I hope you enjoy my first Guest-Requested MUSICA . . . for you, dear Girlfriends, from my darling friend Margot, the Magical Mother of Scarlet (the elf), the Grandmother of Georgette (the gnome), and dog mother of Yoda (the Naked Leprechaun).
Scarlet kindly granted me permission to show you her new baby! Thank you Scarlet! Those little baby pants are a very soft wool, and with the pointed white hat, there was no doubt that Scarlet had given birth to a gnome.
Totally worth waiting for, don’t you think? Didn’t Scarlet do a fabulous job? This was our Baby Snuggle Tea, where Scarlet brought her three-week old baby girl Georgie to meet and greet Margot’s best girlfriends.
We each got to hold her . . . she made us feel like we must be really interesting looking.
Scarlet’s already a wonderful Mom . . . Georgie went out like a light when Scarlet put her into this little wrap. (I’m thinking about getting one of these for Girl Kitty, she would LOVE it.)
We are going to enjoy watching this little gnome grow and thrive, she comes from a family of extremely creative people.
This is Scarlet and her adorable brother Wolfie at my house for an Easter Egg hunt many years ago ~ it’s been fun watching them grow up.
This is the baby announcement Margot painted when Scarlet was born. Is it not the most adorable thing you have ever seen??? Me, too! I think it should go into the Smithsonian for best baby announcement ever. Maybe I’m biased.
Margot loves to celebrate her July birthday at the beach.
This is Margot’s dog. Its name is, of course, Yoda.
To make Yoda feel better about “everything,” Margot and her fiancé-for-life, Tom, modeled themselves on Yoda for Halloween. Look at the top of Tom’s head! Look how happy they are! Don’t they know what they look like?
A scientific comparison of Yoda’s hand and Margot’s hand.
Just so you know, Tom and Margot don’t always dress like Yoda. But they always do have fun, and . . .
Last summer, Joe and I went sailing around Edgartown Harbor. I took a picture of this little pointed beach. Later, we went to Margot’s art show . . .
And this was one of her new paintings! It looks like the same place!
If Margot seems familiar to you, I’ve mentioned her before, along with her wonderful book, the Survival Guide for Landlocked Mermaids. If you haven’t seen it, I asked Kellee to put some up in our web store.
Besides everything else, Margot is a very famous local muralist on Martha’s Vineyard . . . not only Martha’s Vineyard ~ Margot’s done projects in many parts of the country. Here she is doing a mural for the Oak Bluff’s Steamship (ferry boat) Authority. That’s not the real sky, that’s the sky Margot made.
This is a project Margot did at her art studio at home. It’s for a private home. The home owners had an indoor balcony off their bedroom and asked Margot to paint some ambience for it.
But this has been Margot’s most ambitious project so far and one for which she will go down in Martha’s Vineyard history. You can see the “before” in the top photo, and the “after” down below, Margot painted the mural behind the musicians.
It was for this historical building in Edgartown called The Whaling Church which was built in 1843. You can listen to a story about the renovation of this church and see Margot in action by clicking that link.
During the restoration, they found this old photo and discovered that in the 19th century there had been an amazing mural that had been painted over.
Using the photograph as a guide, Margot made a working drawing so she could reconstruct the mural as close to the original as possible. I thought you’d like to see some of the photos I took while she was in the process of doing it.
This was the space as it was before the new mural began.
And this is it while Margot was working on it. Every so often we girlfriends would come over to see what she was up to. We knew it was big, but we had no idea! I could not wrap my mind around the fact that what we were looking at was a flat wall.
I had to get closer, and the closer I got, the harder it was to believe.
A complete flat wall . . . if you try to jump onto that checkered floor, you will body-slam yourself into a wall.
Hard to believe, but it’s true.
Margot has worked two freezing winters on this project . . . the first year she did the front of the church, and this winter, she trudged through one snow storm after another to complete the sides and back.
I think you can see the passion in Margot’s eyes as she explains to Lowely and Barbara (and me) what she has been creating. Note: no matter WHAT else Margot is wearing, no matter if she has been dipped in paint, she always has on a pretty scarf and cute earrings.
The patience, the sheer energy this took! (Margot is 61; she said I could tell you.♥)
Here’s a close up of some of her detailed brushwork . . .
See the flat walls, that’s what it looked like before Margot got her brush onto it. Not to mention the fact that she was up and down this scaffolding, carrying paint and brushes, twenty times a day. If I got up there once, I would cling there, a ball of dripping adrenalin, until the fire department came to rescue me.
Yoda came to work, dressed for action, every day. Margot says sleeping with Yoda is like sleeping with a naked leprechaun.
Yoda does the happy dance.
Margot didn’t have to do the whole thing alone, besides Yoda, she had Scarlet and an incognito Georgie, as the perfect assistants.
And every so often we would all trek over to Edgartown to check out Margot’s progress, sit in awe as she explained how she was doing this impossible thing, and take her to lunch.
We did the right thing by giving her no advice.
So here is the “before” of the back of the church which Margot finished about two weeks ago.
It’s very subtle, but you can see the panels on both the bottom floor and the top, the gold leaf details below and around the clock. Tromp L’oeil panels also go both sides of the church.
