Saturday, May 29, 2010

Our Own Artists at Gatewood Hall Gracious Home

Since we will be celebrating Arts In The Park this weekend we wanted to do a posting featuring our exclusive GH Artists. The first is Marilyn Sparks who after following a successful career in the fashion industry, she discovered her passion for painting. Marilyn's experience with color, texture, and proportion are evident in the way she combines these elements on canvas. The self-taught artist is continually evolving, recreating and reinventing herself through her bold barns, bright florals, and peaceful landscapes.

Sparks paints in her studio in Cumming, GA., and happily sheds her fashion image for a painter’s smock. She has had several one-woman shows in Atlanta and in Highlands, NC and has participated in group shows in Charlotte, NC, Jacksonville, FL, Greenville, Columbia, and Charleston, SC. We especially love her barns, and still life flowers. Marilyn even has a couple bright, whimsical paintings that are meant to be hung outside on a covered deck or screened porch!

Kathy Pollard was born in Gadsden, Alabama and began private art lessons at age of 12. She has won various private contests throughout her painting career. Kathy now spends her time between Dunwoody and the North Georgia mountains. I love her pallet knife work.

We have two original oil paintings on linen she just brought in. One is a painting of the pink apple blossoms that she painted after she enjoyed this recent season at Mercier Apple Orchard, the other is Lake Blue Ridge both are absolutely beautiful.

Pollard believes the meaning of painting to be "The true freedom of your self-expression, meaning having the ability to express yourself. Through a dedicated study, we seek knowledge of the craft. As we grow, develop, and practice the skills and principles, our own unique expression and our signature comes forth."


Katherine Getty’s love affair with art dates back to nursery school when she discovered crayons. It was cemented by her kindergarten experiences with mud pies and the messy joys of sculpture. Although throughout her childhood and adolescence, she was always involved in something creative, she decided not to pursue art as a career and instead worked in healthcare for two decades. She began reconnecting with her art in the mid 90’s and attended the Santa Monica College of Design, Art and Architecture for two years. During this period, she primarily worked with three dimensional media.

Getty’s left the medical world in 2005 and moved to Georgia to change careers. She started painting in July 2005 and fell in love with oil paint. Katherine’s work deals with the loving bonds between humans and animals and with the healing power of the natural world.
Katherine's work is so beautiful and precise we have actually had people ask if it was an enhanced photograph.
Come in today to see and appreciate these Artist's wonderful talents.

This weekend only we will take 10% off of their work as part of our Art in the Park celebration. See you soon!

Thursday, May 27, 2010

So Many New Arrivals This Weekend!!

WOW, DO WE HAVE ALOT OF NEW GREAT STUFF THIS WEEKEND! We received some new chairs and lamps from our High Point trip back in April! I especially love the two chairs shown here, they are wonderful and well priced! We have also received some new artwork, as well as some Lenny & Eva charms and sentiments.

Our great selection of new books is here just in time for your summer entertaining! I have to tell you, Paula Deen's new title Savannah Style is a beautiful book that pays homage to one of my favorite cities in the south! You will love the Lee Brothers cookbook, a fresh and simple take on great southern favorites! And because of his love for fresh flowers Shawn loves the new book Southern Bouquets.


This will be a wonderful weekend in downtown Blue Ridge! Come down to Arts in the Park and stop in and see us! Have a great Memorial Day! We'll see you soon!

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Arts In the Park Festival This Weekend!

The 34th Annual Arts In The Park Festival is this weekend in beautiful downtown Blue Ridge! This is one of our favorite weekends of the year. The festival is sponsored by the fabulous Blue Ridge Mountain Arts Association who does an outstanding job bringing and keeping the arts in our beloved town. Their Mission is to:

Provide Opportunities in the Realm of Art for Personal Growth of the Individual and the Economic Growth of our Community

•Enhance and Preserve the Quality and Accessibility of the Arts
•To Honor Our Rich Heritage of Mountain Culture
•Promoting Contemporary Multi-Cultural Arts
•Catalyst for Economic Development in the Community

And they do a darn good job at striving towards reaching this goal! Arts In the Park is just one of several events that they have throughout the year and it is awesome.

