My Normal

Finally I am truly happy to post confirmed dates of my book signing
tour. Due to one hundred thousand things going on in my life, and my
desire to meet as many of you as possible I will keep adding dates over
the next few months.
Let me know where you all are. Even though I can't get to every nook
and cranny of the world, I will try and make some central stops and
consolidate locations to meet as many of you as possible.
I am so very much looking forward to thanking as many of you in person
for supporting me these past months.
This blogging world has been a wonderful tool, and twittering will be
next. But never a replacement for the real thing, of meeting in person..

The process of this book will always be my personal reminder of events
that happened during various days of shooting.
Many tears were shed shooting the cover and my poor photographer had to
make magic with my puffy red eyes. I have quite a variety of terrible jokes
that were an attempts to make me laugh. Through it all I am thrilled with
the evolution of my designs captured in the photos. My writing and thoughts
during these days were very articulate. Not that I wrote about my dramas.
(that's another book) but being raw forces clear thinking, no fluff to get sidetracked with.

More proof my "my normal" coming back is I will head to Brimfield next week.



Its been just a little too long that I haven't gotten up in the dark and
cold, and met my travel companions to trundle off to search for
treasures.



Trying not to consume too many beverages as to avoid the
porta potties and eating Dunkin' Donuts for breakfast, such a delicious
no no. All the while still getting the excited feeling of butterflies in
my stomach as I approach the possible finds of the day.



So I am not sure what my purpose of shopping will be. For 20 years I had
a specific purpose... I just need to get out in the fields and I
will work out why I am there.

I continue to build my vision on my new day, when I will get back to "my
normal " life wherever and however that may be.



Ideas creep into my dreams late at night, as my days are still yucky
with paperwork. But my true "normal" knows to find a way to let what I
love come into my mind, even it I am sleeping.
I know the nights when have had the dreams, as the next day my creativity
is on fire.

I left London and I finished packing up dad's house.
It felt sad leaving my mums tiny garden behind. She loved it very much.
I cut one final display of roses. She would have been proud.



The flat dad purchased shares communal gardens with a beautiful
English church, and I discovered that the church actually the owns
of the freehold of dad's new flat.



So truly feel he is in gods home, I feel very good about that.
I feel lucky to have spent a few days in the beach at Malibu.
There is something in "my normal" about being here.
Even though I am an English city girl at heart, the rhythm of the
waves, reconnects me to "my normal", as for sure I have have days of
bring out of rhythm. That's for sure.



It's really amazing as crazy as life gets for us all,
the rhythm of nature, seasons, the timing of waves, the sun and moon,
grounds us all, as long as we pay attention, and connect we can then
keep all of our "normals".
That's a good thing.



Please keep an eye on book events
which are listed on my website. I
would love to meet you all, if you
are able to come to any of the dates.

Selfridges London
400 Oxford Street,London
Thursday October 1st, 6:15pm- 7:15

Greenwich Garden Education Center
130 Bible Street
Cos Cob, CT
Thursday October 15th, 10am

Barnes & Noble new superstore
86th St and 3rd Ave, NYC
Friday October 16th, 7pm

Blue Springs Home
369 E. 17th Street
Costa Mesa, CA
Saturday October 24th, 2-4pm

diesel books
Malibu Country Mart, Malibu, CA
Sunday October 25th, 3pm

Rachel Ashwell Moving and Storage........

I have been in London the past couple of weeks, editing,
packing, throwing away, donating and auctioning the contents
of my dad and mums house. Mum and dad lived in this four story
skinny house for thirty years.



Now that my mum is no longer here, my dad decided he wanted to
move into something quite a lot smaller. However, this has been
quite a challenge to consolidate a biggish house of contents
into a little apartment due to a combination of my mums many
hobbies, my dads near obsession with books, and them both not
wanting to part with anything for many years.



And at the same time of this project my daughters college year
has ended so it has been time to pack her up and decide what will
come back to Los Angeles for the summer and what can stay packed
and stored in London.
So- I have become very familiar with trash bags, tape and labels,
boxes, storage companies, auction houses, and charities.



I have never been much of a hoarder. I buy things very selectively
and either use until worn out or, if not used enough, I am good at
cutting my losses and giving away before the dust builds.
And as I have mentioned I have confined my stuff to a "forever
to keep chest of drawers".



These past couple of weeks I have had the job to judge what has
value to keep, and what must be let go. This entire process has
given me many opportunities to wonder about the emotional and
financial value of "stuff."
The cliche of "one mans junk is another mans treasure" has been
words I have understood in the flea market world.
But for the most part the packing of my parents home(other than a
few rare books, antique dolls) most of the treasures that I have
been handling have been very personal.



Once again a reminder to me that a house becomes a home when
life happens and memories are made.
My parents house is full of evidence of a life of interests
wonderfully researched with beautiful sketches, careful
handwritten notes.Paint brushes and paints, piano music with
notes of study, white feathers gathered (representing angels).



A sewing box with needles already threaded.
A beautiful tapestry, nearly finished.



Recipe books with pages stuck together from dripping sauces.
Dog eared books, read and reread.



Boxes and boxes and box of photographs. So much fun to once
again look through.



War medals from my mums father, carefully packed away.



Every letter and card myself, my sister, or my kids had every
written to our parents, wrapped up in paper bags. Years and years
and years of them. For sure never viewed for the longest time.




Perhaps they are just being stored for exactly the purpose they
served this week, one of bringing to color the memory of family,
life, sharing of experiences. Not hallmark moments but good bench
marks that even from afar, we kept in touch. Forever. Until that
forever ended. But then dovetailed into a new forever.



I must make sure I become a bit more of a hoarder
so I continue the forever.

So even though I thought my job of clearing would be dreadful and
quick, I have once again delayed my flight home, to relive the memories.



Funny in the end, the things that will gain some financial rewards
through auction might become the other mans treasures, but I have
boxes and boxes of what might seem to be junk, but to me a pot of gold.




Next stop, to pack up my sons things in new york and find him a
new apartment. Here I go again with my tape and boxes..
Wish the tape weren't brown and the marker black and the boxes so ugly.
Rachel Ashwell Moving and Storage......

To all my loyal customers:
As you all know Rachel Ashwell Shabby Chic had closed its doors on
all retail, for now. All of our manufacturing is shut down.
There are some websites who continue to represent they are carrying
my product. In some cases this is authentic product that was purchased
through my company before we closed our factories.
However there are websites who are claiming they can have our exact furniture copied. Please be aware this is unauthorized and any products that are being manufactured now using the trademark of Rachel Ashwell Shabby Chic are not authentic, therefore fake.
Please be careful of misleading marketing. For those of you who have the real
thing, please enjoy. For those of you who don't, I ask you don't support people trying to deceive, and hurt many in the process.
Thank you. Rachel.