My Diary 9/17/09 - 10/4/09

The last few weeks has taken me from coast to coast and then across the Atlantic.



While in NY I filmed an online commercial for Target.



I loved the concept of combining products from Target, (my own brand of Simply Shabby Chic and other Target Brands) and vintage elements, from my cupboard of treasures.



It was easy to create a beautiful ensemble. My favorite was a set of bud vases from Target sprinkled on a festive table with rose spays, and layering my favorite Simply Shabby Chic white dinnerware set into some hand dyed vintage tablecloths from my personal collection. The satisfying part of the project was the affordability of the creation.



The philosophy of Rachel Ashwell Shabby Chic® Couture is bespoke, handmade with careful attention to labor intensive details and quality.



My machine washable slipcovered furniture, tables and bedding are mainly made in Europe or the US. Packaging is inspired from european years gone by. (no plastic). These qualities create products that become heirlooms and the price reflects these qualities.



However I always like to counter balance with affordable elements, and I always try and share my process of finding treasures so that if you want to combine any of my products from Rachel Ashwell Shabby Chic Couture, Simply Shabby Chic and your own found treasures, they all live comfortably together.



In my book Rachel Ashwell Fleamarket Treaures I share...

1. A map of one of my favourite shopping route
2. What to buy
3. How to restore
4. Decorative ideas of how to use.







Fleamarketing is one of my biggest joys in life. But it is hard work to pull it all together. Getting up early, schlepping, restoring. That's what brings soul to these treasures, whether my own or yours.



Target is another opportunity to show how to blend affordable products into a high end luxury brand.

It is important to me to always combine a diverse range of affordability and styles when I put together a room.

A lavish mushy sofa that will last and last and last sits comfortably with a fleamarket crumbly chandelier.



After my New York time I went to London for the launch of my book and the opening of my little teeny space in Selfridges. (a lovely department store).



I was able once again to demonstrate how to blend my sofas with some fleamarket finds. truly the shabby with the chic.

A lovely group of English people came to my book event. Many from Australia too. My book hovers from #1 to #3 on amazon.com in its category. and while I am very proud of the aesthetics of the book, a couple of times my eyes welled up when it was clear people are reading my book, therefore getting a true picture of the value of my treasures in life.



A new friend Geraldine took me to a fleamarket outside of London. Funny the similarities in product and people of fleamarkets worldwide.



I could have easily been in Roundtop Texas, except for the "have a nice day" of Texas is replaced with "ta ta for now"...I did find some beautiful vintage textiles, delicious.



In between all of this I did a live radio interview to be aired in NY. That was nerve racking as no edit button.

I spent time with my dad and got my daughter settled into her new apartment for her new year at college.



A lot to juggle but a lot to savour too.

My next focus is to make sure I make the time to experience all that I experience, when life speeds up sometimes I read books and don't absorb, I spend time with people but I'm already gone, I eat but don't taste, I sleep but wake up tired, I live but I'm not fully there.

Answering questions for the interviews regarding my book or opening of stores is helpful for me to truly process in my mind, all that happened and possibly why. At the top of my acceptance is faith.



I know I must show up in my own life, that my thoughts are as vital as my words
Dignity and humility continue to be important characteristics for me to stand by. But I cannot make everything ok. Somethings will stay broken. Not everyone will be happy with my decisions. But I will do my best to do the right thing.

After the losses and unraveling of the past year I had many lessons and now my test is to slow down and savour. And for me most importantly to get out of my head and not worry about all that may happen. With lives moving so fast and so much going on and around us, there is certainly much to worry about.

But I am going to try and learn the craft of worrying when there is a problem, until then enjoy what "is".



(There was a great episode of Greys Anatomy last week about worrying. So much in our head, that never even materializes).



The next few weeks I will be on the road, signing and talking and listening. Meeting as many of you as possible.

I will be present for every moment as moments like these don't come along very often.

I will be adding more and more photos of products online, but until then many of you have requested a clear photo of our illustrated brochure. Next week there will be lots more photos of products.