Another Wonderful Blue Ridge Memory! Thanks Jamie & Nathan

Shawn and I have attended many weddings...several because of the event component of Gatewood Hall. I happen to love weddings, I'm sentimental and often get a little "teary eyed" even if I barely know the couple. I guess I just like the significance, the ceremony, and even the hope of two people who among their friends and loved ones share this special time of commitment to one another.

This past evening we were fortunate enough to be guests at the wedding of Jamie Abercrombie and Nathan Nicholson. (I don’t always post about other people’s personal events but, I was so touched by last night that I wanted to share this experience with you. I received approval of the bride prior to posting this on the blog). I have to tell you that this truly was another special Blue Ridge Memory! An absolutely perfect North Georgia autumn evening at Aska Farms, the mountain vistas were amazing. As the sun dropped into the horizon we sat on bales of hay in a picturesque field, there were beautiful, rustic floral arrangements in mason jars, (designed with love by those creative Dorn gals!) We listened to some wonderful acoustic songs of love well chosen by Jamie (I'd actually love to have a cd because it was such a great mix!) and anxiously waited for the ceremony to begin. And when it began...Wow! The neutral color pallet, selected by the bride let everyone shine, honestly this was one of the most handsome bridal parties I have ever seen! (It was a bit of a hike from the house to the alter in the field) These beautiful ladies walked like professional models in high heels into the mountain field. I thought to myself poor Jamie has to make that hike in her gown... Not to worry she had already figured that one out...she was delivered to her obviously proud father in a beautifully restored 1955 Chevy! (How's that for a grand entrance?)

Jamie is a gorgeous young woman but on this day she was even more stunning and radiant she chose the perfect simple yet elegant gown by Vera Wang adorned with a fabulous custom necklace by her friend Lynn Kemp (Owner/Designer of Gawdy Baubles & Made It! jewelry). During the ceremony set against the most beautiful mountain backdrop it is hard to describe the special mood, but there was this peaceful calm that just felt so wonderful and sublime! From the wedding party including the bride, groom and even the guests it was just relaxed, intimate and genuinely fun. Who could ever ask for more on their special day?

A fantastic reception followed with delicious food and drink, fun toasts and dancing. It was a true celebration of two hearts joined together supported by people who sincerely wanted to be there and be a part of this special moment in Jamie and Nathan’s life.

As Shawn and I left the party we both commented “Now, that is what a wedding should feel like! What a great time!” The real message of this posting it that as I reflect on last night and what made it such a special time is that the Bride and her Groom really set the tone. Jamie and Nathan have been together nine years already (Their anniversary of their first date was this past Tuesday!)…so maybe that honest, heartfelt love generated this peaceful and ever-so-relaxed calm that everyone got to experience. What I know for sure is this…I along with everyone that I spoke with thoroughly enjoyed this special evening and I am happy that I was lucky enough to be a part of it! Jamie and Nathan thank you for such a special Blue Ridge Memory, we wish you all of the best for a wonderful life together with lots more love, laughter and happiness that you both deserve.

Check Out The Sweet Shoppe Blue Ridge

Have we got something fabulous to tell you about. We have a new Sweet Shoppe in Blue Ridge and it is WONDERFUL!!! Susan Catron and Nikki Gribble opened this great place a little while back and shame on us, we just now got a chance to visit. You probably know both of these ladies as they have been very involved in our community for awhile but lucky for us they have decided to share this side of their talents with us in their new Sweet Shoppe! The space itself has never looked better, it reminds you of a little French Patisserie, so quaint and cozy! Filled with beautiful confections including home-made cookies, hand-made artisan truffles, premium dipped north Georgia apples, berries and cherries UNBELIEVABLE!! They also have some very, very special gourmet cupcakes. In fact they have so many flavors you can visit their website (www.sweetshoppeblueridge.com) for their entire menu or friend them on FaceBook (facebook.com/sweetshoppeblueridge) for the daily menu. Today we had Tres Leche (my favorite!!), Chocolate Cream Pie (Shawn's favorite), Key Lime Pie & Blond Bombshell (my second favorite)!! They are as beautiful as they are delicious. We can't wait to try Banana's Foster, Mississippi Mud, Orange Dreamsicle...oh who are we kidding...we want to try all of them. We hear that their new fall menu is coming out soon.... Heaven help us! Wonder how many Weight Watchers Points are in these babies??? Oh who cares, they are worth it!

