Since I was a child I have always loved doing all things creative and tangible: gardening, landscape design, interior design, sewing, refurbishing furniture, cooking, animal care, and the care of my fellow human beings. I make it sound as if was borne from Martha Stewart, Jane Goodall and Mother Teresa throwing all their eggs in one basket and Frank Lloyd Wright giving them his blessing. This, of course, is not what happened, but the list of my employment and self-employment is diverse: private chef on yachts, executive chef, restaurant consultant, cooking class instructor, hat designer, interior designer, landscape designer, vintage object restorer. My skills with tools, vegetable growing, making spaces livable, and all-around problem solving have prepared me well for the Zombie Apocalypse.
When I moved to my garden suite, the house and the garden had been neglected as the owner’s wife had recently died. I set about repairing and re-imagining the overgrown gardens, common areas, and my suite. My love for gardening and landscape design flourished, and now, at least once a day, someone stops and comments on the beauty and cheerful whimsy of the garden. My suite has become a sanctuary for me, as well as for friends and family that come and stay.
I care deeply about my fellow beings, the environment, and our surroundings. I focus on good nutrition for people and pets. I recycle and reuse, looking always first to Craigslist if I need furniture or a power tool. I cannot walk past an area or object where I can visualize in my mind’s eye a way to make it better, either functionally or visually, and not try to do something about it. It’s just the way I am.
Shelley West Design 