The panels look raised, but they are completely flat too, all the way from the edge of the window trim.
The eye, she is fooled! I have to say, the whole island is proud of what Margot has accomplished here; generations will applaud what it took to do this. ♥ Thank you, also, to Chris Scott and all the supporters of the Preservation Trust, for bringing back to the island history that had been lost.
See what I mean? Flat. Margot explains these stripes of color in this link.
And I bet now you’re saying to yourself, I’d LOVE to see what that girl’s house looks like inside . . . right? Mas Margot MUSICA
Come with me to the Casbah. . . and . . .
Oh, yeah. Margot, along with Scarlet and Wolfie’s dad, Charlie Blair (the afore mentioned “fisherman”) who is now the Harbormaster of Edgartown, built this log cabin. And then Margot did things to it. See that sofa? Just an old run-of-the-mill brown sofa, but not after Margot got her hands on it, recovered and fattened up those cushions, and voila! And the panels around the windows? She made them. Wah ~ Wah.
How about this magical “doll house” Margot made for above the fireplace? She used to make lots of doll sculptures that she called “individuals” for obvious reasons. She fashioned them from high-fired stoneware and fabric. The hair, she said, came from Poodle Parlors, and I’m told that if you had a dog with a very nice tail, you had better watch it when Margot was around.
It is the perfect creative surrounding for costume parties at Margot’s. But, you say, I wonder if she has anything cute in her closet? Is it all paint-spattered jeans, or what?
OK, you asked for it ~ because Margot puts Vanna to shame. (Don’t tell Vanna I said that.)
For starters, she wears diamonds on her feet.
Poor thing, she simply has no personality. Tsk Tsk.
As you can see, I keep my camera ready to see what cute thing she wears next. I try to talk her into doing a whole book of clothes. Then make them, then sell them to me. In normal sizes.
Darling Margot, Mother, Grandmother, Original, Artiste Extraordinaire, Hard-worker, Funny, Smart, Problem-Solver, World-Class Survivor. Great Cook, Excellent Bargain Finder, and All around Good Dresser. And Best Friend to Many and to Lucky Me.
I hope you enjoyed our Baby Snuggle and Grandma Snuggle, our elf, our gnome and our naked leprechaun . . . I know you will LOVE Margot’s paintings, you can see some of them and “Like” her on Facebook at Margot Datz Designs or go to her website at www.margotdatz.com
With love from me to you Girlfriends. Hope you enjoyed that! I am working hard on our book, and making progress! Thank you for all your wonderful supportive comments. You’ll never know how much they mean to me. HAPPY SPRING! ♥ XOXO
This was so much fun to look at and to read. You have amazing friends!
I think we all do!
ooooo my, this is truly amazing! When I saw Margot on that scaffolding painting away, I immediately thought of Michelangelo working away on the Sistine Chapel in that 1965 movie with Charlton Heston and Rex Harrison.
Many congratulations to Madam Michelangela!
Thanks, Susan, for sharing these wonderful photos. And, that baby is just too cute for words… he’s totally adorable!
Hugs,
Brenda xox
Michelangela! Perfect. I’ll tell her!
Such an amazing talent! Thank you for sharing! (I’m beginning to wonder if there’s some sort of magical elixir in your water supply.)
LOL, that’s so funny!
First and foremost. Yes, a talented lady! What a sense of style. You certainly honored her with your wonderful tribute. A real testament to your friendship.
It was very easy to do. And fun!
How lucky you are to have a friend like Margot, Susan! That girl has style extraordinaire! Her trompe l’oeil work in the church is unbelievably beautiful–what a difference it makes in that church! It gives it an old world look that is lovely. Her little grand is just the cutest and I bet you all are having fun with her! She has lot’s of built in baby sitters! My daughter used a sling for her baby and it makes the baby feel so close and secure with mom. Babies are such wonderful gifts and hope for the future. Congratulations to all! xoxo ♥
“Hope for the future.” 🙂
Margot is amazing! How can one person be so talented? And the wee one , the gnome, is too precious for words.
I don’t know, she is truly something.
What a wonderfully interesting post. I would love to meet her and see her creations in person. You are all so lucky to have creative people in your life. It’s so interesting to see the two very different styles that you both have in your painting. Thank you for letting us see the adorable little Scarlet! She’s a very lucky girl.
Thank you Patti!
…such a beautiful tribute to such a dear friend of yours, Susan…thank you for sharing..I know Margot from her book A Survival Guide For Landlocked Mermaids and from the mural she did for the Ar. Children’s hospital in Little Rock …quite an artist…also, when I had the pleasure of visiting Martha’s last Sept., I got to walk Edgartown and simply loved it !..thank you so much for this post… you and your dear friend Margot are treasures..like “two peas in a pod”..have a great week end and thank you again !!..with love, as always…
That mural was wonderful! I wish I had photos of it! So glad you saw it. xoxo Thank you Mary!
p.s…I forgot to say “thank you, Scarlett” for sharing pictures of your beautiful Georgie !!!!
Me too, once again, thank you Scarlet!
Susan, I love how you love Margot. Friendship is one of the greatest joys and you two creative, loving gals have covered that joy with sprinkles and a cherry on top!
I know, there is nothing like a best friend.
