Charlestonian Inspiration

I like to visit Charleston when I get the chance. It is a beautiful city with such history! One of my favorite parts is strolling and getting lost on the back streets of the city downtown and gazing at all the amazing architecture and gorgeous gardens of the homes. These are some of my favorite finds from my most recent trip:

A lot of people are uncomfortable around graveyards, but I think they're beautiful. Did you know that before parks existed people would use graveyards for recreation? When I visit them, I find myself thinking how amazing it would be if the resting souls could speak and share stories about their lives and the periods they lived in. I had the opportunity to sit and rest at the Unitarian Church's graveyard for a while. There is something very surreal and tranquil about it. The church bells ringing in the distance at high noon was an extra bonus for me!

While window shopping on King Street I came across what has to be one of my favorite stores I've ever visited. The store is called "Kiss Me" and is filled with goods from Istanbul. There was so much to look at and touch that one could easily go into sensory overload mode. All of the rugs, tapestries, boots and bags are handmade with only hand dyed thread, yarn and fabrics. The details in the patterns and the rich color combos are absolutely gorgeous.

Overhead, even more beauty awaits in an amazing selection of hand blown glass lighting.

I was lucky enough to have the owner of the store wait on me. He told me one amazing story after another about the craftsmanship of all the products. Each one an art masterpiece. The pride he has in his store and all the goods inside as well as the pride of his heritage and culture was evident. It could even be seen in his facial expressions as his face lit up through our entire conversation. To top the experience off, the owner's wife showed up with a beautiful, warm smile wearing a traditional Turkish dress and head scarf. She offered me Turkish coffee served in a dainty porcelain cup and saucer. They made me feel so welcome that I felt I was a part of their family and hated to end my visit. If you are in the area, drop by and meet this wonderful couple for yourself. I am betting it will lift your spirits as much as it did mine.

​What are some of your favorite inspirations in Charleston? I would love to hear from you!