Seasonal Changes for Living...

All of my living spaces are designed around a neutral color palette. The walls throughout my house are all cream, accented with white trim, a perfect background for displaying my favorite art. This type of decorating might be called "Gallery Style". The allure of this style is that it invites constant change rather than a static environment. So with that, I'd like to share with you examples of my living room in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, in different seasons to demonstrate what you can do!

Summer on the coast of Florida calls for a beachy blue.

                    

Fall In Northeast Florida is a transitional time of year. Think khaki, not gold. The earthy green and animal print palette is subtle.

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Here's another example... late spring with saffron yellow accents, punctuating the all white wall and white skirted table.

Gallery display of art work allows for a few fresh faces every season. Challenge yourself! Invite change into your living spaces. Change out pillows and throws. Add new seasonal plants and flowers. Consider the mix of color, weight and texture of your accessories. Switch it up and keep it fresh!

Upcoming wholesale shows:

Shoeclips.biz -   New York Accessory Show at the Javitz, August 1-3

KarenRobertson.biz - NY International Gift Fair, August 14-18, Pier 94, Booth 41009

What's Up For Spring...

A classic historical art form has been reinterpreted in a fresh new way! I'm delighted to introduce Marine Life Intaglios to the Karen Robertson Collection, handcrafted by my husband, David, and me.

As with our framed sea life, the plaster intaglios are floating in glass, our signature look. A series of four unique compositions, showing sea creatures and shells in relief,  are offered in silver acid washed frames. They are featured below against a grasscloth background. Check out KarenRobertson.Biz.

                                Marine Life Intaglio I - Sea Horses

Marine Life Intaglio II - Star Fish

Marine Life Intaglio III - Sand Dollars

Marine Life Intaglio IV - Sea Urchins

A closeup, so you can appreciate the fine detail that is captured in the plaster.

I received a wonderful surprise today from a dear new friend and talented Ponte Vedra Beach interior designer, Carol Kirchner. Just take a look at these photos showcasing our floral shoeclips dressing up the back side of these flirty slipper chairs. What fun! Those chairs now have attitude! Check out Carol's impressive portfolio at KirchnerDesign.net and find your favorite shoeclips at ShoeClips.Biz.

ShoeClips.Biz Atlanta Debut ...

The weather was gray and frigid,  and the streets were slick with ice, but buyers managed to make their way to the Atlanta Mart last week. Inside was warm, bright, and colorful! The reception to our new line, ShoeClips.Biz,  was very enthusiastic.

Jean Guest and I had a great time meeting new people and introducing the line.

Here is just a sampling of spring favorites from our line of over four hundred styles:

Our silky torn poms in tonal colors ...

Our felt flowers in bright solids...

Our exquisite feather butterflies...

I made a new friend who was also showing for the first time. Jennie Hart Robinson of Glory B Hats introduced the most innovative line of paper hats imaginable. Check her out on Facebook at GloryBHats or e-mail her for more information at jennie@glorybhats.com.

We had a lovely write-up by Marisa Marcantonio at StyleBeat on Monday, January 18th - thank you Marisa!

Off to New York City next week for the NYIG Show to show my nature inspired home decor line, Karen Robertson Collection. Check us out at Pier 94, booths 40009-40011.

An Exciting New Year...

I'd like to share with you some of the new and exciting happenings in the new year...

January will be a busy month filled with travel!  Shortly after the new year, I will be traveling to Atlanta for our premier showing of ShoeClips.Biz. This is a wholesale show held at America's Mart every year for the trade and press. Please come visit us in Building 2WW, Floor 3, Booth #200, January 8th-12th. We will be showing over four hundred styles of shoe clips as well as my coastal seashell and coral jewelry line from the Karen Robertson Collection.

 Lynn Pacheco, Director of ShoeClips.Biz

ShoeClips.biz

Red Bamboo Coral Necklace modeled by Janet Smith

After returning from a week in Atlanta, I will be off to New York City to set up at the NYIGF, Pier 94,  showing the Karen Robertson Collection, my nature inspired home decor line. I'm very excited about our booth design this year. The design has a luxurious feel. We are bringing in antique furnishings to compliment the reproduction antique maps of Paris and Rome. My mother, Irene, will be joining me for this exciting event. Please come see us January 30th - February 4th on Pier 94, Booths 40009-40011.