Wonderful! I love. Fool the eye murals and the church is amazing. Thanks for sharing!
My total pleasure!
Wow! Just wow! What an amazing artist! Looks like birds of a feather do flock together! Two friends, two artists!
We talk “shop” — it’s so fun to have someone you can do that with.
AMAZING!!!…I agree with Trish~for so many gifted women to be in one place, I want some of that “talented” air or water or whatever it is you have in that magical place you live…xoxo…
It’s probably likely that you either figure out something you can do out here, make some sort to job for yourself, or you have to go! 🙂
What a truly inspirational treat! You are blessed to have friends who nurture each other through the years, I find I miss that. Your posts are always a special, thank you!
I lived on the island for way too long without a best friend, then Margot showed up and I was saved.
What a wonderful post today! I loved the baby and then the grandma and her amazing art and fabulous fashion eye. I’ve been quiet the past few months, I moved back across the country to the still frozen tundra for medical treatment. How I look forward to your posts and feeling part of your Martha’s Vineyard community and keeping up with all the girlfriend’s comments. A warm fuzzy feeling for sure 🙂
Welcome back Donna!
Wowzer! I guess this just verifies the theory, like attracts like. You are incredibly talented and your friends are too.
She most definitely does lovely, lovely work. And so do you. Thank you Margot for letting Susan share your story…
Thank you for saying that . . . she was good to let this happen!
Very….Interesting and funny…too..
Jeesh, I loved that! Love
XOXO
Absolutely everything in this post made me smile! Delight, creativity, friendship —- all combined so beautifully. It’s such a pleasure to read your blog, Susan. It’s a blessing to be considered a girlfriend. Thanks so much! Sending a hug from here on the farm even though — EVEN THOUGH — “Downton Abbey” has only one season left. Aaaargh.
“awe~some ~~ READ” …. Smiles and Sparkles …you ”all” are blessed with this friend~~ship ….(oh good now I’ll be singing that song…fun night for meeee too!)
Okay, I admit it….I am totally JEALOUS! Not in the way you might think. To have the talent , which produces such whimsy and beauty and fun ….right there bottled up on Martha’s Vineyard! Thank goodness you, Susan, are sharing it with us. I was ooooohhhhing and aawwwing so much that my husband asked me what was going on , and I had to show him and he loved everything too! I feel like I have visited an art gallery. Between the baby, the baby’s mother, the doggie….complete with his parents dressed up just like him….and then the murals and walls and outfits and the SHOES, and the house with the dolls over the mantle…..!!! This absolutely brightened up my day and made it even happier. 🙂
You’re a doll Diane!
“Wah-wah” wow…., a baby, great art and creativeness in pictures, with creative people, and creative George Harrison singing on a great creative blog. Made the end of my day very happy. so much talent… Thanks!
firstly- miss Georgie is THE cutest little gnome EVER!
second- judging from this recent entry, she comes from a long line of beautiful and talented women….she also has our favourite ‘auntie’ to call her own
third- being blessed with good friends is truly a wondrous gift. I have 8 gf’s whom I have known since we were 5 yrs old….now turning 60!!!!!!!
la vita e bella!
Bella bella bella! 🙂
Loved this post and darling cuddly baby Georgie.
Amazing people all around you. Yoda included because he probably thinks he is human too.
We love you Susan Branch, you spread so much joy!
Audrey.
That was awesome!!!! She does amazing work, as do you. Thank you so much Susan..
How lucky you are to have a friend like Margot. The church is absolutely beautiful. At first I couldn’t believe is was a flat wall. I’m with you about the scaffolding…no way would I get up there ( unless there was a little alcohol involved) . You are both so talented! I’ve been reading for blog for years, your stories and beautiful artwork always make me smile and inspire me. Reading your book, A Fine Romance, brought back memories of my trip to England. Thank you for all you share with us.
There would definitely be a little alcohol involved after the fire department left!
Susan, I have had email friends send pictures of German artists doing chalk paintings on sidewalks like this. So stunning! This is even better, here for all eternity, protected in this wonderful church. She is amazing!
AH GIRLFRIENDS…GOD’S GREATEST GIFT! WHAT AN ADORABLE BABY AND WHAT A TALENTED WONDERFUL GODDESS OF A WOMAN! WHAT TALENT…KINDOF FEEL LIKE ROLLING UP INTO A BALL AND ASSUMING TH E FETAL POSITION…AM A TAD INTIMIDATED! THANKS SO MUCH FOR SHARING…OH TO FIT MY FAT FOOT INTO ONE OF THOSE SHOES!!!!
I bet there are moms all over this country doing the same sorts of things, maybe not climbing scaffolding, but dealing with their own lives in the same courageous way as Margot has. That’s what I love about us.
Oh the talent of you and your truly amazing, beautiful friends. I am in complete AWE of you ladies!! Thank you so very much for sharing Margot and her work – simply stunning!
You know how much we all love you and your beautiful & charming art and you are so generous to share Margot with us too. Thank you to both !!
Stunning!! I am impressed. If I ever get to that part of the world,I would love to look at this in person. Beautiful baby. “The best days are when babies come” so said Melanie. I loved the post.
