"less is more"

"Neutrals provide a perfect canvas for the playful palette of this sunny Providence bungalow."

Because magazines tend to hit the newsstands early, the May issue of Cottages & Bungalows might seem like old news in mid-April, but it's still very exciting to me!

Here's a little story of why, and how it came to be ...



Through blogging I became acquainted with artist Margaret Owen, and as it turns out she lives in Rhode Island just like me. We met for lunch and I held a giveaway of one of her bea-u-tiful paintings (post). Soon after, I sent a batch of images to Romantic Homes to pitch a story about Margaret for their we love / artisan section. Not only did the idea get the green light, but upon seeing a snippet of Margaret's fresh and colorful home, I was asked to do a story for their sister publication Cottages & Bungalows.



In the April 2012 issue of Romantic Homes you will find my article The Practical Impressionist, my very first non-tutorial writing for the magazine. How especially wonderful to have the opportunity to help promote Margaret and her art.



In October, I met Margaret and enlisted friend Bronwyn (aka Casapinka) at Margaret's home, where we plotted a course over sandwiches and got busy the following week.



The three of us had SO MUCH FUN moving furniture, styling vignettes, buying fruit and flowers, and taking photographs. Industrious Margaret even created a new painting to display and built an orange box to hold a large floor plant!



Next it was time for me to write the article and wait patiently for it to publish!



You can find my article Less is More on pages 49-57 with resources listed on page 94. I found my copies at Target and Barnes & Noble.

The seemingly indefatigable Margaret just returned from hosting an art retreat in Morocco and is now offering a painting workshop in France in September! How cool is that? For information visit French Sketchbook.

MEANWHILE in BOOK NEWS ...
The project part of the book is complete and I am currently writing, writing, writing, editing and writing! And smiling. Hope you are smiling, too.

xo
elyse