Pepper & Pikey

Wednesday Woodworks - Somerset doors

2012-02-22T08:49:00.000-05:00

TC Millwork recently completed eight pairs of African mahogany exterior doors for the beautiful Somerset resort on Grace Bay.

Eco Update

2012-02-21T19:05:00.001-05:00

Image via here

It has been a very busy start to 2012! In early January, marine biologist Lee Munson arrived in Turks and Caicos to study the impact of tourism, specifically snorkeling, on humpback whales. This valuable research is taking place in salt cay thanks in part to Debbie of Salt Cay Divers attendance of the Wider Caribbean Mammal Conference held in Panama late last year. You may keep posted on their findings at .saltcaydivers.blogspot.

On January 23rd, we attended Big Blue Unlimiteds EXPO 2012 held at Opus Wine Bar and Restaurant. We were thrilled to join many in celebrating this company's 12th year of ecotourism as well as honoring their local eco-partners with awards and applause. The Turks and Caicos Islands are so very fortunate to have this company that stands firmly behind their eco philosophy of combining "culture, ecology, education, and adventure" for guests ultimate experience of nature in the Turks and Caicos. Please see the article in the tcfreepress to read more about their upcoming education program with local schools and to read the bios of the ecotourism award winners of the evening.

Rubbish from SDC on Vimeo.

Big thanks to Big Blue instructor Wes Matweyew for making the above video encouraging everyone in the Turks and Caicos to be mindful of littering and demonstrating how lifting litter can become part of your outdoor or active lifestyle! Thanks for being a Rubbish Runner Wes!

Before and After photos of the tcreef.org restoration project

At the February TCI Environmental Club meeting we listened to guest speaker Jody Rathgeb discuss her new book Fish-Eye-Lens; fiction but based on development and it's environmental and cultural impact on a small island. David Stone also presented news on the Turks and Caicos Reef Fund's first annual cocktail party and fundraiser. Having attended the fundraiser last Saturday night, I am happy to report the evening was a great success. Guests were in large attendance and the auction and raffle were well supported. We look forward to the organisations 2012 efforts to keep TCI reefs protected, healthy, and thriving.

Image via huttsatwork.wordpress.com

The next TCIEC event is right around the corner, please some show your support. There will be a much needed clean up and pruning of the Bight Park from 7am to 12noon this Saturday February 25th. Come one, come all, and please bring along some drinking water, garden gloves, trash bags, and gardening tools if you can.

Wednesday Woodworks - Saphire Sunsets

2012-02-15T19:43:00.000-05:00

Here are the professional images by Steve Passmore of Provo Pictures from Saphire Sunset Villa in beautiful Chalk Sound. TC Millwork completed this extensive renovation just before the New Year. You may read more about this incredible makeover here.

As much as our company is known for it's beautiful wood works, these photos are a testament to the competence of our construction. The pool and patio areas above, designed by Coast Architects, were a completely new addition to the well located Sopadilla beach front home.

Custom doors, kitchen, and built-ins

All images from homeaway

Happy Valentine's Day!

2012-02-14T11:05:00.001-05:00

I had been corresponding with video director/editor Vassili Shields since November of last year, introduced to his work with his "Shed" music video for Ingrid Gerdes. As the still photograph above indicates, the video was not only beautiful, it showed just how gorgeous Turks and Caicos is location wise for production purposes. When he inquired whether I would be interested in styling for a video shoot for The Palazzo at the pretty and pristine Villa Renaissance, I jumped at the opportunity. The video's romantic storyline was designed to highlight the unit's incredible wedding capabilities; 7 bedrooms to accomodate family or the wedding party and a gorgeous beachfront location. Just in time for Valentine's Day:

Happy Valentine's from the Palazzo Turks and Caicos!

Happy Valentine's Day from The Palazzo, Turks and Caicos from Vassili Shields on Vimeo.

Big thanks to everyone who participated, well done and what fun!

North Caicos, Middle Caicos, and the 12th annual Valentine's Day Cup

2012-02-13T18:47:00.001-05:00

Last Saturday we loaded up the bicycles and took the 6:30am TCI Ferry to Sandy Point, North Caicos for a day of adventure and the 12th Annual Valentine's Day Cup. Our first stop was at cottage pond, pictured above, a beautiful sight with the morning dew clinging in the air. Incredible to imagine that this small "pond" is actually a sinkhole that cave divers on a daring mission tethered by 600 feet of line, actually discovered bottoms out at around 255 feet. To read more about the exploration of cottage pond, please see The Times of the Islands.

A few wrong turns later we knew we must be close to Wades Green Plantation, and thanks to the assistance of several villagers and one particular goat herder, we were able to find the gatekeeper Alvira to gain entrance so early in the morning. I had read a great deal about the plantation and was thrilled to finally have the opportunity to visit one the best preserved landmarks in the country.

Wade's Green, originally called Bellefield by founder Wade Stubbs, was even more lovely than I had imagined. The moisture in the air and all the lush vegetation surrounding the area, supported the decision to establish he production of cotton, sisal, sugar cane and guinea grass here in 1789 was a wise one.

Lilypads now inhabit two large metal cauldrons which were once used for daily life; washing, cooking, and most likely turning sugar cane into molasses.

Much of the remains of the old buildings are being reclaimed by nature, reminding us of the temples of Angkor Wat. Etchings of slave ships were carved in one of the buildings, stoking pangs in us of the horror and hardship that must have taken place there.

There is a great variety of plant and tree life for viewing, some with labels (even the poisonwood had an appropriate skull and crossbones warning), others are highlighted within the reading guide.

The original well with shadowy morning light.

Some of the labels are now perceived to be incorrect; the overseer's house is now thought to have been a chapel, the buildings to the left of it most likely stables, the gardens a roofed building for storage, and the slave's quarters more likely would have been rudimentary and outside the town. Shame as they are such charming labels.

As we had almost 40 miles to reach Bambarra Beach, we had to be on our way. To make this trip by bicycle is not for everyone. Though the road is fairly flat, constant peddling for two to three hours is just not everyone's cup of tea. Since our last visit, where we received a ride from Sandy Point to Bambarra and cycled back, versus this trip where we bicycled to and caught a ride back, I would say the latter was more difficult due to the wind favor. Now there are several options for hiring taxi's and renting cars so there are plenty of options for getting around once you are there.

We were very excited to reach this sight by 1pm, and perhaps even happier to frequent the local watering hole nearby!

As I had only ever seen Bambarra like this in the past, it was great to see it thick with people and food and festivity.

It was a glorious day, even though the wind was slight. There was a great show of boats, captains, and supporters.

It was a great visual representation of TCI craft and culture.

After depleting our six reusable metal water bottles we were forced to buy plastic, but at least it was made and bottled right here in TCI.

Eco crusader Lynn, demonstrating stand up paddle board technique to several island boys, was just one of many Big Blue representatives who joined in on the fun.

This vibrant event,

and music,

and crowd

is one I do not wish to miss in the future. For many more amazing photos, please visit the Tropical Imaging blog.

Field Guide Fridays - Wild Pomegranate

2012-02-10T17:01:00.000-05:00

Last week on a morning rubbish run, we caught a flash of scarlet in the bush just off the side of the road. Upon closer investigation we saw what looked to be a very small shrub heavy with ripe, bulbous fruits. We took one that had fallen to the ground home to open it up, not convinced that we had ourselves an actual pomegranate. Sure enough, this scraggly looking little shrub was indeed producing beautiful, perfectly formed, super-fruits. But the pomegranate trend, thanks to its natural abundance of antioxidents, is actually not so recently fashionable. Some believe that Eve herself, at the beginning of time, may just have been lured by the Chinese Apple.

Pomegranate entymology in itself is a fascinating subject and since I don't dare leave any of it out, read below from wikipedia

"The name pomegranate derives from medieval Latin pōmum "apple" and grānātum "seeded".[10] This has influenced the common name for pomegranate in many languages (e.g. Granatapfel or Grenadine in german, grenade in french). Mālum grānātus, using the classical Latin word for apple, gives rise to the Italian name melograno, or less commonly melagrana.

Perhaps stemming from the old French word for the fruit, pomme-grenade, the pomegranate was known in early English as "apple of Grenada"—a term which today survives only in heraldic blazons. This is a folk etymology, confusing Latin granatus with the name of the Spanish city of Granada, which derives from Arabic.
The genus name Punica refers to the Phoenicians, who were active in broadening its cultivation, partly for religious reasons.
Garnet comes from Old French grenat by metathesis, from Medieval Latin granatum, here used in a a different meaning: "of a dark red color". This meaning perhaps originated from pomum granatum because of the color of pomegranate pulp, or from granum in the sense of "red dye, cochineal".[11]

The French term grenade for pomegranate has given its name to the military grenade.[12] Soldiers commented on the similar shape of early grenades and the name entered common usage."

After reading the above could you have guessed that Grenadine, the ruby red syrup frequently found in cocktails, originally was made with pomegranate juice, and not high fructose corn syrup as most processed foods are today?

Punica Granatum, or the wild pomegranate, may or may not have been picked by the biblical Eve but it has been cutivated since ancient times; revered for it's great beauty and used often as a symbol of abundance and fertility. With seeds ranging from 200-1400 per pomegranate, no wonder! A common marital ritual in Asia was to shatter the fruits upon the honeymoon suite floor, sending seads in every direction and thus ensuring many offspring for the newlyweds.

To read much more on the fascinating history of the pomegranate, from it's culinary and medicinal uses, to it's symbolism in Ancient Egypt, Greece, and Persia and significance to Christian, Judaism, Hindu, Chinese, Islam, Armenian, and Azerbaijan cultures and religions, please visit wikipedia.

Alloy Shoot 2012 - Grand Turk & Providenciales

2012-02-08T16:18:00.003-05:00

Late in January Turks & Caicos Productions had the great pleasure of welcoming Alloy back to Turks and Caicos. Known for youthful, flirty fashions we knew we were in store for some incredibly vibrant locations.

Here we are in no short supply of vivid colors; from turquoise oceans and royal skies . . .

to lemon and watermelon painted architecture. We took Alloy to a wide variety of spaces and places,

from Americana classic,

to far eastern exotic, all within the 7 mile by 22 mile stretch of sand known as Providenciales. Upon first introduction, I knew this crew was going to be a gas, (mind you not because of what we ate) due to the superb senses of humor of our cast and crew. They were the perfect client to have the special opportunity to island hop and work in the capital island of Grand Turk.

Sure Grand Turk has the same crystal waters and stunning beaches, but there is a very different way here. Grand Turk takes life easy, a no-stress no-hurry approach that one would expect in the Caribbean. The people are extra friendly and full of character (like Jack, our wonderful taxi man conducting business by bicycle). Grand Turk is a place of history, and turn-of-the-century charm as evidenced by the pictorial gathered below.

It is a place where the tried and true methods of the past are still put into practice today.

It takes change in small strides.

It lets sleeping structures lie

until the appropriate person breathes them back to life.

It is a community that takes the time to chat

and leaves many open doors.

It honors it's great landmarks.

and is home for so many adorable potcakes!,

and charmingly distressed old buildings,

and you just never know what you may find in any given alley.

Did I mention all the adorable potcakes?

We are thrilled we were able to take this great client to such a special spot. Big thanks to Jack and the ladies of osprey beach hotel for unparalleled hospitality and a fabulous meal!