All I can say about the church paintings is WOW!! Really amazingly talented lady, and looking at her home, also talented in many other ways. Seems funny and interesting, and appears to be a kindred spirit of yours! Lucky you! Don’t know what we would do without our girlfriends. P.S. She is pretty lucky I think too to have you. xo
Susan, your blog just made of my day! Scarlet’s Georgie is precious, and Scarlet looks so much like Margot. I first “found” your amazing, talented, gifted friend in 1992. I’d taken my then two year old grandson to the book store, and he picked up a copy of “The Fishermans Song.” I must admit, I was a big fan of Carly Simon but I’d never heard of the book’s illustrator, Margot. We brought the book home and it quickly became a favorite of my grandsons. He loved the beautiful pictures, adored looking for the butterflies and leaves and shells in the artwork. I loved how those vivid, gorgeous images brought Carley’s haunting lyrics to life. What fun, twenty three years later, to see what she’s been doing! Margot, you GO, girl!
Ohhh, you remember that book. How wonderful!
Wow, what an amazing, talented, beautiful woman. I am really impressed with her wonderful talent. Of course, Martha’s Vineyard seems to be the home of many talented women, Susan Branch being one of them. I would love to see these murals in person one day. Just unbelievably awesome.
Such a wonderful read Susan, I loved meeting your friend Margot. Her work is extraordinary. And thanks too for sharing the adorable baby and her cute Mom. I heard a very interesting story on NPR last week. It was about the dearth of Wikipedia entries for women artist and writers. So some museums and groups are holding writing sessions with women’s groups or just interested people, teaching them how to research, write and link a wikipedia entry! Edit-a-thons! Anyone interested should look for one being held near you….you ever knew. But then I learn so much every AM on Morning Edition!
What a good idea, help us celebrate us.
What a wonderful post–I enjoyed every word, picture, and painting! Those murals are something to behold!!!!! Pure magic. We had a group of mural painters come to our small town in Indiana last summer and “paint the town”. They are called the Wall Dogs and come from all over the world to one town each summer. I wonder if your friend Margot is one of them? They were simply amazing also. Indescribable talent and style, just like your friend Margot.
A Baby Snuggle has got to be the best thing!! I love that idea! That mommy and baby must have felt so loved!
I cannot get over Margot’s incredible work on that church! That is outstanding and unbelievable and just beautiful. Wow. What a gift for the community!
OMG…I am drop dead in love with Margot’s home. I swear I could live in that room forever and never come out. So creative. So interesting. So amazing. I am not surprised you two are friends. Birds of a feather flock together and all that….
I think I’m speechless!! How does that much talent fit in one average sized woman?? She is amazing. It makes me think that the island of MV might very well sink from the weight of talent that lives within her shores. So many talented people, counting Susan Branch and Margot Datz to just name two.
Wow! Way to go Margot. Unbelievable piece of magic. I’m without words to describe that amazing mural! Thanks for sharing. Had no idea of it. (Have her “Mermaid” book and have gifted it to all my special girlfriends – who also were gifted “Girlfriends Forever”.
What a delightful post. I am still smiling!
Oh….that baby! Such a cutie. I have a grandbaby that is just 4 weeks old today. And the mothers….wonderful, beautiful women. Margot’s work is incredible. She’s got some kind of energy!
Thank you for sharing the beautiful work that Margot did. I am speechless on how she did that! What a gift she has both in talent and in having you as a dear friend! I so enjoy your blog!
What an amazing artist, I hope I can get in to see it the next time I’m there.
The artwork is astonishing! Very nearly unbelievable. Thank you for sharing your friend and her work with us.
Wow~I am amazed by Margot’s talent. Exquisite! And her home is so cozy too! Thanks for sharing the sweet little one with us. That was a fun read. Loved her shoes too. She is all girl!
Oh yes!
Thank you for that great vignette about Margot and Scarlet and art and babies and friends. Such a nice sharing. Spring is here (Washington State)…..time to mow and stuff. I found the Betty Crocker Kitchen Gardens book at Alibris and bought it (NOT for $900). Not a perfect copy but it’s my inspiration for my own kitchen garden this year. Lovely, lovely……lettuces and lunches……..
As long as you can read those delicious words!
Oh Oh OH!! I visited that church last summer…and had NO idEA that it was OUR Margot that did the incredibly fantastic painting! I’m just beside myself! Bravo, Margot! (And I love love love her darling mermaid book…found and purchased the summer I got to meet you, sweet girl)
What a treasure, she is…and you…and that you get to have each other…Life IS grand!
What darling baby pics and mommy and grandma!
Much love to you, dear,
Christie
Yes, that’s Our Margot!
What wonderful talented artists you are and to be best friends too!! What could be better than that. I have four best girlfriends that I’ve been friends with since before elementary school. We grew up together and now have grown old together and are still going strong! We don’t all live nearby each other any more, but when we get together it’s as if time stood still and the conversation picks up exactly where it left off. It is a very special and magical friendship to have known these women for almost 70 years. We know each other so well and have gone through everything life has thrown at us, good and bad; and we love each other, warts and all!!!! These women, Judy, Kathy, Alice and Lois are a treasure to me and I believe I am the same to them. God Bless Girlfriends!!!
God Bless Girlfriends. My mom has the same thing. I’ve known one of her girlfriends since I was born . . . that’s Carol — and her daughter is one of our Girlfriends here on the blog!
