COTE DE TEXAS: Dogs and Birds and Carol Sheehan: Oh My!

Dogs and Birds and Carol Sheehan: Oh My!

 

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My all time favorite coffee table book is “Living With Dogs.”  While I do love its contents, it’s the cover that really does it for me.  I have two copies of the books, because with time, the original cover got damaged, and so I replaced it.  Of course!

 

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The reason why I love the cover so much is this girl, Georgina (Georgie), my English Springer Spaniel.   This picture is from the story of my house in Houston House and Home magazine.   Ever since this photoshoot,  Georgie has been terrorized by cameras and won’t pose for them anymore.  Even if I just pretend to take her picture she goes scampering away.   We couldn’t get these two to pose together, so the photographer took a picture of Sammie Jo then, photoshopped Georgie onto to it.   Look how good they match my décor and the book!

 

 

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The Webbs have long loved springers and Ben’s parents’ last dog was a very overweight gentleman named Duke.  When Ben’s father died, his brother Kirk went out and bought this beauty, Quila.  Later that week Ben’s older brother Pat got Zorro from the same litter.  Of course, a week later, Ben brought home the last of the litter, our Georgie.   All three springers are healthy and are still with us.   Later, Kirk and Shannon got 3 more springers from the same mother.  So – you can understand why I love that book cover so much.  It looks like it was designed for my house – it perfectly matches my dog and my décor!   Inside the book is just as good – it has everything about the sport of dogs including dogs in design.   Written by the husband and wife team, Laurence and Carol Sheehan, this is just one in a series of sporting books these two have written, along with Kathryn Precourt and photographer William Stites.

If the name Carol Sheehan sounds familiar – she has had a long career writing design books and editing design magazines.  She was the editor-in-chief for County Homes when it was at its best.  She and Mary Emmerling are friends and together they made that magazine great.   Carol and Mary also wrote many books together – wonderful titles such as this:

 

One of the many books that Emmerling and Sheehan collaborated on.

 

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Once the Sheehans married, they began writing the series of sporting/design books.  There is one on fishing, sports, and gardening.   What I love so much about these books is that they combine the subject with design – thanks to Carol’s first love.

 

 

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The Sheehan’s newest book, The Birding Life,  was recently released.   It’s actually quite topical since birds have been showing up everywhere in design – on fabrics, wallpapers, and framed prints.  Sheehan got her start in Houston as editor of a very early design magazine, Houston Home and Garden.   In this book, she returns to her roots – photographing several Houstonians who collect birds or nests.  One beautiful feature is Kay O’ Toole’s house, a French enfilade located behind her antique store.  These pictures are worth the price of book!  Gorgeous!

 

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A vignette from Kay O’Toole’s house – with a bird on the stone epaulet. 

 

 

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Another pretty spread is the home of bird lovers in Florida.   A big surprise was to see famous bloggers Hollister and Porter Hovey’s incredible New York apartment, filled with trendy taxidermy. 

 

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Birds in design are quite popular today – you can see this here in wallpaper and fabrics.

 

 

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This week, we were honored to welcome author Carol Sheehan to the Skirted Roundtable.  Carol talks about her books and magazines and her long and varied career.   To listen, please go HERE to the Skirted Roundtable blog.

 

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To order Living With Dogs, go HERE.

 

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And to order the new The Birding Life, go HERE.

 

 

So……what title is up next for the Sheehans?  Listen to the Skirted Roundtable to find out HERE.

 

33 comments :

  1. I love Carol Sheehan's dog book. The bird one is lovely but I can't help thinking of Portlandia's "Put a Bird on It" sketch as I look at it. Luckily, nature has always been beautiful and will continue to be so.
    Best regards, Ruth

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  2. I love hearing about what my one-time editor is up to and I can't wait to get the book!
    AND I'm thrilled to hear about your springers. I have two—Friday and Lizzie—both girls and the lights of my life.

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  3. So excited that Carol is on SRT I cannot wait to listen Joni!!

    Your family of Springers are the best!!

    xoxo
    Karena

    Art by Karena

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  4. Hi Joni, it has been a while since I have checked in, and I have spent the last hour looking through all your latest posts. As usual you astound me with the detail and thought that you put in to every post.

