Design Stories Archives - Susan Connery Designs

Wallpapers and Floorcloths

Tim Shackelford — Tue, 23 Jun 2026 16:15:33 +0000

My work since 1988 has been learning to hang wallpaper, and paint interior. The paint I dropped a few years ago, but, I still hang wallpapers.

I enjoy the challenges, though, not so much the aches and pains that come with them now…. And, I get to work with some very beautiful papers and designs.

These photos show a doorway-entry of a house and that is the only place this wallpaper went. When I get “captured” by a design, I start thinking “Floorcloth”, and how I would make it happen.

The floorcloth was pretty easy for me, just time consuming. All drawn by hand. This wallpaper had a bit more background leaf pattern I chose to leave out. I just really love it. I call it, The Berry Woods, 3 ft x 5 ft.

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School

Tim Shackelford — Tue, 02 Jun 2026 14:55:08 +0000

The end of May, here in Midcoast Maine, brings on a great migration. Millions of Alewives migrate from the ocean up the rivers of Maine to their birth places, to spawn and finish out their lives. I am always drawn to go watch, stick my hand in and touch fish. Rivers that have dams on them keep the fish from running, but, many communities build Fish Ladders, so fish are able to by-pass existing dams and still pass into their lakes of origin. With the fish come birds: Osprey, Eagle and tons of Gulls. It’s incredible and a real treat to watch these birds fold their wings, fall out of the sky, hit the water and come up with flashing silver. I took my 7 yr old grand daughter, to her delight, who loves to fish……never thought she could catch one by just sticking her hand in the water. But, we did! Then we were sternly told not to do that by the Ladder Monitor. Oh, it was fun. We both made floorcloths!

School – 2′ x 3′

School II 2′ x 4′

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Telephone

Tim Shackelford — Tue, 07 Apr 2026 15:08:31 +0000

My grandmother, Clementine Mideke, (Mema), was an Ornithologist who lived in Oklahoma City. She was always taking Birding Trips in and out of state, with small groups of people, dedicated to all things Birds.
I often joked that during a wind storm or hurricane, she would be outside identifying all the birds blowing about.

Birds hanging out on telephone wires are seen when driving any highway anywhere. We did have Scissor Tail Fly Catchers in OKC, out in the country, in my mat, they’re the “hood”.

I included Cardinals, Mr. & Mrs., plus a juvie, for my dad, who has gone off to greener pastures. They always bring him to mind when I see them in the yard.

I’ve made this mat 3 times, all three have been different sizes with different number of birds. I have been a dedicated bird lover and supporter my whole life, I pass it on to my grand children now.

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