Can’t wait to get to the Vineyard soon. Hoping to get a chance to tour the church. What magnificent artistry and hard work!!!! What a gift God has given Margot and you as well!! Inspiring! And God Bless Girlfriends!!!! Have a wonderful weekend!!
Susan:
Thanks much for today’s inspirational blog. Margot’s mural at the church is
remarkable. I followed the link to the church and was further impressed by Margot’s undertaking when I saw how she staked out the work like an engineer.
I’m in awe at the physical demands such a project entailed.
The pictures of the baby were lovely. What a happy event you hosted. Were
the kitties hiding out for the duration?
Lois
Only Girl — Jack was under the coffee table in front of the fire. He wasn’t about to let a good party get away from him.
What an amazing post. Margot’s talent and tenacity to complete such an incredible work of art is astounding! Thank you for so generously sharing your friend’s talent. You both contribute so much life and light through your art.
Baby Georgie is a marshmallow just asking to be kissed. Chewable, sweet and oh so innocent. Just lovely. Thank you for sharing.
xo
Mary
Susan, Thanks for sharing such a beautiful story. loved it….
Margot is an incredible artist!! What a treasure to have such a talented friend. As someone said, like attracts like. Thank you for sharing Margot with us.
Wow, just wow. That scaffolding looks terrifying.
It does, but it cost something like $40,000 to put it up. It was like building a whole new set of walls on the inside of the church.
How lucky you are to have such an amazing artist for a friend. I could not believe that that wall is perfectly flat. And what a sweet grandbaby Margot has. And a beautiful daughter as well. There is certainly a lot of wonderful artistic talent in Smallville.
I think that is true in every Smallville across the world. Normal everyday people working hard to make a difference and dealing with whatever turns up on their plates.
Thank you so much for sharing this…if there is such an award, can we nominate Margot for the Leonardo da Vinci award?
Great idea!
WOOOOOOOOW! What a story…and what an accomplishment!!
I am just (almost) speechless.
I was thinking that Margot’s best creations were likely Scarlet (and so Georgie) and Wolfie…But now I am having to re-think this…having seen her murals in The Whaling Church.
Just simply amazing…I mean AAAAMAAAAAZIIIIIING!!
I do not think that I have ever seen or heard of such passion and ardor, intensity, zeal, vehemence, emotion, warmth, earnestness, avidity, eagerness, keenness, enthusiasm, excitement, animation, vigor, energy, fire, spirit, zest and fervency since Michelangelo and the Sistine Chapel ceiling. (The Agony and the Ecstacy.)
And YOUR ability to tell the story about her…and Scarlet and Georgie…and family and art and friendship and love…brought tears to my eyes.
You are ALL blessed…and we are too… to be here at your blog…and have you
for our friend.
Thanks so much, dear Susan!
<3
Thank you back Judy. Margot started out as a very creative person, as I’m sure you can guess, always making something different that she’d never done before, like the sculpture dolls ~ and over the years she just kept layering things on, and now this church. Can’t wait to see what she does next.
I can’t wait to see what she does next either…
Maybe you can update us here…periodically.
If it’s not too much trouble! 😀
Thanks!
Have a great day…and a marvelous weekend, too!!
<3
I’ll keep you in the loop!
Thanks!! 🙂
And now you’ve got me thinkin’ again…
and I am wondering…how crazy would it be for Kitty & Ken (and their home) to be your next “Guest-Request”? 0;)
(Although I would hate for anyone there in Martha’s to think we Girlfriends are imposing on them.)
🙂 Just a thought!!
Thanks (again!) ! xoxo
<3
Margot let me cause she’s my best friend, but not all of my best friends would let me do that. I try to be careful. Maybe the next time I run into Kitty I’ll ask her.
IF YOU want to ask her…but no pressure, ok?! Honest! 🙂
<3
She’s really just an acquaintance we have from walking on the road, but if I see her . . .
Georgie has the most amazing grandma… and Margot has the most amazing friend! So happy that two artistic souls found one another… and shared with all of us! Such inspiration! Hugs for celebrating your dear friend today, Susan!
Happy painting!
Dawn
♡♡
Thank you Dawn!
Thank you, Dawn!
Dear Susan Ma’am…
This is my first time commenting on your blog…
I am follower of your blog…..
You inspire me trully…
And now your friend…She is awsome too….
Please keep doing this nice things in the future as well.
So happy to hear from you Geetika, thank you for saying hello.
Such a special post! Aren’t we lucky to be able to connect to and appreciate the creative artist in ourselves and in others. Margot is appealing to me because she taps into her natural gift and puts it out there for all to savor and be inspired by.
I think that’s why we are also so drawn to babies and any new little critters; we again are the creators, the life givers, the lovers, the supporters, the nurturers, the celebrators! Thank you, Susan, for always being our affirmer with your lovely posts. I felt intense spiritual overtones through this post, though I’m sure that wasn’t your intent. You are truly aligned to the greater good, and I once again thank you for being you.
xoxo Becky!
How wonderful to have Margot around!!! You KNOW I love the log cabin, seeing as I lived in one for 10 years—loved every minute of it! Love the shoes, love the cute skirt with ruffles in the back. And she has amazing hair!! What is she eating because 61 years of hair that good is just amazing!!