This festival has grown over the years and boasts some of the finest arts and crafts in the southeast. As in the past, all applicants for the festival will be juried in order to maintain the tradition as a premier show. The quality and diversity of the arts and crafts presented improve each year. The festival will be May 29th and 30th, 2010 10AM until 5PM. Admission is $5 for adults, children 12 and under are free. Please do come out and support the arts you will have so much fun doing it!! And don't forget to stop in and see us too!!

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Gatewood Hall Is Celebrating Their Fourth Birthday!!


Our wish is already coming true!! It is so hard for us to believe but it is already our fourth birthday! I guess the years fly when you are having the time of your life!! Thanks to all of you we are ready to roll into our fifth year in our new location and are we ever thrilled.

We will be celebrating this Saturday with lots of fun specials, and refreshments heck, we may finally have the design center open...who knows!! Please come in and celebrate with us, we look forward to seeing you!

TO OUR FAMILY, FRIENDS, CURRENT AND PAST TEAM MEMBERS THANK YOU FOR THE PAST FOUR GREAT YEARS WE COULD NOT HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT EACH AND EVERYONE OF YOU!!

Corky & Shawn

Thursday, May 13, 2010

Gatewood Hall Named One Of 50 Retail Stars in the Nation

So this is our big news and we are SO EXCITED!!! Home Accents Today Magazine and AmericasMart released their annual list of Fifty Retail Stars for 2010, where they present 50 independent home accent retailers that are significant players in their respective markets throughout the nation and Gatewood Hall Gracious Home was named one of the Fifty selected!!!!

This is from the press release- "This list recognizes enterprising home accents retailers who are meeting the challenges of an increasingly competitive marketplace with innovative strategies and creative solutions. All 50 Retail Stars are creative in their merchandising, contribute to their communities and distinguish themselves from the competition. They excel at innovative marketing and advertising efforts, head-turning in-store displays and out-of-the-box business ideas. These retailers represent the best and the brightest."

We can't tell you how much we appreciate this honor! It is so exciting to be recognized within the professional community. Thank you for your support, because this recognition would be nothing without you and your support

Saturday, May 8, 2010

Remembering your Mom!

Don't we love our moms? Have you picked up something special for your mother yet? Don't feel bad you still have time and we are here to help! The good news is that we received a new shipment of spring and summer handbags and some beautiful new jewelry this week. We also have a new line of one-of-kind rustic, handmade crosses by True Riches. Each cross is made from old barn wood or reclaimed clapboard siding found right here in Georgia and each has a special "found object" embellishment! They are wonderful and exclusively found in Blue Ridge at Gatewood Hall.


And if all else fails every mom loves a GH Gift certificate!! Stop in today and see us and we will help you pick the perfect gift for your special mama!

Thursday, May 6, 2010

We Love La Pizzeria At Cucina Rustica


Shawn and I had lunch at La Pizzeria at Cucina Rustica if you haven’t been yet you just have to go out and try it. They offer the same classic and comfortable rustic environment as their parent restaurant with high quality food at affordable prices.

In their casual atmosphere you can enjoy one of their multiple high definition flat screens, and free WIFI. Their menu Items Include: New York Style Pizza whole or by the slice, Calzones, gourmet salads, wonderful sandwiches, wings and burgers as well as beer and wine.

I love their Meatball sub and their homemade potato chips with bleu cheese and balsamic glaze!!!! DELICIOUS!!! We had such a nice chat with Isabella and her daughter…we just love these folks! Please go out and see them and tell them we sent you!

They are open for lunch and dinner, call (706) 374-3700 for details. DIRECTIONS: From Atlanta: Just North of Blue Ridge on 515N, ½ mile from Hwy 60 intersection. Turn Right under the Cucina Rusctica sign onto Forge Mill Rd, turning on the first left into their drive.

Monday, May 3, 2010

Mother's Day Is Almost Here!!

Mother's day is nearly here and we have some great gifts for her at Gatewood Hall Gracious Home!


How about a great pink bag designed in Paris? We have some very well-priced bags that she will love!


Jewelry??? A silhouette charm from Waxing Poetic makes a personal and special gift. We also have some wonderful sterling silver key charms by Pure Sanctuary. We have lots and lots of great things for that special lady in your life! Come in and see us!