Above a skewer of blueberries, hand-dipped in luscious, premium chocolate! Susan told me that Nikki is the "Chocolatier" and I am telling you each treat is like a beautiful, ittle work of art!

Above handmade artisan truffles, in flavors like Thin Mint, Oreo Cheesecake, Orange Melt, Coconut Cherry, and Irish Cream! What a beautiful gift these would make!

The Sweet Shoppe Blue Ridge is located in the courtyard below Harvest across from Christy Lee's (576 East Main Street, Suite D Blue Ridge, Georgia) and get this they are open late on Friday and Saturday so you can stop in after dinner for a little dessert treat. Also great to know they will ship their speciality items!! Treat yourself, go in today...Tell them Corky & Shawn sent you...you will probably see us there. ENJOY you are gonna love it!!

Exciting News! Gatewood Hall Gracious Home is Opening a Second Store in Big Canoe!

We wanted our Blog and FaceBook friends to be the first to know...We are so excited to announce (drum roll please!!) GH is opening a second store! Our new store is located just inside the gate at Big Canoe and we are thrilled! Thank you to all who have supported us over the last five years, it is because of you that we are able to take this next big step at Gatewood Hall Gracious Home! This was not an easy decision, believe me we had to put a great deal of thought into it and we really appreciate the support of Ann at Big Canoe who really worked hard to help the details come together (We jokingly say we surrendered to her persuasion!).

We have some wonderful customers and friends from Big Canoe that kept teasing us and saying we needed to open a location closer to them but honestly this growth just wasn't a part of our business plan at this moment. However, as you have heard us say before we believe everything happens for a reason, so when Ann came to us we really had to take a look at this opportunity. While the space is not huge we plan on stocking it full of some wonderful things from our bigger main store, when asked what we sell I say everything for a gracious life...from soap to sofas!

Our goal is to have the store open Saturday June 25th! (fingers crossed). Wish us luck! We will keep you posted. Thank you again for all of your support, we feel so fortunate to be able to continue to pursue our little dream called Gatewood Hall Gracious Home!

Check Out Our Friends New Business: The Wild Deal is Launched

Some friends of ours recently started a new business called The Wild Deal that we think is awesome. The concept is really great and we thought it would really appeal to many folks in our area. It is also great timing for graduation or Father’s day gift ideas.

The Wild Deal was launched by a small group of family and friends with a love for the outdoors. Some of them obsess about fishing, some obsess about hunting, and others just enjoy anything physically challenging and potentially dangerous in the realm of outdoor adventure. Being outdoors has always helped these folks escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life. The Wild Deal was created with the intent of helping others escape to the outdoors in an affordable fashion. The hope is that the great deals they bring to people, will help them be able to escape more often, or maybe even allow someone to really escape for the first time.

Select your territory and choose from deals like rafting on the Nantahala River, or deep sea fishing in Florida. There are even some side deals for gear and equipment. The Wild Deal obtains incredible discounts in the fields of Hunting, Fishing, and Outdoor Adventure and makes these discounts available to you through the use of a collective buying business model. Because they bring a large volume of customers to retailers and guide services, the retailers and guide services in turn save time and money on marketing, and are willing to pass the savings on to you.

The core value at The Wild Deal is quality. They only deal with guide services and suppliers that provide quality experiences and quality products. There's no risk involved for you or the retailers and guides. It's a win-win for everyone. It's well worth it to them to sell their quality products and services at a discount, if it introduces them to a lot of new customers. And, it's definitely worth it for you - just check out the deals and please share this info with your friends and family too!

The email is info@thewilddeal.com

or their website is http://www.thewilddeal.com/

you can even follow them on Facebook and Twitter.

The Fannin County Chamber is AWESOME!!

Our Fannin County Chamber ROCKS! We were asked to participate in an event that was held this past Thursday night to host several travel writers from across the US and Canada. The media marketplace event was called "A Little Taste of the Georgia Mountains", and we were honored to be asked to participate! We were paired with a restaurant and ours happened to be one of our favorite's Blue Ridge Brewery (Woo Hoo!)