OK………….I also love fiance’ for life—- yes, indeed! AND, the church……….well, it’s incredible. It is a feast for the eyes………..how absolutely beautiful!! Can she come to my house?
Wow………………you girls know how to live……….and the baby….wow, this post has enough material for a book of its own!
Keep writing………………….fascinating!! Gotta go back and read it again!! xoxo
I can’t wait for her to read these comments! 🙂
hi susan!!!!…. exquisite!!! what a terribly fun read… lucky everyone who knows, loves and has a friend in remarkable Margot….she will certainly be in the top of all granny’s everywhere !!! Thank you for sharing her with us…talented, charming and mischievous( I can tell!!!:-) )…how inspired you must be by each other… her work at the church is truly amazing and a labor of love… her passion and excitement is obvious… Next visit to MV, I will be headed to see this…and that sweet new bundle of joy! darling darling pictures of new favorite.. thank you to all for sharing yourselves with us…I truly loved this post .. It just oozed love and friendship… makes me want to jump up and paint something or stuff a pillow or call my BFF… think I will !! Good luck with the book… sounds like things are moving along.. I, for one, cannot wait!!!!….( so spoiled!!) Carrot cake cupcakes this week-end.. oh happy day!! love ya susan!!!!! love, cindy
Calling your BFF is the very best idea, aren’t blessed to have them!
It doesn’t seem quite fair that one such person can contain so much talent! More like ‘Michelangelette’!!! Margot….you are simply amazing and I am in awe of your accomplishment. I, like Susan….could not get past step three of the ladder!!! (Oh my!!) If attending church I wouldn’t hear one word for studying your amazing work…..
Wowee, I don’t even know where to start. As usual, I have to read your post probably three times before I can truly take it all in. You don’t do things half way…when you do a post, YOU DO A POST, chock-full of goodies for us readers. What a treat, A TREAT, to not only see you give such a tribute to your friend and to highlight her talents but to take us through the tour of the mural; my goodness, I’ve never seen such a work of art. I love this…a woman my age who is so vibrant, inspirational, dynamic, fun, productive (like you!); going strong. I have a gal-pal (we’re born just months apart) who is a pilot/captain for a major airline and she’s about to go in for a month of training to learn how to fly a new jet with even more exotic, foreign destinations than she’s already had over her now 30+ years of flying…she, you, Margot, all smart career women, doing incredible things and I applaud you for living beyond your potentials! What I really want is Margot’s rich and lustrous head of thick hair! Somebody should do a TV segment on her, like the CBS News ‘Sunday Morning’ show with Charles Osgood; would be perfect (it could include you, and talk about the wealth of artists-artisans/musicians/writers on the island…a special place!). If it wasn’t that show, it was some other I saw where they traveled to Maine to do a piece on Jamie Wyeth; fascinating locale, fascinating artist…from three generations of artists. Back to the charming log cabin you’ve shown here, I saw that first photo of its interior and I thought the whole thing was a painting at first. The closest thing I’ve seen to that, but not nearly as whimsical, was a log…well, not really logs…house (more like a barn, sorta) Barbra Streisand built on her first Malibu property on the mountain/canyon side of PCH…she had I think five houses on the property (was probably late 70s era) and each was decorated/designed completely separately from the other, i.e. one was a Art Deco house – I forget the others as I saw them a long time ago on a tour after she’d donated the property to a conservancy – but the one I remember so well was almost like a fairytale-house-in-the-forest/tree house (exterior covered in vines) which was almost other-worldly/fantasy; I was young(er) and thought it was the coziest/coolest thing (although other people on the tour thought it was a little over-the-top; I guess they weren’t into boho). I remember that she’d employed wood craftsmen and toymakers for the interiors. It had a rock/stone fireplace, stained-glass windows; high ceiling and a loft. Anyway, I can see the cabin you’ve shown here as being such a warm and sheltering retreat from a cold island winter; it just breathes warmth and golden glow. What fun. Thanks for talking about all of this, and your amazingly-talented (very stylish) friend. I’ll go back now and re-read everything again. Have a nice weekend, Susan. (Hey, we’re darn hot here, down south of your Arroyo digs. 97 degrees [F] just after lunch, and it’s only March. We’re having days of a heatwave and it is UNpleasant; the foothill grasses are already straw-ish but, you know, we never had winter and I guess we’re skipping Spring again. You’re not missing anything here, Susan (except your loved ones); be glad you’re where you are!
Ooo. 97’s not good. Stay cool Vicki!
Hi, Susan. I hope you have a colored-egg and wonderful Sunday. I wanted to give you some info…I believe in feedback. In my orders with your store, I’ve always been totally happy. On my last one, we had a couple of minor things to sort out and I just wanted to let you know how incredibly helpful Sheri has been, going over and beyond the call of great customer service. I also spoke today on the phone with…hope I have this right…Kelli(?) and she was a model of friendly efficiency and helpfulness, immediately solving my question. As I emailed to Sheri, I shoulda known Susan Branch would have terrific customer service staff…they’re as nice as you are! Okay, weather report, just south of Five Cities a bit: 80 degrees(F) at 3:30pm. I’m about to head out in it…just means more hot flashes; ugh.