Special thanks to the man behind the The William Brown Project blog for sharing his enjoyment of Turks and Caicos with his readers and fans, of which I am now included.

Wednesday Woodworks - Fleur de Lys Villas Fourth Bath

2012-02-08T08:25:00.001-05:00

On deadline for the first of February, the fourth bathroom at Fleur de Lys Villa was complete! After converting the pool house/art studio to an additional bedroom last September, we quickly realised how beneficial a fourth bathroom would be to our guests. After gathering a few indoor/outdoor bath inspirations we quickly set to work the first week of January. The new bath features a large terrazzo shower, louvered doors and back wall for breeze and ventilation, bright white open rafter roof and tongue and grooved side walls, and a few charming details such as below to create the cottage like ambiance.

Here are a few photos below while the bath was in progress.

Modifying the existing native stone path to curve to the new doorway.

Painted frame ready for the louver doors and panels, floor ready to be tiled.

Pebble stones collected from the beach, laid out in design for the base of the terrazzo shower.

Big thanks to the TC Millwork team for all their hard work to complete this lovely bath in a very short four weeks! Bravo everyone!

Styling - Meg and Brians Wedding 11.12.11

2012-01-31T07:35:00.000-05:00

Last November I had the great opportunity to style for a wedding at Bajacu villa, designed by the famous Mexican architect Marco Aldaco. The property is stunning; 360 degree villa views of Caribbean perfection set atop one of the highest peaks on Providenciales.

The villa itself is architecturally multifaceted, true to Aldoco's nature, and nestled into a gorgeous tropical landscape. But it doesn't stop there. A narrow, native stone winding path leads down to the ocean, where the above images were backdropped beautifully by the talented Melinda Le Photography.

Bajacu is bold and richly colored, perfect for the "bohemian chic" color inspiration behind mbweddingdesigns palette. When designing the florals I used watermelon peonies for luscious large pops of color, coral snapdragons and pink genistra for spice, and lily grass to give the bouquets a wild touch. To coordinate with luxe linens and chiavari chairs I requested a gold hued floral and Gemma from Environmental Arts made the excellent suggestion to use kangaroo paw . . . perfection!

As you can see, the bouquet needed to be incredible! Given this gorgeous of a location and this beautiful of a bride, I must say the ladies at Environmental Arts did a fabulous job of breathing life into my vision!

We created boutonierres with coral freesia and lily grass, statement making wrist corsages for the mother of the bride and groom, and an adorable peony pom for the flower girl. The ringbearer carried a small conch shell filled with bright pink petals to hold the precious gems. Morroccan style lanterns filled with candles and flower petals lined the aisle to the ceremony sight, and what a sight it was at sunset!

The tablescapes featured ocean inspired linens, white coral centerpieces, and vivid florals. I could go on and on but instead here are a few more of my behind the scenes images of the tablescapes below:

Our congratulations to Meg and Brian! It was an honor to style for such a beautifully orchestrated affair.

Field Guide Friday - Agave Sisalina

2012-01-20T17:32:00.001-05:00

Image and quote below from maritime heritage

"August 13, 1892, Colonies and India
London, United Kingdom
THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS

The cultivation of the pita (sisal) plant has made fair progress, especially in the Caicos Islands, and the reports from the plantations towards the end of the year were satisfactory. Two companies, the West Caicos Fibre Company (Limited), at West Caicos, and the East Caicos Company (Limited), at Breezy Point, formed for the purpose of raising pita plants and extracting the fibre, are registered under the companies' ordinance, and there are several private plantations. A small shipment of fibre was made to New York within the year from one of the latter, and the first quality fetched a cent a pound more than the second quality—an equal price to the best from Yucatan. This speaks well for the quality of the fibre which can be produced in these islands, and promises a bright future for the local fibre industry."

Sisal is still prevalent throughout the Turks and Caicos Islands, these giant agaves dot the landscape, distinctive due to their sword like leaves. The plant is in bloom this time of year; very hard to miss with their towering central stalk branching into a multitude of plush bright yellow Dr Suess like poofs, usually swarming with bees and other flying insects.

The booming sisal industry, as documented in the 1892 registry above, no longer thrives in the Turks and Caicos Islands, the East Caicos Plantation abandoned long ago. On my last visit to Middle and North Caicos, Cardinal Arthur told me stories of his boyhood, his memories of the long preparation of sisal before weaving it into rope. I recently approached the middlecaicos Co -Op about commissioning a handwoven rug like this, but sadly none of the artisans currently work with sisal for baskets, hats, or other handcrafted goods. I sincerely hope this once important process does not die with this generation, we must keep the knowledge of Turks and Caicos forefathers and farmers alive! Please visit tcmuseum.org to read a fascinating article on the Rise and Fall of the Sisal Industry.

Discover - Behind the Scenes

2012-01-17T21:14:00.002-05:00

The new issue of Discover magazine has arrived after months of waiting! I had a great time styling Atlanta and New York based model Jessica Miller. We had a perfect sunny day, fantastic locations, and a salt and sun drenched sailboat to make magic with. The caribbean-leisure-lifestyle portion of our shoot took place at the Grace Bay Club and Caicos Cafe Plaza; the nautical portion took us on the open sea.

Big thanks to Tropical Imaging, Beluga Cruises, Jessica, and all the boutiques who participated. My gratitude also to the magazine staff for their enthusiasm and invitation to pen the article to accompany the spread. Here are a few of my behind the scenes images from the shoot.

Provo Ponies Happy Trails to Serah

2012-01-12T13:08:00.000-05:00

Image by friend/artist/photographer Isaac Whitlatch via .facebook

The above gorgeous photograph conjures my youth when my fascination and adoration for horses was in it's prime. I am certain I wasn't alone, ask the average kid if they would like to have a pony and I believe the majority would have hands held high in the air. As with most things we romanticize in life, at one point we may discover reality and our hearts wane. For those that have witnessed or experienced first hand the hard work and dedication it takes to keep these beauties fed, watered, exercised, and generally healthy, you gain a whole new respect for "horse hands."

Provo Ponies, originally begun as a rescue operation for abused and neglected horses, now a Top rated Trip Advisor Attraction, has an entire team of expert hands that keep the stables full of happy, well cared for horses. Not an easy task on a tropical island with little soil and fresh water. A certain trio of tough gals formed fast friendships both off and on the clock:

Camille

Kelly

and Serah

All images from Provo-Ponies facebook page

These three ladies have had a great run but alas, one lone ranger is moving on. Serah has found a fantastic opportunity and will be leaving the island to work with Roberts Equine Dental, a Minnesota business serving the professional horse community from coast to coast since 1981. Our congrats and best wishes to Serah! Happy Trails!

PS- Don't forget to pack your

Handmade jewelry

2012-01-04T20:13:00.001-05:00

For a few who have inquired, handmade jewelry ranging from $18 to $30 per piece.

The latest ocean inspired colors for the t-shirt necklace/scarves ranging from $10-$18.

Wednesday Woodworks - Indoor/Outdoor Bathroom Inspirations

2012-01-04T17:44:00.000-05:00

Image via keenandfitting

Today we broke ground on a fourth bathroom for the Cotton Cottage at fleur de lys villa. This was a project we had been considering for quite some time so are thrilled to put the plan into motion. The layout will resemble the above image, a long room that will feel like a sun room; an indoor extension of the outdoors, a bright and airy space full of sunshine.

Image via coastal living

The room will feature large doors at either end that will open to already existing curved native stone paths wrapping around the cottage to the pool.

image via myhomeideas

Image via southernliving

As much as we would absolutely adore a lovely tub like in the above images,

Image via bathroom-of-week post on Keen and Fitting

we will most likely keep it simple with a shower framed in the center of the fully louvered back wall. Stay posted for before and after images to come!

TC Millwork's Biggest Before and After 2011

2011-12-31T12:00:00.001-05:00

We can't believe it has already been a year since we completed 2010's biggest before and after and now here we are featuring 2011's! Midway through last summer TC Millwork started work on this fantastic project in Chalk Sound. The villa had an outstanding location but was much in need of a reinvention and that is just what it received through the eyes of Coast Architects. Here are a few before images:

Front of House

Interior

Rear of House

And a few more images in progress to show just how far this villa has come:

Framing in the pool

Interior

Installing the brand new kitchen and vanity cabinetry

Installing the custom doors leading out to the pool and beach

Six months later, presto chango! Take a peek at a few after images of the new and improved

sapphire-sunset!

Front of house

Custom built entrance doors and freshly painted bright white interiors and ceilings

New windows ideal for capturing natural light in the lofty great room

Bedroom with patio overlooking the beach

Custom kitchen

I like to think of the pool as the grand finale of this villa and most certainly of our extensive renovation. It posed quite the challenge considering the limitations necessary for keeping regulated proximity to the beach. Beautiful design by Chris Davies, beautifully executed by the TC Millwork!

Great way to wrap up 2011 team! Looking forward to all the 2012 projects, big and small, and all the clients, from frequent to first time, to come!

Happy New Year!

Maskanoo!

2011-12-26T11:29:00.000-05:00

Images from the 2010 Maskanoo facebook page

Today is the day! Come one come all to the Maskanoo 2011 Celebration at the Regent Village from 3pm to midnight. This is one one the biggest and best Turks and Caicos events of the year, be sure not to miss the food, the local arts and crafts, and the entertainment! TC Millwork Design will be there showcasing jewelry, decor, handbags, eco-friendly products, and recycled items. Take a look at a sneak peak of some of our new handcrafted goodies:

Causarina coasters and trivets from the invasive-species

Burlap and lace handmade pillowcases and more

Caribbean White Christmas

2011-12-24T05:18:00.001-05:00

Deborah Whitlaw Llewellyn image via coastalliving

Caribbean coast dwellers can also dream of a white Christmas . . . .

Image via birchandbird

janis nicolay Image via sallyleebythesea

chris-everard image via musingsofanightowl

Image via marthastewart

Image via snippetandink

Image via frydogdesign

countryliving Victor Schrager

Happy Holidays!

Wednesday Woodworks - Kitchen Refinish

2011-12-21T17:07:00.000-05:00

Kitchen Before

TC Millwork has been hard at work on a few varied projects but only one is ready to share today. This dark kitchen was a sore spot on an otherwise lofty and light beach side penthouse. It was well built and had lovely details, it just needed a facelift to take it from dreary to dreamy.

We love the new contrast of the dark counter tops to the creamy kitchen!

Bon Voyage RL

2011-12-21T16:52:00.000-05:00

Image from ghiblimedia

The last few weeks have been very busy working on a Turks and Caicos Productions shoot for fashion powerhouse Ralph Lauren. Three separate crews, three incredible photographers, and a bevy of beautiful models (including these pictured pretties above and below). I was thrilled to welcome home Turks and Caicos native Chrishell Stubbs

Image from leaysl.livejournal

TCI is so very proud of this blessed beauty who is as lovely on the inside as she is on the outside. Her success is justly deserved and we hope she continues to have a dynamic career and do many great things.

Image from ghiblimedia

Image from facebook.com/RalphLauren

So have all these scarfs and sweaters put you in the holiday spirit? As you may have already guessed you are going to have to wait for the sneak peaks from the Turks and Caicos shoot, which are a little more along the lines of the below, until the campaign launches at some point during the summer. Stay posted!

