Working Creatively as a Volunteer

WORKING CREATIVELY: Now that summer is almost here with hot and humid 80 degree weather,  I am taking a small break from the many community activities I help make happen in Tucker, GA.

Vacation time is near and I need to see the ocean for a few days. Relaxing with friends and family and much needed down time is on the agenda!

Volunteerism has become a big part of my life! I am glad to help where I can with the organizations that I care about most. This spring has been no exception to giving of my time, talents and energy! Here are some photos of events for Tucker Historical Society this spring.



Tucker Plant Swap and Share in April - This event is so much fun!




It may look messy to you, but we start with about 1000 propragated baby plants and then the community takes over from there. Thanks to Tucker First Baptist Church for their parking lot to hold the event and to all the society members who work the event.




Tucker Historical Society's 2012 10th Annual Garden Tour was held May 19th and it was a beautiful day for a garden tour! 5 private gardens and the pic above is from the Master Gardener's Butterfly Garden at Browning Courthouse.This is garden is open to the public - what a great way to learn about the life of a butterfly! Thank you Dawn!

The five private gardens were amazing this year with two repeats from previous years and three new gardens were added. Each one is special unto itself. When you put them together on a tour, it really highlights not only the garden but the gardeners who work months to bring it all together with their own special touch to their own special place!

Organizing the garden tour is a group effort of so many people and while I personally  logged many miles and hours, it could not happen without the Garden Tour Sponsors, the businesses who are the Ticket Outlets, our Garden Greeter volunteers, Tucker Arts Guild's artists in the gardens, our board and our members and more folks in Tucker.  The local media of Tucker Times and Up Close & Personal in Tucker share the event news with their readers and really help bring the Tucker community closer together.

 

The Bentley Garden

The Kramer Garden

The Netzell Gronwall Garden

The Riggins Garden

The Samford Garden

Tucker Day was Saturday,  May 12th from 9am to 4pm. The theme was "It's a New Day" and it was a great day for Tucker Historical Society! Everyone who stopped at our booth reminised over the old photos and recalled their personal memories and sacrifices when they touched the WWI and WWII uniforms on display. We met so many people who wanted to share some of their memories of Tucker Day - we put some of those on camera for a video and that turned out very well!

Grayson and Trish working hard at the booth!

Mr. Robbie Robinson who worked at Smith Shoes on Main Street in the 1950's through the 1980's
sharing his happy memories.

The donated WWI and WWI uniforms and the Tucker Library quilt from 1985.


Now that I've shared my memories of Tucker Historical Society's springtime events, I'll close by saying Happy Memorial Day to our Veterans and thank you for your service!


Design Your Life - Live Your Life!
Kat

Today was one of those days that I became almost numb from working with year end financial tasks. My treat for a job well done was taking in the lovely afternoon on the veranda with the cats. This is the kind of weather that it's almost 50 degrees outdoors and it feels down right freezing cold in the house. We venture out, coffee in hand, talking to Scout and Teddy and loving the sunshine warming us.

What a great day in January to walk around and see what is happening right under my nose.

Oh no, it's not time yet! Or is it?

Baby girl Scout wants to play with the camera



Crocus pushing up too!



An old concrete birdbath holds pansies in a small zen garden.

Old man, Teddy la Rue doesn't care for photo opps.

Just a snapshot of my afternoon and it was fun discovering what nature is thinking today.
Enjoy your winter day!

Design your life - Live your life!

Holiday Season Wish

 

The old year is passing and a brand new year is just around the corner and Christmas is 2 days away!

Holiday celebrations with family and friends keep me going, the nostalgia of happy childhood Christmas memories always in my mind and making new memories today for the future.

Harry and I have a "colorful" home that displays our history together and of our heritage. Our holiday decor brings another unique touch for the season. Natural things from the garden, fun and funky lights and arrangements (Harry's flamingos) work well here too. The ancestors photos looking on from their vantage points on the antique quilt with "family things".

My wish for us all - good health and good friends to enjoy our days together in 2012!
See you in January,
Kat

I understood this verse when I read "Angel Unawares" by Dale Evans Rogers. A tender and true story to share.

"Be not forgetful to entertain strangers; for thereby some have entertained angels unawares"
Hebrews 13:2

Watch for the Light

"Watch for the Light... an Advent devotional walk through the arts" is a first collaboration with Tucker Arts Guild and First Baptist Church of Tucker and other community artists. Inside the Main Street Fellowship Hall you will find rooms and halls filled with fine art as well as crafted arts.

