Holiday Magic at Highfield Hall

 I was at Highfield Hall the other day, delivering Tidal Effects items which will be displayed for sale during the annual Holidays at Highfield event. I am proud to be a part of the gift gallery for the third year in a row. Highfield Hall does it right. Not only do they decorate this mansion to a T for the holidays, they also open it up for the community to see and enjoy, all the while offering music and merriment. They offer a gift gallery which allows local artists to showcase their wares, and allows the community to cross a few things off their shopping list while supporting Highfield Hall. It’s a win-win!

Tidal Effects Apron 

Highfield Hall is a magical place. Maybe it’s because of the beautiful exterior, or the elegant interior, both of which have been painstakingly restored over time so Falmouth and beyond will have this historic gem for generations to come. It might be because of the story behind it – that it was built by a wealthy family and used as a summer house for years, then fell into disrepair and was slated to be torn down, until a dedicated group of citizens saw the potential in this place, banded together and stepped forward and fought to keep it and restore it to magnificence. 

Whatever it is, I feel it every time I drive up Highfield Drive. I pull into the parking lot and gaze in awe at this mansion, and I get tingly at the thought that I can actually open the huge wooden door and walk inside. It never fails. I walk in and I get this sense of beauty, magnificence and comfort all at once. 

If you have never been to Highfield Hall, or if you have but you have not seen it all decked out for the Holidays, I highly recommend a visit during the Holidays at Highfield events. ‘Tis the season! 

www.highfieldhall.org

The Perfect Mirror

I recently (well, about 6 weeks ago) repainted our guest bathroom. I decided that I was sick of the sage green and it was time for a change. I want our bathroom (and ultimately our entire home) to reflect the feeling I get from the beach - soothing, soft, uplifting and fun. After four tries (yes, I actually purchased paint, and painted one entire wall, four different times), my husband and I agreed on the perfect color. It’s a beautiful shade of blue. 

We purchased a new light fixture, and I have been searching for weeks for the perfect mirror. The mirror I have pictured in my mind has a frame made of wood, preferably reclaimed wood, and painted alternately in soothing, beachy colors – soft blues and greens, maybe a light yellow thrown in here and there. The picture in my mind was so clear that I even quickly sketched it out.

My sketch of The Perfect Mirror.

I have searched local stores, online, and antique stores. Once I found one that I thought was okay, and messaged a photo to my husband while I was in the store. It had a white wooden frame and was nice and simple. It would do. He said “If it’s not exactly what you want, don’t buy it. Don’t buy it just to get a mirror up there.” He knows me well, and he knows that sometimes I just like to get things done, rather than waiting for perfection. And sometimes I regret not taking the time to do it right because I have to do it over (as in, buy another mirror!).  I took his advice and did not buy the so-so mirror, and decided to continue my pursuit of the perfect one. After weeks of searching stores and realizing that I can’t find this mirror, or anything like it, anywhere, I began speaking with custom wood workers to see if I could have the perfect mirror created for me. Several discussions have led to nice ideas, but still a feeling of “not the perfect mirror.”

My Mom went out of town this weekend and I agreed to watch her dog, Summer. When I went over to her house to get Summer, I noticed her bathroom. I look in and I saw it. It was my mirror. The Perfect Mirror. The one I have been searching for everywhere, for weeks. It has been in my Mom’s bathroom for who knows how long. But I’ve never noticed.

The mirror in my Mom's Bathroom.

I got to thinking about this. Why did I notice this mirror now and not weeks, months or years ago? My Mom lives 5 minutes away from me, and I am at her house at least twice a week. As I thought about it, I realized that every time that I am at her house, there are at least three kids and two other adults there. There is much activity, food, drink and discussion. And I’m always trying to get my kids to do something – put away the toys they took out, put on their shoes, gather up their things, help to put away the dishes, while simultaneously trying to have a discussion with Mom and whoever else happens to be there…always busy and juggling a million things.

This time when I went to my Mom’s house, it was quiet. I was the only one there (well, except for the dog). I realize now that life is so busy that we just go through the motions much of the time, running from one task to the next without ever noticing our surroundings and the little details of life.

This is why I love the beach. I don’t go to the beach in the summer in the middle of the day, with a car packed full of stuff - kids, floats and coolers in tow. No, that is not me. I go to the beach early in the morning to see the sunrise, or late afternoon after the beach goers have left, to feel the afternoon breeze. In the winter. In every season, almost every day. By myself. It is my time, my place to step away from the busyness of the world and reflect on the beauty and mystery of life. To calm my soul, soothe my fears and remain strong knowing that I can always count on the tides and the waves to come and go, time after time, no matter what chaos in going on in life. This soothes me, and reminds me that no matter how big my problems may seem, or how grand my accomplishments, they are miniscule in comparison to the vastness of the ocean and to the unending beauty of nature. It puts things in perspective, lets me forgo the drama, and focus on the real. And reminds me to take note of each day and it's gifts, including my surroundings.

My new mirror will be a reminder of that as well. Once I purchase it from my mother.

Nancy

www.TidalEffects.net

www.facebook.com/TidalEffects

How It All Began...

I started a company five years ago selling reusable shopping bags. I wanted to do the right thing and buy reusable shopping bags, but the ones the grocery stores were selling were incredibly ugly. Since we own a printing company, my husband suggested that I should come up with some designs that I like and print my own.  

So S.O.P.TilYouDrop was born. Terrible name, good intentions. The S.O.P. stood for "Save Our Planet" and it was supposed to be a play on the phrase "Shop Til You Drop." I thought it was brilliant. Amazing how our minds work, isn't it? I sat with our designer to create nature inspired designs such as whimsical flowers and vegetables, and we printed the designs on reusable shopping bags and organic tote bags. While many loved the idea, they weren't great sellers.

I struggled with design ideas until I took a look in my closet. I had a fun summer dress that was covered in seahorses, and one day I looked at it and it hit me. I needed a seahorse on my bags! From there the ideas began to flow and the ocean and sea creatures kept on coming. I also realized that I needed a new name.

The original seahorse design.

Five years, two name changes and many designs later, I have found what inspires me and and what I truly enjoy creating and selling: simple, clean designs inspired my love of the ocean. 

Tidal Effects has grown into much more than reusable shopping bags, but it's important to remember where we came from, no? My love for the natural world has driven many decisions in my life, including those to live on Cape Cod and to have a house with very large windows. Natural light is where it's at! And the beach. The beach is where it's at too. :)

Other designs followed - lobster, mermaid, starfish.

Nancy 

Nancy Sawyer

www.TidalEffects.net