    Your dogs are gorgeous and must be a pleasure to live with, and I am totally in love with that statue with the bird on the shoulder! Adorable. Thanks again for thoughts on interiors, next stop for me: The Skirted Round Table.

    Until next time, Tammy

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  5. I can understand having pictures of Springers around since we do the same with Gold Retrievers since our boy Dylan is a Golden. I can’t wait to check out Carol’s new book about dogs. One of Dylan’s best friends across the street is a Springer and they have great personalities. Pets really do make a house a home. I’m off to listen to SRT.

    Enjoy the rest of your week!
    Debra

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  6. Could you imagine a life without our 4 legged friends? Yours are too adorable for words. My beloved Kali was once in a photo shoot, posing in front of my house, she was quite proud and the editor kept the shot. Off to Amazon once again to acquire these 2 books... thanks for such a fun beautiful post.

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  7. The cover of the Birding Life is just so pretty dahhling.. I loved the photo of the salon!

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  8. Oh Joni , I love this post. I am going through some weepy days and your mention of Duke brings tears to my eyes. You must know Moses came first. I used to tell Pat I wanted one of those cute dogs with freckles that the guy on the drag was always walking - remember the funny little man who walked up and down the street calling out "Smile!!" at everyone!! Anyway, we got Moses after we married and then soon after Keith and Mary got Duke. Oh how I loved those dogs. Your mention of them and the picture of Kirk's mud room was my first big clue that you had to be YOU when I first found you a few years ago!! I have such sweet memories of all those times with our Springers and love the books too!! Beautiful post. Thank you and love to you and Ben .

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  9. Please post the name of the tourquoise and white wallpaper if you have it

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  10. My ALL TIME favorite coffee table book too! It's been read in my house by many people and many times by myself. Georgie and Quila are precious! As is my Angel Dog....another Springer sister. Maybe the best cover photo of a book ever :)

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  11. Joni,
    I'm so excited to listen to your interview/chat with Carol Sheehan. I love my copy of Living with Dogs (even though the cover is gone). The bird book intrigues me and I'll have to put it on my wish list.
    I'm sure you know Rizzoli is publishing a book of Hollister & Porter Hovey's designs. Your Springer looks like such a sweetie, even if he is camera shy...I can relate. :-)
    Karen

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  12. I loved the story of your brother in laws and your husband and how they kept adding the dogs to the family when their father died. So sweet!

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  13. Dogs certainly do pay a huge part of our lives, don't they? We have a golden retriever and our home is not the same without her.
    I loved the image of the NY apartment. I am planning a move to Houston in the near future and I have a lot of brown antique French furniture. I love the white upholstered pieces and all the wonderful large green plants with the wood furniture. The room looks bright and beautiful - a definite inspiration for decorating when I get to Houston. Thanks for sharing.

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  14. Wonderful suggestions for coffee table books. My books are great treasures, I love to sit and wander through the pages often.

    My favourite coffee table book is one that I inherited from a publishing firm that was closing a division. Horror - they were going to throw some of the books out. The over-sized book titled The Rose by MetroBooks is filled with images and quotes about roses.

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  15. What would we do without our furry best friends? I was looking for a special gift for my friend who has three Springers, so guess I found the perfect book.

    Thanks, Joni, for a refreshing break in my day.

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  16. I love dogs and I especially love my little Beagle girl, Sissy! I adore books on doors and collect paintings of beagles. I do not have this book, but it is on my must to have list. What would we do with out our dogs? I for one never wants to know. Love this post. Richard from MY Old Historic House.

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  17. Adore Springers! Can't wait to listen to your interview. Now have another book about birds to acquire. xxpeggybraswelldesign.com

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  18. *** Joni, such a DELIGHTFUL READ this a.m... annnnd, I clicked on your "HERE" and ordered the DOG BOOK IMMEDIATELY (and can't BELIEVE that I didn't already have it!!! AMAZON loves me, for sure!!!). I cannot WAIT to get it!!!

    My Jim is sitting across from me, playing on HIS computer while I'm on mine (we have a partners desk~~~ we LOVE it!), and is just SMILING at my excitement when I told him about ordering this new dog book... He KNOWS not to "negatively comment" on my book purchases, because they really make me HAPPY!!!

