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Wednesday, December 5, 2007 The Braselton News Page 7A Social Mulberry Park decor shop specializes in outdoor motifs In Focus with Fil Fil Jessee filwrites@aol.com CHRISTMAS DECOR Lauris Nance shows a potted silk orchid and bromeliad combina tion in front of a space-saving half Christmas tree at Step Outside, Braselton. While most interior deco rators seem focused on making rooms more livable and inviting by the art ful use of standard home furnish ings, fabrics, lighting, and wall hangings, the owners of a small Braselton shop are giving home decor a whole new twist. After years of punching time clocks in the corporate world, John and Lauris Nance got tired of long commutes and the nine-to-five rat race and decided to open a busi ness that was a lot more fun. They named it Step Outside, and that label well describes what they offer. Imaginative displays and clever accessories here encour age homeowners to experience a closer communion with nature by essentially bringing the outdoors in and the indoors out until the line of demarcation is far less abrupt. Although the Mall of Georgia area seemed like a good place to launch their little shop four years ago, it soon became apparent that the majority of their custom ers were based in the Braselton area. So, in April of last year, they relocated their business to the Mulberry Park shopping center to be closer to their patrons. “I would rather commute to England than drive to downtown Atlanta,” Lauris said. But for many years, she and John were both locked into jobs that kept them on the road a lot and far too busy to run a specialty shop on the side. John was in the Navy for a long time; then worked for IBM and, later, for the federal government as a poultry science inspector. Lauris was employed for 30 years in tech nical management, and worked mainly with computer systems. “I have always lived in places with beautiful gardens, and greatly enjoy turning a variety of materials into unique works of art,” she said. And now she and her husband do just that. The cou ple enjoys a less stress ful sched ule where no two days are ever the same and individual shoppers challenge their creativity. And this business is far from just another artsy-craftsy emporium of do-dads imported from the Orient. In addition to a plethora of unusual gifts and stylish decora tive items that change with each season, the Nance’s create outdoor living spaces, design and plant flower beds and container gardens, and address a number of technical issues to make these additions as trouble-free as possible. This may include special light ing to make decks, patios, court yards, and entrances more inviting at night or drip-irrigation systems that make outdoor watering practi cally effortless, at least until we reached stage four of the current watering ban and were forced to rely more on recycled gray water and wells. DECOR AND MORE Step Outside also addresses a number of permanent and tempo rary challenges created by higher ceilings and spacious open floor plans that are becoming more com monplace in the Braselton area. The Nance’s have addressed second-story window boxes, too high for living plants that require constant moisture and grooming, with non-fading acrylic foliage manufactured to look surprising real. Sometimes, they resort to artificial topiaries too, sheltered by rain-robbing overhangs or just a little too shaded to healthy growth on living shrubs. While Lauris handles most of the store displays and aesthetic design work, John told me that he serves primarily as “store go-fer, sitter, delivery man and installa tion trouble-shooter.” And when special assignments get too large or complex for the Nance’s to handle alone, the rely on Hamilton Mill neighbor, Meghan Roberts, to help them on a per-project basis. “Meghan is currently a soph omore majoring in early child hood education at Georgia State University, but she has been work ing with us part-time since her junior year at Mill Creek High School. She’s a hard worker, very creative, and a big help to us at times,” Lauris said. FINE FLORALS Although Step Outside is not considered a florist shop in the traditional sense, it is often con tracted to design and install a vari ety of fresh and silk wreaths, gar lands, and arrangements for spe cial events and holiday decor. And some of Lauris’ finest work in this regard was recently fea tured in the Chateau Elan’s tour of homes and, earlier, for Dare to