Shawn, Brenda, Becky and Chrissy had the store all spruced up for our guests! I have to say I think our little town looked awesome! All of the merchants had really stepped up and put in some hard work to get camera ready for our guests.

One off our favorite artists and friends Lynn Kemp came to hang out with us show off her fabulous "Made It!" jewelry line with our visitors. They raved about her wonderful collection, we even sold a few pieces that night!

Oh man- you would not believe the spread that Blue Ridge Brewery put out! Lamb chop lollipops with herbed couscous, spinach pizzas, hummus triangles, Polina's famous open face egg salad with pepperoncini, charcuterie samplers (one of my ultimate favorites), their outrageous chocolate pie and of course some of Pat's very special beers! Without question team BRB BROUGHT IT!! Our guests were blown away...I saw one of them taking a photo of the lamb chop plate!! Shawn, Becky and I were very polite until all of the visitors had been through but let's just say when the last guest left our store "we helped clean up!!" and it was pure heaven!! Pat, Polina, Sandy and Beverly we are proud to have been teamed up with you, thanks for all of the hard work, and fun time!

We also sampled Girl & Fig Mostarda and our newest gourmet goodie from Atlanta, Georgia Hot Squeeze...our guests loved them!! (If you haven't tried them yet you are missing out!)

We had these stickers made up! Because we love our town, and we love our Chamber! Great job Jan, Elaine, Jode, Donna and the volunteers that made this special event happen! You all did a great job shining a light on our corner of the world, the event was so professional yet casual and gracious! THANK YOU, we appreciate all that you do!

Made It Jewelry By Lynn Kemp At Gatewood Hall

You are going to love this story! After selling his ceramics company “Our Name is Mud” a few years ago, John Nelsen realized his gift and passion is finding talented local artisans and helping them “make it” big. Today, a journey that began with handmade ceramics... has evolved into a new venture helping handmade jewelry artists called “Made It!”.

The interesting twist this time around is after finding a handful of great handmade jewelry artists, instead of producing product he likes, the final vote of whose product gets made goes to the people buying it... you the customers. An online voting system fueled by social media and national publicity campaigns drives consumers to participate in choosing their favorite artists and jewelry. Then the top vote getters get made. Consumers get what they want jewelry designs already in demand in retail stores. The business model is sort of like American Idol but with fabulous jewelry artists!

More importantly, this opportunity is helping very talented small local jewelry designers share their inspired creations in a way they couldn’t do alone because John will have it manufactured. And how rewarding to know that every “Made It” designer presented has a pre-established fan base with consumers that love their jewelry, looking for stores like Gatewood Hall that carry their designs.

But wait it gets better!! What makes this story even better is that one of the first three artists selected is our very own Lynn Kemp from right here in Blue Ridge! We have been fortunate enough to have known Lynn for awhile now, not only is she just a wonderful person, she is a wife and mother that we just love she is also a very, talented jewelry designer that is driven by fashion and inspired by nature! Straight out of the gate Lynn’s leather bangles were named a top seller at the winter shows.

We were thrilled and very proud that we would be able to sell Lynn’s “Made it!” designs. We picked up the line at the unveiling in January and we received a partial shipment this week! You will love Lynn’s designs and they are perfect for Mother’s Day! Come in this weekend and check them out

Cookin Chicks Comes to Blue Ridge!

We have a new business here Blue Ridge that has a concept that we just love! Let us introduce you to "Cookin' Chicks", they offer wonderful homemade meals without the hassle. Two self-described "Soccer Moms" said to themselves...just how many times can you go to the drive thru? They recognized that nearly everyone wants to be able to offer their family a nice homecooked meal, but the reality for many is that our busy, hectic and real world lives makes that goal nearly impossible.

The Cookin Chicks (pictured above) Nicole Hamilton Honeycutt and Kathryn Learn Harris have opened at 2460 East First Street Space C-6 Blue Ridge, (behind Taste of Amish).

Let Kathryn and Nicole do the shopping, chopping and cooking for you. Their meals make great gifts for a new neighbor, a friend with a new baby, or even a pot luck supper. They make a homemade meal ready to pop in the oven. The dinners include a main dish, a side dish and dessert that comes packaged (see above...how cute is that) and ready for you to pick up!

