Gathering Dust

Coronado Side Trips

picture from the Hotel del Coronado website

While we were on our "heiress" vacation, it was tempting to just stay in the mansion and craft, but there are so many other things to see in the area that we had to take a few field trips. 

Coronado Island is famous for the Hotel del Coronado resort, a sprawling vacation destination built in the late 19th century.

One evening we took the short walk from the mansion to "the Del" for drinks and to see the sunset over the water.

Oceans, beaches and sunsets are good things.

Another side trip was to the Ocean Beach antique area.   My favorite shop was an antique store I've been hearing about for years- Vignettes.

The store is full of romantic elegance with a flair for the French.

I loved this Italian lamp covered in china flowers.

Luxury and romance.

Since I couldn't put a lamp or a chair in my suitcase, I settled for one small remembrance of the shop...

My take home- the little Bakelite Humpty Dumpty charm in the center of this picture.  I'm planning on incorporating it into a necklace that includes some Bakelite buttons.

One last get-away- climbing out of the bedroom window to the "secret balcony".

Some folks asked about the craft projects we worked on- I'll do a post on them just as soon as I finish.

 

A Downton Abbey Heiress Getaway

A couple months ago I posted about the "heiress" Downton Abbey themed art getaway that Karla and were going to in California, hosted by the talented Deb Hodge.  The retreat was last weekend and with the final episode of Downton tonight, I wanted to show you the California version of the Downton Abbey mansion we stayed at. 

It was incredible- the size, the details, the historical bits, the furnishings.  I've stayed at nice older hotels, but staying in a private home where you could come to breakfast in your jammies, and leaving your craft supplies spread out on a table in the living room was almost like living there.

The living room where we crafted.  The marble fireplace, full of candles, was incredible.  You could almost stand up inside it.

This was a favorite corner in the living room because the details captured all the special little things about the mansion.  The mullions in the window, the gilded chair, the decorative heat vent and the beautifully framed turn of the century family picture.

The treats started as soon as we arrived- champagne jelly bellies, almond champagne and fresh flowers on the landing going upstairs.

Picture by Deb Hodge

Our room was complete comfort in shades of green and black toile.  The special touches continued with personalized pillowcases "Keep Calm and Dream on Beth".

One of the best things about the mansion is it's authenticity.  Other than having wi-fi and big screen TVs, almost nothing has been changed from the 1920s, including this "to the period" bathroom.

You can see more detailed pictures of the house including the old fashioned kitchen with ice box refrigerator and cast iron stove here: The Hansen Mansion.

Another detail I loved- velvet rope hand railing with tassels.

Karla found a "secret" balcony off our suite of rooms.  I say it was secret because it didn't have a door, we had to crawl out of a window to get to it.  If you scroll back to the picture of the house, you can see it on the far right of the picture.  I took these pictures of the garden and the back balcony from the "secret balcony".

The house and gardens were beautiful from the ground level, too;

and even featured a koi pond.

Picture by Deb Hodge

I've got lots more to tell you about Coronado Island, our crafts and side trips, and if I don't get a hold of you, I'm sure you can ring Nadine and she can get you up-to-date.