    My collection of design/decorating and dog books is really growing... (note: I simply CAN'T imagine life without our precious ones, even if ours ARE big hunting dogs~~~ BELLE got a "sister", and now we have TWO of the best dogs in the world, GERMAN SHORTHAIRED POINTERS!!! Lordie, they are SOOOOO FABULOUS n' FUN n' LOVING, BESIDES being SUPERB hunting dogs for Jim!!! We've always had them~~~ kind of a "family tradition"!!!

    YOUR BABIES have always enthralled me so much~~~ especially the way they "MATCH" your interiors!!! And the thought that BEN & brothers kept them "in the family" makes my heart sing... for we have done the same thing!!!!

    LOVED this blog today~~~ many thanks!!! Going to listen to the Round Table after I get back from the dentist... see ya later!!!

    Big 2012 hugs,

    Linda in AZ *
    bellesmom1234@comcast.net

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  19. The dog book is my absolute favorite too! It's been on my coffee table for like the past 10 years.

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  20. Your Quila looks just like our much adored Nittany, who blessed our home for 17 years. A long life for a Springer, hug? This book has long been a favorite of mine as well. As a matter of fact, I have just recently done two posts on dogs in our home. One was our dog art, and the next was dogs in our decor. Check them out at atoiletale.blogspot.com if you have a moment.

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  21. Love your Girls! I can see why Ben and his brothers seized the litter!
    The book has been a cherished favorite. Missing my HenryPoodle something awful right now.

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  22. it is good to see another book from
    Carol I have the fishing and the dog book which are so well done. And I have a cat. But fell in love the
    Sheehan's style. Will defintely go
    listen to the SRT and add The Birding Life to my list.

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  23. Love that cover too & your dogs are precious! Hope you're well.

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  24. Books! I will look forward on reading these. Your dogs are just gorgeous. I look forward on reading more from you. Thank you so much.

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  25. JONI-


    Beautiful post.
    Carol Sheehan has been enormously influential in the design book world--and her books are always intelligent, full of information, and always, always more than just pretty pictures. There is depth to her concept and her presentation.
    Can't wait to see the book--and hear her podcast.
    Cheers and happy new year, Joni
    DIANE
    www.thestylesaloniste.com/

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  26. I love dogs and the book looks so beautiful. Then ... gasp...$200.00 dollars! I guess I can't have it. Oh well, I still have your beautiful blog.

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  27. I have to get that book for my sister...who is nuts for her dogs. I think YOU should write a book starting with the fun idea you have of decorating with inexpensive pashminas and tossing them when they get trashed (I cringe a little when our dog, Rocky curls up in my cashmere one...oh well). I know you said no more comments about the exuberant Texan closets but I am going to mention it and the good idea I got, in my post tomorrow.

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  28. Joni - I just saw your comment on my blog. That's better than Martha leaving one!

    I just posted a new blog. Take a look at the Chinese rice box I received as a gift.

    Take care!

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  29. Fabulous! Birds are my favorite in all their manifestations, so I'll have to find that book. Love the story of photoshopping the dogs... I had to do that to get a picture of my three pet birds together!

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  30. Carol has long been a favorite of mine. I have all my copies of Country Home still in my shelves and refer to them often. To find that she has a new book that I didn’t know about is truly wonderful. To find, thanks to Cote De Texas that it is about birds and birding, sublime! Thank you so much. I WOULD ABSOLUTELY LOVE A COPY OF CAROL’S BOOK!

    My house is filled with bird motifs. I love anything to do with birds and even have a very large indoor aviary filled with my feathered friends. My favorite bird motif item is Cavallini’s annual Birds calendar. I have them from several years and even have the accompanying desk calendars. If you are a bird lover and have yet to discover the beautiful bird prints that Cavallini has, you will be thrilled when you see them. All my friends ask where I get all my “one of a kind” bird motifs in my house. I will let you in on my little secret, I have copied several of the images from my past Cavallini calendars to put on fabric, pillows and and curtain borders as well as placemats and napkins. They are always a conversation starter!

    I am so delighted to find out that Carol is still busy creating all the things I love. I have all my fingers and toes crossed hoping I am the lucky one to receive her new book. Thank you again for bringing Carol to us, she is a treasure!
    P.S. I even got new birding binocs for Christmas….Priceless!

    Pamela Jo

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  31. Your dogs are just gorgeous. I look forward on reading more from you. Thank you so much.

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