An example of one of their delicious meals above, creamy chicken and wild rice, fresh salad with poppy seed dressing, and classic chocolate brownies...YUM! Currently their hours are Tuesday and Thursday 3:3o to 6:00PM, you can check out their FaceBook page for upcoming menus http://www.facebook.com/pages/Cookin-Chicks/188819031145143 , you can call (706-455-0235) or email (cookinchicks@yahoo.com) them to pre-order your supper!! Dinners are available for two, four or six people with prices from $15 to $35. We can't wait to try their meals out and hope you will also, tell them Corky & Shawn sent you!

Beautiful Spaces

If you don't have a subscription to Southern Lady Magazine you need to rush out and purchase a copy of this months edition. We love this magazine and were thrilled to see one of our customer and friend's home featured in an article entitled "Beautiful Spaces: Delightful Southern Interiors"...the title is very appropriate!

When not enjoying their cabin in north Georgia our friends live in this stunning home near Fairhope, Alabama. (A wonderful place to visit if you haven't been!) Shawn and I were fortunate enough to have been guests in their home and we both fell in love with it. I have told so many people about it because it is so special. The couple who have a daughter and grandchildren who live nearby, worked closely with their architect to design the home to really fit the way that they lived.

You enter the home in a gracious foyer, just to the right is a very large open space that includes a living, dining and kitchen area (shown in the photo above). Every detail has been carefully thought out from the built-in cabinetry, to the beams in the ceilings to the beautiful marble in the kitchen. The decor has such a casual elegance and it really fits the lady of the house. Along the back are a series of sliding doors that open to a wonderful and expansive "sunroom" that overlooks a lake. This room is very large with various seating areas, a television cleverly hidden behind a custom sunflower painting, and a great wet bar area perfect for entertaining...again all designed for the way these folks like to live and enjoy time with their family and friends.

To the left of the foyer is a very grand master retreat featuring his-and-hers bathrooms (how perfect is that?) I could live in their master suite! I love the look...notice the elegant-French inspired detail with the sophisticated mirror table mixed with the simple casual bamboo shade. The centerpiece in "her" bathroom it the gorgeous free standing tub with windows that offer a view of the lake.

I always appreciate it so much when people allow us a glimpse inside their homes, and this one in particular is a real treat with so many wonderful ideas. Be sure to check the magazine out for yourself. Thank you to our friends who opened their doors to Southern Lady Magazine so we could all enjoy a tour!

Gracious Mountain Living

In celebration of the New Year Shawn and I were invited to a couple of parties, one was Friday, New Years Eve and the other was New Years Day. We always consider an invitation to one's home an honor and a treat because someone is allowing you to come into their "inner domain" and see how they live. We find it really wonderful here in the mountains because something about this special area encourages people to want to "nest" and really create their own "sanctuary" or "getaway". Perhaps it is for many a second home and an opportunity to create a place that is very different from their primary residence therefore they take more risks and have more fun with their decorating options, or maybe for others they are at a different phase in their lives and they have come to understand how they want to live and entertain while at their special place in the mountains or on the lake. Either way we are fortunate to know some folks who really understand what we define as "Gracious Mountain Living". I hope our kind hosts will not mind but I wanted to share some of their secrets and special details with you.

The party on Friday night was described as "Champagne and Chocolate" and what a decadent evening it was. First I want you to get the setting of our friend's mountain home! Because they love to entertain while in the mountains she and her husband took a small log home near a lovely creek and designed some thoughtful additions to really enhance the way they would utilize their second home. The area that was originally the living and dining room is now solely the dining room with a very large round table in front of a stone fireplace with a huge, beautiful chandelier that is made up of patina finished metal leaves. They also added a very large gathering room with plenty of seating and another stone fireplace along with a great deck, outdoor fireplace and screened in pavilion overlooking the creek. (While they were at it they built a garage with an apartment and bought the adjacent cabin for a guest cottage so we lovingly call this their "compound"). It is no wonder that we love this woman as she is a consummate shopper, with great taste, she loves home decor and we describe her look as upscale lodge. She has a wonderful knack for mixing rustic and elegant. Picture beautiful rugs layered with real hides, lots of texture in her tapestry fabrics on the pillows and draperies, leather chairs and mohair sofa. She is also great with scale, I love her use of oversize pieces of furniture that really make her rooms feel larger. Finally, her art is amazing she collects original oil paintings that she loves and she has a great collection of mostly nature inspired subject matter in various size and genre.