Image from ken owen blogspot

Image from models.com

Huge thanks to the entire team who traveled to Turks and Caicos from near and far for this shoot, it was a pleasure working with you all. Ralph Lauren is an American icon and we are pleased to have been a part of this campaign! Happy Winter solstice!

Image from lifestyle.at.msn

TCSPCA 2011 Christmas Shoppe

2011-12-17T05:40:00.000-05:00

All images from Potcake Place's facebook page

Please make your way to Suzie Turn Plaza today for the TCSPCA's annual Christmas Shoppe from 10am to 1pm. There will be toys and crafts, cookies and eggnog, and PONY RIDES! All proceeds go to this much loved and much needed organization, please show your support while getting in the holiday spirit!

Art from the Islands - David Gallardo

2011-12-15T06:25:00.000-05:00

David Gallardo moved to the Turks and Caicos Islands from his native Barcelona in 1999. As a professional photographer for brilliant and tropicalimaging he has been capturing the people, places, and natural beauty of this country for over a decade. I have had the pleasure of working with David on many projects and am very pleased to share a small taste of his varied work here on P & P.

As a professional underwater photographer/scuba diver David has produced some of the most vivid, incredible marine biodiversity images of what lies beneath our waves. Please visit worldofoceans to see more.

His love of travel has brought him to many exotic places; Galapagos Islands, Red Sea, Indonesia, and beyond but most of my favorite images are from right here at home (as pictured above), or from our close neighbors such as Cuba and French Cay (as pictured below).

Aplogies for being incredibly tardy the last few weeks in posting, has been a very busy time for tcmillwork but we hope to share plenty of great news soon!

Conch Festival 2011

2011-11-29T16:11:00.000-05:00

As these fantastic photos by tropical imaging demonstrate, the 8th Annual Conch Festival was a day full of delicious food, lively music, and Turks and Caicos culture! Congratulations to this years grand champions, Hemingway's who finally managed to take the title from five year running previous title holders bay-bistro.

Black Friday Bargain

2011-11-26T12:16:00.000-05:00

Months ago I spied these completely incredible antique mirrored Currey-and-Company-Napoli-Wall-Sconces at one of my favorite local boutiques, It's Stuff Consignment shop. I knew the retail price was way out of budget but kept them in the back of my mind. On my last visit I was quite surprised to see them still sitting in the shop. With a bright idea of how these two lovelies could add some elegance to the Sisal Suite at Fleur de Lys Villa, I made an offer. The shopkeeper said she would get back to me after getting in touch with the owner.

On Black Friday I received the great news that the offer was accepted and I could pick up my purchase. I am so pleased with my Black Friday bargain having paid half the price for the pair as one sconce purchased retail and landed. They are pretty AND practical. No more having to set aside the lamps every time the bi-fold windows are opened or shut.

Did you have any success finding a black Friday bargain? If you find yourself on island and looking for unusual, unique, or antique wares, please stop by It's Stuff, located in the Marketplace across from the downtown First Caribbean Branch on Leeward Highway. You might just find the perfect Christmas gift amongst all the treasures!

We are off to the 8th annual Turks and Caicos Conch Festival in Blue Hills to eat, greet, and be merry! If your are here, you should really be there! It is one of the best not to be missed events of the year! Please click here for the schedule of events and more information.

Field Guide Fridays - Migratory Bird Press Release

2011-11-25T10:39:00.001-05:00

Kestrel falcon or sparrowhawk

All images taken at Fleur de Lys

At Fleur de Lys Villa we are fortunate to see many different species of birds on a daily basis. The nationally protected reserve which borders the villa property is just one of many throughout the country. In the Turks and Caicos Islands birds are protected by law. The DECR has just wrapped up an especially active month of bird monitoring:

"The Department of Environment and Coastal Resources (DECR) has been collecting data on just how important our natural habitats are to migratory birds. . . . The data generated while DECR conducts these activities is sent back to SCSCB, who will process it along with similar regional data. When combined, this gives us a good idea of which birds are moving through which areas, when. This is especially important because many of these birds are under pressure in part of their range, either by habitat destruction or other danger."

Please read the full press release here.

Gray_Kingbird

Great Egret, Ardea Alba

Lovebird?

The above species needs identified, if you recognize it, please post a message! Identifying birds is most often about sight; identifying it's characteristics including size, shape, coloring, movement, and flight pattern. But this very special species below can easily be identified by it's unique call. Take a listen . . .

The West Indian Whistling Duck is an endangered species that is globally threatened. If you have heard this beautiful call, consider yourself very fortunate for this is not only a rare bird, but one of the less vocal species of ducks. Please visit scscb to find out more about Caribbean birds and how to help. Please log all your bird sightings on ebird.org to assist keeping this species and many more alive and well.

Happy Thanksgiving

2011-11-24T16:37:00.000-05:00

Image via posters-for-good

Though it is not a holiday here in the Turks and Caicos Islands, today and everyday there is always reason to give thanks. For those that are here on holliday and desire to keep tradition, check out mouthwatering recipes/ Caribbean Thanksgiving Ideas here.

Image via happyclippings

Wednesday Woodworks - Dining Rooms, Rustic

2011-11-23T19:19:00.001-05:00

Whitewashed and beachy chic dining room from skonahem via greigedesign

Now that we have seen custom woodworks gracing refined dining areas, it's time to take a look at more rustic applications. The simplicity of the above room is engulfed in craftmanship; timber floors, timber beam open rafter ceiling, and architecturally shaped windows letting in all that lovely natural light.

Image via mydesignchic

Another architectually shaped set of windows and central door open to this rustic plank table and muslin covered chairs dining room. The wild succulent centerpieces add life to this gorgeous table.

Petra Bindel for British Elle Decor from style-files. via keenandfitting

Mismatched wood chairs, petite drop leaf table, and a quirky corner cabinet amongst a collection of muted art and diverse collectables make this a charming little dining nook.

Stylist James Leland Day via desiretoinspire.net

A modern nod to rustic, great balance of warm woods to shiny metals. If your like me and love the marbled caramel color of this table, see the above link for an entire house full of similair deliciousness.

Another desiretoinspire of the tabernacle-tearoom

This dining room eats, breathes, and lives wood; it's EVERYWHERE! I would like to have a cup o' tea and slice of cake here one day.

Rough-hewn floors and exposed beams in this barn conversion, moved from Canada to Connecticut.
Above image and below quotations from styleathome, who recently profiled bloggers-fave-fall-design-trends

Lia Fagan, modnest

"Wood is the ultimate neutral. Not only does it work with just about everything, but it never fails to add warmth to a room. Few spaces feel complete without the presence of this element. It doesn't always have to come in the form of flooring, furniture or cabinetry. Introducing hits of natural wood through your accessories and lighting is an unexpected way to embrace this versatile material."
Lia Fagan is the designer behind Mod Pieces, an online boutique featuring restyled vintage lighting. When she's not in her studio, she's teaching others how to "design outside the lines" on her blog, Mod Nest.

Ashlyn, pineconeplace

"My favourite fall trend for 2011 is wood. Touches of wood can cozy up any decorating style, especially a modern style with lots of white."
Ashlyn loves to share fresh decorating ideas, recipes, DIY, and photos... things that relate to home and family. You can follow her on her blog, Pinecone

Megan, nutmegandcompany

"This year, I've found that we've been using natural wood so much more in our home. I've always loved white-painted trim and paneling but now I also love the rustic, natural patina raw wood adds to a space. I also really like the idea of using recycled, aged wood for the warmth and history it brings to a space. When we renovated our son's room, we used recycled barn board to add that warmth. I've also seen lots of wood projects using materials that would otherwise go to waste - old crates and boxes, pallets, log stools. It's an eco-friendly and inexpensive way to add a designer trend to your decor."
Megan is a design loving blogger who owns a construction company with her husband, as well as her blog, Nutmeg and Company. Megan and her husband recently bought a historical home in Wortley Village in London, Ontario and are renovating and decorating every square inch for our family.

ECGYC Third Anniversary Party and TCI Red Cross Market Today

2011-11-12T09:47:00.001-05:00

This evening please support our TCI youth at the Edward C. Gartland Youth Centre for their 3rd Anniversary Party. I have had the great pleasure of witnessing many of their performances such as this over the last three years and they never disappoint. Please see the press release below for more information.

Black History Performance

Captivated members of the audience during the Cultural Explosion Performance

"The Edward C. Gartland Youth Centre will be hosting an Open Evening and 3rd year anniversary party from 5-7pm on Saturday 12th November 2011. There will be complimentary tours of the Centre showcasing the wide range of activities the Centre has to offer; performances by youth centre members; a fashion show choreographed by our program director, Charrish Ferguson, along with an appearance by the amazing TCI Youth Chorale. Light refreshments will be provided and all members of the public are welcome. Please come out and lend your support to the Centre and let us show you all that has been accomplished since its opening on November 8th 2008. The Centre is located behind Butterfield Suppermarket between Shining Star School and the Community College, Downtown, Providenciales. For more information contact Director, Roxann Wake-Forbes on 331-9602 or via email Roxann@tciyouthcentre.tc. We look forward to seeing you there!"

Also, be sure to stop by the TCI Red Cross Farmers Market for fresh local produce and a variety of goodies. Last week I picked up sweet potatoes, cornmeal mix, and a pumpkin, all of which were delicious.

Locally grown and handmade, think global and buy local!

Wednesday Woodworks - Dining Rooms, Refined

2011-11-09T19:55:00.000-05:00

Image via greige design

Dining rooms are a perfect place to profile fine woodworking. This ebony stained hardwood floor creates a distinctive contrast to the larger than life windows that bathe this beautiful dining room in natural light.

Image via pinterest

These curvey ballisters are a lovely detail, as is the rich walnut hardwood flooring we only catch a glimpse of. J'adore the combination of raw wood table base with the sleek and sophisticated marble table top.

Image via desiretoinspire

This black and white beauty features high gloss lacquered hardwood floors, an incredible antique mantelpiece, top and bottom tailored trim, and a show stealing architectual moulding over the arched hallway.

Image via countryliving

A softer and simpler version of a refined dining room; coffeebean hardwood flooring, vintage restored mix and match chairs, and a charming custom cabinet to display favorite dishes.

Image via houseofturquoise

White wainscoting and crown moulding set the scene in this nicely narrow dining room. The warm walnut dining table creates a perfect focus point for the space.

savio firmino dining room

This dashing dining room comes across as equally elegant as cozy. The oversize mirror frame, floor to ceiling wood wall panelling, and interesting window detailing make this an unforgettable space.

Image via mydesignchic

This is an islandy take on a refined dining room featuring skinny planked hardwood flooring, bamboo director's chairs (see the above link for many more), and a uniquely framed ceiling which this image is a terrible tease.

Image via renovateanddecorate

As much as the previous image is a ceiling tease, this image will not leave one hanging from the bright white rafters. Talk about a giant light bounce for a much deserving room.

Image via tomscheerer

This has to be one of my favorite dining rooms of all time. The carved pedestal table base is iconic if indeed wood. The built-in mirror frame nestled in wood paneling, neighboring arched french glass paneled doors opening up to what the decorative greenery alludes to, most likely a gorgeous garden. Sigh . . . . .