Share charity functions. But for the average shopper just look ing for something different for a gift, there are plenty of attention- getters on the walls and shelves of the store itself. Among the items that caught my eye, I noticed a fully-decorated half Christmas tree, perfect for placement against a blank wall where floor space is limited. And I also spotted some incredibly real istic silk orchid plants attractively arranged in a tiny ornamental iron and glass conservatory stand. Although Step Outside may not be a macho place in which men can get lost in a world of tools and gadgetry like they can at The Home Depot, it’s certainly a less boring place to shop for wives. No doubt, mine would have a hard time pretending to like a new power stapler or rivet tool for Christmas, but I think she might appreciate something as clever as a flameless scented candle or a Tortuga Caribbean Rum cake on sale there in three different fla vors. For her, I also considered buying a bronzed finished cast aluminum sundial with a “you are my sun shine” card attached, but changed my mind because of its size. If it’s too big for a gift bag or requires more than half a role of wrapping paper, it’s not going home with me. Fil Jessee lives in Braselton, where lie works as a freelance journalist. Fie can be reached at filwrites @ aol. com. Toys being collected for Peace Place WayPoint Realty, Braselton, is hosting the Helping Little Angels Toy Drive, which will benefit Peace Place. Peace Place is a domestic violence shelter for women and children that serves Jackson, Barrow and Banks counties. Peace Place offers victims of domestic violence referrals for housing, jobs, education, medical, counseling, clothing and food. The shelter also offers support groups and legal advocacy for victims. Donations will be accepted Tuesdays through Thursdays, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., until Dec. 22. Toys or money may be donated. Monetary donations will be used to purchase gift cards for older kids. The age range for donated toys is newborn to teen. WayPoint Realty is located at 81 Lagree Duck Road, off Hwy. 53, Braselton. For more information, call 706-824-0318. Angel Tree event to benefit needy children in N. Georgia Upper Cervical Health Centers of America, located in Hamilton Mill, will host its annual Angel Tree event to benefit under-privileged children in North Georgia. Hebron Church is collaborating with the office to locate several chil dren who may not have many gifts this year. A Christmas tree in the office will be set up and feature ornaments with a child’s name. Written on the back of the ornament will be the age and gift idea specifically for that child. For each ornament that is taken, the gift on the back is purchased and left unwrapped. In return, Upper Cervical Health Centers of America will offer a free health correction or a coupon to give to a friend or relative good for a free consultation, X-rays, report of findings and their first correction. An Angel Tree party will be held on Thursday, Dec. 13. Refreshments and snacks will be served throughout the day. Upper Cervical Health Centers of America is located at 3635 Braselton Highway, Suite B-2, Dacula. For more information, call 770-614-9444 or visit www.uppercervicalcare.com. JEFF AND SONS LANDSCAPING 678-215-8519 Licensed and Fully Insured We are here to serve you with excellent services including: • Seasonal color • Retaining Walls • Irrigation Systems and Repair • Decks • River and Creek Bank Restoration • Sinkhole Repair • Landscape Design & Install ‘Terraces • Erosion Control • Land Restoration Service & More. Contact us today to set up an appointment to discuss your project and get an estimate. 10% Discount On Labor When You Mention This Ad! Celtic Christmas show to be presented on Dec. 7 and 9 The Winder Cultural Arts Department will present “A Celtic Acoustic Christmas Show” on Friday, Dec. 7, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 9, 3 p.m. The show will feature singers and songwriters Harry O’Donoghue and Carroll Brown. The show will be fdled with traditional Celtic, Southern and seasonal songs, complimented by stories and recitations. Brown is an acoustic guitarist and singer/songwriter from South Carolina with more than 30 years of experience in the music business. O’Donoghue is from the east coast of Ireland and been performing professionally for 27 years. He lives in Savannah, where he performs locally, and is the co-producer and host of