The party was so lovely, with lots of candles and her additional beautiful holiday decor. The large round table in the dining room was layered with amazing cakes and pastries, truffles, gigantic chocolate dipped strawberries with fresh whipped cream, another friend even brought delicious pink champagne cupcakes!! There was Veuve Clicquot Champagne (my favorite!!) and a wonderful champagne punch. I loved that our host had a tray with various unique champagne flutes...it was fun to watch guests "choose the flute" that they wanted to be toasting with at midnight!

What a wonderful party! In her true form our host created an elegant, sophisticated environment that was very, very welcoming and comfortable. It was a great way to celebrate the new year and we are thankful to have been included.

On Saturday we were invited to visit the mountain home of some other friends for their "Traditional New Year's Day Fare". This was our first time to their home but we just knew that it would be special and we were right. Our friends are a Mother and her two adult daughters, along with a son-in-law and two of the most adorable young grandsons. Mom wanted a getaway where she and her family could be together and make memories and she found a place that with some vision and renovations could be the perfect retreat from their busy lives in Atlanta.

Situated on a great piece of property with a beautiful view their retreat has been created with entertaining in mind. The home has a a bunk room for the boys, a master retreat for mother, and bedrooms for both daughters. They also have a large gathering & dining room, newly renovated kitchen, a cozy finished terrace level, media room and even a craft room (and believe me these ladies are CREATIVE and CRAFTY!). They have several outside living areas where I am told they do the bulk of their entertaining. These areas include a lovely screened porch with that great view, decks, and even a guest house. My favorite area is at the terrace level where they have their stone fire pit, hot tub, a really cool outdoor shower and the piece de resistance the specially designed (by grandmother) tree house for the grandsons. (We are talking trap door, operable windows, dutch door, and room to run around...every kids dream!)

The decor is so welcoming, casual and comfortable. They have several wonderful originals by the artist Cornbread. Some great collections like the wonderful vintage picnic baskets and the clear glass antique oil lamps that look so great on the large mantle mixed with Mercury glass and evergreen for the holidays. I love this idea, they have a rustic bulletin board just off the kitchen with tons of family photos (both old and new). This home is just a place you want to hang out and relax. Another special point is that the homeowner's sister purchased two cabins just up the road, so this really is a place where family memories are made, with aunts, uncles and where two generations of cousins get to spend time together.

Remember I said that they were creative and crafty? They have so much fun like a recent family contest where they wrote odd ingredients on pieces of paper, you then drew a piece of paper with the ingredient and they had a "cook off" to see who could make the best dish (Strawberry Rhubarb pie won!). They also had an entire beautiful, gingerbread village on display that they completed with friends at a gathering just after Thanksgiving a tradition that they started years ago...how fun is that?! (I spoke to one of the daughters today and they were doing decoupage projects!)

Now about the party! When we arrived we were graciously and quickly offered a cocktail. I loved that they had large mason jars pre-made with special family recipe of whisky sours and bloody Marys of course with all of the accoutrement including pickled okra, celery and dilly beans to garnish your drink. The kids played while we sat on the screened porch in rocking chairs enjoying our delicious cocktails just visiting. Then there was the food...oh, the traditional southern food! The buffet included ham, turkey, cornbread, black-eyed peas, the most delicious greens and 'hoppin john that I have ever had! For dessert there was coconut cake and my all time favorite a seven layer caramel cake. Just when you think it couldn't get better we had a sinful tiramisu cordial (mother's special recipe, that I must have!!)

What made this party so wonderful was the welcoming and relaxing way everything was presented. The hosts made it seem effortless (and we know how much work was involved prepare all of this.) Having the bar and a couple special signature drinks ready is always so smart. But I feel the most important part is just loving what you are doing and where you are doing it. When we left Shawn and I discussed how we loved the way that they "really used and enjoyed" their very special mountain retreat.