Map Of Paris - 1836 - Set of Six

 Map Of Rome - 1843

After a busy month on the road, it's back to the Design Studio. What's next? I will be coming up with new shoe clip designs as well as designing a new line of broaches and pins to be sold at ShoeClips.biz.

It's All In The Details...

Happy Holidays! I'd like to share with you some of my favorite last minute decorating ideas for the holidays. Most are natural embellishments with little to no effort required.


First off, I always like to decorate with white plus a color. The look is easy on the eye and a snap to change out when I get bored or inspired by a new hue. So no red and green for me...

Unless green is for greenery as it is in my courtyard garden. Here, fire engine red boots are overflowing with white geraniums for a whimsical look. Jumbo manzanita branches are spray painted red to create a fantasy forest backdrop.

My backyard dock is decked out  with greenery simply embellished with star fish. Again, a spot of color is added with painted red oars. A lit tree and lanterns set the mood for the twilight hour.

Now for some ideas for indoors...

A simple garland and wreath in the guest room will make your loved ones feel special. Here, I used  faux garlands to accent the bed. I  cut off a bit extra to form a small wreath and discreetly pinned it to the lampshade. A small spruce or rosemary tree adds a naturally festive scent to the room without the safety issue of unattended candles.

With my passion for shells, I reinterpreted the traditional fruit centerpiece with sea urchins spray painted white and hot glued together. Sea fan chargers spray painted moss green add a touch of color.

Here's an idea for an individual place setting. Star shaped cardboard craft boxes are coated in glue, encrusted with crushed shells, then embellished with faux greenery. This hand made trinket box is a gift in itself!

Orange is my favorite color of the moment, and no one "gets me" better than Hermes! Here, my stuffed goose is sporting my favorites Hermes scarf and toting one of their signature orange packages. How's that for effortless holiday decorating!

As you may know already, I recently launched a new E-tail business called ShoeClips.biz. Instead of Christmas stockings, my mantlepiece this year is sporting my favorite shoes with embellishments from my line...lol.  There is a shoe clip just right for every person on your gift list and every shoe in your closet!

Please visit ShoeClips.biz and KarenRobertsonCollection.com  for more inspiration.

David, Wylie and I wish you all a lovely embellished holiday season!

Shoe Clips

     "A little embellishment goes a long way"...it's our saying at our new business Shoeclips.biz
                                     

The Story of Shoeclips.biz

     On a lovely sunny day this summer, Karen was creating a little garden around an antique fountain for her friend's antique shop in Marion, Massachusetts.  When along came Marge, a woman with exquisite style and a flair for fashion.  She presented Karen with a gift.  Inside the box, there was a lovely collection of vintage shoe clips.  Delighted, and with her love of accessories,  Karen brought the collection home to her studio.  She wore the shoe clips for a week and dreamed of bringing back these popular accessories from years ago.  She began designing and could not stop.  A dream was becoming reality... Shoeclips.biz was born.  Karen Robertson is also the creator of the Karen Robertson Collection, a line of luxury home accessories and jewelry.  Lynn Pacheco, one of the artists who has worked with Karen for years, will be the director of sales and marketing for the new business.

     There are many ways to wear shoe clips:  on the front, back, and sides of your shoes and sandals.  They also look wonderful on hats, dresses, purses, and necklaces.

 

Please visit Shoeclips.Biz to see the complete collection.

A dream becomes reality...Karens tent

I'd like to start off my first blog with a real treat that has never been published before.  It is a tent which I designed and had built on Marks Cove, the backyard of our summer house.  The frame was built by Patrick O'Shaughnessy, and the tent was custom crafted by David Ellis of www.cowboycamp.net.  I would like to thank them both for their help with this project.  Above is a tent decked out in safari gear.  All pillows and accessories by Karen Robertson.  Below the view from a window. 

The blue haze dining tent.  Notice the starfish silhouetting the canvas roof.   

Our little handmade row boat. Accessorized for the holidays.

 

The safari tent, my nephews favorite.

This is the blue haze lounging tent.  The bed was designed by me and made by Patrick from pieces of drift wood from the backyard.

Our festive Fourth of July party tent. The little flags sewn on rope  were inspired from a vintage set I had previously seen.  The table base is a hand painted ships bucket from the state of Maine.  

Our Dog Wylie who enjoys being eye level with nature. He also enjoys the sounds and sights.

 

Lucille Kitchen covered this desk with over 1,000 sea urchin spines.  Just amazing, she is such a great artist.  

All accessories seen are available at http://www.karenrobertsoncollection.com/