Growing up in the South in the ‘50s and ‘60s, the phrase, Just Make Lemonade" was often echoed by my Grandmother. “When life gives you lemons, Kathie, you just gotta make lemonade!” I thought it odd since there weren’t any lemon trees around and we never had lemonade – just sweet tea.

Later in life I discovered the meaning of the phrase. I got more than my share of lemons and I learned that you just have to take that adversity and make it work for you. My first Shabby Cottage room was in 1974, when I was first starting out on my own. A coat of white paint on some second-hand furniture, curtains and bedding sewn from old, faded floral sheets, and I had a Cottage-Style bedroom. At the time Cottage Style had not been defined -- it was just called "Making Do." But I knew what I liked!

My grandmother’s “lemonade” was her line of handmade lampshades and accessories that she marketed to Bellingrath Gardens in Mobile, Alabama. With my grandmother’s example, I turned the need for creating, recycling and re-purposing into an artistic passion for Cottage Style decorating, which I have enjoyed for decades. Cottage Style has evolved through the years, but never gone away. Instead of a style based on need, Cottage Style has become Chic and it is just fun too!

Through the years I have been involved in every aspect of Cottage Style creations – from wholesale, storefront retail, antique mall resale, custom decorating, and finally, online shop sales. I took a brief 10-year respite from the industry to pursue my writing career, but I am back and I love my online shop!! I have two acres of wonderful land full of natural elements. Wildflowers are present year-round, and I am always finding new materials to work with. I will be growing many fabulous flowers to dry and use in creations in the future.

I also recently opened an Etsy shop featuring craft supplies, vintage finds and rustic treasures, called Possom Trot Hollow Farm, www.etsy.com/shop/PossomTrotHollowFarm
Be sure to check it out! Both shops afford me the freedom to work from home and my audience is The World!!

Today I am inspired by the subtle, neutral colors of sand and seashells; crumply linen and old china; empty spools of thread and mother of pearl buttons; peely white paint on anything; driftwood, barnwood, stripped pine; and a faded old rose.