THANK YOU to our friends who really get the "gracious mountain living" idea, they understand how fortunate we are to be able to be here in this special place. We feel fortunate to have been included in their fetes and can't think of a better way to bring in the new year. I hope their ideas inspire you to put together your own special gathering or maybe even start your own family traditions!

Happy New Year from Gatewood Hall Gracious Home!

I always love the start of a new year! While I am not big on "resolutions" I feel it is important to reflect back on the previous year, make plans and set goals for the new year. What a year this has been!! This time last year we were planning and organizing our move, so it's hard to believe that we have already been in our new location for nearly nine months.

Shawn and I want to take this time to give some thanks for what has been a very great year for our beloved little store.

First, we want to thank our families! Especially our parents who have been some of our biggest believers, they saw the Gatewood Hall Gracious Home that we dreamed of and they helped us with physical, and loving, emotional support to get us open in our new location. Another part of our family that we are extremely thankful for is our GH Team, Becky, Brenda and our honorary team member Layne Prather who have worked so hard in making GH2.0 successful.

We also have had great support from some vendors and vendors representatives. While we have a few great reps there are two that have been with us since the very beginning, who have protected us, and helped us so much along the way that we have come to think of them as dear friends...Jill Collson and Anne Jarboe thank you for being AWESOME Reps and wonderful friends too! We appreciate you more than you know!

Finally, we owe thanks to you, our loyal customers. Thank you for following us to our new location, thank you for telling your families and friends about us, and thank you for buying from us. We never forget that you always have the opportunity to shop at other stores, or even online yet, you choose to visit us and buy from us and for that we are very, very grateful. Because of you not only are we able to follow our passion and have our store but we have won awards, been recognized by our peers and been able to make local charitable contributions to Paws in the Park/Blue Ridge Humane Society, Light Up Blue Ridge, Project Open Arms, the Blue Ridge Mountain Arts Association, and The Sunny D Children's theater.

We look forward to what 2011 brings. We are excited and committed to be the first to bring you new and unique product lines that you will not find anywhere else in our market. We promise to continue to look at trends and for new ways to inspire you in your decor and gracious lifestyle. We will continue to look for great quality and well priced items for you and your home. And we will make sure to have more fun events like block parties, trunk shows and celebrations...really just any reason for us to gather together and enjoy ourselves in beautiful Blue Ridge, Georgia!

HAPPY NEW YEAR & THANK YOU!

Sincerely,

Corky & Shawn

Cucina Rustica Is Always A Treat!

This past Saturday night we enjoyed dinner at Cucina Rustica and as always it was OUTSTANDING! Cucina is always consistent, since they opened we have never had anything but excellent meals there. I have tried most of the items on the menu and you can't go wrong with anything. It is always a perfect choice to take your visitors.

Cucina features Italian country cuisine with definite highlights of chef Isabella's northern Italian heritage (her father is a well known chef also). The emphasis is on light, flavorful but not overpowering sauces and fresh ingredients. To add a special touch, a wood-fired oven is used to prepare baked dishes. The main entrees and pastas include favorites such as: Crespelle al Forno, Baked Spinach and Ricotta Crepes (heavenly!), Fillet Mignon with Porcini sauce (Shawn's Favorite), Tortellini All Nonna which is Meat-filled tortellini tossed in a rich cream sauce with prosciutto, peas and parmigiano (my favorite!) or even a traditional Pizza Margherita. They usually have daily specials that are out of this world. The dessert choices include several wonderful delights including the Tiramisu Della Mamma (it is absolutely the best Tiramisu that I've ever had). The separate dining areas allow for seating of private parties. For those who enjoy a glass of wine or a cold beer with their dinner, Cucina Rustica is one of the first restaurants in Fannin County to receive a pouring license.

If you haven't been to Cucina Rustica you really are missing out! I promise you will love it. Owners John and Isabella along with their excellent, well-trained team will take great care of you, and you will leave in happy bliss! Located only about five minutes from downtown Blue Ridge at 76 Forge Mill Crossing in Morganton. It is best to make a reservation by calling 706-374-7474. Go treat yourself and tell them we sent you!!

Paws In The Park...Help Us Help Them!

This Saturday October 23rd is the Fourth Annual Paws In The Park Fall Festival. Sponsored by the Humane Society of Blue Ridge, and the Arts Center the mission of Paws in the Park is to focus on awareness and development of animal advocates through education and championing the treatment of pets with respect and kindness.