Operation Bloo!

2011-11-04T06:05:00.001-04:00

The Turks and Caicos Islands are home to many animal lovers but few as great as my close friend Eliza. Eliza has a heart as big as the ocean and is a philanthropist for so many amazing causes; tcspca, potcakeplace, Provo Children's Home, and caracol childrens home just to name a few. This incredible woman has selflessly devoted much of her life to helping others and today she needs help to save somebody close to her. Please take a moment to visit operationbloo and if you have a little spare change

please consider to chipin by making a donation here.

Best of luck to Bloo from Pepper & Pikey!

Wednesday Woodworks - Fall Inspirations

2011-10-26T18:12:00.001-04:00

countryliving via birchandbird

Halloween is right around the corner! How would you like to spend your weekend? Somewhere like above in this cozy-spaces-for-the-fall post?

Herbst Architects via desiretoinspire

How about someplace edgy and and earthy like this herbst-architects post?

Ashlee Raubach via designsponge

Perhaps you would prefer to take your time on a major makeover project like this before-after-lofty-living-room with dark hardwood floors, trim, and faux ceiling beams, with just a touch of goth influence in the black iron chandelier.

somethinbeautiful.blogspot

Who would be daring enough to take on a decaying mansion and breathe it back to life? See many more hauntingly beautiful images of extremely-creepy-abandoned-houses here.

In the Pink - Breast Cancer Awareness Event

2011-10-15T08:37:00.001-04:00

Image from danielledujour

Tonight please show your support of breast cancer awareness month at the "In the Pink" celebration at the The Regent Palms. The fabulous fashion sale extravaganza starts at 6pm followed by complimentary pink cocktails at the Green Flamingo bar from 7-8pm. Post shopping hit the pool deck for sangria and dancing under the stars. Surprise bartenders, prizes, and more!

For detailed information please visit activities/in-the-pink/ or call 946.8666

Wednesday Woodworks - Bedrooms

2011-10-12T20:52:00.000-04:00

Cozy and comfortable woodworks are a perfect accessory to any bedroom. Here are a few of our current inspirations:

houseandhome Image via birchandbird

Adore this divine mix of rustic and refined, industrial metals and soft textures .

Image via simplyseleta

An entirely timber attic bedroom, dreamy . . .

Derek Swalwell image via desiretoinspire

Something to be said for a simple white wood bedroom bathed in natural light.

Image via designesquire

Creative use of upholstery tacks on this stylishly designed wood headboard.

Elle Decor Showhouse image via katie-d-i-d

Spiral after spiral on this pair of turned post beds, notice the clever craftmanship in the shapes of the drawer fronts on an otherwise boxy side table.

Image via mytailoredlife

This Scandinavian bedroom demonstrates an earthy side to white painted hardwood floors.

Kindalatetothegame Image via glenproebstel

Visible grain hardwood flooring; a great use of texture in this understated bedroom, pulled together perfectly with the dramatic bold black frame of the headboard mirror.

Landscaping 101 in Turks and Caicos - Part 1

2011-10-11T13:51:00.002-04:00

Today is a rarity here in Turks and Caicos; a grey, overcast, cool day perfect for landscaping and an opportune time to finish a few last touches to a major summer project at Fleur de Lys Villa. A year ago I blogged a few before-and-afters showing just how far the villa had come over the course of five years. Take a peek there and one can plainly see how a house in the Caribbean is simply not a home until you have a yard. I sincerely hope that our landscaping mistakes and naivety (introduced in this post) can act as a learning tool for others who are in the same predicament, or are about to sink their shovels in on their own project.

Villa before the finished entrance in 2007. A change of mind on the driveway placement lead to unnecessary clear cutting in the front.

When we built the villa we had a solid knowledge foundation with regards to construction and about zero when it came to landscaping. With a home designed around a central courtyard and whose very essence is all about enjoying the great outdoors, our yard was elevated to numero uno on the priority list. Our first mistake: clearing too much of the indigenous bush. When we began construction I did not have the appreciation of the beautiful TCI bush that I do now. Now I am educated on just how rare and lovely our Tropical-Dry-Forest really is. As soon as one realises the amount of labor, love, and pocket money it takes to keep a single plant, flower, shrub, or tree happy and healthy over the course of it's lifetime, one knows to LEAVE ALONE what is already there and thriving! Leave alone what is already rooted and acclimated and most likely a home to all kinds of species if you just take a moment to study it. Mother Nature put it there for a reason, and unless it's an invasive-species or harmful/poisonous, it is providing a vital function in it's given environment.

September 2006

Our second mistake; hiring a pricey landscaper. We thought we had the best in the business, a well reputed, long established company with loads of impressive contracts in their portfolio. Turns out we two DIY'ers would have been far better off to save our money and simply take things slowly, seek advice from neighbors, friends, and the professional/environmental enthusiasts at the DECR. Within the first year we had; ripped out the courtyard grass the landscaper talked us into which never took and had us tracking mud into every room in the house, removed the mulch that invited termites onto the property, and transplanted dozens of ficus placed along the exterior walls when we discovered how aggressive their root systems are and that our plumbing pipes were soon to be targets. The following two years were filled with several casualties; two large coconuts who caught lethal yellowing, $1400 worth of yellow allamanda smothered by macho ferns, and firecrackers that didn't survive the attempt to save them from feet climbing in and out of the hot tub. There were also many more transplants, some out of necessity such as the mahogany who began to be crowded by a large coconut, and others out of aesthetic, like the dozens of fountain grass we thought would look great near the pool until they bloomed . . . and sent their feathery seed pods swimming. Then there was the massive undertaking of converting all of the spray-irrigation to drip-irrigation after researching ways to conserve water and finding out that the later is 90% effective in comparison to the formers 30-50%. I strongly suggest to everyone in the Caribbean, where water is a precious resource, install drip systems to every applicable area. It will save tons of water and a great deal of money over the course of time.

Courtyard in 2009

If you do hire a landscaper, do your homework! Inquire with a client they don't include in their portfolio, someone you may know who has a project similiar to yours. Take an evening to google the species on their estimate and make certain if you find any negative characteristic, ask the lansdcaper if those possibilities are applicable here in the Turks and Caicos. Request drawings and reasonable projections for what your yard will blossom into 5 years from now, 10 years, and even 20 down the road. If we would have had this foresight, we never would have allowed an olive tree to be planted in the courtyard. For three years we watched her grow from a skinny little stick (as shown in the 2006 image above) into a gorgeous Shady Lady. This lady and her neighboring tabebuia friend pictured above, had the courtyard looking absolutely beautiful, that is if you swept it every hour on the hour! That's right, these two were quite the lookers but what mess makers! They shed so much that the spa, the prized water feature and focal point of the courtyard, was kept under cover for the last two years, creating an eyesore versus the serene sight we intended. We thought of how much time we had spent sweeping, digging leaves out of the gutters, carefully raking the planters so as not to disturb the delicate peace lilies and other plants, and knew that something must be done.

2008, native stone replaced the impractical grass

After weeks of brainstorming possible solutions, we looked around at the covered hot tub, the leaf littered courtyard, the native stone buckling from the expanding roots of both the Schefflera and the mahagony (which had also begun to shed daily in the pool) and we decided with very heavy hearts, to make some very big changes.

September 2011, in the middle of the transplant

Stay tuned for the "after" images in Part 2!

Bird Monitoring and No Plastic Picnic Saturday Oct 15th

2011-10-10T21:50:00.000-04:00

Image from greenantilles

At last Thursdays tci-environmental-club meeting, we discussed a few recent topics including the DECR's impressive collection of 8,676 native Caicos Pine seeds, the previous meetings heated debate in regards to the Invasive Causarina, and the upcoming event for this coming Saturday, October 15th. Please join us at 7:30am at the Lower Bight Park across from the National Environmental Centre for a morning of Bird Monitoring in our wondrous-west-indian-wetlands! The migration season has begun and several sites are bound to see a great deal of activity which will later be logged onto ebird.org. An exerpt from their website below:

"Do you know of a pond, mangrove swamp or marsh nearby with waterbirds on it? If yes, we invite you to participate in our first region-wide survey of Caribbean waterbirds, the Caribbean Waterbird Census (CWC), and help us to save waterbirds and their habitats. The Society for the Conservation and Study of Caribbean Birds (SCSCB) is starting a new region-wide waterbird and wetland monitoring program called the Caribbean Waterbird Census (CWC). The goal of this program is to learn more about the distribution, status, and abundance of waterbirds in the Caribbean to improve our conservation planning and management of these beautiful birds and their habitats."

Every entry helps have a better understanding of what happens where and why, as well as boosts our Turks and Caicos eco-tourism sector. Please consider taking a little time this Saturday to enjoy our beautiful by nature environment and protect our species! Welcome to anyone! We are looking for volunteers willing to provide transportation, please call the DECR for more information. The morning monitoring is to be followed by a NO PLASTIC PICNIC! Please Pack-an-Eco-Friendly-Lunch (like pictured below, think reusable containers and no single use plastics) and join us at 12noon at the Lower Bight Park picnic area.

Image from greenrightnow

Columbus Day 2011

2011-10-10T10:08:00.000-04:00

"Columbus Taking Possession" image from connect.in.com

Today, Monday October 10th, is a public holiday here in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Christopher Columbus indeed has had a far reaching impact on the Caribbean region, he set his exploration foot in Cuba, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Jaimaca, Trinidad, Grenada, Martinique, and of course the country of his debatable first landing and beyond. A wonderful overview of the man, his life, and his legacy can be read at history.com, please visit there for a better understanding of the exerpt below:

"The period between the quatercentenary celebrations of Columbus's achievements in 1892–93 and the quincentenary ones of 1992 saw great advances in Columbus scholarship. Numerous books about Columbus appeared in the 1990s, and the insights of archaeologists and anthropologists began to complement those of sailors and historians. This effort has given rise, as might be expected, to considerable debate. There was also a major shift in approach and interpretation; the older pro-European understanding has given way to one shaped from the perspective of the inhabitants of the Americas themselves. According to the older understanding, the “discovery” of the Americas was a great triumph, one in which Columbus played the part of hero in accomplishing the four voyages, in being the means of bringing great material profit to Spain and to other European countries, and in opening up the Americas to European settlement. The more recent perspective, however, has concentrated on the destructive side of the European conquest, emphasizing, for example, the disastrous impact of the slave trade and the ravages of imported disease on the indigenous peoples of the Caribbean region and the American continents. The sense of triumph has diminished accordingly, and the view of Columbus as hero has now been replaced, for many, by one of a man deeply flawed. While this second perception rarely doubts Columbus's sincerity or abilities as a navigator, it emphatically removes him from his position of honour. Political activists of all kinds have intervened in the debate, further hindering the reconciliation of these disparate views."

Image via mappery.com

October Market Day at the Graceway Gourmet

2011-10-08T08:14:00.000-04:00

Beautiful painting by artist Donna Trent, image via donnatrentart.com

Hope to see you at the Graceway Gourmet today, Saturday Oct 8th, from 9am to 1pm! Browse the vendors tables full of handcrafted items; everything from jewelry, to artworks, to delicious treats. Support local Turks and Caicos talent!

