The idea of Think Globally, Act Locally is hard at work here in the lowcountry. Great emphasis is placed on preserving and protecting our wildlife and coastal habitats, and many of our residents are actively involved. But for some, the call to Act Globally is too strong to ignore. Such is the case for Diane Kaufman, owner of Mermaid Cottages in Tybee Island, Georgia. Diane is on a lowcountry crusade to protect the elephants of Africa, whose lives are taken each day by poachers for their tusks. Last year alone, more than 30,000 elephants were illegally killed. In a call to action, Diane teamed up with renowned artist Bellamy Murphy to host a benefit for “Save The Elephants”, and we had the pleasure of attending this past weekend.
Bellamy created the original piece shown above for the Safari-themed event’s silent auction. But making this fundraiser even more special, she graciously opened her Isle of Hope home, allowing guests to freely explore. As a long-time admirer of her work, it was an absolute treat to see the results of the impeccable restoration she completed on the property. With an artist’s eye for detail, she has created an elegantly personal, yet warm and inviting home. The moment you step into the entry you are immediately torn between perusing her eclectic collections and furnishings, or heading into the picture-perfect view that exists just outside the wall of windows. We did a little of both.
Inside, shiplap walls and natural plank ceilings give a nod to the location of this home and the coastal cottages of a bygone era. The fixtures throughout the home are perfectly suited to each space.
This inviting second floor sitting room and adjacent veranda were a favorite of mine.
The artist presented her original works throughout the home, with a portion of the sales going to Save the Elephants.
We could not resist, and chose this one:
A lovely spread of appetizers was served, and live music beckoned from the patio. It was time to grab a snack and explore outside.
The home is gorgeously situated on the marsh; complete with a grand oak, ample dock, and wonderful coastal breezes.
As we walked the planks towards the covered boat dock, we could hear the clacking of oysters down below.
Before leaving, I could not resist taking a seat on the lawn and looking up through the branches of the big oak tree. To be in this beautiful place, on such lovely day, and for such a great cause…..
It is said that an elephant never forgets. I too will never forget this remarkable day.
For more information about this worthy cause:
http://savetheelephants.org/
Or to visit the pages of Diane’s Mermaid Cottages or Bellamy’s original artwork:
http://www.mermaidcottages.com/
http://bellamyart.com/