All leashed pets are welcome! You can participate in the Pet Parade featuring pet participants in their best Halloween costumes. Which is followed by the Blessing of the Pets and the Pet Halloween Costume Contest. Past participants and winners have been pot belly pigs, alpacas, lamas, puppies and dogs!

This year’s event will be larger than ever with exhibitors, arts and craft vendors, various demonstrations, food and prizes! Bring your pet for LOW COST rabies injections and micro chipping between 12noon and 2pm.

The event will conclude around 2pm with a raffle drawing for many gifts donated by local merchants and event supporters. Raffle tickets will be sold throughout the event. Participation in the raffle will automatically enter you into the grand prize drawing. Pet adoptions, sponsored by participating pet rescue groups, will be available throughout the event as well.

We at Gatewood Hall Gracious Home would like to ask you to "Help us Help Them". In honor of this wonderful cause we will donate 10% of our Saturday October 23rd regular sales to Paws In The Park! So come in a shop and feel great knowing you are also helping out such a worthwhile cause! As always we look forward to seeing you

For more information about Paws In The Park email pitp@tds.net

Wonderful Things!

It has been a very busy week at Gatewood Hall, as many of you know Shawn is in Europe so I can't thank Becky and Brenda enough for helping "hold down the fort" while he was away. We have received so much new inventory (a bunch of Holiday arrived this week...Oh just wait until you see!!!)

One of the new items we have just put out is a limited edition fragrance by Archipelago called Black Forest. It is the soothing scent of Douglas Fir and Ebony wood and a subtle hint of Black Currant so perfect for the mountains especially this time of year. We have the 8 oz. diffusers and the hand poured, soy wax blend candle (which will burn for more than 50 hours). The packaging is beautiful and would make a very nice gift. Come in and smell for yourself.

A few weeks ago artist Ande Cooke turned me onto this blog called Honey and Jam and I have to tell you I love it. Here is the kicker...the writer and food photographer is local, she along with her mother and the rest of the family are said to make some of the most wonderful artisan breads that they sell locally, usually at the Blue Ridge Farmers Market. Well I fell in love with the blog the young lady is named Hannah, and her photography is absolutely beautiful! I probably sound crazy but I believe she captures the essence and feeling of the food with such simple nuance. Twice while at the farmers market I have looked for her so that I could introduce myself (I know...now I sound like a stalker!) unfortunately Hannah and her family haven't been there.

This past Sunday I arrived late to the store and Becky is helping some folks and I just jump in to do my usual wrapping with tissue and bows and the customer says these things are for my daughter she is a food photographer...(Ping, my ears perked up) I said who is your daughter because I think I am one of her new groupies...and sure enough it was Hannah turns our that she and her family have been in a few times and she buys some of her photo props from GH! The entire family (her sisters were there also, I think they thought I was nuts because I was so excited to meet all of them) were so very nice. Turns out they have been really busy with other stuff and that is why they haven't been at the market. Hopefully they will get back there before the season ends. In the meantime grab a cup of tea sit back and enjoy Hannah's beautiful, mouth-watering blog http://www.honeyandjam.com/ you will enjoy it and you deserve it!

Finally, while Shawn is away Becky and I decided we'd have a sale (teach him to leave us behind!!). Handbags and wallets are 15% to 50% off, all in-stock jewelry is 20% off, Cat Studio is 25% off, and we are still marking down. It is almost time for the High Point market so we need to make room for more new things! Stop in and see us this weekend, the fresh autumn weather has been AWESOME!

Happy 4th of July!!

Sometimes I forget how much I love Blue Ridge! Years ago when we bought our place up here I told Shawn that I'd never take our beautiful long range mountain view for granted...Well I think I may have to some degree. Recently, we worked on a project in South Georgia, I have also been busy in Atlanta so I really haven't been up here for a few weeks. I have to tell you when I arrived this evening it just felt so good to be here and I took a look at our view and thought to myself, wow I have really missed my mountain home.

I'm also pretty patriotic, and with all of our concerns I still consider myself so fortunate to be be an American, living in this wonderful country of ours. I think Fourth of July in our north Georgia town is a really fun and special time. Americana at it's best.