Field Guide Fridays - Yellow Alder

2011-10-07T16:41:00.000-04:00

This sunshine colored lovely is locally known as "Bahama Yellow Flower" or "Yellow Alder". This West Indian natives scientific name is Turnera Ulmifolia but our neighbors may refer to it as "Cuban Buttercup", "West Indian Holly", "Sage Rose", "Sundrops", "Marilopez", or the curious "Ramgoat Dashalong." The bright blossoms only last a day but luckily this herb blooms throughout the year here in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Bees and butterflies are frequent visitors to this sun loving shrub. Here is what Micki from Big Coppit Key, FL writes:

"This plant is also known as "Yellow Alder" and "Sage Rose." It is tenacious and grows just about anywhere: full sun, shade, dry or moist soil, acidic to alkaline; rich, average, or poor soil; and in the cracks of a sidewalk. It is very drought tolerant.
It does not appear to have many pests, or is not bothered by the ocassional nibble.

It can be grown from seeds and cuttings, but does not transplant well. It does not like having it's feet tickled. The most effective way to transplant is to start it in a peat pot and, if you are going to plant it into the ground, put it in the spot you want it in and leave it alone. I tried to transplant a 2' tall specimen keeping a generous amount of dirt around the root ball, but it went into transplant shock and died anyway.
I have learned it is very comfortable in containers and does not mind becoming root bound. In pots they can be moved around as they grow taller. My oldest Alder plant is about four years old and about 4 1/2 feet high and it has been moved around the garden as the seasons change.

They make beautiful background plants. They can get leggy and may require some staking, so trim the side growth by 1/3 to 1/2 to encourage it to get bushy.

On the down side, most nurseries in Florida do not offer them because they regard them to be weeds and crowd out other plants. I treat mine the same way as mints and ruella (Texas petunia): I pull volunteer plants and keep it contained.

On the up-side, this plant , according to Pub Med.gov, has the potential to treat MRSA.

I hope this information helped fellow gardners decide if they want this "gypsy" in their garden."

Information taken from daves garden

Another detailed account on this plants characteristics may be read on ntsavanna

Wednesday Woodworks - October favorites

2011-10-05T19:47:00.000-04:00

Image via stylemepretty amy-majors-photography, great DIY twig idea for a harvest tablescape

October is the month when autumn makes herself at home, harvest time. Here in the Turks and Caicos we do not experience the same changes as some other places further north but this year we have been up to our elbows and knees in leaves and soil with a harvest of sorts. A landscaping project at fleur de lys villa called for a transplant of four of our beloved BIG trees, much more to come on that topic but for now a showcase of a few of our favorite blogs who also share our love of wonderful woodworks. Enjoy!

A glimpse of the walls-of-wood post on Desire to Inspire

A take-you-away-to-your-childhood post on treehouses on mydesignchic

Stop and stay awhile on this timber-rustic-and-modern post on Birch and Bird

Hardwood floors and built-ins galore in this greigedesign post on dana-wolter

Any given page over at japanesetrash will be certain to have masculine, architectural woodworks set in industrial designs.

National Youth Day 2011

2011-09-30T14:05:00.000-04:00

The Gustavus Lightbourne Sports Complex and the downtown ball park are full of energy at the moment, stop by and catch the fun! Under the theme "Youth, Your Moment is Now" the National Youth Day celebration commenced at 8am this morning with a walk and will continue on through late this afternoon with a talent competition. At my Tuesday frame making craft class at the tciyouthcentre all the kids were super excited for today's festivities. Take a moment today to think about how you might be able to help TCI's Youth find their moment. Give a smile, lend a hand, offer praise, and share your wisdom!

Wednesday Woodworks - Baths

2011-09-28T16:54:00.000-04:00

Image by Emily Followill for Traditional Home via whitehaveninteriors

Today tc millwork delivered fifteen beautiful mahogany doors so we are anxious to share but we must wait until installation is complete. Instead, take a peek at some beautiful bath woodworks from around the blogosphere. This superb built-in shows excellent craftsmanship and the windows frame it perfectly.

Image by John Jaco via greige

Love how this bath is soaked in natural light, ideal to showcase the herringbone floors.

Image from houseofturquoise

This feminine bath features an elegant built-in vanity and ornate wardrobe.

Image greigedesign

This vintage inspired bath still feels soft and light despite the extensive chocolate hued paneling. Love the open timber ceiling and unique sink stand.

Image via mydesignchic

I adore everything about this eclectic and rustic bath (except for that plain ol' toilet spoiling the fun). Who would have guessed that all these unlikely elements (fireplace mantel, urns, stoic gold framed portrait, oriental light fixture) would have worked side by side? Not for everyone, but that fully planked wall leading seamlessly into the ceiling is ultra labor intensive. Bravo!

Image via greigedesign

This wide plank flooring, the massive window, the folding shutters, and the entire framework within the room leading into the bath are all clean and stylish examples of multiple woodworks coming together to create a sophisticated space.

Image Liz Artindale via desiretoinspire

For the modern minded, sleek and masculine.

Image by Sophie Munro via mydesignchic

This bath just screams island don't you think? Perfect beach cottage breezy with the blue and white painted ceiling, the painting of a sailor (or my interpretation a such), and creative usage of the wall framework doubling as decorative shelving.

Image via sweetsouthernsymphony

Here in the Caribbean this idea is not just a nice design, it is absolutely practical! With the right landscaping, an outdoor scrub-n-suds can be private enough to enjoy unabashedly!

Image via houseofturquoise

This post would not be complete without a wood tub. All we have to say is, WOW! What we wouldn't give to have a client request on of these . . . .

Five Eco-Friendly Facts about Fleur de Lys

2011-09-26T21:58:00.001-04:00

Thinking green is a constant consideration at Fleur de Lys Villa and we hope that our guests follow the same practice. There are so many gorgeous vacation villas in the Turks and Caicos, choosing one can be time consuming and quite the challenge! When we holiday, we like to make certain that we are making conscientious decisions when visiting a new place; where will our hard earned dollars get utilised the best? What local businesses can we support to help make a difference in the community? What foods are sustainable? What local charities are in need of assistance? All of these questions usually involve a great deal of research online to answer, and even then, one hopes that the information is honest. We hope to make the process simpler and easier to access for our guests and visitors to the island who may be reading this post. Living here for the last decade, we aim to keep current on these topics and are happy to share the information with like minded individuals who are looking to vacation as eco-friendly as possible.

Image from here

#1 CONSTRUCTION: Fleur de Lys Villa is not a five story hotel with massive energy consumption and excessive waste required to operate daily. The villa is a four bedroom, not too big - not too small, just right sized home owned, operated, and maintained by . . . US! Thats correct, we do all the landscaping, the cleaning, the greeting, the carpentry, the cabinetry, the handyman housecalls (unless time constraints or expertise require otherwise). Both construction and Caribbean architecture enthusiasts, we designed the villa to function ideally in this climate and all the concrete foundations, block walls, insulated roofs, louvered shutters, bi-fold windows, dual doors, patios, pergolas, and balconies attest to that. The layout and location were specifically designed to best utilise trade winds, keeping inhabitants cool in the summers and comfortable in the winters.

Image from blisstree

#2 CONSUMPTION: Fleur de Lys is a conservative consumer. All the water heaters are on timers, the split unit A/C's are designated per room, majority of lights are on dimmers, and appliances not in use are kept unplugged. At an average cost of .50 per kw, energy consumption is not only an ECO concern but an ECOnomical one as well! We encourage our guests to keep the water coolers unplugged as room temperature water is healthier and more hydrating and also to use the more beneficial Caribbean solar line drying versus the power guzzling dryer. We weekly monitor all usage to make certain the precious island resources of water and power are not wasted.

Images by Adam Sherwin for resource magazine

#3 REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE: We have highlighted above many ways in which we reduce consumption and waste at Fleur de Lys Villa but we also try to reuse our resources. Our gutter drainage feeds a large cistern for collection of rain water, the grey water is recycled for irrigation, and food waste is composted, the nutrient rich soil later fed back to the hundreds of trees, plants, and flowers on property. Avid DIY'ers, the villa is full of reused items, from discarded lumber to louver blades (shown pictured) to Bedroom sets and beyond. We support the Campaign to Ban Single Use Plastic by providing reusable shopping bags and aluminum drinking bottles at the villa for guests use and as of November we are very thrilled to contract TCI Waste and Disposal for our recycling needs!

Image from here, wonderful demonstration of how every little decision should be cradled with thought

#4 ACT GLOBAL, BUY LOCAL: This is one of the most important and effective strategies for making the planet a cleaner, greener place. Every person CAN make a difference; you and me, there is no doubt about that WE can change the world with what we BUY. There will be no demand for pollutants the day we stop purchasing them! We want you to consume wisely when you are in the Turks and Caicos. Here is a list of recommended options but this blog is full of information on local people, charities, events, businesses, and organisations that could use support. Feel free to do a search for an area or topic that might interest you, this volunteer-in-turks-and-caicos post is a great place to start.

- EXCURSIONS:

Image from website below

big blue unlimited eco adventures - learn about TCI's unique environment while having eco-friendly fun hiking, kayaking, stand up paddle boarding, kiteboarding or bicycling and support local businesses/people while island hopping. You can be certain the staff will be sure to follow all rules and regulations put in place to protect the National Parks. Ask questions, they are happy to oblige.

sail beluga- Sail away on board a unique catamaran that utilises solar power and very little fuel. Twenty-five year veteran and Turks and Caicos Islands enthusiast, Captain Tim, is both a National Park protector and a wealth of history and information.

Image from wherewhenhow

Provo Ponies- Horseback riding on the beach. Started as a rescue operation for abused and malnourished horses and ponies, over the course of seven years two have grown to a healthy stable of twenty-one! Plus dogs, cats, chickens, birds, frogs, fish, and you may even find a rescue in care such as a piglet or baby donkey . . . animal lovers will not want to miss this!

-EATING- Look and ask for locally grown produce while grocery shopping; tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce, basil, cilantro, mint, and other home growns you will find are far more flavorful than those that have traveled thousand of miles and burned hundreds of gallons of fuel to arrive at your plate. Visit the Farmer's Market at Fresh Bakery, the five-cays fishery for local catches, and the Conch Farm to learn about the island's only export. Before ordering or purchasing seafood, check SeafoodWatch to find out what is sustainable for the region. Make requests at restaurants for tap water (a steripen is great for traveling), straw free drinks, and styrafoam and plastic free to-go containers. We suggest bringing your aluminum water bottle with you and buying an eco-clamshell at home to travel with. Ask restaurants what local dishes they suggest and inquire if they recycle and if not, why not? Patronise the Greenbean-Cafe, a flagship eatery that boasts eco-friendly products and recycling bins within the restaurant. Be sure to try TCI coffee, island scoop, Turks Head Beer, bambarra rum, and visit Flavors-Of-The-Turks-And-Caicos for a wide variety of locally made products sure to set the taste buds soaring.

Image from link above

-SHOPPING- Find all kinds of incredible locally made products while supporting a noteworthy organisation, the tci national trust (see their site for must see cultural and historical sites to explore) at their Souvenir Shop. Attend the Graceway Gourmet Market the second Saturday of the month from 9am to 1pm for a great selection of local art, crafts, jewelry, accessories, eats, and treats. When looking to buy any product, check the ingredients whether it is a food, a beauty product, or an article of clothing. Stay away from ingredients that are toxic to us and to wildlife. We use as many eco-friendly cleaning, landscaping, and amenities products as possible at the villa. If you have a great product tip, please tell us about it!