The opening reception will be Sunday, November 27th at 7:00pm and will continue through December 21st. The show will be open and manned by Tucker Arts Guild members on Saturdays and Wednesdays during the show to answer questions and be on hand to handle sales. For more information go to http://www.fbctucker.org/ or http://www.tuckerartsguild.com/.


Everyone is welcome and Harry and I invite you to join us for the Opening Reception on Sunday, November 27th at 7:00 pm.

We are happy to be a part of this experience and hope to see you there!

Design Your Life - Live Your Life
Kathy
kathy@kathypowellinteriors.com
http://www.kathypowellinteriors.com/ 

Fire Up That Fireplace!

Take a look at the gorgous examples of contemporary fireplace styles offered by the Hearth & Patio Shop at 2316 Main Street, Tucker. The shop has 3 rooms that  feature gas logs ( many on display and ready to show you), fireplace screens and glass doors, wood burning stoves, tools and accessories and this beautfiul gallery to sweep you off you feet!

My friend, Charlie Hanft has been in the business for at least 20 years and can inform you on the latest and the popular, the traditional and the contemporary! Bring your questions and you will  receive the best and most valuable information that will help you in the buying process! If you want to make the best choices that are perfect for your fireplace, this is the place for you!

 Here,Charlie and I taking a break at last year's Hearth & Patio's Open House.

I recommend you stop in and see him!

I will also be there lending a helping hand several Saturday's during the season so come by and say hello!

If you would like help with your home design project and want Kathy Powell Interiors to bring your ideas to life in your home, please click here.

Please share this with your friends!

Design Your Life - Live Your Life!

Kathy

The history of Art of KAPOW

KAPOW is a funny play on my name and is also the brand name I give to the mixed media fabric art form I've been creating for a few years. Definately not fine art, but Arts & Craft with a twist. The focus is recycling fabric swatches that otherwise would be dumped in the local landfill. Although most natural fibers decompose and does little harm to our environment, I thought I would cry when working for a furniture store that would trash the discontinued fabrics (many stores do this). Many fabrics are a blend of fibers, but there is plenty of microfiber, some silks, tapestry weaves, good ol' cotton, and I have beautiful leathers too. All small amounts that lend themselves to my imagination.

Wall art of various sizes and small products such as gift bags are created and each one truly is an individual and unique piece.

I have more creating and renewing to do since the cupboard is full of fabric and my mind is full of ideas!

Yes, everything is for sale and very affordable too.

Love and Live Your Life!

 Kat

http://www.kathypowellinteriors.com/

Psalm 23 - a psalm of David

Today is September 11, 2011.

I believe most everyone in the world knows what significance this date holds, especially to America. Thinking of that day and where I was, what I was doing and figuring out how to maintain some form of composure still hits me pretty hard on an emotional level. I am sure many of us share that feeling.

I was in Atlanta, GA, had just arrived to work at my new job as Assistant Director of Plymouth Harbor. PH is truly a wonderful adult day program that is run by Central Congregational Church of Christ on Clairmont Road. When the planes hit the World Trade Center, I was preparing to get in the van to go out and pick up some of our participants. I was so scared, so alone and wondered how I could manage to do what I needed to do there. Do I run home instead of working? Harry was working in Alpharetta and I could not reach him except to leave a phone message saying " I love you". So many thoughts in an instant about my family and loved ones - is everyone ok?

Somehow, I found composure standing in that church parking lot. It was a beautiful blue sky morning and all was quite. I looked up to the sky as I approached the van and I wondered if any more planes and lives would be destroyed. I said a prayer all along my trip of collecting the precious cargo of old people and tried keep a calm voice as we discussed the confusing news that several just did not grasp. I was glad to get back to the church and start the day (like any other day). There was Mary's birthday and all the other activities to think about and make preparations, talking to the director and staff about a worship service for the afternoon. We'll we did it and I did it too. We managed and got through the day, even signing happy birthday to a very special lady!

We have moved forward as a nation and a people since that terrible series of events, but our hearts still hurt and We Will Never Forget. Ten years has given us time to be reminded of the grace of God, to find resolution and lately to find something called justice.

My recollections of that day have led me to share my latest art work with you. My work, The Art of KAPOW's latest finished piece is titled, "Psalm 23, a psalm of David. I worked quickly on this one and was guided by the fabric (it talks to me and helps guide me to see what it could become) to create what you see now. The bird is the symbol of God's love, the multi hued brown background fabric was the piece that spoke to me to use the scripture. When I examined the complex design in this remnant, I kept thinking of the words, "though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil". The rest of the work just flowed from there.

Above - the fabric that took me to the scripture and my persona conveying the message.

Below - the finished piece.

Love to you all - designing and living life!

Kathy