Get up early Saturday and go downtown to our wonderful Blue Ridge Farmers Market in the park, oh the local goodies that you will find!! Then head over to L&L Beanery Cafe and have their delicious breakfast Casserole! By now it should be close to 10AM and time for the Annual Fourth of July Parade so head over to the park near East Main. This year the bands are awesome so ENJOY!! Go into Love Dogs & Cats Too and see Larry and Ricki and pick up some treats for that lucky cat or dog. Pop into the Little Shop and stock up on those wonderful Hallmark cards. If you haven't been in the new location of The Multitude Gallery just next door, you will be stunned at how beautiful and spacious it is. David has some beautiful new items! Now you need to make your way over to see us at Gatewood Hall. Come in and say hi and check out some of our new arrivals...Now you can go visit Just Judy, Kristina Lee's and the Gnarley Bear. I bet you will be getting hungry so now you can go visit Pat and Polina at the fabulous Blue Ridge Brewery (I am sooo craving their summer gazpacho and house burger!!) for some great lunch and a glass of wine or special beer. When you are finished you will be primed to head over to see Sarah at Out of the Blue...Oh the wonderful things to try and buy...(not just my favorite girl that Sarah, but one of my favorite shops!!) How about some delicious fudge from Three Sisters Fudge, just across the street from Sarah's. You still need to go see Bradley and Candel at Fezziwig's and make your way into ssShiney Baubles for that special piece of "bling". There is still just so much to do in our beautiful downtown Blue Ridge we've only scratched the surface.

Tonight don't miss the fireworks over Lake Blue Ridge! Have a great and safe Fourth of July!! See you downtown!

Below are some photos of our recent model project we completed in South Georgia!

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Surf's Up Blue Ridge!

You have probably read about Stand Up Paddling in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal or even this months Southern Living magazine but, you might not have known that this fun and fast-growing activity is available right here in Blue Ridge. Thanks to Chris Tilghman and his company Surf Blue Ridge you can catch this new wave in water sports. This sport provides core strengthening, endurance, balance and oneness with the water and nature. With roots in Hawaii, SUP has expanded into mainstream surfing culture globally.

The sport has flowed inland from the oceans to our beautiful lakes and rivers. No surfing experience is needed. Whether you seek the peaceful enjoyment of nature, power paddling or a downriver rush, we are told that SUP is an activity for everyone of all ages!

Inspired by a lifetime of water sports, Chris Tilghman brings the first stand up paddle company to the North Georgia Mountains. Chris has over twenty years experience surfing some of the world’s best waves in Puerto Rico, Costa Rica, Cape Hatteras, California and Hawaii. He spent five years living on Kauai’s North Shore with his wife Rhonda and honed his skills on 15-20 feet high waves.

In 2006, our friends Chris and Rhonda made their home in Ellijay (and we are thrilled because they are great people!!). Wanting to provide a unique experience for enjoying the local waters, Chris is excited to introduce Stand Up Paddling with the Hawaiian spirit of aloha and surfing.

Stop by their cool, new store front on East Main Street in downtown Blue Ridge (near the train depot, beside Twigs to Furniture, The Real Estate Connection and Three Sisters Fudge). You can also call them at 706-889-9747 or check out the website at http://www.surfblueridge-sup.com/. You are going to love Chris and Rhonda be sure and tell them that we sent you!

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!

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!!

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.

3rd Annual Taste Of Blue Ridge

Don't forget one of our favorite events for one of our favorite causes- The 3rd Annual Taste Of Blue Ridge to benefit the Humane Society of Blue Ridge Saturday April 24th, 2010 6-9 PM at Riverstone Medical Campus. Tickets are $30 advance and $40 at the door. There will be tastings of beer, wine and lots of great food along with live music, live and silent auctions with some great offerings! You will have a wonderful time we promise. See you there!

Preferred Customer Holiday Open House

Just in case we don't have your mailing address and we missed sending you a "paper invite", I wanted to make sure that our blog readers knew about our preferred customer holiday open house tomorrow night 6-8 pm.

We will be open late (as will our neighbors The Little Shop and Love Dogs & Cats Too) with some great prizes, delicious refreshments and wonderful holiday savings just for you! Please try to make it...it won't be the same without you!