Image from nature.com

#5 BIODIVERSITY: Fleur de Lys Villa lies just steps away from one of the consecutively voted best beaches in the world, which lies on a sparkling, breathtaking beauty of an ocean that boasts the the third largest reef system in the world. These are well known draws to the destination that have earned the Turks and Caicos the reputation as the new darling of the Caribbean, but what makes Fleur de Lys Villa stand apart from many villas is a unique attribute regarding her location. No, it's not the beach! There will be no beach traffic peering in the windows to admire the furniture nor noisy passing boats to disturb an afternoon snooze. It's better than the beach in my book. Fleur de Lys Villa borders a nationally protected reserve which provides a spectacular looking glass into the biodiversity that thrives in this part of the world. On any given morning you are likely to see a bahama_woodstar_hummingbird gathering nectar from the firecracker flowers, a no-bigger-than-a-fingernail frog resting on a courtyard vine leaf, or a vivid green lizard sunning on the deck. The courtyard and extensive landscaping were designed to create a lovely, relaxing haven for humans and the many wonderful Caribbean creatures we are lucky to share it with. Villa guests enjoy unprecedented privacy, there are no neighbors or structures on the left and right flanking properties, and just past the pool lies a forest of buttonwood and red mangroves and one of the best bird watching areas in all of Leeward. Please read the /wondrous-west-indian-wetlands post and this world wildlife profile to find out just how incredible and rare the Turks and Caicos ecoregion is. Wetlands have many misconceptions, and we want to do our part to educate otherwise. Did you know that wetland areas, like our reserve pictured below, actually help combat mosquito infestation, provide flood control, acts as filtration systems for pollutants, and are living nurseries to wildlife? This part of the world demands to be preserved and protected and one of our many joys and duties with living here is to do just that. We are highly active members of the tci-environmental-club and founders of the TCI Rubbish Runners.

Fleur de Lys Villa circled, the long thin body of water south of the villa is a nationally protected reserve

Field Guide Fridays - Catclaw Mimosa

2011-09-23T17:44:00.000-04:00

Today's field guide Friday post follows the old saying "can't read a book by it's cover." As sweet and pretty as these pink puffball flowers look,

this is one species you DO NOT want to touch!

Catclaw is the common name for good reason; Mimosa bahamensis has hook shaped spikes or thorns that grab and don't let go! I have many times been caught by this tree while hiking in the bush and can attest that it does not discriminate. It will latch on to heavy duty jeans, cotton shirts, or bare skin. Please watch for out for this tree when exploring in the Turks and Caicos Islands. To read more about this genus and species please see zipcodezoo.

ECGYC Summer Success and Start of School

2011-09-21T11:02:00.000-04:00

Rigal watching my demonstration, anxious to get his hands on the stapler and screwgun!

Way back last November we started the long process of sprucing up the Games Room at the ECGyouthcentre. The process began with tie-dye-classes, which were followed by weeks and weeks of reupholstering and sewing classes in which we recovered ALL of the task chairs with our bright and beautiful dyed creations.

Next we decoupaged the two games table (shown center above) tops with pictures from the ECGYC and magazine imagery. Now the well worn white finish looks like this:

And lastly we created a scratch art display to hang on the walls.

I think everyone was happy with the results and oh-so-ready to put the major undertaking behind us! Now that the school year has started, Programs Director and all around artsy amazing, Charrish Ferguson, and I have started the fall class schedule. First up- Rock Painting!

Our supplies and a pair of Charrish's ultra cool rock critters to act as samples

Students Rigal, Laquisha, Sabeen, Lucendi, Houda, Yandely, and Shanica getting started.

Sabeen's butterfly

Laquisha putting the finishing touches on her fish

Our critters crammed in our paper mache bowl for a group photo! Houda even painted her paper plate! Great job everyone, this class literally ROCKED!

Wednesday Woodworks - Garage Doors

2011-09-21T11:00:00.000-04:00

Images by Steve Passmore, Adam Sherwin, David Gallardo, and moi

TC Millwork is well known for our custom built doors; arched, louvered, raised panel, glass framed, exterior, interior, sliding, French, bi-fold . . . . our portfolio is extensive and could go on and on. A few months back we had an unusual request that we jumped at the opportunity and the challenge.

This client had the standard white PVC garage doors, but after undergoing this extensive of a renovation, they no longer seemed appropriate for such an otherwise gorgeous front entrance and first impression of the spectacular home. The PVC panels were removed and then replaced with custom built wood paneling, all the hardware and the operating system was salvaged. The opposite smaller garage door was also replaced with a pair of custom carriage house style doors.

Wednesday Woodworks - Gansevoort Entertainment Additions

2011-09-14T18:25:00.000-04:00

The Gansevoort has been one of the hottest, most popular new resorts to hit theTurks and Caicos. TC Millwork has been fortunate to have been a part of making this resort the chic, stylish destination it is today. Among our many custom built contributions;

Image from realtravel

Reception desk featuring unique stone face front,

Image from booked.net

earthy spa reception desk and beauty product display,

Bagatelle Bistro Bar, which so many people have complimented that it still looks

this flawless after countless party nights of tabletop dancing (sans stilettos we hope).

All units feature our custom built closets and a few bedroom layouts, these sliding panels shown above.

Image from realtravel

Now there will be a small modification that will create a nice improvement. The image above depicts a typical Gansevoort bedroom, notice the large looming empty space above the flat screen television? All that is about to change.

No more empty space! The televisions will soon be encased in a shelving unit which will allow space for display on top and a tidy little nook for the dvd unit below.

Caribbean Wellness Day & TCI Rubbish Runners

2011-09-10T10:06:00.001-04:00

Image from Race_For_The_Conch_Eco-SeaSwim

Images above from a turksandcaicosproductions shoot for self

Today, Saturday Sept.11, marks Caricoms third annual celebration of Caribbean Wellness Day. This years theme is "Love that Body, Make it Last." To read up on how this great initiative was started, and the top illnesses affecting the Caribbean region, please see the official press release. Participate in the Turks and Caicos, see the schedule of events here.

The TCI Rubbish Runners are 100% behind Caribbean Wellness Day, and thanks to the recent article in the Free Press (quoted below), hopefully more of the community will join us in keeping lean while keeping TCI green!

"While many of us have finished mopping up floors, moving furniture back to its usual locations, and clearing debris from yards, the evidence of Hurricane Irene’s aftermath is still lingering on our beautiful beaches. One community group is working diligently to get our shores back in shape while keeping in shape is the TCI Rubbish Runners. Begun as a branch of the TCI Environmental Club nearly a year ago, the group aims to spread awareness about littering and other environmental issues impacting the Turks and Caicos Islands while encouraging healthy living. Founder and recreational runner Stacie Steensland believes a great recipe for living a healthy lifestyle involves time spent in nature, daily exercise, and making a positive impact

in our community.“A rubbish runner can accomplish all three in as little as 20 minutes per day,” Steensland says. “The club invites all individuals in the community to partake in weekly exercise, but instead of focusing solely on your own health, spend some energy on the health of the environment you are enjoying.

“Litter plagues our planet, and here in this biodiversity‘hot spot’ with thousands of species to protect and preserve, it is all the more relevant to eradicate it.” Steensland emphasizes that all anyone has to do to become a Rubbish Runner is to pick up trash — on a morning stroll, on a post-work jog, on a play day at the beach, or even while “running”daily errands. That’s it. No meetings, no fundraisers, no collective decision

making. Membership is as easy as enjoying the great outdoors and leaving it a better place than when you found it. Public trash receptacles, virtually nonexistent until recently, now make rubbish running even easier, thanks to TCI Waste Disposal Services’ placement of both garbage and recycling bins at several beach

accesses. Steensland, who began picking up litter regularly in Providenciales in 2006, says the practice came to her as second nature, having watched her father pick up trash all her life. “When I was young, I found

his habit somewhat embarrassing, especially those times in busy parking lots where many bystanders would raise eyebrows. Now those bystanders look oddly at both my father and I, and I couldn’t be more proud.”

Steensland, a creative designer for TC Millwork who specializes in refinishing and reclaimed wood furnishings and cabinetry, in some instances converts the trash she finds into treasures. Recently, stray planks from a shipwrecked sloop were transformed into a kitchen island, and a downed tree was made into a table base. TCI Rubbish Runners could use your help to make the TCI a cleaner, greener place to live. To find out more, visit the Rubbish Runners facebook page or see http://www.pepperandpikey.blogspot.com/.

Field Guide Fridays - Pork and Doughboy

2011-09-09T15:46:00.000-04:00

Acacia Acuifera, locally "pork and doughboy"

"Acacia acuifera only grows in the Bahamas archipelago including the Turks and Caicos Islands. It grows in coppice around the coasts of the islands. Coppiced woodland occurs when trees are regularly cut back to ground level with young shoots reappearing from the trees' stumps. Its common name is pork and doughboy, possibly describing the sausage-shaped fruits. The tree is a favourite food source for the endemic Turks and Caicos rock iguana (Cyclura carinata) which feeds on new leaves, flowers and ripe pods. When the trees' seeds have passed through an iguana's digestive system, any beetle larvae which might have infested them are killed off and the seeds germinate more easily. Seeds collected from Acacia acuifera have been put into storage at the Millennium Seed Bank and seedlings resulting from germination trials are being grown on at Kew for eventual display in one of the public glasshouses."

Above information from kew.org

Acacia Acuifera is found on calcerous soils, is classified as a shrub or small tree, and is described as having alternating leaves and reddish brown to grey twig like stems. Their bright yellow ball flowers remind me of miniature craspedia or Billy Balls and they bloom all year long so are easily identifiable. If you would like to see this species, the following habitats migh be explored, information from anbg.gov:

"East Caicos:
rocky headland adjacent to Good's Hill, SE corner of island, 31 Mar 1978, W.T.Gillis 14459 (GH).

Grand Turk:
beach coppice near Gun Hill, 20 Dec 1975, D.S.Correll 46560 (F, FTG, NY);
Waterloo and vicinity, 20 Feb-24 Mar 1911, C.F.Millspaugh & C.M.Millspaugh 9025 (F, NY);
27 Aug-1 Sep 1905, G.V.Nash & N.Taylor 3775 (F, NY).

Middle (Grand) Caicos:
pineland E of Conch Bar airstrip, 3.5 miles ESE of Conch Bar, 14 Jun 1974, W.T.Gillis & G.R.Proctor 12331 (A, IJ).

Parrot Cay:
sandy soil between dunes, 3 Mar 1911, C.F.Millspaugh & C.M.Millspaugh 9204 (F, NY).

Pine Cay:
dry thicket, 26 Sep 1973, R.G.Anderson 45 (A, FLAS);
NE side, 26 Aug 1974, D.S.Correll 43193 (FLAS, FTG);
E of airstrip in open scrubland, 23 Feb 1973, W.T.Gillis 11830 (A);
stable sandy flats, scrubland behind dunes, 24 Jan 1993, P.H.Raven 28203 (MO);
sandy flats N of Meredian Lodge, 27 Jan 1993, P.H.Raven 28273 (MO).

