Hope yours was a Merry Christmas and will be a very Happy New Year!
Christmas for me personally was celebrated with my in-laws before Christmas and then just my husband kids and I took off to our winter wonderland in Tulameen, BC for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. We cut down a tree on the side of the highway and spent our days by the fire or snowmobiling. Now many family and friends have joined us and we are having a great time.
2015 was the most difficult year for us as a family, and in some ways I feel like I am still recovering. So 2016 was a year of re-evaluating. Even in just the last few months I have clarity of what I want Grapevine Designs to be, and I want to share that with my clients and friends!
I have decided to move full steam ahead! I love design and seeing beautiful spaces come to life. And I adore the amazing people who I have met along the way! I have hired 2 lovely ladies for permanent positions at Grapevine. Cami Bjurling (R) as my assistant and Shannon McIlwain (L) as a designer. Each of them bring their own set of skills that I am so excited to be utilizing.
We have some very exciting projects happening right now and I can't wait to share them with you at different times during the new year. A new build, a couple of major renos, and some decorating projects are on the schedule right now.
A realization I've come to over the past year is my commitment to Charity Work. I have become very passionate about 2 particular organizations and I'm very excited to be involved in some really exciting work with both of them.
One of the most exciting projects I am working on is The Market at Wagner Hills.
Wagner Hills is a recovery centre for men and women recovering from addiction. At the women's campus in South Langley they are opening a market. The ladies will be learning how to create higher end crafts and home decor goods, as well as refinishing quality donated furniture, and many items that are grown and produced right on the farm. I will have a few furniture and home decor pieces there as well. We are so so excited about the Market. And we can't wait to announce the opening in the Spring! There will be seasonal offerings like Christmas trees and pumpkins, and fun things to keep the kiddos entertained like the petting zoo outfitted with the cutest mini farmhouses that house the most adorable piglets, goats, bunnies and even a baby buffalo now and again!
This is just one of the few projects I am working on with these amazing organization. You can find out more information on this amazing organization here.
The other organization I am working with is called Kuwasha, formerly known as Timothy Outreach International Society. My husband and I, along with 4 of our closest friends, traveled to the Kibaale Community Centre (KCC) in Uganda this year to have a closer look at this organization. I can tell you that what we discovered was a charity that is so successful that other organizations are now seeking advice from KCC so that they can see the same success in their charities. You can see a summary of our trip here.
Last year I worked on a gala to raise funds for Kuwasha. The event was so successful that we were able to raise over $200 000 to support KCC. Many of the comments of the attendees were that it was the best gala that they have ever attended. Our location, ambience, food and entertainment made for an unforgettable evening! So we are doing it again! On February 18th, 2017 we are hosting our second gala benefitting Kuwasha. It will be an event you won't want to miss! You can find out more information here.
Please let me know if you are interested in our services at Grapevine Designs or want more information on the charities we love.
Wishing you all the happiest of New Years. Stay in touch!
xo
Lisa