So lovely of you to tell me, Vicki! They are both very special people, I sent them your comment, it will make their day!
Holy cannoli! What a gifted woman! She’s like Michelangelo up there on that scaffolding painting all that amazing beauty! I’ve never seen anything like it! It really DOES look dimensional! Simply breathtaking! Must see It In person one day….on my bucket list. Thanks for sharing that, Susan dear! And such a darling baby girl! xo
All I can say is “WOW” !!!
Susan ~~~ what a charming and delightful post! Every single morsel is a little wonder of happy in itself!
Yes, I remember Margot, her work is superb, those panels are truly amazing. I just looked and her book is AVAILABLE in the UK! Yayas! That will be my Easter Egg to me along with Paddington the movie! {I have a signed copy, by Michael Bond of one of the Paddington books and one of the original Paddington Bears to be made too, complete with tiny, real wellibobs}
The day is already starting to run away, and the kwah~fee is need of a top up, so I will wave TTFN and stop back later ~ with cake, of course ~~~
~~~Waving~~~From Across The Pond~~~Debs in Wales xoxo
Oh that is so good to know . . . shipping has gotten to be ridiculous! Yay! Waving back dear Debs!
Oh, this is one of those posts that I’m going to have to read again and again! (And I won’t even complain about being in withdrawal from lack of Jack/Girl pics.) I just about died of cute when I got to the pictures of Yoda at the church.
Thanks for sharing this with us. Hope you’re enjoying the reluctant (so far) spring.
I know, we’re missing Jack and Girl, I’ll make up for it soon. Yes, the spring is slow, but there is no doubt it’s coming. I can hear the rain on the windows right now.
What an amazing artist. Her work is stunning. Thank you for a wonderful post.
Heart full and flowing over. Thank you.
‘Oh the comfort’ Dina 1866 says it all, I love that! Truly a lovely tribute…and such a gorgeous little baby!
There are so many thoughts scrambling around in my brain- of inspiration and thankfulness and encouragement and cheer and Good Friend Vibes and what it means to be Real, that, if I were to speak, only incoherent babbling would come out.
Kim
I think it could not have been said more perfectly!
I don’t know when I have read something that made me happier-my wish list just grew when I saw those mermaid prints on her website.I must have one very soon.Thanks my friend!
Happy to make the introduction!
WOW, amazing, incredible the work by your dear friend Margot!! What fun you gals must have together – can’t beat having great girlfriends.
And what an adorable baby – pure sweetness. Thanks for letting us be a part of your life – enjoy your blog, art, books sooo much. Your “Heart of The Home” cookbook was the first cookbook I ever purchased back in 1988 as a newlywed.
I love them all and treat them like the masterpieces they are! 🙂
So dear Julie, thank you!
What an incredibly interesting, talented, and unique friend. Margot seems like someone who has just stepped out of a fairy tale. I think she is your “fairy God-sister !”
p.s. Do not miss the Cinderella movie that is out now !
I know, we have to go!
Oh, I saw Cinderella this week and LOVED it! Am going to purchase the DVD so I can add it to my library of favorites.
That’s good to hear Ann, thank you!
AWE STRUCK!!!!!! It is all I can say. Magnificent. Margot is beyond talented! Could I just sit and listen to you and all your talented, creative friends when you get together? I will sit in the corner and pet Yoda and I won’t make a sound, I promise you won’t know I am there. And maybe some of that genius that you all possess will filter out into the room and fall upon me like Angie’s fairy dust. Wow!
And sweet, sweet Georgie. This grandma just loves all the wonderful slings and swaddling clothes that they have for babies now. We were so dumb about what babies really needed when I had mine.
Such a delightful post, Susan!
Chris
Reminds me of the wonderful Maya Angelou quote . . . We did then what we knew how to do, now that we know better, we do better!
Oh my!!!! Margot is sooooo talented–it’s definitely a gift!! Thanks for sharing her art! And that adorable little grandbaby!!!!
Holy Cow! That mural is fabulous! I’m struck by how she really seemed to capture the depth and lighting. I did watch the video on the church. Thanks for putting that link in your post. But as fascinating as that mural is there is nothing like a newborn baby. Truly God’s masterpiece!
Well, yes, you saw that I started it with the baby ~ So darling!
Wow, what an amazing and talented artist friend you have! Her works are extraordinaire. She seems like the kind of person everyone needs in their life to just inspire them to have fun and enjoy the magic of whimsical and creativity. Her smile is welcoming and warm and I bet you two have had so many, many great times together over the years. Thank-you for all of the detailed photos of some of her works and of your baby snuggle tea. Georgie is a sweetie pie for sure!!
I’m so glad to have met Margot and Scarlet and Georgette et. al! What a great group of girlfriends we have here in cyber space. Fascinating people. That church is amazing.
I particularly enjoyed this lovely post! I appreciate you honoring your sweet friend! She truly does seem like a special lady! GIRL POWER!
Thank you, Susan, for this wonderful blog! I am amazed at Margot’s church transformation! Stunning! And her granddaughter, Georgie, is a cutie pie. Every so often, when I want a good laugh-out-loud laugh, I go back and read your blog from November 2011 regarding Margot and “Kicking Bird”. Girlfriends you can laugh with and get silly with are the best!