the “Green Island Radio Show” for Georgia Pubic Broadcasting. The show will be presented in the Colleen O. Williams Theatre, 105 E. Athens Street, Winder. There will be an intermission and refreshments and CDs from the artists available to purchase. Tickets are $15 a person and are available at the Winder City Hall, 45 E. Athens Street, Winder. For credit card purchases, call 770-867-3106. Santa to appear at Hoschton Depot The Hoschton Women’s Civic Club will host its annual “Santa at the Depot” on Saturday, Dec. 8, from 10 a.m. to noon. Parents are asked to bring children to the depot to have their picture taken with Santa and receive a stocking full of goodies. The event is free and open to the public. Christmas at ©onooan Thy comnnunity is invited for; 4 I'iw rtiLitrift wltJi Snntp O LL cnj7.l ii iilTil> & Sontn'iSccrct Shi.ip for .lRUf !■ 12 ft Sfluq Time v'-itEi Mt?, Uly.u* “S (! ^Ji Lil i I:-y (1-c: £il. Si.XliCfY Sunday, December 4 / h , 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. /**,[*! Mousignor Donovan Catholic High school 59D | Rllil.I ■ Aihulij, CiA IQfsOti FZ/fo 7 £6 -4 3,1 - ft 2 2 S * www.mdchH.Drj; Dcvcli^iin^ Leaders of Competence, Coridcncu, Compasst0ji + Confidence and CoUn&t Traditions of Braselton to host Holiday Showcase of Homes Traditions of Braselton is ringing in the holidays with its Holiday Showcase of Homes Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 8-9. The event will showcase seven custom-built homes, each profession ally decorated for the season by an award-winning local designer. “Traditions is a beautiful custom-home community with great ame nities,” said Cindy Clark of Peggy Slappey Properties. “We will have an agents’ day on Friday, Dec. 7. Agents can expect first-class service, including chauffeured tours throughout the community.” During the Holiday Showcase of Homes event, visitors can drive into the community and follow the signs to the featured homes, or drive straight to the on-site Discovery Center and pick up a map. A team of sales professionals from Peggy Slappey Properties will be on hand to answer any questions customers may have or to guide personal tours of the homes. According to Clark, Traditions of Braselton is one of the few metro communities affordable for most home buyers, whether they’re looking in the $200,000 range or the $1 million range. Peggy Slappey Properties, a Buford-based company and one of Gwinnett’s and Jackson’s leading marketers of new homes recently part nered with the developer at Traditions. Peggy Slappey Properties was the winner of Gwinnett Magazine’s 2006 Best REALTOR award. Traditions of Braselton includes a championship 18-hole golf course, a swim and tennis complex, on-site fitness center, green spaces, multiple ponds and lakes, nature trails, children’s play areas, and a property own ers’ clubhouse. For additional information on Traditions of Braselton’s Holiday Home Showcase, call the Discovery Center at 706-654-3606. Blood drive set for Dec. 13 A blood and National Marrow Donor Program drive in honor of Jackson Austin will be held on Thursday, Dec. 13, from 3-8 p.m. in Athens. Austin is a Jackson County boy who has cancer. The drive will be held at the Georgia Center for Continuing Education, Hill Atrium, on the campus of the University of Georgia. Donors are encouraged to give blood and/or register for the National Marrow Donor Program. Since Clarke County has a grant, all testing for the National Bone Marrow Registry is free and only involves a cheek swab. All blood donors are strongly encouraged to eat a full meal or snacks, and drink lots of caffeine-free liquids before donating blood. To make an appointment for the event, contact Danielle Austin at daaus- tin@alltel.net or Janet Jarrett atjarrettja@usa.redcross.org. For more information about donating blood, visit www.givebloo- dredcross.org. For more information about the National Marrow Donor Program, visit www.marrow.org. The Georgia Center for Continuing Education is located at the comer of Lumpkin and Carlton Streets, near the UGA track. NORTHEAST GEORGIA BANK HOSTS SANTA Northeast Georgia Bank, Braselton, will be host Santa Claus in the lobby of the bank on Thursday, Dec. 20, from 3-5 p.m. Children and families are invited to stop by to visit. Parents are encour aged to bring their cameras. The bank is located at 5045 Hwy 53 in Braselton. 1 Display Ads day, DeC ‘ 1 Gpublican* , iday,D eC * 2 \ 2 publication elton Neios on Box 908 , P.O.Box908 Ga. 30549 e.n'V* f c