Funky Finds and Watercolor Magic

 

Wine Gathering bucket from Barreveld 

 

I am crazy over this fabric from Jane Shelton for an accent fabric in the living area . 

 

These pots were purchased from  www.wisteriaantiques.net.  I think they would make great lamp bases and  would complement the the fabric above as well.

I found this amazing pair of oars on Ebay. I think they will look great hanging alongside the  canoe paddles I purchased from Crawford's Antiques. You can find similar ones here:http://stores.ebay.com/countryantiques

When I am working on a project I become totally absorbed in the whole aesthetic of the particular project.  When a friend  from high school Brian Gordy posted one of his beautiful watercolors on facebook I stopped in my tracks.  This image “Looking Back at Alona Bay”  really captivated me. I could imagine a writer using this as this as a basis for a story. I can conjure up all kinds of scenarios about the whereabouts of the  inhabitants of the canoe.  How about you? 

 

The Hauntingly Beautiful “Tomorrow’s Rain” invokes a  similar mystery

As well as “Visitors at Southpoint”

Brian exhibits his watercolors in galleries throughout the United States and many have found homes in private, corporate and museum collections. His series of turtle paintings have become particularly well thought of.  You can find them at  http://turtlepaintings.com/.
Many of Brian’s watercolors are available as originals or as limited edition giclee  prints.  If you would like to purchase any of the above or just enjoy more of Brian’s beautiful work go to  http://gordyframing.com/.  I am sure they would be happy to frame it for you as well.
The tide is beginning to turn at Villa Cantina now .  Nearly everything has been purchased, fabricated and delivered.  Everything will probably be photo ready at once!

What is Villa Cantina and Justin Love

 

Many of you have asked just what is Villa Cantina? Villa Cantina is located in the heart of the Paso Robles wine country. It is nestled in the oak studded foothills in the gated community of Oak Shores on the North Shore of Lake Nacimiento. Our family first came to lake Nacimiento over 11 years ago as a quick getaway from our home in Monterey County and we later discovered the fabulous wine which sealed the deal. Eight years ago we began watching as Villa Cantina came to life. Villa Cantina is a stones throw from our old house in Oak Shores which allowed us to watch the progress as it evolved. For years we would drive by and wonder about the builder or the family who was waiting to move in and each time we would add to the story we were creating in our heads. This past September the real story unfolded….It  was Labor Day weekend and we noticed a “For Sale” sign in front of the house we had watched for so long and that sparked our curiosity. Several weekends later we came back down to meet a realtor for a tour and fell in love. We knew Villa Cantina would be a great vacation home for our family and a wonderful spot for others to visit and share the same love for the house, the lake and of course the wine!

Villa Cantina was designed by Newport Beach architect Eric Mossman  and is being finished by noted central coast contractors Steve and Colin Hattersley of Hattersley Construction http://hattersleyconstruction.com/. Interiors by Cindy Hattersley Design. Villa Cantina has five bedrooms and four full baths. All of the rooms will be professionally decorated and outfitted with luxurious linens. It has a full gourmet kitchen, professional bbq grill and two beautiful verandas overlooking the Cantinas Creek area of the lake.I am chronicling the progress of the completion and highlighting some of our favorite wines and haunts. Here is a view of the lake from Oak Shores looking over the Marina.

photo courtesy of Selling Lake Nacimiento (Matt Taylor)

For more information on Lake Nacimiento go here

http://articles.sfgate.com/2010-03-11/sports/18384718_1_lake-level-natural-lake-big-bass/3

 Justin Vineyards & Winery  (founded in 1981)  was one of the original 8 wineries in the Paso Robles area , and is just around the corner and up Chimney Rock Road from Villa Cantina and Lake Nacimiento.  Justin is usually our first stop when  a  visiting the tasting rooms on the West Side. It was the very first wine club that we joined and it still remains high on our list. In 1997 Justin’s Bordeaux-style Isosceles , their signature wine, was named “one of the top 10 wines in the world” by the Wine Spectator Their wines continually receive accolades by many of the major publications   Read the latest here http://www.justinwine.com/news_press_accolades.php :The compound itself includes a European Inspired Inn, a bed and breakfast and a fabulous restaurant.  Everyone is extremely friendly, especially the official greeters Sunny and Churchhill (who survives the adorable Zamboni). It is all beautifully appointed and it is a wonderful place to enjoy some great wine and spend the afternoon.

The tasting room

 

The  Wine Society Lounge 

Deborah’s Room

all photos courtesy of Justin Vineyards & Winery Website

Go here for more information or to purchase their fabulous wine:

http://www.justinwine.com/justinwine_history.php

 

In my next post I will feature  some beautiful watercolors by a noted Indiana Artist and some new “Finds”