Providenciales:
dune coppice, Turtle Cove, 14 Dec 1975, D.S.Correll 46353 (F, FTG MO, NY);
coastal coppice near the Bight, 24 Jun 1990, B.A.Neis 164 (FTG).

South Caicos:
rocky limestone coast S of Cockburn Harbour, 21 Apr 1971, D.Burch 4227 (MO, NY);
ridge running between Cockburn Harbour and airport, 11 Feb 1978, D.S.Correll 49450 (FTG);
vicinity of Cockburn Harbour, 17 Jun 1954, G.R.Proctor 8835 (A, IJ);
G.R.Proctor 17496 (A);
14-16 Dec 1907, P.Wilson 7591 (F, GH, NY).

West Caicos:
NE of Company Point along N coast with thatch palm, 3 April 1975, W.T.Gillis 12404 (A, IJ, MO)."

DIY Pillow Cover

2011-09-09T08:21:00.001-04:00

Before: placemat

I am a huge fan of recovering throw pillows. Fresh covers can update a room or piece of furniture easily and affordably. Here is one of the quickest conversions I have used time and time again. Purchase a double sided fabric placemat, take out a 2-3 inch section with a seam ripper, stuff and restitch the seams together. These two ivory and black pillows took 25 minutes!

After: Decorative Pillows

Fleur de Lys Villa Fourth Bedroom

2011-09-03T08:53:00.002-04:00

As of September first, Fleur de Lys Villa is officially welcoming short term bookings! Due to several inquiries for parties of 8 for the coming season, we decided a fourth bedroom was in order. Last September we upgraded the guest wing by adding insulation in the roof and painting the ceilings bright white, see the before photos here. Now, one year later, this bedroom has undergone another purely decorative transformation; from cool blues and fiery corals to a more neutral color palette synonymous with the rest of the villa.

I wanted this room to have a nautical feel; the map of the Caribbean in the corner, a framed photo of the Old Third Turtle, pieces of driftwood.

The guest wing bedrooms are full of soft light with doors and shuttered windows open; views of the courtyard while relaxing in bed.

This mirror will eventually be cladded with driftwood pieces, my collection is just not large enough yet to get the job done.

This rustic, honey colored bedroom set was an acquisition from one of our renovation clients who replaced it with a more modern look; the craftsmanship alone was reason to save it but I knew we would eventually find a cozy spot for it. The pillows were a recycled sweater project.

Straw hats have a long history in the Turks and Caicos; "handmade wide-brim straw hats, made from the dried leaves of the Silver Top Palm, were worn to provide protection from the sun . . . (straw hats) completed the outfit, providing shade from the burning sun on fishing boats and while raking salt in the ponds or picking cotton and sisal on the plantations " From David Bowen, TCI's Cultural Director, article dressing-up-the-islands-the-story-behind-the-national-costume. Today, straw hats are still as relevant as ever in the Caribbean, whether useful at work or stylish at play. To find a handmade hat made by local artisans, please visit the Middle Caicos Co-Op. To see more nautical and creative inspirations on decorating with straw hats, please see thewickerhouse.blogspot.

The breezy bright white, cool turquoise blues, and coral decor weaved their way from the room above, to the more appropriate poolside studio. This bedroom is it's own little cottage, separate from the rest of the villa, so the playful style and cheerful hues feel more at home here.

The coral cushion covers were a project I did several years ago, they took months to tediously hand sew the beads, making me realise that crafts like embroidery are just not for me!

The evidence of the cottages former use as an art studio still remains intact; local art, crafts, and beach combing finds remain on display. Villa guests will be able to purchase some of the shadowboxes, jewelry, and trinkets.

Villa guests will have the opportunity to choose which of the four bedrooms best suits each person or couple. Which room would be your pick; Master Suite, this guest bedroom, the room above, or the cottage?

Fleur de Lys Villa follows the above mantra; in our inviting atmosphere and gardens, in our relationships with our guests, and in our love and respect for the islands. Isn't it time you took some R & R in Turks and Caicos to "make life pretty" too?

Field Guide Fridays - Dune Myrtle

2011-09-02T10:14:00.000-04:00

Little information is known about this shrub we call Dune Myrtle in the Turks and Caicos. It's scientific name, stenostomum myrtifolium, popped up on several medical databases so one can only assume it is being researched for pharmecuetical properties. All I know is these tiny little white blossoms give off an incredible fragrant scent when in bloom.

Name synonyms are Antirhea myrtifolia and Stenostomum montecristinum. If you have more information about this species, please place a comment with your knowledge!

August Projects

2011-08-31T14:29:00.000-04:00

Before

If there is one positive aspect of hurricane season, it is the process of purging that usually comes along with the many preparations. Often a sideways glance at an object that has done nothing but gather dust for the last few months means it is headed to the dump or either the TCI Red Cross or The-Salvation-Army-Turks-and-Caicos-Islands. The metal trolley and the salvaged sloop pieces made the "stay" cut so we took the weekend to finally breathe new life into these rusty and dusty discards.

After

The metal rolling frame had to be cut down as it was about eleven inches too large too accept the pair of black bamboo and cane barstools I acquired at It's Stuff Consignment Shop. After the frame was shrunk and the casters sprayed, we built a box that would allow for storage within the island. Then the pieces of the old sloop were milled so they could be placed side by side and then cut to the proper height. Two side panels were cladded and four doors were hinges to the cabinetry box. The white countertop was a temporary solution for a client's office who had no use for it once the permanent table top was completed. The high gloss finish makes for a super easy to clean kitchen surface.

I love our new island, it's a perfect fit for our rustic beach barn.

Before

The second project, this pair of metal arm chairs pictured above, is on it's third reincarnation. Years ago I made plywood seat and back rests and covered them with cream sunbrella fabric. Then for our wedding I recovered them in vintage fabric and utilised them for our bride and groom sweetheart table. Now they will go back to Fleur de Lys Villa, where the extra padding and facelift will provide comfortable seats for villa guests to enjoy the courtyard.

After

The harp table was a May project blog post.

Wednesday Woodworks - Kitchen Refinish

2011-08-31T09:22:00.000-04:00

Kitchen Before

Last month this wednesday-woodworks post discussed this clients options with their kitchen refinish. This client decided to go with TC Millworks suggestion and build new shaker style doors and drawer fronts. The cherry finish looked outdated and unharmonious with the newer nuetral countertops and tilework and had begun to flake and peel in several areas.

The ivory lacquer brightened the entire space and created a larger, loftier looking kitchen.

This client also had a few minor issues that needed attention. A foster puppy had chewed the edges and legs of the family coffee table so a little sanding and spraying brought it back to brand new. There was also need for closet remodels, a vanity, and full length mirrors for two teenage daughters. After touring the house and getting a few ideas, we decided to take a neglected dark finish desk sitting idly in a corner and transform it into the needed vanity.

After refinishing in white and creating a mild distress, adding a robin's egg blue chair and antique style mirror (sourced from pbteen) the vanity was cute as a button complete.

The client also took TC Millworks suggestion to reorient the bedroom set to take better advantage of a great view of the pool area and create more practical traffic flow. Full lenth mirrors added depth to the room and provided the best tool for the girls to take full advantage of their new closets.

Wednesday Woodworks - Shutters

2011-08-23T17:35:00.002-04:00

Image via rusticroosterinteriors

Hurricane Irene is upon us in Turks and Caicos at this very moment (so I just may post this a little early in case we lose power). Those living in her path who have spent the day boarding up their homes and/or businesses are most likely completely exhausted at this point in time, hoping and praying their plywood holds up to 100-150 mile per hour winds. Those of us who have invested in shutters have spent minutes versus hours making certain our doors and windows are secure and will a sleep a little more at ease knowing at least that particular aspect is one less thing to worry about. If you live in the Turks and Caicos and have had it with your first, or fiftieth, brutal boarding up, it's time to call TC Millwork to custom build wood shutters that will make your residence or business more charming AND your life much easier come next hurricane season. Those who are still preparing, please see this handy checklist. Those of you who have already had Irene pass, congrats, and those of us who are still in the middle of it, good night and good luck!

Image via absolutelybeautifulthings

Image via mydesignchic-we-love-bermuda-shutters

Image coralandcoast

Image via Velvet and Linen

Field Guide Fridays - Black Torch

2011-08-19T17:22:00.000-04:00

Erithalis Fruticosa, known as Black Torch in the Turks and Caicos, fruits and flowers all year long and is commonly found near beaches and growing in limestone soils. It is often referred to as a shrub; most often reaching 1-2 meters or less than 5 feet in height, although this slow grower can reach over 8 meters, or 30 feet, and therefore would classify as a small tree. The following detailed description from http://www.fs.fed.us/
"Usually the
species has multiple stems arising near the ground
line and many branches that are stiff and
sometimes gnarled. The bark is gray and
smoothish to warty. The resinous wood is brown,
hard, fine-textured, heavy, and has visible growth
rings. Black torch plants are supported by brown
roots that are often contorted as they grow over
rocks and into cracks. The foliage may be dense or
diffuse depending on whether the shrubs grow in
full sun or partial shade. The opposite leaves have
3 to 20 mm petioles, orbicular to oblanciolate
blades 2 to 12 cm long with entire edges, and darkgreen
upper surfaces. The inflorescences are lateral
or terminal panicles containing many small, white
flowers. The black fruits are globose or flattened
drupes 3 to 4 mm in diameter that have a bittersweet
flavor and contain five to 10 nutlets
(Howard 1989, Liogier 1997, Little and others
1974, Nelson 1996). It is morphologically a highly
variable species (Long and Lakela 1976)."

The name "black torch"comes from it's former use as just that, a "candlewood." The descriptive "black" relates that the resinous nature of the wood would have generally created a great deal of smoke when burned. Elsewhere thoughout the Caribbean, the common names imply the same; "bois chandelle" and "bois chandelle noir" in Martinique, Gaudalupe, and "flambeau" and "bois flambeau" in the Dutch Antilles and Dominica. In Puerta Rico it is called "tea," perhaps due to the bark, berry, and resins use as a treatment for inflammation of the kidney and bladder. Another medical application was to dry and grind the leaves to create a salve for skin sores. I happen to love Tobago's common name, "parrot apple" which implies a favorite food of the said bird. Here in the Turks and Caicos it is eaten by the Kirtland's Warbler and the Rock Iguana and apparently is well liked by butterflies. I would be curious to ask a Cuban where "jayajajico" and "rompe machete" come from. The species is a hardwood, resistant to rot; the heavy, fine textured, wood and dark streaked heartwood, could create fine turned articles (to the highly skilled woodworker patient enough to work with small pieces).

Au Revoir Kylie and Mark

2011-08-10T08:08:00.000-04:00

Last month friends of ours said "goodbye to the sandbar." These two adventurous Canadian kids lived Caribbean life to the fullest here in Turks and Caicos.

All images from facebook. I think the above image should be made into a poster for Turks and Caicos tourism!

Best wishes and bon voyage!!!

Wednesday Woodworks - custom sign

2011-08-03T07:57:00.000-04:00

Our custom built mahogany sign carries TC Millwork 's signature stamp. We took several weeks to come up with the perfect profile that would convey at first glance the craftmanship that went into not only the vintage style sign, but the beautiful villa behind those large white wooden gates. This post also serves as the bearer of good news that fleurdelysvilla will once again be open to short term rentals and weddings starting the month of October! Holidays will book fast, hurry to home away, our new listing site that makes credit card payments a breeze! Also new for this season will be our bed and breakfast offerings!

