I would break them down. The Macy's windows were all sort of industrial inspired with gears and gadgets, and rockets, and turning things, and they did not disappoint. You can see a bit of that here. Then the other side of the building, was all about the book, Yes, Virginia there is a Santa Claus. They had these windows within the windows, and you can see here as you peek into the library, and they were incredible.
That night we were off to see "Chicago" and since Nick plays the trumpet, he really enjoyed it. In fact, I have seen it before, but it is my favorite. Times Square was really, really crowded, with hustle and bustle, and some dancing Salvation Army volunteers, right outside of the 3-story Toys R Us, which had lines for miles. Like I said, Bergdof's windows were fantastic and left me speechless. I will save those for the last. I wish you could have all been there with me to see them, as the pictures cannot possibly do them justice. I want to meet with the people that came up with the concepts of these windows, as they are genius. Detail, detail, detail...incredible. I hope that all of you and yours are enjoying the excitment of the holidays and will post more tomorrow!

xoxo Carolyn