WELCOME to Nest by Tamara blog

WELCOME to Nest by Tamara blog
Hi- It's Tamara. I'm happy you've stopped by, and since 2010 I've been sharing my passion for interior design, history, art, entertaining, travel & fashion. I am an interior designer, textile designer and writer living and working in New York City and East Hampton, Long Island. My musings have taken me to international design, art, antique and epicurean events and I have lots to share. I'm grateful to have been listed as the #1 top design blog, blogs to watch, top design blogs and named and awarded Rising Star of Design by the IFDA NY industry organization. Please feel free to reach out to our team for an interior design consultation at NestbyTamara.com -Tamara

May Day, pink, cupcakes, dancing and don't blink....spring is here!



May 1 is here
and to many it conjures up images
of a lovely spring Maypole Dance

The infamous Maypole Dance:
has lots of origins that go back to pagan times -- After I did some research it is apparent this dance has many meanings in different cultures; fertility, marriage, spring, harvest, farming.  However, the actual dance in which ladies gather in a circle and hold a colored ribbon attached to a much smaller pole, seems to mark the beginning of spring. As the dance commences the ribbons are intertwined to the large center pole. The dancers retrace their steps exactly in order to unravel the ribbons. Many people believe this style originated in the 18th century, and is derived from Italy and France. It became popular in the London stage and there reached a larger audience in a grander scale. The ribbon maypole dance then spread across much of England, and is now regarded as the most 'traditional' of May Day's characteristics.


May 1 is a birthday in our family too!


 When I think of Spring, I think of the lovely Maypole Dance; ribbons,outdoor fields and budding flowers. 
I love May 1 and even as a little girl I loved to read books about the Maypole Dance.



How ironic
that my baby girl was born on this magical day.

And, magical she is!

When my friend Lisa Porter over at the
wrote a post about her family,
and later a beautiful story about relationships with daughters,
 it touched my heart.


Lisa put into words the deep bond that a mother feels with her daughter. 
 It's complicated at times and lots of work, but the rewards are plentiful

There's all the cakes and messes we've made in the kitchen...


the endless hours we've spent with horses...

But, the fun never seems to end with G and
looking at life through her eyes is a joyous ride 

 I am so blessed that we have had a special bond from the very first moment she arrived...


Happy May Day
and
Sweet Sixteen
to my ray of sunshine and goodness! 
xoxo

 Please stop back next week for the start of May's topic: 
Spring decorating makeovers,
starting with a historic Connecticut converted barn