Beach Monitoring of Bleach Bottles

2011-08-01T13:27:00.000-04:00

Last month I started seeing loads of bleach bottles washed up on Longbay beach. I posted a message on the TCI Environmental Club and Rubbish Runners facebook pages, inquiring if others had been encountering the same issue. The responses came pouring in. I decided to take a count of the finds for the month of July. The above photo was found my first week, tally of approximately one dozen bleach bottles, 1 vinegar bottle, and 3 unknown squeeze bottles. As of yesterday, here is what that original list grew to:

Approximately one dozen large bleach bottles, 31 large squeeze bottles, 8 smaller sized squeeze bottles, 7 vinegar squeeze bottles, and 2 mystery squeeze bottles. Grand total of over 50 bottles of bleach. Frightening considering these were all removed from a small stretch, roughly 3 miles, of shoreline in Longbay. Imagine how many must be washing up all over Providenciales? Over Middle, North, South and the entire Turks and Caicos. Imagine the huge quantities that must be floating up on shores all over the Caribbean. Although the vast majority of these bottles are labeled in Spanish, there is no telling where they came from and what they were used for. One can only hope that they were not used illegally for catching lobsters, or otherwise leached into our oceans. Nearly ten years ago the DECR began to combat this practice locally with a 2002 Memorandum of Understanding with the SFS-CRMS. The School of Field Studies developed a portable test kit in 2005 to be able to detect the use of bleach using a swab test (please read the entire article here). This year the DECR implemented a delay of lobster season to September, hoping to allow stocks more time to recover from shrinking numbers over the last few years. If these found bleach bottles are indeed being used illegally, that amendment will be virtually powerless against this awful practice. If you find bleach bottles here in the Turks and Caicos, please contact the DECR to report your findings.

British Invasion: Union Jack trend

2011-08-01T09:30:00.001-04:00

Collage from one of my new favorite blogs boho circus

I have been running into the union jack icon everywhere in the blogging network as of late. I have unabashedly been collecting inspirations from here and there for the last few months.

above images from weheartit

flickr

house to home

coralandcoast

Living in a British territory, we dwellers in the Turks and Caicos definitely have license to apply this trend! This Caribbean porch was certainly succesful so why not?

stylemepretty

I have been been meaning to get to my handpainted rug project started since last May, inspired by the fab photo above. All of the above images could be great starting points for various projects but when I saw this:

honeyandthemoondesign

I gasped as soon as I laid eyes on it! Less than 24 hours later I was busy transforming this $20 thrift shop purchased jute rug from used and abused to jolly jim dandy.

BEFORE

AFTER

Can't wait until I have a beachy white room to lay it out in!

p.s.

R.I.P. amywinehouse

Field Guide Fridays - Wild Allamanda

2011-07-29T13:51:00.000-04:00

Image from hear.org

The Wild Allamanda, Pentalinon Luteum, is currently in full bloom in the Turks and Caicos Islands (they bloom all year but peak in spring or summer). These vines may grow 8-15' and are easily distinguished thanks to their glossy leaves and bright yellow trumpet shaped blossoms. These pretty climbers are perfect for Turks and Caicos; they enjoy full sun, prefer sandy or limestone soils, and are fairly drought and salt tolerant. Butterflies and hummingbirds are visitors and the Watch out for the sap as it is poisenous when ingested and may cause skin rashes or eye irritants. To find out more about these beautiful vines, please see regionalconservation.org

These vines host the larvae of the Syntomeida epilais, or polka-dot moth wasp pictured below.

image by Dixie Native found on flickr

The Wild Allamanda shadowbox will be for sale at an upcoming market.

Wednesday Woodworks - custom interior doghouse

2011-07-27T21:23:00.000-04:00

Image from country home

What a brilliant way to keep Fido cozy without sacrificing style! Do you have a big unsightly pet cage taking up unnecessary space in your home? This could be your problem solver! I must have puppies on my mind as our recent foster is now happily settled in with her new family in Pennsylvania. Congratulations to Susan with their new addition Caico!

Field Guide Fridays - Lignum Vitae

2011-07-22T05:25:00.000-04:00

A St. John Lignum Vitae in lovely surrounds. Image from st john beach guide, accompanied by a great article for further reading .

Lignum Vitae has many common names, each one a history lesson is their own right. "Palo salto", Spanish for "holy wood," comes from the woods many medicinal uses and healing properties. "Guayacan" or "guaiacum", is a word with Maipurean origins, the ancient language of the native Tainos. "Greenheart" is based literally on the color of the tree trunks Heartwood and also it's practice of turning green when exposed to sunlight. "Ironwood", is a common name many different woods have been called with reference to their density and hardness. "Pockenholz" is used in some parts of Euorope. By far the most popular common name is Lignum Vitae, "tree of life," which stems from it's Latin roots which literally translate to "wood of life". This tree certainly has a long history, deep rooted in the Caribbean but with far reaching purposes all over the world. It has been classified as the hardest of all traded woods ( 4500 lbf on the Janka hardness test scale), and for this reason stayed in high demand up until the advent of high quality plastics and composite materials. History indicates that lignum vitae was used commonly as mortar and pestles and in many labor industries; wood carvers, ship builders for belaying pins, deadeyes, and various types of bearings due to it's high wax and resin content, clock builders for wheels (including the famous inventor John Harrison), mechanics for bushings and axles, even jewelers in the process of cutting jems. Up until recently the British police used lignum vitae Batons, yielding the strength of steel without breaking skin. Today it is used by forensic scientists and doctors to trace blood as the resin, combined with an alchohol solution, will turn blue when it comes in contact. Impressed yet? Now read this from wikipedia., "After the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, the urgent need to rebuild the streetcar system and the inability to obtain regular composition, porcelain, or glass insulators for the electrical feeders fast enough, a significant number of insulators were turned from this wood.^[5](readily available from the ships in the harbor as ballast) as a "temporary" solution. Many of these lasted into the 1970s with a small number remaining in service as of 2009."

100 years of longevity! This wood sinks in water, resists termites, stands up to marine conditions, self lubricates, and is a non toxic pharmaceutical! Talk about a miracle of nature!

A mill turbine with lignum vitae bearings, image from danes notes on boats

By the turn of the century the wood was not only being used at work but also at play. Cricket and croquet, sports imported to the Caribbean by the British in the early 1900's, made use for the very durable, dense wood in mallets and heavy bails, and also for European Skittles balls and Lawn Bowls. To read more about the interesting history of cricket in the Caribbean please click here. The Hardy Brothers of Alnwick began using lignum vitae for their world famous Greenheart fly fishing rods. Even antique sets, like those pictured below, are often in immaculate condition due to the great durability of the wood.

Image from mullocks auctions

Image from wildwood

Medicinally the wood, bark, and resin have had nearly as many uses:

"Christopher Columbus found lignum vitae, or guaiacum, upon his arrival to the New World. Europeans perceived lignum vitae as a miracle cure for syphilis and hung pieces of the trees bark in churches as objects of devotion. The trees wood is so rich with fat and resins that objects made from it are self-lubricating and nearly impervious to water.

Native Americans used lignum vitae to treat tropical diseases. From the mid- to late 16th century in Europe, the bark became popular as a treatment for syphilis. It is a traditional British treatment for rheumatoid arthritis and gout. In folk medicine, people used guaiac resin to treat respiratory problems and skin disorders. A derivative has been used in cough medicines. Lignum vitae also has served as an anti-inflammatory, a local anesthetic, and a help for herpes. Lignum vitae is subject to legal restrictions in some countries.

Used in Europe, especially in Britain, as a remedy for arthritic and rheumatic conditions, lignum vitae has anti-inflammatory properties that help to reduce joint pain and swelling. Lignum vitae is also diuretic, laxative, and sweat-inducing, and speeds the elimination of toxins, which makes it valuable for treating gout. Tincture of lignum vitae is used as a friction rub on rheumatic areas. Cotton balls moistened with the resin may be applied to aching teeth. A decoction of the wood chips acts as a local anesthetic, and is used to treat rheumatic joints and herpes blisters."

Information found on herbs2000

Turks and Caicos Bush Medecine Man Aldon Higgs of Middle Caicos, image from salt cay blog

Information below from a Bahamian bush medicine article found on ravens voyage

LIGNUM VITAE (guaiacum off icinale) - Commonly referred

to as 'ironwood

Lignum Vitae was considered the penicillin of the time. The

bark was chiefly used as a cathartic, the fruit as a vegetable

and the flower as a laxative. The white juice coming out of the

bark was used against a "scald head." Nowadays, it is used as a

tea and as a bath for body pains. It is the most versatile

native Bahamian plant and

as many old folks call it "Nigly Whitey" - the national tree of

the Bahamas.

As referenced earlier, "healing" and "holy" historically have gone hand in hand. In the thirteenth century St. Bonaventure, "the seraphic doctor" and one of the greatest philosophers and theologians of Christianity, wrote a "text meant to aid the devout in conforming themselves to Christ through meditation on the events of his life, passion, and glorification." He called this text "Lignum Vitae" and with it inspired the diagram pictured below.

Image from beinecke.library, please follow the link for detailed views and fascinating descriptions.

Sadly, this honorable tree is on the endangered species list. Information below from humanflowerproject

"Lignum vitae is actually disappearing all over the region: from Antigua (where it was cut down to make grinding parts for the island’s sugar mills) and from the Bahamas, where it also has “become scarce.” On St. Barth’s island, “the Gaiac, as it is locally called, is now a protected species.” In Florida, it has been “completely exterminated.”

Lignum vitae (“Wood of Life”) also was harvested, somewhat notoriously, for medicinal purposes. It was said that in his voyages to the New World, Christopher Columbus picked up both syphilis and its cure, a concoction of Lignum vitae (physicians and their patients soon discovered that the plant was palliative only).
To say the least, this plant has taken a human beating, and despite its durability, it now shows signs of defeat. Gerald Singer writes that in former days on St. John Island, “when someone’s problems were especially severe or when someone was carrying an extremely heavy emotional burden it was said that their troubles were ‘heavier than a Lingy Vitae cross.’”
Now that this indigenous tree has its own cross to bear, perhaps its beauty and strength will inspire people across the Caribbean to take up the cause of environmentalism, with conviction. In Barbados this past June, an island Environmental Society was formed. At the ceremony, Mo Watson called the natural world “the best psychiatrist….
“Ask anyone who gardens, who sea-bathes, snorkels or communes regularly with nature in other ways, how the experience makes he or she feel. Take a look at that sight out there. Sights like this inspire our hearts, minds and soul with wonder, gratitude, occasional unselfish reasoning and love. We ask ourselves why don’t we do it more often. Imagine it disappearing before your very eyes. And you being the last generation to enjoy and connect with the natural beauty of our Island.”

Can you imagine this beauty and amazing feat of nature disappearing? Please protect this incredible species here in the Turks and Caicos Islands by spreading the knowledge. Each field guide Friday will feature a custom artwork or woodwork to accompany the information. The Lignum Vitae shadowbox below will be for sale at an upcoming market.