One of my favorite things!
Dear Susan, that was incredibly inspiring! I’m bookmarking it so I can keep coming back and getting a dose of beautiful artist wonder whenever I need one. I can just tell by the look in Margot’s eyes that the two of you probably clicked right away. ♥ Thank you so much for sharing this. What a bright spot in the world she is. xoxo
I love it that everyone is enjoying this!
That Halloween photo was HYS-terical! I laughed so loud my co-worker (in a different office) asked what was so funny. How crazy funny-what a blessed poocher dog to have such great parents! And the murals are incredible. What a wonderful friend and person to have in your life!
to the phrase of an old song “that’s the story and the glory of Love” Your love for Margot, your love af nature, the love you and Margot share both for and in your work-well it is simply amazing. The even more amazing part if that through your words, photos and art everyone who reads the blog gets to participate. Cannot thank you enough–can see thousands of happy smiles reading looking and enjoying. Here’s to you both and here’s to us all! What a glorious start to the weekend! Marty
Thank you Marty!!!
PS –A NAKED Leprechaun- the very idea!
LOL Let’s try to not think about it!
Thanks, Susan! Margot is astonishingly fantastic! Her clothing style, her youthful face, her eclectic home, and that church! Amazing! I was fooled into thinking it went on and on, depth-wise and the panels were raised on the back and sides. She is a unique individual and you are lucky to call her your friend. Thanks for sharing her life with us. The baby and baby’s Mom are adorable too!
Ah so , it’s Margo,— I do remember how multi-talented she was in days gone by. A mere whisp of a girl , with such passion and energy……truly a veritable mermaid in the sea of life!
So gifted in so many ways!
Jack
Margot, if you read this, it’s my dad! 🙂
Hi Susan……………what a beautiful baby! And your friend Margot sure is something else…………..just amazing! I so enjoyed the pictures.
Well enjoy your spring and Easter. Hugs, Gail xoxo
Thank you for sharing this wonderful artist and her work.
This was a beautiful post. So nice of your friends to jump on the girlfriend bandwagon. Everything you give us is inspirational.Thank you.
This post brought tears to my eyes. First dear mommy and baby that only God could create. Then…..darling Margot. There are few words to describe the wonderfulness of that girl. Please tell her we (girlfriends) are bursting with pride at her beautiful work and could not be prouder if she were our very own. You are the perfect bookend for her. Thank you for sharing.
I will tell her Ricki! Thank you!
God Bless Girlfriends is right! I know you said Margot “just showed up” in your life, but I’m curious how you actually met? … as artists? … as friends of friends? Is she in your book? My life long friends also define friendship ♥ Don’t know what I would do without them. “I get by with a little help from my friends”. And my daughter is getting married with her 3 besties from babyhood by her side (of course their moms are besties too 🙂 ). Enjoy your weekend. It’s going to be a record 95 in Phoenix tomorrow as we cheer on our Arizona Wildcats!!!. xoxo ♥
I’ll tell you about that someday. It’s a pretty wonderful story. Enjoy your wedding and stay cool Mary!
Reading your post this morning as made my day glorious at first light. The creativity and artistic gifts of others always leaves me in great awe and full of gratitude!
What a beautiful tribute to friendship, joy, creativity and inspiration!
Margot is amazing….so gifted, so giving and so much like you in so many ways!
Thank you for putting it all in the “spotlight” for us. What a pleasure it was to read!
I have awesome girlfriends, too, and you made me think of each of them this morning and shine a little spotlight on their gifts … if only in my mind’s eye 🙂 .
xoDebbie
What a most enjoyable blog this morning, Susan! Margo has worked her magic, and now we must return to tour that Whaling Church that we visited a few years ago!
Precious little gnome! It is very evident that this one will be the recipient of much love!
The creativity in Margo’s house is astonishing! Love the fireplace treatment!
I send along wishes for a wonderful spring week-end! We are to be cold here. Gee, whiz! The tulips want to bloom!
xo Nellie
I have no words. How can I form words when my mouth is still hanging open? It’s virtually impossible. I’m floored at the talent oozing on your island (yes, it’s your island). This will be a post I will reread over and over for countless reasons. Beautiful people, so talented, so lovely, so genuine. Utterly amazing! Can I come to the next party? Please? Pretty please.…I’ll bring food and wine and I’ll leave all practical shoes at home! 🙂
That might work out then! 🙂
Whoa! I’m just blown away by all the creativity and art and beauty in this post!
Thank you so much for sharing it all with us.
Oh my this post absolutely makes me want to cry. Everything is just so beautiful. The most amazing art and woman and friend and I just love the puppy. Thank you once again and I always say this but it is so true thank you for posting your life so that I can live it with you. You and Joe and the Kitties and your friends and your home and your hometown are amazing. Thank you for showing me just a glimpse. Hugs
Great post Susan! I can’t tell you how much I look forward to them—-Would so love to meet your friends. You are right–we all have great friends–I don’t know what I would do with out mine. Ordered the book–can’t wait to get it!
I love everything about this post. The women, the baby, the art and even the dog!
Margot is amazing! Thanks for sharing this.